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Trump Takes Another Swipe at Amazon

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President Donald Trump went after the Washington Post and its' owner, Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos, after a story about Trump was published in another Twitter tirade, reported CNBC. 

The article said a fake issue of Time magazine with Trump on the cover was hanging in some of the president's golf clubs and a spokeswoman with Time confirmed to the Post that the cover was not real, reported CNBC.

Trump also alleged in the tweet that Amazon did not pay taxes and called the Washington Post "fake news."  





Photo Credit: Getty Images

She Runs Marathons to Honor Her Dad. Someone Stole Her Medals

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A brazen thief stole priceless mementos from a woman in San Diego's Pacific Beach neighborhood.   

Andrea Abel is heartbroken to lose dozens of medals from charity races and marathons she completed in honor of her late father. The medals, collected over six years, hold no real monetary value but mean everything to Abel.

"A lot of them were with personal engravings, like, 'This one’s for you, Dad,' and just some really special things that I think are irreplaceable," she said.

An apartment move Tuesday morning turned into complete disbelief and sadness for Abel. It happened near Hornblend and Dawes streets.

"I brought this bin of things down and realized I wasn't going to be able to get it in my car and I thought I should run up and get the lid,” she explained.

Abel said she ran upstairs for just a minute, leaving her keepsakes outside her car. When she came back they were gone.

"I had this weird feeling so I started to run and I got out here and it was gone. I mean, a box of very, very special marathon medals that I had earned over a very significant amount of time," she said.  

The box was filled with medals from races including at least 20 relays, 40 half-marathons and approximately 10 marathons she's completed in memory of people she’s lost.

Abel started running races in 2011 in honor of her father and grandfather who both died of cancer.

Her father died after a battle with cancer 15 years ago this month. Her grandfather died about five years ago from cancer, she said. Just last year, Abel's mother battled skin cancer.

Abel runs to support the American Cancer Society. In all, she and her group of friends and family have raised $160,000 for the charity, she said.

“The medals are kind of this thing to represent this way to keep the connection to my dad alive in a way," Abel said.

Now, she's walking the streets of her neighborhood and posting signs at nearby businesses, hoping someone comes forward.

"For the common person standpoint, they're not worth much. But for me, this is probably the most important thing I could've lost," she said.  

Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego Police Department at (619)531-2000.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Budget Gridlock Puts Youth Summer Job Program on Hold

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With no budget passed, many teenagers who were planning to begin summer work next week won’t be starting.

"Essentially, what do they do for the summer?" Asked Danielle Cordova of East Haven.

Cordova’s soon-to-be 14-year-old daughter Makayla was supposed to be starting a part-time job. But thanks to the gridlock at the capitol Makayla’s job is in jeopardy, along with thousands of other jobs within Connecticut’s Youth Summer Employment Program through the state Department of Labor.

"I was really looking forward to it and I'm pretty sure I was going to be working inside the town hall," said Makayla Cordova.

Because a new budget hasn’t passed yet, no funding has been allocated to the department to employ low-income eligible people ages 14 to 21, like Makayla.

"I hope they keep the program so I can be able to work," she said.

Makayla’s mom – like many other parents across the state – is now scrambling to figure out a Plan B.

"It's going to be hard because that option is not there. The opportunity is not there," Danielle said.

Makayla was supposed to be following in the footsteps of her older siblings who benefited from the summer jobs program in years past.

Even without a budget passing, some municipalities will be able to use other funds to pay for the summer jobs program. In the meantime, the Cordovas are urging people to call their legislators and let them know how important the program is.

4th of July Weekend Could See Record-Breaking Travel: AAA

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Millions of New Englanders are expected to hit the roads to celebrate the 4th of July holiday, and AAA wants to make sure drivers are prepared before they head out.

AAA estimates a record-breaking 2.3 million New Englanders will travel for the holiday, and 2 million of them will choose to drive. With gas prices down around 6 cents nationally, it’s shaping up to be the busiest 4th of July weekend ever both regionally and nationally, AAA said.

