Pope Francis is likely to get a chilly welcome in Ireland this weekend when he attends the World Meeting of the Families there, NBC News reported.

Decades of abuse scandals have damaged the Catholic Church's standing and weakened its influence in what has traditionally been a stronghold for the religion. Half as many poeple are expected for Francis' Mass in Dublin as attended Pope John Paul II's during the last papal visit in 1979.

Francis' two-day trip comes after he apologized this week over the abuse scandal in Pennsylvania, but victims in Ireland want answers as well.

"This visit is enormously distressing for a lot of survivors, it has reactivated a lot of the trauma and the pain that they have experienced, so the very least they deserve is a clear statement of the actions the pope intends to take, not another apology," said Maeve Lewis, executive director of Irish abuse counseling group One In Four on local TV this week.

Massachusetts issued a warning Thursday of possible measles exposures in a pool, hospital and library around Boston and Lexington. 

State health officials confirmed a case of the infection was diagnosed at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington. The person reported being at numerous locations when they were in their infectious period. Such locations include:

• Boston Logan International Airport Terminal B between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 15
• The Lexington High School Library between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 16
• The Irving H. Mabee Town Pool Complex in Lexington from noon to 2 p.m. on Aug. 19
• The Lahey Outpatient Center in Lexington from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 20
• The emergency department at Lahey Hospital in Burlington from 1 to 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 20
• The intensive care and critical care units at Lahey Hospital in Burlington from 8 p.m. on Aug. 20 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 21

For more information, contact your local health department or call DPH at 617-983-6800.

Click here for additional information on the DPH website.

Earlier this summer, Boston health officials alerted the public to a potential measles exposure on July 19 and 20 at a Tasty Burger near Fenway Park and Boston Logan International Airport.

Fewer high school students are joining football teams, even though more students are playing high school sports on the whole, NBC News reported.

Participation in football has declined 7 percent since the 2009-2010 school year, after the dangers of concussions started to be reported, and the decline has accelerated in recent years, according to new data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Even in Texas, where high school football stadiums can dwarf other states' college stadiums, parents are having doubts about their kids playing the game, and enrollment is down slightly from its peak seven years ago.

"When you sit there and the doctor's doing the test and he's having a hard time repeating back basic numbers," said the father of a boy who quit the team at Carroll High School near Dallas, "I mean, that's certainly eye-opening as a parent."

Hartford police said they seized half a kilogram of fentanyl and arrested three city residents following a drug raid Thursday that exposed officers to what is suspected to be fentanyl. 

Detectives from the Hartford vice, intelligence and narcotics division were executing a warrant at 373-375 and 385-387 Garden St. when a suspect tried to destroy evidence and exposed seven officers to what is suspected to be fentanyl powder, police said. 

The officers required immediate medical attention at the scene and two of the officers were transported to a hospital for medical evaluation. 

All residents were evacuated from the building, which was declared uninhabitable and residents were temporarily displaced and relocated. 

Police said they seized half a kilogram of fentanyl, one firearm, ammunition, packaging and $4,000 in cash. 

Raymond Vazquez, 38, and 42-year-old Luis Diaz, both of Hartford, were charged with criminal possession firearm, criminal possession ammunition, possession narcotics, possession with intent to sell narcotics, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and operation of a drug factory. 

Francheska Muniz-Rodriguez, 28, of Hartford, was charged with possession narcotics, possession with intent to sell narcotics, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and operation of a drug factory. 

Live Nation is offering end-of-summer ticket deals, all in - no fees, and you can see several shows at the Oakdale in Wallingford for $20 or $25. 

The $25 or less tickets are only available at oakdale.com and the offer is good from 10 a.m. Friday, Aug 24 to 10 p.m. on Monday, Sept, 3 on select seats and while supplies last. Use the password SUMMER. 

Following are the shows you can get $25 and $20 tickets for:

• Aug. 30: The Dickey Betts Band, Dave Mason & Steve Cropper 
• Sept. 12: Ian Anderson presents An Evening with Jethro Tull 
• Sept. 20: Chicago 
• Sept. 23: Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour 
• Sept. 29: Queen Extravaganza 
• Sept. 30: Dua Lipa 
• Oct: 4: The Australian Pink Floyd Show 
• Oct. 11: Cole Swindell & Dustin Lynch 
• Dec. 7: Maxwell: 50 Intimate Nights Tour 
• Dec. 8: Brian Wilson - The Christmas Album Live 
• Dec. 14: Cirque Dreams Holidaze 
• Dec. 15: Cirque Dreams Holidaze 
• Dec. 16: Cirque Dreams Holidaze 

The CDC is now reporting that 507 people in 16 states have been diagnosed with an intestinal illness after consuming salads at McDonald’s restaurants, marking a 16 percent increase in cases in two weeks and a stunning 731 percent increase since the first announcement mid-July.

