A major accident involving a pickup truck towing a camper trailer shut down two lanes of traffic on I-84 westbound Sunday evening, police said.

The accident happened around 6 p.m. just before exit 67 in Tolland, closing the middle and far right lanes.

The truck, containing a family of four, was swerving in the middle lane when the driver lost control. The truck veered to the right, going off the road and up an embankment. It flipped onto its hood, trapping three passengers underneath.

The trailer became detached and rolled onto its side, blocking the far right lane.

Emergency responders flipped the truck back over and ripped off its hood to free the passengers.

Life Star flew the husband to Hartford Hospital, said Tolland Fire Chief John C. Littel. The wife and two children were transported by ambulance. There is no report of the extent of their injuries.

Emergency responders are still at the scene. The far right lane remains closed.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

A motorcyclist died after colliding with a Jeep on Rt. 7 Saturday morning, police said.

Fortunado N. Gordon, 26, of Piermont, New York, was driving south in the North Canaan area of Rt. 7 when he ended up in the northbound lane, crashing into a Jeep Cherokee. The crash happened at 12:19 a.m. Saturday morning near the intersection of Grace Way.

Gordon was pronounced dead on the scene. The Jeep driver, Michael Palmer, 33, of Falls Village, Conn., was transported to Sharon Hospital with minor injuries.

The accident is still under investigation.

Two school districts are going ahead with plans to hire armed guards even as other Connecticut municipalities and states across the country have backed away from such a move as unaffordable or imprudent.

North Branford hired private guards in January in response to the Newtown school shooting in December and is awaiting state approval to arm them. Enfield is anticipating funding in its new budget to bring on armed security guards through the town's department of public safety.

Other districts across the nation are experimenting with a variety of initiatives that balance safety and cost in tough economic times.

Meanwhile, Connecticut is moving forward to establish a council for school safety infrastructure as laid out in the gun control legislation signed this month by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Associated Press/NBC Connecticut

West Haven police arrested the man who brandished a hand saw and stole a cash register from a Sam's Food Mart early Sunday morning.

According to police, a store employee at Sam's Food Mart, 667 Campbell Ave.,  called 911 to report that a white male wearing a mask was acting suspiciously.

While en route to the scene, police learned that the male brandished a hand saw, threatened the store clerk and stole the cash register.

The suspect took off on foot north on Campbell towards George St. Officers pursed a Chevrolet Pickup and attempted to stop the truck but it fled onto I-95 North and was eventually lost after exiting onto Route 1 in New Haven.

After investigating, police have identified Michael Peterson as the suspect. According to Sgt. Tammaro, Peterson,34, was found at a home at 288 Front Ave.

Peterson was charged with multiple felonies including robbery, larceny and engaging pursuit.

Authorities are investigating a threat made by a Woodrow Wilson Middle School student, said police.

The school will open as schedule Monday, but plans to increase security.

The investigation is ongoing.

Child Protective Services is trying to figure out why eight children in Dallas were left alone in a home and later dropped off at a fire station.

CPS investigators have located and are talking with the mother of the eight children, aged 3 to 12, who were reportedly left alone Sunday morning at a house in Oak Cliff.

Police said two women who described themselves as acquaintances from church had gone over to the family's house to check on the children and did not find their mother at the house.

Around 7 a.m., the women dropped the children off at the fire station at 745 West Illinois in Dallas.

Dallas Fire-Rescue told NBC 5 that the children were at the station for about 40 minutes before police and Child Protective Services responded. Firefighters fed and entertained the children before they were taken into custody.

The children could not tell investigators how long they had been on their own. 

All eight siblings are now in foster care and in good health. The children will remain in foster care temporarily while the investigation continues, according to CPS spokesperson Marissa Gonzales.

Investigators would not comment on what, if any, explanation was provided by the mother for leaving the children. CPS did not reveal if the mother would face charges.

NBC 5's Reginald Hardwick, Catherine Ross, and Kendra Lyn contributed to this report.

The New York Jets have released backup quarterback Tim Tebow, NBC 4 New York's Bruce Beck has confirmed.

Tebow's release comes three days after Gang Green drafted former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, one of this year's top prospects at the position, with the 39th pick overall in the second round of the NFL draft. 

The move was expected, given the celebrity backup's unproductive tenure with the Jets, and the fact that Smith's addition bumped the Jets' number of rostered quarterbacks to an untenable six.

Fourth-year quarterback Mark Sanchez, who struggled mightily this past Jets season, is expected to compete with Smith for the starting job in training camp. Veteran quarterback David Garrard, whom the Jets signed to a one-year $1.1 million deal in March, is expected to enter the season third on the depth chart. 

