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Kidnapper Calls Victim From CT Prison Asking Her To Rescind Protective Order, Police Say Kidnapper Calls Victim From CT Prison Asking Her To Rescind Protective Order, Police Say
Kidnapper Calls Victim From CT Prison Asking Her To Rescind Protective Order, Police Say A convicted kidnapper is accused of contacting his victim from a Connecticut prison in violation of a court order. Thomas Ibbison, age 37, was arraigned in New London Superior Court on Wednesday, Aug. 7, on charges he violated a standing criminal protective order. Connecticut State Police said Ibbison, who is serving a six-year sentence at the Cheshire Correctional Institution in Cheshire after pleaded guilty to kidnapping and witness tampering, called the victim on multiple occasions in April 2024. The woman contacted police in June 2024 saying Ibbison had called her on two consecutive da…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Breeze Airways Adding Nonstop Service From Westchester County Airport To This Sunny Destination Breeze Airways Adding Nonstop Service From Westchester County Airport To This Sunny Destination
Breeze Airways Adding Nonstop Service From Westchester County Airport To This Sunny Destination You’ll soon have more options when it comes to booking that Florida vacation. Breeze Airways is expanding its service from New York and Connecticut to the Sunshine State, the airline announced Wednesday, Aug. 7. Starting this fall, customers can book nonstop flights from both Westchester County Airport and Long Island MacArthur Airport to Sarasota, Florida. The airline is also adding nonstop service from Westchester to Daytona Beach, Florida. The Westchester to Sarasota route will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays starting Thursday, Oct. 31, while flights to Daytona Beach will be av…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Big Lots To Close Hundreds More Stores, Including Several In Massachusetts Big Lots To Close Hundreds More Stores, Including Several In Massachusetts
Big Lots To Close Hundreds More Stores, Including Several In Massachusetts It's more bad news for discount retailer Big Lots. The nationwide chain announced in June that it would close 40 stores following dismal sales and rising costs, but in a new filing last week, the company said it may need to shutter nearly 300 locations — several of them in the Northeast.  Big Lots announced in a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday, Aug. 2, that under an updated term sheet, the company would need to close 20 percent of its 1,392 stores — about 290 in all.  Here are some of the local closures. Connecticut — Eight stores Manchester — 1…

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by Josh Lanier
News
You Can Audition For 'American Idol' Virtually — As Long As You Were Born Between These Dates You Can Audition For 'American Idol' Virtually — As Long As You Were Born Between These Dates
You Can Audition For 'American Idol' Virtually — As Long As You Were Born Between These Dates Are you the next "American Idol?" The popular ABC singing competition is holding virtual auditions for the upcoming season this month and next. As long as you are of a certain age (scroll down for audition dates). According to the "American Idol" casting application website, contestants must be born between June 2, 1995 and Feb. 15, 2010.  Additionally, contestants must be legal U.S. residents authorized to participate in the entire competition. Auditions for residents in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania via Zoom will be Wednesday, Aug. 21.  Virginia re…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
36-Year-Old Killed In 2-Vehicle CT Crash 36-Year-Old Killed In 2-Vehicle CT Crash
36-Year-Old Killed In 2-Vehicle CT Crash A 36-year-old Connecticut man was killed during a two-vehicle crash. The collision occurred in New Haven County around 3:40 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, at East Main Street and Paddock Avenue in Meriden. According to Sgt. Michael Boothroyd of the Meriden Police, Juan Cruz of Meriden, who was driving an orange HondaCBR600 motorcycle, was found lying on the roadway when officers responded to the scene. Meriden Fire Department and Hunter’s Ambulance personnel began life-saving measures.  They transported Cruz to the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, where he di…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Stop & Shop Issues New Guidance To Customers After Massive Boar's Head Deli Meat Recall Expands Stop & Shop Issues New Guidance To Customers After Massive Boar's Head Deli Meat Recall Expands
Stop & Shop Issues New Guidance To Customers After Massive Boar's Head Deli Meat Recall Expands Stop & Shop has issued new guidance to customers after a massive recall of Boar's Head deli meats has expanded by seven million pounds due to the threat of Listeria contamination. The US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the recall expansion includes 71 products produced between Friday, May 10, and Monday, July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. The products, all made at Boar's Head's facility in Jarratt, Virginia, have “sell by” dates ranging from 29 July 2024 to 17 Oct. 24. The products shipped to retailers bear the …

