August 1 marked the beginning of the need for free plastic bags in Connecticut. Shoppers will have to pay an extra 10 cents for plastic bags.

The state expects to generate more than $27 million within the first year. Single-use plastic bags will be phased out entirely by July 2021.

Many shoppers and business owners knew of the tax but forgot Thursday marked the start of the new law.

Carmen Bauza loves the luxury of grabbing a plastic bag when picking up her lunch order and using them for other household chores.

“I thought it was only supermarkets and stuff,” said Bauza. “I just found out now that it is restaurants that are also charging for plastic bags.”

Bauza frequents many restaurants during the week to pick up her lunch and says she’s skeptical about the increase on her food receipts.

“My question is ‘are they going to start charging for plastic silverware,” said Bauza. “I just hope we get to a point where I’m walking out with my food in my hands or something.”

The state of Connecticut is not looking to charge customers for utensils but want to emphasize the need for buying eco-friendly bags.

Business Owner Tatianna Pollard says she understands both sides of the argument.

“As a business owner we pay for all of our supplies,” said Pollard “At the same time, I don’t think as a business you should charge your customers for paper.”

According to the Department of Revenue, restaurants must enforce the tax. Otherwise, restaurants can expect to face severe penalties if their audit does not state a charge for the 10 cent tax.

Gov. Ned Lamont is also chiming in on the push for reusable bags, issuing this statement:

“We want Connecticut to continue to be a leader in addressing climate change and environmentally conscious initiatives. Phasing out single-use plastic bags in an important step in continuing that effort. While it will be an adjustment for businesses and consumers, it ultimately will be beneficial to the health and environment of our state.”

The push for consumers to use eco-friendly bags has a lot of pushback from different demographics.

Ruth Bermudz walks to purchase her groceries and says it’s difficult going back and forth to stop and shop right up the street.

“It’s going to be very heavy carrying all of those groceries,” said Bermudz. “Plus, I have to find a way to carry my groceries.”

It’s the price that’s got Bermudz over the edge.

“It adds up to everything else that is so expensive now we have to purchase the bags,” said Bermudz. “If you add that 10 cents up it’s very expensive.”

The fee will affect those on supplemental nutrition assistance program also known as SNAP and the Women, Infants and Children program, known as WIC.

Grocery stores like Stop and Shop are giving customers a break by not charging 10 cents for paper bags until September 3.

Stop and Shop, Big Y and Shoprite have already banned plastic bag, but are selling reusable bags for a discount to accommodate shoppers.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty when it comes to every dollar and cent government spends. Sounds like an impossible task? One Connecticut town seems to have it down.

In NBC Connecticut Investigates’ continuing series, “At A Price! The High Cost of Local Town Living” we take a closer look.

Manchester town leaders admit their painstaking approach to tracking the number of swim lessons given every year, to employee cell phone use, has not lowered taxes in town.

However, they say it has kept costs down, to the point where taxes are not going out of the ballpark.

Organized baseball was one of the first professions outside of finance to use detailed statistical measures to help teams that rarely had a winning record suddenly become competitive.

Enter Manchester, Connecticut.

Ten years ago it began the slow rollout of having almost every department in local government track certain performance measures, and now, the town is reaping the benefits of years of data to analyze how well it does everything from road resurfacing to DUI arrests.

Manchester Budget and Research Officer Brian Wolverton explained, “There’s just an immense amount of information that’s available.”

Manchester shares the highlights with its taxpayers in an annual operations and performance report, with charts and graphs that show people how many potholes get fixed every year, how long it takes to get a building plan review, the town employee turnover rate, and more. You can review the most recent report here. 

Manchester taxpayers appreciate the transparency and detailed information.

Carl Kennedy told NBC Connecticut Investigates “It’s nice to know where your money goes for a change. When you got to pay those taxes they want them right away, now you get an explanation on where it’s going.’”

These stats do more than just show people where their tax dollars are going. They also help Manchester where it needs to add or cut resources, to become more efficient.

