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Man Stole from Tip Jar, Threatened to Kill Cashier: Police

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Police have arrested a man accused of stealing money from a tip jar at a Westport bakery and threatening to kill the cashier. 

Police responded to SoNo Baking Company on Church Lane around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday to investigate. 

They said 55-year-old Dave Phillips threatened to kill the female cashier, stole money out of the tip jar and fled on a bicycle. 

Police found a man matching the description at Gillespie Center on Jesup Road and Phillips said he used the money he stole to buy cigarettes, police said. 

Phillips was charged with threatening, disorderly conduct and sixth-degree larceny. 

He was taken into custody, held on a $2,500 bond and is due in court on Aug. 12.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Man Placed Personal Ad for Woman Severed Contact With Him

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A Portland man is accused of posting a personal ad on Craigslist for a Glastonbury woman who had severed contact with him.

The victim contacted police on July 24 when she started receiving several calls in response to a personal ad she didn’t place.

Police investigated and identified Christopher Terrio, 27, of Portland, as the person who placed the ad. They said the victim had recently decided to have no further contact with him.

Terrio was charged with second-degree breach of peace and was issued a summons to appear in court on Aug. 10.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Fla. Zika Cases Rise

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Fourteen people are now believed to have contracted Zika through mosquito bites in the U.S., and government health officials are warning pregnant women to avoid travel to a part of Miami stricken by the virus.

In an alert issued Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged expectant mothers who frequent the area to get tested for Zika. Officials also said men and women who have recently visited the Wynwood arts district should wait eight weeks before trying to conceive a child. 

The CDC also issued the same recommendations for anyone who traveled or lived in the area where those have been affected since June 15th, the earliest known date that one of the people could have gotten the disease.

Gov. Rick Scott asked Monday for a federal emergency response team to help the state combat the spread of the virus in the U.S.

Senator Marco Rubio urged Congress to return to Washington to approve Zika funding.

A 60-year-old Miami man says he has tested positive for the Zika virus after health officials came to his house a few days ago and collected a urine sample.

Rosemary LeBranch told The Associated Press on Monday that health officials took samples from her as well as her mother and father, Gabriel Jean, who tested positive.

She says her father has spoken with a doctor and was advised to wear long shirts and pants when he goes outside. The doctor warned him that he wouldn't feel well, but LeBranch said he doesn't have a fever or feel any pain.

Officials announced four cases on Friday, believed to be first people to contract the virus from mosquitoes within the 50 states. Ten more cases were announced Monday. The CDC's emergency response team will help Florida officials in their investigation, sample collection and mosquito control efforts. The White House said the CDC team would be deployed to Florida "in short order." 

Dr. Thomas Frieden, the director of the CDC, said that the travel alert was issued because more cases have been diagnosed and because mosquito control efforts had not worked as well as hoped. Although the CDC has recommended pregnant women not travel to Puerto Rico, Frieden knew of no similar advisories in recent years for the continental United States.

The type of mosquito that spreads the Zika virus, Aedes aegypti, is a difficult mosquito to control, Frieden said. It might also have developed a resistant to the types of insecticides being used in Florida and might be breeding in small amounts of standing water that have not been discovered.

"Nothing that we've seen indicates widespread transmission but it's certainly possible that there could be sustained transmission in small areas," he said.

Frieden said that although health officials now know that Zika can cause microcephaly, they do not know what effects it might have on children born to mothers who do not have obvious symptoms.

He denied that the CDC limited the travel warning to a small area at the request of Florida, trying to protect its tourism industry. The mosquitos do not travel more than 150 meters in their lifetime, he said.

"So there wouldn't be a technical or scientific basis to give a broader recommendation," he said.

But he said health officials would evaluate the data every day and make changes if needed. 

Zika is such a mild disease that most who get it don't even know they've been infected, but it can lead to severe brain-related birth defects if women are infected during pregnancy. The disease has swept through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months. 

Florida health officials said they've tested more than 200 people in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties after reports of local transmissions of the virus in early July. Of the 14 people infected, two are women and 12 are men. 

"We will continue to keep our residents and visitors safe utilizing constant surveillance and aggressive strategies, such as increased mosquito spraying, that have allowed our state to fight similar viruses," Scott said in a statement. 

The Florida infections are thought to have occurred in a small area just north of downtown Miami, in the Wynwood arts district. The travel warning covers an area of about one square mile in Wynwood to the east of Interstate 95 and south of Interstate 195. 

