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Kosta Diamantis Gets 7 Years For CT School Bribery Conviction After Fleeing To Greece Kosta Diamantis Gets 7 Years For CT School Bribery Conviction After Fleeing To Greece Kosta Diamantis Gets 7 Years For CT School Bribery Conviction After Fleeing To Greece
Kosta Diamantis Gets 7 Years For CT School Bribery Conviction After Fleeing To Greece A former Connecticut official who took bribes from contractors while overseeing school construction grants received a seven-year prison sentence while he remains a fugitive in Greece. Konstantinos “Kosta” Diamantis, 70, was sentenced in absentia in a Bridgeport federal court on Wednesday, Sept. 30, according to CT Mirror. He was previously convicted on 21 counts, including bribery, extortion, conspiracy, and lying to investigators. His crimes involved a state program that helps fund school construction. Two weeks before his sentencing, Diamantis fled the country to Greece, where his dual c…

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by Josh Lanier

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Tiny Paws, Big Milestone: Beardsley Zoo’s First Red Panda Cub Gets A Name Tiny Paws, Big Milestone: Beardsley Zoo’s First Red Panda Cub Gets A Name Tiny Paws, Big Milestone: Beardsley Zoo’s First Red Panda Cub Gets A Name
Tiny Paws, Big Milestone: Beardsley Zoo’s First Red Panda Cub Gets A Name This little "fluffball" has a new name. Meet Pabu. Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport announced the winning name Wednesday, Sept. 30, after a public vote to name the zoo’s first red panda cub. Voters chose Pabu, a Tibetan word meaning "fluffball." The name beat Ravi and Tashi as a potential panda pen name.  View this post on Instagram Pabu was born on June 24 at Beardsley Zoo to Ponya and Pilot. Red pandas are an endangered species. The zoo paired Ponya and Pilot through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Red Panda Species Survival Plan.&n…

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by Josh Lanier
Breaking News
CT Murder Suspect Had 4 Prior No-Contact Orders Against Him: Warrant CT Murder Suspect Had 4 Prior No-Contact Orders Against Him: Warrant CT Murder Suspect Had 4 Prior No-Contact Orders Against Him: Warrant
CT Murder Suspect Had 4 Prior No-Contact Orders Against Him: Warrant A Connecticut man accused of killing a woman in Middletown on Tuesday, Sept. 29, was jealous and angry that she planned to move out of their apartment, according to an arrest warrant. Barrington Oneil Brown Jr., 43, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of murder, second-degree stalking and unlawful discharge of a firearm. His bond was set at $3 million, authorities said. The woman suffered a fatal gunshot wound at the Northwoods Apartments on Town Colony Drive in Middletown's West Lake section. Her sister found her around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday next to an open suitcase in the apartment, according …

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by Josh Lanier
Breaking News
CT School Bus Crashes Into Building, Sending 11 To Hospitals CT School Bus Crashes Into Building, Sending 11 To Hospitals CT School Bus Crashes Into Building, Sending 11 To Hospitals
CT School Bus Crashes Into Building, Sending 11 To Hospitals A Connecticut school bus carrying students crashed into a building, sending 11 people to local hospitals with minor injuries, authorities said. Police responded to 425 South Grand St. in Suffield around 9:49 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, after a report of a crash with possible injuries. The Region 12 School District bus was driving north toward Mountain Road when it went off the right side of South Grand Street and struck a building, according to the preliminary investigation. Suffield police said paramedics took 11 people to two local hospitals to treat minor injuries. Authorities did not p…

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by Josh Lanier
Breaking News
Police ID CT Woman Killed In Motorcycle Hit-And-Run Crash Police ID CT Woman Killed In Motorcycle Hit-And-Run Crash Police ID CT Woman Killed In Motorcycle Hit-And-Run Crash
Police ID CT Woman Killed In Motorcycle Hit-And-Run Crash Police have identified the Connecticut woman who was killed in a hit-and-run crash.  Deborah Cooper, 56, was found lying in the road on Albany Avenue in Hartford when officers responded to a reported crash around 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, police said. She suffered “serious injuries” and was taken to a local hospital, where she died. Police said the motorcycle appeared to be a black and red Can-Am Spyder. It traveled north on Irving Street and left before officers arrived. Authorities ask anyone with information about the crash to call the Hartford Police Department’s tip line at 8…

