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Man Charged With Filing Fake Voter Registration Applications in Va.

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A former resident of Alexandria, Virginia, is facing up to 40 years in prison after he allegedly used fake names to fill out voter registration applications. 

Vafalay Massaquoi, 30, is facing four felony charges related to allegations of voter registration fraud, the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office said. Each charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. 

In the spring of 2016, Massaquoi was registering new voters as an employee of a local advocacy group. According to the Commonwealth's Attorney, Massaquoi fabricated applications and used fake names to fill out the registration forms. 

The fake applications were filed with the Alexandria Office of the General Registrar, who reported the issue to Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter.

Porter said while the false applications were filed, no illegal votes were cast in this case. 

"Since the fraudulent applications involved fictitious people, had the fraud not been uncovered the risk of actual fraudulent votes being cast was low," Porter said.

An arrest warrant was filed for Massaquoi in July, but he had already moved out of the area. After a search, Massaquoi was arrested near Philadelphia and extradited to Alexandria Oct. 27. 

Massaquoi appeared in court Friday morning and is being held without bond.



Photo Credit: Alexandria Police Department

Woman Reported Missing in Enfield Found Dead: Police

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Police are investigating the death of a 56-year-old woman reported missing from the Windsor Court public housing complex in Enfield on Thursday.

Police said the woman was found dead around 11:15 a.m. Friday in the wooded area behind Windsor Court.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

76ers Apologize for Kicking Out 'We Matter' Anthem Singer

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The Philadelphia 76ers publicly apologized Friday to the singer who wasn't allowed to sing the national anthem at the team's home opener this week because of her "We Matter" jersey.

The team said in a statement that they hope singer Sevyn Streeter will come back and sing at the Wells Fargo Center before another game this season. Streeter was supposed to sing Wednesday evening before the Sixers' nationally-televised opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The team's statement released Friday afternoon read:

“We are sorry that this happened.  After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing.  We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back.”

The controversy began minutes after she was replaced by a Sixers cheerleader for the pre-game ceremony. Streeter posted a short video on Instagram saying she had been told she could not perform because of her attire.

"I'd say two minutes before we were about to walk out ... the organization told me that I could not wear my shirt while singing the national anthem at their game," the R&B singer later told the Associated Press. "I was never given any kind of dress code. I was never asked beforehand to show my wardrobe."

The Sixers initially would not say what caused the franchise to keep Streeter from singing.

"The Philadelphia 76ers organization encourages meaningful actions to drive social change. We use our games to bring people together, to build trust and to strengthen our communities. As we move from symbolic gestures to action, we will continue to leverage our platform to positively impact our community," the Sixers said in an initial statement.



Photo Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for Revolt TV
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Gas Leak in Vernon Could Close Road for Hours

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Part of Merline Road in Vernon is closed after a gas leak this this morning, the gas has been shut off for 140 Eversource customers and the road is expected to be closed for at least 12 hours.

A construction crew hit a gas line and Eversource shut natural gas off in the area during repairs. Officials from Eversource said 141 customers are affected.

Police said gas leak is under control and the gas company is at the scene, but Merline Road could be closed for at least 12 hours between Route 30 and Vernwood Drive. Eversource said the repairs will not take that long.

One business closed briefly because of the leak and police told some residents to remain inside, but no evacuations were ordered, police said.   

Part of Merline Road is closed near Route 30.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Drought Watch Issued for 6 Connecticut Counties

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Six of Connecticut’s eight counties are in a drought watch, Gov. Dannel Malloy said during a news conference on Friday afternoon, and residents of the affected counties are being asked to cut water usage by 15 percent.

A statement from the governor's office says this is the first time the state has ever declared a Drought Watch and it's in effect for Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, Tolland and Fairfield counties. Residents of the six counties are being asked to reduce water usage by 15 percent.

Windham and New London counties are in a drought advisory and residents are asked to cut water usage by 10 percent. 

