Republican gubernatorial candidate Erin Stewart is defending her leadership as questions grow over nearly 200 thousand dollars in purchases made with a city credit card while serving as mayor of New Britain. Records show charges that included restaurant meals, club memberships, clothing and Amazon purchases. Stewart says she is reviewing the spending records and promised any mistakes would be addressed.

Newtown planners have approved a new retail plaza on Route 6 near the Bethel border for a Danbury-based business. The family-run company plans to build a 4,400 square foot commercial building with 22 parking spaces on a one-acre wooded site near the busy Stony Hill Road corridor. Company officials say construction could begin once the property sale is finalized. The area has seen increasing development activity in recent months, including proposals for housing and medical projects nearby.

Newtown officials have approved a new camera enforcement program aimed at catching drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. The town plans to equip all 56 school buses with stop-arm cameras and artificial intelligence technology through a partnership with BusPatrol. Officials hope to have the system operating by August. Drivers caught violating the law could face a minimum 250 dollar civil penalty under Connecticut law. Town leaders say the program is designed to improve student safety while costing taxpayers nothing because the system is funded through fines paid by violators.

Voters in Middlebury and Southbury have approved a nearly 96 million dollar Region 15 school budget along with 224 million dollars in bonding for new elementary schools. The projects will replace several aging schools in Southbury with larger buildings that will also include prekindergarten space. District officials hope construction can begin in 2028 with completion targeted for 2030. School leaders say the upgrades are needed to replace outdated facilities and improve learning space for students.

A former Danbury man charged in two 1989 kidnappings has rejected a plea deal and will take his case to trial. Fifty-four year old David Vincent Coffey faces kidnapping and conspiracy charges tied to the abductions and sexual assaults of a 20 year old woman and an 11 year old girl. Prosecutors say DNA evidence helped reopen the cold cases after one victim asked police to revisit the investigation in 2023. Coffey turned down an offer of 30 years in prison and could face up to 70 years if convicted.

Farley Santos has received the endorsement of the Danbury Professional Fire Fighters Union in his bid for re-election to Connecticut’s 109th District seat. The union cited Santos’ support for firefighter cancer relief legislation along with efforts to improve firefighter protections and working conditions. Santos said he was honored by the endorsement and pledged continued support for first responders and their families. Local 801 called Santos a strong advocate for firefighters both in Danbury and statewide.

Connecticut plans to release $22 point 5 million in state aid to help struggling dairy farmers facing rising production costs and weak federally-set milk prices. State officials say small family-owned farms have been hit hard by higher fuel, fertilizer and equipment costs along with trade issues affecting exports. The funding would come from the state’s Federal Cuts Response Fund and is intended to provide immediate relief to dairy operations across Connecticut before more farms are forced out of business.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has ordered U.S. and state flags lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Friday in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day. The annual observance during National Police Week honors local, state and federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Lamont praised officers for their commitment to public safety and recognized the sacrifices made by law enforcement families. Flags will be lowered at the State Capitol and all state-operated buildings, while municipalities, businesses and residents are also encouraged to participate.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is moving ahead with plans for new “flex lanes” on Interstate 84 in Danbury between exits 3 and 7. The project would use highway shoulders as temporary travel lanes during heavy traffic periods, with electronic signs controlling when the lanes open and close. Transportation officials say the project could cut evening commute times through the corridor from more than 30 minutes down to about eight minutes once completed around 2030 or 2031.

A group of veterans in Brookfield is asking the Connecticut Appellate Court to overturn a ruling that removed extra parking spaces at a Candlewood Lake clubhouse shared by the VFW and Sokol Club. The veterans argue the decision violates protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and could have statewide implications for disabled veterans. The dispute centers on a years-long zoning battle with a neighboring property owner over parking at the site.