IRS Rule Change Announced: Here's Who May Benefit IRS Rule Change Announced: Here's Who May Benefit
IRS Rule Change Announced: Here's Who May Benefit A new IRS change could make penalty relief less of a paperwork chase for some taxpayers. The Internal Revenue Service announced on Wednesday, July 8, that it is introducing an Automatic Exemption from Penalty program for eligible taxpayers with a history of filing and paying on time. The new process will replace the long-standing First Time Abate administrative relief program, the IRS said. First Time Abate has allowed eligible taxpayers to request removal of certain penalties when they have a timely compliance history. The new system is designed to apply relief automatically rather than …
New Rankings Reveal America's Most Loved Cities New Rankings Reveal America's Most Loved Cities
New Rankings Reveal America's Most Loved Cities A new travel ranking is giving vacation dreamers a fresh reason to argue over the map. Travel + Leisure released its 2026 World's Best Awards list of the best cities in the US on Monday, July 7, after readers weighed in on their favorite travel experiences. The magazine’s readers put Santa Fe, New Mexico, at No. 1 with a score of 88.85, ahead of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, according to Travel + Leisure. Santa Fe also ranked No. 19 among the best cities in the world. Travel + Leisure highlighted its sunshine, food, skiing, and cultural stops, including the Georgia O'K…
Gas Station Card Charge Surprise? What Drivers Should Know Gas Station Card Charge Surprise? What Drivers Should Know
Gas Station Card Charge Surprise? What Drivers Should Know A confusing charge after a routine fill-up can look worse than it really is. If a gas station purchase appears twice on a card account, the first thing to check is whether both transactions are pending or whether both have posted. That difference usually decides what to do next. AARP says gas stations often place a temporary pre-authorization hold on a credit or debit card because the pump does not know how much fuel a customer will buy before the sale is complete. The hold can range from $1 to more than $100, depending on the station and card issuer, AARP reported. That hold may appear be…
Cancer Cases Could Surge Worldwide, New Report Warns: Here's Why Cancer Cases Could Surge Worldwide, New Report Warns: Here's Why
Cancer Cases Could Surge Worldwide, New Report Warns: Here's Why One of the world’s most feared diseases is on track to become an even larger global burden. The World Health Organization said on Wednesday, July 8, that annual cancer cases are projected to rise from an estimated 20.6 million to nearly 35 million by 2050 without urgent action. The warning came in the "WHO Global Status Report on Cancer 2026," developed with the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cancer is already the second-leading cause of death globally, behind cardiovascular disease, WHO said. It accounts for close to 10 million deaths each year, or more than 26,000 lives eac…
Eating These Foods May Raise Early Death Risk, Research Reveals Eating These Foods May Raise Early Death Risk, Research Reveals
Eating These Foods May Raise Early Death Risk, Research Reveals Some supermarket shortcuts may come with a longer-term cost. High intake of ultra-processed foods, including processed meats, sweetened drinks, packaged snacks, frozen meals, and sugary breakfast foods, has been linked to a higher risk of early death in multiple large studies. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reported that a 30-year study of more than 114,000 American adults found those who ate the most ultra-processed foods had a four percent higher risk of death from any cause than those who ate the least. The same study found an eight percent higher risk of death from neurodege…
Katie Couric Reveals Terrifying Medical Scare Katie Couric Reveals Terrifying Medical Scare
Katie Couric Reveals Terrifying Medical Scare Katie Couric has spent decades guiding viewers through breaking news. This time, the breaking news was happening to her. The 69-year-old journalist detailed the frightening episode in a Substack essay titled "The Day I’ll Never Remember: How I suddenly lost hours of my life," published Monday, July 6. Couric wrote that the scare happened Saturday, June 27, while she was in Aspen, Colorado, for the Aspen Ideas Festival. She was scheduled to moderate one panel and speak on another. Her day started normally. She walked into town, bought iced coffee, peaches, nectarines, kettle corn, and a str…
Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Popular Singer's Death At 37 Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Popular Singer's Death At 37
Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Popular Singer's Death At 37 Lauren Bennett’s family is sharing more about the months before her death. The singer, best known for her featured vocals on LMFAO’s "Party Rock Anthem," died at 37, Daily Voice reported earlier this week. Her former group, G.R.L., announced her death in an Instagram post on Monday, July 6. Bennett’s father, Richard Bennett, later shared additional details in an Instagram post, saying the family had no suspicions about the circumstances of her death. "Months before her death, Lauren experienced a severe reaction to a prescribed medication," he wrote. "As a family, we all rallied around he…
Westchester Mom Suffocated To Death In Ireland, 'Asylum Seeker' Suspect Fled To Turkey: Reports Westchester Mom Suffocated To Death In Ireland, 'Asylum Seeker' Suspect Fled To Turkey: Reports
Westchester Mom Suffocated To Death In Ireland, 'Asylum Seeker' Suspect Fled To Turkey: Reports A Westchester mother who moved to Ireland with her young daughter was suffocated to death inside her new home, and authorities are now searching for the suspect, who police worry has already fled to the Middle East, according to multiple reports. Jamey Carney, 43, an Armonk native who relocated to Killarney, County Kerry, in 2021 with her now-13-year-old daughter, was found by a family member early Tuesday, July 7, according to The Irish Times. A postmortem examination determined that Carney had been assaulted and suffered head injuries, but died from suffocation, the outlet reported. Garda…
Hero Dog Fights Bear To Save Owner In Connecticut, Now Family Needs Help To Save Him Hero Dog Fights Bear To Save Owner In Connecticut, Now Family Needs Help To Save Him
Hero Dog Fights Bear To Save Owner In Connecticut, Now Family Needs Help To Save Him A Connecticut dog is being called a hero after putting himself in danger to protect his owner from a charging bear. The attack left the dog critically injured, and his family is now asking for help to cover his medical care. Kobe, a beagle mix in Torrington, was mauled around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, July 8. Kobe's owner, Richard Hubbard, said in a GoFundMe campaign that he was taking out the trash when he spotted a large bear behind a dumpster. "I tried to get us back inside quickly, but Kobe’s leash slipped from my hand," Hubbard wrote in the fundraising campaign. "He bravely ran and barked …
CT 'Bachelor' Producer Confirms Secret Hookups With Showrunner Pilot Pete In Memoir CT 'Bachelor' Producer Confirms Secret Hookups With Showrunner Pilot Pete In Memoir
CT 'Bachelor' Producer Confirms Secret Hookups With Showrunner Pilot Pete In Memoir For years, "Bachelor Nation" debated whether Pete "Pilot Pete" Weber's rumored romance with producer Julie LaPlaca was real. Now, the 41-year-old Goshen, CT native is putting the speculation to rest. In her new memoir, "The Love Producer: My Unscripted Journey from a Reality TV Career to My Own Happily Ever After," released this summer, LaPlaca confirms the pair secretly hooked up after Weber's season of "The Bachelor." LaPlaca writes that she and Weber, who was born in Fairfax but lived with his parents in California before and after filming, formed a close bond while filming his season o…
'Explosive' Diarrhea Parasite On The Rise In Connecticut As Infections Reported In 17 States 'Explosive' Diarrhea Parasite On The Rise In Connecticut As Infections Reported In 17 States
'Explosive' Diarrhea Parasite On The Rise In Connecticut As Infections Reported In 17 States The number of people in Connecticut diagnosed with a parasitic infection that can cause "explosive" diarrhea and other severe gastrointestinal symptoms continues to grow. The news comes as the number of cases across the United States has surged over the past several weeks. More than 1,000 people have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis since May, with the largest outbreaks reported in Michigan and Ohio. In Connecticut, 23 people had contracted the infection as of July 1, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cyclosporias…
NJ Man Severs Wife's Hands, Foot In Failed Murder-Suicide: Report NJ Man Severs Wife's Hands, Foot In Failed Murder-Suicide: Report
NJ Man Severs Wife's Hands, Foot In Failed Murder-Suicide: Report A 35-year-old New Jersey mother from Egypt survived after her 46-year-old husband allegedly severed both of her hands and one of her feet before taking his own life in what authorities believe was a failed murder-suicide, Daily Voice has learned. The attack happened mid-morning on Thursday, June 18, at a home on Kamm Avenue in South River. Mayor Pete Guindi tells Daily Voice that a friend of the 35-year-old victim knew something was wrong and came to the house. She realized she needed to call the police, the mayor said. Officers found the woman with both hands and one foot severed, while he…
Bonnie Tyler Dies: Singer With One Of Pop's Most Unmistakable Voices Bonnie Tyler Dies: Singer With One Of Pop's Most Unmistakable Voices