"While we cannot control the weather, we can control our own personal usage of water," Malloy said during a news conference in New Britain. "This situation calls for all of us to employ a common-sense approach to preserving water."

The drought advisory decision comes from the Connecticut Interagency Drought Workgroup.

The governor is asking residents to check in with their water provider to see what recommendations are in place and to take steps in the home to cut water usage, like not leaving water running while brushing teeth.

"Which is one of the biggest wastes of water in America," Malloy said. 

He is also encouraging people to take shorter showers.

"I would ask anyone who isn't taking it seriously to talk to people in Danbury, or Waterbury or Darien, or Greenwich, or New Canaan, or my home jurisdiction of Stamford," Malloy said. 

Palmer Drought Severity Index shows the state as having severe or even extreme drought, state officials said, and the governor has directed the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services to review and implement areas where water usage among state government facilities can be reduced when possible.

The drought watch declaration comes after three public water systems in Connecticut that are approaching critically low levels received an emergency declaration from the state in the last two months.

In all, 20 water companies have already asked for voluntary conservation or imposed mandatory restrictions, according to the governor's office. 

After emergencies were declared for Aquarion Water Company's southwestern region, Waterbury and Danbury, representatives from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the state Department of Public Health, the Office of Policy and Management and State of Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority met to come up with a comprehensive plan aimed at balancing the needs of water for personal use, economic development, recreation and ecological health.



Photo Credit: AP

First Lady Comes to Navy Sub Base Groton This Weekend

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First Lady Michelle Obama will be in Groton on Saturday morning when the U.S. Navy commissions a new ship. 

The First Lady is serving as the sponsor of the future USS Illinois (SSN 786), the Navy’s newest fast attack submarine, and she will attend the ceremony at the Naval Submarine Base to give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!," according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Defense. 

"USS Illinois is one of the most technologically advanced platforms in the world," Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy, said in the news release. "This submarine represents not only the Navy's lasting connection to the state of Illinois but also the American innovation and manufacturing skill that have given us such a powerful advantage, making us the most powerful expeditionary fighting force the world has ever known."

The submarine to be commissioned on Saturday is only the second U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with the name Illinois, the home state of the President Barack Obama and the First Lady.

The previous Illinois (BB 7) was a battleship that Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company started building in 1897. 

In January 1941, the ship was renamed Prairie State (IX-15) and served through World War II as a midshipmen's training school.

You can watch a live webcast Saturday online and on the Navy's Facebook page.



Photo Credit: AP

Quinnipiac Students Warned About Halloween Costume Choices

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As students at colleges across the country prepare to get in costume to celebrate Halloween, leaders at Quinnipiac University in Hamden are sending a message to students to make sure the Halloween costume a student thinks of as fun isn’t also offensive. 

“We’re not telling you what to wear. We’re telling you to be mindful in choosing your costume,” Dr. Diane Ariza, Chief Diversity Officer at Quinnipiac University. 

The university sent a memo to all students telling them in part to, “consider the impact your costume decision may have on others in the QU community” and continued, “While everyone has the freedom to be expressive, we also want our peers to celebrate that we are part of a vibrant, diverse QU community that strives toward respecting others. We want to remind everyone to have a great Halloween but also to be mindful.” 

This comes after student leaders at Quinnipiac organized the “my culture is not a costume” campaign. To remind their peers that costumes involving things like blackface, Mexican sombreros and Native American headdresses are not only offensive, but also unacceptable. 

The conversation about cultural sensitivity got going at the beginning of the year after a student posted a Snapchat picture of another student apparently in blackface with the caption “black lives matter.” That student is no longer enrolled at QU.

Some QU students were surprised that in this day and age, the school would need to send a reminder about racial sensitivity. 

"It is a bit disappointing that the school has to step forward to make it known not to offend other cultures. 

Others wondered whether there really is a need for such guidance, like freshman Layla Rodriguez. 

