A 13-year-old is accused of posting a threatening message regarding Pulaski Middle School in New Britain.

New Britain Police said they were called to the school at 757 Farmington Ave. Thursday to investigate a threat against the school on social media. The threat included a photo of a juvenile holding what turned out to be an airsoft BB gun.

Police said the message was posted by a 13-year-old boy without the knowledge of the person in the picture. The 13-year-old, who was not identified due to his age, was arrested and charged with breach of peace.

There was no danger to students or staff, police said.

A divided U.S. appeals court Thursday blocked rules by the Trump administration that allowed more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control.

The ruling, however, may be short lived because the administration has adopted new rules on contraceptive coverage that are set to take effect next month and will likely prompt renewed legal challenges.

Thursday's ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concerned changes to birth control coverage requirements under President Barack Obama's health care law that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued in October 2017.

States were likely to succeed on their claim that those changes were made without required notice and public comment, the appeals court panel said in a 2-1 decision.

The majority upheld a preliminary injunction against the rules issued by U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam last year. It, however, limited the scope of the injunction, applying it only to the five states in the lawsuit and not the entire country.

Another federal judge also blocked the rules, and her nationwide injunction remains in place.

An email to the Justice Department seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Obama's health care law required most companies to cover birth control at no additional cost, though it included exemptions for religious organizations. The new policy allowed more categories of employers, including publicly traded companies, to opt out of providing free contraception to women by claiming religious objections. It also allowed any company that is not publicly traded to deny coverage on moral grounds.

The Department of Justice said in court documents that the rules were about protecting a small group of "sincere religious and moral objectors" from having to violate their beliefs. The changes were favored by social conservatives who are staunch supporters of President Donald Trump.

California filed a lawsuit to block the changes that was joined by Delaware, Maryland, New York and Virginia.

The states argued that the changes could result in millions of women losing free birth control services, forcing them to seek contraceptive care through state-run programs or programs that the states had to reimburse.

The states show with "reasonable probability" that the new rules will lead women to lose employer-sponsored contraceptive coverage, "which will then result in economic harm to the states," 9th Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace, a nominee of Republican President Richard Nixon, wrote for the majority.

In a dissent, 9th Circuit Judge Andrew Kleinfeld said the economic harm to the states was "self-inflicted" because they chose to provide contraceptive coverage to women. The states, therefore, did not have the authority to bring the lawsuit, Kleinfeld, a nominee of Republican President George H.W. Bush, said.

The case became more complicated after the Trump administration last month issued new birth control coverage rules that are set to supersede those at issue in the lawsuit before the 9th Circuit. Under the new rules, large companies whose stock is sold to investors won't be able to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage.

Wallace said the new rules did not make the case before the 9th Circuit moot because they are not set to take effect until January.

Southington school officials and Southington police are both investigating a racist video allegedly made by a Southington High School student.

School superintendent Timothy Connellan set a letter about the video to parents district-wide on Thursday.

"The video in question contains racially inappropriate and highly charged language," Connellan said in the letter.

The video also contained language "implying the support of violence against people of color," he said.

Investigators said the person who made the video is a student. It was shared in a private chat room before another person then sent it out publicly, according to police.

Police said they are investigating to determine if there is a criminal aspect to the message in the video. No charges have been filed.

Superintendent Connellan told NBC Connecticut he found the whole situation offensive and it is not representative of the district.

"The whole thing quite honestly was offensive to me, was hugely offensive and as I said its one student out of about 2,100 students at Southington High School,” he said.

In a letter to the school community, he said the investigation could lead to disciplinary action by the school district.

"Please note that the Southington Public Schools do not condone, support or tolerate the type of language or behavior demonstrated in the video.  Any student in the Southington Public Schools District whose behavior is shown to be seriously disruptive of the educational process will experience disciplinary consequences consistent with Board of Education policy and regulations and the applicable state and federal statutes and regulations," he said.

