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A devastating fire tore through Waterbury’s South Main and Clay Streets Thursday evening, forcing nearly 20 people from their homes as flames raced too fast for firefighters to enter the main building. Two firefighters were injured—one fell through a floor—while crews battled from the outside. The Red Cross is now helping displaced residents find housing, with multiple addresses declared uninhabit...

Scientists have just unveiled a mind-blowing discovery: the “ghostly snailfish,” a new deep-sea species thriving in the crushing depths of the Mariana Trench—over 8,000 meters down. With a gelatinous, scaleless body built to withstand extreme pressure and freezing cold, this creature redefines what we thought possible for life on Earth. Found during a daring expedition into the hadal zone, it’s no...

Inflation’s cooling trend brings welcome relief to wallets, fueled by falling gas prices and a steady slowdown in price hikes — a shift that’s easing everyday costs and giving households a breath of fresh air after a tough year. The Federal Reserve watches closely, balancing rate hikes against the risk of recession as the economy inches toward stability — but with uncertainty still looming, everyo...

A bold new twist on hotel real estate: East Hartford Flex Space, launching this August inside the newly renovated Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites, turns a hotel into a full-service coworking hub. Designed by Gary Patel to meet the rise of remote work, it offers hourly, daily, and monthly memberships for hotel guests, business travelers, and locals — complete with private offices, shared desks,...

A Yale student, 18-year-old Ari Shtein, faces serious charges of aggravated sexual abuse and endangering a child after an alleged incident on a NYC R train in June. The victim, a 30-year-old woman with four children, reportedly exited the train and went to the hospital, while Shtein stayed on board. Arrested earlier this week, Shtein denies the claims, saying he was shopping with a friend and call...

Avner Krohn just dropped $1.5 million on two historic downtown buildings in New Britain — 2-26 Main Street and 3 Franklin Square — adding to his growing downtown portfolio. Acquired from James Calciano’s company, these well-maintained 1900s properties feature ground-floor shops and offices, sitting prime across from the courthouse and state office building. Krohn plans minimal upgrades, betting on...

A Connecticut resident just won $100,000 from a Cash 5 ticket bought at a Big Y in Stratford—just another day, until boom, life changes. It’s part of a wild trio of $300K prizes still unclaimed, with two already claimed and one left: drawn Sunday, numbers 1-5-9-25-28, sold at Howe Street Deli & Grocery in New Haven. Claim deadline: January 1, 2027. And hey, always check your tickets—you never know...

Isaiah Lizardi, a former All-State athlete turned Puerto Rican flag football star, is chasing Olympic dreams after rediscovering his passion for competition. Once sidelined by a post-college job, he boldly reached out to the national federation, earned a tryout, and made the team—then helped Puerto Rico win gold in El Salvador, securing a spot in the 2027 Continental Championship. With his family...

Biohaven Pharmaceutical is reshuffling its scientific leadership as Bruce Car steps down from his full-time role as chief scientific officer to take on a new part-time position as chief innovation officer, focusing on advancing key projects and partnering with startups like Bexorg. Meanwhile, David Pirman is promoted to senior vice president and head of discovery, overseeing all internal drug rese...

Fifty-eight-year-old Alexander Cruz from Willimantic was arrested in a dramatic undercover sting after attempting to pay for sex with a minor — only to meet an FBI agent posing as a teen. The joint Hartford Police and FBI operation targeted predators exploiting online platforms, and Cruz now faces serious charges including criminal attempt to have sexual contact with a minor and commercial sexual...

Mercator Acquisition Corp. just hit the market with a $150M IPO, ready to swoop in on a tech or software firm in finance or real estate—think of them as a stealthy shell company built to go public via merger. With 18 months to find the right target, they’re banking on seasoned leadership: Shawn Matthews (ex-Cantor Fitzgerald, veteran SPAC builder), his son Shawn P. Matthews Jr., and Steven Bischof...

Former girls’ basketball coach Bryan Baez-Rivera is set for sentencing after pleading guilty to assault for driving into an angry parent, Jason Surprenant, following a game in January 2025 — a chaotic moment captured on video. Facing a potential three-year sentence with 60 days served and the rest suspended, plus two years probation, his lawyer seeks no jail time. The case was delayed after Baez-R...

