Latest news with #DEEP
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
CT boating registrations on decline since pandemic. Officials urge safety despite drop in fatalities
After a pandemic-fueled boating boom in 2021, the number of registered vessels in Connecticut is steadily declining. In 2021, amid the height of the pandemic, there were 93,074 registered vessels in Connecticut, according to data from the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Since then, those numbers have been steadily declining. In 2022, there were 91,161 registered vessels, and in 2023, there were 89,699 registered vessels filed with the state. Data for 2024 has been not been released yet. 'Last year we were right around 90,000 registered vessels, so we're seeing a bit of a stabilization now,' said Jacob Budris of the DEEP boating division. 'We did see a peak during the pandemic, but numbers have since gone back to about where we were pre-COVID. So what we're seeing is nothing out of the ordinary.' In Connecticut, all boats with motors — regardless of length — and all sailboats powered by sail alone — 19 1/2 feet or longer — must be registered before launching, according to officials. The bulk of registrations in 2023 were for recreational vessels with 89,172 along with 527 commercial vessels, according to data. Of that, 87,935 were motorized vessels and 1,237 were non-motorized vessels. In addition to being registered, all recreational boaters are required to have either a Safe Boating Certificate or a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation to operate a boat in Connecticut. A Safe Boating Certificate permits an individual to operate any recreational vessel, except for a personal watercraft, on Connecticut's waters. A Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation allows an individual to operate any recreational vessel, including a personal watercraft such as a jet ski. Budris said that as the number of registered vessels rose during the pandemic, so did the number of reportable boating incidents on the state's waterways. In 2020, there were 67 reportable boating incidents. In 2023, there was nearly half that number with 35. Officials said that more awareness around boating safety is partly due to the reduction in incidents. A boating incident is required to be reported to DEEP if the incident results in the death of any person, injury of a person who requires medical attention beyond first aid, if the incident totals damages is in excess of $500 or if the vessel is a total loss, officials said. Despite a decline in boating incidents, the state has experienced a rash of fatalities in recent years, with a peak of seven fatal boating incidents in 2022 resulting in nine fatalities. In 2022, a child died and three others were hospitalized when their boat capsized at Wyassup Lake in North Stonington. Also that month, two men died and two others were listed in critical condition after their boat capsized on Long Island Sound. In 2023, the number of fatalities fell slightly, to six fatal boating incidents resulting in seven deaths, according to state data. In the same year, there were four drowning fatalities reported, an increase from three in 2022. During the height of the state's boating boom in 2021, there were six drowning fatalities reported that year. Last year, boating fatalities declined with two fatal boating incidents occurring in Connecticut: One on Labor Day in Old Saybrook and another on Candlewood Lake in May. The Old Saybrook incident resulted in three deaths and six injuries after a boat crashed into a breakwall. In the Candlewood Lake incident, a 20-year-old woman died after being struck by a boat propeller. Despite the slight drop in fatalities, officials are stressing safety this summer. Budris said that alcohol impairment often plays a part in boating incidents and fatalities. Officials said that between 2018 and 2023, 21% of all fatalities on the state's waterways were due to alcohol impairment. Out of 285 reportable incidents in the same time period, 6% were deemed alcohol related, according to state data. 'We still are having a number of fatal incidents on our waterways,' Budris said. 'I can't stress safety enough this summer. It's the beginning of the season and a lot of people get really excited to get out on the water. Some people may launch their boats without going through their safety equipment. Before the season starts or even before you get on the water, make sure life jackets are ready to go and usable. Be sure safety equipment is not expired or damaged. The hope is you never have to use it, but it is really important in case you do. ' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car catches fire after crash in South Windsor
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. (WTNH) — A two-car crash on Route 5 near Governors Highway caused a car to catch fire Sunday night, fire crews said. Crews from the South Windsor Fire Department were dispatched to the scene at about 9:42 p.m. When they arrived, the driver of the car that caught fire was out of the vehicle. Chief Cooney said a bystander of the crash helped get the driver out of the car. The first vehicle rolled over into the tree line, then caught fire. Crews said the driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result. Fire crews said the flames were stubborn and ultimately used foam to put it out. The second car's driver received minor injuries and DEEP also responded to the scene, according to crews. Officials say Route 5 will remain closed in both directions as the scene remains active. This is an open investigation. Check back later for more details. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Scholarship camp for higher education evokes good response in Nagapattinam
