After a night of heavy rain, the sun welcomed a new day. But the damage done by heavy rainfall overnight in the Greater Hartford area is only now coming to light. 

“I woke up, I was like ‘let me go check the basement and make sure,’” said Angelo Darienco, of West Hartford. “I see like papers floating, so I went down there. I started sucking up water and pushing it all into my sub pump and I just finished about 10 minutes ago.” 

It took him nearly three hours to clean up. 

Darienco, like his neighbors on King Philip Drive, woke up to a mess in their basements. 

“The water in the basement was this high,” said his neighbor, Boris Kantor while motioning to his mid-calf. 

Boris’ new carpet was damaged by the water and had to be removed. 

“They tried to suck all the water and they pulled out the carpet, all the carpet everywhere,” explained his wife, Rita. 

At Capitol Automotive in Hartford, workers have a busy day ahead towing and repairing cars damaged by the water. But the auto repair shop’s owner, Tim Lee, said not all flash flood damage is visible on the surface. 

“Sometimes it does happen the next day when they realize, ‘my car is smelly,’ and the water gets in the vehicle,” Lee said, “When there’s a lot of heavy flooding in the area we get a lot of calls for cars getting water damaged.” 

Repairs on water damaged cars can be extensive and expensive. 

“A lot of things get damaged along the lines of interior, electrical problems,” Lee said, adding that repair costs can range from a few thousand dollars to, in some cases, more than the value of the car.

Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say there's an increased chance for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season this year.

According to an update released Thursday, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center increased the likelihood of an above-average hurricane season to 45 percent, up from 30 percent in their May outlook. The likelihood of near-normal activity is now at 35 percent, and the chance of below-normal activity has dropped to 20 percent.

"NOAA forecasters monitoring oceanic and atmospheric patterns say conditions are now more favorable for above-normal hurricane activity since El Nino has now ended. Two named storms have formed so far this year and the peak months of the hurricane season, August through October, are now underway," NOAA said in a news release.

The number of predicted storms was also increased, with NOAA now expecting 10-17 named storms, of which 5-9 will become hurricanes, including 2-4 major hurricanes.

"El Nino typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity but now that it's gone, we could see a busier season ahead," said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. "This evolution, combined with the more conducive conditions associated with the ongoing high-activity era for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995, increases the likelihood of above-normal activity this year."

The Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30.

After hinting at a possible pardon or commutation of the sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, President Donald Trump made his strongest statement yet on the matter Wednesday, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he is seriously considering commuting the former governor’s sentence.

"I'm thinking about commuting his sentence very strongly," the president told reporters. "He's been in jail for seven years over a phone call where nothing happens, over a phone call which he shouldn't have said what he said, but it was braggadocio, you would say."  [[512802782, C]]

According to Maggie Haberman of the New York Times and Reuters’ Jeff Mason, the president addressed Blagojevich’s sentence during an availability Wednesday night, saying that many observers thought the sentence was “unfair.”

“I thought he was treated unbelievably unfairly. He was given close to 18 years in prison,” the president told reporters. “And a lot of people thought it was unfair, like a lot of others things, and it was the same gang, the Comey gang and all these sleazebags that did it. You have drug dealers that get not even 30 days and they’ve killed 25 people. They put him in jail for 18 years.”

Haberman, citing administration officials, also reported that a Blagojevich pardon or commutation has been pushed for by the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner:

[[526734291, C]]

The comments came during a 45 minute meeting between the president and reporters aboard Air Force One. During the mostly off-record discussion, the president put only one thing on the record: that he was seriously considering commuting Blagojevich's sentence. 

"I am seriously thinking about -- not pardoning -- but I am seriously thinking of a curtailment of Blagojevich," he said. 

President Trump has addressed the Blagojevich sentence on multiple occasions since taking office in 2017, most notably after a Fox News interview featuring the former governor’s wife Patti Blagojevich in Dec. 2018.

