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Bobby Valentine Gets New Gig

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Former Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine has a new job back in Connecticut.

Sacred Heart University in Fairfield has scheduled a news conference on Tuesday to announce Valentine as its executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Valentine, a Stamford native, has had a long career in Major League Baseball. He spent 10 years as a player and has also managed the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and most recently in Boston, where he lasted just one year as manager.

He has been a baseball analyst for ESPN, and his last job out of Major League Baseball was as the director of public safety for the city of Stamford.

Valentine will replace outgoing Sacred Heart athletic director C. Donald Cook.



Photo Credit: AP

Travel Deals to Get You Away from Snow

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After two snow-filled weekends in a row, and another coming up, you might be ready to get away.
To help, we found some deals that’ll get you away from the snow and into the warm weather.

These Expedia.com’s “Last Minute Deals” begin next Friday or the following.

Take a trip to Fort Lauderdale and spend $384 for your flight and two nights at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa.

Spend four nights at the Marenas Resort in Miami, plus your flight, for $653.

Looking to go farther south? For $589, you can get a flight and a three-night stay at the Hyatt Regency in Cancun.

Make sure to follow airlines on social media to get the latest updates on getaways and sales, like this one tweeted last week by American Airlines, “Say ‘Aloha’ to your next vacation. #Hawaii flights are on sale from $351. R/T, taxes & fees incl.
 

Bees and Flowers Have Electric Communication

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Flowers are known to attract pollinators through petal colors, shapes and scent. But now scientists have found an invisible feature that flowers use to get more attraction: their unique electric fields.

Plants generally emit weak negative electric fields and bees are able to detect these electric signals, according to researchers at the University of Bristol in England. The research was published Thursday in the latest online edition of the journal Science Express.

The study found that bees’ flapping wings create a positive electrical charge of up to 200 volts as they fly through the air. They forge a special connection when encountering the charged flowers, scienti.

The electricity is not enough to produce sparks, but it makes flowers easier for the bees to remember. And the bees can keep track of different flowers by their electric fields.

"This novel communication channel reveals how flowers can potentially inform their pollinators about the honest status of their precious nectar and pollen reserves," study leader Professor Daniel Robert, from the University of Bristol, told the U.K Guardian.


 

Boy Calls 911 to Avoid Bedtime

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Police in Massachusetts says a 10-year-old boy called 911 because he didn't want to go to bed.

Boy Calls 911 about Bedtime

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A 10-year old Massachusetts boy reportedly called police in protest over his bedtime earlier this week. 

Dan Davis dialed 911 just after 8 p.m. on Wednesday night and hung up before speaking to anyone.  He then retreated to his bed and hid under the covers, according to Brockton-based newspaper The Enterprise.

Davis is a fourth grader who wanted to stay up later than usual while on vacation from school.

When the dispatcher called the boy back at his home his mother answered the phone and explained the situation. Shamayne Rosario, a mother of six, said that her son refused to go to bed and threatened to call the police to report her.

"I said go ahead," she told NBC affiliate WHDH.

The boy chose not to get back on the phone with officials while his mother berated him for calling the emergency line.

As the department is required to confirm all calls in person, officers were sent to the family's home. Rosario asked the responding officer to explain the importance of 911 calls to her son, also outlining when such calls are appropriate.

Rosario told Enterprise that she believes her son learned his lesson.

No one involved was charged, but Dan was grounded for two weeks.



Photo Credit: WHDH Still

Sensitivity Training Ordered After Teacher Uses "Slavery" Math Problems

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A Manhattan elementary school principal said she's "appalled" by a homework assignment that used scenarios about killing and whipping slaves to teach math.
 
Adele Schroeter has ordered sensitivity training for the entire staff of P.S. 59 following last month's assignment, the New York City Department of Education said in a statement Friday.
 
A teacher had asked fourth-graders to write homework questions that blended math and social studies, the DOE said. The teacher then used the students' questions, including the slave-related ones, as homework for the class.
 
