Ever since lawn care service TruGreen bought out his former specialist, Turf Masters and began treating Rich Bates’ lawn, he said, it has been covered in brown patches.

“That’s actual grass, there’s crab grass, and there’s a weed over there,” Bates said as he points to various spots in his lawn. “Those aren’t dying. My grass is dying.”

Bates said he never had issues with his grass in the six years before TruGreen. Today, according to the company, his lawn has rust mold.

It’s a relatively common but persistent lawn disease and can spread in damp conditions or through contamination if someone walks on an infected area.

Because of the timing, Bates believes one of TruGreen’s specialists accidentally spread the rust mold.

“I didn’t have rust mold before (TruGreen) came here,” said Bates. “After you leave, two days later, my yard is changing colors. And now I have rust mold.”

When Bates called TruGreen, an agent denied they caused any damage and said it would go away after continued mowing over time. In the meantime, Bates didn’t think he should have to pay for the lawn protection treatment provided by TruGreen, meant to help his lawn look healthy, when his lawn didn’t look healthy at all.

He requested a refund for the treatment, which the company initially denied but it was a decision the Air Force veteran couldn’t quite accept.

“In the military, my career field was services. We taught customer service. That’s totally the opposite of what you would do,” said Bates.

When NBC Connecticut Responds spoke with TruGreen, an agent told us rust was very prevalent this year and it’s most common in the fall months. The company added:

“While rust does not cause significant long lasting damage to turf, we have agreed to refund all of Mr. Bates’ 2017 services.”

TruGreen also closed Bates’ account.

“And I’m glad they did. I wanted them to anyways. But I want my lawn fixed,” said Bates.

For that, he decided to go with another service and he got $300 back in his pocket to do so.

A federal grand jury in Washington has approved the first charges in the investigation being conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller, CNN reported Friday.

CNN cited sources briefed on the matter in reporting that the grand jury approved charges, but the network said that the charges are sealed under orders from a federal judge and it was unclear what the charges are or who they are against. The Wall Street Journal later Friday also reported that the first charges have been filed, citing a source.

NBC News has not confirmed the reports. Peter Carr, a spokesperson for Mueller, declined to comment Friday night.

Mueller, a former FBI director, was appointed in May as special counsel to oversee the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the election.

Cities and towns are struggling to keep up with the magnitude of the opioid addiction problem.

President Donald Trump gave a boost to the fight Thursday by declaring the opioid crisis a national public health emergency.

"Families, communities and citizens across our country are currently dealing with the worst drug crisis in American history," Trump said.

More federal help will be coming to cities, like New London, that see the face of the crisis every day. But no new federal dollars will be allocated to combat the opioid epidemic, which has some people in Connecticut are saying the declaration falls a bit short.

"We need more money. We’re doing the best we can," said Jeanne Milstein, human services director for the city of New London.

New London firefighters responded to 120 overdoses in the last 18 months, according to Milstein. The city only has a population of about 27,000.

New London has an Opioid Action Team that looks at treatment, naloxone accessibility, education and diversion programs in the courts. Every player works together. But money is needed to make it all happen, according to Milstein.

"We are desperate. We are absolutely desperate in New London. We are the number one distressed municipality in the state," Milstein said.

"Often times you need family with money or really good insurance to get the help that you need," said Rep. Joe de la Cruz, (D- Groton, New London).

Federal money is needed quickly, according to de la Cruz. He helped found Community Speaks Out, that helps families get the help and support they need regarding addiction.

His son Joey Gingerella battled with addiction and helped break the stigma locally. Breaking the stigma nationally a good first step, de la Cruz said.

"Once Joey went and spoke, people started calling us and asking us 'What did you do? How did you get your son help?' People that we knew. People who were not willing to speak out before," de la Cruz said.

National Drug Take Back is Saturday. To see where you can drop off unwanted medication in your area, click here.

Connecticut police departments are helping to tackle the opioid crisis head on Saturday.

They’re asking people to go through their medicine cabinet and drop off unwanted drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to ensure they’re safely disposed of.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs in 2015, the latest numbers available. They survey also showed most abused prescription drugs came from family and friends.