U.S. health officials do not expect widespread outbreaks of the sort seen in Brazil and in Latin America and the Caribbean, in part because of better sanitation, better mosquito control and wider use of window screens and air conditioners. 

The area, known for murals spray-painted across warehouses, art galleries, restaurants and boutiques, is rapidly gentrifying and has a number of construction sites where standing water can collect and serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

Many walking the streets recently were unaware the virus had spread and confused about how the disease is transmitted. 

Jordan Davison and Melissa Felix work for a cruise line and were enjoying their day off Monday looking at the murals in the neighborhood. 

"It's not like a big thing right?" said 25-year-old Davidson. "It's kind of freaky — there's so much going on we didn't know, didn't really think about it ... I might wear bug spray going forward." 

More than 1,650 cases of Zika have been reported in U.S. states that were linked either with travel or having sex with a returned traveler, another way the virus can spread. 

Bakery owner Mariana Cortez isn't worried that Zika is going to keep locals and tourists from eating her delicious desserts. 

"Mosquitoes are not enough of a reason to not come pick up your cake ... I don't think my business is going to be effected by Zika." 

On Friday, Florida agricultural officials immediately announced more aggressive mosquito-control efforts, and Florida politicians rushed to assure tourists it's still safe to visit the state.

On Feb. 12, Gov. Scott directed the state surgeon general to activate a Zika Virus Information Hotline for current Florida residents and visitors, as well as anyone planning on traveling to Florida in the near future. The number for the Zika Virus Information Hotline is 1-855-622-6735.

Driver Pulled from Truck After Crash on I-84 in Tolland

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The driver of a box truck was trapped in the vehicle after a crash on Interstate 84 East in Tolland and sustained serious injuries, according to police. 

The box truck and a tractor-trailer collided just after 4 a.m., between exits 67 and 68, and two lanes of I-84 East were closed until just before 6 a.m.

The driver of the box truck was trapped and first responders pulled the unidentified person from the vehicle. An ambulance responded and transported the driver to the hospital.

All lanes of the highway reopened just before 6 a.m. and the crash is under investigation.



Photo Credit: @TollandAlert

Route 7 North Reopens in Brookfield

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A vehicle went down an embankment off Route 7 North in Brookfield on Monday morning and injuries are reported.

The road was closed at exit 11, according to state police, but the road has reopened.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Man Charged in Hamden Car Break-In

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Hamden police have arrested a local man who is accused of breaking into a parked car. 

Police responded to Helen Street around 5:30 a.m. on Friday to investigate the report of a suspicious person and learned that someone had broken into a vehicle. 

Moments later, Officer Timothy McKeon found 26-year-old Jeffrey Payne Jr., of Hamden, near Fourth Street and arrested him. 

Payne was charged with third-degree burglary and sixth-degree criminal attempt to commit larceny.



Photo Credit: Hamden Police

Honda Accord, Civic Top List of 2015's Most-Stolen Cars

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The Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Ford pickup truck were stolen most often in 2015, according to law enforcement data compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The NICB on Monday released its annual "Hot Wheels" report, which ranks the most-stolen cars by make, model and year.

The Honda Accord tops the list, with 52,244 cars reported stolen during the 2015 calendar year. Following the Accord is the Honda Civic, with 49,430 vehicles reported stolen nationwide, and the full-size Ford pickup, with 29,396 reported thefts, according to the NICB.

The 10 vehicles stolen most often around the country last year are as follows, according to the report:

  1. Honda Accord (1996)
  2. Honda Civic (1998)
  3. Ford pickup, full size (2006)
  4. Chevrolet pickup, full size (2004)
  5. Toyota Camry (2014)
  6. Dodge pickup, full size (2001)
  7. Toyota Corolla (2014)
  8. Nissan Altima (2015)
  9. Dodge Caravan (2002)
  10. Chevrolet Impala (2008)

The report also ranks the 2015 models that were stolen most often:

  1. Nissan Altima
  2. Chrysler 200
  3. Toyota Camry
  4. Toyota Corolla
  5. GMC Sierra
  6. Dodge Charger
  7. Hyundai Sonata
  8. Chevrolet Malibu
  9. Chevrolet Impala
  10. Chevrolet Cruze
  11. Nissan Versa
  12. Ford Fusion
  13. Hyundai Elantra
  14. Chevrolet Camaro
  15. Kia Optima
  16. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
  17. Honda Civic
  18. Ford Transit
  19. Nissan Sentra
  20. Chevrolet Silverado
  21. Dodge Dart
  22. Honda Accord
  23. Ford Focus
  24. Ford Mustang
  25. Chevrolet Tahoe

A breakout report details state-by-state thefts, with Ford and Chevy pickup trucks, Honda Civics, Accords and Dodge Caravans topping many states' lists.