Bonnie Tyler Dies: Singer With One Of Pop's Most Unmistakable Voices One of pop-rock's most unmistakable voices is being remembered across generations. Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer best known for "Total Eclipse of the Heart," died at age 75, her family announced Thursday, July 9, according to multiple reports. Multiple reports said Tyler died in a hospital in Portugal following an illness. The BBC reported that she had been treated after emergency intestinal surgery in May. The death closes a career that stretched more than 50 years, from Welsh clubs to US and UK chart glory. Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins in Wales, became known for a raspy, powerful voice th…
Apple Releases Security Fixes For iPhone, iPad Users Apple Releases Security Fixes For iPhone, iPad Users
Apple Releases Security Fixes For iPhone, iPad Users The kind of Apple update that does not bring shiny new features may be the one users should not ignore. Apple released iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2 on Monday, June 29, with security fixes for supported iPhones and iPads, according to Apple Support. The update applies to iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later. Apple said the update includes security fixes that were first made available in the iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 b…
Greenwich Fitness Coach Is A-Rod's New Mystery Flame Greenwich Fitness Coach Is A-Rod's New Mystery Flame
Greenwich Fitness Coach Is A-Rod's New Mystery Flame Alex Rodriguez's mystery woman has been identified as a fitness model with Greenwich, CT roots and a background in Division I soccer. The former Yankees star was spotted kissing New York City fitness coach and model Meghan Hayden at Michael Rubin's annual party in the Hamptons, as first reported by Page Six.  Hayden is originally from Greenwich, according to her Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer roster, where she played Division I soccer. She appears to be 33 years old. Hayden also shared photos from the weekend on Instagram, including one showing her standing beside R…
CT Elementary Teacher Left Unable To Speak After Stroke As Hundreds Donate To Help CT Elementary Teacher Left Unable To Speak After Stroke As Hundreds Donate To Help
CT Elementary Teacher Left Unable To Speak After Stroke As Hundreds Donate To Help A Connecticut elementary school teacher is receiving a flood of support after a stroke left her unable to speak, swallow, or move the right side of her body. June Hartel, a second-grade teacher at Candlewood Lake Elementary School in Brookfield, suffered the stroke last month while riding in a car with her daughter, Madilyn Hartel, of Shelton. The single mother of a teenage daughter now faces mounting medical costs and household expenses she never expected. The Fairfield County community has rallied around her. Her daughter created a GoFundMe that has attracted hundreds of donations. "Anyo…
Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley Separate After 3 Years Of Marriage: Report Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley Separate After 3 Years Of Marriage: Report
Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley Separate After 3 Years Of Marriage: Report After just three years of marriage, Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley are separating, PEOPLE reports. Qualley, 31, had deleted all photos with her 42-year-old producer husband from Instagram as of press time. She allegedly did not accompany Antonoff, who grew up in New Milford and Woodcliff Lake, NJ, to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Madison Square Garden wedding last weekend. Antonoff appeared to do the same, save for a clip from his music video "Bleachers," which stars Qualley, a trained ballet dancer and daughter of actress Andie MacDowell. The couple married in the summer of 2023, br…
Wreckage Found After Cargo Flight Vanishes With 5 Crew Members On Board Wreckage Found After Cargo Flight Vanishes With 5 Crew Members On Board
Wreckage Found After Cargo Flight Vanishes With 5 Crew Members On Board Rescuers have found the wreckage of a Pakistan-bound cargo flight that disappeared over the Arabian Sea with five crew members on board, officials said. Debris from K2 Airways Flight KTA1732 was discovered about 53 nautical miles south of Ormara on Wednesday, July 8, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority. The Boeing 737-400 reported a navigational system issue at 9:18 p.m. Pakistan time on Tuesday, July 7, as it flew to Karachi from the United Arab Emirates port city of Sharjah. The cargo plane was being guided by Karachi Area Control Center when radar s…
Boy Declared Dead, Found Breathing Hours Later In Morgue: What Is Lazarus Phenomenon? Boy Declared Dead, Found Breathing Hours Later In Morgue: What Is Lazarus Phenomenon?
