Daily Voice Readers’ Choice

Accepting Votes Now Through Friday, December 20th

Potent Storm To Bring Heavy Rain, Strong Winds: Here's When It Will Hit Potent Storm To Bring Heavy Rain, Strong Winds: Here's When It Will Hit
Potent Storm To Bring Heavy Rain, Strong Winds: Here's When It Will Hit The arrival of an unsettled pattern will bring several days of wet weather, including a potent storm with gusty winds that could dump up to 4 inches of rainfall in parts of the region. The National Weather Service says the storm will move from the southwest to the east on Tuesday night, Dec. 10, into Wednesday, Dec. 11. (See the first image above from AccuWeather.) The storm, which will accompany a cold front, will bring widespread rainfall of 1 to 2 inches, with 2 to 4 inches in the areas indicated by the darker shade of green in the second image above. During the storm's height, there wi…
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Largest Deal In Pro Sports History: Juan Soto Signs With NY Mets For $765M Largest Deal In Pro Sports History: Juan Soto Signs With NY Mets For $765M
Largest Deal In Pro Sports History: Juan Soto Signs With NY Mets For $765M It's truly one for the books. New York Yankees free agent right fielder Juan Soto has reportedly agreed to a $765 million, 15-year deal to go crosstown and join the rival Mets. It's the largest deal in pro sports history, with no deferred money, a $75 million signing bonus, and an opt-out after five seasons, according to mlb.com. The signing represents a bold move for Mets owner Steve Cohen in his quest to build a championship-caliber team. He outbid not only the Yankees but also Soto's other suitors: the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays. News…
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…
Police Hunting 'Car Of Interest' In CT Shooting That Sent 1 To Hospital Police Hunting 'Car Of Interest' In CT Shooting That Sent 1 To Hospital
Police Hunting 'Car Of Interest' In CT Shooting That Sent 1 To Hospital A 37-year-old man was shot in Connecticut on Sunday evening, Dec. 8, sending him to the hospital, authorities said. Police responded to Pork Hollow Road in Ansonia to reports of multiple gunshots. Officers found the victim bleeding from a lower-body wound. Responders rushed him to a local hospital, where doctors treated his not life-threatening injuries. Investigators found at the scene evidence of multiple gunshots. Police are searching for a newer-model Ford Mustang convertible, blue or gray with white license plates. They have identified it as a "vehicle of interest" in the shooti…
Santa’s Holiday Drop Becomes 'Claus' For Concern When St. Nick Needed Rescue In Norwalk Santa’s Holiday Drop Becomes 'Claus' For Concern When St. Nick Needed Rescue In Norwalk
Santa’s Holiday Drop Becomes 'Claus' For Concern When St. Nick Needed Rescue In Norwalk It was a ho-ho-hold-on-tight moment for Santa Claus when he got stuck some 60 feet on the side of a building in Fairfield County during a Christmas celebration event, leading to a high-flying rescue. This is why Santa sticks with the reindeer. The Norwalk Holiday Extravaganza turned into an unexpected spectacle Saturday evening, Dec. 7, when a performer dressed as Santa Claus found himself stranded on the side of a building at 50 Washington Street, the Norwalk Fire Department said.  The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. as Santa rappelled down the 13-story building. According to…
CT Man Who Traded Sexts With 'Teen' For Weeks Sentenced To Prison CT Man Who Traded Sexts With 'Teen' For Weeks Sentenced To Prison
CT Man Who Traded Sexts With 'Teen' For Weeks Sentenced To Prison A 45-year-old Connecticut man who believed he was texting a 15-year-old to meet up for sex but was speaking with an undercover agent was sentenced to 16 months in prison, state authorities said.  Christopher Smith, 45, of Middletown, who pleaded guilty to one count of criminal attempt to entice a minor by computer in October learned his fate last week, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said. He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years once he's released.  Smith traded multiple sexual messages for weeks in an attempt to meet up for sex with a teenager in a Merid…
NY 'Star Trek' Fan Beams Up Legal Help In Battle Over Vanity Plate Snafu NY 'Star Trek' Fan Beams Up Legal Help In Battle Over Vanity Plate Snafu
