Latest news with #Bridgeport-based
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major CT arena gets new name. With it comes big name recognition for a local business.
For only the second time in its 50-year history, downtown Hartford's sports and entertainment complex has a new name. It's PeoplesBank Arena. The former Hartford Civic Center will shed its XL Center name — the identity of the 16,000-seat arena since 2007 — effective immediately, as part of a multi-year naming rights agreement with the Holyoke, Mass.-based community bank which has been expanding in Connecticut. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed, in a release. But the value of the XL Group naming rights ranged from $450,000 to $500,000 a year. XL's rights contract expired about a year ago but its name has remained on the venue. 'PeoplesBank's deep-rooted commitment to putting people and communities first perfectly aligns with our purpose-driven mindset that fuels everything we do at Oak View Group, said Peter Luukko, co-chairman of the Denver-based sports and entertainment group. 'This partnership is more than naming rights — it's a shared vision to deliver dynamic experiences, elevate the fan journey and create lasting impact where it matters most: in the communities we serve.' The name change comes at a critical time in the history of the Hartford arena. The venue opened in 1975 and was rebuilt after a devastating roof collapse three years later, expanding its seating capacity. The arena is now in the midst of a long-debated, $145 million renovation that is aimed at reshaping the arena with amenities offered by newer competitors and reversing a money-losing track record at the state-run venue, typically $2 million. OVG, which runs the day-to-day operations of the arena, will contribute $20 million to the project. This summer, the arena is closed so the majority of the renovations — focused primarily on the lower half of the venue — will kick into high gear. It is hoped that the majority of the work will be completed by the fall, in time for the start of the college basketball season. The renovations will include new seating options — including the addition of five bunker suites and loge seating — that are seen as boosting ticket sales and could help nearly triple the number of concerts booked each year, key money makers for modern arenas. PeoplesBank is a relatively new name in Connecticut and may not have been the obvious choice for the arena's name. Seven years ago, the community bank — with no connection to Bridgeport-based People's United Bank, acquired by M&T Bank in 2022 — made its first move into Connecticut branch banking, buying a small Suffield bank. Now it has five branches — its West Hartford office serving as the headquarters for the region. The bank also has confirmed plan to open branches in Hartford and New Britain. Tom Senecal, the bank's chairman and chief executive, said the bank's community focus is strengthened by its mutual bank structure, meaning the institution is essentially owned by its depositors and not shareholders or Wall Street. The bank will not be bought or sold, Senecal maintained, and will remain an independent institution. 'We believe that gives us a competitive advantage in this state, which is dominated by national banks, but yearns for the service, stability and local decision-making that is the hallmark of community banks,' Senecal said, in a release. 'We believe in Hartford, and Hartford's promising future, and we look forward to participating in the economic rebirth and growth of the arena neighborhood, the city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut.' Michael W. Freimuth, executive director of the Capital Region Development Authority, which has the overall responsibility for the arena's operations, said PeoplesBank has become an increasingly active partner with CRDA in financing housing projects in the Hartford area. 'Adding their name to the civic center is further affirmation of their commitments to the central Connecticut marketplace while helping to refresh one of our premier entertainment venues,' Freimuth said, in a release. It is increasingly common that financial services firms involved in mortgages, insurance and other loans are interested in promoting their brands with venue naming rights. Technology companies and national retailers also are interested in lending their name to arenas. Check back for updates. Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Jose Morales found guilty in brutal CT murder of a mother whose child remains missing
Jose Morales has been found guilty of murder and tampering with evidence charges in the killing of Christine Holloway, whose young daughter has been missing since the mother was found dead in her apartment in Ansonia in 2019. The verdict was returned Tuesday in Superior Court in Milford where Morales has been on trial for the last two weeks. As the verdict was read finding him guilty on one count each of murder and tampering with physical evidence, Morales, seated at the defense table, bowed his head for the next several minutes, only looking up a few times. He took a number of deep breaths as his head was down, closing his eyes a number of times for several seconds each time. The jury began deliberations after closing arguments in the case were given on Monday. Minutes after the verdict, Morales was placed in handcuffs behind his back and Judge Shari Murphy denied a motion filed by his attorney, Bridgeport-based lawyer Edward J. Gavin, for a judgement of acquittal. Gavin was granted an extension on the time period allowing him to file a motion for a new trial. His request to keep Morales' bond at $5 million was denied when Murphy acquiesced a request made by Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Howard S. Stein to raise bail by $2.5 million now that Morales no longer has the presumption of innocence. Morales remains held on $7.5 million bond and is expected to face sentencing on July 8. Family members of Holloway, who attended each day of the trial, did not publicly comment following the verdict. Investigators find bloody clothes in Ansonia murder, missing baby case Stein addressed reporters outside the courthouse and said the family was grateful to jury members for reaching the verdict they did. He declined to take questions and said he would comment further after sentencing. Gavin did not immediately return a request for comment on Tuesday. Prosecutors believe Morales, 48, killed Holloway in the early hours of Dec. 1, 2019, inside her apartment on Myrtle Avenue and spent about a day disposing evidence that could link him to the crime. Holloway was 43 years old at the time and was found dead in her apartment the next day. The couple's daughter, Vanessa, was 14 months old at the time and has been missing since. The child had not been seen by family members since several days before the killing and was supposed to be with her mother, but she was not at the apartment when Holloway's body was found. Morales was not charged in connection with the disappearance of the child. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has recently released an age-progressed photo of Vanessa. In a surprising move, Morales took the stand in his own defense during the trial and testified that he was high on PCP when Holloway was attacked by two intruders. He told the jury he was struck in the head and chest and could not move because of his condition. He claimed that he had to watch helplessly as one of the assailants struck his girlfriend repeatedly with a crowbar. Morales also testified that one of the assailants told him his daughter would be killed if he contacted police. He could not provide a detailed description of the intruders, who he claimed left the area in a vehicle. Morales also testified that he looked for a phone after discovering Holloway's body and tried making a call, but it did not go through. He said he fell asleep for about an hour or two before waking up and panicking, at which point he started cleaning things up and filling up garbage bags. During cross-examination, Stein questioned Morales' account of how Holloway was killed and asked him point-blank if he killed her. 'No,' Morales said. 'I did not kill Christine Holloway,' he later testified. One of the witnesses called by Morales' defense team included a psychologist who testified about the effects of PCP and memory loss. According to court documents and previous Courant reporting, an autopsy showed Holloway died of blunt force trauma to the head and torso and was beaten with something that left numerous round, one-inch diameter marks on her body. Her skull was also heavily damaged and a piece of skull was missing. During a search of Holloway's apartment, bone fragments from Holloway were found in her kitchen garbage disposal, court papers said. Police found abrasions on Morales' knuckles and scratches on both arms, suggesting he was involved in a physical struggle, according to court documents. The right side of his face was also red and swollen. A neighbor told police he heard hammering and other noise coming from the apartment the weekend of the killing. Police believe Morales was hiding inside Holloway's apartment the first time authorities went there on Dec. 2, 2019, for a well-being check. A neighbor later told investigators that Morales left the apartment shortly after police left. Three days after Holloway was found dead, police were called to a Hamden business that places clothing collection boxes around the state. Company employees set aside items they collected from boxes in Derby where they found things covered in what they believed to be blood, court papers said. The items included a diaper disposal device, an infant's pillow, a toy radio, baby clothing, blocks, toys and a bloody towel that employees believed had skin and hair on it. Police also recovered a pink Croc, sizes 2/3 for a left foot with blood on it, bloody rags and a T-shirt with blood on it. During a search of Holloway's apartment on Dec. 6, 2019, police found the matching Croc for a right foot, and blocks and toys and other items. According to court documents, testing at the state forensic lab found Holloway's DNA on several items recovered from the clothing bin.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
At what age should a child be arrested for crimes? CT lawmakers may change it
At a time of concern about juvenile crime, a key legislative committee is considering whether to raise the age of arrest for youths who commit crimes. A bill in the legislature's judiciary committee Wednesday called for increasing the age to 12 years old in 2026, up from the current 10, depending on the severity of the crime. The threshold would then be increased further to 14 in 2028. In addition, the bill would restrict how police can use handcuffs on those under age 14. Advocates said the bill represents a step forward and would place Connecticut in the forefront on the issue. Based on brain science, many of the youths do not fully understand the consequences of their actions and lack the developmental maturity to be held criminally responsible, advocates said. Teresa Kominos, policy counsel for a national nonprofit known as Human Rights for Kids that studies childhood trauma, said Connecticut would become a leader on the issue if the bill is passed. 