Harvard Agrees To Pay $53M To Families After Body Parts Stolen From Morgue Were Sold Harvard Agrees To Pay $53M To Families After Body Parts Stolen From Morgue Were Sold
Harvard Agrees To Pay $53M To Families After Body Parts Stolen From Morgue Were Sold Harvard has agreed to pay $53 million to settle lawsuits brought by families who fear their loved ones’ remains were stolen from the medical school’s morgue and sold for cash.  The university announced the settlement on Monday, Aug. 17. A Suffolk Superior Court judge granted preliminary approval, and a final approval is set for December. Federal prosecutors said former Harvard morgue manager Cedric Lodge sold stolen human remains across state lines. Investigators said Lodge secretly removed organs, skin, hands, faces, dissected heads, and other parts from donated bodies.  He…
These Are Connecticut's Best High Schools According To U.S. News & World Report Ranking These Are Connecticut's Best High Schools According To U.S. News & World Report Ranking
These Are Connecticut's Best High Schools According To U.S. News & World Report Ranking No Connecticut high school cracked the nation’s top 100 in a new nationwide ranking, but schools across the state still earned some of the country’s highest marks. U.S. News & World Report released its 2026-27 Best High Schools Rankings on Tuesday, Aug. 18, which ranked 27,000 schools across all 50 states. Its rankings used six measures: College-level exams, advanced course options, state test results, performance among underserved students, and graduation rates. The report placed 85 Connecticut schools in the top 25 percent nationwide. Another 19 joined them in the top 10 per…
Former Fauci Adviser Admits Hiding COVID-Era Communications From Public View: Feds Former Fauci Adviser Admits Hiding COVID-Era Communications From Public View: Feds
Former Fauci Adviser Admits Hiding Covid-era Communications From Public View: Feds David Morens spent years advising one of the biggest names in America's COVID-19 response. Now the Maryland man has admitted conspiring to keep some of his pandemic-era communications out of public view. Morens, 78, of Chester, pleaded guilty in federal court in Greenbelt on Tuesday, Aug. 18, to conspiracy to commit offenses and defraud the United States, months after the former senior National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases official was indicted in the scheme. Morens served as a senior adviser in NIAID's Office of the Director from 2006 through 2022 and was an adviser to Dr.…
Hayden Panettiere's Mom Makes Stunning Claim About Boyfriend After Actress's Death: Report Hayden Panettiere's Mom Makes Stunning Claim About Boyfriend After Actress's Death: Report
Hayden Panettiere's Mom Makes Stunning Claim About Boyfriend After Actress's Death: Report Hayden Panettiere's mother has released a statement to NBC News following her daughter's death, revealing how she felt about Panettiere's boyfriend. The 36-year-old former child actress had apparently rekindled her relationship with Brian Hickerson, according to NBC News. In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, called Hickerson "a person in her life we have been trying to get rid of." Panettiere was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest after a 911 call brought first responders to a Greenville, SC home on Aug. 16. The word "overdose" can be heard duri…
Basketball Coach Stabbed Dead; Flock Cameras Help Track Boyfriend Across State Lines: Police Basketball Coach Stabbed Dead; Flock Cameras Help Track Boyfriend Across State Lines: Police
Basketball Coach Stabbed Dead; Flock Cameras Help Track Boyfriend Across State Lines: Police A teacher and basketball coach was found stabbed to death inside her North Carolina home, sparking an interstate search aided by Flock cameras that ended with her boyfriend's capture at a Pennsylvania mall, authorities announced on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Sheremy Gwenette Dillard, 57, was found dead at 2201 Whistling Straits Way in Raleigh on Thursday, Aug. 13, according to the Raleigh Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the home around 12:18 p.m. after family members reported they had not heard from Dillard and told police she lived there with her boyfriend, Rickey Andra Harper. Offi…
Saint Statue Beheaded, Services Disrupted As Police Probe Vandalism At Multiple CT Churches Saint Statue Beheaded, Services Disrupted As Police Probe Vandalism At Multiple CT Churches
Saint Statue Beheaded, Services Disrupted As Police Probe Vandalism At Multiple CT Churches A Connecticut man was arrested after authorities said he interfered with an investigation into vandalism at four Fairfield County churches. The first incident was reported on Sunday, Aug. 9, after parishioners at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fairfield found the head of a St. Therese statue on the ground beside the statue, News 12 first reported. Someone also smashed candles at St. Margaret Shrine in Bridgeport.  Authorities said Joseph Forte, 66, of Bridgeport, was arrested on Friday, Aug. 14, on a misdemeanor summons for interfering with an investigation. Police say …
