Hartford's Comcast Theatre seemed like an odd venue for the Oddball Comedy Tour.
Well, the night ended oddly enough when David Chappelle walked off after a few minutes. Unfortunately for him, audiences now obsess with recording everything (see this NSFW Louis CK bit), and there is lots of crummy cell-phone footage circulating from the performance.
Compared to some of the other stories in the world right now, this isn't a big deal. But it got us talking about something other than the VMAs.
Have a good Labor Day weekend and hopefully you don't get rained on too much. This is The Wheelhouse Digest.
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EXHALE: FEDS NOT TOO CONCERNED WITH CT'S POT LAWS
The recent announcement is geared towards CO and WA, but CT is affected.
The Justice Department announced yesterday that enforcing marijuana laws would not be a priority. The implications of this will be felt most strongly in states that legalized recreational use, but it also affects states like Connecticut that have legalized medical marijuana. Those involved in the business locally won't have to worry as much about the federal government busting in.
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HARTFORD MAYOR ASKS CLUB TO SHUT DOWN
The request comes after a second murder outside the club this month.
Last night, Miguel Delgado from East Hartford was shot and killed after a fight in Up or on the Rocks spilled outside. Earlier this month, Brian Simpe of Manchester was murdered after an alleged altercation over a female inside the club. Mayor Pedro Segarra asked the club's owners to close while they address security concerns. It may reopen in the future.
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MORE LABS, LESS RESEARCH SPENDING AT UCONN
Research spending fell 26 percent over five years.
Despite moving forward with plans to build new labs and facilities for $1.6 billion, the researchers who will actually use the spaces are not getting as much funding. Over the last five fiscal years, research spending has fallen by $61 million. The chairman of the university's psychiatry department called it "a great big brick coming down."
Read more at The Connecticut Mirror.
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WINCHESTER OFFICIAL ARRESTED ON LARCENY
The town is missing $2 million.
Winchester's former director of finance Henry Centrella Jr. was arrested today after an audit found a $2 million discrepancy in the town's finances. The investigation by state police started in January and Centrella now faces five counts of first-degree larceny.
Read more at the Register Citizen.
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COURTNEY WANTS CONGRESS TO RECONVENE EARLY
The announcement is in response to possible Syria intervention by the U.S.
Like many other members of Congress, Connecticut's 2nd District Representative Joe Courtney wants to formally meet with colleagues in Washington so they can address the situation in Syria. Courtney cited the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when telling the Hartford Courant that he's "pleased to hear that the administration is not considering any ground invasion or open-ended military commitment."