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Obituaries
'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33 'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33
'Bald Ballerina' Maggie Kudirka Dies After Inspirational Cancer Battle, 33 The world lost an extraordinary spirit on Friday, Dec. 27, with the passing of Maggie Kudirka, lovingly known as the "Bald Ballerina. "Maggie, 33, succumbed to metastatic breast cancer at her home, surrounded by family, loved ones shared on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maggie Kudirka (@baldballerina) The Joffrey Ballet School, where Maggie trained, mourned her loss, calling her a “beautiful warrior.” “Maggie’s passion and grace will forever inspire us,” they wrote, reflecting on her profound impact on the dance and c…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
$4.3B Now Recovered For Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims, DOJ Says $4.3B Now Recovered For Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims, DOJ Says
$4.3B Now Recovered For Madoff Ponzi Scheme Victims, DOJ Says More than $4.3 billion has now been recovered for victims of Bernie Madoff’s massive and infamous Ponzi scheme, the Justice Department announced, as part of a decade-long effort that has compensated over 40,000 people worldwide for nearly 94 percent of their losses. The DOJ says  its 10th and final distribution from the Madoff Victim Fund (MVF), provided more than $131 million to over 23,000 victims. The latest distribution marks the culmination of a decade-long effort to recover and return forfeited funds tied to Madoff's fraudulent investment empire. Most victims, primarily small inv…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds
Majority Of Americans Limit Political News Amid Fatigue, Overload, Poll Finds In an era of 24/7 news cycles and social media saturation, most Americans are stepping back from political news to combat fatigue and information overload.
 According to a brand-new nationwide poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 65 percent of adults feel the need to limit their consumption of government and political news.
 This sentiment crosses party lines, but Democrats are slightly more likely than Republicans to feel overwhelmed (72 percent vs. 59 percent). Additionally, 50 percent of respondents cited the need to cut back on news about overseas conflicts.
 Around…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Winning Numbers For Monday, Dec. 30 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $163M Jackpot Winning Numbers For Monday, Dec. 30 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $163M Jackpot
Winning Numbers For Monday, Dec. 30 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $163M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Monday, Dec. 30 Powerball drawing. The estimated jackpot is $163 million with a $73.9 million cash option after a recent winner reset the prize pool. If no winner claims the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1 with a possible $178 million prize. The winning numbers for Monday's drawing were 09-19-33-38-39 with a Powerball of 01 and the Power Play was 3X. Lottery players have a 1 in 292,201,338 chance of winning a Powerball jackpot by matching all five ball…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Survivor Casting Opens For 2025 Season 49: Apply Now Survivor Casting Opens For 2025 Season 49: Apply Now
Survivor Casting Opens For 2025 Season 49: Apply Now Think you have what it takes to outwit, outplay, and outlast? CBS's iconic reality series "Survivor" is looking for contestants for its 49th season, scheduled to film in spring 2025. Casting for the next season of "Survivor" is officially open, offering fans and first-timers the chance to compete in one of television's toughest challenges. Season 49 will take contestants to a remote location for grueling physical, mental, and social tests as they vie for the coveted title of Sole Survivor and the $1 million prize. Filming is slated to take place from mid-April to mid-May 2025, and applicati…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Landmark NYC Eatery Katz's Deli Violated ADA Regulations, Feds Say: Inside The New Overhaul Landmark NYC Eatery Katz's Deli Violated ADA Regulations, Feds Say: Inside The New Overhaul
Landmark NYC Eatery Katz's Deli Violated ADA Regulations, Feds Say: Inside The New Overhaul The iconic Katz's Deli in Manhattan has agreed to make significant accessibility improvements and pay a $20,000 penalty following a federal lawsuit. The settlement, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim, resolves allegations that the historic deli violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A consent decree outlining the required changes was entered on Sunday, Dec. 29, by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. “The corrections and modifications agreed to by Katz’s Deli will give individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to enjoy one of New York City’s most pop…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Unvaccinated, Roaming Dog Attacks Victim In CT, Owner Charged, Police Say Unvaccinated, Roaming Dog Attacks Victim In CT, Owner Charged, Police Say
