A suburban Chicago man was the last person in America with a perfect bracket after two rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Brad Binder, of Buffalo Grove, briefly became a social media sensation Saturday when he was named the only one in the country with a perfect bracket, dubbed “Brad’s Breathtaking Bracket.”

His entry, though not in Warren Buffett's "Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge," was entered in Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick’em 2014.

Currently the only one in the entire country with a perfect bracket still #bracketofdestiny

— Brad Binder (@Brad_Binder_) March 22, 2014

A year ago, not a single person of the 11 million who entered on ESPN's website was perfect after a first day filled with upsets. Just four got 15 out of 16 right.

This year people lasted a little longer. After 28 games, all 11 million entries had at least one mistake.

But Binder's bracket withstood the test of time that claimed so many others, picking the first 32 games of the tournament correctly, a feat that is almost unheard of.

On Saturday, the hopeful bracket was still standing after wins from Florida, Louisville, Michigan and San Diego State, bringing his bracket to 36 for 36.

It wasn’t until Dayton beat Syracuse, the former No. 1 team in the country, 55-53 that Binder’s bracket took a dive. After that, no perfect brackets remained.

And that was the closest I've ever come to not winning a billion dollars

— Brad Binder (@Brad_Binder_) March 23, 2014

Naugatuck fire investigators are trying to determine what caused a house to go up in flames Sunday night.

No one was inside the home when the fire broke out just before 7:00 p.m. 

According to fire officials, a driver passing by on the road saw flames at 19 Beecher Street and called 911.

Mutual aid from Waterbury and Beacon Falls Fire Departments were called to assist.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire in 45 minutes, said Naugatuck Fire Capt. James Trzaski .

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Shelton High School Community gathered Sunday night to remember Kristjan Ndoj.

"I walk into fourth period and I don't see him, and it's just an empty seat now," said Janaya Morris.

Morris and many other Shelton High Students are still struggling to cope with the violent death of Ndoj, someone Morris says always reached out to help others.

"He was a loving, caring person. He'd care about anybody, even if you were mean to him," said Morris. "We didn't expect it was going to be Kristjan. He was so innocent. It was just shocking."

It's been one week since police found the 15-year-old shot twice in a quiet Shelton neighborhood after riding his bike to a friend's house. He died Thursday at Bridgeport Hospital. No arrests have been made.

"I knew that this was going to be much more than I could manage myself," said Shelton High School Headmaster Dr. Beth Smith. "I knew I needed to seek the assistance of people out in the community for this."

That's why Dr. Smith organized an interfaith gathering at the school. Members of the clergy offered their guidance and words of comfort as they all try to make sense of such a loss.

"You really have to let them know that it's okay to be sad, that it's okay at some point in time to be angry and just go through all those feelings of the grieving process and just be there to assist them," said Dr. Smith.

In dealing with the tragedy, students are already looking to assist others. They'll fill a bulletin board with the random acts of kindness done in his memory. They hope their small acts show Kristjan's life may have been short, but it was worth a lot.

"It's still showing that he was somebody and not just nothing in this world," said Morris.
 

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is warning its customers to closely monitor their credit card statements after officials opened an investigation into a possible security breach within its online credit processing services.

The DMV said there is no evidence of a direct breach in its computer system at this time, but they are working with state and federal law enforcement to see if California drivers’ sensitive information has been taken.

The department will be performing a forensic review of its systems and checking the external vender that processes the DMV’s credit card transactions, as well as the credit card companies themselves.

“Protecting the identity and security of our customers is our highest priority and we fully understand the potential impact any breach of security can have,” said DMV Public Information Officer Armando Botello.

DMV officials say they will notify affected customers as quickly as possible if they find any problems.

In the meantime, Botello recommends customers check for fraudulent or unusual activity on their credit card statements and report it immediately.

According to KrebsOnSecurity.com -- which was the first to report the possible breach -- the online payments that could be affected were between Aug. 2, 2013 and Jan. 31, 2014.

Seth Eisen, a spokesman from MasterCard, said the company is investigating the reports as well, but the breach is not within MasterCard's systems. 

The company sent out alerts to member banks.

If you need to make a payment to the DMV, you can still pay in cash, check or money order in person at your local office, officials say.

To learn more about protecting yourself from identity theft and fraud, read the DMV's Identity Fraud factsheet.

Fire destroyed a vacant house at Connecticut and Union avenues in Bridgeport this morning and spread to another, prompting evacuations.

Officials from the Bridgeport Fire Department said the evacuations were necessary because the houses are so close together.

The fire started on the second floor of one house and spread to the first and third floors, destroying the house, officials said.

When firefighters arrived, heavy flames were coming from the building. Fire also spread to an abandoned house on the corner.

Fire officials said everyone was able to get out of house and no injuries are reported.

Fire officials said freezing weather was a factor.

Assistant Fire Chief John Mazza said a hydrant froze over and had to shut it off.

The fire marshal is investigating.
 

Police in New London are investigating an assault on Belden Street and Belden Court on Sunday night that sent a man to the hospital.

The victim suffered head and neck trauma and was taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, according to police.

The assault was reported just before 8:30 p.m. and witnesses told police the victim and assailant know each other, police said.

No additional information has been released on the severity of the victim’s injuries.

Police are continuing to interview witnesses.

State police have arrested a Stamford man who is suspected of breaking into the State’s Attorney Office at Norwalk Superior Court earlier this month and trying to set a fire.

At 10:49 p.m. on Monday, March 3, state troopers responded to an alarm at 17 Belden Avenue and saw someone fleeing from the back door of the courthouse, according to a news release from state police.

At the scene, police found evidence of someone trying to set a fire.

Investigators were able to identify Joseph Stephenson, 47, of Stamford, as the suspect and applied for an arrest warrant as well as a DNA warrant.

When Stephenson failed to comply with police instructions, he was also charged with interfering with a search warrant, police said.

He was unable to post the $150,000 bond and remains in custody.

He will be arraigned in Norwalk Superior Court on Monday.

The exit 50 off-ramp of Interstate 95 North in New Haven was closed for hours this morning after a tractor-trailer crash.

State police said a diesel tanker was leaking and neede to be pumped. The right lane was also closed.

 

A 17-year-old Vernon girl was taken to Manchester Hospital to be evaluated for possible injuries after a driver went through a red light and hit a school bus in Bolton this morning, according to state police.

Police said a 32-year-old Manchester woman who was driving a 2004 Toyota Camry, went through a red light from Route 6/44 East at Route 85 just after 7:30 a.m. and hit a school bus that was on Route 85 and had a green light, according to state police.

The state police news release does not state that any charges have been filed.

No additional information was released.
 

A young coyote was rescued from a rising tide by animal rescuers on Singer Island, Fla.

The animal had been seen on a dock earlier in the day but jumped into the water and got stuck along the seawall.

David Hitzig of Busch Wildlife Rescue and officers from Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control arrived for the rescue. Hitzig used a boat to get close to the coyote and gave it two tranquilizer shots before officers hoisted the animal to safety.

"I got a chance to go swimming and I didn't have to do any paperwork for a few hours," Hitzig said.

The coyote was released back into the wild.
 

South Windsor police have arrested a woman who is accused of embezzling at least $50,000 from the dentist office she used to work for.

Police said arrested Alicia Parzych, 42, of Bolton Road in Vernon, on Friday on a warrant.

Authorities started investigating in December 2013 when a local dentist reported that a former employee had embezzled money from his practice.

After reviewing several years of bank records, police obtained a warrant for Parzych.

She admitted to stealing $50,000, but her employer thinks more than $100,000 was stolen, according to police.

Parzych was charged with first-degree larceny, forgery in the second degree and second-degree false statement.

She was later released on a $25,000 non-surety bond and is due to appear at Manchester Superior Court on April 3.

If you took a huge papier–mâché bobblehead mask from the Arcade Fire show in Connecticut last week, the band wants it back, no questions asked.  

Arcade Fire was at Bridgeport's Webster Bank Arena on Tuesday as part of the Reflektor tour and Richard Parry's bobblehead was stolen during their show, according to a statement from the band’s public relations firm.

“This mask is a one of a kind piece that is an essential component to our live show," Arcade Fire said in a statement. "We have photos of the theft but rather than press charges we would prefer if the person who took it would get in touch with us to return it."

Someone started an Arcade Fire Bobblehead Twitter parody account about the prop being on the run.

The band also has a good sense of humor about the incident.

”Perhaps this is all an innocent mistake and you meant to leave the venue with your own oversized paper mache rendition of Richard Parry's head?” the statement continues.

Their next show is on March 28 in Mexico City.

If you took the mask or know who did, help get the head back to the band by contacting info@quest-management.com with any information.

Route 15 North has reopened after a two-car crash closed the road at exit 61 in Hamden.

One car rolled over, Hamden police said, and two patients were transported from the scene.

No information was immediately available on the severity of the victims’ injuries or how long the road will be closed.  

Mark Cuban is a man of many endeavors and never one to keep his thoughts private.

The Dallas Mavericks owner/entrepreneur/TV show host/Internet mogul is always on top of the latest business trends and his projection for the future of the country's most popular, powerful sport isn't a good one.

Cuban said he believes the NFL will implode within the next 10 years due to oversaturation, among other things, as the league has pondered having games on just about every day of the week.

“When pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered,” Cuban told reporters, according to The Dallas Morning News. “And they’re getting hoggy. When you try to take it too far, people turn the other way. I’m just telling you, when you got a good thing and you get greedy, it always, always, always, always, always turns against you.”

The NFL traditionally was always on Sunday with one Monday primetime game until the league expanded into Thursday night's slot. Now, the league is tinkering with Saturday regular-season games and has even tossed around the idea of trying to have a Wednesday night game. So Tuesdays and Fridays will be the only days off when it comes to NFL games.

Cuban said he acknowledges the fact that fantasy football players and bettors will always give the NFL ratings but he's not sure about the casual fan.

“They’re trying to take over every night of TV,” he said. “And initially, it’ll be the biggest rating thing there is. Then, if they get Saturday, now they’re impacting college. And then if they go to Wednesday, at some point, people get sick of it.”

Iowa State basketball coach Fred Hoiberg perhaps anticipated his dancing skills would be an Internet hit, because he texted his daughter an early apology over the potential embarrassment.

Hoiberg's locker room dancing was caught on tape after the Cyclones clinched a spot into the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen by defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 85-83.

“I just danced in the locker room…I’m guessing I probably embarrassed you…sorry!” Hoiberg said in a text message to his daughter, Paige, that she captured with a screen shot then tweeted out.

“Ahahhahaha don’t even currrr #nyc #SWEET16,” the teen wrote in a caption.

The Cyclones are scheduled to play UConn next on Friday, March 28.
 

Glastonbury police arrested five teens for underage drinking early Saturday morning after receiving a tip about a party at on Nuthatch Knob.

Police responded to the house at 12:41 a.m. and found a large party, including five people who were under the age of 21 with alcoholic beverages, police said.

Samraweit Maxwell, a 19-year-old resident of the house, was charged with permitting minors to possess alcohol and failure to halt possession of alcohol by a minor.

Maxwell;  Carlos Orellana, 19; Nathaniel Robinson, 18; Brodie MacClain, 19; and Taylor Brink, 18; all of Glastonbury, were charged with possession of alcohol by a minor.

They are all due in court on April 11.

 

South Windsor police have issued a Silver Alert for a 15-year-old girl who has been missing since last Tuesday.

Police said Jasolyn Lazu-Spring was last seen in South Windsor and might be in Hartford.

She is 4-feet-11 and weighs 105 pounds. She has brown eyes and shoulder-length hair that might be dyed blonde.

When she was last seen, she was wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about where Jasolyn is should call the South Windsor Police Department at 860-644-2551.

Bridgeport and Fairfield police are investigating reports of a carjacking this afternoon.

An elderly man reported that a man with a gun approached him at Fitness Edge in Fairfield and made him head to Seaside Park in Bridgeport, where he was let out of the car, police said.

Then the carjacker fled in the victim’s car.  It does not appear the man was injured.

The victim reached out to Bridgeport police and the two police departments are working together to determine what happened.
 

Water has been restored to 43 homes affected by a water main break on Garden Street in Wethersfield this afternoon, according to MDC.

The affected homes are located between 127 Garden Street and the intersection of Church Street.

Spurting water caused ice to accumulate on trees and power lines.

The break was repaired by around 4 p.m. but crews are still on scene patching the road. Part of Garden Street is closed.

MDC said the eight-inch water main was installed in 1936.

The MTA is making headway in a series of upgrades to Metro-North: today, the State Department of Transportation announced the completion of a project designed to regulate train speed and the installation of a new monitoring system for freight trains traveling on the New Haven and Hudson lines.

According to the DOT, the newly completed signal modifications alert train engineers of upcoming speed restrictions at five curves and five bridges in Connecticut and New York. If speed isn’t reduced, trains will stop automatically.

The Federal Railroad Administration ordered the upgrades after a fatal derailment at Spuyten Duyvil outside the Bronx over the summer.

Signal modifications were installed at curves located in Spuyten Duyvil, Yonkers, White Plains, Bridgeport and Port Chester and bridges on the New Haven Line in Cos Cob, South Norwalk, Westport, Bridgeport and Milford.

The project was completed more than five months ahead of its Sept. 1 deadline, according to the DOT.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, issued the following statement Monday:

"I'm pleased that this critical safety measure – a modest milestone – has been achieved. It is long overdue. Had these signal upgrades been implemented before December 1, 2013, four people might well be alive today – and the horrific crash at Spuyton [sic] Duyvil been averted. I'm especially glad that Connecticut sites like the Devon Bridge have been addressed, but Metro North needs to disclose any additional locations that raise similar risks. The riding public has good reason to ask about timelines and deadlines for achieving other safety measures like alerters, and cameras."

The DOT also announced today that the MTA will install monitoring systems for freight trains using the Metro-North New Haven and Hudson lines and the Long Island Railroad.

The three-part Train Fault Detector System includes a wheel impact detector that will recognize wheel defects, a “hot box” detector to monitor roller bearings and axles and a tag reader to identify individual freight cars, according to a release from the DOT.

When problems are detected, the system will send real-time alerts to the trains’ control centers.

“This specialized equipment will improve safety and reduce wear and tear on our tracks,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast, in a statement. “They are intended to identify faults before they cause problems.”

Monitoring equipment would be installed near Green’s Farm Station on the New Haven Line and Scarborough on the Hudson Line.

The plan will go to the MTA Board for approval today.