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Person Struck by Train in Stafford


2 Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease Confirmed at Rocky Hill Nursing Facility

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The Connecticut Department of Public Health is investigating two cases of Legionnaires’ disease at a Rocky Hill nursing facility.

Police said there were two confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ among patients at Apple Rehab. One of those patients recently died. 

Legionnaires’ is a bacterial respiratory infection that is caused by breathing in water containing Legionella bacteria. It generally comes from water droplets coming out of showerheads, sinks and other water sources, and is not transmitted person-to-person, DPH said.

Most people exposed to the bacteria do not develop the disease, though people 50 years or older, former smokers, people with chronic lung diseases, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk.

DPH and the staff at Apple Rehab are working to find the source of the bacteria and have taken precautions, including chlorine treatments for the water system.

Apple Rehab released the following statement:

"We have one definitive case of Legionnaires’ disease and have notified our residents and families.

"Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria. People who inhale water vapor (mist) that contains the bacteria can get sick. Water vapor can be warm or cool and can come from showers, faucets or cooling towers (units usually located on top of a building that cool the building.)

"The risk of getting sick from a building’s water supply is very low, especially for healthy people.

"We are proactively monitoring patients with new symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches and cough for at least 3months. This is more important for patients aged 50 or older (especially if they smoke cigarettes), have chronic lung disease, have a weakened immune system or take medicines that weaken their immune system."

For more information on Legionella control from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, click here.  



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Hidden In Plain Sight: Connecticut Roads to Nowhere

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I-84 Stack, Farmington:

The multi-stack highway interchange that towers over Interstate 84 in Farmington was part of transportation project that dates back to the 1960s. However, the project was never completed. Much of it is now off-limits, overgrown and tagged with graffiti. Many of the ramps have never used by vehicles.

"There's something that they were going to do that they didn't do," said Richard DeLuca, a former civil engineer who is now an author and transportation historian. DeLuca said the unused ramps over Interstate 84 were supposed to be for the I-291 Beltway, which was planned to run around the city of Hartford. The planned highway was to run through portions of MDC Reservoir lands in West Hartford.

"Public opinion in Connecticut sort of took a stand," said DeLuca.

Potential environmental impacts and the projected cost kept the plans from fully coming to fruition. Decades later, only the ramps leading to and from Route 9 are carrying cars.

"It's a visual reminder of that history," DeLuca said.

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CT Route 11, Salem:

NBC Connecticut's DroneRanger also flew over the abrupt end of Route 11 in Salem. The state highway was supposed to be a lot longer than it is, which is why some people refer to Route 11 as “Route 5 ½.”

The project was supposed to create a more direct route from Colchester down to Interstate 95 in Waterford.

The two bridges that were built over Route 82 in Salem are clear signs that the project that was never completed. Beyond the spans are two deep cuts into the earth where construction for Route 11 was under way in the early 1970s. Since then, attempts to lengthen the highway have been unsuccessful.

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Banton Street, North Haven:

A neighborhood in North Haven that was thriving decades ago is no longer in existence. Three dozen homes lined what used to be Banton Street in an area tucked away in the woods behind a rest stop on the Wilbur Cross Parkway.

"The history of Banton Street is extremely unique," said Holly LaPrade, whose father and grandparents grew up on Banton Street until they and their neighbors were told that they had to leave.

Banton Street, which was constructed in the 1920s along the banks of the Quinnipiac River, was prone to flooding. With upstream development, the flooding became exponentially worse, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It became too dangerous to stay.

"When the floodwaters came up to high, it was flooding into their homes," said LaPrade.

By the 1970s, the state bought out all of the residents and removed the buildings. Foundations and fences are all that remain in what eventually became Quinnipiac River State Park. 

LaPrade's family has moved on, but they have honored the past with the name of the family business; Banton Family Construction.

"It's a piece of my family history that I take a lot of pride in," said LaPrade.

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Do you know of other spots in our state that are 'Hidden In Plain Sight'? Share your ideas by clicking here or by e-mailing dan.corcoran@nbcuni.com .



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Officer-Involved Shooting Reported in Hartford

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Connecticut State Police are investigating after a police-involved shooting in Hartford Friday night.

