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Intoxicated Salem Man Was Shooting Pistol in Backyard: Police

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State police have arrested a Salem man who is accused of shooting a pistol in his backyard while he was intoxicated.

State troopers responded to a home on Old Colchester Road around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a disturbance involving a man who was “highly intoxicated” and shooting a pistol in his backyard, according to state police.

They identified 49-year-old William Aldridge as the suspect and set up a perimeter around the residence.

Police said they later found him and arrested him at his home.

Several charged have been filed against Aldridge, including illegal discharge of a firearm, illegally carrying a firearm under the influence of drugs or alcohol, breach of peace in the second degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Bond was set at $50,000.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Firefighters Battle House Fire in Southington

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Firefighters are battling a fire at a house on Clark Street in Southington and drivers are asked to avoid the area.

Firefighters responded to 344 Clark St. around 10 a.m. and are working on putting out hotspots.

No one was in the home when the fire started and the homeowner said he received a call that his house was on fire.

Firefighters from several departments have been called in and they are dealing with the hot weather in addition to the fire.

No additional information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Body Found in Naugatuck River in Torrington

Celebrate National Hot Dog Day in Connecticut

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There is something about a perfectly grilled hot dog on a summer day and today just happens to be National Hot Dog Day.

Whether you like yours with ketchup, mustard, relish, Coney Island sauce or something else, there are plenty of places to celebrate today.

Head to a hot dog cart near you.

You could really go for it and take the hot dog tour. (Yes – the hot dog tour.)

A documentary of the same name features Connecticut as a hot dog hotspot.

The hot dog documentary features:

  • Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand, 2200 Waterbury Road in Cheshire, home of the famous homemade secret spicy relish recipe.
  • Weiners On Water in East Haddam, which happens to be a hot dog boat.
  • Rawley’s Drive-In, 1886 Post Road, in Fairfield
  • Super Duper Weenie, 306 Black Rock Turnpike, in Fairfield
  • Glenwood Drive-In, 2538 Whitney Ave, in Hamden, where the award-winning hot dogs are just part of the menu.
  • Bobby’s Place in Niantic
  • Frankies – multiple locations: In 2011, Forbes picked Frankie’s in Waterbury as having one of the 10 best hot dogs in America.
  • Frankies of Watertown Ave., 700 Watertown Ave., Waterbury
  • Frankies of Reidville Drive, 464 Reidville Drive, Waterbury
  • Frankies of Chase Ave., 348 Chase Ave., Waterbury
  • Frankie's at Westfield, 470 Lewis Ave., Meriden (second floor) 
  • Frankies of Plainville, 177 East St.
  • Frankies of West Haven, 1151 Orange Ave., West Haven
  • Frankies & Ole, 469 Rubber Ave., Naugatuck


Man vs. Food has made the trip here and indulged at Woody’s in Hartford for its Deputy Dog, which is covered in pulled pork and cheese, and at Doogies in Newington for the 2-foot-long Doogie dog.

Viewers also recommend Tomlinson's in Bridgeport, which is located at 140 Noble Aven., in case you want to try for yourself, Sahadi's Hottie, at 563 W. Main St. in New Britain and Family Pizza, at 233 Main St. in Niantic

Sonic is offering a deal for National Hot Dog Day. Text "Dog" to 876642 to get $1 hot dogs today. 

We can also boast that New Haven is home to Hummel Brothers and its many varieties of franks.

If you want to grill your own, try Chef Chris Prosperi's recipe for onions in tomato sauce.

Where is your favorite place to grab a hot dog in Connecticut and what do you top it with?



Photo Credit: Storyblocks
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Cooling Centers Open Across Connecticut

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Several cities and towns have opened cooling centers as Connecticut deals with excessive heat.

