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Grandmother Killed In CT While Visiting Family Remembered For Her 'Loving Presence' Grandmother Killed In CT While Visiting Family Remembered For Her 'Loving Presence'
Grandmother Killed In CT While Visiting Family Remembered For Her 'Loving Presence' The family of a woman fatally struck by an SUV while visiting her grandchildren in Connecticut is asking for the public's help to send her body home. Carmen Illapa Verdezoto, 78, was crossing Progress Drive near Stillwater Avenue in Stamford on Friday, July 31, when a 2022 Ford Escape struck her around 5:30 a.m., police said. The 28-year-old Stamford driver called officers, tried to help  Illapa Verdezoto, and remained at the scene, authorities said.  Paramedics rushed Illapa Verdezoto to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Stamford police struggled for hours…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Dunkin' Reveals Pumpkin's Return As Fall Drink Battle Begins Dunkin' Reveals Pumpkin's Return As Fall Drink Battle Begins
Dunkin' Reveals Pumpkin's Return As Fall Drink Battle Begins Dunkin' is getting an early start on fall with the return of its popular pumpkin flavors. The coffee chain revealed when pumpkin will return to its menu on Monday, Aug. 3. The popular fall taste's comeback will happen on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Dunkin' has not yet revealed its full 2026 fall lineup or announced which drinks and food items will return. "now that it's august... we've got some BIG news," Dunkin' wrote alongside an image reading, "Pumpkin back at Dunkin 8/19." View this post on Instagram The chain's 2025 menu featured the Pumpkin Sp…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Massive Parasite Outbreak Takes Deadly Turn Massive Parasite Outbreak Takes Deadly Turn
Massive Parasite Outbreak Takes Deadly Turn A sprawling foodborne threat has taken its most serious turn yet. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported on Monday, Aug. 3, that two people had died in its cyclosporiasis outbreak. Both had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by the infection and dehydration, the department said. Officials did not release their names, ages, or other details. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Michigan deaths were part of a nine-state outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce. Michigan has received 11,234 case reports during its outbreak…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Fallen Tree Branch Crashes Onto Bus On I-95 In CT, Causing Multiple Minor Injuries Fallen Tree Branch Crashes Onto Bus On I-95 In CT, Causing Multiple Minor Injuries
Fallen Tree Branch Crashes Onto Bus On I-95 In CT, Causing Multiple Minor Injuries Several passengers aboard a charter bus were injured following a scary moment when a falling tree branch crashed through one of the vehicle's windows while on I-95.  Sixteen people were aboard the Greyhound bus around 6:45 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, when heavy rains and storms caused a large limb to break free and fall onto the busy interstate, Westport firefighters said. It smashed through one of the windows, sending glass into the compartment.  Multiple people suffered minor injuries. All were treated at the scene.  The fallen tree branch was blocking all lanes of traffic whe…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Phil Collins Reveals Fight For His Life: 'People Were Coming To Say Goodbye' Phil Collins Reveals Fight For His Life: 'People Were Coming To Say Goodbye'
Phil Collins Reveals Fight For His Life: 'People Were Coming To Say Goodbye' One of rock’s most familiar voices has revealed how close he came to falling silent forever. Phil Collins, 75, told The Times of London in a Sunday Times Magazine profile that he nearly died during a severe alcohol relapse in April 2024. Collins was unconscious in a Swiss hospital after drinking to the point of organ failure. His manager of 50 years contacted the musician’s five children and called them to his bedside. “Because there were some decisions to be made about ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing," the 75-year-old Collins told The Times of London. "My kidneys were pac…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Man Found Dead Inside Vehicle On CT Road; State, Local Police Investigating Man Found Dead Inside Vehicle On CT Road; State, Local Police Investigating
Man Found Dead Inside Vehicle On CT Road; State, Local Police Investigating Connecticut authorities have opened an investigation after a man was found dead inside a vehicle over the weekend. Police responded to Long Meadow Road between Lake Shore Drive and South Street in Middlebury at about 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, after receiving a report of a suspicious incident, authorities said. Responders found a man dead inside the vehicle. Authorities have not released his identity or said how he ended up there.  The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. Middlebury Police and Connecticut State Police launch…

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by Josh Lanier
News
FIFA Boss Seeks Trump Backing As Kushner Deal Sparks Legal, Leadership Fight: Reports FIFA Boss Seeks Trump Backing As Kushner Deal Sparks Legal, Leadership Fight: Reports
