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West Hartford Woman Injured in Fall From Bike Has Died: Police

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A 48-year-old West Hartford woman who was badly injured when she fell off her bicycle on Sunday died two days later, according to police.

Anne Dombrofski, 48, of West Hartford, was riding her Schwinn mountain bike on Cornerstone Drive around 1 p.m. Sunday and fell off while approaching Buena Vista Road, police said.

After the fall, she was transported to Saint Francis Hospital to be treated for serious injuries and died on Tuesday at the hospital, police said.

Dombrofski was wearing a helmet and might have lost control while riding over a rut, according to a news release from police.


Plainville Man Arrested on Larceny Charges

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Southington police have arrested a man accused of falsifying motel computer records to steal money.

Edwin Martinez Jr., 37, of Plainville, was arrested on Aug. 30 and charged with computer crimes and 6th-degree larceny.

Police said between July 9 and July 21, Martinez falsified room rental records at the Motel 6 located at 625 Queen Street in Southington, where he worked. Martinez allegedly modified the records to reflect that customers were dissatisfied with their rooms and refunded. Investigators said the guests were never refunded and that Martinez kept the money.

According to police, Martinez created fake records five times and stole a total of $331.26

He was released on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bristol Superior Court on Sept. 12.



Photo Credit: Southington Police Department

State Police Release Video of I-91 Crash

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State police have released dash cam video from a cruiser that was involved in an accident police said was caused by a tractor trailer switching lanes on the highway.

Police said the incident took place on Interstate 91 south near exit 42 in Windsor Locks around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to police, a tractor trailer, seen in the video, switched lanes, forcing a motorcyclist in the neighboring lane to swerve to avoid collision. The state police trooper then had to swerve to avoid the motorcycle and struck the concrete barrier in the median before hitting the tractor trailer.

Only minor injuries were reported, police said. The driver of the tractor trailer was issued a ticket for unsafe lane change.

Police released the video to remind drivers to be aware of surroundings and to “expect the unexpected” while on the road.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Shoreline Resorts Prep for Effects of Hermine over Holiday

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Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest on the calendar for Connecticut shoreline resorts.

For many people, it is a last chance to squeeze in a summer vacation. It is also a very popular weekend for weddings.

At Water’s Edge Resort in Westbrook, vice president Tina Dattilo is closely tracking the forecast with Hermine strengthening into a hurricane as the storm moves over Florida.

“Usually, we kind of try to go business as normal no matter what happens,” she said.

Water’s Edge is hosting 200 guests for a wedding Saturday and then a second wedding party of 170 people on Sunday, Datillo said.

“They’re both planning on having their ceremonies outside so we’re hoping for good weather,” Datillo said, “but if not we’ll have a beautiful space for them also.”

In case there is a rain out either evening this weekend, the plan is to hold the weddings inside a ballroom.

"Brides are usually nervous no matter what,” Datillo said, “so hopefully we’ll have clear weather for them, but we’ll have to see, that’s not up to us.”

Bands scheduled to play outdoors may also need to move inside this weekend, Datillo said.

With the on and off rain Thursday, the outdoor bar and dining area was empty, and so were the chairs lining the beach.

Even without ideal end of summer weather, Pat Campellone and her friend from Rhode Island were determined to relax on their last day at the resort.

“We’ve made the best of it, been to the spa, and again going to go out there anyway right now on the beach,” she said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Charter Boat Companies Wary of Effects of Hermine

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Uncertain weather has charter boat companies on high alert for the next few days as they watch for what Hermine will do next.

Captain Pete Wheeler has been operating a charter fishing boat company in Old Saybrook, Sea Sprite Sport fishing, since 1980.

For this busy Labor Day weekend, he’s completely booked with two trips a day, but the possible impact from Hermine could dampen business.

“The biggest problem is the timing we don’t know,” Said Wheeler.

That’s why he’s tracking the movement of the storm and hoping it does not impact his trips going from the Connecticut River to the Long Island Sound.

“When we come down in the morning I look at the buoys I’ll know what the weather is I’ll know what the sea conditions are,” Said Wheeler.

He said the weather buoys will give him a better idea of if he has to cancel a trip.

“What they do is give them sea conditions, the wind direction, the wave heights, the frequency whether they’re two second apart, five seconds apart,” Wheeler said.

So far, he has not had any cancellations, but worried customers have called in.

