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Christmas Kids 2024
Zayah Freeman, 4, of Watertown. Photo by Steven Valenti Republican-American
Karaban earns praise from Xavier coach Miller
HARTFORD – Xavier coach Sean Miller had just lost a heartbreaking overtime game to UConn days after receiving heartbreaking news that the team’s star player, Zach Freemantle, had been lost indefinitely with potentially the fourth serious injury of his career. No one would have blamed Miller if he wanted to leave the media room quickly […]
Officials look at Falls Village housing project
FALLS VILLAGE – A phase one environmental site assessment at the proposed River Road affordable housing project showed no differences from the one taken in 2021-22. Chris Lindahl of TRC Co. presented a report to a public meeting Tuesday. Falls Village Housing Trust is proposing to place eight buildings totaling 16 units of housing on […]
Town leaders want deeper cuts in Region 20 schools
LITCHFIELD – Three of the four first selectmen with front-row seats to the Region 20 school district financial crisis want the district Board of Education to make deeper budget cuts beyond the $326,172 in reductions made Tuesday. Although the cuts lowered the deficit in the board’s $41.5 million budget for 2024-25 budget to $1.77 million, […]
Slapikas stepping down as Prospect council chairman
PROSPECT – Town Council Chairman Jeff Slapikas has stepped down after serving on the council for 21 years, including 11 years as chairman. “I am broken-hearted to inform you that I will be stepping down from the Prospect Town Council starting immediately. I have put in over 20 years of service with the council and […]
Torrington mayor, others donate to food pantry
TORRINGTON – Donna Banning, senior clerk in the City Hall purchasing department, presented a $400 check for Friendly Hands Food Bank to a surprised Executive Director Karen Thomas on Wednesday. Thomas said she had no idea what her meeting in the mayor’s office was about, only that city Treasurer Daniel T. Farley called her to […]
Marshalls coming to Winsted in $14M plaza deal
WINSTED – A Marshalls store will open in Ledgebrook Plaza on Route 44 after a New Jersey-based investment firm purchased the strip mall for more than $14 million. Heidenberg Properties Group closed on the shopping plaza Friday. Marshalls is a national chain of department stores that sells “brand names for less.” Founded in 1956, Marshalls […]
Today in History, December 20
By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Dec. 20, the 355th day of 2024. There are 11 days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 20, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States. Also on this date: In 1946, the […]
Symmetry of Light: Hanukkah begins on the same day Christians celebrate the birth of Christ
Two December holidays celebrate light and hope, and this year, they begin on the same day. The first day of Hanukkah, a minor feast in the Jewish calendar, begins at sundown Christmas Day. Both holidays celebrate the triumph of light over darkness – in John’s Gospel, Jesus refers to himself as the “light of the […]
Study: Junk food might be feeding cancerous colon tumors
Junk food like potato chips, ice cream and ready-made meals have long been linked with a spate of health conditions including cancers, heart disease and diabetes. Now, a new study by University of South Florida Health and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute has revealed that these ultra-processed foods may be fueling cancerous growths in the […]
Pennsylvania’s Bethlehem: The city founded by Moravians on Christmas Eve keeps its traditions alive
BETHLEHEM, Pa. On Christmas Eve in 1741, Moravian settlers named this Pennsylvania city after the biblical birthplace of Jesus. Nearly 300 years later, Moravians continue celebrating their Christmas season traditions in Bethlehem. They include the “putz,” a Nativity scene that tells the story of Christ’s birth with miniature wooden figurines, the making of thousands of […]
A poignant family holiday tradition
In my family, we have a lovely and poignant Christmas tradition. We gather in front of the TV with some hot chocolate and watch our all-time favorite holiday show: “Pee Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special.” If you’re familiar with this work of art, then you know the words “lovely” and “poignant” may not be the best […]
End of the line: Great Falls bids fond farewell
Every story follows a narrative arc. Great Falls Brewing’s is shorter than others, but it’s no less compelling. After some backstory about owner Chris Tripler’s homebrewing origins, the plot races forward when Great Falls opens in North Canaan, born from the literal ashes of a historic train station’s fire. “The whole beer world at that […]
Middlebury resident thanks first responders for saving her life
SOUTHBURY – Middlebury resident Christine Elven is alive and well three-and-a-half weeks after going into full cardiac arrest in the backseat of a car that had just gotten off Interstate 84 at Exit 15. Statistically, a person with no pulse out in the field has about a 5% chance of survival, doctors say. In this […]
Morning 5: ‘Christmas’ movies
Netflix’s “Carry-On” (Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman) is being called the best Christmas movie of the season. Here are five other Christmas movies that have nothing to do with Christmas: 1) “Gremlins” — Don’t feed these little guys after midnight or you might end up with something awful in your stocking. 2) “Trading Places” — Looking […]
