Wallingford Police have arrested and charged a man with DUI and child endangerment after an incident on Saturday.

Officers were called to The Pit Stop on Woodhouse Avenue around 7:30 p.m.

When police arrived, three children told them that 48-year-old John Sweeney was driving erratically and they had asked him to pull over, according to police.

The children had also tried pleading with their father to let them get someone else to drive and police said he responded with vulgarities before kicking them out of the vehicle and speeding off, police said.

According to the police report, the children walked just under a mile in the dark, in some areas without sidewalks, to a gas station on Woodhouse Avenue where they called 911.

Officers went to Sweeney's home and took him into custody. Police said he told them he was drinking and driving.

Sweeney was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on March 28.

A Windsor school board employee has been charged with workers’ compensation fraud and is accused of altering the doctor’s note to her employer. 

Inspectors from the workers’ compensation fraud control unit of the office of the Chief State’s Attorney arrested 46-year-old Patricia Stackpole, of Windsor, and charged her with one count of fraudulent claim or receipt of benefits. 

They said Stackhouse started collecting workers’ compensation benefits after reporting a work-related injury from slipping on ice in March 2018 and was seen several times “moving in a manner inconsistent with her claimed injuries,” according to the state Division of Criminal Justice. 

When she was released back to work, Stackhouse allegedly altered the doctor’s note and checked off a box marked “is unable” before a box marked “return to work,” according to officials. 

She was released on a promise to appear and is due in Hartford Superior Court on April 1.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he will nominate Steve Dickson, a former Delta Air Lines official, to lead the Federal Aviation Administration.

Daniel Elwell is serving as acting FAA administrator.

Dickson graduated from the Air Force Academy and was an F-15 fighter pilot, according to a White House news release.

He is a resident of Atlanta.

This is a developing story

Firefighters responded to a fire at a used auto parts business on Old Turnpike Road, according to the Southington Fire Department.

According to Battalion Chief Eric Heath, firefighters were initially called for a report of a car on fire at the salvage yard at Chuck and Eddie's Used Auto Parts. When crews arrived there was heavy fire. Pictures show heavy smoke billowing up from the area.

Firefighters contained the fire to the area with the vehicles. It took 45 minutes to knock down the flames. It appears that three vehicles burned in the fire and a gas tank may have ruptured, Heath said. No injuries were reported.

Crews from Kensington, Plainville and Cheshire responded to assist with town coverage, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is on scene to handle any environmental impacts from the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The last supermoon of 2019 will be visible in the night sky Wednesday, coinciding with the spring equinox that heralds the start of a new season.

The March 20 spectacle will be the final of this year’s three supermoons, NBC News reported. The first was on Jan. 21, and the second — the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2019 — was on Feb. 19.

A supermoon is a full moon that has reached the closest point to Earth in its monthly elliptical orbit around the planet.  

Meriden’s Washington Middle School is battling a bug. School officials say the number of students calling out is higher than it was at the height of flu season. Ninety were absent on Monday and 80 called out sick Tuesday.

Christina Stimpson’s daughter stayed home last week.

“She had a 24-hour bug,” Stimpson said.

Joel Quintana’s son had similar symptoms and stayed home Monday. Quintana sent him back to class the next day, unaware that the number of absences at the school have been stacking up.

“I didn’t even know about it. It’s crazy,” said Quintana. “I wouldn’t have let my son come to school for a few days.”

Principal Ray Southland said 10 percent of the student body called out sick this week. Compared to the average absentee rate at the school, Meriden’s Superintendent Dr. Mark Benigni said, “…We are up a few percentage points...”

Southland said the school nurse reports that it’s not just the flu but other illnesses that are keeping kids home this week.

After speaking with the school nurse, one mother said she chose not to send her child to school today even though he wasn’t ill, in the hopes of stopping the sickness from spreading to her home.

Several parents told NBC Connecticut that if they had known about the issue, they too would have kept their kids home.

“I’m worried about attendance but if my daughter gets sick she’s gonna have to miss school anyways,” Stimpson said.

“I don’t need that stuff going through my house,” added another Washington Middle School parent, Helen Wietrcykowski.

For Wietrcykowski, the choice to keep her sixth grade daughter home and healthy rather than in school learning, is an easy decision.

“I wouldn’t send her to school. I wouldn’t send her to school, cause that’s not right,” she said. “I have a 2 and a half year old and my husband doesn’t need to get sick and neither do I.”

