Police responded to Cromwell High School Wednesday morning after a student allegedly made a verbal threat against the school.

Police said they were called around 11:30 a.m. According to police, when officers arrived they determined there was no immediate danger to staff or students, and the student who made the threat was arrested.

That student, who was not identified due to age, was charged with threatening and breach of peace.

Cromwell police stressed that they take every threat seriously to ensure the safety of the school community.

The driver’s license of a 55-year-old former Derby bus driver accused of falling asleep behind the wheel while driving as many as 30 Shelton intermediate students home on Dec. 16 has been suspended, according to officials from the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Officials from the DMV said Paul Pixley’s Class D license has been suspended pending a medical assessment and his license to drive a school bus has been suspended indefinitely.

A 12-year-old student, as well as other students captured it on camera as Pixley appeared to doze-off at the wheel.

He is accused of falling asleep nearly a dozen times in little more than two hours, according to the police report.

The arrest report says Pixley admitted to being on methadone and taking 80 mg prior to his shift, starting that morning. After initially denying being asleep several times, he confessed that maybe he shouldn't have been driving because he might have taken NyQuil instead of DayQuil.

When the 12-year-old girl texted her parents, they contacted police and the school and Lt. Rob Kozlowski, of Shelton Police Department, said officers at the scene had concerns about Pixley driving.

"The determination was that his license was seized and that he shouldn't be driving under the opinion of the officer," Kozlowski said after.

Greg Walter, vice president of the bus company, Landmark Student Transportation, said they do background checks on all employees and that Pixley's pre-employment background test and drug test came back clean.

Walter said police told them the arresting officer believed Pixley was having some kind of medical issue.

Supt. Dr. Chris Clouet released the following statement:

"On December 16, we were alerted by parents and we immediately contacted the police and the bus company, Landmark. We were able to get the bus stopped, removed the driver from the bus, and his license was taken. We have been in touch with officials from the bus company and conducted interviews with students. In addition, we have had daily contact with the police department and have shared video records with them to contribute to their investigation. The driver was arraigned today and returned to jail. He will never drive in Shelton ever again. We have some concerns regarding Landmark’s hiring practices and have asked our attorneys to review our contract with them. We are concerned about Landmark’s hiring and monitoring of their employees and want a full review. We intend to meet with Landmark’s regional leader next week to talk about changing practices to ensure the safety of our students and possibly take other actions."

Pixley has a right to a DMV hearing about the suspension of his license to drive a school bus.

Houston Texans football star J.J. Watt surprised an 8-year-old fan at the hospital after the child's favorite jersey was ripped open after he was hurt in a car accident on New Year's Eve, NBC's "Today" show reported.

Noah Fulmer underwent surgery for two broken legs after being hit by a car that had crashed into the bed of a parked pickup truck he'd climbed into.

Marc Carapia, a relative of Noah's, tweeted news of the accident to Watt.

Noah's dad Cory Fulmer, a pipe fitter's helper in Bay City, Texas, told "Today" that Watt showed up the next day.

He brought along several jerseys, including one game jersey that he'd autographed with a special message for Fulmer.

New Haven police are searching for a suspect they say threatened to shoot a bank teller during a robbery Wednesday.

Police responded to the Citizen’s Bank at 430 Forbes Ave. shortly after noon. According to police, the suspect entered the bank, approached a teller and passed a note demanding cash. No weapon was shown, but the suspect reportedly threatened to shoot the clerk if she didn’t obey.

The teller complied and the suspect fled. No one was hurt in the incident.

The suspect is described as around 30 years old, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot8, with an average build and scruffy beard. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt under a black Northface jacket and white framed sunglasses.

New Haven police are investigating and the FBI is involved. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

Macy's announced it is shutting down 65 stores in 2017 and eliminating an estimated 10,000 jobs as it battles slowing sales and growing online competition.

The closures are part of a planned shut down of about 100 stores that the company previously announced in August 2016. On Wednesday, Macy’s said it will close 63 locations in early spring 2017 and another two mid-year. Macy’s already shuttered three of its 730 stores in 2016.