Over 22,000 Connecticut residents lost health coverage this year—up 75% from last year—due to rising premiums after federal COVID-era subsidies expired, sparking a political firestorm and even a government shutdown. While the state stepped in with $115 million in emergency aid, it’s a one-time fix, leaving many without insurance and premiums climbing. The debate over long-term affordability contin...

Yale may be quietly settling with the DOJ over allegations it still uses race in medical school admissions — a move that could reshape higher education’s race-conscious policies. The DOJ’s May letter demanded Yale clean up its act or face consequences, sparking fierce backlash from faculty and students who call the evidence “bogus” and “speculative,” citing a misleading blank slide as key proof. C...

State Senator Ryan Fazio unveiled a bold affordability agenda for Connecticut, promising to slash electricity bills by 20%, cut income and property taxes, and tackle soaring housing costs—all while criticizing the current administration’s tax hikes and mandates. Speaking at the final candidate forum hosted by the neutral Regional Plan Association, Fazio tied Connecticut’s economic future to fiscal...

Thirty million dollars approved a year ago to boost job training is still sitting idle as lawmakers and advocates sound the alarm—time is running out. While only ten million has been approved for borrowing and a small portion allocated, none has reached the regional workforce boards that actually train and connect people to jobs. With federal grants dried up and more people needing help, critics q...

Allie Ziebell is transforming from a shooter into a complete player, staying on campus this summer to grind harder than ever—lifting weights, sharpening her skills, and embracing a tougher, more aggressive game. After a breakthrough 34-point performance against Xavier, she’s channeling confidence from coach Geno Auriemma into relentless work ethic, even training alone with coaches. With Azzi Fudd...

Principals are the backbone of education—but how they become great leaders has been a mystery until now. A new national study reveals they’re often left to learn on their own, relying on podcasts, books, and peer groups, not formal training. While instructional leadership is most helpful, districts need to ask principals what they need—not just push agendas. Early-career and Black principals repor...

A 22-year-old from Waterbury, Connecticut, Anthony Primavera, is facing 18 months in federal prison and two years of supervised release for trafficking firearms — including a stolen pistol and a ghost gun — linked to a drug operation involving deadly fentanyl-laced pills. His associate was selling drugs and weapons to a convicted felon, and Primavera pleaded guilty in March. Charged in May 2025, h...

This Putnam case explodes with chaos: Gage Pietrowski reported a robbery, but investigators uncovered a terrifying pattern of escalating gun threats he sent via text — “I’ll shoot everyone.” The fallout led to five arrests, including Gage, his mom Nicole Huard-Bennett, and his brothers Anthony and Karter. One brother even confronted Gage to seize his weapon, sparking a struggle that ended with the...

Patriotic brass tunes, folk-rock magic, and community celebration await this summer — from the New Britain Symphony’s free concert to Slambovian Circus of Dreams’ Twilight debut, a milestone for an assisted living pioneer, big scholarship wins for local students, and lifelong learning for seniors. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on...

A massive housing project by The Silverman Group in Simsbury, Connecticut, faces a potential veto from the town’s wetlands board, despite state law giving developers broad leeway under 8-30g. The board, citing risks to vernal ponds, water quality, and wildlife, is preparing to reject the proposal—even though the developer insists their environmental data meets all legal standards. Residents fear t...

A new coworking hub is launching in East Hartford this August—East Hartford Flex Space, tucked inside the Fairfield Inn & Suites. Designed for remote workers, travelers, and local entrepreneurs, it offers flexible, 24/7 access with hourly and daily passes. Managed by Annisa Teich, who’s already running similar spaces in West Hartford and Windsor, it’s a partnership that lets monthly members tap in...

Connecticut’s top court just overturned a 2023 murder conviction for Luiz Roman, who was sentenced to 58 years for the 2019 killing of Miguel Afzal in an abandoned Bridgeport factory. The reversal stems from a critical judicial error: the trial judge failed to properly instruct the jury that Roman’s decision not to testify could not be used against him. This omission likely led jurors to unfairly...

The Department of Justice is accusing Yale of racial favoritism in medical school admissions, claiming documents show intentional bias giving Black and Hispanic applicants outsized advantages—like a 29x higher interview chance over equally qualified Asians. Yale is under fire from faculty, alumni, and lawmakers who warn a settlement would hand the government power to dictate admissions and set a d...