MIDDLETOWN, CT. (WFSB) – Attention drivers, a new form of speed enforcement is coming to Middletown.

They now become the first city in the state to install speed and red-light cameras to try and cut down on dangerous driving.

“I’m so happy it’s getting done. Obviously this is a school zone. We have some of America’s most precious people over here. We need to be taking care of them,” said Kaden Powers, an employee of Spencer Elementary School.

“That’s absolutely ridiculous. I’m from the Bronx and I literally moved away because those speed cameras,” said Symphony Winborne, Middletown.

Washington and Marlborough have also implemented the cameras.

One camera will be put on Washington Street, where drivers have been clocked going as high as 70 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone.

Another will be installed on Westfield Street, where Spencer Elementary School is.

A third will be placed on Country Club Road, where there is a sharp turn by Highby Road and Knox Boulevard. Mooney Elementary School is also near the area.

“I have lost people from car accidents. God forbid a student is hurt. That would be the worst thing in the world. I don’t wanna ever see that happen,” continued Powers.

He hopes that the cameras will make people slow down, especially when so many young kids are walking around.

“If it’s in the school zone, then of course we want to keep our kids safe, but just to put it in the middle of all this,” continued Winborne. “So much traffic moving back-and-forth it’s going to be impossible.”

She’s afraid that they might cause more accidents with people slowing down to prevent getting a ticket.

“They see these cameras they stopped early and then all of a sudden you’re reducing the likelihood of a fatal accident, but you’re encouraging the likelihood of someone stopping to see and getting rear-ended,” said Dr. Kimberly Przeszlowski, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Quinnipiac University.

She stated that as long as the locations of the cameras are data driven and police departments are transparent about whether serious injury crashes or fatalities are down, the technology is doing its job.

They will also be used to catch people running red lights.

First time offenders will be hit with a $50 fee.

After that, the violation goes up to $75, and violators will also likely get an additional processing fee of $15.

The tickets will be mailed to the address on the car’s registration.

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As the weather warms up in preparation for a New England summer, many people are heading back outdoors to adore Connecticut’s nature, from flowers to mountains to trees.

While Connecticut has plenty of fantastic trees to look at this time of year, many of the state’s trees are full of history as well as beauty. In fact, the oldest tree in Connecticut is estimated to be 200-300 years old. Located in Simsbury, the Pinchot Sycamore Tree is believed to be not only the state’s oldest tree, but also its largest.

Here’s the story of Connecticut’s oldest tree, as well as where you can see the landmark today.

History of the Pinchot Sycamore Tree

While the exact origins of the Pinchot Sycamore tree are unknown, it is estimated to be 200-300 years old, with some scholars saying it may be as old as 500 years.

According to Simsbury’s town website, the tree is named after Gifford Pinchot, an environmental preservationist who was born in Simsbury in 1865. Pinchot served as governor of Pennsylvania for two terms and the nation’s first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, which he was appointed to by Teddy Roosevelt. The sycamore was originally dedicated to Pinchot in 1965, and again in 1975.

Last measured in 2016, the Pinchot Sycamore tree stands at a whopping 95 feet tall with a circumference of 28 feet around, making it the largest sycamore tree in all of New England. Today, the tree stands as a symbol of the town of Simsbury, located just south of the town’s center.

How to see the Pinchot Sycamore Tree

Today, the Pinchot Sycamore Tree is at the center of Simsbury’s Pinchot Sycamore Tree Park, located near Talcott Mountain on the east side of the Farmington River. The address is 20 Hartford Rd., Simsbury.

Two markers near the tree recognize the tree’s dedication and measurements, as well as the park’s founders. The tree is accompanied by a nearby bench for viewing, as well as plenty of green space where residents often picnic under the tree’s shade.

WATERBURY, Connecticut (WABC) — Police in Connecticut have arrested a 19-year-old in the shooting of 5 people at the Brass Mill Center mall in Waterbury on Tuesday.

Tajuan Washington, 19, of Waterbury, is charged with five counts of first-degree assault and a number of weapons violations, authorities said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Washington is being held on a $2 million bond.

Brass Mill Center Mall, located at 495 Union St., remained closed following the shooting just before 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, which prompted a massive police response and mall lockdown.

The victims, four women and one man, range in age from 20 to 26.

Three of the victims have been treated and released from the hospital. The remaining two are in stable condition and continue to receive medical care.

The most seriously wounded is a woman who suffered a gunshot to the spine.

Authorities said that the shooting was not random and appeared to have stemmed from a dispute that escalated into gunfire.

Law enforcement recovered evidence from the scene, including items connected to the firearm, which are now being analyzed by forensics teams.

No officers were posted inside the mall at the time of the incident.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont released a statement following the shooting, saying in part, “This afternoon there was a tragic mass shooting at the Bass Mill Center mall in Waterbury, a place where everyone should feel safe. We are grateful to law enforcement, who acted swiftly.”

Authorities said the Brass Mill Center, while not opened to the public as of Wednesday afternoon, has been thoroughly searched and cleared by the Waterbury Police Department in coordination with the Connecticut State Police.

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