Daily Voice Readers’ Choice

Accepting Votes Now Through Friday, December 20th

Israeli-American Omer Neutra, Thought Taken Hostage, Confirmed Killed In Oct. 7 Attack Israeli-American Omer Neutra, Thought Taken Hostage, Confirmed Killed In Oct. 7 Attack
Israeli-American Omer Neutra, Thought Taken Hostage, Confirmed Killed In Oct. 7 Attack More than a year of agonizing uncertainty has come to a tragic end for the family of a New York native thought to have been taken hostage during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Omer Neutra, from Long Island’s Plainview, was killed during the attacks that claimed the lives of another 1,200 men, women, and children, the Israeli government confirmed Monday, Dec. 2. The 21-year-old moved to Israel when he was 18 to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a gap year, his parents Orna and Ronen said in a video shared by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). …
Here's How Many Major Hurricanes Hit During 2024 Atlantic Season Here's How Many Major Hurricanes Hit During 2024 Atlantic Season
Here's How Many Major Hurricanes Hit During 2024 Atlantic Season It's a wrap. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended on Saturday, Nov. 30, with above-average activity in terms of the number of named storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes. In total, there were: 18 named storms 11 hurricanes 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) This season was about 34 percent above the long-term average for Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE), which measures the strength and duration of tropical storms and hurricanes.  Below is a summary of the season’s named storms, with the 5 Cat 3 or higher hurricanes in bold: Tropical Storm Alberto (June 19-2…
Significant Storm Could Be Coming After Snowmaking System This Week: Here's Projected Timing Significant Storm Could Be Coming After Snowmaking System This Week: Here's Projected Timing
Significant Storm Could Be Coming After Snowmaking System This Week: Here's Projected Timing A snowmaking Alberta Clipper system that will sweep across the Northeast in just days could be followed by a more significant storm next week. Forecast models have the storm on track for early next t week, with the current window from Monday, Dec. 9 to Wednesday, Dec. 11.  "Options for the storm as it nears the coast range from it evolving into a potent Nor'easter with significant travel disruptions to a weaker storm that simply races out to sea with minimal travel problems," according to AccuWeather. See the first image above to see the two possible track scenarios. "There continues…
Readers’ Choice: Cast Your Votes for Fairfield County’s Best! Readers’ Choice: Cast Your Votes for Fairfield County’s Best!
Readers’ Choice: Cast Your Votes for Fairfield County’s Best! Fairfield County, it’s time to show some love for your favorite local businesses! Daily Voice has officially launched the voting phase of its inaugural Readers’ Choice competition, and the power is in your hands to crown the best of the best. Our readers submitted nominations earlier this fall, and now the top contenders are ready for your votes. With over 80 categories spanning six major groups, this is your chance to celebrate the local gems that make Fairfield County a vibrant place to live, work, and play. From the tastiest eats to top-notch services, your vote can help highlight the bu…
Big Change Set For Christmas TV Classic 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' This Week Big Change Set For Christmas TV Classic 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' This Week
Big Change Set For Christmas TV Classic 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' This Week The iconic Christmas TV classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" will return to its originating network for the first time in a half-century after its debut 60 years ago. On Dec. 6, 1964, the Rankin-Bass Animated Entertainment hour-long claymation special debuted on NBC. But after a 10-year run, CBS acquired rights. Now, NBC has reacquired the rights, and will broadcast the nostalgic show exactly 60 years after its initial airing -- at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Friday, Dec. 6. The show is narrated by Burl Ives as Sam the Snowman. The storyline begins when Donner, the lead reindeer fo…
Here's Projected Snowfall Totals, Timing For System On Track For This Week Here's Projected Snowfall Totals, Timing For System On Track For This Week
Here's Projected Snowfall Totals, Timing For System On Track For This Week A quick-moving storm on track for this week will bring accumulating snowfall to much of the Northeast. Click here for a new, updated story: Significant Storm Could Be Coming After Snowmaking System This Week: Here's Projected Timing According to the National Weather Service, the Alberta Clipper system's time frame is Wednesday night, Dec. 4, to Thursday, Dec. 5. After forming in Alberta, Canada, on Sunday, Dec. 1, it will travel near Lake Superior from Monday, Dec. 2 to Tuesday, Dec. 3 before pivoting east, AccuWeather says. In locations in the lightest shade of blue in the&nb…
