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Artsucation™ Academy Network and the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven: New Haven Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 17, 2025 at 9:08 in NEWS and ENTERTAINMENT

New Haven Green

New Haven, CT — April 25, 2025 — The Artsucation™ Academy Network and the Official Juneteenth Coalition of Greater New Haven proudly present the New Haven Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony, a powerful annual event celebrating freedom, unity, and community pride.

Join us on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM on the historic New Haven Green for the official city flag raising of the Juneteenth Flag. This inspiring ceremony will feature a live trumpeter, performances by talented New Haven artists, members of the Official Juneteenth Coalition, and special remarks from the Mayor of New Haven.

The Juneteenth Flag Raising marks the beginning of the city’s commemorations and honors the significance of June 19, 1865—the day enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed of their freedom. This annual event is a call for remembrance, reflection, and a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to equality and justice.

Mark your calendars every year!
The New Haven Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony will be held annually on the first Monday of June at 1:00 PM on the New Haven Green.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: New Haven Green, New Haven, CT

Stand with us as we lift the Juneteenth Flag high, celebrate resilience, and honor the ongoing journey toward freedom and equality.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or more information, please contact:
Mama Iman Hameen
info@artsucation.org
475-444-9570

www.artsucation.org

Follow us:
Instagram @ArtsucationAcademyNetwork | Facebook @ArtsucationAcademyNetwork and @TheOfficialJuneteenthCoalitionofGreaterNewHaven

Walsh Reigns Supreme: Edges Williams to earn WBC 130-lbs title

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 11, 2025 at 11:54 in NEWS

MASHANTUCKET, CT – "King" Kevin Walsh (17-0, 9 KOs) vanquished the last of his regional rivals on Saturday night, winning a hard fought 10-round majority decision over Tremaine "The Mighty Midget" Williams (20-3, 6 KOs) at the Premier Theater in Foxwoods Resort Casino.

With the win, Walsh added the WBC US Silver Super Featherweight title to his growing collection.

"Hats off to Williams, he’s a hell of a fighter," said Brockton, MA's Walsh, who stopped cross-town rival Irvin Gonzalez in 4 rounds last November to win the New England Super Featherweight title and followed up that impressive win with an electrifying 8th round knockout over Rhode Island's Ricky de los Santos in February to pick up the WBC US Silver Featherweight title.  "I got the knockdown in round 4, and I think it was the difference."

It very well may have been.  Other than the knockdown, the bout was fought on even terms over 10 rounds.  The contest began with a battle of the jabs as each man looked to establish ring generalship.

Walsh began to pressure Williams in round 3, and the former world title challenger from New Haven, CT responded with a counter left hand and several left jabs.  Just when the ‘Mighty Midget’ was settling into the fight, Walsh went on the offensive in round 4, landing a leaping right hand that dropped Williams.  The Brockton native looked to follow up, but the crafty Williams responded with a left hand and a short right hook to stave off further punishment.

The bout became a tense chess match during the middle rounds, with each fighter working angles to gain an edge.  Walsh picked up the pace in round 8, but the southpaw Williams responded with quick left hands before evading the incoming fire.

Walsh likely sealed the deal in rounds 9 and 10, pushing the pace of the fight and desperately trying to hurt his foe.  After 10 hard rounds, the crowd waited tensely as the announcer read the judges’ scorecards, with 2 judges seeing the fight 95-94 and 96-93 for Walsh, overruling the third judge who scored the fight 96-93 for Williams.

‘Savage’ Steven Sumpter stops Janer Gonzalez to win WBC 168-lbs title

In the night’s co-feature, "Savage" Steven Sumpter (11-1-1, 9 KOs) earned the vacant WBC US Silver Super Middleweight title, knocking out grizzled veteran Janer Gonzalez (23-8-1, 19 KOs) in round 6 of a scheduled 8 round bout.  Sumpter, of Lawrence, MA, took his time in figuring out the Miami based Colombian, patiently stalking him over the first few rounds looking for opportunities to counter.

"I was trying to bait him in and see what he had," explained Sumpter after the bout. "I wanted him to walk into something."

The southpaw began sitting on his punches in round 5, landing a heavy left hand that Gonzalez shook off.  Attempting to turn the tide, Gonzalez began moving forward in round 6, trapping Sumpter in the corner.  It turned out to be a costly mistake, as Sumpter landed a counter left hand that put Gonzalez on the canvas.  The Colombian beat the count and proceeded to trade, but another left hand dropped him hard, causing the stoppage at 1:42 of round 6.

Other results

Polish prospect Slawomir "The Heavy Hitter" Bohdziewicz improved to 6-0 (5), dropping Russell Harris (6-2, 6 KOs) twice in the 6th and final round for a last-minute stoppage.  The contest began with the taller Bohdziewicz plodding forward behind a left jab and heavy hooks and right hands, while the smaller, stockier Harris looked to counter with looping shots.  Bohdziewicz’s thudding shots began to take effect on the St. Louis native in round 5, as the exhausted southpaw desperately tried to survive Slaw’s onslaught. The Stamford, CT native finally broke through in round 6, dropping Harris with a jab, right hand combination. Harris beat the count, but Slaw dug a piercing left hook to Harris’ body that immediately dropped the Missourian to a knee, causing Harvey Dock to stop the bout at 2:15.

We already knew that Jacob "Lefty" Marrero (9-0, 7 KOs) was talented. Now we know that he can also overcome adversity.  The Bridgeport, CT native took on New York’s Wilfredo Flores (11-5-1, 5 KOs) in a battle of lightweights.  Marrero came out fast, landing quick counter left hands against the New Yorker.  Lefty hurt Flores in round 3, but the Mexican American shook it off and attempted to walk him down in round 4.  Flores almost stuck gold in round 5, staggering Marrero with a left hand.  The Bridgeport native leaned against the ropes, quickly composed himself and began to box, landing sharp counter shots.  Flores was never able to replicate his early success, as the quicker Marrero boxed intelligently while landing stinging lefts and rights.  Scores after 8 rounds were 79-73 (3x).

Highly touted heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz (6-0, 5 KOs) survived a scare, appearing to injure his knee after trading punches with Brandon Carmack (8-8-2, 5 KOs) in round 1 of their 6-round contest.  The bout continued after a few anxious minutes, with Feliz launching a series of head shots that dropped Carmack.  The Missouri native rose only to continue absorbing punishment, taking a knee later in the round from a big right hand.  Danbury, CT’s Feliz went in for the finish in round 2, dropping Carmack twice more, the second with a right uppercut to the stomach that dropped Carmack for good.  Time was 1:31 of round 2.

With boyhood hero Peter Manfredo Jr. looking on, Will Guilmette destroyed Tymar Miles (0-6) in his highly anticipated debut, dropping the New Yorker 3 times for a first-round knockout. The Coventry native wasted little time in making a statement, dropping Miles seconds into the fight with a left hook.  Miles beat the count, but a right to the body put him back on the canvas.  The New Yorker rose to his feet again, but the follow up assault dropped him a third time, causing referee Bryan Miner to halt the bout at 1:08 of round 1.

