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Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Obituaries
Boy, 5, Who Fell Into Connecticut River Has Died; Police ID Him Boy, 5, Who Fell Into Connecticut River Has Died; Police ID Him
Boy, 5, Who Fell Into Connecticut River Has Died; Police ID Him The 5-year-old boy who fell into the Connecticut River in Middlesex County last week while kayaking has died, authorities said.  Jaxon Podbielski, of Higganum, was kayaking with an adult and fell into the water around 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct 26, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. It's unclear how long he remained in the water before his father pulled him out.  WTNH reported the child suffered pediatric cardiac arrest when he was pulled from the water. Original Report: 5-Year-Old In Critical Condition Following Kayaking Mishap Haddam paramedics …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Friends Remember Men Killed In CT Boat Crash After Police ID Victims Friends Remember Men Killed In CT Boat Crash After Police ID Victims
Friends Remember Men Killed In CT Boat Crash After Police ID Victims Friends and family are remembering two victims of a Long Island Sound boat crash that killed three and sent six others to the hospital in Connecticut. New London County residents Ian Duchemin, age 25, of Oakdale, and Ryan D. Britagna, age 24, of Waterford, were killed on Monday, Sept. 2, when their boat hit the break wall at the mouth of the Connecticut River, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said. Searchers found their bodies on Friday, Sept. 6. Middlesex County resident Christopher Hallahan, age 34, of Westbrook, also died in the crash ne…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Bodies Of Missing Danbury Men Found In Candlewood Lake Bodies Of Missing Danbury Men Found In Candlewood Lake
Bodies Of Missing Danbury Men Found In Candlewood Lake The bodies of two Fairfield County men who were missing after jumping from a boat in Candlewood Lake have been recovered by police. Related: New Update: Missing Candlewood Lake Swimmers ID'd As Men Ages 38, 26 The two men, identified as 26-year-old and 38-year-old Danbury residents, were found by the Connecticut State Police dive team and the Danbury Police dive team in Candlewood Lake in Danbury on Thursday, July 18. The names of the victims have not been released pending notification of family.  According to James Fowler, a spokesperson for the state Department of Energy and…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Search Resumes For 2 Missing Swimmers In Candlewood Lake Search Resumes For 2 Missing Swimmers In Candlewood Lake
Search Resumes For 2 Missing Swimmers In Candlewood Lake An extensive search and rescue mission will resume early on Tuesday, July 16, for two men who jumped from a boat in a Fairfield County lake and never resurfaced. The incident occurred in Danbury at around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, July 16, at Candlewood Lake in the area of City Island. According to Erin Henry, spokesperson for the Danbury Fire Department, it was reported that two men had jumped off a boat into the lake and disappeared. Henry said rescue crews immediately began search and rescue efforts, using boats equipped with sonar and underwater imaging equipment to help locate the men. H…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
21-Year-Old Pulled From CT Reservoir Was Talented Musician At CCSU 21-Year-Old Pulled From CT Reservoir Was Talented Musician At CCSU
21-Year-Old Pulled From CT Reservoir Was Talented Musician At Ccsu A man pulled from Connecticut reservoir was a talented musician who attended Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, according to the university.  Related: ID Released For 21-Year-Old Who Drowned In Oxford Reservoir Kai Thomas Boapeah, age 21, who has ties to Ghana, Africa, and Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the town of Dudley, was recovered in New Haven County on Thursday, June 20, in Seymour Reservoir #2 in New Haven County in Oxford. The state medical examiner has ruled Boapeah’s death as an accidental drowning. He had been residing with friends in Waterb…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
ID Released For 21-Year-Old Who Drowned In CT Reservoir ID Released For 21-Year-Old Who Drowned In CT Reservoir
ID Released For 21-Year-Old Who Drowned In CT Reservoir A 21-year-old man who died after being pulled from a reservoir has been identified by police.  Related: 21-Year-Old Dies After Being Pulled From Oxford Reservoir The person recovered in New Haven County on Thursday, June 20, in Seymour Reservoir #2 in Oxford has been identified as Kai Thomas Boapeah, from Ghana, Africa.  He had been residing with friends in Waterbury, said Will Healey, spokesman for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Healey said DEEP Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police, along with Oxford Police, Oxford Fire, and the Region 5…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
21-Year-Old Dies After Being Pulled From CT Reservoir 21-Year-Old Dies After Being Pulled From CT Reservoir
