A Los Angeles man is suing his doctor and a Southern California healthcare network, saying they ignored his request to remove a notation describing "homosexual behavior" as a "chronic problem" on his medical records.

Matthew Moore, 46, who is openly gay, said he was shocked to see his sexual orientation still described as a chronic condition more than a year after he complained about the use of the archaic medical classification.

"It was infuriating. It was painful," he said of his decision to sue. "It was another attempt by this doctor and this medical group to impose their agenda of discrimination and hate onto a gay patient."

As reported in September by NBC4, Moore discovered the description in his medical records after undergoing a routine physical in April 2013 by Dr. Elaine Jones of the Torrance Health Association.

The diagnosis was coded as 302.0, an archaic classification from The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known as the ICD). Code 302.0 "homosexual behavior" was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973.

Moore said when he confronted Jones in May 2013, she defended the description by saying that the medical community goes "back and forth" on whether or not homosexuality is considered a chronic condition.

Moore wrote a letter complaining about the designation to the Torrance Memorial Health Association and received a prompt apology:

"We would like to unequivocally state that the Torrance Memorial Physician Network does not view homosexuality as a disease or a chronic condition, and we do not endorse or approve of the use of Code 302.0 as a diagnosis for homosexuality," Torrance Health Association Senior Director Heidi Assigal wrote to Moore.

The association also issued a media statement saying the designation had been used as a result of "human error" and claiming that "upon notification by the patient the record was corrected."

Moore said he let the issue go, thinking the problem had been solved. But when he obtained a copy of his medical records in May, he said he was stunned to see that while the 302.0 code had been removed, "homosexual behavior" was still listed under "chronic problems."

He said he later was given a second copy of his records on a CD, which did not contain the entry.

That prompted him to file suit in July against Dr. Jones, the Torrance Health Association Inc. and the related Torrance Memorial Physician Network, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress and libel.

That suit also alleges that the defendants "engaged in a pattern of deceit and medical record doctoring in an attempt to establish that they had earlier removed and retracted the defamatory content, when in fact they had not removed and retracted the defamatory content until the latter part of May 2014."

It seeks both punitive and compensatory damages.

In a "motion to strike" filed Aug. 6, attorneys for the defendants argued that Moore’s complaint was both "vague and ambiguous" and urged the court to dismiss parts of the lawsuit.

In a statement provided to NBC News on Monday, the Torrance Memorial Physicians Network said that employees unsuccessfully made "every effort" to remove the information from Moore’s records.

"Due to the highly complex software used in creating an electronic medical record, the incorrect code continued to exist in an electronic table only," it said. "As a result, this incorrect diagnosis code was included on a paper copy of the record, which was provided only to the patient."

Moore said he felt he had to sue after finding the entry a second time.

"I gave them chance after chance and this time I’m not going to be silent. My silence would condone this activity," he said.

Jones declined to comment through a spokeswoman for the Torrance Memorial Health Association.
Shane Snowdon, who heads the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's health and aging program, said that Moore’s case is not an aberration.

"Unfortunately, this kind of ignorance and bias is still all too common among health professionals," she said. "This incident underlines the importance of our ongoing efforts to educate healthcare providers about knowledgeable, respectful treatment of LGBT Americans. When we consult a physician, we have a right to expect care uncontaminated by personal prejudice."

But Moore said he hopes it can be a teaching moment.

"I don’t want any gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual ever to hear from a doctor that their normal and healthy sexuality is anything other than that," said Moore, noting that suicides among LGBT youth is higher than other groups. "Maybe we all just saved a life today."

Monica Alba contributed to this report.

Traffic was backed up throughout rush hour on Interstate 95 north in Milford after a truck rolled over on the highway, shutting down all northbound lanes near exit 35 for several hours, according to state police.

Although all northbound lanes reopened as of about 5:30 p.m., police said the crash would likely cause problems during the evening commute. Drivers were advised to expect residual delays and slow-moving traffic.

Viewer photos from the scene show a truck on its side, as well as a badly damaged gray sedan.

There has been no word on injuries.

Check back for updates.

A Hartford police officer accused of stealing merchandise while working a private duty security job at Walmart in July appeared in court Monday and is due back next month.

Officer Luis Feliciano, 34, turned himself in to police last week and was served with two warrants charging him with fifth-degree larceny and possessing a shoplifting device, according to police.

Feliciano, who has been a member of the Hartford Police Department for two and a half years, was suspended and asked to stay away from headquarters.

