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Threat for Severe Thunderstorms Tomorrow

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NBC Connecticut Meteorologists have issued a First Alert for the threat of severe thunderstorms tomorrow.

There are no weather issues today in fact the weather will remain quite tranquil and pleasant through the early evening hours. High temperatures today will rise into the upper 50s inland and low to middle 50s near the shore.

Scattered rain showers will move into the state after midnight. The thunderstorm threat doesn't ramp up until tomorrow morning.

We're forecasting thunderstorms to develop tomorrow during the late morning hours and continue into the early evening hours. The thunderstorm activity will be scattered in nature. Some of the thunderstorms could be severe especially as we head into the late afternoon and early evening hours. 

The 'First Alert' has been issued for the threat of severe thunderstorms which could bring damaging winds, frequent lightning, and heavy downpours. 

Here's a breakdown of the severe weather threat for tomorrow. 

We anticipate a medium threat of damaging winds, and low threat level for hail, tornadoes, and flooding.

Strong winds could bring down tree limbs which would lead to power outages. 

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a 'Slight Risk' for severe weather for the entire state.

We will continue to monitor tomorrow's severe weather threat and will frequently update the forecast. For the very latest information including interactive radar, weather alerts, and the latest forecast click here to download the NBC Connecticut App.


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Amazon Storage Service Glitch Causes Massive Web Outages

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Amazon Web Services is working to fix an issue with its S3 storage service, which has led to massive outages across the web.

The company reported the S3 outage is affecting cloud storage based on the East Coast.

“We're continuing to work to remediate the availability issues for Amazon S3 in US-EAST-1. AWS services and customer applications depending on S3 will continue to experience high error rates as we are actively working to remediate the errors in Amazon S3.”

AWS provides hosting for images for several sites and also hosts entire websites, USA Today reported.

According to TechCrunch, the outages is affecting Quora, newsletter provider Sailthru, Business Insider, Giphy, image hosting at a number of publisher websites, and filesharing in the messaging service Slack.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Man Meeting Online Date Robbed and Assaulted in New Haven

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A 21-year-old man trying to meet up with his date in New Haven was assaulted and robbed over the weekend. 

Police said the man from Waterbury was waiting to meet a woman he'd talked with on the website MeetMe on Saturday around dinner time.

The victim told police that "Ashley" had instructed him to go to the area of Elm and Orchard Streets. While the victim had never met Ashley in person, he had seen a photo associated with her MeetMe account.

Three or four men all with backpacks and dressed in black approached the victim as soon as he got out of his car. When the victim did not give up his keys, he was kicked and punched by the group of men and ended up on the ground, New Haven police said. 

The assailants made off with the victim's iPhone 7, a gold necklace and a baseball cap with "Trade Crowsswind Aviation" written on it. 



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Former Navy Sailor Sentenced to 10 Years for Blackmailing Minors Into Online Sex

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A former Navy sailor stationed in New London has been sentenced to 10 years after downloading a cache of child porn onto his computer and convincing minors to perform sex acts on video chat, which he recorded and shared with other people, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Federal prosecutors said Adam M. Simpson, 30, of Benton, Pennsylvania, video chatted with underage victims betwen January and November 2013, while he was stationed at the naval base in New London.

He coerced them into performing sex acts on camera, which he recorded, saved and shared, the U.S. attorneys office said. Simpson sometimes posed as a young boy and blackmailed the victims so they would continue chatting with him.

Prosecutors said Simpson also downloaded a number of child pornography files onto his computer. He was arrested on state charges in January 2014 and has been in custody ever since.

He was arrested on Jan. 7, 2014 and pleaded guilty on June 29, 2016 to one count of enticing minors to perform sexually explicit acts during online video chats.

He has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Mom Acquitted of RHAM Teacher's Death Sentenced 5 Years

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A woman accused of drinking before backing into a seventh grade RHAM teacher in March 2014 was sentenced to five years in jail for misconduct of a motor vehicle, according to court documents.

In addition to misconduct with a motor vehicle, Elizabeth Everett had been charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle while under the influence, second-degree manslaughter and unsafe backing, according to online court records, and she pleaded not guilty.

In Dec. 2016, Everett was acquitted of all charges linked to the death of a math teacher, Dawn Mallory

Court documents say Everett, of Hebron, was dropping off her son at the high school on March 14, 2014 when she accidentally entered the bus lane and backed up, going at least 14 miles per hour, when she hit Mallory.