“By having that exact level, that high detail of information, we’re able to determine exactly what we need,” Wolverton said.

Case in point, by drilling down on data, the town figured out how to cut the 500 hours per year its health inspectors spent on the road driving to appointments, in half.

“…looking at how the inspections were being scheduled, so previously they were just being scheduled as they came in, so you’d have inspectors going basically across town multiple times in a day, now there’s an effort to try to cluster the inspections so the inspector isn’t really doing as much travel as they once were,” Wolverton explained.

He added that this money saving move is just the tip of the iceberg, thanks to the town taking steps to drill down on almost every function of its local government.

Days after parents learned a Hartford child care center would be closings its doors after the city decided to transfer funding from the Community Renewal Team’s School Readiness Program, city officials spoke at a meeting to reassure families that there will still be affordable child care available to families.

Several key officials from the Bronin administration were at the meeting to try to put some of the fears of the community to rest, particularly finding alternative, low cost full day care for their children that’s still in the neighborhood.

But CRT said they want an outside group to come in and review the city’s funding decision.

“Who made that determination because I know six classrooms in this center alone are well above standard,” one attendee said during public comment. “I don’t know where you got your information.”

Upset families had a lot of questions after learning the Grace Street Center, which provides low cost, year-round early child care, would close at the end of August after the city decided to move some of CRT’s funds to other providers.

At Thursday’s meeting the mayor, schools superintendent, head of Department of Children Families, Youth and Recreation and state’s commissioner of early childhood were all in attendance to assure parents there would still be a place elsewhere for each of their children.

“You will have an affordable, close and high quality early learning opportunity for your kids,” Mayor Luke Bronin (D) said.

“While I think it’s really important for people to understand that an organization, CRT is losing spots, kids and families are not losing spots,” he added.

The city cites performance challenges and low scoring evaluations as reasons for the funding redistribution, something CRT now wants independently evaluated.

“For us to be judged based on one person’s review one time during the course of an entire year on a 20 minute visit, that’s entirely unfair,” said Jason Black, communications director for CRT.

"We know that those scores, they’re incorrect. If you talk to any of our teachers, they know that this is not fair representation of their classrooms and how I classrooms operate," he added.

The mayor said he’s asked the Office of Early Childhood to review the decision, which he stands by, for a second time.

CRT mom Natalie Morris left the meeting still disappointed that she’ll have to send her daughter elsewhere.

“If you know that a program is struggling, why not help that program out? Why take away from a program that is struggling?” she said.

Morris said she was concerned about sending her child to another program that she is not farmiliar with, and said she felt ignored in the process.

"I don’t know of those other agencies, I cannot speak about those agencies and what they’re offering," she said.

The mayor said representatives from the city are willing to meet with every family impacted by these changes at CRT to discuss their options and alternative placements with them.

CRT said some of the other facilities receiving slots taken from them aren’t yet able to take the CRT kids, something the city disputes.

The town of Southbury has been around for hundreds of years but some think it’s time to modernize its charter. That means changing to gender-neutral titles, for example switching from selectman to selectperson.

Supporters believe the current terms are outdated and need to be revised. The hope is this also leads to more women taking on leadership roles in town.

“We need more women at the decision making tables in Connecticut,” said Michele Zommer of Southbury.

That’s part of why Zommer says she’s pushing for change in Southbury.

On Thursday, she encouraged town leaders to adopt gender-neutral titles.

“Some have said this is trivial. And some have said this is controversial. I say it’s respectful. And I say it’s about time,” said Zommer.

Here’s what the Charter Revision Commission has already proposed for changes to the charter: Board of Selectmen would become Select Board, selectman switches to selectperson and chairman updates to chairperson.

All the ideas had the backing of those who spoke during public comment at the Selectmen’s meeting on Thursday.

“I think terms are so important,” said Sharon Wirt of Southbury.

“Board of Selectmen: what’s wrong with that term? It’s archaic, inaccurate and non-inclusive,” said Tom Adamski of Southbury.

