One person is in serious condition after a car hit a phone pole at the intersection of Route 195 and Walbridge Hill Road in Tolland, fire officials said.

The collision happened Wednesday evening. Route 195 was closed for a couple hours between Anthony Road and the Norwegian Woods Apartments on Merrow Road while emergency officials investigate and work to clear the scene, according to Tolland Public Safety Director John C. Littell.

Police said the driver was transported to Saint Francis Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. That person has not been identified.

Check back for updates. 

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Some stores want to give you an early jump on your holiday shopping.

Many big retailers are opening their doors today instead of waiting for tomorrow, Black Friday.

While surrounding states like Rhode Island and Massachusetts have laws prohibiting stores from opening on Thanksgiving, Connecticut has no such law, leaving the decision up to the store.

Here is a master list of stores opening today and tomorrow, according to Business Insider:

Thanksgiving Day:
• 6 a.m.: Kmart
• 7 a.m.: Big Lots, Ace Hardware
• 8 a.m.: Sears, Family Dollar
• 9 a.m.: Old Navy
• 4 p.m.: Michael's
• 5 p.m.: Toys R Us
• 6 p.m.: Walmart, Best Buy
• 8 p.m.: Macy's, Kohl's, JCPenney, Sears, Belk, OfficeMax, Staples, Target, Dick's Sporting Goods

Black Friday:
• 12 a.m.: GameStop, Victoria's Secret
• 5 a.m. Home Depot, Lowe's
• 7 a.m.: PetSmart, Michaels, T.J. Maxx, Sam's Club, Marshalls

Authorities arrested the driver of a bus, which crashed at Miami International Airport almost a year ago, killing three people and injuring dozens of others.

Ramon Ferreiro, 47, faces three counts of vehicular homicide/reckless manner in connection to the Dec. 1, 2012 crash. He was arrested on Wednesday.

The arrest warrant said his bond amount was at $50,000. Ferreiro was released from jail at 4:50 a.m.

It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.

A chartered bus carrying 32 members of a Jehovah's Witness congregation slammed into an overpass at the airport on the day of the accident.

Ferriero had been scheduled to take the group to a Jehovah’s Witnesses gathering in West Palm Beach but apparently got confused and drove to the airport before the 12-foot-high bus struck the 8-foot-6-inch concrete overpass entrance, police said.

Serafin Castillo, 86, was killed on impact, while Francisco Urana, 56, and Gliceria Emerida Garcia, 75, died at the hospital.

Authorities said that witnesses told them that just before the crash, Ferreiro was traveling at 33 miles per hour in a 15-mile-per-hour speed zone.

"Before he hit the overpass, he diregarded eight (8) low clearance warning signs equipped with amber lights," the statement of facts in support of the arrest warrant said.

Passengers aboard the bus also warned him that he was going the wrong way, and he continued to drive until the bus crashed into the lower level arrival entrance, the statement of facts in support of the arrest said.

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New Britain Police are searching for the driver responsible for hitting a 60-year-old man Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened at 63 Columbus Ave.

According to Police Chief James Wardwell, the man was on his way to a Thanksgiving dinner.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and has very serious injuries, police said.

Check back for updates.

After news of his criminal record went public earlier this week, Kennard Ray withdrew his nomination for Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra's Deputy Chief of Staff.  The announcement raised questions about the city's hiring policies. Ray spoke exclusively with NBC Connecticut about his decision to give his up position over his criminal past.

“I was a young man at the time, and I don’t want to use that as an excuse, but I’m not who I was then today,” said 32-year-old Kennard Ray.

The Hartford native has several felony convictions from the late 90s and early 2000s and said after speaking with the mayor’s office Monday night, he decided to withdraw.

“I didn’t want to make this difficult for the mayor or his administration,” said Ray. “[But] I’m grateful to the mayor and his administration.”

NBC Connecticut spoke to Mayor Segarra after he spent Thanksgiving morning at Open Hearth, serving food to homeless men. He said he chose Ray for the job because of his excellent relationships and good work in the community.

“He’s a person that has decided to take the last 10 years of his life and put it to good productive use,” said Mayor Segarra.

But the controversy surrounds a  2010 city initiative called “Ban the Box."  The policy ensures any individual can be considered for a job without any fear of discrimination because of a criminal record. Only after a candidate is chosen, a criminal background check is done to be sure they're qualified.

“I still believe that we need to give people a second chance,” said Mayor Segarra.

Ray said he understands and even supports the law and after facts about his past became known, he decided it was better for him to step away from the position within the administration, which has already been plagued with scandal.

"It’s a sad state that we’re in when people can’t get over the fact that people do make mistakes," Ray said.

Ray still plans to continue fighting for Hartford.

“Just a couple of miles this way or that way, young black men, young brown men, women, are going through similar things right now and have similar records, and I want to be able to  be a voice for them,” Ray added. “It may not be in the mayor’s office as planned, but I’ll be back to work on Monday.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Segarra says he’s already put a new policy in place to complete a criminal background check prior to offering a candidate a job. He added he’s considering asking City Council to modify the 2010 ordinance for clarity.

Ray says this isn’t a setback – just a pause – and he’s still very passionate about his hometown.

Six-year-old Lucia St. Lorenzo wondered how police working the holiday would get their Thanksgiving meal.  So, to make sure officers in Newtown got to celebrate Thanksgiving just like everyone else, she went out of her way to bring it to them herself.

“Some police officers were working and they don't get to stay home with their families,” said 6 year old St. Lorenzo.

Lucia and her father, Antonio St. Lorenzo, delivered the catered feast to the police station Thursday night.

Originally Lucia offered to pay for the whole dinner herself with the money she had gotten for her birthday, but restaurant owners from the Newtown Inn agreed to donate the dinners for 8 officers to support Lucia’s act of kindness.

Linda Antignani, who’s behind the Newtown Adopt-a-Cop program, also helped Lucia and her father make the night happen.

“It falls in that category of a little girl knowing that the officers would be alone on a holiday and wanting to give them a little piece of home,” said Linda Antignani.

Lucia's father, says he's so proud to see his daughter follow in his footsteps. He spend this life giving back to homeless veterans and other causes.

“It really makes me feel proud that she's got that kind of heart. That it's not all about her. She gets. It's about giving back,” said Antonio St. Lorenzo.

Lucia, a Head O'Meadow student, said she wanted to thank Newtown's finest for keeping a close eye on her school and on the town.

“They are outside my school so nobody comes in and hurts the kids,” said Lucia.

Newtown officers told NBC Connecticut the gesture gives them a little slice of home on this holiday. It also reminds them of the special bond they have with the community.

West Hartford police have issued a warning about “distraction burglaries” following a recent residential burglary that targeted an elderly homeowner.

Thieves robbed an elderly woman's home along New Britain Avenue, by I-84, in West Hartford this month.

“It’s frightening,” explained Maria Voghel.  Her parents live down the block and she doesn't ’want them to get victimized.

“When you have older parents you always worry about them,” Voghel said.

Police said a man in his 20’s went to the victim’s back door and claimed he was trimming trees at the neighbor’s house. The suspect claimed he  had a question about the property line. 

According to authorities, the man walked with the victim around the yard and asked her questions that  appeared legitimate, but it was really a distraction. 

While they were outside, his accomplice was inside and stole her jewelry. She realized it was gone hours later, police said.

“That's very sad…that could happen to any of us,” Voghel added.

Investigators said similar crimes were reported in at least 5 towns across the state.  Some were in Hartford, Orange, and Hamden.  It was unclear if the same culprits were responsible.

Police are urging residents to look out for their neighbors and to immediately call if they see any suspicious activity.

A serious, multi-vehicle crash has closed the east bound lanes of I-84 near exit 49, in Hartford, according to state police.

Asylum Street and Capitol Ave ramps are also shut down.

It is unclear how long the road will be closed.

We will bring you the latest information as soon as we get it.

 

Police say they pepper sprayed and arrested a man at a northern New Jersey Wal-Mart after a Thanksgiving shopping dispute.

Authorities say 23-year-old Richard Ramos became "belligerent" while arguing with a Wal-Mart shopper over a television Thursday night, and then attacked a Garfield police officer when the manager called for help.

Police tell The Star-Ledger (http://bit.ly/1ijZs3M) that officers used pepper spray to subdue the Passaic man.

No one else was injured.

Police say the store was packed with "Black Friday" shoppers at the time of the incident.

Ramos is charged with aggravated assault of a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He's being held at the Bergen County Correctional Facility in Hackensack in lieu of $20,000.

Nearly two dozen lots of blood glucose test strips are being recalled because they may calculate wrong results when used with certain meters, a Southern California company announced Wednesday.

Abbott Diabetes Care is recalling FreeStyle® and FreeStyle Lite® Blood Glucose Test Strips sold in the U.S.

The recalled test strips may produce erroneously low blood glucose results when used with the OmniPod® Insulin Management System, or with the "FreeStyle® Blood Glucose Meter" and "FreeStyle® Flash Blood Glucose Meter" – neither of which have been made since 2010.

When the test strips are used with the newer FreeStyle brand meters, the test results are not affected.

The affected test strips are from lots with expiration dates between May 2014 and March 2015.

The following lot numbers are included in the recall:

• 1281732
• 1363321
• 1367917
• 1283345
• 1365056
• 1373262
• 1283603
• 1365920
• 1374907
• 1285007
• 1365934
• 1366515
• 1366111
• 1366337
• 1366006
• 1363015
• 1366347
• 1350414
• 1363109
• 1365921

Based in Alameda, Calif., Abbott Diabetes Care said it is alerting health care professionals, pharmacies and distributors about the recall.

Customers can call 1-888-736-9869 for a replacement of the affected test strips at no charge.

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• Fight at Rialto Walmart Parking Lot
• Father Suspected of Abducting Sons
• Mother Turns Tragedy Into Hope
• Teen Cyclist Hurt in Hit-and-Run
• Bomb Hoax Halts I-15 Traffic
• Ex-Marine in Homeless Killings Dies
• Beautiful Menorahs Around SoCal
• Weekend: Hollywood Christmas Parade

A fight broke out in the parking lot of a Walmart in San Bernardino County Thursday night as shoppers jostled in line to take advantage of Black Friday door buster deals.

Tensions were high at the retail giant's Rialto location because shoppers were cutting in line, said Sgt. Nicholas Borchard, with the Rialto Police Department.

At least three people were involved in the brawl and two have been taken into custody, Borchard said. A police officer suffered a minor, unknown injury.

The incident happened at a Walmart located at 1610 Riverside Ave. (map), according to a Walmart spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman could confirm no other details, saying only that police responded quickly and customer safety is the store’s top priority.

NBC4 obtained witness video of the brawl, which showed what appeared to be a police officer drag at least one person in the parking lot. A crowd had gathered around the fight.

Shoppers were welcome at the mega-retailer's Rialto location -- about 60 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles -- starting at 7 a.m. Thursday. The store will remain open until 10 p.m. Friday.

Refresh this page for updates.

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More Southern California Stories:

• Father Suspected of Abducting Sons
• Mother Turns Tragedy Into Hope
• Teen Cyclist Hurt in Hit-and-Run
• Bomb Hoax Halts I-15 Traffic
• Ex-Marine in Homeless Killings Dies
• Beautiful Menorahs Around SoCal
• Weekend: Hollywood Christmas Parade

A 12-year-old boy and three children were injured Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a tree in south suburban Olympia Fields in Chicago.

The crash occurred about 12:45 p.m. in the 600 block of Brookwood Terrace, according to statement from Olympia Fields police. Authorities believe the driver may have been speeding at the time of the crash.

All four passengers were less than 16 years old and residents of Olympia Fields, police said.

Armani Kreamer, 12, of the 2000 block of Corinth Road in Olympia Fields, was pronounced dead at Franciscan St. James Health in Chicago Heights at 2:21 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Kreamer's mother said he was supposed to be grounded but sneaked out for a joyride with friends. She said the car was driven by a 13-year-old girl. 

The three other individuals in the vehicle were initially taken to Franciscan St. James Health in Olympia Fields and Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, but were all later taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.

Eyewitness Anapam Razdan said he was shocked that anyone survived. 

"There was some movement in the car, and I kept hearing some women or girls screaming and saying, 'Oh, let me out, let me out, look at the car,' which I thought was kind of strange that they were alive," Razdan said. 

An autopsy for Kreamer is scheduled for Thursday.

Olympia Fields police are investigating.
 

STNG Wire

Some New Haven residents are now without a home on Thanksgiving after a fire ripped through a condo complex Thursday morning.

The fire department responded to Warwick St. and Quinnipiac Ave around 9 a.m. after a passer by reported seeing flames coming from one condo.

The fire department was able to quickly contain the fire, but not before it destroyed two to three condos. Fire officials believe the fire started in an empty condo.