NCIB chief Joe Wehrle noted the report does not account for cars that were stolen using "sophisticated criminal methods" such as VIN switching and are therefore classified as financial crimes.

He urged drivers to minimize crimes of opportunity by locking cars and removing valuables. Thefts can also be thwarted by outfitting vehicles with warning, immobilizing or tracking devices. 



Photo Credit: AP - File

NY FBI Employee Accused of Being Chinese Agent

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An electronics technician working in the FBI’s New York City office since 1997 has been charged with making false statements to the FBI regarding contacts with Chinese foreign nationals, prosecutors say.

Kun Shan Chun (also known as Joey Chun) is named in a four-count complaint issued in March and unsealed Monday in federal court in Manhattan. He pleaded guilty to the complaint, which charges him with four counts of making false statements related to his foreign contacts. 

Chun's public defender said his client was ready to acknowledge what he had done.

“Today Joey Chun accepted responsibility for some mistakes in judgment that he deeply regrets. The truth is that Mr. Chun loves the United States and never intended to cause it any harm. He hopes to put this matter behind him and move forward with his life," Jonathan Marvinny said in a statement. 

Chun, age 47 and a naturalized U.S. citizen, held a Top Secret security clearance in his role as an FBI electronics technician, allowing him to access sensitive and classified information, court papers say.

Since 2006, Chun and some of his relatives maintained relationships with several Chinese nationals who purported to be affiliated with a Chinese company, according to court documents. 

Chun was asked to perform research and other tasks in the United States in return for financial benefits, including paid foreign travel, and was in contact with an individual he understood to be affiliated with the Chinese government, court papers say. In March 2013, Chun downloaded an FBI organizational chart from his FBI computer and took it to a Chinese official in China, court papers say. Less than two years later, he took photos of documents that summarized sensitive details regarding FBI surveillance technologies and did the same. 

Chun allegedly made a series of false statements to the FBI regarding his contacts with the Chinese nationals.

FBI policy requires employees to report contacts with foreign nationals and agents of foreign powers.

"Americans who act as unauthorized foreign agents commit a federal offense that betrays our nation and threatens our security,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. "And when the perpetrator is an FBI employee, like Kun Shan Chun, the threat is all the more serious and the betrayal all the more duplicitous." 

Chun faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in December.


Girl, 1, to Get Life-Saving Surgery

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A 1-year-old Queens girl born with a giant life-threatening tumor on her face will undergo surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital this week to remove the huge mass, which, if left untreated, could cause the child to suffocate. 

Sandy Diaz, of Corona, has a lymphatic malformation, an accumulation of defective lymph vessels and lymph fluids, enveloping her right cheek and chin. If not treated, the malformations continue to grow. 

In the case of Diaz, who is already fed through tubes because she can't eat through her mouth and has a tracheostomy to help her breathe, the tumor could eventually completely shut off her airway. 

Doctors first noticed the mass on a sonogram when Diaz's mother, Maricella, was five months pregnant. They determined the tumor was non-cancerous but advised Maricella Diaz to terminate the pregnancy. Maricella Diaz, who has four other children, decided to keep the baby. 

Sandy Diaz was born on June 17, 2015, and when she was just 19 days old, the doctors tried to treat the growing mass by administering special medication through tubes. They tried this three times, but it made the problem worse, according to Lenox Hill Hospital. 

While the doctors wanted to try the treatment once more, Maricella Diaz refused. She took her daughter to see Dr. Milton Waner, a world-renowned expert in the treatment of pediatric facial malformations, when the child was 4 months old. After examining the little girl, Waner determined that surgery to remove the entire mass would be the optimal treatment, but he wanted to wait until she was a bit older to perform the procedure. 

Waner, whose Vascular Birthmark Institute now operates out of Lenox Hill Hospital, will perform the life-saving surgery on Sandy Diaz Wednesday. A special computer program that maps facial nerves will be used to minimize the chance of facial paralysis, the hospital said. 

