A worker died Thursday in a chemical incident at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Burlington, Massachusetts. Ten other people were sickened.

Interim Burlington Fire Chief Michael Patterson said Super 8, a common sanitation product, was being used to clean the floor when people inside the restaurant became sick. Fire crews responded around 5:30 p.m. to find a male worker who was nauseous after inhaling fumes from the cleaning agent. He was taken in serious condition to Lahey Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

A Tier 1 hazardous materials incident was declared and the building was evacuated. The restaurant was closed for the night.

Another worker had applied the cleaning solution and went out into the fresh air after being exposed. The victim who died was trying to squeegee the substance out of the restaurant when he was overcome by the fumes, Patterson said.

Nine other patients drove themselves to Lahey Hospital, and another was going to a Lowell hospital, according to Patterson. While they have been placed on oxygen, Patterson said none of the patients besides the man who died were in serious condition.

Two customers were transported; the rest of the patients are employees. Their symptoms include runny and watery eyes and shortness of breath.

Anyone who was in the restaurant at the time and has any concerns is urged to seek immediate medical attention.

"We were just sitting at the bar, and kind of the smell of, like, ammonia and chlorine came over us, and a bunch of people started coughing," said Jim Jorefice, who was inside the restaurant with some coworkers at the time.

The three men said they asked a restaurant employee if everything was OK and were told some chemicals had spilled in the kitchen.

"At first, I just thought it was the dishwasher, someone poured some chemicals down, but then, it got stronger and stronger," Jorefice said.

Eventually, they moved to a window employees had opened. Then, firefighters arrived in gas masks and told them to leave the restaurant immediately.

Super 8, a sodium hypochlorite, is frequently used in sanitation.

"This is a product that we've been told is a common product used in floor cleaning," Patterson said. "For some reason tonight, there was just a reaction that led to this."

Patterson added that crews were not sure whether the product had been mixed with anything else.

As of 10 p.m., Patterson said most of the solution had evaporated, but that the restaurant's management team would need to make sure any residual product was cleaned up.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been made aware of the case, fire officials said.

"We are shocked and saddened to learn of this horrific accident at our franchise-owned sports bar and are working closely with our franchisee and the authorities while they conduct an investigation," Buffalo Wild Wings said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing.

An investigation is underway after an employee at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Burlington, Massachusetts died Thursday when a chemical incident occurred at the restaurant.

Crews continued to clean up the hazardous mess overnight as authorities investigated the exact cause of the worker's death.  

Here’s what to know:

The hazmat incident 

Firefighters responded to the restaurant at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday for a report of a chemical reaction in the kitchen.

They learned an employee was cleaning the restaurant’s floor with Super 8, a common sanitation product, when patrons began to feel ill. Upon arrival, emergency responders found an employee who reported feeling nauseous after being exposed to the fumes from the cleaning agent.

The employee was trying to squeegee the substance out of the restaurant when he was overcome by the fumes, according to Interim Burlington Fire Chief Michael Patterson. He was taken to Lahey Hospital in serious condition and later died, according to the Burlington Fire Department.

Firefighters issued an evacuation and declared a Tier 1 hazardous material response.

The victim

Fire officials identified the victim Friday as 32-year-old Ryan Baldera, the restaurant's general manager. A source tells NBC10 Boston he was a "great guy loved by all at the restaurant."

The source said Baldera was the father of a newborn child.

Grief counselors are expected at the restaurant on Friday to support employees who have been affected by the untimely death.

Injuries

Ten other people checked themselves into a hospital as a result of the hazmat, authorities said. They reported symptoms such as difficulty breathing and a burning feeling in their eyes.

Nine people checked into the Lahey Hospital and a 10th person went to a Lowell medical center. Although the injured were placed on oxygen, none of the surviving patients were in serious condition, according to Patterson.

The response

One customer told NBC10 Boston that when he asked a restaurant employee if everything was OK, he was told some chemicals had spilled in the kitchen.

"We were just sitting at the bar, and kind of the smell of, like, ammonia and chlorine came over us, and a bunch of people started coughing," said Jim Jorefice, who was inside the restaurant with some coworkers at the time.

Jorefice said the smell of the chemicals become overwhelming.

"At first, I just thought it was the dishwasher — someone poured some chemicals down — but then, it got stronger and stronger," he said.

Buffalo Wild Wings issued a statement on the death of its employee:

“We are shocked and saddened to learn of this horrific accident at our franchise-owned sports bar and are working closely with our franchisee and the authorities while they conduct an investigation,” the company said. 