Many students said they hope during this weekend’s celebrations, they won’t run into anything that makes a joke of the cultures of others. 

"You’ve got to be mindful of other people’s cultures and not trying to be replicate something that can be so sensitive" Darnell Ragland, a senior, said. 

“If you’re making fun of a different race or culture, that’s not fun. You should know better,” Kelly Manzo, a freshman who is majoring in business management, said. 

MLB Commish Says Chief Wahoo Could Go, Casting Hope for Native American Movement

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The Cleveland Indians could win the World Series and then lose its logo.

Chief Wahoo, the Indians’ controversial mascot who is featured in the team's logo, could be retired after this season. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he was willing to speak to Indians owner Paul Dolan about the possibility of a logo change.

“I know that that particular logo is offensive to some people, and all of us at Major League Baseball understand why,” Manfred said at the Hank Aaron Awards news conference on Wednesday.

Manfred acknowledged that the club makes the decisions about its logo, not the commissioner's office. He said he has talked to Dolan in the past about the issue and they agreed “away from the World Series at an appropriate time” they will further discuss the matter.

These remarks cast a glimmer of hope for the Native American group that has been fighting for this cause for 46 years. 

“For 46 years now, we’ve been asking the team to change its name,” said Sundance, the executive director of the Cleveland Autonomous American Indian Movement (AIM). “It’s 46 years overdue, but we’ll gladly accept it.” This group is not affiliated with the American Indian Movement of Ohio.

He added that with the commissioner’s comments, their fight is now “more than just a pipedream.”

In January 1972, Cleveland Autonomous AIM sued the Indians for libel and slander in an unsuccessful effort to change the team name and logo. In 1995, the group filed another lawsuit, this time against Gateway Corp, which manages the Indians’ stadium, and the Indians for barring Cleveland Autonomous AIM’s demonstrations outside the stadium. The lawsuit was settled on the terms that the group can protest four times a year with seven days notice. Cleveland Autonomous AIM has protested at every opening day of the Indians’ season since 1973.

Sundance has been the executive director for 10 years and has led Cleveland Autonomous AIM’s protests throughout this season.

“Responses [to our protests] from the public is a broad spectrum,” he said.

He noted that fans are most “hostile, belligerent and vocal” on opening day. He attributed these attitudes to the affluence it takes to attend the opening day game in the middle of a work day, suggesting that wealthier fans are more attached to the Indians mascot and care less about its political implications.

During the season, Sundance said the tone shifts towards more sympathy for Cleveland AIM’s cause, especially from opposing teams. While they are still supporting the Indians by attending games at Progressive Field, he acknowledged the importance of “cultivating allies” when they can.

Sundance expected the World Series protests to be similar to the opening day hostility, but said he was surprised with the support the group received from the majority of spectators.

"I think this is a step in the right direction," said Philip Yenyo, executive director of the American Indian Movement of Ohio, of the commissioner's announcement. "I would like to see them invite us to the table to talk to Mr. Dolan and the commissioner. We want to educate the public on who we are and our culture."

Yenyo doesn't think changing the name is enough, either.

"It's not just the logo, it's the name too, it gives fans free reign to dress up as buffoons and basically mock us," he said. Fans often tell the groups of protesters to "go back to where they came from."

"They don't have to knowledge of how these mascots effect people."

In the meantime, Yenyo plans to offer a letter to the commissioner to make a case for open dialogue about the Cleveland Indians name and mascot.

NBC reached out to the Cleveland Indians front office for comment, but has not yet heard a response.



Photo Credit: AP

Man Charged in 4 Armed Robberies in Southington

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Southington police have charged one man with four armed robberies in this month at a Subway restaurant, two liquor stores and a gas station. 

Police said 32-year-old Gregory West, of Southington, is suspected of robbing the Subway Restaurant at 915 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike on Oct. 1, the M&R Liquors at 920 Queen St. on Oct. 6, the Super 66 Liquors at 975 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike on Oct. 14 and Fleet Gas at 1611 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike on Oct. 22. 

