Latest news with #Podgorski
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
CT woman now facing more than 40 counts of animal cruelty after two new arrests
A Winsted woman already facing nearly 40 counts of animal cruelty was arrested on additional charges on Thursday after an investigation reportedly found that two dogs that were in her care lost an unhealthy amount of weight. Sarah Anne Smolak, 28, turned herself in at the Norwalk Police Department where officers held two warrants for her arrest, according to police. She was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals following separate investigations into the condition of dogs she allegedly cared for last year. Norwalk police Lt. Tomasz Podgorski said police began investigating in October 2024 after receiving a complaint indicating a dog allegedly fostered by Smolak lost a significant amount of weight and showed a decline in health. Animal control officers reviewed veterinary records from multiple care centers in Connecticut and New York 'to establish a timeline of Smolak's custody of the dog and its condition,' Podgorski said in a statement. The investigation found that a 3-year-old brown and white Pit Bull named 'Little Squishy' was in Smolak's care for two months in August and September 2024. During that time, the animal allegedly lost 13 pounds and his 'body condition deteriorated,' according to Podgorski. After the dog was removed from Smolak's care, he was found to gain weight without any issue and his overall health improved, Podgorski said. 'Officers found the dog was not receiving proper care and caloric intake while in the care of Smolak,' Podgorski said. According to Podgorski, police received a similar complaint involving Smolak in March involving a dog that also allegedly showed a sharp decline in its health while in her care. Investigators once again examined veterinary records from multiple care centers in Connecticut and New York to establish when Smolak had custody of the dog. The investigation found that a black and white colored Pit Bull named 'Royal Blue' was in Smolak's care for 24 days between March and April 2024, during which time he lost allegedly seven pounds and his body condition deteriorated, Podgorski said. The dog was also prescribed de-worming medication after being in her care. Using a surgically implanted microchip in the dog, animal control officers were able to confirm he had since been adopted by new owners and was found to be doing well with no apparent medical issues. Smolak was first arrested by the Winchester Police Department on March 18 and charged with two counts of cruelty to animals. The arrest came weeks after animal welfare groups and rescues launched a social media and email campaign urging state officials, local police and media to conduct an investigation. David Reid, 28, of Winsted was also charged with one count of cruelty to animals in connection with that investigation, police said. Police at the time said they seized 27 dogs as part of their ongoing investigation. According to online court records, Winchester police arrested Smolak again on April 10 and charged her with 36 counts of cruelty to animals. Norwalk police on April 22 arrested her on one count of animal cruelty, records show. Smolak had a total of five pending cases involving animal cruelty charges prior to her arrests on Thursday, according to court records. She is free on bonds totaling $135,000 and is scheduled to appear before a judge on May 28 on the new charges, records show.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Three CT teenagers accused of firing paintballs from SUV at pedestrians
Three teenagers were arrested in Norwalk early Wednesday after police alleged that they were firing paintballs from a vehicle at multiple pedestrians, hitting one of them. Police received a call from a man at 12:51 a.m. who claimed that he was shot by what he believed was a BB gun as he was walking at the intersection of East Avenue and Wall Street, according to Lt. Tomasz Podgorski of the Norwalk Police Department. The caller said the shot came from someone in an older model gray SUV. According to Podgorski, the man said he ran to his residence and later found that he had been shot by a paintball. Soon thereafter, a second person called police and said she was walking in the area of 34 West Ave. when someone in a gray SUV drove past her and allegedly fired multiple shots in her direction, Podgorski said. The woman claimed that there were multiple people in the vehicle and that she had not been struck by the shots. She was unsure what was shot at her. A description of the vehicle was put out to patrol officers before police found a 2011 gray Acura MDX and pulled it over at the intersection of Monroe Street and South Main Street, Podgorski said. Police reported finding paintballs and a paintball gun in the vehicle. The driver, 18-year-old Mason Riina of Norwalk, and two 17-year-old passengers were arrested, Podgorski said. They each face two counts of first-degree breach of peace and a single count of third-degree criminal mischief. Riina was released on $500 bond and is scheduled to face a judge on May 13.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two Idaho tribes plan resort and casino near Boise. Here's why
