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From the Archives: The World Reacts to OJ Simpson Verdict

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Twenty four years ago this week, O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the double murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

The highly publicized trial was dubbed the trial of the century, inciting a media frenzy that had never been seen before.

In archive footage, NBC4 News reports on the emotional aftermath of the acquittal.  



Photo Credit: David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images

Big E Breaks All-Time Attendance Record This Year

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A record number of visitors attended the Big E in West Springfield, Mass. this year, with a final tally of over 1.6 million people.

Data released Sunday shows that 1,629,527 people attended the Big E fair in 2019. The previous record was set at 1,543,570 last year, according to a Big E spokesperson.

The highest single-day attendance record was also broken on Saturday, Sept. 21 with 176,544 people.

“As our event continues to grow, I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we receive, and I want to thank everyone in this region who supports us by attending The Big E," President and CEO of the Exposition Eugene Cassidy said in a statement. "Your support allows our mission of agriculture and education to thrive, to grow, and to have a national impact.”

More than 80 performers took the stage in this year's fair.



Photo Credit: Big E

Whistleblower's Lawyer Says Trump Endangering His Client

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The attorney for the intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint fueled a House inquiry into impeaching President Donald Trump says he has "serious concerns" that Trump's comments had put his client in danger, NBC News reported.

The unidentified whistleblower's legal team sounded the alarm in a letter, dated Saturday and made public on Sunday, to Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence.

The letter, which was signed by Andrew P. Bakaj, the whistleblower's lead attorney, pointed to Trump's call last week for "the person who gave the whistleblower the information" to be publicly identified.

It said the president's remarks were among the events that "have heightened our concerns that our client's identity will be disclosed publicly and that, as a result, our client will be put in harm's way."



Photo Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

3 People Taken to Hospital After Vernon Crash

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Three people were taken to the hospital after a crash in Vernon on Sunday night.

Firefighters, EMS and police were called to Grove Street after getting a report of a crash.

When crews arrived, they said they provided aid to three patients, one of which was trapped in the vehicle for a short time.

All three people were then transported to local hospitals, firefighters said. Authorities did not release details on the extent of any injuries.

LifeStar was called to the scene, but was later canceled, according to fire officials.

Mutual aid was requested from Manchester and Tolland.

The road was shut down for approximately an hour, but has since reopened.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.



Photo Credit: Vernon Fire Department

Bomb Squad to Investigate 'Unattended Object' at Mass. Train Station

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The MBTA's Newburyport Line experienced delays Monday as police investigated a pressure cooker at Rowley station. 

Authorities said the scene was clear and train service expected to resume after a bomb squad was deployed to investigate the "unattended package" on a bench Monday morning.  

The incident was reported just after 6 a.m. and the station and nearby homes were evacuated as authorities responded to the scene. Following an investigation, the pressure cooker was "determined to be harmless," according to Rowley police and fire department.

Investigators noticed a pile of discarded kitchen appliances on Depot Way and a neighbor told authorities a pressure cooker was among the items out in the street on Sunday. Authorities believe someone took the pressure cooker from the pile and left it on the bench.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority earlier said the Newburyport Line Train was expected to run up to an hour behind schedule due to the investigation.

Service has returned to its regular schedule and neighbors were allowed to return to their homes.



Photo Credit: NBC10 Boston Sky Ranger Helicopter

Cause of Stratford House Fire Under Investigation

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Investigators are working to determine what sparked a fire at a house in Stratford early Monday morning.

Firefighters were called to a home on Clifflawn Road shortly after midnight after the homeowner reported a fire in the attic.

When crews arrived, they said they found smoke coming from the roof and an active fire in the attic.

The fire was extinguished within a few minutes and was contained to the attic, near the home's attic exhaust fan, fire officials said.

Two people and a cat are displaced until repairs can be made to the home, authorities added. 

No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.



Photo Credit: Stringr.com

Police Arrest Suspect in Stafford Kidnapping, Home Invasion

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Connecticut State Police have arrested a man who is a suspect in a kidnapping and home invasion in Stafford.

Troopers were called to a home in Stafford on Sunday around 4:30 p.m. after getting a report of an assault and a second report of a kidnapping.

State police said they found the suspect, later identified as 25-year-old Juan Serrano, of Hartford, driving on a road in Stafford with the victim.

Serrano was arrested and transported to State Police Troop C to be processed.

He is being held on a $100,000 bond and is facing charges including home invasion, two counts of assault, criminal attempt at sexual assault, kidnapping and unlawful restraint.

