Lawmakers met on Monday to craft the final details of a bipartisan budget deal. 

In caucus meetings this afternoon, Democratic and Republican state senators are learning more about the tentative framework for a potential budget deal, after 115 days without one. 

"We’re definitely cautiously optimistic we haven’t seen the final product but the thing we feel good about is that both sides really seem to be really talking in earnest and have been for the last couple of weeks," Joe DeLong, the executive director for Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said.

Before there could be a budget vote in both chamber sometime this week, leaders need to finalize the numbers on the major issue of municipal funding.

The longer the state goes without a budget, the more dire consequences could be for families in the cities and towns across Connecticut, DeLong said. 

"Imagine a kindergarten child who has gone way to school for the first time away from their family they’re acclimated they’re comfortable they have a wonderful teacher and they find out in a few weeks your teacher is being laid off and you’re now going into a classroom with 40 kids and starting in an environment all over again," DeLong said.

Meanwhile, environmental groups are speaking out against part of the tentative deal that diverts millions of dollars from ratepayer-funded clean energy programs into the general fund.

 "Instead of the money going to where it supposed to, they’re going to raid it to plug a budget gap but that money creates further investments and creates further jobs and savings for those families that are putting that money into these funds," Claire Coleman, with the Connecticut Fund for the Environment, said.

If there is a budget vote this week, the question is whether or not there will be enough support to make it veto proof. 

Governor Dannel Malloy already vetoed a GOP budget that passed that he called "illegal". 

A busy intersection in West Hartford will be closed for hours after a car slammed into a utility pole.

The crash happened on Boulevard at Woodrow Street on Monday afternoon.

Police said the intersection will be closed for several hours.

No other information was immediately available. NBC CT is working to get more updates. 

State police are searching for a man involved in an alleged assault in East Haddam on Sunday morning.

Police said the apparent victim arrived at Troop K in Colchester around 1 a.m. to report the incident.

After an investigation, police obtained an arrest warrant for 34-year-old Jared Rennie in connection to the assault.

Troopers went to Rennie's home around 9 p.m. with a search warrant but did not find him there.

Anyone with information on Rennie's whereabouts is asked to call detectives from the Eastern District Major Crime unit at 860-465-5469.

The Town of Mansfield said propane gas in the kitchen sparked an explosion that injured five people at the Spring Hill Inn on Saturday. 

The incident happened at the former Altnaveigh Inn on Storrs Road (Route 195) just before 5:10 p.m. Multiple ambulances and LifeStar were requested to the scene for five people who sustained burn injuries.

One victim was airlifted to Rhode Island Hospital, one person was transported to Hartford Hospital and three others were sent to Windham Hospital. 

State police said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening on Saturday. 

Witnesses who were at the inn for an event said they smelled gas before the explosion.

"There was a big flash kind of out of my periphery," said Rick Haverly, of Coventry.  "Kind of had my back to it I think. Then a boom and then a little force."

On Monday, the town said the explosion occurred when propane gas accumulated in the kitchen and found an ignition source. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the Mansfield Fire Marshal's Office, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Unit.

Fire officials said the damage was contained to the kitchen area and most of the injuries were burns.

The Spring Hill Inn posted a statement on Facebook thanking first responders.

A JetBlue plane hit some birds after taking off from Boston Logan International Airport on Monday.

JetBlue Airways Flight 877, an Airbus 320, reported that it struck several seagulls after departing Logan on Monday afternoon.

The crew declared an emergency and diverted to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, according to the Massachusetts Port Authority. A JetBlue spokeswoman said the flight made a safe landing at JFK at about 7:30 p.m.

The spokeswoman said the plane was diverted "out of an abundance of caution" and that passengers will be re-accomodated on another aircraft

According to LiveATC, an online service that records air-traffic control communications, the pilot of the flight said "we felt a pretty good jolt" after the strike. 

The Federal Aviation Administration noted that the crew initially planned to return to Logan instead of landing at JFK.

The flight was originally heading to Las Vegas.

President Donald Trump's personal lawyer is scheduled to speak Tuesday with investigators for the House probe into Russia's involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, NBC News reported.

Sources familiar with the House Intelligence Committee's probe say Michael Cohen will talk with them in private. The sources requested anonymity to discuss private workings of the House probe. A source with first-hand knowledge told NBC News that Cohen will also appear before to Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday.

Cohen is a former executive with the Trump Organization. He was in talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, but ended those negotiations as Trump's White House bid grew stronger.