Mallory died two weeks later after she was taken off life support and her family sued Everett and settled that suit for $1.1 million.

Police said Everett had been drinking prior to the crash, and her blood alcohol content was .07, just shy of the legal limit of .08, according to the warrant for her arrest.

Everett’s lawyer said she made a mistake and drove into the bus lane by accident and was trying to back out.

After Mallory’s death, the school added speed bumps and changed traffic patterns to make the area safe.

Everett will be sentenced on the misconduct charge on Feb. 28 in Rockville.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Seymour Bank Robber Sentenced to 5 Years

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A 55-year-old former New Haven man who pleaded guilty to committing an armed robbery at a Seymour bank in 2013 has been sentenced to five years in prison. 

Daniel Hamlett Sr., 55, drove a stolen vehicle to the Webster Bank, at 15 New Haven Road, in Seymour on the afternoon of April 19, 2013, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. 

Disguised in a mask, he approached a man in a parked car, smashed the window of the driver's seat and demanded money, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

When the victim said he did not have cash, Hamlett took the victim's car keys and phone and told him not to move. 

Then, he proceeded to go into the bank, ordered everyone on the floor, jumped over the counter, stole $5,594 from two teller drawers and grabbed both dye packs so the stolen cash wouldn’t be marked.

Then, he jumped back over the counter and left in the stolen car.

Federal officials said Hamlett's son, Daniel Hamlett Jr., then picked him up and eluded police. 

As authorities searched for Daniel Hamlett Sr., the FBI offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

He was arrested in Georgia on Nov. 13, 2014 and Daniel Hamlett Jr. was arrested on March 14, 2014.  

On October 31, 2014, Daniel Hamlett Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting bank robbery and has been sentenced.

Daniel Hamlett Sr. was sentenced on Tuesday.



Photo Credit: FBI/Seymour Police Department

Middletown Man Sentenced to 6 Years for 2015 Bank Robbery Spree

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A Middletown man who plead guilty to robbing seven banks in central Connecticut towns in the summer of 2015 has been sentenced to six years in prisol, according to the prosecutor's office said. 

Matthew Dragone, a 32-year-old man who was living in a home for recovering substance abusers, was suspected of robbing banks in Berlin, Cheshire, Deep River, Durham, Killingworth, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He was arrested in September 2015 after several people identified him as a suspect.

During the robbery at Liberty Bank, at 357 Main Street in Durham, on Sept. 3, 2015 he was dressed in dark sunglasses, a blue-striped long-sleeve dress shirt and a white baseball cap with a “Coors Lite” logo, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Dragone held a cellphone to his ear when he approached the teller at the counter and handed over a bank bag with a note attached to the front that demanded money and ordered the bank employee not to include a dye pack or GPS, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The teller placed around $1,490 in cash in the bag and handed it to Dragone, who drove off with the cash, federal officials said.

Investigators who responded to the scene found a "Coors Lite" baseball cap and a blue-striped shirt on the side of the road about 50 yards from the bank and laboratory DNA analysis eventually led investigators to identify Dragone as the suspect.

Dragone is also suspected of robbing the Webster Bank, at 145 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, on Aug. 12; the TD Bank at 1127 Farmington Avenue in Berlin, on Aug. 13; the Liberty Bank, at 151 Main Street in Deep River; on Aug. 17; the TD Bank, at 25 Wells Road in Wethersfield, on Aug.31; the Webster Bank; the TD Bank, at 184 Clinton Road in Killingworth on Sept. 11; and the attempted robbery at 377 Cromwell Avenue in Rocky Hill, on Sept. 9.

During the robbery at Webster Bank in Cheshire on Aug. 12, the robber handed the teller a note that said "(G)ive me all your money quickly, no dye packs or you'll regret it," according to the criminal complaint. The teller handed over $73 during that robbery.

During the robbery on Aug. 13, the robber held a cell phone to his ear and handed over a note that read "(A)ct normal and don't move fast, put all the 20's, 50's, 100's (sic) in this envelope and do no dye packs or GPS." The teller handed over $2,200 in that robbery.