Bristol

  • Bristol Public Library at 5 High Street, Mon.- Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Bristol Senior Center at 240 Stafford Avenue, Mon.- Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Brian's Angels at 19 Jacob Street, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily 
  • The Agape House at 43 School Street, Mon.- Sat. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cheshire

 

  • Cheshire Senior Center at 240 Maple Avenue, Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Cheshire Public Library at 104 Main Street, Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Town Hall Lobby at 84 South Main Street, Mon.- Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Cheshire Police Department Lobby at 500 Highland Avenue, 24/7

 

Fairfield

  • Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Black Rock Church, Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat. 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Fairfield Public Library Main Branch, Thurs. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Fairfield Public Library Woods Branch, Thurs. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

New Haven

(For seniors daily until 4 p.m.)

  • Atwater Senior Center at 26 Atwater Street
  • Dixwell/Newhallville Senior Center at 255 Goffe Street
  • East Shore Senior Center at 411 Townsend Avenue

(For general public)

  • New Haven Free Public Library at 133 Elm Street, Mon.- Thurs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Fair Haven Branch Library at 182 Grand Avenue, Wed.- Thurs. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Mitchell Branch Library at 37 Harrison Street, Wed.- Thurs. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Stetson Branch Library at 200 Dixwell Avenue, Wed. 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Courtland Seymour Wilson Branch Library at 303 Washington Avenue, Wed.- Thurs. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

New London

  • Senior Citizen Center at 120 Broad Street, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily

Simsbury

  • Simsbury Public Library (Lower Level Entrance) Wed.- Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Eno Memorial Hall (Senior Center) at 754 Hopmeadow Street, Wed.- Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

South Windsor

  • South Windsor Community Center on Nevers Road, regular hours
  • South Windsor Library on Sullivan Avenue, regular hours

Stamford

  • Building One Community at 75 Selleck Street, Mon.- Sat. 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Chester Addison Community Center at 245 Selleck Street, Mon.- Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat. 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Jewish Community Center at 1035 Newfield Avenue (bring photo ID), Mon.-Thurs. 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat.- Sun. 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Stamford Government Center at 888 Washington Boulevard (1st Floor lobby), until 9 p.m. daily

Torrington

  • Torrington City Hall Auditorium at 140 Main Street, Wed.- Fri. & Monday 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
  • Sullivan Senior Center at 88 East Albert Street, Wed.- Fri. & Monday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Joseph House at 116 Water Street, Wed.- Fri. & Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Coe Memorial Park Center at 101 Litchfield Street, Sat. - Sun. 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Recall Issued for Bison, Buffalo Burgers Amid e.Coli Outbreak in 7 States, Including Connecticut

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A recall has been issued for bison burgers, buffalo burgers and ground bison after an outbreak of e.Coli infections that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says was linked to ground bison from Norfolk Bison Distributors.

There are reports of 21 people in seven states, including Connecticut, getting sick. 

Northfork Bison Distributions Inc. of St. Leonard, Quebec, Canada is recalling its Bison Burgers & Bison Ground because they have the potential to be contaminated with E. coli: O121 and O103, according to the recall posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. 

The voluntary recall is for Bison Burgers & Bison Ground distributed across the eastern and central United States to institutions and retail outlets, according to the recall. 

The CDC reports that eight of the 21 people infected with E.coli have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. 

In addition to the Connecticut case, there have been nine cases in New York, four in Florida, three in Pennsylvania, two in New Jersey and one each in Michigan and Missouri. 

The recall says this form of E. coli might cause diarrheal illness. Most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, but some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, according to the recall.

No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported, according to the CDC.

Institutions that have Bison Burgers and Bison Ground in their inventory with the production date: February 22, 2019 – April 30, 2019, are urged to contact their distributor for a full refund.

For the retail outlets, the Bison Burgers (4 x 4 oz) in question, with the expiration date up to October 8th, 2020, can be clearly identified by their blue boxes with the Northfork Bison logo prominently displayed, the recall says. Consumers who have purchased these Bison Burgers are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The CDC urges that restaurants and retailers not serve or sell recalled ground bison and to check freezers and storage for recalled products. They should also check with their supplier to determine if their ground bison has been recalled.

Consumers with questions may contact the Company at 1-888-422-0623.