Serrano is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Fla. Official Confronts 'Bad Police Officer' at Deputy's Award Ceremony

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A Florida city commissioner confronted a deputy during an awards ceremony honoring members of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, claiming the honoree was a "bad police officer" who falsely arrested him four years earlier.

The encounter happened Wednesday at a Tamarac City Commission Meeting. After Deputy Joshua Gallardo and others were honored with the Deputy of the Month award, Commissioner E. Mike Gelin grabbed the microphone and called Gallardo back to the floor.

"I want to congratulate all the BSO officers who've done such a great job," Gelin said after the deputies posed for a photo with their awards. "Joshua Gallardo, can you come down for a second?"

Gallardo made his way back to the front, where he was confronted by Gelin.

"It's good to see you again. You probably don't remember me, but you're the police officer who falsely arrested me four years ago. You lied on the police report," Gelin said. "I believe you're a rogue police officer, you're a bad police officer and you don't deserve to be here."

Gallardo gave Gelin a thumbs-up sign and walked off. Tamarac Mayor Michelle Gomez then takes the microphone and thanks the sheriff's office.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we appreciate as a whole, BSO and everything you do for us," Gomez said. "Thank you for your service to our community, we appreciate you. Please take that away from here today. Thank you very much, be safe out there."

Broward County Court records showed Gelin was arrested in July 2015 for resisting or obstructing without violence, but the charge was later dropped and records don't show why. The booking report lists Gallardo as the arresting officer. According to the Miami Herald, Gelin was arrested for using his cellphone to record police actions as they responded to a battery incident.  Gelin was not a city commissioner at the time.

As a result of the confrontation, the Broward County Police Benevolent Association announced Thursday that it was withdrawing its endorsement of Gelin, who received the endorsement last year.

"As a public official, Commissioner Gelin's behavior towards a Broward Sheriff's Office deputy is unacceptable," Broward County PBA President Rod Skirvin said in a statement. "The Broward County PBA will not endorse any elected official who treats law enforcement officers with a complete lack of respect and common courtesy the way Commissioner Gelin did in his official duties representing the city of Tamarac."

Fellow Tamarac Commissioner Julie Fishman also criticized Gelin, saying it wasn't the right time or place for the confrontation.

"While I am a strong proponent of freedom of speech and did not give that up when I was elected, I am also a proponent of the right time and the right place," Fishman said in a Facebook post. "Our Commission recognition of the 'Officers of the Month' was neither."

In a statement Saturday on Facebook, Gelin thanked his supporters, writing: "Wrongful arrests can have life long and career altering consequences. It is important that justice applies to everyone."

Gallardo was being honored as the Deputy of the Month for April 2019, after a traffic stop led to the arrest of a man wanted for murder by Interpol. Officials said the suspect fought with Gallardo, but the deputy was able to take him into custody.



Photo Credit: City of Tamarac

Mechanic Dies After Car Falls From Lift in Hartford

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A 22-year-old mechanic has died after a car fell off of a lift and onto him at a garage in Hartford on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the incident took place at a dealership and auto garage on Franklin Avenue.

According to authorities, the mechanic was working on the car when it fell off of a lift and landed on him. 

He was transported to the hospital in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, police added.

On Monday, officers said the man had died. His identity has not been released.

The incident is under investigation.

 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Nice Fall Weather Today Before Warm-Up Then Cool Down Later This Week

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There is some nice fall weather on Monday before a temperature roller coaster!

Monday will feature a blend of sunshine and clouds. Temperatures will be seasonable with highs around 70.

Temperatures will start to climb towards the middle of the week with highs in the mid 70s on Tuesday and around 80 on Wednesday. 

After the warm-up, there will be a cool down later in the week.

High temperatures may struggle into the 60s on Thursday and Friday. Some towns may not get out of the 50s. Temperatures on Thursday and Friday mark a drop of 20 to 25 degrees.

There are also a few scattered rain chances this week.

You can get the latest forecast anytime here.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Dump Truck Fire Causes Congestion on I-84 West in East Hartford

Hartford Police Officer Accused of Assaulting 2 People Due in Court

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A Hartford police officer is set to face a judge on Monday after he allegedly assaulted two people while off duty on Sunday.

Hartford police said they were notified of an off-duty incident involving 26-year-old Joven Gonzalez around 7:20 a.m.

The investigation alleges that Gonzalez assaulted a former girlfriend and her acquaintance at a Hartford motel early Sunday morning.

According to police, Gonzalez's former girlfriend suffered minor injuries from the assault. Her acquaintance sustained cuts on his head as a result of being hit by a gun. He sought medical attention before calling police.

During the investigation, authorities said probable cause was developed to arrest Gonzalez. He is being held on a $150,000 bond and is facing charges including assault, reckless endangerment, threatening and criminal mischief.

This is not the first incident Gonzalez has been connected with. In July, he was accused of leaving Hartford while on duty to confront a teenage girl that he had a relationship with.

A 911 call was made on July 29 by a witness who claimed to have seen Gonzalez grabbing the girl.

The girl told investigators that the officer, who arrived in his cruiser and police uniform, punched her twice in the stomach, according to the police report. Gonzalez denied threatening or hitting her and Bloomfield police closed their investigation without arresting anyone.

“These alleged actions are egregious and totally disqualifying and this officer should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Hartford mayor Luke Bronin said in a statement Monday morning. 

After Sunday's arrest, Hartford police said Gonzalez has been suspended without pay. He has also been stripped of his police powers and badge. Gonzalez started at the police academy in August 2017 and has been an officer since March 2018.

The internal affairs division is also investigating the incident.



Photo Credit: Hartford Police

Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You Tour' Coming to Mohegan Sun Arena

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Mariah Carey is coming to Connecticut in December with her “All I Want For Christmas Is You” tour and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Toys For Tots. 

Mariah Carey’s limited “All I Want For Christmas Is You Tour” marks the 25th anniversary of her album, “Merry Christmas,” which will be re-released on Nov. 1.

The holiday run will kick off Nov. 22 in Las Vegas and travel the east coast. She will be in Connecticut on Thursday, Dec. 12 for the show at Mohegan Sun Arena. 

Tickets for the east coast dates go on sale to the general public starting Friday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com.

One dollar from each ticket sold will benefit Toys for Tots. Unwrapped toys will also be collected at each event for donation to Toys for Tots.

Learn more about the show here.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

President Chooses Connecticut Woman to Be Ambassador to Chile

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President Donald Trump has chosen a Connecticut woman to be ambassador to Chile.

The White House announced that the president intends to nominate Leora Rosenberg Levy to be “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Chile.” 

Levy serves as the Republican National Committeewoman for Connecticut. 

She was born in Havana, Cuba and escaped with her family in 1960, according to her biography on the CT GOP website

Levy grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina and has lived in Greenwich for the last 29 years.

She graduated from Brown University in 1978 and was a trader at Phibro Salomon, one of only a handful of women worldwide in that position at the time, according to the CT GOP.



Photo Credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images

6th-Grade Girl Says She Lied About Boys Cutting Her Dreadlocks

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A 12-year-old girl who accused three sixth-grade boys of pinning her down and cutting her dreadlocks has admitted to school officials she was not attacked and cut her own hair, her family's attorney and the school said.

A sixth-grade girl at Immanuel Christian School in Springfield, Virginia, said three white classmates ambushed her on the playground last week and used scissors to cut off some of her dreadlocks while telling her her hair was "nappy" and "ugly."

She and her family met with school officials Monday morning to apologize. 

The girl maintains she has been the victim of bullying, her family's attorney said. The family is seeking counseling for the girl.

"To those young boys and their parents, we sincerely apologize for the pain and anxiety these allegations have caused," the family said in a statement. "To the administrators and families of Immanuel Christian School, we are sorry for the damage this incident has done to trust within the school family and the undue scorn it has brought to the school."

During the investigation of the girl's accusations, security camera video showed where people were at the time of the alleged attack, the family's attorney said, and it became clear the girl's account could not be true based on the day and time she said it happened.

"While we are relieved to hear the truth and bring the events of the past few days to a close, we also feel tremendous pain for the victims and the hurt on both sides of this conflict," the school said in a statement. "We recognize that we now enter what will be a long season of healing."



Photo Credit: NBC Washington

Teen Seriously Hurt in Meriden Crash

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A 17-year-old was airlifted after he was seriously injured in a crash in Meriden Monday.

Meriden police said the 17-year-old boy was a passenger in an SUV that crashed into a utility pole near Baldwin Pond. The teen was airlifted by LifeStar to the hospital for treatment.

More information was not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Trump Asked Australian PM to Help Investigate Mueller Probe

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President Donald Trump sought help from the Australian prime minister to investigate the origins of former special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, a Justice Department official told NBC News Monday.

The call to Scott Morrison, the Australian leader, came recently after Attorney General William Barr in May asked John Durham, the U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, to lead an inquiry into whether the FBI’s investigation into the Trump campaign was properly predicated.

The DOJ official says Barr asked Trump to make the call to seek Australia’s help.



Photo Credit: AP

CT Lab Detects Known Carcinogen in Popular Heartburn Medication

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Pharmacies are pulling the popular heartburn medication Zantac off their shelves after a Connecticut laboratory discovered the drug contains a possible cancer-causing substance.

CVS Pharmacy said it will no longer sell the acid-blocker Zantac and its generic after the FDA detected low levels of a known carcinogen in those drugs.

“I just think everything’s bad for you now. If I didn’t take it I would really be suffering,” said Sara Roman of Southington.

Roman said she depended on the heartburn healer Zantac to get through all three of her pregnancies.

“I had really bad heartburn, and it was really a lifesaver,” she explained.

The ingredient in Zantac, ranitidine, suppresses stomach acid and relieves heartburn. The FDA is alerting patients and physicians to an impurity possibly created in the manufacturing of the drug. It’s called N-Nitrosodimethylamine or NDMA, which is a probable cancer causer in humans.

The levels that the FDA found barely exceed allowable amounts found in common foods, but it was enough for the company that makes the generic form of ranitidine to voluntarily recall the medication this week. Some users wonder why it was even on store shelves at all.

“There’s supposed to be a government administration, a body that’s in place to protect us and it’s actually not doing a very good job,” said Melina Pappademos of West Hartford, who has also used the drug.

CVS Pharmacy said it will no longer carry the drug it its brand name or generic form. “This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution…” the company said in a statement.

Valisure, a pharmaceutical lab in New Haven said it first discovered NDMA in ranitidine and notified the FDA in June.

“It’s actually used very often as a controlled to induce cancer in rats in clinical studies. It’s used in pesticides, rocket fuel. You absolutely do not want it in your medicine,” said David Light, Valisure’s CEO.

Now, Valisure is petitioning the FDA to fully recall the drug.

“Definitely not worried about it. I’m fine, my kids are fine, we’re all going to be fine,” said Roman.

Pappademos said she would rather avoid the foods that give her heartburn and rely on home remedies instead.

“It’s not worth the risk,” she said.

Zantac’s parent company told NBC Connecticut it has no plans to stop distributing or manufacturing the drug and that, “We are working closely with the FDA and are conducting our own robust investigations.”

The FDA said that patients do not have to stop taking Zantac and or the generic ranitidine but those who are concerned should talk to their doctor about an alternative over the counter drug.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

New Police Camera Laws Starting October 1 in Connecticut

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Police bodycams have given the public a new view of how officers do their jobs, both well, and poorly.

Starting Tuesday, a new state law takes effect that gives officers time to review the videos before the public sees them, in certain circumstances.

Going forward, certain incidents involving police will have a short window where officers can watch the video first, and then a mandatory time when they must be released.

The new law says when it comes to an officer use of force case, or one where the officer is the subject of an internal investigation, they have at least 48 hours to review the video before a department can release it to the public.

If the officer involved does not request to see the video, a police department can release the video after 96 hours.

This applies to dashcam and bodycam video that is on the officer’s person, or vehicle, or if the officer was captured on another officer’s dashcam or bodycam.

The release of any of this video could be blocked by other exemptions including juveniles in the video, or domestic violence incidents, for example.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Farmington Polo Club Wraps Up Successful 2019 Season

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The Farmington Polo Club concluded its second full season on Saturday with the Tito’s Town Cup. Team Ceder View defeated Team Tito’s in the championship match.

“I live for the hour or two hours I’m on the field,” said Director of the Farmington Polo Club Heather Souto. “It’s exhilarating.”

The club gives back to the community too, helping raise $16,000 for the towns of Avon and Farmington.

“It feels really great,” said Souto. “All season long we’ve had a high concentration on being able to donate to different charities. It’s really been an amazing season.”

The people who came out to the events each weekend helped make the season such a success.

“I can’t say enough about the community,” said Souto. “Everyone has opened their arms, they’ve helped us out. It’s awesome.”

“Connecticut and the Farmington area should be proud of it and should be very happy to have this quality of event here,” said Estani Buch, who won the MVP of the final match.

Spectators also enjoyed the opportunity to watch the talented athletes in action.

“Amazing to try and control the horses, hit the ball and go that fast,” said polo fan Kershwin Singh. “It was really amazing.”

The polo players on the field are quick to point out how important the horses are to their success.

“They are a really big part of the game so we take really good care of them,” said Buch.

“The horses are 70 percent of the game. If you don’t have a great horse, you don’t have a play,” added Souto. “A good quality horse that’s out here today has had at least three years of experience.”

The Farmington Polo Club will begin its third full season in June of 2020.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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