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Students Get Rowdy at Quinnipiac After Hockey Win, 2 Arrested

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 Two people were arrested on Thursday night after Quinnipiac students got rowdy on campus after the men's hockey team won its game.

A video shows people, presumably students, on Quinnipiac's campus in Hamden celebrating the win that will lead the men's team to the national championship this Saturday. 

The video appears to show a couple of people jumping on a tree and bringing it down while a crowd cheers on. 

Hamden Police said two people were arrested as a result of this incident but did not specify what charges the two individuals face. It is not clear if they were students. 

Police said they had schedule a few extra patrols for Thursday and expect of have more after Saturday's NCAA hockey national championship game. 

Quinnipiac men's hockey held off Boston College 3-2 on Thursday night to reach the NCAA hockey championship game for the second time in four seasons.

After the game, the 'Frozen Four' Snapchat story showed students climbing on trees and running across the campus. 


Hartford Mayor Speaks After Resignation of School Administrator

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The mayor of Hartford spoke to NBC Connecticut's Troubleshooters after the resignation of a school administrator over allegations he inappropriately texted a teenager. 

School officials said Eduardo Genao, the district's executive director for compliance, was forced to resign on Tuesday.

Mayer Luke Bronin said these types of allegations will not be tolerated. 

"I am extraordinarily disappointed in anybody who worked in any capacity for the city of Hartford - especially for the Board of Education - who could be capable of undermining a child," Bronin told NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters. 

Bronin said he is still gathering details on the criminal police investigation that prompted Genao to abruptly resign. 

Last month, allegations surfaced that Genao had inappropriately texted an out-of-state 13-year-old he met in March at a Board of Education seminar at Bulkeley. 

"As soon as superintendent became aware she immediately took action to remove the person and the individual already under investigation by law enforcement," Bronin said.

The mayor said he's grateful Dr. Aaron Lewis, a local literacy and children's advocate, reached out to both school administrators and police about the allegations. Lewis said he did not get the appropriate response from the superintendent's Chief of Staff and no response from Richard Wareing, the Board of Education chairman.

"It's sad that the Board of Education-- their system is set up (so) they don't take parents seriously, teachers seriously and they don't take advocates seriously," Lewis told NBC Connecticut's Troubleshooters. 

The girl's mother told NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters that the conversations between the administrator and her daughter got out of control.

Lewis said he was contacted by the child's mother from New York. She said the text messages started innocently enough but grew to be more concerning. 

"He was asking about high school and college she said," the mother told NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters in an exclusive interview.

"We work so hard as parents to keep your children away, from even children their age exposed to things like this, much less for someone entrusted with the lives of children whose supposed to be advocating for children and this is what he’s doing. And then disgusted with board of education.”

NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters reached out to Genao and his attorney for comment. 

Hartford Police said no charges have been filed but their investigation is on-going. 

As of now, Genao is still eligible to receive his retirement after resigning from his $176,000 salaried job. 

"We have no control over his retirement,"  a district spokesman said. "He is part of the teachers retirement system, which is controlled by the teachers retirement board."

Newtown Parents Express Safety Concerns

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Some Newtown parents wonder if more should be done about safety following the arrest of a teacher who police said brought a gun to the middle school. 

On Thursday the school district held a meeting to address any concerns.

There were dozens of anxious people in the crowd and all seemed to have one question, which for now remains unanswered, why would a teacher allegedly bring a gun to the Newtown Middle School?

“The question pertaining to the why is an on-going investigation and that will play out over time,” said Dr. Joseph Erardi, Jr., Newtown Schools Superintendent.

Some at the meeting also wanted to know if more should be done about safety following the arrest of 46-year-old Jason Adams.

He’s the 8th grade science teacher who police said was caught on Wednesday with a gun in the middle school.

State law and district policy ban guns on school property.

“A gun got into the school. So that should be a wakeup call that something more needs to be done,” said Melissa Mottola of Newtown.

Some parents questioned if metal detectors were needed.

The district said that’s not a step it wants to take and it remains focused on improving safety, including sending out a reminder on Thursday about the weapons policy.

“It is my strong belief that every staff member in Newtown knows exactly what can and cannot be brought to school,” said Erardi.

By many accounts, Adams was a well-liked teacher.

At least one parent said Adams is being villainized and questioned the gun policy.

“I don’t think it serves the school system by not letting teachers have guns in school,” said Tim Snellman of Newtown.

The school district said at this point it cannot said how many times the gun allegedly had been brought to school, only that Wednesday was the first time it had been brought to the district’s attention.