In an all-out war, Victor Reynoso (11-0, 7 KOs), of Providence, RI, outslugged Florida’s Chris Puryear (5-3) over 6 vicious rounds.  Reynoso launched a sneaky counter right uppercut in round 3 that dropped Puryear to his knees.  The Floridian beat the count and responded by launching his own attack in round 4, stunning Reynoso with an overhand right.  The pugilists continued to trade punches in rounds 5 and 6 before a massive right hand dropped Puryear a second time.  Puryear again beat the count, and the bloody fighters resumed trading power shots until the final bell.  Scores were 58-54 (3x).

Someone’s ‘0’ had to go when unbeaten middleweights Douglas Marroquin (6-0, 3 KOs) and Tremaine Jones (3-1, 3 KOs) collided in a 4-round slugfest.  Marroquin, a Guatemalan and Mexican fighter based in Stamford, CT, slowly broke down Jones, launching a body assault in round 1 and walking down his taller opponent behind intelligent pressure and short shots beginning in round 2.  Marroquin hit paydirt in round 3, staggering the Louisiana native with a huge right hand to the head and following up with a relentless assault.  A right to the body doubled Jones over, but he bravely absorbed the shot and survived to see the final bell.  Scores were 40-36 (3x).

Joseph Chisholm (5-0, 5 KOs) continued his string of first round knockouts, blasting out Markist Taylor (1-2) in quick succession. "J-Elite" was too much for Taylor, landing a 3-punch combination punctuated by a right hand to the body that dropped the St. Louis native for the count.  Time of the stoppage was 1:09 of round 1.

New Haven, CT’s Carlos Perez (4-0) kept his perfect record intact, pounding out a 4-round decision over Florida’s Shaquille Rushing (0-4-1).  After 2 competitive rounds, "Carlito’s Way" took control of the fight, landing 3 and 4 punch combinations to Grant’s head and body to secure the jr. welterweight bout by scores of 40-36 (3x).

Kevante Wineglass (2-0, 1 KO) picked up his first knockout, detonating a huge right hand to the head to drop debuting LaTraveon Grant (0-1) in round 2 of their jr. welterweight bout.  Grant survived the round, but the bout was stopped after round 3 on the doctor’s recommendation.

In his pro debut, Norwalk, CT based Venezuelan Victor Guerra (1-0, 1 KO) knocked out Lucien Hannah (0-4) in 3 rounds of their jr. middleweight scrap.  The boxers took turns hurting one another with right hands in round 3, Hannah early in the round and Guerra towards the end.  Guerra, of Wilmer Mendez Boxing, took advantage of his hurt opponent, following up with a two-fisted assault to the head and body that had the exhausted Hannah reeling. The New Yorker wisely chose not to continue after round 3.

David Marshall Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) made his pro debut a successful one, stopping Gabriel Costa (4-9-1, 4 KOs) in round 2 of their heavyweight bout. "Marshall Law" stunned Costa with a right hand in round 1. The Bristol, RI native dropped Costa twice in round 2, the first with a blistering left hook to the body, and the second with a heavy left hook to the head that convinced referee Harvey Dock to wave off the bout at 2:25 of round 2.

For more information about ‘Championship Jackpot 2025’ and all other CES Boxing events, visit cesfights.com.

INFORMATION

About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton"

Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 9, 2025 at 17:49 in NEWS

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH GIOVANNI SOTO, 34, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 168 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified a cocaine trafficking operation that involved the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization used “runners” to pick up the parcels from the drop addresses and deliver them to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield and the residence of Soto’s uncle, Ramon Soto, in New Britain. Typically, Ramon Soto, at Joseph Soto’s direction, then delivered the cocaine to individuals in the Bronx, New York, and elsewhere, in return for payment.

During the investigation, task force members intercepted and seized 10 suspicious parcels, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and identified approximately 280 suspicious parcels likely containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been delivered to the various drop addresses.

Joseph Soto was arrested on May 1, 2023. On that date, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of his residence and seized two loaded firearms, a drum magazine, ammunition, body armor, approximately two kilograms of cocaine, drug packaging material, and approximately $12,000 in cash. One of the seized firearms was fitted with a switch making it fully automatic, and investigators also found a second, uninstalled switch. A search of Ramon Soto’s residence on that date revealed a loaded Ruger handgun, firearm magazines, ammunition, two money counters, a digital scale with cocaine residue, and more than $1,000 in cash.

On February 7, 2025, Joseph Soto pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Released on a $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on June 25.

Ramon Soto pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on January 8, 2025, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 7, 2025 at 17:44 in NEWS

Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

205 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in FBI-led Nationwide Crackdown, Including 5 in Connecticut

The Department of Justice today announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims – especially child victims – and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

As part of Operation Restore Justice, the following five individuals were charged in the District of Connecticut with federal child exploitation crimes:

STEVEN TAYLOR, 52, of Hartford, has been charged by indictment with production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, Taylor used his smartphone and other devices to record sexually explicit videos and images of a minor female. Searches of the devices revealed more than 2,300 sexually explicit images and videos of prepubescent minors. Taylor was arrested on related state charges on October 24, 2024. On May 1, 2025, he appeared in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. He has been detained since his arrest.

RYAN PERRY, 39, of East Hartford, has been charged by criminal complaint with transportation, receipt, and distribution of child pornography. As alleged in court documents, in January 2025, Perry, who was on state probation for prior child exploitation offenses, was arrested for probation violations stemming from a 2024 home visit. A separate federal investigation identified Perry as a possible user of a darknet site where child pornography was uploaded and shared. In April 2025, analysis of a hard drive seized from Perry revealed approximately 2,900 images and videos of child sex abuse material. Perry was arrested federally on April 29, 2025, and is detained.

STEPHEN DICKSON, 47, of Colchester, has been charged by criminal complaint with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. As alleged in court documents, in September 2023, Dickson communicated on Kik Messenger with an FBI Online Covert Employee who was posing as the stepfather of a 14-year-old girl in Connecticut. During the communications, Dickson expressed a desire and willingness to engage in sexual activity with the fictitious girl. On September 22, 2023, Dickson was arrested and charged with state offenses after he traveled to a hotel in Wallingford to engage in sexual activity with the “girl.” Subsequent analysis of computers, hard drives, and a smartphone seized from Dickson revealed several hundred images and videos of suspected child pornography, and dozens of images of female children, likely downloaded from social media sites such as Facebook, that were digitally-manipulated to remove clothing in order to create child pornography. Dickson was arrested federally on May 1, 2025, and is released on a $150,000 bond.

JOSHUA BAILEY, 45, of Milford, and ELIZABETH JORDAN, 42, of West Haven, have been charged by criminal complaint with receipt and distribution of child pornography, transmission of a live visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor, and conspiracy to do so. As alleged in court documents, on March 12, 2024, Jordan engaged in sexual activity with a minor who was 17 and livestreamed the activity to Bailey using Facebook messenger. A subsequent search of Bailey’s phone revealed a series of screenshots of Jordan and the minor engaged in sexual activity. Bailey and Jordan have been detained since August 2024 when they were arrested for related state offenses. Bailey appeared in New Haven federal court on April 29 and Jordan appeared in New Haven federal court yesterday.

