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Beneficial Rain Continues

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Rain continues across Connecticut on this Tuesday, but it will taper off this evening.

The heaviest rain has missed Connecticut to the west, but a half inch is still possible in much of Connecticut.

While the rain will be helpful, it won't end the drought. The rainfall deficit is nearing 20 inches.

The rest of the week is dry, which will not help.

High tides over the next few cycles will cause minor splashover because of the full moon.

Sunshine returns Wednesday and lasts through at least the end of the workweek, with temperatures remaining above average, up near 60 degrees!


NYC Woman Sues Zara, Says Rodent Was Sewn into Dress

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A Manhattan woman is suing clothing retailer Zara after she claims she found a dead rodent sewn into the hem of a dress purchased at a Zara store in Greenwich.

In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court last week, the complaint alleges that the plaintiff, Cailey Fiesel, bought two dresses at the Zara at 225 Greenwich Ave in Greenwich on July 5, 2016. According to the complaint, when Fiesel first wore the dress on August 16, she noticed a strange odor, but could not figure out where the smell was coming from.

Later the same day, Fiesel noticed what she thought was a loose string rubbing against her leg. It was then that she reached down to find the string and felt a small bulge in the dress, and noticed a small leg of a dead rodent poking out from a seam of the dress.

Fiesel claims she developed a rash that was diagnosed as a rodent-borne disease.

The The complaint states it was Zara’s duty “to prevent its products from being manufactured and sold with disease causing rodents sewn into them" and said Fiesel suffered damages, personal injury and emotional distress. Fiesel is suing Zara for unspecified damages.

A spokesperson for Zara USA released the following statement on the situation:

"Zara USA is aware of the allegation and we are investigating the matter further. The brand has stringent quality controls and health and safety standards worldwide that are followed and met in manufacturing, including stitching and pressing. We are committed to ensuring that all of our products meet these rigorous requirements."



Photo Credit: Cailey Fiesel v. Zara USA, Inc.

State Trooper Helps Saves Injured Owl

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A Trooper from Troop I/Bethany assisted in saving an injured Owl this morning on Rt.15 northbound near exit 58 in Orange / Woodbridge A state trooper came to the rescue of an injured owl on Route 15 Tuesday morning and helped save the animal.

State police said the trooper is with Troop I in Bethany and helped save the injured owl this morning on Route15 northbound, near exit 58 in Orange and Woodbridge.

A Woodbridge animal control officer also responded to remove the injured owl from the highway and transport it to District Animal Control. It has an eye injury, officials said.

The owl will be brought to a Place Called Hope, a raptor rescue rehabilitation and education center in Killingworth.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police
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Postal Worker Sexually Assaulted Coworker in her Home: Cops

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Stratford police have arrested a United States Postal Worker who is accused of sexually assaulting a coworker at her home.

Police said the victim was able to hit a panic alarm, prompting a police response. When police arrived the suspect, Dennis Hwang, was leaving the home. He was taken into custody without incident.

Hwang is charged with third-degree sexual assault and criminal trespass. He was held on a $10,000 bond and scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 18.



Photo Credit: Stratford Police Department

Would-Be Burglars Spotted on Surveillance Video: Police

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West Hartford police are searching for two suspects seen on surveillance video trying to enter a home on Beverly Road early Saturday morning.

Police said a homeowner sent them the video, recorded at 5:30 a.m., which appears to show two suspects with covered faces trying to enter the home. Police also received several reports of vehicle burglaries in the same area.

Sometime overnight Thursday into Friday, thieves burglarized two homes on Brian Road and Barton Street while residents slept upstairs. It is unclear if the incidents are connected.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects pictured above, or who has information on any of the above incidents is asked to call West Hartford police at 860-523-5203.



Photo Credit: West Hartford Police Department

FedEx, Amazon & More Seek Seasonal Employees

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Looking to make a little extra cash this holiday season? Retailers and shipping giants like FedEx and Amazon are gearing up for the holiday rush by hiring seasonal employees across the country.

If you’re interested in a temporary position, check out the list of options in Connecticut.

Macy's

Macy’s announced plans to hire about 83,000 seasonal employees this season at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers in September. Most of these positions are part-time and have flexible scheduling. Click here for more information.

FedEx

FedEx is expecting another record peak holiday shopping season, with volume 10 percent higher than in 2015. The company announced plans to add 50,000 additional positions leading up to the peak holiday season in order to maintain quality service. Jobs available in Connecticut include positions ranging from package handler at a warehouse to couriers, dockworkers, and retail associates. To apply, look here. 

