Residents in Southern California were prepping for what the National Weather Service described as the "largest rain event" in Southern California since March 2011.

The one-two punch of storms bring the possibility of mudslides in areas burned by wildfires, but also much-needed rain  and snow after the state's driest year on record.

In Glendora, more than 18,000 sandbags -- enough to cover four miles if placed end to end --  were been distributed to residents to protect properties from floods and debris flow. Flash flooding was possible in some foothill areas below burn areas, including the hills that burned in January's Colby fire above the San Gabriel Valley community.

"There's going to be so much rain in just a couple of days that a lot of areas might not be able to handle that much rain," said NBC4 meteorologist Crystal Egger. "It just runs downhill like a concrete driveway."

The twp storms will usher moisture into the region, moving down from Northern California Wednesday morning before bringing about a half-inch to an inch of rain to Southern California.

The heaviest rain Wednesday  was expected after the evening commute and into the overnight hours. The more powerful of the two storms will arrive Thursday evening and bring up to 2 inches of rain in central and southern valleys, 2 to 4 inches in foothill areas and 6 inches of rain in some mountains.

The National Weather Service described it as the most significant storm in the last three years in Southern California, adding that thunderstorms  were possible Friday and Saturday. Showers could continue into early Sunday.

The city of Glendora issued an Orange Level alert for residents in the burn area, meaning voluntary evacuations are in effect. Residents are directed to remove vehicles, trash bins and other obstructions from streets prior to evacuating.

The city's evacuation center is at the Crowther Teen & Family Center located at 241 W. Dawson Ave.
Residents who do not evacuate will be asked to sign a Refusal to Evacuate form, indicated they understand the risk involved.

"The alert level was raised to orange from yellow due to the Weather Forecasts and the field conditions within the foothills of Glendora," according to a city advisory.

The city could issue a Red Level alert, which includes mandatory evacuations. 

• Weather Page: Forecast | Radar

Glendora Mountain Road will be closed Thursday morning through noon Monday.

Crews placed concrete barriers along several streets in Glendora, a San Gabriel Valley community of about 50,000 people. The city provided sandbags for residents at fire stations, and more than 7,000 had been handed out, City Manager Chris Jeffers told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune Tuesday.
 
The National Weather Service also warned of the potential for mud and debris flows from the burn area of the May 2013 Springs Fire. The wildfire scorched nearly 38 square miles of the Santa Monica Mountains as it burned from the edges of suburban homes down to the beach about 50 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.

• Read: CA Looks to NASA Amid Dry Spell

Other wildfires statewide left scarred landscapes over the past year, including a 400-square-mile area devastated by last summer's forest fire in and adjacent to Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada.

• Running Dry: Drought Resources, Updates

The snow level will remain high -- above 7,500 feet during daytime  hours, dipping to around 6,500 feet tonight and Thursday -- and gusty south-to- southwest winds will buffet mountain areas, especially "over higher terrain,"  the National Weather Service advisory said.

A wind advisory will be in effect in Los Angeles County in the San  Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley from noon today until 9 p.m.  Thursday, the NWS said, forecasting south-to-southwest winds of between 20 and  30 miles per hour and gusts of between 45 and 55 mph this afternoon.

Storms Arrive Amid Dry Spell

As for the drought impact, the effects could be more significant than moisture left by a storm earlier this month. That so-called Pineapple Express storm brought rain and snow to Northern California and increased the Sierra Nevada snowpack, but it still remained at 29 percent of normal.

• Read: Where to Welcome the Rain

Sierra snow runoff provides a major source of water for California.

Only very small amounts of precipitation reached Southern California, making this week's weather the first major event of the year. Downtown Los Angeles has recorded only 0.23 inch of rain this month, 3.05 inches below normal to date.

The location has received only 1.23 inches since July 1, a deficit of 9.52 inches.
 

Hillary Clinton told an audience at the University of Miami Wednesday night that all countries, including the U.S., must allow “full participation” for girls and women.

The former secretary of state addressed women’s rights and human rights in her speech before an estimated crowd of 6,100 at the university in Coral Gables.

