Bridgeport

Connecticut state education officials have voted to intervene in operations at Bridgeport Public Schools, which is facing a major budget deficit and low student success rates.

Hours after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ended a policy that kept immigration officials out of schools, churches, and hospitals, Bridgeport Public Schools officials released guidelines that they said would keep their students safe from anticipated immigration raids.

A $1.5 million federal grant will provide free job training to 66 young adults in the greater Bridgeport area.

Dr. Royce Avery is inheriting a district in turmoil. A recent union survey revealed that 80% of teachers had considered leaving the district — and the district is running at a $38 million deficit.

Former Bridgeport Superintendent Carmela Levy-Davis is no longer with the district. On Wednesday night, the city’s Board of Education approved a separation agreement with the former administrator.

Every Thanksgiving, thousands of families across Connecticut enjoy their holiday meals courtesy of community organizations like churches and charities. A Bridgeport pastor organizes one such meal drive on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

The Bridgeport School District is exploring ways to address a $38 million budget shortfall, partly caused by the expiration of COVID-19 funding from state and federal sources.

A 500-foot smokestack — that’s been a fixture of the Bridgeport, Connecticut skyline for more than 70 years — will soon be coming down with the transfer of the ownership of the decommissioned PSEG coal power plant to a private developer.

The Bridgeport Board of Education has appointed an acting superintendent in Carmela Levy-David’s absence, who has been on personal leave since the beginning of November.

Bridgeport, Connecticut’s police chief has assured voters that mailboxes and absentee ballot drop boxes in the city are secure, despite voter fraud problems in past elections.