“The Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s Office has long been committed to protecting children by swiftly and vigorously prosecuting offenders,” said Marc H. Silverman, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. “Sex offenders continue to find new and evolving means to commit their crimes, including using social media and messaging applications to gain access to children, and, as noted specifically in one case we are pursuing, using an AI program to digitally convert real images to create child pornography. I thank our FBI colleagues, and all the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies focusing on this important effort, for staying ahead of the technology curve to investigate child exploitation crimes and apprehend these predators.”

“At FBI New Haven, protecting children is one of our most vital duties,” said Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Our Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force works in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners to stop those who prey on our most vulnerable. Here in Connecticut, the FBI actively disrupts violent online extremist groups, sex trafficking rings, sextortionists, and other destructive criminal activity. We do this work in partnership with the community to ensure child victims are identified and receive the care they need. Whether these threats come from the real world or a digital one, the FBI will fight day and night to protect all children. We will never stop in our pursuit to find and arrest those responsible for these heinous acts.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, Virginia, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, New York.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, by calling your local FBI field office, or by visiting www.cybertipli

Gang Member Sentenced for Obstructing Justice

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 7, 2025 at 0:47 in NEWS

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

JAMES GRAHAM, also known as “Little Cuz,” 25, formerly of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 57 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for an offense stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.

Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Graham and 15 other 960 gang members with various offenses, including racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.

On November 22, 2017, 960 members Zaekwon McDaniel, Tahjay Love, and Malik Bayon shot at Clarence Lewis and Antonio Santos who were in a car at a restaurant in Waterbury. Lewis sped from the scene at a high-rate of speed and crashed into a house at the intersection of Wolcott Street and Dallas Avenue in Waterbury. Lewis, 22, and Santos, 20, were pronounced dead at the scene. On October 19, 2019, Graham and Love, who were incarcerated in state custody, assaulted another inmate who they believed had reported to law enforcement Love’s role in the shooting.

On February 14, 2024, a jury found Graham guilty of obstruction of justice, and Love, McDaniel, Bayon guilty of offenses related to their participation in 960 and the deaths of Lewis and Santos.

Graham is currently serving a 52-year state sentence for murder, robbery, and firearm offenses related to his role in the murder of an 18-year-old victim in Hamden on November 13, 2017. Judge Dooley ordered Graham’s federal sentence to run concurrently with his state sentence.

Love, McDaniel, and Bayon await sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo, who were cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.

This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.

PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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New Haven Felon Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Offenses

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 7, 2025 at 0:42 in NEWS

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRICK WARREN, 31, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm possession and drug distribution offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2023, after a short pursuit, New Haven Police arrested Warren for violating conditions of his state probation that followed a felony firearm conviction. During the pursuit, officers saw Warren discard multiple items, later found to be a Glock semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, and bag containing various plastic bags of crack cocaine, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.

Subsequent analysis by the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) connected the seized pistol to shell casings collected after a shooting on Winchester Avenue in New Haven on November 8, 2023, and a shooting on Hazel Street in New Haven on November 12, 2023. It is alleged that text messages from Warren’s phone further connected him to these two shootings, as well as a carjacking, robbery, and shooting on November 10, 2023.

Warren’s criminal history also includes convictions for robbery, drug, and additional firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Warren has been detained since his arrest. On May 14, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

State charges against Warren related to the November 12, 2023, shooting are pending.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the New Haven Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.

TREASURER ERICK RUSSELL STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 5, 2025 at 14:59 in NEWS

TREASURER ERICK RUSSELL STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF STRIKING PRATT & WHITNEY WORKERS

HARTFORD, Connecticut – State Treasurer Erick Russell released the following statement in support of Pratt & Whitney workers who went on strike earlier today:

"This strike is about respect and not prioritizing profits over people. The machinists of Pratt & Whitney deserve fair wages, benefits, and job security for the vital role they play in Connecticut’s economy and the strength and innovation of our nation’s aerospace industry. I urge the company’s leadership to return to the table and come to a fair resolution.”

Governor Lamont Announces Launch of Connecticut’s e-Apprenticeship System

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on May 2, 2025 at 20:02 in NEWS

(CROMWELL, CT) – In commemoration of National Apprenticeship Day, Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today participated in the monthly meeting of the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council, where they announced the upcoming launch of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s new e-Apprenticeship system.

Going live on May 1, 2025, the e-Apprenticeship system will bring online the agency’s Registered Apprenticeship Training Program through the e-license system that is already in use by multiple Connecticut state agencies. The system will allow sponsor employers to register new apprentices, update information on their registered apprentices, and pay program fees, all over the internet. Additionally, registered apprentices will be able to use the system to track their progress.

The Registered Apprenticeship Training Program connects employers to registered apprentices, who can receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction, master a trade, and earn while they learn. Thousands of businesses across Connecticut have participated in the program, helping them increase their workforce recruitment and proficiency. Depending on the trade, registered apprenticeship programs may last anywhere between one and four years. Upon completion, registered apprentices receive an industry recognized, portable credential that certifies completion of the program, distinguishes the apprentice as a master of their craft, and makes the apprentice eligible to take any state occupational licensing exams.

Currently, there are more than 7,000 registered apprentices working for approximately 1,800 employers within more than 50 industries in Connecticut.

“Registered apprenticeships are a great way for employers to train and build their workforce, and for workers to receive on-the-job training and master a trade that will benefit them throughout their careers,” Governor Lamont said. “Many businesses have job openings that need to be filled by workers trained with certain sets of skills, and filling those positions through registered apprenticeships is a great way for a company to build that talent and really invest in their workforce. Bringing this program online with the e-Apprenticeship system will make it even easier for businesses and workers to participate.”

“Registered apprenticeships are tried and true training for skilled tradespeople like electricians and welders, and they are a great career pathway for other occupations,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said. “Over the past several years, employers in industries including childcare, education, health, and cosmetology have participated in apprenticeships to train their next generation workforce. Thanks to support from Governor Lamont, Connecticut’s Registered Apprenticeship program continues to expand and help employers meet their hiring needs.”

“As demand for highly skilled workers increases, pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship strategies have proven very successful in meeting both employer and industry need in training, acquiring, and retaining employees,” Todd Berch, director of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training, said. “Registered apprenticeships are rigorous and quite distinct from internships or corporate training programs. They must meet high standards of mastery, and registered apprentices put in thousands of hours before completing the program.”

Today’s council meeting was held in Cromwell at Jessica’s Color Room Salon, the first business in the state to offer a cosmetology apprenticeship through the program. The salon’s registered apprentice completed 2,000 training hours over the course of 15 months and is now licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as a hairdresser.

“The Office of Apprenticeship Training helped me identify exactly what we needed to do to prepare and train our registered apprentice,” Jessica Dudley, owner of the salon, said. “It was a good solution to have someone on the job who was also building skills. It also helped me start looking at issues like succession planning and how to expand my business.”

Businesses that want to participate in the program and workers who are interested in becoming a registered apprentice should visit the Office of Apprenticeship Training program’s website at portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/apprenticeships.

The new e-Apprenticeship system can also be accessed through that website when it launches on May 1.

King" Kevin Walsh makes first WBC title defense May 10 at Foxwoods Resort Casino

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 29, 2025 at 20:54 in SPORTS

MASHANTUCKET, CT – CES Boxing returns to Foxwoods Resort Casino on May 10 with a loaded card featuring 2 championship bouts and several of the best prospects in the Northeast US.