Groton Police, who are hosting a "Take Back" at the senior center tomorrow, want to prevent just that.

"Folks will start with prescription pills and they’ll move onto other drugs, such as heroin, because it’s a cheaper source or at this point it’s maybe more available to them," said Deputy Chief Paul Gately.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day starts at 10 a.m. For a list of where there’s one in your area, click here.

It was man versus train Saturday as hundreds of runners lined up to see if they had what it takes to beat a steam engine to the finish line at the first annual Essex Steam Train Half Marathon.

"We were joking around one day and thought 'how cool would it be to race a train," said Eric Bieweg of Team Make a Difference (MAD).

This behemoth became the running partner of the 400-plus people who tied up their laces-not to race against the clock-but against a century-old steam train in Essex.

"I’ve done a lot of races but this is really different so I was excited about the train being here," said Cheshire resident Bridget Brosnahan.

With the steam engine rolling down the tracks at 20 mph, some admitted they’d be running to catch the train. Others had loftier goals.

"I’m going to beat the train today," Nora Toscano of Cheshire said.

Florida resident and Deep River native Steve Zebrowski and his wife Jennifer Laxton were happy to trade in the Florida sunshine for scenic Southeast Connecticut.

"We used to go on this train. We had class trips when I was in school," Sebrowski said.

"The hills might be a little tough for me, being from Florida, but I can’t wait to see all the prettiness of everything," Laxton said.

Instead of standing on the sidelines, spectators rode the train that runners were racing against.

"I just think it’s going to be inspiring the whole way to know that there’s people out there cheering for you," Toscano said.

While family and friends kept the runners from losing steam, donations from the charity race also helped behavioral health agency Community Health Resources keep chugging along.

"We’re at this incredible junction where we have the demand for our services has never been higher and yet we are seeing a reduction in funding from state and federal sources. So, this is perfect timing,”"said Maureen McGuire of CHR.

With a sold-out crowd riding the rails and running the course, Team MAD’s pipe dream now has the pulling power to become an annual tradition.

Route 8 south in Derby is closed due to a serious crash, according to state police.

The crash happened near exit 16. Police said life-threatening injuries have been reported and LifeStar has been requested to the scene.

Drivers should seek alternate routes.

No other information was immediately available. Check back for updates.

NBC Connecticut Meteorologists continue to track a powerful storm that will impact the state Sunday into Monday. The main impacts with the weather system will be strong winds and heavy rain.

We issued a First Alert Sunday into Monday ahead of the significant storm. 

Scattered showers will begin to move into the state first thing Sunday morning. Showers will become more widespread by the early afternoon hours. The strongest part of the storm doesn't move into the state until Sunday evening and continues into Monday morning.

We will have continuous updates on the storms track and impacts through the weekend. Our live weather coverage begins early on Monday kicking off at 4 a.m. on NBC Connecticut.

Weather Impacts:

The wind component of this storm system appears it will cause the most issues. A High Wind Watch has been posted for most of Connecticut. This will likely transition to a High Wind Warning by Sunday morning.

Wind gusts will pickup in intensity first thing Sunday morning. The highest wind gusts will occur Sunday evening into the morning hours of Monday. 

We're forecasting winds to gust between 45 to 60 mph statewide. Even higher gusts are possible along the shoreline and especially areas of southern Middlesex and New London counties. Winds could gust over 60 mph in this part of the state.

High wind gusts coupled with a wet soil may result in uprooted trees which in return would cause power issues throughout the state.

We're anticipating numerous power issues Sunday night into Monday with the greatest power threat along coastal areas of the state.

In addition to the wind there is also a Flash Flooding Threat.

A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for all of Connecticut and is valid through Monday morning. 

The heaviest rain will fall Sunday evening into the early morning hours of Monday.

Parts of the state already received over 5 inches of rain this past week.

We're forecasting another 1 to 3 inches of rain throughout the state. Luckily the heaviest rain appears to stay to the west of Connecticut impacting areas of Central Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.

Make sure to download the NBC Connecticut App to get the very latest information on our weather threat. You can also track the rain using Interactive Radar.