One question pertained to the number of slaves who died while taking over a ship. It asked how many slaves were still alive. The other said a slave was whipped five times a day and asked students to calculate how many times a month he was whipped.
 
A student-teacher said she was shocked by the wording and later refused to hand out the worksheet in another class.
 
"I'm just like, 'Wow, this is really inappropriate,'" Aziza Harding told NY1.
 
The DOE said the situation was "obviously unacceptable." It said "appropriate disciplinary action" would be taken, and said the chancellor had spoken to the principal.

Protocol Reviewed After D.C. Firefighters Appear With Obama

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Three District of Columbia firefighters are facing possible disciplinary action after appearing with President Obama during a press event.

Earlier this week the president was flanked by first responders as he spoke about the impact of sequestration. Kenneth Ellerbe, chief of D.C.'s Fire and Emergency Medical Service Department, told News4 Washington the three members of DCFEMS who participated in the event may have violated department regulations.

“I didn’t know about it, the deputy mayor didn’t know about it, the mayor didn’t know about it," Ellerbe said. "There should be protocol followed anytime one of our employees representing the District of Columbia appears at a public event.”

The department released the following statement Friday night:

 

Contrary to reports in local media, the DC Fire and EMS Department is not considering any disciplinary action against uniformed personnel for appearing alongside President Obama. At the request of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, DC FEMS is simply reviewing its internal protocols for such appearances to ensure that both the Department and its employees are fully informed.

We fully support the efforts of President to highlight the essential and life saving work that our first-responders do every single day, and welcome his invitation for our members to participate. We're exceedingly proud of the men and women that wear the DC FEMS uniform, and thank the President for his support.

Ellerbe says the three have each been ordered to file a special report on the event detailing how they came to appear with the president and who authorized it.

“How did they get there, why were they there and why didn’t we know about it before?” Ellerbe said.

Ed Smith, president of Local 36 of the firefighter’s union, said his office facilitated the appearance by the firefighters. “The request came through the International Association of Firefighters,” Smith said, adding that it’s not the first time D.C. firefighters have been asked to appear with the president.

But he said, it’s the first time it’s been an issue. “We’ve done this before. I would hope it doesn’t come to any discipline. They were supporting our president,” he said.

Ellerbe would not identify the department members involved, but one of those pictured is Lt. Robert Alvarado, who has been disciplined in the past by Ellerbe. In 2012 Alvarado was placed on leave after he wore a uniform with an outdated logo.

Ellerbe says requiring Alvarado and the others to explain why they attended the event in their dress uniforms is not payback for any previous incidents.

“There’s no payback, we don’t operate in a payback environment. I know folks say that but it’s not true.” Ellerbe insited.

Ellerbe says none of the firefighters are facing termination, but added one of those involved is a woman who is new to the department and still on a probationary period.

Follow Mark Segraves on Twitter at @SegravesNBC4



Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search for Possible Kidnapping Victim

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Watertown police are searching for a teeanger who may be the victim of a kidnapping.  Luanelly "Nelly" Rodriguez, 17, was last seen this afternoon around 2:30 before going out for a walk, according to police.

Minutes after she left, she sent a text message to her Aunt asking for help.  The message said that she was pulled into a vehicle by a white man and woman that she did not know, according to police.

Detective say that family members received several other text messages from Rodriguez's phone that came from someone who claimed to have her.  Her family thinks that she may have been driven to Massachusetts.

Rodriguez was was last seen wearing black spandex pants, khaki boots, a white and leopard print shirt, and a black coat.  She also has a red heart tattoo under her left eye.

If you have any information, you're urged to call Watertown Police at 860-945-5200.


Putnam Family Reflect on Daughters Lost

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A month after a fire kills two of her daughters, a Putnam mother vows to carry on their legacy.
8 months pregnant, Lauren Auger escaped the Prospect Street apartment when a fire broke out in the early morning hours of January 22.

Her 3-year old, Alexis and 10-month old, Ava,  did not. Its been a month of intense lows and an incredible high for Auger and her boyfriend, John Newsom.

They were forced to bury two beautiful young girls. They lost their home and all their possessions. Then came along the blessing that they say gives them the strength to move forward.

