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Markets Close Down as Facebook Drags Tech Stocks Lower

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U.S. stocks pulled back on Monday as a decline in Facebook pressured the technology sector. Wall Street also paid attention to Washington after a Twitter meltdown from President Donald Trump, CNBC reported.

The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.8 percent as Facebook dropped 6.8 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 335 points, with Caterpillar as the worst-performing stock in the index. The S&P 500 declined 1.4 percent, with tech dropping 2.1 percent. Facebook was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500.

Facebook fell after reports said political analytics firm Cambridge Analytica was able to collect data on 50 million people's profiles without their consent. Cambridge Analytica worked on Facebook ads with President Donald Trump's campaign in 2016.



Photo Credit: AP

Ansonia Man Accused of Passing 20 Counterfeit $100 Bills

Facebook Shares Tumble Following Reports of Data Breach

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Facebook shares tumbled Monday following reports that user data had been inappropriately obtained. Cambridge Analytica, whose clients included Donald Trump's presidential campaign, reportedly used the data of 50 million Facebook users without their permission.

Boughton Offers to Make Medical Records Public Following Seizure

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Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, who said he's doing well after collapsing at a GOP forum last week, said he will make his medical records public. 

The nine-term mayor said his doctors diagnosed him with a severe case of dehydration which led to the seizure, which Boughton describes as being exacerbated by not taking his anti-seizure medication that day.

"I absolutely had a seizure, triggered by dehydration and a mitigating factor definitely could have been taking the proper medication on the schedule I’m supposed to take it," Boughton said during an interview Monday.

Boughton had brain surgery last year to remove a tumor behind his ear and takes anti-seizure medication as a precaution. He said doctors at UConn consulted with his physicians in Pittsburgh who performed his surgery and said they did not draw a link between his seizure and brain surgery, however, not taking his medication likely contributed to the situation.

Boughton said he hardly ate or drank anything before he made his way to the North House Restaurant in Avon for a candidate meet and greet with Avon Republicans.

It was there, following his opening statement, that he collapsed in the ballroom, with his campaign manager Marc Dillon beside him, basically catching him before he hit the ground.

Boughton said the reports of him requiring CPR were exaggerated and said he never received chest compressions. He was rushed to UConn Health after briefly being treated by Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, a nurse and an EMT who were all on the scene.

"It wasn’t a heart attack or anything like that," Boughton clarified. "No CPR-emergency rooms doctors had said if you had CPR done the right way, you wouldn’t be able to touch your chest it would be so sore, you might have a few broken ribs."

Srinivasan provided initial care to Boughton and told NBC Connecticut that he had administered CPR. Boughton said he’s thankful to Srinivasan, an allergist from Glastonbury, who is also running for governor.

"The fact is, [Srinivasan] was there and he was there to help and I’m deeply indebted to him and grateful to him," Boughton said. 

Boughton said he has already hired a nutritionist to ensure he eats healthier. He said he’s already started replacing his daily regimen of diet sodas with more water, and plans on exercising more often.

On whether his health might become a campaign issue, Boughton said that’s fine with him.

"I would challenge them to a better man or woman contest where I would engage in swimming, wrestling, ping pong and pretty much any sport to prove my physical agility," Boughton said. 

Boughton added, "I think as people see me out there more and more and realize there isn’t really any residual effects of what happened I think they’ll be OK with it, it could have happened to anyone."



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Facebook Security Chief to Leave in Wake of Scandal: Report

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Facebook Chief Information Security Officer Alex Stamos is reportedly leaving after disagreements over how the social media network should handle the spread of disinformation, the New York Times reported.

In a tweet, Stamos said he was still employed, but that his role had changed to "exploring emerging security risks and working on election security."

Stamos has been a strong advocate for disclosing Russian activity on Facebook. 

The Times report said that Stamos's roles had been reassigned in December, but Facebook persuaded him to stay on until August. In a tweet, Reuters independently reported that Stamos would leave in August. 

Facebook did not immediately return CNBC's request for comment.



Photo Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images, File

Gunman's Brother Trespassed at the Parkland School: Police

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Zachary Cruz, the brother of accused Parkland school gunman Nikolas Cruz, has been arrested for allegedly trespassing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

An arrest report said authorities previously told Zachary Cruz, 18, to refrain from entering the school.