Maren Sanchez was just 16 when she was stabbed to death by a classmate at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.

Her mother, Donna Cimarelli, couldn’t even speak about it publicly for years. She’s not channeling her grief into a mission to save other girls.

"They just kept telling me that she didn't make it and I just kept shaking my head- no," Cimarelli said, recalling the awful day in 2014.

"You know...this is going to sound crazy, but I was more angry at myself,” she told NBC Connecticut’s Keisha Grant. “Because I had noticed things there were strange but like every parent I just said-these are kids, these are teenagers."

Cimarelli has spent the last year turning all of that heartache and doubt over the loss of her daughter into action. She created the Maren Sanchez Home Foundation with one goal in mind – to save lives.

"My biggest mission was to help young girls defend themselves against psychological and emotional manipulation because I feel that physical violence is the thing that happens after that has already happened,” she said.

The foundation is leading a series of workshops for girls designed to address an issue most women aren’t even aware of.

"I think it comes from a childhood of not being taught what that means to be manipulated or what that means when you feel threatened. Or when you don't want to do something but you do it anyways to be nice," Cimarelli said.

And it may be these moves that physically stop them from becoming a victim.

"We started small and we realized there was such a need for it. We've had moms calling us asking if girls as young as 10 can come to the self-defense courses,” she said.

The classes are so popular the sell out every time.

UConn student Taryn Weaver made sure 90 of her sorority sisters took this lesson in survival.

"I hope that this clicks with them a little more and maybe the walk away know that they're not invincible and things can happen- but if they do- you're strong enough," Weaver said.

Cimarelli isn’t spending her time thinking about what could’ve been – if this type of knowledge would’ve saved Maren’s life.

"If she had the training maybe she could've run but again- we don't know- it just happened so fast and it was so unexpected,” she said. "That's why we make sure the girls learn maneuvers for spaces and situations that's basically when you're in trouble."

The foundation’s focus is on empowerment, building confidence and teaching girls to trust their instinct.

"We need to start teaching our girls a different way. Our girls need to become powerful, they need to be heard and they need to know how to listen to their intuition and their gut and follow it," Cimeralli explained. "Maren had good intuition and she didn't follow it the morning of her death."

Cimarelli’s pain doesn’t get easier, but she’s learned to take it day by day. She hopes Maren’s short but beautiful life will serve as the inspiration for parents everywhere.

"Be proactive, take action and if you see something that's not right with your child make a lot of noise about it. Don't sit back because if you make a lot of noise and it's nothing oh well, but if it was something - you can save lives."

The classes are called Her Self-Defense and they’re offered strictly for girls. You can visit learn more about the classes and the Maren Sanchez Home Foundation by clicking here.

A Bristol police officer has been arrested on drunken driving charges.

Bristol police said around 2:25 a.m. Saturday officers responded to a report of a driver sleeping in a vehicle stopped on School Street near the intersection of North Main Street.

Officers arrived and identified the sleeping driver as 32-year-old Brian Bonati. Police said Bonati failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle with intoxicated and released on a $500 bond. He is due in court on Nov 6.

Bonati is a City of Bristol police officer. He was off-duty and in his personal vehicle at the time of his arrest. An internal investigation is underway.

Surviving for what is now more than five weeks without electricity and depending on bottled water is adding up for the residents of Puerto Rico.

Costs for survival are on top of what they have to pay for items or homes damaged or lost in Maria's destructive sweep up the middle of the island.

"We are paying more on a daily basis, because by not having electricity – in my case I found a generator – it could be an additional more than $15 a day of (fuel)," said Lizette Rodriguez, who lives in Caguas, but has been staying in her mother-in-law's apartment in San Juan for the past two weeks.

Rodriguez said that before Maria, she would normally spend $15 a week on gasoline for her car. But that's how much she was spending per day for her generator, which she can't run continuously.

The CEO of Whitefish Energy, the small Montana company under intense scrutiny for an up to $300 million contract to help restore power to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico, said that he first made contact with officials on the island through the social networking site LinkedIn — and not through any previous connections.