21-Year-Old Dies After Being Pulled From CT Reservoir A 21-year-old Connecticut man died after being pulled from a reservoir designated not for swimming. The incident occurred in New Haven County on Thursday, June 20, at the Seymour Reservoir No. 2 in Oxford. According to Will Healey, spokesman for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, DEEP Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police, along with Oxford Police, Oxford Fire, and the Region 5 Dive Team, responded to a report of a swimmer who went underwater and did not resurface at the reservoir.  A 21-year-old man was recovered by the dive team unconscious and unresponsive …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Adult Male Bear Shot, Killed By CT Business Owner In Self-Defense Adult Male Bear Shot, Killed By CT Business Owner In Self-Defense
Adult Male Bear Shot, Killed By CT Business Owner In Self-Defense A Connecticut business owner who was cleaning up trash from around a garbage dumpster shot and killed a bear that approached him. The incident occurred in Hartford County early Monday, June 3, in Canton. Paul Copleman, spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the bear, an adult male, had gotten into the "unsecured" dumpster. The business owner, who was not named, was cleaning up the mess when the bear returned.  Copleman said wildlife personnel and EnConn police responded to the scene.  He did not release details regarding the shootin…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Reported Dead Swan Revealed To Be Decoy In CT: 'They Looked Pretty Real To Us' Reported Dead Swan Revealed To Be Decoy In CT: 'They Looked Pretty Real To Us'
Reported Dead Swan Revealed To Be Decoy In CT: 'They Looked Pretty Real To Us' A scene that could have proved quite morbid soon turned light-hearted when a swan reported to be dead at a Connecticut golf course turned out to be fake instead.  The incident played out in New Haven County on Thursday afternoon, Jan. 18, when Wallingford Animal Control received calls from several residents reporting a dead swan on a pond at Farms Country Club.  Animal control officials then prepared for the depressing task of collecting the deceased bird. However, after extensive talks with Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officials and several licensed wild…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Man Killed After Truck Strikes Car, Overturns Into Ditch On CT Road Man Killed After Truck Strikes Car, Overturns Into Ditch On CT Road
Man Killed After Truck Strikes Car, Overturns Into Ditch On CT Road A 39-year-old man was killed after losing control of his truck on a Connecticut road and hitting another car before overturning into a ditch, police said.  The crash happened in New London County on Sunday, Dec. 10 just after 5 p.m., when a Dodge Ram driven by 39-year-old Matthew Babcock of Lisbon was traveling north around a curve in the area of 509 Route 164 in Preston, according to state police. Babcock then lost control of the truck and slid into the southbound lane, colliding with a Toyota Camry. This crash caused the Dodge Ram to overturn into a ditch and come to a final rest on …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Moose Spotted Near CT Highway: Drivers Should Watch Out, Officials Say Moose Spotted Near CT Highway: Drivers Should Watch Out, Officials Say
Moose Spotted Near CT Highway: Drivers Should Watch Out, Officials Say State environmental officials are warning drivers to be cautious after a moose was spotted near a busy Connecticut highway exit. The warning came as the result of a sighting on Tuesday, Oct. 17, when a moose was seen in Hartford County near Exit 40 on Interstate 91 southbound in Windsor Locks, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced.  According to DEEP officials, the large animals can "pose hazard potential" to drivers, especially during the early morning and evening hours when they are most active. There are currently estimated to be just over 100 moose in the…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Truck Leaking Sewage On I-95 Stretch In Fairfield County Causes Multiple Crashes Truck Leaking Sewage On I-95 Stretch In Fairfield County Causes Multiple Crashes
Truck Leaking Sewage On I-95 Stretch In Fairfield County Causes Multiple Crashes A tractor-trailer leaking sewage on a stretch of I-95 in Connecticut aused multiple crashes and spin-outs, including two state police vehicles. The incident took place in Fairfield County around 11 p.m. Monday, July 17 on the northbound side in Bridgeport near Exit 28, said the Connecticut State Police. According to state police, a 34-year-old New Haven County man identified as Shaky Joseph of Waterbury knew the truck was leaking human waste in the travel lanes causing slick conditions. He exited the highway at the Route 8 Exit 17, and was called by his employer to stop and wait for state …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Bobcat Attacks Man Sleeping In Hammock At CT State Park Bobcat Attacks Man Sleeping In Hammock At CT State Park
