Multiple departments responded to a fire at a condominium complex in South Windsor Thursday night.
Fire officials said fire spread through two condo units at the Cinnamon Springs complex off Pleasant Valley Road. Mutual aid from Manchester Fire Rescue, Manchester 8th District, Broad Brook, and Vernon all responded. No injuries were reported.
It was not immediately clear how many people were displaced by the fire.
The cause is under investigation.
Josh Gordon’s first touchdown as a member of the New England Patriots doubled up on importance and historical significance.
There’s no questioning it was well-timed in a 38-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night, as the Patriots improved to 3-2 on the season.
New England was blowing out a hapless Indianapolis team with a 24-3 lead at the break before the team fell ill with a case of the Thursdays. Tom Brady threw a pair of interceptions in the third quarter – neither of which were even remotely his fault, with Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski popping up catchable balls into the grasp of Colt defenders.
Andrew Luck, perhaps the only player on Indianapolis who bothered to show up to Gillette Stadium on Thursday, led the Colts on a pair of touchdown drives to pull his team within a score at 24-17.
Enter Gordon, the reclamation project whose undeniable talent has never outshined the trouble he’s dealt with throughout his career. He caught a 16-yard pass from Brady on the first play after Indianapolis pulled within a touchdown, his first catch of the night, before coming down with a jump ball in the end zone from 34 yards away for his first touchdown as a Patriot.
The score deflated all momentum the Colts had reestablished, but also helped Brady reach a pair of milestones. It was career touchdown pass No. 500 for Brady, as he became just the third player in NFL history to surpass the threshold.
Gordon became the 71st different player to catch a touchdown pass from Brady, giving him more touchdown receivers than any player in NFL history. Brady had been tied with former teammate Vinny Testaverde for all of four days.
"To catch any pass from Tom is amazing," said Gordon, echoing what he'd said after catching a pair of passes from Brady vs. Miami on Sunday. "Let alone some history-making pass."
"There's no quarterback I'd rather have than Tom Brady," Belichick said.
The game also marked the return of Julian Edelman from his four-game suspension, making it his first game action since Super Bowl LI after missing all of last season with a torn ACL. Edelman had seven catches for 57 yards in the game, but was also the first player to cause an incompletion for Brady; the quarterback had started the game 10 for 10.
"It’s good to have him back," Belichick said. "I think we’ve got a long way to go. He had a role, certainly not a full one. We’ll see how it goes."
Brady finished up completing 34 of his 44 passes for 341 yards – his first 300-plus yard game of the season – to go along with three touchdown passes and two picks.
Cordarrelle Patterson caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to break open the game’s scoring, while Brady rushed for a 1-yard score in the second to help make it 14-0 after a Stephen Gostkowski PAT.
James White, who set a new career-best in the regular season with 10 catches, had a 6-yard touchdown catch in the first half.
Sony Michel broke off a 34-yard run in the fourth quarter for New England's fifrth touchdown of the game. He finished just shy of the 100-yard mark, with 98 yards on 18 carries.
Patrick Chung and Jonathan Jones had interceptions for the Patriots, while Devin McCourty forced and recovered a fumble. Chung also had half a sack, joining with Trey Flowers to bring down Luck on the first drive of the game for Indianapolis.
Thursday also marked the first time that Brady, Gronkowski and Edelman played in the same game since Week 11 of the 2016 season.
The Patriots are now off until Sunday, Oct. 14, when they'll host the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on Sunday Night Football, with the game set to air on NBC10 Boston.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said President Donald Trump wasn’t mocking Christine Blasey Ford during a political rally. Trump was instead “stating the facts,” she said. But while Ford has said she couldn’t remember some details, the president mischaracterized her testimony repeatedly.
A Rockwall family is upset with American Airlines after they say they were kicked off a flight because of their son with autism.
Adam and Heather Halkuff have five boys under the age of 16.
Preparing for a family vacation can be hectic and because their two youngest sons have autism, they took planning a step further.