Photo Credit: FDA

7 Children Hospitalized for Heat-Related Illness at Carnival

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Seven children were taken to the hospital after feeling sick because of dehydration and heat during the Summer Camp Carnival Day trip, according to the Newington Parks and Recreation Facebook page. 

A post on the Newington Parks and Recreation Facebook page says some children fell sick due to dehydration and heat and an ambulance service took care of them. Seven children were transported to Connecticut Children's Medical Center.

Around 900 children attended the event, according to Newington Parks and Recreation and they said they have contacted parents of children who became sick. 

The department said many of the visiting town parks and recreation departments decided to load their buses and go home.

The Churchill Park campers entering grades 4 through 8 were transported to Newington High School and they are in the air-conditioned cafeteria where they can be picked up at the end of the day. 

Mill Pond campers entering Kindergarten through grade 3 are in air-conditioned rooms in the Mortensen Community Center and will be going to Mill Pond pool this afternoon.

All Mill Pond campers can be picked up at the Mill Pond Pool area.

The department said, in the event of inclement thunder and lightning storms, parents will be notified if the pickup location changes. 

Officials from the parks department said they are moving tonight's festivities indoors. The free ice cream sundae and tie dye events will be held at the community center and some food trucks will be canceled. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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Man Accused of Kidnapping Girl from Massachusetts, Sex Assault Arrested on Federal Charges

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A Connecticut man who is suspected of kidnapping a 12-year-old girl from a park in Massachusetts and sexually assaulting her in Thompson has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint in connection with the case. The arrest comes after DNA from cigarette butts linked him to the case, according to the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.

Joshua Besaw, 35, of Thompson, was arrested Wednesday, appeared in court in Hartford and was ordered to be detained, according to U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.

Federal officials said Besaw encountered the girl on May 31 at a park in Webster, Massachusetts, identified himself as “Chuck,” enticed her into his vehicle and drove her to a wooded area in Thompson, where he sexually assaulted her.

Then he drove her to Dudley, Massachusetts and left her in an unfamiliar neighborhood, federal officials said.

The girl was able to borrow a phone from a stranger to contact her parents and they picked her up and brought her to the police station to report the incident.

Officials said Besaw was identified as a suspect after an extensive investigation. On July 10, investigators conducting surveillance of Besaw collected cigarette butts that he had discarded.

“It is alleged that DNA evidence collected from the discarded cigarette butts matched DNA evidence collected from the minor victim on May 31, 2019,” according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Besaw was charged with kidnapping and with transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.



Photo Credit: Webster Police

'I'm a Person of Color ... I'm a White,' Congressman Says

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U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, a white congressman from western Pennsylvania, told a reporter this week that he believes his Irish and German roots make him a "person of color."

The Republican's remarks came during an exchange with a VICE News journalist on Capitol Hill as debate raged Monday and Tuesday over President Donald Trump's racist tweets against four female, minority congressional colleagues of Kelly's.

"I think we’re going way beyond the pale right now. They talk about people of color. I’m a person of color," Kelly said in a recorded interview.

"Which one?" the reporter asked.

"I’m white. I’m a white. I’m an Anglo Saxon. People say things all the time. But I don’t get offended," Kelly answered.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "person of color" as "a person who is not white."

The reporter then asked if anyone has ever told Kelly "to go back to your country," repeating what the president tweeted to the four congresswomen. Three of the four were born in the United States and the fourth emigrated to America as a teenager.

"Yeah, they have as a matter of fact," Kelly said.

In a statement released Wednesday, Kelly said "it's time to stop fixating on our differences and focus on what unites us."

"My broader point in the 5-minute long discussion was that we’re all created equal," he said. "Attempts by Democrats and the media to divide and define us by race are harmful. We need to elevate our level of discussion."

Kelly's comments emerged the same week that Congress voted to condemn Trump for his divisive tweets. It was the first time in a century that a president was condemned by Congress.

