The U.S. Department of Transportation will review whether security and hiring standards are stringent enough to prevent similar tragedy of the Germanwings plane crash that killed 150 people.

A pilot who suffered from severe depression is believed to have locked the cockpit and deliberately steered the aircraft into the French Alps causing the crash.

The audit was requested by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat representing California, the department said in a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The audit will also examine "what steps FAA takes to evaluate the psychological health of pilots," according to the letter.

Pope Francis kicks off five days of events while visiting the United States, beginning with a formal welcome at the White House. Here's what's on tap for Wednesday in Washington, D.C.:

White House, 9 a.m.

Pope Francis is officially welcomed to the U.S. by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, one day after landing in the nation's capital.

Both Obama and Pope Francis will speak on the South Lawn of the White House in front of a crowd of about 20,000 people, before returning inside to exchange gifts, pose for official photos and discuss policy.

A papal parade along the Ellipse and a portion of the National Mall will follow close to 11 a.m. Nearly 18,000 people are expected to line the route.

St. Matthew's Cathedral, 11:30 a.m.

Francis holds midday prayer with 300 U.S. bishops at the seat of Washington, D.C.'s archbishop. The cathedral is named after Saint Matthew the Apostle, the patron saint of civil servants.

St. Matthew's has played host to Pope John Paul II, back in 1979, and it was also where dignitaries gathered to celebrate the funeral Mass for John F. Kennedy on Nov. 25, 1963.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 4:15 p.m.

Francis celebrates Mass in Spanish to declare 18th-century missionary Junipero Serra a saint. The Franciscan friar, a controversial choice, started nine missions in California and his is the first-ever canonization in the U.S.

Organizers expect more than 20,000 people to celebrate the canonization outside the Basilica, America's largest Roman Catholic cathedral.

Washington, D.C., Forecast

Mostly sunny with highs of 75°- 82°, according to Storm Team 4.

Want to Watch the Arrival?

We will cover all the day's biggest events live with livestreams on our website and in our app. Click here for full coverage of the papal visit.

If You're in Town

Check out these tips on how to get around. Still have questions? Here's what you can and can't do during Francis' visit to D.C.

In Case You Missed It

• Full Itinerary for Francis' Historic 6-Day Trip
• Pope Francis Arrives in U.S. for Historic Visit
• Pope to Canonize Franciscian Missionary Junipero Serra Despite Controversy
• What You Can and Cannot Bring to a Papal Event
• Pope Francis' 1st U.S. Popemobile Is a Fiat
• 'I Believe': Crowd Chants Soccer Song for Pope Francis Arrival
• Watch: Moments From Past Papal Visits
• Swiss Guards: What You Should Know About the Pope's Protectors

From Our Reporters

President Obama's visit to a federal prison as part of an HBO Special by VICE News is a step in his campaign to reform the country's prison system. 

If you want to stand out at your Halloween party this year, keep this list in mind.

The National Retail Federation released its predictions for the most popular Halloween costumes for 2015, and the traditional witch topped the list for the eleventh year in a row. More than 4.3 million adults plan on draping themselves in a witch disguise this year, the survey showed.

As for the little ghouls and goblins, princess costumes swept the rankings again for the eleventh year straight in children's constumes. Batman and super heroes are also predicted to be the most popular costumes for kids.

And don’t be surprised if you see a lot of pumpkins walking on four legs. Pumpkin costumes ranked number one for pets on the National Retail Federation’s survey, followed by a hot dog and Batman characters.