FIFA Boss Seeks Trump Backing As Kushner Deal Sparks Legal, Leadership Fight: Reports FIFA President Gianni Infantino is apparently facing mounting pressure as reports claim he is seeking support from the Trump administration while battling legal threats and growing calls to step down over a proposed commercial restructuring. Infantino had scheduled private talks Monday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as criticism intensifies over a proposal to transfer part of FIFA's commercial business to a private venture backed by Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital, the New York Post reports, citing two people familiar with the matter. Fox News, however, later reported that a FIFA so…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
A Diet Darling May Be Working Against Healthy Aging A Diet Darling May Be Working Against Healthy Aging
A Diet Darling May Be Working Against Healthy Aging One of nutrition’s loudest messages may have the formula for a longer, healthier life flipped backward. A sweeping scientific review published in Cell Press Blue finds that eating less protein consistently extends lifespan and improves metabolic health in laboratory models, including yeast, fruit flies, and rodents. The human evidence is far thinner. No study has shown that protein restriction extends a person’s lifespan. Short-term human trials have, however, found improvements in blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, and body fat, according to the review. The findings raise a provocative qu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Starbucks Bringing Back Pumpkin Spice Latte With Several New Fall Menu Items Starbucks Bringing Back Pumpkin Spice Latte With Several New Fall Menu Items
Starbucks Bringing Back Pumpkin Spice Latte With Several New Fall Menu Items Starbucks is getting an early start on fall with the return of its most popular seasonal drink, along with a lineup of new beverages and fall foods. The coffeehouse chain announced the comeback date of the Pumpkin Spice Latte on Monday, Aug. 3. The iconic drink will be available once again on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The PSL will return alongside several new pumpkin drinks, banana bread-inspired beverages, pecan-flavored favorites, and a cider-style twist on chai. New pumpkin options include the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha.&…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Popular CT Farm Closes After 60 Years, Ending Family Tradition For Generations Popular CT Farm Closes After 60 Years, Ending Family Tradition For Generations
Popular CT Farm Closes After 60 Years, Ending Family Tradition For Generations A beloved Connecticut farm that welcomed generations of families for decades is closing after 60 years in business. Strawberry Hollow Farm in Guilford announced the decision in a Facebook post on Sunday, Aug. 2. The owners did not say what prompted the move. The post does not say when the farm will close, but Google lists it as permanently closed as of Monday.  Harvey and Diane Smith started the business in 1966. Strawberry Hollow Farm grew into a popular destination for local families and tourists, who returned each fall to pick out pumpkins and mums, shop for gifts, and make memories…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
CT Boy, 12, Fighting For His Life After Intoxicated Driver Struck E-Bike: Cops CT Boy, 12, Fighting For His Life After Intoxicated Driver Struck E-Bike: Cops
CT Boy, 12, Fighting For His Life After Intoxicated Driver Struck E-Bike: Cops A 12-year-old boy was fighting for their life after a 60-year-old man crashed into the back of their electric bike over the weekend. Police say the driver was intoxicated.  Robert Norden was arrested following the crash around 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2, near the Welchs Point Road and Midwood Road intersection in Milford, authorities said.  Investigators say Norden's black Subaru Forester was traveling north on Welchs Point Road when it hit the rear of an electric bicycle traveling in the same direction, which threw the 12-year-old rider.  Paramedics rushed him to Yal…

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Travelers Warned About Sophisticated Hotel Wi-Fi Threat Travelers Warned About Sophisticated Hotel Wi-Fi Threat
Travelers Warned About Sophisticated Hotel Wi-Fi Threat That convenient hotel internet connection may carry a hidden danger capable of turning a traveler’s device against them. Microsoft Threat Intelligence detailed the worldwide cyberattack campaign on Friday, July 31, warning travelers to treat hotel and other guest wireless networks as untrustworthy. The operation, called CaptiveCrunch, has compromised Wi-Fi networks used by hotels, conference centers, and other shared venues in several countries, according to Microsoft. Unlike familiar scams involving imitation network names, the attackers manipulate internet traffic passing through legitim…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Walmart Employee Shot During Fight In Store; Suspect On The Run: Police Walmart Employee Shot During Fight In Store; Suspect On The Run: Police
Walmart Employee Shot During Fight In Store; Suspect On The Run: Police The man accused of opening fire inside a Delaware County Walmart during an argument between two customers—striking an innocent employee—is now wanted on attempted murder and other felony charges, authorities announced. Darby Township Police identified the suspect as Armani Tyrell Waite, who is considered armed and dangerous. Investigators are urging the public not to approach him and to call 911 immediately if he is seen. The shooting happened around 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, inside the Walmart at 50 N. MacDade Blvd. in Glenolden. Darby Township officers, along with surrounding law enforcemen…