Unlimited Pizza Pass Offered By Popular Chain: How To Buy One Unlimited Pizza Pass Offered By Popular Chain: How To Buy One
Unlimited Pizza Pass Offered By Popular Chain: How To Buy One Uno Pizzeria & Grill is rolling out a new unlimited pizza promotion this fall, including a $99 pass that can be used once a day for 10 weeks. The restaurant chain announced its first-ever "Pizza Pass" on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The pass includes unlimited servings of deep-dish pizzas, house or Caesar salads, and Pepsi soft drinks at participating locations from Saturday, Sept. 5, through Friday, Nov. 13. Only 1,000 passes will be available nationwide. Sales begin at 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Aug. 20, at mypizzapass.com. Pass holders can visit a participating Uno restaurant once per day during …
CT Man Accused Of Driving Drunk With Child In Car For 2nd Time In 3 Years, Police Say CT Man Accused Of Driving Drunk With Child In Car For 2nd Time In 3 Years, Police Say
CT Man Accused Of Driving Drunk With Child In Car For 2nd Time In 3 Years, Police Say A Connecticut man previously arrested on an impaired-driving charge with his young son in the car now faces a second such case, police said. Cirino Castillo-Lopez, 45, of Norwalk, was arrested in Wilton at about 5:39 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, after an officer saw his vehicle swerving within its lane on Danbury Road near Old Highway, police said. During the traffic stop, Castillo-Lopez showed signs of impairment and failed roadside field sobriety tests, according to Wilton Police. Police charged him with: Risk of injury to a child Operating under the influence with a child passenger, second…
UConn Business School Grad Dies At 28 Months Before Becoming First-Time Dad UConn Business School Grad Dies At 28 Months Before Becoming First-Time Dad
UConn Business School Grad Dies At 28 Months Before Becoming First-Time Dad Michael Handlmaier was supposed to be getting ready to become a dad. Instead, loved ones in Maryland are preparing to say goodbye to the 28-year-old newlywed, who died on Saturday, Aug. 15, following what his mother described as a sudden cardiac arrest. Handlmaier and his wife, Amanda, had been married for just five months and were preparing to welcome their first child, a baby girl, in November, according to his obituary and a GoFundMe campaign created for the family. "It is with a broken heart that we share the news that our beloved son, Michael, passed away at the age of 28 following a …
2 People Beaten To Death Before Killer Set House On Fire, Only To Die In Blaze: Police 2 People Beaten To Death Before Killer Set House On Fire, Only To Die In Blaze: Police
2 People Beaten To Death Before Killer Set House On Fire, Only To Die In Blaze: Police Two people were beaten to death before their killer intentionally set a house on fire — only to die in the blaze, police announced on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The deadly fire at 508 Morgan Drive in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was not accidental, forensic evidence revealed during what Lower Swatara Township Police called an "exhaustive investigation." Two of the victims suffered severe blunt-force trauma at the hands of the third person before that individual intentionally set the fire inside the house, according to Lower Swatara Township police. The person who set the fire then died of fire-rel…
Woman Gets Manslaughter Charge In 2025 Wreck That Killed CT Man, Cops Say Woman Gets Manslaughter Charge In 2025 Wreck That Killed CT Man, Cops Say
Woman Gets Manslaughter Charge In 2025 Wreck That Killed CT Man, Cops Say A woman has been indicted on a manslaughter charge more than a year and a half after a crash on I-684 in Putnam County left a Connecticut man dead, police announced.  Mount Vernon resident Makayla S. McIntyre was arrested on Monday, Aug. 17, in connection with the January 2025 crash in the town of Southeast that killed 65-year-old New Milford resident Michael T. Keller, New York State Police said on Tuesday, Aug. 18.  The crash happened around 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, when McIntyre, who was 23 at the time, lost control of her vehicle while traveling north on I-684,…
Crucial Part Can Break Off While Driving, Prompting Huge Toyota Recall Crucial Part Can Break Off While Driving, Prompting Huge Toyota Recall
Crucial Part Can Break Off While Driving, Prompting Huge Toyota Recall Nearly 50,000 Toyota trucks are being recalled because part of the shock absorbers can corrode and detach while driving. Toyota is recalling 48,280 Tacoma pickups in the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report filed on Thursday, Aug. 6. The recall includes 2024 and 2025 Tacomas, along with 2024 Tacoma Hybrids. The front and rear shock absorbers have an external oil reservoir attached with a welded metal flange. Moisture can get between untreated metal surfaces, causing corrosion that can build up and put pressure on the welds. The reservoir can break of…
