06/22/10 TOPIX: Bridgeports Rick Torres To Join Dan Debicella On 4th Congressional District Republican Primary Ballot

Bridgeport News - June 22, 2010

Merkle and Torres join Debicella on 4th Congressional District Republican primary ballot (Connecticut Post)

Not so fast, Dan Debicella . ...

....the state senator from Shelton will have to get past fellow Republicans Rob Merkle and Rick Torres first in an Aug. 10 GOP primary.

Both petitioned their way onto the ballot Monday, collecting signatures from at least 1,988 registered Republicans in the 17-town district that includes most of Fairfield County and a sliver of New Haven County.

Torres, 50, the son of a Cuban immigrant who ran unsuccessfully for Bridgeport mayor, said he started gathering signatures as far back as late April when party leaders started rallying around Debicella.

"Given that's what the establishment wanted, I wanted to go straight to the people," Torres said. "There's no question that I'm the grass-roots candidate."

Torres said Republicans should back him because he believes more in the power of individuals than government-run programs.....

...."The primary is great situation for us," Jason Perillo, of the Debicella campaign, said. "It's an opportunity in August for us to communicate our message and explain to the voters the true difference between Dan Debicella and Jim Himes. Jim Himes' voting record is so inconsistent with what Fairfield County truly needs."......

Shahzad pleads guilty, vows more attacks (Connecticut Post)

Proclaiming himself a soldier in "a war" against U.S. terrorism directed at the Middle East, Faisal Shahzad calmly vowed to a federal judge Monday that "we will be attacking the U.S. to death." The one-time Fairfield County financial analyst matter-of-factly admitted to U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum in a packed courtroom that he had ...

Bridgeport schools budget leaves few satisfied (NewsTimesLive)

In the end, the art and music directors for the city school system kept their jobs.

Real estate tax extended by General Assembly (Connecticut Post)

The General Assembly on Monday overwhelming approved extending the real estate conveyance tax for another year, starting July 1. At about 4:40 p.m., a half hour after the House of Representatives voted 129-9 in favor of the bill, Gov.

Police Blotter for Monday, June 21 (Fairfield Patch)

Woman Arrested for Stealing from Grandmother; DUI and Drug Arrest; DUI Arrest; Car Vandalism; DUI Arrest After Motorist Strikes Pole on Redding Road; Magazine Solicitor Accused of Stealing new Today's press briefing at the Fairfield Police Department included the following cases: A 29-year-old Fairfield woman accused of forging and cashing checks ...

More Bridgeport News From Topix:

Times Square suspect due in court (From Our Own Correspondent)

The main suspect in the alleged attempt to set off a car bomb in New York's Times Square last month is due to appear in court to face 10 weapons and terrorism charges.

Parade organizers ready for upcoming festival event (Connecticut Post)

After years of either displaying famous Puerto Rican artists or giving local performers center stage, organizers of the Puerto Rican Parade of Fairfield County finally seem to be finding a balance.

Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to Bridgeport Roundup@gmail.com

06/21/10 NYC car bomb suspect faces terror, weapons hearing

Bridgeport News - June 21, 2010

NYC car bomb suspect faces terror, weapons hearing (The State)

A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen faces arraignment in New York on an indictment accusing him of using money and training from the Pakistani Taliban to plot a failed Times Square car bombing.

O'Rourke fund-raiser (Connecticut Post)

A fund-raising event to support the life-sized bronze statue of Bridgeport native and baseball Hall of Famer James O'Rourke takes place Tuesday at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn 's Blue Martini Lounge from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event go toward raising the statue of O'Rourke that will stand at the entrance of the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.

Eliminating arts and music directors could cost more than what's gained (Connecticut Post)

A plan to eliminate the directors of art and music may end up costing the school district more than the $250,000 the budget-cutting measure would save.

Four-way GOP primary set in 4th (Darien News-Review)

....4th Congressional District, state Sen. Dan Debicella, R-Shelton, has one more battle to wage on Aug. 10 before he can face off against incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.

Bridgeport resident Rick Torres, Easton First Selectman Tom Herrmann and Norwalk resident Rob Merkle all secured petition signatures to get their names on a primary battle.

The candidates failed to garner 15 percent of the convention delegates, so instead needed to gather 1,998 signatures of registered Republicans in the district by 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Torres had already collected more than 2,000 signatures before Memorial Day weekend....

Roosevelt, Dunbar schools will stay open (Connecticut Post)

Roosevelt and Dunbar schools will not close after all. The Board of Education 's finance committee, during a meeting held Tuesday evening at City Hall, voted 3-0 on a series of reductions that will spare the two schools, but still help the district balance its 2010-11 school budget.

More Bridgeport News From Topix

Riversharks top Bluefish 9-5 (Connecticut Post)

Brian Burgamy and Garrett Guzman each had three hits to lead the Camden Riversharks to a 9-5 victory over the Bridgeport Bluefish Saturday.

Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to BridgeportRoundup@gmail.com