The Latest
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Small businesses struggle with rising electric costs
While residential electric bills went up 20, 30, even 40 percent in the last several months, some small business owners have seen their bills jump 50 percent or more. Leed Himmel Industries in Hamden makes a variety of aluminum products in an operation that requires a lot of power. “We’ll use about a million and a half kilowatt hours this…
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Jan. 6 sentence handed down almost three years later
A sixth person from Connecticut has been sentenced in connection with the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021. Richard Markey was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release for assaulting officers. He was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The 40-year-old Wolcott man has been in federal…
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Hartford Fire Department move could limit fire protection in the area
Should paid firefighters be allowed to volunteer with other departments in their free time? State law has said yes, but the Hartford fire chief has issued his firefighters an ultimatum that could limit firefighting in communities that rely on volunteers. Hartford Fire Chief Rodney Barco sent out a memo to the department on Tuesday. He told union members they have…
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Does Connecticut recycle well? Here's what you need to know
November 15 is America Recycles Day. NBC Connecticut dove into the data to see how well Connecticut recycles. Connecticut generates 3.6 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, according to a state report. Approximately 1.3 million tons, or 37%, was diverted from landfills through recycling, composting or a process known as anaerobic digestion, which essentially breaks down organic waste. According…
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Man wrongfully convicted as a teen settles with New Milford for $2.5 million
One of two men who spent 30 years behind bars for a wrongful conviction has reached a settlement with the Town of New Milford. The town council approved a $2.5 million settlement with Shawn Henning at a special meeting on Tuesday night. Henning was 17 years old when he and his friend Ricky Birch went to prison for the gruesome…
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End in sight for crumbling concrete crisis?
Over 1,000 homes have gotten new foundations through a state program. There could be thousands more to go. A family on Deer Run Trail in Manchester has the distinction of being the 1,000th to have their home’s foundation replaced through the Connecticut Foundations Indemnity Solutions Company (CFSIC). CFSIC Superintendent Michael Maglaras said he had no idea what to expect when…
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Big update in wrongful conviction suit against New Milford
There are new developments in the case of two men who spent 30 years behind bars for a wrongful conviction. NBC Connecticut Investigates has learned one of them is willing to settle his lawsuit against the town of New Milford and its police officers. Shawn Henning was 17 years old when he and Ricky Birch went to prison for a…
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Traces of doubt: The forensics of Dr. Henry Lee
Dr. Henry Lee has been called the godfather of forensic science. His career spans decades and he’s investigated criminal cases all over the world. Now a case from the 1980s is getting renewed attention after the state of Connecticut paid out $25.2 million to two men who spent 30 years in prison for their wrongful murder convictions. A judge ruled…
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Over-the-counter Narcan available, but barriers still exist
While the opioid reversal medication is available without a prescription, buying it may not be as easy as it sounds. In 2023, more than 1,300 people in Connecticut died of an overdose. The vast majority, or 84%, involved fentanyl. So far, 2024 is following that trend. Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, is designed to reverse the effects…
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Fire tragedies highlight importance of inspections and prevention
Already this year, 11 people have died in house fires in Connecticut, including four young siblings. At this time last year, one residential fire death had been reported. In the case of the Somers fire on Jan. 2, firefighters say the flames cut off access to the stairway, trapping the children on the second floor. Firefighters were unable to reach…
