Connecticut News - Courant.com

Trucker Contests License Suspension In Crash That Killed 12-Year-Old Westport Girl

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:49:17 GMT

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A Maine tractor-trailer truck driver who was involved in a crash that took the life of a 12-year-old girl from Westport is contesting his three-year license suspension stemming from last year's wreck in Farmington.

New Law Creates Rating System For Connecticut Day Care Centers

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:07:00 GMT

With the goal of preparing youngsters better for kindergarten, Connecticut education officials are creating a system that will help parents assess the quality of the day care and early childhood centers where they send their children.

Government Cracking Down On Unsafe Bus Companies

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:40:00 GMT

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Twenty-six bus operations that transported more than 1,800 passengers a day along Interstate 95 between New York and Florida have been closed for safety violations in what federal officials say is the government's largest single safety crackdown of the motor coach industry in at least a decade.

Musical Written By Yale Grad Who Died In Crash Headed To NYC Festival

By FRANK RIZZO, frizzo@courant.com — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

'Independents' Is Work Of Journalist And Playwright Marina Keegan Follow CT Lifestyle & Entertainment News On The Courant's Features Buzz Facebook Page

"Independents," a folk rock musical written by Marina Keegan, the 22-year-old journalist-playwright who died Saturday in a car accident on Cape Cod days after graduating magna cum laude at Yale, may have a life in the theater.

DMV: A Learner's Permit By Appointment

Thu, 31 May 2012 03:42:09 GMT

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CHESHIRE — Aimee Lovington was among the first to get her driver learner's permit in less than an hour through a new appointment option at a state Department of Motor Vehicles testing center that opened Wednesday.

Busway Public Relations Campaign Hits A Bumpy Patch In New Britain

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com — Thu, 31 May 2012 02:07:00 GMT

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As contractors start amassing payloaders and bulldozers along the path of the busway to Hartford, some homeowners along the route were raising last-minute concerns Wednesday about worsened noise, traffic detours and flooding in their neighborhoods.

In Hartford, Milner School Parents Seek Answers From Jumoke Academy CEO

By VANESSA DE LA TORRE, vdelatorre@courant.com — Thu, 31 May 2012 01:31:33 GMT

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Sandra Reardon brought her newborn son to Wednesday night's community meeting in the Milner cafeteria.

Triple Murder Will Put Repeal Of State's Death Penalty Before The Supreme Court

By ALAINE GRIFFIN, agriffin@courant.com — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:31:16 GMT

Connecticut's death row inmates will look to the state's highest court to answer questions about whether their exclusion from the state's new death penalty repeal violates their rights.

Republicans Expect Rowland Flap To Resurface In Congressional Race

By CHRISTOPHER KEATING, ckeating@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:54:04 GMT

The flap over former Gov. John Rowland's assistance to Congressional candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley has died down for now, but some Republicans fear it could flare up again in the fall if Wilson-Foley wins the August primary.

Ringleader Of 'Felony Lane' ID Theft And Embezzlement Scam Gets 22 Years

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:24:21 GMT

A Florida man was sentenced to 22 years in prison Wednesday after federal prosecutors said he spent three years as the ringleader of a gang of "felony lane" thieves — embezzlers who used the lane farthest from a bank teller's drive-through window to cash fraudulent checks.

New Britain GOP Chief To Challenge In 6th District

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:23:06 GMT

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Republican Town Chairman Dwight Blint will run against Democratic Sen. Theresa Gerratana in November, GOP officials announced Wednesday.

Police: Dad Left 8-Month-Old In Car At Casino

By SAMAIA HERNANDEZ, smhernandez@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:43:04 GMT

A Waterbury man is facing charges after an 8-month-old child was left inside of car at Mohegan Sun for about seven hours, police said.

High School Seniors To Be Honored

By REBECCA D. ROBBINS, rdrobbins@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:40:23 GMT

A national nonprofit organization will honor 68 seniors from three New Haven high schools Thursday for their participation in a program that seeks to encourage students to attend college.

Manchester Not Alone In Trying To Control Social Media

By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:07:32 GMT

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The local school district is not the first to consider establishing rules for employees' professional and personal use of social media sites.

Towns Get $3.5 Million For Industrial Cleanup

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:48:30 GMT

The federal Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday it will give $3.45 million to seven Connecticut towns and regional groups to help pay for the cost of cleaning and developing abandoned or polluted building sites.

Gang Reports Prompt Closure Of Norwalk Beach

Wed, 30 May 2012 15:09:10 GMT

A minister accused police of engaging in racial profiling when they closed a local beach for a half hour on Memorial Day after reports that gang members wearing blue and red T-shirts were causing trouble.

Parents: Sharing Of Yale Grad's Essay Is A Comfort

By BRIDGET MURPHY — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:10:00 GMT

"What we have to remember is that we can still do anything," Marina Keegan wrote to fellow Yale University graduates. "… We can't, we must not lose this sense of possibility because in the end, it's all we have."

U.S. Education Secretary Grants Connecticut's 'No Child' Waiver Request

By KATHLEEN MEGAN, kmegan@courant.com — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:16:22 GMT

— U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visited Hartford on Tuesday to show his support for the state's newly passed education reforms and to announce that Connecticut has received a federal waiver from the much-criticized No Child Left Behind law.

Fairfield County Tornado Watch Canceled As Storms Pass Through State

Staff reports — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:25:31 GMT

A tornado watch was lifted for Litchfield County before 9 p.m., but a severe thunderstorm watch is still in place for New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Poodle Attacks Pit Bull

By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:34:27 GMT

A local man was charged after his poodle attacked a pit bull and he allegedly threatened two boys with a knife, police said.

Price Quotes Vary Widely For Privatizing Bristol City Work

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:26:48 GMT

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Three private businesses are interested in taking over the city's trash collection work, and two more want contracts to maintain the parks.

Onetime Hartford Gangster, Now A Preacher, Is Accused Of Sex Crimes In Florida

By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 22:05:00 GMT

A Hartford gangster who the FBI said was once targeted for death by the Mafia is back in the custody of the law.

Adam Zachs' New Lawyer Wants To See State's Evidence

By AMANDA FALCONE, afalcone@courant.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:13:44 GMT

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An attorney for convicted murderer Adam Zachs has filed a motion in Hartford Superior Court requesting that his defense team be allowed to examine items filed as evidence in the 1980s murder trial.

SPCA: NYC Vet Dumped Euthanized Pets Along Highway

Tue, 29 May 2012 19:19:50 GMT

A New York veterinarian has been charged with dumping 35 euthanized pets alongside a highway.

Community Meeting Set Wednesday To Discuss Hartford's Milner School

By VANESSA DE LA TORRE, vdelatorre@courant.com — Tue, 29 May 2012 18:37:36 GMT

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School officials have planned a community meeting Wednesday to pitch their proposed Milner School partnership with Jumoke Academy.