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Person Hit By Car in East Haven

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Police are at the scene of an accident involving a pedestrian in East Haven.

The person was hit by a vehicle on Main Street between Kimberly Avenue and Charter Oak Avenue, according to police.

Drivers are being asked to avoid the area.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Clean Up Continues For Several Towns After 'Bomb Cyclone'

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A chorus of chainsaws echoed through East Windsor, Friday, as clean-up continued across Connecticut more than 36 hours after a powerful storm knocked out power and littered the landscape with fallen trees.

The East Windsor Public Works Department estimated the storm brought down 18 to 20 trees over roads and power lines, shutting 10 roads down to traffic. Public works crews worked around the clock to move tree trunks and branches off to the side and make every road passable again.

“We were blocked in actually with trees on the other side of the house and lines down,” said Mark Paradise who was finally able to get out of his East Road home on Friday.

At the height of the storm more than 90,000 Eversource customers lost power. Though the power outages fell steadily throughout the day, more than 3,400 of their customers remained in the dark at 6 p.m.

“Twelve o’clock Wednesday night we heard a couple crashes,” said Kevin Roberts, who lives on Billings Road in Somers. “We haven’t had power since then.”

The powerful storm brought a large tree down in Roberts’ front yard along with other trees next to his property.

“Unbelievable. It’s unbelievable how big that tree is. It’s 80 feet long,” said Somers. “It was everywhere, scattered.”

The fallen tree cut the electricity to Roberts’ house, but when he tried to start his generator he found out it didn’t work.

“I pulled the cord and it ripped off,” said Roberts who borrowed a generator from a friend.

The heating and air conditioning contractor couldn’t get out of his driveway until Friday morning. He spent the rest of the day fixing the furnaces of people who got their power back while he waited for his lights to turn back on.

“You can’t use your stove, you can’t use your microwave,” said Somers. “It not normal living, you know?”

About 35 hours after her lights went out, Hope Carlsen’s power finally returned Friday afternoon.

“We saw the light. For real, it was great. The kids started jumping up and down, we gave the power crew a standing ovation when they drove by,” Carlsen said.

She said she spent her time in the dark trying to keep her son entertained and her pets alive. She said she blew oxygen into her tropical fish tank.

“We also have a tortoise who’s been living on hot hands to keep himself warm,” said Carlsen.

She was still trying to figure out what to do with her car on Friday, which was badly dented when a tree fell on it during the storm.

Meanwhile, the trees along the fairway have become more than the usual hazard at Cedar Knob Golf Course in Somers.

“If you hit it well you’re not in trouble. My friend there is in a lot of trouble,” joked Anthony Traister, Ellington.

“There’s probably 50 trees down on the golf course that we’re cleaning up right now,” said golf pro Jeff Swanson.

Power lines sat coiled in the golf course’s parking lot. Inside the clubhouse, the lights wouldn’t turn on and the computers couldn’t run credit cards. Swanson took them down the old fashioned way, with paper and pen.

Golfers trying to book tee times over the phone were out of luck, too.

“There’s no water. The restaurant’s not open. We have a customer appreciation party scheduled for tomorrow night and there’s going to be some loss of food and he’s going to have to go out and buy new food.”

Eversource said it is bringing in reinforcements from four other states to get the lights back on to a majority of its customers.

More than 3,000 customers were still without power Friday evening. The company said it plans to have power restored to everyone by 6 a.m. Saturday.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Police Arrest Man in 2018 Hit-and-Run Death in Hamden

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Police arrested a former New Haven man on Friday, charging him with the 2018 hit-and-run death of a 51-year old woman in Hamden.

William Moultrie, 53, was driving the SUV that struck and killed Melissa Reddick as she was crossing Dixwell Avenue on July 1, 2018, according to police.

The SUV was captured on video speeding away from the scene northbound on Dixwell Avenue.

Officers went through hours of video which led to the discovery of the SUV in a garage at a home in New Haven, police said.