Drivers should make sure their car is road-worthy before taking off. AAA expects to respond to more than 338,000 calls for assistance this weekend, primarily for issues like flat tires, battery issues, and lockouts.

“There are some things that you can do to avoid being one of those statistics,” explained Amy Parmenter of AAA. “We encourage them to get their batteries and tires checked before they hit the road. Make sure the tire pressure is good. Make sure that your fluids are good to go. And really get your car road ready.”

It’s a good year to travel – on top of lower gas prices, car rental rates are down around 14 percent from this time last year, and hotel costs are about the same as last year. Air travelers are also in luck, with airfare around 10 percent lower than this time last year.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

FBI Interviews Cyber Firm Kaspersky Lab Employees: Source

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FBI agents on Tuesday paid visits to at least a dozen employees of Kaspersky Lab, a Russia-based cyber-security company, asking questions about that company’s operations as part of a counter-intelligence inquiry, multiple sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.

There is no indication at this time that the inquiry is part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion.

Kaspersky has long been of interest to the U.S. government. Its cyber-security software is widely used in the United States, and its billionaire owner, Eugene Kaspersky, has close ties to some Russian intelligence figures, according to U.S. officials.

FBI agents told employees they were not in trouble, and that the bureau was merely gathering facts about how Kaspersky works, including to what extent the U.S. operations ultimately report to Moscow.



Photo Credit: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File

79-Year-Old Bicyclist Has Life-Threatening Injuries After Hamden Crash

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A 79-year-old Middlebury man has life-threatening injuries after his bike hit a vehicle in Hamden on Tuesday afternoon. 

Police responded to Todd Street around 1 p.m. Tuesday after a motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported. 

Police said Milton Parkins, 79, of Middlebury, was on a bicycle going northbound on the Farmington Canal Trail when he drove into a motor vehicle that was traveling westbound on Todd Street. 

Parkins was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Mark Atwater of the Hamden Police Department Traffic Division at (203) 230-4036.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Officer Cleared in Death of Suspect Shot with Stun Gun

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The Hartford State’s Attorney’s office has determined an East Hartford police officer was justified in his use of force when he used a stun gun on a suspect during an incident in 2014. The suspect died following the incident.

Twenty-three-year-old Jose Maldonado, of Manchester, died after being shocked with a stun gun during a struggle with officers at the East Hartford Police Department on April 13, 2014.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his cause of death to be cardiac arrhythmia, following precordial electrical shock.

On April 13, 2014, Maldonado was arrested and taken to police headquarters following the report of a dispute at 181 Nutmeg Lane in East Hartford. Police said he damaged a car with two adults and three children inside. Broken glass injured one of the adults, police said.

Maldonado fought with police while they were arresting him and was charged with three counts of risk of injury to a minor, third degree assault, second-degree criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and interfering with or resisting arrest, police said.

Police said Maldonado began to fight with officers again at police headquarters, prompting Officer Jason Kaplan to shoot him with a stun gun, police said.

According to state police, Maldonado seemed to suffer medical distress” after the stun gun was used. EMS provided medical care while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Maldonado was taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital, where he died shortly after being admitted.

The Hartford State’s Attorney and the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad were called in to investigate.

During the investigation they spoke to Maldonado’s grandmother, who told them a few weeks before the incident Maldonado complained of heart palpitations, but he never went to the doctor and did not bring it up again.

The state’s attorney determined that Kaplan had acted reasonably to defend himself and his fellow officers by deploying the stun gun on a combative suspect. A stun gun is not considered deadly force, and based on his training Kaplan had no reason to believe using the stun gun would cause Maldonado serious injury or death.

Watch: Man Is Hit By Bus Then Walks Into Pub

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Keep calm and carry on.