“The last thing I remember is just screaming for them,” says Auger. “They got me outside and I refused to move from the doorway because I wanted  to go back up.

This blended family, John with three kids from a previous relationship, Laura with her two daughters, were living on the 3rd floor of the multi family home when it burst into flames.

Firefighters tried to reach the two sisters, but the smoke and heat proved to be too much for them to handle. Newsom  and Auger, who was 8 months pregnant, spent the next two days in the hospital .

Now they want to use their grief to educate the community on fire safety to make sure that “nothing like this ever happens to anybody ever again.”

On Saturday, the Putnam Volunteer Fire Department will hold an open house to teach  citizens what to look for and to handout fire alarms and other safety tools. The idea came following the deadly fire.

“We want while its still fresh in everybody’s memory, “ says Asst. Fire Chief Bob Campbell.

“We want to get it out there right now and get the smoke detectors into the houses that don’t have them.”

After all the heartache, this couple did experience some joy. Last Saturday, Laura gave birth to their first child together, a baby boy – Connor.

“He was born early. Actually just between the two girls birthdays. So it kind of worked out perfect for us.”

Kindness Awards in Honor of Sandy Hook Student

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In Joanne Bacon's eyes, there was no greater than her own Charlotte. She would have turned 7 on Friday. "I thank you all for being here tonight and celebrating Charlotte's birthday with us and honoring these great kids," said Joanne Bacon, mother of Charlotte.  "She needed to test her ideas and find the answers to her curiosity. I'm truly amazed by this little girl. Newtown Kindness reminds us that no act of kindness."

The first Charlotte Bacon Acts of Kindness awards were given out Friday night at the Healing Newtown Facility.  It's to honor Charlotte's memory and reward other children for their kindness; to kids who gave back.

Kids like Ariana Pensy of Janesville, Wisconsin wrote about her good deeds.  "When I did what I did I felt like a good person too so that would be how we are similar and connect," Pensy said.  Pensy saw a girl in her third grade class in Wisconsin who had no one to play with. She began talking to her and befriended her. Pensy even brought a special bucket to donate to the town...and the idea has caught on in her home town.

"It gets people thinking about treating people better and about doing kind things and it's been wonderful to see the effect in our town," said Lara Pensy, Ariana's mom.

Some kids like Ariana were present for their awards while others like Caren Ulcak were skyped in. She Irish step danced for sick kids at a local cancer hospital in Austin, Texas.

Aaron Carlson founded the website to find a way to heal. Her daughter was close to Charlotte.
"We saw so much fantastic good will coming to our community and really just wanted to be part of it and do something positive," Carlson said.

The kids who got the awards also got a special prize. One was given so her family could a Broadway show.

Ariana is getting the chance to meet an NFL player who saw her act of kindness and wanted to recognize her good deed.

43-Year-Old Man Arrested for 75th Time

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A man previously arrested 74 times was caught again, this time for allegedly robbing a bank in Maryland.

Robert Alonzo Robinson, 43, robbed the SunTrust Bank Friday, county police said. Robinson approached the teller and passed a note demanding money, police said. Robinson made off with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police arrested Robinson Wednesday at his home. He admitted his involvement in the robbery, police said.

Robinson is currently being held without bond.

Because of Robinson’s criminal record, it wasn’t hard for police to track him down. He has been arrested 75 times since 1992. Most of the cases involved some sort of theft. Some charges against him were dropped.

Betty Green, a neighbor of Robinson, isn’t surprised by the number of arrests. She told News4 that Robinson had a drug problem and has been in and out of rehab.

"He has a problem,” she said. “He has that monkey on his back, and just putting him in jail is not going to do any good. He needs to be in treatment where he can get off of the drugs."

