Quantcast
Channel: NBC Connecticut
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live

Norwalk Teen Missing Since. Dec. 21 Found Safe

0
0

A 14-year-old boy missing from Norwalk for more than a month has been found safe and reunited with his father, according to police.

Storm Sorrentino was reported missing Dec. 21 and was believed to be traveling with female relatives, police said at the time of his disappearance.

He was found in Fairfield on Friday, Jan. 23 and is now with his father, according to police. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Anyone with information is urged to call Det. Jim Thompson of the Norwalk Police Department Special Victims Unit at 203-854-3184.



Photo Credit: Norwalk Police Department

Governor Announces $31.4M in Budget Cuts

0
0

Gov. Dannel Malloy has announced more than $31 million in rescissions to combat the state's predicted budget shortfall of more than $120 million.

A report released by the governor's office details the breakdown, which includes but is not limited to the follow:

  • $1 million in cuts from community technical colleges
  • More than $1.5 from the Connecticut state university system
  • $8.3 million from the Department of Developmental Services
  • $6 million from the judicial branch
  • $1.1 million from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
  • More than $1 million from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

The full list of rescissions is available online.

It's the second round of rescissions in the past two month and comes in the wake of a $50-million spending reduction that took effect toward the end of 2014.

Malloy said earlier this week he wasn't fazed by the predicted deficit, which seems small when compared to the state's $20 billion budget..

"We'll manage this just as we've managed other challenges in the past," he explained on Wednesday.

State Sen. Rob Kane, a Republican representing Watertown and ranking member of the legislature's Appropriations Committee, released a statement Friday afternoon applauding the latest round of cuts.

"Cutting spending is the way to fix our state’s financial crisis. We simply can’t afford more and more tax hikes in this state. We face multi-billion dollar problems in the years ahead. We need to stay focused on what taxpayers’ dollars are spent on, and go line by line in the budget to make cuts," Kane said. "The sooner we confront our state’s spending addiction, the better off Connecticut taxpayers will be in the long run. We have got to work together, as Republicans and Democrats, to do what is best for Connecticut."

Bridgeport, Hartford Declare Snow Emergencies

0
0

The city of Bridgeport has declared a snow emergency effective at 8 p.m. Friday ahead of tomorrow's storm, and a snow emergency in Hartford will take effect at the stroke of midnight.

A storm cell moving in from the southwest could drop up to 6 inches across much of the state.

Bridgeport

Residents are required to park on the even-numbered sides of city streets so plows can get by and clear the roads. Cars that do not comply with the parking requirements will be towed, according to the mayor's office.

To get their cars off the streets, residents can keep their cars at all Bridgeport public schools parking lots during the storm.

Parking along snow emergency routes is also prohibited. Snow emergency streets are marked with signs and are listed on the city's website.

Mayor Bill Finch said snow plows and salt-spreading trucks are at the ready and will be out in full force when the snow begins to fall.

Officials with the city's Department of Public Works are urging residents to shovel all walkways for safety purposes and avoid dumping snow from driveways and sidewalks back into the street.

Anyone with weather-related questions is urged to call the city's "BConnected" call center at 203-574-1311 or the Emergency Operations Center at 203-579-3829.

Hartford

The snow emergency in Hartford will take effect at 12:01 a.m. and will end at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release from the mayor's office.

A parking ban has been issued, and residents are prohibited from parking along city streets. Cars that are not moved by midnight will be ticketed and towed.

Parking is available at all Hartford Public Schools starting at 3 p.m. Friday.

Residents can also park at the Morgan Street Garage, the lot at 2 Holcomb Street, the Keney Park Entrance Lot on Ridgefield Street, the KDA Center Lot on Naugatuck Street, the Pope Park Center Lot on Park Terrace, the Metzner Center Lot on Franklin Avenue, the Colt Park Lot on Wawarme Avenue and the Elizabeth Park lots.

The parking ban will be lifted on Sunday and Winterfest at Bushnell Park will remain open, according to the mayor's office.