Unvaccinated, Roaming Dog Attacks Victim In CT, Owner Charged, Police Say A Fairfield County man was arrested after his dogs attacked and injured a victim in November, police said. Erasmo L. Farinas, 52, of Wilton, was arrested on a warrant on Monday, Dec. 23, stemming from an incident on Nov. 23, at approximately 4: 30 p.m., according to the Wilton police report. Police say the warrant was issued after his roaming dog or dogs attacked and injured a victim in town. Police allege Farinas failed to meet several legal requirements for dog ownership and allowed his dogs to roam unsupervised. Police say Farinas did not have dog/cat rabies vaccinations and was ci…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
Pouring Their Last: Husband, Wife CT Tavern Owners Retire After 16 Years Of Service Pouring Their Last: Husband, Wife CT Tavern Owners Retire After 16 Years Of Service
Pouring Their Last: Husband, Wife CT Tavern Owners Retire After 16 Years Of Service After 16 years at the helm of one of Connecticut’s most popular and unique taverns, Old Well Tavern owners Frank Cardoso and Erika Lange have announced their retirement, marking the end of an era. The couple, who built the pub into a staple of the Simsbury community, shared the news in a heartfelt Facebook post reflecting on their journey filled with unforgettable memories and deep community connections. However, this is not the end of the storied Old Well Tavern — new owners will reopen the 20 Tariffville Road establishment on Jan. 10. Hello Old Well Faithful! This is a difficul…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Speeding Tesla Driver Charged With DUI In CT: Cops Speeding Tesla Driver Charged With DUI In CT: Cops
Speeding Tesla Driver Charged With DUI In CT: Cops A drunken Danbury woman is facing charges after police stopped her for speeding over the weekend in Wilton, authorities said. Leticia Duarte Goncalves was behind the wheel of a black Tesla Model Y heading north on Danbury Road near Old Mill Road at a high rate of speed when police stopped her around 2:40 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, Wilton police said. Goncalves, 24, failed Standardized field sobriety tests and was taken into custody. Chemical testing revealed blood alcohol levels of 0.1289 and 0.1306, both well above the legal limit of 0.08, police said. She was charged with DUI unde…

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by Cecilia Levine
Sports
Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet
Plane Carrying Top 25 College Basketball Team Nearly Collides With Delta Jet The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a near-collision at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) involving a charter plane carrying the No. 19-ranked Gonzaga men’s basketball team and a Delta jet.  The incident occurred on Friday, Dec. 27, as the Delta aircraft was taking off for Atlanta, Georgia. According to reports, an air traffic controller urgently instructed the charter plane to "Stop, stop, stop" just before it crossed paths with the departing Delta flight. The quick action avoided a potential disaster, and no injuries were reported. “In the years I’ve bee…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Child Porn Found At Ex-CT Elementary School Employee's Home: Police Child Porn Found At Ex-CT Elementary School Employee's Home: Police
Child Porn Found At Ex-CT Elementary School Employee's Home: Police A 29-year-old former elementary school paraprofessional in Connecticut has been arrested after police say they found child sexual abuse material at his home.  Eric J. LeClair, of South Windsor, was arrested on Saturday, Dec. 28, after he turned himself in to police following a months-long investigation, authorities said. The investigation began in June after the private messaging app Kik Messenger alerted the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations about a user suspected of accessing child sexual abuse material. Investigators traced the IP address to LeClair's South Windsor home,…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
CT Man Driving 108 MPH In 65 Zone On Suspended License Said He Was In Hurry To Get Home CT Man Driving 108 MPH In 65 Zone On Suspended License Said He Was In Hurry To Get Home
CT Man Driving 108 MPH In 65 Zone On Suspended License Said He Was In Hurry To Get Home A Connecticut man with a suspended driver's license was caught speeding at more than 100 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone in the middle of an afternoon last week, authorities said. Andujar Escarraman, 20, of New London, was clocked at 108 mph on Route 2 in Marlborough around 3:13 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 27, Connecticut State Police said. Troopers spotted the BMW near Exit 13. When police pulled him over, Escarraman said he was in a rush to get home, authorities said. Escarraman eventually made it home, but it took several extra hours because he was arrested after police learned his license was…

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by Josh Lanier