He said he will let them know 24 hours in advance if the trip is cancelled.

Wheeler’s first mate, Joseph Fragomeni said it’s all about keeping the customers and yourself collected -- and keeping safety in mind first.

“You have to be cool and calm yourself… you know you get into situations sometimes where It does get a little rough out there and everybody gets nervous… you just have to keep a cool lid on it,” Said Fragomeni,.

There is one positive – Wheeler said fishing is good whenever there’s an impending storm.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Uber Lets Users Schedule Rides

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Starting September 1, business passengers in Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Bridgeport who use the popular ride-sharing app, Uber, can schedule rides 15 minutes to 30 days in advance.

Any rider with a work email address can create a business profile within their existing account. Eligible users will notice the “Schedule a Ride” button when opening the app.

Users give Uber the trip’s destination points and the requested pickup time. Uber then shows a fare estimate, which may increase significantly during “surge pricing,” or rides that happen during peak hours.

Users will get three reminders—24 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the scheduled pickup time, and when the driver is on the way. Those notifications will show whether surge pricing applies.

Passengers can cancel the trip for free if they change their mind up until the point the driver leaves for a request, as stated in Uber’s general policy.

Uber launched “Scheduled Rides” in Seattle on June 9 and has continued its global rollout ever since. Uber Connecticut plans to expand to all users in the next few weeks.



Photo Credit: Uber

East Haven Police Warn of Possible Fundraising Scam

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East Haven police are warning residents of a possible fundraising scam in town.

Police said they’ve received reports of a caller who pretended to represent the East Haven Police Union. The caller claimed they were fundraising for Chicago officers, Special Olympics, and disabled children. Police said the union is not fundraising for any of these causes.

The East Haven Police Union is currently fundraising for their Comedy Show, which is an annual event. The union also raises money for the annual car show. They do this through phone calls and letters. A sample letter is below.

The union uses a company called Global Marketing Resources to help made phone calls. Those employees follow the following script:

“We are conducting our annual fundraising campaign to raise money for the East Haven Police Union and as a means to help support youth sports, The D.A.R.E. program, etc. We are hosting a Comedy Show in conjunction with our fundraiser at The East Haven High School on Friday, September 16, 2016. It is explained that complimentary tickets are available and an official receipt will be provided. Then followed by, are you able to help with our fundraising campaign this year?”

Police remind residents that if they are unsure if a caller or letter is legitimate they can call the union fundraiser at (860) 235-3955.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

SUV Crashes into Clinton Convenience Store

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One person was taken to the hospital after an SUV crashed into a Clinton convenience store Thursday evening.

Emergency crews responded around 6 p.m. to reports of a vehicle crashing into a building at a Shell gas station at 196 East Main Street.

“The vehicle, which was in the parking lot, made a sudden maneuver and we think the operator inadvertently pushed the gas pedal instead of the brake pedal,” said Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn of the Clinton police department.

Witnesses said the car flew all the way into the store, stopping when it hit the back wall.

We had customers coming in, they heard glass shattering and something that sounded like a gun shot,” said DeNovellis by the Shore manager Lisa Dockus.

Police said the clerk was struck by the vehicle and had to be transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment.

The clerk was conscious and alert when officers arrived. The owners of the store identified him as an extended family member, and said he was seriously injured, but expected to recover.

Regulars said the family who owns the gas station is an important part of the community, and their thoughts are with the clerk.

A customer was also in the store at the time but was unhurt.

The driver, who was not injured, was cited for reckless driving.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Drones Zoom Into Hurricane Hermine

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With Hermine bearing down on the United States, new, high-flying technology is providing critical information to those in the storm’s path.

On Thursday, an unmanned drone flew through Hermine, sampling the storm and measuring its every move. Earlier this week, another drone flew into what’s now Hermine as well, and video provided by NOAA and NASA shows that Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft landing in Virginia after its mission.

Time-lapse videos, also provided by NASA, show the view from the unmanned plane as it zig zags through the storm, measuring things like wind speed and air pressure.

“The benefit of this aircraft is, because it flies so high — it flies at 60,000 feet which is well above the top of the storm. And it’s carrying sensors that can look down through the storm so it’s just like doing an X-ray of that storm,” said Robbie Hood, director of NOAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems program.

Hurricane Hunters have flown through storms for decades, and still do. But after Sandy, the federal government funded these drones to collect even more information.

