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Flakes sprinkle Northeast winter wonderland
The storm that whipped the Northeast over the weekend with six to 16 inches of snow has blown off to Canada, but more snow is on its way - maybe just enough to bring out some of that holiday spirit.
The flakes sweeping across the Midwest and Northeast on Monday and Tuesday aren't expected have the heft of the fast-moving storm that preceded them but are predicted to add a couple of inches to the wintry landscape.
13 children injured after ride loses power at Connecticut festival
An accident on a children's swing ride at a festival in Norwalk, Connecticut, on Sunday injured 13 children, some seriously, according to police.
The ride "apparently lost power causing the children on the ride to forcefully fall to the ground," Norwalk police said on the department's Facebook page.
Most of the injuries were minor, police said, but "several" were seriously injured, "including two which appeared to be the most serious."
FULL STORY
Trains collide in Connecticut; dozens hurt
Two Metro-North passenger trains heading in opposite directions collided during rush hour Friday evening, damaging both trains and leaving some "bloody" and wounded as a result, a witness and transit official said.
A train heading from New Haven to New York City derailed around 6:10 p.m., hitting the other train in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. That caused some cars on the second train, which was destined for New Haven, to likewise leave the tracks.
Two Bridgeport hospitals were treating dozens of patients, three of whom were in serious condition, officials said.
FULL STORYUConn women blow out Louisville for title
Connecticut's powerful offense scored almost at will Tuesday night as the Huskies blew out Louisville 93-60 to win the NCAA women's Division I basketball championship in New Orleans.
The title is head coach Geno Auriemma's eighth at UConn, tying him for the most all time with Tennessee's recently retired Pat Summitt.
The 33-point margin is the largest in the history of the tournament final.
FULL STORY
Muppets' Jane Henson dies
Jane Nebel Henson - who was married to the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and was instrumental in the development of the world-famous puppets - died Tuesday morning, a representative for the Jim Henson Company said. She was 79.
Henson died at her home in Connecticut after a "long battle with cancer," a written statement from the company said.
FULL STORY
Newtown probe: Shooting took under 5 minutes
- Prosecutors release new documents related to December's shootings at school in Newtown, Connecticut
- Documents: Investigators found a gun safe in shooter Adam Lanza's room
- Documents: 1,600 rounds of ammunition found in Lanza's home
- Police say Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother, then 20 children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut before killing himself
- People who knew Lanza described him as quiet, smart, socially awkward. Connecticut's medical examiner has said he was told that Lanza had Asperger's syndrome.
- Live updates below. Also, read the full story; and see the documents
[Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET] This live blog is wrapping up, but please check out our full story for the latest about today's document release.
[Updated at 1:48 p.m. ET] One of the warrants released Thursday cites an interview with a person who said that Lanza rarely left his home, that he was a shut-in, "and an avid gamer who plays Call of Duty, amongst other games." "Call of Duty" is a military-style war game.
In the house, according to the documents, were several books - one titled "NRA guide to the basics of pistol shooting," another about Asperger syndrome and one on autism. Both are developmental disorders that are not typically associated with violence.
Police also found a 2008 New York Times article about a shooting at Northern Illinois University. Police took from the house an NRA certificate for Nancy Lanza, a receipt for a shooting range in Oklahoma, a book titled "Train your brain to get happy," and three photographs "of what appears to be a deceased human covered with plastic and what appears to be blood."
As noted below, the NRA issued a statement today saying neither Lanza nor his mother were members.
[Updated at 1:45 p.m. ET] The main details of the shooting have long been known: The carnage began on the morning of December 14, when Lanza fatally shot his 52-year-old mother, Nancy Lanza, with a .22 caliber rifle.
But some of the details are new. "There was no indication of a struggle," according to a statement from Stephen J. Sedensky III, state's attorney for the judicial district of Danbury. The statement came with Thursday's release of five search warrants and related documents.
Lanza shot his mother in the forehead, one of the search warrants says.
Laden with weapons and ammunition, Lanza then went to the elementary school, shooting his way into the building where he killed the 26 victims with a Bushmaster .223 caliber model XM15 rifle, according to Sedensky.
The rampage ended when Lanza, using a Glock 10 mm handgun, shot himself.
Attached to the rifle police found a 30-round capacity magazine that still had 14 bullets Sedensky said, and a search of Lanza's body found that he was carrying more ammunition for the handguns as well as three more 30-round magazines for the Bushmaster, each fully loaded.
"Located in the area of the shootings were six additional 30-round magazines," Sedensky said in his statement, three of them empty and the others holding 10, 11, and 13 rounds. Police found 154 spent .223 caliber casings at the school.
All of the guns appear to have been bought by Lanza's mother, the state's attorney said.
[Updated at 12:59 p.m. ET] We've gotten all the documents together in one place. Here are the documents that Connecticut prosecutors released today in the Newtown investigation.
[Updated at 12:35 p.m. ET] Back to today's Newtown document release. The National Rifle Association has issued a statement, apparently reacting to what the papers say about investigators finding NRA certificates for Lanza and his mother, Nancy.
