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Articles by Ellen Schmidt
'Best schools in America' don't include New Haven's | The Day
A hearing last week before New Haven's Board of Alders about the city's schools sure didn't match the television commercial being broadcast by Gov.
Rays beat Yankees 4-3 for 3-game Division Series sweep behind Mesa homer, fan interference call | The Day
Rays beat Yankees 4-3 for 3-game Division Series sweep behind Mesa homer, fan interference call New York — Victor Mesa Jr. hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Max Fried in the sixth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night with the help of a fan interference call for a three-game sweep of their AL Division Series.
Editorial Cartoon - Oct. 8, 2026 | The Day
News/Nation By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press Oct 07, 2026 10:30 PM WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says his administration will make one-time payments of $90 per person to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees pay for their Part B premiums. It will cost about $2 billion. News/State Peter Yankowski Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
Your stars - Oct. 8 | The Day
Your stars - Oct. 8 ARIES (March 21-April 19): Set your sights on your goal, and don't look back. How you approach what you want to achieve will set the stage for how much you accomplish. Push for the maximum return, and you'll feel the satisfaction you get when everything is done. What you accomplish will lead to greater opportunities, but also cause jealous peers to retaliate. 3 stars TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Agree only to what's possible. Getting caught in someone else's dream can set you back.
Mother's chats with grown daughter are criticized | The Day
DEAR ABBY: My fiance gets annoyed and calls it weird that I talk to my daughter every morning on my way to work and in the afternoon on my way home. She's a wife and young mother of two, ages 1 and 4. I'm proud of how well she is doing. I work full time, and she works part time. We're both always busy, so we don't see each other as often as we'd like, even though we live in the same town. At 25, my daughter is becoming my best friend. I love helping her through decisions, ideas, etc.
History isn't lost if we know how to remember it | The Day
The wrecking ball is loose on the White House, taking out chunks of perhaps the most iconic American building. It’s far from the only American landmark under threat. The cause of historic preservation has been thrust back into the national spotlight during what should have been a celebratory year. 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), whose core tenets are now being threatened.
Trump's $90 Medicare rebate rolls out, but millions don't qualify | The Day
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says his administration will make one-time payments of $90 per person to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees pay for their Part B premiums. It will cost about $2 billion. Less than one-third of all Medicare recipients are eligible for the payments, which are expected to be sent out this week. Not eligible are roughly 35 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, millions of other people with disabilities and low-income Medicare recipients.
UConn wings Jayden Ross, Colben Landrew 'competing every day' for starting spot | The Day
Around this time over the last two years, in the lead-up to college basketball season, Dan Hurley would be talking about Jayden Ross and how he’d been the best player in preseason practices, that he was flashing NBA ability and taking off like a rocket ship. It felt, at times, like the UConn head coach was trying to speak Ross’ emergence into existence.
Hegseth admits to Lincoln crew he extended their deployment | The Day
Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greeted the crew with an admission: He was the one who approved prolonging the aircraft carrier’s unusually long deployment in the Middle East amid the U.S. war with Iran. “I’m the one who signed that orders book — twice — to extend you,” he said in his speech, after flying out to the vessel as it sailed toward its home port of San Diego.
Giants are 3-1 and underdogs again at Washington, which players are using as fuel | The Day
Giants are 3-1 and underdogs again at Washington, which players are using as fuel East Rutherford, N.J. — Minutes after he and the New York Giants won last weekend, Cam Skattebo was quick to point out that they were not expected to — at least by oddsmakers. “We were underdogs,” Skattebo said. “It’s dumb.
Connecticut man in 'Cornell 7' case was barred from campus for 3 years | The Day
The Connecticut man accused of participating in the alleged sexual assault of a woman at Cornell University in 2024 was barred from campus for three years, according to a report by the New York Times. The outlet reported it obtained detailed summaries of the punishments for each of the seven men alleged to have been involved. The woman known as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against the men on Sept.