Some in the community – including several we spoke with off-camera – wondered if these changes were really necessary.

But many were in favor.

“Language influences thought and if we have a gender-neutral term I think it would promote equality of the sexes,” said Howard Zik of Southbury.

“I think it’s a great idea. I mean the world is changing and they have to adapt to that,” Mary Toomey of Southbury.

Now the board will continue to work with the Charter Revision Commission to finalize any changes to the charter.

Voters ultimately would get a chance to weigh in before anything goes forward.

Scores of people gathered Thursday evening at a vigil in Gilroy to remember and honor the victims of Sunday's deadly mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

As the investigation into the festival shooting and the gunman's motive continues, people continue to offer their support to the victims, their loved ones and those who survived the rampage.

Some gathered Wednesday night for a prayer service at Gilroy's South Valley Community Church. Others have purchased #GilroyStrong T-shirts at $20 apiece to benefit the victims and their families. Countless have made donations to the Gilroy Foundation, which stands at about $145,000 and counting.

"So the residents here really rally and help out," Mark Turner with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce said. "I think that really speaks to the heart of our community." 

While people rally around Gilroy in support, the FBI on Thursday released some of the belongings festivalgoers left behind as they fled the chaos.

The FBI is only releasing items left on the festival's "Park Side," which includes the children's area and amphitheatre stage. The "Ranch Side," which is located north of "Gourmet Alley," remains an active crime scene. People with items on that side of the festival site are asked to give a description of their belongings in person at Rucker Elementary School or on the FBI's website.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office says about 250 people have already sought help at a family assistance center located at Rucker Elementary School. The center will remain open through 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. It will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Victims can seek counseling and financial assistance for medical care. Vendors can seek compensation for lost wages.

An NYPD judge recommended firing the officer accused of using a banned chokehold in the July 2014 death of Eric Garner, law enforcement sources familiar with the decision tell News 4.

The judge found officer Daniel Pantaleo -- who has been on modified administrative duty in the years since Garner's death on a Staten Island street corner -- guilty of using a chokehold on the 43-year-old father, which is banned under NYPD policy, according to a high-level source familiar with the decision.

The chokehold or no-chokehold debate was the crux of the entire case against Pantaleo, whom a grand jury declined to indict and whom the U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute. Prosecutors had argued the video, which captured Garner's dying words, "I can't breathe," clearly showed Pantaleo use a banned chokehold -- and the medical examiner's autopsy report listed a chokehold as the cause of his death. Health factors, including obesity and high blood pressure, were mentioned as contributing factors in that report.

Defense attorneys submitted that the move Pantaleo was seen using was not an illegal chokehold, but a department-approved takedown move used to subdue suspects resisting arrest -- and that his arm was not around Garner's neck when he said, repeatedly, "I can't breathe."

The judge's Friday ruling is preliminary, not the final decision regarding the fate of Pantaleo. Next, both Pantaleo's attorney and attorneys for the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which prosecuted the case, will have an opportunity to meet with the judge to discuss the decision before it goes to NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill, who will ultimately make the decision on the officer's future.

The attorneys have up to two weeks to do that, then the departmental judge sends her final findings to O'Neill, who will decide whether to fire Pantaleo or not.

Asked about the case on "The Joe Piscopo Show" Thursday, O'Neill said the department has been working since Garner's death to build community trust.

"We have the same cops, the same sectors every day. We have great detectives dealing with the crime victims," O'Neill said. "There has to be real relationships and when something does happen, those relationships are established beforehand and then the trust is there and they'll trust us they'll give us the opportunity to explain what happened."

The development comes after the U.S. Department of Justice announced July 16 -- a day before its deadline -- that it would not file civil rights or criminal charges against Pantaleo, who has been on modified duty since Garner's death. 

U.S. Attorney General William Barr made the final decision in that case, an official said, adopting the recommendation of prosecutors in Brooklyn. Lawyers in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, however, had a different view and believed charges could have been pursued, according to two officials.