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by Josh Lanier

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CT Retirement Costs Revealed In New Nationwide Ranking CT Retirement Costs Revealed In New Nationwide Ranking CT Retirement Costs Revealed In New Nationwide Ranking
CT Retirement Costs Revealed In New Nationwide Ranking Retirees in several Northeast states face some of the highest costs in the country, according to a new study. Retirement Living released its 2026 list of the most affordable states to retire, comparing all 50 states based on housing costs, everyday expenses, and tax-friendliness. The study looked at median rent for a one-bedroom home, median home sale prices, grocery spending, gas prices, and average Medicare Advantage premiums. Researchers also considered whether states tax Social Security benefits, along with income and property tax rates. "Affordability plays a major role in retire…

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by Chris Spiker
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Introducing Daily Voice Events! Introducing Daily Voice Events! Introducing Daily Voice Events!
Introducing Daily Voice Events! There’s always something happening in your community. Now, Daily Voice makes it easier to find it. With Daily Voice Events, you can discover hundreds of events happening near you, from festivals and family activities to live music, fundraisers, community gatherings and more. Hosting an event of your own? Post it for free and get it in front of thousands of local readers looking for things to do in their area. Whether you’re looking for something to do or want to spread the word about an event, Daily Voice Events helps you connect with your community. Click here to explore local events or …

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by Daily Voice
Your Community
Nor'easter Uncovers Possible 19th-Century Shipwreck Off New England Coast Nor'easter Uncovers Possible 19th-Century Shipwreck Off New England Coast Nor'easter Uncovers Possible 19th-Century Shipwreck Off New England Coast
Nor'easter Uncovers Possible 19th-Century Shipwreck Off New England Coast A powerful nor'easter uncovered what's believed to be a large piece of a ship that wrecked more than 140 years ago. The storm exposed wooden wreckage along the south shore of Nantucket, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Sept. 26. The remains are believed to be from the Warren Sawyer, a three-masted wooden schooner that sank off the island's coast in December 1884. The discovery was first reported by the Nantucket Current on Saturday, Sept. 26. Jason Graziadei, the newspaper's editor-in-chief, spotted the large wooden beams held together by iron fastenings near Miacomet Beach. …

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by Chris Spiker

Breaking News

Breaking News
Former New England Goodwill Supervisor Turned Teacher Killed While Trying To Catch Bus: Police Former New England Goodwill Supervisor Turned Teacher Killed While Trying To Catch Bus: Police Former New England Goodwill Supervisor Turned Teacher Killed While Trying To Catch Bus: Police
Former New England Goodwill Supervisor Turned Teacher Killed While Trying To Catch Bus: Police A 26-year-old teacher was killed when an Audi struck her as she crossed a city street while trying to catch a bus early Wednesday, Sept. 30, authorities announced the following day. Zoe Schemm, of the 1200 block of North Fifth Street, was crossing Lombard Street northbound at 19th Street around 6:42 a.m. when she was struck by a white 2023 Audi A4 traveling west, according to Philadelphia police. Schemm became trapped beneath the vehicle and suffered severe injuries. Philadelphia Fire Department medics pronounced her dead at the scene, police said. Schemm was teaching in Philadelphia at th…

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by Jillian Pikora
Breaking News
CT Man Charged After Police Find 2 'Severely Malnourished' Dogs At His Home CT Man Charged After Police Find 2 'Severely Malnourished' Dogs At His Home CT Man Charged After Police Find 2 'Severely Malnourished' Dogs At His Home
CT Man Charged After Police Find 2 'Severely Malnourished' Dogs At His Home Two severely malnourished dogs are receiving care after police in Connecticut arrested their owner on animal cruelty charges, authorities said. Isaiah Ortiz, 23, of Waterbury, was arrested after officers responded to his Marley Place home around 2:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30,  to investigate a report of animal neglect, officers said.  Police found his pit bull mix and husky mix extremely thin and living in poor conditions, authorities said. Waterbury animal control officers removed both dogs and are caring for them. Police had checked on the same animals about a month earlier …