CT Officers 'Restore Faith' After 'Heartless' Theft Of Autistic Man's Shoes CT Officers 'Restore Faith' After 'Heartless' Theft Of Autistic Man's Shoes
CT Officers 'Restore Faith' After 'Heartless' Theft Of Autistic Man's Shoes Small gestures often shine the brightest, and two New Haven police officers proved it by turning a bleak situation into a moment of kindness for one man. An autistic man reported to New Haven police that a group of juveniles assaulted him and stole his sneakers and hat on Whalley Avenue on Thursday, Nov. 14. The encounter left him shaken and terrified. That’s when Officer Trevor Brown stepped in. Brown didn’t just take the report—he brought the case to district manager Sgt. Lambe, who collaborated with New Haven’s Office of Youth Services. Together, they worked to restore the man’s faith i…
Rare Brawls Break Out In College, NFL Games In Fight-Filled Football Weekend Rare Brawls Break Out In College, NFL Games In Fight-Filled Football Weekend
Rare Brawls Break Out In College, NFL Games In Fight-Filled Football Weekend It's been a fight-filled weekend in the football world, including a rare brawl in a collegiate contest. It started on Saturday, Nov. 30, when Michigan upset archrival and No. 2-ranked Ohio State,  13-10, in the Buckeyes' home stadium. Though the defending national champs, Michigan was having a disappointing season and entered the game at 6-5. After securing the win -- its fourth straight against Ohio State -- a Wolverines player attempted to plant a Michigan flag at the 50-yard line. An Ohio State player pulled the flag away, and things turned ugly. Dozens of players began pushing, a…
ID Released For NY HS Senior Who Died During Hockey Game ID Released For NY HS Senior Who Died During Hockey Game
ID Released For NY HS Senior Who Died During Hockey Game The identity has been released of a hockey player who died after losing consciousness during a hockey game on Long Island overnight. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Town of Oyster Bay Skating Center on Stewart Avenue in Bethpage, Nassau County Police said.  Connor Kasin, a senior defenseman at Massapequa High School, collapsed during an intermission of a hockey game, prompting bystanders to begin CPR. Nassau County Police medics and officers arrived shortly after and continued attempted life-saving efforts before transporting Kasin to an area hospita…
Trump Taps Loyalist Kash Patel As FBI Director Trump Taps Loyalist Kash Patel As FBI Director
Trump Taps Loyalist Kash Patel As FBI Director President-elect Donald Trump announced that 44-year-old loyalist and New York native Kashyap “Kash” Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,  Trump described Patel as a "brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter, in an announcement shared to social media on Sunday, Dec. 1. He praised Patel’s career of “exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people.” "He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution," Trump sai…
Boy Dies After Losing Consciousness During Hockey Game In NY Boy Dies After Losing Consciousness During Hockey Game In NY
Boy Dies After Losing Consciousness During Hockey Game In NY A teenager died after losing consciousness on the ice at a Long Island skating center, according to police. Click here for a new, updated story - ID Released For Massapequa HS Senior Who Died During Hockey Game In Bethpage The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Town of Oyster Bay Skating Center on Stewart Avenue in Bethpage, Nassau County Police said.  The 17-year-old boy collapsed during an intermission of a hockey game, prompting bystanders to begin CPR. Nassau County Police medics and officers arrived shortly after and continued attempted-life-saving …
Separate Snowmaking Storms Could Mark December's Opening Weeks: Long-Range Outlook Separate Snowmaking Storms Could Mark December's Opening Weeks: Long-Range Outlook
Separate Snowmaking Storms Could Mark December's Opening Weeks: Long-Range Outlook The arrival of an Arctic blast of cold air could be followed by separate snowmaking storms during the first two weeks of December. Tuesday, Dec. 3, will mark the start of a string of days in which Alberta Clipper systems with fast-falling snowfall are possible in these areas shown in pink and blue in the image above from AccuWeather. According to current forecast models, the highest likelihood for snowfall in the Northeast is overnight Wednesday, Dec. 4 into Thursday, Dec. 5, according to the National Weather Service. Areas farther south will likely see mainly snow showers but accumul…
'Oh Bobby': RFK Jr. Goes Full Monty In Shower Video While Wife Hawks Candles 'Oh Bobby': RFK Jr. Goes Full Monty In Shower Video While Wife Hawks Candles
