Quantcast
Channel: NBC Connecticut
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live

Chinese Tourist Spends 12 Days in German Refugee Camp

$
0
0

A Chinese tourist who tried to report a stolen wallet during a visit to Germany unwittingly signed an asylum application that got him stranded as a refugee for two weeks in the country's burgeoning asylum bureaucracy, Reuters reported.

The well-dressed 31-year-old, known as Mr L., spoke only Mandarin. German authorities only discovered their mistake after turning in desperation to a local Chinese restaurant to interpret for them, a Red Cross official said on Monday.

"He didn't speak any German or English — only Mandarin," Christoph Schluetermann, head of a Red Cross refugee center in the northern town of Duelmen, told Reuters after the man from Beijing was released to resume his tour of Europe.

It all began when he was robbed in the tourist town of Heidelberg. Mr. L. went to city hall, which he thought was a police station, where he signed an asylum application.



Photo Credit: AP, File

Stamford Police Make Arrest in Death of 2-Month-Old

$
0
0

Stamford police have arrested a the owner of a daycare in connection with the death of a 2-month-old girl.

Police said the investigation is still on-going.

"It’s a two-month-old baby who was defenseless obviously. She’s two-months-old. She can’t roll around. She can’t speak. She can’t talk," Lt. Diedrich Hohn told NBC Connecticut.

Nydia Carrillo-Maldonado, 34, of Wardwell Street in Stamford, is charged with first-degree manslaughter and risk of injury to a minor after the death of Bella Redondo of New Canaan.

Redondo died on July 12, after she had difficulty breathing and was rushed to the hospital from the Little Bears Beginnings Daycare in Stamford. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide by blunt force trauma to the head.

“While no arrest will ever ease their heartache and loss, the Redondo's are grateful to law enforcement for moving quickly and fairly on this case. The family wants accountability and justice for Bella, and this arrest is the first step toward those goals," Mark Sherman, the Redondo family's attorney, said.

Carrillo-Maldonado is the owner of Little Bears Beginnings Daycare. State officials suspended her license days after Redondo's death.

Court set bond at $200,000, police said. Carrillo-Maldonado is expected in court on Aug. 22. 

Calls by NBC Connecticut to Christian W. Bujdud, Carrillo-Maldonado's attorney, have not been returned.

Police said this was a difficult case for investigators.

“Many parents put the trust of their children in the hands of daycare workers every day and this is every parent’s nightmare. This case was the departments’ top priority for the last several weeks,” police said in a release.



Photo Credit: Stamford Police Department

Gold-Medal Moment: Swimmers' Emotions Take Over

$
0
0

It was quite an emotional scene on the podium following Team USA’s gold-medal-winning performance in the 4x100m freestyle Sunday night.

Not one, but two, U.S. athletes broke down in tears, leading to one of the most memorable moments so far in Rio.

“The young bucks brought tears to our eyes,” Michael Phelps told the TODAY Show, referring to Ryan Held and Caeleb Dressel, who along with Phelps and Nathan Adrian captured gold in an event that had been dominated by France the last two Olympic Games.

For Held, 21, it was his first international competition and his first international race. He didn’t compete in any of the previous races as he was added to the squad just prior to the gold-medal race.

While the national anthem was playing and the American flag was raised at the medal ceremony, Held broke down in tears.

Eventually, Phelps consoled the Olympic rookie while they were still on the podium.

"When the tears started rolling,” Held told TODAY. "Michael put his arm around me and was like, ‘Hey man, take it easy, you’re going to make me cry. Just take it all in. You’re not going to have this feeling again for a while.' "

Dressel, who won’t turn 20 for a few more days, also broke down, and cameras caught the emotions for all to see.

As he draped himself in an American flag, Dressel was comforted by Phelps, who has plenty of experience winning gold and appearing on swimming’s biggest stage.

"I was saying to Nathan, I was trying to hold back as much as I could,” Phelps said of his tearful teammates. “(Dressel) started shedding tears and Ryan started shedding tears."

