Connecticut
Oxford church provides sanctuary during Sunday's damaging storm
Providing refuge during an uncertain time. A local church in Oxford was a place of shelter for people stranded during Sunday’s storm.
The pastor said providing a safe place is what they’re there for.
Sunday’s storm in Oxford was a treacherous time for drivers. That included Reverend Karen Jodice who was out at the time.
“It was a scary situation. Just wasn’t sure if I was able to get home or if I’d be safe, spending the night by the side of the road,” she said.
The heavy rain and flooding made roads impassable, causing people to seek refuge. Jodice said her phone rang with people asking if they could shelter in her church, the Oxford Congregational United Church of Christ, where she’s a pastor.
“It came out to be about 25 people plus our church members, so we opened up the church,” she said.
Jodice said the church’s location on top of a hill provided a sense of safety as Route 67 below began flooding.
“People were able to get to safety in the parking lot. We’re grateful for that,” she said.
Jodice said people huddled inside the church with members providing coffee and snacks as they waited. A few hours later, some people were able to make their way home.
“That’s what the church is for. To help people in times of need and there’s been a lot of that and a lot of people helping,” she said.
Jodice said her church is speaking with other community members on how to help with the town’s recovery.
“Either through financial resources or finding ways for people to donate actual physical goods or money,” she said.
The church is also offering up their parking lot to any nearby businesses who may need the space with lots just across the street damaged or swept away during the storm.
Connecticut
Serious crash in downtown Stamford causes road closure
A serious car crash closed a busy road in downtown Stamford on Monday night.
The police department said Washington Boulevard is closed at the intersection with Bridge Street because of a serious crash.
Drivers are being asked to stay away from the area.
No additional information was immediately available.
Connecticut
Immigration advocates vow to fight Trump deportation plans
Immigration advocates say they’ve already been preparing for President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to ramp up deportations once he returns to the White House.
“We anticipate that they’re going to be very quick, very rapid, very massive efforts to grab as many people as possible and deport them,” National Immigration Law Center President Kica Matos said during a rally outside the Capitol on Monday.
Matos said hers and other organizations began considering possible actions earlier this year in case Trump won.
Now, Trump is promising to deliver on his campaign pledge, taking to his Truth Social platform earlier in the morning to confirm he plans to declare a national emergency.
He also intends to try and use the military to support his deportation effort, his post confirmed.
Advocates said they’re trying to assume undocumented immigrants in Connecticut that their organizations will offer support.
“If families have to be separated, it defeats the point completely because people are trying to get to the United States to be with their families,” said Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of CT Students For a Dream.
Sookdeo said her family came from Guyana when she was a teenager and her grandmother, who was a U.S. citizen, was trying to help them also get permanent legal status.
Her grandmother died during the process, though, leaving Sookdeo’s family in limbo.
“Immigration is pretty complicated,” she said.
Democrats, meanwhile, said they won’t support federal deportation efforts.
Attorney General William Tong (D) pointed to the state’s Trust Act, which bars local and state agencies from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“Connecticut is going to care for our immigrant families and immigrant neighbors and friends,” Tong said.
There are some exceptions, including when an undocumented immigrant is convicted of a Class A or Class B felony. Tong wouldn’t say if that means Connecticut has to notify federal authorities of such a conviction.
“I’m not going to issue a legal opinion on the fly from this podium,” Tong said.
Connecticut Republicans were critical of Democrats, though, saying their policies don’t reflect what voters want.
Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-Minority Leader) said Connecticut spends too much money supporting undocumented immigrants, including with Medicaid, education and other assistance.
He also said voters are worried about public safety.
“It’s really out of step, I think, with what the residents and America wants, and that is, you know, safe borders, public safety and we have to get the cost of immigration under control,” Candelora said.
Connecticut
$25,000 Winning Lottery Ticket Claimed By Bridgeport Resident
BRIDGEPORT, CT — An unnamed Bridgeport resident is $25,000 richer this week after claiming a winning lottery ticket purchased in Norwalk, the Connecticut Lottery announced.
On Wednesday, the person claimed a winning 200X ticket that was bought at East Avenue Citgo on East Avenue.
The Connecticut Lottery publishes partial winner information as public record, according to officials.
The game, which costs $20 per ticket, began in February, and as of Monday, one grand prize of $1 million remained unclaimed.
More than 2.5 million game tickets have been printed, and the overall odds of winning are 1 in 3.21.
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