Fair 61°
Police & Fire
Fairfield County School Staffer Arrested For Being Drunk While Teaching Student, Police Say Fairfield County School Staffer Arrested For Being Drunk While Teaching Student, Police Say
Fairfield County School Staffer Arrested For Being Drunk While Teaching Student, Police Say A Fairfield County school speech and language pathologist has been arrested after police say she allegedly fell asleep and was possibly drunk while teaching a student. The incident took place around 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 23, when Westport Police were called to Greens Farms Elementary School for a report of a possibly impaired staff member, said Lieutenant David Wolf, of the Westport Police Department. According to Wolf, detectives learned that Michelle Babin, age 32, of Shelton, fell asleep while instructing a student. After finding Babin asleep, it took staff members at least 30 s…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Schools
COVID-19: CT Unveils New Guidance, Renews Commitment To Keep Schools Open COVID-19: CT Unveils New Guidance, Renews Commitment To Keep Schools Open
Covid-19: CT Unveils New Guidance, Renews Commitment To Keep Schools Open Though the positive COVID-19 infection rate in Connecticut has hit a new record high, the state is committed to keeping schools open amid the latest surge of fresh infections. During a COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 4, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said that despite the positivity rate topping 24 percent, the state has no intention to shut down schools and want to keep children in the classroom as long as possible. Connecticut Department of Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said during the briefing that the state is directing school nurses to concentrate more on what will keep students …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here's Number Of CT Cases Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here's Number Of CT Cases
Warning For Severe Flu Season Issued By Health Officials; Here's Number Of CT Cases A severe flu season could be on its way in Connecticut as health officials continue contending with the Omicron COVID-19 variant rapidly spreading throughout the country. As the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus continues to cause concern for health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert advising that the flu is back in full force after taking a back seat to the pandemic last winter. In Connecticut, according to the most recent report from the Department of Public Health, there are currently 1,265 patients admitted in state hospitals with influen…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
Public Health Alert Issued For Frozen Soup Products Public Health Alert Issued For Frozen Soup Products
Public Health Alert Issued For Frozen Soup Products Officials have issued a public health alert about frozen soup products that may contain undeclared allergens. Trader Ming's frozen chicken and vegetable wonton soup products may contain shrimp and pork, both of which are not declared on the product label, according to an announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Saturday, Dec. 18. The USDA added that shrimp is a known allergen. Officials said a recall hasn't been issued because it's believed the products aren't currently available for consumers to buy. The products were prod…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
Politics
Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts
Biden Nominates Caroline Kennedy, Figure Skater Michelle Kwan For Ambassador Posts A pair of prominent public figures have been tabbed for ambassadorships by President Joe Biden. The White House announced that Caroline Kennedy, age 64, the last surviving child of former President John F. Kennedy, has been nominated to serve as an ambassador to Australia after previously filling the same role in Japan for former President Barack Obama. “I am always grateful to the courageous Solomon Islanders and Australian coast watchers who rescued my father during World War 2, and if confirmed, I will work hard to repay this debt," Kennedy said in a statement. "I look forward to collabo…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Municipality In Fairfield County Bringing Back Mask Mandates To Town Buildings COVID-19: Municipality In Fairfield County Bringing Back Mask Mandates To Town Buildings
Covid-19: Municipality In Fairfield County Bringing Back Mask Mandates To Town Buildings With the number of new COVID-19 cases in Connecticut rising more rapidly than any other state, a Fairfield County town is taking steps to help curtail the further spread of the virus. Beginning on Monday, Nov. 29, all town employees and visitors must wear a mask indoor while inside municipality buildings in Trumbull, regardless of vaccination status, town officials announced. Earlier story - COVID-19: CT Sees New Rise In Virus Transmissions; Latest Case Breakdown By County, Community Only public-facing employees will be required to wear a mask, anyone in a private office will not be requir…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: CT Positive-Test Rate Rises To Highest Level In Six Weeks; New Case Breakdown COVID-19: CT Positive-Test Rate Rises To Highest Level In Six Weeks; New Case Breakdown
Covid-19: CT Positive-Test Rate Rises To Highest Level In Six Weeks; New Case Breakdown With the holidays approaching and the weather cooling down, the daily COVID-19 positivity rate in Connecticut has spiked to its highest level in six weeks, according to the latest data released by the state Department of Public Health. According to health officials on Tuesday, Nov. 9, there were 9,578 COVID-19 tests administered in Connecticut, resulting in 309 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus for a 3.23 percent daily positive infection rate. The rate is the highest positive infection rate since Friday, Sept. 17, when the number rose all the way to 4.22 percent. Twenty-five new COVI…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population COVID-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population
Covid-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population A new study has found widespread COVID-19 infections among deer populations in Iowa. Researchers from the Penn State University found that more than 80 percent of white-tailed deer sampled in parts of Iowa between December of 2020 and January of 2021 tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement from the university on Wednesday, Nov. 3. “We found that 80 percent of the sampled deer in December were positive for SARS-CoV-2, which proportionally represents about a 50-fold greater burden of positivity than what was reported at the peak of infection in humans at the time,” said Sur…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
News
Walmart Recalls Air Freshener Due To Dangerous Bacteria Linked To Two Deaths Walmart Recalls Air Freshener Due To Dangerous Bacteria Linked To Two Deaths
Walmart Recalls Air Freshener Due To Dangerous Bacteria Linked To Two Deaths Walmart has recalled about 3,900 bottles of room spray products due to the possible presence of a dangerous bacteria linked to two deaths in the United States. The recall was issued after tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that a bottle of the "Better Homes and Gardens Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones" contained rare bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, according to a report from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.  The room spray products were sold at about 55 Walmart locations across the country,…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
News
Salmonella Outbreak Now Linked To Onions, CDC Says Salmonella Outbreak Now Linked To Onions, CDC Says
Salmonella Outbreak Now Linked To Onions, CDC Says Click here for a new, updated story: The CDC is alerting the public to a new salmonella outbreak. A salmonella outbreak with illnesses in 37 states has now been linked to onions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced. "Throw away any unlabeled onions at home," the CDC said in a statement on Wednesday, Oct. 20.  Fresh whole red, white, and yellow onions were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico, and distributed by ProSource Inc. "Do not eat, sell, or serve red, white, or yellow onions imported from Mexico and distributed US-wide by ProSource Inc.," the CDC sai…