Tebow threw the ball just eight times for the Jets during the 2012-13 season, completing six of those passes for 39 yards. He also carried the ball 32 times for 102 yards and no touchdowns.

In a statement confirming the release, head coach Rex Ryan lauded Tebow's work ethic and said the team has "a great deal of respect" for him.

"Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped," Ryan said. "Tim is an extremely hard worker, evident by the shape he came back in this off-season. We wish him the best moving forward."

A 33-year-old Torrington man will appear in court on Monday, three days after being charged with abducting and sexual assaulting a 39-year-old woman.

The victim told police that Randy Brumell abducted her in Torrington at gunpoint on March 10, drove her to a building and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The victim said she knew Brumell.

The handgun was not fired, police said. It has been recovered and a resident of Lexington, Kentucky reported it stolen. Brumell is a convicted felon, who cannot legally possess a firearm in Connecticut.
The victim reported no physical injuries as a result of this assault.

Torrington police arrested Brumell in Torrington on April 26, around 12:15 p.m.

He is being held in police lock-up on a court-set bond of $750,000 and he is scheduled to appear in Bantam Superior Court on April 29.

Brumell was charged with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping in the second degree with a firearm, first-degree unlawful restraint, criminal possession of a pistol, carrying a pistol without a permit, larceny in the sixth degree by possession and second-degree breach of peace.
 

Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman will host a community forum in Norwalk on Tuesday night.

The forum begins at 7 p.m. at West Rocks Middle School, 81 West Rocks Road, and ends at 8 p.m.

It is open to the public and seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

If you would like to ask a question, arrive a little bit earlier to fill out the sign-up sheet.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

Additional dates and locations across the state will be announced as they are scheduled. 

For the latest schedule, visit the governor’s Web site.
 

The Virginia man who shot a security guard at the Family Research Council headquarters last year while carrying a backpack full of Chick-fil-A sandwiches is now expected to be sentenced in July.

A judge Monday scheduled sentencing for Floyd Corkins II for July 15. There had been expectations the sentencing could come today. 

Prosecutors want Corkins to spend 45 years in prison. Corkins pleaded guilty in February to shooting Leo Johnson, who was filling in as a security guard on Aug. 15.

Surveillance video that day shows Johnson wrestling with Corkins right before Johnson was shot in the arm. Johnson managed to get the gun from Corkins, and has been hailed as a hero for preventing others from being hurt.

Corkins pleaded guilty to three charges against him: interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill while armed and committing an act of terrorism while armed.

The terrorism charge is based on a fact Corkins acknowledged in a plea agreement: that he wanted to kill as many people as possible at the Family Research Council because he thought the organization is anti-gay.

According to the plea agreement, Corkins told FBI agents after the shooting that he wanted to smear the 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches that he was carrying on the faces of victims to “make a statement against the people who work in that building... and with their stance against gay rights and Chick-fil-A,” The Associated Press reported.

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy had spoken out against gay marriage at the time.

Sentencing guidelines recommended a maximum of 10 years on the first count and up to 15 years on the two other counts.

Corkins also acknowledged in his plea agreement that he considered making a bomb, but didn't have the patience to do it.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• FRC Shooter "Intended to Kill as Many as Possible"
• Medal for Man Shot at Family Research Council
• FRC Security Guard Released From Hospital
• FRC Shooting Suspect Competent to Stand Trial
• Hero Security Guard's Mom: “The Best Child in the World”
• FRC Shooting Suspect to Be Held Without Bond

A car hit the gatehouse to the parking lot at the Institute of Living on Retreat Avenue in Hartford this morning.

No injuries are reported.
 

Investigators are looking into the cause of a fire overnight at a 121-year-old house in Bridgeport.

The fire caused a lot of damage to the single-family house at 78 Hanford Avenue. 

The Connecticut Post reports that the house is unoccupied.

No injuries were reported.
 

Authorities in Northern California continued Monday to search for a man they said killed an 8-year-old girl at a house in a small town in Calaveras County near Sacramento.

Valley Springs residents were being warned to lock their doors and report suspicious activity after a door-to-door manhunt did not yield a breakthrough, The Associated Press reported.

On Saturday, police said a 12-year-old boy found an intruder in his home, and when he went to check on his sister, Leila Fowler, he found she had been stabbed. The third-grader was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy is planned for Monday. The intruder got away.

At a Sunday news conference, investigators took fingerprints and what they believe to be DNA evidence from the Rippon Road crime scene, according to NBC affiliate KCRA.