'Children are fundamentally different from adults, and their brains are not fully developed,' Kominos told the committee. She added, 'Children's underdeveloped brains and proclivity for irrational decision-making is why society does not allow children to vote, enter into contracts, work in certain industries, get married, join the military, or use alcohol or tobacco products. These policies recognize that children are impulsive, immature, and lack solid decision-making abilities.' But state Rep. Craig Fishbein, the ranking House Republican on the committee, said that the bill would allow juveniles under 14 to avoid arrest for serious crimes. Some Class A misdemeanors, he said, are serious, including strangulation or suffocation and criminally negligent homicide. A juvenile could also not be arrested for Class C felonies, including assault in the second degree with a firearm, second-degree manslaughter, and some sexual assaults. 'Kids and guns is a bad situation,' Fishbein said, adding that a juvenile could fire a gun inside a school and not be charged if no one was hurt. 'What you're telling me is that individual could not be arrested.' Marc Donald, chief executive officer of a Bridgeport-based group that helps troubled youth, said that his organization has had success through the years. 'This legislation is a significant step forward in ensuring that the juvenile justice system prioritizes rehabilitation, understanding, and the well-being of children,' he said. 'As an advocate of restorative justice principles and practices, I recognize the profound value of this bill in promoting a justice system that focuses on healing and age-appropriate responses rather than punishment.' He was asked about what to do with the cases of multiple repeat offenders, including some hypothetical cases. 'This is where I'm struggling with the what ifs,' Donald said. In New Jersey, Fishbein said, a 14-year-old recently shot two police officers, including one who died. The boy was charged with murder, attempted murder, and possessing illegal weapons in the death of a 26-year-old detective in Newark in a case that generated extensive attention. 'I have a lot of problems with moving the age again,' Fishbein said. 'I don't see things getting better in this area. … This doesn't stop recidivism.' State Rep. Greg Howard, a Republican who also works as a Stonington police officer, said schoolyard fights are not rare for youths of that age. He gave the example of 'a 12-year-old kid who beats up a kid on the local playground' and goes to the juvenile review board. 'How many kids have to get beat up before that kid gets arrested?' Howard asked. 'This bill, as drafted, removes accountability.' The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, an influential lobbying group at the Capitol, is opposed to the bill citing concerns about violent crimes and automobile thefts committed by young people. 'This bill as proposed does not account for victim impact and creates greater victimization,' the chiefs said in written testimony. 'Victims of crimes are often left with a financial loss, and this bill does not address restitution when a juvenile commits a crime. Law enforcement has seen damages that are in excess of thousands of dollars as a result of juvenile crime. The lack of accountability leads to recidivism, which leads to greater victimization. At a time when we are seeing more violent crime, firearms-related offenses and stolen motor vehicles committed by juveniles, this bill will only lead to more of these offenses.' The chiefs added, 'CPCA is also concerned about the prohibition on the use of handcuffs for juveniles under the age of 14. Officers' decisions to handcuff a juvenile or individuals are determined by the offender's actions, number of individuals involved, type of call and/or information discovered that is a concern for public safety. This comes first before determining the name and age of a juvenile or involved individuals.' Other states If approved, Connecticut would become a leader on the issue, Kominos said. 'In Maryland, for example, the minimum age of prosecution is 13 years of age with specific carve-outs to the law for more serious offenses,' Kominos said. 'Nevertheless, no child in Maryland under the age of 10 years old, regardless of the offense, may be criminally prosecuted or adjudicated delinquent. Several other states, including California, New York, Utah and New Hampshire, have established a minimum age of prosecution of either 12 or 13 years old with carve-outs to the law for specific offenses. Additionally, in Massachusetts the minimum age of jurisdiction for a delinquency proceeding for any offense is 12 years old.' Fishbein, a Wallingford attorney who has practiced in juvenile court, said the legislature changed the law four years ago and is now trying to change it again. 'Where is the line in your mind for the arrest of a juvenile?' Fishbein asked Kominos. She responded that it should be 14 years old. Fishbein predicted that, in future, the age would eventually be raised to 16 years old. 'That is way too far, and this is way too far,' Fishbein said. No votes were taken Wednesday as the judiciary committee continues working behind the scenes on improving the language in multiple bills. The committee is facing a 'joint favorable' deadline of April 11 for bills generated by the committee, and any bills must receive final approval by the full House of Representatives and Senate before the regular legislative session ends on June 4. Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@
Chicago Tribune
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Teachers union to petition school board over five ‘sticking points' in contract negotiations