Pantaleo's NYPD trial in the death of the 43-year-old Garner, whose dying words, "I can't breathe," became a rallying cry for the national movement against police brutality began May 13 and wrapped up in June.

Garner, an unarmed black man, refused to be handcuffed after police stopped him on a Staten Island street corner for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. Pantaleo, who is white, is seen on a widely watched cellphone video putting Garner in an apparent chokehold, which is banned under NYPD policy.

Pantaleo did not face criminal charges; a grand jury opted not to indict him, prompting a series of national protests and marches. However, a judge subsequently said a disciplinary trial could proceed.

The disciplinary trial kicked off to heightened emotions as protesters swarmed a major New York City highway at the height of the morning rush, stretching a banner across the FDR condemning the officer.

During the disciplinary trial, officer William Meems, one of the officers who responded to the Eric Garner arrest scene in July 2014, testified May 21 he thought the 43-year-old father, seen on widely circulated video gasping "I can't breathe," was faking it.

Pantaleo's partner, Justin D'amico, also took the stand, testifying that he and Pantaleo waited about nine minutes before trying to arrest Garner because he was "irate." He also testified that Garner twice tried to smack his hand away.

Under cross examination, D'amico acknowledged he finished filling out Garner's arrest form even after the man was dead -- and that form charged Garner with a felony amount of cigarette sales. Garner had very few cigarettes on him when he was stopped that day, prosecutors have said.

Video showed Pantaleo put an arm around Garner's neck in an apparent chokehold; the officer's attorney, though, said in opening statements that the cop's arm was not around Garner's neck when he said "I can't breathe."

Garner died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. His death was ruled a homicide, with the medical examiner listing a chokehold as the cause of his death.

The defense has argued that Pantaleo did not use a chokehold, which is banned under NYPD policy, but an approved tactic called a "seat-belt hold" in an attempt to take Garner down. Defense lawyer Stuart London has also cited Garner's health -- hypertension, obesity, an enlarged heart -- as reasons for his death.

While the medical examiner listed those as contributing factors, the autopsy report concluded that those issues did not cause Garner to die.

On May 15, describing the chokehold as the first event in a lethal cascade of events, Dr. Floriana Persechino, the medical examiner, testified she found hemorrhages on muscles inside the neck, root of tongue and the back of his neck. She said there was a 2-inch hemorrhage in front of his larynx. The hemorrhages, she said, occurred around the time of Garner's death. She noted that she found no visible injuries under Garner's neck, but said in her medical opinion, the 43-year-old father was put in a chokehold.

Additionally, an NYPD training expert testified that the move seen on the video "meets the definition of a chokehold." That contradicts the defense's claim that Pantaleo used an approved technique called a "seat-belt hold."

However, a few weeks later, the defense brought in a key expert witness that contradicted the city's medical examiner's opinion on cause of death.

Dr. Michael Graham was one of two witnesses that testified before the defense rested its case.

Graham said a chokehold did not kill Garner because he could speak and never lost consciousness.

Graham said he believes Garner's death was caused by heart problems because "his heart disease was exacerbated by the interaction with law enforcement.”

The same day that Graham testified, the defense brought in another witness -- one who taught officer Pantaleo at the police academy -- testified the alleged chokehold seen in the famous cell phone video from the 2014 incident was instead a proper procedure called a "seatbelt" maneuver.

Pantaleo did not testify at his trial. Instead, the judge received a written transcript of his statements to internal affairs. This did not sit well with Garner's mother Gwen Carr, who was furious Pantaleo did not testify.

"Is that fair? Is that justice?" she asked those waiting outside the trial after the defense rested its case.

Subsequently, during closing arguments, London said his client wanted to keep his job. 

Pantaleo's trial was highly anticipated and even brought out a federal prosecutor that sat in on the administrative trial.

The appearance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Geddes at a proceeding signaled that the Department of Justice still has an interest in how Garner died. Ultimately, however, the U.S. Justice Department, which had faced a July 17 deadline, the fifth anniversary of Garner's death, to decide whether to file civil rights charges against Officer Daniel Pantaleo or others involved in the fatal arrest on a Staten Island sidewalk decided to not file charges July 16. The statute of limitations on most federal charges is five years.

