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Stonington Awarded For New Autism Safety System

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A new system in Stonington called “Citizens with Autism Safety System” (CASS) is helping families and first responders keep people with autism safe.

This week the town was awarded for its efforts.

CASS launched last month. It’s an opt-in program that helps police and emergency service personnel locate missing people who have autism and advises how to interact with them when found.

Stonington’s IT Manager, Roger Kizer, developed the program.

It stores confidential information a family gives about the way the person communicates — which is not always verbal - places they like to go, unique behaviors, sensory issues and more.

It also targets bodies of water, including swimming pools, near the last place that a missing person was seen. Kizer said many people on the autism spectrum are drawn to water.

“I have a niece who’s autistic. I know from talking to my sister that when she bolts, she takes off. She has favorite places she likes to go,” Kizer said.

He worked closely with Stonington’s Human Services Director, Leanne Theodore, to create the program and got significant input from the town’s Autism Parent Support Group and the Geographic Information System (GIS) vendor.

CASS is part of the town’s GIS system, but all of the information is password protected and only accessible to authorized users.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities awarded Stonington Wednesday with a Municipal Excellence Award for the system. Kizer believes it’s the first of its kind.

The town also received a $1,000 check from Halloran & Sage LLP, a law firm that sponsors the CCM Municipal Excellence Awards.

Stonington resident Crystal Wilcox is in the process of signing her 21-year-old son, Billy, up for the program. She remembers the time Billy almost came in contact with a Stonington police officer.

“The police officer got out of the car. He was not aware. And Billy was screaming and carrying on,” Wilcox said.

It could have been a potentially turbulent situation if Wilcox didn’t step in and tell the cop her son had autism and that she’d handle the situation.

Stonington’s dispatchers and first responders are now being trained to use CASS.

“Having triggers, calming methods and things like that, that might be provided to us while we’re responding, will be critical,” said Capt. Todd Olson with Stonington Police.

Town officials said the only push-back is that some families are hesitant to sign up because they believe there’s a stigma that comes with it.


One Dead After Shooting at Home in Kent

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State police said the person shot at a home in Kent Friday night has died.

The shooting happened around 6 p.m. at the home on Cornwall Road, according to police.

A suspect is in custody at this time, state police said. 

Detectives from the State Police Major Crimes Division were called to the scene to help with the investigation.

There is no threat to the public, police said.

No other details were immediately released.




Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Hartford Police Investigate Shooting

Altercation at UConn Leads to Precautions at QVCC

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Quinebaug Valley Community College is taking extra precautions after death threats against a college employee who is accused of grabbing papers from a conservative commentator during a speech at the University of Connecticut Tuesday night

The employee was not on the QVCC campus Friday, according to the school, and they said the extra security is in response to email received earlier in the week. 

On Tuesday, Lucian Wintrich, the White House correspondent for the right-wing blog Gateway Pundit, was arrested following a fight broke out during a speech titled, "It's OK To Be White" after a woman appeared to take paperwork off his lectern and walk away. 

Wintrich was seen on video running after the woman and grabbing her. 

Wintrich was arrested and charged with breach of peace and has threated to sue the school and the woman over the incident. 

Attorney Jon Schoenhorn said that woman is his client, Catherine Gregory. 

“She picked up a piece of paper that was on the podium or desk and started walking up the aisle to the seats. Within seconds she was pounced upon by Mr. Wintrich who grabbed her around the neck and tried to tackle her and pull her to the ground grabbing for the piece of paper,” Schoenhorn confirmed. 

Schoenhorn said Wintrich was making “hateful, racist statements” and that his client was motivated by a desire to stop that hate. He defended his client’s actions. 

“A theft requires an intent to steal to permanently deprive. There’s no evidence of that and that was certainly not Ms. Gregory's intention,” he said. 