A group of parents, students and Chicago Teachers Union organizers braved the grey, rainy morning to put forward a message about what is at stake for children and educators with their five identified 'sticking points' they say Chicago Public Schools must satisfy to settle on a new, four-year contract. Union members marched into Minnie Minoso Elementary holding umbrellas Tuesday morning, chanting, 'Whose schools? Our schools!' At a press conference outside the Bridgeport-based school, officials said on Wednesday, they plan to deliver a stack of petitions outlining those demands to the Board of Education. The American Federation of Teachers initially called the press conference to protest President Donald Trump's education policies. Instead, it focused on what has become a highly public, nearly 11-month bargaining process for a school district under significant financial constraints. The 'must-have' demands the union officials and leaders outlined Tuesday are: increased preparatory time for teachers; enforceable smaller class sizes; an equitable educator evaluation system; closing gaps in compensation for veteran teachers and adding more secondary teaching staff positions such as teacher's assistants, librarians, nurses, clinicians and counselors. 'Special education teachers spend a tremendous amount of unpaid time getting to the social and emotional needs of our students,' said Lakisha House, a teacher who has been with CPS for over a decade. 'The district knows how to provide us with that time.' On Feb. 4, Martin H. Malin, an arbitrator and emeritus professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, released a fact-finding report with recommendations for a 'path to settlement' between the two sides at the bargaining table. The report sided with Chicago Public Schools on its offer for salary raises and staffing proposals. It sided with CTU on its demands for more school librarians and increased pay for veteran staff. Left unaddressed in the report were teacher preparatory time, evaluations and decisions on teachers assistants or nurses — issues that were front and center at Tuesday morning's press conference. 'Without a full-time nurse, I worry about what happens when a child has an asthma attack, when a student with diabetes needs monitoring, or when injury goes beyond a band-aid,' said Marcea Brown, the parent of a 3rd-grader at Miñoso Elementary, where the group gathered. 'No child's health or safety should be left to chance.' With negotiations nearing the year mark, union members and CPS officials are meeting daily to reach an agreement. It's unclear how negotiations will fare over the final months of CPS chief Pedro Martinez's tenure with the district. The school board fired him without cause in December, but he will remain in his role as chief executive officer until June. Stacy Davis Gates, CTU's president, said Tuesday the union has repeatedly tried to meet CPS halfway in negotiations and that the five sticking points are what union members find most important. 'CEO Martinez says we are close. It's time to prove that by finding a 'yes' in order for us to provide our students with the public schools they deserve,' Davis Gates said. When released last month, the teachers union immediately rejected Malin's report, citing state law's limits on the issues the third-party fact-finder can address and make recommendations. Meanwhile, Martinez said he '(couldn't) even imagine the need ' for a teachers' strike as both sides are getting closer to an agreement. This week marks the required 30-day 'cooling-off' period since the 'fact-finding' report was released, so the union could call for a strike. However, CTU said it does not have immediate plans to vote for a work stoppage. CPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how close the two sides are on the five points outlined by CTU Tuesday morning, or if it agrees that those points are the most important. Veteran teachers provide invaluable leadership and mentorship and should be compensated appropriately, said Vicki Kurzydlo, who has been a teacher for 31 years, in an interview with the Tribune. The fact-finding report showed that CPS has the money to meet the union's demands, Kurzyldo said. 'CPS needs to demonstrate that they value their veteran teachers, they value our expertise and they value the contributions that we make to our school communities,' she said. Elected school board member Jitu Brown said the second Trump administration adds urgency and importance to the union's demands. 'Now is not the time to mourn. Now the time to organize,' he said. 'They may run D.C., but they don't run Chicago.'
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Buzzing Around CT': Natasha learns to cook at Cook & Grow
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) — In this week's 'Buzzing Around CT,' Natasha Lubczenko learns how to cook with Chef Mona Jackson from 'Cook & Grow.' The Bridgeport-based nonprofit teaches people of all ages how to cook with fresh, healthy ingredients. Jackson started this program over a decade ago to help children in her community learn healthy habits. 'I started noticing kids and how they are overweight, shy, high blood pressure, all the bad things,' she said. 'And it stemmed from food. So I decided to create 'Cook and Grow' with healthy cooking and healthy eating.' She now hosts several programs throughout the year, working with the state to run a cooking course for students at Bridgeport's Bassick High School, a junior chef program in the summer, and even adult cooking classes! Jackson is also launching a new after-school cooking program in the fall. To learn more about that—or to donate to Cook & Grow's mission—visit 'Buzzing Around CT' is a segment where CT Buzz Host Natasha Lubczenko tries new things, uncovers hidden gems, and highlights the best our state has to offer. Have something you want us to cover? Email natasha@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