Garner's family received $5.9 million from the city in 2015 to settle a wrongful death claim. Federal prosecutors have until July to file civil rights charges against Pantaleo.

One of the hottest back to school accessories this year may surprise parents -- bulletproof backpacks. The bags highlight the harsh reality and dangers faced by students today.

Anna, a mother of two, said she was more frustrated and sad than shocked to see the bags on store shelves and, despite the numerous shootings at schools in recent years, said she wouldn't purchase one for her children.

"I don't think it's necessary," she said.

Guard Dog Security, a manufacturer of the bags, said they're resistant to a 9mm handgun and a .45 Magnum.

"If you're in an active shooter situation, your first instinct should be to run away from this scenario. Take the backpack to yank it over your head and cover your vital organs," said Yasir Sheikh, president of Guard Dog Security.

The key component, manufacturers say, is the Kevlar mesh in the back of the bag.

"It's designed to stop the penetration," said Adam Campbell, gun instructor.

In tests, the bag stopped a 9mm round and a .45 at 15 feet.

"I can feel it in there, but it did not penetrate with a .45," Campbell said.

A high-velocity rifle, however, was able to penetrate the bag.

"It's really, really super high velocity compared to those handguns, so like we said, went right through,"  Campbell said.

Manufacturers admit the bags aren't the ultimate solution, but they do allow students to take a proactive approach to their safety with a layer of protection.

The backpacks retail for about $119 for youth sizes and $190 for adult sizes.

Three people were injured in an explosion at a water treatment facility in Stamford Thursday night.

A release on the Stamford Fire Department website says firefighters responded to 700 Canal St. at 10:50 p.m. after a loud explosion was heard, then they were sent to the water treatment facility at 111 Harbor View Ave., where there had been an explosion. 

Officials at the water treatment plant told first responders that there might have been a dust explosion, according to the fire department.

The initial reports were that two employees were injured, and those two employees were immediately treated, then transported for more care.

A third worker later reported he was injured and was transported to the hospital.

No fire was found, officials said, but the explosion damaged several roll-up garage doors and several windows.

Local officials as well as OSHA were notified, and the Stamford fire marshal's office is investigating.

Fire officials said the facility has contingency plans in place for treating the sewage in the event of a facility failure.

The company that makes Entenmann's popular Little Bites soft baked cookies has initiated a voluntary recall of the treats in 37 states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, over concerns plastic pieces may have gotten into the individual packaging. 

Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc., said in its recall notice Thursday that the plastic was not baked into the product, but could be inside the individual pouches for the 5-pack Mini Chocolate chip variety snacks. No Little Bites muffins or other Entenmann's brand products are affected by the recall.

The company announced the recall after receiving consumer reports of visible, blue plastic pieces found on or in the packaged product. No injuries have been reported. All recalled products are being removed from store shelves, Bimbo Bakeries said.

Anyone who purchased the affected cookies can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can call 1-800-984-0989 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company said. See complete details on the recall, including all affected states, here. 

The man who was behind the wheel of a vehicle that Hamden and Yale police officers opened fire on in New Haven in April is accused of driving under the influence during a crash that injured a bicyclist in New Haven on Friday morning and was arrested after a chase, according to police.

New Haven Police said a bicyclist was struck at 12:19 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Whalley and Sherman avenue and police arrested 21-year-old Paul Witherspoon, of Hamden, after a chase.

He is being held on a $75,000 bond and will be arraigned in New Haven court today.

Witherspoon was at the center of a police-involved shooting in New Haven in April that sparked protests in the streets of the city.

He and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Stephanie Washington, were both in a car at the intersection of Dixwell Avenue and Argyle Street in New Haven early on the morning of Tuesday, April 16 when police officers from Yale and Hamden who were investigating reports of an attempted armed robbery in Hamden opened fire on it, according to state police. Washington was injured in the shooting. She and Witherspoon were unarmed at the time.

