Authorities responded to a Burger King in Bridgeport after a former employee stole soda from the restaurant, according to police.

Police said the employee, who had been terminated, showed up at the Burger King on Main Street in Bridgeport just before noon Monday, went behind the counter, took two cups of soda and left without paying.

Police were called to the scene and searched the area but could not find the suspect.

The supervisor was asked to notify police if the former employee returns.

A Bridgeport man is facing charges after police say he broke into a home on Pearl Harbor Street and stole jewelry, a camera and cellphone.

Police said neighbors called to report a suspicious man walking through yards in the area and that the man tried to run when he saw officers. He was later identified as 49-year-old Lawrence Langston, of Bridgeport.

While police were at the scene, authorities received a second call from a resident of Pearl Harbor Street who said someone had forced his way into her home and rifled through her bedroom drawers.

Police said the victim identified items recovered from Langston as having been stolen from her house.

Langston has been charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, interfering with police, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.

His bond was set at $25,000.

Police are investigating after a city teen was shot in the buttocks in Bridgeport late Monday.

According to police, an 18-year-old Bridgeport resident flagged down officers responding to the report of gunshots on Trumbull Avenue Monday night and said he had been shot.

Police said the teen's injuries are non-life threatening. The victim told officers he did not know who shot him.

Authorities are actively investigating.

The Southington Town Council has sent a letter to state officials imploring them to help halt plans to close the Hospital of Central Connecticut’s emergency room and relocate the facility.

Hartford HealthCare, the hospital’s parent group, says it aims to create a “new, state-of-the-art, ambulatory care facility that will provide a freestanding, 24/7 emergency department,” but residents are fighting back.

“The Townspeople were shocked and extremely upset at the idea of this proposal and have begun to mobilize with petitions and letters to the Public Health Commission, with a heartfelt request that Bradley Memorial Hospital stay a full functioning hospital with a complete Emergency Department,” the town council wrote in a Sept. 8 letter to the Department of Public Health.

According to the letter, Hartford HealthCare has proposed a new facility at 462 Queen Street to house the emergency department, a plan that came to light in June but has since been put on hold.

“We, the members of the Southington Town Council on August 11, 2014 unanimously agreed with our citizens that we absolutely need a fully functioning hospital and emergency department,” the letter says.

Town Council Chairman Michael A. Riccio said the council convened to learn more about the situation on Aug. 28 and unanimously decided to write to the DPH.

“We have taken the time to listen to our residents and their interests and are committed to listening throughout this process,” Riccio said.

A spokesperson for Hartford HealthCare said last month the hospital would continue to offer non-emergency services at either the Bradley Memorial campus on Meriden Avenue or the new facility on Queen Street.

“We are looking forward to working together with the community and our staff to build a bigger, better health care delivery system for the Town of Southington,” Hartford HealthCare said in a statement last month.

But the organization has since posted an update on its Web site.

"Hartford HealthCare has listened to the community, and based on what we've heard we feel it’s important to pause the process and not submit a Certificate of Need in September as we had planned. Instead, we want to take the time necessary to reach out and engage the Southington community about how, working together, we can best provide the most appropriate health care services and programs at the Bradley Memorial Campus and within the Town of Southington," says the update, dated Aug. 13.

Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback said in an email Tuesday that town officials are "working with Hartford HealthCare to define what is best for the community and sustainable."

Brumback said it's early in the process and that the committee is discussing alternatives.

The Hospital of Central Connecticut comprises campuses in New Britain and Southington at what was once New Britain General Hospital and Bradley Memorial Hospital.

Perdue is issuing a recall of some chicken sold in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania because of issues with temperature during production. 

The recall includes 80-pound cardboard boxes containing around 28, 2.5-ound ice-packed, sealed packages of “Cookin’ Good Whole Young Chickens” with giblets and necks produced on Sept. 3 and shipped to a New York distributor for re-sale and foodservice use in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Officials from the company discovered the problem when an employee checking temperatures noticed variations after a plant worker turned the wrong water valve, using drinking water instead of chill water in the system’s chiller, according to the recall notice on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web site. according to the notice.

The company notified the Food Safety and Inspection Service and destroyed the affected chicken in the warehouse, but nine cases were inadvertently shipped, according to the USDA.

In all, Perdue Food, based in Maryland, recalled around 720 pounds chicken and the packages have the establishment number “P-764” on the box.
                                         
There have been no reports of illness, according to the recall notice posted on Saturday, but anyone who is concerned should call a doctor.

If you have questions about the recall, call Perdue Consumer Affairs at 800-4Perdue (800-473-7383).
 