‘Vinny Is Special’: CT Boy, 11, Diagnosed With Rare Brain Tumor As Community Rallies For Family ‘Vinny Is Special’: CT Boy, 11, Diagnosed With Rare Brain Tumor As Community Rallies For Family
‘Vinny Is Special’: CT Boy, 11, Diagnosed With Rare Brain Tumor As Community Rallies For Family An 11-year-old Connecticut boy is facing a serious fight, and supporters are stepping up to help his family carry the load. Vinny Vachovetz, of Danbury, was recently diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma with an H3 K27M mutation. According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the rare, highly aggressive Grade 4 tumor forms in the brain or spinal cord and currently has no cure. Loved ones say Vinny is a fighter. His family is not giving up, and the Connecticut community that has rallied around them also stands strong with them.  A GoFundMe created to help his family with medical b…
Smoke On Plane From Cockpit Forces Emergency Landing (PHOTOS) Smoke On Plane From Cockpit Forces Emergency Landing (PHOTOS)
Smoke On Plane From Cockpit Forces Emergency Landing (Photos) Smoke reported inside a plane traveling from Virginia to New York forced an emergency landing in Pennsylvania Monday night, officials said. The American Eagle flight was traveling from Arlington, Virginia, to Albany, New York, when it diverted to Harrisburg International Airport after smoke was reported inside the cabin on Monday, Aug. 17, according to an airport spokesperson. Emergency crews were dispatched to HIA for an Alert 2 around 9:35 p.m., according to dispatch and airport officials. The aircraft landed safely around 9:45 p.m. and stopped near the end of the runway, officials said.…
Penn State Cocaine Ring Leader From NY Surrenders: AG Penn State Cocaine Ring Leader From NY Surrenders: AG
Penn State Cocaine Ring Leader From NY Surrenders: AG The accused leader of a cocaine trafficking operation tied to Penn State students and two fraternity houses is now behind bars after failing to appear in court a day earlier, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury (previously of Carle Place), New York, surrendered Tuesday morning and had his preliminary arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, according to the Attorney General's Office. Gillette-Walker denied him bail. Abbatiello had failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment on Monday, …
Explosion Rocks CT Road After Car Crashes, Bursts Into Flames Explosion Rocks CT Road After Car Crashes, Bursts Into Flames
Explosion Rocks CT Road After Car Crashes, Bursts Into Flames A loud explosion startled the area as firefighters rushed toward a burning car.  Crews responded to the 200 block of Old Jewett City Road in Preston shortly before midnight on Friday, Aug. 14, the town's fire department said in a Facebook post.  Crews heard the explosion as they raced to the scene. The car was sitting off the road, flames roaring from the windows.  Crews pulled a handline and quickly put out the fire. The driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Fire officials said items inside the vehicle caused the explosion but did not disclose what it was.&n…
Major Airline Adding Seatback Screens, Expanding Premium Seats In Massive Overhaul Major Airline Adding Seatback Screens, Expanding Premium Seats In Massive Overhaul
Major Airline Adding Seatback Screens, Expanding Premium Seats In Massive Overhaul American Airlines is bringing back seatback screens while adding more first class and premium seats. The airline will install 4K screens at every seat on new Airbus and Boeing planes beginning in 2028, American announced in a news release on Tuesday, Aug. 18. Existing planes will also be retrofitted, with the rollout expected to be completed across the fleet in the early 2030s. The new screens will feature Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones and earbuds, USB-C fast charging, and access to a range of entertainment options. "We're making one of the most significant inves…
Salary It Takes To Live Comfortably In CT Revealed Salary It Takes To Live Comfortably In CT Revealed
Salary It Takes To Live Comfortably In CT Revealed A six-figure paycheck is no longer a guaranteed ticket to financial breathing room. A new SmartAsset study calculates the annual, pre-tax income a single adult and a family of four need to live comfortably in every state. The analysis used data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator for a single adult with no children and for a household with two working adults and two children. SmartAsset applied the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, treating basic costs such as housing, groceries, and transportation as 50 percent of a household budget. The formula reserves 30 percent for discretionary spending and 2…
HS Grad Applies For 200+ Scholarships To Make Ivy League Education Affordable HS Grad Applies For 200+ Scholarships To Make Ivy League Education Affordable