New Haven police said Washington, 22, of West Haven, was a passenger in the front seat Friday. She and the back-seat passenger were not injured, according to police.

The bicyclist who was injured walked away from the scene of the crash before emergency medical responders arrived and New Haven Police are urging that person to come forward and seek medical treatment.

Witherspoon has been charged with weapon in a motor vehicle, carrying a dangerous weapon, interfering with a police officer, driving under the influence, evading responsibility, engaging police in pursuit, reckless driving and additional motor vehicle violation.

Police said the charge of carrying a dangerous weapon was for a stun gun.

Police are asking witnesses who have not spoken to police to call the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6316.

New Haven police are investigating a shooting in the city's Westville section.

Officers found a gunshot victim in the 200 block of Valley Street near West Hills Road, police said.

There is no word on the victim's condition.

A former employee of a Bloomfield butcher shop who is accused of slaughtering a cow in the parking lot of a Bloomfield Home Depot last month has been charged with cruelty to animals.

Bloomfield police said Badr Musaed turned himself in at the Bloomfield Police Department Thursday.

What Happened:

The incident leading to the arrest happened on July 13 when a young cow at the Saba meat store in Bloomfield got loose and ran across the street to Home Depot.

Musaed, who was a Saba employee, and a contractor who was doing renovation work there followed the cow, armed with a bow and arrow. 

The officer who saw the wild pursuit of the cow tried to help box it in with his police cruiser.

Then, according to the police report, the contractor shot the arrow “as the cow ran towards the employees,” but he missed and the arrow struck the wall of the Home Depot.”

Moments later, Musaed was seen pulling out a foot long knife in the back of the Home Depot. Then, according to police, “Three of the employees grabbed onto the cow … one employee … pulled out a knife and proceeded to cut the cow’s throat.”

Bloomfield police initially gave Musaed a ticket for creating a public disturbance, noting in the incident report that Musaed and his coworkers appeared unremorseful.

Meat Shop Closed

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

The state Department of Agriculture then issued a cease and desist order for the butcher shop.

A man who identified himself as the store’s manager told NBC Connecticut Investigates that 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.

Saba’s spokesman told NBC Connecticut Investigates last week that the store would remain closed while it works to brings violations found up to code. The issues mostly involve keeping livestock clean, and free from heat stress. 

What’s Next:

Musaed was released after posting a $10,000 bond and is set to appear in court later this month.

Saba will be allowed to reopen after fixing of deficiencies.

For the second time this week, a beach off Martha's Vineyard was closed to swimming due to a great white shark sighting.

Edgartown Police confirmed that a shark was spotted at South Beach, and said officials have cleared the water and the beach is temporarily closed. 

The same beach was also closed for a time on Tuesday due to a shark sighting.

It's been a busy time for shark-related beach closures off Massachusetts, as Longnook Beach in Truro and Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet were both forced to close due to shark sightings earlier this week.

Swimmers at Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island, were also forced out of the water for a short time Friday morning after a fin was spotted. Marine biologists believe that it was a Mako shark, and not a great white.

And a shark was seen off Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport, Maine, on Thursday, according to police.

There have already been more than 150 great white shark sightings off New England this summer, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app. But those sightings don't equal the actual number of sharks, as the same shark can be spotted multiple times.

Dentists at the Saveetha Dental College and Hospital in India hit the jackpot — of teeth.

When a 7-year-old boy was brought to the hospital for swelling in his jaw, the surgeons noticed a large lesion with multiple hard structures at a single site in his lower jaw. Once they were able to begin surgery, doctors discovered a "bag-like mass" that turned out to contain 526 tooth-like structures, according to a news release from the hospital.

It took surgeons a total of five hours to remove all the teeth from the pocket, each varying in size from 1 millimeter to 15 millimeters. The diagnosis is known officially as “compound odontome,” but this case sets a world record for the amount of teeth found in a single person.