In that interview, Blagojevich’s wife equated her husband’s case with the probe of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

“These prosecutors with their unchecked power and no oversight can go after any politician they want,” she said. “They were successful in going after my husband and locking him up and throwing away the key, and because nobody stopped them from going after my husband, now they are going after a bigger target!”

[[484189531, C]]

Those comments prompted a tweet of support from the president, who encouraged his social media followers to watch the interview.

“If that doesn’t tell you something about what has been going on in our country, nothing will,” he tweeted.

The president also praised the former governor's wife on Wednesday, saying that he thinks she is "fantastic." 

The former governor was removed from office in 2009 after he was indicting on charges that he tried to solicit contributions and other favors in exchange for the Senate seat of then president-elect Barack Obama. He was convicted of making false statements in Aug. 2010, and in a subsequent retrial was found guilty on 17 counts, including wire fraud and attempted extortion, in 2011.

 In Dec. 2011, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, and he has served over half of that sentence.

Recently, the Supreme Court declined to hear Blagojevich’s appeal in 2018, but President Trump indicated that he would consider commuting the sentence in a tweet in May 2018.

A longtime Michigan resident who had never been to Iraq but was deported there in June died this week after he couldn't get insulin to treat his diabetes, supporters said Thursday.

Jimmy Aldaoud, 41, who was born in Greece and came to the United States as an infant, was deported to Iraq on June 2. He died in Baghdad on Tuesday, Edward Bajoka, an immigration attorney in Michigan and a family friend of Aldaoud's, told NBC News. 

"Jimmy died tragically yesterday of a diabetic crisis. His death could have and should have been prevented, as his deportation was essentially a death sentence," Aldaoud's congressman, Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., said in a statement Wednesday. 

Aldaoud's parents were Iraqi refugees who decades ago fled to Greece, where Aldaoud was born. The family came to the United States about 40 years ago when Aldaoud was 6 months old, Aldaoud said in an undated Facebook video.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin says a court has cleared the city of Hartford to move forward and develop parcels around the minor league baseball stadium, Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

“As of just about an hour ago, the court has lifted the liens that would have made it difficult to move forward with the development of the parcels around the ballpark,” Bronin said. “The city is now clear to move forward and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”

Bronin said the plan for five parcels of surface parking around the park would be for mixed-use development, including residential, retail and a grocery store, around the ballpark. 

“We have said many times, we think that area of Albany and Main is an important area for a grocery store to be located,” Bronin said.

The mayor’s announcement comes after a jury decided in July that the city was justified in firing and ending a development agreement with Centerplan, the company hired to develop Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

Bronin fired Centerplan in 2016 after they missed their deadline to complete the ballpark.

“If past experience is any predicter, I’m sure that they will appeal. I’m also very confident of the city’s position,” Bronin said Thursday. “We won a strong victory at trial. We won I think an important victory today. I fully expect they’ll appeal. I also am confident that the city will ultimately prevail.”

The developer argued they didn’t finish the ballpark on time because of last minute changes made by the city. Centerplan sued the City of Hartford for wrongfully terminating its contract, leaving the land around the park in limbo.

The trial lasted five weeks. As part of the ruling, Centerplan owes $335,000 in damages. An attorney for Centerplan previously said they will appeal the decision.

Fotis Dulos is due back in court Friday for a pre-trial hearing on charges connected to the disappearance of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, who has been missing since May.

Fotis Dulos, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, have been charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in connection with the case and both are free on bond.

JENNIFER DULOS REPORTED MISSING

Jennifer Dulos has been missing since Friday, May 24.

She was last seen dropping her children off at school in New Canaan. After she missed several appointments that day, her friends reported her missing.

Court documents in the case say investigators who responded to Jennifer’s New Canaan found blood splatter and evidence of cleanup attempts.

THE SEARCH

The search for the missing mom of five has spanned the state and included days of sifting through trash at a facility in Hartford after bags containing Dulos’ blood were found.