First came the outrage, as the video showing NFL running back Ray Rice punching his wife in the face eliminated any doubt about the level of violence he used againt her in a hotel elevator.

Now, a day after the video emerged, and the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens cut ties with the former Pro Bowl player, a debate over domestic violence has exploded on Twitter. Two trending hashtags demonstrate the complicated decisions victims face: #WhyIStayed and then #WhyILeft.

Women -- and men -- wrote about trauma and fear.

A statement from Janay Rice, in which she blames the media, added to the debate Tuesday over domestic violence.

“No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family,” Janay Rice wrote in an Instagram post. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing.”

The video, released by the celebrity website TMZ, shows Ray Rice punching her and dragging her from an elevator in a hotel in Atlantic City.

A writer, Beverly Gooden, said on her website that she created the hashtag #WhyIStayed after the Internet blew up with the question. She was physically abused by her ex-husband for more than a year, she wrote.

“I can’t speak for Janay Rice, but I can speak for Beverly Gooden,” she wrote.

“Leaving was a process, not an event,” she wrote. “And sometimes it takes awhile to navigate through the process.”

Mansfield officials are urging residents to be aware of their surroundings after two men wwere robbed while walking on Brown Road Monday evening, according to a press release from the town.

Officials said the men were stopped and robbed of their personal belongings by a suspect in a white sedan. The victims could not provide any additional information about the thief or the getaway car.

The town is reminding residents to take precautions and carry a flashlight while walking at night.

Connecticut State Police are actively investigating.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call the Mansfield Resident State Troopers Office at 860-429-6024.

Bridgeport police are searching for the teen accused of fatally shooting a 21-year-old man at Park Avenue and Olive Street last month.

Seventeen-year-old Fabian Francis is accused of shooting and killing Ryan Hernandez in a fight on Aug. 10.

Police said surveillance footage shows a confrontation between the two that turned deadly. According to police, Francis and another teen drove up to the scene and Hernandez approached their car.

Francis got out of the car and fatally shot Hernandez during an altercation between the two, according to police.

The 16-year-old driver was charged last month with conspiracy to commit murder for his alleged involvement in the crime.

Police are looking for Francis and have an active warrant charging him with murder.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call 911 and contact Bridgeport police Det. Robert Winkler at 203-581-5224.

Calls can remain confidential.

The Meadow fire blazing through Yosemite has almost doubled in size since Monday, and its rapid spread has left air quality in Yosemite Valley suffering from all the smoke, officials said Tuesday, as a gray haze settled over Half Dome's iconic granite face.

Parts of Yosemite were closed to visitors Tuesday as the wildfire and smoke spread, among them popular sites like the Little Yosemite Valley, a portion of the John Muir Trail and all routes to Half Dome.

The blaze had grown to 4,400 acres with a total of 5 percent containment as of Tuesday, park spokeswoman Kari Cobb said.

That's almost twice as large as Monday's report of 2,600 acres. Cobb said that the current acreage was tracked by infrared mapping, as opposed to ground crews, who mapped Monday's numbers by hand.

The rapid spread meant the air quality in Yosemite Valley was rapidly deteriorating, the National Park Service reported on Tuesday. A photo Tuesday showed smoke covering Half Dome's rock face.

Because of the spread of the flames and smoke, much of which is near granite rock and backcountry, the Yosemite National Park superintendent on Tuesday closed a portion of Yosemite Wilderness, including some popular areas. There are still trails and areas that remain open, however, including the Mist trail to the top of Nevada Fall.

Park officials said the the blaze could have been sparked by a lightning strike or a spot fire on Aug. 16, but at this point, investigators just aren't sure. The fire was actually discovered on Sunday about 12:30 p.m.

About 100 hikers and backpackers were evacuated on Sunday, along with 85 others who were trying to scale the majestic Half Dome.

Others, like Michael McCall, 24, of Texas and some of his buddies who now live in Daly City, including Chris Sarsgard, 24, and Thomas Griffin, 23, were able to hike the whole thing, and capture the smoke and flames on a GoPro video on their way down.

His crew of six friends in all scaled Half Dome by noon, and were nearing the finish line by 4:30 p.m. when they saw helicopters flying above and deer running away from the fire.

"We started chuckling at first," McCall told NBC Bay Area. "We just didn't realize how serious it was."

A Northeast Philadelphia middle school teacher accused of having sex with one of her special education students several times appeared in court Tuesday.

Stephanie Amato, who taught eighth grade special education at Ethan Allen School, is accused of carrying on a "consensual" sexual relationship with her student.

