The State Insurance Department is holding a public hearing on Wednesday about individual insurance rates through Access Health CT for 2019.

Both Athem and ConnectiCare are asking the state permission to charge more money.

Anthem wants to charge nine percent more than last year, while ConnectiCare wants to charge 13 percent more.

Both insurance companies are blaming the rising costs of healthcare and the Trump administration for the increase.

The insurance companies told the state that because the federal government is not penalizing people for not buying insurance, less money is therefore available to pay for more expensive patients.

Before President Trump was elected in 2016, these same insurance companies were asking for major rate increases of as much as 27 percent.

The public hearing starts at 10 a.m and takes place on the seventh floor at the State Insurance Department building at 153 Market Street in Hartford. If you park in the Morgan Street Garage and bring your ticket inside, you will not pay for parking, officials said.

Hartford Athletic, a new professional soccer franchise, has chosen a head coach. 

Jimmy Nielsen, who coached the USL expansion club Oklahoma City Energy FC from 2014 to 2017, has been selected as the first head coach for the Connecticut team and he joins the team immediately. 

While Nielsen, the 2012 Goalkeeper of the Year, was with the Oklahoma City team, it made the playoffs three out of four seasons. 

Before coaching, Nielsen competed for 19 years as a professional player in Denmark, England and with the Major League Soccer franchise Sporting Kansas City.

 “I am honored and excited to be named the first head coach of Hartford Athletic,” Nielsen said in a statement. “We are here to win titles and make our community proud. Our promise to our fans is to leave everything out there on the field, every match. We have a lot to do to prepare for 2019, and I cannot wait to lead our Club onto the field for our first match.” 

Hartford Athletic, which is part of the United Soccer League, is preparing for its opening season in 2019 and will play its home games at Dillon Stadium in Hartford. 

The Connecticut Mental Health Center building in New Haven has been evacuated after a bomb threat was called in, according to officials from Yale-New Haven Hospital. 

Mark D’Antonio, of Yale-New Haven Hospital, said there are state and local police and K9s in and around the Connecticut Mental Health Center building and the building has been evacuated. 

Yale-New Haven Hospital is not affected and people can come and go from the hospital as normal, he said.

City officials in New Haven said this was one of six bomb threats this morning. 

The new, controversial advertisement featuring former National Football League player Colin Kaepernick now sits on top of the Nike store in San Francisco.

And it's huge (check it out in the video above).

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Kaepernick is one of the athletes featured in the 30th anniversary of Nike's "Just Do It" campaign. The advertisement features a black-and-white portrait of the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback with the message: "Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything."

The endorsement deal between Nike and Kaepernick has prompted a flood of debate as sports fans reacted to the apparel giant backing an athlete known mainly for starting a wave of protests among NFL players of police brutality, racial inequality and other social issues.

Last week, Kaepernick scored a legal victory in his grievance against the NFL and its 32 teams when an arbitrator allowed his case to continue to trial. The quarterback claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests. His case hinges on whether owners worked together rather than decided individually to not sign Kaepernick.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Several schools are dismissing early Wednesday. 

New Haven public schools will be closing two hours prior to their normal dismissal time because of power outages, according to the school district's website. 

Irving School in Derby will be dismissing at 12:30 p.m. today because of the lack of air conditioning. All other Derby public schools are on their regular schedule. 

Several other schools will have an early dismissal as well. See the list here.  

The NBC Connecticut meteorologists have issued a First Alert for the threat of storms on Thursday.

A cold front will break the heat Thursday, producing scattered storms that could be strong to severe.

The storms will be isolated but could pop up across the state.

We continue to track this threat. Stay with NBC Connecticut and get the latest forecast anytime by clicking here.

Judge Brett Kavanaugh faced the first round of questions during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings Wednesday. Asked if he believed a sitting president was required to respond to a subpoena, Kavanaugh said he wouldn’t answer hypothetical questions.

A man with a knife robbed the Henny Penny gas station and convenience store in Southington Tuesday night and police are looking for the man who did it.

The robbery happened around 11:54 p.m. at the store located at 273 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike.

Police said a man had the clerk open the register and took around $150 in cash from the register and around $50 worth of cigarettes, then ran.

The robber appeared to be a husky man in his 30s, who is around 5-feet-10. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, a bandana over his face and khaki shorts.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Southington Police Department Detective Division at 860-378-1600 ext. 5.

An Ohio officer who deployed a Taser on an 11-year-old girl suspected of shoplifting food violated Cincinnati Police Department’s use of force policy, an internal review found.

Officer Kevin Brown was working an off-duty security job at a Kroger’s supermarket store on Aug. 6 when he noticed the girl and two friends leaving the store with unpaid items in her hand, police said. When Brown asked the girl to stop, she allegedly ignored his request and started to walk way.

