Good morning, Hartford.

Former state deputy budget director Konstantinos 'Kosta' Diamantis faced trial Tuesday for bribery and is accused of taking cash bribes at locations including Hartford Capital Grille & his Southington home in exchange for steering lucrative school construction contracts, with testimony and text messages showing he expected 5% of a contract's value.

The University of Connecticut Marching Band will perform at the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026 — its first appearance in the event.

Band director Malcolm Jones said the group was chosen from over 100 applicants, marking a special milestone in the band’s 130-year history.

A Connecticut lottery player won $30,000 on a Mega Millions ticket last Friday, and the jackpot has reached $547M ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing—tickets cost $5 and winners have also been announced in other states.

The Connecticut Lottery Corporation said First Tuesday will bring new scratch games that offer more chances to win while supporting local programs.

On Tuesday, a ceremony in Hartford celebrated the renaming of Classical Magnet High School to Hernán Lafontaine Classical Magnet School—honoring the former superintendent who broke barriers as the first person of Puerto Rican heritage to lead a district.

Principal Bethany Sullivan said the new name reflects Lafontaine’s 12-year impact on students and a continued vision for education in the community.

Hartford community leaders are hosting a Men in Mental Health Discussion Panel at the Toivo Center today from 1 to 3 p.m. to break the stigma around men talking about their struggles and to promote recovery.

West Hartford's Conard High School beat East Hartford 80-74 on Saturday in the highest-scoring state game—recording 664 yards and setting school marks with quarterback Brady Cersosimo's performance.

The team now holds a place in state football history with this record-setting win.

Minor League Baseball announced Monday that the Hartford Yard Goats won the Driving Diversity Award—recognizing the team for hosting programs like the Young Ambassador Program, Black Business Expos and Heritage Games to welcome minority fans.

The honor was given at the Business Summit in Indianapolis after the team beat out 119 other minor league clubs.

Renovations at PeoplesBank Arena are nearly done—16,000 new seats were installed on Tuesday morning as part of a $145 million project that added new concourse technology and rigging upgrades, and the arena will reopen Oct.

17 for the Hartford WolfPack home opener.

Crusita Birthday Bash Hosted by Gigi

9:00 p.m. — 321 Sports and Bar — Ticket info available — Celebrate Crusita's birthday with great music and fun at this local hotspot.

Team Tommy Fund Charity Run

11:55 a.m. — 60 Elm St, Hartford, CT — $100 minimum fundraising — Participate in the Eversource Hartford Marathon and support childhood cancer awareness with Team Tommy Fund.

Kuhn's Inaugural Fall Festival & Paddle Sport Event

11 AM – 4 PM — Kuhn Employment Opportunities — Fundraising event — Enjoy paddle sports, live music, and support local adults with disabilities.

English Play Performance

7:30-11:30 p.m. — TheaterWorks Hartford — Tickets from $180 — Experience captivating performances in a theatrical show you'll never forget.

English - A Play

7:30-11:30 p.m. — TheaterWorks Hartford — Tickets from $180 — Experience captivating performances with the drama of English live on stage.

Tito Nieves Live Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — William H. Mortensen Hall — Tickets available — Experience the legendary 'Pavarotti of Salsa' as he performs classic hits and crowd-moving rhythms.

Free Family Fun Expo and Resource Fair

10 AM – 2 PM — Hartford Public Library, Downtown Library — Free admission — Experience a day of family fun with crafts, face painting, and community resources.

Hartford Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven and Sibelius

3-6 p.m. — The Bushnell Performing Arts Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the majestic sounds of Beethoven and Sibelius performed live by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

English Performance

7:30 PM — TheaterWorks Hartford — Ticket details available — Enjoy a captivating evening of theater in Hartford.

Pierce The Veil - Tour 2025

6:30-8 p.m. — Xfinity Theatre — Ticket required — Experience a legendary rock performance from the iconic band Pierce The Veil.