NY 'Star Trek' Fan Beams Up Legal Help In Battle Over Vanity Plate Snafu A Long Island woman is contesting tickets issued from all over the nation tied to her distinctive "Star Trek" vanity license plates despite not having driven her car in four years, according to a new report. Beda Koorey, a 76-year-old resident of Huntington and a devoted "Star Trek" fan, believes her license plates were cloned, resulting in tickets for violations in locations she never visited, according to CBS News. She says she's even being billed for E-ZPass tolls. The plates bore the same number as the Starship Enterprise: NCC-1701.  Click here to read the complete CBS News repor…
Fugitive Who Used Fake Virus In Terrifying CT Home Invasion Sentenced After 15 Years On Run Fugitive Who Used Fake Virus In Terrifying CT Home Invasion Sentenced After 15 Years On Run
Fugitive Who Used Fake Virus In Terrifying CT Home Invasion Sentenced After 15 Years On Run A Romanian man involved in a terrifying 2007 Connecticut home invasion has been sentenced to seven years in prison after evading capture for 15 years, authorities said.  Stefan Alexandru Barabas, 38, was part of a group that terrorized two residents in a scheme that seemed straight out of a nightmare. Just before midnight, Barabas and his accomplices — Emanuel Nicolescu and Alexandru Lucian Nicolescu — broke into a South Kent home wearing masks and wielding knives and fake guns, the US Attorney for Connecticut said.  They tied up and blindfolded two adults, injecting them with a s…
New Images Show Suspect Fleeing In Cab After Brazen Targeted Killing Of CEO In Manhattan New Images Show Suspect Fleeing In Cab After Brazen Targeted Killing Of CEO In Manhattan
New Images Show Suspect Fleeing In Cab After Brazen Targeted Killing Of CEO In Manhattan New images released by authorities show the suspect in the brazen targeted killing of the CEO of one of the nation's largest healthcare companies in midtown Manhattan fleeing the crime scene in the back of a taxi cab. The NYPD released the latest images early Sunday morning, Dec. 8.  "The full investigative efforts of the NYPD are continuing, and we are asking for the public's help," the NYPD said in a statement accompanying the release of the new images. Anyone with information about the suspect and the case is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). For…
This Is Lone US Locale To Make Top 10 Of World's Best Cities In New Rankings This Is Lone US Locale To Make Top 10 Of World's Best Cities In New Rankings
This Is Lone US Locale To Make Top 10 Of World's Best Cities In New Rankings Moving On Up: Here's Where NYC Ranks Among World's Best Cities New York City has made significant progress in a new list of the world's best cities.  The 2024 Top 100 City Destinations Index, published by Euromonitor International, ranks global cities based on tourism performance, sustainability, and economic strength. While Paris retained its crown as the top city, New York City climbed higher on the list, continuing to cement its place as a top global destination. It was ranked 10th last year, and is now at No. 6. The Top 10 cities in the rankings include: No. 1: Paris. No. 2: Ma…
Winning Numbers For Saturday, Dec. 7 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $260M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Saturday, Dec. 7 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $260M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Saturday, Dec. 7 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $260M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Saturday, Dec. 7 Powerball drawing. The estimated jackpot is $260 million with a $125.5 million cash option after there was no winner in the past week. If no Lottery player claims the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. The winning numbers for Saturday's drawing were 01-31-43-55-57 with a Powerball of 22 and the Power Play was 2X. Powerball39 Lottery players have a 1 in 292,201,338 chance of winning a Powerball jackpot by matching all five balls plus…
CT Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Violent Long Island Assault (UPDATE) CT Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Violent Long Island Assault (UPDATE)
CT Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Violent Long Island Assault (Update) A Connecticut man is facing felony charges after a brutal altercation left a Mahopac resident critically injured, Carmel Police announced in an updated release on Sunday, Dec. 8. Officers were called to the scene on Curry Road in Mahopac at 5:17 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. They arrived to find two men in the roadway. A 44-year-old Mahopac man was unconscious with life-threatening injuries, while 32-year-old Brooks Lawrence of Connecticut was detained at the scene. The victim was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center by STAT Flight Helicopter, where he remains in critical condition. Detectiv…
Wendy’s Begins Closures Of 140 Locations Nationwide Wendy’s Begins Closures Of 140 Locations Nationwide