Cruz allegedly "surpassed all locked doors and gates and proceeded to ride his skateboard through school grounds" on Monday at about 4:30 p.m., the arrest report reads.

Cruz said he entered the school property to "reflect on the school shooting and to soak it in," according to the report. He was being held on $25 bond and was expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

Stoneman Douglas is the school in which 17 people, mostly teenage students, were shot and killed.

Nikolas Cruz is facing 17 counts of premeditated murder and 17 counts of attempted murder.

Parkland on Saturday will be the location for a "March for Our Lives" event protesting gun violence and urging for reform that is organized by students and survivors of the shooting with the support of the Everytown for Gun Safety nonprofit organization.



Photo Credit: Broward County Sheriff's Office

Driver Who Hit House in Meriden Failed Sobriety Test: Police

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A driver who is accused of hitting a house in Meriden failed a sobriety test, police said. 

The man driving on Monday afternoon hit a utility police on Brittania Street before striking the front porch of a home, according to police. 

When police had the man perform a field sobriety test, the driver failed and was taken into custody.

Police said he faces a driving while under the influence charge.

No other details were immediately available. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

‘Every School, Every Day’: Groton Police Enhance Patrols

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The Town of Groton Police department is ensuring their officers will take time on their patrols to visit every school, every day after the deadly shooting at a Florida high school. 

Groton officers are at one of the departments in the state taking part in the initiative called "Every School, Every Day." Patrol officers will randomly stop into Groton schools on their shift during school hours or after-school activities.

Groton Town Police Chief L.J. Fusaro said the idea originated from the president of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. Educators have expressed fears about how they can protect their students, especially after recent school shootings, he added.

"I’m a parent. I’ve got children that are school-aged. We want to make sure when they go to school, they have a good environment to learn in," Fusaro said.

While the initiative is new, the police chief said it's is something his officers have already been doing.

For example, police Officer Scott Bousquet is the school resource officer at Robert E. Fitch High School. He knows every student and talks with them in the hallways, pops into classes and has become a confidant to many.

"They have enough to worry about dealing with grades and their different classes. For them to have to worry about safety now? I think it’s a good thing because I’m here for them and they know that I’m here for them," Bousquet said.

Administrators also see the importance of having a police presence on campus.

"When I was in school that was the farthest thing from my mind- that I wasn’t going to be safe. So it’s important that whatever’s going on in school, that the kids do need to feel safe constantly," Fitch High School Principal Joseph Argarese said.

Students said they’re grateful for Bousquet.

“It definitely scares me to go to school. Obviously, it would scare me a lot more if he wasn’t here though,” Maci Silva, a senior, said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Mayor Fires Back After Trump Blames Mass. City for NH Opioids

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President Donald Trump singled out the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts, as a significant source of the drugs pouring into New Hampshire during a speech on his new opioid plan Monday.

Speaking at Manchester Community College, Trump said Lawrence is "one of the primary sources of fentanyl in six New Hampshire counties," according to a Dartmouth College study. He tied this to the fact that Lawrence is a so-called sanctuary city, and also cited the recent arrest of 15 MS-13 gang members in Boston.

"Every day, sanctuary cities release illegal immigrants, drug dealers, traffickers, gang members, into our cities," Trump said. "They're protected by these cities, and you say, 'What are they doing?' They're safe havens for just some terrible people, and they're making it very dangerous for our law enforcement officers.

"You see it all the time," he continued. "As the people of New Hampshire have learned firsthand, ending sanctuary cities is crucial to stopping the drug addiction crisis."

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera fired back at Trump later Monday afternoon.

"I've got a lot of emotions running through me right now, because it's not very often that the president takes your city's name in vain. So I'd like to start by saying shame on the president'" Rivera said. "He's trafficking in pain and divisiveness, creating boogiemen where we need solutions."

Furthermore, Rivera argued, Trump's proposed solution is one that has failed in the past.

