IRS Rule Change Announced: Here's Who May Benefit IRS Rule Change Announced: Here's Who May Benefit
IRS Rule Change Announced: Here's Who May Benefit A new IRS change could make penalty relief less of a paperwork chase for some taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service announced on Wednesday, July 8, that it is introducing an Automatic Exemption from Penalty program for eligible taxpayers with a history of filing and paying on time. The new process will replace the long-standing First Time Abate administrative relief program, the IRS said. First Time Abate has allowed eligible taxpayers to request removal of certain penalties when they have a timely compliance history. The new system is designed to apply relief automatically rather than …
Gunfire Erupts In Norwalk Neighborhood, Foot Chase Ends With 2 Arrests Gunfire Erupts In Norwalk Neighborhood, Foot Chase Ends With 2 Arrests
Gunfire Erupts In Norwalk Neighborhood, Foot Chase Ends With 2 Arrests Gunfire erupted on a Connecticut street, sparking a foot chase that ended with two arrests, two handguns seized, and police accusing one man of firing at another during a neighborhood confrontation. Melvin Garcia, 18, and Jose Morales, 34, both of Norwalk, were arrested after Garcia ran from officers and tried to throw away a handgun. Detectives later determined Morales fired at another person during the confrontation, authorities said. Norwalk police received a report of shots fired at 4:22 p.m. Thursday, July 9, when near Girard Street and Silk Street. The caller said they heard mult…
Accused CT Dealer Caught With Cocaine, Oxycodone, Scale On I-84 In NY: Sheriff Accused CT Dealer Caught With Cocaine, Oxycodone, Scale On I-84 In NY: Sheriff
Accused CT Dealer Caught With Cocaine, Oxycodone, Scale On I-84 In NY: Sheriff An alleged dealer from Connecticut was pulled over on Interstate 84 in Putnam County, NY, leading authorities to discover marijuana, cocaine, oxycodone, and packaging materials in his car, police said. Danbury resident Frederick Douglass Wolfolk, 33, was arrested following a traffic stop in Southeast, NY, on Tuesday, July 7, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, July 9. The arrest happened at around 1:05 a.m. on Tuesday, when sheriff's deputies were conducting traffic enforcement on Interstate 84 westbound in the area. Deputies said they stopped a vehicle after obse…
New Rankings Reveal America's Most Loved Cities New Rankings Reveal America's Most Loved Cities
New Rankings Reveal America's Most Loved Cities A new travel ranking is giving vacation dreamers a fresh reason to argue over the map. Travel + Leisure released its 2026 World's Best Awards list of the best cities in the US on Monday, July 7, after readers weighed in on their favorite travel experiences. The magazine’s readers put Santa Fe, New Mexico, at No. 1 with a score of 88.85, ahead of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, according to Travel + Leisure. Santa Fe also ranked No. 19 among the best cities in the world. Travel + Leisure highlighted its sunshine, food, skiing, and cultural stops, including the Georgia O'K…
Free Slurpee Day Returns With New Flavor, Anniversary Cups: When To Get One Free Slurpee Day Returns With New Flavor, Anniversary Cups: When To Get One
Free Slurpee Day Returns With New Flavor, Anniversary Cups: When To Get One 7-Eleven is giving away free Slurpees nationwide as the frozen drink celebrates its 60th anniversary. Customers can get a free small Slurpee at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores on Saturday, July 11. The annual Slurpee Day also marks 7-Eleven's 99th birthday. The drinks will be served in commemorative 60th anniversary cups while supplies last. The convenience store chain is also launching the new Mountain Dew Confetti Chill Slurpee, a citrus birthday cake-inspired flavor that combines lemon cake and vanilla icing. Pink, green, and blue sugar crystals can be added to the …
Gas Station Card Charge Surprise? What Drivers Should Know Gas Station Card Charge Surprise? What Drivers Should Know
Gas Station Card Charge Surprise? What Drivers Should Know A confusing charge after a routine fill-up can look worse than it really is. If a gas station purchase appears twice on a card account, the first thing to check is whether both transactions are pending or whether both have posted. That difference usually decides what to do next. AARP says gas stations often place a temporary pre-authorization hold on a credit or debit card because the pump does not know how much fuel a customer will buy before the sale is complete. The hold can range from $1 to more than $100, depending on the station and card issuer, AARP reported. That hold may appear be…
Cancer Cases Could Surge Worldwide, New Report Warns: Here's Why Cancer Cases Could Surge Worldwide, New Report Warns: Here's Why