“I believe strongly that the more we can get people to participate, to have a stake in the future, the better off we will all be,” she said.

Clinton praised the Arizona governor’s veto of a bill that would have let businesses refuse to serve gays and lesbians on religious grounds. Students cheered loudly when they heard Clinton’s comments on that issue.

Clinton spent several minutes talking about the unrest in Venezuela.

“It is a country that is not being well-governed, and it’s a democracy, no one would argue that it isn’t. But a democracy doesn’t just mean an election. A democracy means a free press, protecting the rights of opponents, protecting a free economy,” Clinton said to applause.

The loudest and longest applause of the night came when someone mentioned a presidential run for Clinton, who vied with Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2008. She told the crowd she is pondering the notion.

Social media has changed the way many of us communicate with friends. But among the “funny videos" and " selfies" is a new concern about guns being sold online, particularly on Facebook.

“When I found that out, it was complete shock,” said Heather Waley from Moms Demand Action, an anti-gun violence group founded in light of the Sandy Hook shootings.

The moms said they learned people had been using Facebook to facilitate gun sales and promptely started a petition to change the website's policy.

And it's not hard to find guns on Facebook. A quick search for the word "gun" in their online marketplace brought up a Remington fireball pistol and a .22-caliber rifle.

“Facebook really is an open bazar,” said Rich Hanley, a social media expert and associate professor of communications at Quinnipiac University. “People can use it to market pretty much anything. ... There is nothing on the books now that prevents somebody from selling whatever they want online through Facebook, Craigslist or any other application or website.”

But Facebook says it's not condoning gun sales. A spokesperson told NBC Connecticut the site is not a commerce platform and no transactions are being conducted on Facebook. In fact, Facebook.com says, "Ads and Sponsored Stories may not promote firearms, ammunition ... or weapons of any kind."

The exception? Personal pages, as seen in this YouTube ad made by Moms Demand Action.

Facebook says it's a social network that connects people of all kinds and all different interests.

“Facebook will change its policy only if it's in its best business interest,” Hanley said.

Officials at Facebook did confirm the company has been talking with Moms Demand Action to review the site's policy on gun content.

But Facebook says that for now, it will only remove content that poses a credible threat of violence or violates local laws.

A 72-year-old substitute teacher at Westhill High School in Stamford has been dismissed after he was found masturbating at school this morning, according to police.

A school staff member who was walking in an area of lockers just after 7:33 a.m. saw a man on the ground and approached him because she thought he was hurt.

Instead, she found a substitute teacher with his hand in his pants and “manipulating his penis,” according to police.

She yelled at him and notified school officials, who quickly notified Westhill High School Resource Officers.

• School employee accused of sexually abusing cows

The school officials identified the substitute teacher as Michael Luecke, police said.

He was immediately removed from a classroom that he was overseeing, brought to the main office and detained.

Police reviewed surveillance, which showed Luecke in the corner of a stairwell at Rayner building “suspiciously manipulating the front of his pants” while looking at students in the courtyard around 7:30 a.m.

Three minutes later, Luecke was seen going behind a bank of student lockers for approximately a minute, then emerging and lying on his back.

Then the video shows the witness confront him while he is on the floor and shows Luecke’s pants open. He appeared to be in an aroused state, according to police.

The video also shows six students pass Luecke’s while he is “conducting this act.”

Police said they are working to identify the students to assess a need for counseling.

"It's shocking, shocking," said Stamford parent Toni Cummaro. "The elementary school is right there,the high school, it's still kids we're talking about. It's awful, it's awful."

Luecke was arrested and taken to Stamford police headquarters. He was charged with public indecency, second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a minor.

Bond was set at $25,000. 

School officials said the school and police are investigating.

Supt. Dr. Teresa Kane was on the defensive at tonight's Board of Education meeting in East Windsor. Parents are upset by several recent drug related incidents in town, including the death of a 14-year-old girl from heroin overdose.

Christina Dugan says she was a close family friend.