“I first contacted American Airlines and I asked them if there was any programs or anything they can do for us because we’d be traveling with five boys, two that had autism,” Adam Halkuff said.
On Sept. 24, more than a week before their trip, 5-year-old Milo and 2-year-old Ollie went through a mock scenario at the airport, practicing the process of going through security and boarding a plane.
The run-through was so the real thing would go off without a hitch. What happened next didn’t go as planned.
During boarding, the Halkuffs say, Milo had a meltdown right before getting on the plane.
"All the passengers are walking by. They're very kind, they're like 'You got this mom. Do you need any help?'" Heather Halkuff explained.
But she said a ticket agent for American Airlines wasn't nearly as understanding.
“Right away she goes, 'He can't get on the flight...he's going to bother the other passengers and then he'll still be upset during the flight and we'll have to turn around and escort you off the plane,'" Heather recalled.
The Halkuffs say they offered to split up. Adam would go back home with Milo. Heather would fly to Kansas City with the older kids.
But that offer was rejected. The entire family was brought back into the terminal, they said.
"I’m thinking now that my older boys," Heather said tearing up, "I don't want them to resent Milo ever that we can't do stuff."
Now, instead of a vacation to visit family, the Halkuffs are back home making the best of the situation and wondering what could have happened if Milo had been given a chance.
“Don’t say ‘Oh, look at that autistic kid crying. He’s going to ruin this whole flight. Let’s not even let him on,’” she said.
American Airlines contacted the family Thursday and said it is looking into their case.
In a statement, a spokesperson wrote:
“We are concerned to hear about this situation. Our team has reached out to the Halkuff family to gather more information about what transpired at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). The American Airlines team is committed to providing a safe and pleasant travel experience for all of our customers.
When it comes to autism, American is a strong advocate for children. Our team members work closely with various nonprofit groups to alleviate the stress these children and their families may experience while flying, including offering families the opportunity to take a test fight on the ground. This process — which includes role playing and realistic airport interactions — helps children grow accustomed to the experience of flight.”
Over the summer, American Airlines received a top score on their disability inclusion programs from the American Association of People with Disabilities.
A West Hartford man who is accused of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a crash where two children were injured has been arrested.
Police said there was a two-car crash on Interstate 84 East in Hartford just after 8:30 p.m. and 37-year-old Jason Hayes, of West Hartford, was found to be at fault.
He did not check in the other vehicle, fled the scene and did not notify police, according to state police.
The two children who were injured were transported to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. No additional information was released on their condition.
Police said they found Hayes a short distance from the scene of the crash and he has been charged with evading responsibility, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, following too closely and other charges.
Bond was set at $2,500.
A 27-year-old woman is dead and a 29-year-old Cheshire man is injured after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 91 north in New Haven late Thursday night, according to state police.
The crash happened at 11:55 p.m. near exit 8, according to state police.
Katherine Gavidia, 27, of Hamden, was driving the south on the northbound side of the highway when she collided with a vehicle in the left center lane driven by 29-year-old Thomas Murray, of Cheshire, according to state police.
Both drivers were trapped in their vehicles and had to be extricated. Gavidia died at the scene. Murray was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital.
The highway was closed for around six hours.
The NBC Connecticut crew at the scene reports that one car is smashed and a white pickup has significant damage.
The governor is directing for U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff in honor of a sailor who was killed in action during World War II.
Malloy has ordered that flags be lowered from sunrise to sunset on Monday, Oct. 8 in honor of U.S. Navy Water Tender 1st Class Stephen Pepe, of Bridgeport, whose remains were recently identified and returned to his family, according to Gov. Dannel Malloy.
On Dec. 7, 1941, Pepe was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, a battleship at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor when the ship was attacked by Japanese aircraft, according to a statement from the governor’s office. The Oklahoma sustained several torpedo hits and quickly capsized.
Four-hundred-twenty-nine crewmen, including Pepe, were killed in the attack. He was 43 years old when he died. His remains were accounted for on April 23.