Police determined Moultrie was driving the vehicle, they said.

Moultrie was taken into custody at his current address in Georgetown, South Carolina. He was extradited to Connecticut and formally arrested by Hamden police on Friday.

Moultrie was charged with evading responsibility involving death, tampering with evidence, second-degree criminal mischief, falsely reporting an incident, and interfering with a police officer.

He was held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Nov.1.



Photo Credit: Hamden Police

Tests Show Elevated PFAS Levels in Farmington River Fish

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The Connecticut Department of Public Health is keeping its warning not to eat fish from parts of the Farmington River after tests showed elevated levels of the chemical PFAS in those fish.

The tests were done after a large spill of firefighting foam at Bradley Airport in June made it into the river. That foam contains a chemical called PFAS.

On Thursday, Department of Public Heath and DEEP said that fish tested by Signature Flight’s consultant where the firefighting foam entered the river, contained 172 parts per billion of PFAS. The health department advises any fish containing over 159 parts per billion of PFAS is unsafe to eat.

"The fish downstream from MDC - those numbers are exceptionally high,"Windsor mayor Don Trinks said. "We are really in that test, monitor, and wait mode."

Trinks says now state leaders will have to determine what to do with the numbers as the advisory not to eat fish on the Farmington caught downstream of the Rainbow Dam continues.

"I’m drinking Poland Springs," Brenda Corbiel said.

Upstream, residents like Corbiel are even more concerned about their groundwater after learning the fish testing results. She lives near where some of the foam came through a manhole on Rainbow Road after the spill.

"Until I know for sure that our wells are safe, it’s better to be safe than sorry," Corbiel said.

DEEP said Friday that it is waiting on additional fish tissue sampling collected in September, along with soil samples from Rainbow Road before deciding if private wells nearby need to be tested for PFAS.

Corbiel said she’d like to know sooner than later if her water has been affected.

"I haven’t heard anything and I feel that they should test our wells," Corbiel said.

DEEP said they expect to have those results on the additional fish tissue and soil testing from Rainbow Road by the end of the year.

Two Injured After Motorcycle and Truck Crash in East Haven

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East Haven police are investigating after a motorcycle and truck crashed on North High Street Friday night. 

According to police, two people riding on the motorcycle were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. 

North High Street between Foxon Road and Maple Street remains closed for the investigation. 

The driver of the truck remained at scene and is cooperating with police. 

NBC Connecticut will update this story as more information becomes available. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

HUD Knowingly Stalled Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Funds

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Two top officials with the Department of Housing and Urban Development admitted at a congressional hearing this week that the agency knowingly missed a legally required deadline that would have made desperately needed hurricane relief funding available to Puerto Rico, NBC News reported.

HUD’s chief financial officer, Irv Dennis, and David Woll, the department's principal deputy assistant secretary for community planning and development, made the admission Thursday before a House Appropriations subcommittee.

The two told bewildered lawmakers that the agency missed the congressionally mandated deadline to issue a notice that would have kicked off a monthslong process to help Puerto Rico get billions in federal housing funds Congress allocated after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017.

“HUD did fail to comply with the law,” said Rep. David Price, D-N.C., said at the hearing.



Photo Credit: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images

In Case You Missed It Weekend Digest: October 19

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To help keep you informed on the most shared and talked about stories, each Saturday and Sunday we'll revisit five stories from the previous week, including the most recent updates.

Teen Tragedy

Two 17-year-old girls were killed in a one-vehicle crash early Monday morning in the town of Brooklyn. Brenna Ann Larson and Shawnna Wojnowski died after the Ford F-150 pickup they were in hit a guardrail and continued down into a ditch where the truck caught fire. A third 17-year-old was severely injured in the crash. See how the community is coping with the girls' deaths here.

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Bomb Cyclone

A powerful storm brought down trees and knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers across Connecticut Wednesday night and into Thursday. High winds and heavy rains also led to some coastal and poor-drainage flooding. For more on the damage and cleanup, click here.

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Missing Man Mishap?

Hamden police have launched an internal investigation after learning their officers made contact with a missing Middletown man on the day he was reported missing. Peter Recchia, 59, appeared a bit disoriented when he was found in a woman's home in Hamden on Oct. 3. Officers responded to the scene and determined Recchia wasn't a danger to himself or others, so they let him go. He was reported missing a few hours later. See what police are saying about the investigation here.

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Syria Turmoil

Vice President Mike Pence announced Thursday that the U.S. and Turkey had agreed to a five-day cease-fire in northern Syria. The halt in aggression was to allow Kurdish withdrawal from a security zone roughly 20 miles south of the Turkish border. The agreement essentially gives the Turks what they had sought to achieve with their military operation in the first place. Kurdish forces were not party to the agreement and it was not immediately clear if they would comply. For more on the week-long conflict, click here.

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Right Place, Right Time

A police officer lunged at and grabbed a man on Monday as the man tried to jump from a bridge in Hartford. Officer Jim Barrett was on bike patrol and heard the call for a disturbed person on the bridge. He was there within moments and grabbed the man as he began to jump. The man was taken to the hospital to receive help. See more on the officer's heroic act here.

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Photo Credit: Family Photos/NBC Connecticut

Community Fights to Bring Home New Haven Teen Detained by ICE

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A community is fighting to bring home a New Haven teenager. The Wilbur Cross High School student was detained by ICE last month while on his way to court for a DUI charge.

Students, school leaders and lawmakers rallied for 18-year-old Mario Aguilar's release on Friday night.

Protesters said the teen poses no danger to the public and is not a flight risk. They said while his case goes through the court system, he should be allowed back at school.

Chants echoed down Church Street as a large crowd gathered outside New Haven City Hall. Many held signs showing the face of Aguilar.

Aguilar has been in ICE custody in Massachusetts for more than a month.

"One of my kids isn't in school and should be. That's the bottom line," said Wilbur Cross High School Principal Edith Johnson.

Johnson said Aguilar worked 30 hours a week and came to school every day and that they want him back there learning.

"I don't care about their status. I want my kids to be in school and get their education," Johnson added.

ICE said the teen, who is from Guatemala, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near the southwest border in March of last year and was issued a notice to appear, but never did.

Aguilar's legal counsel said he came to the U.S. when he was 16 to escape a violent gang who hurt and threatened him.

Earlier this year, police charged Aguilar with a DUI following a crash, something his attorney disputes.

Aguilar was on his way to court for it when ICE took him into custody.

"It's not only adults that can make a change. Students do, too, that's why we're here," said Daniel Martinez, a Wilbur Cross High School senior.

Since then, many have come to the teen's defense, including fellow students. All of them are pushing for his release and for a claim of asylum.

"I hope that it opens people's eyes that this is serious and that something has to happen to change," Martinez added.

"We're going to ICE. We're going to pound their door. We'll go to court and pound on their doors, too, and we'll do whatever we can to free Mario," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Aguilar's attorney said the school has been sending the teen school work, but that it's a difficult situation. ICE said he'll remain in custody pending removal proceedings.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Southington Man Killed in Crash on I-84 in Plainville

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A man from Southington has died after a crash on Interstate 84 in Plainville late Friday night.

State police said 22-year-old Dominic Thomas Hamm, of Southington, was driving on I-84 eastbound near exit 32 around 10:25 p.m. when he veered off the side of the road, went down an embankment and hit a tree.

Hamm was the only person in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.

The accident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Trooper Mendoza at (860) 534-1000.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

I-84E in Hartford Reopens After Multi-Vehicle Crash

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Interstate 84 east in Hartford has reopened after a multi-vehicle crash closed multiple lanes on Saturday.

The left three lanes of the highway between exits 46 and 48 were closed due to the three-vehicle crash, according to state Department of Transportation officials.

The highway has since fully reopened.

There was more than three miles of congestion reported in the area.