“A Global Hawk can fly much farther and stay in the air much longer than a traditional manned aircraft, so it can actually stay with the storm for 16-20 hours. Our normal manned aircraft is 8-12 hours,” Hood said.

The drones provide key information that can make forecasts better.

On Tuesday, a Global Hawk with a 40-meter wingspan dropped a record 90 instruments while investigating two tropical depressions, one off the Carolinas and the one that became Hermine, according to a NOAA news release. The flight took nearly 24 hours, and helped track the two storms. 

On Saturday, one of the drones sampled Gaston in the middle of the Atlantic, dropping more than 80 instruments into the storm. It detected hurricane-force winds that otherwise would have gone unnoticed by meteorologists — another flight marked the first time that data gathered by the NASA Global Hawk was used to upgrade a storm from tropical storm to hurricane.

“We’re always looking at how can we improve our forecast and expand the warning time that people have to prepare for dangerous storms,” Hood said.



Photo Credit: NASA

Man Tried to Lure 12-Year-Old into Car: Police

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Bethel police are searching for a man who tried to lure a 12-year-old into a car.

Police said the 7th-grader was walking home from the bus around 3:15 p.m. Thursday when the juvenile was approached by a man driving a black sedan. The child reported that the driver asked if the child needed a ride home. When the victim said no, the driver allegedly demanded that the child get in the car. The child then fled.

The man is described as being around 40 years old, with black hair slicked back, clean shaven, with a muscular build and a deep voice. The car was black and may had Connecticut plates, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bethel police at (203) 744-7900.



Photo Credit: necn

Red Cross Prepares Regional Disaster Response Plan

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Even though a direct hit by Hurricane Hermine is unlikely in New England, the Connecticut Red Cross is putting its regional disaster response plan in place as it tracks the storm.

“We are calling down our volunteers were talking to our partners were talking to emergency management in the communities really make sure our communities and are teams are as prepared as possible,” said Regional Disaster Officer Neil Brockway.

The Red Cross has had a busy summer supporting disaster victims in Louisiana to Florida, but with Hermine making landfall in Florida, their focus is moving back to Connecticut.

“When we activated this plan we also put a halt on sending additional people outside the state to support those operations,” Brockway said.

“We want to keep some resources here to make sure that we are well prepared to take care of our community,” Chief Communications officer Stefanie Arcangelo explained.

They also want the community to prepare.

“You want to make sure you have your preparedness kid ready a great recommendation is to check it at least once every season, Arcangelo said.”

As part of that regional disaster response plan, the Red Cross also spent Thursday checking on supplies for comfort kits, which includes a variety of items including toiletries. Thursday, they will inspect cars to make sure the vehicles that may be needed to transport supplies are ready to go.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Meriden Firefighters Knock Down House Fire

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Several people are displaced after a fire at a multi-family home in Meriden Thursday night.

Meriden Fire Chief Kenneth Morgan said crews responded to 70/72 Prescott Street around 5 p.m. for reports of a fire with people trapped inside. When firefighters arrived they found everyone had safely exited the building and there was a fire on the third floor.

Morgan said they knocked down the blaze and no injuries were reported, though one firefighter had to take a break due to the heat.

The fire was contained to the third floor, but there is significant water damage to the second floor. The second and third floor residents are displaced for the night, and it’s possible the first floor may not be able to stay in the building, fire officials said.

Eleven people, including some children, were in the building at the time of the fire.

The cause is under investigation.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Brock Turner Released From Jail

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Ex-Stanford swimmer Brock Turner, whose sexual assault conviction and sentencing sparked a national debate about "rape culture" on college campuses and white privilege in the legal system, walked out of Santa Clara County jail early Friday morning in San Jose after spending three months behind bars.

Turner, clad in a crumpled dress shirt, was handed a big packet of hate mail by guards as he exited at 6:08 a.m. With his head down, he slipped into a white SUV. The family checked in to the Hilton Garden Inn in Mountain View.

Turner didn't say anything to the throng of media agencies awaiting his departure from jail.

However, the bright lights and cameras that focused on him Friday illuminated a harsh fact: Turner will likely have trouble escaping notoriety even once at home in Ohio. For many, he is now the poster child for the problem of sexual assaults on college campuses, and protesters have begun lining up outside the Turner family's home in Greene County.