"Green Fireball" Sighted in Southern California

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About 50 people contacted the American Meteor Society on Thursday with reports of a "green fireball" lighting up the Southern California sky. An authentic photo surfaced Friday afternoon capturing the bright light seen by dozens of sky watchers. Sightings were reported in Ventura, Anaheim, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Paso Robles, San Francisco and Santa Barbara, according to the group's website. The sightings come days after Bay Area residents were treated to a light show of their own when a fireball was seen streaking across the sky. Another fireball sighting was reported this month in Florida, but the most spectacular celestial event occurred when a meteor soared over Russia before the rock slammed into Earth's surface, sending shockwaves across a widespread area.

Photo Credit: SouthernCaliforniaWeatherAuthority.com

Marine Corporal Arrested Over Murder of Camp Pendleton Officer

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A U.S. Marine was arrested Friday night in California’s Camp Pendleton in connection with the murder of a man whose body was found zipped up inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of a parked car in Fallbrook last month.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, suspect Kevin Albert Richard Coset was taken into custody shortly after 5 p.m. for the murder of Alvin Bulaoro, 24.

Bulaoro was found dead inside a 1997 Toyota 4Runner on Jan. 3. Homicide investigators said his body showed signs of trauma and deemed his death suspicious in nature.

Bulaoro had been reported missing by his family and was last seen on Dec. 21, 2012.
Bulaoro’s family pleaded for investigators to find his killer.

“I want justice for my son,” his mother, Josephine Bulaoro, told NBC 7 in an interview back in January.

Bulaoro was enlisted in the Navy for four years. He worked as a human resources officer at Camp Pendleton, helping Marines with pay, benefits and housing issues.

During that time, he got his bachelor's degree. After leaving the Navy, Bulaoro became a lieutenant in the Army.

He returned from training in Texas in November and was set to participate in a ceremony for his commission on Jan. 12 in Los Angeles.

"He told me, 'Mom you're going to be very proud of me,'" his mother previously told NBC 7.

Bulaoro’s brother told NBC 7 the family had hired a private investigator to search for Bulaoro. The private investigator is the person who told the family that Bulaoro’s car had been spotted in the Albertson’s parking lot on Jan. 3.

According to the sheriff’s department, Coset is a corporal in the Marine Corps.

He was taken into custody Friday with the help of NCIS agents and charged with the murder of Bulaoro.

Officials have not released any further details. The motive for the murder remains unknown.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Man Sues Parents for Not Loving Him Enough

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A 32-year-old man in Brooklyn, New York is suing his parents, claiming he wasn't loved enough by them and that their neglect has caused him to be homeless and jobless. 

Bernard Bey filed a self-written lawsuit in Brooklyn court earlier this month, accusing his parents of causing him mental anguish and for making him feel "unloved and beaten by the world." 

"If you have kids, you're expected to love your children," Bey told NBC 4 New York. "You want the best for your children." 

Bey claimed he was physically and emotionally abused and ran away from home when he was 12, and then was in and out of the shelter system after turning 16. He's spent time in jail and is now homeless, and he believes his parents are at the root of his problems. 

Bey is asking the court for more than $200,000 in damages. He wants his parents to mortgage their family home and purchase two franchises like Domino's Pizza. 

The aspiring rapper said the money would be help the entire family.

"I feel like my parents should want the best for their children and grandchildren so we have something to pass down for generations so we don't have to live like this," he said. 

Bey's parents, who live in public housing, said they're not in a position to give up any money. His stepfather named in the suit, Bernard Manley, had some choice unprintable words and maintained Bey is not his biological son.

Bey said he is willing to drop the lawsuit if his family will simply sit down at the dinner table with him.

"Let's work together, and definitely, I'll drop the suit," he said. 

Mississippi Lawmaker Wants to Lure Connecticut Gun Makers Away

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A Mississippi lawmaker has reached out to gun makers in Connecticut and beyond in an attempt to lure them from to his Southern state.

Philip Gunn, the Speaker of the House in Mississippi, sent letters to 14 gun manufacturers, including several in Connecticut, on Thursday, the day Vice President Joe Biden was in Connecticut for a conference on gun violence.

“Gun manufacturers are under attack in anti-Second Amendment states,” Gunn said in a statement issued yesterday. “Today, I wrote a letter to CEOs of leading firearm manufacturers urging them to relocate to Mississippi where their industry and jobs will be appreciated.”