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by Josh Lanier
Breaking News
CT Dad Of 2 Vanishes, Leaving Family With Mounting Bills, Unanswered Questions CT Dad Of 2 Vanishes, Leaving Family With Mounting Bills, Unanswered Questions CT Dad Of 2 Vanishes, Leaving Family With Mounting Bills, Unanswered Questions
CT Dad Of 2 Vanishes, Leaving Family With Mounting Bills, Unanswered Questions A missing Connecticut father’s family faces a growing financial strain as they work to cover their expenses and search for answers to his startling disappearance.  Manoj Bagga, 52, disappeared Aug. 7 in Suffield. Police said his last known contact was around 5 a.m. and that he was last seen on the Suffield Canal Path. Fundraiser organizers said he was last seen near the Route 190 bridge over the Connecticut River. A GoFundMe for his wife, Anju, and their two children said the family has struggled since he vanished nearly two months ago.  "A family that was once financially stable…

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by Josh Lanier
Breaking News
College Student Survives 8-Story Fall While Dancing On Sofa College Student Survives 8-Story Fall While Dancing On Sofa College Student Survives 8-Story Fall While Dancing On Sofa
College Student Survives 8-Story Fall While Dancing On Sofa A 21-year-old University of Georgia senior survived a fall from an eighth-floor apartment window after apparently striking a metal bench on the way down, police said. Kristen Sargent fell at Rambler Athens Apartments at 558 W. Broad St. around 7:37 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department field case report.  The incident happened just after the Georgia Bulldogs had won a game against the Oklahoma Sooners, Sargent's father, Richard Sargent, told WSB-TV. Richard said he later heard his daughter talking to one of her friends: “Hey, I'm alive. I…

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by Cecilia Levine
Breaking News
CT Murder Suspect Wounded In Police Shootout; Second Person Hurt CT Murder Suspect Wounded In Police Shootout; Second Person Hurt CT Murder Suspect Wounded In Police Shootout; Second Person Hurt
CT Murder Suspect Wounded In Police Shootout; Second Person Hurt A Connecticut murder suspect is in police custody after a chase ended with officers shooting him during a shootout in Hartford, authorities said. Barrington Oneil Brown Jr., 43, of Middletown, and a second person suffered non-life-threatening injuries following a chase and shooting Tuesday evening, Sept. 29. Authorities charged him with murder, stalking, and unlawful discharge of a firearm, police said.  The investigation began after police found a woman dead with a gunshot wound in a Middletown apartment on Town Colony Drive near East Street just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Detecti…

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by Josh Lanier

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Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination
Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination A pasta brand sold nationwide is being recalled over a contamination risk that can cause serious illness or death. Gias Foods, based in New York City, is recalling two lots of Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine sold at Walmart, according to the company’s announcement on the FDA website. The frozen pasta may contain Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. The affected pasta comes in a yellow, 22-ounce plastic container. Shoppe…

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by Joe Lombardi
On Your Side
Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes
Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes A popular grill brush is being recalled because metal bristles can break off and cause serious internal injuries if swallowed. Walmart recalled about 4.48 million Expert Grill metal wire bristle grill brushes, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, Oct. 1. Small metal wire bristles can detach from the brushes and stick to a grill or food. If swallowed, the bristles can cause serious internal injuries that may require surgery. The brushes have black plastic or stainless-steel handles. Some also have metal scrapers attached. The recall covers five Expert Grill product…

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by Chris Spiker
On Your Side
Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall
Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall Nearly 30,000 Cadillac SUVs are being recalled because a power window problem can cause someone to get pinched, federal regulators said. General Motors issued the recall for 29,347 Cadillac OPTIQ electric vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report filed on Thursday, Sept. 24. The recall affects certain 2025 through 2027 models. The issue involves the front windows when they're closed with the key fob's express-up function, according to the NHTSA. The windows may fail to detect an obstruction and automatically reverse during the final 13 millimeters of upwa…