The company says about 3,900 employees will be affected by the closures. It also will eliminate about 6,200 other positions as part of an effort to streamline operations and reduce expenses so it can invest more in its digital operations.

“As we’ve noted, it is essential that we maintain a healthy portfolio of the right stores in the right places. Our plan to close approximately 100 stores over the next few years is an important part of our strategy to help us right-size our physical footprint as we expand our digital reach,” the company said in statement.

Macy’s shares fell more more than 9 percent Wednesday after it posted disappointing holiday sales and announced which stores will be closing, CNBC reported.

Final clearance sales at Macy’s stores closing in early 2017 will begin on Monday, January 9, and run for approximately eight to 12 weeks.

Here's a list of the closures:

Greenwood, Bowling Green, KY (124,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 63 associates);

Carolina Place, Pineville, NC (151,000 square feet; opened in 1993; 69 associates)

Douglaston, Douglaston, NY (158,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 144 associates)

Downtown Portland, Portland, OR (246,000 square feet; opened in 2007; 85 associates)

*Lancaster Mall, Salem, OR (67,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 53 associates)

Oakwood Mall, Eau Claire, WI (104,000 square feet; opened in 1991; 55 associates)

Mission Valley Apparel, San Diego, CA (385,000 square feet; opened in 1961; 140 associates)

Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA (141,000 square feet; opened in 1990; 77 associates)

Lakeland Square, Lakeland, FL (101,000 square feet; opened in 1995; 68 associates)

Oviedo Marketplace, Oviedo, FL (195,000 square feet; opened in 2000; 83 associates)

Sarasota Square, Sarasota, FL (143,000 square feet; opened in 1977; 86 associates)

University Square, Tampa, FL (140,000 square feet; opened in 1974; 73 associates);

CityPlace, West Palm Beach, FL (108,000 square feet; opened in 2000; 72 associates)

Georgia Square, Athens, GA (121,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 69 associates)

Nampa Gateway Center, Nampa, ID (104,000, square feet; opened in 2009; 57 associates)

Alton Square, Alton, IL (180,000 square feet; opened in 1978; 54 associates)

Stratford Square, Bloomingdale, IL (149,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 87 associates)

Eastland, Bloomington, IL (154,000 square feet; opened in 1999; 55 associates)

Jefferson, Louisville, KY (157,000 square feet; opened in 1979; 52 associates)

Esplanade, Kenner, LA (188,000 square feet; opened in 2008; 101 associates)

Bangor, Bangor, ME (143,000 square feet; opened in 1998; 65 associates)

Westgate, Brockton, MA (144,000 square feet; opened in 2003; 79 associates)

Silver City Galleria, Taunton, MA (152,000 square feet; opened in 1992; 82 associates)

Lakeview Square Mall, Battle Creek, MI (102,000 square feet: opened 1983; 51 associates)

Eastland Center, Harper Woods, MI (433,000 square feet; opened in 1957; 121 associates)

Lansing, Lansing, MI (103,000 square feet; opened in 1979; 57 associates)

Westland, Westland, MI (334,000 square feet; opened in 1965; 106 associates)

Minneapolis Downtown, Minneapolis, MN (1,276,000 square feet; opened in 1902; 280 associates)

Northgate, Durham, NC (187,000 square feet; opened in 1994; 72 associates);

Columbia, Grand Forks, ND (99,000 square feet; opened in 1978; 53 associates)

Moorestown, Moorestown, NJ (200,000 square feet; opened in 1999; 107 associates)

Voorhees Town Center, Voorhees, NJ (224,000 square feet; opened in 1970; 77 associates)

Preakness, Wayne, NJ (81,000 square feet; opened in 1963; 72 associates);

Cottonwood, Albuquerque, NM (173,000 square feet; opened in 1996; 56 associates)

Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV (178,000 square feet; opened in 1966; 84 associates)