Amato appeared in a Philadelphia courtroom Tuesday as her defense requested a two-week delay for her pre-trial conference. The 30-year-old remains out of jail on 10 percent of $125,000 bail, according to court records.

Investigators say one of Amato's 14-year-old male students told the school counselor that he had sex with Amato several times at her home and in her car between March and April of this year. School officials then contacted police and Amato was arrested in June.

Amato was immediately removed from the school pending the investigation and was not allowed to have contact with students as she was suspended with pay.

Amato faces a slew of charges including corruption of minors, indecent exposure, statutory sexual assault, sex with a minor and child endangerment.

Photos posted on Amato's Facebook page show her smiling with a group of teenage boys in her car. NBC10 spoke with two of the teens in that photo who told us they believe she is innocent. 

After her June arrest, a letter was sent home to parents of students at the school alerting them of the situation.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut

Vitamin C, anyone? A road in north San Diego County was covered in oranges Tuesday morning after a truck’s trailer overturned, spilling the fruit by the thousands into the street.

The trailer tipped in the 38600 block of Pala-Temecula Rd. in Pala just before 9:30 a.m.

Aerial images of the scene showed the fruit had spilled from dozens of bins secured on the tipped-over trailer. As a result, the road was a very bright orange color ,as opposed to its usual earth tones.

California Highway Patrol officials shut down southbound traffic at Pechanga Parkway and Pala-Temecula Road at Deer Hollow Way after the spill. A SigAlert was issued for the area.

No injuries were reported, officials said. The accident is under investigation.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut

The man accused of stabbing and killing a baby girl in Bristol has pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to the judicial district.

Arthur Hapgood, 36, has been charged in the murder of 1-year-old Zaniyah Calloway, who died after she was stabbed in the torso last month.

Hapgood’s mother was caring for Zaniyah at her home on Park Street in Bristol when Hapgood suddenly grew angry and grabbed a knife, according to family members.

Police said he admitted to taking illegal drugs prior to the stabbing.

Hapgood, who has been identified as an extended family member of Zaniyah, appeared in court Tuesday and remains held on a $2.5 million bond.

He has pleaded not guilty to murder of a victim under 16 years old, first-degree reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor.

The case was continued to Oct. 8 for pre-trial.

Connecticut is set to receive $8.2 million in federal aid to upgrade and expand its portion of the New England Central Rail freight line, which runs through the eastern part of the state.

Gov. Dannel Malloy, Congressman Joe Courtney and Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy announced the award Tuesday.

The upgrade will renovate the line to meet new freight standards and increase its weight capacity, according to a release from the lawmakers.

Grant money will also allow the state to lay down 15,000 new railroad ties and 15,000 tons of ballast to stretch the line from New London to Stafford Springs, a $10.3 million project bolstered by $2 million in private funding from G&W Electric, the release says.

The 19-mile stretch currently runs through Franklin, Norwich, Stafford and Willimantic.

Connecticut’s portion of the line does not currently meet standards and has been out of commission.

The NECR is used to ship raw materials and finished products via freight rail and provides on-dock connections for ships and barges in New London.

Attorneys for former Gov. John Rowland spent Tuesday morning cross-examining Brian Foley in a federal corruption trial for a case alleging Rowland's involvement in illegal campaign activities.

Rowland is accused of taking $35,000 in unreported payments to advise Foley's wife, Lisa-Wilson Foley's 5th District Congressional campaign and offering to do the same for Republican candidate Mark Greenberg in the past.

The clear goal based on their line of questioning was to get Foley to prove that Roland was hired legitimately and that his work for his wife's campaign was secondary.

On several occasions Foley told defense attorney Reid Weingarten that “I would not have hired Rowland if I didn’t think it would be primarily beneficial to the campaign.”

But throughout Foley's Tuesday morning testimony, he said that Rowland did a great deal of legitimate work.

"It was real deal," Foley told defense attorneys.

The work included Rowland hiring former Connecticut House Speaker Tom Ritter as a lobbyist to help the nursing home business, Apple Health Care, that Foley owned. Apple Healthcare is the parent company for Apple Rehab facilities.

Rowland provided Foley's company with a report about the possible closure of nursing home in Connecticut at one point and spoke directly with Apple Rehab executives in his consulting efforts related to nursing homes.

Foley even commended Rowland for his work helping the company and said he did a lot of work for the company in 2011.

Foley also conceded that it was his attorney's idea to not mention the political work that Rowland would contribute to Foley's wife's campaign, and the contract was even struck with Foley's attorney's office directly. However, he also said he never told his attorney that he hired Rowland as a way to get him involved in the campaign and said that he gave him misleading information.

"I wasn't telling the whole story," Foley said in court.