“He's going to suggest that picking up a piece of paper deserves a lawsuit whereas his violent reaction and threats - nevermind the fact that he physically assaulted Ms. Gregory - would be what - understandable under the circumstances? But his provocations would not,” Schoenhorn said. 

School officials said the photo of Gregory, the associate director of career services and advising on the Danielson campus, was removed from the college’s website. 

QVCC previously released a statement saying Gregory attended the event as a private citizens and that it does not condone the behavior and encourages peaceful discourse and compassionate debate. 

Schoenhorn told NBC Connecticut he was not intimidated by the threat of a lawsuit.  

The event was controversial from the start and students who spoke to NBC Connecticut said they believed he should never have been allowed to speak on campus. On Friday, several students held a march in protest of the speech. 

UConn has said it supports free speech and does not bar speakers on the basis of content. 

Wintrich took to Twitter early Wednesday to blame UConn students for being "violent and disruptive." 



Photo Credit: Quinebaug Valley Community College Website

Democrats Mock GOP for Haste on Tax Bill

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Democrats late Friday took to the Senate floor and social media to mock an amended version of the GOP tax bill that included changes in barely legible handwriting.

The bill is "removed from the reality of what the American people need," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. He also criticized Republicans for releasing a lengthy, revised version of the bill shortly before the final vote, saying, "The Senate is descending to a new low of chicanery."

"This is Washington, D.C. at its worst," tweeted Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. "Montanans deserve so much better."




Photo Credit: AP
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Brock Turner Files to Appeal Sexual Assault Convictions

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A former Stanford swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman outside a campus fraternity party is appealing.

In the 172-page appeal filed Friday in Mill Valley, California, Brock Turner's legal team said the initial trial was "a detailed and lengthy set of lies," and ask for a new trial. Turner's team is also looking to overturn the convictions against him, which mandates he register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The case gained national attention when Judge Aaron Persky sentenced Turner to six months in jail. It was recommended Turner receive a six-year sentence.

Turner was convicted of three felony counts of sexual assault. At the time of his case, he was a decorated swimmer at Stanford. 

"What we are saying that what happened is not a crime," said John Tompkins, Turner's legal adviser. "It happened, but it was not anywhere close to a crime."

Tompkins said the facts of the case do not reflect the verdict, which is why they are appealing.

In the appeal, Turner's legal team claims they were at a disadvantage on three fronts: The jury did not get a lot of evidence that represented Turner's character; The jury was not allowed to consider a lesser offense; The jury was subjected to "extensive 'behind-the-dumpster' propaganda."

Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who is on a committee to recall the judge sentenced Turner, said it's common for people to appeal.

But in Turner's case, she thinks this is just a wasted attempt to retry the evidence.

"The jury considered Mr. Turner's victim-blaming arguments and decisively rejected them," Dauber said. "The jury rejected those facts. It's not appropriate for the court of appeals to step in and retry those facts."

Turner was released after serving three months in a county jail.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Police Look for 1-Year-Old and 4-Year-Old Suspected to Be With Mother

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Police are looking for a 1-year-old and 4-year-old suspected to be with their mother and her boyfriend who are both known drug-users. 

A silver alert was issued for Natasha Thompson, 4, and her infant brother, Jacob Meeks in Middletown. 

Police said the mother and boyfriend are wanted for drugs and may be using with the children around.

Natasha was last seen wearing a pink t-shirt and black boots, while Jacob was wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans. 

No other information about the mother or her boyfriend was immediately available. 

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (860) 685-8190.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

75-Year-Old Man Dead After Trailer Park Fire in Shelton

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One person is dead after a fire broke out in a Shelton trailer park on Friday night. 

Firefighters responded to the Fairchild Heights Mobile Home Park on Hemlock Drive at around 5:45 p.m. for a fully engulfed structure fire. 

After the fire was put out, crews found the body of 75-year-old Richard Kowalsky inside the trailer. 