Boy Declared Dead, Found Breathing Hours Later In Morgue: What Is Lazarus Phenomenon? Some medical stories sound almost impossible until they force a closer look. An Arizona case involving an 18-month-old boy who was declared dead after a drowning incident, then later found breathing in a hospital morgue area, is drawing new attention to the rare medical occurrence known as the Lazarus phenomenon, or autoresuscitation. The child was found face-down in a pool during a Super Bowl gathering in Gilbert, Arizona, in February, ABC News reported on Tuesday, July 7, citing a newly released police report. He was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m., a…
Kitchen Nightmare? Not Here: Gordon Ramsay Returns To Connecticut Restaurant With Wife Kitchen Nightmare? Not Here: Gordon Ramsay Returns To Connecticut Restaurant With Wife
Kitchen Nightmare? Not Here: Gordon Ramsay Returns To Connecticut Restaurant With Wife The famously fiery Gordon Ramsay was all smiles when he stopped by a Connecticut restaurant earlier this week. Red 36, a seafood restaurant in Mystic, posted a photo on Monday, July 7, featuring Gordon Ramsay posing with staff members. He visited the popular eatery with his wife, Tana. He previously visited Red 36 last year. View this post on Instagram The British-born Ramsay has become something of a regular at Connecticut's top restaurants. He is currently filming the latest season of his long-running Fox cooking competition series "Hell's K…
CT Man Caught With Nearly 2 Dozen Ghost Guns, Cocaine In NY Sting Operation: DA CT Man Caught With Nearly 2 Dozen Ghost Guns, Cocaine In NY Sting Operation: DA
CT Man Caught With Nearly 2 Dozen Ghost Guns, Cocaine In NY Sting Operation: DA A Connecticut man faces charges after prosecutors said he was caught with nearly two dozen unserialized, untraceable weapons, as well as a quantity of cocaine, during a sting operation in Westchester County, NY.  Greenwich resident Michael Larriuz, 49, was arrested on drug and weapons charges in connection with the operation, which was announced by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday, July 7.  According to prosecutors, agents seized 22 unserialized, untraceable ghost guns, which included 2 assault-style rifles; three serialized firearms; multiple larg…
Louise Lasser Dies: Actress Starred In 'Mary Hartman,' Ex-Wife Of Woody Allen Louise Lasser Dies: Actress Starred In 'Mary Hartman,' Ex-Wife Of Woody Allen
Louise Lasser Dies: Actress Starred In 'Mary Hartman,' Ex-Wife Of Woody Allen Louise Lasser turned television anxiety into an art form. The deadpan actress who became a 1970s cult figure as the title character in Norman Lear’s "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" died of natural causes on Monday, July 6, at her home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, her close friend Susan Charlotte told The Hollywood Reporter. She was 87. Lasser played Mary Hartman, a pigtailed Ohio housewife trying to hold herself together through suburban chaos, media overload, family trouble, and absurdly dark twists. "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" aired five nights a week from 1976 to 1977 and became a cult…
'Unending Trauma': Savannah Guthrie Describes 'Months Of Agony' Since Mom's Disappearance 'Unending Trauma': Savannah Guthrie Describes 'Months Of Agony' Since Mom's Disappearance
'Unending Trauma': Savannah Guthrie Describes 'Months Of Agony' Since Mom's Disappearance For Savannah Guthrie’s family, every day has become another unanswered question. The NBC "Today" co-anchor spoke publicly through a statement as the disappearance of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, reached the 5-month mark, KOLD News 13 in Tucson reported. Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home near Tucson, Arizona, on Sunday, Feb. 1. "It is five months of agony and unending trauma for our family," the statement said. "There is not a moment that goes by that we aren’t actively trying to find our mom. We thank the people of Tucson for holding her in their hearts, as …
29 People Died In NJ's Heatwave, Report Says 29 People Died In NJ's Heatwave, Report Says
29 People Died In NJ's Heatwave, Report Says Twenty-nine people are believed to have died as a result of last week's heatwave in New Jersey, the New York Times reports. Most of the fatalities were reported in New Jersey's heavily populated central and northern regions, where residents endured several consecutive days of triple-digit heat, the outlet reported, citing the state Department of Health.  The heatwave lasted from Wednesday to Saturday. At times, temperatures in parts of the state felt like 110 degrees. The victims ranged in age from their 30s to their 80s, and were found in homes, cars, and outside, according to Th…
CVS To Pay $36.5M In Medicaid Settlement Over Insulin Pen Billing, CT To Receive $1M CVS To Pay $36.5M In Medicaid Settlement Over Insulin Pen Billing, CT To Receive $1M
CVS To Pay $36.5M In Medicaid Settlement Over Insulin Pen Billing, CT To Receive $1M CVS Pharmacy will pay $36.5 million to settle allegations it improperly billed government healthcare programs for insulin pens, a deal that will send nearly $1 million to Connecticut's Medicaid program. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced the multi-state settlement on Monday, July 6. Connecticut joined 35 other states and the District of Columbia in resolving claims tied to CVS's billing practices. According to the settlement, Connecticut Medicaid's share totals $1 million. The state's portion of that amount is $633,913. The settlement resolves allegations that from 2010 th…