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by Chris Spiker
On Your Side
Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List
Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List Dozens of Starbucks cafés across the Northeast have closed as the coffee giant moves ahead with a major restructuring plan. StarbucksEverywhere.net, a website tracking the chain's locations, published a list of the roughly 250 locations closing in late September. Starbucks announced plans to shutter the North American cafés on Thursday, Sept. 24. The shutdowns are part of the company's ongoing "Back to Starbucks" plan, which is focused on improving the customer experience. Starbucks is in the middle of a major remodeling push, upgrading more than 1,000 coffeehouses since late 2025…

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by Chris Spiker
On Your Side
Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu
Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu Dunkin' is getting into the Halloween spirit with a new lineup of spooky drinks. The coffee chain launched its Halloween menu on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The limited-time lineup is available nationwide at participating Dunkin' locations while supplies last. The menu is led by the new Green Apple Dunkin' Zero, a zero-sugar energy drink made with green apple flavor and sparkling water. Dunkin' is also using the drink as the base for three other new options: Midnight Apple Dunkin' Zero with blackberry flavor, Candy Kiss Dunkin' Zero with mango flavor, and Orchard Twist Dunkin' Zero with peach…

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by Chris Spiker

On Your Side

On Your Side
Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination
Pasta Recall Prompts Warning Over Potentially Deadly Contamination A pasta brand sold nationwide is being recalled over a contamination risk that can cause serious illness or death. Gias Foods, based in New York City, is recalling two lots of Bettergoods Authentic Italian Lemon Alfredo Fettuccine sold at Walmart, according to the company’s announcement on the FDA website. The frozen pasta may contain Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. The affected pasta comes in a yellow, 22-ounce plastic container. Shoppe…

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by Joe Lombardi
On Your Side
Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes
Breaking Metal Bristles Spark Recall Of Nearly 4.5M+ Grill Brushes A popular grill brush is being recalled because metal bristles can break off and cause serious internal injuries if swallowed. Walmart recalled about 4.48 million Expert Grill metal wire bristle grill brushes, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Thursday, Oct. 1. Small metal wire bristles can detach from the brushes and stick to a grill or food. If swallowed, the bristles can cause serious internal injuries that may require surgery. The brushes have black plastic or stainless-steel handles. Some also have metal scrapers attached. The recall covers five Expert Grill product…

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by Chris Spiker
On Your Side
Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall
Power Windows Can Hurt Passengers, Forcing Huge Cadillac Recall Nearly 30,000 Cadillac SUVs are being recalled because a power window problem can cause someone to get pinched, federal regulators said. General Motors issued the recall for 29,347 Cadillac OPTIQ electric vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report filed on Thursday, Sept. 24. The recall affects certain 2025 through 2027 models. The issue involves the front windows when they're closed with the key fob's express-up function, according to the NHTSA. The windows may fail to detect an obstruction and automatically reverse during the final 13 millimeters of upwa…

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by Chris Spiker
On Your Side
Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List
Starbucks Closes CT Cafés Amid Major Overhaul: See Full List Dozens of Starbucks cafés across the Northeast have closed as the coffee giant moves ahead with a major restructuring plan. StarbucksEverywhere.net, a website tracking the chain's locations, published a list of the roughly 250 locations closing in late September. Starbucks announced plans to shutter the North American cafés on Thursday, Sept. 24. The shutdowns are part of the company's ongoing "Back to Starbucks" plan, which is focused on improving the customer experience. Starbucks is in the middle of a major remodeling push, upgrading more than 1,000 coffeehouses since late 2025…

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by Chris Spiker
On Your Side
Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu
Dunkin' Enters 'New Territory' With Latest Drinks Joining Halloween Menu Dunkin' is getting into the Halloween spirit with a new lineup of spooky drinks. The coffee chain launched its Halloween menu on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The limited-time lineup is available nationwide at participating Dunkin' locations while supplies last. The menu is led by the new Green Apple Dunkin' Zero, a zero-sugar energy drink made with green apple flavor and sparkling water. Dunkin' is also using the drink as the base for three other new options: Midnight Apple Dunkin' Zero with blackberry flavor, Candy Kiss Dunkin' Zero with mango flavor, and Orchard Twist Dunkin' Zero with peach…