Cancer Cases Could Surge Worldwide, New Report Warns: Here's Why One of the world’s most feared diseases is on track to become an even larger global burden. The World Health Organization said on Wednesday, July 8, that annual cancer cases are projected to rise from an estimated 20.6 million to nearly 35 million by 2050 without urgent action. The warning came in the "WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026," developed with the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cancer is already the second-leading cause of death globally, behind cardiovascular disease, WHO said. It accounts for close to 10 million deaths each year, or more than 26,000 lives eac…
Eating These Foods May Raise Early Death Risk, Research Reveals Eating These Foods May Raise Early Death Risk, Research Reveals
Eating These Foods May Raise Early Death Risk, Research Reveals Some supermarket shortcuts may come with a longer-term cost. High intake of ultra-processed foods, including processed meats, sweetened drinks, packaged snacks, frozen meals, and sugary breakfast foods, has been linked to a higher risk of early death in multiple large studies. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported that a 30-year study of more than 114,000 American adults found those who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a four percent higher risk of death from any cause than those who ate the least. The same study found an eight percent higher risk of death from neurodege…
Get Free Meals, Waffle Fries At Chick-Fil-A: Here's How Get Free Meals, Waffle Fries At Chick-Fil-A: Here's How
Get Free Meals, Waffle Fries At Chick-Fil-A: Here's How Chick-fil-A is giving customers a chance to score free meals and waffle fries in the middle of July. The chain launched its new "Spot the Cows" game in the Chick-fil-A App on Tuesday, July 7. The limited-time game is available exclusively to Chick-fil-A One members through Monday, July 13. Members who complete the game will receive a reward for one free medium waffle fries, available while supplies last at participating restaurants. Players search different scenes for cows without their costumes and tap them to help them "suit up" before the timer runs out. The reward is limited to one per…
Damaging Winds, Downpours Possible In New Storm Round: Timing Damaging Winds, Downpours Possible In New Storm Round: Timing
Damaging Winds, Downpours Possible In New Storm Round: Timing A new round of scattered, severe storms will not wait long to make its move. A strong cold front will help trigger the storms across much of the Northeast on Friday, July 10, with the main threat arriving during the afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. The storms will develop in humid air ahead of the front, with the highest risk east of the Appalachians and near the I-95 corridor. Damaging wind gusts, isolated large hail, frequent lightning, and torrential downpours are the main concerns. Localized flash flooding will also be possible where storms repeatedly m…
Katie Couric Reveals Terrifying Medical Scare Katie Couric Reveals Terrifying Medical Scare
Katie Couric Reveals Terrifying Medical Scare Katie Couric has spent decades guiding viewers through breaking news. This time, the breaking news was happening to her. The 69-year-old journalist detailed the frightening episode in a Substack essay titled "The Day I’ll Never Remember: How I suddenly lost hours of my life," published Monday, July 6. Couric wrote that the scare happened Saturday, June 27, while she was in Aspen, Colorado, for the Aspen Ideas Festival. She was scheduled to moderate one panel and speak on another. Her day started normally. She walked into town, bought iced coffee, peaches, nectarines, kettle corn, and a str…
Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Popular Singer's Death At 37 Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Popular Singer's Death At 37
Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Popular Singer's Death At 37 Lauren Bennett’s family is sharing more about the months before her death. The singer, best known for her featured vocals on LMFAO’s "Party Rock Anthem," died at 37, Daily Voice reported earlier this week. Her former group, G.R.L., announced her death in an Instagram post on Monday, July 6. Bennett’s father, Richard Bennett, later shared additional details in an Instagram post, saying the family had no suspicions about the circumstances of her death. "Months before her death, Lauren experienced a severe reaction to a prescribed medication," he wrote. "As a family, we all rallied around he…
Weather May Play Role In Mental Health, Study Shows Weather May Play Role In Mental Health, Study Shows
Weather May Play Role In Mental Health, Study Shows The forecast may affect more than weekend plans. Fewer hours of sunshine were linked to more mental health-related health care contacts in a large study of England’s National Health Service data, StudyFinds reported. The study analyzed about 4.6 million unscheduled mental health-related health care contacts across England from January 2014 through December 2022. The findings were published in the journal "Frontiers in Psychiatry," according to StudyFinds. Researchers looked at emergency department visits, NHS 111 calls, and after-hours general practitioner contacts. NHS 111 is a medi…