In an interview with NBC News in San Juan, CEO Andy Techmanski responded to growing calls from Capitol Hill for the contract to be terminated.

"I think that there are people out there on a witch hunt looking for something that does not exist," he said.

Techmanski insists he first reached out to officials with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) — he did not name exactly who — through LinkedIn shortly after Hurricane Irma hit in early September. That storm knocked out power to 1 million.

President Donald Trump’s job approval rating has sunk to the lowest point of his presidency, and nearly half of voters want their vote in the 2018 midterms to be a message for more Democrats in Congress to check Trump and congressional Republicans, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Thirty eight percent of Americans say they approve of Trump’s job performance — down five points since September — while 58 percent disapprove, NBC News reported.

Trump’s previous low in approval in the national NBC/WSJ poll was 39 percent back in May.

"This is his worst showing of his young presidency so far," Democratic pollster Fred Yang of Hart Research Associates, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff and his team at Public Opinion Strategies, told NBC News.

A woman is dead and another injured after being run over by a vehicle in Plainville Saturday, and the driver faces manslaughter and DUI charges.

Police said they responded to a house on Bradley Street around 9:27 p.m. for the reported crash. When they arrived they found a 59-year-old victim trapped under the vehicle. Police officers and civilians physically lifted the car off the woman. She was airlifted to Hartford Hospital with life-threatening injuries and died Sunday morning.

A second woman also suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as 35-year-old Justine Cusick of Plainville, was arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter with a vehicle, driving under the influence, third-degree assault, misconduct with a vehicle, reckless endangerment and unsafe backing.

The case remains under investigation.

Route 3 north in Wethersfield is closed just before the Putnam Bridge due to a jackknifed tractor-trailer.

It was not immediately clear how long the highway would be shut down.

Check back for updates.

Sunday’s rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the thousands who filled Hartford’s Bushnell Park for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

Under a sea of umbrellas, survivors and their families walked in the pouring rain knowing they or their loved ones have faced much worse.

“Rain doesn’t stop a cancer diagnosis so we have to come out here and raise the money and raise awareness just to get the word out,” said Stephanie Balesano, Communications Director for the American Cancer Society.

Their goal is to raise $317,000 through the Hartford race by the end of the year. That’s money that the American Cancer Society says is important to finding a cure for breast cancer.

“That money goes toward our research program but it also goes to provide programs, services, and education to cancer patients in Connecticut and beyond,” said Balesano.

Cynthia Gibson of Hartford hasn’t missed a Making Strides walk since she became cancer free nearly ten years ago. The highlight for her is the survivor tent, where she shares her story to inspire others who are battling the disease.

“Whether you know each other or not you’re dressed in pink and many of us have the survivor sashes,” said Gibson.

NBC Connecticut was proud to take part in today’s walk with team “Peacock Power.” Bob Maxon also served as the emcee.

Hartford police arrested a man accused of shooting a dog during a domestic dispute Friday night.

Police said around 8:19 p.m. they responded to 820 Wethersfield Avenue and found the dog suffering a gunshot wound to the jaw. The dog was rushed to the New England Veterinary Center for treatment. The animal is currently in stable condition, but will require surgery.

Investigators believe the suspect, identified as, 34-year-old Tyshawn Virtue, shot the dog in anger during a domestic dispute. 

Police said when officers searched the apartment they found 34 live 9 mm rounds and a bulletproof vest. Investigators also found surveillance video of the incident, and located a Hi Point Model C9 semi-automatic firearm with five live 9mm rounds in the chamber in a wooded area nearby. Police said the gun was hidden there by Virtue after the shooting.

Virtue was arrested and faces multiple charges including cruelty to animals, risk of injury, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm, among others. He is a convicted felon with previous firearm-related convictions. He was held on a $500,000 bond.

Plymouth police are looking for the suspect in an attempted robbery at a mini-mart Sunday afternoon.

Police said a man entered Danny’s Mini Mart at the Valero Gas Station at 699 Main Street around 1 p.m. and demanded money from the clerk. The man claimed he had a gun. The clerk refused to open the register and the man jumped on the counter, but when the clerk told him she was going to call the police he fled. The suspect did not get away with any money or merchandise.