Held said Phelps means a lot to the younger swimmers on the team, through good times and bad. 

"Michael is a great leader and a great athlete,” Held said. "He gives a sense of confidence to other swimmers, so when I’m around him I feel a little stronger and stand a little taller and just feel a little more confident.”

And he also provides a great shoulder to cry on.

"I’ve heard the national anthem plenty of times before, and I’ve received awards before as they played the national anthem,” Held said. “But this was different. The emotions just kind of manifested themselves and the tears started rolling."



Photo Credit: Getty Images
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

State Building Renovation Could Spark Development Near the Bushnell

$
0
0

There has been sustained discussions for about eight years regarding developing the neighborhood across the street from Connecticut's State Capitol.

Right there is The Bushnell, a major Hartford theater venue, Bushnell Park, and the State Office Building that is slated for a wide-scale renovation in 2017.

Supporters of development like the Capitol Region Development Authority and the iQuilt Plan, said they see a bright new future for the neighborhood.

"When you really look at this, we’re still just at the very early stages of just really a rebirth of downtown Hartford," said James Carter, who chairs the board of iQuilt, a group that has advocated for development in this area since 2008.

Now that a study will be funded in part by the CRDA to see what options are available on the site, Carter said the sky is the limit because of how accessible the city is.

"Everybody is looking for a lifestyle where they don’t have to get into their cars and I think as you see the housing that is getting promoted and the project that is out by the Bushnell you can see that everyone is interested in housing now because it is becoming such a walkable city."

Specifically, Carter mentioned how the Bushnell is within a short walking distance of the Wadsworth Atheneum, the future UConn Hartford Campus, the XL Center, and the eventually completed Dunkin Donuts Park.

"Doing something to improve the walkability, improves it for the whole community."



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Team Canada Using Racing Shell Made in New Haven

$
0
0

A New Haven company’s products are being put to the test at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Vespoli USA builds racing shells for rowing teams and Olympians have competed in them dating back to the 1984 summer games in Los Angeles.

“We had bronze medal in ’88, silver medal in ’92,” Vespoli USA President Mike Vespoli said. “Greatest moment in Olympic glory is when Great Britain won the eight, Australia got the silver medal, in the men’s eight in Sydney Australia in year 2000.”

While they’re made in New Haven, this year another country is racing in Vespoli shells.

“The irony of it is our Canadian brothers from the north are racing in our shell,” Vespoli said, “the US are rowing in a German made boat.”

While Vespoli wants Team USA to succeed, “for commercial reasons I’m certainly rooting for the Canadians,” he said.

Vespoli and his team of more than 40 employees took a break Monday afternoon to watch the men’s four Canadian team narrowly beat the Americans in a qualifying race.

“You feel the nerves, did I do it right” Vespoli said about watching his company’s boats in competition, “Is it perfect? Because these guys train their whole lives for this moment and the equipment is an integral part of their success, we can’t let them down, so I feel it. I know my people feel it every time we see our boat on the water.”

Vespoli also knows the nerves the athletes are feeling, as well as their dedication and determination, because he represented the United States in Munich at the 1972 Olympics.

“The biggest thrill you get is walking into the stadium of the Opening Ceremony,” he said, “that’s when it really hits you full force. You train, you aspire to make the team, you make the team, but you’ve made the team, you’re wearing the USA colors, you’re marching into the stadium, it’s a pretty special moment.”

With the U.S. Rowing Junior National team competing in Vespoli’s shells, Mike said he hopes as those athletes get older maybe Team USA will again race in his boats at another Olympics.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Old State House Collections to Remain Intact

$
0
0

State officials are reversing a decision to transfer responsibility for the Old State House, which has been closed since June due to budget restrictions, from one state department to another.

In an Aug. 5 letter to legislative leaders, Gov. Dannel Malloy said that responsibility for the Old State House, which was supposed to move from the Office of Legislative Management to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will remain in OLM’s hands. Malloy said this is partially because the cost to operate the site is greater than initially projected.