The parents of the child patient, identified only as Chennai, first noticed swelling in his mouth when he was 3 years old, but he refused to cooperate with professionals when taken to another hospital at the time. Four years later, with the swelling getting worse, the boy was taken to Saveetha where they found the stunning teeth sack.

“This pandora box of miniature teeth is a jewel on our crown...,” the hospital said. “It was reminiscent of pearls in an oyster.”

There was a possible shark sighting at Misquamicut State Beach in Rhode Island Friday, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. 

The beach manager, lifeguards and beachgoers saw a fin near the buoy marking the swim area about 50 yards from shore, right in front of the beach tower, around 9:45 a.m., and swimmers were alerted to get out of the water, according to a statement DEM provided to WJAR in Rhode Island. 

People were then restricted from going into water that was deeper than ankle high. 

DEM’s Division of Marine Fisheries was called and a marine biologists confirmed that the fin most likely was that of a Mako shark. 

Another fin was spotted around 10:30 a.m., much farther out. 

DEM said the policy is to keep beachgoers out of the water for an hour after a sighting. 

Misquamicut, which is just over the state border, is a popular beach for Connecticut residents.

Swimming is allowed again.

Hartford police have arrested a third person in connection with a fatal shooting behind Bulkeley High School in Hartford last month.

Police said 34-year-old Jorge Alicea was found shot in the back lot of the school at 300 Wethersfield Ave. around 12:30 p.m. on July 11. School was not in session at the time.

Police said Friday they have charged 27-year-old Luis Rivera with conspiracy to commit murder.

Police previously arrested 23-year-old Cynthia Cruz, who was charged her with murder, and 28-year-old Taichany Osorio, who was charged with conspiracy to commit murder charge.

Both are being held on a $1 million bond. Cruz is due in court on Aug. 8 and Osorio is due in court on Aug. 26.

Police said Alicea did not have a weapon on him and he was riding his bike at the time of the killing.

Two ambulances have been called to respond to a crash in Windsor. 

Police said the crash happened at the intersection of Blue Hills Avenue and Day Hill Road and two vehicles were involved. 

No additional information was immediately available.

Someone damaged the fields at Oxford High School after the fireworks went off at the Quaker Farms Volunteer Fire Company’s annual carnival Thursday and the fire company said it will cost more than the carnival brought in to repair it.

The volunteer fire company said it is responsible for maintaining the grounds for use of the school. 

“Every year, the members of QFFC work our tails off to run this carnival for the people of our town,” the Facebook post says.

After the fireworks ended Thursday night, someone destroyed the back field, now the volunteer organization is responsible for fixing the damage and said it will cost QFFC more money to re-sod the field than it made in profit for the entire carnival. 

“This is extremely disheartening and disappointing to say the least,” the Facebook post says. 

Fire officials are asking anyone with information to contact the fire department, police or approach fire officials at the carnival cook tent. 

It’s an up-close crime scene whose detectives are part of a program to help steer them away from the violence within their city.

“We think it’s important that they have role models to look up to,” Peter Getz, vice-president of the Hartford Police Athletic League said.

Some 200 kids from the Hartford Police Athletic League topped off their five-week summer camp at the Aetna PAL Day Friday. The camp is now in its fifth year, showing these kids positive ways to spend their summer days.

“There is a lot of downtime, the kids minds start to wonder, they get to wonder and there’s some perils out there in the streets that just lure the kids in and they think that maybe it’s a better way of life they think it’s a better way to do something,” Getz said.

Even Justice Williams knows the challenges, but through the help of the law enforcement leaders has learned to walk away.

“Sometimes I just ignore them and don’t talk to them and don’t be their friend anymore because they may be a bad influence,” Williams said.

“Learn new things and take your time with stuff, listen to other people when they’re talking,” Tanaro Edwards said.

These life lessons making waves among these youth and helping them recognize their worth.

“There are some tremendous athletes in the city. There’s people that are so educated they are such good kids and we just have to explore that and we just have to get that out of them,” Getz said.

The Police Athletic League also works with more than 100 kids a day for its after school program during the school year.