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Teen With Down Syndrome Treks to Everest Base Camp

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A 15-year-old boy with a passion for sports and an infectious smile became the first person with Down syndrome to stand at the base camp of Mount Everest, and he’s returning to Southern California Friday night to what promises to be a jubilant welcome.

Elisha "Eli" Reimer is scheduled to land at Los Angeles International Airport Friday night after making the 70-mile trek, which was more than a goal – it’s what Eli’s father calls the family’s mission.

Bundled up against the frigid temperatures, Eli, his father and six others made the journey to benefit the Elisha Foundation, based in Oregon.

Named for the high school freshman who made the 17,600-foot climb, the Elisha Foundation was started in 2005 as a way to give families of children with disabilities "practical and emotional support" through free retreat programs, fully funded by donations.

The organization also raises awareness and money for orphans with disabilities.

And instead of seeing his son's Down syndrome as a disability, Justin Reimer calls it his "uniqueness." The Elisha Foundation seeks to impart that compassion in communities where Down syndrone causes families to be marginalized.

Dozens of well-wishers are expected to greet Eli and his hiking crew at LAX Friday night with balloons, signs and cheers.

"We will be screaming our heads off to welcome home Team Eli," wrote Kristen Isaacs, with the Eli Foundation.

The trek has generated $85,000 in donations so far. Their goal is $100,000.



Photo Credit: The Elisha Foundation

Thousands Participate in Sandy Hook Benefit Run in Conn.

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Thousands of people on Saturday participated in a 5K run to benefit the victims' families of the Sandy Hood Elementary School massacre in Hartford, Conn.

Participants held a moment of silence, followed by the sound of 26 bell tolls, before kicking off the run in Hartford Saturday morning. Nearly 15,000 people participated in the 5k that raised money for the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

Today, they are going to surround that town of Sandy Hook with love and support," said Beth Shluger, director of the Hartford Marathon Foundation .

Though thousands ran, many more from across the country wanted to show their support. The Hartford Marathon Foundation set up whats called a virtual run. People were able to donate and run from wherever they lived.
 
"We have runners in Omaha, Nebraska, Austin andSan Francisco," said Shluger. "We have over a thousand virtual runners."

Event organizers expect to raise more than $400,000. The money will go to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

For more information about the race visit the Hartford Marathon Foundation Web page or the foundation’s Facebook page.

 

After Sandy, Coney Island Ready for Visitors Again

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After being devastated by Sandy, workers at Coney Island's Luna Park have worked for months to get ready for reopening. They've accomplished their goal but some neighborhood groups question how the theme park got repaired so quickly while nearby families and businesses are still trying to rebound. Contessa Brewer reports.

Highway Reopened After Fallen Tree

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The Wilbur Cross Parkway Southbound in Orange is open after a fallen tree blocked the roadway Saturday afternoon.

The incident happened between exits 57 and 56. Two cars sustained damage after they were struck by the falling tree. State Police said there were minor injuries.
 



Photo Credit: Dr. Nick Spera

Ansonia Cop Saves Choking Baby

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An Ansonia police officer is being hailed a hero after saving a choking, 8-day-old baby.

It was Wednesday afternoon, just after feeding time when Jayni Alvarez and her fiance, William Perez heard strange noises coming from the crib of their daughter Jaynie Marie.

"I never seen a child red-purple with blue lips just not breathing, never, " said Alvarez .

Their 8-day-old daughter was choking on her formula. Alvarez called 911.

"Honestly, I thought she was gonna die. Her father and I thought it was the last time we were gonna see her because she was not gonna make it," Alvarez said.

Fortunately, Officer Joseph Jackson was only a block away when he heard the call on his radio.

"I drove my patrol vehicle and I didn't take every stair, just jumped up and walked into the house," said Officer Jackson.

The officer, with nearly a quarter century of experience, began to gingerly give Jaynie Marie chest compressions.

"All of a sudden foam came out of the mouth and then the baby woke. The eyes came open and that was it," said Officer Jackson.

Jayni Alvarez is thankful.

"You usually just don't see people who care so much the way he did and I saw it in his face. That's why I'm so grateful for him," Alvarez said.

Officer Jackson checks in with family everyday since the incident occurred. Alvarez says they consider him now a part of the family.

 

Three Wounded in Bridgeport Shooting

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Bridgeport Police are investigating a triple shooting that left three people injured early Saturday morning.
 
Police responded to the area of Expressions Café at 1425 Boston Ave. around 1:30 a.m. this morning. When they arrived they discovered a 24-year-old male that had been shot in the abdomen. He was transported to Bridgeport Hospital and is listed in serious condition.
 
A 24-year-old woman who was shot in the right thigh and a 27-year-old woman who was also struck in the leg were both transported to Bridgeport Hospital.
 
The investigation is still in the early stages and is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to call Bridgeport Police at 203-576-8126.

 

 

Police Rescue Boy Trapped in Mud

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A 9-year-old boy is alive thanks to the heroic efforts of several police officers. 