Amazon

Amazon will hire more than 120,000 employees to help sort, wrap and ship holiday packages this season. Working in Amazon's fulfillment and sortation centers may require heavy lifting, spending extended periods on your feet, and operating carts and dollies. Interested applicants can go here for more information. The company has locations in Wallingford and Windsor. For more information click here. 

USPS

The United States Postal Service plans to hire between 35,000 and 40,000 additional workers nationwide this holiday season. Seasonal workers will serve as mail handlers, retail associates, drivers and carrier assistants to help deliver holiday cards and packages to customers. USPS is particularly interested in hiring retired mail carriers for these temporary positions, as they can hit the ground running with no learning curve. If you're interested in applying, you can search here for job openings in your area.

UPS

UPS will hire 95,000 seasonal employees -- primarily package handlers, drivers and driver helpers -- in anticipation of increased holiday package volume. Look here for more information.

Target

Target is looking to hire more than 77,000 seasonal team members to deal with "mega-high volume" of online orders and those holiday shopping crowds. The company is seeking 70,000 employees to work in stores across the country and 7,750 employees to help staff its distribution and fulfillment facilities. Interested applicants can go here and click "apply now" to search for available positions near them. 

Toys "R" Us

Seasonal positions are also available at Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores in several locations across Connecticut, including Danbury, Manchester, Milford, Waterford and more. Click here to browse those positions. 



Photo Credit: AP

Man Charged with Larceny After Bad Car Repairs: Police

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Westport police charged a man with larceny after they said he made bad repairs to a woman’s car.

Police said Bobby Megel, 28, of New Haven, solicited a woman on the Sherwood Island Connector and charged her $415 to repair dents in her car. As time went on the victim realized the car was actually damage by the work and reported the incident to police.

The victim knew Megel’s name because she initially wrote him a check for the work but he then asked for payment in cash, according to police.

Megel was charged with second-degree larceny and also for a lack of license required for sale/repair of motor vehicle. He was issued a bond of $10,000 and scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 16.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Boxer's Electoral College Bill

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U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) is slated to introduce legislation Tuesday that would eliminate the Electoral College, so that presidential elections would be decided by the popular vote.

Boxer is expected to introduce the bill when the Senate comes into session Tuesday.

The move is in response to Donald Trump's presidential victory last week. The president-elect won through the Electoral College, although Hillary Clinton is leading the popular vote by nearly a million votes, a statement from Boxer's office read.

Trump won the presidency by securing at least 290 electoral votes while Hillary Clinton recieved 228, with two states still left to call, according to NBC News. Boxer was a Clinton supporter.

"When all the ballots are counted, Hillary Clinton will have won the popular vote by a margin that could exceed two million votes, and she is on track to have received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history except Barack Obama," Boxer said.

Trump will be the fifth president in U.S. history to win the election despite losing the popular vote. George W. Bush won the most recent such election, in 2000.

"This is the only office in the land where you can get more votes and still lose the presidency," Boxer said in a statement. "The Electoral College is an outdated, undemocratic system that does not reflect our modern society, and it needs to change immediately. Every American should be guaranteed that their vote counts."

Four years ago, Trump called the Electoral College "a disaster for a democracy," in a tweet sent on Nov. 6, 2012.

But Tuesday morning, a week after the election, the president-elect sent two tweets conveying his support for the Electoral College, which he now calls genius.

"If the election were based on total popular vote I would have campaigned in N.Y. Florida and California and won even bigger and more easily," he said.

In a follow-up tweet he said: "The Electoral College is actually genius in that it brings all states, including the smaller ones, into play. Campaigning is much different!"

If Boxer's amendment were to pass, it would amend the U.S. Constitution, and "would take effect when ratified by three-fourths of states within seven years after its passage in the U.S. Congress," the statement from Boxer's office read.

The LA Times reports that Boxer has previously sponsored legislation to repeal the Electoral College, but that those bills weren't considered.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Students Were Kept on Buses in Cheshire as Police Searched for Burglar

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Students at Dodd Middle School in Cheshire were kept on their buses Tuesday morning after a man burglarized a home on Lincoln Drive and ran, according to police.

The homeowner called police around 7:45 a.m. after finding a man in his home, police said.

Police notified Dodd Middle School because of the proximity to the burglary and students were kept on buses for a short time while police checked to ensure it was safe to enter the school. 

Police searched the area and K9s were brought in, but lost the burglar’s track in the woods.

Police ask anyone with information about the burglary to call the tip line at 203-271-5534.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Woman Found Dead in New Britain Taco Bell Bathroom

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A 28-year-old woman was found dead in the bathroom of a Taco Bell in New Britain Saturday, according to police. 

Police said the woman was found in the bathroom of Taco Bell at 20 East Main St and there is no evidence of foul play. 