One patient in New York City and one in Connecticut have been added to the cyclosporiasis case total, according to the CDC's update Thursday, but both of them purchased the salads while traveling in Illinois. That state currently accounts for more than half the total cases, the CDC says.

The West Coast has not been affected.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora, which the CDC says was evident in a romaine lettuce and carrots mix distributed to McDonald's locations; none of the mix was packaged for direct sale to consumers.

Two dozen people have been hospitalized amid the current outbreak, the CDC says, though no one has died and no recalls have been issued.

The most common symptom of the illness is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include appetite loss, intestinal pain, nausea and fatigue.

McDonald's previously released a statement regarding the outbreak, saying "McDonald's is committed to the highest standards of food safety and quality control."

Earlier this summer, McDonald’s removed the lettuce blend from 3,000 identified restaurants and distribution centers that had received it.

Affected restaurants were located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri.

Reported illnesses started on or after May 20.

Police and the fire marshal’s office are investigating after a fire started in one U-Haul van and spread to seven others at a U-Haul Moving and Storage facility on Main Street in Hartford. 

Fire officials said the fire was reported right before 1 a.m. and the vans sustained minor damage. 

No one was injured. 

Major crimes is investigating.

Former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thomas Frieden, who also had a seven-year stint as New York City's health commissioner and is considered one of the globe's leading health experts, has been arrested in Manhattan for allegedly groping a woman, police say. 

The 57-year-old Frieden, one of the world's leading health experts, was taken into custody in Brooklyn Friday on charges of forcible touching, sexual abuse and harassment. The charges stem from an alleged incident at his Brooklyn Heights home in October in which a woman claimed he grabbed her buttocks against her will; that complaint was filed on July 7, 2018, authorities say.

Frieden is expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn criminal court later Friday.

"This allegation does not reflect Dr. Frieden’s public or private behavior, or his values over a lifetime of service to improve health around the world," a spokesperson for the doctor said.

The married father of two ran the CDC for 12 years, from 2009 to 2017, by appointment of former President Barack Obama. He also was the administrator of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Frieden oversaw the city's Department of Health and Human Hygiene from 2002 to 2009, during which time the agency expanded the use of epidemiological data and launched the nation's first community-based Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, among other initiatives.

He became renowned for his fight against heart disease, cancer and obesity and in 2017, launched the "Resolve" initiative, dedicated to saving 100 million lives over three decades by preventing heart attacks and strokes. He has published hundreds of peer-reviewed articles on various subjects and also introduced New York City's first comprehensive health policy, targeting 10 leading causes of preventable illness and death via both public and personal accountability.

Frieden received medical and public health degrees from Columbia University and completed an infectious disease fellowship at Yale University. He has several honorary degrees.

If you “Can’t Stop the Feeling” that you want to see Justin Timberlake in concert, you might be in luck.

Mohegan Sun has added a second show of “The Man of the Woods” tour in December.

Shows are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 22. Both start at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets go for $399, $199 & $129. They are on sale now for the Friday show. Ticket sales for the Saturday show start at 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 31.

President Donald Trump said Friday he has directed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to delay a planned trip to North Korea, citing insufficient progress on denuclearization.

Trump put some blame on Beijing, saying he does not believe China is helping "because of our much tougher Trading stance."

The surprise announcement appeared to mark a concession by the president to domestic and international concerns that his prior claims of world-altering progress on the peninsula had been strikingly premature.

"I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump tweeted Friday, barely two months after his June meeting with the North's Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

Trump's comment followed a report issued Monday by the International Atomic Energy Agency outlining "grave concern" about the North's nuclear program. It came a day after Pompeo appointed Stephen Biegun, a senior executive with the Ford Motor Co., to be his special envoy for North Korea and said he and Biegun would visit next week.

The State Department never confirmed details of the trip, but it had been expected that Pompeo would be in Pyongyang for at least several hours Monday, according to several diplomatic sources familiar with the plan.

White House officials did not immediately comment on what prompted Trump to call off Pompeo's trip. The State Department had no immediate comment on the matter and referred questions to the White House.

Trump laid unspecified blame on China, North Korea's leading trade partner, which is widely believed to hold the greatest sway over Kim's government.