These will be the most donned costumes in each category, according to the report:

Top Adult Costumes for 2015

1. Witch
2. Animal
3. “Batman” Character
4. Zombie
5. “Star Wars” Character
6. Pirate
7. Vampire
8. Action/Superhero
9. Doctor/Nurse
10. Slasher Movie Character
11. (Tied) Political Figure, Vixen, or Minion

Top Children’s Costumers for 2015

1. Princess
2. “Batman” Character
3. Action/Superhero
4. Animal
5. Disney’s “Frozen” Character
6. “Star Wars” Character
7. Zombie
8. Witch
9. Pumpkin
10. Minion

Top Pet Costumes for 2015

1. Pumpkin
2. Hot Dog
3. “Batman” Character
4. Devil
5. Bumble Bee
6. Dog
7. Cat
8. “Star Wars” Character
9. Bowtie/Bandanas/Fancy Collar
10. Shark
11. Princess
12. Minion

Summer may be fresh in our minds, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to prep your house for winter, and one way to do that is with an energy audit.

Charles Houlihan and his wife Shelley did an audit. They said once their kids moved out of their 33-year-old Simsbury home, they noticed the house was feeling draftier in the winter.

"We've noticed it in some windows; we've noticed that we've burned more wood. We knew something needed to be done," said Charles Houlihan.

Enter Energize CT and its Energy Audit Program for Eversource and United Illuminated customers. For $99, homeowners can put their homes to the test.

"Where does my home stand and where are the opportunities for improvement?" posited Enoch Lenge, Eversource's energy efficiency spokesperson.

Here’s how it works: A big red fan draws air out of the house, accentuating leaks in draft-prone areas, like windows, recessed lighting and doors. Technicians also use a smoke test to check the efficiency of your HVAC unit and look for gaps around your chimney and pipes. They seal those gaps with foam, weatherstrip windows and doors, and sometimes add new lights.

Eversource says the fee covers many of these improvements, which can save homeowners around $200 per year.

"It pays itself off within six months," said Lenge.

Both new and old homes are eligible, and Eversource says right now is the time to act, not when temps are cold. The company recommends making these fixes even if you don’t do the assessment, but adds that the sophisticated testing really helps find the problems.

Eversource says that all customers subsidize these audits, paying about $25 per year in utility bills. To get the audit out on the market would run you around a $1,000, according to Eversource.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sat down with Stephen Colbert on Tuesday and said he's putting an end to the topic of President Barack Obama’s birthplace.

"I'm gonna throw you up a big fat meatball for you to hit out of the park right now ... Barack Obama, born in the United States?" Colbert asked.

"I don't talk about it anymore. I talk about jobs, I talk about our veterans being horribly treated — I just don't discuss it anymore," Trump told Colbert in response to a question while on CBS' "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Tuesday.

Trump began making the assertion that Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. in 2011. He came under fire on Thursday at a rally when he did not correct an audience member who claimed Obama is a Muslim.

Trump’s controversial speeches and rhetoric have given comics and late night talk show hosts like Colbert a lot of material.

"I want to thank you, not only for being here, I want to thank you for running for president," Colbert told Trump. "I'm not going to say this stuff writes itself, but you certainly do deliver it on time every day."

To stop measures of what she called "price gouging" by pharmaceutical companies, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton proposed a $250 monthly cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs.

Clinton rolled out the plan in Iowa as a way to encourage the use of generic drugs and to end pharmaceutical companies' ability to write off consumer-directed advertising as a business expense. 

"We need to protect hard-working Americans here at home from excessive costs. Too often these drugs cost a fortune," she said in Des Moines, adding drug companies keep the profits for themselves while "shifting the cost to families."

The presidential candidate's comments come after the news of a pharmaceutical CEO raised the price of Daraprim to $750 from $13.50. 

A new ad-cum-documentary premiered Tuesday night for about 100 people and a handful of reporters at a movie theater in the suburbs of Washington D.C. But it wasn’t a Hollywood blockbuster - instead, “Citizen Carly” is a campaign ad-cum-documentary from the pro-Carly Fiorina Super PAC, NBC News reported.

The film is an hour long and has all the makings of a true Hollywood film - high production values, a dramatic storyline. It is even narrated by James Woods, the actor who endorsed the Republican presidential candidate.