He said that he transferred $100,000 checks once a month in September 2011 to his wife.

"I wasn't trying to hide this," he said.

Foley admitted to using Apple Rehab resources to support his wife's bid for Congress and said he asked Apple Rehab employees to help the campaign and attend debates. Of his 5,000 employees , Foley said that 12 donated to Wilson-Foley's campaign or came to debates.

When the information about Rowland's work for Apple Health Care and consulting on Wilson-Foley's campaing, Foley said he was "concerned."

On Rowland's work for the campaign, Foley admitted that "Lisa did not want to be seen in public with Mr. Rowland." Foley also said that Rowland advised against putting Wilson-Foley on Apple Rehab TV ads to avoid breaking election laws.

Foley admitted that his $500,000 contribution to his wife's campaign was done in secret and that he didn't even consult the campaign's Washington-based firm that handled some of their campaign finance dealings.

He also said that same firm, Patton & Boggs, advised that there was no issue with hiring Rowland as a consultant for Apple even if he did some volunteer campaign work on the side.

Foley said that months after the election in question, Rowland called him asking to do more work and Foley was surprised because an investigation was already under way.

Foley said that he and Wilson-Foley struck a deal with the federal government and that he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor so that his maximum prison sentance was 1 year.

"I think it'll be the same whether he's convicted or aquitted," Foley said. "I think it'll be the same way. That's from my heart."

The initial deal provided that his wife wouldn't be charged, but he said that changed. Foley said his "hope is to get as little" jailtime as possible.

"It's like being found guilty of stealing a lobster from a lobster pot," he said describing his reduced misdemeanor plea.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut

The nationwide discussion over the Ray Rice scandal has prompted more victims of domestic violence in Connecticut to seek help.

The NFL suspended the Baltimore Ravens running back after video surfaced Monday that appears to show Rice punching his then-fiancee and knocking her unconscious. It all happened months ago in an Atlantic City casino elevator.

An earlier video released in July appeared to show Rice dragging his unconscious fiancee out of the elevator, and prompted the NFL to issue a controversial two-game suspension at the time.

Now, the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence says calls to the statewide domestic violence hotline have increased over the past day.

“It’s expected when you see this kind of public display of such violence and then the dialogue that’s happening, but I would say that there’s a notable increase in the calls that we’re receiving to the domestic violence hotline services,” said coalition DIrector Karen Jarmoc.

Every year in Connecticut, advocates say about 60,000 victims of domestic violence reach out for help through the statewide hotline, local shelters and other programs.

While advocates say there are many reasons people stay in abusive relationships, including financial and religious reasons, they caution against placing blame on a victim by asking why they don’t leave an abusive relationship.

“I think we’re asking the wrong question. There are a couple of other questions that are more important than that. The first one is why is this happening? Why do people feel like it’s okay to abuse, control, terrorize, intimidate their partner?” said Danica Delgado, director of the Domestic Violence Prevention Program at Hartford Hospital.

Signs of domestic violence include physical and sexual abuse, verbal attacks and controlling or stalking behavior, according to experts.

The statewide domestic violence hotline can be reached by calling 888-774-2900.

A small plane has gone down near Park Road in Watertown.

Watertown fire officials say the plane went down in a field behind homes just before 9 a.m. in the 300 block of Park Road, not far from Mattatuck State Forest.

Pilot Daniel Kropas, 54, of Ridgefield, was heading from Danbury to Waterbury Airport in Plymouth when his plane went down – narrowly missing power lines in the area – and hit the ground, landing backward and coming to rest against a group of trees, authorities said.

There are no injuries, according to fire officials. Kropas was transported to the hospital to be evaluated as a precaution.

John Moskaluk, who lives in the area witnessed the crash, said that the pilot appeared distressed as the plane weaved between power lines.

"He went under and over the top of the second one, which is a little bit lower, then under this one here – over, under," Moskaluk said, pointing out the wires to which the plane came dangerously close.

Had Kropas collided with the power lines, the outcome would have been very different.

"It would have been like a razor blade. It would have sliced that plane right up," Moskaluk said. "I don't think he would have pulled those lines down. They're heavy lines and stuff. He would have been a mess. It's a miracle how he landed that plane in the bushes over there."

Officials said it appears Kropas had been trying to land in the field where he crashed, then tried to take off again before the plane went down.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to the scene to address a fuel spill, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, along with Kropas' insurance company.

Watertown police also responded to the crash.

Fire officials said fuel from the plane's tank must be emptied out before the aircraft can be removed from the scene. The plane is still wedged in a tree.

Kropas was not available for comment when NBC Connecticut arrived at his Ridgefield home on Tuesday.