A Native American tribal group with ancestral ties to the Treasure Valley plans to build its first and only casino near Boise. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, based at the Duck Valley Reservation on the Idaho-Nevada state line, said in a news release Wednesday that it's partnering with the Coeur d'Alene Tribe in North Idaho to develop and manage the casino. It would be located about 15 miles southeast of Boise. Natalie Podgorski, a spokesperson for the Sho-Pai, told the Idaho Statesman by phone that the Coeur d'Alene Tribe last week bought 561 acres of land, situated in both Ada and Elmore counties, to give to the Sho-Pai for the project. The property is about two miles south of the exit for the Boise Stage Stop on Orchard Access Road. About 40 acres would be used for the casino, she said. The proposed resort and casino is estimated to generate tens of millions of dollars a year for Idaho's economy and create thousands of well-paying jobs, according to the release. It would draw patrons from the more than 780,000 people who live in Ada and Canyon counties, in addition to the nearly 30,000 who live in Elmore County. It would also attract travelers along the route between Boise and Mountain Home. 'Today, we have no meaningful economic opportunities and our community is facing some heavy challenges because of it,' Sho-Pai Chairman Brian Mason said in the release. 'We want to solve our own problems and provide for our people. Tribal gaming will allow us to make these dreams into a reality.' The Coeur d'Alene Tribe will pay for the permitting and construction, according to Podgorski. She said the tribes don't yet have an estimate for how much the project will cost. Once the casino is built, the Sho-Pai would own it and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe would manage it. 'Because this will be the Sho-Pai's first and only casino, they don't have the experience yet,' Podgorski said. 'But the Coeur d'Alene Tribe has been operating gaming in Idaho for more than 30 years. I think the ultimate hope is to empower the Sho-Pai people throughout this project so that eventually, someday, they might fully manage the operation on their own.' Coeur d'Alene Tribe Chairman Chief Allan said in the release that his tribe has experienced the 'transformative power of gaming' and wants to help the Sho-Pai achieve the same. 'When I was growing up, many tribal members lived in poverty and could not find jobs,' Allan said. 'Today, we have a state-of-the-art medical center, ample employment for tribal members and can financially support every tribal member who wants to earn a college degree. None of this would be possible without tribal gaming.' The Sho-Pai don't have a casino on their remote reservation in Southwest Idaho but have been working on plans for a gaming project in the Mountain Home area since the 1990s. Last year, those plans put the Sho-Pai at odds with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, based at the Fort Hall Reservation near Pocatello, who bought land in Elmore County to develop a $311 million gaming enterprise. It would be the Sho-Ban tribes' fourth casino; two are on the reservation and one is in nearby Pocatello. The Sho-Pai urged Gov. Brad Little and the Biden administration to reject the Sho-Bans' proposal, arguing that the Sho-Pai has greater ancestral ties to the territory. Fort Hall is about 180 miles from Mountain Home. Mountain Home, about 90 miles away, is one of the closest sizable cities to the Duck Valley Reservation. The Sho-Pai go to the city to buy goods and services and, for over 40 years, tribal members have been born at a hospital in Mountain Home and elders have had funeral arrangements and embalmings in the Elmore County seat. Mason, the Sho-Pai chairman, told the Statesman last year that while his tribes generally support the economic endeavors of its sister tribes, the Sho-Bans' proposal was 'a bridge too far.' He said the project would relegate his people to continued poverty. The Sho-Pai have about 2,300 members. The Sho-Ban did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Members of the Duck Valley Reservation face high rates of suicide and unemployment, and the community struggles to provide emergency services or adequate education because of its location, according to the release. 'The challenges we face daily are not insurmountable,' Mason said. 'We simply need resources to invest in long-term solutions for our people. Gaming will give us the tools we need to strengthen our community, grow our infrastructure and provide more opportunities to our youth for generations to come.' Podgorski, the Sho-Pai spokesperson, said the casino project includes plans for workforce housing. The casino would be about two-hour drive from the reservation, and she said it'd be unrealistic for tribal members who might work at the casino to commute every day. The Sho-Pai and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe are now working on getting the land into a trust. Then, they'll need to get approval from the Interior Department. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which provides a framework for gaming on Indian land, requires that land used for gaming under the act be held in trust, a process where Interior acquires the title to the land and holds it for the benefit of the tribe. Loosened restrictions have allowed tribes to build casinos on land further afield from their reservations. If the tribes' application is approved, it would then go to Little's desk for his blessing. Little's office did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Idaho has Native American casinos in Lewiston, Pocatello, Kamiah, and south of Coeur d'Alene, and on the Fort Hall Reservation. In Jackpot, south of Twin Falls and the Nevada border, is a nontribal casino that includes table games. The casinos in Idaho offer video gaming and bingo, not table games like blackjack, craps and poker. A casino 45 minutes from Boise? A decision nears as tribes spar over whose it should be $13 billion in Idaho gold. A mineral critical to U.S. defense. And fresh fears for salmon 'We survived': Idaho tribes gather in Boise to commemorate ancestral homelands
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TechPrecision Appoints Phillip E. Podgorski Chief Financial Officer