The cause of the fire is being investigated. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Woman Giving Men a Ride Held at Gunpoint in Vernon

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A woman who was giving two men a ride was held at gunpoint early Saturday morning. 

Vernon police said they received a call from a frantic woman around 1:16 a.m. who said that someone had held a gun to her head. 

The victim said she and another woman were giving two men a ride to Springfield, Massachusetts, when they stopped at the Shell gas station at 1302 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. 

At the gas station, one of the passengers, Trevor McCarthy, hit the victim in the head with a gun and said he would shoot if she didn't hand over her money. Police said McCarthy prevented the woman from calling 911.

The relationship between the victims and McCarthy is not clear. 

The two women and other male passenger were able to get out of the vehicle and escape and finally called the police, while McCarthy ran from the scene. 

During the search for McCarthy, Vernon police received call's about a person matching McCarthy's description knocking on doors in the area of the gas station. 

McCarthy was found and arrested near the Vernon-Tolland town line. Police found a gun and some narcotics that McCarthy attempted to hide from officers during the search. 

McCarthy faces several charges that include robbery, assault, threatening, criminal possession of a revolver and narcotics. His bond was set at $250,000. 



Photo Credit: Vernon Police

Super Frost Moon Will Light Up the Sky This Weekend

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It's a Supermoon weekend!

The moon will be almost full Saturday night and full Sunday. At that same time, the moon will make its closest approach to the Earth -- the definition of a supermoon.

That combination will make the moon seem about 14 percent larger in diameter than usual this weekend, NASA said. Supermoons typically appear about 30 percent brighter than the usual moon.

And this will be a particularly bright supermoon for the United States, thanks to the more intense sunlight that reflects off the moon in winter, NASA said.

As if that weren't enough: This supermoon, the only one visible in 2017, is also a Super Frost Moon.

This last full moon of the year is known as a Frost Moon, Cold Moon or Moon Before Yule. It doesn't always correspond with a supermoon (though it did in December 2016).

In other words: Don't miss it. 

You can see the Super Frost Moon any night this weekend; conditions in most of the country should be favorable for viewing, though there may be clouds in the far northeast and in the central parts of the country. (If that happens to you, check out this Virtual Telescope for some gorgeous pictures from elsewhere.)

And even though the moon isn't completely full until Sunday, viewers won't notice a difference on Saturday night.

The best time to see it will be as the moon rises just after sunset, according to National Geographic.

And if you want to snap a picture on your smartphone, don't zoom in using your camera app, advises a National Geographic photographer. (Read their tips for taking pictures of a supermoon here.)

Two other tips? National Geographic suggests putting the phone down. "Supermoons aren’t rare, but they’re not an everyday occurrence either. Don’t be so focused on your sensor that you miss such an otherworldly sight," they said.

And NASA, which apparently has a sense of humor, suggests dressing for the occasion. "As usual, the wearing of suitably celebratory celestial attire is encouraged in honor of the full Moon."



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Sex Misconduct Claims Take Toll on the Accused's Loved Ones

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Discovering that a friend, family member, or colleague has been accused of sexual misconduct can be so jarring, it's almost akin to experiencing the death of a loved one, experts say.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, many across the country are speaking publicly about sexual harassment, shining a light on unacceptable behavior from individuals who may in other circumstances be beloved members of their communities.

Their words not only impact the perpetrators, but also have a ripple effect on the perpetrators' social circles. Psychologists say it's normal for friends, relatives and co-workers to struggle with learning about misconduct that is incongruous with their perception of an individual otherwise admired or respected.

"Initially there's a denial of not believing this could be true, or trying to potentially make excuses, and slowly moving through it, they find out more, and try to figure out what exactly happened," said Dr. Sheela Raja, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who wrote a book called "Overcoming Trauma and PTSD." She compared it to the stages of grief experienced after a death.