That’s what Englishman Simon Smith seemed to do after being struck by a bus on his way home from work. Almost immediately after, Smith brushed himself off and entered a nearby pub as if nothing happened.

Despite being hit hard enough to crack the windsheild, Smith was left with only minor scratches and bruising. The incident took place on Gun Street in Reading, England, and was captured on CCTV.

The 53-year-old told U.K. news outlets he was lucky to be alive.

He explained in an interview with The Sun that he never saw the bus coming. 

"It's quite funny everybody think I have gone for a pint," he said. "I was actually looking for a place of refuge when I went into the doorway of the pub." 

An ambulance arrived then. It wasn't until after he was discharged from the hospital that he had a pint.


Route 6 in Watertown Closed Due to Tractor Trailer Crash

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Route 6 in Watertown is closed due to a rollover accident involving a tractor trailer.

Police said at least two people are injured, though the extent of the injuries are unclear at this time.

Route 6 is closed between Porter Street and Baldwin Street. Police cautioned that the road may be closed through the afternoon.

More information was not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Mom Accused of Letting 3-Year-Old Wander Alone on Milford Beach

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A Massachusetts mom is accused of letting her 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter wander alone on Woodmont Beach in Milford over the weekend. 

Police responded to the beach on Saturday after receiving a report of a wandering child and said 39-year-old Heather Wasilewski, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, is accused of allowing her child to wander the beach alone. 

When officers asked Wasilewski about the situation, she said the other adults on the beach, who she did not know, were fine watching her child as she was approximately 100 yards away, according to police. 

Witnesses also told police they saw Wasilewski with an alcoholic beverage as the child was alone on the beach. 

She has been charged with risk of injury and was released on a promise to appear. 

She is due in court on July 18.



Photo Credit: Milford Police

Sacred Heart University Student Held Without Bail Accused of Stockpiling Weapons, Impersonating Cop

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A Sacred Heart University student is being held without bail in Massachusetts, accused of stockpiling weapons and impersonating a police officer.

Police in Duxbury, Massachusetts issued an arrest warrant for Christopher Barlow, 20, and arrested him Monday at his home on Back River Way after a lengthy investigation that involved Massachusetts State Police, Connecticut State Police, the FBI and Homeland Security.

Police said authorities found a illegal weapons and fake federal IDs at his home and in his vehicle, as a result of a search warrant. They also discovered a cardboard box containing chemicals that can be used to make explosives.

"Very troubling that a young man, an unlicensed individual, had that type of weaponry," said Duxbury Deputy Police Chief Stephen McDonald.

At his arraignment Tuesday in Plymouth District Court, prosecutors said a family member of Barlow's had handed over one of his guns to police earlier this month. Barlow wanted it back so he allegedly used a a fake Homeland Security ID to try and trick police.

"He refused to provide any information in regards to who his supervisor was and also would not allow them to copy the ID," said Elizabeth Mello, Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney.

NBC Boston learned that Barlow was arrested during his EMT shift with Brewster Ambulance. The company released a statement saying that he has been removed from his shift and placed on unpaid leave pending an internal investigation.

"We are working with authorities and assisting law enforcement during their investigation including any patient contact. We are taking this very seriously," read a statement from Johnathon Bobbitt-Miller, Shift Commander for Brewster Ambulance.

Barlow is being held without bail pending a dangerous hearing Wednesday.

Bloomfield Lumentum Factory to Close in March

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A manufacturing company will close its Bloomfield facility in June.

Lumentum, formerly JDSU, produces commercial and industrial lasers, optical communications and 3D sensing.

The company is transferring its manufacturing and product development operations from the Bloomfield factory to a Lumentum site elsewhere in the country, according to company communications director Greg Kaufman.

"This action is being taken to continue to optimize the cost structure of the product lines currently manufactured in Bloomfield in order to meet our customers’ future cost expectations and remain competitive in the market," Kaufman said in an email to NBC Connecticut in 2015.

