Connecticut
State senators to introduce bill banning facial recognition technology in Connecticut retail stores
State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, along with fellow Sen. James Maroney, say they will be introducing a bill to ban the use of facial recognition software in Connecticut retail stores next month, when the 2026 legislative session begins.
While both Stop & Shop and Stew Leonard’s tell News 12 they do not use the technology, the ShopRite on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk does, with a sign next to the entrance.
“I don’t like it, it’s invading my privacy,” said Agapi Theodoridou, a shopper there, “I don’t trust them.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for ShopRite’s parent company notes that security cameras have been used for years in retail stores, and “today, advances in technology — including biometrics — allow retailers to better identify organized retail crime and repeat offenders in stores, helping security respond more quickly and effectively to threats.”
“I understand sometimes their need for it and whatever, as long as its not used improperly,” said Gene Cronin, another ShopRite customer.
Meanwhile, Wegmans tells News 12 that it uses facial recognition at some locations that have what the company calls “an elevated risk.”
But while their stores in New York City with the cameras have signs, which are required by law there, Wegmans would not answer whether or not it was also being used at the Norwalk location, with a spokesperson saying “for security and safety purposes, we do not get into the specific measures used at each store.”
“At least they should say so people have the opportunity, so people have the opportunity to react accordingly,” responded Robert Luzzi, a Wegmans shopper.
“Nobody signed up for a facial scan when they go to buy milk and eggs at the store, so we need to have disclosure,” agreed Duff. “Security is one thing, and I totally understand that, and the other issue is more of a personal privacy issue, and that’s what we’re trying to concentrate on.”
Duff says when it comes to facial recognition, there are too many unregulated issues and questions right now, explaining “We don’t know who owns the data, how long it’s being stored for, is it sold to a third party? Is that being used – this information to do dynamic pricing – I pay one price, you pay a different price?”
As far as ShopRite is concerned, the spokesperson tells News 12 that the technology is only used for security, and while the data may be shared with law enforcement if there is a crime, it is also “regularly” deleted, and never sold.
Wegmans also says that at the stores where facial recognition is used, the data is not shared with third parties.
“We’re going to have public hearings, we’re going to seek input from experts, we’re going to seek input from retailers, we’re going to seek input from customers,” said Duff. “If there’s other ways in which we can move forward together, then we’ll be talking about that, and hopefully we’ll be coming up with a workable compromise.”
New Haven police say two people were shot at a restaurant on Grand Avenue Saturday evening.
One of the victims was a 22-year-old male from East Haven who was shot in the leg and was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment.
According to police, the second victim was a 17-year-old male and arrived shortly after.
While on scene, police confirmed one of the possible shooters was still inside the restaurant.
According to police, the victims were both inside the restaurant when the teen was approached by Naguea Bratton and another suspect.
They say a fight occurred which resulted in both victims being shot.
Police detained Bratton who was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, two counts of illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine and larceny of a motor vehicle.
Bratton is being held on a $200,000 bond.
Both victims have non-life-threatening injuries police say.
They say additional arrests are expected to be completed by warrant.
Connecticut
27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament
Over the weekend, the two-day CIAC State Open wrestling championships took place at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, Connecticut.
Twenty-seven wrestlers (14 boys, 13 girls) were named champions in their respective weight classes, displaying intense wrestling featuring the best wrestlers across the state.
Championship bouts started around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday and lasted about two hours.
Below are the results from both the boys’ and girls’ state open championships.
106 lbs.: Xavier’s Josh Perez def. Stafford’s John Bean 17-2 (technical fall)
113 lbs.: Ridgefield’s Cole Desiano def. Suffield/Windsor Locks’ Peter Annis 8-0 (decision)
120 lbs.: Xavier’s Zack Dixon def. Somers’ Will Acorsi 12-0 (majority decision)
126 lbs.: Windham’s Delmazio Despard def. Xavier’s Alexander Depratti 4-3 (decision)
132 lbs.: Fairfield Warde’s Jude Grammatico def. Xavier’s Zaphyr Musshorn 2-1 (decision)
138 lbs.: Ledyard’s Lukas Boxley def. Terryville’s Ethan Bochman Rodriguez (pin)
144 lbs.: Xavier’s Braylon Gonzalez def. Ridgefield’s John Carrozza 3-1 (decision)
150 lbs.: Bristol Central’s Alex Lamarre def. Middletown’s Isaiah McDaniel 1-0 (decision)
157 lbs.: Newtown’s Antonio Arguello def. Notre Dame-West Haven’s Riley Storozuk 8-4 (decision)
165 lbs.: Gilbert/Torrington/Wolcott def. Trumbull’s Hubert Szymko 2-0 (decision)
175 lbs.: Xavier’s Vincent Rivera def. Fairfield Prep’s Jack Lilly 14-10 (decision)
190 lbs.: Xavier’s Chase Catalano def. Fairfield Warde’s Dylan O’Brien 2-1 (decision)
215 lbs.: Lyme-Old Lyme’s Taiyo Gemme def. Staples’ Julian Rousseau (pin)
285 lbs.: Shelton’s Chase Galke def. Ellington’s Jacob Palermo 3-0 (decision)
100 lbs.: South Windsor’s Sophia Gordon def. West Haven’s Isha Khanna (pin)
107 lbs.: RHAM’s Brooke Heffernan def. New Milford’s Clara Reynolds 9-2 (decision)
114 lbs.: Branford’s Ava Gambardella def. Jonathan Law’s Selena Batres 6-0 (decision)
120 lbs.: Trumbull’s Jillian Blake def. Fairfield Warde’s Monica Flores Romero 17-1 (technical fall)
126 lbs.: Ellis Tech’s Adelina Tate def. Fairfield Ludlowe’s Ashlynn Cummings (pin)
132 lbs: Amity’s Eliana Selaris def. Daniel Hand’s Evely Lavigne (pin)
138 lbs.: Stratford’s Winner Tshibombi def. Greenwich’s Gaby Aliaga 22-8 (majority decision)
145 lbs.: Stratford’s Gabriella Kiely def. New Milford’s Josephina Piel (pin)
152 lbs: Bunnell’s Matilda Tote def. Shelton’s Ella Piccirillo (pin)
165 lbs: Trumbull ‘s Marangelie Teixeira def. New Britain’s Kaydence Atkinson (pin)
185 lbs.: Platt’s Kayli Morris def. Bristol Central’s Shyann Bryan (pin)
235 lbs.: Norwalk’s Jeily Euceda def. Maloney’s Arianna Bellamy (pin)
Xavier High School (Middletown, CT) has been the most dominant wrestling program in the state in recent memory. Once again, they stole the show in the state opens, winning its fifth-straight state open title.
The Falcons had seven wrestlers compete out of the 14 state open titles in the boys’ division and had five winners with two runner-ups. As a team, they totaled 218.5 points, which was 72 more points than any other team.
An investigation is ongoing in Stonington after a person was fatally struck by an Amtrak train Saturday morning, according to Stonington police.
Police were notified around 11:25 a.m. by Amtrak police that a pedestrian was struck by a train between the Route 1 overpass and the Prospect Street and Palmer Street railroad crossing.
When crews arrived, they pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
The train involved is stopped while Amtrak police conduct their investigation and ask the public to avoid the area at this time.
Authorities say there is no threat to the public.
No further details were released.
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