There's no word if anyone was injured in the crash.



Photo Credit: Connecticut Department of Transportation

House of Heroes Repairs 87-Year-Old Veteran's Home in Wethersfield

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The House of Heroes Connecticut is making it their mission to help military and public safety veterans through much needed home repairs.

The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans in need with one-day home repairs.

Volunteers work to restore veterans homes and their spouses who are disabled, living on a fixed income, or facing other physical/financial challenges.

The organization joined forces with Johnson Brunetti, the Town of Wethersfield, Wethersfield Veterans Commission and student volunteers from Quinnipiac University.

Korean War veteran Frank Anastasio, 87, was on the receiving end of the organizations tireless effort to help military families.

The New Haven native Anastasio enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950 as the Korean conflict emerged on the advice of his oldest brother Joe, who served in World War II. Six Anastasio brothers served their country during World War II and the Korean War. Anastasio was a cook aboard the USS LST-1084 and was on board during Operation Big Switch, the repatriation of North Korean prisoners as the conflict came to a close in 1954.

For 50 years, Anastasio has lived in the same home in Wethersfield.

“I can’t find the words to tell these people what I think of them,” said Anastasio. “My house looks great and it has never looked better.”

In 1994, Anastasio suffered a stroke and his wife, Sebastiana, is mobility limited.

The non-profit is providing their services for the family with a new handicap ramp, yard clean-up, landscaping and a variety of additional interior and exterior repairs.

Dennis Buden is the executive director and finds joy in helping servicemen and woman.

“When we go home at night, we put our heads on our pillow and we sleep well knowing that we helped a veteran,” said Buden. “It’s a remarkable feeling to see the look of gratitude on veterans faces and the tears in their eyes.”

Dozens of volunteers like to come back each year to provide peace of mind for some of the veterans household chores.

“Some of this work may seem simple, but it’s the simple repairs that mean the most to the veterans,” said Buden.

About 15 Johnson Brunetti employees and clients joined the student volunteers from Quinnipiac University to help.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Meriden Man Seriously Injured After Car Falls on Him

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A man has serious injuries after a car he was working on fell on him in Meriden on Saturday morning.

Police said the man was working on the car around 9 a.m. on Gravel Street when it rolled forward and the jack it was on buckled under the pressure. The car then fell on the man.

Lifestar was called to the scene.

Authorities did not release details about the man’s identity or his injuries.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Sunny, Seasonable Saturday Perfect for Fall Activities

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A near perfect fall Saturday is expected for all of the fall activities across the state.

NBC Connecticut meteorologists are expecting mostly sunny skies and a nearly calm wind through the day today.

Highs today will range from 55 to 60 degrees. The weather will be perfect for pumpkin picking and for going to fairs.

High pressure will keep us dry through tomorrow morning.

By later tomorrow, we’ll be watching some moisture from what is left over from Tropical Storm Nestor.

A few showers are possible by late in the day or evening on Sunday.

Get the latest forecast anytime here.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Crews Investigate After Torrington House Fire Displaces Family

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Crews are investigating after a house fire in Torrington early Saturday morning.

The incident occurred around 12 a.m. on Country Club Road.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they saw a fully-involved detached garage fire that extended into an adjacent single family home.

Off-duty firefighters also responded to the scene due to the severity of the fire, crews said.

There was extensive damage to the home and the garage, according to firefighters.

No injuries have been reported, according to fire officials.

The occupants of the home were displaced by the fire and are staying with their family.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

AG Barr Expands Mysterious Review Into Origin of Russia Investigation

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A review launched by Attorney General William Barr into the origins of the Russia investigation has expanded significantly amid concerns about whether the probe has any legal or factual basis, multiple current and former officials told NBC News.

The prosecutor conducting the review, Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham, has expressed his intent to interview a number of current and former intelligence officials involved in examining Russia’s effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including former CIA Director John Brennan and former director of national intelligence James Clapper, Brennan told NBC News.

