WARNING: Some may find the video in this story disturbing.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture has issued a cease and desist order for the butcher shop whose employee slit the throat of a runaway cow outside a neighboring business.

On Thursday NBC Connecticut Investigates brought you the exclusive story and video about a cow that wandered off the Saba Live Poultry property in Bloomfield, and was killed across the street in the back lot of a Home Depot.

The business was closed soon after the cow incident when the town of Bloomfield determined Saba was making renovations without a permit.

A subsequent inspection by the state discovered that several thousand animals, mostly poultry, appeared to be in heat stress, along with being in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

A number of customers have shown up at Saba, a Halal market that slaughters its animals per Islamic law, only to be turned away.

Mouina Afolabi of Hartford said, “So disappointed that they are closed. I get chickens, live chickens, lamb, sometimes."

A man who identified himself as the store’s manager told NBC Connecticut Investigates off camera he understands the extra scrutiny, but said the runaway cow did pose a danger to drivers on the busy road the business sits on, and it needed to be corralled, just not by slitting its throat.

He said he has fired the employee that did that, in hopes of preventing a repeat of that uncomfortable moment.

Police charged that employee with creating a public disturbance, and he may face animal cruelty charges.

Home Depot has not commented on the situation. However, the manager at Saba told us the big box chain got police to issue an order against Saba, instructing it that if any of its employees are on the Home Depot property in the future, they will be trespassing.

Saba is telling customers it expects to reopen as soon as next week.

Chart-topping country music duo Florida Georgia Line is used to bringing the heat on stage. Friday, more than 20,000 fans braved the hot weather to see them perform in Hartford. But the heat and humidity are creating dangerous conditions for outdoor events, especially when alcohol is involved.

Xfinity Theatre making some safety exceptions for fans. They could bring in an unlimited amount of bottle water, as long as the bottles were still sealed.

“Why pay $5 inside when you can pay a $1 out here?”

Matthew Hudson was hawking a hot commodity - cold water.

“Trying to fight the heat and try to make money at the same time,” he said.

Florida Georgia Line fans flocked to the venue hours before the band even took the stage, braving the near three digit temperatures on the blistering blacktop.

“We brought a lots of water…Gatorade…a couple of other things…we’re going to stay very hydrated,” Alexis Santoro of Prospect said.

Emergency responders keeping an extra eye out for heat exhaustion at Xfinity’s two shows this weekend.

Diehards we spoke to weren’t going to let Mother Nature deter them from seeing the show.

“Oh absolutely not. I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” said Newtown resident Elizabeth Coulter.

Despite the heat, the energy was a lot more chill a couple of miles away at the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz.

Lots of families finding seats in the shade at the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz.

“Make the best of it, stay cool, have a few drinks,” Jose Feliciano of West Hartford said.

Regulars say they’ve enjoyed the event in even warmer weather before.

“My wife gets it all ready, let’s be honest, I just stand back and take orders, you know ice, liquor, food,” Feliciano said.

An AMR spokesperson said Friday that "pre-planning paid off" and that they didn't see major issues with drinking or heat exhaustion.

Saturday night Heart will hit the stage at Xfinity, with temperatures even toastier.

If you plan on going, Xfinity has added extra stations to buy water and fans and misters inside the venue.

Puerto Rican flags flew on the New Haven Green Friday as many gathered to show their solidarity with those protesting in Puerto Rico. On the island, people have been protesting for days in the wake of corruption investigations and the publication of private chats between Gov. Ricardo Rossello and close associates.

The messages include homophobic and misogynistic comments as well as jokes about bodies piling up after Hurricane Maria.

"Our people have been hurting enough. We can't have someone like that in office," said Tiana Ocasio, who came to the rally on Friday in New Haven.

The Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico reported that those leaked messages point to a multi-billion dollar corruption network and public resources being used for partisan work.

"We just have to remain steadfast in our call for democracy and the people of Puerto Rico to be heard," said Giovanna Guerrero-Medina, one of the organizers of the New Haven rally.

Despite the distance from the island, those rallying on the Green say they want everyone protesting in Puerto Rico to know they stand with them.

"I wish I was there, honestly. I am definitely one of the Puerto Ricans that is pretty sad with the situation, not just mad but also sad," said Daniel Colon-Rios.

"We are such a connected people and we literally feel for each other. And there's no other time than now. It's time for us to mobilize, and it's time for us to hit the street and make sure Ricky Rossello leaves now," said Ocasio.

Rossello continues to say he plans to remain as governor of Puerto Rico despite calls for him to step down.

Imagine having a front-row seat for the first lunar landing.