“If he’s gonna get sick at school he’s better off staying at home,” added Quintana.

Flu season is now past its peak, but activity remains elevated according to the state health department.

“We’re heading toward the end of the season. It’s by no means gone,” said Dr. Joseph Garner, Chief of Medicine at the Hospital of Central Connecticut.

The flu has claimed the lives of 44 people in Connecticut this season, which is why it’s still important to practice healthy habits.

Dr. Garner said keeping kids with symptoms home is the key to keeping the bug from spreading in schools.

“Keep the sick children home. Let the healthy children go to school,” he said.

Garner said there’s always a bit of influenza in the air, even in the summertime.

The Meriden Health Department encourages residents who haven’t gotten the flu shot, to do so.

Thames River Innovation Place (TRIP) in southeastern Connecticut is looking for innovators, creative types and those who are able to think outside the box to submit proposals to strengthen entrepreneurship in the region.

RD-86 is one of those success stories. They got funding through TRIP in year one to help develop talent in the hospitality and food service industry and to enhance that culture in downtown New London.

"A lot of these cities that I've lived in have transformed through hospitality. Restaurants, art, music and culture,” said Robert Ramsay, who co-owns RD86 and mentioned living in D.C. and New York.

Ramsay wanted to architect something like that in New London, using the restaurant RD86 to develop restaurant and dining concepts through different experiences that include art, music and culture. Plus, it gives hands-on experience to staffers who one day want to be an owner or operator themselves.

TRIP helped make that possible. It is a “regional incubator” for start-up projects and programs that support the regional economy.

RD86 Will be submitting a proposal with TRIP again to expand to create a test space, so innovators have a space to test out their ideas, said co-owner and RD86 operator Hannah Gant.

“Instead of just a traditional incubator program that helps people develop a business plan, we want to work with entrepreneurs to actually test their concepts, refine, get some data,” Gant said.

“It's a fun way to look at our future,” said Tony Sheridan, the Chair of the TRIP Board of Directors. “Who knows what ideas are out there?”

Now going into year three, TRIP is looking for its next batch of proposals that get funding from CTNext’s Innovation Places Program. The project will have to match the money it receives.

“Really look at the new economy, new idea, Sheridan said.

Sheridan, also president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, has his eye on downtown New London development and retaining talent in the entire region.

TRIP helped the Chamber’s Community Concierge program develop a video highlighting the attractiveness of Eastern Connecticut and design a relocation guide.

The creation is during a time when Electric Boat is on a hiring surge.

TRIP also helped get the Naval & Maritime Consortium on its feet. It’s a network of companies that are part of the maritime business base and work to address challenges and collaborate on opportunities in that industry.

The consortium partners with the University of Connecticut to help grow the maritime supply chain.

"(Electric Boat has) communicated the need to grow their supply chain up to three times bigger than it is today. So there's a desire from state to help do so and a desire to keep as much of that business as local as possible,” said Ali Halvordson, the executive director of the consortium.

Halvordson said they’re also working on gathering talent for potential offshore wind projects in New London at State Pier.

The Naval & Maritime Consortium plans to continue with TRIP again for their third year.

Selected proposed projects would on July 1, the start of TRIP’s third fiscal year. For more information about the proposal process or to submit a project, contact director@thamesriverinnovation.org.

Proposals will need to be reviewed, approved and submitted to CTNext by April 30.

New Haven police are giving the public a closer look at some of the tools they use to fight crime in the city.

For the first time ever, the department allowed access to the Elm City Intel Center, a nerve center that allows various units within the department to keep an eye on happenings in the city.

Live cameras blanketing the city provide a look at blocks and corners all over New Haven. A real-time display monitors for gunfire on city streets. These are some of the tools New Haven police can access inside the facility that opened in 2017.

“It gives us 24/7 visual of what’s real time out there in the community,” said Lt. Herbert Sharp, patrol commander of New Haven Police.

“We have ShotSpotter, we have cameras, we have lists of groups and gangs involved in violence in the city. We have people who are on probation and parole,” said Lt. Karl Jacobson, officer in charge of the Criminal Intelligence Unit, Shooting Task Force and Narcotics.

Assistant Chief Herb Johnson says New Haven Police looked to Hartford and other police departments as they prepared to open their intel unit. It allows leaders from all city police units as well as others to get information about crime in the city and also meet to discuss fighting it.

"It’s a collaboration of everything. The partnerships and the community has a big role in this,” said Johnson.

The longest sentence yet was handed out in connection with a patient abuse case at Connecticut’s maximum-security psychiatric hospital Tuesday - 21 months in prison.

NBC Connecticut Investigates broke the story about the abuse two years ago.

Seth Quider was one of 10 employees at the Whiting Forensic Hospital charged in connection with the abuse of middle-aged patient Bill Shehadi. Like three others before him, Quider made a plea instead of going to trial, but in his case he got a sentence more than three times as long.

“With regard to Mr. Quider, I have to say to the court that in the state's opinion, his conduct was the most violent, physically violent toward Mr. Shehadi”, said State’s Attorney Jeff Doskos.

Doskos told the court Quider flipped Shehadi off his bed, and worse.

“He is actually observed pouring the liquid from the jug onto the patient's head, multiple times, and actually in the video it appears two of the staff workers there intervened and tried to stop this from happening.”

Shehadi’s brother Al urged the judge to give Quider the most severe sentence she could, based on the evidence recorded at Whiting Forensic Hospital.

“The total period of time that was caught on camera was a nearly two-hour marathon of abuse that I can describe as nothing short of sadistic.”

Quider’s attorney Salvatore Bonanno argued a total potential sentence of seven years was too harsh, noting Quider has learning disabilities.

He called Quider a follower who took orders from former fellow whiting employee Mark Cusson, a forensic nurse scheduled to go to trial on abuse charges next week.

“My client followed instructions that does not absolve my client of his behavior, he's accepting full responsibility for his behavior”, Bonanno said.

The judge ended up giving Quider seven years in prison, suspended after 21 months on his two counts of cruelty to persons.

Quider did not address the court, nor did his friends or family. His attorney read a statement where Quider expressed his remorse.

New Haven’s Long Wharf could look dramatically different in the coming years if a development plan that has the support of the city’s mayor becomes a reality.

Mayor Toni Harp and several other city leaders and stakeholders gathered today to discuss the Long Wharf Responsible Growth Plan. The plan outlines a future for the region that includes space for people to live, work and play.

“We expect that there will be housing, retail, commercial opportunities on the sound that have never existed before,” Toni Harp told NBC Connecticut at an event discussing the plan at the new Canal Dock Boathouse.

The plan breaks Long Wharf site into five walking districts and includes shops, dining, a hotel near the existing Ikea to 33 acres of new park space. The plan also connects Long Wharf to downtown for pedestrians, and makes Union Station more accessible.

“We already believe that we’re a world-class city. But I think everyone else will believe it as well. People will be able to live on our waterfront and enjoy it. They’ll be able to enjoy parks that help to ensure that our shoreline is resilient and sustainable,” said Harp.

The plan has been submitted to the Planning Commission and Board of Alders and there will be a public discussion of it tomorrow evening along with public comment.

If the Board of Alders approves it, that’s when the city can begin formally shopping for developers to make these plans reality.

Several people were forced from their homes after a fire at the Sagamore Hills apartments in Middletown Tuesday.

Fire officials said they were called to the building at 1151 Washington St. around 4:55 p.m. It took 30 minutes to get the flames under control.

Fire officials said it appears the fire started in a fourth-floor kitchen. The flames contained to one apartment, but other units suffered heat or smoke damage.

No one was hurt and the city’s health department is helping displaced residents until they can return to their homes.

A notorious California con man has been charged with defrauding donors out of more than $250,000 sent to sham political groups and websites for Beto O'Rourke, Bernie Sanders and other prominent Democrats, prosecutors said Tuesday.

John Pierre Dupont, 80, is accused of setting up at least three bogus political action committees, or PACs, and several websites that purported to be raising money for roughly 10 individual Senate candidates, a candidate for governor and for progressive causes, NBC News reported, citing a criminal complaint.

Instead of passing along the cash to the candidates or campaigns, Dupont used it to pay his rent, a parking ticket, and to cover the costs of a $25,300 Mercedes-Benz sedan, according to prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York.

Students at Central Connecticut State University are toasting a new pilot program that will allow those 21-years-old or older to have and drink alcoholic beverages in their dorm rooms.

“I think it’s a good idea in general just bring more students on campus,” Nicky Florestal, a CCSU sophomore, said.

For decades students have not been allowed to bring booze into the dorms.

“We want to keep our older students on campus. They serve as great mentors to our younger students,” Michael Jasek, CCSU Student Affairs vice president, said.

That’s part of why Jasek says for years the school has been considering changes to the alcohol policy.

Soon eligible students can request to live in two dorms where drinking will be allowed with exceptions starting this fall.

“That limit is within the resident’s room. It’s not in the hallways or any common areas, such as lounges, kitchens,” Jasek said.

Students can only keep a six-pack of beer, a bottle of wine or a small liquor bottle.

Jasek says any potential problems will be handled like they are now, including with Resident Assistants or police.

“We’re hoping by doing this we’re providing a safer environment for our students. They’re not driving around as much. They’re staying on-campus where it’s safer for them,” Jasek said.

Along with this Jasek says there will be opportunities to teach young adults about drinking responsibly.

Questions remain if the change will in fact keep older students in the dorms.

Sophomore Emma Sullivan is moving off-campus next year and says the new option isn’t changing her mind.

“I don’t think so. I think we just like to have our own home,” Sullivan said.

School staff say in a year they will evaluate how the program is going.

We’re told Southern has a similar policy and it’s going well there.

A nor’easter will bring some heavy rain Thursday, then a coating of snow is possible Friday night into Saturday morning.

Rain will develop Thursday morning and it will get heavier Thursday afternoon and night into Friday morning, according to NBC Connecticut First Alert meteorologist Bob Maxon.

Parts of western Connecticut could get as much as an inch of rain while eastern Connecticut will get a little less.

After the rain moves through, winds will pick up Friday morning.

The tail end of the system could produce a coating of snow Friday night into Saturday morning.

The weekend starts with some chilly weather, with wind and a high temperature of 40 degrees on Saturday.

It will feel more like Spring on Sunday when beautiful weather arrives and the high temperature gets to around 60 degrees.

Get updates on the forecast here.

No winners emerged Saturday night after numbers for the Powerball jackpot were drawn, pushing the jackpot for Wednesday's drawing over the half-billion mark.

The $550 million prize is the eighth largest Powerball jackpot in the game's history. 

The winner could choose to receive the $550 million prize in annuity payments over 29 years or take the lump sum of $335 million before taxes. 

The Powerball jackpot was last hit in New York in the December 26 drawing. Since then, there have been 23 drawings in a row without a jackpot winner.

Powerball is played in 44 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, all of which collectively oversee the game. Drawings are held twice a week. Five white balls are drawn from a drum containing 69 balls and one red ball is selected from a drum with 26 balls. Players can choose their numbers or let a computer make a random choice.

The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million.

The winning numbers Saturday night were: 42, 39, 18, 2 and 37. The Powerball number was 12 and the multiplier was 3.

There are delays on Interstate 384 West in Manchester Wednesday morning after a multi-vehicle crash near exit 2. Police said no major injuries are reported.

One lane is open.

A crash has closed part of Route 79 in Durham early Wednesday morning.

The one-vehicle crash has closed Route 79 at South End Avenue, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

It is unclear if anyone was injured in the crash.

There is no word on when the road may reopen.

A fire has destroyed three buildings that were part of a multi-million dollar construction project at Silver Sands State Park in Milford.

Firefighters were called to the park around 10:30 p.m. after getting a report of a large fire.

When crews arrived, they said they found two of the buildings fully involved with fire and a third building was nearly 50 percent involved.

Firefighters battled the fire and brought it under control in approximately two hours, fire officials said.

The buildings that were destroyed were part of a multi-million dollar construction project. The buildings housed a concession stand and dining area, public restrooms and an office to serve visitors of the park, according to fire officials.

Construction began on the buildings in 2018. The nearly completed buildings were scheduled to be open for Memorial Day weekend.

The fire was so intense it was picked up on weather radar.

No injuries were reported.

The park is closed on Wednesday while investigators work to determine the cause of the fire.

New Haven Police are investigating after a man was shot in the hip on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers responded to Dickerman Street around 4:30 p.m. after getting a complaint of gunfire.

Shortly after, a 46-year-old man arrived to Yale-New Haven Hospital on Chapel Street in a private vehicle, police said. The New Haven resident suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his hip.

Investigators determined that the shooting had taken place on Dickerman Street between Sperry Street and Orchard Street, officers said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call New Haven Police Department Detective Bureau at (203) 946-6304.