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Police Officer Stabbed in South Hadley, Mass.

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A police officer was stabbed Friday evening at a Dunkin' Donuts in South Hadley, Massachusetts, authorities confirm.

According to authorities, the officer was stabbed after 7 p.m. while responding to a call for a domestic incident.

When the officer walked into the shop, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office says an armed man confronted him. The officer fired three shots, hitting the suspect twice, but was stabbed in the neck.

Both men were transported to Baystate Medical Center.

The officer is in stable condition, according to authorities.



Photo Credit: WWLP

Cities Warn How Reduced Payments Will Hurt Regions

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The mayors of the state's largest cities joined forces Friday to warn against possible municipal spending cuts that they say won't just hurt them but will also hurt entire regions.

“We are in a state of fiscal crisis on the municipal and urban level," cautioned Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary.

The main message coming from all of the mayors who are also Democrats, Bridgeport's Joe Ganim, New Haven's Toni Harp, and Waterbury's O'Neil, is that reductions related to car tax reform last year could cripple the cities' budgets.

“We're clearly, heavily dependent on every dollar that comes from the state," said Ganim, the newly reelected mayor of Bridgeport.

Senate Bill 1, approved by lawmakers and signed into law last year changed the way car tax payments are collected while also capping local car tax rates. The money is then sent back to the cities and towns at the original rates, putting more money into municipalities' coffers.

“If we lose what we’ve gained from SB1, I can tell you that the city of Waterbury, particularly on the education side will be dramatically, dramatically impacted in a very negative way," O'Leary said during the press conference.

Republicans in the Connecticut House and Senate unveiled their budget saving plan earlier this week. It included $24 million in reductions for cities and towns.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, (R - North Haven), said in a statement that the cuts aren't their desire, but a necessity.

"When faced with the decision of funding programs for the most vulnerable or dispersing new funds, we have to support the most vital services first and preserve the safety net," Sen. Fasano said.

"Cities will have to make tough choices, have discussions with labor, and trim bureaucracy so funding can go to those who need it most - something I think the mayor of Hartford actually recognizes."

He's referring to overtures made by new Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who wasn't able to attend the news conference Friday, to close the city's worsening budget hole by reopening union negotiations to try to reduce the city's burden.

Rep. Toni Walker, (D - New Haven), who chairs the Appropriations Committee says she urges regional cooperation and sharing in services many in government believe to be politically tenuous: public safety.

“We could talk about how maybe some of the larger cities could help the smaller cities in police work and fire work and many of the other things," she said.

Mayor Joe Ganim, only back on the job for the past two and a half months, says if cities aren't supported then some of the most prosperous regions in the state will go down with them.

“Yes, the region is tied together in living unfortunately and if the city fails in any way, completely or incrementally, it impacts the region negatively.”



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

State Funding Reduced for New Haven Arts Festival

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The International Festival of Arts and Ideas has become an economic engine for New Haven, bringing in hundreds of thousands of visitors and generating millions of dollars for local businesses.

Like many cultural organizations across the state, the festival is having its funding from the state slashed in the most recent round of budget cuts announced by Gov. Dannel Malloy.

“We’re trying to keep pace, to keep our commitments,” said International Festival of Arts and Ideas Executive Director Mary Lou Aleskie.

In recent years, Aleskie said she has seen financial support from the state drastically drop.

“We’ve gone from a million to under 6 hundred thousand,” she said.

The governor plans to reduce that number by another $33 thousand.

“This funding is critical to our ability to continue the kind of work that generates the economic activity that we do in the summer for festivals to come,” Aleskie said.

The governor’s latest proposed cuts are part of his plans to shrink the growing budget hole of about $250 million.

“We’re not going to raise taxes, so hard decisions have to be made,” Gov. Malloy said Thursday.

Aleskie said she is worried about difficult decisions she might need to make down the road, possibly reducing the number of small businesses her organization contracts to put on the festival.

“At some point in time if the money is not there,” she said, “just like at the state, you can’t fulfill those contracts, that becomes very concerning.”

This year’s festival will go on as planned from June 10-25 on the New Haven Green. NBC Connecticut is a media sponsor.