'Oh Bobby': RFK Jr. Goes Full Monty In Shower Video While Wife Hawks Candles Robert Kennedy Jr. has nothing to hide — or at least he wasn’t willing to hide anything — as he got naked and took a shower while his wife filmed a video for her new line of candles. Actress Cheryl Hines posted the video to her Instagram Reels with the caption, "Oh Bobby." She was promoting Black Friday discounts on her new MAHA ("Make America Healthy Again") products for her lifestyle brand Hines+Young. Cheryl Hines posts video of RFK Jr in the shower to promote her line of “MAHA” branded candles, body sprays, and creams. pic.twitter.com/jd4DwQFOmL — PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) Nove…
Recall Issued For Ready-To-Eat Produce Sold In CT Stores Over Potential Listeria Contamination Recall Issued For Ready-To-Eat Produce Sold In CT Stores Over Potential Listeria Contamination
Recall Issued For Ready-To-Eat Produce Sold In CT Stores Over Potential Listeria Contamination Ready-to-eat fruit and vegetable products sold in the parts of the Northeast are being recalled. Connecticut-based Gracie’s Kitchens Inc., located in New Haven, has issued the recall due to potential contamination with Listeria, a bacteria that can cause serious health risks, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recall involves products manufactured between Monday, Nov. 4 and Wednesday, Nov. 13, and sold under the Gracie’s Kitchens, King Kullen, and Wild By Nature brands.   The products were distributed to grocery stores in New York and Connecticut. Items …
Alec Baldwin Says Americans 'Very Uninformed' About Important Issues Alec Baldwin Says Americans 'Very Uninformed' About Important Issues
Alec Baldwin Says Americans 'Very Uninformed' About Important Issues Actor Alec Baldwin – no stranger to controversy – is once again drawing the internet’s ire after recent comments on Americans’ intelligence. The 66-year-old New York native is facing backlash after suggesting that US citizens are ignorant about important world events and that watching films is the remedy to bridge the information gap. “Americans are very uninformed about reality, what’s really going on – with climate change, Ukraine, Israel, you name it, all the biggest topics in the world. Americans have an appetite for a little bit of information,” the Beetlejuice star told reporters at a…
Cucumbers, Eggs Recalled Due To Risk Of Salmonella Contamination Cucumbers, Eggs Recalled Due To Risk Of Salmonella Contamination
Cucumbers, Eggs Recalled Due To Risk Of Salmonella Contamination Cucumbers distributed throughout the US and Canada and organic eggs sold in 25 Costco stores in several states have been recalled due to the risk of Salmonella contamination. Cucumber recall SunFed Produce, LLC (SunFed) is recalling all sizes of whole fresh American cucumbers packaged in bulk cardboard containers labeled with the “SunFed” label or in a generic white box or black plastic crate with a sticker that provides the implicated grower’s name “Agrotato, S.A. de C.V." The recalled cucumbers were sold between Saturday, Oct. 12, through Thursday, Nov. 26, 2024. The whole fresh America…
Winning Numbers For Friday, Nov. 29 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $514M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Friday, Nov. 29 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $514M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Friday, Nov. 29 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $514M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Friday, Nov. 29 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $514 million with a $244.7 million cash option. The winning numbers were 03-29-34-36-37 with a Mega Ball of 17 and a Megaplier of 2X. If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Lottery players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of winning a Mega Millions jackpot by matching all five balls plus the gold Mega Ball, according to officials. Prizes then range from $1 million to $2.&n…
Turkey Fryer Fire Destroys $4M Weston Mansion on Thanksgiving; Family of 20 Escapes Turkey Fryer Fire Destroys $4M Weston Mansion on Thanksgiving; Family of 20 Escapes
Turkey Fryer Fire Destroys $4M Weston Mansion on Thanksgiving; Family of 20 Escapes A Connecticut mansion valued at more than $4 million was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving as a family of 20 was about to sit down to enjoy their holiday meal, authorities said. The fire ignited shortly before 4 p.m. in Fairfield County at a two-story, nearly 9,300-square-foot residence in Weston on Weston Road, near the intersection with Broad Street. All occupants escaped unharmed, Weston firefighters reported. On the rainy Thanksgiving afternoon of Thursday, November 28, 2024, most firefighters in lower Fairfield County were... Posted by Sayje Benjamin on Friday, November 29, 20…
Lindsay Lohan Reacts To Vikings Players Doing Her Iconic 'Parent Trap' Handshake Lindsay Lohan Reacts To Vikings Players Doing Her Iconic 'Parent Trap' Handshake