Hearst Connecticut Media Group is negotiating to buy the Republican-American
WATERBURY – Hearst Connecticut Media Group is negotiating with American-Republican, Inc., owners of the Republican-American, Sunday Republican, rep-am.com and the Citizens News, to purchase the publications. Both companies announced the negotiations today. The sale could be final as early as January, said Mike DeLuca, group publisher and president of Hearst Connecticut Media Group. “At Hearst […]
Janet S. Cronn
NAUGATUCK – Mrs. Janet (Stevens) Cronn, 89, of Naugatuck, passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at the Lutheran Home of Southbury. She was the loving wife of the Rev. Steven L. Cronn. A graveside service of life will be private in Grove Cemetery in Naugatuck. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Naugatuck has care of arrangements. […]
Sophie (Krajewski) Morton
NAUGATUCK – Sophie (Krajewski) Morton went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 19, 2024, at the age of 73. She was born on July 16, 1951, in Waterbury. Sophie was the daughter of Leo and Blazena (Vodickova) Krajewski. She was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church. Sophie graduated valedictorian from St. […]
Joyce H. Rinaldi
PLYMOUTH – Joyce Ann (Hicock) Rinaldi, age 85, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. She was the loving wife, soul mate, and one and only love of Henry I. Rinaldi. Born on May 5, 1939, in Waterbury, Joyce was the daughter of the late Everett Stiles Hicock […]
Theresa M. Ross
TORRINGTON – Theresa M. (Palladino) Ross, 91, of Torrington, died Dec. 16, 2024. Theresa was born Feb. 22, 1933, in Torrington. Graveside funeral services will be Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Cemetery, 236 E. Pearl Road, Torrington. To read a complete obituary, please visit cookfuneralhomect.com.
Mr. Biden’s decisions: Pardon power needs restrictions
President Biden tested his pardon powers on behalf of his troubled son, Hunter, on Dec. 1 – and apparently enjoyed the experience. Dec. 12, he issued 39 pardons and 1,499 commutations, and hinted there were more to come. “Biden said he would be taking more steps in the weeks ahead and would continue to review […]
$400 donation will help Friendly Hands Food Bank feed others
TORRINGTON – Donna Banning, senior clerk in the City Hall purchasing department, presented a $400 check for Friendly Hands Food Bank to a surprised Executive Director Karen Thomas on Wednesday. Thomas said she had no idea what her meeting in the mayor’s office was about, only that city Treasurer Daniel T. Farley called her to […]
Southbury child porn case is worst seen by prosecutor
SOUTHBURY – The man accused of taking part in what a top prosecutor called the worst child pornography case she has seen in her career was held on a $1 million bond following his arraignment Thursday in Waterbury Superior Court. Edgar Mills, 75, of Southbury, was arraigned on numerous child pornography and sexual assault charges […]
NOTEWORTHY IN NORTH COUNTY: Icebox Cafe comes to Connecticut’s Icebox
NORFOLK – The town has welcomed a new business, the Icebox Cafe, at 10 Station Place. The business opened three weeks ago but was almost two years in the making, owners Peter and Marinelle Crippen said. The Crippens, who moved to Norfolk in 2018, had a similar shop in New York City they operated for […]
Waterbury police blotter
WATERBURY Waterbury police recently filed the following charges: YAVIER CORALIN, 38, of 807 Cushing Road, Warren, Maine, two counts third-degree criminal mischief, criminal possession of pistol/revolver, carrying pistol without permit, illegal discharge of firearm, first-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace. CORDERRIAL JOHNSON, 35, of 82 Harris Circle, second-degree breach of illegal possession of weapon in […]
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Suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing faces federal murder, stalking and weapons charges
By MARK SCOLFORO and MICHAEL R. SISAK | ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO faces new federal charges of murder, stalking and weapons charges, according to a complaint unsealed Thursday. Luigi Mangione agreed to return to New York to face a state murder charge Thursday at a morning […]
The Winter Almanac is online
Winter can be hard to endure with several months of frigid temperatures, treacherous driving conditions and extended darkness. Getting outdoors – or at least out of the house – can help conquer the cabin fever that winter is known to inflict on us. Besides the usual museums like the Mattatuck in Waterbury and others like […]
Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?
By BILL BARROW | ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA — Nearly 3 million people could receive a boost in Social Security payments under legislation set for a final Senate vote in the coming days. The Social Security Fairness Act would end longtime provisions that reduce the federal benefit for people who are also eligible for other pensions. […]
Government shutdown at risk as Trump’s demands put Speaker Johnson in a bind
By LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING | ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — A government shutdown at risk, House Speaker Mike Johnson is fighting to figure out how to meet President-elect Donald Trump’s sudden demands — and keep his own job — while federal offices are being told to prepare to shutter operations ahead of Friday’s […]