He approached the cashier during each robbery and demanded all the money from the cash register, police said. 

He kept his right hand in his sweatshirt pocket, implying a weapon, and told the cashiers he had a weapon, police said. 

West was arrested at 6:30 a.m. Friday, charged with four counts of second-degree robbery and four counts of sixth-degree larceny and held on a $400,000 court-set bond.



Photo Credit: Southington Police

Fire Closes Fourth Street in Norwich

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Part of Fourth Street in Norwich is closed because of a fire. The street is closed near Page Street. 

Dispatchers said the fire department is looking for hotspots. 

No additional information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Democrats Want Campaign Finance Reforms as Attack Ad Hits Airwaves

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Normally, television airspace is reserved for the most flush with cash campaigns during election season. With TV time priced in at least the tens of thousands, races like Connecticut House and Senate seats are generally resigned to direct mail, digital pushes, and perhaps billboards along local roads.

But, 2016, isn't a normal election cycle.

Grow Connecticut, a Political Action Committee that has received money in the past from people like Sheldon Adelson, a GOP mega donor, the Koch Brothers and Wal- Mart, has produced and purchased air time for an ad that links legislative Democrats to Gov. Dannel Malloy.

The voice on screen reads, “Democrat legislators gave a blank check to Malloy and now it’s time to hold them accountable. The Republicans have a plan to get Connecticut moving again, close the deficit, and grow the economy, so vote Republican for balance in Hartford. Because while Malloy isn’t on the ballot, the Democrat legislators who rubber stamp his policies are.”

Democrats are working to maintain their majorities in the House and Senate and are fending off attacks from Republicans to whittle away at them.

Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, (D - Berlin), the current majority leader, said he thinks the ad will backfire.

"I think the people of the state of Connecticut are tired of millionaires coming in and making decisions in Connecticut. The middle class people of Connecticut have a voice and they’re going to exercise it on November 8,” he said.

He called for changes to the state's campaign finance laws and wants to see limits on both how money is spent and also how much. He recognizes that the Supreme Court case Citizens United makes such efforts difficult.

“What I think should be limited is the digital media, the phone calls, the door knockers, campaign mailings, more importantly the negative mailings,” he said.

Republican Senate Leader Len Fasano, called those comments, "hypocritical," pointing out how Democrats could have made those changes in the recent past and how Democrat-aligned groups like labor unions have taken advantage of the same independent expenditure laws.

In a statement, Liz Kurantowicz, who runs Grow Connecticut said her group has a right to put that ad on the air.

"Grow Connecticut will continue to hold candidates accountable while advocating for a better way. We shouldn't have to just hope for a better Connecticut, we should vote for one, and that's my message," Kurantowicz said.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

20 Sent to Hospitals After Plane Catches Fire at O’Hare

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An incident involving an American Airlines plane prompted a major emergency response at O'Hare International Airport, authorities said. 

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, American Airlines Flight 383 was departing from O'Hare and was headed to Miami when it experienced "a problem during takeoff." American Airlines said the plane had an engine malfunction. 

Gary Schiavone, of Demott, Ind., said he was sitting in the middle of the plane, travelling with his wife to visit their daughter in Miami.

“We started to take off, we didn’t get in the air, it seemed like the right side engine blew—big ball of fire,” Schiavone said, adding that window on the plane then cracked.

The pilots aborted the takeoff and passengers exited via a chute as flames were reported, authorities said. 

The airline said in a statement that seven passengers and one crew member reported injuries and were transported to area hospitals for evaluation, but fire officials said during a later press conference that as many as 20 people were transported to area hospitals. 

Most of those transported suffered minor injuries and were listed in stable condition, according to District Chief Juan Hernandez. 

There were 161 passengers and nine crew members on the plane, the airline said.