Wendy’s Begins Closures Of 140 Locations Nationwide Wendy’s has started planned closures of 140 restaurants across the US. The closures are part of a strategic effort to streamline operations and focus on more profitable locations amid rising operational costs and stiff competition. Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner said the restaurant selected for closure are “outdated and located in underperforming areas,” according to CEO Today. The closures are expected to end by year's end. Two Ohio locations were among the first to close, according to the Dayton Daily News. Other locations of scheduled closures have not been released. Customers voiced frustr…
Driver, 28, Seriously Injures Golden Doodle, Leaves Crash Scene In Brewster, SPCA Says Driver, 28, Seriously Injures Golden Doodle, Leaves Crash Scene In Brewster, SPCA Says
Driver, 28, Seriously Injures Golden Doodle, Leaves Crash Scene In Brewster, SPCA Says A Hudson Valley woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly hitting a dog with her car and fleeing the scene, leaving the severely injured pet to suffer, authorities said. The incident occurred on Mon., Dec. 2, around 5:22 p.m., when Putnam County SPCA detectives responded to Center Street in Brewster, the Putnam County SPCA said.  There, they learned that a five-year-old Goldendoodle named Astro was struck by a white Toyota Rav4, suffering severe injuries, officials said. Astro’s family rushed him to Guardian Veterinary Specialists in the Town of Southeast, where he underwent mu…
Blaze Engulfs 2 Boats At Norwalk Dock, Threatens To Destroy Several Others Blaze Engulfs 2 Boats At Norwalk Dock, Threatens To Destroy Several Others
Blaze Engulfs 2 Boats At Norwalk Dock, Threatens To Destroy Several Others A late-night blaze at a Connecticut boat club badly damaged two boats and threatened several others before firefighters had the flames under control, authorities said.  Firefighters were called to the South Norwalk Boat Club just before 11 p.m. to the dock at 17 Mack Street to find a 40-foot boat engulfed in flames, officials said. Intense winds spread the fire to another vessel of similar size, putting nearby boats at risk of catching fire. Firefighters from Norwalk, Noroton, and Stamford tackled the blaze using three engines, two ladder trucks, and three fire boats. The fas…
Seriously Injured Man Jumps from Burning Stamford Building In Early Morning Fire Seriously Injured Man Jumps from Burning Stamford Building In Early Morning Fire
Seriously Injured Man Jumps from Burning Stamford Building In Early Morning Fire A man suffered life-threatening injuries Saturday, Dec. 7, after leaping from a window to escape a fire in a Stamford multi-family building. The dramatic scene unfolded at 5:15 a.m. when firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at 17 Clinton Ave., authorities said. The Stamford Fire Department said crews arrived within three minutes to find smoke and flames pouring from a first-floor unit. Neighbors reported seeing a man trapped at a rear window. But as firefighters maneuvered a ladder to rescue him, he jumped after suffering severe injuries from the flames, the department said.  Fi…
Drugstore Deserts On Rise Amid Nationwide Pharmacy Closures Drugstore Deserts On Rise Amid Nationwide Pharmacy Closures
Drugstore Deserts On Rise Amid Nationwide Pharmacy Closures Nearly 30 percent of US pharmacies closed between 2010 and 2021, according to a new study in the health-policy publication Health Affairs. The research, led by University of California Berkeley assistant professor Jenny S. Guadamuz and colleagues, analyzed data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, county health statistics, and ZIP Code demographic surveys.  Of the 88,930 retail pharmacies operating in 2010, almost one-third shuttered by 2021, with those in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods disproportionately affected, Independent pharmacies were hit ha…
Long-Range Forecast Reveals Separate Storm Chances Christmas Week Long-Range Forecast Reveals Separate Storm Chances Christmas Week
Long-Range Forecast Reveals Separate Storm Chances Christmas Week Dreaming of a White Christmas? You may get your wish. Long-range weather models indicate the chance for two separate storm systems during Christmas Week, occurring right before and after Wednesday, Dec. 25. The first system is anticipated on Monday, Dec. 23. With overnight low temperatures in the upper teens and low 20s, and daytime highs around the freezing mark, the precipitation is likely to fall as snow.   The second chance for a storm that week will occur on Thursday, Dec. 26, when high temperatures are expected to reach the upper 30s to low 40s, which could result in r…
Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Linked To 10 Deaths Ends After 61 Illnesses: CDC Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Linked To 10 Deaths Ends After 61 Illnesses: CDC
Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Linked To 10 Deaths Ends After 61 Illnesses: CDC The deadly Listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats is over, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Boar's Head recalled all deli products made at its Jarratt, Virginia facility in July 2024, due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall included prepackaged deli products and ready-to-eat liverwurst. The CDC announced the conclusion of its investigation, noting that the outbreak resulted in 61 confirmed illnesses across 19 states. Among those affected, 60 were hospitalized, and 10 deaths were reported, underscoring the severity of the cont…
Winning Numbers For Friday, Dec. 6 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $579M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Friday, Dec. 6 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $579M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Friday, Dec. 6 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $579M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Friday, Dec. 6 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $579 million with a $278/4 million cash option. The winning numbers were 16-21-33-39-45 with a Mega Ball of 24 and a Megaplier of 2X. MegaMillions 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. 10. 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 fro…
CT Teen Was Going 102 MPH Before I-84 Wreck That Killed Grandmother, Police Say CT Teen Was Going 102 MPH Before I-84 Wreck That Killed Grandmother, Police Say
CT Teen Was Going 102 MPH Before I-84 Wreck That Killed Grandmother, Police Say A 19-year-old Connecticut man was charged this week with killing a 58-year-old woman in a February crash on I-84, authorities said. Maxwell Nemec, of Cheshire, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, reckless driving, and misconduct with a motor vehicle, Connecticut State Police said on Friday, Dec. 6. Nemec was driving a 2014 Nissan Juke eastbound on I-84 on Feb. 15 in Southington shortly after 6:45 p.m. Witnesses told troopers that Nemec was speeding in the left lane when he came up behind Lesley Petrafassi's BMW near Exit 31, a police report said.  Nemec merged into the center…
Teen Wanted in CT Parking Lot Slaying Remains On The Run Teen Wanted in CT Parking Lot Slaying Remains On The Run
Teen Wanted in CT Parking Lot Slaying Remains On The Run Police in Connecticut are searching for a 17-year-old girl now wanted in connection with a deadly shooting that ended in a parking lot outside of a popular restaurant in New Haven County earlier this year.  Desire Aitken is wanted for multiple serious offenses, including assault in the first degree, carrying a pistol without a permit, and criminal attempt at murder, Waterbury Police said. Authorities added that she will be charged with murder once she is arrested.  The charges stem from the January 30 shooting of 38-year-old Keno Williams, who was found inside his crashed car …
Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu
Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up efforts to monitor avian influenza (better known as bird flu) with a new federal order mandating national testing of raw milk for the H5N1 virus. The order requires all producers of raw, unpasteurized milk across the US to provide samples for testing as part of a broad initiative to prevent the spread of bird flu from potentially infected dairy cattle to humans.  The move follows recent detections of the virus in dairy herds in several states, underscoring the importance of controlling outbreaks at the source. While pas…
CT School Resource Officer Found Dead By Suicide After Arrest, Police Say CT School Resource Officer Found Dead By Suicide After Arrest, Police Say
CT School Resource Officer Found Dead By Suicide After Arrest, Police Say Ryan Moan, a 33-year-old Connecticut school resource officer, was found dead by suicide around the time news broke that he'd been arrested on Friday, Dec. 6, Daily Voice has learned. The 33-year-old Coventry resident was found having suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a vehicle at the Hatch Hill Road boat launch in Vernon around 1:45 p.m., Vernon Police Chief Marc F. Petruzzi said.  Moan had been charged earlier in the day with risk of injury to a child, enticing a minor by computer, misrepresentation of age to entice a minor, and tampering with physical evidence, the police de…