62 People Killed After FlyDubai Plane Crashes in Russia

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A Dubai airliner crashed early Saturday while trying to land in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, killing all 62 passengers aboard, officials said, NBC News reported.

"The plane touched the ground and fell to pieces," the Russian Investigative Committee said.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said the Boeing 737-800 operated by FlyDubai was carrying 55 passengers, most of them Russians, and seven crew members of various nationalities. The airline confirmed that there were no survivors and said four children were among those killed.

Pilot error and bad weather were both being looked at as possible causes, Russian officials said.



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
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Alleged Getaway Driver in NM Prison Escape Arrested

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New Mexico police arrested a man Friday they say drove two escaped prison inmates to Albuquerque last week, NBC News reported.

Jesus S. Quintana, 46, is charged with two counts of assisting escape and two counts of furnishing articles for a prisoner’s escape, state police said.

Joseph Cruz and Lionel Clah escaped from a prison transport van on March 9, and were recaptured March 11 and March 12 in Albuquerque.

Clah allegedly told police a man matching Quintana's description picked them up after they escaped, helped them cut off their handcuffs and shackles, gave them clothes and drove them to Albuquerque for money. Quintana confessed Friday, saying he needed money because he had been out of work, according to state police. 



Photo Credit: New Mexico State Police

2 Men Shot Dead in Hartford

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Two men were killed in a double shooting in Hartford, Connecticut early Saturday morning.

Police were called to 18 Martin St. around 2:05 a.m. after multiple shots were fired.

When they arrived, they learned that two men were sitting in a car in front of 18 Martin St. when they were approached and shot multiple times. ShotSpotter recorded 13 shots fired.

Both victims were transported to the hospital where they were pronounced dead from gun shots wounds to the chest and torso. The victims, aged 33 and 28, were both from Hartford.

Hartford Police Major Crimes Detectives are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Reggie Early at 860-757-4248.

2 Teens Missing Since Leaving School This Week

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Two teens are still missing after leaving school without permission on Wednesday, New Britain Police said. 

Jasmin White, 17, and Lemuel Rodriguez, 15, left New Britain High School on Mar. 16. The pair may be accompanying one another, police said. 

Both teens were last known to be in the area of Linwood Street in New Britain.

White was last seen wearing a red pair of jeans. She is described as being approximately 130 pounds, 5'4" tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Rodriguez was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black hoodie. He is 5'6" tall, 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of White or Rodriguez should contact the New Britain Police Department at 860-826-3000 or Sergeant Michael Cummiskey at 860-826-3151.



Photo Credit: New Britain Police

First Case of Zika Confirmed in Connecticut

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The first case of Zika virus has been confirmed in Connecticut, the Department of Public Health said. 

The patient in their 60s had onset of illness on the day they returned from a Zika-affected area in early March, according to DPH. The case was detected by the Department of Public Health's state laboratory as part of the state's expedited response to the virus announced last month, DPH said. 

"I would urge all residents to avoid travel to affected countries, and if they must, to be vigilant.
As we have previously said, a confirmed case was never a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’. Because
of the preparatory steps we’ve taken previously, we are able to test more quickly and in-state,"
DPH Commissioner Raul Pino said.

Symptoms of the Zika virus include skin rash, conjunctivitis, fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle aches.

State sources said the patient has been check out and is recovering. 

Connecticut is the 34th state to reportedly have cases of Zika. There have been 258 cases Zika confirmed in the United States. Out of those, six of those cases were transmitted sexually, the DPH said. 



Photo Credit: AP

2 Americans Killed in Istanbul Suicide Bombing

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Two Americans were among the people killed when a suicide attacker denoted a bomb in a popular shopping district of Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday, according to the White House, NBC News reported.

The State Department identified the dead Americans as Yonathan Suher and Avraham Goldman. The White House said they were among the five reported fatalities.

Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu confirmed that at least 39 people had been wounded and seven of those were in serious condition. Twenty-four of the wounded were foreigners, he said.

A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry earlier said 10 Israelis were among the wounded and at least 10 were still missing.

Preliminary findings indicate that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) or an affiliate carried out the attack, a senior Turkish official told Reuters.



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

U.S. Marine Killed by ISIS Rocket in Iraq

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A U.S. Marine was killed and three other American service members injured Saturday by indirect fire from militant forces in northern Iraq, NBC News reported.

ISIS forces fired rockets onto a base near Mahmour, south of Mosul, where American troops are advising Iraqi security forces, a U.S. military official said in a statement. One of the rockets is responsible for the casualty.

No further information was immediately released, including the Marine's identity.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Motor Scooter Struck by Audi in West Haven: Police

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A man riding a motor scooter was struck by an Audi in West Haven on Friday night, police said.

Police responded to a report that came in around 10:30 p.m. to an accident at the intersection of Derby Avenue and Forest Road. 

The motor scooter operator, Carlos Martinez, 33, was traveling in the center lane going eastbound on Derby Avenue when an Audi struck him, an initial investigation revealed. 

Martinez was thrown about 25 feet from impact, police said.

Police located the unoccupied Audi on Derby Avenue and Central Avenue. They said the driver's identity if known but the name has not been released.

Three female passengers who were in the car during the time of the crash are cooperating with police.

Martinez is in stable condition at a hospital with serious injuries, police said. 



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Family Displaced After Two Alarm Fire in Milford

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A family is displaced after flames ripped through their house on Fern Street Saturday morning.

Milford fire officials say they responded around 11:56 a.m. to the area of 13 Fern Road after neighbors called 911. When fire crews arrived they discovered heavy fire showing from the single family home and struck a second alarm.

Fire officials say the residents of the home were unaware the house was on fire until neighbors notified them. Firefighters helped the residents out of the home and they were then evaluated by paramedics. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters also rescued two turtles from the home. One cat remains missing.

The house is not inhabitable at this time. The Red Cross responded to assist the family.

Stratford Fire and West Haven Fire crews responded mutual aid to provide station coverage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Milford Fire Marshal’s Division at this time.
 

Theater Director Accused of Enticing, Sexually Assaulting Teens

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A theater director is accused of having inappropriate conversation and sexual relations with teenagers, police said.

Matthew Madden, 22, the theater director at Sabrina's Encore Productions, turned himself in to Newtown Police after learning about a warrant for his arrest, police said.

In November, a Newtown High School resource officer began an investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship between a juvenile and Madden, police said. 

The victim said Madden had contacted her through social media and engaged in explicit conversation that made the victim uncomfortable, Newtown Police said.

Several other victims came forward with similar stories about Madden that dated back to 2011. The investigation allegedly revealed that Madden would contact young female students through social media and convince them to meet with him in private, according to police. 

When Madden would meet with the underage girls, he would attempt to have sexual contact and on several occasions, the girls did allegedly have consensual sex with the man, police said. 

Madden turned himself in on Mar. 17.

He is accused of three counts of enticing a minor, three counts of risk of injury to a minor and two counts of second degree sexual assault. Madden is expected to appear in court on Apr. 5.

He was released on a $100,000 bond. It was not clear if he had an attorney. 



Photo Credit: Newtown Police

29 Hospitalized After Ind. Basketball Team Bus Rolls Over

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A bus carrying an Indiana high school basketball team overturned while traveling to a state tournament Saturday, NBC News reported.

Police said the bus rolled over after getting side-swiped by a Kia on an interstate near Roselaw, Indiana, about 30 miles south of Gary.

The driver of the Kia dropped a drink and when she tried to catch it, she swerved into the bus.

The bus was carrying 21 students and six adults from Griffith High School. All 27 people, as well as the Kia's driver and her passenger were taken to hospital. None of the injuries were life threatning, police said. 
 



Photo Credit: Jonathan Miano/The Times via AP

Pedestrian Struck in Drag Race Hit-and-Run

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A driver involved in a drag race struck a pedestrian in Boston's Back Bay and fled, police say. The victim was taken to Brigham and Women's Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, Boston Police confirm.

According to investigators, two cars were drag-racing when one jumped a curb at the corner of Beacon Street and Exeter Street, slamming into a pedestrian.

"I knew what it was right off top. I hear car crash," said Eben Alexandrian, who lives on Beacon Street.

Police say the occupants of the Bentley that crashed piled into the other car, a white BMW convertible, and fled toward Storrow Drive.

The BMW is believed to have Massachusetts plates reading "7DYB90." A BOLO has been issued.

"I have seen people go up and down this street. There's families, there's babies, there's carriages," said Elizabeth Crowley. "About a year and a half ago, there was a very tragic accident up at the next corner."

Back in June of 2014, 27-year-old Jessica Campbell and 28-year-old John Lanzillotti were struck and killed nearby on Beacon Street.



Photo Credit: Nelly Carreno/necn

Threat Against Trump's Sister

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The sister of GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump received a threatening letter in Philadelphia, according to a source with NBC News.

A source familiar with the investigation told NBC’s Katy Tur that Maryanne Trump Barry, a federal appeals court judge in Philadelphia, received the letter Friday, only one day after Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump received a suspicious letter with white powder inside.

It’s unclear at this point whether Trump Barry, 78, received the letter at her office or home address. The source says there was no white powder in the letter sent to Trump Barry. The source also says the message was similar to the threat against Eric Trump which demanded that Donald Trump drop out of the presidential race.

The FBI and the secret service are currently investigating the threat.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Helicopter Hoists Horse to Safety

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Firefighters were working to hoist a horse to safety after it took a tumble down a canyon in Sylmar, 26 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The call came in at 4:27 p.m. PT from Little Tujunga Canyon Road and Marek Motorway, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Two helicopters were sent to help after the horse fell down the side of a trail.

The horse was attached to a harness and blindfolded before a helicopter hoisted it into the air.

It flew through the ravine and the horse was placed safely down at a nearby ranch area. The horse got up on its feet after several tries.

No people were hurt in the fall.

The horse was reunited with its owners after the rescue.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

New London County Preps for Spring Snowstorm

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Many people say spring potentially starting with a burst of snow is unwelcome news.

Now road crews which had also moved on to another season are preparing for winter-like conditions.

New London public works says they are ready for this storm because they’ve had enough time to prepare.

In fact, some trucks which had already been switched over to their spring gear have now been switched back over for snow removal.
There were signs of spring in New London; flowers appeared along city streets, people walked their dogs, and others dressed just in shorts and t-shirts.

“I thought it was springtime but I thought this winter wouldn’t go away easily,” says Jacob Stewart of Groton.

Another blast of winter might soon coat the bare roads.
Public works says it will pre-treat the streets in anticipation of several inches of snow falling here.

“I thought it was supposed to be spring. I’m from Georgia so I’m freezing,” says Michael Mann of Groton.

This season has been like a winter from further south. So far the snow totals are far behind normal.

The state has seen about 17 inches so far this season. That’s less than half of the average of around 37.

“It was pretty mild compared to last (winter),” says Mann.
On Saturday, runners took part in the Mystic Irish 5K.

On Sunday, rain or snow, the 13th annual Mystic Irish Parade is still a go for 1:00pm.

Though parade organizers and many others hope the storm misses the state and we can finally leave winter behind.

“Seen the sun out the last couple days. Ready for Spring. A little tease then some snow,” says Brian Splan of Groton.

Public Works in New London says that even though this storm might fall in spring they’re going to be treating it like any other snow storm.

The only major concern is that it’s happening on a Sunday night and they’re going to make sure everything is ready for school on Monday.
 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Route 167 Reopens in Avon

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Route 167 has reopened after a crash in Avon Sunday morning.

According to police, a crash occurred on West Avon Road at Harris Road around 7:40 a.m.

The crash caused wires to fall, leaving some without power for a short time.

Eversource made repairs to the pole and restored power.

 

 

 

Turkey: Istanbul Bomber Had Ties to ISIS

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Turkey's interior minister on Sunday identified four foreign tourists and the suicide bomber who killed himself in Istanbul as a militant with links to ISIS.

Minister Efkan Ala said the bomber was Turkish citizen Mehmet Ozturk from the southern province of Gaziantep, which borders Syria. Ozturk was born in 1992 and had no previous criminal record.

Five other people were detained as part of the investigation.

Saturday's explosion on Istiklal Street, a major shopping and tourist district in the central part of the city, killed five people, including Ozturk, and wounded dozens of others. Among the fatalities were two American-Israelis, another Israeli and an Iranian.



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images
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