New Britain

Brilliant colors and terrific bangs produced another spectacular 4th of July fireworks show in New Britain on Saturday. But while the production in the sky followed tradition, down on the ground things were a little different and scaled back for this year’s Great American Boom amid coronavirus concerns. “Everything is upside down so we’re just trying to make the...

Fourteen people were arrested following over 30 fireworks-related complaints in New Britain on Thursday. Police said they arrested 14 people and seized multiple illegal fireworks. Officers say they are expecting an increased number of fireworks complaints throughout the 4th of July weekend. Police said they will continue to address concerns as they are reported. Anyone with information is asked to…

While Minor League Baseball has been canceled for the season, there is still high-quality baseball beginning in Connecticut. The New Britain Bees, a team comprised of elite college players, began play Thursday night. “It’s like a dream come true,” said Chris Sawyer of Bristol. “It’s probably the best opening day I’ve ever been to in my life.” The stadium...

Beating the heat just got easier in New Britain as two of the city’s pools are now open for the season. Town leaders said they still want to provide residents with the opportunity to enjoy the water as long as they comply with some of the modified rules to keep everyone safe. It starts with swim lessons where residents...

New Britain’s popular Great American Boom will go on this year with a different look and in a different location. The July 4 event normally takes place in Stanley Quarter Park and attracts tens of thousands of spectators. A festival usually accompanies the headline fireworks display. This year, the Great American Boom will take place at Willow Brook Park and…

The city of New Britain will soon begin work on major improvements to parts of Chestnut Street, Columbus Boulevard and Washington Street as part of a $2.97 million project. The city received the funds from the Connecticut Department of Transportation Capital Improvement Plan for Phase VIII of the city’s Complete Streets Masterplan. The money will go toward street paving, traffic…

Baseball is returning to New Britain and opening night for the New Britain Bees will be on July 2. Capacity at the ballpark will initially be limited to 25 percent amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The home opener will be against the Worcester Bravehearts and the game will start at 6:35 p.m.   The season was supposed to start on May…

Summer is officially here and so are the hot days. Now, many people are looking for a place to cool off, including to swim. But coronavirus concerns are prompting some pools not to open and others to implement new rules. At A.W. Stanley Park in New Britain, families lined up for a refreshing treat as the temperature peaked into...

Police said they seized a large amount of illegal fireworks in New Britain Wednesday night. The seizure was in connection with two arrests of people possessing and setting off illegal fireworks, police said. “We understand the importance of addressing this quality-of-life concern in your community and will continue to target individuals possessing and discharging illegal fireworks on your community,” New…

“It’s awful. It’s really awful,” said a frustrated Dawn Anderson, who lives on Hartford’s southwest side. “The sound is so close you think it’s coming through the window.” Anderson, her sister Judy Williamson and their elderly mother have lived in the same White Street house for 30-years. Recently, their quiet life on Hartford’s White Street has been disturbed daily and...

The mayor of New Britain is using her social media platforms to address the issue of people setting off fireworks and firecrackers and she’s asking residents to show respect for their neighbors and not set them off. “Every night? Why?,” Mayor Erin Stewart posted on Facebook. She wrote that police will go out to address the problem if people...

Like all high school baseball team in Connecticut, New Britain never got to take the field this season. Parents, coaches and alumni came together to give the seniors one more special memory before graduation. “Oh man, it’s a blessing to see the support from the community, all the people I grew up with,” said senior infielder Justin Adorno. A...

People across Connecticut have been gathering to call for justice for George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died after pleading for air as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes On Tuesday morning, many protesters holding signs gathered on the town green in Fairfield, chanting “Enough is enough.” Protesters in Hartford...

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, New Britain’s Board of Education and Superintendent are vowing to make every effort to make all students feel safe and welcome. As Connecticut residents rally for change, one week after Floyd’s death they sent out a joint statement acknowledging that they will be taking action. “We will not be silent or complicit,”...

For many children, summer means swimming and camp. Strict social distancing and sanitation guidelines are causing quite a few communities to cancel those activities this season. “It’s a very difficult decision, it goes against everything a parks and recreation professional goes through,” said Bill DeMaio, Newington’s Parks and Recreation supervisor. DeMaio said the town pools won’t be filled this...

