GLOVES OFF IN GOV DEBATE
As expected, the two major party candidates for governor in Connecticut took some shots at each other during last night’s debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London. Republican Bob Stefanowski frequently tied Democrat Ned Lamont to current governor Dannel Malloy, claiming a vote for Lamont wouldn’t change anything in the state. Lamont, meanwhile, claims Stefanowski’s plans to improve the state, such as eliminating the state income tax, are unrealistic and unworkable. Lamont occasionally made reference to Stefanowski’s support of President Donald Trump, suggesting he would bring to the state some of the commander-in-chief’s unpopular policies. The two are scheduled to debate four more times, with the next encounter in New Haven Monday night.
CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR CASE
Fifteen Democrats and four Republicans running for the Connecticut General Assembly addressed a meeting of the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors and the Home Builder and Remodelers Association of Eastern Connecticut Wednesday morning. Each candidate presented a two-minute plea for why people should vote for them. The 15 races represented are for seats currently held by eight Republicans and seven Democrats. The candidates spoke of the need for workforce development, decrying tax and toll proposals, and calling for an end to regulations that hold back businesses.
FORMER NFA COACH CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT
Sexual assault charges have been filed against a former Norwich Free Academy assistant track, soccer, and football coach. Police say 25-year old Anthony Facchini had sexual relations with two students beginning last year, while he was a coach at the school. City police, along with the FBI, and the New London County State’s Attorney’s Office was on the NFA campus Wednesday to execute a search and seizure warrant. Detectives were seen leaving the school administration building. School officials aren’t saying if the resignation this week of athletic director Eric Swallow is related to the arrest. Facchini is out on 75-thousand dollars bond, and is due in Norwich Superior Court September 20th. Police say the investigation continues.
CURCIO IS NEW FIRE CHIEF
Thomas CurÂcio preÂtended to reÂspond to fire calls while playÂing with his MatchÂbox toy cars as a kid. He later watched in fasÂciÂnaÂtion as speÂcially trained fireÂfightÂers reÂsponded to medÂiÂcal calls on the teleÂviÂsion show “EmerÂgency!” But it wasn’t unÂtil he had a real taste of fireÂfightÂing as a volÂunÂteer that CurÂcio said he deÂcided on his caÂreer path as a fireÂfighter. Now, he’s New London’s new fire chief. Mayor Michael Passero called CurÂcio a civic-minded resÂiÂdent who preÂparÂed himself for leadÂerÂship at the fire deÂpartÂment and was someÂone truly comÂmitÂted to the city. The 56-year-old CurÂcio is a forÂmer part-time emerÂgency disÂpatcher, a subÂstiÂtute teacher in the New LonÂdon school sysÂtem and only reÂcently reÂsigned from his poÂsiÂtion as a carÂdiÂolÂogy techÂniÂcian at Lawrence & MeÂmoÂrial HosÂpiÂtal, where he had worked for 27 years.
DONORS GET PEEK AT Y UPGRADES
About 400 project donors got a glimpse of the expanded and renovated Naik FamÂily Branch of the Ocean ComÂmuÂnity YMCA in Mystic on WedÂnesÂday night. The exÂpanded faÂcilÂity will now have a large teen cenÂter, comÂmuÂnity room and famÂily locker rooms. AfÂter the new $7.2 million secÂtion of the YMCA opens Sept. 30th, work will beÂgin to reÂfurÂbish the exÂistÂing gym. A ribÂbon-cutÂting cerÂeÂmony for the enÂtire faÂcilÂity is exÂpected in mid-NovemÂber. The reÂfurÂbished pool and two of the new locker rooms were opened this sumÂmer.
HAVE COFFEE WITH A COP
New London police will hold a “Coffee with Cops” event Wednesday, Sept. 19th at the Muddy Waters Cafe on Bank Street, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. The police department said it believes that policing effectively is done with the help of an engaged and involved public and that police must be available to the public that it serves. Residents are invited to ask questions, and bring up concerns.
The post THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE appeared first on 98.7 WNLC.