News
Anderson grants haunting performance in ‘The Last Showgirl’
Though dressed in sequins and feathers and rhinestone headpieces that resemble unusually elegant birdcages, Shelly (Pamela Anderson) is a dinosaur. In Gia Coppola’s wistful character drama “The Last Showgirl,” Shelly represents the end of an era: a woman approaching 60 who’s spent her entire career as a performer in a splashy Las Vegas revue, the […]
Leigh delivers another gift with ‘Hard Truths’
Mike Leigh movies feel like a magic trick. Observational, wry, funny, devastating and always rooted in character, Leigh allows us to take in some of the most fascinating people, the milieu they inhabit, those around them, their idiosyncrasies in the way they move about the world (cheerfully, as in “Happy-Go-Lucky”; chaotically in “Naked,” to name […]
What to stream: Wyle back in scrubs and ‘Traitors’ returns
Noah Wyle goes back to an emergency room for his new series “The Pitt” and Lana Wilson’s lauded documentary about psychics, “Look Into My Eyes,” are some of this week’s new streaming entertainment releases. Peacock’s hit “The Traitors” hosted by Alan Cumming returns, while British comedian Nick Frost writes and stars in the comedic horror […]
New kids on the block: Torrington’s Canino joins the House
HARTFORD – Joseph Canino transitioned Wednesday from serving as a press aide to Republican state senators to serving as a Republican state representative. The 27-year-old Torrington native was one of 22 new members of the General Assembly who took their oaths of office and their seats on the opening day of the 2025 legislative session […]
Today in History, January 9
Today is Thursday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2025. There are 356 days left in the year. Today in history: On Jan. 9, 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the Macworld conference in San Francisco. Also on this date: In 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union, […]
Offshore oil: Reversing Biden booby traps
It’s unlikely President Biden’s ban on oil exploration off America’s east and west coasts will have an immediate impact on energy supplies or prices. Nevertheless, President-elect Donald Trump’s administration should move quickly to reverse Mr. Biden’s edict, which some experts say will be difficult if not impossible to remove. “In balancing the many uses and […]
‘Decent Joe’ Biden is a made-up character who never existed
An illusion is an interpretation that contradicts objective reality. Many people don’t want to know the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed. The illusory truth effect is very simple: people are more likely to believe whatever they are told repeatedly. Brainwashing requires long-term persistence, repeating the cycle over and over again. Re-examine your […]
Hartford schools obstruct probe of grad’s illiteracy
Fifty years ago, during the bad old days of the state Department of Children and Families, when it was called the Department of Children and Youth Services, a clumsy mechanism of unaccountability was used by the political hacks who ran the agency. (For years the only qualification of the department’s commissioner was his service as […]
Lamont extends severe cold weather protocol until Friday
Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday that due to an updated weather forecast indicating frigid conditions will continue for at least another day, he is extending the duration of the state’s severe cold weather protocol to remain in effect until Friday at noon. The protocol, which went into effect Monday, originally was set to expire on […]
Bethlehem woman who gave marijuana-laced gummies to Naugatuck High students denied program
NAUGATUCK – A Bethlehem woman who gave marijuana-laced gummies to Naugatuck High School students was denied a special diversionary program that could have led to a dismissal. Taylor Baker, 21, instead received a three-year suspended sentence after she pleaded guilty Monday to a drug charge and two counts of reckless endangerment. The judge also ordered […]
Winsted police at full force, town manager reports
WINSTED — Town Manger Paul Harrington told the Board of Selectmen this week the police department has reached its full staffing capacity. While that is a positive development, Harrington said “unfortunately” three of the 20 officers are at the police training academy in Meriden, with one of them just starting last Friday. When they graduate, […]
Pernerewski taps lifelong Waterbury resident for school board
WATERBURY — Mayor Paul K. Pernerewski Jr. is appointing Yarixa Lopez, a lifelong city resident and employee of Waterbury Hospital, to serve on the Board of Education, filling the seat left vacant by Steffi Frias. Frias resigned Nov. 8, citing an opportunity to acquire a child-care center. Lopez moved to the city from Puerto Rico […]
Barkhamsted man on trial for allegedly taking items from storage unit
TORRINGTON — Michael Poirier faced jury selection Wednesday in Torrington Superior Court on allegations he stole more than $35,000 worth of his former belongings from a storage unit and damaged another $12,000 worth of property in the fall of 2020. Poirier, 44, of Barkhamsted, was arrested Dec. 7, 2020. Police said they were called by […]
Francisquini facing weapons charge in Cheshire prison
CHESHIRE — The Naugatuck man accused of murdering his 11-month-old daughter in 2022 was arrested by the state police last summer on a weapons charge after he allegedly assaulted another inmate with an improvised hammer made with a bar of soap, a magazine and linen. Christopher Francisquini, 33, faces a felony charge of possession of […]
Equipment shed in Goshen hits a snag after selectmen meeting
GOSHEN – A plan by the Board of Selectmen calling for construction of an equipment storage building on the grounds of the public works department at 38 Torrington Road is in jeopardy following a recommendation the board received Tuesday. The recommendation presented by Selectman Scott Olson advises against carrying out the project at a cost […]
Louise M. DeNicola
WATERBURY – Louise M. DeNicola, age 99, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in the comfort of her home. She was the wife of the late Louis DeNicola. Louise is survived by her daughter Susan Elzenny from Waterbury, with whom she made her home; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Elzenny of […]
Odell McKnight Jr.