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital said it was treating four people from the scene. Presence Resurrection Medical Center reported three patients from the scene in unknown condition. 

The FAA reported that a runway was closed at the airport due to a "disabled aircraft." The FAA initially reported a ground stop at O'Hare after the incident, but the Chicago Department of Aviation said as of 3:30 p.m. three runways were closed at the airport. Ongoing delays were expected, airport officials said. 

Chicago fire officials reported an emergency at the scene, saying "aircraft down at O'Hare." 

“We were 30 seconds into the safety video, about ‘do not grab your luggage in an emergency,’” Schiavone said, noting that several passengers attempted to get their bags during the emergency evacuation. “It could have caused a big problem—don’t get your luggage in a situation like that.”

The incident prompted an extra-alarm response. 

The Chicago Department of Aviation said fire officials responded to an aircraft on fire. 

Smoke and fire could be seen at the airport just after 2:30 p.m. 

The National Transportation Safety Board said three investigators were being dispatched to Chicago following the fire. 

"This could have been absolutely devastating if it happened later, if it happened farther, there's about a thousand variables," said Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner of Airport Operations Timothy Sampey. 

The cause of the fire remained under investigation. 

Check back for details on this developing story.



Photo Credit: Hector Cardenas
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Student Accused of Serial Rape Said Influences Include Satan

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Before he was accused of sexually assaulting multiple women at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 20-year-old Alec Cook was a guitar-loving high school rugby player who said his main influences included God, Jimmy Page and Satan, NBC News reported.

In a profile published in his high school newspaper two years ago, the Edina, Minnesota, native talked about his love of music and performing for his classmates.

Asked about his main influences, Cook replied: "[T]he Christian God, number one. And then probably Satan as number two because without Satan, God would have nothing to do."

Cook told the newspaper his other influences were musicians Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix, and the comedy band Flight of the Conchords. After thinking about it for a bit, however, the newspaper says Cook modified his answer: "[A]ctually, no, put Jimi first because Jimi and God are interchangeable."



Photo Credit: Dane County Sheriff's Office/AP

I-91 South in Meriden Reopens Following Crash

Erica Garner Slams Clinton Camp for Talk of 'Using' Dad

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Erica Garner slammed Hillary Clinton's campaign in a series of tweets Thursday after new emails released by WikiLeaks showed how the Democratic presidential nominee's staff mentioned the death of her father while discussing language for a newspaper editorial on gun violence this spring.

"I'm troubled by the revelation that you and this campaign actually discussed 'using' Eric Garner ... why would you want to 'use' my dad?" she tweeted. "These people will co opt anything to push their agenda. Police violence is not the same as gun violence."

"I'm very interested to know exactly what @CoreyCiorciari meant when he said 'I know we have an Erica Garner problem' in the #PodestaEmails19," she added. 

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She included links to the emails released by WikiLeaks and accused campaign staffers of exploiting her father's death to bolster Clinton's stance on gun control. The hacked emails show internal communications between campaign staffers discussing the language of an editorial piece on gun violence that ran in the Daily News on March 27. 

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"I know we have Erica Garner issues but we don't want to mention Eric at all? I can see her coming after us for leaving him out of the piece," Clinton's traveling press secretary Nick Merrill wrote in a March 17 email.

Senior Political Adviser Maya Harris corrected Merrill in a reply: "Eric Garner not included because not killed by gun violence."

"I'm glad you had Maya on your team to explain why you wont (sic) be USING my dad in you (sic) f-----g gun violence piece ... Black woman saved your a--," Garner tweeted.

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"Your sister Maya saved the Clinton campaign a lot of embarrassment," she added in a retweet to Kamala Harris, the sister of Clinton's political adviser. 

A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign did not respond to questions regarding the recent tweets. 

Garner's father was killed in July 2014 after he was stopped by police for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes and was placed in a chokehold by officer Daniel Pantaleo. A New York grand jury opted not to indict Pantaleo on criminal charges. He has been on modified duty pending the results of a federal probe into whether civil rights charges should be filed in the case. 