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by Chris Spiker

National Interest

National Interest
McDonald's Rolls Out Automated Employees: Meet Archy McDonald's Rolls Out Automated Employees: Meet Archy McDonald's Rolls Out Automated Employees: Meet Archy
McDonald's Rolls Out Automated Employees: Meet Archy McDonald’s is giving its drive-thru a new voice, and customers may notice a change before they reach the pickup window. The chain is testing Archy, an artificial intelligence ordering assistant, as part of a broader technology push, according to multiple reports. The system takes orders in English and Spanish and works with ArchIQ, McDonald’s AI-powered restaurant operating platform. McDonald’s told Moneywise, in a report published by Yahoo Finance, that Archy was getting orders right more than 90 percent of the time. The company said the goal is to give employees more time to help customer…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Former Football Player Dies Following Heat Stroke During Navy SEAL Prep Former Football Player Dies Following Heat Stroke During Navy SEAL Prep Former Football Player Dies Following Heat Stroke During Navy SEAL Prep
Former Football Player Dies Following Heat Stroke During Navy SEAL Prep A former football player remembered as a campus leader has died after a training emergency left his family holding onto hope for two weeks. Austin Stallman, 21, a Texas A&M University senior and son of Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, after suffering heat stroke in College Station, Texas, according to the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office. Stallman previously played football at Angleton High School. The school said he became ill while trying out for a Navy SEAL preparation program, ABC13 Houston reported. He became disoriented during a 9-mile training run Tue…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
CT Ranks High Among Nation's Highest-Taxed States: See Chart CT Ranks High Among Nation's Highest-Taxed States: See Chart CT Ranks High Among Nation's Highest-Taxed States: See Chart
CT Ranks High Among Nation's Highest-Taxed States: See Chart New rankings reveal the nation’s highest-taxing states, with a sizable gap separating the leader from the pack. New York and its local governments collected more taxes per person than any other state, according to the Citizens Budget Commission’s “Top of the Charts 4” analysis. They also ranked second in spending per person, behind Alaska. The report uses fiscal year 2024 data, the latest available, to compare combined state and local finances. New York’s tax collections per person exceeded the national average by 71 percent and California, in second place, by 22 percent. The top 10 states…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Netflix Reveals October Slate As Major Titles Return Netflix Reveals October Slate As Major Titles Return Netflix Reveals October Slate As Major Titles Return
Netflix Reveals October Slate As Major Titles Return Netflix is rolling out a wide-ranging October slate, led by original movies, returning series, documentaries, comedy specials, and a deep catalog of licensed films. The October schedule starts Wednesday, Oct. 1, with titles including “21 Jump Street,” “22 Jump Street,” “8 Mile,” “Ad Astra,” “Angels & Demons,” “Bring It On,” and the “Bourne” films, according to What’s on Netflix. Netflix’s site, Tudum, also announced that “The One About Matthew Perry,” a three-part documentary series about the “Friends” actor, will premiere Tuesday, Oct. 27. The documentary is directed by Mary Robertson…

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by Joe Lombardi
National Interest
Clocks 'Fall Back' Soon: Here’s When The Switch Happens Clocks 'Fall Back' Soon: Here’s When The Switch Happens Clocks 'Fall Back' Soon: Here’s When The Switch Happens
Clocks 'Fall Back' Soon: Here’s When The Switch Happens An extra hour is waiting in the wings, but it comes with a trade-off for anyone who enjoys daylight after work. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1. Clocks across most of the US will turn back to 1 a.m., according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The return to standard time means lighter mornings and earlier evening darkness by the clock. It also adds an extra hour that night, potentially giving you more time to sleep. The switch follows Halloween. Before going to bed on Saturday, Oct. 31, move manual clocks back one hour. Remember bedside…

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by Joe Lombardi