Residents who need to get out of the cold can seek shelter by calling 211 or visiting the McKinney Shelter at 34 Huyshope Avenue, Immaculate Conception Shelter at 560 Park Street and South Park Inn at 75 Main Street.

More information on the city's parking ban is available online.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story on our mobile site.

Thief Swipes 12 Pairs of Ray-Bans From Meriden Shop

0
0

Thieves targeted a Meriden optometry office for the second time in five months, and this time the culprit made off with a dozen pairs of Ray-Ban prescription frames worth more than $2,000, according to the doctor.

Dr. Craig Nielsen, who practices at 105 Broad Street in Meriden, said a thief walked in Wednesday afternoon while employees were busy helping other customers. He swiped the frames while store associates were distracted.

“He was just so brazen. He went right to where he knew they were, grabbed them, didn’t care there were five or six other people in the office at the time and he didn’t seem to care or even notice,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen said he installed security cameras after someone made off with five pairs of frames five months ago. Footage from Wednesday shows the culprit trying on pair after pair of glasses and stuffing them into his jacket.

Staff members said they didn’t realize what was happening until the man left and they reviewed the video.

"It was amazing that he could be so callous to not look around and notice cameras, which are in plain view," Nielsen said.

The optometrist, who has been in business for 27 years, said he’ll be making changes to the store setup in an effort to thwart a third incident.

"We're going to put in a second monitor so we can actually watch it from the back room when people are in back," Nielsen explained. "And we're going to move the Ray-Bans so they are a little harder to get to and hope that we don't have another incident."

It's not clear if the two robberies are connected. Store employees said they did not recognize the man whose image was captured in Wednesday's incident. He said nothing, just waved when he walked in, according to Nielsen.

Police are investigating the robbery. Anyone with information is urged to call Meriden police at 203-630-6215.



Photo Credit: Dr. Craig Nielsen

Conn. Home to Second-Most Millionaires in America

0
0

A group known as Phoenix Marketing International has released a report ranking the number of millionaires per state in America.

Maryland has 7.67 millionaires out of 100 households, which is good for tops in the nation.

Among the New England states on the list, Connecticut ranks the highest. The Constitution State is home to the second most millionaires in the country.

Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island all ranked within the top 25 richest states.

For a complete look at the list, click here



Photo Credit: nyc_ak47/Instagram

Teen Stabbed to Death With Scissors

0
0

A 14-year-old boy was fatally stabbed with a pair of scissors on the campus of a Southern California middle school Friday afternoon, LAUSD officials said.

An attacker stabbed the boy at 3:08 p.m. in front of David Wark Griffith Middle School in East Los Angeles and ran away, said Monica Carazo of LAUSD.

The district first said the victim was 15 years old, but LA sheriff's deputies later said he was 14.

"He's really quiet, he doesn't really like to talk to anybody," the boy's girlfriend told NBC4. "The only one he tells all his problems to is my brother."

The victim was not a student at the school where he was stabbed, but he was a student at nearby Garfield High School, district officials said. The district could not immediately confirm whether the attacker was a student of the school.

The attacker approached the teen and asked him where he was from before stabbing him in the torso, officials said.

The boy died at the hospital, said LA County Sheriff's Sgt. John Sagardia.

Aerial video showed nearly a dozen patrol cars outside the school, where caution tape lined the front steps. Students were held inside the middle school for several hours until police said it was safe to leave.

LASD confirmed in a statement an investigation was underway in the fatal stabbing. Deputies say several witnesses saw the attack since it happened just after school let out.

Additional details were not immediately clear.

Robert Kovacik contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: NewsChopper4

Ex-Firefighter Rescues NY Neighbor

0
0

A disabled Long Island woman who couldn't move from her bed when a fire broke out in her home was saved by a neighbor who happened to be stepping out for dinner.