The cause of the fire has not been determined yet.

A man who walked into a San Jose home on Thursday morning and allegedly started stabbing people was fatally shot by police officers after after allegedly ramming a patrol car, police said.

The incident began at about 10:35 a.m. when the suspect, who has not yet been identified, allegedly stabbed three people in the 2100 block of Luz Avenue, police spokeswoman Sgt. Heather Randol said.

The stabbing victims' injuries are considered serious but not life threatening, Randol said.

The suspect then carjacked a vehicle in the 100 block of Jackson Avenue, police said. Officers in pursuit of the suspect tried to stop the carjacked vehicle, which was at one point driving the wrong way on an Interstate 680, police said, but the driver wouldn't stop.

San Jose Police Sgt. Heather Randol said the pursuit ended when officers spotted the suspect's vehicle about 10:50 a.m. near Mabury Road and Kirk Glen Drive in East San Jose. According to police, after the suspect rammed a patrol car, the suspect exited the vehicle and began moving toward police, at which point officers opened fire.

The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. The man's identity was not immediately released.

MORE: Two Shootings, One "Random" in San Jose

San Jose police homicide detectives are investigating the case.

Neighbors witnessed the incident.

"He tried to do a U-turn into the cop car to hit the cop car, and the cops started shooting at him," neighbor Katrina Orta said. Orta was interpreting what her deaf sister Serena Orta was saying.

Another neighbor, Michael Phan, heard the shots.

"Actually, I was inside the home and suddenly, I hear the shot," Phan said. "I heard pop, pop."

Neighbors said they saw the minivan crash into a tree.

"[My sister] thought it was crazy," Katrina Orta said. "She's never seen nothing like that before."

Police said they had to stop him before he killed someone.

Neighbor Robert Newman said the suspect's minivan hit his parked truck before it hit the tree.

"It was a police action," Newman said. "It was something that needed to be done. I'm glad they were on top of it and took care of it."

Phan said he was planning on cutting down the tree, but he now believes it prevented the minivan from going into his home.

"I think [I feel] relieved," he said. "Now, I can take the whole family out and have a happy Thanksgiving and get some turkey."

Investigators said they are still trying to figure out why the suspect went on this crime spree on Thanksgiving day.

Earlier on Thursday, San Jose police were investigating two other shootings, one of a young couple on a porch on State Street at 4 a.m., and another about 2 a.m. in the 2200 block of Dobern Avenue.

No suspects were taken into custody in those two shootings, and all the victims are expected to survive.

Despite enduring a terrifying ordeal, Sasha Fleischman couldn't be more grateful this Thanksgiving.

“It just feels really great to be home, and I'm really glad I can be home for Thanksgiving,” Fleischman said.

The California high school senior, who is agender, suffered severe burns to the legs when another teen set Sasha's skirt on fire aboard an AC Transit bus three weeks ago.

VIDEO: Sasha Fleischman Interview, Part 1
VIDEO: Sasha Fleischman Interview, Part 2

Fleischman talked to reporters for the first time Thursday morning.

“I look down and my skirt is on fire,” Fleischman said. “I freak out because I'm on fire.”

For the first time, Fleischman is speaking publicly about the ordeal, describing the moments of panic after seeing and feeling the flames.

MORE: Sasha Fleischman Weighs Future as "Agender" Activist

“My first instinct was kind of dumb,” Fleischman said. “I started waving it around trying to put it out with air, but that just fanned the flames and made it bigger.”

What Sasha did next, something learned in kindergarten, may have saved the teen.

“My second reaction, which is probably what saved my life, I went back to kindergarten class and stop, drop and roll, so I just dropped on the floor and started rolling around,” Fleischman said.

Fleischman's injuries required three surgeries and three weeks in the burn unit, yet Sasha doesn't seem bitter.

MORE: Attorney for Teen Accused of Skirt Fire Calls Incident Prank

“I don't want to be too harsh, because people do dumb things, especially when they're teenagers,” Fleischman said.

Fleischman believes the 16-year-old suspect Richard Thomas shouldn't be prosecuted as an adult, though the teen is not sure what Thomas's intent really was.

“I think it was a really dumb thing he did,” Fleischman said. “I think you should really know better than to light someone's clothing on fire. You should be able to realize that's not just a funny prank.”

The case has drawn worldwide attention, and Fleischman, who doesn't identify as male or female, hopes it will lead to a better understanding of gender-identity issues.

