MALLOY HAS NEW PLAN
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s new budget plan would restore some state aid to cities and towns that he slashed in a previous proposal. The Democratic governor announced Thursday that the new plan would increase municipal aid by nearly $900 million compared with the proposal he issued last month. His plan would go into effect only if the state budget impasse isn’t resolved by the end of the month. Malloy previously called for eliminating or reducing education aid to 139 school districts. The new plan would phase in cuts to education aid. Malloy plans to release the full details Friday. Lawmakers haven’t been able to agree on a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 and the following year. Malloy is running the government under his limited spending authority.
METHADONE CLINIC OPERATOR TO PAY UP
An operator of nine methadone clinics in Connecticut, including facilities in Norwich and New London, has agreed to pay 627-thousand dollars in a settlement regarding whistleblower complaints. Two former employees of the Hartford Dispensary filed a complaint in federal court alleging the Dispensary didn’t have a qualified medical director on its staff between 2009 and 2015, while falsely telling federal and state officials it did. The settlement was announced today by the U-S Attorney for Connecticut, and the State Attorney General.
SETTLEMENT IN SCHOOL STABBING
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A Connecticut man who stabbed a high school classmate to death after she rejected his prom invitation has agreed to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s mother. A court document filed last week says 20-year-old Christopher Plaskon and his parents reached agreements with Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez. Details have not been disclosed, and the settlement still needs to be approved in a probate court. Plaskon fatally stabbed 16-year-old Maren Sanchez in a hallway of Jonathan Law High School in Milford on the morning of April 25, 2014, the day of the prom. Plaskon was 16 at the time. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year after pleading no contest to murder. A lawsuit against the city of Milford and its school board remains pending.
WOMAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING BIRDS WHILE DRUNK
A Ledyard woman is facing charges of shooting birds at her birdfeeders daily while drunk. 49-year old Melinda Bennett is accused of reckless endangerment and cruelty to animals. Police say they found her intoxicated in her Meetinghouse Lane garage Wednesday with a pellet rifle, with blood and feathers on the floor. Bennett is out on 500-dollars bond, and due in court September 28th.
BOATHOUSE FORUM
A public forum on a proposed Mystic River Boathouse Park is scheduled for this Saturday. A 9:30 AM tour of the Route 27 site will be followed by a presentation and public comment period at the adjacent Latitude 41 restaurant at Mystic Seaport. Town officials are seeking input as to what should be put in the 1-and-a-half acre property. Several other public forums will be held in the future.
