A Chicago man was charged Sunday after he allegedly ran onto the tarmac at O’Hare Airport Saturday.

Chicago Police responded to the disturbance at O’Hare Airport around 3:15 p.m. for a man in an “unauthorized area of the airfield,” according to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada.

The man was not armed and was taken into custody, Estrada said.

Ardell Walker, 23, of the 5200 block of West Van Buren Street, was charged with felony criminal trespassing in a restricted area and a misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer, according to authorities.

“The incident had no impact on flight operations and posed no apparent threat to the traveling public,” Karen Pride, spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Aviation, said in a statement.

A witness on a flight from Chicago to Detroit said the man “jumped a perimeter fence and ran toward the plane.”

“[Flight crews] said he jumped a fence, which is about a half-mile away,” said Mario Hernandez.

Hernandez said the flight’s captain said the plane almost hit the man and that he “started waving” in front of the plane.

Police said Walker ran from a responding officer after the officer ordered him to stop and show his hands.

The man fled and the officer pursued him on foot. The chase continued to where an American Airlines flight was taxiing. Walker was ordered to stop and show his hands a second time, but did not. The officer saw the approaching plane and wrestled Walker to the ground, where he continued to struggle, but was eventually taken into custody, police said.

Walker suffered a gash on his leg and was treated at a nearby hospital. The sergeant suffered cuts to his hands and was treated at the police station by Chicago Fire Department officials.
 

At least six people were killed and 54 others were hurt as a series of tornadoes battered Illinois Sunday.

Severe weather and tornadoes ravaged through much of central Illinois Sunday. According to the National Weather Service, at least 10 tornadoes touched down in Illinois.

William White was fired from his job as D.C.'s insurance commissioner one day after he questioned the president's proposed healthcare fix, NBC News has confirmed.

The D.C. city government has named Chester A. McPherson (White's former deputy) as the new acting insurance commissioner.

White told NBC News that on Thursday he released a statement reacting to the president's announcement which read in part: "The action today undercuts the purpose of the exchanges, including the DC Health Link, by creating exceptions that make it more difficult for them to operate."

White said on Friday, one of the mayor's top deputies called White into his office and told him he was being let go. "The only thing I was told was that the mayor wanted to go in a different direction and my services were no longer needed,” White said in a telephone interview. "I was asked to leave on Friday and I did."

When asked if he thought his firing was directly linked to his statement on healthcare, White replied, "Anyone who looks at this can draw their own conclusions. My statement came out on Thursday and by Friday [at] 4:15, I was out."

As for his reaction, White said: “I was disappointed. I really liked my job with this department and as far as I'm concerned it's one of the best departments in the District of Columbia. We did an excellent job and those are excellent people. They were a great team and I felt privileged to work with them and to work for Mayor Gray.”

“I’m disappointed that I won't be able to complete all of what I was trying to do. I understand the mayor has every right to change his mind and I respect that. From that standpoint I have nothing but good things to say about the district and department and I wish everybody well. Chester will do a great job. "

So far the mayor's office has not responded to NBC's request for comment but the Insurance Commissioner's Office released this statement confirming McPherson's new role:

Deputy Mayor Hoskins Appoints Chester A. McPherson as Acting Commissioner of Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking McPherson Served as Deputy Commissioner of Market Operations

 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins today announced the appointment of Chester A. McPherson as acting Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB). McPherson has served as the Deputy Commissioner of Market Operations for DISB since August 2011. He begins his new role effective immediately.

"Chester McPherson's extensive management and leadership background make him an ideal candidate to lead the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking," said Deputy Mayor Hoskins. "His work in both the public and private sectors as a financial-services professional and as a federal and state regulator of the securities markets will be instrumental as the agency continues to move forward with its mission and goals."

As Deputy Commissioner of Market Operations, McPherson develops strategic plans and implements policies and programs that uphold District laws, enhance consumer protection and ensure efficient and effective financial services regulation in the District of Columbia. Before joining DISB in 2011, McPherson served as a legislative counsel with the Council of the District of Columbia. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Baruch College at The City University of New York and a Juris Doctor and Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center. McPherson is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland. A resident of the District for 21 years, he currently resides in Ward 5.
 

Two students were taken to the hospital for an evaluation following a chemical spill inside a UConn engineering lab Sunday evening, according to university fire officials.

The students were working with a combination of ammonia and sulfuric acid when about a cup of the mixture spilled at the Engineering II building at 260 Glenbrook Road, said UConn Fire Chief John Mancini. Fire officials responded to the scene around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Both students evacuated following the spill and were taken to the hospital as a precaution, Mancini said.