Officials initially estimated the cost to run everything around $400,000, and that money was to be transferred from OLM’s budget to the DEEP budget. However, further investigation revealed that in Fiscal Year 2016 it cost at least $902,000 to fully operate the facility and its public programs, according to the letter.

DEEP has already suffered a $10 million budget cut and was scaling back on public hours at several department-run parks and locations. When officials first discovered they would be responsible for the Old State House, DEEP officials said they did not have the ability to maintain the Old State House collections or continue to run the public programs.

The plan was to return the items from the Old State House collection to various historical societies around Connecticut. However, in the letter Malloy said that leaders agreed to “pause” these plans until the 2017 legislative session.

For the time being the responsibility for the Old State House, and all money meant to go toward the site will return to OLM. All art and artifacts associated with the Old State House will remain with the building.

OLM and DEEP will work together to create a Memorandum of Understanding that lays out the details.

The governor also expressed hope that this agreement will lead a solution that will continue operations and public access at the Old State House to continue as before.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Connecticut Senate GOP Claims No Wrongdoing in Data Collection

$
0
0

Connecticut's senate Republicans have spent $100,000 each year for several years to pay a company to collect information provided to their official state website.

The company, Align Media, runs a firm called Votertrove, which specializes in helping campaigns with voter lists and campaigns.

The data was collected on the Connecticut Senate Republicans website on at least several occasions when they asked users to sign petitions or to sign up for information. Rather than the data staying with the state, it went to Align Media's Voter Trove, which also has campaign accounts with multiple Republicans running for reelection to the State Senate.

A spokesperson for the caucus, Nicole Rall, declined to issue a formal statement Monday, but did say that the information collected by Votertrove never left the hands of the caucus and it has never been turned over to campaigns for political use. Rall said the caucus only uses services provided by Votertrove and that the data is solely for state use.

Tom Swan is the Executive Director of the watchdog, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, and says he's worried for the relationship between constituents and their elected representatives after an episode like this one.

"There’s both a chilling effect on peoples’ willingness to participate and petition the government but there’s also a faith and trust within government question that we think is really important," he said.

Under state law, the work of campaigns and sitting candidates running for higher office or for reelection have to keep their work entirely separate.

That's a point made by Rep. Brendan Sharkey, the outgoing Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives.

"It’s the law that we cannot use taxpayers dollars in anyway to fund activities involving campaigns so we have to keep very clear distinctions for both staff as well as contract to prevent us from using the budget for anything involving campaigns."

Sharkey says the entire practice appears to be suspect considering considering House Democrats, House Republicans, and Senate Democrats use solely state resources for their respective websites.

"My question is why are you spending so much money for a website, for somebody to manage your website, $100,000 in taxpayer dollars per year, but then why aren’t you doing something about it and why did it take so long to ensure that that contractor was not using, and mixing the two."

Swan, with the Connecticut Citizen Action Group predicts there could be new headlines soon that would take the attention off of a Federal Grand Jury investigating Democrats during the 2014 campaign season.

He said, "I would be very surprised if the SEEC (State Elections Enforcement Commission) isn’t already on top of this."

Usain Bolt Appearance Includes Samba Dancers, Rap

$
0
0

For the fastest man in the world, even an ordinary press conference becomes extraordinary.

Such was the case for Usain Bolt on Monday in Rio. 

The press conference didn’t start off on the right cleat, as Bolt received a lukewarm response from the pool of journalists as he was introduced.

“First of all, you’ve got to clap louder than that,” Bolt joked as he walked on stage.

Bolt then discussed his desire to break the 19-second mark in the 200 meter race (he holds the record at 19.19), said his training is going well despite his bum hamstring, and reiterated that this will, indeed, be the last Olympics of the soon-to-be 30-year-old’s career.

There were a few bizarre moments, as well.

Someone in the crowd rapped for him. At least we think that’s what it was. Watch at your own risk:

And then at the end of the press conference Bolt was joined on stage by samba dancers, who proceeded to dance him off the stage because, well, he's Usain Bolt and you're not.