It was later revealed that Cohen had written an email to Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, seeking help in getting the Moscow tower built. But Peskov said he never responded to the email.

A man was arrested in Enfield after leading police on a chase on Monday afternoon. 

Around 1:36 p.m., state police attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a stolen car on I-91 northbound near exit 45. The operator, later identified as Javon Alston, engaged police in a pursuit which led to a an accident on I91 near exit 47E, state troopers said. 

Alston then fled on food into a wooded area and police set up a perimeter. 

After about two hours, the 21-year-old was found and apprehended. 

Alston was charged with engaging police in pursuit, evading responsibility, reckless driving, and operating without a driver's license. His bond was set at $50,000. 

A man was caught on camera robbing a packaging store in Bristol on Sunday morning.

Police are searching for the man who robbed Marty's Package Store in Mafale's Plaza on Main Street at 10:14 a.m.

The suspect threatened the clerk with a knife and demanded money, police said.

The clerk complied and no injuries were reported. 

The man was described as being in his late 20s or early 30s, 5 feet 7 inches, slim build, possible facial fair. He was last seen wearing a blue fleece sweatshirt, khaki pants, brown boots, black gloves and a gray knit cap. 

Bristol police said the man fled on foot, heading towards South Street.

While some of the items stolen have been recovered, the suspect remains at large.

Anyone having any information regarding this incident is asked to call the Bristol Police at (860) 584-3000 or Det. J. Lattanzio at (860) 314-4565. 

An emerging theory among U.S. military investigators is that the Army Special Forces soldiers ambushed in Niger were set up by terrorists, who were tipped off in advance about a meeting in a village sympathetic to local ISIS affiliates, three U.S. officials who have been briefed on the matter told NBC News.

The group of American Green Berets and support soldiers had requested a meeting with elders of a village that was seen as supportive of the Islamic State, and they attended the meeting at around 11 a.m. local time Oct. 4, after a long night of patrolling, the officials said. Such meetings are a routine part of the Green Beret mission, but it wasn't clear whether this meeting was part of the unit's plan.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not address that theory when he briefed reporters on the incident Monday. He said the troops had been on a reconnaissance mission.

Three weeks after a deadly attack that has become a political flashpoint, the U.S. military is grappling to get a handle on the basic facts of what led to the deaths of four service members — and the growing chorus of questions about the U.S. mission in Niger and other parts of Africa.

Among the questions, Dunford said, was whether the mission changed; whether the intelligence was good enough, and why one of the fallen soldiers was separated from the rest of the unit.

A racist letter was sent out from a high school teacher's email account that appeared to be hacked, the state's department of education said. 

The email came from a Wilcox Technical High School's teacher's account that was hacked around 2:17 p.m., police said.

The writer emailed a staff member and cc'd entire staff and school body with a message that contained explicit language and racist comments. 

"The email sent today included deeply disturbing, inappropriate, and offensive racial comments that have absolutely no place in our schools. The Technical High School System and the Department of Education take these matters extremely seriously and are working with State Police to identify all individuals involved," Laura J. Stefon, the chief of staff with the Connecticut State Department of Education, said in a statement.

While there is no threat to any students, Connecticut State Police said an extra trooper will be at the school during morning drop-off. 

Stefon said the investigation is ongoing and school administration is working closely with state police. 

The superintendent of Region 10 Public Schools is apologizing for his participation in what was supposed to be a humorous video, tracked down by THE NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters.

Superintendent Alan Beitman went ahead and admitted to his involvement, "legitimized an inappropriate attempt at humor" through a letter sent to the school community.

Beitman's letter to the school reads, in part: "I regret being part of this embarrassing film clip and apologize for tarnishing the dignified office of Superintendent of Schools. I apologize to you, the students, and the entire school community."

Over the weekend, parents started asking what the superintendent's letter noting the 5-year-old video was all about.

The video in question is roughly twenty minutes long. In it, Beitman interacts with a female staff member at the Harwinton Consolidated School. The woman role plays with other teachers, administration and police.

NBC Connecticut has been told the video was compiled as an end of year "stress reliever" shown only to staff members at a party. There are conflicting reports on whether the party was held at the school or a private home.

In the video, Beitman, while role-playing, asks the female staff, who is wearing a mini skirt, "You're heading home I take it?”

She responds, "Yeah, totally. I'm going home. One of the dads wanted me to come over."