Law enforcement officials have said surveillance video captured two people resembling Fotis Dulos and Michelle Traconis. Court documents say the man resembling Fotis was seen throwing out several bags that ended up in the trash plant.

According to a report from the Hartford Courant, police found a Vineyard Vines shirt stained with Jennifer Dulos’ blood among items recovered from trash cans on Albany Avenue in Hartford.

Multiple law enforcement sources told the Courant they also found a bra they believe is Jennifer’s as well as two mops and sponges all with her blood on them. 

CALL TO DISMISS CHARGES

The attorney representing Fotis Dulos has filed a motion to dismiss the charges filed against his client. It claims there is "insufficient evidence to warrant further proceedings." 

POLICE SEEKING TIPS IN CASE

New Canaan Police continue their investigation and say they have received more than 1,200 tips.

They urge everyone with information regarding Jennifer’s disappearance to contact them. In addition to the tip line, 203-594-3544, tips and information regarding Jennifer’s disappearance can be sent to FindJenniferDulos@newcanaanct.gov and submitted anonymously at www.FindJenniferDulos.com.

Two men were taken into custody Thursday after what authorities described as a road rage shooting in the drop-off line at an Alabama elementary school.

No one was injured in the shooting that happened in the parking lot of Blount Elementary School in Montgomery on Thursday morning, said Montgomery Department of Public Safety Spokeswoman Martha Earnhardt. Earnhardt said police are investigating exactly what happened, but initial reports indicated "this stemmed from road rage."

Earnhardt said one of the men pulled a gun and multiple shots were fired. Police took both men into custody and also confiscated a gun from the scene. Police are investigating whether there was an exchange of gunfire, she said.

The shooting occurred as the first students were arriving for the day.

Montgomery Public Schools spokesman Tom Salter said one man ran inside the school and put a gun down on a counter. A school staff member picked up the weapon and put it in a school safe until police arrived, Salter said.

The school, which serves students in kindergarten through third grade, was placed on a soft lockdown. Classes continued but students stayed inside and there were extra security precautions, Salter said.

The shooting happened on the third day of school for the year. Police did not immediately release the names of the men.

Montgomery Sgt. Jarrett Williams told WSFA a car was damaged during the shooting. Video from the television station showed a car being towed from the scene with what appeared to be a bullet hole in the side.

A line of strong thunderstorms has developed in upstate New York and could bring severe weather to Connecticut this evening.

The storms are racing east and may produce lightning, strong winds, and heavy rain through the state between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

This comes just 24 hours after thunderstorms dumped several inches of rain in parts of Connecticut, flooding streets and some basements.

Track the storms with our interactive radar.

Southington police are looking for whoever is responsible for abandoning a puppy in a paper bag on the side of the road. 

An animal control officer was called to the area of Empress Drive and West Center Street just before 12:30 p.m. on Thursday after someone reported finding the dog inside a shopping bag.

The young male beagle mix was lethargic and showed sings of severe neglect, according to police.

Anyone with information about the puppy is asked to call Detective James Armack at 860-378-1649.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch is warning the public about a phone scam where the number appears to come from a state court.

Officials said members of the public have reported to the Connecticut Judicial Branch that they have received calls from the Norwalk Superior Court since yesterday.

The caller claims that the person's loved one is locked up and they need to immediately provide a credit card number for bail, Judicial Branch officials added.

The caller ID shows the origin of the call as Norwalk Superior Court.

According to officials, these calls are scams. Anyone who receives one of these calls is urged not to provide any information including credit card numbers. They should also call their local police department.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch said they would never make a call soliciting payment.

A Milford woman has been arrested after dispatchers said she called 911 and threatened to shoot people at an airport in Bridgeport on Thursday.

Officials said the 911 center received a call around 12:40 p.m. where the caller said she was going to go to Sikorsky Airport and begin shooting people.

