Connecticut
These Are The Safest Towns In Connecticut: New Report
CONNECTICUT — Many residents raise their families in Connecticut on the perception the towns here are “safe.” A new report provides some stats to support the feels.
SafeWise, a security product review platform, looked at FBI crime statistics for municipalities in Connecticut to compile its 11th annual Safest Cities report. A total of 47 towns met the criteria to be considered for ranking.
The company named Ridgefield the safest city in Connecticut for the third straight year. There hasn’t been a lot of motion among the other high achievers, either — the remaining nine cities all previously appeared on the Top 10 list over the last couple of years.
All 10 towns reported a combined total of just two murders.
Ridgefield, Wallingford, Cheshire, and Westport reported zero murders and zero rapes, and Ridgefield was the only town to report fewer than 100 property crimes, coming in with 49. Wallingford and Shelton are the only two cities that saw a decrease in both property and violent crime year over year.
Five of Connecticut’s 10 safest cities — Newtown, Simsbury, Greenwich, Westport, and Vernon — saw a drop in violent crime but a rise in property crime, according to the report.
Cheshire was the only city with a decrease in property crime but a rise in violent crime. Two of the state’s safest cities reported fewer than 10 burglaries: Ridgefield with zero, and Wallingford with eight.
In most of these cities, violent crime rates declined year over year, while property crime rates increased.
SafeWise analysts say they did not have enough data to calculate statewide crime rates for this year’s report, but the annual State of Safety survey suggests violent crime and gun violence have increased in Connecticut. That broke out as 70 percent of Connecticut’s 10 safest cities seeing a year-over-year decline in violent crime incidents per 1,000 people, while 70 percent of the safest cities saw an increase in property crime, with survey respondents experiencing fewer incidents.
The report is based upon voluntary, self-reported information that cities and jurisdictions across the country report through the FBI Summary Reporting System (SRS) and National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). For the 2025 reporting year, the most recent FBI data was released in October 2024 for crimes reported in 2023. Read more about the methodology here.
Connecticut
HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries
A hit HBO documentary series is looking to Connecticut for stories to feature in its second season.
The show “Neighbors” follows on-going neighbor disputes across the country. The goal of the show is to help neighbors reach a resolution, according to the show’s casting director and executive producer Harleigh Shaw.
“Each story we explore, we spend extensive time with neighbors on both sides to really understand the full context beyond the disputes,” Shaw said.
Producers wanted to share stories in the second season that were based in states that weren’t featured earlier this year in the first season, including Connecticut, Shaw said.
“A lot of the things that we’re most interested in are things that may seem small, but become a bigger issue between the neighbors,” Shaw said. “Anything from disagreements over gardening practices to property lines to noise to dock issues, if it’s a waterfront property. A whole myriad of things. We’re really open to anything.”
However, the show does avoid situations that are violent or dangerous.
Residents from Connecticut looking to participate should be open to third party conflict resolution, according to Shaw.
“Some of the ways that we did that were through mediation,” Shaw said. “That’s a huge one. But there are other things in terms of resources we’d be open to help the neighbors to like help work through the issues.”
Filming will take place throughout the summer and is expected to be completed by the end of September.
The show’s production team is located in New York City and Los Angeles.
“Connecticut has always been really interesting because it’s just a short trip away, and we’re just curious to explore the types of neighbor dynamics that are going on there,” Shaw said.
Connecticut residents who are interested in being on “Neighbors,” can apply at helloneighbortv.com and are encouraged to submit information about themselves as well as their neighbor dispute.
“The neighbor disputes are the entry point for this show, but we’re always also just very interested in inspiring amazing people doing cool stuff,” Shaw said.
“Neighbors” premiered in February and was quickly renewed. The show averages about 3 million viewers per episode.
The show features stories that make viewers laugh and cringe, according to HBO Programming’s Executive Vice President Nina Rosenstein.
“At a time when even the smallest disagreements can spiral out of control, ‘Neighbors’ feels both hilariously absurd and surprisingly relatable,” Rosenstein said. “What makes the show special isn’t just the stories and people they find, but the empathy and humanity they bring to each episode.”
Connecticut
‘Serious’ crash closes Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury
DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Danbury drivers can expect hours-long closures on Sugar Hollow Road early Monday morning after a “serious” crash, according to local police.
Police said the morning crash has caused closures in both directions at the Ridgefield Line (Bennetts Farm Road) and at Miry Brook Road.
The road is expected to close for approximately three to four hours, police said.
Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes, including George Washington Highway and Route 53.
There are no words on injuries.
Additional information was not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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Connecticut
Cyclosporiasis outbreak prompts food safety concerns in Connecticut
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WFSB) – People like Dena Pizzoferrato are changing what they put in their grocery carts after hearing about a cyclosporiasis outbreak.
“I’m kind of a little nervous so I’m looking to see what I buy right now,” Pizzoferrato said. “Today I didn’t buy any lettuce. I said I’m OK for now.”
Doctors say the illness is spread through parasites that make their way onto fresh produce. There have been 23 reported cases in Connecticut since May, but the CDC says the number is likely higher. Across the country, more than 840 cases and 86 hospitalizations have been reported in 31 states.
Symptoms include diarrhea and nausea that can last days to weeks. Doctors have not identified a source for the outbreak.
Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said a range of produce could be contaminated.
“Typical things you would think are vegetables or fruits. In the past, it’s been raspberries, basil, cilantro. You may find it in lettuces, bagged salads. So it’s a variety of things that can be contaminated, but they have not found it at this time,” said Wu.
Wu said residents should take precautions with their produce. “Take precautions with your fruit and your produce. We give the same advice when people go overseas that you should always peel something. You should always boil something,” he said.
Doctors also recommend washing produce thoroughly if boiling is not an option, and washing hands regularly.
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.
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