He's accused of stealing from the Walmart on Flatbush Avenue while working a security job there, according to police, who said surveillance cameras recorded some of alleged thefts.

During his brief appearance at Hartford Superior Court, Feliciano's case was continued to Sept. 18. Feliciano and his attorney left the courthouse without commenting Monday.

According to arrest warrants affidavit dated Aug. 4 and Aug. 7, Feliciano would allegedly take coffee makers and other items that were packaged for sale to a "stash spot" in the hardware section, an area he believed lacked surveillance cameras.

He then emptied the boxes, filled them with more expensive merchandise, resealed them, and paid the lower price at checkout, according to the affidavits.

The stolen goods included PlayStation controllers, a $400 wireless speaker, video games, cellphone chargers, household cleaning products, steaks and much more, according to the affidavits.

Sales associates also saw him with a shoplifting device used to deactivate anti-theft systems on electronics and other high-end items, the affidavits allege.

Walmart security considered the operation to be the work of a “professional shoplifter,” according to the affidavits.

Prior to his work at the police department, Feliciano spent 10 years as a loss prevention officer for a large retailer in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission.

This incident comes about a year and a half after Feliciano’s department-issued gun was reported stolen in Springfield, Massachusetts, according to Hartford police. Springfield police said Feliciano's weapon was later recovered during a drug raid.

Feliciano was rejected from the Springfield Police Department prior to being hired in Hartford. He filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission, saying the department was prejudiced because of a 2006 murder charge against him that was later thrown out, according to the commission's 2012 ruling.

An officer involved in the murder case also said a bag of suspected cocaine was found in Feliciano's Springfield apartment, although no drug charges were ever filed, according to the document.

The commission denied Feliciano's claim, alleging that he hadn't been truthful about all the details of the incident and had lied about his home address, the ruling contends.

Sources within the Hartford Police Department told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters they question the decision to hire Feliciano in the first place, and City Council members said they're now reviewing the department's hiring procedures and screening practices.

"I'm very happy with HPD in this instance," said councilmember Ken Kennedy. "They've done what is appropriate. Their actions seem to be appropriate, although a court of law will determine that."

After Feliciano’s arrest, state police union president Sgt. Richard Holton released a statement saying, "I ask the public not to judge officers based on one person's actions. There are still men and women out there doing good work day in and day out."

Feliciano is suspended without pay as the criminal investigation into his conduct continues. Hartford police have not responded to questions about why he was hired here in Connecticut.

Walmart has declined to comment on the case.

Connecticut is changing the way charter schools are supervised amid a state investigation into the charter school management group that terminated its CEO earlier this summer.

In July, State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor called for an investigation into Hartford’s Jumoke Academy and its parent organization, Family Urban Schools of Excellence, after the termination of FUSE CEO Michael Sharpe, who had referred to himself as “Dr. Sharpe” for years despite not yet having obtained his Ph.D.

Several other school systems have since terminated their partnerships with FUSE, including Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven, which was set to open a new charter school in conjunction with FUSE next month.

Now the state Department of Education is implementing new policies to govern charter school oversight. The goal is to “provide Connecticut’s taxpayers, educators, and thousands of charter school families with greater confidence that charter schools will operate according to high standards of excellence, organizational governance, ability, and transparency,” according to a release from the department on Monday.

Among the new policies are mandatory background checks for all school employees, managers and boards of directors; clearer expectations of student performance; and a greater exchange of information with the public, requiring contracts between schools and management groups to be available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act when the management group acts as a public agency or the contract exceeds $2.5 million.

Some schools will also need to submit annual performance reports, and the state’s charter school office will play a bigger part in conducting random yearly audits, the release says.

Eighteen charter schools currently operate in Connecticut, serving more than 7,000 children statewide, according to the Department of Education.

Jeremiah Grace, Connecticut State Director of the Northeast Charter Schools Network, said in a statement Monday that "the vast majority [of] Connecticut's charters are playing by the rules, providing good schools, giving parents choice and strengthening their communities."

Grace said the schools "don't need any more red tape" but will comply with the new regulations.

Police have issued a Silver Alert for 71-year-old Martin Allen, who went missing from Newtown earlier today.

According to police, Allen walked away from his home on Hattertown Road around 8:30 a.m. Monday and hasn't been seen since. Police said he may still be in the area.

He's described as a white man with brown eyes and brown-and-gray hair. Police said he stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 118 pounds.