Bobcat Attacks Man Sleeping In Hammock At CT State Park A bobcat attacked an adult camper at a Connecticut state park. The attack took place during the early morning hours of Friday, June 30 in New London County at Selden Neck Island in Selden Neck State Park in Lyme. Paul Copleman, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), said the man was sleeping in a hammock when he was attacked,  The man and two other adult computers killed the bobcat, he added. All three adults were taken to a local hospital for treatment.  The adults were leading a group of youth campers at the time, and it is believ…

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by Kathy Reakes
Weather
Canadian Fires: Air Quality 'Unhealthy' Across State, DEEP Warns Of Health Hazards Canadian Fires: Air Quality 'Unhealthy' Across State, DEEP Warns Of Health Hazards
Canadian Fires: Air Quality 'Unhealthy' Across State, Deep Warns Of Health Hazards Connecticut officials have issued a new warn for residents to expect heavy smoke conditions as wildfires continue to burn in Canada. Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) officials said the levels for Wednesday, June 7 have exceeded "unhealthy" for the entire state. That's especially worrisome for small children, people suffering from respiratory problems and the elderly, DEEP said.  Earlier report - Air Quality Alert: Widespread Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Lingers Throughout Region "When air quality is forecasted to be unhealthy, there is an increased …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Large Moose Spotted In CT In Same Area Where 2 Others Were Killed Large Moose Spotted In CT In Same Area Where 2 Others Were Killed
Large Moose Spotted In CT In Same Area Where 2 Others Were Killed Officials are warning residents and motorists to use caution after another large moose was spotted in Connecticut. The moose was spotted in Hartford County in Bloomfield just three days after two were killed on I-91 by motorists just two miles away. The Bloomfield Police said the moose was spotted in the area of Ellsworth Drive on Saturday, May 20. Earlier report: Second Moose, Struck, Killed By Car In Hartland The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection also put out a warning on Twitter, asking residents to please not approach the animal and to use caution when driving especia…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Second Moose Killed In Crash On CT Roadway Second Moose Killed In Crash On CT Roadway
Second Moose Killed In Crash On CT Roadway A second moose has been hit and killed in Connecticut by a vehicle on the same day. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) says the moose was killed in Hartford County around 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, in Hartland on Route 179. No injuries were reported in the crash. The moose was an approximately 550-pound male and was estimated to be 1 to 2 years old, DEEP said. The crash follows a moose fatality from a motor vehicle collision earlier in the day. That incident took place in New Haven County around 6:50 a.m., Wednesday, in North Haven on northbound Route 15 -…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Black Bear Bites CT Woman Walking Dog Black Bear Bites CT Woman Walking Dog
Black Bear Bites CT Woman Walking Dog A Connecticut woman is recovering after being bitten by a black bear while walking her dog along a roadway. The incident took place in Hartford County early Friday, April 21 in the town of Avon. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, a 74-year-old woman was walking her dog on a leash along Berkshire Crossing Road when a female black bear approached and bit her.  The woman received non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by EMS personnel to a local hospital, DEEP officials said. The bear was humanely euthanized at the scene, they added…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Jackknifed Tractor-Trailer Spills Fuel On Snow-Covered I-84 Stretch Jackknifed Tractor-Trailer Spills Fuel On Snow-Covered I-84 Stretch
Jackknifed Tractor-Trailer Spills Fuel On Snow-Covered I-84 Stretch Fuel had to be cleaned from a snow-covered stretch of Interstate 84  in Connecticut following a crash involving a tractor-trailer.  The crash happened in Tolland County on Tuesday morning, Feb. 28, when an Amazon tractor-trailer crashed on Interstate 84 westbound in Willington between Exit 71 and Exit 72, according to state police.  The tractor-trailer became jackknifed and spilled fuel as a result of the crash, police said. Officials from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Environmental Services, Inc. then responded to the scene and were able to clean up the s…

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by Ben Crnic
Police & Fire
Foraging Bear Sighted In New Canaan: Police Warn Of Encounters Foraging Bear Sighted In New Canaan: Police Warn Of Encounters
Foraging Bear Sighted In New Canaan: Police Warn Of Encounters After several sightings in New Canaan, police are warning residents that bears do not hibernate all winter and may come out to find food. The warning came after a bear was spotted on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m. in New Canaan on North Wilton Road, according to New Canaan Police. The bear was spotted in New Canaan on North Wilton Road.Google Maps The bear was likely looking for food in bird feeders and garbage cans, according to authorities. "Bears do not hibernate all winter and will forage for food. Please know that bird feeders and accessible garb…