Every year, a Hebron family puts up a small Christmas tree with ornaments next to their son’s headstone. This year it was stolen, but after two days and a community outcry on Facebook, they got it back.

“This is the best Christmas present you could ask for,” said Monica Burr.

Every year, for the last 16 years after she lost her 20-year-old son Kyle Harris in a car accident, they put up a Christmas tree covered in angels and other ornaments at the New Hebron Cemetery.

“Each one of the angels and each one of the ornaments that are on there represents a gathering for us, and a memory for us, and tears for us, and it brings us all back together again,” said dad David Burr.

“All the angels on it were given by family members and friends since he died,” Monica said, pointing out one from Harris’ late grandmother.

Burr put out the tree Saturday. On Tuesday, it was gone. She searched the cemetery, the nearby field and the woods. It was nowhere to be found.

Kyle’s sister, Jessica Burr, posted on Facebook that night. As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday the post received more than 1,400 shares and 260 comments. People were commenting about shared experiences and sending prayers.

The Hebron Resident State Trooper shared the post on the department’s page Thursday.

The word got out.

“We’re very thankful. There’s a lot of kind people out there who have big hearts.” Monica said.

“Kyle was probably helping direct whoever took it to bring it back,” David added.

They found the tree Thursday afternoon next to a different headstone.

The sexton for the cemetery, Jim Celio, said in his approximately 20 years in the position, this is the first time he could recall getting a call that something like this happened.

He knows the Burrs and knew Kyle around the community, and is thrilled the tree is back.

“I wonder what kind of person can do that, first of all. It’s disappointing that somebody wouldn’t think of what that could mean,” Celio said.

The Burrs said about half of the ornaments were missing. So after setting the tree back up and spending some time, Monica took the ornaments home, so they’re safe. She does not plan on putting the on the outside tree anymore since they mean too much to the family.

“I’m very thankful that they brought it back. That they listened to their heart and they thought about love,” Monica said, adding that she forgives whoever did this.

Neighbor spoofing – taking outgoing caller ID to look like a local number - is a common technique used by scammers.

The callers then use auto-dialing software to call every number that begins with the same six digits. So when your phone rings, you’ll see a number similar to your own, which increases the likelihood you’ll answer.

In some cases, the number that appears on your caller ID could even be your own.

“It’s very easy for scam artists to put the phone number that they choose on your caller ID,” said Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen.

Once you answer, the person on the other end of the call will usually try to get you to divulge personal information or send them money.

“They use pressure tactics. You know, something bad is going to happen unless you make a payment and you make that payment very, very quickly, even immediately,” Jepsen said.

Jepsen says the best tactic is to ignore the call and wait to see if the caller leaves a message. He says simply answering the phone could make you a target.

“Scam artists actually compile lists of phone numbers that work, phone numbers that reach a live person, and sell these lists to other scammers,” Jepsen said.

Even pressing a button to opt out of future calls to talk to a live person just confirms to the caller that they have reached an active line.

You can report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Vermont State Police investigated a scary close call in Colchester, when a piece of flying construction material smashed through a car’s rear window and nearly impaled a one-year-old child inside.

This happened on Interstate 89 North Wednesday evening.

State police said a pickup truck from a construction firm had to slam on its brakes to avoid a crash.

When it did so, a piece of rebar dislodged from a container on the truck and flew forward, like a spear.

Police said that metal smashed through the window of a Subaru in front of the pickup truck, and ended up inside a child’s car safety seat.

Miraculously, the rebar missed the one-year-old strapped into the seat in the Subaru, driven by Brenton Elliott of Milford, Connecticut.

While there were no apparent injuries, the child was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

“It did leave that trough in a rapid manner, fast enough to go ahead and actually penetrate through the vehicle, through a headrest and stop at a child's seat, roughly about three inches from the child’s head,” Lt. Bob Lucas of Vermont State Police said of the flying piece of rebar.