HS Grad Applies For 200+ Scholarships To Make Ivy League Education Affordable A Florida high school graduate is Ivy League-bound after applying for more than 200 scholarships to make her college education more affordable. Adeola Adeyemo said she was awarded about 40 scholarships to help her attend Princeton University, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported. She recently graduated from Armwood High School, about 12 miles west of Tampa. Adeyemo spent months applying for outside scholarships, including between classes, at lunch, or while hanging out with her friends. "Price was my number one constraint, period," she said. "When you're picking colleges, they tell you t…
Connecticut Hockey Coach Dies In Crash, Leaving Wife, 2 Young Sons And Lasting Legacy Connecticut Hockey Coach Dies In Crash, Leaving Wife, 2 Young Sons And Lasting Legacy
Connecticut Hockey Coach Dies In Crash, Leaving Wife, 2 Young Sons And Lasting Legacy A Connecticut boarding school hockey coach who died in a New Hampshire motorcycle crash last week leaves behind a wife, two young children, and a host of former players he helped shape on and off the ice. Andrey Uryadov of New Milford died after his motorcycle struck a tree on Bear Notch Road in Albany, New Hampshire, on Friday, Aug. 14. He died at the scene, police said. He was 40. Investigators believe speed played a role in the crash, according to WMUR. Uryadov had coached boys hockey at Canterbury School in New Milford since 2025, according to a school memorial. He was also a husband a…
Hayden Panettiere's Ex Speaks Out After Her Tragic Death Hayden Panettiere's Ex Speaks Out After Her Tragic Death
Hayden Panettiere's Ex Speaks Out After Her Tragic Death Wladimir Klitschko, the ex-fiancé of Hayden Panettiere, made his first public comments since the actress' tragic death. "Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief," Klitschko, a former champion boxer, wrote on social media. "The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives." Panettiere, a Rockland County native, known for her…
1 Dead, 1 Detained Following Shooting In CT; State Police Investigating 1 Dead, 1 Detained Following Shooting In CT; State Police Investigating
1 Dead, 1 Detained Following Shooting In CT; State Police Investigating One person is dead, and another has been detained after an early-morning incident in Connecticut. Troopers responded to a home on South Road in Somers at about 4 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, after someone reported suspicious activity. Officers found a person suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The person died at the scene. State Police did not identify them.  Police also found a second person there. Investigators detained that individual while they work to learn what happened. Authorities stressed that there was no ongoing threat to the community.  The Eastern District…
Possible Health Risk Triggers Recall Of Grocery Staple Sold At Walmart Possible Health Risk Triggers Recall Of Grocery Staple Sold At Walmart
Possible Health Risk Triggers Recall Of Grocery Staple Sold At Walmart A refrigerated grocery item sold exclusively at a major retailer is being pulled after routine testing raised a serious food-safety concern. Kettle Cuisine LLC of Savage, Maryland, is recalling 3,240 packages of Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kit because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to a company announcement posted on the Food and Drug Administration website. The 14-ounce soup kits were sold only at select Walmart stores. The affected packages bear UPC 194346474004 and a use-by date of Saturday, Aug. 22. The product comes in a wrapped tray containing tomat…
New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate
New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate A new website is helping drivers see whether their license plate has been searched in Flock Safety's controversial surveillance system. HaveIBeenFlocked.com says it has compiled data on nearly 242 million unique searches involving more than 4.6 million plates. The records range between December 2021 and July 2026. According to the website, the data comes from audit logs released through Freedom of Information Act requests and Flock-provided transparency portals. "The dataset is incomplete," the website says on its FAQ page. "Few governments provide easy access to these …
Endless Shrimp Returns To Red Lobster After Successful Comeback Endless Shrimp Returns To Red Lobster After Successful Comeback
Endless Shrimp Returns To Red Lobster After Successful Comeback Red Lobster is bringing back one of its most popular promotions after its post-bankruptcy comeback was a success. The Orlando, Florida-based seafood chain announced the limited-time return of Endless Shrimp in a news release on Monday, Aug. 17. The dine-in-only promotion at participating locations features five shrimp options that guests can mix and match throughout the meal. CEO Damola Adamolekun said the promotion's return exceeded Red Lobster's expectations. "Our guests were thrilled to have Endless Shrimp back this spring and made it clear they wanted more — so we listen…