"There is no record of a member relationship between Newtown killer Adam Lanza, nor between Nancy Lanza, A. Lanza or N. Lanza with the National Rifle Association," the NRA statement said. "Reporting to the contrary is reckless, false and defamatory."
This page from one of the search warrants released in the Newtown case Thursday mentions investigators found an "Adam Lanza National Rifle Association certificate."
Documents to be released in Conn. shooting
There has been much speculation over what was going on in Adam Lanza's head when he walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, with an assault rifle in December and opened fire on small children.
Thursday morning state prosecutors are planning to release new documents in the case, but it may not shed more light on the reasons for the mass shooting.
FULL STORYNew clues about Sandy Hook motive
[Updated at 10:52 a.m. ET] Investigators have found evidence that Sandy Hook Elementary School gunman Adam Lanza "was obsessed" with other mass murderers, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Tuesday.
This news follows an earlier report that Lanza may have been motivated by a desire to outdo Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian man who killed 77 people in July 2011, law enforcement sources told CBS Evening News.
[Posted at 1:43 a.m. ET] The shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School may have been motivated by a desire by Adam Lanza to outdo Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian man who killed 77 people in July 2011, law enforcement sources told CBS Evening News.
The unnamed sources said Lanza saw himself as being in direct competition with Breivik, who killed eight with a bombing in downtown Oslo before he moved to a nearby island where he hunted down and fatally shot 69 people.
According to the sources, the 20-year-old Lanza wanted to top Breivik's death toll and went to the Connecticut school on December 14 because it was the "easiest target" and had the "largest cluster of people."
FULL STORYConn. police: News anchor arrested after domestic incident with news anchor wife
WCBS news anchor Rob Morrison is facing charges of allegedly choking his wife, CBS MoneyWatch anchor Ashley Morrison, according to Connecticut authorities.
Rob Morrison was taken into custody early Sunday at the couple's Darien home when police responded to a "domestic violence incident" called in by Ashley Morrison's mother, according to a statement from the Darien Police Department.
He was arrested for allegedly choking his wife with both hands after becoming "increasingly belligerent...during the course of the evening," the statement said.
Officers observed red marks on Ashley Morrison's neck, but she did not request medical treatment, according to the police department release.
Playgrounds in storm areas memorialize Newtown victims
A reference to the name "Sandy" can evoke painful reminders of last year's tragedies, be it the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School or an historic storm that wiped out thousands of homes and businesses, and left millions in the dark.
But New Jersey's largest firefighters union is looking to honor those affected by both calamities and join them and their mutual names into something more positive.
Firefighters have begun collecting donations for the "The Sandy Ground Project," with 26 playgrounds to be built in communities recovering from the storm - one for each victim gunned down on December 14 at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
"Our only challenge is to raise the money," said Bill Lavin, president of the Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association, whose 5,000 members are supporting the $2.1 million initiative on the website thesandygroundproject.org.
FULL STORYNortheast digs out after deadly blizzard; Midwest to get next storm
The mammoth blizzard that buried the Northeast under feet of snow has drifted away, leaving millions on a path of hefty recovery.
At least nine deaths in three states and Canada are blamed on the snowstorm, which was spawned by two converging weather systems.
Residents from Pennsylvania to Maine are trying to dig out from as much as 3 feet of snowfall.
"There's just really no place to put the snow," Bostonian Allison Rice said, trying to shovel away what she could.
FULL STORYLive blog: Reports of five deaths in Connecticut, governor says
- Weather service: Up to 40 inches of snow fell in Hamden, Connecticut
- Power out for more than 592,000 customers
- Driving bans lifted in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
- Check back here for updates; full story here; map and timeline; live radar; are you there?
[Updated at 8:42 p.m. ET] Authorities are now saying at least nine people were killed in accidents related to the storm - five in Connecticut, according to the governor, two in Canada, one in New York and one in Massachusetts.
[Updated at 7:05 p.m. ET] The storm has apparently resulted in more deaths. Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy said in a news conference that "we believe there are now five fatalities" tied to the storm. At least six deaths had been reported earlier: two in Canada, two in Connecticut, one in Massachusetts, and one in New York. It isn't clear whether the two deaths reported earlier in Connecticut were among the five Malloy mentioned.
Blizzard warnings issued for Boston, New York City
- Two significant storm systems expected to converge overnight across the Northeast, create what could be a historic blizzard
- Boston could get up to 3 feet of snow from Friday to Saturday; New York City could get up to 3 feet
- Read below for updates as we get them; full story here
[Updated at 8:04 p.m. ET] Nearly 3,000 flights have now been canceled in anticipation of the inclement weather, most of which is expected late Friday into Saturday.
Amtrak also has canceled many trips in the Northeast corridor. The rail transit company said on its website that northbound service from New York's Penn Station would be suspended after 1 p.m Friday.
[Updated at 6:51 p.m. ET] Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy says utility companies there are bringing additional crews from out of state to deal with potential power outages. Metro-North rail lines could also be closed at any time should winds exceed 40 mph.