Andy Carbone was leaving his Farmingville home when his wife spotted a fire in a nearby house. The former volunteer firefighter kicked in the burning front door and found 72-year-old Carolyn Prince bedridden in the back of the smoky house.

"I said, 'Your house is on fire,' and she said, 'OK, what are we going to do?'" said Carbone. "I said, 'You're coming with me one way or another.'"

Carbone, another neighbor and first responders carried Prince to safety, but not before the father of four used an old fire extinguisher that had been kicking around in his closet for years to douse the flames.

A volunteer firefighter in Massapequa for a decade before moving to Farmingville, Carbone said his old training helped him during the rescue.

Prince was treated for smoke inhalation but escaped serious injury. The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical in nature.

Ironically, Carbone wasn't even supposed to be at home but when his jury duty finished earlier than expected, his wife told him to come home rather than meet her out for dinner.

"Thank God," said Prince's daughter Wendy Pabon. "Everything happens for a reason."

"It just brought tears to my eyes. It's so amazing that people could be like that," she said.

"He is a true hero," said Pabon.

Carbone, however, would prefer simply to be called a good neighbor.

"Just a neighbor doing the right thing when it meant the most," he said.

Starving Pup Found in Suitcase: PD

0
0

A malnourished puppy was found inside a suitcase in a Bronx housing development, and police are looking for the person who put him there. 

A passerby at the Melrose Housing Development at 700 Morris Ave. in Morrisania alerted police officers on patrol after discovering the dog in the suitcase Thursday afternoon.

The puppy is a male brown pit bull about a year old, according to police. He was immediately taken to the ASPCA where he's being treated for malnourishment. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 



Photo Credit: NYPD

Traffic Congested on I-95 South in West Haven

0
0

Interstate 95 southbound has reopened in West Haven after a crash closed down the highway Wednesday evening between exits 42 and 41.

Police have not released any details of the crash or information on injuries.

Check back for updates on this developing story.



Photo Credit: Connecticut Department of Transportation

Glastonbury Home Burglars Caught in West Hartford: Cops

0
0

Police in West Hartford nabbed two people accused of breaking into a Glastonbury home and stealing passports and jewelry, among other items.

West Hartford police said officers pulled over the suspects' car on New Britain Avenue in West Hartford around 5 p.m. Friday and noticed a bag of jewelry and drug paraphernalia inside.

They searched the car and found what appeared to be stolen passports and jewelry. Police used the information from the passports to track the case back to Glastonbury, according to police.

Glastonbury police took custody of the suspects, West Hartford police said. They have not released the suspects' names or charges.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Severed Deer Head Found on Wesleyan Campus

0
0

Public safety officials are investigating after a severed deer head was discovered in a crosswalk at Wesleyan University in Middletown, according to a spokesperson for the university.

Wesleyan spokeswoman Lauren Rubenstein said a public safety officer spotted the deer head Thursday night at a crosswalk near the Exley Science Center at 265 Church Street.

Rubenstein said public safety removed the deer head and is investigating to determine who may have put it there.

Durham Bank Robbery May Be Linked to Cromwell Case: Police

0
0

State police are searching for the man who held up a bank in Durham on Friday, and police say the case may be linked to a similar robbery in Cromwell earlier this month.

According to police, a masked man with a thick European accent walked into the Liberty Bank at 375 Main Street, pulled out a handgun and demanded money.

He got away in a gray four-door station wagon with an undisclosed amount of cash, police said.

The suspect is described as standing between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall. Police said he was wearing a black ski mask, dark-colored baseball cap, hooded sweatshirt and gloves.

State police said the case may be connected to a bank robbery in Cromwell that occurred Jan. 8. That suspect was also described as having a heavy European accent.

State police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance said the department is sharing information about the Durham incident with other agencies investigating robberies around the state.

Anyone with information is urged to call state police at 860-399-2100.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Patriots Face a Test in Seahawks' Read-Option

0
0

To beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX, the Patriots know they’ll have to contain running back Marshawn Lynch. Yet here’s the problem: If they focus too much attention on Lynch, quarterback Russell Wilson may burn them.