Adams has been placed on administrative leave and is due in court April 20th.

NJ Man Fined for Trump Flag

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A New Jersey man who's been flying Donald Trump's campaign flag in front of his home since February could face up to a $2,000 fine or jail time when he faces a judge in the case.

Joe Hornick has been flying Trump's "Make America Great Again" flag outside his West Long Branch home on a busy corner near the Monmouth University campus for months.

But he got a ticket recently citing him for illegally posting political signage more than 30 days before an election. The New Jersey presidential primary isn't until June 7.

"I'm not a football fan, I'm not a sports fan, but I'm surely a Donald Trump fan," he told NBC 4 New York.

Hornick actually flies two Trump flags day and night, and lights them up when it gets dark. They've been ripped down five times so far.

"Let them come, let them rip those flags down because I have a warehouse on alert, and I'll put up a flag every time they tear one down," he said.

Hornick is ready to face a judge. If he loses the flag fight in court. Hornick is prepared to serve the sentence.

"I'm not taking the flag down, and if I do 90 days in jail, I'll do 90 days in jail," he said.

Hornick says he once saw Trump at a Trump casino but didn't try to greet him.

"To be honest with you, I didn't get up because I was at the blackjack table and I was actually trying to rob him," he joked.

But that was then, he says, and this is now. And if Trump loses, Hornick says he'll shred his voter registration card and never vote again.

And he'll keep flying that flag.



Photo Credit: NBC 4 NY

Threat Prompts Extra Police at Suffield High

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There will be extra police presence at Suffield High School as a precaution today after a student received a threatening message last night.

Police said they investigated, contained the situation and have arrested a suspect.

Police said there is no longer a threat or immediate danger to the school community.

NBC Connecticut has reached out to the school, but did not immediately hear back.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

18 EO Smith Crew Members Rescued From Waters in Coventry

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Emergency officials responded to West Shore Drive in Coventry for a water rescue that may involve as many as 18 people part of the E.O. Smith High School crew team, police confirm.

A student told NBC Connecticut that the wind picked up and the two boats rolled over. Some students ended in Coventry Lake. 

Some people have been transported to the hospital for evaluation. Police could not confirm the number of people or if there are any injuries. However, people at the scene told NBC Connecticut that everyone was fine. 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Adobe Issues Emergency Flash Player Security Update

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Adobe issued an emergency security update for Flash Player on Thursday after researchers discovered a security flaw that hackers have been exploiting to infect computers with ransomware, Reuters reported.

The software maker urged the more than 1 billion users of Flash on Windows, Mac, Chrome and Linux computers to update the product as quickly as possible. Security researchers said the bug was being leveraged to deliver ransomware in "drive-by" attacks that infect PCs with ransomware when tainted websites are visited.

Ransomware encrypts data, locking up computers, then demands payments that often range from $200 to $600 to unlock each infected PC. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Turkey Hits Driver in Head on I-84 East in Tolland


3 Saved From Uninhabited Island in Pacific

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Three men who were stranded on an uninhabited Pacific island were rescued on Thursday after a U.S Navy aircraft spotted the word "help" spelled using palm fronds on a beach, NBC News reported. 

"They had the word 'help' spelled out and were waving their lifejackets," U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Michael McCandless told NBC News.

The three mariners were trying to make a late-morning flight on the island of Chuuk after setting out in a 19-foot skiff early Monday. The Coast Guard was notified when they did not make their flight. 

Their names had yet to be released by the Micronesian authorities early Friday.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/Tetra images RF

Arrest in Texas Student's Slaying

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A homeless 17-year-old has been arrested and will be charged with murder in the slaying of 18-year-old University of Texas freshman Haruka Weiser, Austin police say.

Police detained Meechaiel Khalil Criner Thursday on a tampering charge after receiving tips from an unidentified female and the Austin Fire Department that Criner, who they say started a trash fire in an abandoned building early Monday, matched the description released Thursday of a person of interest in the case, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said Friday morning.

Criner has been booked into the Travis County Jail and will be formally charged with murder, a first-degree felony, on Friday afternoon, Acevedo said. He has been ordered to be held on $1 million bond.

Criner has no known connection to the university and police "don't have a clue what the motive is."

"We are very certain that the subject we have in custody... is responsible for the death of this beautiful young woman," Acevedo said Friday.

Weiser, of Portland, Oregon, was a "beloved" first-year dance and theater student, according to school officials. She was reported missing by her roommates Monday morning after she didn't return home Sunday.