FULL STORY
New York governor signs nation's first gun bill since Newtown shooting
[Initial post, 5:09 p.m. ET] New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed the nation's first new gun-control bill since last month's massacre at a Connecticut school.
“I am proud to be a New Yorker because New York is doing something, because we are fighting back (against gun violence),” Cuomo told reporters shortly before signing the bill.
The law, among other things, requires background checks for would-be purchasers on all private sales, fortifies the state's existing assault weapons ban, limits the number of bullets in magazines, and strengthen rules that keep the mentally ill from owning firearms. Read more about the bill here. Also, New York's move comes a day before U.S. President Barack Obama is to announce his own gun-control proposals for the country.
[Initial post, 4:27 p.m. ET] Lawmakers in New York have passed the country's first new gun-control bill since last month's massacre at a Connecticut school.
New York's Democratic-controlled Assembly approved a new set of gun regulations Tuesday intended to fortify the state's assault weapons ban.
The measure was approved by the GOP-controlled Senate on Monday and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo soon.
[Initial post, 11:28 a.m. ET] The nation's first new gun-control bill since last month's massacre at a Connecticut school might be passed in New York today.
The bill, intended to fortify New York's assault weapons ban, limit the number of bullets in ammunition magazines and strengthen laws that keep the mentally ill from firearms, is expected to be taken up by the state's Democratic-controlled Assembly early Tuesday afternoon. The GOP-controlled state Senate approved the measure in a 43-18 vote Monday night.
FULL STORYMonday's live events
President Obama will be sworn in for a second term in office on Monday, January 21. Watch CNN.com Live for all your inauguration coverage.
Today's programming highlights...
11:00 am ET - Sandy Hook briefing - On the one-month anniversary of the Sandy Hook shootings, a non-profit group will reveal its plan to honor the victims.
Wednesday's live events
President Obama will be inaugurated for a second term in office on Monday, January 21. CNN.com Live is your home for all your inauguration coverage.
Today's programming highlights...
12:00 pm ET - Connecticut State of the State Address - Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy delivers his annual State of the State address to lawmakers. Malloy is expected to discuss the Sandy Hook shootings and Hurricane Sandy, among other topics. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo holds his State of the State Address at 1:30 pm ET.
'I think I'll be OK,' Sandy Hook student says after first day
Abby Swansiger was a little nervous about heading back to school for the first time since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, so she asked her mom to come with her.
Sarah Swansiger said that things went off without a hitch in her daughter's kindergarten class, and everyone was making sure parents and kids felt comfortable at their new school.
"Honestly, it was like the first day of school," Swansiger said, noting there were a few things that were different. "There were counselors; there were therapy dogs. There was a little bit of anxiety, but everyone was ready to get back in the swing of things."
One step towards normalcy: Sandy Hook kids are back in school
A first step towards normalcy and a first step towards healing. That's what parents of Sandy Hook Elementary School are hoping for today as they drop their kids off at school for the first time since an unimaginable tragedy.
Many things will be different for these kids. They won't be attending Sandy Hook Elementary, which police say remains part of an ongoing investigation into Adam Lanza, the gunman who also killed his mother before opening fire at the school and killing 20 children and six adults.
Instead the children are expected to travel to Chalk Hill Middle School in the nearby town of Monroe, where a green-and-white banner greeting the children hangs on a fence. There will also be other familiar items to welcome the kids: furniture and rugs like the ones in their old school. And then there are the security changes: more cameras and locks.
All of those are steps officials across the state of Connecticut have helped make happen in hopes of making school a welcoming place for these children again.
Newtown survivor's attorney to pull lawsuit, for now
Outcry over a request for permission to sue the state of Connecticut for millions of dollars in the aftermath of the Newtown shooting prompted a New Haven attorney to at least temporarily withdraw his client's petition, the attorney said Tuesday.
"I was getting hundreds of (Facebook) comments" about the potential lawsuit. "So I figured I'd take (the request) off the table for now," said Irving Pinsky, who represents the parents of a 6-year-old survivor of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school.
Last week, Pinsky said in his filing that the state had failed to protect his client from what he described as "foreseeable harm."
The girl, identified only as Jill Doe, was at the school and apparently heard everything from gunfire to screaming over the intercom, Pinsky wrote in his Thursday letter to the state claims commissioner.
FULL STORYNewtown overwhelmed by gifts, asks for temporary halt of donations
An outpouring of support and gifts for Newtown, Connecticut, in the wake of a mass shooting has forced the town to ask for a temporary halt in donations.
"Our hearts are warmed by the outpouring of love and support from all corners of our country and world," Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra said. "We are struggling now to manage the overwhelming volume of gifts and ask that sympathy and kindness to our community be expressed by donating such items to needy children and families in other communities in the name of those killed in Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14.
"Thank you for understanding our message of appreciation and our need to now defer gifts to others in need."
The town has received worldwide support after Adam Lanza opened fire on Sandy Hook Elementary school, killing 20 children, six school employees and his own mother before taking his life.
People can still donate through the Sandy Hook Donations Fund, maintained through United Way of Western Connecticut.
A message from beyond: Peace in Newtown
Glimpses of normalcy amid reminders of horror
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