Wilson led all NFL quarterbacks in rushing in 2014 with 849 yards. In fact, Wilson ranked 16th in the league in rushing. And when Wilson does take off, his plays can be painful for defenses. He averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, had eight runs of more than 20 yards and scored six touchdowns.

What New England will face on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, is the Seahawks’ read-option scheme, which forces defenses to choose between focusing on Lynch or being cautious, in case Wilson pulls the ball out and sprints around the defenders crashing on Lynch.

Against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, the Seahawks’ read-option was very effective. On 17 read-option plays, Seattle’s Lynch or Wilson gained 121 yards and scored two touchdowns. Most of the time, Lynch got the ball. But late in the game, Wilson had two key carries on the read-option that resulted in 16 yards and a score.

“They execute the read-option at a very high level,” Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia told the Boston Herald this week. “It’s extremely dangerous. They do it from a number of different looks. They obviously have tremendous skill players that can handle the ball and handle that type of offense.”

The read option, however, is not unfamiliar to the Patriots, who’ve faced it many times over the past two years. In fact, coach Bill Belichick brought Tim Tebow into camp last year largely to run the offense against his defenders.

One tactic is to emply a spy -- a defender whose responsibility it is to keep his eyes on Wilson and not let him break free if he decides to fake the handoff to Lynch. That spy might be delegated by how the Seahawks line up. Defensive end Rob Ninkovich has played the role well before, as has linebacker Jamie Collins.

Last season, Ninkovich played spy against Cam Newton of the Panthers.

But whoever it is, he’ll have to stay vigilant. Even one play where he’s tricked or loses concentration -- as happened to the Packers late in Seattle’s comeback win -- could be costly.

Ninkovich has said in the past that the read-option scheme is simply “a green light to hit the quarterback.”

But Wilson is an extremely skilled, smart and patient ball handler who can also exploit overly aggressive defenders.

“You just have to be under control and know what your assignment is every time,” said Ninkovich.

 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Cubs Great Ernie Banks Dies at 83

0
0

Ernie Banks, the Chicago Cubs great who was affectionately known as "Mr. Cub" and was the face of the franchise for decades, has passed away at the age of 83. 

Banks was the first African-American to don a Cubs uniform, and it was the only one he would wear.

In a 19-year career, Banks slugged 512 home runs, drove in 1636 RBI, and perhaps more than any other player who has ever played for the franchise embodied the spirit of the club in the eyes and hearts of Cubs fans.

Even after his playing career came to an end in 1971, Banks continued to be an ambassador for the team.

He was a constant fixture at Cubs games, often singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" after the passing of Harry Caray in 1998, and he was one of the most popular figures at the annual Cubs Convention.

Banks made his MLB debut in 1952 at the age of 22 years old, and as his career went on he cemented his status as a legend. He was never better than in the 1958 and 1959 seasons. He won the MVP award in both seasons, and he set career highs in both home runs and RBI in those seasons. 

Unfortunately for Banks and the Cubs, he never made it to the postseason as a member of the team. In the 1969 season, Banks teamed up with fellow legends Ron Santo and Billy Williams and led the team to a massive lead in the standings as August ended. As September unfolded however, the Cubs faded badly, and they missed out on the postseason as the New York Mets surged and ultimately won the World Series title. 

Despite not having postseason experience on his resume, Banks was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and he never stopped being an ambassador for the game and for the team. His indomitable spirit and constant optimism were a bright spot for the Cubs through some of the team's leanest years, and despite teams coming close in 1984 and 2003, Banks' teams were the ones that fans still talk about and remember.  

"Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball," Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. "He was one of the greatest players of all time.  He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And and more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I've ever known.  Approachable, ever optimistic and kind hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie's life in the days ahead."



Photo Credit: AP

Car Hits East Hartford Home After Driver Suffers Heart Attack

0
0

A driver died Friday evening after suffering a heart attack and crashing into a house at the corner of Tolland and School streets in East Hartford, according to police.