The construction firm, S.D. Ireland, said it is very happy no one was injured.

The company told necn affiliate NBC 5 News that the rebar was stored using industry standards, and that the pickup’s driver, Christopher Larose of Swanton, was operating the pickup truck alertly and in a safe manner.

Still, the company is pledging to re-evaluate and re-design its rebar containers.

S.D. Ireland was issued a civil ticket, state police said.

NBC Connecticut is proud to partner with Central Connecticut State University and the Ana Grace Project to support the Love Wins Community Drive.

Nelba Marquez-Greene remembers her daughter Ana Grace, one of 20 first graders killed inside Sandy Hook Elementary School, in many ways, including her work through the Ana Grace Project, an organization she created as a tribute to her daughter. 

"Her fight, her fire, her love, her passion," she said.

The Ana Grace Project has partnered with the Consolidated School District of New Britain and CCSU to collect toys, winter clothing, toiletries, and food for New Britain families in need. 

“December 14 is a day that we all will remember,” said organizer Courtney McDavid. “It’s important because we want to make it a day of giving.”

They are collecting toys, baby items, non-perishable food items and winter clothing at a drive at Davidson Hall on CCSU’s campus Friday.

“We’re asking for new items,” McDavid said. “They can pull up. We’ll have over 200 volunteers here tomorrow and they’ll unload the items for you. You don’t even have to get out of your car.”

Chamberlain students will be there performing. The donations will go directly to those in need including Maria’s Place, a pantry on CCSU's campus.

“It’s a place where students can come and grab items that they might not have the finances for. Freddy Rios said. “It’s a place where students feel comfortable knowing they don’t have to ask for help. It’s something that we can help them with on their journey to success here at CCSU.”

Some of the toys will go to help New Britain families who are struggling during the holidays.

"It’s heartwarming," said Omar McDew, youth advocate for the City of New Britain. "The way the community comes together."

You can drop off toys, baby items, and non-perishable foods from 6 a.m. until noon on Friday at Davidson Hall at CCSU. Learn more here.

Firefighters responded to fire at a condominium complex on Townhouse Road in Hamden Thursday.

Hamden firefighters confirmed the initial call Thursday afternoon.

Neighbors said flames broke out twice - what was initially a small fire in one unit may have reignited. Several units are damaged, according to an NBC Connecticut crew on scene.

No other details were immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The Geminid meteor shower lights up the night sky each December, and this week it will be at its most visible, according to a NASA blog post. 

The Geminid meteors become active when Earth passes through a particularly massive trail of rocky space debris. When this debris enters Earth's atmosphere, it burns up and lights up the sky with "shooting stars." 

The debris comes from a strange rocky object named 3200 Phaethon.

To catch a peek of the fiery rocks, you'll have to find the darkest place you can, as many of the fainter meteors will be invisible due to light pollution. Still, NASA predicts that those in suburbs may see 30-40 meteors per hour, with varying changes depending on how close you are to a city. 

NASA recommends looking for them after 10:30 p.m. local time. The peak of this year's shower is expected on Thursday and Friday, around 2 a.m. local time. 

You can look out for when the meteors will be visible in your neighborhood at this link.

Jurors in the civil case stemming from a 2012 drunken driving crash that killed a Dallas Cowboys player say his best friend and the now-defunct bar they visited are equally responsible for his death and have awarded his mother $25 million.

On Dec. 8, 2012, Josh Brent and Jerry Brown Jr, best friends and teammates with the Cowboys, left the Beamers nightclub in Brent’s Mercedes. Brent, who was driving, rolled the car while driving 110 mph in Irving a few minutes after leaving the club.

Brent's BAC that night was .189 — more than two times the legal limit. Brown's family sued the bar visited by Brent and Brown, saying they were overserved, and named Brent a party to the lawsuit.

