SALES TAX HIKE APPEARS DEAD
TALKS CONTINUE ON THE OVERDUE STATE BUDGET– BUT APPARENTLY NOT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE. AFTER GOVERNOR MALLOY ENDORSED INCREASING THE SALES TAX FROM 6.35 PERCENT TO SIX-AND-A-HALF PERCENT, DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SPEAKER JOE ARESIMOWICZ SAYS HIKING THE LEVY IS NOW OFF THE TABLE. INSTEAD, SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER MARTIN LOONEY SAYS THEY’RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE REAL-ESTATE CONVEYANCE TAX; HIKING THE SALES TAX AT RESTAURANTS IS STILL UP-IN-THE-AIR. HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER THEMIS KLARIDES SAYS DEMOCRATS ARE ON THE WRONG PATH. A BUDGET VOTE IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY.
HEARING ON DACA ELIMINATION
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) – Dozens of people gathered in New Haven to express concerns about President Donald Trump’s decision to end a program that protects young immigrants from deportation. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal held a hearing Monday at First and Summerfield Church. The Connecticut Democrat says he will bring the testimony back to Washington in an effort to pass legislation that will provide legal status to young immigrants living in the United States illegally. The church has been providing sanctuary from deportation to immigrant Marco Reyes. The Ecuador native entered the U.S. illegally in 1997 and lives in Meriden. Reyes’ 23-year-old daughter, Evelyn, says she is worried because she also now faces deportation due to Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program put in place during the Obama administration.
NO RE-HEARING FOR MGM
There’ll be no court re-hearing of MGM Resorts International’s appeal of a ruling that allows the Mashantucket-Pequot and Mohegan tribes to seek casino site proposals. The Second U-S Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City denied a petition from MGM that claimed the 2015 Connecticut state law allowing the tribes to build a third Connecticut casino in East Windsor was unconstitutional. The tribes are now awaiting approval from the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to begin construction. The tribal casino is meant to offset competition from an MGM casino scheduled to open in about a year in Springfield, Massachusetts.
JUNIOR FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBER CLAIMS RAPE
Court documents just released say a 17-year old junior member of the Plainfield Fire Department claims she was raped last year at the town firehouse by 28-year old Fire Captain Kevin Wells. Police say the victim claims Wells had previously made inappropriate comments toward her, and had groped and kissed her. Wells claims the sexual encounters, of which there were three, were all consensual. Wells pleaded not guilty Monday to three charges of second-degree sexual assault, and is out on 50-thousand dollars bond. He’s due back in court October 17th.
SUSPECT WILL BE HIS OWN ATTORNEY
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A man suspected in the 2013 slaying of his millionaire grandfather plans to represent himself in his family’s attempt to bar him from receiving an inheritance. Nathan Carman was a suspect in the shooting death of his maternal grandfather, 87-year-old real estate developer John Chakalos, in Connecticut. No one has been arrested. Last year, a boat carrying Carman and his mother, Linda, on a fishing trip near Rhode Island sank. She’s presumed dead. Her three sisters have sued in New Hampshire, accusing him of killing his grandfather and possibly his mother. They asked a judge to block Carman from collecting money from the estate. Carman lives in Vernon, Vermont. He has denied any involvement in Chakalos’ death and says he didn’t sabotage the boat.
ALLEGED DRUNK DRIVER FOUND ASLEEP BEHIND WHEEL IN LEDYARD
A Ledyard man has been charged with driving while drunk, and falling asleep at the wheel on Route 214. Police say 41-year old Matthew Goodrich was found asleep in his Buick Century just after midnight Monday near Goulart Road. His vehicle was stopped alongside the highway, and he was in the driver’s seat sleeping while his car was still in “drive”. Police determined the vehicle was unregistered. No injuries reported. Goodrich is out on a 1-thousand dollar bond, and is due in court September 28th.
ROAD CLOSURE DUE TO NEW WATER TANK
Judd Road in Mohegan Park will be closed to traffic until Wednesday afternoon as a new Norwich Public Utilities water tank is installed. The roadway connects Rockwell Street with Mohegan Park Road. Detour signs have been placed. A new 2-point-5 million gallon water tank is replacing a larger tank that was installed in the park in 1971. The roadway is expected to be reopened by 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.
FEMA HELP FOR NL FIREFIGHTERS
New London firefighters now have a new computerized fire safety trailer, compliments of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. An 85-thousand dollar grant is paying for the trailer, which simulates different types of blazes to train firefighters and educate the public about fire safety. The fire department provided 5-percent matching funding.