The U.S. and China have been locked in a trade dispute for months, with each side ratcheting up tariffs on imports from the other country in what may be the opening salvos of a trade war.

Trump tweeted that "Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved." He added: "In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!"

After more a year of escalating tensions defined by nuclear and missile tests, new sanctions and "fire and fury" rhetoric, Trump made history meeting Kim earlier this year. In the run-up to the summit both nations engaged in hard-nosed negotiation, with Trump publically calling off the meeting in an effort to push Kim to agree to nuclear concessions. During the summit, the pair signed a vague joint statement in which the North agreed to denuclearize, but which left nearly all details undefined.

"There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea," Trump declared on Twitter after the meeting.

"Before taking office people were assuming that we were going to War with North Korea. President Obama said that North Korea was our biggest and most dangerous problem," he added. "No longer - sleep well tonight!"

Pompeo would have been hard-pressed to return from Pyongyang with anything resembling progress on the denuclearization front.

Although it has halted nuclear and missile testing and taken some unrelated steps — dismantling portions of a missile engine facility and returning the suspected remains of American servicemen killed during the Korean War — NBC News confirmed in July that satellite photos and U.S. intelligence showed North Korea is continuing to produce ballistic missiles and work on its missile program.

In addition, recent statements from North Korean officials have ruled out any new concessions until it sees a reciprocal gesture from the U.S. beyond suspending military exercises with South Korea. North Korea has been demanding that the U.S. ease or lift crippling sanctions — something Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton have flatly ruled out until the its nuclear program is fully and verifiably dismantled.

Other than sanctions relief, the North, backed by South Korea, has been seeking a declaration of the end of the Korean War. The conflict stopped with the signing of an armistice rather than a peace treaty, meaning the war is not technically over. Both the North and South have vowed to end the open state of hostilities, and Seoul had been hoping to persuade the Trump administration to sign off on a non-binding end-of-war declaration as a goodwill gesture that would give Kim Jong Un domestic cover to proceed with denuclearization moves.

Pompeo and other administration officials have suggested some concessions short of easing or lifting sanctions are possible before verified denuclearization, but have refused to be specific about what they could be. And they have been skeptical about an end-of-war declaration in the absence of any progress on the nuclear matter.

At the same time, lawmakers from both parties, including GOP hawks who generally support Trump, have expressed concerns about such a move, as it could be used by the North to demand the removal of U.S. troops from South Korea and potentially Japan without anything in return.

Trump had kept up the positive tone as recently as Tuesday at a campaign rally in West Virginia. There Trump maintained "we're doing well with North Korea."

"There's been no missile launches. There's been no rocket launches," he added.

At the same rally, Trump seemed to take a different tone too on China, saying he had withheld some criticism of China because "I wanted them to help us with North Korea and they have."

A resident of Southington is the third person to contract West Nile Virus in Connecticut this season.

The patient, who is between 70 and 79 years old, became ill during the first week of August with encephalitis, was hospitalized, and is now recovering, according to the state Department of Public Health. Laboratory tests confirmed antibodies to WNV and state officials said the patient did not travel out of the area before becoming ill.

A resident of Fairfield and a resident of Newington previously tested positive for West Nile virus infection.

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"The identification of two Connecticut residents with West Nile virus associated illness that required hospitalization underscores the potential seriousness of infection," Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said in a previously released statement. "Using insect repellent, covering bare skin and avoiding being outdoors during the hours of dusk and dawn are effective ways to help keep you from being bitten by mosquitoes."

Mosquitoes in at least 40 towns across the state have tested positive for West Nile virus. 

Tips for reducing mosquitoes around homes:

• Mosquitoes require water for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce mosquitoes:
• Eliminate standing water suitable for mosquitoes. Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings.
• Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling.
• Clean clogged roof gutters.
• Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use, such as wading pools and wheelbarrows.
• Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools. When pools are not in use, use pool covers and drain when necessary.

Tips for avoiding mosquito bites when outdoors:

• Be particularly careful at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven.
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors.
• Consider the use of CDC-recommended mosquito repellents, containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone, and apply according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.
• When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6 percent lasts approximately two hours and 20 percent for four hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than 2 months old.
• Also, be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair to avoid mosquito bites when indoors.

Sen. John McCain, who revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer, has decided to discontinue medical treatment, the McCain family said in a statement Friday.

The family said McCain has surpassed expectations for survival, but "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." The family added, "With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment."