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
This Locale Is Best Place To Live For Families In CT, New Rankings Say This Locale Is Best Place To Live For Families In CT, New Rankings Say
This Locale Is Best Place To Live For Families In CT, New Rankings Say A municipality in Connecticut made the Top 50 list of Fortune’s third annual national rankings of the Best Places To Live For Families list. The city of Stamford, located in Fairfield County, came in at No. 32 in the country by offering the best of both urban and suburban worlds, the report said. Located about an hour away from New York City by train, Stamford offers residents quiet but friendly neighborhoods and a thriving downtown full of top-notch restaurants, theaters, art galleries, shopping, a ballet company, and symphony, and plenty of music and entertainment. With 136,480 residents…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
$1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company $1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company
$1.5M Con: Ex-Employee Admits Defrauding CT Insurance Company A former employee from Pennsylvania admitted to defrauding a Connecticut insurance company to the tune of $1.5 million. James Keating, age 52, of Paoli, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in New Haven federal court on Tuesday, July 30. Prosecutors said Keating – who served as assistant vice president and a surety bond claims handler at Hartford County-based Allied World Insurance Company in Farmington – created a shell company to bill Allied World for unnecessary claims work that was never performed. Between 2017 and 2021, he also solicited and received kickbacks from Allied World…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Ex-CT Swim Coach Accused Of Voyeurism Ex-CT Swim Coach Accused Of Voyeurism
Ex-CT Swim Coach Accused Of Voyeurism A former Connecticut swim coach wanted for voyeurism on an out-of-state warrant was nabbed by US Marshals. Hartford County resident David Laudati, age 41, of Newington, was arrested on Monday, July 29, by the US Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Newington Police Department at his home in Newington. According to Matthew Duffy, spokesman for the US Marshals, Laudati is charged in Maricopa County, Arizona, with 11 counts of voyeurism and eight counts of attempted voyeurism stemming from allegations following a September 2023 investigation by the Buckeye Police Department.  Bef…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Eyeglass Retailer Warby Parker To Open New Location At Danbury Fair Mall Eyeglass Retailer Warby Parker To Open New Location At Danbury Fair Mall
Eyeglass Retailer Warby Parker To Open New Location At Danbury Fair Mall Mega eyewear retailer Warby Parker is opening its newest Fairfield County location just in time for school and summer shopping. The store will open at the Danbury Fair Mall on Saturday, July 27, and will offer the latest styles at rock-bottom prices. For years, the business was known as an online brand where you can have five pairs of glasses shipped to you to "try on." However, it became so popular that it opened retail stores with funky artwork by famous and up-and-coming artists. Warby Parker Officials said the new store will be located on the second floor between Zales and Starbucks…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Get Ready For 20,000 Kinds Of Drinks When 7 Brew Opens New Stand In Connecticut Get Ready For 20,000 Kinds Of Drinks When 7 Brew Opens New Stand In Connecticut
Get Ready For 20,000 Kinds Of Drinks When 7 Brew Opens New Stand In Connecticut A new drink drive-thru coffee stand, 7 Brew, is set to open another Connecticut location this Fall. Known for its 20,000 different kinds of drinks ranging from coffee, smoothies, shakes, and teas, 7 Brew will open in New Haven County in Wallingford in September. Gracie Hughes, a spokesperson for the company, said the future coffee stand was dropped on site and will be located at 905 N. Colony Road. 7 Brew More than your standard coffee stand, 7 Brew offers an extensive variety of unique drink combinations. From the original Blondie, a caramel and vanilla brew, to 7 Energy smoothies, shak…

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by Kathy Reakes
Business
Stop & Shop Temporarily Closes Delis After Boar's Head Recall Of Meats Stop & Shop Temporarily Closes Delis After Boar's Head Recall Of Meats
Stop & Shop Temporarily Closes Delis After Boar's Head Recall Of Meats Stop & Shop is temporarily closing delis after a Boar’s Head deli meat recall in order to conduct a thorough cleaning of its deli areas and equipment.  Click here for a new, updated story: Boar's Head Expands Deli Meat Recall To Include 7,000,000 Extra Pounds The supermarket chain said on Friday, July 26 that it has "removed all impacted products from sale both in stores and online." The recall was issued due to possible Listeria contamination of Boar's head meat products. Stop & Shop said that, "In an abundance of caution, because this product is sliced in stores," it has …

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by Joe Lombardi