STORM WOES: ONE DEATH, POWER OUTAGES
One person is dead after a massive tree branch falls on top of a car in New London. It happened around 10:15 this morning as a storm moved through the area. Police say a gust of wind brought down the tree branch in the area of 185 Pequot Avenue on the campus of Mitchell College. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the vehicle belongs to Harry’s Livery Service. The victim has not been identified as of yet. A passenger in the vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries. This morning’s storms knocked out power in many communities. Eversource Energy’s outage map reports more than 350 customers in Waterford still without electricity as of early this evening, with some outages reported in Ledyard and North Stonington. Groton Utilities says crews will be working through late tonight to restore power to areas that include Meridian Street, Bridge Street, and Mitchell Street. Downed trees in Ledyard and Groton caused some temporary road closures today.
CT, RI JOIN DACA LAWSUIT
Fifteen states, including Connecticut and Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit in New York challenging President Donald Trump’s plan to end a program protecting young immigrants from deportation. The suit was first announced by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who called Trump’s act “a dark time for our country.”Plaintiffs also include New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia. On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the program, known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, will end in six months to give Congress time to find a legislative solution for the immigrants. The participants were brought to the U.S. illegally as children or came with families who overstayed visas.
DOG BITE STORY CHANGES
Plainfield police say a reported dog bite in the Wauregan section of town apparently didn’t happen the way the victim first reported it to the authorities. Police say they’ve been unable to corroborate the story given to them by 21-year old Jade Santiago who says she was walking on South Walnut Street Saturday afternoon when a pitbull attacked her, causing serious facial injuries. She says her boyfriend had to kick the dog off her. Police say it now appears the dog attack happened in Santiago’s house, and was a household pet. Police say the dog was subsequently located in Sterling and is being quarantined. Police continue to investigate.
NPU COMMISSIONERS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
A two hour closed door meeting last night between the Norwich Board of Public Utilities Commissioners and its hired attorney concerned the so-called Derbygate scandal. The board is expected to address at its September 26th meeting the recommended punishments issued by the city’s ethics commission against four public utility officials for their participation in a May, 2016 all-expense paid trip to the Kentucky Derby. NPU General Manager John Bilda and Division Manager Steve Sinko have been ordered by the ethics panel to fully-reimburse the city for their and their spouses’ travel costs, while former commission chairman and vice-chairman Dee Boisclair and Robert Groner are requested to provide 25-percent reimbursement. The ethics panel is also calling for stricter monitoring for the next two years of all NPU business travel.
MORE STATE HOSPITAL ARRESTS
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) – Connecticut State Police have arrested six more staff members at a maximum-security psychiatric hospital in connection with the repeated abuse of a patient. A total of nine workers are now charged with cruelty to persons and disorderly conduct. Authorities on Tuesday night announced the new arrests of workers at the Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown. The facility is the state’s only maximum-security hospital for the criminally insane. The arrests followed the suspensions of 31 employees earlier this year in connection with the abuse of the 62-year-old male patient. Authorities said abusive incidents were recorded by surveillance cameras. State police say more arrests are expected. The state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services runs the hospital and says it is investigating.
GROTON MOM SENTENCED IN TEEN SEX CASE
A Groton mother who had sex with the 14-year old friend of her teenage son was officially sentenced to one year in prison today in New London Superior Court. 35-year old Dawn Kerr was also told by the judge to take a parenting class and not to have any more contact with the victim. The boy’s mother spoke during the sentencing claiming the punishment wasn’t severe enough, and that Kerr should pay for the boy’s counseling, saying her son’s childhood has now been taken away from him. Kerr will also serve five years probation, and have to undergo sex offender evaluation and treatment. She will not have to register as a sex offender.
MASS WOMAN SENTENCED FOR CHEATING CASINO
A Massachusetts woman will serve one year in prison for cheating the Mohegan Sun Casino out of 78-thousand dollars in fraudulent blackjack winnings. 38-year old Marlene Rivera was involved in a scheme with dealer Roy Mariano of New London who authorities say gave Rivera extra chips when she won, and the two of them would later share in the winnings. Rivera has been ordered to repay Mohegan Sun, and is permanently banned from the state’s casinos. Mariano’s court case is pending.
IRMA AFFECTS UCONN FOOTBALL GAME
If you have tickets to Saturday’s UConn football game at Rentschler Field, you’ll have to wake up earlier. The noontime kickoff against South Florida has been moved to 10:30 AM, so that USF can make it back home before the hurricane hits the Tampa area. The teams have also agreed to shorten halftime to 15 minutes. USF athletic director Mark Harlan says the Bulls have “alternate return plans should conditions deteriorate faster than expected.”