McCain, in his sixth term representing Arizona, told Americans in July 2017 that he had glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The Republican underwent surgery that month to remove a blood clot in his brain.

McCain rebounded quickly, however, returning to Washington and entering the Senate in late July to a standing ovation from his colleagues. In a dramatic turn, he later cast a deciding vote against a Republican replacement for "Obamacare," the health care law approved under President Barack Obama. It earned him the wrath of President Donald Trump, who frequently cites McCain's vote at campaign events.

McCain's condition worsened last fall and he has been at his Arizona ranch since December, where he underwent physical therapy and received visitors.

The Vietnam War veteran, who would be 82 next week, has been away from the Capitol since December and has said he is not running for re-election.

The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain is a former Navy pilot and was held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years. He was elected to Congress in the early 1980s and elected to the Senate in 1986, replacing Barry Goldwater who retired. McCain gained a reputation as a lawmaker who was willing to stick to his convictions rather than go along with party leaders. It is a streak that draws a mix of respect and ire. 

McCain has also had melanoma, a deadly skin cancer, and is a long-term survivor. Doctors classified his brain cancer as a "primary tumor," meaning it's not related to his former malignancies.

Cindy McCain, John McCain's wife of nearly 40 years, shared the family statement on her personal Twitter account, writing, "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey."

McCain's 33-year-old daughter, "The View" co-host Meghan McCain, also tweeted the update on her father and added, "My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year. Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you - you've given us strength to carry on."

She has visited her father at his Arizona ranch, along with his friend former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Beau Biden died in 2015 after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Other close friends, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and retired Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, visited McCain at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

"Becoming John McCain’s friend has been one of the great blessings of my life," Lieberman said in a statement. "Today I am praying for him and his family.”

Members of Capitol Hill responded to the news Friday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was "very sad" to hear about McCain, who he called a "dear friend."

"We are so fortunate to call him our friend and colleague. John, Cindy, and the entire McCain family are in our prayers at this incredibly difficult hour," the Republican senator wrote on Twitter.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Senator McCain and his family," tweeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said McCain "personifies service to our country." He wrote on Twitter that the members of the House are praying for the McCain family.

The GOP currently holds a bare 51-49 Senate majority. 

McCain has been a frequent target of criticism from President Donald Trump, especially for his health care vote. Trump signed a military policy bill this month named for McCain, but in a sign of their testy relationship, the president made no mention of McCain's name in remarks at a signing ceremony.

Trump notably was not among those who tweet an outpouring of tributes for McCain in the hours after the health announcement. 

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who ran as McCain's vice presidential candidate in 2008, offered prayers for the McCain family "at this trying time.

"May comfort and peace envelope them. May my friend sense appreciation for his inspiration to serve something greater than self," she tweeted."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NBC Connecticut's meteorologists have issued a First Alert for intense heat on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The heat index will approach 100 degrees, just as students in many parts of the state return to school.

After a refreshing weekend with temperatures in the 80s and low humidity, the air over Connecticut will begin to change on Monday.

Humidity will rise to oppressive levels by Monday, and combined with temperatures in the mid-90s, will make it very uncomfortable for people on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Students go back to class in Windsor Locks in days and parents are not happy about the plans to revamp the grading on report cards. 

On Thursday, Windsor Locks’ board of education decided to revise the current practices and students will now receive a number score, a corresponding letter and a quarterly update on their progress. 

“So that students knew where they were in relation to the work they were currently working on and in relation to how they were performing overall on their end of year successful completion of mastery for their course,” Sharon Cournoyer, the interim superintendent, said. 

Many students, parents and community members who attended the meeting were frustrated because they hoped the board of education would ditch the controversial reporting system and move toward a more traditional option. 

“I’m disappointed. I mean I’ve pretty much lost hope already,” Joanne Breton, the mother of an 8th grader in Windsor Locks school, said. “All my daughter cares about is she gets a grade because it’s been a frustrating few years.” 

Mastery-based learning has been a hot topic since it was implemented in 2013. It requires students to achieve a certain level of understanding of a subject and, until now, moved away from the usual letter grades. 

Caden Mackey, an eighth-grade student, is not a fan of the update to the system and thinks there is a better way. 

“It’s going to be difficult change since a lot of people I go to school with understand the zero to 100 scale as their parents have taught them it,” said Mackey. 

The board’s action Thursday came after hundreds of people signed a petition demanding change, but not everyone is happy with the steps that were eventually taken. 