Tickets for CES Boxing’s Championship Jackpot 2025 are on sale now, beginning at $82. Purchase your tickets at CESFights.com or Ticketmaster.

In the main event, "King" Kevin Walsh (16-0, 9 KOs) looks to make the first defense of his WBC US Silver Featherweight title against New Haven’s Tramaine "The Mighty Midget" Williams (20-2, 6 KOs).

Walsh won the WBC title in February with a spectacular 8th round knockout of Ricky de los Santos. The Brockton, MA native, who also won New England Lightweight and Super Featherweight titles in 2024, continues to inch towards a world title shot. In his way is Williams, a former world title challenger who has shared the ring with the likes of 2-division world champion Angelo Leo, top contender Elijah Pierce, and grizzled veteran Yenifel Vicente.

Heavy handed Lawrence, MA prospect Steven "Savage" Sumpter (10-1-1, 8 KOs) battles Georgia’s Eric Moon (11-6-1, 6 KOs) in the co-feature for the vacant WBC US Silver Super Middleweight title. The 31-year-old Sumpter is coming off a 4th round stoppage of veteran Victor Exner in February and looks to make it 2 in a row with CES Boxing.

The championship bouts are supported by competitive match-ups featuring many of the best fighters in New England.

Exciting Bridgeport, CT lightweight Jacob "Lefty" Marrero (8-0, 7 KOs) battles New York’s Wilfredo Flores (11-4-1, 5 KOs), while Polish prospect Slawomir Bohdziewicz (5-0, 4 KOs) collides with power puncher Russell Harris (6-1, 6 KOs) in a 6-round cruiserweight contest.

Rising heavyweight prospect Ali Feliz (5-0, 4 KOs) of Danbury, CT, makes his second appearance of 2025 at Foxwoods, tackling Missouri native Brandon Carmack (8-7-2, 5 KOs) in a 6-round slugfest.

Someone’s O has to go when Stamford, CT’s Douglas Marroquin (5-0, 3 KOs) collides with Louisiana’s Tremaine Jones (3-0, 3 KOs) in a 4-round middleweight bout.

Providence-based welterweight Victor Reynoso (10-0, 7 KOs) continues his comeback after a lengthy layoff against Jacksonville, FL’s Chris Puryear (5-2), and blue-chip prospect Joseph "J-Elite" Chisholm (4-0, 4) looks to extend his streak to 5 first round knockouts when he battles Missouri’s Markist Taylor (1-1) in a 4 round super bantamweight bout.

Rounding out the card are New Haven, CT’s Carlos Perez (3-0) and Kevante Wineglass (1-0) in a pair of jr. welterweight bouts, and the professional debuts of Rhode Island middleweight Will Guilmette, Norwalk, CT welterweight Victor Guerra, and heavyweight David Marshall Jr. of Bristol, RI.

For more information on Championship Jackpot 2025 and all other CES Boxing events, visit cesfights.com.

INFORMATION

About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton".

Governor Lamont Announces $10 Million in Grants Awarded for Continued Broadband Expansion

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 22, 2025 at 20:54 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced today the second round of awards in the state’s ConneCTed Communities Grant Program. Totaling $9.9 million, these funds will be used by internet service providers to build out broadband infrastructure, which will serve an estimated 3,802 residences and businesses in 44 towns and cities.

The grant awards announced today build on $24 million in grants benefitting 88 cities and towns announced last year in round 1 of this program. Funded through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program was established to fund the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure designed to support the goal of universal access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband. DEEP has made great progress towards awarding funds to advance this work.

To date, with this second round included, the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program has announced $34 million in awards to support buildouts for:

5,582 locations;
116 cities and towns; and
30 distressed municipalities.

“This is a milestone in the state’s ongoing work to increase access to high-speed broadband for all Connecticut residents,” Governor Lamont said. “Fast, affordable internet connectivity is essential to the success and wellbeing of our residents. Being able to go online and access the internet is tied to nearly every aspect of daily life from paying bills to finding employment and housing and even accessing healthcare.”

“This latest round of grant awards is supporting the vital work of bringing broadband infrastructure to locations with the greatest needs,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “Research shows that 92% of jobs require digital skills and 60% of adults get health information online. This effort is critical. It’s about increasing access to vital elements of daily life, and helping to improve health, safety, affordability, and prosperity for the people of Connecticut.”

The grant recipients for the second round of the ConneCTed Communities Grant Program are as follows:

ConneCTed Communities Grant Program April 2025 Grant Round 2
Provisional Awardee	Project Area	Number of Locations in Project Area	Number of Units in Project Area*	Grant Funding
Frontier Communications (d.b.a. Frontier)	Canterbury, Griswold, Killingly, Plainfield, Putnam, Sterling, Woodstock	1180	1423	$1,232,486.00
Frontier Communications	Enfield, Granby, Somers, Stafford	164	412	$624,227.00
Frontier Communications	Colebrook, Cornwall, Goshen, Litchfield, Morris, Sharon, Torrington, Warren, Watertown, Winchester	504	698	$5,076,560.00
Frontier Communications	New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Sherman	105	158	$69,805.00
Frontier Communications	Bridgeport, Darien, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford	153	518	$755,971.00
Frontier Communications	East Haddam, East Lyme, Meriden, Waterford	297	480	$919,205.00
Comcast**	Griswold, Killingly, North Canaan, Voluntown	35	49	$762,295.77
Comcast	Bolton, Burlington, Colchester, East Haddam, East Lyme, Guilford, North Haven, Salem, Sharon, Shelton, Wallingford, Watertown	38	64	$540,273.06
A location refers to a specific physical address or site, such as a residential home or apartment building, while units are the individual households or small businesses within that location, meaning one location can contain multiple units. *Project received a match waiver.

For an interactive map of locations awarded in this grant round, click here.

DEEP is also administering the $144 million Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which is in the deployment phase now, and will bring broadband to unserved and underserved locations and community anchor institutions.

ConneCTed Communities Funds Still Available

DEEP has approximately $6.7 million remaining in funding available through the ConneCTed Communities Program. Municipalities, community organizations, and internet service providers are eligible to apply. A major focus of this initiative is supporting broadband upgrades in multi-dwelling units (MDUs). To identify MDUs in need of faster, more reliable broadband, DEEP has launched a survey to help with the identification process. Learn more about this effort and take the survey here.

As noted in the 2024 Connecticut Broadband Report, the state has made great strides toward Governor Lamont’s goal of ensuring broadband internet speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) download and 100 megabits per second (Mbps) upload for all residents. Gigabit-speed broadband is now available to nearly 850,000 locations statewide, up from nearly zero in 2022. The percentage of residential and small business locations lacking basic internet access has dropped from 1.7% in 2022 to just 0.4% in 2024. Efforts to address price and non-price barriers to adoption have helped contribute to a rise in overall internet subscriptions, now covering 92.2% of households.

For more information about the many initiatives supporting broadband expansion in Connecticut, click here.