Kelly, a Notre Dame University graduate who took over his father's car dealerships and still operates four dealerships, said much of the outrage over Trump's insults comes from the Washington D.C. political class.

In western Pennsylvania, he said, it's a different story.

"Here, in Washington D.C., you worry about all that stuff," he said. "You go back home where I’m from, people don’t worry about that."



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
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360-Degree View: Swimming With Sharks

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Keep in mind that 360-degree video only plays properly in certain browsers. Try Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, and Opera on your desktop, and the YouTube app on your phone, for the best viewing experience.

As part of our series on sharks on the shoreline, NBC Connecticut took a dive into a shark tank at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk. Check out the videos on this page for a 360-degree view.

There are only four types of sharks found in Long Island Sound - the sand tiger shark, the brown shark and two types of dogfish.

These sharks feed on small schooling fish and invertebrates, so they're unlikely to bother human swimmers.

The great whites being spotted on Cape Cod are another story. Those sharks feed on seals, and experts say while a great whites won't deliberately go after a human, they may attack if they mistake a human swimmer for their food.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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Connecticut Residents React to Puerto Rico Unrest

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As tensions grow in the streets of Puerto Rico over a corruption scandal involving the island’s governor, natives of the island here in Connecticut are paying close attention to the civil unrest.

“Rosello don’t respect myself, he don’t respect nobody,” said Eulogio Velez of Rocky Hill.

Velez is part of the growing list of voices calling for Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello to resign.

“We’re tired of the lies of the governor,” said Jose Bartolomei, a journalist from Bristol who traveled to the governor’s residence this week to see the protest in person.

“I think he have to leave with dignity because he’s done a lot of damage to us,” added Millie Delgado, a resident of Caguas, Puerto Rico.

She arrived at Bradley International Airport on a flight from San Juan Wednesday afternoon. Before she left, Delgado says she saw large groups of protestors.

They’ve taken to the streets night after night in the wake of multiple scandals. Nearly 900 pages of profanity-laced private chat conversations between Rossello and his associates were made public, comments which some viewed as vulgar, misogynistic, homophobic, and insensitive in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The Category 4 storm ravaged the island in September of 2017.

“This is not supposed to happen on my island,” said Velez. “I see how my island go down, and down, and down, the corruption and this and that.”

“This is like a political hurricane, every single Puerto Rican in the island and out of the island are hurt,” said Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, (D) who represents District 3 in Hartford in the Connecticut Legislature.

Several members of the Rosello’s administration face allegations that they embezzled more than $15 million in federal funding between 2017 and 2019. Gonzalez made four humanitarian trips to the island after Maria.

“I think that everybody’s talking about the same thing. They’re talking about the money, where the money’s going and if it’s going to the right person, to the right people, and I really have the same feeling,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said the first term governor was applauded for his response to the hurricane, but has now fallen out of favor with many of his constituents.

“I know if Puerto Rico has to go through election right now, he would not get elected,” she stated.

Delgado agreed, saying she was happy with the job he did at first but now believes his true colors are showing.

For his part, Rossello said he has no plans to resign.

"I am not proud of what I did. Those were merely comments, but they were hurtful comments. So, I apologize for what I've done but again, I need to move forward and continue on the work we are doing for Puerto Rico,” said Rossello.

Jose Claudio of New London, and his daughter, Jaylynn witnessed the protests near a tourist attraction they were trying to take pictures of. They never made it there.

“Everyone was over there with signs and stuff on their heads, covered the face,” Jose described. “They screaming Ricky get out, get out. Resign, resign. Ricky resign. After we get out, everything got out of control.”

Passengers on two Royal Caribbean cruise ships were expected to dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico this week. They’ve been rerouted because of civil upheaval on the island. Longtime travel agent Fay DeHaas says changes to cruise ship itineraries are not uncommon.

“They have the right, and they’re not going to risk docking in a port where there’s unrest,” said DeHaas of Cruise Planners.

She said the cruise line is not obligated to refund passengers but they will often take them to a different island or may offer an on-board credit.

