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CT Funeral Home Owner Launches Campaign To Help Victims Of Alleged $70K Funeral Scam
A group is working to help victims of an alleged Connecticut funeral scam involving a former funeral home owner accused of embezzling more than $70,000 from funds meant for burials and other services, to allegedly fuel his gambling habit.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was arrested Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Dozens of people had given Pietras money intended for escrow accounts, which would have been available to cover funeral costs when needed, police said. They later learned the money was never deposited, and now they mu…
Walgreens Announces Dozens Of Upcoming Store Closures, Including 4 CT Locations
Walgreens announced this past fall that it will close about 1,200 stores over three years amid a decline in prescription drug payments and a rise in online competition.
About 500 of those closures will be in 2025.
Now, the locations of some of the specific stores slated to go out of business are emerging and being posted at walgreens.com.
Connecticut
East Hartford, 922 Silver Lane: Permanently closing on Tuesday, May 20.
East Haven, 157 Main Street: Permanently closing on Thursday, May 22.
New Britain, 1350 Stanley Street: Permanently closing on Monday, May 19.
New Milford, 173 Danbury R…
CT Funeral Home Owner Stole $71K From Clients to Fund Gambling, Shopping Sprees: Police
A Connecticut funeral home owner was arrested this week after police said he embezzled $71,000 from mentally and physically disabled clients, using the funds to gamble, shop, and dine out.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was taken into custody on Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Police began investigating Pietras in October 2024 after a financial agency that manages funds for disabled adults reported discrepancies in payments sent to one of Pietras’ funeral homes.
Pietras owns four funeral homes, including Bassinger and Do…
Ex-CT High Coach Sent Student Nude Photos, Inappropriately Touched Them: Cops
Update: The former Somers High School assistant coach, now a Springfield police officer, has been suspended from the force after his arrest this week. Click here for more information.
Original: A 27-year-old former assistant coach at a Connecticut high school was arrested Tuesday, April 1, after a student told police he had inappropriately touched her, sent nude photos on social media, and tried to lure her into his hotel room during a tournament, authorities said.
Justin Perez, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was charged with second-degree sexual assault, criminal attempt at second-de…
CT Cities Fall Behind For St. Patrick's Day Celebrations, New Study Says: See The Full List
Every year, some Northeast and mid-Atlantic cities really feel the luck of the Irish more than others.
St. Patrick's Day traditions vary widely along the East Coast. Some cities are steeped in Irish tradition with huge parades, historic pubs, and thriving Irish communities, while others lack massive celebrations.
WalletHub released its 2025 list of Best Cities for St. Patrick's Day Celebrations on Wednesday, Mar. 12. The study ranked 200 US cities based on holiday traditions, Irish pubs per capita, affordability, safety, and even weather.
WalletHub projects that Americans wi…
Northeast Cities Among Most Diverse In US: Here's What A New Study Says
The US population is rapidly diversifying, with cities in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic at the forefront, according to a new study.
WalletHub released its 2025 ranking of the nation's Most Diverse Cities on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Three Maryland communities topped the list of 501 locations, which were evaluated based on socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious diversity.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10.2 percent of Americans identified as multiracial in 2020, a sharp increase from just 2.9 percent in 2010.
"The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many …
Mom, Infant Son Gunned Down In CT Drive-By, Shooter Arrested In Puerto Rico: Police
A 23-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a young mother and her infant son in Connecticut was arrested in Puerto Rico, authorities announced.
Lance Morales, the suspect in the drive-by shooting that killed 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, was taken into custody Saturday, Nov. 23, by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Marshal Service said.
He was found at a home in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and is being held on a $3 million bond.
The incident unfolded earlier this week when officers responded to Hartford Hospital after a vehicle arriv…
Police ID Man Who Stole Car With Baby Inside In Western Mass
Police have identified the man who sparked a statewide Amber Alert when he stole a vehicle in Western Massachusetts, on Friday morning, March 29, that had a 3-year-old baby inside.
Vadim Vorobyov, age 52, of Springfield, is charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and fugitive from justice in Connecticut and is also expected to be charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and motor vehicle larceny in Massachusetts, State Police said.
Vorobyov stole the running car when he came across it outside of a home on Exchange Street in Chicopee around 8:40 a.m., police said. T…
Woman Charged In Crash Killing Beloved Raveis Real Estate Family Member
New Update: Woman Who Hit, Killed Meghan Raveis Had 3 Kids In Jeep, Warrant Says
A Connecticut woman has been arrested in the fatal crash that killed a well-known mother of three from the region who was a member of the William Raveis Real Estate Company family.
On Monday, July 17, crash investigators arrested the driver responsible for the death of Fairfield County resident and Massachusetts native Meghan Raveis, age 45, following the Friday, June 23 crash in the town oF Fairfield.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Northern Fairfield County resident Meghan Rice, age 51, of Newtown,…
(Update) Amber ALERT: Girl, 4, Abducted In Western Mass Found Safe
New update:
Police say they located 4-year-old Cortana Goncalves in a trailer park in Cheshire, Massachusetts, in Berkshire County. She is safe.
Brandee Arnold, the girl's mother, was arrested and is being returned to Springfield.
Original report:
State police have issued an Amber Alert after a young girl was kidnapped from Springfield by her non-custodial, biological mother.
Brandee Arnold, age 32, is accused of taking her 4-year-old daughter, Cortana Concalves, on Thursday, June 22, Massachusetts State Police said. Arnold is believed to be driving a gray 2010 Honda Ac…