According to the hospital, the procedure will allow Sandy Diaz to live a normal life. 



Photo Credit: Handout

East Main Street in Torrington Open, Shelter in Place Lifted

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A man was held up in a Torrington building on Monday, prompting a shelter in place, as police responded.

A despondent man refused to leave the building located at 224 East Main Street when police responded to the scene at 10:46 a.m., Torrington Police said. 

The man told police he was having a "difficult time" and did not want to come out, police said. 

Crisis negotiators were able to convince the man to come out at 2 p.m., after 2 hours of talking, before he was transported to a hospital for evaluation, according to police. 

The situation is over and police said it was resolved without incident. East Main Street has reopened. 

Police said the incident is still under investigation. 

3-Year-Old Transported to Hospital After Near Drowning

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A 3-year-old was flown to Connecticut Children's Medical Center after an incident at a pool in Ashford that was reported as a near drowning, according to state police. 

Emergency crews were called to Campert Lane at 12:43 p.m., police said. 

The child was alert and conscious when emergency crews arrived, but LifeStar medical transport helicopter service brought the child to the hospital as a precaution. 

Teacher Deflates Student’s Tires After Finding Car in Spot

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A teacher at Pomeraug High School in Southbury has been charged with reckless endangerment after letting the air out of the tires on a student’s car when he found the vehicle in his parking space, according to state police.

Police said they responded to the high school on June 2 after receiving reports that Edward Kimble, 52, of Newtown, let the air out of the front tires of a student’s vehicle. 

Security staff members allowed the student to park in Kimble’s spot because the student parking area was not available, according to police.

Kimble turned himself in to police on Monday morning. He’s been charged with second-degree reckless endangerment and was released on a $500 bond. 

He is due in court on Aug. 10.



Photo Credit: Connecticut State Police

Crews Respond to 2-Alarm Fire in Willimantic

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Firefighters are responding to a two-alarm fire at a vacant home on Ash Street in Willimantic and police are asking drivers to avoid the street. 

The fire is fully involved, police said, and no injuries are reported. 

No additional information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Police Search for Alleged Fairfield Jewelry Store Thief

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Police are looking for the woman who stole several pieces of jewelry from a store in Fairfield.

The woman walked into Henry C. Reid and Sons Jewelers on 1591 Post Road and is suspected of taking multiple jewelry items on Saturday, according to police. 

The burglar is seen leaving the store and walking toward Rite Aid before getting into the back seat of a white newer model four-door Honda with dark tinted windows, Fairfield Police said. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Fairfield Police at (203)254-4808, or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637).



Photo Credit: Fairfield Police
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LifeStar Transports Injured Hiker from Talcott Mountain to Hospital

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LifeStar responded to Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury after a hiker was injured.

Police said the man was conscious and alert, but might have broken a femur and ankle.

Police, firefighters and an ambulance responded and State EnCon police are investigating.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Scattered Showers Tonight

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The start to the first week of August will be damp, but it will be gorgeous by midweek.

Scattered showers are expected tonight as temperatures fall back into the middle 60s.

Tomorrow will be a repeat of today, with isolated showers, then high pressure builds in on Wednesday.

Mostly sunny skies are expected Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. High temperatures will be in the middle and upper 80s.

A cold front could bring a shower on Saturday, though temperatures will still be near 90 this weekend.

Juveniles Charged in Glastonbury Car Thefts, Break-Ins

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Glastonbury police have arrested six juveniles from Hartford who are suspected in several car thefts and car break-ins in town, as well as in the greater Hartford area.

Police charged two boys and two girls in connection with the theft of a Kia sedan from a Glastonbury driveway and 35 car break-ins overnight from Sept. 7 to Sept. 8 in East Glastonbury.

The juveniles have been charged with 35 counts of third-degree burglary, one count of third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, 14 counts of sixth-degree larceny, two counts of fifth-degree larceny, as well as other charges. 

The two boys charged in connection with the September thefts, as well as two others, have also been arrested in connection with the theft of a Lexus SUV from a Glastonbury driveway and 14 car break-ins overnight from Nov. 15 to Nov. 16.

They have been charged with burglary, larceny and additional charges.

Police said the juveniles are part of a group believed to be committing similar burglaries and car thefts across the state.

All six were released on a written promise to appear in court.