Several law enforcement agencies are searching the area for a 6-foot-tall man with gray hair, a muscular build, and last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and blue pants. Police said the man is considered armed and dangerous.

Parents at Leila's school are asking for extra patrols at the bus stops, to keep children safe.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Tuesday, with the location and time pending.

People who know the family told KCRA 3 that Leila was one of seven children, and that her parents were very involved with the community and Little League.

The Calaveras County sheriff and the District Attorney's Office are investigating.

Valley Springs is a town of about 3,500 some 60 miles southeast of Sacramento.

Veteran NBA basketball star Jason Collins has come out as the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.

The Stanford graduate shared his story in an essay for Sports Illustrated's upcoming May issue.

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," Collins says in the opening of the piece he co-wrote with Franz Lidz.

He continued: "I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Why NBA Center Jason Collins is Coming Out Now

Collins has played for six NBA teams in 12 seasons, including the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and Memphis Grizzlies. He played for the Washington Wizards this past season. He's now a free agent looking to sign on with a team for next season.

In a statement, NBA Commissioner David Stern talked about how he has known the Collins family for more than a decade and how the organization is supportive of Jason Collins.

"Jason has been a widely respected player and teammate throughout his career," Stern said. "And we are proud he has assumed the leadership mantle on this very important issue."

According to the article, the first relative he came out to was his aunt Teri Jackson, a superior court judge in San Francisco.

Her reaction surprised Collins.

"I've known you were gay for years," she said. From that moment on, Collins said, he was comfortable in his own skin.

Former President Bill Clinton issued a statement after the Collins article was published. He said he has known Collins since he was his daughter Chelsea's classmate and friend at Stanford.

"Jason's announcement today is an important moment for professional sports and in the history of the LGBT community," the former president said in the statement.

Chelsea Clinton also wrote a statement on her Facebook page saying she was "very proud" of her friend "for having the strength and courage to become the first openly gay athlete in the NBA."

"His decision marks an important moment for professional sports and for our country," she added. "I echo what my father said in his statement and similarly hope that everyone, particularly Jason's colleagues in the NBA, the media and his many fans extend to him their support and the respect he has earned."

U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts, who used to room with Collins at Stanford, said, "For as long as I've known Jason Collins he has been defined by three things: His passion for the sport he loves, his unwavering integrity, and the biggest heart you will ever find.''

Kennedy added: "Without question or hesitation, he gives everything he's got to those of us lucky enough to be in his life. I'm proud to stand with him today and proud to call him a friend."

The pro-gay rights group, Human Rights Campaign, also chimed in, saying Collins has done wonderful things in "becoming a role model for youth."

Collins is certainly not the first gay athlete. But what sets him apart is that other athletes that have come out as gay have either been former players or women. That includes Kwame Harris, a retired San Francisco 49er and Oakland Raider who came out this spring and Brittney Griner, a lesbian pro women's basketball player.

Coming out, especially for major league athletes, has been almost nonexistent. In April, USA Today's headline was "Leagues Prepare for Day When Gay Athlete Comes Out." The National Hockey League took a step this month by announcing a formal partnership with You Can Play, an advocacy group dedicated to ensuring equality and respect for all athletes regardless of sexual orientation.

Other leagues are also taking steps. The NFL's, NBA's and MLB's collective bargaining agreements ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told USA Today the league's rookie symposiums will include sessions on inclusion and tolerance. He also said NFL senior vice president of player engagement met with organizations representing the LGBT community, including You Can Play, as part of ongoing dialogue.

Should an NFL player or players come out, "Our league and team security people would be ready to monitor any kind of public reaction that might not be appropriate, including scrubbing social media" for potential threats, Aiello told USA Today. "We would assist the player in dealing with any adverse public reaction of any type, if there is any. Hopefully there wouldn't be and it would be a non-issue, which it should be."

Cyd Zeigler Jr., co-founder of the website Outsports, said Collins' move was a watershed event, one that could encourage other closeted gay athletes to come out of the closet. That's not only because those athletes have a new leader, Zeigler said, but because America has become much more welcoming of homosexuals.

Anticipation of an active American professional team-sport athlete coming out has been building for years, so Collins' announcement won't be as shocking as, say, when retired NFL running back David Kopay in 1975 became the first former team-sport athlete to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality.

It took many years for someone else to feel comfortable enough to become the second.

This time, players, fans and the media would embrace Collins, and make it more likely for others to follow him, Zeigler predicted.

"That reaction will empower (other) people to (come out) more quickly," Zeigler said.

