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12M Quest Diagnostics Patients May Have Had Data Breached

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Quest Diagnostics, one of the biggest blood testing providers in the country, warned Monday that nearly 12 million of its customers may have had personal, financial and medical information breached due to an issue with one of its vendors.

In a filing with securities regulators, Quest said it was notified that between Aug. 1, 2018, and March 30, 2019, that someone had unauthorized access to the systems of AMCA, a billing collections vendor.

"(The) information on AMCA’s affected system included financial information (e.g., credit card numbers and bank account information), medical information and other personal information (e.g., Social Security Numbers)," Quest said in the filing.

While customers' broad medical information might have been compromised, Quest said AMCA did not have access to actual lab test results, and so therefore that data was not impacted. 

Quest said it was told that as of May 31, information on roughly 11.9 million of its patients was stored on the affected AMCA system. 

The company said it has not received "detailed or complete" information from AMCA about the breach yet. 

"Quest Diagnostics takes this matter very seriously and is committed to the privacy and security of patients’ personal, medical and financial information," the company added in the filing. 

In a statement later Monday, the firm representing the American Medical Collection System said it was investigating the "data incident." 

"Upon receiving information from a security compliance firm that works with credit card companies of a possible security compromise, we conducted an internal review, and then took down our web payments page," the statement said. "We hired a third-party external forensics firm to investigate any potential security breach in our systems, migrated our web payments portal services to a third-party vendor, and retained additional experts to advise on, and implement, steps to increase our systems’ security. We have also advised law enforcement of this incident. We remain committed to our system’s security, data privacy, and the protection of personal information."



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Man Who Threw Boy From Mall of America Balcony Gets 19 Years

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The "evil and selfish" Minneapolis man who threw a child over a third-floor railing at the Mall of America was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Monday, NBC News reported.

Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, looked straight ahead or down throughout most of the short sentencing hearing and declined to address the court when Hennepin County District Judge Jeannice Reding offered him that opportunity.

Aranda pleaded guilty last month to first-degree attempted murder, in connection to the April 12 attack in Bloomington, Minnesota, that nearly killed a 5-year-old boy.

Aranda approached the youngster at random, picked him up and hurled him over a third-floor railing before fleeing the scene, authorities said. He was captured aboard a light rail train.



Photo Credit: Cedric Hohnstadt

TSA Finds Loaded Gun at Bradley Security Checkpoint

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Transportation Security Administration officers found a loaded gun in a carry-on bag at the security checkpoint at Bradley International Airport Sunday and said a Niantic man was arrested on weapons charges.

TSA officers saw the gun in the man’s luggage when it went through the X-ray machine and contacted Connecticut State Police, who confiscated the gun and detained the man for questioning before arresting him on weapons charges, according to TSA.

They said the man was carrying a 9 mm handgun loaded with 10 bullets.

Passengers are allowed to travel with unloaded firearms in checked baggage and the firearms must be packed in a hard-sided case, locked, and packed separately from ammunition, according to TSA.

TSA said this was the fifth gun caught at the airport’s checkpoint this year. In 2018, TSA officers caught nine firearms at the Bradley checkpoint.



Photo Credit: Transportation Security Administration

Girlfriend's 'Bombshell' Info Helped in Case of Man Who Killed Daughters

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The girlfriend of Chris Watts, the Colorado man serving multiple life sentences for murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters, played a main role in solidifying investigators' suspicions that he was involved with their disappearance, NBC News reported.

"Nichol Kessinger turned out to have information that I can best describe as being a bombshell," said Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke in an interview that aired on Investigation Discovery Sunday night.

Watts pleaded guilty in November to murdering his wife Shanann Watts, who was pregnant, and his daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, and is serving three consecutive life sentences.

When Shanann, Bella and Celeste went missing last August, local media descended, and Watts begged on camera for the safe return of his family.



Photo Credit: RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images, File

2 Dead in Fiery Crash Involving School Bus, Trucks on I-84 West in East Hartford

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Two people have died after a fiery crash involving a school bus and three trucks on Interstate 84 west in East Hartford on Monday morning, according to state police, and the resulting highway closure caused traffic problems through the evening rush hour.

Troopers said they were called to I-84 west between exits 55 and 56 around 5:08 a.m. after getting a report of a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles.

One of the vehicles involved in the crash was a tractor-trailer that was fully engulfed in flames, authorities said. Two other tractor-trailers and a school bus were also involved in the crash, police added.

Officers believe one of the trucks rear-ended the school bus.

According to state police, there were no students on the bus at the time of the crash and there were no passengers in any of the trucks.

One of the trucks was carrying paper and the other two were carrying food products, police added.

Footage from the scene showed partially melted and charred pieces of the tractor-trailers and burned debris all over the road. The trucks were nearly unrecognizable after the extensive fire.

The back of the school bus was caved in, its windows were blown out and the fire left most of the once-yellow roof gray.

State police originally said one person had died in the crash. They later said two people died on Monday morning.

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Authorities said they cannot release the identities of the people who died until their families are notified. It is unclear which vehicles the two people who died were driving.

The westbound side of I-84 between exits 54 and 51 is closed, according to the state Department of Transportation. State police said the road is expected to remain closed until around 7:30 p.m.

Route 2 westbound to I-84 is also closed, police said. The highways are expected to remain closed for several hours. Motorists are urged to use alternate routes.

The closures were causing traffic delays in downtown Hartford, according to a tweet from Mayor Luke Bronin.

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The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Connecticut State Police C.A.R.S. unit.



Photo Credit: Yolie Carlton

Remains Found in Arkansas ID'd as Maleah Davis

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The remains discovered in a black garbage bag in Arkansas Friday have been positively identified as those of 4-year-old Maleah Davis.

KPRC-TV on Monday reported the confirmation from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences in Houston, Texas. The report said Davis' cause and manner of death will be determined after additional testing and investigation.

The remains had been flown back to Houston after they were discovered.

Crews were searching in Fulton, Arkansas, after a road clean-up crew found a black garbage bag on the roadside "emitting a foul odor." Police learned earlier in the day that the missing girl's stepfather told an activist Friday morning that the girl's death was accidental and that he'd dumped her body in Arkansas.

Though police in Houston believed Maleah Davis was killed, her death was not confirmed and investigators, having reached a dead end in trying to find her remains, asked for the public's help in locating her body.

The search began Friday after Quanell X, a civil rights activist and the former spokesman for the missing girl's mother, Brittany Bowens, told an assembled group of reporters in Houston that he spoke with Maleah Davis' stepfather Derion Vence that morning and that Vence said the child's death was accidental. He said he then drove to Arkansas and dumped her body somewhere off the side of the road.

"This morning I was able to meet with Mr. Vance, the stepfather of Maleah Davis, and we had a long conversation. We spoke about details around Maleah's disappearance ... we talked about several things. One thing he wanted to make clear to me was, what happened to Maleah was an accident," Quanell X said. "He says it was an accident and he confessed to me where he dumped her body."

Quanell X said Friday morning that Vence was specific with him about how the girl died and where he left her body, all information he shared with police but that he didn't want to share publicly.

Vence reported the girl missing in early May, saying she'd been abducted after he pulled over on a Houston highway. Police later said the story didn't add up.

Surveillance video from a neighbor showed Vence carrying a large, blue laundry basket with a large trash bag from his apartment on May 3, said Pat Stayton, a prosecutor with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Vence returned three minutes later without the basket and later he was seen leaving the apartment with cleaning supplies, including bleach.

He has been in jail since May 11 when he was charged with tampering with evidence in connection with Davis' disappearance. Investigators said they found blood in the family's apartment that matched the girl's DNA but up to this point have not confirmed her death or filed any charges related to her death.

Police have described Vence as Maleah's stepfather, but Quanell X said previously that Vence and Bowens were recently in a fight and she broke off their engagement.

Child Protective Services removed Maleah and her brothers from the home Vence and Bowens shared in August after the girl suffered a head wound, but the children were returned in February, according to an agency spokeswoman.

Check back for updates to this breaking news story.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News
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7 People Including Child Injured in Crash Involving CT Transit Bus, Tractor-Trailer

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Seven people are injured after a collision between a transit bus and a tractor-trailer in North Haven on Monday afternoon.

Police said a tandem CT Transit bus with 17 people on board was struck by an 18-wheeler at the intersection of Montowese Avenue and Universal Drive.

According to authorities, six adults and one child were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Officers are at the scene and traffic is expected to be impacted in the area.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

WATCH: Fotis Dulos in Court for Monday Arraignment

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The estranged husband of Jennifer Dulos, a missing New Canaan woman, and his girlfriend appeared in court Monday after being charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and hindering prosecution in the first degree in connection to the missing person case and bond was set at $500,000 for both of them.  Fotis Dulos, 51, and his 44-year-old girlfriend, Michelle C. Troconis, were arrested over the weekend. If they post bond, they will be subject to GPS monitoring and will be required to turn in their passports.


Blood Found at Missing Woman's Home: Court Documents

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Court documents are revealing more information on the case of a mother of five from New Canaan who has been missing for more than a week, including that blood was found at the home of Jennifer Dulos and that items tossed in garbage receptacles were found to contain her blood. 

Jennifer Dulos, 50, has been missing since May 24 and police have been searching for her. 

Over the weekend, police arrested her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, and his 44-year-old girlfriend, Michelle C. Troconis, and both have been charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and hindering prosecution in the first degree in connection to the missing person case. Both appeared in court on Monday, where bond was set at $500,000.

Newly released court documents say that New Canaan Police who responded to Jennifer Dulos’ Welles Lane home to investigate her disappearance found several bloodstains on the garage floor and on a vehicle parked in the garage as well as “multiple areas of blood splatter.” 

Later on that Friday, officers found Jennifer Dulos’ black SUV abandoned on Lapham Road by Waveny Park in New Canaan, around three miles from her home. 

On May 25, the day after Jennifer Dulos disappeared, investigators made brief contact with Fotis Dulos. 

“To date Dulos has declined to cooperate with the investigation,” court documents state. 

The two have been going through a divorce. 

In the initial 2017 affidavit, Jennifer Dulos wrote that she was “terrified for (her) family’s safety” and said her “husband has a history of controlling, volatile and delusional behavior.” 

But in a court filing from his attorney, Fotis denied those allegations. And the day before being served with divorce papers in June of 2017, he called 911 with his own concerns. 

“I’m worried about my wife and kids because they left to go to New York and I haven’t been able to get in touch with them,” Fotis said in a 911 call. 

Jennifer moved from their shared home in Farmington to New Canaan around the same time she filed for divorce. 

The court documents released Monday also include details on where Fotis Dulos' cell phone and vehicle were believed to be after his estranged wife disappeared. 

They say his cellphone left his Farmington home on May 24 and travelled to the area of 80 Mountain Spring Road, where it remained from 1:37 p.m. until 3:38 p.m., then back to his Farmington home at 4:17 p.m.

Fotis Dulos' cell phone returned to Mountain Spring Road at 5:21 p.m., then to his home at 5:34 p.m., court documents say. 

This past Sunday, Connecticut State Police were seen searching at a home on Mountain Spring Road in Farmington linked to the Fore Group, which Fotis Dulos owns, but they did not release details about if the search was connected to the missing person case. 

The arrest warrant application for Troconis says that around 7:10 p.m. on Friday, May 24, Fotis Dulos’ phone travelled to the area of Albany Avenue in the North End of Hartford and surveillance video showed him return home around 8:10 p.m. 

Investigators obtained surveillance camera footage from Hartford Police and video of a black Ford Raptor that matched characteristics of Fotis Dulos’ vehicle, court documents state. That truck stopped at more than 30 locations along a four-mile stretch of Albany Avenue, between Baltimore and Edward streets. 

The videos also show a man matching Fotis Dulos’ description place several garbage bags in various trash receptacles and some of the discarded items appeared to be stained with blood, according to details from the arrest warrant application. 

One video clip also showed a woman whose appearance was consistent with Troconis lean out of the passenger seat of the pickup and either put something on the ground or pick it up, according to police. 

Another video showed a man put something into a storm drain grate, the documents state. 

An item police removed a grate was a FedEx box containing two Connecticut license plates that had been altered and the actual plates were canceled on a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban owned by Dulos, according to police. 

While searching trash receptacles, police found garbage bags with clothing that appeared to be stained with blood, a kitchen sponge that had blood-like stains and other items, according to court documents. 

The items were sent to the state police lab for testing, which revealed that they found Jennifer Dulos’ blood, court documents state.

Fotis Dulos and Troconis both appeared in court on Monday. 



Photo Credit: Submitted

Inside Pete Buttigieg's Plan to Overhaul the Supreme Court

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As Democrats agonize over a spate of state laws restricting abortion rights and even a potential reversal of Roe v. Wade, one 2020 presidential candidate is putting an ambitious, long-shot plan to reform the Supreme Court front-and-center of his campaign, NBC News reports.

Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has talked about his plan to overhaul the high court since his first days as a candidate. In short, it calls for expanding the number of justices from nine to 15, with five affiliated with Democrats, five affiliated with Republicans, and five apolitical justices chosen by the first 10.

Buttigieg hasn’t ruled out other possibilities for court reform, but says the 15-justice plan is “the one that I find most intriguing.” Supreme Court experts, though, have raised concerns about whether the proposal is constitutional, as well as whether it could backfire by reinforcing the perception that there are Republican and Democratic justices.

In an NBC News interview in front of the Supreme Court, Buttigieg said he would support “whatever Supreme Court reform will depoliticize this body” and stop the court from being viewed as “an almost nakedly political institution.”



Photo Credit: Jeff Chiu/AP

Transgender Asylum Seeker Dies After Six Weeks in ICE Custody

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A transgender woman from El Salvador seeking asylum in the U.S. died on Saturday in a Texas hospital four days after being released from custody, officials and advocates said.

Johana Medina Leon, 25, complained of chest pains and was brought to Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said. That same day, ICE said she was processed for release on parole. Medina Leon died on the first day of pride month, NBC News reports.

Medina Leon, who was known to friends as Joa, had been detained in the U.S. since mid-April. On May 18, Medina Leon received a positive credible fear finding, ICE said. Advocates told NBC News Leon was seeking asylum in the U.S. as a transgender woman.

Medina Leon was being held at Otero County Processing Center, a private detention center in New Mexico where the ACLU and the Santa Fe Dreamer Project recently alleged poor treatment of and "unconscionable conditions" for LGBTQ immigrants. In a letter sent to ICE, the groups said "ICE’s practices at Otero have created an unsafe environment" for the LGBTQ detainees in Otero. Medina Leon fell while in ICE Custody, where she also tested positive for HIV.



Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

House to Hold Hearing on Mueller Report

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House Democrats announced Monday they'll hold a hearing next week focused on the Mueller Report and presidential obstruction, NBC News reported.

The Judiciary Committee hearing will include testimony from former White House Counsel John Dean, a key figure in the Watergate hearings that helped lead to then-President Richard Nixon's resignation.

The hearing — which comes as more House Democrats clamor to launch impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump — will also include testimony from legal experts and former federal prosecutors.



Photo Credit: AP

New Recommendations for State Medical Marijuana Program

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Officials are considering adding six new conditions to the state’s Medical Marijuana Program.

The Department of Consumer Protection announced Monday that the Board of Physicians discussed six new conditions and released recommendations that were accepted by the commissioner. The recommendations are as follows.

 

  • Chronic Pain: Tabled for a future meeting
  • Interstitial Cystitis: Recommended for Adults
  • Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments: Recommended for Adults and Patients Under 18
  • MALS Syndrome (Medial Arcuate Ligament Syndrome): Recommended for Adults
  • Tourette Syndrome: Recommended for Adults, and recommended as “Tourette Syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment” for Patients Under 18
  • Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning: Recommended for Adults

 

The board plans to hold a follow-up meeting to discuss the potential addition of chronic pain and how it will be defined if added to the program.

The other five conditions are set to be added to the Medical Marijuana Program regulations, but are subject to the approval of the Regulations Review Committee of the General Assembly.

The program already covers dozens of conditions for over 30,000 patients, according to DCP.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

General Assembly on Verge of Passing State Budget

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Connecticut lawmakers are poised to pass the state budget for the next two fiscal years, and with it, closing a close to $4 billion, two-year deficit.

“We got a good honest budget,” said Gov. Ned Lamont earlier in the day Monday, “[The budget] lives within our means, that doesn’t increase tax rates, and allows our towns and municipalities to plan moving forward, keeps faith in the most vulnerable, puts money into education. I think it’s something we should be proud of.”

The two-year spending and taxing plan amounts to about $43 billion. It includes a new one percent sales tax on prepared meals and beverages served in those establishments, a higher fee for trade in vehicles paid to the state by car dealers, a 10 cent fee for plastic bags, and other new enforcements of the sales tax.

Gov. Ned Lamont had proposed a wide-scale broadening of the sales tax, removing exemptions worth tens of millions of dollars, but Democrats in control of the General Assembly did not like that idea, instead targeting wealthier residents in specific ways.

There will be a higher tax on homes sold worth over $1 million, and there is a new tax on pass-through entities, the same entities that saw tax breaks under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by Congress.

“Those people are still getting a break,” even with the new tax, said Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz, (D – Berlin).

Republicans, for the first time in years, did not present an alternative budget.

Sen. Len Fasano, (R – North Haven), the top Republican in the Senate, said any calls from Gov. Ned Lamont for Republicans to join budget discussions were disingenuous, at best.

“I don’t know what table he’s talking about,” Fasano said. “It certainly wasn’t the budget table.”

Fasano described the budget as “disgusting,” referring to numerous individual projects in districts or appropriations to individual organizations.

He said if a budget is considered a list of priorities, then Democrats he said are favoring organized labor rather than regular residents.

“There is no increase for social services,” he said, “So, we did union contracts of $100 million and we couldn’t find $1.1 million so that the people in the elderly facility couldn’t keep $70 in their pocket.”

The budget also includes a landmark deal with hospitals around Connecticut, for them to end their lawsuit, and for the state to provided just less than $200 million for Medicaid payments. The agreement is meant to calm the political waters between hospitals and the executive branch, which were strained under the previous Malloy administration.

Any criticism coming from Republicans, Democratic leaders say is without merit, because of the fact that they did not provide an alternative.

“You can jab at us, you can poke at us, and I will just go back and say, you didn’t even propose a budget, and if you think all of these cuts are so easy, you didn’t even propose one,” said Rep. Matt Ritter, (D – Hartford), the House Majority Leader.

On the issue of transportation, tolls are not included in the budget, though Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday he intends to call lawmakers into special session to come up with a toll plan after the regular session concludes Wednesday evening.

Republicans have accused Democrats of sweeping close to $200 million out of the Special Transportation Fund in the proposed budget, a charge Democrats deny.

Lamont said of getting lawmakers to side with him on tolls, “I don’t want you guys to duck the most important decision we can make. How do we fix the transportation system and get this state moving again.”

Russia Probe Witness Arrested on Child Porn Charges

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A businessman who helped broker a meeting between an ally of President Donald Trump and an official of the Russian government has been arrested on child pornography charges, federal prosecutors disclosed Monday.

George Nader, a witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation who is mentioned in his 448-page report, was arrested Monday after he arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, NBC News reports.

Federal prosecutors say Nader had been questioned on an unrelated matter after he arrived in the United States at Dulles airport from Dubai on Jan. 17, 2018. Federal officials seized his three cellphones, one of which they later found contained images of the sexual exploitation of boys as young as 3, court papers say.

Nader had been questioned by Mueller's team in 2018 about his role in arranging a meeting in the Seychelles islands between Erik Prince, a Trump supporter and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' brother, and Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive officer of Russia's sovereign wealth fund and a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dmitriev wanted to meet with the Trump transition team.



Photo Credit: C-SPAN via AP

Sherman Digs Deep to Find Source of Well Contamination

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In the town of Sherman, there are visual reminders that contamination from road salt is affecting the well water.

Inside the Sherman School, blue tape covers the spout of the water fountain inside the cafeteria. Visible corrosion serves as another deterrent.

“Our town has gotten so used to not drinking from its water fountains,” said Sherman First Selectman Don Lowe.

The fountains have been out of commission since 2015, when test results showed high levels of sodium chloride in both wells on school property.

Now, the town regularly posts the water test results on their website.

The district budgets $10,000 a year to bring in water for students and staff to drink.

The wells at the fire house, town hall and senior center also had sodium chloride levels well above the EPA drinking water standard of 250 mg/liter. Although the Environmental Protection Agency says that level of sodium chloride is not considered a risk to human health, it can affect the taste, odor and color of the water.

The larger concern is the corrosive properties of chloride.

“You can put a number on this in terms of the water that you buy. The number that’s hard to put on… and this is even more motivation to fixing this, is that we are starting to see corrosive pipes and infrastructure of buildings not lasting nearly as long because of the high chloride,” Lowe said.

Some plumbing fixtures in the school’s boiler room have been replaced twice this year, according to Facilities Supervisor Joe Lombardozzi.

To reduce contamination, the town is using less salt and deicer in the winter, opting for a mixture of two-thirds sand and one-third salt.

“We’re changing our practices. Where we pile snow is very important… We can have a little better curbing a couple of our roads that they can run the water off a different way,” said Lowe.

The town also hired UConn researcher Gary Robbins to study the issue.

“We’re trying a number of things that haven’t been tried before,” Robbins said.

“We’re doing a series of down hole testing. That is, how the salt is getting into the wells and then to give the town guidance with respect to the construction of new wells to prevent these kinds of problems.”

Robbins and his team recommend deeper casings for new wells.

The five affected wells in Sherman having casings ranging from 13 to 33 feet down. Robbins said the casings should be at least 50 feet and cemented into the bedrock to better prevent groundwater from seeping in.

"The problem just doesn't go away. If you're going to use salt, that salt has to go somewhere," Robbins said.

Lowe believes Sherman is the first municipality in Connecticut to tackle the problem on a town-wide level. He and Robbins hope others will follow suit.

"Certainly, what we're trying to do is applied to wells all over the state, not just Sherman," Robbins said.

NBC Connecticut Investigates has previously reported on the issue of contamination from road salt.

The town is starting the process of drilling a new well at the fire house.

Lowe said he knows of homeowners in town whose wells are also contaminated. They are stuck footing the bill for their own repairs, which could start at several thousand dollars.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Botched Family Reunifications Left Migrant Children Waiting in Vans Overnight

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Last July, 37 migrant children boarded vans for what was supposed to be a 30-minute ride. At the end of the road from Harlingen to Los Fresnos lay the promise of hugs, kisses and long overdue reunification with their parents, from whom they were taken when the Trump administration began systematically separating migrant families who crossed the border illegally.

But when the children, all between 5 and 12 years old, arrived at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's adults-only Port Isabel Detention Center, rather than seeing their parents, they saw a parking lot full of vans just like theirs, NBC News reports. It was 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 15, 2018. Despite two notifications from HHS that the children would be arriving, ICE officers kept to their regular schedule, clocking out for the day while the parking lot filled with children eager to see their parents again. 

At 1:30 a.m. Sunday, 11 hours after arrival, the first child was reunified. By 6:30 a.m. Monday, just minutes before the sun rose, 17 children had been reunified. By 1:30 p.m. Monday, nearly 24 hours after they first pulled into the parking lot, 32 children were reunified. Not until 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday was the final child reunified.

An ICE spokesman called the incident "unusual," telling NBC News "[f]ollowing processing delays on July 15-16, which resulted in some children staying overnight in [Port Isabel], DHS took immediate action to resolve the situation and the delays were resolved."



Photo Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

New Haven Schools to Reassign Dozens of Teachers

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New Haven Public Schools is looking to reduce its number of teachers, but they are trying to do so without layoffs.

Many teachers, parents and students took to the streets Monday to say it’s still a mistake.

“I'm afraid that the quality of education that students are getting is going to go down severely,” said Benie N’Sumbu, a New Haven student.

That’s a concern many others share. More than 100 students, parents and teachers came out to demand no more cuts.

Last week 53 employees, most of them classroom teachers, learned their positions were being eliminated.

The superintendent said they’re not being laid off, but reassigned. There are 80 other teaching vacancies in the district, and they’ll get first pick.

“I'm one of the 53 teachers who were selected for reassignment,” said Angie Catalano, a Hill House High School English teacher.

Catalano said she’s a tenured English teacher and the only multi-lingual teacher in the department.

“For me to teach English learners, it's come in very, very handy, so I just question why I would be selected,” she said.

“The teachers that were identified, they were identified because of the enrollment numbers in their schools,” explained Dr. Carol Birks, New Haven Public Schools superintendent.

Birks said working with the schools, principals identified the positions that could be reduced without impacting education, but noted that tough decisions need to be made.

“We have a budget deficit. We've been very transparent and direct with the board as well as the community where we are fiscally,” Birks said.

She said cutting the 53 positions will save $3.6 million, less than half of the $12 million in staff savings they need to get to.

But those at Monday’s rally said any cuts that hit the classroom are the wrong move and teachers should be able to stay where they are.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Popular Southington Grocery Store to Rebuild After Fire

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Tops Marketplace in Southington announced Monday they plan to reopen in February after a devastating fire destroyed the building in March.

The store, located in the Plantsville section of town on the Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike was known for carrying locally made products and doing business with local companies. Tops was also deeply involved in the community, offering donations to local non-profits and working with local sports teams on fundraisers throughout the years.

While no one was hurt, many in the community were shocked by the damage when it went up in flames on March 3. There was hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage, leaving owner John Salerno with a tough decision on how to move forward.

In a Facebook post Monday, the owners officially announced plans to reopen.

“We're beyond excited to announce: we are rebuilding! We anticipate opening in February 2020! Stay tuned for updates as they develop - we're happy to share news as it unfolds,” the post read.

The community has rallied behind the store. Those wishing to contribute to the rebuild can donate to the Tops Marketplace Community Rebuild Fund.

Tops was first established in 1951, with Salerno taking over in 1979.



Photo Credit: Lenny Salgado

Bruins Lose Game 4, Stanley Cup Final Now Even

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The Stanley Cup Final is all tied up.

St. Louis grinded its way to a 4-2 win on Monday night at the Enterprise Center, a game in which Boston never led.

Playing from behind almost from the get-go thanks to Ryan O’Reilly’s wraparound 0:43 into regulation, the Bruins were lucky not to be down more than a goal by the time Zdeno Chara connected with Charlie Coyle in front of the crease at 13:14.

The tied game was short lived, however, when Tuukka Rask failed to kick out a rebound towards the perimeter and there was Vladimir Tarasenko crashing down the slot to give the Blues the lead back at 15:30.

Boston had the first six shots on goal of the second period, after which play evened out more. Both teams botched an opportunity on the power play, though St. Louis was rewarded a second following an exhausting stretch of zone time in which the Bruins failed to clear their defensive zone no fewer than what felt like a million times.

With all of the momentum in the world and the Enterprise Center buzzing, the Blues seemed prime to increase their lead with Connor Clifton in the penalty box for a hit to the head of Tarasenko.

And that’s when Brandon Carlo decided enough was enough.

Though he’s had an outstanding postseason in coverage on defense, the offensively-challenged blueliner hadn’t found the back of the net through 20 games of these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Off a feed from Patrice Bergeron, who was open thanks to a nice feed from Brad Marchand along the offensive blue line, Carlo lasered a puck just past Jordan Binnington’s glove to become the 20th different member of the Bruins to score a goal this postseason, tying the game at 2-2 at 14:19 of the middle frame.

It was also the first postseason goal of Carlo’s career, period, after missing out due to injury when the Bruins made the playoffs in each of the first two seasons of his career.

The score stayed tied into the third period, at which point shots were 25-19 in favor of St. Louis.

Following 10 minutes of back-and-forth play, during which time Boston failed to cash in on a power play, O’Reilly scored his second of the game to put St. Louis ahead once again, 3-2, at 10:38 of the third.

The Blues tacked on an empty netter with under two minutes left in regulation.

Game 5 is Thursday night at the TD Garden at 8 p.m. on NBC 10 Boston



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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