Hartford Police confirmed the shooting on the Interstate 84 westbound on-ramp to Capitol Avenue. Details of what led up to the shooting were not immediately available.

The I-84 exit 48 ramps were closed for the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

In Case You Missed It Weekend Digest: July 27

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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.

Equifax Data Breach Settlement: How to File a Claim

The 2017 Equifax data breach was one of the largest ever to threaten private information and a $700 million settlement could affect you. Here is how you can see if you are affected and how to file a claim. 

Mother of Missing New Canaan Woman Granted Custody of Grandchildren

The mother of a missing New Canaan woman has been granted custody of her grandchildren as the investigation into her daughter’s disappearance continues. Jennifer Dulos, a mother of five, was in the midst of a divorce and custody battle with her estranged husband when she was last seen in May. Read the story here.

There She Is - Miss America Will Be Crowned in Connecticut

The Miss America pageant is leaving Atlantic City and coming to Connecticut. The winner will be crowned at Mohegan Sun in December. Learn more here.

2 Tornadoes Touch Down on Cape Cod

Two tornadoes touched down in Cape Cod, tearing roofs off buildings and causing lots of damage. Both "high end EF-1 tornadoes" had a maximum wind speed of 110 mph. Connecticut residents were among those there to witness the destruction.

Robert Mueller Testifies Before Congress

Former special counsel Robert Mueller’s appeared before Congress this week and testified in back-to-back hearings, facing questions for the first time about his two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion and obstruction of justice by President Trump. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut/Getty Images

Family Searches for Stolen Tortoise

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A Fremont, California family is searching for their tortoise after they said it was stolen from their front yard Thursday.

When Cassie Padilla first brought her two tortoises home, they were so small they could fit in the palm of her hand.

"They’re brothers, I’ve had them since they were babies, they’re 13 years old," Padilla said.

Padilla said the gate to her home blew open and both tortoises, Jack and Sham walked out of the back yard.

Sham can be seen in the family’s security camera video making his way from the gate down to the street.

Security camera footage also captured a white construction truck pulling up to the home close to where the tortoise was.

"A truck comes by and he stops for a very long time, just out of view of the camera, but you could tell all the cars were backed up behind him," said Padilla. "No one was going anywhere and then he turned around and went back the other direction and no more tortoise."

A good samaritan came to the door to alert Padilla that Jack was in front of her house and she brought him back.

The 13-year-old African sulcata tortoise is microchipped and has a shamrock shaped dog tag near its shell with contact information.

"These tortoises are family, I’ve had them a long time," said Padilla. "I just want him to come home."

Anyone with information is asked the call local authorities.



Photo Credit: Cassie Padilla

Hot Air Balloon Lands in Backyard in Newington

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A hot air balloon landed in the backyard of a home in Newington Saturday morning.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Field Street, according to police.

Jim Regan, the owner of CT Ballooning LLC, confirmed that he was piloting the balloon and that it was a routine landing.

Regan said the balloon did not land in its original planned location but the backyard they chose was the best clearing in that area.

The balloon took off from Southington at 5:30 a.m.

Regan said the intented landing site was supposed to be somewhere in Berlin or south part of New Britain but the winds took them to Newington.

The balloon landed in a small Newington backyard because Regan said it was the best place to touchdown.

The owner of the home came outside and shook Regan's hand and was happy to have the early morning surprise of a balloon landing in his backyard.

No injuries or property damage has been reported.



Photo Credit: Arnaldo Jimenez

Small Earthquake Rattles Durham, Surrounding Towns

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A 1.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in Duham this morning.

The earthquake was recorded at 7:50 a.m. three miles northeast of the center of Durham. 

Residents from Durham, Middlefield, Middletown and other surrounding towns reported feeling their houses shake and loud noises.

NBC Connecticut viewer Sarah Bernhardson said she felt the shaking on Main Street in Durham. Kate Johnson of Middletown told NBC Connecticut she was woken up as the whole house shook. 

The earthquake was detected by the seismograph at the University of Connecticut.

 

Maureen Long, a geoscience professor at Yale University, said earthquakes are not uncommon in this area.

"It's not that far from Moodus which of course is well known for small earthquakes, and there was also a small earthquake in Deep River back in 2014, I believe," Long said. 

Moodus is a village in the town of East Haddam.