The letters went to Colt Manufacturing; Ruger Firearms, O.F. Mossberg & Sons, based in North Haven; and Charter Arms, based in Shelton; companies that collectively employ hundreds of people, according to the Web site for the state Department of Labor.

“I have been following the national news and cannot help but notice that your industry is being attacked. You have provided many jobs to the state of Connecticut for many years and now because of national politics you are being demonized,” Gunn wrote in a letter to the CEO, in which personally invited the company to move to Connecticut.

“In our state, you will not be criticized for providing goods to the law abiding who enjoy hunting, shooting or who just want the peace of mind that comes with the constitutional right to protect their families.

Dennis Veilleux, President and CEO, Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC, said Connecticut is their home, but they have concerns about the governor's plan.

"While we continually get offers from other states, Connecticut has been our home for 175 years and our preference is to work with the legislature and the Governor toward our common goal of a safer community. There are solutions we can agree on right now but the Governor's proposal to ban the most popular sporting rifle in the world will make no one safer and creates a very unfriendly business environment for Colt's Manufacturing Company," Veilleux said in a statement.

When contacted for a statement about Mississippi's attempt to lure companies, the governor's office said Malloy's proposal wouldn’t affect manufacturing in the state.

Under the governor’s proposal, you would not be able to buy or sell any of the weapons in state, but without a similar federal assault weapons ban, a company would be able to sell their products where their use is permitted. 

Gunn said he and the Mississippi House of Representatives have passed several measures during the 2013 Session to protect the rights and privacy of gun owners.

“We need more businesses to establish home base in Mississippi,” he said. “We can provide these companies with an educated workforce, a superior quality of life, an evolving education system for their children, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing we support their industry.”

Gunn has not yet heard anything from any Connecticut gun companies, but said he heard that a manufacturer in another state is looking to move.

Connecticut has been at the center of the national gun control debate since December, when 20 first graders and six educators were killed in a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has also been central to the debate and has frequently met Biden to help shape national policy.

Yesterday, the governor outlines his own plan, which includes strengthening a ban on military-style assault weapons, bans large capacity magazines,  mandates universal background checks and requiring firearms and ammunition dealers to maintain electronic records of all firearms and ammunition purchased and sold. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who helped organize the conference, said many he does not think the plea will sway local companies to move to Mississippi.

“I welcome the competitive aspect of industry, but at the end of the day, what will determine the decision of these companies is the skilled workforce, quality of life, educational system, which in Connecticut is far superior to Mississippi,” Blumenthal said. 

Gunn said people in Mississippi have a passion for the industry and gun makers would not be under attack in his state.

Blumenthal said the state of Connecticut supports the Second Amendment for responsible gun owners, Blumenthal said, and he works closely with local gun manufacturers to help secure defense contracts.

Many of the reforms being discussed would be national in scope, so they would affect Mississippi as much as Connecticut, Blumenthal said, and he thinks local companies will make responsible business decisions.

Gunn said his state cannot control what the federal government does about gun control, but that he invites firearms manufacturers to conduct their business in a "friendly environment."

"To the extent that we can, we want to support them and their industry," Gunn said. 
 


Missing Watertown Teen Found

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Luanelly Rodriguez, the 17-year-old who police thought to be a victim of a kidnapping was found without incident in Massachusetts.

Watertown police were searching for her after she was last seen Friday around 2:30 PM before going out for a walk.

Minutes after she left, she sent a text message to her Aunt asking for help.  The message said that she was pulled into a vehicle by a white man and woman that she did not know, according to police.

Detective said that family members received several other text messages from Rodriguez's phone that came from someone who claimed to have her.  Her family thought she may have been driven to Massachusetts.

If you have any information, you're urged to call Watertown Police at 860-945-5200.

Hearing Set for Monday to Discuss Establishing Toll Booths

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 Connecticut lawmakers are considering a number of bills that would reinstitute highway tolls.
 

The General Assembly's Transportation Committee has scheduled a public hearing on Monday to hear testimony on various proposals to establish tolls along Connecticut's borders, throughout the state and on Route 11 in southeastern Connecticut.