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by Jillian Pikora
Weather
Drenching Downpours Sweep Across Northeast: See Latest Storm Rainfall Projections Drenching Downpours Sweep Across Northeast: See Latest Storm Rainfall Projections
Drenching Downpours Sweep Across Northeast: See Latest Storm Rainfall Projections A potent storm is delivering another soaking to the Northeast, putting flood-weary communities and commuters on alert. Widespread rain and embedded thunderstorms will move through the region on Monday, Aug. 3, with the heaviest downpours focused along the I-95 corridor from the mid-Atlantic into southern New England. Flash flood warnings were issued early Monday in parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Flood watches were issued for additional areas as saturated soil increased the risk of rapid runoff. The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center placed a corridor f…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Popular Meteor Shower Nears Prime Viewing Window: When To Watch Popular Meteor Shower Nears Prime Viewing Window: When To Watch
Popular Meteor Shower Nears Prime Viewing Window: When To Watch One of summer’s biggest celestial shows is building toward a peak that could be particularly impressive this year. The Perseid meteor shower will reach maximum activity overnight from Wednesday, Aug. 12, into Thursday, Aug. 13, according to the American Meteor Society. The peak coincides with a new moon on that Wednesday. With the moon zero percent full, little to no lunar glare should interfere with the display. NASA considers the Perseids the best meteor shower of the year. Under favorable conditions, the shower can produce 50 to 100 meteors per hour. However, the American Meteor Societ…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Ariana Grande To Step Away From Spotlight After Final Show: Report Ariana Grande To Step Away From Spotlight After Final Show: Report
Ariana Grande To Step Away From Spotlight After Final Show: Report One of pop music's most visible stars is preparing to change how much of herself the public will see. A representative for Ariana Grande told People in an exclusive report that the singer plans to step back from public visibility after her current tour concludes. Grande, 33, is scheduled to perform the final show of her "Eternal Sunshine" tour in London on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The decision follows years of nonstop work and persistent public scrutiny of her appearance and weight. Grande has repeatedly asked fans and social media users to stop commenting on her body. She has explained that app…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Soaking Rain, Severe Storm Set To Slam Northeast: Updated Timing Soaking Rain, Severe Storm Set To Slam Northeast: Updated Timing
Soaking Rain, Severe Storm Set To Slam Northeast: Updated Timing A moisture-laden storm will soon settle over the Northeast, raising the threat of flooded roads and travel disruptions. Click here for a new, updated story -Drenching Downpours Sweep Across Northeast: See Latest Storm Rainfall Projections Monday, Aug. 3, will be the day of the main impact. Widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected along the I-95 corridor and across interior areas from Virginia to Massachusetts. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center has identified a Level 2 of 4 flash flood risk for Monday. Rainfall rates could reach 2 to 3 inches per hour i…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Full Ransom Notes Released: Savannah Guthrie Issues New Plea In Missing Mom Case Full Ransom Notes Released: Savannah Guthrie Issues New Plea In Missing Mom Case
Full Ransom Notes Released: Savannah Guthrie Issues New Plea In Missing Mom Case A family’s six-month nightmare has led to a new plea directed at the person who may hold the answer. NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie appealed for help on Saturday, Aug. 1, as her family marked six months since her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was taken from her home near Tucson, Arizona. “Six months ago, someone took her out of her bed in the dead of night. We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair ever since,” Guthrie wrote in the Instagram post. The appeal followed the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s release of two ransom notes on Fr…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Potentially Deadly Contamination Concern Triggers Nationwide Medication Recall Potentially Deadly Contamination Concern Triggers Nationwide Medication Recall
Potentially Deadly Contamination Concern Triggers Nationwide Medication Recall A medication intended to help some of the most vulnerable patients may carry a potentially deadly contamination risk. Sunny Pharmtech Inc. voluntarily recalled three lots of Cyclophosphamide for Injection, USP, nationwide on Friday, July 24. Particulate matter found in the medication was identified as steel, according to the company announcement posted on the US Food and Drug Administration website. Cyclophosphamide is administered intravenously to treat several cancers and other serious conditions. The company warned that patients receiving contaminated medication face a reasonable proba…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Popular Fast-Food Chain Offering Deep Discounts Amid Sales Slide Sparked By Parasite Outbreak Popular Fast-Food Chain Offering Deep Discounts Amid Sales Slide Sparked By Parasite Outbreak