Local roundup: Fitch girls' volleyball beats Killingly to give Banks 400th career win | The Day
Local roundup: Fitch girls' volleyball beats Killingly to give Banks 400th career win Groton — Adele Newbury had 12 assists and Clara Serraro added seven digs and five kills as Fitch swept Killingly 25-7, 25-12, 25-18 and gave head coach Steve Banks his 400th career win in Wednesday’s Eastern Connecticut Conference girls’ volleyball interdivision match. Banks is in his 30th season as the Falcons’ head coach. Maddie Nahass had eight kills and Norah Aspinwall seven kills for Fitch (6-6).
Former Norwich Hospital workers gather for 30-year reunion of closing | The Day
Mashantucket — One memory that will always stick out from Jerri Catillo's 25-year career as a nurse at Norwich Hospital was when she and a group of 12 fellow nursing students visited the most violent wards of the hospital. "The first thing we saw was a lady naked — stark-naked — and she had sneakers on," she said.
If Dems win, Himes says Trump won't 'accept' election results | The Day
Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, warned Wednesday of efforts to undermine faith in U.S. elections by foreign powers and one domestic one: President Donald J. Trump. “We don’t know what the results will be. But if Polymarket is to be believed, it’s not going to be a good Election Day for the president,” Himes said, referring to the prediction markets.
Sen. Murphy says defense department barred him from visiting U.S. base in Qatar. | The Day
U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., announced Wednesday Tuesday that while on a congressional delegation trip to the Middle East this week, that the Department of Defense denied him access to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar where American troops are based. Murphy wrote that the denial came despite decades of the Defense Department supporting congressional trips to American military bases under active threat to uphold Congress’s oversight duties.
Groton committee to review Flock cameras | The Day
Groton — Nearly 20 people on Tuesday spoke in opposition to Flock cameras at a Town Council meeting with Mayor Juliette Parker saying she has referred the issue to the council's Public Safety Committee for reviews. Speakers from Groton and surrounding towns raised concerns, including about surveillance, the need for more transparency and public scrutiny, instances of abuse of the system, including stalking, wrongful stops and detentions, and non-law enforcement use, around the country.
UPDATED: Police: Man drove 95 mph through Gold Star Bridge construction zone | The Day
New London — State police said a 22-year-old Old Lyme man told them he was driving 95 mph through a Gold Star Bridge construction zone Tuesday because he had to get home and use the bathroom. Police said Andrew J. Bennett, of 7 Beta Ave. was pulled over just past 5:30 p.m. after speeding in the left of three southbound lanes of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge construction zone where the speed limit is 45 mph.
Police logs - Oct. 8, 2026 Stonington Christopher A. Sherman, 42, of 393 Ocean Ave., New London, was charged Tuesday with possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license, improper rear/marker lamps and second-degree failure to appear in court. Todd M. Smith, 48, of 12 Kelly St. was charged Sunday with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Alex P.
Police: Man drove 95 mph through Gold Star Bridge construction zone | The Day
New London — State police said a 22-year-old Old Lyme man told them he was driving 95 mph through a Gold Star Bridge construction zone Tuesday because he had to get home and use the bathroom. Police said Andrew J. Bennett, of 7 Beta Ave. was pulled over just past 5:30 p.m. after speeding in the left of three southbound lanes of the Gold Star Memorial Bridge construction zone where the speed limit is 45 mph.
Did you see the latest crowd number at Coast Guard football? | The Day
The memory resonates, even 16 years later: a sunny, September afternoon in 2010. Full house for the Secretaries’ Cup game at Cadet Memorial Field, ever resplendent, offering its Rockwellian views of the Thames. This was Army/Navy Light, otherwise known as Coast Guard vs. Kings Point, among the best Division III rivalry games of them all. And there is the inimitable hum in the crowd as opening kickoff awaits.
