A New Fairfield man convicted last year in the stabbing death of a Newtown man is appealing his guilty verdict. Patrick Griffin filed a direct appeal with the state Appellate Court, challenging his conviction on two counts of first-degree manslaughter related to the 2022 incident. The case unfolded after police responded to Griffin’s residence and found James Edward Knapp Jr. with a fatal wound. Griffin claimed self-defense, but he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Griffin’s appeal questions the sufficiency of evidence and trial court rulings.
Connecticut ranks third nationally for the highest property taxes on single-family homes, with Hartford leading the state in property tax mill rates. A study by real estate data firm Attom reveals an average annual property tax bill of $8,022 in Connecticut. Fairfield County residents pay an average of $11,805 annually.
Governor Ned Lamont has declared all this week as Connecticut Food Waste Prevention Week. Shockingly, Connecticut discards 520,000 tons of edible food annually while 1 in 10 individuals face hunger. DEEP urges municipalities to adopt food waste diversion programs, with successful pilots already diverting over one million pounds of food scraps. As part of the initiative, events promoting food waste reduction strategies will be held across the state. For more information, CLICK LINK 1 AND LINK 2.
A Newtown builder’s plan to construct 117 single-family homes near Taunton Pond has gained approval from the wetlands commission, marking a significant step in one of the town’s largest recent developments. The proposal, aimed at preserving land for conservation, now heads to the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission for a public hearing.
Mayor Roberto Alves is bringing a new service to Danbury residents. It’s called “ASK THE MAYOR” … part of his initiative to increase transparency, communication, and engagement throughout the city. Questions from residents exclusively related to Danbury matters can be submitted on the Ask the Mayor page on the city website, or in the comments on live Ask the Mayor videos. Mayor Alves says he will answer questions via Facebook LIVE or pre-recorded videos that will be posted on the City of Danbury’s Facebook page. For more information, click HERE.