Astronaut Jim Lovell, who makes his home in suburban Chicago, had just such a seat, directly to the left of capsule communicator Charlie Duke during the harrowing descent of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in their lunar module.

“There was a great feeling of relief on the part of the entire mission control team, including me,” Lovell recalls. “You know---they’re already down, we’ve accomplished landing on the Moon, but that’s only half the story!”

Indeed, the landing had been filled with frightening moments. First the lunar module’s computer kept relaying obscure alarms, which could have led to a last-second abort. Computer experts in mission control waved those off, and gave the green light for the landing to continue.

“What I was amazed at, was how quickly that mission control people analyzed the situation, new the situation, and said yeah, keep going down and taking care of it,” Lovell says.

Then there were the craters. Armstrong was forced to take manual control of the landing, when that same computer guided him to a landing site in a crater filled with boulders.

“Last think you didn’t want to do was land inside a crater!” Lovell says. “Never land on the side of a crater. So he took over manually to keep going forward to find a flatter spot to land a vehicle on.”

That was a good thing. The extra time Armstrong took finding a landing site burned precious fuel. He and Aldrin touched down after a callout by mission control that only 30 seconds of fuel remained---and there are some estimates it may have been as little as 15 seconds.

“Armstrong said, you know, when the gas gauge reads zero you always have a few more gallons,” Lovell laughed. “I took his word for it!”

At that point, Lovell had already flown three times in space---twice in project Gemini and a third flight aboard the trail-blazing voyage of Apollo 8, mankind’s first trip to the Moon. He would later command the ill-fated Apollo 13, which suffered an explosion en-route to the Moon, but became NASA’s greatest triumph when Lovell and his crewmates safely returned.

Now 91, Lovell still lives in suburban Chicago with wife Marilyn, and still gets excited when talks about a space program he clearly loves.

“The thought now is go back to the Moon---learn more about the Moon---get comfortable going to the Moon,” he says. “So it is not what we think of as a real roll of the dice, that we have the infrastructure, and the architecture, to make sure people can get in there to fly to the Moon, stay on the Moon for a while, learn things, and come back again.”

He marvels at the achievements of the unmanned probes on Mars, which have roamed the surface and even retrieved and analyzed rocks, beaming the results back to earth.

“We know more about the Martian surface than Armstrong knew about the lunar surface when he landed,” he says. “That is incredible!”

Lovell expresses frustration that after the triumphs of Apollo, NASA became a program which “retreated to Earth orbit,” but he speaks with hope about the future.

“There’s been a lot of talk about going to Mars and I think that’s what we’re going to do,” he says. “I don’t think we’re going to do it in my time.”

And would he like to make the trip?

He laughs. “Marilyn wouldn’t let me go!”

A 14-year-old bicyclist was hurt in a hit-and-run crash in Middletown Friday, according to police.

Police said the teen was riding his bike through the intersection of Elm Street and East Main Street around 6;15 p.m. when he was hit by a pickup. He was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.

The pickup, which left the scene, is described as a red or maroon four-door crew cab Chevrolet Silverado with a male driver and female passenger, police said.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact Officer Passacantando at 860-638-4063.

To help keep you informed on the most shared and talked about stories, each Saturday and Sunday we'll revisit five stories from the previous week, including the most recent updates.

Was It an Alligator?

There was a report of an alligator sighting at Powers Lake in East Lyme this week and the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection responded to check it out. They have not been able to confirm whether an alligator was there. Read the story here. 

Cities and Towns Prepare for Extreme Heat This Weekend

The temperature will feel like 105 to 110 degrees this weekend and cities and towns are taking precautions and opening cooling centers and splash pads to help residents beat the heat. Read the story here.

Heat-Related Illnesses at Camp Carnival

The heat took a toll on children during the Summer Camp Carnival Day trip in Newington this week. Seven children were taken to the hospital after showing symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Read the story here.

Cow Slaughter in Public Prompts Closure of Bloomfield Meat Store

A young cow was slaughtered in public view in a Home Depot parking lot in Bloomfield and NBC Connecticut Investigates has learned the business that owned the livestock is closed, and in hot water with multiple local, state and federal agencies. Read the story here.

Time Card Fraud Concerns at Hartford City Hall

There are concerns about time card fraud inside Hartford City Hall. 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. Read the story here.

Elevated bacteria levels were found at Giants Neck Heights (jetty) in East Lyme and the area is closed for swimming or wading, according to the Ledge Light Health District. 

A post on the website says the samples were conducted Monday, resampled Wednesday and tests showed elevated levels persisted, so the area has been posted closed and swimming or wading in these waters is restricted until further notice.