Governor Lamont Statement on Senate Votes Approving the Nominations of David Arconti and Marissa Gillett as PURA Commissioners

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 16, 2025 at 5:24 in NEWS

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement in response to the votes today in the Connecticut State Senate approving the nominations of David Arconti, Jr. and Marissa Gillett to serve as commissioners of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA):

“I am glad that the Senate agreed that these nominees have the impartial, fair, and skilled qualifications needed to oversee the regulating of Connecticut’s public utility sector. I appreciate the diligence of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee co-chairs, Senator Bob Duff and State Representative Julio Concepcion, in assuring that this nomination process was thorough and professional. Now that these nominees have received final legislative approval, they can focus on their responsibility of carefully and meticulously reviewing every filing from each of our public utilities to ensure that these companies are acting in the best interests of Connecticut’s consumers.

“Connecticut’s ratepayers need relief from the high costs of electricity, and that relief needs to come in the form of a meaningful solution that drives down energy rates over the long term. Over the past year, I have met with representatives of different energy sources – such as wind, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and hydropower – the utilities, experts in energy markets, and officials from the federal government and our neighboring states to find meaningful solutions to our high energy prices. It is clear that this is an issue of supply and demand, requiring cooperation with our regional and national partners. I remain committed to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle on the policy solutions needed to have a lasting impact on delivering cheaper energy for the people of Connecticut.”

The House of Representatives approved both nominations last week. Today’s votes by the Senate were the final step in the legislative nomination review process.

Governor Lamont, Senate President Looney, Speaker Ritter Announce $77 Million to Municipalities and Organizations for 35 Economic Development Projects

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on April 11, 2025 at 14:56 in NEWS

Governor Lamont, Senate President Looney, Speaker Ritter Announce $77 Million to Municipalities and Organizations for 35 Economic Development Projects

Grants From Sixth Round of the Community Investment Fund Approved by State Bond Commission

4/11/2025

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) today announced that the State Bond Commission has approved the release of approximately $77 million in state funding to support the sixth round of grants under the Community Investment Fund 2030.

This sixth grant round supports 35 economic development projects in 21 towns and cities across Connecticut.

“Through this grant program, we are helping municipalities throughout Connecticut make improvements in underserved areas that will enhance their economic vibrancy and revitalize neighborhoods,” Governor Lamont, chairman of the State Bond Commission, said. “I am glad that we can partner with these towns and cities and other organizations to make these improvements that will drive growth in our state.”

“The Community Investment Fund is one of the most transformative economic development tools we’ve created in recent years,” Senator Looney said. “These grants are targeted investments to uplift underserved communities, assist struggling nonprofit social service organizations, promote equity, and spur long-term economic growth across Connecticut. I am proud to see this funding approved and look forward to its meaningful impact on cities and towns throughout our state.”

“I want to thank Governor Lamont for his continued commitment to this important funding source,” Speaker Ritter said. “Investing in transformational projects can provide a huge boost to nonprofits, communities, and even entire regions of Connecticut.”

The Community Investment Fund was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and Governor Lamont in 2022 to support economic development in historically underserved communities across Connecticut. Eligible projects include capital improvements, such as those focused on affordable housing, brownfield remediation, infrastructure, and public facilities, as well as small business support programs that provide revolving loans, gap financing, microloans, or start-up financing. The program is anticipated to release up to $875 in grants over a five-year period.

The following grants were approved under this round:

Municipality: All Community Investment Fund communities
Grant Recipient: CT Humanities Council
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Cultural Cohort” – Connecticut Humanities has a mission to champion the enduring value of public humanities in our lives and civil society. This planning grant will allow CT Humanities to assess the needs of 560 cultural organizations in the 55 CIF communities.

Municipality: Bridgeport
Grant Recipient: Green Village Initiatives Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Bridgeport Regional Food Hub” – Green Village Initiative is a nonprofit organization serving Bridgeport focused on addressing systemic inequities in the local food system through urban agriculture, education, and community empowerment. The Bridgeport Regional Food Hub and Community Empowerment Initiative is a planning project to develop a county-wide food hub in Bridgeport.

Municipality: Bridgeport
Grant Recipient: Mercy Learning Center
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Capital Improvement Planning” – Mercy Learning Center provides basic literacy and life skills training to women with low income using a holistic approach within a compassionate, supportive environment. CIF funding would finance specific assessments and plans to address elements that arise from the Organizational Strategic Plan and process prioritizing capital renovations and expansion.

Municipality: Bridgeport
Grant Recipient: Barnum Museum Foundation
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “Barnum Museum Revitalization” – The Barnum Museum, a historic cultural institution in Bridgeport since 1893, provides educational programs, community events, and accessibility initiatives for diverse audiences. It engages thousands of students, families, and seniors through partnerships with schools and local organizations. The proposed project will continue the museum’s restoration, focusing on safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.

Municipality: Danbury
Grant Recipient: City of Danbury
Award Amount: $5,000,000
Description: “Downtown Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future” – The City of Danbury proposes to complete Phase II of the Downtown Danbury’s Revitalization: Streetscapes for the Future Project. The project would enhance pedestrian and streetscape features along key streets: Main Street (Route 53) from Boughton Street to Crosby Street, Liberty Street from Main Street to Patriot Drive, Independence Way, White Street from Ives Street to Main Street, a portion of Elm Street, Post Office Walk, and Kennedy Avenue.

Municipality: East Haven
Grant Recipient: Town of East Haven
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Family Resource Center Expansion” – The Town of East Haven proposes to plan for the renovation and expansion of the Family Resource Center to transform it into a comprehensive community hub, including a dynamic recreational area, designed to support local youth and families.

Municipality: East Windsor
Grant Recipient: Housing Corporation of East Windsor
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Park Hill 2 & 3” – The Housing Corporation of East Windsor, a non-profit dedicated to expanding quality affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals in the East Windsor area, plans to develop two vacant parcels adjacent to Park Hill, a senior and disabled apartment community. This project seeks to advance the planning process to prepare the 13-acre site for complimentary development.

Municipality: Enfield
Grant Recipient: Town of Enfield
Award Amount: $10,000,000
Description: “Enfield Marketplace Infrastructure” – The Town of Enfield, in partnership with Woodsonia Acquisitions LLC, will utilize CIF funding to install critical new infrastructure necessary to create a mixed-use development called the Enfield Marketplace.

Municipality: Hamden
Grant Recipient: Transcend the Trend, Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Hamden Arts & Learning Oasis (HALO)” – Transcend The Trend (TTT) has a mission to achieve equity in the local education system in and through the arts. The planning grant request is community engagement and a feasibility study to inform architectural and design plans to renovate space on the former Paier College of Art campus into an arts and cultural hub.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: Asylum Hill Congregational Church
Award Amount: $3,789,482
Description: “Earl Exum Community Resource Center” – Asylum Hill Congregational Church offers a range of community programs, including food assistance, youth outreach, educational programs, and resources for low-income individuals and families. AHCC plans to remediate, remodel, and re-purpose the garden level to address identified needs by providing space for existing service providers seeking to establish a more accessible presence in the Asylum Hill neighborhood.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: City of Hartford
Award Amount: $1,600,000
Description: “Homestead Acquisition” – The City of Hartford proposes to acquire three properties within the Homestead Redevelopment Corridor between Sigourney and Garden Streets. The city is currently developing a redevelopment plan for the Homestead Corridor. The Homestead Avenue Redevelopment Plan aims to employ a mix of land use strategies to transform this key thoroughfare in the Upper Albany neighborhood.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: City of Hartford
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Talcott Plaza” – The City of Hartford will plan a major redevelopment project to revitalize Downtown Hartford at the Talcott Street Plaza to include mixed-use development that will include the opportunity for a large commercial tenant and expansion to include residential units.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: YWCA Hartford Region, Inc.
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Description: “Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity” – YWCA is committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting justice, freedom, and dignity for all. YWCA proposes HVAC system enhancements as part of renovating its 50-year-old Hartford building to establish The Center for Racial Justice and Gender Equity.