The Community Renewal Team (CRT) will no longer operate Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Hartford and Middlesex counties. The programs serve about 300 kids in Hartford, Bloomfield, Bristol, Clinton, Middletown and Portland.

The CRT's Board of Trustees said on Friday that they reluctantly voted to end the more than 50 year contract with the federal Department of Health and Human Services after now-former staff members did not uphold their high quality standards.

“Due to the recent actions by a few now-former staff members who did not uphold the high quality standards in our classrooms that CRT has upheld for over 50 years, we find ourselves forced to make this difficult decision,” said CRT Board Chairman Fernando Betancourt.

CRT said they are working with other offices, including the Office of Head Start and the Community Development Institute Head Start (CDI HS) to figure out the next steps for the programs.

"CRT and its staff will be making every effort to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible for all of our families, our children and our community,” said Lena Rodriguez, President and CEO of CRT.

A spokesperson for CDI HS said they are working to determine if they have additional capacity to help the impacted kids.

According to CRT officials, they will be retaining programming options for families and children in the Child Day Care and School Readiness classrooms.

MGM’s first resort in New England opened Friday with a parade down Main Street in Springfield.

MGM Springfield is a $900 million development that includes a hotel, casino floor, and numerous restaurants and entertainment options.

Michael Mathis, the President of MGM Springfield, said the hope is to lure more than just gamblers to the sprawling and sparkling new entertainment venue.

“We think we can grow the market and we think we can get people to come to these facilities and enjoy things like bowling and movie theaters and outdoor entertainment and if they happen to spend money on gambling that’s part of the experience but not the entire experience,” Mathis said.

The new venue presents the biggest threat ever seen to Connecticut’s two tribally run casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

The two facilities, run by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes, respectively, have been one of the major entertainment draws in the region, bringing in visitors from the New York and Boston metropolitan areas.

The opening of MGM Springfield could further erode slot machines revenues that the two Connecticut casinos provide to the state budget.

Christine Carrieri made the short drive from Enfield and said she expects to be a regular at the Springfield venue.

“I’m only what 8 miles away? This looks fabulous. I haven’t been through the whole thing but I’m liking it.”

Springfield not only has the benefit of proximity to the Greater Hartford area, but the luxury of new public transit options connecting prospective guests from central Connecticut to MGM Springfield.

The new Hartford Line from CTRail provides daily service from New Haven and Hartford, bringing customers to within a stone’s throw of MGM Springfield.

That’s something Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno says is a selling point.

“I got 10 or 12 trains coming up from Connecticut to Union Station.”

Connecticut’s two tribes are also planning to open a new casino in East Windsor, just miles from Springfield and along the I-91 corridor. The federal government still must approve the project.

The tribes did not comment on the opening of MGM Springfield.

Should the City of New Haven have spent nearly $4,000 to outfit City Hall staffers with new uniforms?

The mayor’s office is defending the decision, but the Board of Alders wants to investigate whether this was an appropriate use of taxpayer money during tight budget times.

“The mayor does have the authority to make purchases within her department,” said the Board of Alders majority leader Richard Furlow (D).

But the Finance Committee will review the pricey purchase of uniforms for the three receptionists in Mayor Harp’s office.

“We feel it’s our responsibility to keep ties of all that’s being spent in the city,” Furlow said.

NBC Connecticut has learned the expense on blouses, blazers and other clothing items came from money allocated to the New Haven Fire Department.

“The order was placed through the fire department because it has a standing arrangement with uniform provider,” Harp’s Director of Communications Laurence Grotheer said.

President of the New Haven Firefighters’ union Frank Ricci questions the decision of an assistant fire chief to OK the purchase.

“He should have blew the whistle on it,” Ricci said. “He has a fiduciary responsibility to the city and to the public not to allow this to happen.”

NBC Connecticut asked the mayor’s spokesperson if this was the best use of city funds to spend almost $4,000 to outfit staffers.

“The desire was for the mayor’s office to present to the public a standard professional look and again the city spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on uniforms on equipment on supplies for city workers,” Grotheer said.

Grotheer said the purchase for the mayor’s office staff is no different than buying uniforms for other city employees, such as police officers or firefighters.

The effort to standardize the appearance of the mayor’s receptionists comes after property taxes were recently raised 11 percent and 24 New Haven teachers, mostly school counselors, lost their jobs this week.

“We’re also taxpayer, the alders, we live in this city,” Furlow said. “We’re paying taxes so we’re just as concerned with every penny that is spent as everyone else is.”

Grotheer said the city plans to transfer the nearly $4,000 from the city’s general fund back to the fire department.