Bridgeport police responded to the incident, found the caller and arrested her in Milford, police added.

Authorities have identified the woman as Laurie Ott, of Milford.

She is facing charges including threatening and terrorist acts.

More than five decades after he disappeared in a war zone, the remains of a North Texas fighter pilot have finally come home.

During the height of the Vietnam War, Air Force Col. Roy A. Knight, a 36-year-old from Millsap, deployed to Southeast Asia.

On May 19, 1967, he was leading a strike mission over the country of Laos when his plane was hit by enemy fire and crashed.

His team never saw a parachute deploy.

Because the region was so hostile at the time, search and rescue efforts were limited, and he was never found.

It would be decades before a joint U.S./Laos team would begin investigating and excavating the area, searching for any sign of Knight and other soldiers who went missing during the war.

In January of this year, they got the breakthrough they were looking for.

The Department of Defense confirmed the team recovered possible human remains and life-support items near the area where Knight's plane went down.

They were sent to a lab for analysis. And on June 4 -- with the help of dental records -- Knight was finally accounted for.

"What incredible support we've had," said Roy Knight III, Col. Knight's son. "The active duty military personnel who actually went in there and spent almost a month on dad's crash site, excavating the area -- the fact that they were able to do that is remarkable."

Thursday, 52-years after he was shot down, Knight's remains completed the long journey home. One of his sons, who is now a pilot for Southwest Airlines, got to fly the plane on its final leg into Dallas Love Field.

"The Air Force and Southwest Airlines coming together to make it possible for my brother to fly dad on that last leg -- I can't say enough," said Knight. "They truly went way beyond themselves to make this happen. And I just could not be prouder to be associated with both of them."

Knight, members of his family, local law enforcement, and the Patriot Guard Riders lined the tarmac to greet him as he landed.

Then, after his casket was loaded into a hearse, they formed a procession around him, guiding him to Weatherford, where he'll be buried this weekend.

"It's a day we never thought would actually happen," said Knight. "And the fact that it did is remarkable. It's actually miraculous. There's a lot to this. There's competing emotions. He's coming home, which is a very good thing – but there's also the aspect of we're re-living the loss. We're really becoming reacquainted with all that in a very real manner...but I had no idea [the reception] was going to be like this. It's absolutely amazing."

For roughly two decades, the Greater Hartford Pro-Am has given local high school, college, and pro basketball players opportunities to play in summer tournaments.

However, NBC Connecticut Investigates has learned that financial woes have kept the tournament out of the city of Hartford this year.

At a July audit commission meeting, Hartford auditors noted the Greater Hartford Pro-Am basketball tournament still owed Hartford Public Schools over $40,000 from 2018 expenses and the city of Hartford another $20,000.

Efforts to collect the money, the audit said, have been unsuccessful and it’s not the first time this has happened.

Founder of the Greater Hartford Pro-Am tournament Peter Higgins admitted to NBC Connecticut Investigates that he has had trouble coming up with the funds to pay Hartford for using its gym facilities.

Higgins said because the Pro-Am is an NCAA sponsored organization, the Pro-Am is not allowed to charge for tickets or raffles and has relied upon sponsorships to pay referees, security guards and custodial fees.

The Pro-Am has since moved to New Britain due to what it calls high and in Higgins’ words, unexpected costs in Hartford.

But Hartford Public Schools said this has to do with something else, explaining that since so much is owed from last year, the Pro-Am was not asked to come back to the city’s facilities this summer.

A schools spokesperson explained "services were provided and are expected to be paid for,” but the district did not say how it expects to recover those funds.

Higgins said he hopes to bring the Pro-Am back to the Hartford area in the future.

For now, the program has moved to New Britain, where Higgins said the costs have been more bearable. He did not say how much they are.

A New Britain man says he got necrotizing fasciitis after swimming at Hammonasset with a cut on his leg.

His leg has since had to be amputated above the knee.