The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health Service also responded to the fatal incident.

"I am sure that OSHA will be reviewing whether the employer complied with (their) standard as part of their investigation."

"In the meantime, we send our deepest condolences to the family of the worker who died. All workers deserve to come home to their families alive and well."

The investigation

It is unclear what caused the chemical reaction that led to the employee’s death. Super 8 is a sodium hypochlorite that is often used in sanitation.

"This is a product that we've been told is a common product used in floor cleaning," Patterson said. "For some reason tonight, there was just a reaction that led to this."

Authorities are investigating the possibility that the chemical may have been mixed with something else.

A spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the agency has opened an inspection at the Buffalo Wild Wings to determine whether or not there were any violations of workplace health and safety standards. OSHA has up to six months to complete its inspection.

State Representative Linda Orange is resigning from office as of February for health reasons and said in a statement that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

“Today I announce my resignation as state representative, effective February 1, 2020. I have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and will need all of my focus and energy devoted to my treatment,” Orange said in a statement. 

Orange, a Democrat serving Colchester, Lebanon, Windham and Mansfield, worked for the General Assembly as a legislative assistant from 1991 to 1995 and was elected to the state legislature in November 1996. 

“I have enjoyed working with the people of the 48th District and with all of the towns that I have served over the years. Being your state representative for the past 23 years has been an honor and a joy,” Orange said in a statement. 

“To my friends and colleagues: we have laughed a lot, we have agreed and disagreed and we have always come together to reach a compromise. I am very proud of the work that we have done together,” her statement goes on to say. 

Orange serves as deputy speaker. 

“Linda Orange is a fierce legislator who always stands tall for her constituents. Linda is a champion for eastern Connecticut and has an incredible depth of knowledge, especially on public safety issues. If an issue touches police or fire, we know to check in with Linda,” House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz (D-Berlin/Southington) and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) said in a statement. 

“Everyone in Colchester and eastern Connecticut can probably relate – you know when Linda enters the room; and her famous “Bye-bye now” as she leaves. Her voice carries...and carries. But her voice also makes you smile. Her humor and incredible commitment always come through the loudest. The Connecticut House of Representatives will miss our friend Linda Orange,” the statement from Aresimowicz and Ritter says. 

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said in a statement that she received the resignation letter from Orange on Thursday evening and the governor has 10 days from when the seat becomes vacant to issue a writ of election for a special election. 

“Virtually anyone who has met Linda Orange would agree that she is the sunshine of the State Capitol – equal parts optimistic, caring, humorous, and joyful, and her warmhearted laugh fills the room," Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement. "She is a vocal advocate on behalf of her constituents in eastern Connecticut and remains one of the most ardent champions supporting our state’s first responders. I am certain that this was a difficult decision and it is with great sadness that we received this news. We are grateful for the public service she has provided our state throughout her years in office.”

Newly released Dallas Police Department video shows the final moments of 34-year-old Diamond Ross, who died last year in police custody.

According to Dallas Police, responding officers failed to get Ross medical treatment but neither officer involved faced criminal charges due to her death being ruled an "accidental drug overdose."

On the video, Ross can be heard asking for water and telling responding officers she can't breathe. While being processed at the City of Dallas Detention Center, she appears unresponsive and is drug in by DPD officers holding only her arms. The video then shows the officers dropping her in a wheelchair as her head violently snaps back.

"This is so hard to watch," Diamond Ross' mother Ethelyn said. "I think it's a shame that they would treat a human being like that."

Ross' family says they found out the video existed only an hour before it was released. In an email to NBC 5, DPD says the video was "released due to the public interest in the case and in an effort to be transparent with the public."

"We feel a bit traumatized because now we have to deal with this all over again," Tierra Bernard, Ross' sister-in-law said.

Dallas Police identified the two involved officers as Senior Corporal Larry Moody and Trainee Officer William Ortega. According to police, during the course of the internal affairs investigation Ortega resigned and Moody received a "written reprimand."

The Ross family believes Moody should be fired and say they plan to file a civil lawsuit.

"Why didn't they help her, they are professionals, why didn't they help her," Ethelyn Ross said.

Nurses and doctor swarmed into the young patient's room, grabbing and pulling as they worked. Out came the IV. In came epinephrine and hydrocortisone to keep his heart pumping. 

The drug in Eliot Hayes' IV was supposed to help cure his cancer. But in this moment, it was killing him.

Soon after the medicine had started pumping into his veins, Hayes felt something was wrong. As he lay in bed, face growing redder by the second and throat quickly closing, a three-word whisper escaped his lips: "I can't breathe."

The medical staff worked quickly. Less than a minute after the episode began, the 18-year-old felt sick, but he was alive.

Eliot Hayes had just suffered anaphylactic shock as a result of an allergic reaction to one drug used to treat his B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. It was clear he needed another option.

Another drug, Erwinaze, was the answer -- if only the hospital could find enough of it to treat him.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, the Ireland-based company that sells and distributes Erwinaze, alerted doctors and patients in September that one of its batches had been contaminated by "particulate matter" and was in short supply.

"How is it possible? Why is there a shortage? What is going on?" Sophie Hayes, Eliot's mother, recalled thinking when she was told the treatment for her son would have to be delayed.

The Hayes family, from Wayne, Pennsylvania, experienced first-hand a problem that doctors say is too common and worsening: shortages of childhood cancer drugs, exacerbated by the dwindling number of suppliers and problems in production.

"It does make us nervous, knowing that if there is just one supplier of a given medicine, any hiccup or disruption in manufacturing would lead to a shortage that would affect patients," said Dr. Spencer Mangum, a pediatric oncologist at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware, where Hayes is being treated.

For Some, Shortages of More than 8 Years
The pediatric chemotherapy drug vincristine grabbed headlines when Teva Pharmaceuticals stopped manufacturing it in July, a move the U.S. Food and Drug Administration described as a "business decision." That left Pfizer as the sole manufacturer and caused the FDA to declare a shortage.

Teva Pharmaceuticals did not return requests for comment.

Mangum called vincristine an "an essential component to a lot of the backbone of a lot of our therapies." He added that his hospital has enough of the drug to last through the rest of the year.

Other drugs, like the Erwinaze needed for Eliot Hayes' treatment, have been in short supply for years, Mangum said.

At the request of Congress, the FDA recently studied 163 drugs that had been in short supply. Its report said drug shortages have been increasing and lasting longer, in some cases more than 8 years.

One reason is older drugs on the market, with generics that are less valuable to drug makers. Another is problems with manufacturing or product quality, which led to 62% of shortages in the drugs the FDA studied.

The "product quality problems" that have contributed to the current Erwinaze shortage have also been blamed for past shortages.

In a scathing January 19, 2017, letter to Porton Biopharma -- the Salisbury, England-based company that makes the Erwinaze distributed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals -- the FDA excoriated the company for repeatedly failing to act on violations that led to contaminations in its manufacturing facility.

"These repeated failures demonstrate that management oversight and control over the manufacture of drugs at your facility is inadequate, and that your previous corrective actions did not address persistent contamination hazards and drug quality issues," the FDA's letter read.

In a statement, a Porton spokesperson said the company has since changed some suppliers and introduced "new components" to ensure quality. The spokesperson said Porton has resolved the "historical issues" that the FDA identified and that "subsequent inspections have satisfied the regulatory authorities."

However, the spokesperson did not provide an answer about what led to the latest contamination of one of its Erwinaze batches. 

For its part, Jazz knows "it's critical to improve reliability of supply" and is working to help Porton Biopharma "overcome its manufacturing issues," said Andrew Civers-Davis, Jazz's director of global corporate communications. Civers-Davis added that Jazz is working to make Erwinaze more available and is developing other drugs to address the worldwide shortage.

He acknowledged, however, that "Until the manufacturing issues are resolved by PBL, we do expect intermittent shortage and stock out of supply through the end of 2019 and into 2020."

Rationing Life-Saving Drugs
Shortages can have an especially devastating effect on childhood cancer patients.

The FDA report noted that about 90% of children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of pediatric cancer, are curable. However, the agency added, most of the drugs used to treat this form of leukemia are older. Between 2009 to 2019, nine out of 11 of those drugs were "in and out of shortage."

When shortages occur, they can create a host of problems for patients and hospitals, which are forced to compete with one another. In these instances, competition comes in the form not necessarily of who can pay the most money, but "who can get in line quickest and who can grab that stock," Mangum said.

"It becomes like a rat race for who is going to have stocks to actually protect the kids," Sophie Hayes said.

This reality creates a dilemma because hospitals must order drugs ahead of time based on the need for existing patients and estimates of future patients. These medical institutions, then, have to make sure they have enough of a drug to provide care to their own patients while trying to ensure they don't overstock knowing that other hospitals and patients are also in need, according to Mangum.

Worse yet is the effect on patients like Hayes.

"Unfortunately, there are times that we have to resort to rationing of chemotherapy medicine," Mangum said.

"That's a really difficult decision to make, and it's heart-wrenching to have to have those types of discussions," he added.

The fear is that "patients with curable cancer might not be cured simply because the drug wasn't available," he said.

In Hayes' case, he had to wait about three weeks between when he found out he needed Erwinaze and when he actually got "lucky" and received his dose, his mother said. The only reason he finally got the medicine was because another patient had an allergic reaction.

"The unhappiness of somebody is what becomes your happiness," Sophie Hayes said.

But by this point, so much time had elapsed that Eliot Hayes had to be administered two treatments of Erwinaze back-to-back, meaning thrice-weekly doses for four weeks instead of the normal two.

After each dose, ammonia in his body continued to accumulate, a side effect of the treatment. He continued to feel worse. But because he had waited so long, he had to skip the usual month-long break between treatments and trudge ahead.

By the time the third treatment began, the ammonia running through his veins landed him in the intensive care unit for three days, where he was put on a regimen of laxatives and fluids. "The whole point was to try and flush the ammonia out of my blood," Hayes said.

He recovered, but the ups and downs of his treatment have taken their toll.

He's different than he was when treatment began earlier this year. In the first month of treatment, Hayes recalled, he was eating about 7,000 calories a day and still lost about 40 pounds, the muscles fading from the soccer player's legs. His once-slim face became swollen and his full head of hair disappeared.

"I started to not be able to recognize myself in the mirror at one point," he said. "I've had moments where I've felt like I literally can't do anything. I just want to sleep the whole time."

In a cruel twist of fate, the Erwinaze shortage almost forced him to go back to the first drug that almost killed him. He would have had to be administered the medicine in small doses over six hours in the intensive care unit, medical staff at the ready, hoping that he didn't go into shock once more.

He and his mother wrestled for days with the decision, but in another stroke of luck, Nemours procured more Erwinaze.

Other patients, however, aren't so lucky. According to the Jazz Pharmaceuticals website, its Erwinaze is "currently out of stock," and the FDA is grappling with how to prevent such shortages.

The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, passed in 2012, requires drug manufacturers to notify the FDA whenever they make moves that might cause a shortage. However, the law only does so much and the FDA, in its recent report, acknowledges that more needs to be done.

Among the proposed solutions include the incentivizing of companies to make less profitable drugs, creating a system that rates drug manufacturers on their quality management to incentivize them to make improvements and lengthening expiration dates on medicines to ensure shortages aren't exacerbated by the tossing out of drugs "because they exceed a labeled shelf life based on unnecessarily short expiration dates."

However, it remains unclear how, if, or when those proposals may be put into practice.

In the meantime, patients like Hayes remain trapped in the current system.

The teen's life has been upended by the cancer, but he hopes to bounce back. This year, he had to forgo his acceptance to Durham University in Newcastle, England, in order to receive treatment. Given the circumstances, the university agreed to defer his acceptance.

By this time next year, he hopes to be studying science at Durham. His mother hopes to move with him "at least at the beginning." 

Whether Sophie Hayes is out there or not, the family is heartened. They've heard the hospital in Newcastle has a good oncology department, and Hayes' treatments will continue.

But he's conscious of another grim reality: he's struggled through the Erwinaze shortage and he'll possibly have to struggle again. For the next two years, treatment will require vincristine -- if he can get it.

"Not knowing that it might not be available is quite worrying, and it's frustrating as well," Hayes said.

Meanwhile, his mother is already thinking of how her son and family will traverse the road ahead.

"We tend to go through life planning, hoping for the best, and then adjusting," Sophie Hayes said.

Part of Route 70 in Cheshire is closed after a crash with significant injuries, according to Cheshire Police. They said the road will be closed through the evening rush hour. 

Cheshire police said the crash is on Waterbury Road, Route 70, between Winslow and Marion roads.

Police urge everyone to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

They said a detour is being set up to send traffic around the scene.

They are asking driver of tractor-trailers to avoid exit 26 off 84 and instead use Interstate 691 until further notice.

New Haven police have two people in custody in connection with the SUV stolen Wednesday night with two children inside and said Friday that there will also be a warrant for a 15-year-old.

The SUV was taken from outside Roberto Clemente school on Columbus Avenue.

A 14-year-old was driving the car, according to police, and he was taken into custody on Thursday morning on a different warrant.

He remains at a Bridgeport detention facility and a warrant in the stolen car incident will be lodged on Tuesday, police said Friday. The charges will include two counts of reckless endangerment, which is a felony, according to police.

On Friday, police said there will be a warrant for a 15-year-old who was also in the car.

An 18-year-old who is accused of using credit cards stolen from the car was also arrested, police said. Police have identified him as Dulyn Foreman and said he will be arraigned today at New Haven Superior Court.

Police said the credit cards were in the car, but they do not believe that Foreman was in the car while the children were inside. They said they picked him up at a later time.

According to police, the children's mother got out of the SUV and left it running as she walked towards the school to pick up another child. The mother may not have entered the building and may have kept the SUV within her view. She said she hadn't even made it to the school building when she turned and her car was being stolen.

"I literally jumped in front of the car and I was like my kids are in the car," Jenny Santos told NBC Connecticut.

The 14-year-old jumped into the car and took off, not realizing the children were inside, police said.

"I ran back into the school and I said call the cops, somebody took my car and my kids are inside," Santos said.

New Haven police canvassed the area while Santos says she tried to track her SUV using the car’s technology.

"My heart, I felt like I was going to die right there. I felt worthless like what am I gonna do," Santos said of those moments.

The teen eventually took the children out of the vehicle and left them by Rice Field, where they were found by a good Samaritan, Kasandra Monteiro, a short time later.

"She was a guardian angel to guard my kids and I just thank the Lord for her," Santos said.

A New Haven police detective spotted the Mercedes SUV in New Haven later and recognized the driver as a 14-year-old wanted on an unrelated warrant. The detective was not able to stop the SUV, but officers located the teen this morning and took him into custody, police said.

The SUV was found in West Haven Thursday afternoon. Police are urging people to lock their vehicles and not leave keys inside.

President Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton was "personally involved in many of the events, meetings, and conversations" at the heart of the House impeachment inquiry, "as well as many relevant meetings and conversations that have not yet been discussed" publicly, his lawyer revealed Friday.

Bolton attorney Charles Cooper made the disclosure to the House's general counsel in an effort to explain why his client needs a court order to be able to testify in the impeachment inquiry, NBC News reports.

Cooper said both Bolton and his deputy, Charles Kupperman, have information concerning "national security and foreign affairs," and Bolton has information that hasn't been touched on publicly to date.

The former national security adviser did not appear for a scheduled deposition on Thursday because he and his deputy are seeking a judge’s ruling on whether they're bound by the White House's directive not to appear. The White House says the pair have "absolute testimonial immunity," Cooper noted.

It's a tale of another gender reveal going wrong -- very wrong.

Raj Horan was flying his 2013 AT-602 Air Tractor, a single-seat crop duster, near Turkey on Sept. 7 for a gender reveal, according to a report filed with the NTSB.

Horan was to fly low over the designated spot and dump 625 gallons of pink water into the air -- revealing to those gathered below the impending arrival of a little girl.

As Horan approached, he slowed and trimmed the aircraft. He told the NTSB when he started dumping the water, the airplane began to stall and that he could not get it back.

The stall caused the plane to lose altitude, hit the ground and roll over. It eventually came to rest inverted on the ground. According to the NTSB report, the plane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and empennage.

Horan was not injured in the crash but a passenger in the single-seat aircraft did suffer minor injuries. In a follow-up conversation in late October, the NTSB inspector reported that he thought he pilot moved to the right and the passenger was sitting on the edge of the seat on the left side.

Horan told the NTSB there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

There were no injuries or damage to anyone on the ground, according to the NTSB report.

Turkey is located about 75 miles northeast of Lubbock. Horan's plane is registered to an airfield in Plainview about 45 miles southwest of Turkey.

Last month, an Iowa woman was killed by a flying piece of debris from an explosion during a gender reveal gone wrong. An earlier gender reveal mishap last year was blamed for starting a fire that burned nearly 47,000 acres and left $8 million in damage, NBC News also reported.

NBC 5's Don Peritz contributed to this report.

Searching the Suffield woods, just west of the Connecticut River on Route 190, State Police were hoping to find clues in the disappearance of Ondine Frohberg, who has now been missing a full week.

“I think all of us in the immediate family here that are around, are in shock,” said Fred Chase who is a cousin of the missing Suffield woman.

