A dead skunk found in the Moosup section of Plainfield has tested positive for rabies, according to police.

Police said a dog found the skunk in its yard on Collelo Road the morning of Tuesday, April 29. Authorities took the skunk to a state laboratory in Rocky Hill, where the animal tested positive for rabies.

Residents are advised to avoid contact with wild animals and make sure pets are properly vaccinated.

Anyone who notices a wild animal acting strangely should contact Plainfield Animal Control at 860-564-8547 or Plainfield police at 860-564-0804.

Two women are facing charges after investigators reportedly found prostitution activity at a massage parlor in the Niantic section of East Lyme, police said.

Authorities launched the investigation in January. They searched the Rainforest Spa massage parlor at 301 Flanders Road on Tuesday afternoon and seized ledgers, documents, surveillance equipment and cash as evidence, police said.

Two women were arrested as part of the investigation.

Jia Shia Cao, 63, of Flanders Road in East Lyme was charged with promoting and permitting prostitution. She was held a $20,000 bond and was due in court today.

Shaoqing Liu, 51, of the same home on Flanders Road, was charged with prostitution. She was held on a $10,000 bond and was also due in court today.
 

Dr. Seuss' famous rhyming book "Hop on Pop" was one of seven publications that residents asked the Toronto Public Library to remove this year.

A patron requested that the children's classic be banned because it, "Encourages children to use violence against their fathers."

The complainant asked that the library remove the book and issue an apology to fathers in the Greater Toronto Area — presumably because they were put at a greater risk of being hopped on. It also said the library should pay for damages resulting from the book.

In "Hop on Pop," two children hop on their father, much to his dismay. "HOP POP We like to hop. We like to hop on top of Pop. STOP You must not hop on Pop," Seuss wrote. The lesson at the end is that children shouldn't hop on their parents, a detail cited by the library's Materials Review Committee as a reason for keeping the book. "The children are actually told not to hop on pop," the committee said.

The library also wrote that the book is "well-loved" and that it "appeared on many 'Best of' children's book lists" since its publication in 1963.

The library's review committee denied all of this year's requests for removal. Among other publications on the list was the 1984 children's book "Lizzy's Lion," in which a lion eats a robber who is terrorizing a girl. Bill O'Reilly's 2012 book "Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot," which is about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, was also on the list.

The Toronto Public Library has some 32 million books in circulation and is the world's busiest urban library system, according to its website.

Police have arrested the man accused of robbing a Stamford bank on Tuesday.

Jeffrey Vanech, 42, was arrested late Tuesday night at an apartment on Grove Street in Bridgeport. Vanech is accused of robbing the First County Bank at 1042 High Ridge Road in Stamford. He was also charged in connection with the March 12 robbery of a Dunkin Donuts on Main Street, police said.

Police said he was found with the backpack and clothes he allegedly wore during the bank robbery, along with stolen items and evidence.

He was taken back to Stamford, where he confessed to both crimes, police said.

Vanech was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree larceny in connection with the bank robbery. He was also charged with third-degree robbery in the Dunkin Donuts robbery and was served an arrest warrant for violation of probation, police said.

He’s being held on a total of $400,000 bond.
 

A Fairfield man was arrested early Wednesday after reportedly consuming a hallucinogenic mushroom and  that he had been stabbed, poisoned and held against his will by friends in Bridgeport, police said.

Police said 26-year-old Ardit Fejzaj, of Fairfield called 911 around 2 a.m. April 30 to report that he had been stabbed.

Officers arrived at Seaver Circle in Bridgeport to find that Fejzaj had not, in fact, been stabbed, and Fejzaj told officers he thought the false report would get a quicker response time, according to police..

Fejzaj then told police he was poisoned and named a supposed suspect. Officers confronted the man, who told police he’d had friends over that night to build a bonfire and drink beer. He told police Fejzaz had reportedly ingested a hallucinogenic mushroom, police said.

The resident told police had he driven his friends home because they had been drinking. When he returned to pick up Fejzaj, Fejzaj reportedly jumped a fence and ran off, according to police.

Fejzaj was taken to the hospital and continued to tell police he’d been held against his will by friends on Seaver Circle. Police checked Fejzaj and found no evidence that he had been stabbed, poisoned or held down.