Anticipating his arrival, some protesters on Friday utilized Ohio's open carry rules and strapped AR-15s onto their bodies. They also carried signs promising to "castrate rapists."

"I think that six months was not enough for his actions," Kate Gorlaski said.

Fellow protester Molly Hardin agreed, saying, "Justice was not served for what Brock did to that victim." 

The anger has generated worry among those who live nearby in the suburban town near Dayton.

There were no formal protests outside of the South Bay jail Friday, and Turner was not booed or harmed, as some had feared. But rape survivor Andrea Murphy was one of the few non-reporters who came to the event, saying she came just to look Turner in the eye.

Sheriff Laurie Smith, who is running for re-election, told reporters that this was an "outrage" describing what Turner did as the "rape" of an unconscious drunk woman. She added that Turner should "not have spent time in our jail," meaning that she thought the 21-year-old should have been given a harsher sentence in a state prison.

Smith had said earlier in the week that Turner wouldn't receive any "special favors." He would be released through the jail's front entrance, and wasn't getting access to a "backdoor," she had promised.

The trial and subsequent outrage prompted a California sex assault bill that's now being considered by Gov. Jerry Brown.

In a statement to Gov. Brown, Smith wrote that she urged him to sign the bill to "make clear that probation is not a fair sentence for anyone convicted of a sexual assault felony perpetrated against an intoxicated and unconscious victim." 

Smith said in her statement dated Aug. 31 that as a sheriff and mother, "I do believe that the interests of justice are best served by ensuring that sexual predators are sent to prison as punishment for their crime." 

While in jail, Turner shared a cell with five inmates. He was allowed to exercise in the yard for 90 minutes a day, but spent the rest of his time in protective custody because he was "at risk" from other inmates. 

After Turner's release, District Attorney Jeff Rosen issued a statement, asking law makers to close a loophole in the law regarding unconscious victims and rape: "If we had our way, Brock Turner would be in state prison serving a six-year sentence, not going home. However, our focus today is on a bill that will require a state prison sentence, not probation, for anyone convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious person. With the governor’s signature, the next Brock Turner will go to prison."

A jury found Turner guilty in March of three counts of sexually assaulting an unconscious and intoxicated woman in January 2015. He was not convicted of rape. Turner served half of a six-month sentence — his early release is due to good behavior — that has brought heavy criticism on Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky. 

A Stanford student testified that he saw Turner on top of a woman who wasn’t moving and, with another student, tackled the swimmer to the ground when he tried to run away. The woman, who graduated from UC Santa Barbara, said she had been drinking and did not want to have sex with Turner at a fraternity party they had attended. The case's profile rose even further when the young woman  wrote a powerful letter describing her experience in an unusually direct way, earning praise across the country and even from Vice President Joe Biden. She has not been named publicly.

Turner's father drew attention to the case by writing a letter to the court saying just "20 minutes of action" should not justify a stint in jail. 

Later Friday, women's groups such as Ultraviolet protested Turner's release, and continued their recall campaign against Judge Persky. Activists want the judge removed from the bench because of Turner's sentence, which could have been as long as 14 years.

Perksy voluntarily recused himself from all criminal cases last week and has since set up a website to fight his recall. Inmates are routinely set free early due to good behavior.

As a condition of his release, Turner will be required to complete a sex offender management program and participate in polygraph tests, according to his probation conditions. He is also banned from stepping on the Stanford campus ever again. As of Friday, he had already registered as a sex offender on the U.S. Department of Justice's website.

Categorized as a tier-3 offender, Turner will have to re-register as a sex offender every three months in Ohio. To get off the offender list, he must get a pardon from California’s governor.

The Greene County sheriff told NBC Bay Area he expects Turner to check in with him next week. 

NBC Bay Area's Shawn Murphy, Robert Handa, Rick Boone and Henry Mulak contributed to this report.


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Hiring Slows as Employers Add Modest 151,000 Jobs

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Hiring downshifted last month as U.S. employers added a modest 151,000 jobs, about half the blockbuster gains of the two previous months.

The Labor Department says the unemployment rate remained 4.9 percent for the third straight month.

The figures are far below July's gain of 275,000 jobs, the most in eight months, and June's increase of 271,000. Still, they are enough to lower the jobless rate over time.

Job gains slowed across most major industries, and employers cut workers in manufacturing, construction and mining.