Municipality: Hartford
Grant Recipient: Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Beacon & Walnut Planning” – The Clay Arsenal Community Development Corporation focuses on economic development and poverty reduction in Hartford’s Clay Arsenal neighborhood. Its mission is to improve the economic and social conditions of low and moderate-income residents through sustainable initiatives. The CIF Planning Grant will fund predevelopment activities towards transforming two blighted sites into sustainable, mixed-use, transit-oriented developments.

Municipality: Killingly
Grant Recipient: Access Community Action Agency
Award Amount: $4,928,243
Description: “Transforming 254 Broad” – The ACCESS Agency’s mission is to empower under-resourced individuals, families, and communities by improving food security, providing affordable housing, and creating pathways to economic stability. With CIF funding, ACCESS plans to renovate the St. Alban Church at 254 Broad Street to expand offices, upgrade the food pantry, offer the Killingly Community Store, improve access to the emergency shelter and repurpose space into affordable housing.

Municipality: Meriden
Grant Recipient: City of Meriden
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “One Stop HHS Building” – The City of Meriden proposes to perform planning for the renovation and modernization of the Stoddard Municipal Building at 165 Miller Street, transforming it into a “one stop” facility for human services.

Municipality: Naugatuck
Grant Recipient: Borough of Naugatuck
Award Amount: $3,000,000
Description: “Industrial Park Phase 2” – Located in the Naugatuck Industrial Park III, Phase 2 will construct temporary and permanent access roads, including streetscaping and utilities in the public-right-of-way, allowing lot access for end users, as well as connection to utilities.

Municipality: New Britain
Grant Recipient: City of New Britain
Award Amount: $1,796,974
Description: “Mount Pleasant – Myrtle Street Corridor” – The City of New Britain proposes a multi-phased project that will replace 251 obsolete public housing units with approximately 330 mixed-income housing of choice units and appurtenant community space. The project will contain new roads and infrastructure that will connect the isolated community back to the broader neighborhood, as well as fostering connectivity to the greater metropolitan area.

Municipality: New Britain
Grant Recipient: Friendship Service Center
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “Emergency Shelter Expansion” – Friendship Service Center provides services to individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Central Connecticut. Friendship Service Center seeks funding to renovate its facility including reconfiguring bedrooms to increase emergency shelter capacity from 5 to 16 rooms, upgrading the community kitchen and dining room, and expanding the parking lot.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: United Way of Greater New Haven
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “State and Chapel” – United Way of Greater New Haven works to address pressing local challenges in education, safe housing, food security, career development, financial education, and other essential services. United Way of Greater New Haven, in partnership with Beacon Communities and Columbus House, will utilize CIF support State and Chapel, a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented housing project in downtown New Haven.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: Mary Wade Foundation
Award Amount: $700,000
Description: “Residential Care Home Modernization” – The Mary Wade Home is a senior care organization serving low-income seniors (65+) in Greater New Haven, providing a full continuum of medical and social support. Mary Wade Home will utilize CIF funding to further plans for a major renovation and expansion of the Boardman Residential Care Home to address safety concerns and improve living conditions.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: Greater Dwight Development
Award Amount: $6,121,390
Description: “Community Building Initiative” – Greater Dwight Development Corporation works to lead projects that address drugs, gang violence, economic development, employment, housing, and education. Greater Dwight Development will use CIF funds to implement Phase 2 of its Greater Dwight Community Building Initiative, creating 11 units of affordable housing and community space for the local nonprofit and community-based organizations across two properties in the Dwight neighborhood.

Municipality: New Haven
Grant Recipient: Mount Hope Temple
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Mount Hope Temple Renovation Planning” – The Mount Hope Temple Church currently operates the Mount Hope Recovery Center Food Pantry. The grant will allow the church/food pantry to take steps towards increasing the number of families it serves per month, expanding to more of Greater New Haven, and operating a cooling/warming shelter for the homeless.

Municipality: New London
Grant Recipient: City of New London
Award Amount: $4,000,000
Description: “Mercer Community Hall” – The City of New London, in partnership with the Garde Arts Center, Inc., seeks to enhance community engagement and accessibility through the arts. The project includes renovation and expansion of the Mercer Community Hall, located at a downtown intersection near New London’s transit hub, to offer affordable event space, support arts and workforce opportunities, and retain activities within the city.

Municipality: New London
Grant Recipient: Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
Award Amount: $2,020,096
Description: “New London Relocation” – PPSNE health centers promote the availability of high-quality family planning and reproductive services. PPSNE proposes to use CIF funds to renovate and expand the property at 467 Ocean Avenue in New London to become the new home of PPSNE’s New London health center.

Municipality: Norwalk
Grant Recipient: Open Door Shelter, Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Campus Expansion Project” – The mission of Open Doors is to end homelessness in the greater Norwalk region by guiding every person in the cycle of homelessness toward housing stability. Open Doors intends to develop a plan to expand its operations within the South Norwalk neighborhood by assessing its existing housing portfolio and exploring the acquisition of abutting properties.

Municipality: Norwalk
Grant Recipient: Friends of the Norwalk River Valley Trail
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Description: “Glover Ave Spur” – The Norwalk River Valley Trail is a recreational and transportation amenity in Norwalk and once completed will run from Danbury to Norwalk. This project proposes the completion of the Norwalk section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail.

Municipality: Norwich
Grant Recipient: City of Norwich
Award Amount: $4,899,600
Description: “Fontaine Field & Senior Center” – The City of Norwich will reconstruct Fontaine Field including replacing the existing field with a synthetic turf option, adding spectator stands, enlarging the parking area, and improving accessibility from the Rose City Senior Center.

Municipality: Norwich
Grant Recipient: City of Norwich
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Gateway Norwich” – The City of Norwich proposes to reimagine the city’s portion of the former Norwich State Hospital, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a gateway to the city from the south, the potential exists to create a community-driven place that works in synergy with the proposed Preston Riverwalk development to be constructed by the Mohegan Tribe on the Preston section of the Norwich State Hospital.

Municipality: Plainfield
Grant Recipient: Town of Plainfield
Award Amount: $8,000,000
Description: “InterRoyal Remediation” – The Town of Plainfield proposes remediation of the former InterRoyal mill site, an abandoned brownfield site. The project will be approached in phases, including selective building demolition, abatement, and remediation. The town and partners plan to redevelop the site into a mixed-use community.

Municipality: Stamford
Grant Recipient: Rippowam Corporation
Award Amount: $2,000,000
Description: “Oak Park Phase II” – Rippowam Corporation is the nonprofit development and asset management affiliate of the Housing Authority of the City of Stamford. Rippowam Corporation is requesting funding for the second of three planned phases to redevelop Oak Park, located on the East Side of Stamford, to rebuild to avoid areas of chronic flooding and to ensure accessibility for residents.