Earlier this month, Glastonbury police charged a 17-year-old East Hartford boy in connection with two car thefts and several burglaries in June.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

'Xtreme Eating Awards': Unhealthiest Chain Meals in US

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A Whole Hog Burger at Uno Pizzeria & Grill is no diet food. Loaded with hamburger, sausage, bacon, prosciutto, pepperoni, four types of cheese, garlic mayo, and pickles and a side of fries, it will set you back a day's worth of calories (2,850), three days’ worth of saturated fat (62 grams) and six days’ worth of sodium (9,790 milligrams). 

The burger tops this year's "Xtreme Eating Awards" list, published annually by Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit. The list includes nine of the most calorie-packed entrees, appetizers, drinks and desserts from restaurant chains across the U.S.

"Far from doing their part to reverse the obesity epidemic, America’s chain restaurants are pouring gasoline on the fire, crossing fried chicken and waffles with Eggs Benedict, merging cheeseburgers and egg rolls, and repurposing macaroni and cheese as a sandwich filling," the health-advocacy group said in a press release. 

More than one-third of U.S. adults and about 17 percent of children are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many restaurant chains include the calorie count on their menus, but the counts will become mandatory, beginning in May of 2017, with other nutrition information available, too. 

CSPI's 2016 list also includes the Fried Chicken & Waffles Benedict (2,580 calories) from The Cheesecake Factory, Short Rib & Cheesy Mac Stack (1,910 calories) from Dave & Buster’s, Dessert Nachos (2,100 calories) from Buffalo Wild Wings and RT 44 Grape Slush with Rainbow Candy (970 calories) from Sonic.

“Unfortunately, these extreme meals are more like the rule, not the exception,” said CSPI dietitian Lindsay Moyer. “America’s restaurant chains are serving up meals that seem engineered to promote diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and strokes. The 3,000-calorie burger platters of today make McDonald’s Quarter Pounders look like sliders.”

Alethea Rowe, senior director of public relations at The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, said the restaurant lists 250 items on its menu, giving patrons choices.

"Many of our guests come in and want to celebrate and not be concerned with calories," she said. "Others want to share their dish …and a large percentage of our guests take home leftovers for lunch the next day."

NBC has reached out to Uno Pizzeria & Grill for comment. 

Christin Fernandez, director of media relations for the National Restaurant Association, which supports over 500,000 restaurant businesses, slammed CSPI's list, too, saying the "cherry-picked examples paint an inaccurate picture of the great strides the industry has made in the area of nutrition. America’s one million restaurants provide numerous options to accommodate all types of tastes and diets—diners looking for an occasional indulgence or those that are keeping things light."

Fernandez added that the restaurant industry has worked with the FDA to "advocate for a federal nutrition standard so that anyone dining out can have clear, access to nutritional information."

CSPI offered tips on how to avoid meals that are calorie-bombs, suggesting options on the “light” menu: Cheesecake Factory’s “SkinnyLicious,” Applebee’s “Lighter Fare,” or Dave & Buster’s “600 or under” dishes. CSPI said you should skip appetizers, which can add up to 1,000 calories and choose grilled chicken or veggie burger instead of beef. Try splitting the meal and eating the second half for lunch the next day, CSPI said. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Instagram Testing Comment Moderation Feature

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Instagram is testing a feature that allows users of the photo-sharing app to disable or filter comments, NBC News reported.

The tool, now available to select high-volume accounts, could soon be made available to the full Instagram community of 500 million people.

An effort to thwart Internet trolls, the feature lets users block or filter out comments that contain certain keywords.

"Our goal is to make Instagram a friendly, fun and, most importantly, safe place for self expression. We have slowly begun to offer accounts with high volume comment threads the option to moderate their comment experience," an Instagram representative said by email. "As we learn, we look forward to improving the comment experience for our broader community."

Apple Gives Glimpse of New, Redesigned Emojis

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Apple's newest software update for iPhone and iPad will feature more than 100 new and redesigned emojis, including more gender options and nontraditional families, NBC News reported. 

iOS 10, to be released this fall, will add rainbow flags and single-parent families to Apple's emoji repertoire, along with female athletes and working women, the company announced Monday. 

"Apple is working closely with the Unicode Consortium to ensure that popular emoji characters reflect the diversity of people everywhere," Apple said in a news release posted on its website

Among the redesigned emojis is the revolver, which will become a squirt gun in iOS 10.



Photo Credit: Apple
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