“Navy Water Tender 1st Class Stephen Pepe gave his life for our country, and we will be forever grateful for his service,” Malloy said in a statement. “Over seven decades after he made the ultimate sacrifice in a battle that marked one of the darkest days in American history, he is returning to his family and will receive a proper burial. I ask all Connecticut residents to join me in honoring Stephen Pepe’s memory and sacrifice.”
A burial with full military honors will be held Monday in Bourne, Massachusetts.
A 39-year-old woman is accused of slashing and biting a clerk at a market in Hartford during a burglary Friday morning.
Police said Ana Gaisey went into the Neighborhood Supermarket, charged the store clerk behind the counter, broke the cash register and started taking money from it.
When the store clerk tried to stop her, Gaisey grabbed a piece of glass broken during the altercation and slashed the clerk’s right. Then she bit the clerk's hand, police said.
Two other store clerks went to help of their co-worker and sustained minor injuries, but subdued Gaisey after what police called an intense struggle.
The three store clerks received medical attention.
Gaisey was evaluated at the hospital, released, and transported to the Hartford Police Booking Facility. She has been charged with first-degree robbery, first- and third-degree assault and first-degree criminal mischief.
A Hamden High School student was arrested after police investigated threats on social media against students and he was charged with threatening and possession of a machete, according to police.
Police said they were notified around 8 p.m. Thursday about a potential threat. They said members of the school community who saw the threat immediately contacted administrative staff, who contacted police.
Police arrested a 17-year-old boy and said he was charged with threatening; breach of peace; and possession of a dangerous weapon, a machete.
He is scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court in New Haven.
A Facebook vice president's public support of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has set off an internal revolt in the company, sources told NBC News.
Hundreds of employees have complained on message boards and in company emails about Joel Kaplan, vice president for global public policy, making a surprise appearance at Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing. The two are longtime friends since they both served in President George W. Bush's White House.
Some employees said it gave the impression Facebook backed Kavanaugh, and it prompted a company town hall to be scheduled for Friday.
It's the latest controversy for the tech giant, which recently revealed the biggest data breach in its history and had the founders of Instagram leave the company amid frustrations with CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
NBC Chicago will offer a live stream with complete coverage beginning right here.
A jury has reached a verdict in the trial for Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
The verdict is expected to be read at 1:45 p.m. CT.
The long-awaited verdict comes nearly four years to the date after dashcam video showing the shooting shook the city and the nation, sparking massive protests and calls for justice.
September would have marked McDonald's 21st birthday.
Van Dyke was charged with six counts of first-degree murder more than a year after he shot the 17-year-old 16 times on the city's Southwest Side on Oct. 20, 2014. He entered a plea of not guilty.
Heading into his trial, four of the murder counts were dropped against Van Dyke, leaving him with two first-degree murder charges, 16 aggravated battery counts and one count of official misconduct.
In an unexpected announcement, prosecutors revealed in their closing statement to the jury Thursday that a lesser charge of second-degree murder could also be considered.
Van Dyke's attorneys maintain the Chicago officer was wrongly charged, saying he was acting within the law when he shot the teen, who at the time was an armed felon fleeing a crime scene.
In nearly three weeks of trial, the defense called 20 witnesses, including Van Dyke himself, to make their case that McDonald, a black teenager armed with a knife, posed a threat when Van Dyke, a white officer, opened fire on him.
Prosecutors tried to highlight inconsistencies in Van Dyke's testimony, particularly in comparison with dashcam video of the shooting released in 2015, which was shown to the jury.
During the days-long trial, jurors also saw graphic autopsy images of the more than a dozen gunshot wounds on McDonald's body, video animation of the shooting from Van Dyke's point of view and video showing 16 gunshots in 14 seconds.
They heard testimony from several Chicago police officers who responded to the scene that night. witnesses who saw the shooting, experts on use of force and those who knew McDonald in his younger years.
Van Dyke has claimed he opened fire that night to protect himself and other officers.
The shooting and subsequent release of the video prompted massive protests across the city and catapulted Chicago into the national spotlight. In the aftermath, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired the city's police superintendent and voters ousted the Cook County state's attorney in the following primary election.