"I'm a Reagan baby, I'm a kid from the 80s. I remember the crack epidemic. I remember the 'Just Say No' to drugs campaigns. I remember the increased prison time for dealers and users," he said. "But you know what beat the crack epidemic and the cocaine epidemic? It was police practicing community policing, jobs for inner-city kids and treatment, treatment, treatment. Serious, long-term, expensive treatment."

U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, a Democrat from Massachusetts and a member of the bipartisan Heroin Task Force, agreed that the epidemic should not be combated as a crime.

"Over a decade and a half ago, as Norfolk County district attorney, I started an opioid task force, and what I learned from my experience is that the president has it all wrong," Keating said in a statement. "Back then, I was tasked with the responsibility of approaching it from a criminal side, but I learned this is much more a public health issue. That is why the Centers for Disease Control advocates for an approach of combining medically assisted and behavioral health treatment as the best course."

"Massachusetts has been a leader in treatment and prevention natinwide," Keating added. "While interdiction and law enforcement have a place, the narrow approach that dominated the president's remarks today simply won't work. President Trump is taking us backwards."

Rivera pointed to Trump's earlier criticisms of the Granite State and accused him of politicizing a deadly crisis.

"Talking out of both sides of his mouth today, he went to New Hampshire, smiling in New Hampshire's face, after calling them a 'drug-infested den.' This is not a political problem, this is not a crime problem, this is not an immigration problem. This is a human problem," Rivera said. "This is an American problem, with more than 175 Americans dying every day. And the president continues to treat every problem that faces our country like a campaign rally, and it's not."

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican whom Trump praised in his speech Monday, offered similar criticism of Lawrence a year ago, accusing the city of fueling the Granite State's drug crisis.

Sununu labeled Lawrence as the prime source of fentanyl coming into his state and warned that he was about to "get tough" on dealers across the state border.

Rivera hit back at the time, accusing Sununu of "threatening the sovereignty" of Massachusetts and failing to build enough treatment beds in New Hampshire.

"The opioid crisis is so large that no community is without a problem, and to make it about Lawrence is the trap," Rivera said.

Sununu and Rivera later spoke on the phone, after which Sununu said Lawrence has been "doing a good job" on the opioid issue.

Sununu wasn't the first New England governor to accuse Lawrence, a city of many immigrants, of fueling the region's drug crisis. Maine Gov. Paul LePage said black and Hispanic drug dealers from Lawrence and Lowell were trafficking drugs into his state.

Trump was in New Hampshire on Monday to unveil his plan to combat the country's opioid crisis. His plan calls for stiffer penalties for drug traffickers, including the death penalty where it's appropriate under the current law.

Trump's three-part plan includes multiple steps to raise awareness, cut the illicit drug flow and expand proven treatment options.



Photo Credit: NBC10 Boston

Fans Turn Out in Force for UConn-Quinnipiac Game

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A chilly day in Storrs could not cool Husky pride outside Gampel Pavilion.

“It’s really special for me to come to all the games,” Olivia Anderson, a UConn senior, said.

Fans lined up to see the top seeded women’s basketball team take on ninth seed Quinnipiac University.

“We are die-hard UConn fan. It’s the only way to go,” Roger Kuemper of Oxford, said.

This in-state matchup had the Bobcats hunting for an upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“I just want them to play tough like they usually do,” David Conrad of Milford, said.

QU supporters hoped for a win and a second trip for the Bobcats to the Sweet 16.

Fans remember the two teams first and until now only meeting back in 1998 when the Huskies easily beat the Bobcats. In the end this time, UConn fans celebrated the team moving on to the next round and continuing the quest for another title.

“It was awesome. A little disappointing we didn’t win by more. But we can never be disappointed with our girls,” William Spada, a UConn senior, said.

As the Bobcats proudly remember this season, even if it had to come to a close now.

“You played a great team. You can’t say anything bad about UConn. It was a great game,” Francesca Capasso, a QU senior, said.

“They played really well. It was a tough fight,” Mary Watters, a QU junior, said.

The Bobcats end with a perfect season in conference play.

And the Huskies now head to the Sweet 16 for the 25th straight year, with sights set on a 12th national championship.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Plan to Privatize Therapists for Autistic Students Draws Concerns

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Parents, students and educators are blasting a plan they say could hurt some of the most vulnerable children in Waterbury. 