The scene was clear by 7 p.m.

Police are responding to a crash involving an ambulance on West Main Street near the intersection with Curtis Street in Southington.

It's not clear if anyone was injured in the crash or if any other vehicles were involved. Detours were in place while authorities worked to clear the scene, but the road has since reopened.

No additional information was immediately available.

Check back for updates.

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A bicyclist from Massachusetts was flown to the hospital by LifeStar after being hit by a car on Stafford Road in Somers, police said.

According to state police, Paula Framarin, 57, of East Longmeadow, Mass., was riding her bike eastbound on Stafford Road near the intersection of Route 83 in Somers when she was struck by a GMC Envoy also traveling eastbound. Framarin was thrown from her bike and rolled onto the hood of the Envoy, police said.

She was taken by LifeStar to Baystate Medical Center for treatment of head trauma, according to police. Her condition is unknown.

It happened just before 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 16, police said.

The driver of the Envoy, 43-year-old Matthew E. Meade of Hampden, Mass., was not injured, police said.

State police and an accident reconstruction team are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police Troop C at 860-896-3200.

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The man at the center of a federal investigation in Hartford was arrested earlier this month and charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, third-degree assault and second-degree threatening, according to the Connecticut judicial website.

Records show that Earl O’Garro was arrested Nov. 7 and released on a $2,000 surety bond. The alleged incidents occurred Aug. 24, Oct. 19 and Oct. 30. O’Garro is due back in court in Manchester the morning of Dec. 13.

O’Garro, president and CEO of Hybrid Insurance Group, has been at the center of a federal investigation into how he became an insurance broker for the city of Hartford and where nearly $670,000 in excess liability premiums ended up. The money went unaccounted for after city treasurer Adam Cloud wired it directly to Hybrid earlier this year.

Federal officials have served multiple subpoenas requiring the city to turn over records involving all dealings with Hybrid, including emails to and from Cloud, Mayor Pedro Segarra, school Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, the Board of Education and other city leaders.

O'Garro had no comment on the charges.

The Troubleshooters obtained an exclusive interview with him last week, although he made no mention of the charges.

Southington police are looking for two men who robbed a gas station at gunpoint Saturday evening.

Police said the suspects entered the Fleet Gas Station located at the corner of Clark Street and Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike around 6 p.m. Saturday. One of the men displayed a hand gun and demanded the cashier open the cash register, after which the second man grabbed an unknown amount of money, police said.

The first robber is described as standing 6'0" tall and weighing 230 pounds. He was wearing a Yankee hat, gray or black pants, a black sweater and black shoes with red laces, according to police.

The second man is described as standing 5’10” tall and weighing about 200 pounds. Police said he was wearing a gray sweatshirt blue jeans and white sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Southington Police Department at 860-378-1645, or contact Detective Beal via email at mbeal@southingtonpolice.org.

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A wallet and gun were stolen from a car parked outside Mansfield Middle School on Saturday and state police are investigating.

According to school Superintendent Fred Baruzzi, a car was broken into during a recreational basketball tournament around noon on Saturday.

State police are investigating, have not made any arrests and continue to look for the gun.

Baruzzi said he does not think students are in danger, but requested extra security at the school for Monday.

In a letter to Mansfield parents, Baruzzi said the police do not consider the incident a threat to the school, nor do they believe a student was responsible for the theft. Police are investigating other car break-ins in the area, Baruzzi said.

Police are warning parents and school staff to lock their cars and store valuables out of sight.

Police are looking into whether the gun in the car was legally registered and properly  stored. They are also looking into whether the gun owner violated state law by bringing a gun onto school grounds.

The man killed in Bridgeport's 11th homicide of the year has been identified as 29-year-old Karlhenry Gay of Brooklyn, according to police.

Police said Gay was shot and killed in the area of Sedgewick Street and North Avenue just after 3 a.m. Sunday. Officers arrived at the scene to find him lying outside the restaurant Main Port Fish & Chips. Police said he had been shot once in the head.

Gay was transported to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to police.

Police said Gay was involved in an altercation with several other people before he was shot.

Police are actively investigating the fatal shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bridgeport police at 203-576-8126.

Crowds at The Dallas Zoo witnessed a violent attack Sunday where two male lions killed a lioness.

A spokesperson at the zoo told NBC DFW that at about 2 p.m. one male lion lashed out and killed a 5-year-old female lion named Johari in the "Giants of the Savanna" exhibit. Another male joined in once the attack started. The males are named Denari and Kamaia.