The weaker pace may make it less likely that the Federal Reserve will raise short-term interest rates at its next meeting Sept. 20-21.

Hourly wages barely increased in August and have risen just 2.4 percent in the past year, slightly lower than the previous month's pace.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Gas Smell Prompted Brief Evacuation of Middle School, High School in Portland

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Portland Middle School and Portland High School were briefly evacuated Friday morning because of a faint smell of gas. 

Officials from the superintendent’s office said students were allowed back into school after the fire department investigated and cleared the scene.


Route 2 East Reopens in Colchester After Truck Rollover

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Route 2 East was closed in Colchester for hours after a tractor-trailer carrying frozen food overturned, but it has reopened.

The driver lost control of the truck, hit a sign and rolled over just before 3:15 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Route 11, according to State Police.

No injuries have been reported.

State police said the truck was towed from the scene and crews from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded because of a fuel leak.

Crews from the state Department of Consumer Protection also responded because the truck was carrying food.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

49er Pledges $1 Million to Charity

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he wants to do more than just sit on a bench or take a knee during the national anthem.

On Thursday night, after a victorious preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, Kaepernick told reporters he planned to give the first $1 million he earns this year to unnamed community organizations.

"I am planning to take it a step further," he told reporters.  "I'm currently working with organizations to be involved and making sure I'm actively in these communities as well as donating the first million dollars that I make this year to different organizations to help these communities and help these people."

Kaepernick said he is still in discussions with multiple organizations. Kaepernick is guaranteed to earn $11.9 million in base salary this season.

Kaepernick added: "I've been very blessed to be in this position and make the kind of money I do, and I have to help these people. I have to help these communities. It's not right that they're not put in the position to succeed, or given the opportunities to succeed."



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area/CSN Bay Area
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Trump Supporter Warns of 'Taco Trucks on Every Corner'

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A Donald Trump surrogate warned that without tighter immigration policies the U.S. will see "taco trucks on every corner" as a consequence of Mexican migration.

While questioning Latinos for Trump founder Marco Gutierrez over Trump's immigration speech, MSNBC's Joy-Anne Reid asked whether Trump's tone was so alienating that he could possibly face a Barry Goldwater moment.

Gutierrez praised the Republican presidential nominee for delivering a "tough message" that needed to be addressed before warning that his culture was "imposing" and "dominant" and that "if you don't do something about it, you're going to have taco trucks on every corner."

The comment sparked backlash and unleashed a flood of memes on social media, with the hashtag #tacotrucksoneverycorner trending on Twitter.



Photo Credit: MSNBC
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Suspect in Fatal Shelton Hit-and-Run Arrested

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Police have arrested a suspect in the hit-and-run that killed a 55-year-old Ansonia man on Dec. 23, 2015.

Brian Climis, of Ansonia, was on a bicycle when he was hit in front of the Starbucks at 504 Bridgeport Ave. around 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, according to police. He was brought to the hospital after the crash with life-threatening injuries and later died.

Ryder Kingsley, 36, of New Haven, turned himself in to police on Friday after a warrant was issued for his arrest and he has been charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and evading responsibility,

Bond was set at $100,000 and he was brought to Derby Superior Court to be arraigned.



Photo Credit: Shelton Police

Governor Urges Shoreline Residents to Be Prepared for Possible Flooding from Hermine

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A tropical storm watch has been issued for Connecticut’s immediate shoreline and the governor is asking residents in the watch zone to closely monitor Tropical Storm Hermine over the next several days and be prepared for potential minor to moderate flooding and some gusty winds. 

Gov. Dannel Malloy is also urging residents to be prepared in case of potential power outages. 

“Our office is receiving real-time updates on this storm and its path. Just as the state is monitoring and preparing, the public should do the same, especially residents in our shoreline communities,” Malloy said in a statement. “Based on Hermine’s current projected path, we do not believe it will have a major impact on the state, but it does have the potential to produce some gusty winds and minor to moderate coastal flooding, especially in low-lying areas along the shoreline. Power outages are also a possibility with this storm. This storm needs to be watched closely over the next three to four days.” 

Malloy’s office said the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is monitoring the storm very closely and is prepared to coordinate any potential state response. 

The Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security is also participating in regular National Weather Service conference calls to get the latest information on the storm’s track and any potential impacts on the state.



Photo Credit: NOAA
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