Photo Credit: Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Bus Catches Fire on I-91 in Wethersfield

Bus Catches Fire on I-91 in Wethersfield

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A Peter Pan bus caught fire on I-91 in Wethersfield late Saturday night.

According to state police, the tour bus went up in flames in the area of exits 25 and 26 on the I-91 North.

All of the occupants made it of the bus safely.

The highway is closed in the area as police investigate and the bus is towed.

Newington Police Hold Annual Stuff-a-Cruiser Holiday Event

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Shopping carts lined up outside this Newington Walmart filled up quickly, as members of the Newington Police Department played Santa’s elves for their annual stuff-a-cruiser event on Saturday.

Newington Human Services said the donations would help 400 families put a present under the tree this year.

"It just doesn’t affect certain areas of the state, it affects everywhere," explained Newington Police Community Service officer Jamie DeSimone, who organized this year’s stuff-a-cruiser event.

DeSimone said the community is so generous they not only stuff a police cruiser, they fill an entire mobile command unit year after year. 

“People are very generous and we stuff this whole thing with bicycles, and toys, and non-perishables, and the other one, and sometimes we have to make multiple trips,” DeSimone said.

Rande Damaschi’s family picks up items throughout the year. They donated a cart-full of toys.

"We like to help the community give back because there’s been so much given to us so we feel blessed," said Damaschi, of Wethersfield.

"I feel very good because I know when people wake up on Christmas morning they have toys and it makes them happy," added Lindsey Jordan, who volunteered to hand out fliers.

Anne Dygus, of Berlin, said this time of year she gets more out of giving and spreading holiday cheer.

"Everybody needs the love, everybody needs a little thing to make them smile, make them happy. I want to have some peace and some love and some happiness and some good Christmas," Dygus said. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Majority Believe Harassment Is in Most Work Places: Poll

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A majority of Americans believe that sexual harassment takes place in almost all or most workplaces, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Nearly seven in 10 Americans, or 67 percent, say harassment happens in most workplaces, and the differences between men and women on the question weren't particularly stark.

The bigger difference was in the age of responders. For example, among women 18 to 49 years old, 78 percent say, "sexual harassment happens in almost all or most workplaces." But among women, 50-or-older the number falls 14 points to 64 percent, that's below the national average. 

Meanwhile, 49 percent of men said the stories of this fall had caused them to think about their own behavior and how they interact with women. And 44 percent of women said the stories made them want to share their own past personal experiences about how they had been treated as a woman.



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Craig Ruttle

Greater New Haven JCC Emerges 1 Year After Fire

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Tuesday marks a year since a fire that destroyed part the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven.

CEO Judy Alperin said a faulty wire in the men’s sauna sparked the fire, which severely damaged the basement, and filled the floor above with smoke.

“We had about 300 people in the building,” Alperin said.

All were able to escape, but construction walls have kept members out ever since. In fact, Alperin said membership has dropped by a third since the fire, after activities were forced to move to different facilities in the region.

“We’ve been spread out far and wide. It’s been a little hard to find us,” she explained.

The JCC will hold its grand re-opening in just a matter of weeks.

Sunday, the organization celebrated its comeback. The fire was sparked the day after the JCC’s craft show last December. So, it was only fitting that they mark the milestone of being back under one roof, with this annual event.

“This year’s extra special because we’re back with our first big community event after a devastating fire that happened almost a year ago to the day,” Alperin said.

“Every vendor who walks in the door I’m giving a hug to, I’m so excited to see them. They’re so happy to be back,” said Debbie Brander, JCC Dir. Of Community Engagement, who’s organized the craft fair for the last four years.

Vendors worried the show wouldn’t happen this year.

“This is my best show of the season so I rely on this show for good pre-holiday income, so I was worried they wouldn’t have it,” said Nancy Cowan, owner of handmade Israeli jewelry company Negev Sun.

“I was devastated because this is such a nice function, but I’m glad that they’ve worked hard all year long and here we are again,” added Susan Wernau, owner of Susan Wernau Art.