No people were injured, but many witnesses were stunned.

“You could see this lion holding the other one down," said witness Michael Henshaw. "There was no blood, but it held her down for about 10 to 15 minutes til she was lifeless."

“We were right there at the front of the glass," said Dylan Parker. "It was just traumatic. You could see the larger male lion kind of attacking the smaller lioness, and they were just going at it nonstop.”

Lynn Kramer, vice president of animal operations and welfare at the Dallas Zoo believes the male "went right for her [Johari's] throat."

“We think he just grabbed her by the throat and it was very quick," said Kramer. "I’ve been in the zoo business for over 35 years. I’ve worked at five major zoos, and I’ve never seen a cat kill another cat before.”

Zoo officials said this is the first time anything like this has happened.  They also said this is the first time they've seen any "alarming" aggressive behavior from the lions. These lions have all lived together since the exhibit opened three years ago.

The male lions completed a demonstration for visitors Sunday at 10 a.m.

Zoo officials told NBC DFW there is no chance that the male lions who attacked will be euthanized. Meanwhile, they were placed in their individual rooms and fed dinner.

They also said the lions didn't attack for food.

On Monday, it's likely the two remaining females will be roaming their exhibit but the males will be kept away.

A 46-year-old man was shot by police in New Jersey Saturday after authorities say he attempted to run over an officer with his car.
 
According to officials, officers responded to reports of an erratic driver in Fairfield at around 5:30 p.m. and when they arrived Jefferey Harris, of Lafayette, rammed his pickup truck into a police squad car and then attempted to hit an officer with his vehicle.

The officer opened fire, striking Harris in the head.

Harris was airlifted to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition with a graze wound to his forehead. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and eluding police.

Information on an attorney for Harris wasn't immediately available.
 

The exit 19 off ramp of Interstate 91 South in Meriden is closed after a tractor-trailer went down an embankment.

The crash happened just before 6 a.m.
 

Days after Winchester residents approved the town taking out a loan to keep open schools that were in danger of  closing next month, town officials will be deciding whether to issue additional tax bills.

Last week, residents of the Winsted section of Winchester decided the town should take out a multi-million dollar bank loan to keep its schools open past December.

Tonight, the Board of Selectmen will determine whether supplemental tax bills will be sent out at the start of 2014.  The tax would help generate $2 million, officials said.

The town's financial crisis points back to Henry Centrella Jr., Winchester's former finance director.

Last year, state police arrested him on multiple larceny charges after a town audit revealed that $2 million had gone unaccounted for between January 2008 and November 2012.

In September, the local school board asked the state to investigate whether the town was meeting its obligations to its students, according to the Register Citizen.

State law requires the town to provide its school system with at least the same amount of funding as last year – currently $19,958,149, the Register Citizen reports.

At its October meeting, the Board of Education voted unanimously to move forward with state proceedings against the school district.

The town has insurance but has only received payment on one policy.

The Board of Selectmen meeting starts at 7 p.m.  

Police are looking for the man who raped a woman in Central Park after walking with her into the park and sitting on a bench with her early Sunday.

The woman was walking on 88th Street near Fifth Avenue around 3:30 a.m., on her way to visit someone at a nearby church that houses homeless people, when the suspect approached her, according to the NYPD. They started talking and were seen on surveillance video walking together. They entered the park near 100th Street and walked along a bike path before sitting down on a park bench.

The suspect then turned violent, police say, dragging the woman onto the grass and raping her. She was eventually able to get away and the suspect fled in the opposite direction.

It's not known if the victim knew the suspect before Sunday. She told police that the man's first name was Omar.

Park-goers who saw police investigating the scene said they were surprised and disturbed to hear about the assault in a usually safe area.

"It's so wonderful to to have this place and something like this...it breaks your heart," said Elizabeth Wilson.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.

Only one lane of Interstate 691 Eastbound in Meriden is getting by between exit 5 and 4 after a multi-vehicle crash.

No serious injuries are reported. 

No additional information is available.

New London police arrested two teens accused of stealing an iPhone at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant on Sunday evening.

Police said several men were in the parking lot when two men stole the phone at 10:45 p.m.

When the suspects took off in a car, the victims followed them and called police.

The chase ended in Waterford and Waterford police detained the teens until New London police arrived.

Shaquan Seals, 19, of New London was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, carrying a dangerous weapon, fifth-degree larceny, weapon in a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm.

Yojang Torres, 19, of New London, was charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny.