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Middletown Police Attempt to ID Motorcyclist Involved in Hit-and-Run

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Middletown police are attempting to identify the motorcyclist who they said was in a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian last week.

Officers were called to a crash involving a motorcycle and pedestrian at the intersection of Newfield Street and Westfield Street around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

A preliminary investigation shows that a 50-year-old man was crossing Newfield Street from Westfield Street in the crosswalk when a motorcyclist traveling southbound on Newfield Street hit him, police said.

The motorcyclist fled the area after the crash, according to officers. The pedestrian suffered a broken leg and other minor injuries.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and all leads are being followed. Investigators have found video of the incident and have released stills of the motorcycle involved.

If anyone can identify the motorcycle or its operator, you're urged to contact Officer John Passacantando at 860-638-4063 or 860-638-4000.



Photo Credit: Middletown Police

2019 Halloween Events Across Connecticut

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Bristol

Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce. It is a 45-minute walk-through experience of haunted houses and scenes, ranging from a bloody slaughterhouse to an overrun zombie hospital. The event runs every weekend through Nov. 2. Lake Compounce is located at 822 Lake Avenue in Bristol. 

East Hampton

Pumpkintown U.S.A. is a "non-scary" event that runs through Oct. 31. Visit Pumpkintown Village and take a mile-long hay ride to glimpse more than 30 Pumpkinheads. Pumpkintown U.S.A. is located at Paul’s andSandy’s Too: 93 E High St. in East Hampton.

East Windsor

Rails to the Darkside runs Fridays and Saturdays until Oct. 26 at the Connecticut Trolley Museum, at 58 North Road in East Windsor.

Pumpkin Patch at the Connecticut Trolley Museum is a family-fun outting. Ride on a trolley to the pumpkin field and each child can pick out a free pumpkin then decorate it at the museum.

Glastonbury

Oct. 27, Trunk or Treating at Glastonbury's Academy Field Parking Lot (2143 Main Street) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Volunteers decorate their vehicle trunks with Halloween decorations and themed set-ups. Trick or treaters walk from car to car, collecting goodies at each stop. 

Hamden

Oct. 27: Hamden Police are holding a truck or treat between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the south parking lot of Hamden High School, 2040 Dixwell Ave. Gates will open at 2:45 p.m. Pre-registration is required and will end on Oct. 23 or when spots fill up. The event is free and open only to Hamden residents. Get the application here. 

Hartford 

Graveyard Shift Ghost Tours, at the Mark Twain House. You will hear creepy tales and learn about Mark Twain's interest in the supernatural. Tours run at 6 p.m., 7 p.m,, 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. The Mark Twain House & Museum is located at 351 Farmington Ave.

Mystic

Nov. 1, Nov. 2: Spooky Nature Trail at Danielson Pequotsepos Nature Center. Take a self-guided tour with weird and wild animals, glowing jack-o-lanterns and creatures of all kinds. There are spooky-themed crafts and games for children. The nature center is located at 109 Pequotsepos Road in Mystic.

Nautical Nightmares at Mystic Seaport Museum runs from Oct. 11 to 27. The inspiration for this year's event is "Wake of the Banshee." Mystic Seaport Museum is located at 75 Greenmanville Ave. in Mystic.

Norwalk

Haunted: Victorian Ghost Stories, at Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum, runs weekends from Oct. 18 to 27. Tours will focus on ghost sightings related to the house during the 19th century as well as its more recent history, and the ghost stories that are part of Connecticut’s legends, according to the website. Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum is located at 295 West Ave. in Norwalk.

Shelton

Legends of Fear, Fairview Tree Farm. Take a haunted hayride and visit the Hallow, which includes five frightening attractions - Melon Head Revenge Trail, Hemlock Manor Mortuary, Pine Hills Parish, The dark Harvest and The Funhouse of Fear. Learn more about the attractions here. Fairview Tree Farm is located at 2 Saw Mill City Road in Shelton.

Southington

Oct. 26 -- Halloween Festival at the Southington Drive-In, 2 p.m. This family event includes haunted hayrides, pony and horse rides, a petting zoo, touch-a-truck, pumpkin painting and face painting. Trunk or treating at 5 p.m. and a Disney's "COCO" on the big screen, followed by the 1976 classic "Carrie." Cost: $20 a carload for Southington residents and $25 a carload for non-Southington residents. Drivers will be allowed to exit and enter the drive-in in between movies. Food trucks will be on site for food purchase. Southington Drive-In is located at 995 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike in Southington.

Evidence of Evil Haunted Attraction, 240 Spring St. Crystal Bees is located at 240 Spring St. in Southington. 

South Windsor

Nightmare Acres continues through Nov. 9.  It's located at Nomads Outdoor Adventure, 240 Governors Highway. 

Stratford

Fright Haven is open all Halloween season and there are three new attractions, Psycho Ward 13, Cabin in the Woods and Carnival of Lost Souls. Doors open at 7 p.m. Fright Haven is located at 411 Barnum Ave. Cutoff in Stratford.

Uncasville

Mohegan Sun is hosting several Halloween events between Oct. 25 and Oct. 31. Learn more here. Mohegan Sun is located at 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard in Uncasville.

Wallingford

Trail of Terror is open on weekends through the weekend of Oct. 25-27. It's located at 60 N. Plains Highway in Wallingford.

Westport

Oct. 29: Annual Children’s Halloween Parade. Children and parents will meet at Main Street and Post Road East at 3:30 p.m. This event is for all children, especially those 8 and under. The parade will proceed up Main Street, turn right onto Avery Place, then turn left on Myrtle Ave to Town Hall and Veterans Green. Children may trick-or-treat along Main Street and in Town Hall. Entertainment, refreshments and a small gift will be provided on Veterans Green across from Town Hall at 4 p.m. In case of inclement weather, all festivities will take place in Town Hall at 3:30 p.m. Call (203) 341-5073 for updates on weather cancellations. 



Photo Credit: StoryBlocks

What We Know About the Suspected Murder-Suicide in Abington

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Investigators are working to find out what happened after a family of five was found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in Abington, Massachusetts, this week that has left the community in shock. 

A source tells NBC10 Boston’s Investigators that authorities are investigating the deaths of two adults and three children as a murder-suicide after their bodies were discovered in their home by another family member. Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz said all five victims died from gunshot wounds.

The Discovery

A family member who arrived at the Centre Avenue condo to take the three children to school made the grisly discovery sometime before 7:30 a.m., according to authorities.

That family member called 911.

The Family 

The Zaccardi family was found dead Monday morning in their home. After the family member called 911, emergency responders discovered the body of 40-year-old Deirdre Zaccardi. Upon further investigation, police found the bodies of 9-year-old twins Kathryn and Nathaniel, 11-year-old Alexis and 43-year-old Joseph. 

Relatives issued a statement regarding the deaths:

"Today our family has suffered an unfathomable loss. As we attempt to make sense of the enormity of this event, we respectfully ask that the media respect our family's wishes to be left alone as we grieve our tremendous losses in private."

The Scene

NBC10 Boston’s Sky Ranger Helicopter captured images of police tape circling the building where the tragedy occurred. Investigators could be seen entering and exiting the building.

Horrified neighbors lingered at the scene, shocked at the unexpected violence. One neighbor told NBC10 Boston she heard suspicious sounds.

"We heard some loud banging, like four noises," said neighbor Heather McNulty, who was watching TV with her husband at the time. "We jumped up and came downstairs and we ended up opening the door."

She looked outside, saw the door to the dumpster swinging, and thought nothing of it until she woke up hours later and learned of the investigation.

The Investigation

The Office of the State Medical Examiner is investigating the circumstances and will determine the exact manner and cause of the family members’ deaths.

Cruz said authorities are not aware of any domestic issues in the household but are investigating the possibility.

Community Reaction 

The discovery of the bodies left neighbors and community members in shock. 

Family friend Debbie Welling said no one saw the tragedy coming.

"Just super fun-loving. Just a normal family," Welling said. "It just proves that anything can happen at anytime. We're just all so devastated. There's no reason. There are no words."

Abington School Superintendent Peter Schafer sent an email to parents on Monday morning about the deaths. He said students at the middle and high school levels were informed by teachers, while younger children were not told about the tragedy.

"Their presence touched so many lives and there are no words to express the sadness we feel," Schafer said in the email.



Photo Credit: Facebook

New Britain to Resume Evening Activities Halted By Threat of EEE, West Nile

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The city of New Britain stopped evening outdoor school activities because of the threat of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile virus, but the city and schools are again allowed to schedule outdoor events after 6 p.m.

A statement from the mayor’s office says city health officials say that as temperatures drop throughout Connecticut, mosquito activity and populations are weakened, further reducing the risk of contact with humans.

“The first frost over the weekend has definitely helped reduce the mosquito population around our area. Which is why the Director of Health is advising me that city evening activities including school sports can schedule activities past 6 p.m.,” Mayor Erin Stewart said in a statement.

The New Britain Consolidated School District will resume regularly scheduled evening events.

The mayor said residents are still advised to protect themselves, especially people who are most at risk, including the young and elderly, while outdoors when mosquitos are present.

Three people in Connecticut have died after contracting EEE. The residents were from East Haddam, East Lyme and Old Lyme.

Another, a Colchester resident, was hospitalized.

Dr. Theodore Andreadis, the director of the state agricultural experiment station, said the state Department of Health recommendation to limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn remains in effect, particularly in communities where the local department of health has asked people to refrain from being outside from dusk until dawn.

He added that we have not had a hard frost needed to end the threat.

The mayor’s office says health department recommends applying insect repellant containing DEET when outdoors and reapplying as directed by the manufacturer; avoiding peak hours of mosquito activity, from one hour after dawn and an hour before dusk; wearing long sleeves, pants, and socks when outdoors, especially in evening hours; repairing damaged widow and door screens; removing standing water from around your home; disposing of water holding containers such as ceramic pots, used tires, and clogged gutters; drilling holes in the bottom of containers, such as those used for recycling; changing water in bird baths often; cleaning and chlorinating pools and pool covers when not in use; and using landscaping to eliminate areas where water can collect.

Learn more hear on the symptoms of EEE as well as treatments for EEE.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Senators Ask for Laws to Block Foreign Election Interference

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The Senate Intelligence Committee issued a bipartisan report Tuesday calling for new laws designed to prevent foreign interference on social media — the culmination of a two-year investigation of how Russian intelligence agencies sought to manipulate American public opinion in the 2016 election, NBC News reported.

In a joint statement, committee chairman Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, and Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, said they had concluded that new legislation was needed, including requirements that social media companies publicly disclose the identities of those who purchase political ads, something television stations have long been required to do.

Click here to read the report



Photo Credit: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Man Charged in Hartford Shooting

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Hartford police have charged a man in a shooting on Zion Steet last month.

On September 10, officers were called to 433 Zion St. for a report of a person shot. The male victim was taken to Hartford Hospital with critical injuries.

Police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Anthony Cruz. He was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit assault, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm.

Bond was set at $250,000.



Photo Credit: Hartford Police Department

Connecticut Children's Raising Awareness about Pediatric Organ Donation

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Connecticut Children’s Medical Center is taking the lead in raising awareness about pediatric organ donation.

It can be a difficult topic to discuss, but one that saves lives.

The nation's first Pediatric Donate Life flag was raised at the hospital to raise awareness about organ donation.

“This flag represents love, loss, and hope for the patient families here at Connecticut Children’s,” said Jim Shmerling, the hospital’s president and CEO.

“It’s this type of collaboration that is critical to ensuring that together we provide The life-saving organ donation transplantation services that are needed by so many,” Alexandra Glazier, president and CEO of New England Donor Services, said.

Janis Wohlschlager’s son Joey was a patient at Connecticut Children’s.

“December 1, 2005 Joey committed suicide,” she said. “He was 11 years old. He was in the fifth grade.”

Doctors declared Joey brain dead and his parents chose to donate his organs to help others live on.

“Joey’s liver went to a 45-year-old man from Connecticut,” said Wohlschlager. “His left kidney went to a 41-year-old man from Connecticut. His right kidney went to a 24-year-old male from Connecticut. And his heart went to a 71-year-old woman from New York.”

Eleven kids became organ donors in New England this year, two of them from Connecticut Children’s.

Fifteen-year-old Nate Daly got a kidney.

“Before I got the transplant I was tired and had headaches all the time,” Daly said. “But after I received the transplant I had lots of energy.”

“We’re now celebrating in a couple weeks-- a one year anniversary,” said Nate’s father, Matthew Daly.

During a time of such great loss, doctors say pediatric organ donation saves lives.

“Those conversations may seem difficult to have, but it’s really an amazing gift that people can give,” Dr. Cynthia Silva, Connecticut Children's nephrologist.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Poll: Public Views Trump-Ukraine Charges as Serious, But Half Say He Shouldn't Be Removed From Office

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A majority of Americans say the allegations that President Donald Trump asked a foreign leader to investigate 2020 rival Joe Biden are serious and need to be fully investigated, and they also believe the president hasn’t been honest and truthful about his actions.

Still, the public is divided — largely along partisan lines — on whether Trump should be impeached and removed from office, with 43 percent supporting his removal given what they know today, versus 49 percent who oppose it.

And the overall standings of the two characters at the center of this story — Trump and Biden — are essentially unchanged, NBC News reports.

Those are the findings from a new national poll from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, which was taken after House Democrats opened a formal impeachment inquiry into the allegations that President Trump asked Ukraine’s president to investigate Biden and his son.



Photo Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Warren Stands By Account of Pregnancy Discrimination

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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren is standing by a story that has been a staple in her campaign stump speech: that she was fired from her first teaching job in Riverdale, New Jersey, because she was pregnant.

In recent days, Warren has been the target of a largely conservative media-driven assault on this aspect of her personal narrative. Citing documents from the 1970s — when Warren worked at Riverdale Elementary — and a 2007 interview in which Warren did not mention her pregnancy as a reason for leaving her job, outlets like the Washington Free Beacon have sought to poke holes in her account.

Warren is standing firm.

"When I was 22 and finishing my first year of teaching, I had an experience millions of women will recognize," Warren tweeted Tuesday morning. "By June I was visibly pregnant— and the principal told me the job I'd already been promised for the next year would go to someone else."



Photo Credit: John Locher/AP

Middletown Divided Over Renaming of Middle School

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A proposal to change the name of a Middletown middle school is causing a divide between those in town.

Earlier this month, the Board of Education unanimously approved to recommend that President Woodrow Wilson’s name be replaced from Woodrow Wilson Middle School.

In the October 2 meeting, former graduates attended the special session to voice their concerns.

Supporters who want to keep the name Woodrow Wilson on the school say it’s part of it’s legacy.

Former graduates want to honor the contributions of President Wilson to the town who lived in Middletown for a short time, taught at Wesleyan University and fought for women’s voting rights.

Common Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski is a former graduate and believes the school legacy may be lost if the school name is changed.

“The name is important because we merged and we no longer have a Woodrow Wilson name attached to our sense of belongingness and our sense of history,” said Kleckowski.

Those opposed believe the former president’s support of segregation and documented racism don’t represent or align with the town’s future of creating a more inclusive community.

Edward Ford Jr. attended and graduated from Woodrow Wilson Middle School back in 2011 and says that changing the name to Beman Middle School is a great step to inclusivity.

“The new name will represent a family who fought for freedom who fought for equal rights and not oppressed the rights of certain individuals,” said Ford. “We want a name that represents freedom, equity and a more diverse community like our great town.”

The name comes from the Beman family, who lived in the town and worked with the underground railroad to help free slaves who were escaping captivity. The family were abolitionist who led the charge to advocate for equal rights. According to Historian Jennifer Lee James, the Beman’s were members of the first generations of freed slaves who worked to close the gap between their ancestors and their future linage.

Construction is underway for Middletown’s $87.35 million construction project set to be completed by 2021, with classes set to start in the fall of 2021.

Kleckowski says a sense of school pride would be loss if the name changes and also notes that the board of education are failing to follow a city ordinance.

“The protocol would be to come to the Common Council first because they have the sole authority for the naming committee,” said Kleckowski. “The Common Council would then have to write an ordinance to have a naming committee.”

However, the Board of Education says they are only sending the Common Council a recommendation for the name change.

“The Common Council has the final say so, but it’ll be at least a community conversation that would be something that won’t divide us so much,” said Ford.

The Board of Education is expected to forward the name change proposal to the Common Council in a Tuesday night meeting.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Congresswoman DeLauro Calls for Ban on Food Packages With PFAS

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Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-New Haven) is calling for a ban on all food packing products that contain the chemical PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 

“Anything that has a slick service to prevent grease from going through, there’s a good chance it has PFAS,” said Brian Toal, the acting chief of the Environmental Health Section at the Department of Public Health. “Popcorn bags are the poster child for this and pizza boxes, but there are many others.” 

PFAS is the same chemical in the foam that firefighters used to put out the fire after a fatal plane crash at Bradley International Airport last week. The foam ended up in a nearby brook and crews worked to clean it up and warned people to stay away from it. 

Health officials say the chemicals don’t break down in your body or the environment. 

DeLauro is calling for a ban and asking all “companies provide all the relevant data as required by the law, to test foods for the mixtures of PFAS in use, require companies to provide comprehensive estimates of environmental releases of their products and demand that the companies provide samples of their PFAS products that are in use.” 

Toal also added that “the state of Washington has banned PFAS in all food packaging. As of 2022 all PFAS of any sort are going to be banned if the state of Washington can identify effective alternatives.” 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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Raccoon Attacks 84-Year-Old Hamden Woman: Police

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A raccoon attacked an 84-year-old woman in Hamden and the raccoon remains on the loose. 

Police said they were called to a home on Vantage Road around 4 p.m. Monday. 

The victim’s daughter told them than a raccoon bit her mother. When police talked to the victim, she said she was gardening when the animal “attacked” her and bit her on the hand. 

Polive said the daughter fought the animal off with a hammer and prevented further injuries. The woman was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for medical treatment. 

Hamden Police and Animal Control Officers searched the area, but did not find the raccoon. 

The Hamden Police Department and Animal Control Division advise people not to feed raccoons, to keep garbage out of the reach of raccoons, avoid leaving pet food outside and to keep compost secure.



Photo Credit: Valery Matytsin/TASS

Victim, Suspect Both Taken to the Hospital After Hartford Stabbing

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Two people were taken to the hospital after a stabbing in Hartford Tuesday.

Police said it happened near the gas station at 611 Maple Ave. The victim was stabbed in the stomach and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The suspect, who police said initially fled on foot, was arrested and also taken to the hospital.

The case is under investigation and more details were not immediately available.

Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

MSNBC, Washington Post to Co-Host November Debate

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MSNBC and The Washington Post will co-host the fifth Democratic presidential primary debate in Georgia next month, MSNBC announced Tuesday.

The debate will take place in prime time on Nov. 20. The specific location, venue, format and moderators will be announced at a later date.

To qualify for the stage, candidates have to meet fundraising and polling criteria laid out by the Democratic National Committee one week before the debate.

The next debate is set for Oct. 15.



Photo Credit: David J. Phillip/AP

East Haven Police Investigate Death at East Farm Village Apartments

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East Haven police are investigating an untimely death at the East Farm Village on Messina Drive.

Police did not provide many details, but said the scene is secure and that there is no threat to the public.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

State Trooper Under Investigation for Involvement in Serious Crash

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A Middlebury mother and daughter continue to recover from their injuries after an off-duty state police trooper crashed his unmarked, detective car into their vehicle.

Sgt. John McDonald is currently the focus of multiple investigations.

Police say he didn’t stop at a stop sign.

In addition, Tuesday, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection confirmed that the detective had been at a trooper retirement party at an Oxford brewery that afternoon. They are looking to see if he had been drinking.

“Heart wrenching,” is how Kevin Conroy describes receiving the call that his wife and daughter were seriously injured in the car crash.

“They went for ice cream and were on their return trip home. Mom and daughter for an ice cream trip and it ended like that," he said.

According to an initial report of the crash September 25, a driver failed to stop at a stop sign on the Airport Road in Southbury around 7:30 p.m., smashing into Conroy’s wife’s car as she headed north on Route 188.

Conroy says it wasn’t until he went to police the next day that he learned it was a trooper behind the wheel of the other car.

“I was asked by the tow company who the other insurer for the vehicle was and I had a blank piece of paper that was handed to me. At that point, I had to become a detective so to speak.”

On Tuesday, Brian Foley, aide for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said Sgt. McDonald was off-duty during the crash, driving a department vehicle, and refused treatment when he got to the hospital, so they don’t have a blood alcohol content report.

With that, they say they understand the family’s questions and concerns.

“Look, we share those same concerns. We hear the same things they hear and obviously it’s a part of our investigation,” said Foley.

Foley said there is a three-tiered investigation underway: motor vehicle, criminal, and internal affairs.

He said McDonald was out injured for some time, but continues to work his regularly assigned position with the Western District Major Crimes Unit out of Southbury during the investigations.

The lawyer for the Conroy family says they are in the process of filing a lawsuit as they wait for answers from police.

Kevin Conroy says he’s lucky his loved one are alive.

“I’m actually very happy that I’m in attendance for this meeting here to be able to discuss what’s going on verses planning or attending a funeral this weekend for my wife and daughter.”



Photo Credit: Kevin Conroy

Inmates Train Service Dogs for Veterans

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Inmates at Osborn Correctional Institute watched proudly Tuesday as several service dogs graduated from their training program.

These dogs can open doors, fetch dropped objects and even help injured owners get out of bed, and they learned it all behind bars, trained by inmates at Osborn Correctional Institute in Somers.

“I never thought during my prison sentence I would be working with dogs. It’s a blessing because it has change my life literally,” said Janusz Czekaj, one of the inmate dog trainers.

Czekaj has spent the last three years as an inmate inside Osborn, but for two of them he’s also been a service dog trainer.

“These are skills that I will take on the street with me to continue to do correct things and deliver back to the community,” he said.

Czekaj is one of 26 inmates in a partnership program between the Department of Correction and America’s Vetdogs. The animals they train behind bars will eventually be sent to live with disabled veterans across the country.

The inmates get the dogs from when they’re puppies, and keep them for more than a year, teaching them vital, sometimes lifesaving skills they’ll use to help their future owners. In turn, the inmates get a skill leaders hope they can use when they return to society.

“It gives them meaning, gives them purpose. It’s like paying it forward, giving back to our American vets, people who served our country,” Osborn warden Nick Rodriguez explained.

“These inmates, they full well know they’re going to be judged from here on out by the mistake they made somewhere. Many of them are veterans themselves. They want to put their lives back on the road and in this particular case, the dog comes in and doesn’t care what they’ve done in the past,” America’s VetDogs trainer Mark Tyler added.

Devante Pickett spoke on behalf of the inmate trainers at Tuesday’s graduation. He’s been incarcerated since he was a teen, but said the program and the animals he and the others train and love, have bene life-changing.

“For me it’s like giving back. I messed up, but doing this is like I’m giving back in little bits… little bits and pieces and helping save a veterans life,” Pickett said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

California Faces Historic Power Outage Due to Fire Danger

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PG&E plans to proactively turn off power to 800,000 customers in parts of several Bay Area counties and across much of Northern, Central and coastal California due to heightened fire danger.

The outage will mark the largest preventative outage in state history to try to avert wildfires caused by faulty lines.

PG&E said it would begin turning off power to 800,000 customers in 34 counties starting after midnight Wednesday amid forecasts of windy, dry weather that create extreme fire danger. To the south, Southern California Edison also said Tuesday that more than 106,000 of its customers in parts of eight counties could face power cuts. PG&E said the power will be turned off in communities in stages.

In the Bay Area, the public safety power shutoffs could impact more than 250,000 customers across Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties, according to PG&E.

The news came as residents in the region’s wine country north of San Francisco marked the two-year anniversary of deadly wildfires that killed 44 and destroyed thousands of homes. San Francisco is the only county in the nine-county Bay Area where power will not be affected.

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The planned outages have prompted many schools and colleges in the Bay Area to cancel classes. See a full list of school closures here.