Allen was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with the word "Herman's" and a basketball logo printed on the front, blue jeans, white Velcro sneakers and possibly a blue sweater, police said.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call Newtown police at 203-426-5841.

Residents of Clinton can put down their picket signs – tonight the town Planning and Zoning Commission voted against bringing a propane unloading facility to the shoreline community.

Townspeople have been up in arms since the town started exploring a proposal from developer Global Companies, which sought to bring in propane by train, store it in a dozen 45,000-gallon tanks at the site of the former Stanley Bostitch manufacturing plant on Knollwood Drive, then distribute it by truck.

They crowded into two planning and zoning meetings earlier this summer to voice their concerns about industrial pollution, decreasing property values, heavier traffic and the potential for safety risks that could accompany the facility.

But Monday night the fight was over. In a closed-door meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-1 against bringing a propane facility to town.

“We are a residential town on the shoreline. We’re not Wallingford. We’re not an industrialized town. We are a bedroom community,” said Clinton resident Kathleen Skoczen, at a July 7 planning and zoning meeting.

Global Companies now has the option to appeal the decision, but it’s not clear if it plans to do so.

Opponents protesting the construction of a minor-league baseball stadium in Hartford raised their concerns at City Hall tonight, but the City Council moved forward with plans to build, approving land purchases for both the ballpark and the Downtown North development.

The council voted to buy two acres of vacant land on Windsor Street, where the ballpark would be situated, and 14 additional properties from covered bridge ventures where businesses, restaurants and residential buildings could crop up.

Hartford is in talks with the Rock Cats to move the team over from New Britain, but city officials say the land purchase isn't just about baseball – it was part of the original Downtown North project before the Rock Cats came into the picture.

On the issue of funding, City Councilmember Larry Deutsch says it's already in the budget, thanks to a line item dedicated to acquiring properties for future development.

Hartford has received four proposals to develop Downtown North, which will house the stadium, three of which were found to meet the criteria for construction.

Now the Bloomfield-based Thomas Hooker Brewing Company, Boston’s CV Properties LLC and Leyland Alliance out of New York, in partnership with Centerplan in Middletown, will compete to win the bid. The City Council has yet to review those proposals.

Many Hartford residents say they’ve been kept in the dark and excluded from discussions. At Monday night's meeting, they hoisted signs that read, “No Stadium Deal!” and “Hartford needs many things… A new stadium isn’t on the list.”

“We’re very interested in these proposals. We haven’t heard much. We’ve heard nothing about the financial end of it. We’re still waiting for this transparency to happen,” said Anne Goshdigian of the Hartford Coalition to Stop the Stadium.

She wasn't alone. Joanne Bauer of Hartford called the stadium proposal "sadly and deeply troubling" and said the city's proceedings represent "a huge failure in communication."

For the city, it's full speed ahead. Hartford will move forward with making the purchases, and next month, the council will review the development proposals and narrow down their options.

The mayor's office said the city could select a finalist sometime in September.

Robin Williams stood in the eye of his own humor hurricane, a human perpetual motion machine of comedy who unleashed manic streams of pop-cultural consciousness with the improv intensity of a be-bop great and the deceivingly tight timing of a master drummer who always marched to his own off-beat.

At his best, riff-machine Williams launched mad races with his audiences to see who would run out of breath first – him from spraying jokes like a Gatling gun or us from side-splitting laughter.

News of Williams' tragic death at age 63 took away the breath of fans across the globe in a starkly different way Monday, with the reported circumstances of his demise belying the joy spread by one of our greatest comic geniuses.

We can take some comfort in recalling an often brilliant and always versatile performer who, over the last four decades, created and shared indelible characters from TV to the movies to the stage.

He gave twisted life to hilarious human cartoons ("Mork & Mindy" and "Popeye") and to cartoon characters ("Aladdin" and "Happy Feet"). In more serious turns, Williams played doctors, real and otherwise, who healed with humanity ("Awakenings" and "Good Will Hunting," which earned him an Oscar). He excelled as rebels with a cause ("Good Morning, Vietnam" and “Dead Poets Society”). He lent bittersweet dignity – and unabashed craziness – to characters on society’s fringes ("The Survivors" and Terry Gilliam's brilliant, “The Fisher King”).

It's hard to imagine anyone but Williams in those parts, and in many others.