It could end up privatizing dozens of therapists who work with students with autism. 

“They’ve been a tremendous help and a lifesaver really to help with my son,” Naomi Pitts, of Waterbury, said. 

That’s why Pitts showed up to help save the jobs of around 40 behavioral therapists in Waterbury. 

They work with students, up to age 21, who have autism. 

“These people worked with me and they’ve treated me so well. And they’ve helped me in so many ways,” Nicholas Kling, a former student, said. 

On Thursday, students, parents and many of the therapists packed a meeting hoping to convince the Board of Education to switch gears and not to privatize the positions. 

Many are worried about how the change would affect students. Therapists are also concerned including how this could impact their jobs and benefits. 

“Many, including myself, have been with the Waterbury autism program for over 10 years. We have dedicated ourselves to servicing students with challenging needs on a daily basis,” Melissa Stark, president of the Waterbury City Employees Association, said. 

“It’s a matter of saving money and trying to keep jobs and keep the services to the children,” Liz Brown, president of the Waterbury Board of Education, said. 

Brown said the district is dealing with cuts from the state and this idea could help save a $500,000. 

While the board is also looking to slice millions of dollars more from its budget and potentially eliminate a dozen other jobs, it’s hoping to find solutions to address concerns raised on Thursday. 

“I would like to keep their jobs. I think they do an excellent job. I think if we do have to make cuts I would like it more across the board,” Brown said. 

On Thursday, the board voted to forward a budget proposal to city leaders. 

This is now the beginning of a process to figure out how much money the district has to spend and what it will spend it on. 

So a decision about the behavioral therapists is far from final. 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Police Seeking Suspect in Waterbury Murder

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Police have arrested two suspects in the murder of a 24-year-old man in Waterbury in August and said they have warrants for two others, including one who remains at large.

The arrests are for suspects in the murder of David Rivera-Mateo. Officers found him when they responded to 170 Willow St., at 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 31. Rivera-Mateo was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police said they arrested 26-year-old Pedro Nieves, of Waterbury, 26-year-old 36-year-old Joseph Frye, of Waterbury and both have been charged with murder.

Police said they also have an arrest warrant for 27-year-old Tyrone Love, charging him with murder. He is incarcerated in the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections.

Juan Morales, 30, of Waterbury, is also wanted in on a murder charge and is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about where he is should call Waterbury Police detectives at (203) 574- 6941.



Photo Credit: Waterbury police

2 Students Hurt, Shooter Dead After Md. School Shooting

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A student pulled out a gun and shot two other students at a high school in southeast Maryland Tuesday morning before the shooter was fatally wounded, the St. Mary’s County sheriff says.

The student entered Great Mills High School in Great Mills at the beginning of the school day and shot a female student in a hallway, Sheriff Tim Cameron told News4. A male student also was hit by a bullet.

The female student is in critical condition, the male student is in stable condition and the shooter, a male, has died, the sheriff said.

According to the MedStar St. Mary's Hospital, the female student is 16, and the other wounded student is 14.  

Information was not available immediately on the relationship between the students, Cameron said. A motive is not yet clear. 

The shooter and the officer both fired a round, but authorities don't know if the officer's bullet killed the suspect, Cameron said. The officer was not hurt.

"When the shooting took place, our school resource officer, who was stationed inside the school, was alerted to the event and the shots being fired. He pursued the shooter and engaged the shooter, during which that engagement he fired a round at the shooter," Cameron said. 

Cameron said the shooter fired a round simultaneously. 

"In the days to come, through a detailed investigation, we will be able to determine if our SRO's round struck the shooter," Cameron said.  

The school was locked down and the incident was contained, according to the school's website. 

Deputies were called to the school about 60 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. just before 8 a.m. 

Cameron told News4 that his department prepares for emergencies. But despite the fast reponse of the school resource officer, or SRO, two students were still shot.

"You train to respond to this and you hope that you never ever have to," he said. "This is the realization of your worst nightmare — that, in a school, that our children could be attacked. And so as quickly … as that SRO responded and engaged, there’s grievous injuries to two students."