Short Daily Routine Can Drastically Cut Cancer Risk, New Study Reveals Short Daily Routine Can Drastically Cut Cancer Risk, New Study Reveals
Short Daily Routine Can Drastically Cut Cancer Risk, New Study Reveals A potentially protective health habit may require less time than brewing coffee or scrolling through a few social media posts. Adding just three minutes of vigorous physical activity each day was associated with a four percent lower risk of developing 13 cancers linked to inactivity, according to a study published in BMC Medicine in July. Vigorous activity can include brief bursts of fast stair climbing, running, cycling, or other activities that sharply raise heart rate. Researchers analyzed data from 59,218 UK adults who wore wrist activity monitors for seven days. Participants were, on …
Krispy Kreme's Newest Doughnuts Celebrate 30 Years Of Pokémon: How To Catch 'Em All Krispy Kreme's Newest Doughnuts Celebrate 30 Years Of Pokémon: How To Catch 'Em All
Krispy Kreme's Newest Doughnuts Celebrate 30 Years Of Pokémon: How To Catch 'Em All Krispy Kreme, I choose you! The popular chain officially launched its Pokémon Doughnut Collection on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The treats celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Japanese video game franchise that rapidly became a global phenomenon. The lineup includes five Pokémon-inspired doughnuts, along with a Poké Ball treat. "We had so much fun bringing the world of Pokémon to life through doughnuts in a way only Krispy Kreme can," said chief brand and product officer Alison Holder. "From Pokémon-inspired creations and playful flavors to themed cups, special packaging, and fan surprises, t…
$2K Federal Government Tariff Dividend Checks Headed For You? What's True, What's Not $2K Federal Government Tariff Dividend Checks Headed For You? What's True, What's Not
$2K Federal Government Tariff Dividend Checks Headed For You? What's True, What's Not A widely shared promise of money back from Washington is generating fresh questions about who qualifies and when payments could arrive. The short answer is that the federal government has not approved general $2,000 tariff dividend checks for consumers. President Donald Trump promoted the idea of using tariff revenue to provide payments to many Americans. However, the proposal would require federal action before money could be distributed, according to CNBC Select. A separate proposal, the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, would provide individual rebates using tariff proceeds. The measu…
These Airlines, Airports Offer Best Deals For Travelers: New Rankings These Airlines, Airports Offer Best Deals For Travelers: New Rankings
These Airlines, Airports Offer Best Deals For Travelers: New Rankings With airfares climbing throughout 2026, a new ranking reveals which airports and airlines are offering travelers the best flight deals. Travel app Going released its 2026 list of Top Airports and Airlines for Flight Deals on Monday, Aug. 17. The company analyzed more than 45,000 routes and deals sent to members from July 2025 through June 2026. Going said its airport rankings were based on average price, deal savings, and how often deals appeared. "A single cheap fare doesn't tell the whole story," Going flight expert Willis Orlando said. "With most travel headlines featuring affordab…
CT Man Pleads Guilty In Years-Long Child Sex Abuse, Trafficking Case: State CT Man Pleads Guilty In Years-Long Child Sex Abuse, Trafficking Case: State
CT Man Pleads Guilty In Years-Long Child Sex Abuse, Trafficking Case: State A Connecticut man has admitted to sexually abusing a child and later forcing her to perform sexual acts with another man, prosecutors said. Steven Lemieux, 45, of Vernon, pleaded guilty Friday, Aug. 14, to first-degree sexual assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree sexual assault, and trafficking in persons, the state Division of Criminal Justice announced Monday. A judge is set to sentence him on October 23.  Vernon police found that the abuse began in 2012, when the victim was 7 years old. Lemieux and a co-defendant repeatedly assaulted the child while she slept, investigators sai…
Danbury Police Call Claims Officers Are Working With ICE ‘Reckless’ Danbury Police Call Claims Officers Are Working With ICE ‘Reckless’
Danbury Police Call Claims Officers Are Working With ICE ‘Reckless’ Danbury Police say a social media post claiming the department is working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents is false and "reckless." The department addressed the posts over the weekend in a Facebook post.  "Within the past few hours, the Danbury Police Department learned of a recent social media post by a group known as “Danbury al dia,” shared by others, claiming that the Danbury Police Department is working in coordination with Federal ICE agents. The post says we allowed ICE to come to our headquarters and shared information in an effort to help them identify undocumen…