The man who robbed the Liberty Bank on Deep River on Aug. 17 was also holding a cell phone against his ear and handed over a note in purple ink that said," I want 20's, 50's (sic) and hundreds, no dye pack s, you have 15 seconds," the complaint says. The teller handed over $2,320 during that robbery.

During the Aug. 31 robbery at TD bank in Wethersfield, the robber also used a note. It said, "Fill this bag with money," and the robbery stole $500 before leaving in a green Honda Civic with heavy front-end damage, passenger side damage and a loud exhaust.

A note was also used in the robbery at Liberty Bank in Durham on Sept. 3.

"(R)emain calm (sic) place 10's, 20's. 50's, 100's (sic) in bag, no dye packs, no GPS, I will check," he wrote, according to the complaint. The robber left with $14,900 in a getaway car described also a greenish Honda Civic.

When the man robbed the Webster Bank in Cromwell on Sept. 9, he handed over a note with identical writing, according to the complaint.

Officials said they found the clothing and sunglasses matching those worn during the Durham robbery and a bank-style bag consistent with the one used during several of the bank robberies in Dragone’s home during a search on Sept. 16, 2015. He was arrested days later and pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery on Feb. 16. 

He was sentenced on Tuesday.



Photo Credit: FBI

Driver in Manchester New Year's Day Crash Arrested: Police

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A Hartford man was arrested on a warrant related to a serious crash that sent several people to the hospital on New Year's morning, police said. 

Quamel Smith, 24, was driving drunk on Hartford Road in Manchester just after midnight Jan. 1. Smith lost control of his vehicle and collided with another east bound car, which forced the collision of another car into an on-coming westbound car causing another collision and forcing the third car off the road, police said. 

Two unrestrained rear passengers in Smith's car were seriously injured and are still rehabilitating, while two other passengers were less seriously injured, police said. 

The driver of the second car sustained incapacitating injuries and her 7-year-old daughter, who was properly restrained, only had minor injuries, according to police.

Manchester Police said Smith was not licensed to drive and  he failed several roadside sobriety tests and a breath test indicated that his blood alcohol content was .200, more than double the legal limit of .08. 

His charges include risk of injury to a minor, six counts of assault, reckless driving and failure to wear a seat belt. 

Smith's bond was set at $80,000. 



Photo Credit: Manchester Police

At Least 3 Dead After Tornadoes Sweep Across Midwest

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At least three people were killed, including two from Illinois, after tornadoes swept across the Midwest Tuesday night.

One man was killed in Ottawa, about an hour and a half south of Chicago, when an uprooted tree came crashing down on workers on the south side of the city, police said.

“There were two men together,” Ottawa Police Department Capt. Dave Gualandri said. “They happened to be outside performing some work task when the storm hit and they apparently weren’t able to seek shelter in a timely fashion.”

Ottawa was one of the cities hit the hardest. Gov. Bruce Rauner plans to visit the city Wednesday as the town begins to rebuild from the devastation and destruction left from the rash of severe storms.

Another man was found dead in Crossville, Illinois, more than four and a half hours south of Ottawa.

A third person died in Perryville, Missouri, officials said.

By Wednesday morning, there were reports of at least six tornado touchdowns in six different Illinois communities. Besides Ottawa, touchdowns were reported in Washburn, Rutland, Naplate, Marseilles and Morris.

The National Weather Service says survey teams will be moving across Illinois Wednesday to catalog damage and determine the exact number of tornadoes that hit the ground. Teams will also look to determine how long tornadoes were on the ground.



Photo Credit: KSDK
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Intruders With Guns Commit Home Invasion in Meriden

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Police are investigating an armed home invasion in Meriden and said one woman who lives in the home needed to go to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Police said officers responded to Foster Street around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to investigate what was reported as a possible home invasion.

The intruders were gone when police arrived and officers, despite a language barrier, were eventually able to learn that three masked men were responsible.

One of the victims told police he and his family had just returned home when three men forced them into the residence and hit the man and woman.

The injuries were not serious, but the woman was transported to an area hospital to be treated, police said.

One of the three intruders was described as husky. All three had handguns and were wearing black masks and black gloves.

Police are still determining this was random or a targeted attack and what, if anything, was taken. Police said nothing indicates that the victims knew the intruders.

"It's certainly a violent felony. They were forced into their home at gunpoint and, supposedly all three of the suspects were armed with handgun," Sgt. Darrin McKay said. "So, absolutely. Anyone with information is asked to call the Meriden Police Department.  