Only Robin Williams could do justice to the greatest work of our off-kilter modern Dickens (John Irvings' "The World According to Garp"). Only Robin Williams could turn the underlying grim story of a sad dad into a  screwball, cross-dressing comedy ("Mrs. Doubtfire"). Only Robin Williams could turn a voracious, man-eating beast into a sympathetic character – and a walking, talking, wisecracking metaphor (Broadway's “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo”).

Only Robin Williams could turn the stage of the Metropolitan Opera into an improv playpen, delivering a stand-up performance of operatic proportions in 1986.

Although Williams’ strongest roles widely varied, they brimmed with humor and humanity. Those qualities were borne out in real life through his devotion to the "Comic Relief" benefits for the homeless.

When his own demons played out in public, he responded with unflinching honesty – and jokes. Cocaine, he once noted, is "God's way of telling you you make too much money."

He delivered that line during his classic gig at The Met. Those of us lucky enough to have been there experienced how Williams could jolt a theater to full-blaze life, as he shape-shifted from Minnie Pearl to Pavarotti to a football coach to a flamboyant choreographer in a priceless display of free-association. He fed on our laughter, and responded by giving us more and more to laugh at.

Which makes news of his death all the more heartbreaking. All fans can do is wish his family some peace and remember the laughter, which is all we have left from a performer who gave us everything he had.

Jere Hester is founding director of the award-winning, multi-media NYCity News Service at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.

A man died in a crash on Interstate 84 East in West Hartford early Tuesday morning, according to State Police.

The fatal one-car crash happened at about 3:40 a.m. at Exit 41 near the Mayflower Street overpass. The area was closed for several hours and reopened at about 6:40 a.m..

State Police have not released the man's age or identity or information on the circumstances of the crash.

More information will be provided when it becomes available.

The polls have opened for primaries that will determine which GOP candidate will be selected to run against Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in the November election and the candidates that will be on the fall ballot in other seats in local, regional and state government.

Secretary of State Denise Merrill said that 400,000 registered Republicans and several Democrats are eligible to vote today in their parties' respective primaries.

GOP registered voters can cast a ballot for Tom Foley or John McKinney for Republican gubernatorial candidate and races including lieutenant governor and comptroller. Both registered Republicans and Democrats can vote for state legislature, judge of probate and Registrar of Voters positions in their respective parties.

Merrill is encouraging voters registered with a party to visit the polls Tuesday.

“If you are a registered Democrat or Republican who can cast a ballot in a primary it is very
important to go out and vote today, because this is your chance to have a say in who goes on the
ballot in November, with the winners of those elections making critical state government
decisions,” Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official, said in a statement.

She said that her office will be available throughout the day if people have questions and want to call.

“We have some very exciting primaries this year, both for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and a number of state house and senate seats, and even some local primaries are quite hotly contested," she said. "Make sure your voice is heard and that you exercise your right to choose the future leaders of your community and your state. So if you are eligible today, go and vote!”

You can reach the Secretary of the State's Office and the State Elections Enforcement Commission through an Election Day hotline at 1-866-SEEC-INFO (1-866-733-2463) or email the agencies at elections@ct.gov.  Callers can report issues voting anonymously, but should mention the town and polling place where the issue occurred.

Information on your polling place and voter status is available at www.sots.ct.gov/vote. The polls close at 8 p.m.

Here's a list of today's primaries, according to Merrill (*notes endorsed candidates):