The New Britain Police Department has seized 16 ATVs and dirt bikes as cities try to crack down on illegal riding on city streets. Police said the seizures took place over several days, and two of the vehicles were previously reported stolen. Investigators are applying for arrest warrants for the riders, and expect more arrests and seizures in the near…

A house fire is under investigation in New Britain on Saturday. Police said a call about a fire at a home on Rhodes Street came in around 7:30 a.m. Smoke could be seen coming out of what appears to be the second level of the home. A portion of Rhodes Street was closed while the fire department finished extinguishing the…

While online learning has become standard at Connecticut schools, not all students have internet access. In New Britain about 1,000 students do not, at least not yet. “We’re gonna find a way to solve this for our families, it’s that important,” said Nancy Sarra, New Britain superintendent of schools. Since closing schools in March, devices have been distributed to...

“We’re just getting bored at home,” said Kathy Kinney as she looked at a store front filled with puzzles. Like many people, Kinney and her son Jeremy don’t get out of the house much these days. “We’re sick of being on our phones all the time,” Jeremy added. They came down to Amato’s Toy and Hobby shop to pick...

New Britain High School has been closed since March 13. Yet, lessons are still being taught there. Inside the gymnasium is an assembly line, making protective face shields. Students are encouraged to volunteer, not only to help fight this health crisis but to experience something that could help to create what the school district describes as, “the whole child.” “That…

A New Britain school principal made and hand-delivered Easter baskets for all of her students this year. Katherine Muller prepared the Easter baskets with the help of some friends and family. They hand-delivered all 58 baskets around 10 cities in seven hours to students at Sacred Heart School on Saturday. “I am so proud of my mom and her dedication…

New Britain Police Department is hosting story time on their Facebook page amid the coronavirus outbreak. Every weeknight, officers read children’s books live at 7:30 p.m. New Britain Police Chief Christopher Chute said the idea for creating story time on Facebook was pretty simple and has been well received by the police department and the community. “I was having...

New-Britain Based OKAY Industries is stepping up to help supply medical equipment for doctors and nurses. The move comes after the company realized there was a need for more medical supplies across the country and inside the state. The company is known to assemble and create medical devices and equipment. OKAY Industries is offering their engineering, manufacturing and supply-chain expertise…

For nearly two weeks, Siracusa Moving & Storage has been working with the State of Connecticut and FEMA on a plan to distribute essential medical necessities throughout the area. The company is receiving items purchased by the state. Supplies are dropped off at Siracusa, in New Britain, and are then sorted and prepared for shipment around the state. Hospitals and…

The New Britain Fire Department is on scene of a 3-alarm fire Sunday morning. The crews were dispatched to blaze on Vine Street just before 4 a.m. According to police, there was no one in the structure when the fire started. There is no additional information available at this time. NBC Connecticut will bring you updates when it becomes available.

At a time when people are being asked to keep at a distance from others due to COVID-19, the mayor of New Britain is using social media to share a special moment with the residents of the city and beyond.   New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart-Mutone is pregnant and the baby is due this summer. She and her husband Domenic…

Connecticut State Police have arrested a New Britain woman who is accused of driving the wrong way on Route 9 in Rocky Hill while under the influence early Sunday morning. Troopers responded to a report of a wrong-way driver in Rocky Hill driving south on Route 9 north in the northbound lane around 2:30 a.m. Investigators said they later found…

Across the country, thousands of churches are having to change their plans for weekly Sunday service. In New Britain, Right Now Ministries created a new way to practice social distancing and hold services for their congregation. The church decided to move Sunday service outside and limit members’ distance between one another. The church also gave members the option to sit…

A long line of customers began lining up early on Saturday morning outside of Hoffman’s Gun Center, hoping to buy a gun or ammunition before Monday. The rush comes after Governor Ned Lamont issued an Executive Order to close down non-essential businesses to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The line wrapped around the building and into the parking...

New Britain Public Schools will be closed for two weeks and all unsupervised students under the age of 16 will have to abide by a curfew starting Monday, March 16, according to New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart. Stewart said a curfew will be instituted for students starting Friday night. Unsupervised students under the age of 16 will not allowed to…

Central Connecticut State University is moving all classes online after spring break amid coronavirus concerns. School officials said all classes will be moved to an online-only format until at least April 5. Residence halls will be closed from Friday, March 13 at 4 p.m. until Sunday, April 5 at 3 p.m. Residence Life is finalizing new accommodations for students who…

It was a very special weekend for Connecticut families welcoming Leap Year babies. On Saturday, little Brayden Schmidt was born just after midnight on Feb. 29. And Brayden’s parents could not be more excited. “He came sooner than we expected for sure, he wasn’t due for two more weeks,” Mariah Schmidt, of New Britain, said. “I was hoping for...