Durham has also requested to talk to CIA analysts involved in the intelligence assessment of Russia’s activities, prompting some of them to hire lawyers, according to three former CIA officials familiar with the matter. And there is tension between the CIA and the Justice Department over what classified documents Durham can examine, two people familiar with the matter said.

With Barr’s approval, Durham has expanded his staff and the timeframe under scrutiny, according to a law enforcement official directly familiar with the matter. And he is now looking into conduct past Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, a Trump administration official said.



Photo Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt Uncovers 3,000-Year-Old Mummies in the Valley of the Kings

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Colorful wooden coffins adorned with paintings and inscriptions that were recently discovered by a team of Egyptian archaeologists were opened on Saturday to reveal perfectly preserved mummies, NBC News reports.

The 30 sealed coffins were found by accident under a mound behind the Asasif Necropolis on the west bank of the Nile river, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general for Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told NBC News.

"I'm very happy we found this discovery with Egyptian hands," Waziri said.

The archaeologists were conducting an unrelated dig when someone noticed what appeared to be the face of a coffin, Waziri explained. They continued digging to discover a cachette of coffins stacked in two layers only a few feet under the sand.



Photo Credit: KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

At Least 3 People Pulled From Water at Amston Lake in Hebron

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Rescue crews have pulled at least three people from the water at Amston Lake in Hebron on Saturday afternoon.

Officials said emergency crews were called to Amston Lake on Ames Road in Hebron around 2:45 p.m. after getting a report of a possible drowning.

Firefighters from Colchester, Glastonbury, Hebron, Lebanon and Marlborough responded to the scene. LifeStar was also called.

When rescue crews arrived, at least three people were pulled from the water, authorities added.

There is no word on their conditions.

"Everybody knows everybody, you know. Kind of like a cheers. And to see something like this happen on our beach on our special place is just very disheartening," Elaine Williams of the Amston Lake Association said.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Marine Combat Veteran Who Served in Iraq Facing Deportation to El Salvador

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Supporters of a Marine combat veteran who served in Iraq are calling on the California governor to help stop his imminent deportation to El Salvador, a country he left at 3 years old, NBC News reports.

Jose Segovia Benitez, 38, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1999-2004 and was deployed to Iraq, receiving multiple awards and decorations during his service, according to Marine and military records. His rib cage is tattooed with a large Statue of Liberty.

"He is a soldier who put his life on the line to defend his country," his mother, Martha Garcia, said in Spanish. "But when he returned from the war, he came back with problems."

His supporters said that when Segovia Benitez returned, he suffered from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. He began self-medicating with alcohol and ran into trouble with the law, they said.

While he previously had legal status, he was ordered to be removed from the country last year after serving several years in prison for drug and domestic violence-related convictions, according to immigration authorities.



Photo Credit: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images

G.O.A.T. Brew and Wine Fest Held in Hartford

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It may be the off season for the Hartford Yard Goats, but there was plenty brewing at Dunkin' Donuts Park on Saturday.

The Yard Goats hosted their annual Goat Brew and Wine Fest.

Mini golf, live music and even live goats were there.

As people enjoyed this nice weather and their beverage, or beverages, of choice.

"We're huge Yard Goat fans. We have season tickets. We come to any event that they have and this is great, it's a beautiful day, it's kind of nice days of the fall so it's a great event and we enjoy it," Katie Carey, of Hartford, said.

NBC Connecticut and Teleundo Connecticut are proud to sponsor this event and the Hartford Yard Goats.

2nd Annual Tech or Treat Held in Meriden

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It was a spooky day at Wilcox Technical High School in Meriden for the 2nd annual Tech or Treat event.

Students are tasked with designing haunted and fun hallways, for kids in the comunity, who then come and trick or treat at school.

"It was just like really fun to get to do this," Alana Quinn said.

"It's awesome. It shows that sense of community and pride that our staff and students have in our school," Principal Stacy Butkus said.

Over 30,000 pieces of candy were donated to hand out to the kids.

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