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Fedex Plane Catches Fire After Landing Gear Collapses at Florida Airport

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A FedEx cargo plane's landing gear collapsed shortly after landing at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport Friday, sparking a fire, according to the Federal Aviation Authority.

FedEx 910, a DC-10 aircraft, was rolling on Runway 10 Left when one of the plane's landing gears collapsed and it's left wing caught fire, a Fort Lauderdale airport spokesman said.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials said the two pilots on board escaped using a rope ladder on the side of the plane.

FedEx officials said the two pilots are safe after the incident. The plane had just arrived from Memphis.

Video footage from witnesses posted on social media showed an explosion followed by smoke billowing from the plane, which appeared to be tilted on its side.

"We turned and saw smoke billowing out and we took video and pics and we were walking back to our car and heard this huge explosion, we assumed it was the engine," witness John Anderson said. "It was crazy, we just hoped everyone was safe."

Aerial footage showed crews working to put out the fire. The plane's charred left wing, and surrounding runway and grass was immersed in foam.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue responded to the scene and officials said the flames were quickly extinguished.

Fire Rescue officials said units were on the scene in two minutes and found a trail of fire down the runway.

"There was a trail of fire, it was like a fireball, a running fuel fire down the runway leading to the jet," Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said. "So this fire started wherever contact was made with the wing, engine and the tarmac."

A ground stop was issued at the airport and delays were reported as the airport closed just before 6 p.m. The south runway re-opened at 7 p.m. but the north runway remained closed while the incident was investigated.

A total of 29 flights were diverted during the closure, airport officials said.

Officials said there were 40,000 pounds of fuel on the plane when it landed. It was also carrying US mail but officials said it appeared that the damage was confined to the outer part of the plane.

The FAA and NTSB will investigate the incident.

"We have to let the NTSB do their investigation, then we have to go in and get the plane out of there and then do the repairs to the runway," airport spokesman Greg Meyer said.



Photo Credit: NBC 6
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Silver Alert Issued for Missing Newington Teen

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A Silver Alert has been issued for a teen missing from Newington, police said.

Rachel Rodriguez was last seen at Newington High School on Friday at 1 p.m.

The 17-year-old is considered to be at risk due to a medical condition. 

Rodriguez is described as being 5'5", weighing approximately 130 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes. 

She was last seen wearing black clothing, glasses, a nose piercing and braces. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Rachel Rodriguez is urged to call the Newington Police Department at 860-666-8445 #5 and refer to case I20164037. 



Photo Credit: Newington Police

Malloy Says GOP Should be 'Ashamed' of SuperPac Attack Ad

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Governor Dannel Malloy responded for the first time Friday, to a Super PAC funded ad that attempts to link the governor to Democrats running for legislative office.

The second term Democrats said Republicans, "should be ashamed of themselves" over it, because he argues their record on issues to actually help the state is a bad one.

When asked directly about the ad, Malloy said their lack of support for a constitutional amendment ballot issue on a proposed "lockbox" to protect funds for transportation and infrastructure projects. The measure fell several votes short, with a lack of GOP support.

"The Republican Party defeated an attempt to lockbox transportation revenue," Malloy said following an event in New Britain. "The Republicans in this state want to be able to raid the transportation account. They should be held accountable for that. Otherwise a lockbox constitutional change would have been on the ballot this year."

The ad, paid for by the Republican-leaning Grow Connecticut Super Pac, went live Wednesday night and will run through election day. It will be seen on cable television, and in digital media.

“Democrat legislators and candidates across the state have given Governor Malloy a blank check to implement policies that have failed Connecticut families," said Liz Kurantowicz, the Treasurer of Grow Connecticut.

Grow Connecticut will spend at least $300,000 promoting the ad.

