A lawsuit filed in federal court alleges a Connecticut Department of Agriculture attorney orchestrated a $1.4 million fraud scheme. Bloomin Properties LLC, a New Jersey real estate company, claims that Carole Briggs, the attorney in question, sent fraudulent electronic communications requesting closing funds for a property purchase. The company deposited the funds into a bank account set up by Briggs, believing the communications were legitimate. Connecticut officials believe no state funds were involved in this incident.

A coalition of New England states has come together to pursue federal funding for transformative energy projects aimed at boosting grid reliability and resilience. Led by agencies like Connecticut’s DEEP and Massachusetts’ Department of Energy Resources, they’ve jointly submitted two applications to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Innovation Program. One is expected to provide up to 4,800 megawatts of renewable energy. The other aims to bolster interregional transmission capacity between New York and New England, potentially increasing transfer capacity by 1,000 megawatts. If successful, they could significantly benefit 15 some million residents and businesses.

Connecticut has clinched a high rank on the Cost-of-Living Index charts, signaling it’s not the cheapest place to call home. The Council for Community and Economic Research reveals our state’s index stands at a hefty 121.6, soaring well above the national average of 100. That means living costs here are about 21.6 percent pricier compared to the U.S. norm. One big factor driving up these is housing. Connecticut boasts some of the steepest housing prices nationwide, nearly 35 percent above the average. Food prices here are also higher than the norm. The priciest areas to hang your hat are Hawaii and Washington, DC.

Impact Fairfield County, a powerhouse in female-driven philanthropy, has just unveiled its five finalists for this year’s Impact FFC Grants. They include the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, Filling in the Blanks, Jewish Family Services of Greenwich, OPTIMUS Health Care, and Teaching Matters. After sifting through nearly 60 applications, these finalists were handpicked for their impactful work right here in Fairfield County. And thanks to a record-breaking membership this year, Impact FFC is donating a whopping $280,000 to these deserving organizations.

Police arrested a 35-year-old man who they say was wielding an axe at a gas station in Fairfield. It happened at Hemlock Hardware on Post Road late Tuesday night. Fairfield Police responded to reports of a suspicious man, later identified as Orlando Roper of New York City, behaving erratically with the axe. Despite efforts to peacefully engage him, Roper fled on foot, leading officers across railroad tracks and onto Interstate-95. Officers were eventually able to surround Roper and cuff him without further incident. Roper faces a string of charges. There were no reported injuries.

Red Lobster is reportedly considering a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to restructure its debt, according to sources cited in a Bloomberg report. The seafood chain is looking to address long-term contracts and lease agreements, but a final decision hasn’t been made. Red Lobster, established in 1968, operates 649 locations. In Connecticut there are 4 locations. Bridgeport; Danbury; North Haven; and Wethersfield.

In Danbury, the first of three newly approved self-storage sites has opened on the west side. Cube Smart, a 100,000-square-foot facility, addresses the city’s need for storage space amidst a surge in condominium and apartment constructions. The development is seen as a reflection of economic growth in the area.

A Wilton man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for a scheme involving fake paintings by artist Peter Max. 29 year old Nicholas Hatch defrauded 43 people, raking in nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Hatch, who operated an estate sales company, used various websites and aliases to peddle the counterfeit artworks, which were falsely claimed to be authentic Max creations. The court has ordered Hatch to make full restitution and placed him on three years of supervised release following his prison term. This sentence comes after Hatch pleaded guilty to mail fraud last year.

Car thefts in Connecticut surged 33% in 2023, ranking among the highest increases in the nation. Thieves utilize methods like leaving keys in cars or hacking key fob codes. Lawmakers have responded by increasing penalties for juvenile offenders. Connecticut’s theft rate is the highest in New England.

A man from Westchester County, New York… known as “the Magician”… has been charged in connection with a massive $100 million tax fraud scheme involving tens of thousands of false federal income tax returns. Rafael Alvarez, the CEO of ATAX New York, is now accused of orchestrating a decade-long scheme where his company submitted tax returns with fabricated deductions and credits, defrauding the IRS of over $100 million. His skills in filing false returns earned him the nickname “the Magician” among his clients. Over the time period involved, federal investigators say his company prepared about 90,000 federal income tax returns for customers.