On Saturday, around 3:45 p.m., police were dispatched to a home on Billows Drive in East Greenwich, New Jersey. When they arrived, they learned that a 9-year-old boy with autism had wandered from the home in an unknown direction around 3:30 p.m. East Greenwich Police, along with the police departments, fire departments and emergency crews from neighboring towns began to search for the boy.

After searching for about an hour and a half, police and K9 units found the boy several hundred yards behind his home stuck in the Mantua Creek during low tide. The boy was about a quarter mile away from the shoreline and was submerged up to his neck in mud in extremely cold temperatures. Police say the boy was within several minutes of drowning due to the tide coming in.

Police officers quickly took action and ran into the creek. At one point, investigators say the officers became submerged in the mud and water as well but managed to free themselves and get to the child. The boy was eventually freed and carried safely to land. The child was not seriously hurt and was reunited with his father after being treated at the hospital.

“The officers did an excellent job and are credited with saving the child’s life,” said Lieutenant Charles Barone of the East Greenwich Township Police Department. “The only casualties were several destroyed police uniforms.”
 



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Out-of-Control Car Lands on Neighbor's Roof in L.A. Suburb

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A man in a suburb of Los Angeles lost control of his vehicle Saturday, sending the car down an embankment and landing on a neighbor's roof.

After the vehicle in Glendale, California came to a stop on the roof, a neighbor rushed over with a ladder, helping the driver and a female passenger off the home.

"There was a gentleman that was in the house that was home at the time, but he was not hurt," Glendale Fire Department spokesman Carlos Guerrero said.

Authorities used a crane to remove the vehicle.

A preliminary report indicated there was a mechanical issue with the car, according to the Glendale Police Department.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy



Photo Credit: RMG News

Fatal Accident in Cheshire

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Cheshire police are investigating after a fatal accident early Sunday morning.

Police responded to Jinny Hill Road around 1 a.m. this morning in the area of Radmire Road and Crestwood Drive for a report of a one car accident.

According to police, a Cheshire women in her 30's  died as a result of the accident.

The road is closed as police continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call Cheshire Police at 203-271-5500.

Endangered Giraffe Born In CT

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A rare, nearly 6-foot-tall giraffe listed as an endangered animal has been born in a Connecticut conservation center.

According to The Greenwich Times, Petal, a 6-year-old  giraffe gave birth to a female calf  on Friday as a group of other giraffes and staff at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center watched.
 
 
When fully grown, the newborn, who will live with a group of five giraffes including two pregnant giraffes, could reach 18 feet in height.
 
The calf is the first born at the off-exhibit conservation center.
 
Rothschild giraffes were named and described by Lord Walter Rothschild, a British zoologist, after an expedition to East Africa in the early 1900s.

New Sinkhole in Same Fla. Town Where Man Was Killed

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Just weeks after a sinkhole swallowed a Florida man, killing him in his sleep in his Seffner home, another sinkhole has opened between two houses in the same town.

The latest sinkhole appeared on Saturday and is estimated to be about 8 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep, according to WFLA.

Both homes on either side of the hole were evacuated as a precaution.

Sinkholes in SoFla Not Likely: Expert

Seffner is the town where 37-year-old Jeff Bush was swallowed by a sinkhole that completely demolished his bedroom three weeks ago. Five others who were in the house escaped unharmed.

That sinkhole was estimated to be 20 feet wide and 20 feet deep. The house was later demolished.



Photo Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

4 Injured in Wallingford Car Crash

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Four people were injured Sunday evening in an accident on Route 68 and Barnes Road in Wallingford.

Police got the call at 4:16 p.m., and said it was a head on collision between two cars, one of them going the wrong way.

According to investigators, a man was driving in one car and the other vehicle was carrying a man and two children.

All four victims were  taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The man traveling alone is in serious condition.

The roadway is still closed as police investigate the cause of the crash.

 

Newtown Residents Frustrated Over NRA Robocalls

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Several people in Newtown have been on the receiving end of robocalls from the National Rifle Association. The calls started last week and many people on the other end of line are furious.

The National Rifle Association are calling residents urging them to contact their state legislators and push back against proposals for stricter gun laws.

The calls are stirring controversy and outrage in Newtown. People there are calling them insensitive.

"I was just kind of more shocked. That type of call would come to Newtown three months from one of the most horrendous tragedies and to call the town of Newtown didn't seem like the right thing to do," said Newtown resident Tom Maurath.

Maurath said he received the calls last week and believes it crosses the line from a political issue to one of right and wrong.

Tom and his neighbors are most upset that they have received the calls during dinner time. A time when the whole family is home including children who might not know the details of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Dan O' Donnell lives in Sandy Hook and said he never though about the gun debate until his town became the center of it and now robocalls are bringing the discussion to his doorstep.

"I have no understanding why they would be calling my house. Three calls in one week asking us to protect our 2nd Amendment Rights when I'm not a member of their organization," he said.

Dan said he supports efforts to explore more gun control legislation. The robocalls asking him to reject proposals for any new laws go against what he believes in and he finds them disturbing.

"It's ridiculous and insensitive. I can't believe an organization would be so focused on the rights of gun owners with no consideration for the losses this town suffered."

NBC Connecticut reached out to the NRA for comment. We have not heard back. Federal law allows nonprofits like the NRA to issue unsolicited robocalls.

5-State Search for Missing Brown U. Student

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A student from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island has been missing for more than a week and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is helping in a five-state search, according to the Providence Journal. http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2013/03/providence-ri---the-fbi.html

Sunil Tripathi, 22, of Pennsylvania, was last seen on Friday, March 15 on the campus of the Ivy League university, according to the Journal, and the search has expanded to Connecticut, Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

His family said Sunil’s wallet, ID cards, credit cards and cell phone were found in his room.

“Our concerns are first and foremost with Sunil and his family,” Margaret Klawunn, vice president for student life and campus services at Brown, said in a statement posted on the university’s Web site. “We are hopeful that by encouraging the Brown community to help spread the word that Sunil will be located.”

Tripathi grew up in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and has been living in Providence since 2008, according to Brown University, where he is a philosophy major and a talented saxophonist.
 offered her contact information for further information:sangtrip@gmail.com, 917-774-9208.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Providence Police Department at (401) 272-3121.

A Twitter account, @findingsunny, and a Facebook page have been set up to help with the search. 

If you have any information or think you've seen him, call police.

 



Photo Credit: Tripathi Family

Dramatic Photos: NCAA Tournament 2013

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Florida Gulf Coast's Sherwood Brown, center, celebrates with teammates after their 81-71 upset win over San Diego State in a third-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament. Florida Gulf Coast became the first No. 15 seed to make the Sweet 16.

Lawmakers Consider Banning Teens from Tanning Beds

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State lawmakers on Monday will debate whether to ban teenagers from using indoor tanning beds.

The public health committee will vote on the bill, which would prohibit anyone under 18 from using indoor tanning beds unless they have a note from a doctor.

The legislation would fine anyone who allows a teen to use a tanning bed up to $100.

Supporters said the bill will help cut down on skin cancer risks, which critics said it will encourage teens to use unregulated home equipment
 

Newtown Residents Complain About NRA Robocalls

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Several people in Newtown have been on the receiving end of robocalls from the National Rifle Association. The calls started last week and many people on the other end of line are furious.

The National Rifle Association is calling residents urging them to contact their state legislators and push back against proposals for stricter gun laws.

The calls are stirring controversy and outrage in Newtown. People there are calling them insensitive.

"I was just kind of more shocked. That type of call would come to Newtown three months from one of the most horrendous tragedies and to call the town of Newtown didn't seem like the right thing to do," said Newtown resident Tom Maurath.

Maurath said he received the calls last week and believes it crosses the line from a political issue to one of right and wrong.

Tom and his neighbors are most upset that they have received the calls during dinner time. A time when the whole family is home including children who might not know the details of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Dan O'Donnell lives in Sandy Hook and said he never though about the gun debate until his town became the center of it and now robocalls are bringing the discussion to his doorstep.

"I have no understanding why they would be calling my house. Three calls in one week asking us to protect our Second Amendment Rights when I'm not a member of their organization," he said.

Dan said he supports efforts to explore more gun control legislation. The robocalls asking him to reject proposals for any new laws go against what he believes in and he finds them disturbing.

"It's ridiculous and insensitive. I can't believe an organization would be so focused on the rights of gun owners with no consideration for the losses this town suffered."

NBC Connecticut reached out to the NRA for comment and has not heard back. Federal law allows nonprofits like the NRA to issue unsolicited robocalls.

Amputee Veteran in War Games

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In this Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, photo, actors playing the roles of U.S. military personnel are wounded by a improvised explosive device during a training session at Strategic Operations where "reality based training" is used in working with U.S. military personnel in San Diego. (APPhoto/Lenny Ignelzi)

Police Trying to ID People in Milford Fight

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Milford Police are trying to identify several people who were involved in a fight in Milford Center in February.

On Monday, police released three photos from a public disturbance reported at 1:52 a.m. on Feb. 23.

Police said several people were involved in a physical altercation at Armory Square near Factory Lane.

Police obtained video surveillance and are also looking to identify witnesses.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should call Officer Lacey of the Milford Police Department at (203) 878-6551 or submit a crime tip online.
 



Photo Credit: Milford police

A Wyvern and a Prom Invite on Today Show

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The Kingswood Oxford high school mascot is aiming for a national title and received some extra national attention this morning thanks to a brief appearance on the Today Show.

The school mascott, a Wyvern, is one of six finalists in the U.S. A. Today High School Sports best mascot contest.

This morning, the Wyvern mascot and Sue Cabot, athletic director for the high school, made a short appearance on the Today Show when Al Roker went over to talk to them on the plaza before delivering the forecast.

Not only did the Wyvern -- a two-legged dragon with wings and a barbed tail – get some national attention, but so did a student who held up a sign asking a girl to prom.

 

She said yes, according to the Kingswood Oxford Facebook page.

You can vote for Kingswood Oxford here



Photo Credit: Today Show
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