The Board of Education Chairman Phil Penn said an investigation was launched on Monday and they’ve hired an outside attorney to independently review the matter.

Some parents, including Heather Messier read the letter, but didn’t see the video until Monday.

"The behavior looked inappropriate," Messier told NBC Connecticut.

Burlington Businessman Dwight Harris said he's worked with children in the community for three decades. He filed a complaint with the Board of Education and the district’s Title 9 Coordinator late last week, because he believes the video is filled with sexual overtones and is a violation.

Harris also has a problem with how the district handled another employee after complaints were lodged, which he claims came with no due process.

Harris calls the superintendent, the "captain of the ship" who should be steering teachers and staff members in the right direction.

"If we're trying to set an example about sex in the workplace this is absolutely the worst precedence you can set," Harris said.

The business owner said Beitman's tone impacts the school community.

"He's the mentor in the community as far as education and I think whatever tone he sets is important because it impacts the staff and teachers and that affects the kids," Harris told NBC Connecticut. "I was offended by the fact the superintendent participated in it, I didn’t think it set a good example for the teachers."

NBC Connecticut stopped by Beitman’s office on Monday. Administrators said he wasn't in and he emailed NBC Connecticut to say the board of education already responded.

With gusty winds and heavy rain in the forecast Tuesday and Wednesday, wet leaves could become a problem for gutters and storm drains.

Dry leaves are easy to rake or blow, but once they get wet, they stick together like glue, and that’s when clogs happen.

Wind is expected to bring down more leaves and with a soaking rain in the forecast, backup from leaf-clogged drains and gutters is a concern. It’s keeping landscapers busy.

“We’re trying to keep up with the gutters which is a big deal now because of pending rains they’re talking about. You’ve got to get the leaves out of there so it can drain and doesn’t get backed up and go into the house,” said Andrew Messina.

Messina said the best time to clean up is before a heavy rain, and definitely before the snow starts falling.

“If you get water damage inside the walls, then you got to gut the walls, and get a guy in there, it’s going to cost a ton of money. It’s much easier just to get them cleaned out, especially when they’re dry like this,” he explained.

Experts say it is also important to stay on top of leaf removal now to help prevent ice dams in the winter.

Ryan Duffy is a high school hero.

Last week, as the Stratford High School senior and his teammates on the school’s cross country team were running in the Southwest Conference Championship, Ryan noticed a runner from another team face down on the ground. Ryan was in the top third of the field, in position to have the best time of his team. But when he spotted that sick runner, he ran all the way back to the start of the race to get help.

"It’s just a race and it's more than just a race to help them out," said Duffy.

"My teammate Rory Cooper he was like 'Duff, what are you doing?' I just kept running just to get help. I just wanted to help the poor kid out," he said.

His heroics earned the high school senior special acknowledgment by Stratford’s Board of Education Monday night.

Duffy is the co-captain of team and everyone who knows him says they’re aren’t surprised he sacrificed his own race to help another runner.

"He embodies the whole entire town of Stratford and everything we want it to be about. He’s just a great leader and a great kid," said teammate Rory Cooper

"He’s concerned about others and he’s a kind kid. He’s a great kid," said Ryan’s mother Christine Duffy.

Ryan’s parents say they try to instill in all four of their sons the importance of being kind and treating others as they’d like to be treated, which is just what Ryan did last Wednesday.

"Live as if you’d want somebody to do something the same way you would do for them. Do the right thing. The Golden Rule. It’s really no more difficult than that," said John Duffy, Ryan’s father.

Stratford’s cross country coach says that Ryan’s heroics were evidence of the character of the young man who he says is one of the best runners of the team, if not the best, and he’s proud of his performance.

"He could’ve run right by the runner. Maybe a few did. Maybe some of them said 'I’m not going to stop.' But Ryan, the way he is, no I’m stopping. I’m going to get this kid medical attention then I’m going about my business," said Coach Maurice Scioletti.

Coach Scioletti says that student who got sick on the course had a severe case of dehydration and is going to be okay.

As for Ryan Duffy, he plans to continue the cross country season and he’s looking ahead to his other sport, baseball, which he hopes to play when he heads to college next year.

A man is dead after a shooting on Richard Street in New Haven Monday.

Police said an officer heard a gunshot ring out from Poplar Street around 11:39 p.m. and went to investigate. The officer found a gunshot victim a block away on Richard Street. The victim was rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he died of his injuries. He has been identified as 28-year-old Darrin Norris Winfrey.

