Connecticut
‘Changed everything:’ Double knee replacement transforms quality of life for Connecticut woman
MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A Connecticut woman dealt with debilitating knee pain for years before she said she found a surgeon who listened to her needs and successfully replaced both of her joints.
“I was totally incapacitated,” Gail Rogers Hopkins told News 8.
Going up and down stairs was impossible for her just a couple of years ago.
“I could hardly move because the pain was just that excruciating,” she explained.
Before the pain consumed her, however, she shared her knees just weren’t her top priority.
“You just push it away because there’s kids to take care of and husbands to take care of and houses and work,” she said.
Rogers Hopkins tried all sorts of remedies like cortisone and CBD before exploring surgery.
“Finding the right doctor was key. I fired four orthopedists before I got to Dr. Lahav, because they, because of my weight, they did not want to do the surgery, and they dismissed me.”
The “right” doctor, she said, is orthopedic surgeon Dr. Amit Lahav at Bridgeport Hospital’s Milford Campus.
“Somebody was actually listening to me and that’s, you know, that was the start of it and so I did everything I was told,” Rogers Hopkins explained while fighting back tears.
Lahav helped her develop a weight loss plan in preparation for surgery. Her first knee was replaced in April and the second in June of last year.
Just about a year later, she said, “I didn’t feel like I had a life prior to this, you know, having the surgery done was just incredible, it just has changed everything.”
Lahav is familiar with Rogers Hopkins’ path to surgery, saying, “functional impairments or mechanical symptoms such as arthritis sometimes takes a backseat.”
While he doesn’t discount a hip or knee replacement being major surgery, he added, “a lot of the total joint replacement you do now are same day, you go home, same day, you’re walking just a couple of hours after surgery, full weight-bearing.”
Lahav also emphasizes that recovery isn’t one size fits all.
“It’s a new joint, it does take some work on there, but if you get that work done earlier on and you maximize where you can get, especially over the first few weeks, you can be walking into my office at two weeks saying, I already feel a difference,” Lahav said.
To those struggling with pain like Rogers Hopkins’, she said, “don’t give up.”
She wants others to know, “it was worth the wait.”
Lahav said consider all your options for joint pain, both surgical and non-surgical. If surgery is the option you choose, make sure you understand the process from prep to post-surgery and prioritize quality communication with your medical team.
Connecticut
Meriden police shoot suspect in fatal baseball bat attack
Meriden police say an investigation is ongoing after a shooting occurred at a home on Sagamore Road Sunday morning.
At around 10 a.m. on Sunday, police say they received reports of an active domestic violence situation involving some type of weapon.
Upon arrival to the scene, officers observed a male violently striking a victim to the head with a baseball bat. The victim sustained severe injuries and was pronounced dead.
During the encounter with the suspect, an officer involved shooting occurred.
The suspect sustained injuries from the gunfire and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The officer was also transported to the hospital for examination and has since been released.
In a press release, Meriden Police Chief Roberto Rosado wanted to remind the public that, “Officers are often sent on calls not knowing what is actually occurring until they arrive. This is a unique case that reminds us that the dangers of Police work is real.”
This is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.
The Office of the Inspector General and the Connecticut State Police are investigating this case. The Meriden Police Department is committed to assisting and working to help the investigation.
Connecticut
Where to watch Connecticut Sun vs Phoenix Mercury on July 19: TV channel, start time and streaming
The WNBA has returned with a brand new collective bargaining agreement and a league full of loaded rosters as the 2026 season tips off.
A rookie class headlined by Dallas Wings top pick Azzi Fudd, Minnesota’s Olivia Miles and Washington’s Lauren Betts is ready to make a mark in the pros while the defending champion Las Vegas Aces look to keep their dynasty alive with a fourth title in five years.
As the the season gets going under a new media rights deal, it can be tough to figure out which channel each team is playing on every night. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in when the Phoenix Mercury host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
What time is Connecticut Sun vs Phoenix Mercury?
Tip off between the Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 19.
How to watch Connecticut Sun vs Phoenix Mercury on Sunday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 6:08 a.m.
- Matchup: CON at PHO
- Date: Sunday, July 19
- Time: 7 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Mortgage Matchup Center
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN
Watch the WNBA all season on Fubo
WNBA scores and results
See scores, results for all of today’s games .
See WNBA scores, results from July 18
Odds for WNBA games today
The latest WNBA odds can be found below from the best sports betting apps . Some odds may include games scheduled on future dates.
Connecticut
Connecticut woman charged with sexual coercion of 13-year-old Long Island boy
A Connecticut woman allegedly coerced a 13-year-old Long Island boy to send her a sexually explicit video of himself and later picked up the boy and brought him to her home where she attempted to engage in sexual activity, according federal prosecutors.
Amily Colon, 31, was arrested Friday on a federal criminal complaint for alleged sexual coercion of a minor she met online, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Connecticut announced.
Colon, who identified herself as “Alice,” was ordered detained Friday after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford, Connecticut.
The defendant allegedly communicated with the boy through the Discord app and prosecutors said the conversations became sexually explicit. Colon allegedly sent sexually explicit images and videos of herself to the victim.
On June 26, Colon traveled to Long Island, picked up the boy and brought him to her Wethersfield, Connecticut, home. She brought him back to Long Island the next day and dropped him off a few blocks from his home, prosecutors said. Colon denied any sexual acts occurred, according to a motion for detention pending trial.
A criminal complaint outlining the allegations remained sealed as of Saturday morning, according to federal court records. Colon was represented at Friday’s court appearance by a public defender who could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday. The records did not indicate whether Colon entered a plea.
The FBI located social media posts and journal entries “that raise significant concerns regarding the danger she poses to the community and children in particular,” according to the motion.
Colon allegedly admitted owning the Discord account and communicating with the victim as well as picking him up in New York. She also allegedly admitted to prosecutors that she engaged with other minors online between 13 and 16 years old and that law enforcement would find child pornography on her cellphone, according to the motion.
Colon faces charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity. She faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, according to federal prosecutors.
Suffolk County police assisted in the investigation along with the FBI’s child exploitation task force’s in New Haven and Long Island as well as the Wethersfield Police Department.
Suffolk police deferred any questions on the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and could not comment on whether the boy had been reported missing while in Connecticut.
Discord, a communications platform with video, voice and text capabilities, states it has “zero-tolerance policy for child sexual abuse material” and the company in 2023 announced it developed new software to detect illicit material.
It’s unclear whether the company alerted law enforcement in this case.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for July 31.
Cases of child exploitation can be reported to cybertipline.com. And for information on Project Safe Childhood, which aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, visit justice.gov/psc.
-
Pittsburg, PA3 minutes agoGuardians Drop Pittsburgh Series
-
Augusta, GA9 minutes agoCrash under investigation near Augusta Road in Aiken County
-
Washington, D.C15 minutes agoWeek Ahead in Washington: July 19
-
Cleveland, OH21 minutes ago
The next generation of environmental scientists
-
Austin, TX27 minutes agoJames Talarico challenges Ken Paxton to 3 televised Texas Senate debates
-
Alabama33 minutes agoPurchase pending at 723 Pineville Road in Atmore, Alabama re…
-
Alaska39 minutes agoWith industry wary of Arctic refuge, Alaska’s own government plans a lonely quest for oil
-
Arizona45 minutes agoArizona STEM education grants: SRP opens registration for free teacher workshops
