State police stopped a man who they said was going 90 miles per hour on Interstate 95 in Clinton early Sunday morning and troopers found nine and a half pounds of marijuana.

State police said 21-year-old Mohamed Jones, of Providence, Rhode Island, was clocked going 90 miles per hour on Interstate 95 North, by exit 62 in Clinton. Just before 1 a.m. Sunday and troopers stopped him near exit 63.

The trooper detected marijuana coming from the car and found some in the ashtray, police said.

When troopers searched the trunk, they found several sealed bag of marijuana. State police said they found around nine and a half pounds in all.

Jones was charged with reckless driving, possession with intent to sell and possession of a controlled substance.

Bond was set at $100,000.

Watertown police are searching for a woman accused of shoplifting meat from Labonne’s Market on the Straits Turnpike.

Police said that on Nov. 2 the woman pictured above entered the store at 639 Straits Turnpike and put three pieces of beef tenderloin in her purse. The meat was valued at $60.

The suspect is described as being in her 40s, with brown hair and as wearing dark pants, a pink print top and white long-sleeved sweater. She left in an older model blue Chevrolet Cavalier with possible partial plate 986-YU that was waiting in the parking lot.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Watertown police at 860-945-5200 or Crimestoppers at 860 945-9940. There is a cash reward for Crimestopper tips.

At an event honoring three Navajo Code Talkers, President Donald Trump referred to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas.”

A Hartford home in disrepair received a major makeover through a unique partnership.

The house at 145 Ridgefield Street was an eyesore. Homeowners Gloria and Leon Daniels said they just couldn't keep up with the historic Blue Hills Home over the years.

"We’ve been years since 1995," said Gloria Daniels. "And a lot of things have happened, sickness you know."

Now for the first time, the city’s Housing Preservation Loan Fund has partnered with Habitat for Humanity in order to fix it.

"The before and after pictures it’s really amazing," said Daniels.

Mayor Luke Bronin says the public-private partnership made it possible. The money doesn’t come from the city budget because it’s a loan, and the help from federal dollars.

"This is part of a much bigger effort," Bronin said. "We are trying to combat blight throughout the city of Hartford."

Neighbors say the house that once dragged things down is now lifting them up.

"I feel really good I think it has done much to improve the value of the neighborhood," said neighbor, Clara Ruffin.

"I’m really grateful because I know I couldn’t have done all this," Daniels said.

For more information about the Hartford Housing Preservation Loan Fund, click here. 

A new effort aims to keep all Hartford public libraries open after the budget crunch led to proposed closures earlier this year.

An ordinance will be proposed at Monday’s city council meeting that looks to replace the current Hartford Public Libraries Board of Directors, with the hopes that the move will keep all ten libraries open.

Earlier this year the current Board of Directors announced that due to years of flat or decreased funding, that the current system was no longer sustainable. The plan was to close Goodwin and Blue Hill branches and to make the Mark Twain location a mobile library. To offset that, the other locations would increase their hours.

That plan was supposed to go into effect earlier this year, but after backlash, the board decided to delay the move until Dec. 31.

City Councilman Larry Deutsch said it’s imperative to keep all the libraries open, so Monday he’ll propose establishing a Department of Public Libraries.

A Board of Trustees appointed by councilors and the mayor, he says, would work closely with the city and community, and hopefully come up with a plan to keep all ten locations open.

"Being able to walk to a branch learn and talk to friends and be in a safe place summer or winter and some of the kids get lunches it's very important. it helps the neighborhood function and you can't just ask them to go and take a bus to another neighborhood," Deutsch said.

The councilman said the presumed public hearing on the ordinance would be on December 18. 

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A neighbor rushed to help tenants escape a burning home during what became a fatal fire in Enfield.

A man was killed and four other people rushed to the hospital when flames ripped through 11 Alden Avenue Friday morning.