Polls show that Americans, including its politicians, are more comfortable with gay marriage, and in other countries, active gay team athletes have already come out of the closet. That includes English rugby player Gareth Thomas, Australian rugby player Ian Roberts and English footballer Justin Fashanu, who ended up committing suicide.

Collins "has come out at an interesting historic time," said Eric Anderson, an American sociologist who studies homosexuality in sport at the University of Winchester in the United Kingdom. "We are riding a wave of acceptability."

Anderson argued that the reaction to Collins' announcement will be noteworthy in that many people, especially those under 30, will just shrug.

"For a decade we thought it was going to be this ginormous big deal, but we've had so many pro-gay professional athletes making pro-gay statements that it's kind of not a big deal anymore," Anderson said. "This is a profound cultural moment, but for the youth, they're going to think, 'Yeah, so what?'"

But Anderson also warned against assuming Collins' coming out would spark a flood of similar announcements.

"Don't underestimate the power of the closet," he said. "It can be a pretty deep place."

Newtown police made a bizarre discovery last week when they found between 200 and 300 plastic one- gallon jugs filled with urine in a home on Route 34 in the Sandy Hook section of Newtown.

On Thursday, local police went to 82 Berkshire Road to investigate after state police notified them that the department received a report of suspicious activity.

Investigators found the back door broken down and checked to see if a crime had occurred or if anyone needed help.

That is when they found closed opaque jugs filled with brownish liquid, according to a news release from Newtown police.

The Newtown Bee reports that police found 200 to 300 one-gallon jugs, the Newtown Bee reports.

At first, local police contacted the state police narcotics department to see if this was drug-related, according to police and the Bee.

The investigation determined that the liquid was urine, so the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and Clean Harbors, an environmental clean-up firm, were called in. 

Clean Harbors removed several of the jugs and the house has been boarded up, according to police.

The Newtown Building Department, the Health Department and the fire marshal’s office are working on the case.

Town Health Director Donna Culbert told the Bee that the town will notify the homeowner that the residence is condemned.

34-year-old NBA center Jason Collins made headlines Monday morning when he came out as gay, the first openly gay athlete in major professional team sports in America. Collins told his story in the newest issue of Sports Illustrated.

"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay," Collins says in the opening of the piece he co-wrote with Franz Lidz for Sports Illustrated.

The web reacted immediately, from teammates to politicians and more. 

Windsor police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing 89-year-old man.

Raymond Rudewicz was last seen at 9 a.m. on Monday morning wearing a blue shirt, pants of an unknown color and shoes.

He was last seen driving a four-door red 2001 Oldsmobile Alero, 4 door with Connecticut registration LL6775.

Rudewicz has gray hair and brown eyes. He is 5-feet-9 and weighs 150 pounds.

If you know where Rudewicz is, call police at 860-688-5273.
 

For 10 years, the Web site SugarDaddie.com has been uniting girls with sugar daddies and the Web site has offered New Canaan, Connecticut $9.85 million to change its name to "SugarDaddie.com, U.S.A." for the next 10 years.

New Canaan has been "New Canaan" since 1801 and it's a town steeped in history, nationally known for architecture, a strong public education system, historic sites and several other cultural facets, so chances are slim it would alter its name for nearly $10 million

If you wonder why SugarDaddie.com would set its sights on New Canaan, look no further than 2008 Money Magazine and CNN Money report listing New Canaan as the top-earning town, with a median family income of $231,138 and a median home price of almost $1.5 million.

SugarDaddie's offer to New Canaan is far more money than the $4.65 million it offered Sugar Land, which turned down the cash and offer to change its name to SugarDaddie.

The company said it reached out to New Canaan town officials on March 29 and has yet to hear back.

Under the improbability that New Canaan would change the name it has held since 1801, it would have to alter all official government correspondence, institutions and street signs to read “SugarDaddie.com, U.S.A.,” including renaming Mead Memorial Park to SugarDaddie.com Park.

The New Canaan Town Hall would have to be renamed SugarDaddie Town Hall and the CEO of SugarDaddie.com would want a key to the city.

In addition to this, SugarDaddie.com wants a statue of Hugh Hefner statue near SugarDaddie City Hall for at least 12 years.

"We are very serious about branding the city and giving birth to the first dating site-sponsored city in America," Steven Pasternack, CEO of Sugardaddie.com, said in a news release. "We thought it would be a great way to get the word out about our 10 year anniversary, and to be a permanent part of the rich history of New Canaan, CT." After an exhaustive search through cities ranging from Sugar Land, Texas to Woodside, CA, New Canaan, CT best represents what we've been looking for in our search -- absolute wealth and prosperity."