In a move to bridge the accessibility gap in higher education, the Nagapattinam district administration conducted a first-of-its-kind Scholarship Awareness Camp under the District Education Empowerment Programme (DEEP). The initiative brought together over 250 government school students and several NGOs offering educational sponsorships. The camp, held earlier this week, had 253 targeted students from economically and socially vulnerable backgrounds — first-generation learners, orphans, children of single parents, and students with disabilities — many of whom were unaware that higher education could be a viable option. The event prompted reflection among NGOs. 'We have already paid college fees for 11 students here. This was an eye-opener,' said S. Rajinikanth, who represented M.N. Gayathri Charities, VRCF, and SEEDS. 'We usually get polished online applications from urban areas. But here, students struggled with forms, some using basic phones. It reminded us who really needs support.' He said the district-level coordination made the process more efficient. 'Normally, we verify applications door to door. This time, the administration itself brought us verified students —saving time and ensuring trust. If every district did this, thousands more could benefit.' Some NGOs said the experience pushed them to consider more inclusive practices such as making their scholarship portals Tamil-friendly or introducing offline applications. The day saw 483 applications submitted by 200 students, with guidance from 42 trained volunteers from Talent Quest India and TNAU Kilvelur. Each NGO had 10 minutes to present its eligibility criteria. Speaking to The Hindu, District Collector P. Akash said: 'Most NGOs focus their efforts in urban centres like Chennai and Coimbatore. Districts like Nagapattinam are often overlooked because students don't apply online. So we reversed the model — we brought the NGOs to the students.' 'We didn't just inform them about scholarships — they applied on the spot,' he said and added that many NGOs had promised continued support, including assistance with admissions, tuition, and hostel fees.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida Just Approved a Black Bear Season. Connecticut Could Be Next
Connecticut is inching closer to instituting a bear season after the state Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow wildlife officials to authorize a hunt when public safety is at risk. The move comes on the heels of Florida's approval of its first bear season in nearly a decade and is an indication of a broader trend in state-level responses to growing black bear populations. The Connecticut Senate easily passed Senate Bill 1523 on May 22, with a vote of 34-2. The bill would amend an existing law that allows individuals to request a permit to use deadly force against a bear if it is injuring or killing livestock, crops, or honey bees to make it easier for landowners to kill nuisance bears. But a provision tucked into SB 1523 would also authorize Connecticut's governor to direct the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to open a black bear hunting season if DEEP finds 'that bear conflicts with people, pets, and livestock in the state have reached a level that poses a public safety threat.' But Connecticut's most recent State of Bears briefing, which points to a 'long term increasing trend in human-bear conflicts,' suggests that conflicts may have already reached that level. DEEP estimates more than 1,200 black bears are roaming the state. In 2024, bears were reported in 159 of Connecticut's 169 towns and cities, with thousands of reported human-black bear conflicts, which far exceeds conflicts in neighboring states where bear hunting is legal. According to the report, Connecticut had 67 instances of black bears entering homes last year and had two bear attacks on humans. 'Because the frequency and severity of human-bear conflicts have increased significantly over the past decade, DEEP supports this legislation,' DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes told lawmakers in her submitted testimony, '…we believe a regulated bear hunt is a critical and needed addition to the suite of black bear management tools we currently employ to protect the public, reduce human-bear conflicts, and support a healthy and sustainable black bear population.' Read Next: What Do Black Bears Eat? While Connecticut's proposed legislation sets the stage for a conditional bear season, Florida is taking a more direct approach. On May 15, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-1 to give preliminary approval for the state's first bear hunt since 2015. The proposed 3-week hunt, scheduled for December 2025, would permit the harvest of up to 187 bears and allow the use of bait and dogs. The vote follows Florida's first fatal bear attack on May 5, which claimed the life of an 88-year-old man in Collier County. A final vote for the proposed hunt is scheduled for August.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bear killed in North Canaan: CSP
NORTH CANAAN, Conn. (WTNH) — A bear was killed Wednesday at a residence on Greene Road in North Canaan, state police said. Troopers responded to a call for a bear that had entered the home at approximately 12:53 a.m. The bear was killed by troopers near the entrance to the building and a second bear fled into the woods. Beware of bears: They will be wandering through Connecticut soon DEEP was contacted to properly remove the bear. Current DEEP policy allows euthanasia as a response to a bear entering a residence. The homeowner is legally allowed to take the same action under Public Act 23-77. The number of bear-human interactions has increased over the past few years, according to DEEP. DEEP advises the public to store trash in bear-proof containers, remove bird feeders and to supervise pets and animals outside. More information can be found on the department's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
