Damage From Storm Sandy At $360M So Far In Connecticut

 A spokesman for Governor  Malloy says the cost of damage to Connecticut businesses, homes and governments by Superstorm Sandy is $360 million and climbing.  Andrew Doba said Thursday that the bulk of the damage involves private insurance claims. The figure also includes claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Earlier this week, FEMA reported that more than 7,270 property owners in the state have applied for assistance, including 6,000 along the shoreline. About $4 million in federal funding has been awarded to residents affected by the storm, mostly for temporary housing costs.  Officials say applications for assistance are growing and there's damage in all eight counties in the state. Doba says Connecticut suffered more than $1 billion in damage combined from Sandy, Irene last year and an October 2011 storm.

Malloy Says Connecticut Faces 'Painful Choices' In Budget Deficit

 Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says some "painful choices" and spending cuts will be needed to help cover Connecticut's projected $365 million budget deficit. Malloy stressed Thursday that the state is in better financial shape than two years ago, when Connecticut faced a $3.6 billion deficit. Malloy made his remarks during a meeting of state agency heads. He warned that the projected deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30 will fluctuate. But he pledged to end the year with a balanced budget without raising taxes. The Democrat plans to release a deficit-cutting plan in the coming weeks.  Also Thursday, Malloy's budget director, Benjamin Barnes, announced that the new fiscal year that begins July 1 has a projected shortfall of nearly $1.2 billion. Malloy isn't scheduled to present a new two-year budget until February.

Connecticut  Launches Online Tax Payment Plan Option

Connecticut taxpayers will have the option of making electronic payments to settle their state tax bills.     The Department of Revenue Services has launched a new, free system that allows taxpayers to set up a payment plan online and determine when the money will be withdrawn from their bank account each month. DRS Commissioner Kevin Sullivan said the agency recognizes it has been a difficult economy and some people have trouble paying off their tax obligations in a single payment. He said the new system will allow the taxpayers to manage how they repay their tax debt while eliminating the need for DRS to manually process checks. The electronic payments are not available for taxpayers in a collection action with DRS or have debts exceeding $5,000.  

 Simsbury Teen Sentenced In Drunken Driving Death

  A 19-year-old Simsbury man has been sentenced to eight months in prison for a drunken driving accident that killed a friend last year.  The Hartford Courant reports that Austin Buckmann tearfully apologized when he was sentenced Thursday in Enfield Superior Court for the death of 17-year-old Tommy Tanksi, a Simsbury High School senior. Buckmann had pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter.  Judge Howard Scheinblum said he admired how Buckmann reached out to Tanski's family. His family and Tanski's sat together in court.  The judge sentenced Buckmann to 3 1/2 years in prison, suspended after 8 months, and four years' probation with drug and alcohol screenings and community service. Buckmann was driving drunk with three other teens in his car when he hit a utility pole in Simsbury. Tankski was killed. No one else was hurt.

 Prosecutor Says No Charges In Teen Stabbing

 Prosecutors say a 20-year-old man who fatally stabbed a Meriden teenager and injured a second acted in self-defense and won't face charges. State's Attorney Michael Dearington said Thursday the unidentified man was "an innocent victim" grabbed from behind and hit by a stranger as he walked alone down a street the night of Sept. 21.  Dearington said the man and seven witnesses who were with the stabbed youths told consistent stories. He said the two stabbing victims came up behind the man, and one of them either put the man in a choke hold or punched him.  The prosecutor said 15-year-old DeAndre Felton then returned to his group and said he'd been stabbed. He died at a hospital. His father, Gary Felton, tells WFSB-TV his son wasn't armed and he can't believe the finding.

 Springsteen, McCartney, Kanye Set For Sandy Show

 Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and Kanye West will hit the stage at a Superstorm Sandy benefit concert next month at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  MSG announced Thursday that Billy Joel, The Who, Alicia Keys and Jon Bon Jovi will also perform at the Dec. 12 show, dubbed "12-12-12." More performers will be announced at a later date.  Proceeds from the concert will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund to benefit those affected by Sandy in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Sandy's assault more than two weeks ago created widespread damage and power outages throughout the area.