WATERBURY – Odell “Bo” McKnight Jr. passed away on Jan. 1, 2025. He was born on Dec. 15, 1961 in Louisburg, N.C., to Odell McKnight Sr. and Claudine Wright McKnight Teasley. He leaves to cherish his memory daughter Blessyn Kshiteeja Marie Allen; sisters Shirley Yvonne McKnight, Lynette McKnight-Beynum; stepsisters Hazel Teasley-Arnold, Alice Munn; brothers Claudale […]
Eugene and Joan Rek
PROSPECT – Eugene and Joan Rek, of Prospect and Hernando, Fla., passed away Nov. 25, 2024 and Dec, 6, 2024 – 11 days apart. They were inseparable and married for 65 years. Their children, Susan (Ron) Turmel, Laurie (Jake) Jacobsen, and Eugene Jr. (Laurie), would like you to be a part of a celebration of […]
Marianna Shea
NAUGATUCK – Marianna “Mickey” Shea, 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in her home. She was the loving wife of the late Carlton A. Shea for 69 years. One of eight children, Marianna Shea was born Sept. 14, 1931, in Frederick, Md., daughter of the late E. Earl and Dorothy (Derr) Remsberg. […]
Georgette P. Telescus
WATERBURY – Georgette P. “Aunt Sissy” (Beckwith) Telescus, 90, passed away on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at her home. She was born on Oct. 16, 1934, in Waterbury, daughter of the late George and Gertrude (Palmer) Beckwith. Georgette was educated in local schools and was employed at Edith B. Jackson (EBJ) Child Care Program Inc. […]
David Undari
TORRINGTON – David Undari, 71, of Torrington, died Dec. 31, 2024. He is survived by two brothers, Robert Undari (Sherri) and Thomas Undari, both of Torrington; and a nephew Robert Undari Jr. Private arrangements have been entrusted to Cook Funeral Home. To read a complete obituary, please visit cookfuneralhomect.com.
HAPPENINGS IN THE HILLS: Pastor, deacon’s time at at Our Lady of Grace Church in Bantam is over
LITCHFIELD – The Rev. Francis Fador and his sidekick at Our Lady of Grace Church in Bantam for the past 18 months, Deacon Nick Diorio, completed their service Saturday. The day’s 4 p.m. Mass was the final one at the church for both. Fador, who has filled the pews at the church, is stepping aside […]
Cooperative working toward market, community hub in Waterbury’s North End
WATERBURY – Food insecurity in the city remains a significant challenge, with 25% of residents unable to provide food for themselves and their families in the last year, said Shawne Johnson, president of North End Cooperative Market. For the past three years, the cooperative has been working toward creating a market and community hub in […]
Siting Council OKs massive solar farm in Woodbury
WOODBURY – A plan to build a solar farm the size of 12 football fields off Fawn Meadow Lane has been approved by the Connecticut Siting Council with a long list of conditions. Greenskies Clean Energy’s application for a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need was granted Dec. 5, clearing a required hurdle to […]
New year, new issues to tackle in Salisbury
SALISBURY – The Board of Selectmen spent the first meeting of 2025 looking ahead to the issues facing the town in the coming year. First Selectman Curtis G. Rand began by talking about the annual budget preparation, which will start next month. “I think we’re looking fairly good,” he said, adding a property revaluation is […]
Lamont focuses on affordability in State of the State address
HARTFORD – Gov. Ned Lamont told newly seated and returning state legislators Wednesday that increasing affordability and opportunity in Connecticut must be “our north stars” in charting state policy and spending priorities. The General Assembly opened its 2025 legislative session that will run through June 4 with ceremonies, routine procedural votes and, of course, speeches, […]
Massachusetts man arraigned in fatal crash in Waterbury that killed college senior
WATERBURY — The blood-alcohol level of the man accused of causing the crash last November that killed a Central Connecticut State University senior was more than three times the legal limit, according to prosecutors. Luis Martinez-Alba, 32, now of Worcester, Mass., was arraigned Wednesday in Waterbury Superior Court on charges in connection with the crash […]
Southern U.S. shivers as new winter storm threatens snow for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) – A developing winter storm threatens to drop snow, sleet and freezing rain on parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas as frigid air that escaped the Arctic plunges temperatures to subfreezing levels in some of the southernmost points of the U.S. National Weather Service meteorologists predicted wintry precipitation across the southern Plains […]
Trump asks the Supreme Court to block sentencing in his hush money case in New York
WASHINGTON (AP) – President-elect Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to call off Friday’s sentencing in his hush money case in New York. Trump’s lawyers turned to the nation’s highest court on Wednesday after New York courts refused to postpone the sentencing by Judge Juan M. Merchan, who presided over Trump’s trial and conviction […]
Thousands flee as wildfires burn out of control and destroy homes across the Los Angeles area
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Multiple massive wildfires tore across the Los Angeles area with devastating force Wednesday, destroying more than 1,000 structures and killing at least two people as desperate residents escaped through flames, ferocious winds and towering clouds of smoke. Three major blazes were burning in the metropolitan area, from the Pacific Coast inland […]