Municipality: Waterbury
Grant Recipient: City of Waterbury
Award Amount: $4,000,000
Description: “Phase 3 Downtown Utilities” – The City of Waterbury proposes to further the Downtown Streetscape and Utility Improvements Project on West Main Street. This project aims to address Waterbury’s aging infrastructure, fostering long-term economic growth and promoting energy and environmental justice.

Municipality: West Haven
Grant Recipient: City of West Haven
Award Amount: $1,800,000
Description: “VA Neighborhood Upgrades” – The City of West Haven proposes to revitalize the neighborhood surrounding the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Upgrades will be transit-oriented and include traffic calming, pedestrian safety and accessibility, and paving several roads/sidewalks in disrepair.

Municipality: Windham
Grant Recipient: Windham Preservation, Inc.
Award Amount: $250,000
Description: “Windham Inn Adaptive Re-use” – The Windham Preservation Initiative is focused on restoring and repurposing the historic Windham Inn as housing with potential first-floor community flex space, addressing Connecticut’s housing shortage while preserving a cultural landmark. CIF funding will support pre-construction planning.

Municipality: Windsor
Grant Recipient: Capital Region Education Council
Award Amount: $1,244,152
Description: “River Street School” – The Capitol Region Education Council is one of six Regional Educational Service Centers in Connecticut. RESC are designed to support the instructional and operational needs of Connecticut's public school. CREC will renovate the River Street School in Windsor, a specialized educational and therapeutic facility serving students with autism spectrum disorder.

For more information about the Community Investment Fund, visit portal.ct.gov/communityinvestmentfund.

United States

Mast: (Full)

Governor Lamont Statement on President Trump’s Order To Begin Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 21, 2025 at 18:52 in NEWS

Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement regarding the executive order signed by President Donald Trump directing the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education:

“The president’s executive order threatens the strength and stability of our public schools by undermining the federal government’s role in supporting education. Programs like Title I, IDEA, Pell Grants, and Impact Aid are essential to ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their family’s income. These investments help level the playing field, providing critical resources for low-income students, funding mental health and school safety initiatives, and guaranteeing services for students with disabilities.

“At a time when other nations are expanding their commitment to education to build a stronger, more competitive workforce, we must ensure that our schools have the resources they need to prepare students for the future. Republicans in Congress must stand up for our students and ensure that these essential programs endure. The success of our children, educators, and economy depends on it.”

Exciting Updates about the Armory!

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 16, 2025 at 9:41 in NEWS

Our friends from the Yale School of Architecture have been hard at work, too! Students created a website with lots of information about the Armory, though it’s still a work in progress, so bear with us. They also produced a fantastic video and an animation that imagines what it could look like to open up the Drill Hall. We’re also attaching a report compiled by students from the Yale School of Management that summarizes our public meetings.

Recently, Mayor Justin Ellicker has said that the New Haven Board of Education will use the Armory for career-centered learning. This could be great! And it shows that the City wants to maintain a strong role in the building’s future. Mayor Ellicker also expressed that he would like to see housing in the Armory, an idea we have discussed in our meetings.

Even with the Board of Education and new Housing taking space in the Armory, there will still be room for additional community-driven programs and activities and the Drill Hall could continue to serve as a marquee public space with different programming throughout the year. There are so many opportunities ahead and there will be further opportunities to voice our ideas and desires for the Armory

It’s good timing, because with the help of our community group, the City has secured funding from the State of Connecticut to conduct community planning for the Armory. The City will be issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and/or a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultants to help guide us through the next steps. This will include funding for crucial reports necessary to revitalize this irreplaceable community asset, like a financial feasibility report. One goal would be to successfully apply for a Capital Grant from the State’s Community Investment Fund (CIF) that would allow the City to renovate the building to a “Gray Box” status: safe and accessible to the public and prepared for further renovations.

In short, we will have more chances to gather as a community to advocate for the programs and activities we want to see in the Armory. We are looking forward to collectively working on this, and can’t wait to see what we can achieve together. Please stay tuned; we will post updates to this mailing list and to our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Armorycac.

If you know someone who should be on this mailing list, please write to goffestreetarmory@gmail.com. If you would like to volunteer in our ongoing efforts to advocate for the Armory–or if you have any questions or concerns to share–it would also be great to hear from you. Finally, if you have Armory memories to share, stories from your experiences with the building, please write; we would love to interview you for an Armory Oral History Project!

Sending our best to all of you!

Warm regards,

Elihu Rubin

On behalf of the Armory Community Advisory Committee (AC2)

Governor Lamont To Present Legendary Rolling Stones Guitarist Keith Richards With the Inaugural Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on March 3, 2025 at 19:36 in ENTERTAINMENT

The Governor’s Awards of Excellence celebrates individuals whose contributions enrich Connecticut’s cultural and civic life. The award was custom designed by Connecticut State Trooper Danny Carvalho and manufactured by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, and the ribbon was designed by Enfield-based fashion designer Justin Haynes.

Ceremony To Be Held Wednesday, March 5, at The Westport Library

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that legendary guitarist, longtime Connecticut resident, founding member of the world-renowned rock band the Rolling Stones, and community philanthropist Keith Richards will be the first recipient of the Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence – a prestigious new honor celebrating Connecticut residents who epitomize the state’s core values of creativity, resourcefulness, passion, dynamism, and generosity.

Established in 2025, the Governor’s Award of Excellence celebrates individuals whose contributions enrich Connecticut’s cultural and civic life. The award consists of a custom-designed medallion — crafted by Connecticut State Trooper Danny Carvalho and manufactured by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) — along with a ribbon designed and sewn by Enfield-based fashion designer Justin Haynes. In addition to the award, Governor Lamont will present Richards with a proclamation offering him the “Key to the State.

The honor will be presented to Richards during a ceremony that will be held at The Westport Library on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Due to the space limitations of the intimate venue and anticipated interest, this event is open to invited guests and media only. The library will be closed from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate the ceremony.

“Connecticut has long been home to some of the world’s most innovative minds, boldest artists, and most generous hearts,” Governor Lamont said. “This award was created to honor those whose creativity, resourcefulness, and passion have made a lasting impact on our state and beyond. Keith Richards is the epitome of these values — not only as one of the most influential musicians of all time but as a dedicated supporter of the arts, education, and community causes right here in Connecticut.”

A Connecticut resident since 1985, Richards is being honored for his deep commitment to supporting the local community. Through his generosity and dedication to organizations like SPHERE, which enhances the lives of adults with disabilities, and The Prospector Theater, which provides meaningful employment through the magic of film, Richards has used his influence to uplift and empower others. Richards has also been an advocate for arts, education, and accessibility initiatives throughout the state, further exemplifying his dedication to making a lasting impact.

“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you,” Richards said. “The public library is the great equalizer.”

“The Westport Library is beyond thrilled to host this momentous occasion honoring Keith Richards, a true cultural icon whose influence transcends generations,” Bill Harmer, executive director of The Westport Library, said. “As a library that celebrates creativity, storytelling, and the transformative power of the arts, we couldn’t imagine a more fitting place for this historic event. Keith’s legacy is woven into the fabric of music history, and we are honored to provide the stage where Connecticut will recognize his immeasurable contributions. This is not just a celebration of an artist, but of a life lived boldly, authentically, and with an undeniable passion for inspiring others.”