Governor

Republican
*Thomas C. Foley
John P. McKinney

Lieutenant Governor

Republican
*Penny Bacchiochi
Heather Somers
David M. Walker

Comptroller

Republican
*Sharon J. McLaughlin
Angel Cadena

State Senate 2

Democratic

*Shawn Wooden
Eric D. Coleman
Len Walker

State Senate 20

Democratic
*Elizabeth B. Ritter
William L. Satti

State Senate 22

Democratic
*Anthony J. Musto
Marilyn Moore

State Senate 23

Democratic
*Andres Ayala, Jr.
Scott Hughes

Assembly District 7

Democratic
*Douglas McCroy
Donna Thompson-Daniel

Assembly District 23

Republican
*Devin R. Carney
Vicki Lanier

Assembly District 32

Democratic
*Kathleen G. Richards
Anthony “Tony” Salvatore

Assembly District 44

Democratic
*Christine Rosati
Michael Cartier

Assembly District 47

Republican (No Endorsement)
Doug Dubitsky
Noah Enslow
Michael P. Meadows

Assembly District 48

Democratic
*Linda A. Orange
Jason Paul

Assembly District 64

Republican
*Brian Ohler
Mark Lauretano

Assembly District 122

Republican
*Ben McGorty
Michael C. Vickerelli

Assembly District 124

Democratic
*Ernie Newton
Andre Baker

Assembly District 128

Democratic
*Christopher Rosario
Christina Ayala
Dennis Bradley
Teresa Davidson

Assembly District 133

Democratic
*Cristin McCarthy Vahey
Matt Waggner

Assembly District 137

Democratic
*David Watts
Chris Perone

Assembly District 140

Democratic
*Bruce Morris
Warren Pena

Assembly District 142

Republican
*Emily Wilson
Fred Wilms

Probate District Plainfield/Killingly 27

Democratic
*Andrea Truppa
Anna Zubkova

Probate District Madison/Guilford 34

Republican
*William Bilcheck
 Gail S. Kotowski

Registrar of Voters

Bristol

Democratic *Kevin McCauley
Mary Rydingsward

Chaplin

Republican
*Eugene V. Boomer, Jr.
William L. Jenkins

Danbury

Democratic
*Susan Lewis Ward
Margaret F. Gallo

Hampton

Democratic
*Marilynn S. Higgins
Matthew E. LaFontaine

North Stonington

Democratic
*Marilyn MacKay
Joan L. Kepler

Norwalk

Republican
*John F. Federici
Karen Doyle Lyons

Somers

Republican
*William Karl Walton III
David P. McCaffrey

Online petitioners are calling on organizers to halt plans for an upcoming event that would bring a 1,000-foot-long water slide to downtown Los Angeles during one of the worst droughts in state history.

The event, called Slide the City, would set up the vinyl slide on Olive Street from 3rd to 6th streets, using 12,000 to 16,000 gallons of water, according to the company.

An online petition seeking 5,000 signatures was started last week in opposition of the event, calling the water attraction "extremely irresponsible." As of 8 p.m. Monday, more than 2,700 signatures had been collected.

"I love California, and I refuse to see our precious resources be wasted on such a careless thing," said petition creator Karina Soto on her Facebook page.

Slide the City tours the nations setting up the slide in various cities. Company cofounder John Malfatto said that the first event in Salt Lake City was well-received, and he is surprised by the backlash in Los Angeles.

"I wasn't expecting it all," Malfatto said. "I'm a little surprised by it."

Malfatto said that his company intends to respect the local laws and has the option of trucking in the water needed to run the slide.

But some Southern Californians, well aware of the restrictions from the state to conserve water or face steep fines, find the event to be a waste of water and unnecessary.

"This sounds like fun, but not when we are in a drought," a petition signer said. "Perhaps when our state isn't in dire need of water, this would be a grand idea."

The event has yet to be approved by the city and the company is holding off on selling tickets until they are given the green light to go.

"We definitely don't want to cause any problems," Malfatto said. "We just want to put on a fun event."

On its Facebook page, Slide the City posted, "In our effort to preserve water, we recycle water used on the slide throughout the day, treat it with pool chemicals, and dispose of it properly #waterconservation."

A 3-year-old girl was fatally shot after a man opened fire on a Maryland house following an altercation over clothing, police said.

The little girl's killer is still at large, and police are urging the suspect, 25-year-old Davon Antwan Wallace, to turn himself in. Family members say they want justice for the death of young Knijah Amore Bibb.

"I hope he burns in hell because he took an innocent child's life," the girl's grandmother Brenda Bibb said. "She was so loving. Everybody loved her."

Police say Wallace was dating someone who lives at a home in the 6900 block of Forest Terrace in Landover, Maryland. While at the home Sunday, Wallace accused an acquaintance of wearing some of his clothing, then left. 

Wallace later returned and fired gunshots into the home, said Prince George’s County Police. News4's Darcy Spencer counted at least six bullet holes on the exterior of the home.

Knijah, of Northwest D.C., was hit by the gunfire while she was in an upstairs bedroom of the home, where she had been visiting her cousins. She was transported to a hospital, where she died.

"We all got a scar that will never heal, that we have to live with the rest of our lives," Bibb said. "My daughter had three boys and she tried so hard for a girl, and she got one and he just took her away from her." 

Wallace was identified as a suspect late Sunday. Police said the "intended target" of the gunfire, a boy in his late teens, had not been in the house at the time of the shooting.

"I feel terrible; I feel helpless," said Knijah's mother Shadon Bibb. 