When the construction is complete, Alperin says the JCC of Greater New Haven will not only be back, it will be better than ever.

“When we come back here to our community building everyone will know that this is the place to be,” she said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Truck Rollover Causes Delays on I-395 in Norwich

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A tractor-trailer rollover caused major delays on I-395 North in Norwich for much of Sunday morning.

The truck rolled over in the northbound lanes of I-395 near Exit 14 just before 7 a.m., according to state police.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Parking Spot Dispute Rampage Kills 1, Hurts 6: NYPD

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A driver enraged over a fight about a parking spot early Sunday got out of his car and stabbed two people, then drove his car onto a sidewalk and struck a group of six pedestrians, killing one of them, police said.

Police believe they have the driver in custody, NYPD Assistant Chief David Barrere said. He has not been identified. 

The driver of a white Hyundai got into an argument with two people in a BMW parked outside of a hookah bar in the Richmond Hill neighborhood in Queens at about 4:30 a.m., according to police.

The Hyundai driver then got out of his car and stabbed two people from the BMW in their torsos, police said.

A group of people came out from the hookah bar and tried to intervene. That's when police say the man got back into the car and drove onto the sidewalk at 128th Street, striking six people. One of the stabbing victims was also struck by the car.

Mily Urbina said the driver looked to be going about 50 mph down the sidewalk. “I just saw the car went through by the sidewalk and went all the way down,” she said.

Richardo Chattergoon, 23, from Far Rockaway, died after being hit by the car, according to police.

A 29-year-old man from Brooklyn was hospitalized in critical condition; police said he was both stabbed and struck by the car.

The rest of the victims were at Jamaica Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police said the victims included a 29-year-old man with a head injury, a 27-year-old man with a broken leg, a 29-year-old man with a broken pelvis and a 20-year-old woman with a broken leg.

Chattergoon's family members were in tears as they looked for him Sunday.

“We can’t find him. He leave last night and he didn’t come back home,” said Pat Dennis, the victim’s aunt.

The white Hyundai was found at another location in Queens, according to police.

Detectives were seeking surveillance video which could show more about what happened, police said.

Meanwhile, residents say it isn’t the first time they’ve seen a fight outside the lounge.

“I’ve been there a few times and I’ve seen stuff that happened like right in front of the place,” Narendra Bisesar said.

Urbina said she often sees fights at the lounge. “Sometimes at 6 o’clock in the morning there’s fighting over there,” she said.


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Burglary Suspect Caught in the Act: Police

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Shelton police arrested a man Sunday suspected of burglarizing commercial buildings in several towns.

Officers began investigating 47-year-old Mark Lindsey, of Stratford, in connection with recent burglaries in multiple Fairfield County towns, according to police.

A detective from Stratford was conduction surveillance on Linsdey Sunday morning when police said Lindsey burglarized the Family Health Care building at 330 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton.

He was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary, criminal attempt at third-degree larceny, fifth-degree larceny and third-degree criminal mischief. He was held on $25,000 bond.

Police said they also learned Lindsey was responsible for burglaries at two other buildings on Bridgeport Avenue Sunday morning.



Photo Credit: Shelton Police

Flu Is Spreading Fast This Season: Officials

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This year’s flu season is off to a fast start and early indications suggest that it may be more severe than the previous season, NBC News reported.

Widespread flu activity is currently in four states where last year there were none at this time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And Dr. William Schaffner, who is involved in the CDC’s flu surveillance network in Tennessee, has noticed cases of influenza picking up "dramatically" in the last week.

Even worse, it appears the dominant strain will be H3N2, which can produce more severe illness, said Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Unfortunately, the flu vaccine available in the United States this year was only 10 percent effective in preventing illness from H3N2. However, while vaccinated people can still get sick, generally they get a milder and less dangerous form of the illness. Also, the vaccine protects against other flu strains.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
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