The chief medical examiner’s office is investigating.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

More Charges Filed Against Suspect in East Haven Fatal Crash

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More charges have been filed against a man suspected in a fatal crash in September on Frontage Road in East Haven

Johnassis Melendez, 23, is suspected of crashing into a pole near Home Depot on Frontage Road on Sept. 14. One person was killed in that crash and another seriously injured.

Melendez has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, misconduct with a motor vehicle, first-degree assault, reckless driving, misuse of a plate and theft of a number plate.



Photo Credit: East Haven Police
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3 NYC Trump Buildings to Change Name: Property Manager

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Trump Place, a high-rise condominium complex near Lincoln Square in Manhattan, is about to get a name change.

The three buildings will drop the name of the president-elect in favor of their  street addresses, 140, 160 and 180 Riverside Boulevard, according to a spokesman for complex manager and owner Equity Residential.

"We are assuming a more neutral building identity that will appeal to all current and future residents," said company spokesman Marty McKenna.

The name change comes after nearly 600 people signed a Change.org petition created by three residents to have the building drop the moniker and get rid of the gold-emblazoned name on the structure's facade. 

"Our home is our most personal private space, a building we should feel proud of and happy to walk into every day... so... THE TIME HAS COME TO DUMP TRUMP," said Linda Gottlieb, Robert Tessler and Brian Dumont. 

The petition cites President-elect Donald Trump's "appalling treatment of women, his history of racism, his attacks on immigrants, his mockery of the disabled, his tax avoidance (and) his outright lies" in calling for the change.

The petition also noted that while Trump's name is on the building, he doesn't actually own the property.

NBC 4 New York has reached out to The Trump Organization, which manages the family's business interests, for comment.

Trump Place is one of several buildings that bear the president-elect's name in Manhattan. Despite the exposure, Trump only garnered 10 percent of the popular vote in the borough. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

1 Person Shot at Oklahoma City Airport: Police

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Police say at least one person was shot at the Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City police responded to reports of shots fired in the airport parking lot Tuesday afternoon. OKC Police Capt. Paco Balderrama said one person was shot and officials are searching for a possible second victim. 

The confirmed victim sustained "life-threatening injuries" was rushed to the OU Medical Center, said Lara O'Leary, the public information officer for the Emergency Medical Services Authority, NBC News reported.

OKC Police confirmed the shooting in a tweet and urged travelers to avoid the airport.

Airport spokeswoman Karen Carney says all operations are suspended and police asked everyone inside the airport to shelter in place. 

The airport is located in southwest Oklahoma City. No other details were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Windsor School to Display Photo of Painted-over Obama Mural

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A Windsor school said it will replace a mural of President Barack Obama that was painted over last week with a photo of the painting and display with the artist's information. 

"The timing for the replacement of this mural could not have been worse and we offer our sincere apologies for this mistake," superintendent Craig A. Cooks said about the display at Oliver Ellsworth School.

The mural of Obama's silhouette was painted in 2009 to signify the country's first black president. 

While the district is looking at options to memorialize the mural in its original location, Cook said, they plan to place a large canvas or photograph of the painting at the school.

Cook said the school has considering having the mural repainted by the original artist, but the new painting will not be able to include student signatures. 

In addition to displaying a photo of the painting, the school will now have procedures in place to ensure artwork is not painted over without a formal process, Cook said. 

Man Charged in Murder of Norwalk Woman

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Police have arrested a man suspected in the murder of a 52-year-old woman in Norwalk in June.

James Cunningham, 42, of Norwalk, has been charged with the murder of Marian Alexander.

Police said they found Alexander dead inside apartment C9 at 10 Arch St. on June 17 while responding to a medical call and quickly determined her death was suspicious. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of her death a homicide the next day.

Police said Alexander’s vehicle was also missing.

Police identified Cunningham as a suspect and obtained a warrant on Nov. 2 charging him with the murder.

He was in jail on unrelated charges and police brought to the Norwalk Police Department and charged him with murder and second-degree larceny.

Bond was set at $750,000.



Photo Credit: Norwalk Police

State's Backing of Hedge Fund Draws Criticism

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Connecticut’s Bond Commission, chaired by Gov. Dannel Malloy, approved a $35 million incentive package as part of the state’s First Five jobs program for AQR Capital Management, one of the top three largest hedge funds in the world.

To the governor and the other seven members of the commission who approved the deal, they view it as a substantial down payment that ensures the state’s economic future.

“We don’t give money,” Gov. Malloy said. “We make investments.”

Tuesday wasn’t the first investment in a hedge fund even this year by the state. The commission approved $22 million for Bridgewater Associatates, the world’s largest hedge fund, which is headquartered in Westport, CT. AQR is based in Greenwich.