A 51-year-old North Canaan woman has died after a head-on crash in Goshen on Friday night. 

State police said Diana Ghi was heading east on Route 4 in a Honda CRV, crossed the center line and hit another Honda CRV head-on just after 4 p.m. 

Ghi was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said. The other driver was taken to Hartford Hospital to be evaluated. 

State police are investigating and ask anyone with information to call 860-626-1820.

Squantz Pond in New Fairfield is closed to vehicles after reaching capacity at 9:45 a.m. Saturday but the park is open. 

The Facebook page for Squantz Pond State Park says it has reached full vehicle capacity and is closed for the day. 

“We understand many people venture here to spend time at the park. Unfortunately, once the park is closed there’s not much you will be able to do to get into the park,” the Facebook post says. 

They are asking anyone who planned to head to the pond to avoid parking along state and town roads, parking lots, lawns, in driveways or other tow away zones and not unload vehicles in the street. 

There is also a beach closure in East Lyme, but it is because of bacteria levels. Elevated bacteria levels were found at Giants Neck Heights (jetty) in East Lyme and the area is closed for swimming or wading, according to the Ledge Light Health District. 

These closures come during a weekend of extreme heat. Temperatures today are expected to reach the upper 90s with some cities and towns hitting as high as 100 degrees. 

The NBC Connecticut meteorologists have issued a First Alert for extreme heat and an Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for all of the state. 

Vernon police have arrested a local man who was wanted in Pennsylvania, where he is accused of distributing drugs, leading to the death of a 3-year-old in last year, according to police.

Pennsylvania state police contacted Vernon police on Thursday about a fugitive from justice living in Vernon, according to the arrest warrant application.

Police identified the suspect as 64-year-old Thomas Keough, of Vernon, and said he is accused of distributing drugs, including methamphetamine, which later resulted in the death of a 3-year-old in Pennsylvania in 2018.

On Friday, Vernon police and the East Central Narcotics Task Force arrested Keogh at his Vernon home and charged him as a fugitive from justice.

Bond is set at $750,000 and arrangements are being made for him to be extradited to Pennsylvania.

A Bridgeport police officer who was previously arrested on domestic violence charges has now been charged with sexual assault.

Shelton police said the victim reported on June 29 that 29-year-old Stephen Figueroa held her against her will at his apartment. Police had been called to the apartment that night, but did not make contact with anyone at the address.

Authorities investigated further and said Figueroa is accused of sexually assaulting the victim.

He was initially charged with third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree unlawful restraint as well as risk of injury to a minor because a 2-month-old baby was inside the apartment at the time.

On Saturday, Shelton police arrested Figueroa, who has also been charged with first-degree sexual assault.

He was released on a $75,000 bond and is due in Derby Superior Court on July 22.

Bridgeport police earlier confirmed Figueroa is an officer with their department and was placed on administrative leave after the incident.

“The Bridgeport Police Department & Chief Perez will assign a full and thorough internal investigation by Bridgeport's Office of Internal Affairs where the repercussions for the incident will be determined based on current Bridgeport Police policies and the conclusion of the investigation,” a department spokesperson said in a statement. 

NBC Connecticut reached out to Bridgeport police on Saturday, but there was no immediate answer.

A 79-year-old Old Lyme man has died after a crash on Saturday morning. 

State police said John Leonard, 79, of Old Lyme, was involved in a one-car crash on Town Woods Road, near Burr Road, in Old Lyme around 7 a.m. Saturday and hit a guide rail and several trees before going down an embankment. 

Leonard was pronounced dead at the scene, according to state police. They are investigating.

Day Street in Granby is closed because of a fallen tree and live wires, according to police, and they say the estimate from Eversource is eight hours. 

The Eversource website says power is out for 111 Eversource customers in Granby, which is around 2 percent of customers in town. 

No additional information was immediately available.

Drivers traveling on Interstate 91 South in Rocky Hill should expect lanes closures and delays Saturday night and all southbound lanes will be shut down for several hours on Sunday morning. 

State police said, starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, the Interstate 91 South Elm Street Bridge Replacement will begin and there will be one lane of traffic, starting at exit 24. 

From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, all lanes will be closed at exit 24 for installation of the new Route 160 bridge. 

Traffic will be detoured through Rocky Hill, Route 99 to West Street to exit 23. 

CT Travel Smart warns drivers to avoid I-91 South in Rocky Hill early Sunday morning. 

A shark was spotted in shallow waters off of Long Island Saturday morning, police said.

