Connecticut News - Courant.com

Judge Gets 30-Day Unpaid Suspension

By DAVE ALTIMARI, daltimar@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Superior Court Judge E. Curtissa Cofield accepted a 30-day unpaid suspension from the bench Wednesday for allowing child-protection cases involving 10 foster children to languish.

Whitey Bulger's Defense: Hit Man A Self-Serving Liar

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:56:00 GMT

James "Whitey" Bulger's defense on Wednesday attacked the hitman-turned-government witness who has emerged as Bulger's chief accuser, characterizing John Martorano as a self-serving liar with a cooperation deal that protects him and his family as long as he tied Bulger to decades of murders.

Hartford Board Rejects Contract Extension For Kishimoto

By VANESSA DE LA TORRE, vdelatorre@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:36:00 GMT

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The school board Tuesday night rejected Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's request for a two-year contract extension that would have kept her in charge of Hartford's education reform efforts through mid-2016.

State Police Chase Ends With Crash, Vehicle Submerged In Pond In Montville

By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:37:20 GMT

A man who allegedly stole a pickup truck was arrested and the innocent driver of a propane truck was rescued from a pond after a crash near routes 161 and 85 on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Wethersfield Teenager Takes Top Honors In Equestrian Competition

By CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN, Special to The Courant — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:56:26 GMT

Emelie Burgess doesn't horse around when it comes to anything equestrian.

Former Bank Teller Pleads Guilty To Stealing From Webster Bank Customers

By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:06:33 GMT

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A Farmington woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing more than $178,000 from mostly elderly bank customers at the Webster Bank branch in Bristol where she worked as a teller.

State Hopes To Avoid 'Double-Testing' Students In Coming Year

By KATHLEEN MEGAN, kmegan@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:06:12 GMT

Connecticut May Also Seek Permission To Give Districts Flexibility On Using Test Scores To Evaluate Teachers Next Year

The state plans to take steps to avoid "double-testing" students next year while it transitions from the Connecticut Mastery Test to a new computerized test called "Smarter Balanced."

Malloy Announces $4 Million Construction Grant for St. Joe's Center For Autism

By KATHLEEN MEGAN, kmegan@courant.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:09:23 GMT

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced a $4 million grant Tuesday for construction of a new $10 million center at the University of St. Joseph that will provide services for children on the autism spectrum and their families.

Biden Promotes White House Campaign For Stricter Federal Gun Laws

By JENNY WILSON, jenwilson@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:51:00 GMT

Cites Connecticut's Bipartisan Approach To Reforms

Vice President Joseph Biden re-launched an Obama administration campaign to overhaul federal gun laws in a White House address Tuesday, delivered the week after Newtown families traveled to Washington to push a similar agenda.

Body Found In Lake Lillinonah In Bridgewater

Staff report — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:48:45 GMT

A body was found Tuesday in Lake Lillinonah, not far from the area where authorities have been searching for a missing photographer, a state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesman said.

Man Arrested After Standoff In Winchester Charged With Kidnapping Woman At Gunpoint

Staff report — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:39:36 GMT

An 18-year-old man who police say kidnapped a woman at gunpoint Monday evening in Torrington was arrested after a two-hour standoff with police at a Mundry Road home Tuesday morning.

Killer Testifies At 'Whitey' Bulger Trial About Jai Alai Murders

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:23:38 GMT

Connecticut connection made in mob case

One of James "Whitey" Bulger's closest associates implicated the crime boss Tuesday in a string of murders connected to their gang's failed effort to skim hundreds of thousands of dollars from the gambling businesses once operated by the World Jai Alai company in Florida and Connecticut.

Utilities, Malloy Say State Is Ready For Damaging Weather

By WES DUPLANTIER, wduplantier@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:17:00 GMT

Towns, Power Companies Will Practice For Ice Storm This Week Get Business Mobile Text Alerts

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy summoned the heads of the state's power and communications companies to Hartford on Tuesday for a closed-door, hour-long meeting on preparations for the next big storm.

Report Lauds State's Effort To Reduce Incarceration Of Youths

By LISA CHEDEKEL, Conn. Health I-Team Writer — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:47:23 GMT

Connecticut has become a national leader in a "critical but quiet revolution" in policies to reduce youth incarceration, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Juvenile Justice Network and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

New Britain Loses Police Brutality Suit

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:58:00 GMT

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A federal jury earlier this month awarded $80,625 to the man who accused a city police officer of excessive force during an arrest in 2007.

Zoppo Plans Race For Bristol Council

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:47:00 GMT

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The stakes in this year's local elections just rose a few notches: Former council member Ellen Zoppo is planning to run for a District 3 council seat.

In New Britain, 30 Would-Be Police Officers Begin Six Tough Months

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:56:00 GMT

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In their first full day of training, 30 recruits on Monday got an unscheduled lesson in how unpredictable and grueling police work can be.

Connecticut Residents Happy But Stressed, Says New UConn/Courant Poll

By DANIELA ALTIMARI, altimari@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Despite the state's sputtering economy, harsh winters and reputation for Yankee reserve, people in Connecticut are generally a happy bunch.

Sources: Hartford Board Unlikely To OK Extension For Kishimoto

By VANESSA DE LA TORRE, vdelatorre@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

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Will Superintendent Christina Kishimoto get the contract extension she wants?

Vandals Hit Manchester Welcome Sign For Third Time

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

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A large sign off I-384 that welcomes people to town has been vandalized for the third time in about two weeks, a public works supervisor said Monday.

New London Firefighter Mayo Charged With Assault, Breach Of Peace Friday Night

By JOE WOJTAS, The Day of New London — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

New London firefighter Alfred Mayo, who successfully fought his 2011 firing by the city after claiming he was discriminated against because he was black, was arrested by Montville police late Friday night for assaulting a man outside the Montville Polish Club.

Court Records Show, Before Her Death, ECSU Student Talked About Breaking Up With Boyfriend

BY HILDA MUÑOZ, hmunoz@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:37:00 GMT

Shortly before she was reported missing, Alyssiah Wiley, a sophomore at Eastern Connecticut State University, had been talking to her family or friends about breaking up with her controlling and abusive boyfriend, Jermaine Richards, according to court records.

It's All In The Spirit Of Competition, Perry Says

By DENISE BUFFA, dbuffa@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:31:40 GMT

— Texas Gov. Rick Perry insists he's not "poaching" jobs from Connecticut, he's just engaging in a little spirited competition for them.

Free 'Sober Rides' Offered During Graduation Season

By CHLOE MILLER, cmmiller@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:53:00 GMT

HARTFORD — The Hartford Courant and FOX CT have partnered with Berlin-based Premier Limousine to offer free "sober rides" during summer graduation season.

20-Time Killer: Bulger 'Broke My Heart' By Informing To FBI

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:30:25 GMT

Confessed 20-time killer John Martorano left no doubt during his testimony against James "Whitey" Bulger Monday that he was settling a score for the decision made decades ago by Bulger and another former partner, Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi, to become FBI informants.