WESTMINSTER, MA / / March 31, 2025 / TechPrecision Corporation (NASDAQ:TPCS) ("TechPrecision" or "the Company"), today announced the appointment of Phillip E. Podgorski as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective today. "I am very happy to welcome Phil to TechPrecision as our Chief Financial Officer. Phil is a seasoned CFO with public company experience in the defense sector and a proven track record in financial strategy, scenario planning and operations," stated Alexander Shen, TechPrecision's Chief Executive Officer. "Timely reporting is one of our fundamentals; the successful addition of Phil to TechPrecision is a major step to achieve and consistently maintain compliance to this requirement." Mr. Podgorski added, "I am very excited about the opportunity to bring my years of experience to join Alex on the TechPrecision executive team. With my collaborative style, I look forward to working with the teams at Ranor, Stadco, and TechPrecision to effect positive changes in the finance areas and the company as a whole, enabling operations effectiveness to drive company results. With Alex, our strong focus is on making Ranor, Stadco and TechPrecision a company valued by its customers, employees and shareholders." Mr. Podgorski was the Chief Financial Officer for the RTX Technology Research Center ("RTRC"), a division of RTX Corporation ("RTX"), a public aerospace and defense company, since 2013. While at RTX, he was responsible for all GAAP, SEC and government accounting and reporting related aspects for the RTRC. He was also responsible for strategic and scenario planning in collaboration with other stakeholders at RTX, including long-range plans and annual operating budgets. Mr. Podgorksi has an MBA and Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Western New England University. About TechPrecision Corporation TechPrecision Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Ranor, Inc. and Stadco, manufactures large-scale, metal fabricated and machined precision components and equipment. These products are used in a variety of markets including: defense, aerospace, nuclear, medical, and precision industrial. TechPrecision's goal is to be an end-to-end service provider to its customers by furnishing customized solutions for completed products requiring custom fabrication and machining, assembly, inspection and testing. To learn more about the Company, please visit the corporate website at Information on the Company's website or any other website does not constitute a part of this press release. Safe Harbor Statement This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the business of the Company and its subsidiary companies. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this press release, including statements that express our intentions, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any other statements relating to our future activities or other future events or conditions are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "prospects," "will," "should," "would" and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections made by management about our business, our industry and other conditions affecting our financial condition, results of operations or business prospects. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause such outcomes and results to differ include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties arising from: our reliance on individual purchase orders, rather than long-term contracts, to generate revenue; our ability to balance the composition of our revenues and effectively control operating expenses; external factors that may be outside our control, including health emergencies, like epidemics or pandemics, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, price inflation, interest rate increases and supply chain inefficiencies; the availability of appropriate financing facilities impacting our operations, financial condition and/or liquidity; our ability to receive contract awards through competitive bidding processes; our ability to maintain standards to enable us to manufacture products to exacting specifications; our ability to enter new markets for our services; our reliance on a small number of customers for a significant percentage of our business; competitive pressures in the markets we serve; changes in the availability or cost of raw materials and energy for our production facilities; restrictions in our ability to operate our business due to our outstanding indebtedness; government regulations and requirements; pricing and business development difficulties; changes in government spending on national defense; our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate those acquisitions with our business; our failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; our ability to regain compliance with the continued listing standards of the Nasdaq Capital Market; and other risks discussed in the Company's periodic reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on its website ( Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. Investors should evaluate any statements made by us in light of these important factors. Company Contact: Investor Relations Contact: Alexander Shen Hayden IR Chief Executive Officer Brett Maas TechPrecision Corporation Phone: 646-536-7331 Phone: (978) 874-0591 Email: brett@ Email: info@ Website: Website: SOURCE: TechPrecision Corporation View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
Police seeking help identifying suspects in theft of more than $7K worth of clothing
Police are asking the public for help identifying two people who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of clothing from a retailer in Norwalk last month. The theft was reported on Feb. 21 at JD Sports at the SoNo Collection, according to Lt. Tomasz Podgorski of the Norwalk Police Department. During the theft, about $7,600 worth of clothing was reported stolen. Podgorski on Wednesday released photos of two suspects and said detectives are seeking help identifying them. Anyone who recognizes the individuals has been asked to contact Det. Rodriguez at 203-854-3034 or JRodgriguez@ Anonymous information can be called into the Norwalk Police Tip Line 203-854-3111 or left at the department's website. Anonymous information can also be sent to TIP411 (847411) via text by typing 'NORWALKPD' into the text field followed by the information.