A student at New Britain’s Solterra Academy has been diagnosed with scabies. Scabies, a skin infection caused by mites, is spread through direct contact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School officials said once the student’s parent informed the school, they cleaned and disinfected the child’s classroom and two other areas the child had visited. Any...

The City of New Britain is lighting up the Beehive Bridge in purple and gold in honor of former NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday. “Kobe Bryant was a tremendous athlete who inspired many of our youth,” New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with all of the…

In Puerto Rico, families are still reeling after a series of earthquakes rocked the island. The natural disaster destroyed homes and caused families to live inside tints. Vincent Placeres, the owner of Mofongo Restaurant, has relatives who were on the island when the earthquakes hit. “Earthquakes are powerful, and they can cause a lot of damage,” said Placeres. “I touched…

New Britain police have arrested a man accused of vandalizing the Borinqueneers Monument on Beaver Street over the summer. Graffiti and vandalism to parts of the memorial were discovered on June 6. The cost of cleanup was estimated at around $3,000. On December 19, police arrested 20-year-old Michael Sharpe in connection with the case. Investigators said when Sharpe was arrested…

Holiday shoppers are getting a bit of a break in New Britain beginning Monday. Mayor Erin Stewart has suspended parking meter fees in the downtown area, providing up to two hours of free parking for holiday shoppers, according to the city’s website. “I encourage residents and visitors to visit our downtown to finish out the rest of their holiday...

Jayden Ortiz spends his days defying the odds. With every work out, every rep and every weight added, he shocks even himself. “I don’t even know how I am moving my arms,” said Ortiz, 12, from New Haven. “People with my injury aren’t even moving.” The middle school native embarked on family vacation to Puerto Rico in July. The...

The Ana Grace Project and Central Connecticut State University are working to turn a day of tragedy into one filled with hope.  The second-annual “Love Wins Community Drive” will take place outside of CCSU’s Davidson Hall on Friday, Dec. 13 — just one day before the seventh anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  The drive was helped...

A threat prompted lockdowns at two schools in New Britain on Wednesday morning.

A Bristol man is accused of shooting another man several times in New Britain and police said the suspect was found in Pennsylvania.

Rifle manufacturer Stag Arms is leaving its headquarters in New Britain for a new facility in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Hundreds of jobs could be coming to New Britain as a Connecticut company eyes a big expansion.

Several cars caught fire at a repair shop on Le Claire Avenue in New Britain Wednesday.

The city of New Britain stopped evening outdoor school activities because of the threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus, but the city and schools are again allowed to schedule outdoor events after 6 p.m.

Empty for decades, New Britain’s former Stanley Black & Decker manufacturing site will have new life.

The city of New Britain officially dedicated its new “Beehive Bridge” Thursday.

The president of Poland will be coming to New Britain.

Renovations are underway at one of the City of New Britain’s aging firehouses. From asbestos, to broken windows to no female bathrooms, there’s a long list of improvements needed.

Police arrested a man after a woman said she was robbed in New Britain Friday night.

New Britain Police have arrested a man who is accused of abusing his dog and causing multiple fractures on the dog’s body.

Police have issued a Silver Alert for a 7-year-old New Britain boy and it says he has been missing since Wednesday.

New Britain police have arrested a woman who is accused of stabbing her boyfriend over a breakup.

New Britain Police are investigating a stabbing on Kelsey Street.

New Britain police have arrested a man who is accused of sexually assaulting 5-year-old.

Rifle manufacturer Stag Arms has decided to leave New Britain.

City and school leaders in New Britain toured renovation work being done at Smalley Elementary School Wednesday.

The city of New Britain has allocated $50,000 to help people repair their sidewalks and if it goes well, Mayor Erin Stewart says they’ll keep allocating more.

A fire forced dozens of people from their homes on Friday, but neighbors in New Britain are coming together to help them get back on their feet.

New life is on its way to a historic building in New Britain that was once the reported site of a Harry Houdini trick.

Kielbasa from Martin Rosol’s in New Britain is an Easter tradition for many families and people lined up Friday morning to be sure to get the meat that’s become a tradition for the holiday dinner.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart announced she is seeking re-election on Monday.