Great Northern, Clay, NY (88,000 square feet; opened in 1989; 55 associates)

Oakdale Mall, Johnson City, NY (140,000 square feet; opened in 2000; 58 associates)

The Marketplace, Rochester, NY (149,000 square feet; opened in 1982; 77 associates)

Eastland, Columbus, OH (121,000 square feet; opened in 2006; 73 associates)

Sandusky, Sandusky, OH (133,000 square feet; opened in 1979; 61 associates)

Fort Steuben, Steubenville, OH (132,000 square feet; opened in 1974; 59 associates)

Promenade, Tulsa, OK (180,000 square feet; opened in 1996; 58 associates)

Neshaminy, Bensalem, PA (211,000 square feet; opened in 1968; 89 associates)

Shenango Valley, Hermitage, PA (106,000 square feet; opened in 1976; 69 associates)

Beaver Valley, Monaca, PA (203,000 square feet; opened in 1987; 78 associates)

Lycoming, Muncy, PA (120,000 square feet; opened in 1995; 61 associates)

Plymouth Meeting, Plymouth Meeting, PA (214,000 square feet; opened in 1966; 74 associates);

Washington Crown Center, Washington, PA (148,000 square feet; opened in 1999; 67 associates)

Parkdale, Beaumont, TX (171,000 square feet; opened in 2002; 67 associates)

Southwest Center, Dallas, TX (148,000 square feet; opened in 1975; 68 associates)

Sunland Park, El Paso, TX (105,000 square feet; opened in 2004; 71 associates)

Greenspoint, Houston, TX (314,000 square feet; opened in 1976; 70 associates)

West Oaks Mall, Houston, TX (244,000 square feet; opened in 1982; 135 associates)

Pasadena Town Square, Pasadena, TX (209,000 square feet; opened in 1962; 78 associates)

Collin Creek, Plano, TX (199,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 103 associates)

Broadway Square, Tyler, TX (100,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 65 associates)

Layton Hills, Layton, UT (162,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 72 associates)

Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, UT (200,000 square feet; opened in 1962; 88 associates)

Landmark, Alexandria, VA (201,000 square feet; opened in 1965; 119 associates)

River Ridge, Lynchburg, VA (144,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 60 associates)

Everett, Everett, WA (133,000 square feet; opened in 1977; 109 associates)

Three Rivers, Kelso, WA (51,000 square feet; opened in 1987; 57 associates)

Valley View, La Crosse, WI (101,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 57 associates)

Simi Valley Town Center (men’s/home/kids), Simi Valley, CA (190,000 square feet; opened in 2006; 105 associates)

Mall at Tuttle Crossing (furniture/home/kids/men's), Dublin, OH (227,000 square feet; opened in 2003; 52 associates)

Route 10 in Granby is closed after one person was taken to the hospital after a two-car accident, according to Granby police.

Route 10 is closed near Rickwood Lane. Police remain on scene investigating. More information was not immediately available.

Check back for updates.

The Kmart in Cromwell is one of 150 Kmart or Sears locations that will be closing this spring, according to company officials.

Sears Holdings announced Wednesday that it would be closing 78 Kmart stores and 26 Sears stores in the spring. The company had previously announced closures at 30 other Kmart locations and 16 Sears stores. Liquidation sales will begin Friday, Jan. 6.

The Cromwell location, located at 45 Shunpike Road, will close in mid-March. 

Sears said the move was part of a strategic plan to close unprofitable stores as it evaluates store space and productivity.

“Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around,” the company said in a statement. “But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success.”

Company officials did not release how many employees would be affected by the Cromwell closure. All employees will be eligible for severance and can apply for open positions at other Sears or Kmart locations.

The Sears store in Enfield is also slated for closure.

Connecticut residents looking to renew a driver’s license or ID card in the New Year can no longer do that at AAA Northeast offices in New Haven and Fairfield Counties.

After shutting off its equipment at AAA Northeast locations Sunday morning, a DMV spokesperson said it has added extra staff at offices in both counties.