Adults, but no children, were in the home at the time of the home invasion.

Anyone with any information should call Detective John Williams at (203) 630-6250.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

2 Dead After Crash on Route 202 in Washington

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Two people were killed in a crash in on Route 202 in Washington Tuesday afternoon, according to Connecticut state police.

According to police, Eric Johnson, 24, of Terryville, was speeding down Route 202 around noon when he ran a red light at the intersection with Baldwin Hill Road. Johnson swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle, lost control, and struck a metal guardrail. The car then went airborne and hit a tree, coming to a stop on its roof about 50 feet down an embankment.

Johnson was declared dead on scene. A passenger, identified as Alexis Schlappa, 25, of Watertown, was taken to Danbury Hospital where she was also pronounced dead.

Two other passengers in the vehicle were taken to Danbury Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Editor's note: State police initially identified the operator of the vehicle as Scott Johnson, but later sent an updated press release identifying the driver as Eric Johnson. The story above has been updated to reflect the correction.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Congress Members Raise Concerns About Plan for North East Corridor Route

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The Federal Railroad Administration is expected to finalize its recommendation for upgrades to the North East Corridor as soon as today and some Connecticut shoreline residents are concerned about the proposal.

U.S. Senator Blumenthal and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney have sent a letter to Federal Railroad Administration about residents’ concerns and said two ideas that should be scrapped “in any Selected Alternative include a proposal in southeastern Connecticut that has become known as the Kenyon bypass and a separate proposal in Fairfield County in southwestern Connecticut to build two new tracks through several dense communities.”

“We are committed to rebuilding the corridor, and while the FRA’s plan holds great promise for the state of Connecticut, it also creates major consternation among several communities across our state. As champions for our constituents – and for robust rail service – we write in strong support of the positive elements but in staunch opposition to several impractical and ill-conceived ideas in your agency’s proposal,” Blumenthal and Courtney wrote in the letter.

The Hartford line is under development from New Haven and through Hartford and Springfield, Mass.

Blumenthal and Courtney said the Kenyon bypass would split the rail off from the current line at Old Saybrook, “establishing a new alternative route that plows through many communities before rejoining the current route just west of Kingston, Rhode Island.”

“If constructed in a trench, as a tunnel, as an aerial structure or as a mix of all three, the bypass would cause massive disturbance to the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of residents who now live in the proposed route’s path. It would decimate the unique charm and historic character of several centuries-old towns like Old Lyme. It would disrupt major job centers and tourist attractions like the aquarium and historic seaport in Mystic. It would result in significantly reduced rail service to several towns and cities on the current line like New London, rendering as out of the way important attractions like the Thames River Heritage Park – just blocks from the current Amtrak station, which would have to be moved under this plan. It would harm the sensitive ecological treasure of the Connecticut River Estuary. And even though it just exists on paper so far, this proposal has reportedly already impacted property values in our state; if included in a Selected Alternative, it would continue to hang like a dark cloud over southeastern Connecticut, having dire and dramatic effects no matter how remote its chances are of ever becoming reality. Its exclusion from a Selected Alternative would eliminate this ominous threat and allow us to focus on what we know is the region’s choice for improving service: rebuilding the infrastructure we currently have, ensuring it meets new and increasing demands,” Blumenthal and Courtney wrote.

They also raised concerns about creating a new double-track route through Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Westport.

“Some of this would be parallel to Interstate 95, but much remains unclear. Regardless, this would be an unprecedented level of upheaval in a densely populated area that could – like the Kenyon bypass – have disastrous cultural, economic and environmental consequence for many communities in our state. This plan would also ignore the clear preference our constituents have for rehabilitating current infrastructure instead of starting new projects that bring more harm than benefit,” Courtney and Blumenthal wrote.



Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration

Dow Closes Above 21,000 After Trump Speech

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The Dow Jones industrial average closed above 21,000 Wednesday, a new record high that comes after President Donald Trump's first speech to Congress, CNBC reported.

The Dow leapt up more than 200 points, trading up about 1 percent. It's been just over a month since the index broke the 20,000-point mark. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq were up about 0.85 percent soon after the market opened.

Trump's speech was praised for its positive tone but he didn't give many specifics about tax reform and deregulation, two key components of the market's post-election rally.

Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial, told CNBC the speech's tone "has gone a long way for the market" as it "assuaged fears that his agenda was not going to be able to be passed."



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images, File

Timeline: The Rapid Fall of Aaron Hernandez

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It has been four years since Aaron Hernandez played in the NFL. The Connecticut native burst onto the scene after the Patriots drafted him, but his dark past quickly bubbled to the surface.

Hernandez was found guilty of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life in prison. Now, he returns to court to answer to two more murder charges.

The former tight end is accused of gunning down Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu in 2012.

From his humble beginnings in Bristol to his life imprisonment, take a comprehensive look at the fall of a man even more troubled than he is talented.



Photo Credit: AP
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South Windsor Police Warn of 'Speed Camera' Email Scam

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The South Windsor Police Department is warning residents not to buy in to a “speed camera” email scam.

According to police, one of their dispatchers received an email claiming she owned a fine for a speeding ticket from South Windsor police. The email said a “speed camera” captured the offense and contained a link that claimed to be photo proof of the incident.

The would-be victim in this case knew the email was not legitimate and reported it.

South Windsor police said speed cameras are not used in Connecticut and cautioned anyone who receives a similar email not to click any links, as they may contain viruses or malware. Police also reminded residents that they don’t send ticket information via email.



Photo Credit: South Windsor Police Department
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West Hartford Police Seek Armed Robbery Suspect

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West Hartford police are trying to locate a suspect who held a gas station clerk at knifepoint early Tuesday morning.

According to police, shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday a male suspect entered the Shell gas station at 905 Farmington Ave. and held up the clerk at knifepoint. The suspect took off with the cash drawer.

The clerk had bruising on the neck as a result of the incident.

The suspect was wearing a light blue colored hooded jacket in a shiny, lightweight material, black gloves with a white design on the wrists, black pants, black sneakers and a dark ski mask with a white design on it. He was armed with a hunting or long folding knife.

Anyone with information on this crime should contact West Hartford police at 860-523-5203.



Photo Credit: West Hartford Police Department

Crews Battle Fire on Maple Street in Naugatuck

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Firefighters have responded to a fire at 149 Maple St. in Naugatuck and fire departments from surrounding towns have been called to provide mutual aid. 

Officials believe this was an electrical fire that started on the third floor. No residents were home when fire broke out and no injuries are reported. 

Police said several area streets are closed for a couple hours and residents are urged to use alternate routes to avoid detours. 

Residents of roads that are closed should be able to get to their homes, in most cases.

Maple Street is closed between South Main and Carroll Streets.

The Route 8 South exit is open, but traffic cannot access Maple Street east of the bridge.

Oak Street is closed between Maple and High streets. 

Carroll Street is closed at Central Avenue and Central Avenue is closed.

Witnesses said pharmacy workers ran out of the building and workers said they evacuated one they smelled smoke.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

High-Profile Customs Nightmares Worry US Travel Industry

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The son of a recently deceased global icon, a beloved Australian children's book author, a renowned authority on the Holocaust and a U.S. Olympic fencer. What do they have in common? In recent weeks each has recounted harrowing details of being caught in a customs nightmare when trying to enter the United States.

As those stories and others were grabbing headlines, NYC & Company, the city’s tourism marketing agency, released an ominous forecast directly tied to new immigration enforcement policies.

"Following tourism growth over the last seven years, this new forecast shows a drop in inbound international travel to New York City this year at a loss of 300,000 visitors compared to 2016," the tourism agency said Tuesday in a statement. "This is the first drop in visitation since the start of the recession in 2008." 

Here is a look at some of the high-profile cases in recent weeks that have the travel industry worried.

Early February: While returning from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Muhammad Ali Jr. and Ali's first wife, Khalilah Camacho-Ali, were detained by immigration officers at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. 

He asked me 'What is your religion?' And I was like why would you ever ask me what my religion is, does it matter," Ali Jr. told MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied Ali was stopped because of his religion.

Feb. 6: Australian children’s-book author Mem Fox was detained following a flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Fox, on her way to a paid speaking engagement in Milwaukee to deliver a speech about the importance of diversity, said she ran afoul of immigration officials when she revealed she was receiving a fee for her appearance. 