Wallace, of the 7000 block of E. Kilmer Street in Landover, has been charged with first-degree murder after a preliminary investigation.

Police said anyone harboring the suspect will also face charges.

Pgpd: squad of investigators on child murder have not gone home, have not slept. They have "sense of moral outrage"

— Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) August 11, 2014

The little girl's death stunned the neighborhood and even the police who continue to investigate, Spencer reported.

The investigators had not yet slept or gone home by Monday afternoon, citing a "sense of moral outrage" over the little girl's death, authorities said.

In 2007, 21 surveillance cameras were installed in the county to help deter crime -- including one right across the street from the house where Knijah was shot and killed.

"Unfortunately that camera is not operational so there was no useful video from that camera," Lt. William Alexander with Prince George's County Police said. 

Police maintain they did not need the surveillance video to help identify Wallace, though the cameras haven't been working for at least two years.

Robert Boddie, who lives next door to the scene of the crime, said that he and his two young sons had just moved into the neighborhood a few weeks ago.

"These are my next-door neighbors. It's not like it's down the street or down the block. I really don't feel like it's OK to feel OK right now," Boddie said.

He said his father was watching his children Sunday afternoon when his neighbor's home was sprayed with bullets.

"He heard the gunshots, grabbed my children, threw themselves to the floor and kind of crawled to the back of the house," Boddie said. 

Tonisia Carter, who lives across the street, said the neighborhood had changed for the better over time.

"It had a horrible reputation, just the surrounding area, a lot of violence. But over the years, it has calmed down a whole lot," she said.

Warrant obtained for suspect in murder of young girl. Detectives searching for Davon Wallace. http://t.co/BA5L30Ury2 pic.twitter.com/zZSyAC20bF

— PGPDNEWS (@PGPDNews) August 11, 2014

Anyone with information that could lead to his arrest should call Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS or 301-772-4925.

Police arrested one of two masked men suspected of attacking a restaurant manager making a bank deposit and robbing him in North Haven two months ago.

Officers found an empty moneybag and "Halloween type" masks and used DNA to identify one of the suspects as Allan Davis, 24. Police obtained an arrest warrant and Allan turned himself in on Monday.

The arrest comes a couple months after two masked men demanded money from a Washington Avenue restaurant night manager "making an after-hours bank deposit" on June 3, according to police. The men punched the victim numerous times and then took his bag of money and ran from the scene.

Police have not said whether they're still looking for a second suspect or whether further arrests are anticipated.

Davis was charged with second-degree robbery and third-degree larceny. He posted a $5,000 bond and was released and is scheduled to be arrained in Meriden Superior Court on Aug. 21.

A fraternity and two sororities have been banned from the University of Connecticut amid hazing allegations and student code violations, according to a spokesperson for the university.

It comes just months after two other Greek organizations were removed from campus for similar allegations, bringing the number of recently banned fraternities and sororities to five.

The state university notified the Sigma Chi fraternity and sororities Delta Gamma and Delta Zeta on Monday that "they will lose their chapter registrations, recognition and on-campus housing at UConn as a result of hazing and other behaviors" that violated UConn's Student Code, according to spokesperson Stephanie Reitz.

A school investigation found Sigma Chi and Delta Gamma responsible for three student code violations in connection with a Feb. 28 incident. Letters sent to both organizations say men affiliated with Sigma Chi where forced to bob for "nips" in a toilet and eat cat food. Some were also allegedly struck with wooden paddles.

The allegations against Delta Zeta came to light shortly thereafter. Members were accused of feeding dog treats to fraternity men and forcing them to drink and paint their bodies, according to a letter from the UConn associate director of community standards sent to the chapter.

"UConn takes a zero-tolerance approach to hazing and harmful treatment of students by anyone, under any circumstances. Our mission is to provide a first-rate learning environment, and we take this duty really seriously," UConn officials said in a statement obtained Tuesday. "Greek Life has played a vital role in the life of this university for decades and will continue to do so. UConn values the commitment of the many students who promote philanthropy, community service and responsible citizenry through their participation in these groups."

The sanctions are effective immediately, lasting three years for Sigma Chi, two years for Delta Zeta and one year for Delta Gamma, pending appeals.

Delta Zeta and Delta Gamma will be banned from housing in Husky Village from Jan. 1, 2015 through Aug. 15, 2017. Sigma Chi will be banned until Aug. 15, 2018, according to the university.

Students in the banned organizations assigned to housing in Husky Village will be permitted to stay there in the fall and will be reassigned in the spring.