“When passengers go on a cruise, they’re signing a contract. The cruise line has the right to make decisions to change course of the cruise. They take their safety and security very important,” DeHaas explained.

If your travel plans will take you to Puerto Rico, she says you should let the timing determine whether you decide to stay or go.

“If they’re traveling next week and they are spending a week in San Juan, maybe it’s time to make a change, maybe it’s time to look at another island. But, if they’re traveling six months from now I would say let’s hold off because honestly the islands depend on tourism, it’s their bread and butter,” she said.

Her number one tip when traveling is to expect the unexpected and get travel insurance.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Letter Carriers Manage Dangerous Heat

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Letter carriers for the United States Postal Service have to deal with the conditions at all stages of the calendar.

Paul Crooks, over his 29 years serving the Greater Hartford area, has had to deal with the sweltering heat and the bitter cold.

The hottest day he ever had to work, he said, “The degree I think was 107 I can remember delivering on Park Street and I can remember no wind, still, super humid, that was one of the worst ones that I could remember.”

Crooks says the job has evolved over that period of time.

His scanner, the same device he uses to scan letters and packages in and out of his load for the day, also provides him with alerts and reminders to be mindful of the hot weather, and to keep consuming water throughout the day.

“There’s such a safety concern, now,” Crooks said. “They don’t want anybody getting hurt. Before, there was some things that were sort of foolish that we were doing. Now, they pump us full of water. They have little notifications on the scanner, ‘make sure you hydrate.’”

Crooks says he keeps about one and a half gallons of water with him on extremely hot days, along with a towel. He also says he will plan on where to park on certain streets to stay out of the sun.

“I’ll readjust my route to park in the shade.”

Sharks On the Shoreline: What Lies Beneath the Water?

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In recent years there has been an increase in shark sightings in New England. While beachgoers aren't too happy to be sharing the waters with great whites, the rise is shark sightings is actually something of a success story, and it's up to us to find a way to co-exist.

An Increasing Population

Science shows significant changes in the shark population along Cape Cod.

Dr. Greg Skomal of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is one of the leading experts in shark research. 

”We’re definitely seeing an increasing trend and we think that’s pretty much highly correlated with the robust presence of seals in the area.”

Back in the 1970s, the seal population was nearly extinct. It wasn’t until the passage of the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act that the seal population began to rebound. More seals means more sharks, and a higher likelihood for an attack.

“We firmly believe that when a white shark strikes a person it’s a mistake. There is really shallow areas to feed on the seals and the seals now with the seals stay very tight to the beach the sharks challenge themselves to get in tight to the beach and of course you superimpose human activity over that and it creates this potential and we saw that happen last year,” Skomal said.

The recent and more frequent shark sightings have beach goers on edge in Cape Cod, especially after last year’s attacks.

New Yorker William Lytton was attacked on Long Nook Beach in Truro, Massachusetts on August 15, 2018. He survived, despite suffering deep puncture wounds to his legs and torso. But just one month later a few miles away, Arthur Medici became the victim of the first fatal shark attack off Cape Cod in 83 years. 

Since the attacks last summer, Truro Town Manager Rae Palmer says she and other town officials are working with the Cape Cod National Seashore to prevent future attacks and limit the loss of life.

During last year’s attacks, patrons had to run beyond the beaches to parking attendants to call for help due to weak cell service. This year officials are installing call boxes for faster response times and hemorrhage kits to stop the bleed in the event of an attack.

Town officials also obtained a stretcher with buggy wheels to transport potential victims faster, and there will be EMTs to patrol the beaches as an extra safeguard. 

Test Your Shark Knowledge

Researchers are trying to identify specific areas, hotspots, times of day, even months when the sharks are feeding and hunting the seals. New tagging technology is giving them more information than ever before.

New tags have built in accelerometers - the same technology that’s in your smart phone that tracks your activity.

“That’s going to allow us to look at their fine scale movements in 3D. And from that we are going to be able to identify when they are feeding on seals as well as conditions that they might be more likely to be going after seals when they’re more active,” explains Megan Winton, a research scientist at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy works alongside the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries researching sharks behaviors and trying to forecast the future.