Her body was found near Waller Creek Tuesday near the football stadium.

UT President Gregory L. Fenves said Weiser was "liked and admired by her classmates and respected by professors for her intelligence and spirit."

The Travis County medical examiner ruled Weiser's death a homicide, but Austin police have not revealed details of the attack, citing an ongoing investigation. An arrest warrant affidavit released Friday afternoon said there was obvious trauma to Weiser's body and that swabs of suspected biological matter found at the scene was secured for future analysis. Additionally, Weiser's possessions, including a laptop and her shoes, were missing.

Austin police released surveillance video Thursday afternoon showing a person of interest in the case in the area several times between 9:20 p.m. and midnight.

The arrest warrant affidavit said at 9:38 p.m. the person can be seen in the area watching a woman walking toward the alumni center while looking at her phone. As she passed the suspect, police said he put the kickstand down on the bike and pulled what appeared to be a shiny rigid object from his back pocket. He then followed the woman across the bridge and onto the sidewalk that extends behind the alumni center and along the west bank of Waller Creek.

In a later clip, the affidavit said the suspect was seen walking with a slight limp and was carrying a bag that was not seen in the video before.

The footage was shared publicly Thursday and members of the Austin Fire Department and a female community member told police the man looked like a homeless teen who started a trash fire Monday morning. They said police had transferred the teen to a homeless shelter and the woman's bike he was riding was held for safe keeping by the fire department.

Investigators returned to the scene of the fire and found what appeared to be partially burned belongings, including a shoe, that may have belonged to Weiser.

Police said Thursday the person of interest was riding a pink or purple women's bike. Criner was also in possession of a small blue duffel bag believed to be Weiser's, police said, as well as some of her property including a laptop affixed with a Portland sticker.

Police expect to file additional charges against Criner as the investigation continues, according to Acevedo.

"Whoever she [Haruka] touched, it was a blessing, and I’m just glad and thankful that we’re going to bring justice to that family and that we’re going to restore the sense of safety that this campus and this community has always enjoyed," Acevedo said.

Acevedo said Weiser's mother asked him for a favor Friday morning — to thank those who worked on the investigation into her daughter's death — and to "also please tell them to take care of themselves. And go home and hug your children, not once, but twice."

According to Acevedo, Austin is the second-safest large city in the U.S. and — prior to Weiser's death — the campus had not seen a homicide since Charles Whitman killed 16 people while shooting from the UT Tower in 1966. Nonetheless, Acevedo and UT Police Chief David Carter urged students to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings.

"We believe this is a safe campus however this tragedy has us redoubling our efforts," said Carter, adding that police have stepped up patrols in the wake of Weiser's slaying. "We need to address threats wherever they might be found."

Fenves, the university president, said UT "will continue to stand with the family" of Weiser and seeks to "make her death an occasion to look at the safety of this community and others, and to find some meaning behind an otherwise meaningless and senseless death."

A $15,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest. It's not clear if the reward has been granted.

Meechaiel Khalil Criner Arrest Warrant Affidavit

NBC's Ari Mason contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News Austin Police Department
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Date Rape Drug, Meth Found During Traffic Stop on I-84

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State police have seized a date rape drug, methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia after serving a search warrant on a vehicle they seized after a traffic stop on March 3. 

State troopers said they stopped the black SUV at 3:20 p.m. on Interstate 84 East because it was not in its lane. 

A trooper saw the driver get off the highway at exit 71 Willington and said it did not stop at the stop sign, so they stopped traffic it. 

Police identified the driver as Rhiannon Welch, 38, of Brunswick, Maine, and the passenger as Wesley St. Pierre, 34, of Kittery Point. 

Welch allowed troopers to search the SUV and they found drug paraphernalia and marijuana in the vehicle, as well as a large amount of suspected methamphetamine, police said. 

State Police K-9 "Captain" and his handler TFC Stankosky arrived at the scene, conducted a search and found around $2,200 in luggage suspected to be profits from narcotic sales. 

Police said they also found half an ounce of suspected methamphetamine in the vehicle, along with prescription medication, marijuana, paraphernalia and packaging materials. 

Police also found a locked safe in the vehicle and will be applying for a search warrant to open it. 

During processing, police found St. Pierre with a credit card that did not belong to him, police said. 

Both were held on $200,000 bonds and are due in Rockville District Court on March 7. 

St. Pierre was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit possession with Intent to sell, possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana, failure to keep prescription in proper container, possession of drug paraphernalia and identity theft. 