Under a Texas law, known commonly as the "Dram Shop Act," a business that sells and/or serves alcohol can be liable for any damages or injuries that occur if it's proven they provided alcohol to an "obviously intoxicated" person.

After deliberating about five hours Thursday, jurors decided Beamers and Brent were each 48 percent responsible for the fatal crash and that Brown was 4 percent responsible for his own death.

Brown's mother, Stacy Jackson, was awarded $25 million in the civil suit; the law suit had sought up to $95 million in damages, mostly from the bar.

"I cant be more grateful or thankful and I'm sure Jerry's looking down and happy," Jackson said. "It weighs on my heart because you dont want no other family to go through what I have been through ... because, you know, us as parents we prepare our children for us passing away you dont prepare yourself for seeing them going before you."Lawyers for Brown’s family and his estate told the jury that Beamers should have done more to monitor how much Brent was drinking before he got behind the wheel.

Testimony during the trial pointed to surveillance video inside Beamers and to liquor bottles on the table. Lawyers questioned how much Brent may have served himself when he and other teammates partied together with bottle service.

“It’s not enough to say we close our eyes, we did not see anything else,” said Charla Aldous, attorney for the plaintiff. “No, it is your duty to monitor.”

The defense, representing the bar, argued Brent was not obviously drunk at Beamers and was not illegally over-served by the staff. The defense told the jury that Brent is the person responsible for Brown’s death.

Brent was in court one day to offer testimony. He is also listed as a defendant in the case. Monday, he told the jury Jackson has forgiven him and they remain close. He did not mount a defense in the civil trial. He testified he could not afford to bring an attorney.

Russian operative Maria Butina, who is accused of infiltrating politically powerful U.S. organizations, including the National Rifle Association, in an effort to push Moscow's agenda, pleaded guilty Thursday to a conspiracy count, NBC News reported.

Butina has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty in a Washington, D.C., courtroom to one count of conspiracy to violate the law governing foreign agents operating in the United States. The felony carries a five-year prison term, but the estimated sentencing guideline range is from zero to six months in prison.

Butina was arrested in July and has been held without bail and could face deportation after serving any prison sentence. She had been in the U.S. on a student visa and Judge Tanya Chutkan on Thursday that Butina could face supervised release if she stays in the country.

Thursday's guilty plea means she is admitting to conspiring with an unnamed American to act at the direction of a Russian official "to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics … for the benefit of the Russian Federation," according to a plea agreement.

As law enforcement authorities across the country respond to a wave of bomb threats, many of which are by email, several similar investigations are underway in Connecticut.

According to Connecticut State Police, while none of the threats have been found to be credible at this point, they remain under investigation.

Police in Suffield and Cromwell are investigating bomb threats emailed to schools, police in Bristol are investigating threats to a senior center and a business, Ridgefield police are investigating emailed bomb threats and Connecticut state police are investigating what they are calling several "suspicious incidents" across the state.

One state police investigation was at a school in Griswold, another is at the National Shooting Association in Newtown and the other is at a plaza in Seymour.

State police said troopers from Troop E-Montville were sent to Griswold Elementary School on Slater Avenue at 1:10 p.m. to investigate a report of a suspicious incident after school administrators received an email.

As a precaution, the elementary school was evacuated and members of the Emergency Services Unit responded to investigate.

Emergency crews are also responding to the National Shooting Association in Newtown to assist Newtown Police Department and to Seybridge Plaza on New Haven Road in Seymour to assist Seymour Police Department with a similar incident.

Cromwell police said school employees received email bomb threats to each of the four schools at 1:10 p.m. that demanded ransom unless money was paid. Police responded, determined there was no imminent danger to any child or staff member at any of the schools and students returned to class.

Police in Suffield said Suffield Emergency Services responded after a bomb threat was made by email to McAlister Intermediate School and the students and staff were evacuated to the middle school as a precaution. All students and faculty are safe, according to police.

Wesleyan University also received a threat to the Cady Building at 170 Long Lane.