Police are asking for the public’s help in this investigation. Anyone with information on the crime should contact detectives at 203-946-6304. Calls may be made anonymously.

It seems the city of New Have may have a rat problem. That's according to residents who say they've seen the animals first hand scurrying around the downtown area.

"They're like this big! Like Ratatouille rats!" Said New Haven Resident Robert Franklin.

Numerous residents are reporting seeing more and more rats.

"It's been a nuisance to see these rats that are as large as cats," said New Haven Resident Jazz DeVar

Bus riders like Devar say the rats mostly emerge at night around the bus stops, coming out of nearly every available space.

"They're coming out of the cracks of the sidewalks, they're coming through the sewers," said DeVar.

The problem witnesses say is not just the rats plaguing the bus stops. But they fact they seem to be spreading to more greener pastures.

"Now they're spreading out into the lawn," said DeVar.

Mayor of New Haven Toni Harp released a statement on the rat concerns:

"Several city departments operate pest control operations year 'round; after a relatively quiet summer, rodent control efforts and monitoring were recently stepped up to combat what is likely a seasonal uptick in activity."

An "uptick" riders hope ends soon.

"We need to do something about this," said DeVar.

In a recent report, Pest control company Orkin ranked cities and regions where it performed the highest number of rodent treatments in the past year. Hartford and New Haven, which were counted as one market for the purpose of the rankings – ranked number 16 out of 50. 

The price of a Mega Millions lottery ticket is set to double this weekend as a redesigned version of the game aiming to drive up bigger jackpots faster takes effect.

The update will debut on Saturday, Oct. 28, with the cost of a ticket increasing from $1 to $2. The game's starting jackpot will also jump from the current $15 million to $40 million, Mega Millions announced.

"We have a demand for innovation to keep fresh, entertaining lottery games and to deliver the attention-grabbing jackpots," said Mega Millions President Debbie D. Alford, who also is president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corp. "We're excited to deliver the opportunity to create more millionaires and also provide more opportunities to raise additional revenues for the respected causes lotteries benefit."

To win the game’s jackpot, players must match five white balls from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25. In the current game, players choose five numbers from a field of one to 75 and one Mega Ball from a field of one to 15.

The odds of winning the jackpot will increase from 1 in almost 259 million to 1 in about 303 million, according to the New York Gaming Commission. Players will have an overall one-in-24 chance of winning any prize, also an increase from the current odds of one-in-15.

According to lottery officials, the update will make it easier for players to win the game’s second-tier $1 million prize for matching five white balls. Other secondary prizes also are being increased with the updated game:

• $10,000 for matching four white balls and the Mega Ball, an increase of $5,000
• $200 for matching three white balls and the Mega Ball, an increase of $150
• $10 for matching either three white balls or two white balls and the Mega Ball, an increase of $5
• $4 for matching one white ball and the Mega Ball, an increase of $2
• $2 for matching the Mega Ball, an increase of $1

A Miami man accused of trying to bomb the Dolphin Mall after allegedly being inspired by Islamic extremists made his first appearance in federal court Monday.

Vicente Adolfo Solano, 53, appeared before a judge to face a federal charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

The judge appointed an attorney for Solano, who works as a painter and doesn't own property or have any assets.

Solano was arrested outside the mall on Friday following an undercover operation by an FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force, according to a criminal complaint released Monday.

The investigation began in late September after an informant said Solano had "become increasingly upset with the policies of the United States government and its activities throughout the world," the complaint said.

Solano was planning to strike at the mall on Black Friday, Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving and one of the busiest shopping days of the year, the complaint said.

Authorities said Solano made pro-Islamic State videos before planning the attack, which included detonating a weapon of mass destruction, the complaint said.

In the videos that Solano sent to the informant, he spoke in Spanish and wore a black mask while standing in front of an ISIS flag, the complaint said.

"I love that there is going to be a holy war," he said in one video. "The United States is the most terrorist country of them all."

Solano also referenced the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and Harlem Suarez, who received life in prison for a failed plot to set off a bomb on a crowded Key West beach, according to the complaint.

"I am going to plant a bomb like in-like in Boston, in the name of Allah," Solano said, according to the complaint. "Like in Boston, like Suarez wanted to do in the Keys, that's how they're going to get it, and even worse."

Solano later met with undercover agents and "described his feeling of exclusion that stems from his temporary immigration status," the complaint said.

He also said he had gone to the mall to look for a spot to plant the bomb, and said he was considering the food court or an area where people sing.