Even small earthquakes like this one can be felt relatively far from their epicenter in the northeastern United States compared to places like California. 

"In general, waves from an earthquake on the East Coast will propagate more efficientely and therefore will be felt over a larger area," Long said. "We are in the middle of a tectonic plate, and the rocks that make up the crust and upper mantle are older, colder and more stable than the plate boundary on the west coast."

The largest earthquake in Connecticut history occured on May 16, 1791 in Moodus knocking down chimneys and damaging homes. 


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Drones Offer New Vantage Point Great White Shark Sightings

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New drone technology is helping lifeguards and marine biologists spot great white sharks swimming along San Diego's coastline. 

The drone from Cal State University Long Beach's Shark Lab helped lifeguards warn swimmers and surfers about a 6-foot juvenile great white shark that was spotted off Del Mar on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The addition of the drones in recent weeks is partially the reason for the increased frequency of shark sightings, according to Chris Lowe, Ph.D., Director of the Shark Lab.

Lowe's team was granted $3.75 million from the state in June to monitor shark activity along the Southern California coast this summer.

They are using the grant money for drones and will also launch an underwater robot. They also work with lifeguards to locate shark activity.

Lowe said they have not figured out why the juvenile great whites have decided to swim just about 400 yards off the shore, but knows Southern California’s coast is their birthing area and considered their nursery.

Shark Lab’s next project, along with the drone camera use, is to tag the sharks and track their migration.

Surfers said they have seen the warning signs, but still take the risk, knowing that so far the sightings have not shown any aggressive shark behavior.

“It was pretty far off shore, so I wasn’t too worried,” said regular surfer from Rancho Santa Fe, Robby McRoskey.

NBC 7 showed McRoskey and his friend Cole Harris some of the drone video that CSULB’s Shark Lab captured from off the coast of Del Mar.

“Oh, that is really shallow,” he said.

A father and son visiting from Alaska, Max and Callum Kullberg, were confidently playing in the water right along the shoreline despite the shark warning sign.

“I’m comforted all the locals are still out there; I figure if the shark comes it’s going to get them before it gets my son,” joked Kullberg.

He said he was glad more drones are out there monitoring the activity, and hopeful that more sightings means a healthier eco system, as long as the great whites keep their distance from people.

“Maybe we’ve been swimming with them all this time,” said Kullberg.

New Video Shows Teen in Viral Video Tried to Stop an Officer

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New video appears to show a teen girl with special needs flagging down a police officer as the group of people who attacked her pulled her away - and police are investigating why the girl wasn't helped. 

Authorities confirmed video being shared by community activists does show the 15-year-old victim flagging down a police detail as the girls who attacked her in now-viral video try to pull her away. 

"She told the officer they were trying to kidnap her and you see the girls pulling her back," said the teen's aunt Raquel Harris. "Why didn't the officer help?"

Chicago police said the officer in the video was off-duty.

“We are still trying to determine who she spoke to and what was said but there is no call for service or citizen stop notation that we can find," a CPD spokesman said. 

It's unclear if the footage was taken before or after the beating that was captured on video and shared to social media. 

Prosecutors said several people beat the 15-year-old girl with special needs in the 5300 block of South Hermitage on July 22. The girl was able to escape the attack by running away from the group. 

Four teen girls were arrested in connection with the "upsetting assault," police said. 

A 15-year-old suspect, now facing charges of felony aggravated battery and misdemeanor battery, appeared in court with her mother Friday. 

The teen turned herself in to police this week after receiving multiple threats when video of the beating went viral on social media, prosecutors said. She was ordered released on electric monitoring, where she will only be allowed to go to school, church and doctors appointments. The judge also ordered that no friends be allowed to visit her at home and a restraining order was issued, preventing her from contacting the victim or speaking with other suspects involved in the attack. 

Another 15-year-old, along with a 13-year-old and 14-year-old were also charged in the case. 

Police said they are working to identify others seen in the footage and the person who filmed the attack. They added additional charges are also possible as the investigation remains ongoing. 

"Our victim knew her attackers and the video gave me the sense that she felt she was among friends," Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said during a news conference Thursday afternoon. "It broke my heart to see this group of people turn on her and escalate into what we saw, which was a physical assault."