Police ID Man Fighting For His Life After CT Transit Bus Crashed Into Him In Stamford Police ID Man Fighting For His Life After CT Transit Bus Crashed Into Him In Stamford
Police ID Man Fighting For His Life After CT Transit Bus Crashed Into Him In Stamford Police have identified the 54-year-old Connecticut man fighting for his life after being struck by a CT Transit bus in Fairfield County on Thursday evening, Dec. 5.  David Sheridan, of Stamford, was struck on Glenbrook Road near East Main Street in Stamford just before 5 p.m. He sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash.  Original Report: Man In Critical Condition After Being Hit By CT Transit Bus Paramedics rushed him to Stamford Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Sheridan remains in the intensive care unit in critical condition, according to the Stamford pol…
Subway Death: Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge Against NY Ex-Marine After Jury Deadlocks Subway Death: Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge Against NY Ex-Marine After Jury Deadlocks
Subway Death: Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge Against NY Ex-Marine After Jury Deadlocks A New York judge dismissed the top criminal count against an ex-Marine accused of choking a New Jersey street artist to death aboard a Manhattan subway after the jury deadlocked. Manhattan Judge Maxwell Wiley granted a defense motion to dismiss the manslaughter charge against Daniel Penny late Friday afternoon, Dec. 6, after jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the top count, NBC News reports. The dismissal came hours after jurors told Wiley they were deadlocked on whether Penny was guilty of second-degree manslaughter and the judge ordered them to continue deliberations.…
Norwalk Convenience Store Sells $100K Lottery Ticket: Here's Where Norwalk Convenience Store Sells $100K Lottery Ticket: Here's Where
Norwalk Convenience Store Sells $100K Lottery Ticket: Here's Where It's been a very lucky week for one Nutmegger.  One Connecticut Lottery player correctly guessed all 5 numbers in the Cash5 drawing on Wednesday, Dec. 4, earning them a $100,000 prize for the effort. It is the largest jackpot won this week in the state.  The winning numbers in that drawing were 4, 12, 18, 25, and 35.  The winning ticket was sold at Glens Variety Plus, 115 New Canaan Ave. in Norwalk. Click here for more information on the Cash5 drawings and Connecticut Lottery. 
Greenwich Fire Truck Crashes After Police Car Burns Down Greenwich Fire Truck Crashes After Police Car Burns Down
Greenwich Fire Truck Crashes After Police Car Burns Down It's been a rough few weeks for emergency vehicles in one Connecticut town.  Last month, a Greenwich Police SUV was destroyed when a brush fire engulfed the vehicle, reducing it to its metal frame. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. This week, a Greenwich fire truck responding to a call crashed on Lake Avenue. Engine 8 lost control on Thursday morning, Dec. 5, while en route to another crash caused by "wintry weather." No other vehicles were involved in the incident.  The firefighters aboard were transported to a local hospital as a precaution and have since been released.
Healthcare Companies Boost Executive Security After CEO's Manhattan Slaying Healthcare Companies Boost Executive Security After CEO's Manhattan Slaying
Healthcare Companies Boost Executive Security After CEO's Manhattan Slaying Healthcare companies are intensifying security measures for their executives following the targeted fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in midtown Manhattan this week. The incident prompted security officials at major companies to hold a conference call on Wednesday, Dec. 4, the day of the shooting, to assess risks for their senior leadership teams, according to the Financial Times. “Could this happen to us? What are we not doing today that we could be doing?" Dave Komendat, founder of a risk management service told the outlet. "These were the questions chief sec…
Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams
Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams As the holiday shopping season begins, the IRS reminds everyone that it’s not just your credit card balance you need to watch — it’s also your personal information. As part of its ninth annual National Tax Security Awareness Week, the IRS is warning taxpayers about a rise in holiday scams.  The scammers aren’t interested in gifts under your tree; they’re after your Social Security number and financial information instead. Here’s how scammers are getting creative—and how you can stay safe: Phishing Emails: Be wary of emails pretending to be from reputable retailers, shipping companie…