Norwalk police have responded to eight drug overdoses in a week and said five of them were fatal. 

As police investigate eight cases since Aug. 28, they are reminding the public of the dangers of opioid abuse and the importance of calling 911 immediately if someone is overdosing. 

They said signs of an overdose include a decrease in breathing rate, which can lead to death if not quickly addressed. 

“This a true medical emergency and 911 should be your first call,” police said in a news release. 

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services website has information on opioid programs, Narcan training and treatment.

The number of mosquitoes trapped in Connecticut that have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis has doubled, according to the most recent state testing report.

In the latest testing done by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, EEE was found in mosquitoes trapped in Chester, Hampton, Madison, North Stonington, Plainfield, Shelton, and Voluntown.

In all, 32 mosquitoes were found with EEE during the testing week. That brings the total number of mosquitoes trapped in Connecticut that have tested positive for EEE to 64.

Towns including Stonington and Voluntown, where the majority of the mosquitoes have been trapped, have sprayed in an effort to reduce the mosquito population.

Health districts in eastern Connecticut have also urged residents to take precautions, including staying indoors from one hour before to one hour after dawn and dusk.

Approximately 50 members of the Connecticut Army National Guard deployed on Thursday from Windsor Locks. They boarded CH-47F Chinook helicopters and will fly to Fort Hood in Texas to meet the rest of their unit, the 2/104th Aviation Regiment. 

There they will train before heading to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. 

The unit has deployed multiple times, most recently to Afghanistan in 2013.

While overseas, they use the Chinooks to move soldiers, cargo and supplies. 

Prior to leaving, the soldiers took several minutes to say goodbye to their parents, spouses and children who they won’t see again for almost a year.

Under fire from prominent meteorologists for giving out incorrect information on the path of Hurricane Dorian, President Donald Trump on Thursday doubled down on his assertion that the storm was at one point headed for Alabama, NBC News reported. He tweeted that coverage of his claim — including the moment when he showed a week-old map that had been doctored with a Sharpie — was meant to "demean" him." 

Bill Karins, a meteorologist for NBC News, said on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” Wednesday night that "at this point should we apologize to everyone the National Hurricane Center, all the emergency managers, and everyone that evacuated in South Carolina and North Carolina that may be watching right now trying to get some facts and information?” 

Ryan Maue, a meteorologist, told The Associated Press that Trump must strive for accuracy "if he wants to provide helpful information to the public facing a potential emergency." 

The doctored map that Trump displayed in the Oval Office Wednesday showing Alabama to be within Dorian's path has sparked an array of memes under the hashtag #sharpiegate on Twitter.

Police responded to the area of Salem School in Naugatuck Thursday after receiving a report of a suspicious person nearby. They said they do not think the report was credible, but police will remain at the school for the rest of the day as a precaution.

Shortly after noon, Naugatuck Police were called to Hillside School after a report of a male in the wooded area by the school who possibly had a firearm, police said.

School staff locked down the school while police checked the area.

Police said they do not think the report was credible, but will maintain a presence in the area for the duration of the school day.

Editor's Note: Police said earlier that they responded to the area of Hillside School, then later said it was the Salem School.

A meteorologist from the National Weather Service is in Connecticut today to determine if it was a tornado that caused damage in several towns on Wednesday.

The storms that moved through prompted tornado warnings in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties.

Trees and power lines came down in Enfield, Vernon, Coventry and a few other towns. No one was injured.

The National Weather Service meteorologist will be in Vernon, Coventry, and Mansfield to survey the damage and determine if it was in fact a tornado or straight line winds that caused it.

Blood stains. Missing seats. A mystery trip to an auto detailer. License plates dumped down a storm drain.

Connecticut state police have released the affidavit in the arrest of Fotis Dulos, laying out their allegations on the tampering of evidence charges filed in connection with the disappearance of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos. 

The New Canaan mother of five has been missing since May 24.

Her husband has denied any involvement.

Their children are living with her mother in New York City. Read the full affidavit below. 

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The day after state police arrested the estranged husband of missing New Canaan mom, Jennifer Dulos, his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, has made arrangements to turn herself in to state police investigators, according to state police.

On Wednesday, state police arrested Fotis Dulos and charged him with tampering with evidence. He posted the $500,000 bond set and is expected in court on Sept. 12.

His attorney, Norm Pattis, said they intend to plead not guilty to the new charges.

"The requirement to make another bond seems simply a stunt on the state's part to try to wear down our will to resist," Pattis said.