That’s when, according to police, Brown fired his Taser at the girl, striking her in the back.

"The last thing I want to do, sweetheart, is tase you like that," Brown is heard telling the girl in body camera video footage released Tuesday along with the investigation's findings. "When I say stop, you stop. You know [you’re] caught, just stop. That hurt my heart to do that to you. Then I got to listen to all these idiots out here in the parking lot telling me how I was wrong for tasing you. You broke the law and fled as I tired to apprehend you."

The girl, identified as Donesha Gowdy, admitted to shoplifting candy, soda, chips and baby clothes — totaling $53.81 in value. 

"You know what, sweetheart, this is why there's no grocery stores in the black community, because of all this going on," Brown told Gowdy after taking the stolen food out of a backpack, video shows. 

Brown defended his comment about grocery stores in black communities, telling an investigator that the statement is not biased and is supported by statistics.

Gowdy was charged with theft and obstructing official business. The charges were later dropped, NBC affiliate WLWT reported.

She told NBC News in an interview last month, that she did not try to flee. Gowdy said she walked away and then felt the barbs of the Taser on her back.

"It hit my back real fast and then I stopped, then I fell and I was shaking and I couldn't really breathe," Gowdy told NBC News.

Brown, 55, acknowledged to investigators that Gowdy did not pose a threat to him or others and the internal review found his use of force was not justified. It also found that Brown violated police policy by not warning the girl before deploying his Taser and for not turning on his body camera until after he shocked her.

"Quite frankly, I believe the officer violated our policy. I believe the use of force was unnecessary in this particular circumstance," Police Chief Elliott Isaac said. "There will be a pre-disciplinary hearing."

Cincinnati police policy states that officers cannot deploy a Taser on children under the age of 7 and adults over the age of 70. Isaac told WLWT that the department is looking to make changes to the policy.

Donna Gowdy, Donesha’s mother, told NBC News that while daughter's actions were wrong, she feels whoever thought the current policy’s allowable age for which a child can be shocked by a stun gun "needs to step back and think.”

"I told my daughter: 'I hope you learn from this. You risked your life over some candy,'" Donna Gowdy added.

While tech industry executives are testifying before Congress on Wednesday, their biggest worry may be the protests they face from within their own companies, NBC News reports.

Tech giants like Amazon and Google have seen unprecedented pushback from their employees regarding the direction their companies are taking and how they interact with the US government. 

In June, Google said it would not renew a contract with the U.S. Defense Department to analyze drone footage after thousands of employees signed a petition, with some employees even resigning.

Facebook has seen a number of leaks in recent months, which has led to debates about the appropriateness of leaking company information.

These incidents have prompted workers and executives to consider the ethical implications of working at companies that are trying to change the world through technology. 

Authorities are responding to white powder incidents in Hartford and Bristol and federal law enforcement authorities said they are aware of “multiple” incidents in Connecticut Wednesday afternoon.

One white powder incident is at the Department of Education in Hartford, according to two sources – one of whom is law enforcement and another with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The building has been evacuated.

Another incident is at the federal courthouse in Hartford and it involves two envelopes containing letters and white powder, according to two state sources.

Bristol fire officials said there is a "white powder" scare at 25 North St., which is the First Bristol Federal Credit Union building, as well.

Details are emerging, but state police said troopers responded to the Department of Education Building at 450 Columbus Boulevard at 11:04 a.m. to investigate a report of a suspicious package and the building has been evacuated.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice said federal law enforcement is aware of “multiple white powder incidents” and the investigation is ongoing.

Gov. Dannel Malloy released a statement Wednesday afternoon about the threat and response.

“The Connecticut State Police was notified of a threat at the Grasso-Fauliso State Office Building and the federal courthouse in downtown Hartford and immediately responded. Special units are on site and working closely with our federal and local partners to assess the situation. The State Police will be taking every measure to protect the safety and security of personnel and visitors in the buildings and surrounding areas. We are monitoring the situation very closely and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses,” Malloy said in a statement.

No additional information was immediately available about the Bristol incident.

Rapper Vanilla Ice was one of the unlucky passengers on board an Emirates flight from Dubai quarantined for hours at John F. Kennedy Airport Wednesday.

The “Ice Ice Baby” hitmaker was returning from a show in Dubai when he found himself on Flight 203 to JFK, where about 100 people complained of feeling sick on board.

"So I just landed from Dubai and now there is like tons of ambulances and fire trucks and police all over the place," he tweeted.

The rapper posted a video from the window of the double-decker plane. "Well a couple people got sick on the plane and it must be pretty serious because there's a lot of people out there," he says as he looks out the window at a mass of emergency response vehicles on the runway. 

Vanilla Ice, real name Robert Matthew Van Winkle, said he was on the top floor of the plane and he heard the outbreak was mainly on the bottom floor.