Police in Fairfield responded to the Country Club of Fairfield on Sasco Hill Road for a reported threat. The caller told police an employee received an email threatening to set off a bomb in the building if they did not send $20,000 in Bitcoin currency. Authorities swept the building and no explosive was found.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton tweeted that his city was also responding to bomb threats.

"We are investigating bomb threats that are part of a group of nationwide bomb threats. While we don't think there is an issue, we must take each threat seriously," the mayor wrote.

Westport authorities also responded to multiple reports of suspicious emails sent to local businesses. Westport police say the emails, like others, demanded Bitcoin payments from the victims.

Bloomfield police also responded to a threat to Jefferson Radiology and at least one other business. No threat was found and the scenes have been cleared.

State police say the cases appear to be connected to the national trend and that they are working with federal authorities.

The NBC Connecticut meteorologists have issued a First Alert for a couple of chances for wintry weather.

Snow showers fell through parts of the state on Thursday afternoon, but some areas could see freezing drizzle Thursday night and into Friday morning. That could create some slick spots overnight.

Friday will be cloudy and Saturday could see some rain.

On Sunday, rain will turn to sleet and freezing rain. The northwest hills are likeliest to see wintry weather on Sunday.

The holiday season just got a little more cheerful for residents in the capital city thanks to some surprise donations from a Hartford church.

Members of Mount Olive Church Ministries delivered some goodwill to the city’s North End Thursday evening, to people who had no idea they were coming.

“We’re going to knock on their doors and just say happy holidays,” explained Pastor Dion Watkins.

They call it Groceries on God. Members of the church on Battles Street take to the streets and deliver food with all the makings of a warm meal to unsuspecting residents, all for free.

“No strings attached. They don’t have to be members of our congregation. They don’t have to be our denomination or anything. It doesn’t matter,” Watkins said.

For North End residents receiving the surprise love donations, it was a welcome gift.

This is the fourth holiday season the church has taken on the project, asking members to bring donations to Sunday services ahead of delivery day.

“Being that we know the neighborhood and we know the needs of the neighborhood, we should be able to be able to be a resource for them and they should be able to come to us for their needs,” said church member Shanda Montford.

The church’s mission is to minister to their members and the community outside their walls, sharing the spirit of giving with their neighbors.

“Be grateful for what we have in our lives… but we have to remember those who are less fortunate than us. Just keep giving,” Watkins said.

Church officials estimate they made about 200 surprise deliveries, and the pastor said he hopes other faith communities will take on similar projects and spread this kind of needed love.

Community after community across the country dealt with apparent email bomb threats Thursday, which disrupted lives and tied up police.

Connecticut State Police tell us the hunt is on for whoever was behind what appears to be a big hoax.

Cybersecurity expert Quinnipiac University professor Frederick Scholl discussed what it will take to track down those responsible.

“What I think is happening, assuming it’s not two guys in a garage, you know, pranksters or something like that,” said Scholl. “There are large networks of robots out there that are computer controlled. They’re owned by hacker groups and they can be used to send out thousands or millions of emails a day,” he said.

That could be what was behind Thursday’s wave of apparent email bomb threats in our state and across the country.

In Bloomfield, a company received an apparently ominous email claiming someone had “hidden the bomb in the building” and demanding a ransom of “20.000 $ in Bitcoin.”

In at least a dozen communities around the state, similar threats targeted businesses, schools and other community organizations.

While authorities took each seriously – even prompting some evacuations – state police say none were credible.

“There could be two motives. One is actually getting money through Bitcoin and some people have done that through ransomware attacks in the past. Another would be to disrupt, to cause fear,” said Scholl.

Scholl tells us investigators could quickly track down an unsophisticated cybercriminal. But it could take months, even years, to catch a more complex operation.

“I think we’re going to see more of these things. Individuals have to be more careful about clicking on emails and everything they do,” said Scholl.