The Quogue Village Police Department received a report of a shark in shallow waters near Penniman Creek around 9:07 a.m. on Saturday, it said.

It wasn’t clear what kind of shark it was, but it was reported to be around 10 to 12 feet long, the department said.

“At this time the Quogue Police are working with Southampton Town Bay Constables who are monitoring the shark with marine vessels,” the department said.

“At this time we are cautioning swimmers and boaters in the area to be aware of this ongoing situation, and to keep distance to allow the Bay Constables and Law Enforcement to monitor this situation,” it added.

Hundreds of high school girls are competing in a softball tournament at Fastpitch Nation Park in Windsor this weekend and the venue’s owner has a game plan in place for the triple-digit temperatures. 

Despite the potentially record-breaking heat, 55 teams from around the northeast are competing in the 8th Annual USSSA Summer College Showcase Tournament, which draws college recruiters. 

Owner David Rocha said he did not hesitate to bump up game times on Saturday. 

“Games were scheduled from 8 in the morning, ending at 7-o’clock at night, each night and the games were hour-and-a-half games, but we’ve had to modify the schedule,” he said. 

Father and coach Bobby Bulinski said it was the right decision. 

“I think it’s a great idea. I think, again like I said, it’s safety for the players. It’s safety for the umpires and everybody here’s to have fun.” 

Bulinski’s daughter, who is a catcher for Valley Fusion, said while the heat is far from ideal, it is all about playing it safe. 

“I have a lot of support behind the plate,” said Kylie Bulinski. “Gotta a lot of cool towels. Drink a lot of water and just take a lot of breaks.” 

Fire consumed a home in Hebron on Saturday. 

The fire was on Old Slocum Road. 

No additional information was immediately available.

Prospective pet owners can now choose the furry friend they want to rescue without having to leave their home.  

Five years after it first launched, the adoption app WeRescue has expanded its reach across the U.S. and in Canada, and has hundreds of thousands of pets available for adoption at over 3,000 rescue organizations.

“We pull in data from all these different shelters and from the management system we are able to provide it to people before they actually go out to adopt a pet," said Mark Wade, a software developer from Illinois, was inspired to develop the WeRescue app after an experience buying a puppy at a pet store. 

Wade said he was told the adorable Shiba Inu pooch came from a "small family farm in Iowa" and later learned that his four-legged family member was actually from a puppy mill.

Then, in 2014, he participated in a start-up "hackathon" competition, where groups of strangers pitch ideas and develop apps over the course of a weekend. Using a popular dating app as a template, Wade and his team wanted to create something that would help connect people with eligible rescue animals at local shelters. Their "Woof" app, the first rendition of WeRescue, won best in show.

That win was the incentive Wade needed to invest more time into his passion project.

The app is now one of several available on app stores that are aimed at connecting would-be pet owners with animals to adopt.

Wade's app originally was limited to cats and dogs before he added birds, horses, rabbits, reptiles and small animals in 2017. And with the additional species, the name "Woof Rescue" would no longer do. Wade rebranded the app as "WeRescue."

The app includes dozens of filters so that users can narrow their search results based on more than just breed, size and age, but also personality traits and whether the animal is hypoallergenic. The distinct filters make finding the perfect pet a walk in the park. Once you've selected a pet the app helps you contact the shelter to keep the process moving along. 

"It’s really important for people to adopt a pet. They are going to want to keep it forever. So, if they’re in an apartment, they need an animal that is appropriate for that situation. So what you are able to do it go into these filters and if you are in an apartment you may want to look for a smaller dog," Wade said.

What's more, this year, Wade has added a Clear the Shelters filter for users looking to adopt a furry friend during NBC and Telemundo stations' fifth annual animal adoption drive. The filter will allow users to narrow their search results to include participating shelters.

"We were happy to connect with shelters nationwide," he said. "Shelters that participate in this are even in Puerto Rico and Hawaii."

More than 1,000 shelters and rescues have already registered to participate in this year's event. So if you’re thinking about taking home a pet, consider heading to a local animal shelter to adopt during Clear the Shelters on Aug. 17 when hundreds of shelters will waive or discount fees as part of the one-day adoption drive. And with the Clear the Shelters filter on WeRescue, it's easier than ever to find the purr-fect pet at a participating shelter.  

WeRescue is available to download on the Apple App store.

A police cruiser caught fire in New Haven Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Woodward Avenue.

An extra duty officer reported that his car was smoking and shortly after it caught fire, according to officials.

New Haven Fire reported the fire to be fully involved, including the engine compartment and extending into the passenger compartment.

No injuries have been reported.

It is unknown what caused the fire.