Lamont, Fazio release dueling campaign proposals
Connecticut
CT sees drop in crime rate as new quarterly data analysis begins
Connecticut’s new crime data chief was introduced Tuesday with a promise of faster analysis, greater transparency — and a report showing crime fell by 14.1% in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to the same time a year ago.
“The news today is good. Most significantly, we are continuing a long-term trend of a safer state for Connecticut residents,” said Ronnell A. Higgins, the commissioner of emergency services and public protection.
The quarterly crime analysis report is a departure for the Connecticut State Police, which is part of the larger emergency services agency under Higgins’ command. The data is fresher and more granular.
“We are doing this to drive our decision making and to provide crime data to policing leaders, community stakeholders and residents so we can make more informed decisions. Previously, statewide crime statistics were provided annually and were more than one year old once they were released. We are no longer going to release old data,” Higgins said.
Eight months ago, Higgins hired Michael Mascari, an epidemiologist and data scientist, to track and identify crime trends much as epidemiologists do with diseases, informing both the public and practitioners. He has a Ph.D. in epidemiology and a master’s in public health.
“For the first time, this agency has its own data scientist, Dr. Mike Mascari,” Higgins said.
By releasing quarterly and not just annual data, a different statistical picture of crime in Connecticut emerges, one both geared to public consumption and law-enforcement officials.
“Getting the data out there to the public quarterly will provide awareness to residents in Connecticut about emerging crime trends,” Mascari said. “Providing data to law enforcement agencies quarterly will enable these agencies to adapt to emerging trends quickly.”
In the more detailed data, there is both evidence of falling and rising crime, depending on the time frame examined. For example, in both 2023 and 2024, the number of crimes slightly rose from quarter to quarter.
In 2023, reported crimes rose from 32,362 in the first quarter to 36,816 in the second and 37,740 in the third. In 2024, there were 29,887 in the first quarter, 30,092 in the second and 31,828 in the third.
“I tried to provide a lot in that graphic,” Mascari said.
Year-over-year comparisons long have been the standards for judging crime rates, but he said showing the quarter-to-quarter changes in the same year is helpful “if you are trying to get the cadence of what’s going on this year,” he said.
Overall, the year-over-year comparisons of the first three quarters of 2023 to the same period in 2024 showed drops of 3.5% in crimes against persons, 18.4% in crimes against property, and 5.1% in crimes against society. The latter includes drug, prostitution and gambling offenses.
Other offenses tracked by the department such as disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, trespass and liquor violations increased by 1.6%.
“These preliminary numbers for the first three quarters of 2024 remind us that Connecticut remains a safe state and is getting even safer. The nearly across-the-board positive numbers are certainly good news, but this is an effort that must continue,” Higgins said.
Higgins’ team was to meet Tuesday afternoon with local enforcement to review the data. He acknowledged the use of data is hardly new, especially in larger departments.
The New York Police Department has had its “compstat” system of weekly, precinct-by-precinct reviews of data since the mid-1990s, with a goal of identifying problems and allocating resources accordingly. Mascari is giving Connecticut the ability to do a deeper analysis, Higgins said.
“He’s been able to help us swim a little bit further upstream. He worked in epidemiology, public health,” Higgins said. “We want to work on prevention. If we’re starting to see a trend, we want to prevent that trend from spreading.”
Crime data and the public perception of crime do not always align, as Higgins acknowledged.
“Every single crime has a victim or set of victims attached to it, and it’s very personal,” Higgins said. “We can talk about reductions in crime statewide. We can talk about the manner in which we’re releasing crime statistics. But at the same time, if someone doesn’t feel safe, if someone is a victim of a crime, that is their reality. And we need to be as law enforcement, we need to be responsive to what the public is feeling.”
Connecticut
5 Connecticut towns to receive $2M each for infrastructure upgrades
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Five Connecticut towns will collectively receive $10 million in grants for infrastructure upgrades, according to a Monday announcement by Gov. Ned Lamont.
The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) is awarding $10.7 million to Coventry, Guilford, Ledyard, Mansfield and Thomaston to modernize and rehabilitate housing for low- and moderate-income residents, the announcement said.
The funds are being released through the DOH’s Community Development Block Grant’s small cities program, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To be eligible, a municipality must have fewer than 50,000 residents.
Cost Breakdown
Coventry: $2 million
Town of Coventry plans to use funds to upgrade, with a focus on making Orchard Hill Estates compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Guilford: $2 million
The Town of Guilford plans to use funds to design and build future affordable housing projects, consisting of up to 16 rental units and 8 homes.
Ledyard: $2 million
The Town of Canton requested funding for the first phase of affordable housing for people in Ledyard and the surrounding area. Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut is in the pre-development phase of the Colby Drive and plans to create 38 units.
Mansfield: $2.2 million
Funding will be used for upgrades to Wright’s Village, including roof replacements and sidewalk repairs.
Thomaston: $2.5 million
Funds will be used to make Green Manor ADA-compliant, including the installation of a new emergency call aid system.
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Connecticut
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Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
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Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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