Traffic is also expected to be impacted and commuters have been warned by Caltrans to brace for possible closures of the Caldecott and Tom Lantos Tunnels. The tunnel closures could begin as soon as Tuesday evening and continue for up to five days. Caltrans said it is working with PG&E to provide emergency power to keep the tunnels in operation.

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The shutoffs could potentially last for several days, according to PG&E.

The county-by-county breakdown below shows how many Bay Area customers could be impacted by the shutoffs:

  • Alameda County: 32,613 customers in Oakland, Castro Valley, Fremont, Union City, Berkeley, Hayward, San Leandro, Sunol, Pleasanton, Livermore.
  • Contra Costa County: 40,219 customers in San Ramon, Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Pinole, Richmond, Kensington, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Berkeley, Canyon, San Pablo, Pittsburg, Rodeo, Concord, Albany, Antioch, Martinez.
  • Marin County: Updates to come
  • Napa County: 32,124 customers in Napa, Saint Helena, Calistoga, Angwin, Pope Valley, Rutherford, Oakville, Deer Park, Lake Berryessa, Yountville, American Canyon.
  • San Mateo County: 14,766 customers in Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Woodside, Moss Beach, Montara, Portola Valley, Pescadero, La Honda, Redwood City, San Gregorio, Loma Mar, San Mateo, Menlo Park, Emerald Hills, Pacifica, Princeton.
  • Santa Clara County: 38,123 customers in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Redwood Estates, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Coyote, Gilroy, Mount Hamilton, Palo Alto, Holy City.
  • Solano County: 32,862 customers in Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, Vallejo, Dixon.
  • Sonoma County: 66,289 customers in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Petaluma, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, Glen Ellen, Penngrove, Geyserville, Kenwood, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Annapolis, Stewarts Point, Cotati, Cazadero, Guerneville, Larkfield, El Verano, Boyes Hot Springs, Fulton, Bodega Bay.

PG&E's plans to proactively cut power were prompted by high winds and low humidity in the forecast. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the hills and valleys in both the North Bay and East Bay from 5 a.m. Wednesday until 5 p.m. Thursday. A Red Flag Warning has also been issued for the Santa Cruz Mountains between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 12 p.m. Thursday.

Some of the most destructive blazes in California in recent years were started by PG&E power lines. Winds can knock down live wires and power poles or drive trees and other vegetation into contact with them.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: PG&E
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76ers Fan Says He Was Kicked Out Over Hong Kong Sign

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As the NBA continues to deal with the fallout from an executive’s controversial tweet, a man says he and his wife were kicked out of a Philadelphia 76ers game after showing their support for protesters in Hong Kong.

Sam Wachs of Chestnut Hill and his wife attended Tuesday night’s preseason game between the Sixers and the Guangzhou Loong-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association at the Wells Fargo Center.

Wachs told NBC10 he and his wife were holding up “Free Hong Kong” and “Free HK” signs in reference to the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Wachs said he lived in Hong Kong for two years and supports the protesters’ movement.

“We were just sitting in our seats near the Chinese bench,” Wachs said.

As they were sitting, Wachs said security confiscated their signs. He then said they were kicked out of the game during the second quarter by security after they yelled, “Free Hong Kong.”

“We were saying, ‘Free Hong Kong,’’ Wachs told NBC10. “What’s wrong with that?”

NBC10 reached out to the 76ers for comment but the organization has not responded.

The incident comes amid a firestorm of controversy for the NBA in relation to the Hong Kong protests. On Friday, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted out "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong." Morey subsequently deleted his tweet and he offered an explanation for his actions after Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta tweeted that the GM didn’t speak for the team.

The damage was already done for the NBA, however. Several companies in China, including some of the league’s major business partners there, lashed out over Morey’s original tweet. The Chinese Basketball Association  — whose president is former Rockets star center Yao Ming — said it was suspending its relationship with the team.

China state broadcaster CCTV also announced it would not air two exhibition games between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in Shanghai and on Saturday in the southern city of Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong.

Basketball is very popular in China, driven by roots put down there for three decades by the NBA, and by Yao's popular career as the first and only Chinese superstar in the league.