Fox said she left humiliated by the experience. In an opinion written piece for the Guardian, the author said the incident fundamentally changed the way she felt about the United States.

"In that moment I loathed America. I loathed the entire country," she wrote. "And it was my 117th visit to the country so I know that most people are very generous and warm-hearted. They have been wonderful to me over the years. I got over that hatred within a day or two. But this is not the way to win friends, to do this to someone who is Australian when we have supported them in every damn war. It’s absolutely outrageous." 

When asked for comment about Fox’s account of her ordeal, Jaime Ruiz, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection at LAX, cited privacy concerns and told NBC he could not speak directly about her incident. The spokesman instead offered a blanket statement reading in part, "Our dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our people and our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband."

Feb. 9: In an interview with Popsugar.com, U.S. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first woman to wear a hijab while competing for the United States in the Olympics, revealed she was detained by customs at an airport.

"I personally was held at customs for two hours just a few weeks ago. I don't know why. I can't tell you why it happened to me, but I know that I'm Muslim. I have an Arabic name. And even though I represent Team USA and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn't change how you look and how people perceive you," Muhammad said.

"Unfortunately, I know that people talk about this having a lot to do with these seven countries in particular, but I think the net is cast a little bit wider than we know. And I'm included in that as a Muslim woman who wears a hijab," she said.

Feb. 22: French historian Henry Rousso, a pre-eminent scholar on the Holocaust, was detained for more than 10 hours by federal border agents in Houston. Rousso was told he wouldn’t be allowed to enter the United States before lawyers intervened on his behalf. 

Customs and Border Protection did not respond to a request for comment on his case.

In January, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), released a statement following Trump's now stalled travel ban to nationals of seven countries (Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen) that warned the action could hurt travel to the U.S.

“Global challenges demand global solutions and the security challenges that we face today should not prompt us to build new walls; on the contrary, isolationism and blind discriminatory actions will not lead to increased security but rather to growing tensions and threats”, said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

“Besides the direct impact, the image of a country which imposes travel bans in such a hostile way will surely be affected among visitors from all over the world and risk dumping travel demand to the USA” added Mr Rifai.

In an interview by NBC News, Nadejda Popova, a travel project manager for market research firm Euromonitor, also expressed concern about the ultimate impact the customs crackdown will have on travel into the U.S.

"The ambiguity of these very latest developments introduced by President Trump is casting a shadow over the future travel demand to and from the U.S., especially as many trade representatives are concerned that such changes could bring similar types of retaliation from other countries," Popova said. "The new executive order could also impact how the U.S. is perceived as a tourism destination and how open to foreign travelers it will be in the future." 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Calls to Homeland Security were not returned.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Oprah Never Considered a Presidential Run — Until Trump

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Oprah 2020?

The media mogul may consider a run for president now that another TV star has proven that prior government experience isn't necessary for the job.

Oprah Winfrey seemed to suggest that she's shifted her thoughts on a presidential run of her own, with a thinly veiled reference to President Donald Trump, in a video clip published Wednesday of Bloomberg's "The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations." 

"I never considered the question even a possibility," she said, when asked if she ever considered a run.

Rubenstein said it's clear that experience running the government isn't a prerequisite, since Trump was elected without ever serving in office.

"I thought 'Oh, gee, I don't have the experience, I don't know enough.' And now I'm thinking, '...Oh...Oh!'" Winfrey replied, with an intrigued look on her face as the audience applauded.

Days after Trump won the election, filmmaker Michael Moore appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" and voiced support for a Winfrey run.

"Democrats would be better off if they ran Oprah or Tom Hanks," he said. "Why don't we run beloved people?"

Winfrey campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008 and supported Hillary Clinton in the 2016 race.



Photo Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images
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New Canaan Issues Coyote Warning

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New Canaan police are reminding residents to be vigilant after a dog and its owner had a close call with a coyote Tuesday morning.

According to police, the pair was walking on Autumn Lane when they encountered a coyote. The owner used hazing techniques to scare the coyote away and no one was hurt.

Police remind residents that coyotes are active in the area and these animals are not nocturnal. Residents should keep a close eye on dogs and small children. Police also suggest food sources like bird feeders or pet food should be contained or controlled to avoid attracting coyotes.

Residents can contact New Canaan Animal Control at 203-594-3510 for information about coyote hazing or read guidelines from the Humane Society of the United States here.

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