The groups will also be banned from "interest housing" in the Towers residence halls, which places sorority and fraternity members on the same floor.

A spokesperson for the national Delta Gamma Fraternity says the UConn chapter plans to appeal the university's ruling. All three organizations can submit appeals by the end of the day Friday.

"Delta Gamma Fraternity values the heritage of our Epsilon Pi chapter, but knows there must be a desire and commitment from our current collegians to promote and live by the values of our Fraternity," said Delta Gamma national president Stacia Rudge Skook, in a statement Monday. "We believe the current collegiate members in our Epsilon Pi chapter understand Delta Gamma Fraternity's values and are ready and willing to lead the change. Our members do not condone this behavior and are sorrowed that the actions of a few have impacted so many."

Delta Zeta also released a statement in response to the decision, which reads, in part:

"The Sorority fosters the respect and worth of self and of others, and does not condone hazing. Delta Zeta is committed to its eradication. Delta Zeta Sorority members are expected to conduct themselves in alignment with the Sorority values that exemplify integrity, good citizenship and leadership."

It's not clear if Delta Zeta or Sigma Chi plan to appeal the ruling.

The university's actions come just months after sanctioning Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Kappa Kappa Gamma.

UConn will have 2,300 students participating in 34 recognized fraternities and sororities at the start of the school year in the fall, including the three recently sanctioned.

Two additional Greek organizations are colonizing at UConn as well, including Sigma Phi Epsilon, a fraternity that lost its recognition in 2008, and new sorority, Alpha Chi Omega.

East Beach at Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic is closed because of water quality.

The water will be resampled and results are expected on Wednesday, Aug. 13, according to the beach status report from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

All other beaches that the state DEEP tests water for are open.
 

The sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to ex-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is complete, NBA officials said Tuesday after months of legal battles involving long-time Clippers owner Donald Sterling and his wife.

The finalization of the $2 billion transaction already approved by NBA owners marks the end of Donald Sterling's run as the league's longest-tenured owner and the beginning of a new era for the Clippers and their fans, who remained loyal during what Ballmer described as "some extraordinary times."

In a statement issued Tuesday, the NBA said: "The transaction in which Steve Ballmer purchased the Los Angeles Clippers closed today following the entry of an order by a California court confirming the authority of Shelly Sterling, on behalf of the Sterling Family Trust, to sell the team. The NBA Board of Governors previously approved the sale and Ballmer is now the Clippers Governor."

"I'm really, really happy that it was sold today. I hate losing the team, but it’s going to a wonderful person who's going to make us all proud," Shelly Sterling said during an afternoon press conference. "I know he’s going to bring a championship to this city."

Shelly Sterling negotiated the $2 billion deal with Ballmer and signed an agreement May 29. Shelly Sterling said she was initially given her husband's blessing to sell the team, but Donald Sterling later refused to sign the deal and challenged in court her right to negotiate the sale.

The path to approval appeared clear after a judge in the case ruled against him last month. During an interview earlier this month, Ballmer was cautious about calling the team his own -- despite the court ruling --  but issued a statement Tuesday in which he praised Clippers fans for their patience and expressed excitement about the future of one of the league's most-promising franchises.

"I am humbled and honored to be the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers," Ballmer said in a statement. "Clipper fans are so amazing. They have remained fiercely loyal to our franchise through some extraordinary times. I will be hard core in giving the team, our great coach, staff and players the support they need to do their best work on the court. And we will do whatever necessary to provide our fans and their families with the best game-night experience in the NBA."

Ballmer plans to meet with fans Aug. 18 when the team has scheduled a Fan Festival at Staples Center.

Shelly Sterling said she is "thrilled that the Clippers now have such a wonderful new owner."

Attorneys for Sterling and Ballmer said the deal was finalized at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Shelly Sterling's attorney, Pierce O’Donnell, said at the news conference that Donald Sterling had filed a petition opposing the sale. O'Donnell called it a "desperate act" and said he was confident the court of appeals would not take the case.

The legal quarrel continued until late last week when Donald Sterling's petition with a state appeals court requesting an order blocking the proposed sale was denied. An attorney for Ballmer said the sale was completed after the court order was signed.

"Judge (Michael) Levanas signed his court order authorizing the sale even if Donald Sterling filed an appeal and we were ready," attorney Adam Streisand said in a statement Tuesday. "Within minutes, the deal was signed, sealed and delivered."