A neighbor tells NBC Connecticut he saw the smoke from his house, dialed 911, then ran toward the home to try to help.

"There's 3 people upstairs including a baby." Sean Crowley said a woman inside the home who made it out on her own said her son and other relatives were still trapped inside.

"I tried to tell him to stay low, get the baby, cover the baby, keep it low near the ground," Crowley said.

Firefighters were able to save four of the five people inside. One tenant, who authorities have not identified, died in the fire. Investigators are trying to determine how the flames began.

Crowley said he did what he could to ensure no more lives were lost.

"I'm still glad I was there and was able to get two of the three people," Crowley said.

Firefighters are asking anyone with information, videos or photos of the fire to contact them to assist in the investigation.

Manchester police are investigating after several cars were damaged by gunfire Sunday morning.

Police said around 3 a.m. Sunday they received a report of gunshots in the area of Squire Village on Spencer Street. Officers responded but initially did not find a shooter or any damage. When daylight came, police located five cars damaged by gunfire.

Anyone with information should contact Manchester police.

The Trail Wood Sanctuary in Hampton will be off limits for a few months and gypsy moths are to blame.

The caterpillars significantly weakened many trees, particularly oaks, over the last three years. They’ve caused repeated defoliation, even killing some of the trees.

"This is a big guy, a beautiful one, that’s leaning directly towards the writing cabin," said Sarah Heminway, referencing a giant tree posing a threat to the property. Heminway is the director of Northeast Corner Programs for The Connecticut Audubon Society.

Because of the gypsy moth caterpillar damage Connecticut Audubon – that has run the property as a sanctuary since 1993 – is closing it down for the first time on Dec. 1.

Several trees on the 168-acre sanctuary impacted by the gypsy moth caterpillar pose a potential hazard to the public and wildlife. They’re marked in blue, a sign that they might need to be chopped down.

The tree removal project is scheduled to start mid-December and be completed by March 2018. The project is being conducted in winter to reduce potential impact to birds and their spring breeding season.

Wind, snow or another storm could easily push some of these trees down, Heminway said. There was already debris from the storms over the last few months. The main concern is about the safety of visitors and local ecosystem.

"This is not the way we wanted to manage the woods here. Unfortunately the gypsy moths recognized some of our biggest white oaks as the most tasty, and those are the ones that have clearly been affected the most," Heminway said.

Connecticut Audubon and its forestry consultants, Ferrucci & Walicki of Midddlefield, and foresters from Hull Forest Products in Pomfret, are working collaboratively on the project.

Trail Wood is a known site for writers, artists, hikers, and cross country skiers.

"There’s a lot of dead wood that we don’t want coming down on our heads. It’s just an awful thing," said Roxanne Steed of Mystic.

Steed was part of the artist in residence program at Trail Wood Sanctuary. She teaches art there once a month and even cross country skis there. She won’t be teaching classes in Hampton this winter, but instead at Connecticut Aubudon’s property in Pomfret.

"I have a feeling that things will be different when we go back," Steed said.

Heminway said there’s no count on the number of trees coming down, yet, but the plan is to improve the environment for visitors and wildlife.

The project will be funded by The Connecticut Audubon Society. If some of the trees can be harvested for wood, it could help cover some of the cost, Heminway said.

Trail Wood is the former home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and naturalist Edwin Way Teale. After he passed, his wife donated the property to Connecticut Audubon.

A group of U.S. senators sent a letter to Uber's CEO on Monday saying the company's recently revealed data breach "merits further scrutiny," CNBC reported.

Hackers stole data from 57 million Uber drivers and users, Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi revealed on Nov. 21. Uber paid hackers $100,000 to delete the data and keep the breach under wraps, and the company did not report the incident for more than a year.

"[T]he nature of the information currently acknowledged to have been compromised, together with the allegation that the company concealed the breach without notifying affected drivers and consumers, and prior privacy concerns at Uber, makes this a serious incident that merits further scrutiny," the senators wrote.