“I was lucky I got the service before it closed,” Diane Baranowsky said.

Baranowsky last renewed her license in June at the AAA Northeast branch in Branford.

“I can’t even count how many times, but it’s always been a very efficient service,” she said. “It’s very disappointing because it was very convenient for us in the community and as a AAA member it was a nice added service.”

The DMV and AAA Northeast had been in negotiations since October about renewing their agreement. Commissioner Michael Bzdyra said the DMV could not agree to AAA’s terms of excluding non-members from DMV services.

"We need to maintain service levels while controlling costs,” Bzdyra said, “As such, we cannot subsidize a private organization's provision of DMV services if that organization is not willing to find ways to serve the general public."

A spokesperson for the AAA Northeast could not be immediately reached.

At the DMV in Hamden Wednesday, Petros Timos from Wallingford said he was surprised he only waited about half an hour to renew his car registration.

“And it seems like it improved for the New Year,” he said, “so I’m pretty content with it.”

Baranowsky said she hopes the lines won’t be too long the next time she needs to go to the DMV.

“That’s always been a nightmare in the past,” she said, “but that’s what we have to do we have to do it.”

DMV services are still available at eight AAA offices in other parts of the state for both AAA members and non-members. Those offices are located in Avon, Cromwell, Enfield, Manchester, Old Saybrook, Plainville, Waterford and West Hartford.

Later this year, the DMV plans to roll out an online system where residents can renew their driver’s licenses at home. Residents will only have to visit the DMV every 12 years to take a new photo.

While an arrest has been made in the massive fire that burned an abandoned downtown building New Year’s Eve night in Waterbury, the investigation continues into what caused this fire to burn so quickly.

Rubble is all that’s left on the South Main Street site, a former manufacturing mill built in the early 1900's, but there are about a dozen abandoned properties throughout the city similar in size to the old 200,000-square foot structure.

“Big concern. It has been for many years for us residents that live here in Waterbury,” said Waterbury resident, Luis Zayas.

The vacant buildings also a concern for city officials.

Fire Chief David Martin said his biggest concern is a building on Freight Street, a former brass company.

“There’s some abandoned tanks there that are a concern, the integrity of the structure is of concern as well,” said Chief Martin, who told NBC Connecticut the city has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to do environmental work there.

There are three other buildings on South Main Street, one on Cherry Avenue and one Bristol Street that are also of concern. They can pose a threat for firefighters if they get an emergency call at any of them.

“Just from a safety standpoint we try to go through these buildings as best as possible, outline any portions that are maybe lacking structural integrity,” said Chief Martin.

The city has worked on trying to make sure abandoned sites throughout the city are secure by boarding them up and fencing the properties as needed.

“Make these sites and locations as secure as you can. Whether it’s fencing, just a general board up to try and keep vagrants and people that are trying to do anything nefarious in these locations...try to keep them out,” said Director of Operations for the City of Waterbury, Joe Geary.

Until the city can put up fencing on the site of the New Year's Eve fire, the property is being secured by a police officer.

City officials are hoping state and federal aid will help offset what’s expected to be an expensive cleanup, expected to be well in the thousands, according to Geary.

Fire marshals deemed the building was intentionally burned to the ground. Police arrested a 58-year-old homeless man, Timothy Carlson, on Tuesday.

A 2-year-old child was rushed to the hospital after being struck by a car on Goffe Street in New Haven Wednesday evening, according to police.

Police said a woman was pushing the child in a stroller near the intersection of Goffe Street and Dixwell Avenue when they were struck by a passing driver. The child was ejected from the stroller and flew up the air, according to police.

Officers were already in the area for an unrelated incident and immediately called for help.

Police said the toddler was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital and is being treated in the pediatric intensive care unti. The child's condition was not immediately clear.

The woman, who police said is "presumably" the childn's mother, was not injured in the crash.

The driver of the car stayed on scene and told police he had a green light at the time of the crash and tried to avoid the stroller when he saw it, police said. The crash did not happen in a marked crosswalk.

