Six skiers were killed in an avalanche in the Italian Alps on Saturday, making it one of the deadliest to hit the area in years, Reuters reported.

The avalanche took place during the morning at more than 9,800 feet on Mount Nevoso, or “Snowy Mountain,” in South Tyrol, near the Austrian border. The skiers were climbing to the summit and were planning to ski down. the cause is still unknown.

Four of the victims were Italian citizens and the two others have yet to be identified, according to a fire department spokeswoman. An injured Austrian woman was being treated in hospital. 

Search crews were continuing to search for more bodies. 
 

Two people are dead after a serious crash in Old Lyme on Saturday night.

Officials say a car hit a railroad bridge abutment on Mile Creek Road at 10:00 p.m., killing a man and a woman.

The victims have not yet been identified.

This is a developing story. Stay with NBC Connecticut for updates. 

One person is dead after a serious crash in Chester early this morning.

Connecticut State Police were called to the intersection of Route 145 and Route 148 for a one car crash around 4 a.m.

Lifestar was called to the scene, but was cancelled shortly after.

The victim has not yet been identified.

This is a developing story. Stay with NBC Connecticut for updates.

French air accident investigators recommended Sunday that world aviation bodies draw up new rules requiring medical workers to warn authorities when a pilot's mental health could threaten public safety, after 150 people died when a Germanwings co-pilot deliberately crashed a jet into the French Alps last year.

Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had been treated for depression in the past, and the investigation found that he had consulted dozens of doctors in the weeks before the crash on March 24, 2015.

But the many doctors didn't inform authorities of concerns about his mental health, France's BEA investigation agency said. One doctor referred Lubitz to a psychiatric clinic just two weeks before the crash, it said in its report on the disaster.

"Experts found that the symptoms (he was presenting at that time) could be compatible with a psychotic episode," said Arnaud Desjardin, leader of the BEA investigation. This information "was not delivered to Germanwings."

Because Lubitz didn't inform anyone of his doctors' warnings, the BEA said, "no action could have been taken by the authorities or his employer to prevent him from flying."

Germanwings and parent company Lufthansa have strongly denied any wrongdoing in the crash, insisting that the 27-year-old was certified fit to fly.

But relatives of those killed have pointed to a string of people they say could have raised the alarm and stopped Lubitz, going back to the days when he began training as a pilot in 2008.

The BEA investigation is separate from a manslaughter investigation by French prosecutors seeking to determine eventual criminal responsibility for the crash of Flight 9525 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. The focus of its report was recommendations to avoid such accidents in the future, notably about pilot mental health issues and better screening before a pilot gets certified.

The agency found that the certification process failed to identify the risks presented by Lubitz. It said one factor leading to the crash might have been a "lack of clear guidelines in German regulations on when a threat to public safety outweighs" patient privacy.

Germany's confidentiality laws prevent sensitive personal information from being widely shared, though doctors are allowed to suspend patient privacy if they believe there is a concrete danger to the person's safety or that of others.

Desjardin described Germany's privacy rules as being especially strict, and said that doctors fear losing their jobs if they unnecessarily report a problem to authorities.

"That's why I think clearer rules are needed to preserve public security," he told reporters at a press conference in the French city of Le Bourget.

The BEA recommendations also include peer support groups and other measures to remove the stigma and fear of losing a job that many pilots face for mental health issues.

"The reluctance of pilots to declare their problems and seek medical assistance ... needs to be addressed," the BEA said.

Half an hour into the Germanwings flight, Capt. Patrick Sondenheimer handed the controls to Lubitz and went to the restroom. When he returned, Sondenheimer found the cockpit locked from the inside. Lubitz, it seems, had disabled the safety code that would have allowed the pilot to open the door.

Shortly afterward, the Airbus A320 hit the ground near the French village of Le Vernet.

Lubitz had previously been treated for depression and suicidal tendencies, and documents seized by prosecutors show he partly hid his medical history from employers.

Lubitz interrupted his Lufthansa training for several months due to psychological problems. He was allowed to return in 2009, having received the "all clear" from his doctors — though his aviation record now contained the note "SIC" meaning "specific regular examination."

Lufthansa said after the crash that it was aware of Lubitz's depressive episode, but Germanwings, which he joined in 2013, said it had no knowledge of his illness.

Ariel Revello, the 7-year-old who was abducted in Trumbull, has been found, officials said.

Trumbull police issued an Amber Alert Saturday morning when Revello was taken by his father after a violent encounter with the boy's mother.

Saturday night police confirmed that Revello had been found safe in Queens, New York. Trumbull police say Rodolfo Revello, the boy’s father called them around 5 p.m. Saturday and said he was leaving Ariel with a relative. New York authorities responded to the address and found Ariel safe and unharmed. Police are now working to reunite Ariel with his mother.

Rodolfo Revello is still at large and police intend to issue a warrant for his arrest on multiple charges. More details were not immediately available.

The alert was issued after a domestic incident early Saturday morning. At 4:30 a.m. police responded to a domestic violent complaint on Unity Road in Trumbull. The victim, Ariel's mother, was assaulted by her estranged husband, police said.

Police said the victim had a restraining order against her Revello that expires in September of this year.

Revello, 43, forced his way into the residence and at one point grabbed a knife from the kitchen. Revello was disarmed by his 17-year-old stepson, according to police.

The victim was able to escape by jumping out of her bedroom window and hiding in the yard.

Revello took several thousand dollars in cash and jewelry from the victim before taking 7-year-old Ariel Revello, police said.

According to police, Revello did have visitation rights with his son while the mother would be at work. The man has a criminal record, police said.

The estranged wife was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
 

One person is dead after a serious crash in Chester early this morning.

Connecticut State Police were called to the intersection of Route 145 and Route 148 for a one car crash around 4 a.m.

According to police, 20-year-old Paul Josiah Brock of Westbrook was unable to stop at a stop sign, and drove across Route 148 into a tree. He was trapped inside.  

Brock was extricated from the vehicle, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no additional passengers on board.

Lifestar was called to the scene, but was cancelled shortly after.

Anyone who witnesses this crash is asked to call police at (860) 399-2100.

This is a developing story. Stay with NBC Connecticut for updates.

Donald Trump leads the Republican presidential field in the March 15 primary states of Florida and Illinois, while John Kasich holds the edge in his home state of Ohio, according to three new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls.

On the Democratic side, meanwhile, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders in all three states, although she's just narrowly ahead in Illinois.

In Florida, Trump holds a 2-to-1 advantage among likely GOP voters over Marco Rubio, the state's U.S. senator, 43 percent to 22 percent. They're followed by Ted Cruz at 21 percent and John Kasich at 9 percent. 

In the Democratic race, Clinton is ahead of Sanders among likely primary voters by 27 points in Florida, 61 percent to 34 percent; by 20 points in Ohio, 58 percent to 38 percent; but by just six points in Illinois, 51 percent to 45 percent.

In the Scottish town of Dunblane, the Snowdrop carpet of white petals marks not just a new season but also the anniversary of a school shooting that led to an immediate change in gun law, NBC News reported.

Twenty years ago this Sunday, a local gun owner walked into the town's elementary school and fatally shot 16 first-graders and their teacher before killing himself.

Pictures of anguished parents running through the streets for news of their children deepened public outrage, and a crusade to tighten controls won widespread support.

The "Snowdrop Campaign," which took its name from the only spring flower in bloom at the time of the massacre, resulted in a ban on all private hand-guns.

That response contrasts with the inertia surrounding efforts to tighten gun controls in the United States, where public opinion remains much more divided on whether such changes are necessary.

It puzzles some of the Dunblane families, for whom shootings such as the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Connecticut bring back painful memories.

Donald Trump says he's "instructed my people" to explore the possibility of helping pay the legal bills for a 78-year-old man charged with assault at a Trump rally.