Bolt's first race will be Saturday as he begins his quest for gold in the 100 meters.


This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Two Benghazi Parents Sue Clinton for Wrongful Death

$
0
0

The parents of two Americans killed in the 2012 terrorist attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court Monday against Hillary Clinton.

In the suit, Patricia Smith and Charles Woods, the parents of Sean Smith and Tyrone Woods, claim that Clinton's use of a private e-mail server contributed to the attacks. They also accuse her of defaming them in public statements, NBC News reported.

Smith was an information management officer and Woods was a security officer, both stationed in Benghazi.

In a speech to the Republican convention in Cleveland, Smith said, "I blame Hillary Clinton personally for the death of my son."

The parents were represented by Washington, D.C., lawyer Larry Klayman, a frequent critic of the Clintons.

Neither the Clinton campaign nor a lawyer for Clinton responded immediately to a request for comment on the lawsuit.



Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

Police Seize 2-Foot-Long Alligator From New Hartford Home

$
0
0

Environmental police arrested a man in New Hartford for possessing a two-foot-long American alligator and operating an illegal marijuana grow. 

Jake Ouellette was charged with illegal possession of an American alligator, over four ounces of marijuana, paraphernalia, intent to sell and manufacturing marijuana after police received reports about the reptile living at the man's home on Maple Hollow Road, police said.

The homeowner informed Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police of an alligator he saw during a home inspection at a tenant's apartment, according to officials.

After some investigation, EnCon police officials said they called Ouellette, who denied owning the alligator and refused to come back to the residence. However, responding officers were able to see in plain view two children's pools with pumps and water circulation equipment. 

Police were able to obtain a search and seizure warrant after they determined that Ouellette had multiple warrants out for his arrest in Connecticut and Florida.

During the search, police seized an American alligator, numerous marijuana plants, seeds, rolled joints, hash oil, e-cigarettes containing hash oil with USB adapters, packaging materials and equipment, drug paraphernalia and interior growing equipment including seed starter kits, sheets of foil, fertilizer and log books containing transactions and various species of marijuana.

The alligator was turned over to a reptile rehabilitative and educational organization, EnCon police said.

Ouellette was arrested on July 27 at his job in Wolcott and taken into custody.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police

Police Shot Woman After Chase in Stolen Car in Bridgeport: Police

$
0
0

Connecticut state police are investigating after a Bridgeport police officer shot a woman suspected of leading police on a chase in a stolen car on Sunday, according to state police.

Bridgeport police tried to stop the driver of a 2016 Nissan Sentra at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday because the car was reported stolen out of Bridgeport earlier in the day, but the woman driving led officers on a chase from Bridgeport into Stratford and wouldn’t stop, police said.

The chase finally ended in the parking lot of a junk-hauling business on Seymour Street and the driver, Josephine Cepeda, 26, of Bridgeport, intentionally hit two Bridgeport police cruisers, police said.

An officer fired his department-issued gun and hit Cepeda at least once, according to police.

After a brief struggle, police took Cepeda into custody and she was taken to Bridgeport Hospital.

Her injuries are not life-threatening and no police officers were hurt, according to a news release from police.

State police said the Western District Major Crime unit was called in to investigate around 10 p.m.

Bridgeport Police Chief, Armando "AJ" Perez, defended the officer and said officers are authorized to use in certain cases. 

“I stand firmly behind the actions of the Bridgeport police officers involved in this incident last night. As is our protocol, we refer any incident in which a person is struck by the discharge of a service weapon fired by a Bridgeport police officer for investigation by the local State Attorney and the Connecticut State Police,” Perez said in a statement. “This matter is now under investigation by the office of Bridgeport State Attorney John Smirga and the Connecticut State Police. As such, we can have no further comment on any details related to this matter, pending the outcome of the state investigation.”

Police have not released the name of the Bridgeport police officer.



Photo Credit: Bridgeport Police

Stamford Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Hawks

$
0
0

A Stamford man has plead guilty to killing hawks, according to the US Attorney’s office.