Donald Sterling, who purchased the Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million, has been under pressure since April to sell the team since the release of recorded conversations with companion V. Stiviano that included racist comments. The wealthy real estate mogul chastised Stiviano for bringing black men to Clippers games.

The NBA commissioner moved to oust the 80-year-old Sterling in the days after the recording's release as fans, current and former players and others called for action.

The league put those efforts on hold pending a decision on Shelly Sterling's ability to sell the franchise. The transfer to Ballmer hit a stumbling block when Donald Sterling contended he had been duped by his wife into submitting to medical tests as part of a plot to have him ousted from the trust so the sale could move forward.

Two doctors examined Donald Sterling and determined him to be mentally incapacitated. At issue during the trial of Sterling v. Sterling was whether Shelly Sterling acted within guidelines established by the Sterling Family Trust when she negotiated the deal, which the judge refused to block.

The trial included several outbursts from Donald Sterling, who lashed out at his wife, her attorneys and his attorneys. He also vowed to sue the league until the day he dies.

An attorney for Donald Sterling, Maxwell M. Blecher, said Tuesday his client will not be issuing a statement regarding the NBA's announcement.
 

Robin Williams killed himself by hanging himself with a belt, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday, as it announced the results of a preliminary investigation into the beloved actor's suicide.

Williams' personal assistant found him with a belt around his neck Monday in a chair near a closet door in his Tiburon home around 11:45 a.m., Lt. Keith Boyd told a bank of reporters Tuesday.

The iconic actor and comedian had "been seeking treatment for depression," Boyd said, confirming what Williams' publicist had said Monday. Boyd declined to say more, citing federal privacy laws.

Boyd stressed the findings by Marin County Chief Forensic Pathologist Joseph Cohen were preliminary, and he would not discuss whether the 63-year-old had left behind a message for anyone.

"We are not discussing the note, or a note, at this time," Boyd said.

Boyd also did not know if Williams had taken any drugs or consumed alcohol before he committed "suicide by asphyxia." That information will not be available until a toxicology report is returned.

Boyd recounted a brief timeline of events that led to the shocking discovery.

Williams' wife, Susan Schneider, last saw her husband Sunday at about 10:30 p.m. She retired to one room to go to sleep, and her husband went into another, Boyd said. That was the last time anyone saw him alive.

It wasn't until the next morning at 11:45 a.m. that Williams' personal assistant knocked on a bedroom door. There was no response, Boyd said. When the assistant went in, Williams' body was seated in a chair and "cool to the touch."  The "distraught" assistant called 911 at 11:55 a.m., Boyd said.

Boyd said it's unknown at this point exactly what time Williams killed himself, but the actor was pronounced dead on Monday at 12:02 p.m. when firefighters arrived.

The Marin County Sheriff's office received some negative feedback from Internet users who thought the department's divulgence of graphic details was unnecessary. Lt. Boyd declined to comment on the department's decision when contacted by NBC Bay Area.

"We will address this in any future press conference we conduct," Boyd said in an email.

Williams was open about his persistent battles with substance abuse, as he often made light of his cocaine use during his 1980s standup routines and discussed his alcoholism openly.

Williams returned to rehab last month. He said he had not relapsed, but was working on maintaining his sobriety.

SUICIDE PREVENTION: If you know someone who needs help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

A Hartford police officer was taken to the hospital after being involved in a crash at Franklin Avenue and South Street, according to police spokesperson Deputy Chief Brian Foley.

Foley said the officer was one of "several" people being treated for non-life threatening injuries. The accident appears to involve three cars.

Police have not yet released any information on the circumstances of the crash.

Check back for updates.

Camp Meeting Road/Route 534 was closed between French Road and Birch Mountain Road in Bolton on Tuesday after a power line fell onto a 200-foot long section of guardrail, according to state police.

The scene was cleared as of 5 p.m., according to an alert from the state Department of Transportation.

Crews from Connecticut Light & Power and the DOT responded to the scene. The CL&P outage map reported at one point that more than 600 Bolton residents were without power.

Power has since been restored.

A 33-year-old Ansonia man is believed to have drowned while fishing at Witek Park in Derby, according to police, who found his body in the water early Tuesday morning.

The man's identity has not been publicly released. A medical examiner will conduct an autopsy and toxicology tests to determine his official cause of death.

Police said a dive team from the Shelton Police Department recovered the body after Derby officers spotted it in the water.

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Derby police at 203-735-7811.