"Those are the areas where more people gather," he told one undercover agent, according to the complaint.

Solano said he would plant the bomb in luggage and leave, and said the day of the attack didn't matter, "as long as there is [sic] a lot of people," the complaint said.

On Friday, Solano met with the undercover agents at a hotel, where they put the device together. Solano practiced arming the device, which was inert and could never actually explode, the complaint said.

Solano and one of the agents drove to the mall, where Solano took steps that he believed would arm the device, and the timer began to count down, the complaint said.

When Solano got out of the car and approached the mall entrance, he was taken into custody.

Solano remained in federal custody Monday. His detention hearing will take place Thursday, and his arraignment was set for Nov. 6.

Sweetwater police were at the mall when Solano was arrested, backing up the federal agents. Officials said shoppers were never in danger.

"We are aware statistically that Dolphin Mall is one of the three largest venues in the state of Florida and we take measure to ensure that there's enough police visibility and proactive work being done there," Sweetwater Police Chief Placido Diaz said.

"While Dolphin Mall regularly partners with local and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our customers, it is inappropriate for us to comment on this case due to the ongoing FBI investigation," the mall said in a statement Monday.

Solano lives in Sweetwater. Neighbors said he is from Honduras and rented a room at a townhouse for years.

Records showed he has a long list of minor crimes in his background, including 47 traffic citations, a misdemeanor assault arrest, and a failure to appear in court for driving with a suspended license.

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the agency that would oversee construction of the southern border wall will begin the Senate confirmation process Tuesday, three months later than his hearing was originally scheduled, because of allegations of misconduct that were eventually dismissed, NBC News reported.

Kevin McAleenan currently serves as the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and served as the deputy commissioner under the Obama administration. McAleenan's hearing to become commissioner was scheduled for July 13, but was mysteriously postponed the night before.

Multiple sources familiar with the matter told NBC News the hearing was delayed after anonymous accusers alleged McAleenan had an affair with a subordinate and bypassed proper channels to fund an immigration detention center.

The Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, investigated both claims and cleared McAleenan of all wrongdoing, according to three sources who are familiar with the investigation.

The body of a North Texas child found in a drainage culvert Sunday has been confirmed to be missing 3-year-old Sherin Mathews.

Richardson police released new details to NBC 5 and confirmed the finding late Tuesday morning, citing a report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office saying the child had been positively identified using dental records.

The girl's adoptive father, Wesley Mathews, was arrested Monday night after changing his story, telling police he "physically assisted" his daughter in drinking milk and that she died after beginning to choke, according to an arrest affidavit. He then told police he removed her body from the family's Richardson home.

After being read his Miranda rights, detectives said Mathews told them had been trying to get his youngest daughter to drink milk in the garage but that she wouldn't listen to him.

"Eventually the 3-year-old girl began to drink the milk," the affidavit said. "Wesley Mathews then physically assisted the 3-year-old girl in drinking the milk. The 3-year-old girl began to choke. She was coughing and her breathing slowed. Eventually, Wesley Mathews no longer felt a pulse on the child and believed she had died."

Mathews told police he then removed the girl's body from the home, though no further details were given about where he left his child, according to the affidavit.

Mathews, who was out on bond after being charged with negligence, was re-arrested and charged with felony injury to a child Monday night. His bond on the new charge was set at $1 million.

NBC DFW was reaching out to his attorney.

Sherin Mathews was reported missing Oct. 7. Wesley Mathews initially told police she went missing around 3 a.m. after being told to stand outside as punishment for not drinking milk and that she was gone when he checked on her 15 minutes later.

In his original story, Wesley Mathews told police he went to look for the girl but returned home and did some laundry while waiting for her to return. Just after 8 a.m., nearly five hours after she disappeared, Mathews called police to report his youngest daughter was missing.

After a night of heavy rainfall Sunday morning, the body of a small child was found in a drainage culvert not far from the Mathews' home. Richardson police said late Tuesday morning the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the child was Mathews using dental records.

Earlier Monday, Wesley Mathews and his wife Sini Mathews attended a court hearing to determine whether they could regain custody of their biological 4-year-old daughter, who had been placed in protective custody after her sister was reported missing.

The judge postponed the hearing until Nov. 13 to give Wesley Mathews time to hire a civil attorney, said Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman for Child Protective Services. The girl will remain in foster care at least until that hearing or until a judge orders a change in custody.

Wesley Mathews Arrest Affidavit