Richards is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in the history of music. His career with the Rolling Stones dates back over seven decades, to the early 1960s, and his songwriting partnership with Stones frontman Mick Jagger is heralded as one of the most successful and prolific in rock history. Among his signature songs are “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Start Me Up,” “Happy,” “Miss You,” “Brown Sugar,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Wild Horses,” “It’s Only Rock n’ Roll (But I Like it),” and “As Tears Go By,” to name a few.

Richards has also scored great success as a solo artist, with albums including “Talk Is Cheap,” “Live at the Hollywood Palladium,” “Main Offender,” and “Crosseyed Heart,” and hits such as “Take It So Hard,” “You Don’t Move Me,” “Wicked as It Seems,” and “Eileen.”

Onscreen, Richards played a solider in the 1969 film “Man on Horseback,” himself on “The Simpsons” in 2002, and appeared in two “Pirates of the Caribbean” films as Captain Teague, the father of main character Jack Sparrow, who was notably loosely based off Richards. In 2015, he released his Netflix documentary, “Keith Richards: Under The Influence,” which was partially filmed in Connecticut.

Richards has also penned two books. He released his memoir “Life” to critical acclaim in 2010, and later released a children’s book, “Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar,” in 2014.

Richards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993, and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004, among his many honors.

Khiary Gray Promises a Vintage Performance on Saturday

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 18, 2025 at 20:49 in ENTERTAINMENT

Khiary Gray looks to turn back the clock on Saturday when he challenges Francis "Frank the Tank" Hogan for his WBC US Silver Middleweight Championship at The Premier Theater in Foxwoods.

MASHANTUCKET, CT – Khiary "King TooSharp" Gray (19-7, 14 KOs) promises to turn back the clock on Saturday, February 22, when he challenges Francis "Frank the Tank" Hogan (18-0, 16 KOs) in an all Massachusetts battle for the WBC US Silver Middleweight Championship.

The bout is the main event on CES Boxing’s "Winter Brawl 2025," a stacked card taking place at The Premier Theater inside Foxwoods Resort Casino and streamed live on SwerveCombat TV.

‘Winter Brawl 2025’ tickets, priced beginning at $82, are going fast. Purchase yours now at CES Fights or TicketMaster. Doors open at 5pm, with the first bout scheduled for 6pm.

For Gray, the fight is more than just another matchup—it's a return to a better time in his life.

"Training camp is going well," said the 32-year-old at a recent press conference.  "I feel like I’m back to when I first started my career."

When Gray turned pro in 2014, he built an impressive record of 13-0 with 9 KOs. Khiary was the talk of the town until a loss to Ian Green in 2016 seemed to derail his career.

The fighter has since struggled both in and out of the ring, suffering setbacks and spending time in prison. Having endured these hardships, the Worcester native rededicated himself to boxing alongside his long-time trainer Kendrick Ball, Sr. at Camp Get Right.

"I stayed in shape while I was in jail just so that I can come out and win the green belt," says Gray of his desire to win the prestigious WBC belt.  "I’ve been in training since November, so while this training camp has been a slow burn, it was what I really needed. I feel like I’m back to when I first started my career."

Whereas Waymouth's Hogan enters the ring with the confidence of an undefeated record, Gray believes his battles—both inside and outside the ring—have forged him into a different caliber of fighter.

"He’s good, no disrespect to him," admits Gray, who normally fights at 154 but moved to middleweight for the opportunity.  "He’s a southpaw with a long reach.  This is a dangerous fight, but I fought lefties and I’m undefeated against them. I’ve fought guys taller than me, and I fought at 160 before."

When considering the keys to victory on fight night, ‘King TooSharp’ points to their difference in experience and overcoming adversity.

"I’ve been in there with the top guys," says Gray, who has shared the ring with the likes of jr. middleweight contender Charles Conwell and current IBF world champion Bakhram Murtazaliev.  I’ve been in with 'A' caliber fighters, so I know what it takes.  When you look at his record, he should have gotten his last 3 opponents out of there sooner or he shouldn’t have taken those fights.  He should have fought guys with more experience."

Aside from their differences in the ring, this fight seems a bit more personal for Gray.  The veteran has taken exception to Hogan’s metaphor that he’ll be like a tornado ripping through Gray’s trailer park on fight night.

"I feel like it was kind of disrespectful about where I’m from," confesses Gray.  "I’ve been in the slums.  I’ve been locked up in prison. He hasn't been through what I've been through."

The comment has sparked the fire in Gray that once made him one of the most exciting and promising prospects in boxing.

"This Saturday, you can expect the old Khiary Gray from when I started my career at 13-0," says Gray. "I’m outboxing him, knocking him out, and taking that title back to Worcester."

For more information on Winter Brawl 2025 and all other CES Boxing events, visit cesfights.com.

INFORMATION

About CES Boxing

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton".

Message from the Governor of Connecticut

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 18, 2025 at 12:00 in NEWS

Governor

Comedy show March 1st 2025 West Haven Connecticut

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 17, 2025 at 17:43 in ENTERTAINMENT and BLACK NEWSENTERTAINMENT

Mexico Presidents press release

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on February 2, 2025 at 4:07 in NEWS

We categorically reject the White House's slander against the Mexican government of having alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of intervention in our territory.

If such an alliance exists anywhere, it is in the United States armories that sell high-powered weapons to these criminal groups, as demonstrated by the United States Department of Justice itself in January of this year.In four months, our government has seized more than 40 tons of drugs, including 20 million doses of fentanyl. It has also arrested more than ten thousand people linked to these groups.

If the United States government and its agencies wanted to address the serious consumption of fentanyl in their country, they could, for example, combat the sale of narcotics on the streets of their main cities, which they do not do, and the money laundering generated by this illegal activity that has done so much harm to their population.

They could also start a massive campaign to prevent the consumption of these drugs and take care of their young people, as we have done in Mexico. Drug consumption and distribution is in their country and that is a public health problem that they have not addressed.

In addition, the synthetic opioid epidemic in the United States has its origin in the indiscriminate prescription of drugs of this type, authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as demonstrated by the lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company.Mexico does not want confrontation.

We start from collaboration between neighboring countries. Mexico not only does not want fentanyl to reach the United States, but anywhere. Therefore, if the United States wants to combat criminal groups that traffic drugs and generate violence, we must work together in an integrated manner, but always under the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust, collaboration and, above all, respect for sovereignty, which is not negotiable.

Coordination, yes; subordination, no. To this end, I propose to President Trump that we establish a working group with our best public health and security teams.Problems are not resolved by imposing tariffs, but by talking and dialoguing, as we did in recent weeks with your State Department to address the phenomenon of migration; in our case, with respect for human rights.

The graph that President Trump has been posting on social media about the decline in migration was created by my team, which has been in constant communication with his.I instruct the Secretary of Economy to implement Plan B that we have been working on, which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests.Nothing by force; everything by reason and right."

The Electric Drum 2/2/25 6pm

Posted by Bud Mench Media Group -BMMG on January 31, 2025 at 19:38 in NEWS

Grants From Sixth Round of the Community Investment Fund Approved by State Bond Commission

Ceremony To Be Held Wednesday, March 5, at The Westport Library

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