His Twitter fans wasted no time punning on the rapper's songs. "I sure hope everyone is collaborating and listening," Justin Houch tweeted, in reference to Ice's track "Ice, Ice Baby."

"Don’t they know that “if there’s a problem, YO” you’ll “solve it!," Jeff Sullivan replied.

One of Ice's tour managers, Chuck Quon, confirms that they were on the Emirates plane returning from an event in Dubai. They are all getting on connecting flights to head home.

Just weeks after saying he was through with his Facebook documentary series, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has released a new, final installment in which he says he wants to try to play for another five years.

Most of "Tom vs Time," filmed by Gotham Chopra for Facebook's video platform, Facebook Watch, focused on the star quarterback preparing for the 2017 season, exploring his battle against time on the gridiron and how he balances his personal life.

On Wednesday, a shorter, 5-minute episode, entitled "Epilogue: The Next Game" was released on Facebook Watch. In it, Brady reflects on last season, references all of the talk radio chatter about him and his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick and discusses his future.

"I would love to play five more years," he said. "It'd be a challenge for me. I don't think it's gonna be easy. It'd be hard to do. I think it's going to be very hard to do. But I think I can do it.

"Once you stop, you're done, and I'm not ready to say I'm done because I don't feel like I am. I still like feel there's things to accomplish... I think the last eight years of my career have been better than the first 10, so i should just prolong it. That's what I'm trying to do."

Brady also spoke openly about how he spent more time with his family this offseason than in the past.

"When I look at probably the last six months, it's the first time I've taken a little break from what I've done, and what's been cyclical and monotonous," he said. "I just think I needed something different this year. My family needed something different. I've got to be able to spend enough time with them, because I want to, because you've got to see them grow, you've got to see them develop, you've got to be there for them... or else I'm not doing my job as a parent."

Brady said for the past couple years, "a lot of parts of football weren't enjoyable when they should have been. Some of it was my approach, and I think anytime you're together with people for a long period of time, relationships ebb and flow."

Brady and the Pats are set to kick off their 2018 season on Sunday against the Houston Texans in Foxborough.

Police are investigating a fatal crash in New Britain Tuesday morning.

Emergency crews responded to Grand Street and Walnut Hill Park Road after a vehicle went off Park Road and into the wooded area.

The driver, a 48-year-old New Britain man, sustained injuries from the crash, but police said it was reported that he was experiencing apparent medical issues just before the crash. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment, where he was later pronounced dead, according to police. Authorities have not released his name.

The passenger, a 45-year-old New Britain man sustained minor injuries and was treated at an area hospital and released. No charges have been filed.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information or who witnessed the crash is asked to call Sergeant Steven King at (860) 826-3071.

A car has struck a cyclist on Maple Road in Mansfield, according to state police. 

No information was available on the extent of injuries or whether the accident reconstruction team has been called. 

LifeStar said it was flying for a single patient. 

No other information was immediately available.

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London is hosting eight special little guests in their NICU this week.

Tabatha Balabin is in new mom bliss rocking and cuddling her twin boys Mark and Alec Jr. They’re in the NICU - one of four sets of twins at the NICU now.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Balabin said. “You know one or two sets, and you’re like OK. Then there’s four sets, and you’re like what’s in the water.”

The sets of twins were all born within just days of each other. It’s a rare occurrence to have them all in this NICU at the same time.

“Four is unusual,” said neonatologist, Dr. Edward James. “Usually we have a couple of sets, one set, maybe, but four is unusual.”

Since they spend a lot of time here, some of the moms have even gotten to know each other.

“It’s pretty cool,” said new twin mom, Esther Griffin. “I love twins. I always wanted a twin before I found out, but it’s nice. There are all kinds of different twins on this level and the moms. I’ve actually talk to one of the moms.”

They all share a similar story about their babies’ unique entrances into the world.

“I’ll tell them that there was four sets of you guys in the NICU,” mom Robinane Barnes said.

Former auctioneer Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) used his unique skills to override the voice of right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who had interrupted the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing with Twitter Wednesday.

A Wolcott woman reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds when after dozens of appointments she discovered her hearing aid wasn’t providing the miracle she'd hoped for when she bought it.

At 80 years old, Helen Jurzyk pays close attention to her health. She recently suffered hearing loss in both ears in October of 2016.

“I was saying what, what, and I couldn’t hear on the phone and stuff,” said Helen Jurzyk.

Jurzyk said she got her hearing tested by a hearing aid specialist who suggested that she invest in a hearing aid. She was tested and decided to go with Miracle Ear’s top of the line device for one of her ears at a cost of $3,495. The hearing aid had a three-year warranty. But Jurzyk told NBC Connecticut Responds she had problems with the device during the 30 day trial period.