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by Ben Crnic
News
225-Pound Black Bear That Attacked Connecticut Boy Had 'Rare Pieces Of Macaroni' In Stomach 225-Pound Black Bear That Attacked Connecticut Boy Had 'Rare Pieces Of Macaroni' In Stomach
225-Pound Black Bear That Attacked Connecticut Boy Had 'Rare Pieces Of Macaroni' In Stomach A 225-pound black bear that attacked a 10-year-old boy had rare pieces of macaroni in his stomach, according to a necropsy. The male bear attacked the boy in Litchfield County on Sunday, Oct. 16, as he played in his grandparent's yard in the town of Morris. Following the attack, which left the boy with non-life-threatening injuries including claw marks on his back and injuries to his leg, the bear was euthanized. The report, released by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Thursday, Oct. 20,  said “rare pieces of macaroni” were found in the bear’s stomac…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Black Bear That Attacked 10-Year-Old CT Boy Tested For Rabies Black Bear That Attacked 10-Year-Old CT Boy Tested For Rabies
Black Bear That Attacked 10-Year-Old CT Boy Tested For Rabies A bear that attacked a 10-year-old Connecticut boy has been tested for rabies as a precaution. The bear attacked the boy in Litchfield County on Sunday, Oct. 16, in his grandparent's yard in Morris. Following the attack, which left the boy with non-life-threatening injuries including claw marks on his back and injuries to his leg, was euthanized shortly after the attack. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says the black bear was tested for rabies and the test has come back negative. Earlier report: New Details Emerge After Morris 10-Year-Old Boy Attacked By Black …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Butchered Ram Found Near River In Fairfield County Butchered Ram Found Near River In Fairfield County
Butchered Ram Found Near River In Fairfield County A butchered sheep was found near a river near a candle and white powder in Fairfield County. The incident took place in Easton on Sunday, Aug. 21 when a hiker found the dead sheep near the Mill River at South Park Avenue and Buck Hill Road. When officers arrived, they found a candle that was burned out and some sort of white powder poured on the ground in a rectangular pattern approximately 15 feet away, said Easton Police Chief Richard Doyle. "The investigation determined that the animal was an adult Ram male which had been professionally butchered elsewhere and dumped at the site," Doyle…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
'Remain Calm': CT DEEP Offers Guidance For Snake Encounters 'Remain Calm': CT DEEP Offers Guidance For Snake Encounters
'Remain Calm': CT Deep Offers Guidance For Snake Encounters During the time of year when snakes are most active, Connecticut officials have released guidance on how residents should react when encountering snakes on their property.  Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) issued the guidance on Friday, July 29. “Snakes are often needlessly killed by people because of mistaken identity, fear, and misunderstanding,” said Jenny Dickson, DEEP Wildlife Division director. “If you unexpectedly come across a snake, the snake is likely as startled as you are. The best course of action is to remain calm. All snakes will ret…

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by Nicole Valinote
News
CT Rock Climber Rescued After Being Stuck For Hours On Cliff, Officials Say CT Rock Climber Rescued After Being Stuck For Hours On Cliff, Officials Say
CT Rock Climber Rescued After Being Stuck For Hours On Cliff, Officials Say A rock climber was rescued by a technical rescue team after his leg became lodged in between two rocks for more than three hours. The incident took place in Windham County in Killingly on Wednesday, July 27 at Ross Cliffs in Old Furnace State Park.  The Killingly Fire Department and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to a report of an adult male who got his leg stuck between two rocks while rock climbing at Ross Cliffs in Old Furnace State Park near the Ross Pond Boat Launch in Killingly, said Will Healy, spokesman for DEEP. The South Killingly Multi-Agenc…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
ID Released For CT Fatal Boating Accident Victim ID Released For CT Fatal Boating Accident Victim
ID Released For CT Fatal Boating Accident Victim State officials have released the identity of a person killed during a boating accident on the Connecticut River that also injured seven, two of them children. The incident in Middlesex County, in the town of Portland in the area of Gildersleeve Island on Sunday, July 10. The preliminary investigation by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection revealed that a 21-foot Yamaha jet boat was traveling north on the river when it suddenly veered toward the shoreline, said James Fowler, of DEEP. The vessel ultimately collided with rocks on the bank of the river. As a resul…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Off-Duty Ridgefield Cop Who Killed Beloved Bear Won't Be Charged Off-Duty Ridgefield Cop Who Killed Beloved Bear Won't Be Charged