The accident reconstruction team has been called in to investigate. The road remains closed in the area.

Dozens of neighbors in Plainville have filed complaints about the town's tap water and now local officials and water authorities are investigating.

"It doesn't taste right compared to the kitchen," said Carol Staubley about the water coming out of her bathroom sink faucet.

Carol Staubley said for months her Plainville home's tap water tasted bad and just plain stinks. Literally.

"It just doesn't smell right," said Staubly.

Staubley isn't alone. Plainville's Town Manager Robert Lee said 50 other residents have filed water quality complaints - either responding to the town's Facebook post urging residents to so, or by email, and hand-written letter.

"What we've found is that people are having a concerns with the hardness of the water, the impact it's having on your fixtures, many people don't like the taste of the water," said Plainville Town Manager Robert Lee.

Lee said water quality is determined by the state Department of Health and by private company Valley Water Systems, Inc. Valley Water President Donald Vaughan said the water reaching more than 6,500 customers is tested regularly.

"We test daily," said Valley Water Systems President Donald Vaughan.

He added that the test results have not shown any irregularities.

While concerns roll in, Lee is plotting locations of the complaints on a tap map.

"There's two well fields in town. One that has a somewhat of a filtering system on it and one that doesn't. What we think we are seeing is the ones that are serviced near Hamlin's pond area has more significant complaints than ones that are served in the northern area," said Lee.

Lee has called a meeting with Valley Water authorities and DOH officials in two weeks to identify problems if there is indeed any.

Until then, Staubley said she's sticking with store bought filters. Because upgrading her entire home to a filtered water set-up is no small drop in the financial bucket.

"It would cost us $5,000," said Staubley.

Until the meeting on Jan. 19, Lee urges residents to continue to email and send letters with their water issues. Valley Water officials said residents are free to give them a call about their water concerns as well.

The American Red Cross as issued an emergency appeal for blood and platelet donations amid a severe blood shortage, the organization announced Wednesday night.

The Red Cross said that they received about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than was needed, blaming the deficit on severe weather and hectic holiday schedules that discouraged regular donors from making donations.

According to the organization, nearly 100 blood drives were canceled in December, a loss of more than 3,100 donations.

Organization officials said currently blood and platelet donations are being distributed faster than they are coming in.

NBC Connecticut is partnering with the Red Cross to host a blood drive in Farmington on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. The drive will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Red Cross Farmington Blood Center at 209 Farmington Avenue. 

One donation can help up to three people in need of blood.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Anyone who donates in January will receive a $5 Dunkin' Donuts card as a thank you.

A piece of artwork displayed at the United States Capitol depicting police officers as pigs is creating controversy from coast to coast, with locals cops demaning it be removed.

The painting, which was created in Missouri, has angered police in the Bay Area and across the nation. It shows police officers as pigs pointing guns at African Americans.

NBC Bay Area obtained a letter that police in California sent to House Speaker Paul Ryan, demanding he remove the painting immediately.

"It's a hateful message," said Sgt. Paul Kelly with the San Jose Police Officers Association.

The painting, which sits in the office of St. Louis Congressman William Clay, was one of the winners in a student art competition. Clay's office sponsored the art contest.

In a letter to Ryan, the San Jose police union joined with unions in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Oakland in demanding the speaker use his power to take down the art immediately.

"The broad brush of this artwork that says all police officers are racist against African Americans," Kelly said. "That's false and that does create violence."

But in a response to NBC Bay Area, Clay said he had no role in selecting the winner.

"The U.S. Capitol is a symbol of freedom, not censorship," Clay said. "The young artist chose his own subject and the painting will not be removed."

Kelly said he supports free speech. But with all the deadly police ambushes last year, Kelly insists the artwork on Capitol Hill will only insight violence.

"He has been serving in that position for 15 years," Kelly said of Clay. "He should have known better."

The aunt of a young boy who drowned in a Ledyard pool has been accused of stealing money from a GoFundMe account meant to help pay her nephew’s funeral expenses, according to Ledyard police.