Putnam town administrator makes move to Brooklyn | The Day
Putnam — Town Administrator Elaine Sistare will be leaving next month to become Brooklyn’s first town administrator beginning Nov. 16. Sistare, who has held the role as Putnam town administrator since 2020, said she decided to make the move to Brooklyn to continue growing her career. “I will always have a place in my heart for Putnam, I’ve learned a lot and I think the town has grown a lot under both mine and our elected leaders management,” Sistare said.
Six area school districts receive state math tutoring grants | The Day
Nearly $275,000 out of a $2 million state education grant will support mathematic tutoring in schools in eastern Connecticut. The state Department of Education announced this week that Plainfield, Groton, Norwich, Montville, Preston and Putnam was among 42 districts that received a grant. Each district received $50,000, with the exception of Preston which received around $23,500.
Recent college grad taking on a six-term incumbent in the 47th District | The Day
A 23-year-old Democratic newcomer is taking on a six-term Republican incumbent for the 47th District’s state representative seat. Marcus Palumbo, who lives in Sprague and graduated from Clark University in May, is challenging state Rep. Doug Dubitsky, a 63-year-old attorney and farmer from Chaplin.
Sparkling from head to toe, amputee Cynthia Cheak becomes a key face of Valkyries' 'Ballhalla' crowd | The Day
Sparkling from head to toe, amputee Cynthia Cheak becomes a key face of Valkyries' 'Ballhalla' crowd San Francisco — Sparkling and sequined in the Valkyries’ violet colors from head to toe, down to her cane and prosthetic left leg, Cynthia Cheak reaches into a cross-body bag and pulls out a handful of Golden State playoff-themed bracelets she bought to share all around the arena. Then the 68-year-old Cheak begins her nightly ritual of walking through Chase Center giving them away.
Once kicked out of Yankee Stadium, Nick Martinez returns to try to pitch the Rays into ALCS | The Day
Once kicked out of Yankee Stadium, Nick Martinez returns to try to pitch the Rays into ALCS New York — Ejected from Yankee Stadium during his college days, Nick Martinez will be back in the Bronx tonight trying to pitch the Tampa Bays Rays into the AL Championship Series. Martinez spent 2009-11 playing for Fordham, a school just 5 miles from the big ballpark. His last trip to Yankee Stadium as a student was memorable. “We had practice get canceled and so me and my roommate we went out pretty early.
NHL's hockey romance-themed audiobooks disappear online after opening week of the season | The Day
NHL's hockey romance-themed audiobooks disappear online after opening week of the season New York — A series of audiobooks the NHL launched recently to connect with fans of the hockey romance genre was no longer available online this week. “Hot for Hockey” episodes about the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, among other topics, were on Spotify last week when the season began. A Spotify search for the name of the series now leads to an error message.
FBI says it stopped a teen’s plot to kill up to 60 people at Mall of America | Fortune
FBI agents thwarted a terror attack by a teenager on the Mall of America after supplying him with an assault rifle following months of text messages, authorities said Wednesday. The 18-year-old had been under investigation for nearly two years, trading messages with a confidential informant, before agents sold him the rifle and ammunition and arrested him on the spot, they said.
Delamar Mystic on Conde Nast Traveler's list of top 20 hotels in the Northeast | The Day
Four of the top 20 hotels in the Northeast are in Connecticut, according to Conde Nast Traveler readers. Conde Nast Traveler released its list of the "Top 20 Hotels in the Northeast" on Tuesday as part of its 2026 Reader's Choice Awards. Connecticut's Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington ranked the highest on the list, coming in at No. 2 with a score of 98.93.
Connecticut colleges reported more than 100 rapes in 2025 | The Day
More than 100 rapes were reported at Connecticut colleges and universities in 2025, according to recently released campus crime reports. The new annual security reports for more than a dozen colleges and universities statewide show stark differences in the number of reported rapes, but the figures do not necessarily indicate which campuses are safest, or how many assaults actually occurred.
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