He added, "Now begins the second phase of this operation, and that’s the background and the investigation and the attempt for the school to return to normal."

A Twitter post from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office asked parents not to report to the school. They were asked to go to nearby Leonardtown High School to reunite with their children.

Family members of the students parked along roads and in nearby shopping centers as they rushed to meet their kids. 

One recent graduate hurried to pick up her sister, who texted her that she was "terrified." 

Agents of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were traveling to the school to assist with the investigation.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in a tweet Tuesday that he is "closely monitoring the situation."

"Our prayers are with students, school personnel, and first responders," Hogan said. 

President Donald Trump was made aware of the shooting, and the White House is monitoring the incident, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Fox News.

The shooting comes four days before the national March for Our Lives, a rally for student safety inspired by last month’s massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

"We are Here for you, students of Great Mills," Parkland student activist Emma Gonzalez tweeted, adding, "together we can stop this from ever happening again."

Just days ago, students at Great Mills High walked out of class to protest gun violence, The Bay Net reported.


Rep. Steny Hoyer, the Democrat who represents the area in Congress, said he was sickened to hear the news about the shooting and advocated for universal background checks for weapons.

"Background checks just make common sense to make sure people can and will use a weapon thoughtfully and not dangerously," he told News4.

Stay with News4 on-air and online for more on this developing story.



Photo Credit: AP
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Transformer Issue Knocks Out Power to Parts of QU Campus

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More than 250 Quinnipiac University students are without power after an issue with a transformer Monday night.

University officials said a transformer issue affected power for residence halls at the Mount Carmel campus in Hamden starting around 11 p.m. Power was restored to some areas overnight, but as of 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, 257 students living in The Hill remained without power, and The Commons residence was running on generator power.

Crews continue to make repairs.

Fire Destroys South Windsor Home

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Fire destroyed a home on Cliffwood Drive in South Windsor Tuesday morning.

Fire officials said crews responded to 133 Cliffwood Drive around 3 a.m. When firefighters arrived everything but the garage was already up in flames.

“The home portion of the structure was literally fully involved. Two stories, fire blowing out of every window, fully involved. Interior access was not obtainable even with breathing apparatus. There was no way we could get inside,” South Windsor Fire Chief Kevin Cooney said.

A relative of the residents told firefighters the family was out of state and no one was inside the home. No injuries have been reported.

Fire officials said the cold caused a nearby hydrant to freeze so they had to access a hydrant farther down the street.

The fire damage is extensive and fire officials are not sure where the fire started.

The South Windsor Fire Marshal is investigating the cause with assistance from the State Fire Marshal's Office. Crews remain on scene knocking down hotspots.

Editor's Note: Fire officials identified the location as 117 Cliffwood Drive, but that is not the correct address. The story above has been updated.



Photo Credit: South Windsor Fire Department

Celebrate Spring with Free Frozen Treats

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Tuesday is the first day of spring and what better way to celebrate than with a frozen treat?

Rita’s Italian Ice will offer one free Italian Ice per customer from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday. But don’t just eat it – photograph your Rita’s and post it with the #ritasfirstdayofspring. Find a Rita’s near you. 

More of a cone person? Then head to Dairy Queen, which is celebrating free cone day. Customers can visit participating locations for a free some vanilla ice cream cone. Note that mall locations are not part of the promotion. Find a Dairy Queen.

1,300 ER Visits for Drug Overdoses in CT in Jan. & Feb.: DPH

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There were more than 1,300 emergency room visits for suspected drug overdoses in Connecticut during the first two months of 2018, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

New data collected as part of a DPH project to gather information on suspected drug overdoses shows that in January and February there were 1,317 visits for suspected overdoses. Of those, there were 405 in New Haven County, 398 in Hartford County, 186 in Fairfield County, 80 in Middlesex County, 68 in Litchfield County, 64 in Tolland County, 62 in Windham County and 54 in New London County.


Health officials are using the existing EpiCenter Syndromic Surveillance System to collect the data to research and respond to changing patterns of opioid overdoses.