As for the skirts, don't expect any changes.

“I'm going to keep wearing the skirt. I'm not going to give it up,” Fleischman said. “It's a big part of who I am and I don't like pants.”

MORE: "Heartbreak" in Oakland After Student Charged with Hate

A very special delivery arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Friday morning.

First lady Michelle Obama; her daughters, Sasha and Malia; and dogs, Bo and Sunny, welcomed the arrival of the official White House Christmas tree around 11 a.m.

The 18-and-a-half foot Douglas fir came from Crystal Springs Tree Farm in Leighton, Pa. 

The tree will be on display in the Blue Room of the White House throughout the holidays.

But this isn't the only Christmas tree in town: Earlier this week, the Capitol Christmas Tree arrived at the U.S. Capitol after making its way from a forest in northeast Washington state.

Workers used a crane to place the 88-foot Engelmann spruce on the west front lawn of the Capitol Monday morning. It is the second tallest tree ever used at the Capitol.

It will be decorated with more than 5,000 handmade ornaments from children across the country reflecting the theme "Sharing Washington's Good Nature."

New Britain Police have issued a warning to the city's Latino community.

Scammers are targeting Hispanics across the city asking for money to fix a non-existent power problem.

So far, five people have come forward to say they have been scammed out of thousands of dollars.

“Our fear is there are other folks who have become victims and have not come forward,” said Captain Thomas Steck.

According to police, the culprits call victims and claim to be from Connecticut Light & Power. In Spanish, they tell the victims a transformer is drawing too much voltage from their homes, and it could start a fire. The unsuspecting victims are told to put a sum of money on a Green Dot Prepaid Money Card to fix the supposed problem, or their power will be shut off. The homeowner is told to call a phone number and provide the person on the other end with the account number of the prepaid money card. Once the scammer has the account number, the money is withdrawn.

Investigators believe the people behind the scam were from Connecticut. They say the calls have been traced to two phone numbers, 860-665-5000, and 860-258-3000.

“Certainly we're going to investigate and make arrests where we can,” Capt. Steck said.

New Britain Police say there is a good chance the scammers are contacting people in nearby towns too. Detectives want the Hispanic Community to be on alert. They are urging anyone who gets a call from someone who makes a similar claim to hang up, call police and CL&P.

Residents in southeastern Connecticut called police after hearing several loud "booms" Friday morning.

Stonington police said they received more than 100 calls from people across the town who reported hearing at least four loud "booms". They got their first call at 9:11 a.m., police said.

"We live in Ledyard near the Mystic line and our house shook so hard I thought there was an explosion right outside,"  Kathy Dunn said in a Facebook comment.

Some people thought a car hit their house, or something landed on their roof.

The fire chief in Old Mystic was among those to hear, and feel the loud "booms."

"I thought 'oh, maybe we just had an earthquake,'" Chief Kenneth Richards said.

The sounds came in succession, about 15 minutes apart, according to Richards.

No one in the area saw anything or reported any type of explosion, according to police. The police department contacted the Department of Homeland Security about the sounds.

Groton Town police also received calls, but officers there were not able to determine what caused them either.

Lights along the ski runs at Powder Ridge in Middlefield symbolize a return to action, even though there's no snow on the runs yet. The ski area has been closed since 2007. Its new owner has plans to be bigger and better than ever.

"Things are going, actually, great," said the owner, Sean Hayes.  "We couldn't have asked for better conditions.  Everyone looked at that rain we just had a couple of days ago and said, oh no, disaster!  No.  We needed it."

The rain recharged the pond Powder Ridge needs for water to make snow.  There is some snow on the jib at the base of the hill and there should be enough snow made over the weekend to open it.  For the ski runs from top to bottom, however, it'll be a while.

Hayes is determined it will happen. "This is an adventure sports park," he said.  "This is not your old father's ski area or local area.  This is a full service winter resort."

In the rental area the helmets are ready to go, and so are the boards, skis, and boots.  Hayes actually envisions a retail mall at Powder Ridge, along with a restaurant that's a few months away from opening.

He has some plans for making Powder Ridge different.

"It will have family rooms you can rent for the day, living room settings, fireplace, TV.  So even if you're not skiing all day long - I know I can't keep up with the kids, so after two hours I'm done, I'm going in, sitting by the fire in a private setting, and order room service," he said.