Popular Fast-Food Chain Offering Deep Discounts Amid Sales Slide Sparked By Parasite Outbreak A fast-food heavyweight is reaching for throwback prices after a health scare sent customers heading for the exits. Taco Bell has rolled out a series of $1, lettuce-free promotions after US same-store sales fell two percent from mid-June through Monday, July 27, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, July 30. Customer visits fell by nearly 30 percent at the height of the decline in mid-July. The limited promotions included $1 Enchiritos on Wednesday, July 22, and $1 Mexican Pizzas on Tuesday, July 28. Neither item is served with lettuce. The discounts followed federal findings conn…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Netflix’s August Schedule Brings Fresh Releases, Major Farewells Netflix’s August Schedule Brings Fresh Releases, Major Farewells
Netflix’s August Schedule Brings Fresh Releases, Major Farewells Netflix is closing out summer with final adventures, dark mysteries, workplace chaos, and a deep bench of familiar favorites. The August rollout begins Saturday, Aug. 1, with a large collection of licensed movies, according to the full release calendar published by Tom’s Guide. The opening-day additions include “The Fast and the Furious,” “Fast Five,” “Furious 7,” “Clueless,” “Field of Dreams,” “Minions,” “Nightcrawler,” “Selma,” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Netflix’s first major original movie of the month arrives Friday, Aug. 7. “The Last House” stars Greta Lee and Wagner Moura as parent…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Vincent Pastore Found Dead: Beloved Actor Starred On 'The Sopranos' Vincent Pastore Found Dead: Beloved Actor Starred On 'The Sopranos'
Vincent Pastore Found Dead: Beloved Actor Starred On 'The Sopranos' A familiar face from one of television's greatest dramas has died after a career filled with tough guys, comic turns, and one unforgettable betrayal. Deadline reported on Saturday, Aug. 1, that Vincent Pastore, best known as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on HBO's "The Sopranos," was found dead at his Bronx residence. He was 80. A neighbor discovered Pastore after he had not been heard from for three days, according to Deadline. Authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. A cause of death had not been released. Pastore appeared throughout the first two seaso…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
US Water Systems Cyberattacks Expand To At Least 7 States: Federal Alert US Water Systems Cyberattacks Expand To At Least 7 States: Federal Alert
US Water Systems Cyberattacks Expand To At Least 7 States: Federal Alert A widening digital assault reportedly linked to Iran is reaching deeper into infrastructure Americans depend on every day. The FBI and Environmental Protection Agency are warning that water and wastewater utilities in at least seven states have reported cyberattacks. The incidents were reported beginning Monday, July 27, and some water operations were degraded, according to the joint FBI and EPA announcement. The attacks targeted internet-connected programmable logic controllers. The devices monitor or control pumps, pressure, wastewater equipment, and other industrial processes. Hackers …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
UPS Mysteriously Delivers $89K In Marijuana To Funeral Home UPS Mysteriously Delivers $89K In Marijuana To Funeral Home
UPS Mysteriously Delivers $89K In Marijuana To Funeral Home A routine UPS delivery turned into an unexpected drug bust after employees at a Pennsylvania funeral home opened a 27-pound package filled with marijuana and hashish that had been mistakenly delivered to one of its chapels, according to Heffner Family Services. The package arrived Friday afternoon, July 24, at Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory on Kenneth Road in West Manchester Township after UPS had unknowingly returned it to the funeral home's address, company president Ernie Heffner told Daily Voice. The strange delivery came about 10 days after accounting staff noticed an unusually…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Boy Experienced These Symptoms Before Diagnosis Of Rare Tick-Borne Illness Spreading Rapidly Boy Experienced These Symptoms Before Diagnosis Of Rare Tick-Borne Illness Spreading Rapidly
Boy Experienced These Symptoms Before Diagnosis Of Rare Tick-Borne Illness Spreading Rapidly Three cases of a rare tick-borne illness have been confirmed on Long Island, prompting a warning from health officials, multiple news outlets are reporting. Tularemia, more commonly known as rabbit fever, has been detected in three people in Suffolk County, NBC4 reports.  Tularemia is a potentially serious bacterial illness that can spread through tick or deer fly bites, contact with infected animals such as rabbits and rodents, contaminated food or water, or inhaling contaminated dust, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The most common form of…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