The video that went viral on social media this week was shared on Twitter and seen more than 120,000 times in less than 24 hours, quickly sparked a criminal investigation by CPD, Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Tuesday evening.

“This is beyond disturbing to watch and this young girl deserves far better,” Guglielmi wrote.

Community activist Stringer Harris, who has been working with the family in wake of the incident, said the girl's friends attacked her, allegedly because she did not want to participate in sexual acts and to keep her from reporting it to police. 

"It's a shame, and she's upset," Harris said. "She's still trying to figure this out." 

Police added the group was teaching the teen how to make gang signs before the attack, but authorities do not believe it was a gang initiation. 

"There was some things going on that these young ladies wanted to her do that she… we’ll leave it at that for now," Johnson said Thursday. 

Police confirmed the Special Victims Unit is investigating a possible sexual assault in connection with the case. They also said the Department of Children and Family Services has been contacted and the victim remains in protective custody as DCFS investigates allegations of neglect in her home.  

"The victim was interviewed and she did mention a couple of things aside from what was on the video," Chicago Police Officer Jose Jara said Wednesday, declining to comment further on what might have happened. 

Police also declined to comment on the matter Thursday saying they were "not prepared to talk about that at this time." 

"There simply cannot be room for this type of divisive and hateful behavior," Johnson said. 

One Dead After Shooting in Bridgeport

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A man is dead after a shooting in Bridgeport early Saturday morning.

The incident occurred at about 1 a.m. at the corner of Newfield Avenue and Revere Street.

Police said a 32-year-old male was shot multiple times.

He was transported to Bridgeport Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

Police said a large crowd formed after the shooting and was dispersed by officers.

Detectives are working to establish a motive.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 203-576-8477.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

86-Year-Old Woman Reported Missing From Litchfield

Two Injured After Hit-and-Run in New Haven

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Two people were severely injured after a hit-and-run in New Haven Friday night.

The accident took place on the Tomlinson Bridge at around 10:30 p.m.

A car struck a scooter with two passengers and then fled the scene, according to police.

The car who struck the scooter was followed by a witness who relayed information to police on the location of the driver, police said.

Police located the driver shortly after and arrested them in the area of Parker Place.

Police said the passengers have life-threatening injuries.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Atlanta Boxer Detained by ICE While Vacationing in Florida

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A boxer from Atlanta was detained by immigration officials after being pulled over during a traffic stop in the Florida Keys.

Abel Aparicio was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. when he was 13 years old. He overstayed his visa. Since then, he's built a career as a professional boxer and also married an American woman. They had three children together.

But in the weeks after President Donald Trump vowed immigration raids in major cities across the country, Aparicio was taken into custody on July 16 in Marathon.

He was on vacation with his friends, riding in the backseat of the vehicle when they got pulled over. The Monroe County Sheriff's Officer said it was because the car's tag light was out.

"I honestly think it was racial profiling," said Aparicio's wife, Shelby Carter. "I think they saw a lot of brown guys driving down the street, listening to music, having fun, and I think they saw that and that's why they pulled them over."

The sheriff called for border patrol 18 minutes into the stop after asking Aparicio for his ID and seeing it was from Mexico.

"When she asked for my ID ... I immediately knew I was going to immigration," Aparicio recalled.

"Because the deputies that were on the scene wanted to know if he was legal or not," Carter said.

Aparicio was sent to the Krome Detention Center in southwest Miami-Dade County. 

"I didn't do anything. I'm a good person," Aparicio said. "I don't see why I was in that situation."

He was released Friday, after his lawyer successfully argued that he was not a threat to flee and, with no qualifying criminal convictions, is not a threat to the community. A judge granted him a $5,000 bond.

"It really makes you think ... all this stuff you've been working on is for no reason," he said.

Aparicio is grateful to be coming home to Atlanta, but the issue is now far from over.

"Once everything is resolved and we get him legal, then he'll be living the life he's always dreamed of living," Carter said.

NBC 6 contacted the Monroe County Sheriff to clarify how the July 16 traffic stop led to a passenger being detained but has not heard back.



Photo Credit: Courtesy

PHOTOS: Supporting Our Schools Event

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Our partners from Raymour & Flanigan are hosting a one-day event at their Manchester and Newington stores in Connecticut from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this free event, they're offering free food, music, face painting and much more.

Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Park Ranger Hopes to Find Owner of Camera Full of Memories

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A park ranger in Pennsylvania is hoping to save a year’s worth of someone’s memories from being thrown in the trash.

Flor Blum, who works at the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, is trying to find the owner of a camera that was left at the site in 2018. Typically, protocol says an item that has remained in the lost-and-found at the museum for this long should be thrown out. However given that there’s over 1,000 photos on the digital camera, Blum thought it might be worth saving so to prevent the owner from losing some precious memories.

“Just looking at the bridal shower pictures, I put myself in that position,” Blum told News 4. “If I had lost my camera … I don’t know how important those memories are.”

In her attempts to track down the camera’s owner, Blum started to notice clues in some of the pictures — one of which has led her to Brooklyn.

There are several photos of a bridal shower for someone named Jill, which was held at The Bedford in Williamsburg on March 18, 2018.

The Brooklyn bar is not the only place Blum has identified from the photos. Other places the owner has taken pictures include the New England Air Museum in Connecticut, the Museum of Natural Science in North Carolina, the American Eagle Foundation in Tennessee and Chesapeake Beach in Maryland.

Blum is just hopeful by putting the word out, she can find whoever owns this camera so the memories aren’t lost forever.

“I know if I were them, I’d be so overwhelmed and very happy that I thought was gone, is not necessarily gone,” said Blum.

If you know who the camera belongs to or have any information that may help the rangers locate the owner, contact the Steamtown National Historic Site.



Photo Credit: Steamtown Historical Site

Storms Move Across the State Saturday Afternoon

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Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon brought heavy rain, thunder, lightning and even hail in parts of the state.

Most of the storms have cleared out but it’s a little too early to rule out another isolated storm through the early evening hours.

The rest of the weekend looks dry.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Metro Likely Spent Over $500K on a Self-Cleaning Toilet

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Metro may have flushed over half a million dollars down the drain on a self-cleaning toilet that hasn't worked in years.

A new report by Metro's inspector general pointed out the issue. The self-cleaning toilet is located at the Huntington station in Northern Virginia, and records show it hasn't worked since 2017 — this despite years of maintenance that likely totaled more than $500,000. 

The office of the inspector general found evidence that WMATA spent $416,789.32 based on "known" invoices between 2003 and 2017, but the office didn't receive four years of invoices. "Based on spending from the previous years, it is probable that WMATA spent over $500,000 on the self-cleaning toilet that has been out-of-service since the fall of 2017," the report said.

The figures associated with costs of the restroom represent costs over a 16-year period, Ian Jannetta, a Metro spokesperson, clarified in an email.

Some watchdog groups say it's an example of Metro's poor spending practices.

Metro, however, said that the restroom was necessary given the circumstances around the time the it was introduced.  

The toilet was installed in 2003 at a time when riders weren't allowed to use existing facilities in restricted areas due to post-9/11 security concerns, Jannetta said in the email.

"Many customers welcomed the initiative at the time, and the restroom remained in service through multiple Metro administrations," he said.

Now that station managers can grant access to existing restrooms, the toilet was decommissioned and removed earlier this year, Jannetta said.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Police Investigate New Haven Bank Robbery

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Police are investigating after a bank robbery in New Haven Friday night.

The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. at Webster Bank on Whalley Avenue in the Westville Village.

Police said they were told a man walked into the bank and appeared to be talking into a headset of Bluetooth device as he approached the bank teller counter.

The man was holding papers or a magazine in his hands when he leaned onto the counter, showed the teller a small black handgun and demanded money, according to police.

The man was last seen walking west on Whalley Avenue toward Blake Street, police said.

Witnesses described the robber as a dark complexioned male last seen wearing a dark short sleeve shirt and fitted baseball cap, according to police.

It is unknown how much money the man took.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 203-946-6304.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Red Sox: David Ortiz Released From Hospital

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Red Sox legend David Ortiz has been released from the hospital, according to the team.

Ortiz was released on Friday. He will reportedly continue his rehab at home and be monitored by nurses and his personal doctor.

Ortiz, 43, was shot in the back in his native Dominican Republic on June 9. After undergoing emergency surgery in the D.R., Ortiz was flown to Boston to receive further care at Mass General Hospital.



Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
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