Police said the car struck another vehicle, which sustained minor damage, then hit a front porch at 524 Tolland Street around 6:20 p.m. The house also suffered minor damage.

According to police, the driver died of the heart attack, not the crash.

The westbound side of Tolland Street was closed near the intersection of Hanmer Street while emergency crews responded to the scene.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

North Stonington Residents Report Seeing Possible Mountain Lions

0
0

More than a dozen North Stonington residents are reporting seeing animals state environmental officials have long claimed to be non-existent in Connecticut – mountain lions.

But about 15 residents in the town think otherwise and have reported seeing creatures they believe are mountain lions, according to North Stonington First Selectman Nicholas Mullane.

One sighting was about 10 weeks ago just after 8 a.m. on Route 2 between Route 184 and Interstate 95 near exit 92.

While the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has long said that there isn't a mountain lion population in the state, but in 2011 a confirmed mountain lion was killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford, according to DEEP's website. However, DNA evidence traced the animal's origin to South Dakota as opposed to being Connecticut-born.

DEEP officials could not be reached immediately for comment on the reported sightings.

Have you had any interesting wildlife sightings lately? Send your photos to shareit@nbcconnecticut.com.



Photo Credit: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Man, 29, Killed in Bethany Crash

0
0

A 29-year-old man was killed in a two-car crash on Route 69 in Bethany on Saturday morning. 

State police responded to the state road after receiving 911 calls at about 9:56 a.m. on Saturday reporting that a Range Rover and Saturn SL1 collided.

The Saturn driver, Angel Flores, 29, of New Haven, was found unresponsive and medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. An ambulance took Richlin M. Morrow, 42, the female driver of the Range Rover, to Yale-New Haven Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening back injuries.

The road was closed on the Bethany and Woodbridge line for several hours as state police investigated.

The crash remains under investigation and state police have not released details on the cause.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Possible Coastal Storm Could Bring Nor'easter

0
0

Just after a storm dropped about 2 to 7 inches in Connecticut on Saturday morning, another storm could be on the way at the beginning of the week.

Residual slush and water on the ground could freeze overnight into Sunday as temperatures drop into the 20s, possibly creating some slippery conditions. Otherwise Sunday will likely be sunny and rise to the 30s.

A possible coastal storm developing has the potential to bring a major nor'easter to Connecticut by dinner time on Monday that could last through Tuesday and end with flurries on Wednesday morning, according to NBC Connecticut First Alert Chief Meteorologist Brad Field. That could mean very significant snowfall for the state, but Field said that it's too soon to be specific about the amount of snow a storm of that nature could bring.

The possible storm could also carry cold air and winds across the state. Temperatures could drop into the teens on Tuesday.

Stay tuned with NBC Connecticut on air and online for the latest forecast updates.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Starving Pup Found in Suitcase: PD

0
0

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case of a malnourished puppy found zipped inside a suitcase in the Bronx.

The abandoned dog is a male brown pit bull about three years old, the ASPCA said Saturday in a news release about the reward. He was immediately taken to the ASPCA where he's being treated for malnourishment.

A passerby at the Melrose Housing Development at 700 Morris Ave. in Morrisania alerted police officers on patrol after discovering the dog in the suitcase Thursday afternoon.

“This dog was deprived of food and water, then discarded on a city curb as if it were garbage,” said ASPCA President Matt Bershadker. “Such callous disregard for a living creature is unconscionable, and should not go unpunished."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.



Photo Credit: NYPD

Route 8 North Reopens in Waterbury

0
0

A crash involving a tractor-trailer closed the northbound lanes of Route 8 in Waterbury on Saturday night.

The crash happened near Exit 30, but the highway is shut down between Exits 29 and 31, according to state police.

The highway reopened around 7:37 p.m. 



Photo Credit: Connecticut DOT
Viewing all 57608 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images