Bristol police are trying to locate a man accused of stealing a car from a gas station.

Police said 23-year-old Juan Serrano is wanted on a larceny of a motor vehicle charge.

Serrano is accused of stealing a white 2010 Dodge Charger, license plate 735YLO, from the Valero gas station on Pine Street on November 6. Serrano was seen on camera getting into the car and driving off while the owner of the vehicle was inside the gas station.

Anyone who spots Serrano or the stolen vehicle is asked to contact local police.

The former treasurer of the Winchester PTO is accused of embezzling thousands of dollars over the course of several years.

The investigation began in May 2017 when the president of the PTO raised concerns about bookkeeping discrepancies under the former treasurer, identified as 41-year-old Jeni Shean.

Investigators found multiple checks written for cash from the PTO checking account and determined that Shean stole around $13,000 between 2013 and 2016.

"It’s incredible. And they should have like stuff in place to make sure there’s three signatures before you sign off on something and allow people to get their hands on any money I guess," said Winsted resident Loretta Tremblay.

Police said that Shean, who now lives in Pittston, Maine, denied the allegations. According to court documents, in an interview with detectives, she provided explanations for the discrepancies and stated, "It might be bad record keeping but I did not take or use any of the money."

Shean turned herself into police on Nov. 18. She was charged with second-degree larceny.

Shean was released on a $10,000 and was due in court Monday.

NBC Connecticut has reached out to the PTO for comment.

Drivers filling up the gas tank in West Haven today could get a nice surprise. GasBuddy is teaming up with Gulf Oil for a special TANKS-giving event to help drivers with their holiday travel.

Gas Buddy and Gulf Oil will give away up to $20 worth of gas at the Gulf Oil on Jones Hill Road in West Haven from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. today, or until supplies run out. To get gas for free, you must have the free GasBuddy or Gulf Pay app downloaded. 

“With a record number of Americans hitting the road for the holidays, we are thrilled to work with GasBuddy to give motorists something extra to be thankful for prior to the biggest drive of the year,” Nikki Fales, director of marketing for Gulf Oil, said in a statement.

A California mom who posted a photo that shows her breastfeeding her son while two women look on in disgust at Disneyland has received both major backlash as well as support. The mother said Monday she never expected such a response.

Brittni Medina of Rancho Cucamonga, who attended the Anaheim park earlier in November, said her 10-month-old son became cranky while in line for a holiday photo and she needed to feed him. She said she heard two women making comments behind her, saying she should go somewhere private.

Medina's husband snapped a picture so people could "peep the haters."

"No women should be shamed for feeding their baby uncovered," she said in the Facebook post.

The photo has been shared more than 1,000 times and liked more than 7,600 times.

The breastfeeding mom said the response has been overwhelmingly positive, despite some detractors.

"People are sending me their pictures of publicly breastfeeding," Medina told NBC4. "It's awesome that other moms feel more comfortable doing something so natural as feeding your kid."

Medina also updated her Facebook post to say that family members of the disapproving women had reached out to her, and one said he was ashamed of his aunt's behavior.

Medina said she and her family are Disneyland annual passholders and visit the theme park a couple of times per month. They don't expect that to change.

Disney released a statement to NBC4 in response to the breastfeeding debate: "In accordance with California law, mothers are welcome to breastfeed children at Disneyland Resort, and we have two Baby Care Centers available in our theme parks as well, with additional amenities for parents of infants and toddlers."

As thousands prepare to give on Tuesday, officials are warning holiday donors to make sure they aren’t giving their money to scams.

The Better Business Bureau urged donors to research charities before giving to make sure their funds are going to trustworthy organizations.

Here are some tips the consumer watchdog group has offered if you’re looking to donate money to a good cause this Giving Tuesday or holiday season:

• Watch out for name similarities. When charities seek support for the same cause, their names are often similar. Before you give, be sure you have the exact name of the charity to avoid a case of mistaken identity.