Police said Fejzaj was issued a misdemeanor summons for falsely reporting an incident.

It will feel more like November today than the last day of April, with temperatures in the 40s instead of the 60s.

Grab your rain jacket and an umbrella if you are heading outside because it will be a wet 24 hours.

The periods of rain and drizzle we are getting this morning will pick up tonight, with heavier showers and thunderstorms moving in.

FOLLOW THE INTERACTIVE RADAR

Most communities can expect 1 to 3 inches of rain.

Because of all that rain, the National Weather Service has issued flood watches from this afternoon through Thursday morning.

BEFORE HEADING OUT, CHECK THE TRAFFIC MAP

As we flip the calendars to May, temperatures will rise into the 60s and possibly near 70 on Thursday.

To get the up-to-the minute forecast, follow Bob Maxon on Twitter and download our weather app.

 

A 13-year-old Delaware boy took off on a joyride in his dad's SUV this morning and ended up first in a ditch and then in the hospital.

"No one was home at the time, and he just decided to go for a ride," said Master Corporal Gary Fournier with the Delaware State Police.

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The teen got behind the wheel of his father's Toyota 4Runner shortly after 7 a.m. and drove along Bloomfield Drive near Harrington, Kent County.

The SUV knocked out a telephone pole when it veered into a ditch. Once he got back onto the road, the teen was able to stop the vehicle, according to police.

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Another driver who witnessed the accident stopped and kept the teen company until police and emergency crews arrived.

"He was walking around, talking to the witness and seemed to be in good spirits," Fournier said.

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The teen was taken to the hospital, where he's being treated for minor injuries. He was cited for careless driving, failure to stay in a single lane, no insurance, no registration and driving without a valid license.

Travelers scrambled on Wednesday to make alternate plans after a computer glitch grounded flights for more than an hour at airports across the country.

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Lines of airplanes stacked up on taxiways at LAX while federal officials worked to correct the "technical issues" that occurred at the FAA's Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center.

Meanwhile, flights bound for Southern California from airports nationwide were also ordered about 2:20 p.m. to remain on the ground, according to the FAA.

Travelers at LAX, Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Ontario and Oakland airports reported flights being halted.

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"Some flights were diverted and the agency issued a nationwide groundstop for flights heading into the airspace managed by the center. The agency is gradually restoring the system," FAA officials said.

Airports resumed flights by 3:20 p.m.

NBC4 viewers said planes had to turn around mid-flight.

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"My plane was supposed to land @ LAX from Oakland and we had to turnaround!" Janice Ponce Brown said via Facebook.

Another viewer said a flight into John Wayne Airport was "in holding status" and not able to land.

Travelers were urged to contact their airlines for flight information. LAX officials said to expect a one-hour delay on all departing flights.

Darien police are searching for the person who robbed a People’s United Bank on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said the People’s United Bank in the Goodwives Shopping Center was robbed around 2 p.m.

According to police, a man entered the bank at 25 Old King’s Highway North and jumped the teller counter. He displayed a weapon and demanded money from two tellers, then left with an unknown amount of cash. No one was injured during the incident.

Surveillance video shows the suspect entering the bank wearing a mask and a blue hooded sweat shirt. Police said he was holding an umbrella. It’s not clear if the suspect arrived and left on foot or in a car.

Darien police are asking anyone who may have seen the suspect to call the Darien Police Detective Bureau at 203-662-5330.

Two Middletown residents are facing charges after a search of their Silver Street apartment turned up nearly five pounds of marijuana and an illegal assault rifle, according to police.

Detectives searched the apartment, located at 29 ½ Silver Street, Tuesday evening. Police said Christian Mcclain and Jimail Taylor were home with their daughters, ages 11 and 19, at the time.

Investigators reportedly found an illegal AK-47 assault rifle with a 30-round magazine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a cellphone with text messages from people who wanted to buy marijuana from Mcclain. Police said the marijuana has a street value of about $21,849 and was easily acceptable to the 11-year-old.

Authorities also found bootleg DVDs and counterfeit T-shirts. Police said they expect to charge Mcclain for possession of those items.