"I just saw her a couple of hours earlier. She was just chipper and have me a hug and the next thing, she's gone," Dugan said through her tears.

Andrew Vining and his wife came to the meeting looking for answers. Their 15-year-old son was among a group of four East Windsor students caught taking Xanax earlier this week. Vining said he feels like the board is sweeping the drug problem under the rug.

"One of the board members came up and said they didn't know anything about it," he said. "It was a total shock to them tonight."

In response, the board scheduled a family resource event on March 11, hoping to bring the community together on the issue of substance abuse and recovery.

Supt. Kane, however, would not acknowledge that East Windsor has a growing drug problem.

"There's a lot of emotion when we lose someone, and it's understandable, but we have to look at the hard data and and use it to make good decisions," said Kane.

Vining and Dugan have no doubt that drugs are a major issue for East Windsor students.

"The kids come home and say, 'Mom, Dad, there are baggies on the floor, everybody's doing it, it's always in our face and we don't know what to do,'" said Vining.

"We're just now doing something now that it hits home," Dugan said. "It's just very sad."

The superintendent said she's working with the police department to staff a school resource officer at the high school, but it won't happen before September.

Here's a warning if you're looking for a new place to live.

The app you could be using may have been hacked by scammers. A shoreline woman nearly fell victim on Trulia.

A 25-year-old Bridgeport man is facing charges after threatening to kill a Greater Bridgeport Transit bus driver Tuesday, police said.

According to police, 25-year-old Christian Clark entered the bus and accused the driver, a 54-year-old man, of disrespecting Clark’s wife earlier.

He then threatened to kill that driver and every other GBT driver, police said.

An officer was sent to the intersection of Washington Avenue and James Street, where Clark was arrested on threatening charges.

He was also issued a misdemeanor summons at the scene.

Interstate 84 east is closed in Southington between exits 31 and 32 this morning after a tractor-trailer rolled over, according to State Police.

The truck is on its side.

To get around the area, bypass the exit or use Interstate 691.

 

State Police are responding to Sandy Beach Road in Ellington to investigate a shooting.

The victim has been taken to the hospital. The person’s condition is not known.

No additional information was immediately available.
 

A 49-year-old West Haven man accused of sexually assaulting a girl for several years was arrested yesterday and is due in court today. 

Police said the victim, who is now 16 years old, confided in a church pastor who contacted West Haven police about the abuse allegations.

Police arrested Mark Kavanah on Wednesday after a lengthy investigation conducted by several agencies.

He has been charged with second-degree sexual assault, third-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor, threatening and disorderly conduct.  

Kavanah was released on a $50,000 bond and is due in court today.
 

A driver was seriously injured after police say his car slammed into the back of a box truck on I-84 in Southington.

The car, driven by 49-year-old John Maile, of Wethersfield, hit the back of a box truck on I-84 east by exit 31 around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The crash happened not far from a crash on the eastbound side of the highway early this morning that shut I-84 down for hours. 

Maile was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.  His condition has not been released.

The driver of the truck was not injured, police said.
 

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup diced onion (1/2 inch)
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• ½ cup chopped tomato
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar

In a large mixing bowl combine all ingredients and mix well. Then form into 2 inch round patties and place on a baking dish with at least ½ inch sides and bake in a pre-heated oven 350 for 7 minutes.

For the pita fixings:

• 1 package 6 inch pita
• 1 small red onion sliced thin
• 4 plum tomato chopped
• 1 head romaine heart sliced thin
• ½ cup sour cream mixed with 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Cut the top of the pita about 1 inch down and open the pocket. Place a little shredded lettuce in at the bottom. Then put two hot patties in next and add some chopped tomato, sour cream, and chopped tomato. Top with a little more lettuce and lunch is served.

California's much-needed recent bout of wet weather and snow are welcome, but did little to make a dent in the state's persistent drought conditions.

Surveyors from the California's Department of Water Resources recorded the snowpack’s statewide water content 24 percent of average for the date, far below normal, but "more than expected."

Last month's survey recorded a 12 percent historic average.

Electronic readings showed that water content in the northern mountains is 15 percent of normal for this date; 32 percent of normal for the central Sierra; and 24 percent for the southern Sierra. The third snowpack survey of the season was conducted at Phillips Station at Highway 50 and Sierra at Tahoe Road, about 90 miles east of Sacramento.

• Sierra Snowpack Brings Disappointing Results, 12% of Historic Average

“We welcome the late storms but they are not enough to end the drought,” DWR Director Mark Cowin said in a statment.  “We can’t control the weather but we can control the amount of water we use.  This drought is a wake-up call that we all have to take water conservation seriously and make it a way of life.”

Also on Thursday, a newly released map showed more serious news for the state of California. The United States Drought Monitor showed that more than a quarter of the state - 26.21 percent - falls into the "exceptional drought category" - the most severe of the categories. Last week, just 14 percent of the state fell into that category.  Much of the remainder of the state - 73 percent - is in the "extreme drought category."

This kind of news has regular folks worried, too.

"I"m doing a lot of praying... for some type of moisture," Kingvale resident Frank King said Thursday morning as snow on the community on the border of Placer and Nevada counties. "Can't live without it."

• U.S. Drought Monitor: California "Exceptional Drought"

Surveyors manually measure snowpack water content on or about the first of the month from January through May to check the accuracy of real-time electronic readings.  The snowpack – often called California’s largest reservoir – normally provides about a third of the water used by cities and farms as it melts into streams and reservoirs in spring and early summer.

Here is a list of California’s major reservoirs, which the water agency said are dangerously low.  

• Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project’s principal reservoir, is at only 39 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity (57 percent of its historical average for the date).
• Shasta Lake north of Redding, California’s and the federal Central Valley Project’s largest reservoir, is at 38 percent of its 4.5 million acre-foot capacity capacity (53 percent of its historical average). 
• San Luis Reservoir, a critical south-of-Delta reservoir is at a mere 33 percent of its 2 million acre-foot capacity (40 percent of average for this time of year).

 Electronic Snowpack Readings - Electronic Reservoir Readings - Statewide Water Conditions

 NBC Bay Area's Bob Redell contributed to this report.

Farmington police are asking for help from the public to identify the people behind a string of thefts from Nordstrom Rack in Farmington.

Police said there have been four thefts at the Nordstrom Rack at 1600 Southeast Road in Farmington that appear to be connected. They happened on Feb. 14, Feb. 16, Feb. 22 and Feb. 24.

Different people have stolen from the store in each case, but the vehicle used in all four crimes appears to be the same, police said.

It is a light colored, possibly tan, Buick SUV. 
In each theft, the perpetrators stole from racks near the front of the store and then ran out and got into the SUV. 

During the theft on Feb. 24, the loss prevention staff member who tried to stop one of the thieves was hit in the face.

Farmington police released surveillance photos and ask anyone who can identify the men or has information about the crimes to call Sergeant Bailey at the Farmington Police Department Detective Division 860-675-2411. 

You can also report information to the FPD tip line at 860-675-2483.

 

Hartford police have an arrest warrant for a man suspected of a 2013 murder in Hartford and believe he is on the run.

Police are looking for Montrell Brown, 38, in connection with the murder of Edmond Johnson Jr. 30, of Hartford.

According to Hartford police, Brown, who also goes by “Bush,” frequents the area of Albany Avenue, Vine Street and Magnolia Street.

Police said this morning that he might be with his brother, Tremaine Jackson, 37, who is also known as "Thick," but Jackson was arrested this morning on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear.

Homicide detectives believe Brown is on the run and trying to avoid authorities.

Police have not found the gun used in the murder and ask people to exercise "extreme caution" with Brown or his brother.

Edmond Johnson was killed on July 27, 2013.

Shot Spotter recorded multiple shots in the area of Albany Avenue and Vine Street and a resident called 911 to report a man lying on the ground.

When police responded, they found Johnson in the front of 717 Albany Ave. He had been shot several times in the upper chest, police said.