Welch was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit possession with Intent to sell and possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana. 

Police said they seized 1.25 ounces of methamphetamine, 15 vials of suspected GHB, which is a date rape drug; approximately one half liter of additional GHB; narcotics packaging material/narcotics paraphernalia and $100 in cash. 

Police said the Rockville States Attorney was made aware of the findings and additional charges will be added. 



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Reckless Romantic Airlifted From Morro Rock

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His girlfriend said "yes," but the California Highway Patrol said "no" to a rock climber whose romantic gesture turned into an emergency rescue operation.

Michael Banks, of Fresno, was rescued Thursday morning by a CHP helicopter crew during a romantic, but reckless, marriage proposal on Morro Rock — a nearly 600-foot rock just off Morro Bay Harbor on the Central California coast. Banks was airlifted from the steep rock after a witness heard his calls for help from about 90 feet above the ocean.

It was a picturesque setting for the marriage proposal, which Banks apparently planned to do by connecting with his girlfriend using FaceTime, but it is illegal to climb Morro Rock.

"It kills people," Morro Bay Fire Chief Steve Knuckles told NBC affiliate KSBY. "I have been on at least four calls where people have died on the rock."

Banks was not injured.

Knuckles said Friday that Banks went back to Morro Rock hours after he was plucked from a ledge by a helicopter. San Luis Obispo County jail records indicate he was arrested on suspicion of drug possession and being under the influence.

It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. 

Banks will likely face a fine and pay for the cost of the rescue, Knuckles said. Several agencies responded, including CalFire, Harbor Patrol, the Coast Guard and CHP.

Banks reportedly told rescuers his girlfriends said "yes" to his love-on-the-rock proposal.



Photo Credit: Morro Bay Fire Department

Sitter Stalks 4-Year-Old: Police

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Police arrested a Long Island woman for allegedly stalking a 4-year-old boy whom she used to baby-sit.

Casey Evans, 29, baby-sat the Sayville boy from August to November of last year, but was fired by his parents, authorities said.

Months later, on March 30, she tried to sign the boy out of school without his parents' permission, according to police. 

Later that day, she entered the family’s home illegally to leave a gift for the child, police said.

Evans was arrested over the weekend on stalking and trespassing charges. She was arraigned in Central Islip on Sunday.

Evans is represented by Legal Aid, which does not comment on cases.



Photo Credit: Suffolk Police Department

Candidates and Climate: Where Presidential Hopefuls Stand

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In the heat of the presidential race, climate change has mostly received a cold shoulder from candidates. 

While as much as 70 percent of Americans believe climate change is real and that humans are contributing to it, according to a Monmouth University poll from January, the issue of global warming has rarely come up in stump speeches or during debates, especially on the Republican side. 

NBC has reached out to all the campaigns for information on their positions but has not heard back. The candidates, however, have outlined their positions in interviews and town hall events. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have listed their plans for tackling the crisis on campaign websites. 

Clinton and Sanders have pledged to continue President Obama’s climate agenda if elected to office, but the Republican candidates are far from on board. 

Here’s a rundown of what each presidential candidate thinks of climate change:

Bernie Sanders

Sanders is one of the most vocal of all presidential candidates on climate change. On his campaign site, the senior Vermont senator outlines a complete policy platform on reducing carbon emissions, decreasing fossil fuel subsidies and revamping environmental policies regarding public health.

He frequently discusses “big oil companies” on the campaign trail and argues their profits are costing the public.

During a February rally in Minnesota, Sanders discussed how, unlike his Republican counterparts, he will “not reject science.”

“Climate change is real, climate change is caused by human activity, and climate change is already doing devastating harm in our country and all over the world,” Sanders said.

In an interview with the LA Times' editorial board, Sanders reiterated his comprehensive policy on global warming.  

"It is absolutely an international crisis, and the United States can’t do it alone," he said. "But we can lead the world by example and by influence. I happen to believe, I was asked in one debate, what’s the major foreign policy crisis that we face — is it North Korea? And I said, climate change... We have got to be extremely aggressive in transforming our energy system away from fossil fuel. I have comprehensive legislation that does that. It is the most comprehensive anti-climate change legislation in the history of the United States Senate. It calls for, among other things, a tax on carbon."

Hillary Clinton

Clinton also uses her campaign website to outline her environmental policy. Her goals include increasing the use of solar panels in the United States and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

At the Univision Democratic Presidential Debate, Clinton emphasized the importance of action and preventive measures on global warming.