Check Fraud Warning: How Scammers Use Fake Payments Check Fraud Warning: How Scammers Use Fake Payments
Check Fraud Warning: How Scammers Use Fake Payments A check that looks like free money can quickly turn into a costly trap. Fake check scams often begin with an unexpected payment tied to a prize, mystery shopping job, online sale, personal assistant offer, or other pitch, according to the Better Business Bureau. The hook is simple: scammers send a check, tell the recipient to deposit it, then ask for money to be sent back through a wire transfer, gift card, money order, or cryptocurrency. The check may appear to clear at first. That does not mean it is real. The Federal Trade Commission says banks must make deposited funds available quick…
Battery Fire Risk Sparks Massive Recall For Many Types Of Power Tools: See Which Ones Battery Fire Risk Sparks Massive Recall For Many Types Of Power Tools: See Which Ones
Battery Fire Risk Sparks Massive Recall For Many Types Of Power Tools: See Which Ones More than 554,000 Kobalt yard power tools and batteries are being recalled because they can catch fire while charging. Greenworks Tools issued the recall for about 554,780 Kobalt 24V and 48V tools and batteries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday, July 9. The recall includes trimmers, blowers, mowers, chainsaws, pruning saws, and other tools with USB-C batteries. The lithium-ion batteries can short-circuit while they're being charged through the USB-C port while inserted in a tool. The recalled tools use 24V Kobalt-branded batteries with 3.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0…
Willimantic Man Accused Of Trying To Pay Minor For Sex In Hartford Sting Willimantic Man Accused Of Trying To Pay Minor For Sex In Hartford Sting
Willimantic Man Accused Of Trying To Pay Minor For Sex In Hartford Sting A Connecticut man is behind bars after Hartford police said he tried to pay someone he believed was a minor for sex during an undercover sting. Alexander Cruz, 58, of Willimantic, is charged with criminal attempt sexual contact with a minor, second-degree criminal attempt, and criminal attempt commercial sexual abuse of a minor, authorities said.  Cruz was arrested as part of a sting by the Hartford Police Department's Special Investigation Division Child Exploitation Unit and the FBI Crimes Against Children/Human Trafficking Task Force, according to a news release. Police said C…
Westchester Mom Suffocated To Death In Ireland, 'Asylum Seeker' Suspect Fled To Turkey: Reports Westchester Mom Suffocated To Death In Ireland, 'Asylum Seeker' Suspect Fled To Turkey: Reports
Westchester Mom Suffocated To Death In Ireland, 'Asylum Seeker' Suspect Fled To Turkey: Reports A Westchester mother who moved to Ireland with her young daughter was suffocated to death inside her new home, and authorities are now searching for the suspect, who police worry has already fled to the Middle East, according to multiple reports. Jamey Carney, 43, an Armonk native who relocated to Killarney, County Kerry, in 2021 with her now-13-year-old daughter, was found by a family member early Tuesday, July 7, according to The Irish Times. A postmortem examination determined that Carney had been assaulted and suffered head injuries, but died from suffocation, the outlet reported. Garda…
Hero Dog Fights Bear To Save Owner In Connecticut, Now Family Needs Help To Save Him Hero Dog Fights Bear To Save Owner In Connecticut, Now Family Needs Help To Save Him
Hero Dog Fights Bear To Save Owner In Connecticut, Now Family Needs Help To Save Him A Connecticut dog is being called a hero after putting himself in danger to protect his owner from a charging bear. The attack left the dog critically injured, and his family is now asking for help to cover his medical care. Kobe, a beagle mix in Torrington, was mauled around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, July 8. Kobe's owner, Richard Hubbard, said in a GoFundMe campaign that he was taking out the trash when he spotted a large bear behind a dumpster. "I tried to get us back inside quickly, but Kobe’s leash slipped from my hand," Hubbard wrote in the fundraising campaign. "He bravely ran and barked …
Molding Grown-Ups: Play-Doh Launches First Product Line For Adults Molding Grown-Ups: Play-Doh Launches First Product Line For Adults
Molding Grown-Ups: Play-Doh Launches First Product Line For Adults Play-Doh is growing up with its first product line designed specifically for adults. Hasbro announced the launch of Blooms by Play-Doh in a news release on Thursday, July 9. The new craft collection lets people create realistic floral arrangements with Play-Doh compound. Each kit includes Play-Doh compound, tools, molds, a vase, and finishing spray. The spray is designed to help preserve the flowers so they can be displayed for months. The kits guide users through making lifelike flowers, from shaping petals to arranging a finished bouquet. "The Play-Doh brand has always been ab…