70 Officials Descend On 'Exorcist' Star Linda Blair's California Property 70 Officials Descend On 'Exorcist' Star Linda Blair's California Property
70 Officials Descend On 'Exorcist' Star Linda Blair's California Property An early-morning operation brought more than 70 officials to the Southern California property of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable horror stars. Authorities executed an investigative warrant at actress Linda Blair’s home on Friday, July 31, according to multiple reports. The action was not connected to suspected criminal conduct. It was a multi-agency code-enforcement inspection involving the large-dog rescue operation housed on the property. TMZ, which first reported the search, said Blair had authorization to house approximately 60 dogs. Officials found about 200 dogs on the 2.5-acre …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Food Safety Fears Are Reshaping Americans' Eating Habits: What To Know Food Safety Fears Are Reshaping Americans' Eating Habits: What To Know
Food Safety Fears Are Reshaping Americans' Eating Habits: What To Know A fast-growing parasite outbreak is no longer just changing public-health numbers. It is changing what Americans put on their plates. Four in 10 Americans are buying or eating less fresh produce because of the Cyclospora outbreak, according to a CBS News/YouGov survey released Sunday, July 26. Women were slightly more likely than men to report cutting back. Older adults were also more likely than younger people to change their habits. Those following the outbreak very closely were especially likely to say they were buying or eating less produce. A sizable share of Americans says th…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Repeat Bank Robber Headed Back To Prison After 3 Connecticut Holdups In 4 Days Repeat Bank Robber Headed Back To Prison After 3 Connecticut Holdups In 4 Days
Repeat Bank Robber Headed Back To Prison After 3 Connecticut Holdups In 4 Days A woman who spent 15 years behind bars for bank robbery will return to prison after she pleaded guilty to robbing two more Connecticut banks after her release, federal authorities said.  Heather Brown, 50, will spend the next 10 years in federal prison after robbing three banks in Waterbury and Bristol over four days in 2024, the US Attorney for the District of Connecticut said on Friday.  Brown also was ordered to pay $8,328 in restitution. Federal prosecutors said Brown robbed the Wells Fargo branch at 800 Wolcott St. in Waterbury on Feb. 6, 2024. She then robbed the Liberty Ba…

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by Josh Lanier
News
'Her Life Is In Your Hands': Chilling Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Released In Full By Sheriff 'Her Life Is In Your Hands': Chilling Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Released In Full By Sheriff
'Her Life Is In Your Hands': Chilling Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Released In Full By Sheriff Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished, investigators are betting that a stranger's words may finally break the case. Click here for a new, updated story - Savannah Guthrie Begs Public To Help Break Missing Mom Case After Ransom Notes Released CBS affiliate KOLD-TV in Tucson, Arizona, reported on Friday, July 31, that the Pima County Sheriff's Department released the contents of two emails sent by someone claiming to have abducted the 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Both communications were sent to the station's news tip account with the subject line "…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Urgent Recall Expanded For Popular Pool Toy Over Serious Injury Risks Urgent Recall Expanded For Popular Pool Toy Over Serious Injury Risks
Urgent Recall Expanded For Popular Pool Toy Over Serious Injury Risks A popular pool toy sold online for years is now part of an expanded recall because it could seriously injure children. Joyin US Corp. widened its recall to include about 404,000 Sloosh dive sticks, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, July 30. The total includes about 254,000 dive sticks recalled in June. The toys violate a federal safety ban and pose an impalement hazard, according to the CPSC. The recalled dive sticks exceed the federal compressibility limit, creating a risk that children could fall or land on them in shallow water and suffer serious piercing…

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by Chris Spiker
Police & Fire
Prostitution Sting At CT Spa Leads To New York Woman's Arrest; Investigation Continues Prostitution Sting At CT Spa Leads To New York Woman's Arrest; Investigation Continues
Prostitution Sting At CT Spa Leads To New York Woman's Arrest; Investigation Continues A New York woman is facing a prostitution charge after a police raid at a Connecticut spa that remains under investigation. Honglan Hu, 47, was arrested this week at Luxe Relaxation Spa House at 325 Albany Turnpike in Canton. Police said she was an employee of the business. Canton police, along with Simsbury officers and detectives and Connecticut State Police Bureau of Special Investigation troopers, raided the business on Wednesday.  "The search warrant execution was the culmination of an investigation alleging that solicitation and acts of prostitution were taking place at this loc…

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by Josh Lanier