A pair of bond commission members voted against the entire package of projects. Democratic Comptroller Kevin Lembo and Republican State Senate Mike McLachlan from Danbury were the lone holdouts, citing concerns with the state’s budget, which according to the governor’s administration is in deficit of $1.3 billion.

Some with connections to state agencies that have seen cuts don’t like the work of the bond commission. They would rather see the money spent on investments, spent on services for those who need it most.

Jim Rutt is the legal guardian of more than 20 years for his brother Lewis. Lewis is deaf and from time to time acts out in his group home in South Windsor.

Rutt says it’s not right when the state spends millions on hedge funds to keep them in Connecticut, while also making reductions, the way the state has, to programs for the state’s most vulnerable.

Rutt would rather see investments in more staffing for group home employees.

"And to put people who are just making minimum wage into the group homes that are taking care of people that can have violent outbursts, a number of issues, medical issues, to me is a danger to the people living in the group homes" he said.

The governor says the return on investment in the form of local property taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes will more than pay for the investment in AQR over time, which will help the rest of Connecticut’s economy.

“The retention of these high paying jobs, along with the expansion of those jobs, along with the capital investment to allow that to happen, will more than pay for this investment and do it very quickly.”



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Cities and Towns Decry Spending Cap

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City and town leaders say a cap on their spending set to go into effect in July of next year could cripple their growth, and have an unintended consequence of driving up costs.

Members of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities say just because the state is having trouble growing, doesn’t mean cities and towns need to be stopped in their tracks.

“It’s absurd for a government that is $5 billion in debt over the next biennium to lecture to municipalities who have every single nickel balanced and accounted for every single year,” said Mayor Mark Boughton from Danbury, who was speaking in his role as the elected president of CCM.

The spending cap was put in place as lawmakers approved property tax reform during the 2015 legislative session. The reform capped car tax payments at 29 mills starting in 2017, eliminated a property tax rebate for homeowners, and placed a first-time limit on local spending.

The intention, lawmakers say, was to protect local taxpayers from the cities and towns in which they reside.

“The only way they would see immediate relief was by putting a cap in place, otherwise it’s possible that the municipalities would just spend that money and offer no tax relief,” said. Rep. Joe Aresimowicz, the current Majority Leader of the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Boughton warned that if cities and towns don’t have the flexibility to craft their budgets without a handcuff from Hartford, then that could lead to greater expenses, which will lead to property tax increases.

“I can tell you, this initiative can drive up costs and it can do the exact opposite of what they want because there are so many exemptions in the cap.”

Aresimowicz, who is expected to be elected Speaker of the House in January, says he’s open to negotiations once lawmakers return for their regular session, as long as cities and towns keep looking for ways to cut costs.

“A lot of municipalities have done a great job of controlling spending and really making efficiencies where they can making cuts where they needed to but other towns not so much.”

Robbery Suspect Shoved Clerk, Implied Gun: East Windsor PD

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East Windsor police are searching for a suspect who allegedly attacked a clerk in order to get to a cash register during a gas station robbery Wednesday morning.

Police said around 4:20 a.m. officers were called to the Sunoco Gas Station on Bridge Street. A K9 team from the Connecticut State Police responded to track the suspect but no one was located.

According to police, surveillance video showed the suspect force his way to the cash register by shoving the store clerk to the ground. The suspect reportedly implied he had a gun and threatened to shoot the clerk.

The suspect is described as male, thin, about 6-foot, and appears to be missing teeth. Anyone who recognizes the subject pictured above is asked to call police at 860-292-8240, or send a message to East Windsor police on Facebook. Tips can be made anonymously.



Photo Credit: East Windsor Police Department

Plans to Close Several Hartford Schools Paused

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It appears plans to close several schools in Hartford’s North End have been put on pause.

According to the school district’s website, they have called off all “Equity 2020” meetings until the Board of Education can decide next steps.

The “Equity 2020” advisory committee was looking at a proposal to close schools including MLK and Milner.

They were also discussing the option not to build a replacement for the Clark School, which was permanently closed because of PCB contamination.

Their goal was to find ways to consolidate schools because of decreasing enrollment.

The idea to close neighborhood schools upset a lot of parents, who spoke against the plans at a meeting last month.

There Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said he did not agree with the proposal, but warned parents that some schools would need to close.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

12-Year-Old East Windsor Boy Reported Missing Located

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A 12-year-old East Windsor boy who was reported missing has been located, police said Wednesday afternoon.

Neko Mills ran away from home late Tuesday night and a Silver Alert was issued, according to police.

East Windsor police said Mills was located just after noon on Wednesday.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: Silver Alert
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