The case also sparked an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice that found the Chicago Police Department engaged in systemic violation of civil rights for years. A new consent decree was put into place in September that promised reforms.
Now, Van Dyke's fate rests in the hands of the eight women and four men on the jury.
RECAP OF THE TRIAL
DMV Express locations will be opening in Southington and North Haven in mid-December, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
In addition to the new locations, hours at the Stamford office will expand.
"We see this as a win-win for all our customers because it offers additional locations where they can go for license and ID card renewal services," DMV Commissioner Michael Bzdyra said in a statement. “We are pleased with the continuing growth of DMV Express,” he added.
Last year, the DMV launched a search for third-party vendors for license and ID card renewal services and said they chose Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union of Rocky Hill and The WorkPlace of Bridgeport for new DMV Express offices.
In late November The WorkPlace plans to take over DMV operations at 137 Henry St. in Stamford and intends to have an appointment-only system, as DMV offers there now.
It will expand operations from two days per week to Monday through Friday.
DMV appointments there will end Nov. 16.
The Stamford office will no longer provide registration transactions, accept license plate returns and cancelations and issue driving histories and disabled parking permits. DMV branch offices have those services.
In mid-December AAA Club Alliance plans to open a new Southington Car Care, Insurance and Travel Center at 749 Queen St. and will provide DMV license and ID card renewal services Monday through Saturday.
In mid-December Nutmeg Credit Union plans to open a new five-station service center at 109 Washington Ave. in North Haven, which will be open Monday through Saturday and allow walk-ins as well as in-office and online appointments for services.
Nutmeg Credit Union opened the DMV Express Center in Milford in June and earlier the City of West Haven opened a similar center in city hall. Learn more here.
Mattress Firm has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and it plans to close several stores, including six in Connecticut.
The company has filed court motions for approval to reject up to 700 leases and it will start closing around 200 stores in the next few days, CNBC reports.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the company, which provided court documents that list the stores the company plans to close.
Following are the Connecticut locations slated for closure.
See the Mattress Firm website for the company's store locations.
CNBC reports that Mattress Firm has filed motions "to support the continued payment of employee wages and health and welfare benefits, as well as honor its customer policies and programs."
The death of a woman found dead in Willimantic Tuesday has been ruled a homicide, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Family members have identified the victim as Angie Martinez. Police say she was found dead in an apartment on Ash Street in Willimantic Tuesday night. The OCME has identified the cause of death as strangulation and the manner of death a homicide.
Willimantic police said they contacted the state police Eastern Major Crimes Unit and the Office of the State’s Attorney for assistance in the investigation.
Police said this appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the community, but the investigation is ongoing.
Friends are hosting a community vigil for Martinez outside her Ash Street at 6 p.m. Friday.
A caregiver for a 93-year-old Westport woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her client and has been arrested.
The victim told police in June that her financial adviser had alerted her to suspicious activity on her account and people were writing checks from her checking account and cashing them without her permission.
Police said the six suspect checks ranged from a couple of hundred dollars to $3,000. In all, more than $11,000 was taken.
Police identified one of the victim’s caregivers, 45-year-old Vilma Marroquin-Enrriquez, of Bronx, New York, as a suspect and police said she or her significant other endorsed checks, while she gave other checks to third parties for other debts.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for Marroquin-Enrriquez. She was charged with identity theft in the first degree, larceny in the second degree and forgery in the third degree.
She was released after posting $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Court on Oct. 12.
The first frost of the season will be here soon enough and local oil companies are encouraging people to get their orders in sooner than later as oil prices could spike.
“It’s still under $3 a gallon, so take it while you can,” Michael Campbell, of Barney Barker Oil Company in Newington, said.
Campbell said the price of a gallon of oil is unpredictable and many factors are at play, such as sanctions on Iran, which would drive up demand.
”There’s a lot of things going on right now with the restrictions on Iran pumping oil. We have hurricane season that’s going on, so my suggestion is, get it while it’s hot,” he said.
