The Waterbury Times|Year in Review|Nov 12, 2026

WATERBURY, CT — Fifty days remain in 2026, and The Waterbury Times is looking back at a year that gave Waterbury plenty to talk about.

Starting today, The Waterbury Times is counting down its Top 50 Stories of 2026, revisiting 50 stories published throughout the year that captured the events, decisions, developments, controversies and moments that shaped the community.

One story will be added to the countdown each day, beginning with No. 50 and working toward the year’s No. 1 story on December 31.

And if you’ve followed The Waterbury Times this year, you already know there won’t be a shortage of candidates.

From major downtown redevelopment proposals and questions surrounding the city’s development process to criminal investigations, arrests, court proceedings and public safety concerns, 2026 has brought a steady stream of stories that demanded attention.

There have been questions about the future of longtime downtown businesses, the direction of city projects, the condition of neighborhood streets, and the decisions being made inside City Hall.

Waterbury’s political landscape has also provided plenty of headlines, while local schools, student-athletes, community organizations and neighborhood initiatives have continued to make their mark.

Some stories unfolded over a single afternoon. Others developed over weeks or months. Some brought new information to the public. Others raised questions that remain part of the conversation.

There were stories that put public officials under scrutiny, stories that brought residents together, and stories that reminded us how quickly events in one neighborhood can become a citywide concern.

The countdown will revisit reporting across The Waterbury Times’ coverage areas, including Breaking News, Crime & Courts, City Hall and Government, the Waterbury Times Sports Desk, community news and more.

What makes a story one of the year’s top 50?

It’s not simply about how many people clicked on a headline. It’s about the story itself, its impact, the questions it raised, the people it affected and its place in the larger picture of Waterbury in 2026.

Over the next 50 days, we’ll revisit the reporting and take another look at the stories that became part of the year’s public record.

The first entry is already here.

No. 50: Before His First Project Was Finished, Waterbury Advanced Another Major Downtown Deal With First-Time Developer.

Originally published May 14, 2026, the story examined another major downtown development proposal and the city’s expanding redevelopment pipeline.

From No. 50 to No. 1, the countdown continues daily through the end of the year.

Fifty days. Fifty stories. One year in Waterbury.

Follow along with The Waterbury Times as we look back at 2026, one story at a time.

The Top 50 Stories of 2026 countdown has officially begun.

Tomorrow…..Remember being extremely thirsty? We do.