Frohberg, a 64-year-old woman with cognitive disabilities, was at the Enfield Olive Garden restaurant on Hazard Avenue last Friday for lunch. Chase, who was with her at the time, says she went to the restroom and never returned. Chase said he and family searched the parking lot and local stores but could not locate Frohberg.

Following a trail picked up by K9 units, police initially searched east on Route 190. However, surveillance video, discovered this week, showed her walking west toward Suffield. That’s where police focused their attention Friday. They searched a wooded area along a pedestrian and bike path near the Connecticut River.

“It’s a little scary,” said Judy Genzano, who walks that path on a regular basis. “A little concerning and we just hope things turn out ok for her and her family.”

According to Chase, Frohberg was brain damaged at birth after her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck depriving her of oxygen. She had spent her entire life living with her 98-year-old mother until recently being separated.

“Her mother recently fell and broke her hip,” explained Chase. “She’s in rehab and she was not able to be in the house any longer.”

Chase explained, Frohberg had become withdrawn following her mother’s accident, and at one point said she didn’t want to live at home anymore. Still, her disappearance comes as a surprise.

“We’re in shock in a sense to us the first time in recent history that she ever gone anywhere,” said Chase.

Frohberg is 5-foot-4, 160 pounds and was last seen wearing a red and orange vertical striped shirt and navy blue pants. She was not dressed for cold temperatures, which is especially concerning for her family.

“The weather turned basically the day she disappeared and got really cold at night, so immediately we were worried because she’s out in the elements,” said Chase.

Record cold is possible coming into Saturday.

Police ask anyone who may have seen Frohberg or have information to please come forward.

An Ellington man and Manchester hotel owner accused of having a “sex dungeon” and previously charged with attempted sex trafficking is now facing a sexual assault charge.

Simon Hessler, 47, was charged Friday with fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child as part of an ongoing investigation into human trafficking. Police said the victim was 11 years old. More details were not immediately available.

Hessler has been in custody since 2018, when he was arrested as part of a human trafficking investigation and charged with attempted and conspiracy at tracking in persons, attempted felony patronizing a prostitute, attempted second-degree sexual assault, attempted impairing the morals of a minor, attempted unlawful restraint, attempted cruelty to persons, and attempted promotion of child pornography.

Hessler owned and managed the Baymont Inn and Suites in Manchester, police said. In court documents from the original arrest, police said Hessler tried to pay an undercover trooper to bring an underage victim to his hotel property. According to those court documents, during conversations with undercover law enforcement Hessler said he had a "dungeon" that he used for "slave training" for young, inexperienced girls. The documents state that Hessler sent pictures of a room with multiple beds with whips and chains and handcuffs on the walls. Hessler also said he'd been doing the "training of slaves" for over 20 years and had customers all over from New York City to Boston, according to the documents.

At the time, police said authorities were looking for other victims.

Hessler’s bond from the original charges remains at $1 million. Friday’s charges carry a court-set bond of $75,000.

Glastonbury town and school leaders are working to address a possible hate crime at Gideon Welles School. On Monday, two students discovered multiple swastikas etched in wood paneling in the front of the school’s auditorium.

School leaders say at least three swastikas were identified earlier this week. The markings have since been removed along with other inappropriate graffiti. Administrators say they are not sure when the carvings happened.

Gideon Welles parents are condemning hateful symbols found inside the school’s auditorium, including Marcia Perel who has a daughter that attends the school.

“These markings do not belong here,” said Perel.

Perel says she was picking up her daughter from dress rehearsal when she says she overheard two boys mention that they “found Hitler signs on the wall.”

The mother of two says she contacted the principal and the board of education.

By Wednesday, the carvings were removed which Perel believes was a smart move by the school board.

“These hate crimes don’t have any room in our schools,” said Perel. “We should be working to create a better learning environment for our children.”

The concerned mother says she wants to educate rather than persecute the person or group of people that may have completed the hateful actions.

“We must know how to act and react in those situations,” said Perel. “It takes a village to educate, nurture and mold the leaders of tomorrow.”

Parents and Guardians of Gideon Wells Community were sent this statement:

"In regards to making this a teachable moment, we are actively pursuing a partnership with organizations such as the ADL to address the larger issue we have - tolerance. There is a tremendous program for 10th graders at the High School that we hope to marry up with and provide the foundations of understanding to our sixth graders. We plan on doing the work needed to instill in our community that this type of symbol is not tolerated and will be addressed with education and understanding. We are committed to our school standards of CARE, RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY for our students, staff and community.”