While the Connecticut Department of Public Health can’t comment on this case in particular, they want the community to know that these cases are rare.

“Necrotizing fasciitis is almost always random and is not infectious from person to person,” said Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Lynn Sosa.

It's so rare that over the past five years, she said there have only been between four and nine infections of necrotizing fasciitis caused by group A strep in the state.

While there is more than one type of bacteria that can cause necrotizing fasciitis, when it’s not treated immediately, the infection can spread quickly and dangerously, as Kagan says he’s experiencing firsthand.

Kagan is currently recovering at a local health center reflecting on the damage of the bacteria getting into a small cut. “All it was a little cut. Nothing more, nothing less.”

He said he got it from a shopping cart while at work. “I would say it was probably like that big. It wasn’t crazy. I’ve had cuts like that before.”

While folks at the Department of Public Health feel for Kagan, they don’t want the public to be scared.

“It’s usually because that person has a scrape or some kind of wound where the bacteria was able to get into the body and a very small amount of the time, it might cause this serious infection.”

Dr. Sosa said it’s really difficult to pinpoint where someone contracted the bacteria.

Medical experts said while rare, bacteria can get into open wounds from ocean water, especially if the person has a compromised immune system.

“I don’t think people should be advised not to go into the ocean just for the sake of it, but if someone has an open wound, we tell them not to go into the ocean and not to go swimming,” said Dr. Tanaya Bhowmick, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Experts recommend all residents keep any cuts clean and if there’s redness or pain, call your doctor immediately.

It's something Kagan is thankful his family eventually did. “The message probably should be, look, be careful when you go near a twig. Be careful when you open something, be careful when you do this, do that. But it can happen anytime anywhere. Just be careful.”

CT DEEP said they have no information about how or where Kagan contracted his case, but in an email, the deputy commissioner said DEEP uses, “nationally accepted testing protocols which provide an indicator of water quality—and Hammonasset because of its tidal flushing cycle, typically has very high water quality.”

She added, “with thousands of types of bacteria in the environment, we do not test for specific types as they are usually present in the environment in very small amounts.”

“There’s bacteria everywhere including on our own bodies and our mouths and our skin,” said Dr. Bhowmick.

Medical experts said most of the time, the bacteria is good, but sometimes it isn’t and it enters places it shouldn’t, as it did for Kagan.

“I don’t know how I made it, but I did and look I got 20-25 more years left on this earth, I’m going to make it good. That’s what I’m going to do,” Kagan said.

He's so thankful for his family during this ordeal. Kagan said he’ll continue rehab for a month or two before he gets fitted for a prosthetic leg.

The Connecticut Fire Academy’s Introduction to the Fire Service is no ordinary youth summer program.

Thirty-two teenagers from around Connecticut have been at the academy this week, learning critical firefighting elements.

“The program is really about teamwork, respect and responsibility,” explained Connecticut Fire Academy Program Planner Alan Zygmunt.

The Academy’s Introduction to the Fire Service is an immersive residential program designed to provide teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 an opportunity to explore the industry.

“It is a very intense program,” explained lead instructor Shannon McFadden. “They come on Monday morning and they do not leave until after their graduation on Saturday.”

As intense as it might be, these kids – many who are already part of fire department’s youth programs - aren’t complaining.

“It’s really fun,” said Rachel Barbagallo, of Norfolk. “You get to experience a lot of new equipment and techniques.”

Aiden Mardis-Richard of Woodbridge agreed. He said there are a lot of things they can do in this program that are not allowed at their home station. “With ladders, we can’t go over 6 feet, but here that doesn’t apply,” he said, “so we can go up through the windows and up into the buildings.”

The seven day experience takes these cadets through various stations and offers instruction and valuable hands-on experience.

“I’ve gotten a lot better at knot tying. I’ve worked more with ladders and things. We’re about to go work with hoses. Those are kind of my weak points so I’m glad to be working on those,” added Mardis-Richard.