Off-Duty Ridgefield Cop Who Killed Beloved Bear Won't Be Charged An off-duty Fairfield County police officer who killed a beloved local bear will not be charged. Bobbi the black bear was killed on Thursday, May 12 in Newtown by Ridgefield police officer Lawrence Clarke. Last week, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection found that based on an investigation there is "insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against the homeowner." The incident, which left two bear cubs orphaned, began when Clarke reported to DEEP he shot the bear after numerous encounters with the same bear, known to the state as bear #217, over multiple d…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Here's What New Sweeping CT Emissions-Reduction Law Means To You Here's What New Sweeping CT Emissions-Reduction Law Means To You
Here's What New Sweeping CT Emissions-Reduction Law Means To You Connecticut is joining many of its neighboring states in adopting new emissions standards for medium and heavy-duty vehicles to improve air quality across the state. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced that state lawmakers approved legislation that would see the state adopt California’s emissions standards, similar to neighboring Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. According to Lamont, the new standards “will ensure that manufacturers are producing cleaner vehicles and offering them for sale in Connecticut, giving prospective consumers more options while reducing a major source of in…

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by Zak Failla
News
IDs Released For Two Killed In Boating Accident Off Fairfield County Coast IDs Released For Two Killed In Boating Accident Off Fairfield County Coast
IDs Released For Two Killed In Boating Accident Off Fairfield County Coast State officials have released the identities of two men killed in a boating accident off the coast of Fairfield County. The men have been identified as Cristofer Cifuentes, age 26, and Ludyn Cifuentes, age 41, both of New York City, said Will Healy, spokesman for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The men were found with two other boaters who were pulled from the cold waters of Long Island Sound off of West Beach in Stamford, following a boating accident on Sunday, April 17, Healy said. The two other men remain in critical condition. See Earlier Story: Secon…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Fire Breaks Out At Pepperidge Farm Facility In CT Fire Breaks Out At Pepperidge Farm Facility In CT
Fire Breaks Out At Pepperidge Farm Facility In CT A tent fire with several drums of toxic chemicals underneath halted production at a Connecticut Pepperidge Farm bakery plant. The incident took place around 4:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, at the bakery in Hartford County located at 1414 Blue Hills Ave. in Bloomfield. According to Blue Hills Fire Chief Willie Jones, firefighters arriving on the scene found several drums containing about 200 gallons of sulfuric acid under a tent-life structure burning. Afraid the chemicals could cause a hazard, the building was evacuated and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was ca…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
Connecticut AG Issues Consumer Warning As Gas Prices Spike Connecticut AG Issues Consumer Warning As Gas Prices Spike
Connecticut AG Issues Consumer Warning As Gas Prices Spike With gas prices rising to record highs in Connecticut, Attorney General William Tong is cautioning consumers to be aware of potential price gouging at the pump. In Connecticut, the price of gas has risen to an average of $4.28 per gallon, the highest rate the state has recorded since May 2012. Earlier story - Here's Breakdown By County On How Much Gas Prices Have Increased In CT Since Last Week State statute requires that the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) monitor the wholesale price of gasoline in the Hartford and New Haven areas, officials noted. When the who…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Police Warn Residents Two Coyotes Have Been Seen In Fairfield County Police Warn Residents Two Coyotes Have Been Seen In Fairfield County
Police Warn Residents Two Coyotes Have Been Seen In Fairfield County Police are warning residents that two coyotes have been seen in Fairfield County. Officials said early Wednesday, Sept. 8, they have been notified by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that the two coyotes were spotted in Norwalk around Flax Hill Park. They are reminding residents of steps to take in the event they encounter the animals or to prevent coyotes from coming into their yards. Pet owners are urged to keep their dogs leashed and insight. If they are in the yard, homes should have coyote-proof fencing. Never feed coyotes, and remove bird feeders, fallen f…

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by Kathy Reakes