“We do have to invest in resilience and mitigation while we are trying to make up for the fact that this is clearly man-made and man-aggregated,” she said.

At a rally in Iowa, Clinton responded to the views of her Republican counterparts — who are skeptical of the science behind climate change — urging them to "go talk to a scientist." She also noted her view that implementing environmental plans for renewable energy would benefit the economy.

"There are millions of new jobs and businesses in moving from fossil fuels to clean renewable energy," she said. 

Clinton supports Obama’s efforts to strengthen environmental regulation and sees it essential for Americans to recognize the severity of climate change, according to MSNBC.

“We have to actually convince more Americans that this is in their interest,” she said to Annie Karni of Politico. “You know, whatever it takes. I happen to think it’s a real threat. I think the science is pretty clear.”

Donald Trump

The GOP front-runner has been asked questions on global warming in various interviews, but does not include climate change on his campaign's list of positions.

In tweets between 2012 and early 2015, he called climate change a “con job,” a “canard,” a “hoax,” “bulls---,” and a concept “created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive," according to MSNBC. 

Once he announced his candidacy, Trump somewhat softened his language. In September, he told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” in a phone interview that global warming may exist, but is not the biggest issue the U.S. faces.

“I consider climate change to be not one of our big problems,” Trump said at the time. 

In another “Morning Joe” appearance in November 2015, Trump reiterated his view, but also noted the importance of protecting the environment.

“I want to make sure we have clean air and we have clean water,” he said. “That’s what my thing on climate change is. We want to have clean air to breathe and we want to have beautiful clean water. That’s very important to me.”

Most recently, however, in an interview with the Washington Post editorial board, Trump was asked point-blank whether he believed climate change existed. 

"I think there’s a change in weather. I am not a great believer in man-made climate change," he answered in March. "I’m not a great believer. There is certainly a change in weather that goes — if you look, they had global cooling in the 1920s and now they have global warming, although now they don’t know if they have global warming. They call it all sorts of different things; now they’re using 'extreme weather' I guess more than any other phrase. I am not — I know it hurts me with this room, and I know it’s probably a killer with this room — but I am not a believer. Perhaps there’s a minor effect, but I’m not a big believer in man-made climate change."

Ted Cruz

Texas Sen. Cruz has been consistently at odds with widely accepted beliefs that global warming is real. A committee member of the Senate Science Subcommittee, the GOP candidate held a climate science hearing in December to discuss global warming with experts. In his opening statement, the senator said there is strong data and evidence that indicates global warming is not as bad as what “global alarmists” say it is.

“Facts matter, science matters, data matters,” Cruz said. “According to the satellite data, there has been no significant global warming for the past 18 years. The global warming alarmists don’t like these data.”

At a New Hampshire speech in January, Cruz expressed his skepticism again, saying, “Climate change is the perfect pseudo-scientific theory, because it can never ever be disproven.”

Cruz is the only candidate who considers himself a full-fledged skeptic, believing that data showing proof of climate change and global warming is in fact false. Cruz recognizes it’s good to be environmentally friendly but believes change should come from the private sector, not the government.

John Kasich

According to public statements he's made, Ohio Gov. John Kasich believes humans do play a role in the changing climate. But he is against certain environmental policy changes, like alternative energy sources that may cost more or replace coal-based jobs.

At the CNN GOP debate in March, Kasich was asked about his views on environmental policy and climate change. He said it is important to use and develop efficient forms of energy, like wind and solar, but at the same time maintain jobs.

“We want all the sources of energy,” he said. “We want to dig coal but we want to clean it when we burn it.”

At an Iowa town hall in October, Kasich affirmed his view that climate change does exist. But, like Trump, Kasich said he does not see global warming as priority.

“I just don’t know enough about it,” Kasich said. “I don’t know what’s scientifically proven. I think there are things we can do to protect the environment. We should. But we shouldn’t worship the environment.”



Photo Credit: AP and Getty Images
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Man Stole Equipment from DPW Garage in West Haven: Police

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Police have arrested a Stratford man who is accused of stealing thousands of dollars of equipment from a garage used by the landscaping company he worked for and West Haven’s Public Works Department.

Police started investigating in November and said around $7,410 worth of power equipment was stolen and pawned at various pawn shops, including power washers, snow blowers, backpack blowers, trimmers and other items.

John Fabrizi, 24, of Stratford, has been charged with third-degree larceny after a lengthy investigation that started in November 2015.

Police said he worked for a landscape company that shared an open area storage garage with The City Of West Haven Public Works.