The firefighting industry is also benefiting as a new crop of talent is developed, perhaps helping fill a void created by a shortage of firefighters.

“There’s just a chance that there’s gonna be more and more of them and they’re gonna be more educated so that they can jump right in and be able to be an asset to the different departments around the state,” said McFadden.

According to the Connecticut Fire Academy, graduation from this particular course nearly guarantees these cadets a job opportunity once they turn 18.

It’s that time of year again. Little Leaguers from all around New England have converged upon Bristol, Connecticut, for the Eastern Regional Finals.

On Thursday, as New Hampshire took on Rhode Island, the streets outside Giamatti Stadium were lined with cars. For area businesses, this tournament is a home run as families involved are ready to spend whatever it takes for the experience.

“It’s a lot. It’s a big sacrifice, but it’s worth it.” says Leslie Nixon.

Nixon has traveled from New Hampshire to watch her son play and like most other parents involved, is ready to spend some money in Bristol, especially on one thing.

“Food, food and food,” she said is the big expense.

Restaurants are ready, including Bristol’s Corner Pizza, They said they see a 10-percent increase inside the pizzeria, but really get a bump through delivery. Corner Pizza handles the account for the series, delivering 30 to 40 pizzas per night to feed the hungry players.

“We’ll see some come in and pick up,” said Corner Pizza owner Geoge Bourlogiannis. “But the biggest change is our increase in delivery. That’s a huge impact for us.”

No Little League tournament, though, would be complete without ice cream.

“It brings in a lot of the Little Leaguers when they come,” said Brittany Schug, a manager of a nearby Friendly’s, “It’s wonderful.”

Schug looks forward to serving all the teams, but knows, in order to do it, the restaurant needs to staff up.

“We definitely start adding more people on,” she said. “We need to make sure they’re well taken care of.”

Parents we spoke with said they are also prepared to spend seven nights in a hotel. No small expense, but one these parents are willing to do for the experience.

“It’s once in a lifetime,” said Mark Hall whose son plays on the Goffstown team. “They’re treating these kids like they’re pros out here.”

For the families involved, there is one sure way to cut down the expense of this tournament and that’s by being eliminated.

No one here is willing to make that exchange and all are very happy to continue spending if it means a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League World Series.

Recent graduates of the Coast Guard Academy Helen Oh and Brian Kim are staying on campus to train for the 2020 Olympics in the sport of pistol shooting.

“During the shooting, I’m laser focused and I try to eliminate any thoughts,” said Kim, who is hoping to qualify in the 10m air pistol and 25m rapid fire pistol events.

“You have to visualize that you are going to shoot a ten ring every time,” added Oh, who is aiming to qualify in the 10m air pistol and 25m women’s sport pistol.

Both stick to a regimented schedule and train for three to four hours a day.

“I wake up at 5:15 a.m. every day,” said Kim. “I don’t look at my phone a lot because I want my eyes to rest. If I do drink any caffeinated drink, I do feel the tremor in my hands when I hold it out.”

“It’s definitely a lifestyle because you have to be in the mentality of being an Olympic athlete,” said Oh.

Brian and Helen are delaying the start of their military careers in hopes of representing the United States in Tokyo.

“It would mean the world to me because I have so much passion for the sport,” said Oh.

“Making the team is more than just myself, but everyone who supported me and helped me get to this place,” added Kim.

Both are training daily with their college coach Richard Hawkins, who was an Olympic hopeful himself 35 years ago.

“If you want to beat everyone else in the world and be an Olympic champion, all things being equal, it’s the person who is most dedicated, disciplined and motivated,” said Hawkins.

Concentration and focus are vitally important to their success in competition.

“I try to think about shooting a ten, I try to think about my entire process,” said Oh.

“Perfect your process,” added Hawkins. “In this game, there’s no room for error.