John Franklin McGraw was charged after he was caught on video hitting a man deputies were escorting out of a Trump campaign event last Wednesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

"He went absolutely wild punching, and frankly, when they punch, it's okay. When my people punch back because they have to out of self-defense, everybody says, 'Oh, isn't that terrible?'" Trump told Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday.

There is no indication the man who was attacked threw any punches.

While acknowledging that he does "not condone violence in any shape," Trump said he doesn't accept responsibility for the violence at his campaign events.

"They're not angry about something I'm saying. I'm just a messenger," he said.

Six people carried out attacks near three hotels in Ivory Coast on Sunday, killing at least 16 people, according to the government, NBC News reported. 

Two soldiers and four Europeans are among those who were killed. There was no evidence that any Americans were targeted or hurt, the U.S. Embassy said.

The attackers split into two groups and continued the attack for more than three hours, President Alassane Ouattara said. The attackers were killed. 

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for the assaults, according to global security firm and NBC News partner Flashpoint Intelligence.

Turkey’s health minister said 34 people were killed and 125 injured during an attack in the capital of Ankara, NBC News reported.

Thirty of the victims were declared dead at the scene. The remaining four died at hospitals, the minister said, adding that 19 of the injured remain in critical condition.

A car, believed to be laden with explosives, detonated close to a bus, according to the private NTV news channel. Several vehicles then caught fire, the station said. The area is close to government offices, including ministries.

This is the third explosion in the city in five months. It came just three weeks after a suicide car bombing in the capital that killed 29 people.

Hartford police have launched an internal investigation after a Donald Trump sticker was spotted inside a patrol car and a photo of the sticker began circulating on social media.

Deputy Chief Brian J. Foley said in an email that the HPD command staff was first made aware of the "irresponsible application" of the sticker Saturday morning and "immediately addressed" it.

Foley said the department is "embarrassed and sorry for this lack of professional judgment."

He issued the following statement on the matter:

"This political sticker situation has been addressed. The sticker, which was conspicuously affixed to the top of a HPD laptop computer within the marked patrol vehicle, has been removed. The officer was counseled on the critical importance of remaining neutral and impartial. We also reminded all HPD officers to remain politically neutral. Specific daily roll call training is being given at all shifts. The matter will now be referred for an internal investigation. I am, and we are, embarrassed and sorry for this lack of professionalism and judgment."

The department also reached out directly to many community leaders to apologize.
 

Three people were transported to the hospital after a head-on crash in Stafford Saturday night.

Connecticut State Police say they responded to a crash on River Road near the intersection of Highland Terrace around 10:51 p.m. When they arrived they found a 2004 Hyundai Elantra and a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado collided while traveling opposite directions. Police are still investigating what caused the crash.

The driver of the car, identified as Seth Lepak, 30, of Enfield, was trapped in his vehicle and had to be freed by EMS. He was airlifted to Bay State Medical Center by LifeStar with serious injuries. The driver of the truck, Shawn Mcduffee, 23, of Stafford Springs, and his passenger, Brian Mcduffee, 21, of Stafford Springs, were both transported by Stafford Ambulance to Hartford Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call Trooper Burnell #1091 of Troop C at (860) 896-3200.
 

Two Northwestern University students have been charged in connection with graffiti found at a university chapel on Saturday.

Anthony Morales, 19, and Matthew Kafker, 18, were arrested Saturday and charged with institutional vandalism, hate crime to a place of worship and criminal damage to property, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The graffiti was found Thursday night inside the Alice Millar Chapel, located at 1870 Sheridan Rd. in Evanston. Police reviewed surveillance video of the incident, according to an email statement sent to students from university president Morton Schapiro. 

“On behalf of the entire Northwestern community, I express our shock and dismay at the abhorrent act of vandalism committed last night,” Schapiro said.

The church walls and organ were covered in racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, and other offensive graffiti, the email said. The two allegedly spray-painted a swastika and lines over the photos of Muslim students.

But that wasn't all. Spray-painted penises were found around the church, along with the word “Trump” in a stairwell, the Tribune reported.

Northwestern University spokesman Bob Rowley said both students have been placed on interim suspension, which prevents them from being on campus, according to The Daily Northwestern.

“This disgusting act of hatred violates the deepest values and core commitments of our University and is an affront to us all,” Shapiro said in his statement.

Both men are being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, and according to the Cook County Sheriff's office, both have bonded out.

It was unclear whether Morales and Kafker have attorneys.

Major river flooding is expected to continue for many days, after heavy rain pounded the South, NBC News reported.

The five days of rain, which was continued into Sunday, already set records in March with as much as 2 feet in some parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. The storm is expected to aggravate flooding in major rivers, especially along the Louisiana-Texas border.

Authorities started to release large amounts of water from the Toledo Bend Reservoir, pouring more water into the Sabine River than it could handle.

Several areas are under evacuation orders, with rising waters threatening to reach heights of 35 feet in areas like Deweyville, Texas.  

Donald Trump walked back his comments about John McCain, eight months after he said the senator was not a war hero because he was a prisoner of war, NBC News reported.

Trump was asked for clarification on his comments by a veteran whose son was captured and killed in Iraq.

"You know exactly what I was doing," Trump responded. "They are heroes, just so you understand. And real heroes, okay? You know that."

Trump was speaking at an event in West Chester, Ohio, Sunday, and spent an hour talking to and taking questions from the audience.  

Bristol police are asking for the public’s help to identify a suspicious man who approached an 8-year-old Saturday.

Police say they received a report around 6 p.m. that a man in a vehicle approached the boy in the area of Martin Road and asked if he wanted a ride home. The boy, who was with his 12-year-old sister, refused and the man drove off. Neither child was harmed.

The man is described as approximately 50-60 years old, thin with white hair. He was reported to be wearing a black baseball cap and a blue and white button up shirt. The suspect’s vehicle may be a silver Chevrolet with a Connecticut plate.

Police searched the area but did not turn up any suspects. Anyone with information on this individual or vehicle is asked to call Bristol police at (860) 584-3011.
 

Poland's defense minister appeared to suggest the death of president Lech Kaczynski in a 2010 plane crash in western Russia was the result of foul play, Reuters reported.

Antoni Macierewicz did not say who he suspected, but the comments were made in a speech referring to a number of events blamed on Russia, including the violence in shared neighbor Ukraine.

They also come at a politically sensitive time, months before Poland is due to host a NATO summit where it will push for the alliance to station more troops on its eastern flank to counter the newly assertive Russia.

An inquiry into Kaczynski's death blamed pilot error. But Poland's new government has said an onboard explosion could have caused the crash.  

New Haven police are investigating after a man was shot twice on Elm Street, near a Yale University dorm, on Sunday evening.

Someone called 911 at 6:19 p.m. to report gunfire in the area of the Superior Courthouse and a second caller reported a victim was being taken to the hospital in a private vehicle.

Police responded and discovered a crime scene on Elm Street, between Wall and College streets, near Yale’s campus. The victim was identified as 23-year-old Damien Phillips. He was shot twice, in his shoulder and leg.

Witnessed reported the shooter was wearing a mask, but no further description of the shooter was released.

Police believe the shooter might have targeted the victim and said robbery does not appear to be the motive.

Police said the crime had no connection to the earlier St. Patrick’s Day parade, or to Yale.

Anyone who witnessed the shooting is asked to call detectives at (203) 946-6304.

A Plainfield man was airlifted to the hospital after a serious ATV crash Sunday evening.

Plainfield police say the crash accident occurred around 5:19 p.m. in the area of Davis Road. The victim, identified as Eric Hooper, 35, was riding his Yamaha Raptor when he lost control and the vehicle rolled over multiple times into the woods. Hooper wound up trapped under the vehicle until emergency crews arrived.

Hooper was transported out of the woods by American Legion Ambulance then airlifted by LifeStar to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

The Plainfield Police Department, Plainfield Fire Department, American Legion Ambulance and LifeStar all responded for this crash.