Goshen 'Bachelor' Producer Confirms Secret Hookups With Showrunner Pilot Pete In Memoir Goshen 'Bachelor' Producer Confirms Secret Hookups With Showrunner Pilot Pete In Memoir
Goshen 'Bachelor' Producer Confirms Secret Hookups With Showrunner Pilot Pete In Memoir For years, "Bachelor Nation" debated whether Pete "Pilot Pete" Weber's rumored romance with producer Julie LaPlaca was real. Now, the 41-year-old Goshen, CT native is putting the speculation to rest. In her new memoir, "The Love Producer: My Unscripted Journey from a Reality TV Career to My Own Happily Ever After," released this summer, LaPlaca confirms the pair secretly hooked up after Weber's season of "The Bachelor." LaPlaca writes that she and Weber, who was born in Fairfax but lived with his parents in California before and after filming, formed a close bond while filming his season o…
'Grey's Anatomy' Star Addresses Rumored Run In Controversial Senate Race: 'I Want Integrity' 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Addresses Rumored Run In Controversial Senate Race: 'I Want Integrity'
'Grey's Anatomy' Star Addresses Rumored Run In Controversial Senate Race: 'I Want Integrity' "Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey said he won't run for the US Senate in his native Maine after Democratic nominee Graham Platner's exit from the race. Dempsey, who was born in Lewiston, Maine, announced his decision in an op-ed on Wednesday, Sept. 8. The Portland Press Herald published Dempsey's column just hours before Platner said he would withdraw from the race following a sexual assault allegation that he denies. Platner's anticipated departure prompted Maine Democrats to begin searching for a replacement candidate to challenge five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins…
'Explosive' Diarrhea Parasite On The Rise In Connecticut As Infections Reported In 17 States 'Explosive' Diarrhea Parasite On The Rise In Connecticut As Infections Reported In 17 States
'Explosive' Diarrhea Parasite On The Rise In Connecticut As Infections Reported In 17 States The number of people in Connecticut diagnosed with a parasitic infection that can cause "explosive" diarrhea and other severe gastrointestinal symptoms continues to grow. The news comes as the number of cases across the United States has surged over the past several weeks. More than 1,000 people have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis since May, with the largest outbreaks reported in Michigan and Ohio. In Connecticut, 23 people had contracted the infection as of July 1, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cyclosporias…
Urgent Fire Warning Issued For 462K Recalled Kia Vehicles: What To Know Urgent Fire Warning Issued For 462K Recalled Kia Vehicles: What To Know
Urgent Fire Warning Issued For 462K Recalled Kia Vehicles: What To Know A fire risk warning was issued for more than 462,000 Kia SUVs because a power seat motor can overheat. Kia America is recalling 462,869 Telluride vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report filed on Thursday, July 2. The Tellurides are from the model years 2020 through 2024. A stuck power seat slide knob, damaged seat switch, or improper repair from an earlier recall can cause the seat motor to keep running. Over time, the seat motor can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while the vehicle is parked or in motion. There have been no reported …
2.5M Eye Drop Bottles Recalled Over 'Foreign Substance,' FDA Says 2.5M Eye Drop Bottles Recalled Over 'Foreign Substance,' FDA Says
2.5M Eye Drop Bottles Recalled Over 'Foreign Substance,' FDA Says More than 2.5 million bottles of a prescription eye drop are being recalled nationwide because they may contain a foreign substance. Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. voluntarily recalled 2,530,182 bottles of Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension, USP, 1%, according to a Food and Drug Administration enforcement report. The recall affects 5 mL, 10 mL, and 15 mL bottles distributed across the US. According to the FDA, the eye drops were recalled because of the "presence of a foreign substance." "Prednisolone is a steroid medicine that is used to relieve the redness, itching, and swelling cause…
6 Cats Thrown From Moving Car In East Hartford, 1 Still Missing 6 Cats Thrown From Moving Car In East Hartford, 1 Still Missing
6 Cats Thrown From Moving Car In East Hartford, 1 Still Missing Six cats, including four kittens, were thrown from a moving vehicle in Connecticut earlier this week, and police are asking for the public's help to find the person responsible.  Officials said a box holding four kittens and two adult cats was tossed from the vehicle on Adams Street in East Hartford on Wednesday evening, July 8. Animal control officers caught five of the cats, but one adult feline has not been found.  Authorities did not say if any of the animals were injured.  Officers said they received multiple calls about the incident and have opened an investiga…