Both Mcclain and Taylor are facing numerous drug and weapons charges, including possession of marijuana, possession with intent to sell, risk of injury to a minor, possession of an illegal assault weapon and possession of an illegal magazine.

Mcclain was held on a $350,000 bond and appeared in court Wednesday morning. Taylor’s bond was set at $100,000. She was released and will appear in court May 13.

Mcclain is a convicted felon who is currently out on probation, police said. Taylor has prior convictions for breach of peace and failure to appear.
 

Police are searching for a suspect in the armed robbery of a West Haven gas station.

The robbery happened April 14 at the Sunoco Station at 44 Elm Street in West Haven. Surveillance footage captured images of the suspect.

Police believe the suspect may also be responsible for similar robberies in nearby towns.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the West Haven Police Department at 203-937-3900. 

Police have arrested the man accused of raping a woman at a West Hartford reservoir in 1996.

William Newtown, 50, of Manchester, was taken into custody in Plattsburgh, N.Y. after police reportedly found him near the Canadian border. He was considered a fugitive from justice and was apprehended the morning of April 21.

Newtown waived extradition and was taken to the West Hartford Police Department, where he was charged with first-degree sexual assault, police said.

He was released on a $75,000 surety bond and is due in court May 8.
 

The state is offering a $10,000 reward is for information leading police to the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in Hartford last November, according to a release from the Hartford Police Department.

The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. Nov. 24, 2013. Roberto Manuel Cruz, 34, was struck while crossing the street on Maple Avenue. He was taken to Hartford Hospital, where he died of his injuries, police said.

Police are searching for the driver involved in the crash. The offending vehicle is believed to be a gray four-door Infiniti G35 made between 2003 and 2006.

Police said the car’s front right bumper and hood would have been damaged, and the right headlight would have a broken lens and missing headlamp. The right front fender parking light would also be missing.

The car was last seen driving southbound from 700 Maple Avenue the night of the crash.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has approved the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office request to offer a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, Hartford police said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Hartford Police Det. Candice Hendrix at 860-757-4226, or report an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 860-722-TIPS.
 

Sally’s Apizza has been a staple on Wooster Street for decades, but soon the family-run restaurant will be changing hands.

"They’ve had it in their family since 1938," said Colin Caplan, a local historian who is writing a book about New Haven pizza.

When The New Haven Register reported Sally’s was for sale, it got a lot of pizza lovers worried about what would happen to their favorite pizza spot.

"The story about them selling it, just it really got to me. I’ve been coming here every week, since then," said Caplan.

New Haven is famous for its pizza and the long-time battle between which Wooster Street pizza is best: Sally’s or Pepe’s Pizza? Pepe’s co-owner Gary Bimonte says his family just heard the news of a pending sale. Some don’t know this, but the families who own Pepe’s and Sally’s are relatives.

"The family wishes them well. They are our cousins, and there’s no animosity between the families, so we just wish them well," said Bimonte.

Even the Mayor is hoping that the Wooster Street staple will stay in the same hands.

"There will be a sense that Sally’s has changed, even if the name remains the same, so we’re hoping that they’ll continue to stay in New Haven, because they are part of our really strong history and culture in this town," said New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.

According to Sally's attorney, Hugh Keefe, the restaurant will remain an iconic part of New Haven, but negotiations are in the works, and Sally’s is close to closing a deal that would mean new ownership for the long-time pizza restaurant.

Police are investigating after a child fell from the window of a home on Garden Street in Ansonia.

Authorities arrived at the home around 5:15 p.m. Police said the child fell from a window and was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The child's condition is unknown.

Police are investigating.

Mike D’Antoni has resigned as head coach of the Lakers, the team tweeted.

D'Antoni had a 67-87 record during his tenure as the Lakers' coach.

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He was hired by the team on Nov. 12, 2012, replacing Mike Brown.

He previously coached the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks.

The Lakers suffered through an injury-plagued season this year, ending with a 27-55 record -- its worst mark since moving to Los Angeles in 1960.

"Given the circumstances, I don't know that anybody could have done a better job than Mike did the past two seasons," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "On behalf of the Lakers, we thank Mike for the work ethic, professionalism and positive attitude that he brought to the team every day. We wish him the best of luck."