A law enforcement source tells NBC News it appears the threats went out robo-style, with seemingly no reason for who was targeted.

Police remind people to report anything suspicious.

A Delta flight from Bradley International Airport destined for Atlanta had to turn around after an in-flight emergency.

A Telemundo CT reporter on board the plane at the time said passengers heard what sounded like an explosion and a few minutes later the pilot announced they would be making an emergency landing due to an engine explosion. The plane returned to Bradley Airport.

Airport officials said the aircraft landed safely and there was no impact to airport operations.

No one was hurt.

NBC Connecticut has reached out to Delta for more information.

President Donald Trump's inaugural committee is under criminal investigation by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for pay to play and misspending some of the $107 million it raised from donations, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The paper, citing people familiar with the investigation, said the probe was launched by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan, NBC News reported.

The investigation, which is reportedly in its early stages, is looking into whether some of the committee's top donors gave money to gain access to the incoming Trump administration to influence policy positions, which could be a violation of anti-corruption laws.

NBC News has not independently verified the Journal report.

A Hartford mother said she’s been granted a stay of deportation hours before she was set to be deported back to London.

Wayzaro Walton and supporters gathered in Hartford Thursday night to celebrate the last-minute decision.

Walton came to the U.S. when she was 4.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said she is a convicted felon with numerous additional misdemeanor convictions, including larcency.

Walton attended the rally with her wife and 15-year-old daughter and said she needed the stay for her family.

“Ten days before Christmas. I can be with my family for the holidays, so it feels good and I got a lot of support,” she said.

Walton and her supporters said they’ll continue to fight for her to stay permanently in the U.S.

A gunshot went off when a clerk fought back with a person who was trying to rob a store in Hartford Thursday night, according to police, and the clerk managed to take the suspect’s gun and hit him in the head with it. 

Police said officers responded to a store at Westland and Martin streets at 10:11 p.m. after receiving reports of an armed robbery and possible gunshots and they found one suspect who was bleeding from the head and fighting with the store clerk. 

Officers secured the suspect and learned that the clerk had taken a semiautomatic firearm away from him and hit him in the head to fight him off, police said. 

Two other people had run from the store with another firearm, police said, and officers began searching for them. 

A witness from a nearby store told police that two shots had gone off in the store. One shot was fired from a flare gun and the other was fired from the suspect’s 9mm semiautomatic handgun during the struggle with the clerk, police said. 

After securing the scene, officers found evidence in the store, including six live .38 special rounds on the floor, an orange flare gun, a spent flare gun cartridge, fragments of a projectile, a spent 9mm shell casing and blood spatter. Police also recovered the 9mm semiautomatic handgun the clerk took from the suspect. 

Outside the front door of the store, police also found one black Nike sneaker. 

A K-9 unit was called in, the sneaker did not lead to any other suspects. 

Police arrested 19-year-old Noah Ryan, of Springfield and he was transported to Saint Francis Hospital to be treated for a laceration to his head. 

He was later discharged and transported to Hartford Police detention facility. 

Police said he was charged with criminal attempted robbery in the first degree, criminal attempted assault in the first degree, two counts of reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit, third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Actress Cybill Shepherd said her 1990s CBS sitcom was pulled after she turned down advances from now former network head Les Moonves, an experience she called "very painful," NBC News reported.

"My show could have run another five years, but I didn't fall on the right side of Les," she said during an interview on SiriusXM's The Michelle Collins Show that aired Wednesday.

Shepherd said that during a dinner date Moonves began telling her that his wife and mistress didn't "turn him on" and he asked to take her home.

Soon after she turned him down she was not allowed into the editing room to work on the final two episodes of her series, she said.

A request for comment by NBC News to Moonves’ lawyer and representative were not immediately returned. Moonves has been accused of sexual misconduct by 12 women and denied the allegations.

The CBS board has until the end of January to decide whether to deny his $120 severance package.