Campbell said in his eight years in the business, he has seen highs and lows.
“It has risen above $4.50 a gallon before, and then, conversely, it’s also dropped out and dropped down to under $2,” he said.
He explained that close to 40 percent of homes in Connecticut use oil, which is why he urges his customers to get their orders in before the first cold snap.
“The first day of like probably 20-degree weather the phone is like off the hook. It’s crazy!” he said.
Officials from the Metropolitan District said a portion of pipe liner caused a sewer blockage that flooded the area of Linbrook Road and North Main Street in West Hartford Wednesday morning and sent water seeping into homes.
In an update Friday, MDC confirmed that a 60-foot section of liner failed. A contractor will remove the failed section and secure the area, which had to be evacuated for crews to get a look at the damage.
MDC released a statement Wednesday morning saying that an MDC contractor performed sewer pipe restoration work in the Linbrook Road area over the summer of 2018 and MDC’s contractor was working with staff to complete the investigation and determine the cause of the current issue. It is not clear at this time what caused the liner failure.
The company is looking into an alternative liner to replace 300 feet of pipe liner in the area to prevent any future issues.
Bypass pumping has been ongoing. MDC is working with affected homeowners to evaluate the need for backwater valves on their properties. A backwater valve is designed to keep water or sewage flowing in only one direction, in this case out of the house.
MDC contractors are also working to help homeowners replace hot water heaters, boilers and gas furnaces, and get electrical service back in the flooded homes. The company has claims staff working with homeowners.
Two people were taken to the hospital after a crash involving a school bus in Woodbridge Friday.
Police said a car and a school bus collided at Amity Road (Route 63) and Fieldstone Drive around 2:30 p.m. No students on the bus were hurt.
The crash is under investigation.
No other details were immediately available.
According to AAA, gas prices are climbing, which is unusual for this time of the year because refineries make the switch to their “winter” blend, which is less expensive, in September.
”I’m on a fixed income, so it means a lot to me to save money over a course of a year,” Barbara Trzcinski of Wethersfield, said. “It’s a huge savings.”
Trzcinski drives to a Citgo on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington because she said it’s cheaper than most places.
”They’re much more reasonable. I was just up in Windsor and they were like 10 cents more a gallon than they are here,” she said.
”I work right up the street but yes, I come here because the gas is a little cheaper over here,” said Andrea Peters, of New Britain.
Some drivers told NBC Connecticut they don’t mind the prices because they remember a much tougher time.
“I was paying $4.25 and I was making a lot less than I am now, so back then it hurt a lot more than what I just paid now at $3.29, so I’m fine with it,” said Mark Riccio, of Wethersfield.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas is $2.91. Connecticut is 12 cents higher coming in at $3.03 this week.
Energy experts said the healthy demand for crude oil, which makes up about half of the cost of gas, is also driving up prices. Either way, drivers said they will continue to pick up the cost.
”I’m not going to drive five miles to save a couple of cents for gas, so I just end up eating it usually,” said Peters.
Gas Buddy tracks the lowest gas prices in Connecticut, so you can find the least expensive gas in your area. Check here.
AAA also has a fuel price finder.
The AAA website also has a gas calculator to help you determine how much it will cost to go where you are going. Check it here.
State officials are warning Connecticut residents not to fall for a voter registration phone scam.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill issued the warning Friday following national reports of suspicious phone calls that claim to register voters over the phone and arrange for an absentee ballot. The callers say they represent TurboVote, a voter registration organization, but TurboVote said it is not affiliated with these calls.
In Connecticut, voters cannot register over the phone, and voters have to request an absentee ballot application from their town clerk and return it with a valid signature.
Residents are cautioned not to share their personal information over the phone. If you receive a call, you’re advised to hang up and report the call to Taffy Womack at the Secretary of the State’s office at (860) 509-6117 or email her at Taffy.Womack@ct.gov.
Eligible voters can register at myvote.ct.gov/register and can check their registration status here.