Two men are facing charges after investigators found $60,000 in cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana in their Norwich hotel room, according to police.

Police searched the room Tuesday after investigating reports of drug activity. They discovered a semi-automatic handgun, $4,200 cash and a large amount of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, as well as marijuana, packaging materials, a cutting agent and scales, according to police.

The drugs have been valued at more than $60,000.

William Suarez, Jr., 24, of New Haven, and Phillip Suarez, 34, of Norwich, were each charged with possession of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana with intent to sell, operating a drug factory and criminal possession of a firearm.

They were held on $250,000 bonds and are due in court Wednesday.

Family members of State Sen. Andrew Maynard, who suffered severe injuries in a fall at his Stonington home this summer, said in a statement Tuesday they expect him to make a full recovery.

The senator was hospitalized for several weeks at Rhode Island Hospital after falling down the stairs at his home in Stonington on July 21. He was later transferred to the Hospital of Special Care in New Britain, where he has been undergoing physical and occupational therapy.

Maynard’s sister, Denise Mahoney, said he sustained fractures to the scapula, eye socket and ribs, all of which have healed. He also suffered serious brain trauma and was unconscious for days after the fall.

Mahoney said her brother has been awake and responsive for the past few weeks and is making headway in therapy.

“Currently, Andy is able to read, eat on his own, and understand questions,” she wrote, adding that he still has trouble talking but can answer “yes” or “no” questions and is working to regain his speech.

“He listens to music, manipulates a smart phone to review texts and photos, and retains his sense of humor,” she said. “He is slowly but steadily rebuilding his stamina.”

Mahoney said her brother developed an infection last week, which has been treated and healed. She called his recovery “one of constant and continued improvement” and said family members expect Maynard will be back to his old self in no time.

“Given all that we have learned to date, we have no reason to conclude that Andrew would be unable to fulfill the duties of his office, which he loves and pursues with great passion, should he be re-elected this fall,” she said.

A local Boy Scout troop is offering a $500 reward in exchange for information about one of two suspicious fires that burned in Somers and Stafford this spring, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

DEEP Environmental Conservation police are investigating fires that broke out May 11 and July 15. Officials said the fires are in close proximity and believe the same people are behind both blazes.

The May 11 fire destroyed a wooden outhouse in a parking area on Gulf Road in Shenipsit State Forest in Stafford, according to the DEEP.

Then, on July 15, a wooden camping shelter on Sodom Road in Stafford was burned to the ground. The DEEP said an Eagle Scout built the shelter, which served as a youth group camping site, just last year.

"It's upsetting when these boys see their hard work burned to ashes," said troop leader Michael Jordan, who said his scout spent hundreds of hours building the shelter.

Boy Scout Troop 96 is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Environmental Conservation Police at 860-424-3333.

This is what's left of the Boy Scouts shelter pic.twitter.com/8MVaageB11

— ilana gold (@ilanagoldNBC) September 9, 2014

Twitter says its security team, along with relevant law enforcement officials, is investigating the veracity of apparent death threats made against its employees by radical Islamists.

The threats reportedly showed up on a Twitter account with ties to the Islamic State rebel group that has beheaded reporters.

Twitter has 800 employees in San Francisco, but none were eager to talk to reporters on Tuesday. The social networking service has been taking down accounts the company believes are platforms for the terrorist group ISIS. It is believed that action is what prompted the threats posted on such an account, which has since been removed.

The original threatening posts were in Arabic and initially translated on the website Vocative. They reportedly said:

“The time has arrived to respond to Twitter’s management by directly attacking their employees and physically assassinating them.”

“Every Twitter employee in San Francisco in the United States should bear in mind and watch over himself because on his doorstep there might be a lone world assassin waiting.”

Steve Weber, a terrorism expert at UC Berkeley, believes the tweets are intended to frighten, but are without substance. “Day-to-day employees there are probably in more danger walking across the street in San Francisco than the likelihood of being hit by a terrorist assassin inside the United States,” he said.

Marc Sandalow, associate director of the University of California’s Washington Center, said he believes ISIS is using the threats and the recent videotaped beheadings of journalists to raise its profile on the world stage, but since President Obama’s initial statements discounting ISIS, the group’s soldiers have taken control of a significant amount of territory in Iraq and Syria.

Weber says “that has moved the discourse in Washington from ‘Maybe this thing is just going to go away’ to ‘We need to make sure that this thing goes away.’”

The president laid out his strategy for going after ISIS to members of Congress on Tuesday. Wednesday night, he briefs the nation at 6 p.m. PT in an address that will air live on NBC.