SHARE

by Joe Lombardi
News
CDC Urges Americans To Get Flu Vaccine, Reveals Time Frame For Highest Effectiveness CDC Urges Americans To Get Flu Vaccine, Reveals Time Frame For Highest Effectiveness
CDC Urges Americans To Get Flu Vaccine, Reveals Time Frame For Highest Effectiveness The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging Americans to get the annual flu vaccine. The CDC said everyone 6 months of age and older should get the vaccine every year "with rare exceptions." Health officials said this is particularly important for those who are at a higher risk of serious complications if they get sick. The CDC recommends September and October as good times to get vaccinated, adding that those who are best protected get the vaccine by the end of October. The public health agency said adults, especially seniors, should generally not get vaccinated in Ju…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote
News
Lobster Products Recalled Due To Possible Listeria Contamination Lobster Products Recalled Due To Possible Listeria Contamination
Lobster Products Recalled Due To Possible Listeria Contamination A company is recalling more than 5,700 pounds of frozen cooked lobster meat because the products might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Greenhead Lobster Products is recalling 5,749 pounds of the products after testing found the bacteria, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, older adults people and people with weakened immune systems, the Food and Drug Administration announced on Saturday, Oct. 2. The following products are being recalled: Recalled productsFDA / Greenhead Lobster Products The products were distributed to Maine and New Ha…

SHARE

by Nicole Valinote