• Avoid on-the-spot donation decisions from unfamiliar organizations. The holidays bring a higher frequency of donation requests outside public locations. Don't succumb to pressure to make an immediate giving decision. Responsible organizations will welcome your gift tomorrow as much as they do today.

• Be wary of emotional appeals. Marketers have been known to exploit the holidays to make emotional pleas to donors. Always research to verify that your selected charity operates ethically.

• Avoid charities that don't disclose. Although participation is voluntary, charities that don't disclose any of the requested information to BBB WGA raise a critical red flag for donors. Visit Give.org to find out if your selected charity is nondisclosure.

The BBB also notes that it offers in-depth evaluations and charity reports at Give.org.

Giving Tuesday was launched in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y in New York City. GivingTuesday.org lets you search for local organizations here.

State and local leaders are calling for Gov. Dannel Malloy to vote no when the state bond commission votes on a construction project at Silver Sands Beach State Park in Milford. 

Hundreds of Milford residents have spoken out against this proposed $9 million project in which the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is looking to build new bathrooms, a lifeguard and staff office, a concession stand and a storage facility. 

Silver Sands is now free to the public, but DEEP also wants to charge the same seasonal parking fees as other state parks. 

Many are opposed to the proposed changes and said the proposed concession stand will negatively impact small businesses and it’s too expensive. 

The mayor says DEEP is working off an environmental impact study that is two decades old and he wants a new one done. 

State senator Gayle Slossberg said she can’t support the renovations while the state has a budget deficit.

Democrat Doug Jones has spent 10 times as much as his opponent in the race for Alabama's open U.S. Senate seat, embattled Republican Roy Moore, NBC News reported.

The Jones campaign has dropped more than $5.6 million on television and radio ads in the general election, dwarfing the roughly $600,000 that Moore's team has spent, according to ad-tracking group Advertising Analytics LLC. Outside groups have backed the pair at a similar ratio.

Media coverage of the race has focused almost exclusively on allegations that Moore pursued underage girls several decades ago — with Moore denying any wrongdoing — but Jones' message has been more mixed.

His major ad campaigns have touched on Moore's alleged behavior as well as his own ability to provide a "reality check" to both parties in Washington as a centrist Democrat.

The annual New Haven Holiday Tree Lighting is set for Thursday, Nov. 30 on the historic green in the Elm City.

The afternoon will kick off at 4 p.m. with a number of fun activities: hay rides, musical performances, a petting zoo, a ferris wheel, costumed characters, and a carousel.

Santa will arrive around 4 p.m. and visit with children wanting to get in their holiday wish ahead of Christmas.

The event is free and open to the public.

NBC Connecticut will be broadcasting live during the 4-6:30 p.m. followed by the official tree lighting holiday special from 7-7:30 p.m.  You'll be able to watch the show on air on NBC Connecticut, online at nbcconnecticut.com, and in our mobile app, which works on both Apple (available through the App Store) and Android phones (available through Google Play).

During the 7 p.m. show, the youth choir from Our Lady of Victory in West Haven will sing after winning the NBC CT Choral Contest.  During the contest, the choir received nearly 5,000 votes of the almost 10,000 votes cast online.  The choir is led by director Ed Perez.

The centerpiece of the evening will be the lighting of the tree, which arrived on the green in late October.  It was cut from Elizabeth LaPointe’s yard in Branford earlier that morning. 

The 65-foot-tall Norway Spruce weighs more than 10,000 pounds and has been on her Branford property for more than 50 years. 

“Well that’s not my tree anymore,” LaPointe said. “It’s New Haven’s.” 

LaPointe’s husband and a neighbor planted the tree and her family decorated it for the holidays for two years, until it became too big. 

It’s massive size caught the attention of New Haven Parks and Recreation, according to manager Bill Carone. 