Donald Trump Halloween Display Designed to Send a Message

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Matt Warshauer loves the attention of his Halloween displays. In the past he's tried to send political messages, and his parodied border wall is no different.

“I always go for the political effect but this is the definition of viral," Warshauer, a Central Connecticut State University professor of American history said in front of his West Hartford home.

Drivers slowly crawl by as they take looks at the details of the display.

A cartoon depiction of Donald Trump sits atop a would-be guard tower, there are skeleton guards pointing guns from the wall at anyone who dares attempt to scale it, and there are nods at Democratic scandals.

Bernie Sanders is depicted as being in "DNC Jail," a play on the leaked emails tha revealed efforts by the DNC to at the very least promote a Clinton candidacy over Sanders.

"What I’m trying to do is have fun with Halloween which is my favorite time of year but I’m also trying to send a message, a serious message.”

His message is two-fold, he doesn't want Donald Trump to be elected president, but he also wants visitors to the wall to carefully consider their political views.

"You don’t have to think what I believe but just think about what you believe."

One group of people he won't convince are the Trump supporters who were out in Connecticut knocking on doors and canvassing potential voters.

Joe Visconti, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2014 as a petitioning candidate is a vocal Trump supporter and spent Friday talking to voters and handing out information about the Trump campaign.

"The ground game lets the people know that we’re here, that the doors are being knocked on," Visconti said. "We’re putting literature out and there’s people that want to work.”

The goal, he says is to reach 100,000 homes in Connecticut and give them final argument for Trump.

“We haven’t had a real fighter like this. Our economy is so depressed. People are looking for answers.”

Warshauer says the prospect of Trump presidency scares him.

"Every slight against him he is ready to open the silo doors. I fear the man will start World War 3. I truly feel that and believe it.”

Given Trump's propensity to threaten those who don't share his views, Warshauer says he hopes his Halloween display doesn't get him into trouble.

“If he wins the presidency and I happen to disappear, would you please do a story because I’m a little concerned.”



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Students, Community Groups Demand Yale Change the Name of Calhoun College

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A group of Yale students and community activists demanding the university change the name of Calhoun College marched Friday afternoon from the New Haven Green to the Yale president’s office at Woodbridge Hall.

The protestors delivered a letter with their demands to Yale President Peter Salovey’s secretary and they taped fliers to the front door.

“The difference between the other colleges that are named after slaveholders and (John C.) Calhoun is that Calhoun is known as the country’s biggest proponent of slavery,” said organizer Kica Matos, “he championed it, he advanced it.”

Yale students waged a campaign last year to change the name, but that did not succeed.

In April, Salovey announced Yale would keep the name of Calhoun College, saying the decision was “to confront, teach and learn from the history of slavery in the United States.

But the protestors, who at one point had a portion of Elm Street blocked off, argue the residential college needs to be renamed because Calhoun represents racism.

“I want things to change you know substantively, I know changing the name is not enough,” said Yale junior Cassandra Darrow, who is a Calhoun College resident.

This debate was reignited over the summer when a Yale employee’s act of civil disobedience made national headlines.

Corey Menafee was criminally charged after smashing a stained glass window depicting slaves in the Calhoun College dining hall. His charges were dropped and Yale rehired him in a new role.

“Corey brought the town and the campus together on this issue of racism at Yale,” his attorney Patricia Kane said before the march, “and the name Calhoun is offensive just as the stained glass window depicting the slaves with cotton.”

Menafee made a brief appearance to address the group of demonstrators.

NBC Connecticut requested an interview with President Salovey.

Instead, the Office of Public Affairs issued a statement saying, "We appreciate and respect the views of University and New Haven community members on all issues."

In September, Yale created a committee of faculty, alumni and students to come up with principles to guide the university on renaming campus buildings. 

Protestors told NBC Connecticut that is a little too late and it should not take a committee to get rid of what they say is a racist name.



Photo Credit: Moment Editorial/Getty Images
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