Determining things like how much sharks are eating, if it relates to time of day or tide cycles helps town managers and the National Seashore hone in on their safety messaging and actions to help prevent shark attacks.

Even though seals are not an uncommon sight along the Connecticut shoreline, great white sharks have never had a presence in Long Island Sound. Experts say there are only four species of shark found there - the sand tiger shark, the brown shark and two types of dogfish.

These sharks feed on small schooling fish and invertebrates- not seals. So when it comes to the sound, you’re safe to swim.

Keep in mind that 360-degree video only plays properly in certain browsers. Try Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, and Opera on your desktop, and the YouTube app on your phone, for the best viewing experience.

Climate Change and Our Coastal Ecosystem

As we talk about sharks, it's important to think about everything else that lives beneath the water, and what climate change and rapidly warming water means for our coastal ecosystem.

The North Atlantic shelf, which includes the Connecticut shoreline and extends all the way up to the coastal waters of Canada is warming faster 99 percent faster than our global oceans. And while the increasing shark population isn’t directly impacted by the warming water, scientists are concerned for what the future holds for all kinds of marine life.

One example is the seals. As waters warm, these fur-coated animals with a heavy layer of blubber may migrate north into colder waters. Sharks may then follow their food source.

A migration has already begun for humpbacks whales, which used to be visible in large quantities from the Cape Cod shoreline. 

But the humpbacks aren't just moving - they're also dying. Experts aren't sure why, but they suspect it's a signal from the climate.

The situation is much more dire with right whales. Experts estimate there are only roughly 400 right whales left in existence.

The species is experiencing a high mortality rate in conjunction with a low calving rate. For perspective - seven calves were born earlier this spring, and so far this summer, four right whales have been found dead. While the reason for the low calving rate remains a mystery, the high mortality is being traced back to humans. Whales are becoming entangled in fishing gear and run over by ships.

“One suspects as is usually the case that there are dysfunctions in the ecosystem. Potentially changes and food may be due to climate change, potentially females carrying diseases there is a thought that there may be some genetic dysfunction because of such a small population but we can’t say for sure why there are so few calves," explained Dr. Charles “Stormy” Mayo, senior scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies.

For more information, click here.



Photo Credit: Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
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Here's Who Qualified for the Second Democratic Debate

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The Democratic National Committee and CNN announced on Wednesday the 20 candidates invited to participate in the second Democratic presidential primary debate.

Qualifying were: Sen. Michael Bennet; Vice President Joe Biden; Sen. Cory Booker; Gov. Steve Bullock; South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg; former housing secretary Julian Castro; Mayor Bill de Blasio; Rep. John Delaney; Rep. Tulsi Gabbard; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; Sen. Kamala Harris; Gov. John Hickenlooper; Gov. Jay Inslee; Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Rep. Beto O’Rourke; Rep. Tim Ryan; Sen. Bernie Sanders; Sen. Elizabeth Warren; author Marianne Williamson; entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

Bullock, who did not make the cut for the first debate, will take the spot of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who has dropped out of the race. 

The debate will be held in Detroit, Michigan, and will be broken out into two nights, July 30 and 31. The DNC and CNN will hold a random drawing Thursday night to determine the lineup for each night.



Photo Credit: Getty, AP

Man Seriously Hurt in Hartford Stabbing


Families Report Sick Puppies Recently Adopted From Rescue

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Wolcott Police now believe three puppies have died from canine parvovirus and others are fighting for their lives as the department continues to investigate “Tails of Courage” animal rescue.

Police say Jillian Wanner was the first of the many local families who continue to report “Tails of Courage.”

Wanner says Louie was an active little puppy when she met him twice - once on the last day of June and the first of July at the rescue facility.

“You can see that he’s not skinny, he’s not emaciated, he has a little pudge on him,” she said while showing pictures of him from a visit.

But Wanner says he was near death when she picked him up July 9.