The NBA has a China office, just announced plans to add a gaming team in Shanghai to the NBA 2K League, and officials in both countries say as many as 500 million Chinese watched at least one NBA game last season. Several current and former NBA stars go to China annually to promote their individual brands, and the World Cup held in China this summer saw countless fans attending in NBA jerseys.

The protests that started in June over a now-shelved extradition bill have since snowballed into an anti-China campaign amid anger over what many view as Beijing's interference in Hong Kong's autonomy that was granted when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Protests continued raging this weekend after the shooting of a 14-year-old boy Friday night — the second protest victim of police gunfire — stoked fears of more bloody confrontations. An 18-year-old protester was shot at close range by a riot officer last week. He was charged with rioting and assaulting police, while the younger teen was arrested.

The reaction to Morey's tweet from the NBA provoked strong reactions from critics, including U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who accused the league of not supporting Morey or the Hong Kong protesters due to their lucrative business partnerships with China.

"We're better than this; human rights shouldn't be for sale & the NBA shouldn't be assisting Chinese communist censorship," tweeted Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who said he is a lifelong Rockets fan.

Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro, a former U.S. Housing Secretary from Texas, tweeted "China is using its economic power to silence critics — even those in the U.S."

Fourth Case of Powassan Virus Reported in Connecticut

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A fourth person in Connecticut is recovering from Powassan Virus, a tick-borne virus. The state Department of Public Health said that person is in Ridgefield. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that although it is still rare, the number of reported cases of people sick from Powassan virus has increased in recent years and most cases in the United States occur in the northeast and Great Lakes regions from late spring through mid-fall when ticks are most active. 

Officials from the state Department of Health said Powassan virus infection was added to the list of reportable diseases in Connecticut on Jan. 1 and four cases have been reported to state. One was in New Canaan, another was in New Preston, one was in Newtown and the other is in Ridgefield.

Ridgefield's first selectman said the test results just came back from the CDC. 

There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat Powassan virus disease, according to the CDC. They recommend reducing risk of infection by avoiding ticks.

Symptoms of Powassan Virus (according to the CDC)
Many people infected with Powassan virus do not have symptoms.
For people with symptoms, the time from tick bite to feeling sick ranges from 1 week to 1 month.
Initial symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting and weakness
Powassan virus can cause severe disease, including infection of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
Symptoms of severe disease include:
Confusion
Loss of coordination
Difficulty speaking
Seizures
Approximately 1 out of 10 people with severe disease die.
Approximately half of the people who survive severe disease have long-term health problems such as:
Recurring headaches
Loss of muscle mass and strength
Memory problems
Diagnosis
Healthcare providers diagnose Powassan virus infection based on:
Signs and symptoms
History of possible exposure to the ticks that can carry Powassan virus
Laboratory testing of blood or spinal fluid
More information on diagnostic testing is available.
Treatment for Powassan Virus
There is no medication to treat Powassan virus infection.
People with severe disease often need to be hospitalized to receive support for breathing, staying hydrated, or reducing swelling in the brain.
If you think you or a family member might have Powassan virus disease, see your healthcare provider.

Symptoms of Powassan Virus (according to the CDC)

Many people infected with Powassan virus do not have symptoms.

For people with symptoms, the time from tick bite to feeling sick ranges from 1 week to 1 month.

Initial symptoms can include fever, headache, vomiting and weakness

Powassan virus can cause severe disease, including infection of the brain (encephalitis) or the membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

Symptoms of severe disease include:

  • Confusion
  • Loss of coordination
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Seizures

Approximately 1 out of 10 people with severe disease die.

Approximately half of the people who survive severe disease have long-term health problems such as:

  • Recurring headaches
  • Loss of muscle mass and strength
  • Memory problems

Diagnosis for Powassan Virus

Healthcare providers diagnose Powassan virus infection based on:

  • Signs and symptomsHistory of possible exposure to the ticks that can carry Powassan virus
  • Laboratory testing of blood or spinal fluid

Treatment for Powassan Virus

There is no medication to treat Powassan virus infection.People with severe disease often need to be hospitalized to receive support for breathing, staying hydrated, or reducing swelling in the brain.If you think you or a family member might have Powassan virus disease, see your healthcare provider.

Learn more about Powassan Virus here. 



Photo Credit: StoryBlocks
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