Super PAC adviser Keith Appell hopes the film will get people acquainted with Fiorina on a more “intimate level” versus what they’ve seen in debates and on the campaign trail. Producers have used family photographs, home movies and media clippings - as well as personal interviews with Fiorina, family and former coworkers.

The film’s narrative features the story of her marriage to husband Frank, her battle with breast cancer, and her rise and fall in the business world.

"That's what people need to know the most about, because her experience, her achievements, are so central to what qualify her for president," Appell said.

Fiorina has drawn criticism since her performance at the second GOP debate for her record as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, having been forced out amidst the company's growing financial struggles. Appell acknowledged that the super PAC film was aimed partly at making Fiorina's case on her business record, and will outline a number of the company’s achievements that happened under her management.

The film will premiere in theaters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The discovery of nooses hanging on a tree following a Black Lives Matter rally at the University of Delaware has sparked a police investigation.

The three nooses were found outside Mitchell Hall at the University of Delaware’s main campus in Newark, Delaware Tuesday night.

University of Delaware students held a Black Lives Matter demonstration outside Mitchell Hall Monday night around 6:15 p.m. in response to a campus speaking event featuring journalist and television commentator Katie Pavlich. A day later, the nooses were found in the same area where the demonstration took place.

Responding police officers took down the nooses and say they are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

“This is a despicable act of hatred and it’s been perpetrated by what we think are one or a few individuals. It does not define who we are at the University of Delaware. It does not reflect the values we have at the University of Delaware,” Nancy Targett, acting President of the University of Delaware, told NBC10.

University of Delaware students plan to hold another rally outside Mitchell Hall Wednesday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. as the investigation continues.

An alert was sent to University of Delaware students regarding the incident. Investigators are asking anyone who noticed anything suspicious between dusk and 10 p.m. Tuesday outside Mitchell Hall to contact police at 302-831-2222.
 

The man who rushed to rescue a family trapped in a mangled car said he heard a child screaming and knew he had to help.

"We heard tires screeching and we came out and we (saw) the car coming through with a lot of debris," recalled Jim Card, whose property in the Terryville section of Plymouth was the scene of a deadly collision Monday night. "There was a flash of gray and a lot of debris and dust... and then I heard the crash."

That crash took the lives of a 29-year-old mother, Melissa Odelius, and her 5-year-old son, George, who went by Patrick.

Card said he knew right away the woman was dead, but heard the cry of a toddler who had survived.

"I heard a little boy screaming inside, so I ran over and he was hanging upside down in the car," Card explained. "I ran in the garage, grabbed a pair of scissors, came back over. We were able to cut the seatbelts and get the little boy out."

Card said he sat in the driveway with his back to the crumpled car, holding the 3-year-old, named Thomas. His wife called 911.

"He was scared. He wanted his mommy," Card said. "I told him his mom was... he needed to stay with me; his mom was being helped."

He said the boy, who was in shock, had blood on his ear and in his hair. Paramedics arrived and fitted Thomas with a neck brace before loading him into an ambulance.

"The car seat saved his life," Card said.

The child remains at the hospital in serious but stable condition.

"I really don't want to see that ever again, what I (saw) in that car," Card said. "We're really sorry for the loss and we're going to try and pick up the pieces as best we can and move forward."

A state youth services worker is out of a job after being accused of using excessive force.

It's part of the fallout after the state's child advocate released a scathing report and videos documenting what she claims is a widespread problem.

The worker, Re'Sean Dupree, was fired last week, according to the state Department of Children and Families. The agency oversees the two facilities in question, the Connecticut Juvenile Training School for boys and the Pueblo Unit for girls, both based in Middletown.

Dupree's termination letter states he used "poor judgement" while lifting a resident off the floor, slamming him to the ground and holding him down.

The incident was not included in a series of recently released videos that purportedly show staff members forcefully restraining juveniles.