 Adam Boguski, 43, of Stamford, plead guilty Monday to two counts of taking, capturing and killing Cooper’s hawks and conspiracy to take, capture and kill red-tailed and Cooper’s hawks.

Red-tailed hawks and Cooper’s hawks are protected under the federal Migratory Bird treaty act.

According to court documents and statements in court, Boguski and another man, Thomas Kapusta, had a pigeon coop at 330 Weed Avenue in Stamford. The pair raised racing pigeons in the coop and let the birds fly outside the coop for exercise.

Officials said Boguski admitted he and Kapusta captured hawks in traps and killed them because they were concerned the hawks threatened their pigeons.

Boguski is scheduled for sentencing on October 11. He faces a maximum of 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $45,000.

Kapusta plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to take, capture and kill red-tailed hawks and Cooper’s hawks, and four counts of taking, capturing and killing red-tailed hawks or Cooper’s hawks. He is scheduled for sentencing on September 12.

French Fencer Loses Cellphone During Match

$
0
0

Not even an Olympic match could force French fencer Enzo Lefort to part with his cellphone. The 24-year-old’s phone fell out of his pocket as he fought Peter Joppich of Germany on Sunday.

Lefort lost to Joppich 15-13 in the men’s individual foil round of 32. But he did give the audience in Rio a good laugh. 

He’ll next play as part of the men’s team foil against China on Friday.



Photo Credit: AP

Blast Sparks Strike by Lawyers in Pakistan

$
0
0

Pakistani lawyers staged a nationwide strike Tuesday after a suicide bombing in Quetta killed dozens of colleagues, NBC News reported. 

More than 70 people died in the attack on Monday. Sixty of those slain were lawyers who gathered to mourn the assassination of the Baluchistan Bar Association’s president, Bilal Anwar Kasi, according to medical staff. 

ISIS was one of two Islamist militant groups to claim responsibility for the attack, but officials and analysts had doubts over whether it was behind it. The attack was initially claimed by Jamaat-ur-Ahrar, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban fighting to overthrow the government and establish Islamic law. 

The bombing was the latest and deadliest attack against lawyers in Pakistan, who are seen by some militants as an extension of the government.



Photo Credit: AP

1 Injured After Car Crashes Into Building in Milford

$
0
0

One person was taken to the hospital after a car crashed into a building in Milford Tuesday morning.

Milford fire officials said they responded around 8:22 a.m. to 250 Broad Street and found a vehicle crashed through the front wall of the building. The occupant of the car was stuck inside and had to be assisted by firefighters. That individual was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

One person was inside the building at the time of the crash but did not suffer any injuries, officials said.

The vehicle was removed and the City Building Department was called in to inspect the building.



Photo Credit: Milford Fire Department

Rogers Corporation Moves Headquarters from Connecticut to Arizona

$
0
0

Rogers Corporation is moving its global headquarters from Killingly, Connecticut to Arizona. 

A news release from the company says the headquarters will move to Chandler, Arizona. The process will take a year or two and it's not clear how many employees will be affected.

“Relocating our corporate headquarters to Arizona improves our access to the growing business and technology centers on the west coast,” Bruce D. Hoechner, president and CEO of Rogers, said in a statement. 

A statement from the company says it considered characteristics of the Phoenix metropolitan market, including its business climate, university system and transportation infrastructure in its decision.  

Rogers has been in Connecticut since the company was founded in 1832 and it employs several hundred people in the state in manufacturing and research and development positions and said those roles are not affected by the move. 

The corporate headquarters in Arizona will employ around 70 corporate employees. 

Rogers’ Elastomeric Materials Solutions business segment, which is headquartered in Connecticut, will also remain here, according to the company. 

“Rogers, Connecticut will always be a place we call home and a strategic element of Rogers Corporation in the years ahead,” Hoechner said in a statement. “We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with the Connecticut communities in which we operate and we will continue to support community services in the area.” 