In a later statement to NBC New York, Pattis said that the prosecution is "trying to convince itself" that Fotis Dulos is behind Jennifer's disappearance.

"When and if the state decides it can prove its case, we will welcome the chance to meet the case in open court," Pattis said. "The new warrant speaks of a lying lover and handyman with something to hide. When do we get the chance to question these folks?”

Fotis made a brief statement to reporters as he left Connecticut State Police Troop G in Bridgeport Wednesday.

“It’s an exhausting fight. I love my children, that's about it," Fotis said.

Jennifer Dulos has been missing since May 24. She was in the midst of a divorce and custody battle with Fotis at the time of her disappearance.

Background on the Jennifer Dulos Case

The search for Jennifer has spanned the state and authorities have spent days sifting through trash at a facility Hartford after bags containing Dulos’ blood were found. Law enforcement officials said surveillance video captured two people resembling her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, throwing out bags on Albany Avenue in Hartford that ended up in the trash plant.

Fotis and Troconis were both charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence and have both pleaded not guilty.

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

The New Details From the Fotis Dulos Arrest Warrant

The new arrest warrant for Fotis Dulos, which was released Wednesday, states that Troconis admitted to police that she and Fotis were on Albany Avenue that day, but claimed she did not know what Fotis was doing. Troconis also told investigators that several handwritten notes found in Fotis’ business office that outlined his activities on May 24 and May 25 included information that was inaccurate and described events that had never happened.

In a follow-up interview, Troconis told police she did not see Fotis when she woke up on May 24 and did not see him until sometime after noon that day.

The court documents also include multiple surveillance photos of a red Toyota Tacoma, which Fotis had access to, in New Canaan on the morning Jennifer disappeared. According to the warrant, the vehicle is owned by one of Fotis’ employees, who regularly leaves the vehicle at Fotis’ Farmington home and takes another vehicle for his work.

That employee told police that when he returned from work on May 24 to pick up his truck he couldn’t initially find the keys. He said the following week, Fotis took the car to be interior detailed and washed without his knowledge.

The employee went on to tell police that Fotis kept pushing him to replace the seats in the truck. When he questioned his employer, Fotis said he was concerned Jennifer’s hair may be in the car because he hugged her when he saw her on Mother’s Day.

The employee was cleared as a suspect.

During an interview with Troconis on Aug. 13, detectives asked her why she thought Dulos had the Tacoma washed.

Troconis answered "Well obviously - all the evidence says because - you showed me the picture of the blood in the door - it's because the body of Jennifer at some point was in there," according to the arrest affidavit.

In the court documents, investigators state they believe Fotis laid in wait for Jennifer at her home on May 24, committed "the crime" and cleaned it up, then returned to Farmington.

When police searched the Toyota, they found a “bloodlike substance” that was a DNA match to Jennifer, according to the court documents.

The only charges filed against Fotis are tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution.

Jennifer and Fotis’ five children have been staying with Jennifer’s mother, who was granted temporary custody by the court.

Police 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.

A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of a suspect in the shooting of an 8-year-old boy in New Haven in June.

According to police, the 8-year-old boy was lying in a bedroom on the first floor when he was struck by gunfire just before 11:30 p.m. on June 28 in the area of Thompson Street between Newhall Street and Shelton Avenue. 

He suffered a non life-threatening gunshot wound to his leg and was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Police previously said the vehicle of interest is possibly an early 2000s Honda Accord or Acura TL.

The States Attorney’s Office is offering a reward of $50,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction.

Anyone with information should call the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at (203) 946-6304, anonymous tip line at (203) 946-6296, text a tip by texting “NHPD plus your message” to 274637(CRIMES) or email at ecic@newhavenct.gov

We have a beautiful day ahead, with a blend of sun and clouds and high temperatures in the upper 70s, and the NBC Connecticut meteorologists continue to track Hurricane Dorian, which has started raking the Southeast coast. 

Friday will be cloudier with even cooler temperatures in the low 70s with rain and wind that will increase late Friday evening. 

Hurricane Dorian will stay well to our southeast overnight into Saturday morning and any lingering showers early Saturday morning will clear out quickly and wind will diminish throughout the day. 

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Gusty winds will be strongest in New London County. 

Tropical storm watches are up for Cape Cod and Islands. 

The University of New Haven has hired Sheahon Zenger as the school’s new athletic director. Zenger was previously the Athletic Director at Kansas from 2011 to 2018. Prior to that, he was the athletic director at Illinois State where he succeeded former UConn AD Lew Perkins. 