The A.D.L is set to host a meeting to educate administrators, parents and students, next Wednesday.

The state Department of Consumer Protection has announced a new FDA approved medical marijuana study.

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine are working with CTPharma to study the effects and uses of a marijuana pill.

Milford mother Cori Alicea turned to medical marijuana for treatment after she was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma brain cancer five years ago.

“My main goal was not to take any medication other than what I needed to do. Which is what I opted to use the medical marijuana,” said Alicea.“It’s done wonders for me. I have no pain. I’m able to do my daily functions. I’m able to take my kids to their practices.”

The FDA has just approved a new study on medical marijuana as part of a partnership between Yale school of medicine and drug maker CTPharma.

“CTPharma along with Yale, has the ability to use plant based cannabinoid formulations and to prove their safety standards,” said Michael Fedele, the board chairman of CTPharma.

The study will use Connecticut grown marijuana in a pill form to explore the effects on pain and stress related conditions.

“All of the science manufacturing, testing, and now the clinical trial are now all contained within the Connecticut program,” said Rino Ferrarese, COO and Scientist at CTPharma.

It was approved by the FDA as part of the state’s medical marijuana program put in place in 2016.

“Connecticut has the best and truest medical marijuana program in the country and it’s because of the robustness of our program and our focus on treating this as medicine,” said Michelle H. Seagull, the commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection.

New Haven Police say three teens will now face criminal charges in connection with a Mercedes SUV that was stolen from Roberto Clemente School with two young children inside Wednesday night.

“There’s a fine line between being incarcerated for a stolen car and what we do from here because it is a dangerous situation,” Assistant Police Chief Karl Jacobson said.

Jacobson weighed in on what punishment teens who steal cars should face, incarceration or help outside of jail.

“I would say the biggest thing would be counseling and trying to change that behavior but there needs to be some sort of punishment,” Jacobson said.

Police say the 14-year-old driving the stolen SUV still behind bars facing two counts of reckless endangerment after leaving the 10 month old and five year old on the side of the road. Police say another 15 year old will be arrested while 18-year-old Dulyn Foreman faces charges for using the SUV owner’s credit cards.

“It becomes a real crime of opportunity for these young people,” Abbey Anderson, executive director for Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance, said.

Anderson says a new justice reform program specific to teens responsible for stealing cars in Connecticut started October 1. It’s geared to help steer them in the right direction without incarceration.

“We need to make sure that young people know that there are consequences that make sense and that they’re held accountable in a way that helps them understand what happens when you take somebody’s car,” Anderson said.

Jacobson says incarceration alternatives are an improvement but more needs to be done before the teen car theft issue accelerates even more.

“I get what the state’s trying to do and there’s been some great measures but I think we need to look at it further especially when it comes to stolen cars,” Jacobson said.

There’s a cool new place for the community to gather in New Haven.

Friday night, the Ralph Walker Rink reopened after a second phase of renovations.

The city was thinking of just closing the decrepit rink altogether, but when some people expressed their love for it local leaders decided to transform it into a community asset.

At the start of this year, $3 million went into expanding the length of the ice to regulation size. Plumbing and other necessities were updated.

The size of the sheet of ice is important because now that the rink is regulation sized teams can rent the rink for hockey games, bringing additional income into the city.

The rink opened in time for February break this year, but around mid-March closed again to add locker rooms and a new concession building with a separate party room covered by Albertus Magnus College.

“Last year we had the ice rink up, but not the building and we introduced hockey to the youths and for the six week period we had the rink open, this place was packed,” said New Haven Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Bill Dixon.

Friday night, Albertus Magnus’ inaugural hockey team will face-off against Anna Maria College for the first Division III hockey game at the renovated rink.

The rink is officially open to the public after Thanksgiving.

“For the kids they’ll be learn to skate programs. It will be open skating for the public. They don’t make shoes big enough for me, so I can’t get on this ice, but we’re ready to provide this program for the people,” said Dixon.

The rink is covered, but not enclosed, so make sure to bundle up for activities.

A woman is dead after a crash on Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford Friday, according to police.

Police said two cars traveling the same direction collided. A woman who was a passenger in one of the cars was killed.

Everyone from both vehicles stayed at the scene. Two people were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The road will be closed for several hours between Thomaston and Colebrook streets.