A notice provided to the state Department of Labor says the facility will close in March 2018. One hundred seventy five employees will be affected. The layoffs are taking place between this month and March 2018. 

Caretaker Accused of Assaulting Disabled Client

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A caretaker for an organization that provides services to people with disabilities is accused of assaulting a client.

Middletown police arrested 50-year-old Danielle Zoldak, of Colchester, after staff from the Walgreens on East Main Street called authorities Friday to report an assault on a person who might be disabled.

When police responded to Walgreens, they found a man on the floor who was taking candy bars from the shelves and eating them and a woman standing nearby, police said.

Zoldak told police she worked at New Beginnings for Life in Colchester and was a caretaker for the victim, according to the arraignment report. When the man grabbed more candy bars from the shelves, Zoldak slapped his hand, according to police.

Police tried to talk to the man, but couldn’t get a response.

When police reviewed surveillance, they saw Zoldak kicking and pushing the victim, pulling his hair, placing his head under her arm and shoving him to the ground, according to police.

Employees told officers they pleaded with Zoldak to stop hurting the man and to leave him alone. They also said Zoldak told the man he was going to make her lose her job.

The director of New Beginnings for Life said Zoldak's employment has been terminated and there is an internal investigation. 

The victim was taken to Middlesex Hospital until New Beginnings for Life could provide care for him.

After police took Zoldak into custody, officers found marijuana in her purse and she said it was for personal use, according to police.

She has been charged with third-degree assault of an intellectually disabled person, possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree breach of peace.

She was released on $25,000 bond and is due in court on July 7. It's not clear if she has an attorney.




Photo Credit: Middletown Police

Serious Injuries Reported in Crash That Has Closed Route 9

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Route 9 north is closed in Middletown due to an accident, and serious injuries have been reported.

State police said that at least one person was ejected and serious injuries have been reported.

The highway is closed between exits 12 and 15. More information was not immediately available.

At least two ambulances responded to the scene.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.




Photo Credit: Connecticut Department of Transportation

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski Sneaks Onto North Texas HS Field

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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski apparently felt the need to "borrow" a North Texas high school football field for an off-season workout Tuesday.

Gronkowksi posted a video to Snapchat of himself and at least one other person on the field at Southlake Carroll High School's Dragon Stadium.

"We snuck onto some random high school, baby, 'cause we gotta get that work in," he shouts on the video. "No days off, baby!"

The video then shows Gronkowski squeezing between a brick wall and a fence on the way out of the stadium.

"Thanks, Southlake Carroll, for a great workout," he says.

The defending Super Bowl champion Patriots concluded a mini-camp in June. Their training camp does not begin until late-July.



Photo Credit: Snapchat - gronk
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Person Dies After Being Hit by Train in Hartford

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An Amtrak train hit and killed a pedestrian in Hartford.

Police are responding to a fatal train incident in the area of Windsor Street and Battles Street.

The person was fatally struck by the train at 3:35 p.m. on Wednesday. Amtrak officials said the train was going from Vermont to Washington, D.C.

There are 126 passengers remaining on board the train. No injuries were reported, the Amtrak spokesperson said. 

Investigators on the scene did not say why that person may have been on the tracks. 

Police did not give details on the victim.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Cheshire Votes Against New Middle School

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The lack of a state budget is affecting cities and towns in Connecticut.

In Cheshire, the town council voted against sending a proposal to build a new middle school to a November referendum on Tuesday night.

Chairman Rob Oris said the school needs upgrades but there are too many unknowns with the state budget. 

Under the governor's current proposal, Cheshire could face more than $12 million in cuts. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Arrest Made After US Postal Worker Spots Man Carrying TV: PD

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A U.S. Postal worker helped police make an arrest after seeing a man carrying a television in Norwich on Wednesday.

The postal worker saw a man acting suspicious while walking around a home on Washington Street at approximately 12:08 p.m.

When the worker observed the man carrying a television and could clearly identify that the man did not belong in or near the residence, he contacted Norwich police officers. 