With Zenger on board, the Chargers are considering a potential move from Division II to Division I. 

“If it’s the will of the board, the institution and the president, that’s something that I’ve been given the ability to explore. In the meantime, we need to be the best in the niche we’re in,” said Zenger. “If that’s something they choose to do, it takes several years to get that process in place.” 

“What jumped out and is different about Sheahon is his incredible enthusiasm, idealism and passion for what he does,” said University President Steven H. Kaplan. 

Zenger will also do some teaching while leading the athletic department. A move to Division I will require facility upgrades and Zenger plans to fundraise and build new athletic facilities. 

It’s not often customers make an emotional connection to their grocery store, but that is the case for some people in Newington.

Local Market, a popular Newington grocery store, will be closing at the end of the month and for regular shoppers the reaction is a combination of sadness and shock.

“Are you serious?” asked shopper Gwenath Douglas with an expression of disbelief when informed of the news. “Why?”

The “why” is not clear, but a post on social media let shoppers know the store would be closing its doors. An estimated 70 employees learned the news yesterday.

Local Market was previously a Best Market location before that grocery chain was sold to a discount grocer. The Newington store, however, was not part of that deal.

The news has Local Market’s loyal customers disappointed.

“All of us are like family,” added Douglas, “We’re local people.”

Some shoppers though travel some distance to shop there.

“It’s very sad. I’m devastated,” said Debra Oakes, who says she travels from East Hartford once a week to shop.

While it’s not a long drive from East Hartford, it’s not the most convenient either. Oakes though is seeking specific items she could only find in specialized markets before.

“Being Italian and being used to another market from the south end of Hartford, this is the closest I get,” said Oakes.

Shopper are passionate, explaining this market had more meaning to the community than an ordinary grocery store.

“I think just because it is truly a local market. It is that,” said Debbie Lee of Newington. “It’s not the big box stores. I think that’s what makes a difference.”

Finding an alternative option is the next step and is a decision these shoppers won’t make easily.

“It’s gonna mean looking around and shopping around at prices and things like that,” added Lee. “We’ll look at what is the best bet for the family.”

Health officials in New York say vitamin E acetate is now a focus of their investigation into vaping-related respiratory illnesses that have sickened 34 people in that state, NBC News reported.

There have been 358 confirmed or suspected cases reported by state health departments nationwide.

An announcement is expected from the FDA on Friday about their investigation into the illnesses.  

Starting October 1, 2020, all passengers will be required to have REAL ID, or have a passport, in order to board a plane.

“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the accuracy and reliability of the state issue driver’s license and identification cards,” said Jim Campbell of Bradley International Airport.

Connecticut started issuing gold star licenses in 2012.

“It prevents and deters terrorists’ ability do of evade detection by using fraudulent identification,” said William Bill Csontos, TSA federal security director of the State of Connecticut.

It requires extra identification documentation and there’s no additional cost. You can get it at places like the DMV and AAA.

“We have some major hurdles that we have to overcome to get everyone ready to go,” said Tony Guerrera, deputy commissioner with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

The DMV issues around 160,000 licenses a year. As of right now, more than 1 million Connecticut drivers still need REAL ID.

Officials will be using signage and posting information on the DMV website with information about REAL ID.

“With a year to go, the DMV is really pushing to make sure that everyone in Connecticut has the right information to make sure we are able to get the real ID,” said Sibongile Magubane, Connecticut’s Commissioner for the DMV.

For a list of the documents needed to obtain a REAL ID, visit the DMV’s website at ct.gov/dmv.

An EF-1 tornado touched down in Coventry and Mansfield Wednesday, the National Weather Service confirms.

The tornado had a path length of 3.2 miles and left behind a track of damage.

Trees completely uprooted, others sheared off at the top. Broken branches and tree trunks, strewn across the landscape. Coventry’s Skungamaug River Golf Club was left in disarray after Wednesday’s storm.

“We’ve had hurricanes but never anything like this,” said club owner John Motycka, who estimates there are over 100 trees down.

Acres of destruction, include 30 and 40 foot trees snapped in half, laying near fairways. Thursday the National Weather Service (NWS) assessed the wide-spread damage to determine if this was a tornado.

“What your look for is which way is the damage falling and if there is any twisting going on with the trees in different directions,” said meteorologist Alan Dunham, who leads the investigation for the NWS.

The NWS assessment started in Mansfield where the concentrated damage appears to end and also included an inspection in Vernon where it’s believed to have begun. The report is not expected to be complete until Thursday evening.

As rain and wind whipped through Tolland County Wednesday, the normally serene golf club was anything but.

“The rain was going horizontal. The wind was blowing like crazy. It just came out of nowhere,” said Motycka.

Co-owner Susan Motycka, said she noticed birds acting strange before the skies went dark. “The ornamental grasses were parallel to the earth. The rain in sheets, and gray looking because of the rain was so heavy,” she said.

Downed trees were reported throughout Coventry, with reports of isolated power outages. Coventry Emergency Management Director John McLoughlin says this golf course was among the hardest places hit.

“You can see how the trees are snapped in half mid-way up like 10 feet off the ground is indicative of the strength the wind was packing when it came thru,” said McLoughlin.

While the golf course owners have a long and perhaps expensive cleanup ahead, they are grateful no one was hurt.

“We’re just really thankful that everyone got in off of the golf course,” added Susan Motycka. “Happy that everyone was safe.”

Several kids at the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital were in for a treat on Thursday right outside their window thanks to the Tri-State Façade Services.

Tri-State employees dressed as Superman, Spiderman, Captain America and other superheroes brought smiles to young patients inside the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

For four years, Evan Bennett has dressed as a superhero for patients.

“The kids love it, they enjoy it so that’s why we keep coming back year after year,” said Bennett. “We do this for the kids, it’s a lot of fun to come out here and do this and we enjoy it.”

The goal is to provide a quick escape for patients and their family’s everyday reality according to Child Life Manager Christine Mace.

“It helps to keep life interesting here at the hospital and make it not such a boring day or a typical day for our patients,” said Mace. “It’s just all about the kids here at the hospital and anything that we can do to keep life interesting, we’re on board.”

Mace says it’s a special day for kids who may experience severe pain episodes.

“Superheroes is certainly a big draw for a lot of those kids a lot of them really idolize Spiderman and Superman,” said Mace. “Our job in child life is to promote normal life in the hospital for children.”

It’s a day to remember for Angel Rivera.

“I like the Marvel and the Avengers so superheroes is pretty cool,” said Rivera. “It’s great to see some of the nurses in capes too.”

Even Angel’s mom, Heather Rivera, was excited for the Caped Crusaders.

“It’s pretty cool, we haven’t seen anything like this,” said Heather Rivera.

According to Christine Mace, young patients look forward to seeing their favorite superheroes each year.

“When the kids’ faces light up, it melts our hearts, it really makes it all worthwhile for us as people who work with children in the hospital setting,” said Mace.

Hurricane Dorian plummeted many parts of the Bahamas, ripping through homes and leaving roads flooded.

Maddie Kennedy is a freshman at Quinnipiac University and is having trouble focusing knowing that so many people from her homeland are suffering.

“This is not anything the islands really faced before,” said Kennedy. “It’s shocking to see photos because usually I’m home for event’s like this.”

Even before Hurricane Dorian touched down in the Bahamas, there was a lot of uncertainty for the film and television student.

“It was hard for me especially not knowing what was going on or knowing whether or not the house would flood,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy grew up on the Grand Bahama Island and her father survived the massive flooding and strong winds brought by the Category 5 storm.

“My father said he was quite scared during the storm,” said Kennedy. “The shutters actually ripped off and one point he had to go outside to try and repair them so the window wouldn’t break.”

Kennedy’s home received minor damages, but it was a different story for one of her friends.

“One of my friends’ homes was almost destroyed,” said Kennedy. “They have to re-do all of the ceilings and the roof caved in and a lot of people are going through that right now,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy believes the strong sense of community is what Kennedy says is going to help those still reeling from Dorian.

“Everybody helps each other out regardless of the situation,” said Kennedy. “At this point, I know a lot of people are really working hard on the island.”

Kennedy is constantly repeating the mantra “Bahama Strong” to help her get through each day and is making plans to return during her Christmas Break to help with recovery efforts.

Animal rights groups demonstrated outside the New Britain Superior Courthouse today as a man accused of beating a dog went before a judge today to answer to animal cruelty charges.

New Britain Police arrested Christopher Vantull, the owner of a pit bull named Socks, in July. They say he caused multiple fractures on the dog’s body.

Socks is now at the Animal Haven shelter in North Haven. Shelter manager Michelle DeRose said he is doing well.

“He’s fantastic,” said DeRosa. “He’s doing really well right now. everybody really loves him.”

She said he has come a long way since he first arrived there in April.

“His whole head was deformed and his back was like humped from all the hitting that he had done.”

Officers were called to a home on Bassett Street in April after getting a report of a verbal domestic incident involving Vantull and another tenant, police said.