Police started giving Johnson emergency medical treatment and an ambulance transported him to St Francis Hospital.

Johnson was initially listed as stabilized in critical condition, but was pronounced at 5:45 a.m.

On Feb. 21, Major Crimes Division homicide detectives secured an arrest warrant charging Brown with murder, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal use of a firearm, reckless endangerment and carrying a pistol without a permit

Bond was set at $1 million.

Anyone with information about Brown’s whereabouts is asked to call Sergeant Brandon O’Brien at (860) 757-4089 or report a tip anonymously to Hartford Crime Stoppers at (860) 722-TIPS.


 

The former CCSU student whose Halloween costume sparked a campus-wide emergency and lockdown appeared in court today and entered a not guilty plea.

David Kyem, 21, was a senior at the school when the incident happened. He was arraigned today in Superior Court on breach of peace and criminal trespassing charges.

On Nov. 4, 62 New Britain police officers were dispatched to CCSU when students became alarmed after seeing Kyem in camouflage pants, knee pads, a dark hood, goggles a face mask, a ballistic vest, plastic samurai sword and a BB gun.

Police have asked Kyem's family to pay $13,000 for the department's emergency response to cover overtime, comp time, straight time and the criminal investigation.

Kyem, who is no longer a student, was arrested twice in the days following the incident.

He was originally charged with breach of peace. The next day, he returned to campus after being told not to and was charged with criminal trespass, police said. 

His father, Peter Kyem, is a geography professor at the university.

The day after UConn released a report into allegations of sexual misconduct by the former head of the school's music department,  the school has initiated disciplinary proceedings against UConn faculty members Robert Miller and David Woods.

Robert Miller, of Mansfield, has been on paid leave since July while police and school officials investigated allegations of sexual misconduct with university students and decades-old molestation involving children, including boys who attended a camp for ill children.

The report from DrinkerBiddle found that  UConn's response to allegations of sexual misconduct were grossly inadequate prior to the current administration and that Dean David Woods had been told of two prior allegations of sexual misconduct with minors by Professor Miller, but he did not inform anyone, to their knowledge.

The governing collective bargaining agreement requires the University to follow a prescribed process.  The first step in that process is to notify the employee of the recommended discipline and the reasons for that recommendation.

UConn said in a statement that professors Miller and Woods were notified today that, based on the findings and conclusions in the Report of Special Counsel to the Special Committee for Investigation Regarding the Alleged Misconduct of Robert F. Miller, that the University is starting the disciplinary process and that the recommended discipline is dismissal from university employment.

“Nothing can excuse some of the behavior detailed in this report on the part of certain individuals,” UConn President Susan Herbst said during Wednesday’s meeting of the University’s Board of Trustees.

She said the university would “take all appropriate action and we will do so as swiftly as possible” regarding a faculty member’s alleged misconduct and the failure of others to act on the matter.

She also told the board and others in attendance that UConn “will communicate our decisions to the board, the University and to the public at the appropriate time.”
 

The Allen High School stadium, the most expensive high school football stadium in the U.S., was shut down Thursday amid structural concerns over "extensive cracking" schools officials called "unacceptable."

The nearly $60 million, 2-year-old stadium in North Texas has cracks in the concourse and will remain shut down until at least June while the problems are evaluated and repaired. School officials said the cracked areas have been covered by tarps.

The Allen Independent School District said the cracks were first noticed before the stadium opened in 2012 and initially were viewed as normal, before they worsened during the last year and half.

The cracks are up to 3/4-inch wide — wider than would be expected from normal foundation cracking, Allen ISD officials said, when asked about drought conditions and how bad the cracks are.

Allen ISD has relocated daily activities and graduation ceremonies scheduled for June 6 at the stadium have been canceled.

The school said home football games for fall might be affected, and "repairs could be expensive," however it was unclear who will be responsible for the cost of repairs to the stadium.

Allen ISD officials said they are very disappointed that there are problems with the stadium and called the cracks in the concourse "unacceptable."

“Through the course of the last year and a half, we’ve noticed the cracks have gotten more pervasive and a little wider,” said Beth Nicholas, with Allen ISD.

When asked about the repairs needed, a representative of Pogue Construction said the goal was to have the stadium repairs completed before fall football season.

Ben Pogue, the CEO of Pogue Construction who was the contractor for the stadium, said he couldn’t comment on what is possibly causing the cracks.

Football seniors Anthony McGaffin and Ryan Johnson said they’re disappointed if the upcoming seniors don’t get to play in the stadium.

“It’s kinda sad, like it’s a waste of money.We build all that and now it’s breaking two years later,” said McGaffin.

“I think it’s awful paying $60 million – all the homeowners and stuff paying it. It’s really unfortunate there’s cracks in it,” said Johnson.

Parents are being notified of the developments in a district-wide message.

Anthony Samuel is a parent of an Allen High School junior and said he feels the district rushed the project during construction.

“If you would’ve taken your time to do it right the first time, you wouldn’t have this problem,” he said.

And when asked about taxpayers Samuel simply stated, “I think we should get a refund check.”

Allen ISD said the same construction firm that built the stadium is also working on $36 million dollar service center for Allen ISD. That project is now under review.

Currently, a third party is conducting a review on the stadium, expected to be completed sometime in June.

“Ten percent of that report is done, but until that report is completely done we know what. There is speculation of multiple things right now but we don’t have the data,” Pogue told the media.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has been released from a Washington, D.C., hospital after being taken there via ambulance as a precaution Thursday morning.

The Department of Justice said Holder had been feeling faint and was short of breath and had an elevated heart rate when he arrived at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Holder had been meeting with his senior staff at 9:30 a.m. when he said he wasn't feeling well. He excused himself and went into his office, where he decided he should go to a hospital.

"It was nothing sudden or traumatic," said an official.

Holder was taken to the hospital by ambulance, according to a Department of Justice official, and was there a little less than three hours. An initial report indicated Holder was taken to the hospital by his security detail.

Holder reportedly joked with paramedics on the ride to the emergency room.

Shortly after his arrival, the DOJ released a statement which said in part: "During his regular morning meeting with senior staff, the Attorney General began experiencing symptoms including faintness and shortness of breath. As a precaution, the Attorney General was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center to undergo further evaluation."

An official said Holder was "doing fine," is alert and had approved the DOJ's statement.

Holder was released around 1:15 p.m. Thursday and went home to rest after receiving a full range of tests, a second official statement said.

A Justice Department official said Holder was joking with paramedics on the way to the hospital, and told them he walks five flights of stairs to his office every morning.

An avid basketball player, Holder is 63 and has been in good health. However, the DOJ said Holder had experienced similar symptoms several years ago, but in a milder form that didn't require serious medical attention.

An official said Holder had been feeling under the weather all week, so this morning's episode may be related to that, reported NBC News' Pete Williams.

Holder had been scheduled to attend President Barack Obama's My Brother's Keeper event Thursday.

With a per capita arrest rate more than three times the state's per capita arrest rate in schools, New Britain has a $30,000 state grant from the "Right Response" program, to get the public schools and police to collaborate on the "right response" to misbehaving students.

"What's important here," Police Chief James Wardwell told the Common Council Wednesday night, "is identifying some of these kids before they get to the level of committing a crime.  This isn't about not arresting folks that commit crimes.  This is about intervening early before they get to that level."

Edie Joseph has studied arrests of students statewide over recent years for Connecticut Voices for Children.  The number has declined and she's hoping the trend will continue.

"About one in ten arrests were for behaviors that likely could have been handled in the classroom," Joseph said, "so these are behaviors like skipping class, insubordination, or cellphone use."

Monday she testified to state legislators, in support of a bill to get schools and police to collaborate to respond to students, just as New Britain is to see.

"Students who are arrested are more likely to drop out of school, more likely to enter into the juvenile justice system, and we know that when students are in the juvenile justice system, they're likely to have a harder time with employment, and to have decreased wages throughout their whole lives," Joseph said.