Police said Bonni Ojeda set up a GoFundMe donation page after her husband’s four-year-old nephew drowned in a pool under the premise of using the money to pay for funeral expenses. Police allege that Ojeda removed $2,300 from the account without telling the boy’s family, then presented the family with the remaining $1,500.

Ojeda was arrested on Jan. 3 and charged with five counts of sixth-degree larceny. She was released on a $3,000 bond and expected in court on Jan. 19.

Traffic is stop-and-go on Interstate 95 North in Stonington after a truck carrying food rolled over.

Police said the rollover is in the left lane near exit 92.

Crews from the state Department of Consumer Protection responded and state police said the food will need to be removed from the truck.

One person was taken to the hospital after a car hit a house on Harvard Street in Hartford early Thursday morning. 

Two people were in the car when it hit the corner of the house and one was taken to the hospital. The person’s injuries are not life-threatening. 

Inspectors responded to the scene to assess the damage.

Sen. Bernie Sanders haunted Donald Trump and Republicans with the ghost of Twitter past on Wednesday, NBC News reported.

The Vermont senator printed an oversized tweet of Trump's to use as a visual aid during the Senate's debate over the future of Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act. The president-elect's tweet from May 2015 claimed that he was the only Republican candidate "to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid."

Trump punctuated the tweet with a jab at former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

New Britain-based Stanley Black & Decker has reached a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars to buy the Craftsman brand from Sears and plans to expand the brand as well as sales of the products and add jobs.

A news release from Stanley Black & Decker says Stanley Black & Decker will have the rights to develop, manufacture and sell Craftsman-branded products in non-Sears Holdings retail, industrial and online sales channels across the U.S. and in other countries and Sears Holdings will continue to offer Craftsman-branded products at Kmart, Sears and Sears Hometown.

The New Britain company said only around 10 percent of Craftsman-branded products are currently sold outside of Sears Holdings and the agreement will enable Stanley Black & Decker to increase Craftsman sales in untapped channels.

"Craftsman is a legendary, American brand with tremendous consumer awareness built on a legacy of producing quality products at a great value," Stanley Black & Decker president and CEO James M. Loree said in a statement. "This agreement represents a significant opportunity to grow the market by increasing the availability of Craftsman products to consumers in previously underpenetrated channels.”

Loree said the company plans to expand the manufacturing footprint in the U.S., which will add jobs in the U.S.

Sears Holdings' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward S. Lampert said Sears will continue to sell Craftsman in stores and online at Kmart and Sears, and Sears Hometown.

Stanley Black & Decker will pay Sears Holdings $525 million at closing, $250 million at end of year three and annual payments on new Stanley Black & Decker Craftsman sales through year 15 (2.5 percent through 2020, 3 percent through January 2023, and 3.5 percent thereafter).

The net present value of all these cash payments is approximately $900 million. The license granted to Sears Holdings will be royalty-free for 15 years, then 3 percent thereafter.

Stanley Black & Decker expects the sale of Craftsman branded products to contribute approximately $100 million of average annual revenue growth for approximately the next 10 years.

A Twitter poll by ardent Obamacare foe Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., on whether the health-care law should be repealed backfired big-time Wednesday as lots more people — a whole lot more people — tweeted "No," rather than "Yes," CNBC reported.

Blackburn posted the poll Tuesday, asking people their views on repeal, and requesting that they retweet their support for killing Obamacare if they favored repeal.

She also asked in that tweet what people want to see as a replacement for the Affordable Care Act.

When the poll closed Wednesday, a whopping 84 percent of the nearly 8,000 votes were for "No" on the question of repeal.

Merwin Avenue in Milford is closed after a water main break around 3 a.m. Thursday and crews think water could be out for five to seven hours for one block. 

Merwin Avenue is closed between Rock and Abigail streets and crews from the Regional Water Authority are waiting to cut off the water. 

It’s not clear how many houses will not have water.