“I thought it would work,” said Jurzyk.

But it didn’t, according to Jurzyk. Between October 2016 and August 2017, she said the hearing aid specialist adjusted the volume numerous times with no remedy to the problem. Jurzyk explained that after the seventh appointment to Miracle Ear, she began documenting her visits.

“I said this is just ridiculous, 26 appointments and nothing’s happening. So, I said what is my alternative and she says there’s nothing else we can do about it,” added Jurzyk.

She claimed the specialist told her to keep working with the hearing aid and told Jurzyk she would not get a refund.

“We thought we were going to get the best. But it didn’t work out,” said Jurzyk.

Jurzyk said she sent a certified letter to Miracle Ear’s corporate office and someone signed for it. But she told us that the company didn’t contact her. That’s when Helen turned to NBC Connecticut Responds.

In response to our inquiry, Jason Frasier with Miracle Ear provided this statement to Responds:

“I write this email with a heavy heart knowing that Helen is one patient, even with all our efforts we were not able to improve the quality of her life. It is our as well as Miracle-Ear’s goal to each and every day to make a positive difference in everyone’s life that enters into our offices. It’s giving the gift of sound that makes Miracle-Ear who we are.

Helen visited us twenty-six times, in which these ‘aftercare’ services are free with every purchase and never charged one penny in these attempts to satisfy her hearing. Our Hearing Instrument Specialist listened to Helen, worked diligently each and every visit making adjustments with the hope that Helen would walk out feeling like her problem(s) were resolved. I will inform you there were other circumstances involved that affected the outcome of Helen’s disapproval which at this time I’m not able to disclose because of the HIPPA regulations but nonetheless it was unfortunate Helen was never satisfied. That left us no other option but to act in good faith and refund Helen 100% of her money and wish her the best of luck in finding a solution to her hearing.

Yes, it is emotional of both parties involved because we take it very personal in being able to improve the quality of life of those we touch.”

And with that $3,495 refund, Helen Jurzyk felt like Miracle Ear has finally heard her. Jurzyk’s message to others about NBC Connecticut Responds?

“When they say they Respond, they respond,” said Jurzyk. “I would recommend them highly to anybody that has a problem.”

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called a New York Times op-ed, written by an anonymous official inside his administration, "gutless." The op-ed writer states that many inside the administration are working to contain Trump for the good of the country.

Noemi Kearns is a mother, business owner and cancer survivor.

“I know that I’m sitting here today talking to you 100 percent due to the care that I had at Smilow,” Kearns told NBC Connecticut. “Not only the aggressive course of action, but truly the care after my surgeries.”

This Saturday she is riding in Closer to Free with her youngest daughter to give back to the hospital that saved her life.

“While we’re incredibly fortunate to be able to get the world’s greatest care for cancer and this horrible disease, the reality is the need just keeps growing,” said Kearns, speaking publicly for the first time about her battle with cancer.

In September 2013, Kearns rode in Closer to Free for the first time with Carl’s Crusader’s after designing the team’s t-shirts and logo. She is the owner of Ink & Pixel Agency in Guilford and one of her children’s former teachers, Stacey Hubbard, started the team in memory of her husband who died from cancer.

“I felt that I’m strong, I’m healthy,” she said. “These are people that are battling cancer that have the capacity to step up and ride, I can do the same.”

A few months later, during her annual exam there was an unexpected “red flag,” Kearns said. The diagnosis from doctors was a rare form of cancer.

“I had the less than 10 percent of cervical cancers, the ones are harder to detect, a needle in a haystack,” she said. “I had no medical history, I had no symptoms at all, I didn’t know I was looking for it and they found it.”

Kearns said she needed several surgeries at the Smilow Cancer Hospital.

“The course of action was swift and immediate,” she added.

Kearns had her uterus removed during the final operation in June 2014.

“The choice to, as the doctors put it, to slam the bus into a brick wall with menopause was something I was willing to do to not risk having my cancer come back,” Kearns said.

A year after the surgery that saved her life, Kearns lost her father following his own brave fight with cancer.

“So my dad and I were actually battling cancer at the same time,” she said, “tragically he passed in July of 2015.”

Kearns took two years off, before getting back on a bike for the 2016 Closer to Free.

“The feeling of pride that I have putting on my survivor jersey is indescribable,” she said.

Thankful for the care she received at Smilow and feeling fortunate to share her story, Kearns now rides every year with her youngest child, 10-year-old Sadie Bea.

“I’m going to be riding on Saturday for my father Paul Zelanski who was an amazing man and for my children because I truly believe that we have the capacity to be closer to free,” Kearns said.

NBC Connecticut is a proud media sponsor of the ride in its eighth year that raises millions of dollars for patient care and research at the Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven.