While many showed up to TPC River Highlands for the last day of the golf tournament on Sunday, hundreds of people made their way across the course for the annual 18-Hole Stroll Against Pancreatic Cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates 500 people in Connecticut will die from pancreatic cancer this year alone.

“Losing my best friend and my rock, I wanted to keep the light and not live in the darkness,” says Brittany Vose from Cromwell. She was just 13 when she started the 18-Hole Stroll in honor of her father.

Her goal is to raise as much awareness and funds as possible for pancreatic cancer research.

19 years ago, Brittany’s father, John Vose, died of pancreatic cancer at age 44.

“I quickly lost him within three weeks,” said Vose.

She said going to pancreatic cancer research walks in Boston and New York helped her heal.

“I finally didn’t feel alone in the problem,” she said. “And then I came to Connecticut, living here, and I wanted to start a walk in Connecticut, so I went to the Lustgarten Foundation and here we are ten years later!”

Over the last 10 years, Vose has raised over $500,000 and 100 percent of the proceeds from her walks go to the Lustgarten Foundation, the largest funder for pancreatic cancer research in the country.

Linda Gruskiewicz from the foundation said a lot of that research is in increasing early detection.

“Right now, only nine percent of the people diagnosed live past five years,” explained Gruskiewicz.

Bob DeLisa, who was among the walkers at the 18-Hole Stroll on Sunday, is part of that nine percent.

“The oncologist said you’re cancer free, go home,” he told us with a smile.

It’s been nine years since Bob was diagnosed, and five since he’s been cancer-free. Monday is his 80th birthday.

“I was diagnosed early enough so that they did the Whipple procedure and removed the tumor,” said DeLisa. “I feel amazingly fortunate and blessed.”

With over 320 participants, the 10th annual 18-Hole Stroll raised over $65,000 this weekend.

Police are searching for a Connecticut man who is wanted for murder and attempted murder after a couple was stabbed in Tennessee on Friday.

According to Nashville police, arrest warrants for murder and attempted murder have been issued against 34-year-old Peter Alexander Bohning, of Kent, Connecticut.

Bohning is accused of stabbing Donald and Leigh Ann Zirkle at their home on Cherokee Road in Nashville.

Police were called to the area around 3:30 p.m. on Friday after Leigh Ann Zirkle, 58, fled the couple's home and collapsed in the street with significant wounds, including one to her neck, authorities said. Neighbors helped her until paramedics arrived.

Once officers arrived to the scene, they cleared the home and said they found Donald Zirkle, 59, critically wounded at the back of the home. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Detectives said although Leigh Ann Zirkle was seriously wounded, she was able to communicate with them at the hospital.

According to investigators, the Zirkles were sitting on their back porch when a stranger, described as a man in his 20s to 30s with long blonde hair and a dirty yellow shirt approached them and asked for directions before attacking the couple with a sharp instrument. Leigh Ann Zirkle was able to make it into the house and ran out the front door into the street.

A silver Subaru sedan with Connecticut license plates was found parked in the street at the side of the house with its rear doors open, police said.

The car that was found in the street is registered to Bohning and his family in Connecticut said they have not heard from him in several days, authorities added.

Bohning is thought to have fled in the Zirkles' 2010 gray Toyota Camry with a Tennessee license plate of NP5-937. His whereabouts are unknown, officers said.

If you see Bohning or the vehicle he's believed to be in, you're urged to contact Nashville police at (615) 862-8600 or your local law enforcement agency.

Former Rep. Joe Sestak, a Navy veteran who twice ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania, is now the 25th entrant into the Democratic presidential primary, NBC News reported.

In a Saturday announcement on his campaign website, Sestak said he wants to be a president "who serves the American people the way they deserve to be served."

"What Americans most want today is someone who is accountable to them, above self, above party, above any special interest … a President who has the depth of global experience to restore America’s leadership in the world to protect our American Dream at home … and one who is trusted to restructure policies where too many see only the growth of inequity not of the economy," he said. 

Noting that "while my announcement may be later than others for the honor of seeking the Presidency," his decision to delay his entrance into the race was so he could "be there" with his daughter, whose brain cancer had returned within the past year.

Several state parks including Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme and Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden have reached capacity on Sunday and are now closed to new vehicles.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said the following parks are full:

• Gardner Lake State Park and boat launch in Salem
• Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford
• Miller's Pond State Park in Durham
• Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme
• Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden
• Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown

Sunday's weather is sunny and warm with temperatures in the low to mid 80's.

Officials in Randolph, New Hampshire announced the names of the victims and the cause of their death from a fatal crash on Friday night.

Motorcyclists Joanne and Edward Corr, both 58, or Lakeville, Massachusetts; Michael Ferazzi, 62, of Contoocook, New Hampshire; Albert Mazza, 59, of Lee, New Hampshire; Daniel Pereira, 58, of Riverside, Rhode Island; Desma Oakes, 42, of Concord, New Hampshire; and Aaron Perry, 45, of Farmington, New Hampshire, were struck and killed by a pickup truck just 500 feet from the hotel they'd been staying at. Officials determined that all seven of the bikers died as a result of blunt trauma.

Three others were injured in the cash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

"Friday’s tragedy has struck our state and our citizens in a profound way," New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said. "I want to express our sincerest condolences and prayers to the victims and their families. Words cannot express the grief we all share in the loss of these seven individuals. The State will ensure that the families affected will have the necessary resources to provide closure to this tragic event."

The motorcyclists, all of whom were Marine veterans, were on their way to a fundraiser when the crash occurred.

Troopers are investigating after a house fire in Brooklyn Sunday morning.

The fire happened at around 11 a.m. on Wauregan Road.

Crews reported to the currently on scene and assisting with temporary road closures, according to state police. Route 205 at the intersection of Christian Hill Road is currently closed, police said. 

Police ask anyone traveling in or around the area to use alternate routes.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

President Donald Trump says he’d rather run for re-election against former Vice President Joe Biden than his 2016 foe, Democrat Hillary Clinton, NBC News reports. In an exclusive interview with "Meet the Press," Trump praised Clinton as a “very tough” opponent compared to Biden, the current Democratic front-runner in the 2020 race.

“Hillary Clinton was a great candidate. She was very smart. She was very tough. She was ruthless and vicious,” Trump said in the interview, which was taped on Friday. “I would actually rather run against Biden.”

The president also made clear that he wants his 2016 running mate, Vice President Mike Pence, to reprise his role during the 2020 campaign. When asked whether Pence would be on the ticket, Trump replied “100 percent, yes,” praising Pence as a “terrific vice president” and “my friend.”

Trump recently demurred when asked in an interview on Fox News to endorse Pence to succeed him, but the president told NBC he only hesitated because that election is “so far out.”

Motorcyclists came together to honor a fallen South Windsor police officer.

Sergeant Matthew Manieri was killed last September after he sustained head injuries while trying to break up a bar fight in South Carolina.

Hundreds of bikers met at South Windsor Police Headquarters before riding off for the first ever ride for Sergeant Mainieri who had a passion for motorcycles.

"It's guys from all over, law enforecement guys, guys from the other side. We all come together when it's a good cause and we all ride together," Jared Barbero said.

The money from today's ride will go toward charities in Sergeant Mainieri's memory.

The state Department of Transportation is expected to begin construction work on Elm Street in Rocky Hill Monday.

Crews were supposed to start replacing two bridges on the street that runs over Interstate 91 last week but postponed it until after the Travelers Championship.

The work is expected to last through late August.

Animal shelters across the country cite higher lost pet intakes on July 5th than on any other day of the year. For too many dogs and cats, fireworks displays cause them to bolt from their homes in a blind panic.

To better understand this common phobia, it helps to look at Fourth of July festivities from your pet’s point of view.  If you’re hosting a party or barbecue, your pet is already dealing with the stress of unfamiliar people in his environment.  Some of those people may be rambunctious children who have not been taught how to politely interact with pets.  Perhaps some have had a few too many “adult beverages” and are behaving rather strangely.  Then just as darkness falls and your pet is settling down for the night, BAM! He gives an alert.  He is told to stop barking. BAM!  There it is again! And again!  Then the odors hit him, awful smells of fire and smoke and burning chemicals.  The humans, however, seem to think it is all some kind of entertainment.  There are explosions everywhere, the sky is falling, the air is burning, and the family dog is being scolded for barking about it.

Still wondering why your pet is afraid of fireworks?

It’s important to remember that our pets’ senses of hearing and smell are exponentially more sensitive than ours.  What sounds like fireworks to us sounds like a blanket bombing campaign to them.  Those barely discernible scents of smoke wreak havoc on their finely tuned sense of smell.  A more sensible question might very well be “Why wouldn’t a pet be afraid of fireworks?” But rather than grapple with rhetorical questions, let’s look at some ways to make the Fourth of July a little easier for our furry friends.

Get started now.
Every year, folks in our neighborhood try to outdo each other with impressive pyrotechnic displays.  And every year, they start practicing early!  If your neighborhood is anything like mine, you’ll have plenty of time to  get your pet ready for his night of terror.  If your pet has a repertoire of obedience commands and tricks, run him through these drills when the fireworks start.  The sense of mastery he gets from doing what he is asked can help him build confidence. It also allows him to see you in the role of a calm, yet confident leader.  If he doesn’t know any tricks, do whatever he thinks is fun.  Play with squeaky toys, chase tennis balls, swim, play fetch - use fun activities to distract him from the chaos around him.  These techniques worked so well with our older dog, Grendel, that she actually enjoys fireworks!  She insists on going outside with us to see them and will watch for them from the windows long after we have gone inside.

Provide a safe space.
As thrilled as we were with Grendel’s results, our other dog Zohan did not respond to these techniques. Every dog is different, and frankly, Grendel is probably the exception as opposed to the rule.  Zohan is not quite as able to push past fear to focus on things that are interesting and fun.  We had some success with a training CD that played sounds of fireworks.  While he became desensitized to the CD, he could easily tell the difference between the recording and the real deal.  While these CDs are readily available, I would only recommend using them under the guidance of a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. They can easily overwhelm a more sensitive dog and lead to the kind of anxiety that can cause aggression.

The best that can be done for a dog like Zohan is to provide him with a “safe space” where he can feel sheltered and safe from the chaos outdoors.  If your dog is comfortable in a crate, this is a great option.  Cover the crate with heavy blankets and towels to absorb the noise, and provide lots of bedding inside as well.  Your pet may pick his own safe space, such as a bathtub, shower stall, closet, or under a bed.  This behavior is common in both dogs and cats, and both should be encouraged and rewarded. If you are using a crate, place it against a wall or in a corner in order to more thoroughly mute the sounds.

Provide alternative sounds.
If your pet is comforted by the sounds of a TV, radio or fan, include these sources of sound in his safe space.  Zohan’s favorite is a recording Tibetan gongs. Seriously.

Try a Thundershirt.
A Thundershirt (trademarked) is a tight fitting garment that uses gentle pressure to help your pet relax.  It helps Zohan, and has helped many of my other patients as well.  Thundershirts are also available for cats.

Place high-value treats and toys in the safe space.
Catnip toys, food puzzles, Kong toys stuffed with frozen baby food, safe chew toys, bully sticks, you name it.  Give your pet something to focus on other than the possibility of the world coming to a noisy, fiery end.

Don’t force them to “deal with it”.
Some self-proclaimed professionals may recommend forcing your dog to be outdoors during a fireworks display, or even attend a public display. This will not teach coping skills nor encourage your dog to endure. This technique is called flooding and can cause profound psychological damage in an already fearful dog.  If a trainer tells you to leave your fireworks-phobic dog penned or tethered outdoors on the Fourth, run. Never discipline, correct, or yell at your dog when he is exhibiting signs of fear.  Ask your veterinarian to recommend to a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.

Keep your pets contained.
When choosing your safe space, make sure your pet is behind as many closed doors as possible.  Make sure houseguests do not attempt to retrieve your pet.  A terrified animal will run for its life without considering the consequences.  Remember, shelters all over the country report more pick-ups and lost pet reports on July 5th than on any other day of the year. Some report upticks of up to 240% - and that’s not counting the ones who are never reunited with their families.

Consider medications, but don’t expect miracles. 
Years ago, veterinarians prescribed powerful tranquilizers to help pets cope with fireworks. Recent research, however, has shown that while these drugs are great at immobilizing the body, they do nothing to address the pet’s underlying anxiety.  The end results were pets who were not only terrified, but aware of the fact that their bodies were not able to move away from danger.  The more modern approach is to treat these pets with anti-anxiety medications.  Since these drugs take time to take effect, now is the time to talk to your vet about this option.  It is also important to note that all of these medications are labelled to be used in conjunction with behavioral training.  There are no miracle pills or pharmaceutical lullabies.  So give yourself time to - you guessed it - find a Certified Professional Dog Trainer!

Most importantly, be patient.  Fireworks phobia is very common, and may even be somewhat normal.  Early planning and reasonable expectations are the key to providing a happy holiday for everyone!

Dr. Kupkee is the lead practitioner at Sabal Chase Animal Clinic. 

Click here for deals and discounts exclusively for NBC 6 fans. 

Border Patrol agents found four bodies, including three children, near the Rio Grande River in South Texas on Sunday, Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra said.

Two of the children were infants and one was a toddler, Guerra said. A 20-year-old woman also was found, he said.

The deaths come amid a huge influx of undocumented immigrants at the Southwest border and demonstrate how treacherous it is to journey, often on foot, to the U.S. from Mexico and Central America, NBC News reported.

The bodies were found southeast of Anzalduas Park in the Las Paloma Wildlife Management Area, just north of Reynosa, Mexico, and south of McAllen, Texas, Guerra said.

Monday marks exactly one month since Jennifer Dulos, a mother from New Canaan, disappeared and one month since police started an exhaustive search for answers.

State police provided us with video of them searching inside of the MIRA trash facility in Hartford.

In the video, you can see investigators combing through piles of garbage using rakes, shovels and other tools including heavy equipment.

They're searching for any evidence about Jennifer.

A source tells NBC Connecticut that troopers are specifically looking for evidence that might have been picked up by a garbage truck and shredded inside the facility days after Jennifer disappeared.

City surveillance cameras captured a man police said matched the appearance of Jennifer's estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, throwing away bags of garbage along Albany Avenue in Hartford the day Jennifer disappeared.

Court documents show authorities have already found a kitchen sponge and clothes soaked in Jennifer's blood.

It's been more than a month since she was last seen and police are still referring to her case as a missing person's case.

Jennifer's husband and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, have both been charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in connection her disappearance.

Both Fotis and Troconis pleaded not guilty.

Overnight, Fotis' lawyer, Norm Pattis, released a statement saying: “We have been provided a very dark 500-plus page novel Jennifer wrote. We are reviewing it now. We are also investigating new information regarding $14,000 worth of medical bills re tests just before she disappeared. We don’t know what had become of Jennifer but the “Gone Girl” hypothesis is very much on our mind.”

The family and friends of Jennifer released a new statement on Friday. It reads in part:

“Many people have asked for more details about Jennifer, as a person, a mom, a friend. Jennifer is brilliant and creative—she graduated with honors from Brown University and earned an MFA in writing from NYU. As a teen, she was a nationally ranked junior squash player.” Wrote family spokesperson Carrie Luft.

“Much more important, Jennifer is a deeply genuine person, compassionate and trustworthy. She is also subtly hilarious. She loves silly movies as much as she loves great literature. An avid traveler, she delights in learning about other people and has imbued her five children with this love of discovery. She cares about her children more than anything in the world.”

Jennifer, who moved from Farmington to New Canaan after filing for divorce, was last seen while dropping off her children at school in New Canaan on Friday, May 24.

She was reported missing later that night after she missed several appointments and her friends became concerned when they could not reach her.

As the search continues, police have dedicated a website, FindJenniferDulos.com, and an email address, FindJenniferDulos@newcanaanct.gov, to the investigation.

Guests were lined up outside the Encore Boston Harbor casino before 7 a.m. ahead of Sunday’s grand opening. They were among the first people let inside the doors when they officially opened this morning right after a huge fireworks display.

A lot of people have been waiting a while for the day. Fifty thousand people were expected. Increases traffic, especially in the Everett and Revere areas, was expected. That wasn't the case.

While traffic didn't appear to be too heavy Sunday morning, long lines deterred some patrons from even getting in the new building. At one point, there was a two hour wait to get into Encore.

Construction of the $2.6 billion project began three years ago. There are 3,158 slot machines, 670 hotel rooms, 88 poker tables and more than 5,000 employees that keep the operation going.

Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo has put together a "Casino Advisory Commission." That will monitor the impact of the resort and casino, both good and bad.

If you’ve been traveling along the Mass. Pike this week you might’ve seen some signs that say to expect delays. Some signs are also encouraging commuters to use MBTA services instead of driving.

Carlo DeMaria, the mayor of Everett, was emotional when he addressed the crowd in a press conference before the grand opening. He referenced the Monsanto acid leak from the 1950s, and said that now when people walk through Everett, it will smell of flowers and trees.

"We're no longer the back door to Boston, we are now the front door to Everett," he said.

The casino does not permit the following items inside:

- Large bags or backpacks

- Outside food and beverages

- Coolers and strollers

- Professional photography equipment and no professional photography is allowed inside

- Weapons

- Illegal drugs

- Marijuana.

Teachers in New Haven are planning to rally again on Monday over a proposed restructuring plan.

The plan calls for eliminating 53 positions and moving those educations to open positions in the district, but educators said the students will likely suffer as a result.

The Board of Education tabled the plan at their last meeting due to public outcry, but plan to discuss it again on Monday night.

Teachers said they will be rallying from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Celentano School.

Police say an 82-year-old woman with dementia who was reported missing from Norwalk on Monday morning has been found safe.

Marie Pollas was found in Norwalk, police said.

Amid tourism concerns over American deaths, The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in the Dominican Republic has announced plans to remove all alcohol dispensers from its hotel rooms, NBC News reported. 

The hotel’s decision comes after nine U.S. tourists in the past year died while on vacation in the Dominican Republic, and was based on “guest feedback,” according to a Hard Rock statement Friday.

Though the causes of death are not clear for all cases, investigators are looking into unregulated alcohol as one of the sources. 

More than 2 million Americans visit the Dominican Republic each year and the State Department has said that “we have not seen an uptick in the number of U.S. citizen deaths reported to the department.”

The Hard Rock also said they will be contracting with a U.S. based healthcare facility to provide more comprehensive medical care for guests.

Monday marks exactly one month since Jennifer Dulos, a mother from New Canaan, disappeared and one month since police started an exhaustive search for answers.

Jennifer's husband, Fotis Dulos, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, have both been charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in connection with her disappearance.

Both Fotis and Troconis pleaded not guilty.

Fotis' lawyer, Norm Pattis, released a statement saying: “We have been provided a very dark 500-plus page novel Jennifer wrote. We are reviewing it now. We are also investigating new information regarding $14,000 worth of medical bills re tests just before she disappeared. We don’t know what had become of Jennifer but the “Gone Girl” hypothesis is very much on our mind.”

In response to that statement, a spokesperson for Jennifer's family, Carrie Luft, released their own written comments saying: "I read Jennifer’s novel in installments as she was completing the manuscript. She finished the draft around 2002. (This was before she was dating Fotis Dulos.) Her book has nothing to do with Gone Girl (published in 2012). Jennifer’s novel is not a mystery. It’s a character-driven story that follows a young woman through relationships and self-discovery over a period of years. Like all of Jennifer’s writing, it expresses a deep longing for human connection and the need to be accepted as one’s true self.

"Trying to tie Jennifer’s absence to a book she wrote more than 17 years ago makes no sense. Evidence shows that Jennifer was the victim of a violent attack in her New Canaan home. As of today, she has been missing for a month. This is not fiction or a movie. This is real life, as experienced every single day by Jennifer’s five young children, her family, and her friends. We are heartbroken. Jennifer is not here to protect her children, and these false and irresponsible allegations hurt the children now and into the future."

It's been more than a month since Jennifer was last seen and police are still referring to her case as a missing person's case.  Police spent the better part of the last month searching for clues related to Jennifer's disappearance. 

State police provided us with video of them searching inside of the MIRA trash facility in Hartford.

In the video, you can see investigators combing through piles of garbage using rakes, shovels and other tools including heavy equipment.

They're searching for any evidence about Jennifer.

A source tells NBC Connecticut that troopers are specifically looking for evidence that might have been picked up by a garbage truck and shredded inside the facility days after Jennifer disappeared.

City surveillance cameras captured a man police said matched the appearance of Jennifer's estranged husband, Fotis Dulos, throwing away bags of garbage along Albany Avenue in Hartford the day Jennifer disappeared.

Court documents show authorities have already found a kitchen sponge and clothes soaked in Jennifer's blood.

Family spokesperson Carrie Luft told NBC Connecticut on Monday that she is "concerned about these continued attacks and the ludicrous theories Pattis is putting out there."

The family and friends of Jennifer released a new statement on Friday. It reads in part:

“Many people have asked for more details about Jennifer, as a person, a mom, a friend. Jennifer is brilliant and creative—she graduated with honors from Brown University and earned an MFA in writing from NYU. As a teen, she was a nationally ranked junior squash player,” Luft said.

“Much more important, Jennifer is a deeply genuine person, compassionate and trustworthy. She is also subtly hilarious. She loves silly movies as much as she loves great literature. An avid traveler, she delights in learning about other people and has imbued her five children with this love of discovery. She cares about her children more than anything in the world.”

Jennifer, who moved from Farmington to New Canaan after filing for divorce, was last seen while dropping off her children at school in New Canaan on Friday, May 24.

She was reported missing later that night after she missed several appointments and her friends became concerned when they could not reach her.

As the search continues, police have dedicated a website, FindJenniferDulos.com, and an email address, FindJenniferDulos@newcanaanct.gov, to the investigation.

Rep. Jim Himes on Monday became the first member of the Connecticut congressional delegation to support the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

“The time has come for the House of Representatives to begin an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. From the moment of his inauguration, this President has shown contempt for the truth, has attacked our institutions, and has ignored the Constitution he swore to defend. He has refused the oversight which is Congress’ long-established right and duty. In recent weeks, he has refused to comply with subpoenas, he has ordered administration officials to refuse to testify, and he has asserted executive privilege of unprecedented scope with respect to attempts to alter the census," Himes said in a statement.

The 4th District Democrat joins a growing number of members of the House of Representatives who are calling for an impeachment inquiry to begin.

“The framers of the Constitution placed the power of impeachment not in the courts, but in the Congress, so that Congress might consider not just the facts and the letter of the law, but the broader interests of the Republic," Himes said.

A man from Kent who was wanted for murder and attempted murder after a couple was stabbed in Tennessee, was shot and killed in an altercation with a deputy sheriff in Texas, according to police.

Nashville Police said 34-year-old Peter Alexander Bohning was shot in Gaines County, Texas.  He was taken to the hospital where he later died, they said.

According to authorities, a Gaines County deputy was stabbed during the altercation and was taken to an El Paso Hospital. The deputy's injuries are reportedly not life-threatening.

The Gaines County deputy encountered Bohning while answering a call about a suspicious vehicle. The suspicious vehicle was the gray 2010 Toyota Camry that was taken from a couple in Tennessee after they were stabbed last week, police said.

Over the weekend, arrest warrants for murder and attempted murder were issued against Bohning, who was accused of stabbing Donald and Leigh Ann Zirkle at their home on Cherokee Road in Nashville, officers said.

Police were called to the area around 3:30 p.m. on Friday after Leigh Ann Zirkle, 58, fled the couple's home and collapsed in the street with significant wounds, including one to her neck, authorities said. Neighbors helped her until paramedics arrived.

Once officers arrived to the scene, they cleared the home and said they found Donald Zirkle, 59, critically wounded at the back of the home. He was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Detectives said although Leigh Ann Zirkle was seriously wounded, she was able to communicate with them at the hospital.

According to investigators, the Zirkles were sitting on their back porch when a stranger, described as a man in his 20s to 30s with long blonde hair and a dirty yellow shirt approached them and asked for directions before attacking the couple with a sharp instrument. Leigh Ann Zirkle was able to make it into the house and ran out the front door into the street.

A silver Subaru sedan with Connecticut license plates was found parked in the street at the side of the house with its rear doors open, police said.

New Haven’s Free Summer Meal Plan officially began Monday and area leaders are spreading the word.

“People at their core are concerned about children and making sure children are getting the food that they need in order to be able to survive and to thrive,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro.

DeLauro was joined by the mayors and school superintendents of New Haven and Hamden to discuss the program.

From June 24 until August 16, breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and mobile pantries will be available to New Haven and Hamden kids 18 years and younger. No registration is required.

Wanda Perez is a member of Witnesses to Hunger, a hunger advocacy group comprised of people who have experienced hunger themselves. She said the value of the Free Summer Meal program and wishes more would take advantage.

“I wish it would go all year round. Because it’s not just New Haven, it’s all over the world that children are going to bed hungry,” said Perez.

In 2018, nearly 195,000 meals were served during the 8-week period and advocates of the program hope to increase that number this year.

“If you’re hungry and shy, you know what, be shy on a full stomach.” said Kim Hart, a site leader for Witness to Hunger.

Program representatives say children obtain 50-percent of their calories from food eaten at school through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and that the summer meal plan aims to fill the void while school is out.

“I think it’s important for all of us to be concerned about the inextricable link between food and nutrition and inconsistent food supply many people face in this city,” said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.

To find a location serving the meals, click here.