The union that represents workers at the facilities declined to talk about specific cases, but did address discipline in general.

"We're concerned that dedicated workers who are in a difficult environment at CJTS are being painted unfairly with a broad brush and that the agency has been very heavy handed focusing on discipline moments rather than teaching moments," said union spokesman Larry Dorman.

DCF Commissioner Joette Katz released a statement saying three other workers at the facilities, including two who are no longer employed by the agency, have also been disciplined for incidents dating back to 2013.

Those incidents were also not included in the recently released videos.

In the statement, Katz pointed out "the overwhelming majority of our staff are dedicated and caring as they conduct their work every day at these programs."

"They want to make a difference in the lives of troubled kids," said Dorman. "They certainly have been trained to use techniques that are designed to prevent kids from harming themselves, harming each other and harming staff."

DCF is now taking steps to reduce the use of restraint and seclusion used at the facilities, according to Katz. The agency has already banned some practices taht have been called into question, including restraining children face down.

The union says it's planning to hold a news conference next week to allow workers to voice its concerns.

Significant construction on the Interstate 95 corridor in New Haven heading into the weekend could cause traffic delays. 

Highway upgrades will be taking place Thursday to Monday in order to shift southbound traffic onto the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. It's part of the I-95 New Haven Harbor Crossing Corridor Improvement Program.

Drivers should expect possible traffic delays between exit 50, the Woodward Avenue on-ramp, and exit 46 the off-ramp to Long Wharf Drive. Exit 37 to Route 34 will close from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday. Exit 48 to I-91 north will be also closed between 9 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday and the  exit will be relocated about a mile north near Woodward Avenue. Come 6 a.m. on Monday, the new realigned exit will open onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. The Woodward Avenue on-ramp will also close between 6 p.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Monday. The exit 2 off-ramp on I-91 north to Hamilton Street will close between 9 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday. Traffic will be detoured during all ramp closures.

I-95 south will also be closed to one lane between the Woodward Avenue and Long Wharf Drive ramps between 9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. Saturday, 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday and 9 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

Construction vehicles will be moving in and out of that work zone, so any drivers in the area should be cautious. There will be signs posted alerting motorists of detours.

All construction is weather-permitting. In the event of inclement weather, the construction will be rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 1 to Monday, Oct. 5.

For more information on detours and the project, you can visit www.i95newhaven.com or follow @QBridgeProgram on Twitter for updates.

A man exposed himself to three women outside a North Haven Starbucks last week and police are trying to figure out who he is.

Police received reports just before 6:15 p.m. last Tuesday about a man exposing his genitalia to three women in the parking lot of the Starbucks on Washington Avenue, according to police.

The man was described as 50 to 55 years old, with a medium build and a “salt and pepper” crew cut.

When the three victims were getting into their cars after leaving Starbucks, the man backed his vehicle up quickly into the adjacent parking space and the victims noticed that his genitalia was exposed, police said.

When he saw one victim making a call on her cell phone, he left the parking lot and went north on Washington Avenue, police said.

The man was driving a gray 2004 Hyundai Sonata with a bike rack attached to the trunk or rear window area.

Anyone with information to help identify the man should call the Investigative Services Division of the Police Department at 203-239-1616

Route 7 is closed both ways in Ridgefield due to a rollover crash.

The crash happened near the Little Pub by Route 102.

There is no word on injuries.

Drivers can take Florida or Mountain roads as detours.

A construction worker is in "extremely critical" condition after he was hit by a falling brick at construction site Tuesday morning in Hartford, according to the fire department.

Fire officials said a brick fell from the roof of a four-story building at 390 Capitol Avenue and struck the worker on the head. He was unconscious when emergency responders arrived at the scene around 11:30 a.m.

He was taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital and is listed in "extremely critical" condition, according to fire department.

Hartford police, members of the city of Hartford Licenses and Inspections Department and officials from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration responded to the scene.

The 100-year-old building at 390 Capitol Avenue is under renovation.

State environmental officials are cautioning boaters about how they act should they encounter whales on Long Island Sound out of concern they could endanger the water mammals in light of multiple recent humpback and beluga whale sightings along the Connecticut shoreline.

Whales are protected under the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reminds boaters and whale watchers to abide by those laws.

When a boat is within 2 miles of a whale, there should be a person designated to be on the lookout and communicate with other ships by radio when approaching a whale and departing from it, NOAA said.

Within a half mile of a whale, boaters must reduce their speed 7 knots or less and avoid approaching a whale head-on within that zone, NOAA said. Boats can't travel faster than 7 knots or less when 600 feet away, NOAA said. Only one boat is allowed to approach a whale within 300 feet, but it can only stay there for 15 minutes maximum, according to NOAA.

The Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act "helps minimize chances of harassing or injuring whales and violating Federal law" and protects all large whales from Maine through Virginia with the exception of North Atlantic right whales.

NOAA asks boaters to report right whale sightings or any observations of a marine mammal in trouble to 866-755-6622.

Seen a whale on Long Island sound lately? Send your photos or videos to shareit@nbcconnecticut.com.

Honda Fit ran a red light and hit a motorcycle in Berlin on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said the driver was heading east near Home Depot, went through the intersection and hit a motorcycle that was turning left onto Deming Road.  

A flatbed truck responded to tow the motorcycle. Little additional information was available, but the pouch on the back of the bike was torn.

The damage to the car appeared to be minor and the police allowed the driver to leave the scene.

No additional information was available.
 

High pressure over New England is keeping the threat of any rain away from Connecticut through the first part of the weekend.

Thursday feature tons of sunshine with high temperatures in the upper-70s, which is above average.

While it might feel chilly in the morning, 50 degrees is the average low for this time of year and 72 degrees is the average high temperature.

Friday features high clouds mixing with sunshine, but it will be dry. Temperatures won’t be as high as previous days, with a high in the lower-70s.

The early part of the weekend also looks dry, with lots of sunshine on Saturday. High temperatures will be in the lower-70s, providing great weather to head to the fair!

An update on the rainfall deficits for 2015 shows Windsor Locks is down 5.1 inches and Bridgeport is down 6.2 inches.

The next chance of rain is during the afternoon and evening on Sunday and into Monday as a low-pressure system fights to come close to the state.

Not much rain is expected, though a shower cannot be ruled out later on Sunday. Monday will see a slightly better chance of a few showers.

Temperatures to start next week look fairly seasonable.

Tropical Storm Ida looks to maintain tropical storm strength heading into next week over the central Atlantic, but it is no threat to land.

As the Rock Cats transition to move out of the New Britain stadium they have long called home and into a new stadium in Hartford as the Yard Goats, questions remain about what will happen with the stadium and whether another team will be moving in.

New Britain's Common Council will meet on Wednesday night to discuss whether to lease the stadium to a potential tenant.

New Britain Mayor Erin E. Stewart negotiated a tentative lease that the council must approve before it can go any further. She and Atlantic League founder Frank Boulton both signed the lease on Monday to bring another team to the city.

If the council approves the lease, the Atlantic League will relocate one of its teams to New Britain in time for the next season in 2016, according to a news release from the city of New Britain.

League Executive Director, Joe Klein, who has previously served as general manager for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers, will attend the meeting to answer any questions.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 27 West Main Street in New Britain on the second floor.

Hillary Clinton is blasting Donald Trump's "ludicrous" claim that she was the first to question President Barack Obama's birthplace.

Trump tweeted the claim on Tuesday night: "Just remember, the birther movement was started by Hillary Clinton in 2008. She was all in!"

In 2008, rumors sparked that Clinton supporters were swapping email chains raising questions about Obama's heritage. 

"This is so ludicrous," Clinton told Don Lemon, who asked her about the 2008 claims.