The goal of some of the bills is to generate revenue to help reduce the state's gasoline tax.
 

One proposal calls for creating a tolling system that would charge drivers various rates for driving during peak travel times or on congested highways. Vehicles would be equipped with electronic sensors.


In recent years, the issue of tolls has focused mostly on Route 11, which abruptly ends in Salem. Proponents say the tolls could help generate revenue needed to help complete the highway.

 



Photo Credit: Chopper 10

Man Sues Parents for Not Loving Him Enough

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A 32-year-old Brooklyn man is suing his parents, claiming he wasn't loved enough by them and that their neglect has caused him to be homeless and jobless. 

Bernard Bey filed a self-written lawsuit in Brooklyn court earlier this month, accusing his parents of causing him mental anguish and for making him feel "unloved and beaten by the world." 

"If you have kids, you're expected to love your children," Bey told NBC 4 New York. "You want the best for your children." 

Bey claimed he was physically and emotionally abused and ran away from home when he was 12, and then was in and out of the shelter system after turning 16. He's spent time in jail and is now homeless, and he believes his parents are at the root of his problems. 

Bey is asking the court for more than $200,000 in damages. He wants his parents to mortgage their family home and purchase two franchises like Domino's Pizza. 

The aspiring rapper said the money would be help the entire family.

"I feel like my parents should want the best for their children and grandchildren so we have something to pass down for generations so we don't have to live like this," he said. 

Bey's parents, who live in public housing, said they're not in a position to give up any money. His stepfather named in the suit, Bernard Manley, had some choice unprintable words and maintained Bey is not his biological son.

Bey said he is willing to drop the lawsuit if his family will simply sit down at the dinner table with him.

"Let's work together, and definitely, I'll drop the suit," he said. 

"Future Self" Photos Aim to Inspire Retirement Savings

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If you could see a picture of yourself 40 years in the future, would it change the way you live today?

That’s the theory behind a new computer program, launched by Merrill Edge, a financial platform created by Bank of America. Face Retirement takes a picture of your face and reveals a photo of what you will look like in the "near-far" future—all the way up to age 107.

"The app was created to really provoke more Americans to plan more for their retirement," Nick Givogri, senior vice president of Merrill Edge, said.

Science seems to support the idea. A study at Stanford University last year showed that people who viewed their “future self” were more likely to put money in a retirement account.

"Essentially, what the study showed is that people that saw aged-enhanced images of themselves were twice as likely to save for retirement than people who did not," Givogri said. "It’s amazing what will happen when you just see an image of yourself in the future."

Next to the age-processed photos are statistics that show what the estimated cost of living will be when the user reaches retirement age. A harsh reality: in the year 2040, the average cost for a loaf of bread is predicted to cost $9.

"What the research showed is that people that were able to see what they looked like in the future, started to think about, 'Well, what do I need to be doing during that time?'" Givogri said.

Merrill Edge said more than 450,000 people have taken a look at the app – which can be accessed using a webcam at the company’s website – since December and about 10 percent of those users shared their photo on Facebook.

So what resources do people have if they want to look into future planning options?

"They can open up an IRA account if they wanted to get started with retirement planning. They can find a financial advisor locally; we have over 300 finical advisors that sit in Bank of America Banking Center that can really help people in planning," Givogri said.

"I think a lot of it is that people think about the here and the now and those are the things they focus on, being able to make the monthly bills and do those types of things, but (the app) really starts to get you to think differently."

Click here to take a glimpse into your own "near-far" future.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Body Found in Connecticut River

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Middletown Police found a body in the Connecticut River today after they received a call from a kayaker who saw it this morning.

Officers located what appeared to be a male party near the shore south of Cromwell this morning.
 
The Middletown Fire department hoisted the body from its position down a steep embankment after the police were unable to remove the body. 
 
The State of Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later arrived on the scene to take possession of the male.
 
An initial identification of the party has been made, but his identity is being withheld pending a positive identification.
 
No foul play is suspected at this time.  

 

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