“While we cannot draw conclusions based on two months’ worth of data, we will be able to use the information that we gather through this system, in coordination with our colleagues in the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, our state agency partners, and local officials, to better understand the types of opioids, including fentanyl and associated substances, in combination with other emerging drugs, causing or contributing to unintentional opioid overdoses and deaths,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino.

EpiCenter collects data from emergency departments across the state. It was originally created to monitor potential bioterrorism after 9/11, but is now used to collect public health information on a variety of topics including the flu, gastrointestinal illness and weather-related emergencies.

Hospitals can categorize the reason for an emergency room visit as “drug and alcohol, including drug/opioid/heroin overdoses,” and the data will be reported to DPH. Both non-fatal and fatal overdoses are reported. DPH plans to release monthly overdose visit data to the public and plans to create a special website to to make the information readily available.

Accidental drug deaths have increased nearly 290 percent since 2012, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). More than 1,000 overdose deaths were reported in 2017 in Connecticut.

State officials said the majority of these deaths are due to opioid abuse. An OCME preliminary report found that 917 people died from accidental intoxication in 2016 and roughly 1,040 people in 2017. Only 357 overdose deaths were reported in 2012.


Across the United States, fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths are increasing with approximately 8 percent fentanyl-related deaths in 2010 to more than 18 percent in 2015. 


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Hidden Camera Exposes Cambridge Analytica's Tactics

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In a meeting with the head of Cambridge Analytica — the political data firm used by the Trump campaign in 2016 — reporters from NBC News’ U.K. partner ITN Channel 4 News posed as potential clients interested in changing the outcome of the Sri Lankan elections.

The reporters, who were trying to find out how the company operated, quickly learned about the novel and deceptive methods employed by the company, including bribes, blackmail, and misinformation campaigns. The findings were broadcast by the network on Monday.

On hidden camera, the reporters recorded Alexander Nix, chief executive of Cambridge Analytica, discussing the idea of hypothetically entrapping an opposition leader.

He described how the company could record a person accepting a bribe, "an offer he can't refuse," or "send some girls around to the candidate’s house."



Photo Credit: Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP/Getty Images

Evacuations Underway Due to Possible Gas Leak in New Haven

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Emergency crews are on scene at a possible gas leak on George Street in New Haven and evacuations are underway.

New Haven Deputy Director of Emergency Operations Rick Fontana confirmed emergency crews responded due to a report of a smell of gas around 9:30 a.m. The scene is in the 300-block of George Street and evacuations were ordered.

One Yale student who spoke with NBC Connecticut said she showed up for work and was unable to get into her building. She said the building is full of Yale science research facilities.

New Haven fire officials said that more than 1,000 people were evacuated from two buildings - 300 George Street and 100 College Street.

Assistant Fire Chief Orlando Marcano said the fire department responded when an employee in one of the buildings reported an odor of gas around 9:26 a.m. Crews have been attempting to isolate and locate the source, but high winds in the area are making the job more difficult. A gas leak has not been confirmed at this time.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation confirms that Route 34 westbound is closed at Orange Street due to the issue. The ramps to Route 34 from I-91 and I-95 are also closed. An NBC Connecticut crew said there is significant traffic impact in the downtown area. Officials advise people to avoid the area if possible.

More information was not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Docs Show Trump Admin.'s War to End Teen Pregnancy Program

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When the Trump administration abruptly canceled a federal teen pregnancy prevention program last year, it did so over the objections of career experts in the Department of Health and Human Services, according to internal notes and emails obtained by NBC News.

Three political appointees with pro-abstinence beliefs guided the process in spite of the the objections, according to the cache of documents. The notes show that Evelyn Kappeler, the $213 million Teen Pregnancy Program's long time administrator, appears out of the loop on decisions and describes being "so rattled" at one point that her reaction "was to cry."

Many medical professionals credit the program, which had bipartisan support in Congress, with lowering the national teen pregnancy rate to its lowest point. An outside group claims the effort to end it violated a federal law.

The department has claimed the program was ineffective and also did not conform to President Donald Trump's proposed budget. It did not respond to emails or answer questions about who was responsible for ending the program, instead directing NBC News to a fact sheet and announcement on the agency's website that says most of the projects that received funding "had no impact or had a negative impact on teen behavior."



Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images, File
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