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Ct-based Pet, Garden Retail Chain Closing After 40 Years: 'We'll Miss Every Tail Wag'
A popular retailer of pet and garden supplies in southern New England is shutting down after four decades.
Smithland Pet & Garden Center will close all 13 of its stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the company said in a news release on Monday, May 5. Originally launching in 1985, Smithland was previously known as myAgway, as well as Dave's Soda and Pet City.
The chain offering pet supplies, gardening goods, wild bird seed, and backyard furniture will begin storewide sales on Tuesday, May 6.
"This is not a goodbye without deep gratitude," Smithfield said. "Our love f…
Trump Lies About $1.98 Gas: See Where That Number Likely Came From
President Donald Trump says gas is down to $1.98 a gallon, but that number doesn't exist at any pump in the country.
In early May, Trump has repeatedly claimed gas has fallen below $2 a gallon. He made the claim in the White House, social media posts, and during an interview with NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, May 4.
Trump also said gas was $1.98 a gallon when speaking with ABC News on Tuesday, April 29, at the end of his first 100 days back in the Oval Office.
"So now, if you look at what's happened, energy is down," Trump said. "Gasoline hit $1.98 in a few states during the last co…
Motel Murderer Claims Woman He Killed Is Alive, Gets Max 40 Years
A New York native who claimed his victim was still alive has been sentenced to the maximum prison term for beating her to death in a Luzerne County motel room, authorities announced.
Joseph Alan Sarmiento, 40, of Quakertown, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in state prison on Thursday, May 1, for the third-degree murder of Helena Johnson, 38, of Massachusetts, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Sarmiento had been staying with Johnson at the Red Carpet Inn on North Church Street in Hazle Township in June 2021 when, investigators say, he fatally beat her and left her body in the bathtu…
Unemployment Claims Surge, GDP Shrinks As Recession Fears Rise Under Trump
Unemployment claims unexpectedly rose as the US economy shrank amid President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, further escalating concerns of a coming recession.
Initial unemployment claims jumped to 241,000 for the week ending Monday, April 26, according to Department of Labor data released on Thursday, May 1. That's the largest weekly number since February and 18,000 more than the prior week.
The surge pushed the four-week moving average to 226,000 first unemployment claims. The 241,000 claims were also well above the Dow Jones estimate of 225,000, CNBC reported.
Continued…
Millions In CT Breathing Unhealthy Air, New Study Warns: Here's Why
Nearly half of all people in the United States, including millions across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to a new study.
The American Lung Association released its 2025 edition of the "State of the Air" report on Wednesday, April 23. The study, now in its 26th year, highlights troubling air quality trends in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The report found that 156 million people – about 46% of the U.S. population – are living in counties that earned failing grades f…
Dunkin', McDonald's, Subway Franchisees Fined $226K+ For Child Labor Violations In New England
The owners of nearly 90 Dunkin', McDonald's, and Subway restaurants across Massachusetts have been fined for violating child labor laws, officials said.
The three franchisees were cited for violating child labor laws at more than 88 locations, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in a news release on Tuesday, April 15. The companies punished were Cafua Management Company, The Brewster Company, and Knight Food Service.
The trio faces a combined $226,385 in penalties under separate settlements with the fair labor division of the attorney general's office.
"Our child labor laws exi…