The suspect is described as male, around 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, with light black or dark brown facial hair. He was wearing a black hoodie with white lettering and white D on the left breast pocket. The sweatshirt said 'Duramaxx' on both sleeves and there was a white D on the back of the hoodie. He was wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants underneath.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to contact Plymouth police at 860-589-7779.

An 8-year-old boy who was a member of a champion jump roping group was struck and killed by a Jeep when he was walking home from a fundraiser for the team, authorities said. 

Jeremiah Grant, of Jersey City, was struck near Christopher Columbus Drive and Grove Street on Saturday afternoon, the Hudson County prosecutor's office said. 

Jeremiah was taken to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, prosecutors said. 

The driver of the Jeep, a 60-year-old Union City man, initially drove off until witnesses flagged him down, police said. He remained at the scene until police arrived and hasn't been charged. 

Jeremiah was a member of the Honey Bees, a renowned double-dutch jump roping group. He appeared with the group last year on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. 

The founder of the Honey Bees, Takeria Clark, confirmed that Jeremiah was a member and had been walking back from a team fundraiser when he was struck. 

Witnesses say the boy laid lifeless after getting hit. 

“Not crying or anything, just laying there,” a witness who gave his name as Mo B. said.

Jose Pimentel was among several people who ran after the Jeep that hit the boy. 

“I jumped on the street, went after the car. I was able to stop him and let him know he had to stop because he hit somebody,” Pimentel said. “He said he thought he went over a book bag. He didn’t notice that he had hit a person.”

Pimentel said he saw a police officer and waved him down.

The Coast Guard Academy is investigating reports of a racially-charged incident that took place on Friday, Oct. 27 involving two cadets, a spokesperson confirmed Sunday to NBC Connecticut.

In an e-mail sent to the academy community and obtained by NBC Connecticut, Assistant Superintendent Capt. Ron LeBrec said “a white male cadet may have acted to intimidate an African-American cadet based on his race.” The e-mail does not further detail what took place in the incident. 

The Coast Guard Investigative Service is now looking into the allegations in a criminal investigation. The academy will also conduct its own investigation under the Coast Guard's Anti-Harassment, Anti-Hate and Discrimination Policies, according to spokesperson David Santos.  Santos said the cadet at the center of the investigation will remain in the cadet program while the investigation is conducted.

"We take these issues very seriously as intimidation and harassment are counter to our core values and have no place at the Academy or in our Service," said Rear Admiral James Rendón, academy superintendent, in an exclusive statement to NBC Connecticut. "We are committed to maintaining an environment at the Academy that is inclusive, equitable and respectful for all. The entire Academy community needs to understand this -- there is no place for hate, intimidation or harassment at this institution. If you think this kind of thing is a joke, you are sadly mistaken and need to seriously reconsider your future here."

The superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy has scheduled a mandatory meeting with all cadets, staff, faculty and coaches for 8:15 a.m. Monday, according to the email sent to the academy community. Santos confirmed media is not invited.

The report of this latest incident comes after news surfaced in early September that racial slurs and other disrespectful comments were allegedly made at the Coast Guard Academy.

New London Rep. Chris Soto, New London Mayor Michael Passero, members of the New London NAACP, the ACLU of Connecticut among other city and religious leaders gathered at City Hall, demanding an end to that type of climate at the Academy.

At the time, Academy Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Adam deKoven said in part of a statement that “we have taken disciplinary action against staff and cadets to include removal from the institution where appropriate. Beyond responding, however, we are working aggressively in a variety of ways to detect and eliminate any inherent bias in our processes and have honest exchanges of ideas to help faculty, staff and cadets focus on respect and grow in their understanding of issues of inequity.”

Representative Joe Courtney and Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy sent a letter to Superintendent Rear Admiral James Rendón on Sept. 5 asking for a “meaningful, transparent response” to the allegations that minority cadets were experiencing racial hostility on campus to “further advance the institute’s mission.”

We will continue to follow this developing story and post any updates here.