Several people in Bridgeport are being provided shelter after a lightning strike caused a structure fire Friday night.

Bridgeport firefighters responded to 80 Lindley St. around 8 p.m. for reports of lightning striking the roof of a multi-family home, according to Bridgeport’s Director of Public Information Tiadora Josef. As firefighters arrived to the home, flames were observed coming from the roof area. The fire was quickly put out and no injuries were reported.

The Red Cross is providing shelter for six adults, two children, and two pets that lived inside the home.  The fire is being investigated by the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com

WEST HAVEN, CT — West Haven has been awarded a $1.2 million state grant as part of a funding package that benefits 22 environmentally contaminated properties in 17 towns, according to officials.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday that he has approved a series of state grants totaling $26.3 million that will be used to support the remediation and redevelopment of 130 acres of contaminated land throughout Connecticut, consisting of 22 properties located in 17 towns and cities.

The funds will support the communities with the costs of cleaning up these properties so they can be redeveloped and put back into productive use to support economic growth and housing needs.

The grants are being released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Brownfield Remediation and Development Program. These state investments are expected to leverage approximately $112.7 million in private investments, which is critical to bringing these 22 properties back into productive reuse.

“Nobody wants to have old, polluted, and blighted properties in their neighborhood that sit vacant for decades, especially when that land could be used to grow new businesses and create housing for people who need it,” Lamont said. “This state program enables us to partner with municipalities and developers to bring these lifeless properties back from the dead.”

See the grant details below:

• West Haven: $1,187,270 grant to abate hazardous building materials on the 1.53-acre property located at 66 Tetlow Street. The former elementary school will be the future site of the Shoreline Wellness Center and Behavioral Health Clinic that will provide mental healthcare services.

by: Jeff Derderian

Posted: Jun 14, 2024 / 06:39 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 14, 2024 / 06:39 PM EDT

BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A pilot program designed to down on speeders in Connecticut’s work zones is permanent now.

It was a pilot program tested in different locations around the state. Special white SUVs were set up with cameras to monitor speeders as they drove by.

Gov. Ned Lamont recently signed legislation that will allow the Connecticut Department of Transportation to go out for bids to vendors who can install a system to check speeds.

Over a two-year period, more than 2000 crashes were reported in Connecticut. One driver, according to CTDOT, was clocked at going more than 100 mph in a work zone.

The first offense is a $75 fine. The CTDOT said it’s meant to be educational, not a money maker.

The hope is the new speed zone systems are in place by spring 2025.