“Staff members drove by this tree a couple of months ago, and it was one of our top three, and we decided to go to this one,” Carone said. 

"We look for a lot of the same things that homeowners look for in their tree," said Rebecca Bombero, director of New Haven Parks, Recreation, and Trees Department.  "You want something that is straight and tall and full."

LaPointe was surprised when the department came knocking at her door because she thought someone had made a complaint about the tree. 

“I thought, ‘Why are they here?’ Then he said something about, ‘Well, did you call a couple of years ago to have it out as a Christmas tree on the New Haven Green?’ Then it dawned on me, yes I did,” she said. 

LaPointe said she’s looking forward to seeing the tree lit for the first time on Nov. 30, but is more excited about the future of her giving tree. 

She’s been told that when it comes down after Christmas, it’ll be used to, “make park benches, lumber for Houses for Humanity. So that, that makes me happy,” she said.

The tree will be decorated with 30,000 LED bulbs in time for the tree lighting ceremony Thursday.

Come down to the green, watch the tree lighting in-person, and meet a number of NBC Connecticut personalities, including Kerri-Lee Mayland, Kevin Nathan, Ryan Hanrahan, Justin Schecker, and Leslie Mayes.

Throughout the holiday season, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy special events in New Haven, including laser light shows, ice carvings, and carriage rides.

NBC Connecticut is proud to be the exclusive television media partner of the winter festivities in New Haven.  

A clerk was stabbed during a robbery at Eastern Market Convenience Store in Willimantic, which is about a mile away from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Police said they responded to the convenience store on Main Street around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday and learned that a man forced the male clerk to open the register.

Surveillance video from the scene shows the clerk put money in the robber's backpack, then struggle with the robber and get the gun away from him.

The video also showed the clerk going after the robber with a baseball bat as the man fled the scene.

Police said the clerk was stabbed once in the leg during the struggle.

The robber left on foot and the clerk was transported to Windham Hospital. He has since been released.

The robber appeared to be between 26 and 32 years old and was wearing gray sweatpants, a black jacket and black ski mask.

Anyone with information should call the Willimantic Detective Division at 860-465-3135.

The holiday season is right around the corner and there are many festive activities around the state.

Bethlehem

• The Christmas Town Festival will be held on Dec. 1 and 2. Admission is free. The event is happening at several locations.
• Head to the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden to tour the house, sip hot cider and enjoy a children’s craft activity. Admission is $5, but children under 5 get in free. 

Bristol
Holiday Lights at Lake Compounce is held weekends from Nov. 24 through Dec. 30. The park will be covered in hundreds of thousands of lights, with light shows every half hour. Tickets are $15.99 for adults, $11.99 for children 4 to 10 and seniors. Tickets sold before Nov. 24 are $10.99. The event is free with a 2017 or 2018 diamond or platinum season pass. New for 2017 is dinner with Santa. 

East Haven

Santa’s Trolley Winter Wonderland runs from Nov. 24 to Dec. 17 at the Shore Line Trolley Museum. Tickets are $10 per person. 

Essex
Head to Essex for Trees In The Rigging Community Carol Sing and Boat Parade.  Take part in the lantern-lit carol stroll down Main Street. The event ends with a parade of vessels in the Connecticut River. The boats are decorated in holiday lights.

Guilford
The Firelight Festival is on Dec. 1 at Henry Whitfield State Museum. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., view luminaria, enjoy popcorn, roasted marshmallows, hot cider and hot chocolate. There is also a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” The event is included with the price of admission, which is $8 for adults, 18 to 59; $6 for seniors 60 and over; $6 for college students with ID; $5 for children between 6 and 17; and free for children under 6. 