No other information was immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

He’s already helped hundreds of kids and he’s only 7 years old. And with the help of a family-owned business in Glastonbury, he’s hoping to help even more.

“No one should wear dirty clothes to bed,” said Oliver Koenig-Paquin.

For Oliver, it all began when he was 4 years old. His preschool teacher asked for everyone to bring in one pair of pajamas but his parents say he didn’t really understand why.

“When we sat him down and explained why he was bringing the pajamas in, it dawned on him that not everyone had a pair to go to bed in. He said, ‘then we need to go to the store tonight and buy 100 pajamas,’” said mom Danielle Paquin.

“I wanted to help other kids who didn’t have any,” said Oliver.

Instead of buying all those PJs, Oliver managed to get friends and family to donate them and brought in more than 100 pairs. That was the beginning of Oliver’s Pajama Project, and every year since then, that number has only grown. Last year 577 pairs went to Connecticut kids, donated from generous families all across the state and the country.

“He's been a vehicle, in a way, for our community to support other people who may not be as fortunate as others of us are, and he's really helped change the mindset of a lot of people around us and just realizing that we can be a little more giving and share what we have,” said Paquin.

“He’s a special soul. He’s got a sweet spirit, and he’s a good kid,” said mom Tammy Koenig. “It’s been amazing to watch, and I’ve been very proud but not just of Oliver but the community in general.”

This year the 7-year-old has an even bigger goal in mind, and a family-owned business on Main Street in Glastonbury wanted to help. For the month of November, 1000 Degrees owner Joseph Weiss is offering a free 10-inch pizza for those who donate new pajamas.

“We’re honored to be a part of it with him because we know it’s his big thing every year, and to be a part of that for him is very special,” said Weiss.

With pizza and PJs teaming up, they’re hoping one thousand kids can get a gift that many of us take for granted.

“Every kid should have pajamas,” said Oliver.

Oliver says he wants to continue his pajama project for the rest of his life. For those who want to donate, bring a new pair of PJs for kids, any size up to 3x, to 1000 Degrees in Glastonbury.

Oliver’s Pajama Project works with Scholastic Books, which donates a book for every pair of PJs donated. It’ll all be handed out to kids in need in December.

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.

A Mother's Worst Nightmare

Two small children were found safe after the SUV they were in was stolen in New Haven on Wednesday night. The children's mother went inside the Roberto Clemente school to pick up another child when someone jumped into her SUV and took off with her 5-year-old and 10-month-old inside. The children were dropped off nearby and found by a good Samaritan. For more on the search for the suspect, click here.

Mexico Massacre

Drug cartel gunmen ambushed three SUVs along a dirt road, slaughtering six children and three women — all U.S. citizens living in northern Mexico — in a grisly attack that left one vehicle a burned-out, bullet-riddled hulk, authorities said Tuesday. Eight other children were found alive after escaping from the vehicles and hiding in the brush. The victims lived in a small town in Mexico founded decades ago by an offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See more on the attack here.

Toll Roads?

Gov. Ned Lamont revealed his new transportation initiative on Thursday, which included plans to upgrade bottlenecks, improvements to rail service in Connecticut, and a pared down version of his proposal to put tolls on state highways. For details of the plan, click here.

The Voters Choose

Voters in dozens of cities and towns across Connecticut went to the polls on Tuesday to elect local leaders. New Haven and Middletown both elected new mayors, while Hartford reelected current mayor Luke Bronin. See the full election results here.

Christmas Delivery

A Wallingford family's Christmas tradition is now on Walmart shelves available nationwide. It’s called Santa’s Enchanted Mailbox, and it’s a device that magically delivers letters to Santa. For more on the Christmas magic, click here.

Fire officials are investigating a fire at a store in East Lyme on Saturday morning.

Firefighters responded to a fire at the Tri-Town Foods Store on 15 Chesterfield Rd just after 6 a.m.

Officials said there were employees in the store when they received the call, but the workers were able to get out on their own.

There are no reports of injuries.

The cause is under investigation at this time.

Firefighters are battling a fire at a vacant building in Hartford on Saturday morning for the second time in two weeks, according to officials.

According to fire officials, all companies are engaging in an ongoing defensive operation against the fire at the building at 100 Edwards Street.

Firefighters were called to the building around 7:49 a.m. and a second alarm was requested aroudn 8:11 a.m., authorities added.

Flames could be seen shooting out of the roof of the building around 8:30 a.m.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Officials said this is the second time there has been a fire at this building within the last two weeks.