The tenant was upset that Vantull was allowing his dog, a pit bull named Socks, to urinate and defecate inside of the home, officers added.

Police at the scene said no action was taken at that time, however, they noticed the dog cowered when Vantull came near it.

“They’re part of our family, they are innocent, defenseless, voiceless, beings, somebody has to be on their side,” said Linda Pleva, vice president of animal rights group, Desmond’s Army. “This dog had some serious damage done to him. He’s affected for the rest of his life I would love to just hold the dog and baby their dog for the rest of his life.”

NBC Connecticut made multiple attempts to contact Vantull and his attorney but we have not heard back..

Connecticut’s elected leaders pledged $100 million in $20 million annual portions to address the crumbling concrete basements across central and northeastern Connecticut, but an inability to release the money in a timely manner has left dozens of families in a costly state of limbo.

The funding has come through a program set up by the state that involves something called a captive insurance company.

However, the captive insurance company had to go into suspension a month or so ago due to a lack of funds, that the captive was expecting to receive July 1.

This has had Daniel Adams of Andover concerned. He has been worrying the defective crumbling concrete may not last another New England winter.

“It’s scary thinking the ground is going to freeze and is it going to push this right in.”

It has been even more frustrating, since Adams applied for, and was approved to receive, $174,000 in state funding to replace his basement in early October.

“I’m very stuck. But again, I feel fortunate compared to how many people must be with big families.”

Families like the Griffins in Enfield.

The home Dan and Maureen Griffin and their four children live in was supposed to have its defective concrete replaced September 1.

Now they don’t know when that will happen. “We were shocked. We were like, ‘but we’ve already made plans to move’”, said Dan Griffin.

Maureen Griffin added, “It’s just hard to keep everything stable, for the kids.”

Worse than the delay, this holdup has cost the cash strapped couple, and dozens of others, thousands of dollars extra.

In the Griffin’s case, $139 a month for a storage shed now sitting idly in their yard, and $1,800 a month for a temporary home they’re renting, but not living in yet.

Mike Maglaras, superintendent of the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Insurance Company, or CFSIC, admitted it encouraged homeowners to sign up with contractors even though there was a chance the funding wouldn’t be in place in time.

Maglaras told NBC Connecticut Investigates he didn’t think it would be this long a delay, and, having a set of jobs lined up and ready to go makes things easier for contractors doing this specialized work.

“With a signed contract, they have assured us that you get in line faster and stay in line for eventual scheduling, than if you have never signed the contract.”

The $20 million must be released by the state bond commission, which hasn’t met in months. Homeowners have been waiting on the governor to call the next meeting.

Gov. Ned Lamont told NBC Connecticut Investigates”It's on the agenda for the September meeting, so, we're going to get the next tranche of that money going forward.”

If the bond commission meets in late September, the crumbling concrete funding would likely get freed up by early October.

That might mean Adams can get back on schedule with his basement.

The Griffins, who were supposed to have their home lifted September 1, are not as certain.

Complicating this even further is the fact that some contractors will not lift homes up and replace concrete once winter sets in.

A Wolcott High School physical education teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a student.

Michael Forgione, 49, was arrested Thursday.

Police said they first received a complaint about Forgione in May from a student. At that time, Forgione was placed on leave.

After investigation Wolcott police were granted an arrest warrant. Forgione is charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor and breach of peace.

Forgione turned himself in and was released on a $10,000 bond. He is due in court on September 12.

Forgione's attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, released the following statement in response to the accusations.

"Mr. Forgione is innocent of all the baseless charges that have been leveled against him. Mr. Forgione intends to fight all the charges vigorously and looks forward to being vindicated at the end of what we anticipate will be a long and painful process.

"Mr. Forgione cooperated fully with the investigation, meeting with both the Wolcott Police and the Department of Children and Families. Mr. Forgione was cleared of any wrongdoing by DCF as the allegations against him were unsubstantiated. We are shocked and deeply disappointed that the Waterbury States Attorney’s office elected to pursue these baseless and uncorroborated allegations. Despite dozens of people being present when this alleged incident occurred, no one saw anything. No one saw anything because nothing happened.

"Mr. Forgione has been a teacher and coach for over 20 years and has never been accused of any misconduct. It is truly a tragedy that a man’s career and livelihood can be put at risk based on one single, uncorroborated false allegation. Mr. Forgione will be vindicated."

NBC Connecticut has reached out to Wolcott Public Schools for comment.

No other details were immediately available.