“The day I picked him up he was really skinny, lethargic. I was kind of worried. They didn’t really say too much. They brushed it off as nerves and everything else.”

Wanner says she rushed Louis to the emergency vet just hours later.

“Within minutes they told me he was dying and our best option was to end his suffering.”

Right now, the Wolcott Police Department is actively investigating the animal rescue after hearing from Wanner and others about sick puppies they recently adopted from the rescue.

Police say they found three sick dogs that were not properly quarantined when they went to the property.

We’re told a necropsy for Louie preliminarily points to emaciation, dehydration, and parvo, an extremely contagious but treatable virus, as the cause of his death.

“It’s been so hard just walking around my house and seeing the couple places where he was able to sit. It’s heartbreaking every day,” she said.

Wanner says “Tails of Courage” refunded her adoption fee and paid for emergency vet costs, but weren’t pleased to hear she was in contact with police.

“I can’t fathom that people who claim to rescue dogs would do the complete opposite and put them in a situation where it’s dirty and diseases can be easily communicable and it’s horrible.”

NBC Connecticut has reached out to “Tails of Courage” for a comment several times. Tuesday, a secretary relayed that the manger had no statement for us about the investigation.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Teen Rescued from Park River in Hartford

Trump Fuels Rally Crowd Chant of 'Send Her Back!'

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One day after the House voted to condemn his racist tweets, and just hours after it killed a resolution to impeach him, President Donald Trump resumed his rhetorical assault on four Democratic women lawmakers Wednesday at a re-election rally in Greenville, N.C.

"(Rep. Ilhan) Omar laughed that Americans speak of al Qaeda in a menacing tone," he said. "You don’t say America with this intensity. You say al Qaeda makes you proud. Al Qaeda makes you proud. You don’t speak that way about America," he added, referring to her remarks in a 2013 interview.

The crowd broke into a chant of "Send her back!"



Photo Credit: AP

80+ Types of Hummus Recalled Over Listeria Concerns

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More than 80 different types of hummus have been recalled over listeria concerns.

The hummus being voluntarily recalled was made between May 30, 2019 and June 25, 2019.

There are concerns after listeria was identified at the manufacturing facility and not in the finished product during an FDA inspection.

All of the hummus is made by Pita Pal Foods, LP based in Houston Texas. The products were distributed nationwide and to the United Arab Emirates.

Anyone who may have purchased the products listed below are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. You can also contact the company at 832-803-9295 or email products@pitapal.com.

Click here to see the full list of recalled products.



Photo Credit: Pita Pal Facebook

Time Card Fraud Concerns at Hartford City Hall

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There are concerns about time card fraud inside Hartford City Hall by the very people expected to protect the public purse.

NBC Connecticut Investigates has learned that new procedures will be recommended after auditors discovered city council aides got paid for a 40-hour workweek, but never had to account for their hours.

This all came to light after someone called the city fraud hotline.

Auditors looked into the matter for the past month and are going to put out a memo urging city council members to put a stop to the practice.

Certain people in Hartford city government, who log long, irregular hours, are exempt from filling out time sheets.

Unbeknownst to anyone until someone called a city complaint line, was that more than a half dozen aides to city council members enjoyed that same privilege, for years, maybe even decades.

Auditors at their monthly meeting said going forward that practice will end.

“We are going to push this when the time system is implemented, that they account for all their hours working, so if they come in at eight o’clock, they sign into the system, if they leave at 10, they sign out of the system”, said chief auditor Craig Trujillo.

The move pleased Hartford taxpayer Alyssa Peterson who added “...whoever this anonymous person was, they’ve really corrected the system, which is a positive for the city, I’ll give you that.”

Much to Peterson’s displeasure, auditors said they don’t have the resources to investigate how much money the city might have lost in the past by not tracking council aides’ hours.

Watching how every last dime is spent has taken on added importance since Hartford recently got a $500 million bailout from the state.

So far we have not heard back from the city council president on if she supports having council aides fill out time cards for hours worked.

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