Connecticut news

• NFL Picks Week 16: Steelers Win AFC North Showdown, Bears Upset Texans

  21-12-2016 23:06
  
  Bryan Altman
  Give the NFL credit: they’re going to dominate Christmas weekend like your Trump-thumping uncle’s going to dominate conversation at Christmas dinner.
  Aside from Friday night, there’s at least one NFL game every day between now and Monday. The bulk of the action will be transpiring on Saturday, Christmas Eve, but the lion’s share of the must-see games will be kicking off in primetime on Sunday and Monday night.
  But while the league gets full mar
  
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• Dee Rowe, Rebecca Lobo Nominated for Basketball Hall Of Fame

  21-12-2016 22:44
  
  (CBS Connecticut) — Dee Rowe and Rebecca Lobo have been nominated to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
  Rowe was UConn men’s basketball coach starting in 1969 and through most of the 1970’s. He has remained a Special Advisor for Athletics at UConn, and helped raise money for the athletic program. He is nominated in the contributor category, for contributions to the game of basketball.
  Lobo was a star on UConn’s first national cham
  
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• Red Cross: Add ‘Give Blood’ To Holiday Checklist

  21-12-2016 22:35
  
  FARMINGTON, Conn. (CBS Connecticut) – While the need for blood is constant, donations often drop off around the holidays.
  With that in mind, Governor Dannel Malloy rolled up his sleeve at the American Red Cross in Farmington Wednesday to make a blood donation.
  Malloy says he’s been donating blood since 1973, and he vowed to give more in 2017.
  The Red Cross says each blood donation can help up to three patients.
  Those interested in donating blood can call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redc
  
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• Sandy Hook Man Charged In Armed Road Rage Incident

  21-12-2016 22:20
  
  (CBS Connecticut) — A Sandy Hook resident was arrested on charges of showing a handgun during a road rage incident this morning.
  Alan Ready is charged with threatening and breach of peace, in an incident that began on I-84 Westbound near exit 23.
  Trooper Kelly Grant says Ready was found near exit 26.
  “Troopers arrived on scene and were quickly able to locate the offender vehicle, a Ford Explorer,” Grant said. “Troopers did pull that vehicle over, and they took the operato
  
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• Family of woman slain during run in Massachusetts speaks out for first time

  21-12-2016 22:19
  
  PRINCETON, Mass. — The family of a 27-year-old New York City woman who was killed while out running near her mother’s Massachusetts home is establishing a foundation in her name and renewing a call for the public’s help in solving the case. Vanessa Marcotte’s parents were present as the family’s first public statement was read Wednesday by her uncle, Steven Therrien, at a church in the central Massachusetts town of Princeton. Marcotte’s body was found Aug. 7 i
  
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• Woman Leaves Child in Car While Trying to Steal From Wal-Mart: Police

  21-12-2016 22:02
  
  A woman left a child in the car while she allegedly tried stealing items from a Wal-Mart in Naugatuck, police said.Photo Credit: Getty Images
  
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• North Haven Boy Rushes to Rescue Woman Who Fell on Sidewalk

  21-12-2016 21:57
  
  When a 13-year-old from North Haven saw a stranger in need, he jumped into action, and now the police department is recognizing his effort.Photo Credit: North Haven Police DepartmentThis story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
  
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• Thursday Night Breakdown: Giants Play For Seed; Eagles For Pride

  21-12-2016 21:32
  
  By Danny Cox
  The New York Giants (10-4) and Philadelphia Eagles (5-9), rivals in a strong NFC East, often find themselves competing for a playoff spot. But not this year. While the division will likely send two teams, the Eagles won’t be one of them. Pride is still on the line, as these teams get set to do battle on Thursday Night Football.
  The Eagles sensed that this might be their year after a 3-0 start that included an absolute thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rookie quarterba
  
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• Connecticut DMV To Adjust Branch Hours For Holiday

  21-12-2016 21:23
  
  WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (CBS Connecticut and AP) – Connecticut’s Department of Motor Vehicles is adjusting the hours at branch offices for the Christmas holiday.
  Those locations will close Friday at 12:30 p.m. The offices are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, December 27, at 7:45 a.m.
  Meanwhile, AAA offices are scheduled to be open to process driver’s license renewals for the public during their regular normal business hours on Friday and Saturday. AAA offices will be closed on Monda
  
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• Book Gift Guide For The Sports Enthusiast In Your Life

  21-12-2016 21:10
  
  Do you have baseball, basketball, or football fans in your life? We sure do. Our sister company, Simon & Schuster, has the perfect gifts for everyone on your list. Check out these exciting sports books, and finish your holiday shopping at your local bookstore.
  Photo Courtesy of Simon & Schuster
  Muhammad Ali Unfiltered
  by Muhammad Ali
  An officially authorized collection, Muhammad Ali Unfiltered brings to life the “Greatest of All Time” through 200-plus pages of images, quotes,
  
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• Truck Driver Found With 55 Pounds of Fentanyl

  21-12-2016 21:06
  
  A truck driver from Arizona was found with more than a million dollars worth of Fentanyl in the cab of his truck during a traffic stop on Route 34 in Derby Wednesday morning.Photo Credit: Derby Police
  
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• Dashcam video shows dog jumping out of moving SUV on busy interstate

  21-12-2016 20:52
  
  GOLDEN, Colo. — Dashcam video captured a dog jumping out of a moving vehicle on Interstate 70 in Colorado on Tuesday. Erica Robles Kannely posted the video to Facebook, showing the white dog jumping out of an open window of the SUV. Kannely said it happened in the eastbound lanes near the Youngfield Street exit. The dog rolled over a couple of times and skidded into the center lane of the interstate. The driver with the dashcam brakes immediately before […]
  
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• Trooper In West Hartford Crash

  21-12-2016 20:42
  
  (West Hartford, Conn./CBS Connecticut) – West Hartford police say a state trooper was involved in a crash with a civilian this morning.
  The mishap occurred just before noon on South Main Street.
  West Hartford police say Trooper Paul Gunn, who was not on duty at time, collided with a vehicle driven by Doreen Bottone.
  Investigators say Bottone was turning left on to New Britain Avenue and she and Gunn collided in the intersection.
  Police say both were shaken up but otherwise not seriously in
  
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• Video of woman’s racist tirade in JCPenney goes viral

  21-12-2016 20:33
  
  LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Video of a woman standing in line at a Kentucky-area JCPenney and yelling racial slurs at a Spanish-speaking woman who was adding a last-minute transaction has gone viral. In a video posted by Renee Buckner on Facebook Tuesday, an elderly woman is shown yelling at another woman and her friend, using racial slurs, cursing and telling them to “go back to where they belong.” “Storyline: This Hispanic lady was purchasing items and the transaction was almost
  
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• Santa Visits Hartford Girl Recovering from Shooting

  21-12-2016 20:18
  
  Hartford police officers visited a brave little girl in Hartford this morning who has been recovering after being shot in November and they brought Santa along for the visit.Photo Credit: Hartford PoliceThis story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
  
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• Big Fire Damages Old Berlin Train Station

  21-12-2016 20:16
  
  Fire broke out early this morning at the old Amtrak train station at 51 Depot Road in the Kensington part of Berlin and trains by bypass the station until further notice.Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.comThis story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
  
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• $1.5M Fentanyl Bust In Derby

  21-12-2016 20:15
  
  DERBY, Conn. (CBS Connecticut) – Derby police have seized 55 pounds of fentanyl after pulling over a tractor trailer. Police say they found the powerful synthetic opioid in the cab of the truck. It has an estimated street value of $1.5 million.
  The driver of the truck, 47-year-old Erick Escalante of Arizona, was taken into custody and turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for potential prosecution, said police.
  Police say the stop was made on Route 34 just before 11 a.
  
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• Gifting Tables Pyramid Scheme Defendant Resentenced To 4-years

  21-12-2016 20:02
  
  (CBS Connecticut) — Gifting tables pyramid scheme leader Donna Bello was sentenced to 4-years in federal prison today.
  Bello had originally been sentenced to six years behind bars, but her sentence was overturned on appeal.
  Outside of Hartford Federal Court, one of her defense lawyers, Jeremiah Donovan said he was disappointed that the new sentence was not shorter.
  The gifting tables scheme operated mostly on shoreline towns in Connecticut.
  It used women to recruit other women to contribut
  
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• Saving Space: How To Pack Your Bulky Winter Clothing

  21-12-2016 20:00
  
  By Randy Yagi
  Your richly deserved winter vacation is just days away and soon you’ll have to start packing items you’ll need for the trip. But if you’re hoping to keep your travel expenses down, will you be able to fit everything into your TSA-approved carry-on and one personal item, such as a laptop case or purse? Despite the necessary clothing you’ll have to bring for inclement weather, you’ll be surprised just how much you can actually fit in a single piece of l
  
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• CBS Sports’ Solomon Wilcots Discusses AFC Games To Watch In Week 16

  21-12-2016 20:00
  
  By Rick Brown
  With only two weeks left in the regular season, several teams are fighting for a postseason berth or positioning. Others are already reflecting on their disappointing 2016 season and looking ahead to next year. Regardless, each team still has something to fight for in week 16, be it the playoffs or pride.
  The winless Cleveland Browns host the underachieving San Diego Chargers this week. Both started the season with high expectations only to see their offseason strategies
  
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• Derby police seize $1.5 million worth of Fentanyl during traffic stop

  21-12-2016 19:37
  
  DERBY — Police pulled over a tractor-trailer Wednesday morning and ended up seizing 55 pounds of Fentanyl worth $1.5 million. Police said they pulled over the tractor-trailer heading west on Route 34 in Derby about 10:50 a.m. They conducted a search and found the synthetic opioid in the cab. Fentanyl has been blamed for a number of overdose deaths in the state. Erick Escalante, 47, of Arizona, was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven office for potential federa
  
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• 2 men busted for selling drugs near middle school: Groton Police

  21-12-2016 19:29
  
  GROTON — Two men are facing charges following a drug bust in Groton. On December 20,  the Groton City Police Department carried out the drug bust, as part of a task force whose goal is to combat the heroin epidemic in that area. Police executed a narcotics related search and seizure warrant in a home on Brandagee Avenue along with an arrest warrant for a Gene Fluker 41, of Groton.  The arrest was made near West Side Middle School. Fluker, police say, […]
  
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• Parents driving to see teen injured in crash are killed in separate head-on crash

  21-12-2016 19:15
  
  LEBANON, Mo. — A teen injured in a head-on crash lost his parents when they were killed in another crash on their way to see him at the hospital. Chris Hahn was seriously hurt Friday morning in Camden County, Mo.  His parents were on their way to see him at a Columbia, Mo., hospital when they died in the crash near Lebanon, Mo. A second couple also died in the crash near Lebanon. “He’s nineteen years old, has a whole […]
  
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• Student loan repayment to become 2017’s hottest employee benefit

  21-12-2016 18:51
  
  Forget health insurance and retirement funds, 2017 is set to see student loan repayments become the next best employee benefit. Companies across America woo employees with many attractive perks. These range from comprehensive health insurance to flexible vacation schedules and 401(k) retirement investments. But, in a bid to lure and retain millennials, many firms are turning to a newer benefit: student loan repayment assistance. Data from the 2015 American Student Assistance survey revealed that
  
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• Not Guilty Plea For Bridgeport Rape Suspect

  21-12-2016 18:39
  
  BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) – A Bridgeport man has pleaded not guilty to raping an 18-year-old neighbor after finding and returning her lost dog.
  The Connecticut Post (http://bit.ly/2hHudo6 ) reports that 30-year-old Robert Rivera was arraigned Tuesday on charges of sexual assault and unlawful restraint.
  Rivera remains free on $250,000 bond. He and his attorney declined to comment as they left court, but earlier Rivera had denied the charges.
  Police say the woman was home alone in July when her
  
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• Syria: Aleppo evacuations resume after brief delay

  21-12-2016 18:21
  
   ALEPPO,  Syria — The latest series of evacuations from eastern Aleppo have restarted after a brief delay, according to Syrian state television. No reason had been given for the delay. The International Red Cross says snow has been falling and many are struggling to keep warm. According to Syrian state TV, a number of buses with armed persons and their families are leaving Al-Sokkari area in eastern Aleppo and heading to Al-Rashdin in western Aleppo. It said that 20 buses de
  
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• Mark Zuckerberg unveils Morgan Freeman-voiced AI assistant

  21-12-2016 18:16
  
  PALO ALTO, Calif. — Mark Zuckerberg has enlisted the help of Morgan Freeman and taken a shot at Nickelback while unveiling his new artificial intelligence assistant. The Facebook founder and CEO showed off “Jarvis” with a post on the project and videos on his Facebook page. The voice interactive assistant takes its name from a similar AI device in the “Iron Man” films. Freeman provides its voice. Zuckerberg can be seen in the videos using Jarvis to control lights, t
  
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• Rain and Snow Showers Thursday

  21-12-2016 18:02
  
  A few rain and snow showers will move through Thursday, perhaps adding a fresh coating of snow in some towns.This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
  
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• Connecticut Business Spotlight December 21, 2016: MsDs Catalog Service LLC

  21-12-2016 18:00
  
  One of the many things that makes Connecticut great is its local businesses! WTIC Newstalk 1080, along with Merritt Graphics Print Solutionssupport local businesses in Connecticut and want to thank them for the wonderful work they do.
  This week’s Connecticut Business Spotlight is MsDs Catalog Service LLC.
  MsDs Catalog Service LLC  provides generic and custom Safety Data Sheets to small businesses and free access to the largest MSDS databases online at msdsdigital.com. Registered
  
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• Retired Hartford police officer makes first court appearance in kicking case

  21-12-2016 17:48
  
  (CBS Connecticut) – Retired Hartford police officer Sean Spell made and initial court appearance at Hartford Superior Court today.
  Spell is accused of kicking a handcuffed suspect in the head after a chase. 
  The suspect and a second man who was also arrested after the chase suffered injuries to their faces visible in booking photos. 
  Spell said he used a heel strike against the suspect because the man refused to stop spitting blood. 
  Spell retired while investigation against
  
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• Meriden woman stabbed another with welding scissors, Hamden police say

  21-12-2016 17:47
  
  HAMDEN —  A 54-year-old woman from Meriden is facing several charges stemming from a fight back in February. West Haven Police detained Gloria Williams on December 17, who then turned her over to Hamden police. Williams is accused in a stabbing incident that occurred on February 21 of this year. It all started when an officer observed a fight near Morse and Columbus Streets. She approached the large crowd when she heard a female screaming that she had been stabbed. Police [&helli
  
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• Car Wash Workers Labor Through Cold Weather

  21-12-2016 17:38
  
  Lately, it’s been a weather roller coaster in Connecticut, leaving many people wishing for a warm up and in need of a car wash. Therefore, car washes are open even in the cold temperatures.
  
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• ’80s heartthrob Richard Marx helps subdue unruly airline passenger

  21-12-2016 17:32
  
  An unruly passenger on an Korean Air flight Tuesday should’ve known better than to attack the crew with Richard Marx on board. The ’80s singer was right there waiting for him — with rope. Marx and other passengers reportedly intervened when the man began pushing the flight attendants and pulling their hair, Marx wrote on Facebook. And while Marx and his wife, ’90s MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, put the airline on blast for its response to the situation, Korean Air […]
  
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• CBS To Broadcast ‘World’s Toughest Mudder’ On Christmas Day

  21-12-2016 17:01
  
  Ryan Mayer
  In case you’re looking for something to watch after opening your presents on Christmas morning, CBS has you covered. That day at 2 p.m. ET the network will premiere a new show called “World’s Toughest Mudder” that follows one of the most extreme endurance competitions in the world. The event features 20 obstacles laid out over a 5-mile course and takes place over the course of 24 hours. Ahead of the Christmas Day premiere, CBS Sports released a 360 video that w
  
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• Five Biggest NFL Games Remaining

  21-12-2016 16:55
  
  by Rob Joyce
  There are just two weeks left in the NFL regular season, and plenty is still at stake. All we know thus far in the AFC is that the Patriots won the East (ho-hum) and the Raiders are in the playoffs in some capacity. In the NFC, the Seahawks have the West wrapped up, and the Cowboys clinched a berth. Everything else is up for grabs. With just 32 games to go, here are the five with the most at stake for both teams:
  5) Raiders vs. Colts:(Photo Credit: Harry How/Getty Images)
  Oakland is
  
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• Wethersfield Teen Has Been Missing Over a Year

  21-12-2016 16:40
  
  Wethersfield police are renewing a call for the public’s help in locating a 17-year-old girl who has been missing for over a year.Photo Credit: Wethersfield Police Department
  
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• Fire at Hartford Apartment Complex Was Set: Officials

  21-12-2016 16:30
  
  Four people are displaced after a fire at an apartment complex in Hartford Monday afternoon and the fire marshal determined the fire was intentionally set.Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
  
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• Study Finds War Against Sugar Comes From ‘Low Quality’ Evidence

  21-12-2016 16:29
  
  (CBS Local) – In recent years, health studies have concluded that sugar must be exterminated as it’d been determined to be detrimental to weight loss. But a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine has essentially said ‘not so fast.’
  The study from McMaster University claims that the evidence for prior knowledge in how sugar intake is proportionate with weight gain, across nine public health guidelines, is ‘low quality’. Now, this doesn&rsq
  
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• Groton City Police Arrest Two on Narcotics Charges

  21-12-2016 16:29
  
  Groton City police arrested two people and seized various drugs when they executed a search warrant at a home on Brandagee Avenue Tuesday.Photo Credit: Groton City Police Department
  
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• Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon: ‘It felt like a dude hit me’

  21-12-2016 16:09
  
  A University of Oklahoma football player told authorities he was shocked that a woman hit him “so hard” in a 2014 altercation; “It felt like a dude hit me,” according to a police interrogation video made public Tuesday. The 2-year-old video showed Joe Mixon explaining to officers what led to him punching the woman in the head after she accosted him. Mixon, who is a sophomore running back for the Sooners, is seen in surveillance video released last week assaulting [&hellip
  
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• East Windsor Police Warn of Paving Scam

  21-12-2016 16:08
  
  East Windsor police have issued a warning after a resident fell victim to a paving scam Tuesday.Photo Credit: NBC10
  
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• Police: Woman Left Kids In Car While Shoplifting

  21-12-2016 16:02
  
  (Naugatuck, Conn./CBS Connecticut) – In Naugatuck, police are charging a woman after they say she left her children unattended in a vehicle while in the midst of committing a larceny.
  Just after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, police say they were alerted to a WalMart where the youngsters were found alone in a vehicle.
  Jennifer Sprague, they say, was tracked down inside attempting to fraudulently return items.
  The children were not harmed.
  Sprague faces charges of risk of injury, leaving a child und
  
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• I-95 North Reopens in Stratford

  21-12-2016 15:54
  
  Interstate 95 North was closed in Stratford, but one lane has reopened.Photo Credit: Connecticut Department of Transportation
  
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• Meriden Woman Stabbed Victim with Scissors: Hamden Police

  21-12-2016 15:50
  
  Hamden police have arrested a Meriden woman accused of stabbing another woman during a fight in February.
  
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