New Haven Mayor Toni N. Harp and Puerto Ricans United President Joe Rodriguez joined together for the Puerto Rican flag-raising ceremony on Thursday.

The event set the stage for the Puerto Rican Festival on the New Haven Green from 1:00-8:00 p.m.

But an online comment is catching the attention of organizers and police.

The New Haven Police Department has been working with other city departments and event organizers in planning for the New Haven Puerto Rican Festival, which is set to take place on Saturday. NHPD has learned of a recent social media comment which has created concerns about this weekend’s event.

Police Chief Otoniel Reyes issued this statement:

“I am aware of the comment that was posted on social media referencing the Puerto Rican Festival on Saturday and have launched a full investigation. We are working closely with our federal, state and local partners, as we do for all major events, and have not identified any threat to the event. I encourage everyone to come out with their families to enjoy Saturday’s festivities on the New Haven Green. The NHPD looks forward to sharing in the celebration and will be working alongside our partners to ensure everyone at the event has a safe and enjoyable experience.”

The words were clear on Thursday afternoon from people coming together to celebrate the kickoff of the Puerto Rico Parade.

“Anytime you receive a threat to public safety especially when we’re having a public event, we take it pretty seriously,” said Rick Fontana, the director of New Haven’s Emergency Operations. “When we see what’s going around the rest of the world, it makes us really concerned, but we do know that we do have plans and protocols in place.”

The hate speech did not drown the emotions from those who came together as one blended community.

Joe Rodriguez wants everyone to remember that unity is the best way to move forward.

“We’re going to do what we do best as a community and that’s in the presence of hate, we’re going to respond with love, in the presence of division we’re going to respond with unity,” said Rodriguez. “We need to stand up speak out now more than ever and be proud of who we are and what we stand for.”

Leaders and a diverse audience stood together as one to celebrate the kickoff event.

Enna Garcia says the annual festival is a reminder of why diversity creates for a better nation.

“We need to come out together and demonstrate that we’re not going to live in fear we’re just going to enjoy our ourselves and do what we came to do,” said Garcia. “The festival shows that were being represented across the nation and our town.”

Michelle Lee Rodriguez is proud to see her culture celebrated and embraced by the city.

“We want to unite and always share with everyone with all of our cultures,” said Rodriguez. “Everything that we have from our food, music, traditions and all our music.”

A driver narrowly escaped injury in South Windsor on Thursday after a tire hit his or her vehicle on Interstate 291 and caused damage.

Firefighters were called to I-291 around 6 p.m. after getting a report of a crash.

When crews arrived, they said they learned a tire had come loose from an unknown location and hit a vehicle traveling westbound.

The driver was not injured and declined medical treatment on scene, firefighters said.

I-291 westbound was down to one lane for a period of time, but has since reopened.

Connecticut State Police are investigating.

A group of police officers are being hailed as heroes after saving a teenager who was threatening to jump from a bridge in Waterbury on Wednesday.

Police said a teen was up on a bridge over Interstate-84 ready to jump and that it was a bottle of water that helped bring him to safety.

Crews from NBC Connecticut caught footage of the tense rescue.

In the video, you can see the teen reach for the water and officers pull him off of the fence and away from danger.

This all happened on Wednesday afternoon when an ambulance crew reported a young man on the Highland Avenue Bridge over I-84.

The highway was shut down and police attempted to make contact, but learned that the teen only spoke Portuguese.

Waterbury, Naugatuck and Connecticut State Police all worked together to rescue the teen.

With the help of translators, for nearly an hour, they talked to him and begged him to come down.

Eventually Waterbury police officer Cem McAvoy said that he thought about offering the teen water and when the boy reached down to grab it, that's when McAvoy grabbed him.

"I think I breathed the biggest sigh of relief I ever did in my life. Watching him up there was the scariest thing I've ever had in my career so far," Officer McAvoy said.

Officials said the teen was taken to the hospital where he is getting the help he needs.