Former Laker great Magic Johnson, who co-owns the Dodgers, tweeted, "Happy days are here again! Mike D'Antoni resigns as the Lakers coach. I couldn't be happier!"

A Livermore youth golf instructor charged with sexually molesting several of his students is now accused of trying to kill his alleged teenage victims from jail.

Prosecutors on Tuesday added a 76th charge -- "solicitation of murder" -- to the case of Andrew Nisbet, the 32-year-old golf instructor who was first arrested in December 2013 on 65 counts of molestation and sex acts allegedly dating back to 2010.

In a 20-page charging document, Alameda County Senior Deputy District Attorney James Meehan alleged that Nisbet arranged to hire a hitman to kill two students he is accused of molesting. The hitman turned out to be an undercover police inspector, who was sent in to investigate a tip sheriff's deputies received at Santa Rita Jail.

• Download Charges vs. Andrew Nisbet

Nisbet's attorney, Timothy Rien, did not immediately return a phone call to NBC Bay Area on Wednesday morning. In February, Nisbet pleaded not guilty to 75 charges of sex crimes, oral copulation, child pornography, lewd acts in minors involving three boys. For years, he was a popular golf pro at the Las Positas Golf Course in Livermore.

According to a probable cause statement filed in court and reported by the Contra Costa Times,  Nisbet began exchanging letters with someone he thought he could hire to kill his victims, who were between the ages of 12 and 17 when the alleged sex crimes took place.

After the informant tipped off a sheriff's deputy at the jail, the deputy sent the letters to the Alameda County District Attorney's office on Feb. 25.

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The letters contained information about the three boys and asked to have them "taken care of, which from my training and experience means he is asking to have the victims killed," according to the sworn statement from Inspector Jeff McCort. Eight days later, County Inspector Edward Mermudez visited Nisbet in jail while undercover, posing as a hitman.

The investigator told Nisbet "that he was a mechanic and could fix a car for him and made a pistol-shooting motion with his hand," according to the statement.

Nisbet mouthed the victims' names to the "hit man," and told him that one lived in Pleasanton and one attended college in Santa Barbara. He promised to pay upfront to show he was serious, according to the statement. Nisbet also suggested that the investigator take the victims' cellphones, so that their murders would appear like a robbery.

How many food trucks are too many? What hours should they keep? Town government officials in Madison want residents to share their thoughts at a hearing Wednesday night.

One food truck braved the wintry weather to open up Wednesday, just as it has since Labor Day, when Nicholas Carvente first parked his converted school bus in the lot on School Street.

Carvente says "tacos, burritos, quesadillas, in an authentic way" is the menu that's helped him develop a following.

"I am one of his regulars," said James Thomas, whose studio is around the corner. "It's great food, very authentic and a little bit on the spicy side, so it's really tasty."

Carvente said officials came by Monday and asked him to park perpendicular to the Boston Post Road instead of parallel. He complied but said he is concerned about being regulated.

"Let's see first what they offer and then we can go from that," he said. "I would like to say this is the greatest country because always gave me a chance to be here and support my family."

He said some Fridays there are four trucks in the lot: a lobster truck, a cupcake truck, a more Californian Mexican food truck, and his.

Police and school officials in Bridgeport, Connecticut, are investigating a third grade student after fellow classmates accused him of deliberately pricking them with needles.

The student brought five needles into the Hallen School on Tuesday, according to a letter that the school's principal, Dr. Deborah Santacapita, sent home to parents Wednesday.

Three students have reported that the child deliberately pricked them with the needles. A fourth child also came in contact with the needles. All four children were evaluated at a hospital, according to police.

School officials found out about the incidents after a parent complained Wednesday morning.

One of the victims, Eric Green, told News12 that he was pricked and then told to stay quiet.

"Don't tell the teacher or I'm going to punch you in the face," Green said the offending student told him.

"Once this was discovered, there was a thorough investigation by our staff and school security. We have checked on the third grade students who came in contact with the needles, made our medical personnel aware of it and took the required actions for their safety," read Santacapita's letter to parents.

While both police and school security have spoken to the child, police say there have been no arrests in the case.