Photo Credit: West Haven Police

Police Investigate Car Break-Ins in South Windsor

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Police are investigating several thefts from unlocked cars overnight in South Windsor. 

Police said the break-ins happened in the areas of Benedict Drive and Sunnyside Drive. 

The burglary stole at least one purse and other small items. 

Police are recommending that people lock their vehicles every time they leave them and take valuable items, such as phones, laptops, wallets and purses, with you. 

The also recommend leaving porch lights and driveway lamps on overnight deters thieves. 

Anyone with information should call the South Windsor Police immediately at 860-644-2551.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

'Jews vs. Nazis' Drinking Game

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School officials in Princeton, New Jersey, are meeting with high school students and their parents after images of teens playing a version of beer pong apparently named "Jews vs. Nazis" surfaced online.

A photo began circulating on social networks Wednesday night showing the teens pouring what appears to be light beer into plastic cups arranged in the form of a swastika and the Star of David.

Rules of the drinking game, according to the blog Planet Princeton, apparently included a member of the "Jewish" team being able to hide a cup from play, — called an "Anne Frank" — and a "Nazi" being allowed to force an opponent to sit out — called "Auschwitz," the name of the Nazi concentration camp built in Poland during World War II.

Princeton Schools Superintendent Steve Cochrane said in a statement to NBC10 he's deeply upset by the anti-Semitic overtones and underage drinking.

"An incident such as this one, forces us to take a hard look at our efforts in educating our children in the values that may be most important to their success in life," the statement read, in part.

Cochrane said these issues are not new in any school district and that school staff is talking with the students involved in the game and their parents.

"I am hopeful that as school district we can join with parents, with other agencies in our community, and with students themselves to elevate our efforts to prepare our children to be people of character," Cochrane said.



Photo Credit: Planet Princeton

Middletown Police Seize SUV in Connection to Hit-and-Run Investigation

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Police are continuing to investigate the hit-and-run that killed a 61-year-old Middletown grandmother who was putting a letter into her mailbox on March 31 and said they have not confirmed nor ruled out whether a vehicle they have in custody was involved.

A vehicle struck Barbara Eddinger, 61, on Chamberlain Road around 2:15 p.m. that day and Lifestar flew her to a hospital, where she later died.

Witnesses described the vehicle that struck Eddinger as a late-model midsize two-tone SUV that was driving on the wrong side of the road. 

On Friday, police said they have a dark blue SUV in their custody and called it a vehicle of interest, but have not confirmed nor ruled out whether it was involved in the crash.

The owner of the vehicle has cooperated with officers during the investigation, police said.

"Because we have not confirmed what vehicle was involved in the accident or who the operator was, we are still asking for the public to come forward with any and all information. No matter how small the detail is, we will follow the lead," a statement from police says. 

Investigators are asking anyone who sees any dark SUV with front-end damage or has information on the crash to call police at 860-638-4000.

State Rolls Out Program to Improve Child Welfare Services

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The state Department of Children and Families is launching a new program aimed at improving child welfare services in Connecticut and they will be announcing what it entails today.

The announcement comes during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

It also comes just days after two Children and Families program managers were fired, accused of “egregious misconduct,” after leaving two Willimantic children in the care of a couple who are on sex-offender and child-abuse registries. 

State officials said they will implement “the nation's most comprehensive plan to improve child welfare assessments and services to meet the special needs and vulnerabilities of very young children.”

It will include improvements to the state's child abuse and neglect prevention activities, public education efforts and enhanced use of data to identify and help the most at-risk families and children.

"Challenging problems often require simple, elegant strategies to achieve solutions, and that’s why we believe so strongly in collaboration and partnerships. We all have the responsibility to make our families stronger and more capable of caring for their children,” Malloy said in a statement.

Part of the plan includes am “Early Childhood Practice Guide” to help social workers develop specialized assessments and services targeted to the "heightened vulnerabilities of these very young children."

Another part of the plan is to educate parents to maintain a safe sleep environment.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dump Truck Stuck at Bridge Closed Route 2 West in Marlborough

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The back of a dump truck was caught under a bridge on Route 2 West in Marlborough at 5:55 a.m. on Friday and the road was closed this morning.

The incident was just before exit 13, at the Johnson Road overpass and police said it was because of excess height of the vehicle. 

The accident report says the truck belongs to a waste paper company.

The driver was brought to Marlborough Clinic as a precaution and the truck has been towed from the scene. 



Photo Credit: Marlborough Volunteer Fire Department
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