Branford Dad Who Beat Son, 12, To Death With Baseball Bat Sentenced To Decades In Prison: State Branford Dad Who Beat Son, 12, To Death With Baseball Bat Sentenced To Decades In Prison: State
Branford Dad Who Beat Son, 12, To Death With Baseball Bat Sentenced To Decades In Prison: State A Connecticut man will spend decades in prison after he admitted to beating his 12-year-old son to death with a baseball bat and trying to kill his teenage daughter, authorities announced. Anthony Andrew Esposito Jr., 53, of Branford, was sentenced on Monday, July 6, to 40 years behind bars for murder and another 20 years for attempted murder to be served consecutively, the Office of the State's Attorney said.  Judge Tracy Lee Dayton, who imposed the sentence, called the trial "one of the worst cases the court has seen." State's Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. thanked investigators, f…
Public Funeral Set For PA Trooper Killed During NY Truck Inspection; Mass. Driver Charged Public Funeral Set For PA Trooper Killed During NY Truck Inspection; Mass. Driver Charged
Public Funeral Set For PA Trooper Killed During NY Truck Inspection; Mass. Driver Charged Pennsylvania State Police have announced funeral arrangements for Trooper First Class Michael E. Pahira Jr., the veteran trooper who was killed while inspecting a tractor-trailer driven by a New York trucker after investigators say a Massachusetts truck driver crashed onto the shoulder of Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County. Public visitation will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, 15 Academy Lane in Ashland, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Monday, July 6. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial services will be…
Lauren Bennett Dies At 37: Popular Singer's 'Party Rock Anthem' Became No. 1 Hit Lauren Bennett Dies At 37: Popular Singer's 'Party Rock Anthem' Became No. 1 Hit
Lauren Bennett Dies At 37: Popular Singer's 'Party Rock Anthem' Became No. 1 Hit Her voice helped define one of the biggest pop moments of the 2010s. Click here for a new, updated story: Lauren Bennett's Family Shares New Details After Singer's Death At 37 Lauren Bennett, best known for her featured vocals on LMFAO’s "Party Rock Anthem," has died at 37. Her former group, G.R.L., announced her death in an Instagram post on Monday, July 6. No cause of death was announced.  "Our hearts are broken, and we cannot express how much she meant to us," G.R.L. said. "We will forever cherish the love, laughter, and countless memories she gave us. Her beautiful spirit …
Alleged World Cup Bomb Threat Lands Repeat Offender Back Behind Bars, Records Show Alleged World Cup Bomb Threat Lands Repeat Offender Back Behind Bars, Records Show
Alleged World Cup Bomb Threat Lands Repeat Offender Back Behind Bars, Records Show A 26-year-old man with a history of cyber harassment, bomb threats, and terroristic threats is facing new charges after police charged him with making a terroristic threat during the World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. An alert was issued for Amar Ramkissoon, who made the threat during the Norway-Brazil World Cup match at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 5, in East Rutherford, law enforcement sources say. The specifics were unclear as of press time.  Ramkissoon was charged with second-degree terroristic threats occurring during a state of emergency and second-degree false public…
6-Year-Old Girl Dead In Swimming Accident In NY After Teen’s Rescue Comes Up Short: Police 6-Year-Old Girl Dead In Swimming Accident In NY After Teen’s Rescue Comes Up Short: Police
6-Year-Old Girl Dead In Swimming Accident In NY After Teen’s Rescue Comes Up Short: Police A 6-year-old New York girl died while swimming off the coast of Long Island on the Fourth of July despite the valiant efforts of her family, police said. Kiara Paolasin, of Brooklyn, and her family were celebrating the holiday at a beach near Sebonic Creek at the Great Peconic Bay, the Southampton Town Police Department said. Kiara went into the water after a shoe that was floating away around 8 a.m., witnesses told police. She was swept away by the creek current into the bay, authorities said. A 16-year-old family member went into the water after Kiara in an attempt to save her but couldn…
Thousands Still Without Power Across Connecticut After Destructive Storms Thousands Still Without Power Across Connecticut After Destructive Storms
Thousands Still Without Power Across Connecticut After Destructive Storms Thousands of Connecticut residents remain without power after powerful storms tore across the state, knocking down trees, damaging homes, and forcing emergency declarations in multiple communities. By Monday morning, July 6, Eversource reported nearly 7,000 homes were without power. That was down from the peak of 35,000 earlier in the day.  The weekend storms brought strong winds that toppled trees and power lines. Roads were blocked across parts of the state, and some homes were damaged. One homeowner in Torrington said six trees fell onto her property. Harwinton and Torrington decla…