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'He set a benchmark.' Exploring Jimmy Carter's roots in Connecticut

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'He set a benchmark.' Exploring Jimmy Carter's roots in Connecticut


Long before former President Jimmy Carter entered politics, he called Connecticut home.

In 1948, Carter moved to New London for a six-month stint to train as a submarine officer. Two years later, Carter returned to the state to serve as the senior officer on the K-1 Navy ship.

Carter’s son, Jeff, was also born in New London.

Once Carter was elected president in 1976, newly elected Rep. Chris Dodd was invited to the White House occasionally for breakfast.

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“He was a greater listener. People always think in politics being a great speaker is what people want to hear,” says Dodd.

Dodd says although Carter served just one term, he set the bar high for life after the White House.

“He set a benchmark,” says Dodd. “A lot of presidents have done and their families have done good things when they left, and I think they have Jimmy Carter in mind.”

In 2007, Carter spoke at Qunnipiac University’s Albert Schweitzer Institute to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Schweitzer’s declaration of conscience, which focused on the damaging effects of nuclear testing. Sean Duffy, the executive director of the institute, tells News 12 it was wonderful to have Carter visit.

“He has an incredible history, he was a nuclear submarine officer in his military days and he was actually a nuclear engineer,” Duffy says. “He has this scientistic background, but we know him for his political background, and he was involved in some of the really cutting-edge nuclear diplomacy of the 1970s.”

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Duffy describes Carter as kind and gentle and says it was a privilege to see and meet him.

Carter’s service to the country continued following his presidency as an ambassador, an election observer and his work with Habitat for Humanity.

Dodd says Carter’s devotion to country will be his lasting legacy.

“When history is written as it will be for years to come, he will be singled out,” Dodd says. “Not for his longevity in the White House, there were major things he did while in the White House, but that’s not going to be what people talk about when they mention Jimmy Carter. It will be about this incredible human being who decided to constantly give to his country.”



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Canadian aerospace company Bombardier launching new ‘fast track’ training program in Connecticut

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Canadian aerospace company Bombardier launching new ‘fast track’ training program in Connecticut


WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (WTNH) — Bombardier, a Canadian company, is launching a new “fast track” training program in Connecticut.

The new program will expand Connecticut’s aerospace industry by creating an accelerated pathway for experienced aircraft maintenance technicians to receive new certifications and enter high-demand careers quickly.

“We know the demand for aviation technicians far exceeds the number of students we can currently prepare throughout our traditional programing alone,” Dr. Alice Pritchard, executive director of Connecticut technical education and career system, said. “Our goal is to create a sustainable workforce solution that can continue producing skilled aviation technicians for years to come.”

The program is set to start soon at the company’s service center at Bradley International Airport.

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Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash on I-91 South in Hartford

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Injuries reported in multi-vehicle crash on I-91 South in Hartford


Injuries were reported in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 91 South in Hartford on Wednesday morning.

State police said the four-vehicle crash happened around 5:55 a.m.

The highway was briefly closed between exits 30 and 29A. It has since reopened.

According to state police, injuries were reported, but the extent is unknown.

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The crash remains under investigation.



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Avon daycare releases dates, times that former employee accused of sex assault worked at other Connecticut locations

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Avon daycare releases dates, times that former employee accused of sex assault worked at other Connecticut locations


AVON, Conn. (WTNH) — In light of recent information that a now-former Avon daycare employee accused of sexually assaulting children had filled in at multiple Connecticut locations, the company has released a timeline of when and where he had worked.

Jan Carlos Berrios Otero’s employment with BrightPath Early Learning began in January 2022, according to a letter sent out to families. Within the last four years, he had filled in at daycare locations in Simsbury, Windsor and West Hartford.

According to BrightPath, Berrios Otero had covered partial shifts at the following locations on the following days:

  • Simsbury, Jan. 20, 2026: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about four hours and 20 minutes
  • Windsor, Sept. 16, 2025: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about six hours at the 555 Day Hill Road location.
  • West Hartford, Sept. 24, 2025: Berrios Otero covered a shift for about three hours at the Park Road location

BrightPath stated that to its knowledge, there are no known allegations, complaints or incidents that occurred during these time frames.

Berrios Otero, 29, is facing six counts of risk of injury to a minor, six counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, and two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor for allegedly sexually assaulting five boys ages 3 to 5 during the month of March.

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BrightPath is working to identify all students who were in attendance in Berrios Otero’s classroom during the partial shifts that he had covered, and will communicate with the families directly as soon as possible, the letter stated.

“Please know, we also understand our review is taking a considerable amount of time; however, the time we take to ensure we are supplying the most accurate information is critical,” the letter said. “We are working diligently to get information to law enforcement and the appropriate governing agencies to support their investigations, and of course to all our families.”

According to BrightPath, Berrios Otero underwent a state and federal background check, which includes state and national criminal records searches and a review of the sex offender registry.

During the background check, which is renewed every five years, Berrios Otero had no prior convictions and was thoroughly vetted through the company’s hiring requirements. He additionally complied with staff qualifications and training.

The daycare says it is conducting a review of all of its records for the past four years across all of its Connecticut centers.

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