Hartford

• Open House at the Governor's Residence: Friday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performers include: Ethel Walker School from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Extreme Measures from 11 a.m. to noon; Plainfield High School Chamber from noon to 1 p.m.; Conn-Men from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; and Woodstock Academy Hill Singers from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Open House at the Governor's Residence: Saturday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performers include Emmanuel Christian Academy Choir from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Conard High School Solo Choir from 11 a.m. to noon; Completely Different Note from noon to 1 p.m.; Opus 4 String Quartet from South Windsor from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; and Trinity College Trinitones from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
• Open House at the Governor's Residence: Sunday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Performers include Hawkapella from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; A Minor from 11 a.m. to noon; Hall High School Choraliers, from noon to 1 p.m. and Charter Oak Flute Quartet from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

• Holiday Light Fantasia runs from Nov. 23 to Jan. 1 at Goodwin Park Admission is $15 per car for up to 10 passengers, $25 per limousine, $50 per mini-bus or $100 per full-size bus. 
• Festival of Trees at the Wadsworth Atheneum runs from Dec. 1 to 10. Items are for sale. There is an extra fee above museum admission price for the exhibit. 
• The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will perform “Masterworks: December Dreams” to get you in a festive mood from Dec. 8 to 10 at the Belding Theater at the Bushnell. Tickets range from $35 to $68. 
• The HSO Pops: Holiday Cirque Spectacular will be at the Bushnell on Dec. 16. 

Meriden
Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park begins on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes singing and a holiday lighting display at 6 p.m. The holiday lights will be on until Jan. 1.

Middletown
Lady Katharine Cruises has a “T’was the Night Before Christmas” cruise on Nov. 25 and Reindeer on the River on Nov. 26. The cruises on Dec. 2 and 3 are already sold out. 

Mystic

• Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at Olde Mistick Village on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25. 
• Festival of Lights will be on Dec. 8, when luminaries light the walkway of Olde Mistick Village and Mystic Aquarium. 

New Haven

• Fantasy of Lights in New Haven runs from Nov. 17 to Dec. 31 at Lighthouse Point Park. Admission is $10 for a car or family van, $25 for a mini-bus or $50 for a full-size bus. 
• Join NBC Connecticut for the New Haven Tree Lighting on the New Haven Green on Nov. 30.

Norwalk

• See Santa at the Martitime Aquarium of Norwalk in December. Visit Santa in his fishing village as the Go Fish exhibit is transformed. 
• Santa will also dive with the sharks in the “Ocean Beyond the Sound” exhibit. Tickets to the aquarium are $22.95 for adults, $15.95 for children 3 to 12, $20.95 for children 13 to 17 and $20.95 for seniors 65 and up.

Old Saybrook
There are several holiday events at the Kate, including “the Drifter: Holiday Magic,” “Twinkle: a Celestial Celebration” by the CT Gay Men’s Chorus, “A Christmas Carol,” “Nutcracker” and more. 

Stonington

Nutcracker Spectacular will be at Mystic Dark Room from Dec. 2 to 17.  Tickets are $32 for children and $48 for adults.

Storrs
The Boston Pops Holiday Concert will be at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $65 to $75. 

Thomaston
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing at the Landmark Community Theater from Nov. 24 through Dec. 10.  Tickets for adults are $25 and tickets for seniors and students are $22.

Waterbury

• The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra will perform” A Connecticut Christmas, featuring ‘Peter and the Wolf’” at 3 p.m. on Dec. 3. Tickets range from $20 to $55
• Woodbury Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 16 at the Palace Theater. Tickets range from $33 to $53. 

What's your favorite holiday event? Let us know in the comments.

A Bridgeport man has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a bar in Stratford Center.

A bartender was shot during the robbery at BAR on Main Street around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

A warrant was issued on Nov. 21 for the arrest of 33-year-old Eric Chambers, of Bridgeport, and members of the fugitive task force apprehended him Monday. 

Police said the arrest stems from his suspected involvement in the robbery at 2399 Main St. 

Chambers has been charged with robbery in the first degree and he is being held on a $250,000 bond. 

He is due in court on Dec. 6.