In the past month or so, there have been eight deadly fires in Connecticut, killing a total of 11 people.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart is recommending that Acting Police Chief Christopher Chute become police chief and she said the Common Council will vote on the appointment this week.

Ten seconds seems like an incredibly tiny slice of your life. But what if that’s 10 seconds of waiting to get help for a loved one, or call in a serious car crash, or a house fire, or worse?

A recommendation made to Mayor Erin Stewart by the Board of Finance and Taxation on how the city should spend its money is known as the first part of the New Britain budget process. But this year things look different than in previous ones.

New Britain police have arrested a woman months after finding a crocodile monitor and two emaciated dogs in a home that officials said was in such poor condition that the New Britain Health Department condemned it.

New Britain police have arrested a woman months after finding a crocodile monitor and two emaciated dogs in a home that officials said was in such poor condition that the New Britain Health Department condemned it.

At least 49 people were killed during mass shootings at mosques in New Zealand on Friday afternoon.

This year the Hardware City is bringing out the big tools even more to fight potholes.

Interstate 84 westbound in New Britain has reopened after a vehicle overturned on Sunday morning.

Emotions ran high Friday night, as family, friends, firefighters, classmates, and neighbors stood just steps away from where a fatal house fire took the lives of two brothers on Sunday.

Some Connecticut voters will be heading back to the polls to fill five open legislative seats.

A man suspected of killing the mother of his children in New Britain on Feb. 4 has been at large for more than two weeks and the search for him continues.

Members of the New Britain Common Council are calling for a freeze on Greater New Britain Chamber of Commerce funds and for the mayor to reveal all city money provided to the organization until the president of the chamber steps down amid backfire for a controversial comment on Facebook.

New Britain police have identified the 27-year-old woman who was shot and killed Monday night and they continue to search for the man who is accused of shooting and killing her.

One man has been found dead after a fire at a New Britain apartment building, according to officials.

Connecticut could become the 11th state, along with the District of Columbia, to allow for the regulation of the recreational use of marijuana.

A New Britain man is again accused of committing a lewd act outside a window of a New Britain home where children live, according to police.

A cow that was seen wandering around in the woods in New Britain on New Year’s Eve has been rescued.

New Britain Police have arrested a 21-year-old man who is accused of harboring a 12-year-old girl for several days and sexually assaulting her.

New Britain police have arrested three suspects in a home invasion.

New Britain Police have arrested a man who is accused of sexually assaulting a child multiple times.

New Britain police have arrested a man after investigating a suspected case of child abuse and said the 3-year-old victim suffered a skull fracture.

The top two Republicans in the Connecticut House of Representatives enter the 2019 legislative session with far less clout as a result of stinging 2018 election losses.

An investigation is underway into a police-involved shooting in New Britain Thursday that led to the death of a 20-year-old Bloomfield man and police said Monday that five police officers fired their weapons and have been placed on restricted duty.

The City of New Britain is offering free two-hour parking in the downtown area for holiday shoppers.

The Ana Grace Project partnered with the Consolidated School District of New Britain and CCSU to collect toys, winter clothing, toiletries, and food for New Britain families in need.

NBC Connecticut is proud to partner with Central Connecticut State University and the Ana Grace Project to support the Love Wins Community Drive.

Crews have been working for hours in the cold after a water main break caused a huge sinkhole on Chestnut Street in New Britain Thursday.

New Britain police have arrested a local man who is accused of sexually assaulting two children.

A new partnership between healthcare providers and law enforcement in New Britain and Berlin was announced on Monday to help people suffering from opioid addiction get into treatment.

New Britain police have arrested a man who is accused of committing one armed robbery and two attempted robberies in less than an hour last Friday.

City councilors in New Britain have voted to change the name of a street that honors the father of Paul Manafort.

A woman from New Britain is facing charges in connection to an incident where a baby in her care apparently ingested narcotics earlier this year.

As jurors deliberate over fraud charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, back in his hometown of New Britain it’s a street sign inscribed with the Manafort name that’s the talk of the town.

New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart acknowledges she has a tough road ahead this week as she pursues a public financing grant worth more than $400,000.

New Britain police have arrested a man who is accused of sexually young girls and said he was out on bond after being charged in connection with two other sex-related offenses.

New Britain police have arrested two men accused of killing the “chief apostle” of a Connecticut religious cult 14 years ago, dismembering his body and burying the remains at a golf course and under a shed at one of the suspect’s houses.