Responding officers saw the front door of the home on Washington Street was open and observed an area where a television was missing, police said. 

While police searched the residence, an officer noticed the suspect walking away from the scene. 

Dwayne Sutton, of Norwich, was stopped and police found jewelry missing from the home on his person.

The 31-year-old was placed under arrest and faces burglary and larceny charges. He is expected to appear in court on July 6.

"The Norwich Police Department wishes to thank the U.S. Postal workers who on a daily basis monitor and report suspicious activity within the neighborhoods that they work in," Sergeant First Class John Perry of the Norwich Police Department said.



Photo Credit: Norwich Police Department

Injured Hiker Rescued at Sleeping Giant in Hamden

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A rescue was underway for an injured hiker at Sleeping Giant in Hamden on Wednesday.

Hamden firefighters responded to the scene around 4:30 p.m.

Hamden's chief of police told NBC Connecticut the incident was minor. A woman hiking sprained her ankle and was brought down on the department's ATV.

The scene was cleared shortly after. 

No other information was immediately available.  



Photo Credit: Hamden Fire Department

Surprise! Navy Wife Reveals Pregnancy at Sailor's Homecoming

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The wife of a U.S. Navy sailor had a big surprise to share with her husband when his aircraft carrier docked in San Diego: a new member of their family, nearly ready to join their ranks.

Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Daugherty, a Navy cryptologic technician, returned to the U.S. on June 23 after a six-month deployment on board the USS Carl Vinson.

Upon disembarking, Daugherty's two daughters and son rushed over to greet their uniformed father. He hugged his little ones, who were clad in mini sailor outfits, while his wife, Natasha Daugherty, hung back, smiling.

She hid her stomach behind a large poster decorated with blue hearts and red paint spelling out "Welcome Home Baby Daddy." When Chris reached out for a hug, Natasha tossed the poster aside to reveal her nearly eight-months-pregnant belly.

The big reveal was captured on cellphone video.

In the sweet clip, Chris drops his arms and looks down at his wife's belly. Eblazoned on her shirt are the words, "I am the present my daddy gave my mommy before he deployed." After a shocked pause, he pokes her belly and asks, "Is it real?"

While onlookers smile and laugh, Chris embraces and kisses his wife.


"Wanted to say thanks to my amazing wife Natasha for the awesome homecoming weekend she planned," said Chris, in a Facebook post. "I couldn't have asked for a better one, and it was great news finding out we will be welcoming a new baby girl soon."

The couple lives in Temecula, California, just north of San Diego County. Together, they have three children, a 10-year-old son, a 4-year-old girl and an 18-month-old toddler. Now, baby No. 4 will join the family.

On Wednesday, Natasha told NBC 7 that the hardest part of keeping her pregnancy a secret from her husband was the worry that came with thinking that something might happen to Chris during the deployment, especially as tensions rose with North Korea.

"As soon as we started having trouble with North Korea, I became worried," she said. 

The USS Vinson deployed on Jan. 5 as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of the U.S. 3rd Fleet into the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The strike group also patrolled the Korean Peninsula after North Korea began testing ballistic missiles. North Korea called the dispatch of the U.S. aircraft carrier toward its waters "outrageous."

Chris' deployment, along with other service members in the strike group, was extended for 30 days. He sent Natasha an email telling her how much he loves her, in case anything should happen to him.

"He was telling me goodbye. At that point, I was extremely emotional. I wanted to tell him, I wanted to freak out," said Natasha. "But I kept my calm and waited, just a little longer."

She says it was also a challenge to make sure her 4-year-old toddler didn't tell Chris about the pregnancy while talking on the phone.

Natasha said, "It was difficult but totally worth it in the end!"

The baby is due on Aug. 31.

Video of the reveal was posted on Facebook and had garnered over 3,800 views by Wednesday afternoon.



Photo Credit: Natasha Daugherty
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