Lindsay Lohan Reacts To Vikings Players Doing Her Iconic 'Parent Trap' Handshake Lindsay Lohan has officially weighed in on a viral NFL moment that paid homage to one of her most popular movies. Appearing on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the 38-year-old actress reacted to Minnesota Vikings players Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus performing the iconic handshake from her 1998 hit, “The Parent Trap.” The footballers acted out the intricate moves – a secret handshake between Lohan’s character Annie and her butler – after intercepting a pass from Aaron Rodgers against the New York Jets on Sunday, Oct. 6. “They did your handshake from ‘The Parent Trap,’” Fa…
Thanksgiving Day Crash Sends Driver To Hospital After Vehicle Plunges Off Hutchinson Parkway Thanksgiving Day Crash Sends Driver To Hospital After Vehicle Plunges Off Hutchinson Parkway
Thanksgiving Day Crash Sends Driver To Hospital After Vehicle Plunges Off Hutchinson Parkway A Thanksgiving Day crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester County left a driver hospitalized after their vehicle veered off the roadway into a wooded area, according to authorities. The incident happened just before 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, prompting a large emergency response from fire departments in Purchase and Port Chester, as well as EMS teams from Port Chester and Rye Brook. Firefighters arrived to find the vehicle deep in the woods, requiring stabilization and extrication efforts to free the trapped driver, according to the Purchase Fire Department. To assist w…
Amazon Workers Go On Strike, Protest In 20 Nations, Including US Amazon Workers Go On Strike, Protest In 20 Nations, Including US
Amazon Workers Go On Strike, Protest In 20 Nations, Including US Amid the busiest shopping weekend of the holiday season, workers for Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, have gone on strike. Protesting under the banner of “Make Amazon Pay.” employees have walked off the job across six continents in 20 countries, including the United States. The strike is scheduled to last from Black Friday on Nov. 29 through Cyber Monday, Dec. 2, the UNI Global Union announced, saying protests will be held in majors cities in the US, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, India, Brazil and elsewhere. The strike could cause customers' holiday deliveries …
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says A rare case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a child in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The child, who is a resident of California, experienced only mild symptoms and is now recovering. The case, detected through routine flu testing, revealed low levels of the virus in the initial sample, and follow-up tests were negative for bird flu, but positive for other common respiratory viruses.  The CDC is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to determine how the child might hav…
IT Manager Who Used Low-Tech Hack to Embezzle $2M From CT Business Headed to Prison: Feds IT Manager Who Used Low-Tech Hack to Embezzle $2M From CT Business Headed to Prison: Feds
IT Manager Who Used Low-Tech Hack to Embezzle $2M From CT Business Headed to Prison: Feds A Connecticut man will spend two years in federal prison after stealing nearly $2 million from his employer and dodging hundreds of thousands in taxes over a seven-year scheme, authorities said. Evan Bobzin, 39, of Chester, was sentenced to 24 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after admitting to embezzling $1.9 million from Hoffman’s Gun Center in Newington, where he worked as head of information technology, according to the US Attorney for Connecticut. Prosecutors said Bobzin used his insider access to methodically steal cash receipts from the store's safe …
Thanksgiving Bomb Threats: 5 CT Democrat Lawmakers Targeted Amid Political Unrest Thanksgiving Bomb Threats: 5 CT Democrat Lawmakers Targeted Amid Political Unrest
Thanksgiving Bomb Threats: 5 CT Democrat Lawmakers Targeted Amid Political Unrest Five Democratic lawmakers in Connecticut were targeted by bomb threat hoaxes on Thanksgiving, marking an alarming escalation in politically motivated attacks. Reps. Jim Himes, Jahana Hayes, Joe Courtney, and John Larson all announced that they received bomb threats requiring police intervention early Thursday morning, Nov. 28. Sen. Chris Murphy also received a threat.  Related: Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks Rep. Hayes, who represents Connecticut's 5th District, posted on X that police contacted her just before 8 a.m. about the threat.  My …
Fairfield County Man Accused Of Attempted Identity Theft At Bank Fairfield County Man Accused Of Attempted Identity Theft At Bank
Fairfield County Man Accused Of Attempted Identity Theft At Bank A man was caught in Connecticut after allegedly using a fake driver’s license to try to access another person’s bank account information at a local bank, according to police. The incident occurred on Friday, Nov. 22, at approximately 3:40 p.m., when Oxford Police responded to the bank after a report of suspicious activity. Officers found a man, later identified as Oronde S. Homan, age 42, seated at the customer service desk.  Police said no other customers were present at the time. According to authorities, a bank employee told officers that Homan presented a Connecticut driver’s lice…
Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic To Lead CDC Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic To Lead CDC
Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic To Lead CDC Another vaccine skeptic with New York ties could soon shape public health policy. President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Florida congressman and physician Dave Weldon to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weldon was born on Long Island, in Amityville, and graduated from Stony Brook University in 1978 before earning his M.D. degree at the University of Buffalo in 1981. Earlier Report: Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services “In addition to being a medical doctor for 40 years, and an Ar…
Ex-Educator Sent 'Inappropriate' Texts To CT Middle School Student: Police Ex-Educator Sent 'Inappropriate' Texts To CT Middle School Student: Police
Ex-Educator Sent 'Inappropriate' Texts To CT Middle School Student: Police A former Connecticut middle school employee faces a felony charge after police say she exchanged inappropriate text messages with a student, authorities said.  Tamara Johnson, 37, turned herself over to the Meriden Police Department on Thursday, Nov. 21, following an investigation that began in late October. The police's Special Crimes Unit launched the probe after receiving a report about the alleged messages. Johnson, a former climate specialist at Lincoln Middle School in Meriden, was arrested after police conducted multiple interviews and forensic analysis of cell phones, Meri…
Popular Brand To Open New Store Celebrating 'Local Pride' In Stamford Popular Brand To Open New Store Celebrating 'Local Pride' In Stamford
Popular Brand To Open New Store Celebrating 'Local Pride' In Stamford A beloved brand is set to open a new retail store in Connecticut where it will offer community-inspired merchandise to residents and visitors alike. Hey Stamford!, a popular local brand known for its neighborhood pride and community spirit, will celebrate the grand opening of its new Fairfield County retail store at the Stamford Town Center at 100 Greyrock Pl., on Friday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m.  The store will feature a curated collection of exclusive Hey Stamford! merchandise, including branded apparel and accessories that "celebrate Stamford’s unique neighborhoods and local pride," store…
Duo Accused Of Stealing Cooking Oil From Businesses In CT: Police Duo Accused Of Stealing Cooking Oil From Businesses In CT: Police
Duo Accused Of Stealing Cooking Oil From Businesses In CT: Police Two men are facing charges in Connecticut after allegedly stealing over 100 gallons of cooking oil from multiple businesses, police said. The incidents leading to the arrests began in Windham County just before 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, when a business on Providence Turnpike in Brooklyn reported an active larceny, according to Connecticut State Police. The person who called in the incident reported seeing the suspects in a white van with a temporary New Jersey registration taking cooking oil from several businesses and restaurants. The complainant then followed the van to a parking l…
4th Stamford Suicide In Week Has Police Alarmed, Officers Offer Support 4th Stamford Suicide In Week Has Police Alarmed, Officers Offer Support
4th Stamford Suicide In Week Has Police Alarmed, Officers Offer Support Stamford Police are asking residents to reach out to their loved ones to check on them after four residents have committed suicide over the past week.  Assistant Chief Richard Conklin said a spike like this is unheard of for the Fairfield County town. For context, Stamford had three suicides for the entire year in 2022, two in 2023, and only one in 2024 until this past week.  "I've never seen anything like it during my time with the department," Conklin said.  With the holidays approaching, Conklin worries the trend could continue.  "The holidays tend to exacerbate or …
Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says
Bomb Threats, Swatting Incidents Target Trump Cabinet Picks, Appointees, Spokesperson Says Several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet selections and administrative appointees were the targets threats the last two days, a spokesperson said, calling the acts "violent" and "un-American." According to a statement by the Trump-Vance Transition Team on Wednesday, Nov. 27, several individuals associated with the incoming administration were subjected to threats ranging from bomb scares to "swatting" incidents, in which false reports are made to dispatch emergency responders to someone's location. Law enforcement responded swiftly to ensure the safety of those targeted, the team s…