Cruise Ship Hairstylist Sexually Abused Women During 'Massages,' FBI Says Cruise Ship Hairstylist Sexually Abused Women During 'Massages,' FBI Says
Cruise Ship Hairstylist Sexually Abused Women During 'Massages,' FBI Says A cruise ship hairstylist was arrested after he was accused of sexually abusing passengers during fake "massages," authorities said. Pranit Narayan Pawar, 26, was charged with two counts of abusive sexual contact, the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington said in a news release on Monday, July 6. The Indian national was arrested when the Brilliant Lady docked in Seattle on Thursday, July 2. According to a federal complaint, the assaults happened during a Virgin Voyages cruise to Alaska on Friday, June 26. Pawar was hired to provide hair ca…
NJ Man Severs Wife's Hands, Foot In Failed Murder-Suicide: Report NJ Man Severs Wife's Hands, Foot In Failed Murder-Suicide: Report
NJ Man Severs Wife's Hands, Foot In Failed Murder-Suicide: Report A 35-year-old New Jersey mother from Egypt survived after her 46-year-old husband allegedly severed both of her hands and one of her feet before taking his own life in what authorities believe was a failed murder-suicide, Daily Voice has learned. The attack happened mid-morning on Thursday, June 18, at a home on Kamm Avenue in South River. Mayor Pete Guindi tells Daily Voice that a friend of the 35-year-old victim knew something was wrong and came to the house. She realized she needed to call the police, the mayor said. Officers found the woman with both hands and one foot severed, while he…
CT Road Rage Shooting On Route 8 Ends With Arrest After Driver Captures Gunfire On Video CT Road Rage Shooting On Route 8 Ends With Arrest After Driver Captures Gunfire On Video
CT Road Rage Shooting On Route 8 Ends With Arrest After Driver Captures Gunfire On Video A driver is accused of opening fire during a road rage encounter on Route 8, leaving another motorist dodging bullets in a shooting investigators say was caught on video. Jonathan Sanabria, 38, was arrested after Connecticut State Police said he fired two shots at another driver's vehicle on Route 8 southbound near Exit 17 in Seymour on Wednesday, July 8.  Troopers were dispatched to the scene around 6:51 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they met with the driver, who showed them a video of someone firing two bullets at his car. Following an investig…
Dunkin' Adds New Drinks, Sweet Summer Treats In Colorful Collaboration Dunkin' Adds New Drinks, Sweet Summer Treats In Colorful Collaboration
Dunkin' Adds New Drinks, Sweet Summer Treats In Colorful Collaboration Dunkin' is teaming up with socialite Kylie Jenner for a new lineup of pink summer drinks, along with several other limited-time beverages and bakery treats. The chain's "King Kylie Collection" launched nationwide on Wednesday, July 8. Dunkin's lineup features three pink-hued drinks inspired by Jenner's "King Kylie" era. The promotional campaign features a video of Jenner as an executive in a Dunkin' boardroom. "Pink has always been central to King Kylie, so partnering with Dunkin' felt like a natural extension of that world," Jenner said. "Three drinks, three different vibes – sweet, bold,…
Storms, Downpours To Target Northeast In Separate Rounds: Timing Storms, Downpours To Target Northeast In Separate Rounds: Timing
Storms, Downpours To Target Northeast In Separate Rounds: Timing A stubborn summer setup is keeping outdoor plans on a short leash. Separate rounds of scattered thunderstorms will target parts of the Northeast on Thursday, July 9, and Friday, July 10, as humid air remains locked in place, according to the National Weather Service. Most of Thursday will be dry for many areas, but warm, muggy conditions will help trigger isolated to scattered storms during the afternoon and evening. The highest risk on Thursday is expected farther south, especially from New Jersey and Pennsylvania into Maryland and Virginia.  Locations most likely to see the …
Best, Worst States For Well-Being Revealed: Here's Where Connecticut Ranks Best, Worst States For Well-Being Revealed: Here's Where Connecticut Ranks
Best, Worst States For Well-Being Revealed: Here's Where Connecticut Ranks A new state-by-state report says the map of American well-being shows clear winners, troubling warning signs, and one big national disconnect. The State of the Nation Project released its "State of the States" report as the US approaches its 250th anniversary. StudyFinds reported on the rankings on Friday, July 3. Minnesota ranked first overall, followed by New Hampshire, Iowa, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Louisiana ranked last among the 51 jurisdictions measured, including all 50 states and Washington, DC. New Jersey ranked 11th, Maryland ranked 15th, Connecticut ranked 18th, Virginia rank…