Photo Credit: necn

Zika Baby Death in Houston-Area

$
0
0

Texas health officials confirmed Tuesday that an infant who passed away shortly after birth in Harris County had microcephaly linked to the Zika virus.

The mother was infected with Zika while traveling in Latin America, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The child acquired the infection in the womb, officials said.

At least 99 cases of Zika have been reported in Texas, including two infants with microcephaly in Harris County. All Texas cases are related to travel in countries where Zika is prevalent, and no cases have been transmitted by mosquitoes in Texas.

DSHS is coordinating with officials in Harris County and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to follow Zika cases.

[[389665311,C]]

“Zika’s impact on unborn babies can be tragic, and our hearts are with this family,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner. “Our central mission from the beginning has been to do everything we can to protect unborn babies from the devastating effects of Zika.”

The CDC has advised pregnant women not to travel to Zika-affected parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and the Wynwood neighborhood in Miami.

DSHS has been emphasizing precautions, specifically for travelers and pregnant women, through an ongoing public education campaign and via www.TexasZika.org.

WikiLeaks Offers Reward

$
0
0

WikiLeaks is offering a reward for information in the murder of a Democratic National Committee staffer. 

WikiLeaks said in a tweet Tuesday that the group is issuing a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the death of Seth Conrad Rich. 

Rich was shot multiple times on the 2100 block of Flagler Place NW on July 10, police said. He was 27.

Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Peter Newsham gave a brief update Tuesday afternoon.

"At this time, we don't have any information to suggest that the case is in any way connected with his work at the DNC," he said.

Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a news conference last week that it is possible Rich was killed in an attempted robbery. 

The case remains under investigation. 

Newsham also commented Tuesday afternoon on the reward WikiLeaks is offering. 

"We're very pleased if anyone is going to assist us with giving reward money," he said. 

A reward of as much as $25,000 is also being offered by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

Rich, a Nebraska native, was a rising star in the DNC, colleagues said.

His mother, Mary Rich, said she took comfort knowing her son tried to make the world better.

"The only thing I can say as a mother is it warms my heart that he lived such a great life, even though it was cut short," she said. "I can always hold on to that."

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or send a text message to 50411. 



Photo Credit: Courtesy of family
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Men Tried to Impersonate Verizon Customers and Steal Items: Police

$
0
0

North Haven police have arrested two men accused of trying to use fake IDs to buy a phone and accessories from Verizon through someone else’s Verizon account. 

Police responded to the Verizon store on Universal Drive Monday to investigate suspicious activity. 

They said a man, later identified as 29-year-old Anthony Middletown, of New York City, used a fake New Jersey license, claimed to be a Verizon account member, and tried to buy a phone and several accessories worth more than $900, asking for the purchase to be billed to the victim’s account, police said. 

Both men ran from police and to the Universal Drive parking lot, where officers took Middleton, and 29-year-old Kristopher Simmons, of Yonkers New York, into custody. 

Middleton was charged with criminal impersonation, second-degree forgery, conspiracy to commit larceny in the fifth degree and criminal attempt to commit larceny in the fifth degree. He was held on a $40,000 bond. 

Police said Middleton also has an active warrant for his arrest in New Jersey. 

Simmons was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny in the fifth degree and interfering and resisting arrest. He was held on a $40,000 bond and both men will be arraigned today in Meriden Superior Court.



Photo Credit: North Haven Police

Wolcott Police Warn of Driveway Repair Scam

$
0
0

Wolcott police are warning residents to beware of door-to-door solicitors after a local resident became the victim of a driveway repair scam.

Police said a resident reported a man came to their door claiming to be a contractor. The man, who identified himself as Stanley, claimed he worked for company called A-TEAM Driveway Seal Coatings and Crack Repair in East Berlin and offered to do work on the victim’s driveway.

The resident reported paying the man $800 and said the work was never done. The victim also said that their neighbor was also scammed out of $600.

Wolcott police remind residents that they can check with police to see if solicitors are registered.



Photo Credit: Wolcott Police Department
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images