The parents of one of the 20 first-graders killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre met with the gunman’s father for more than an hour in an effort to bring some closure to the tragedy, asking him about his son’s mental health and other issues.

Alissa  and Robbie Parker told “CBS This Morning” in the second half of a two-part interview that aired Friday morning that the meeting was emotional and productive. The Parkers’  6-year-old daughter, Emilie, died in December’s shooting rampage.

Peter Lanza, the father of Adam Lanza “seemed to appreciate” that the Parkers asked for prayers and sympathy for everyone affected by the Dec. 14 Newtown mass killing, including the family of the shooter, Robbie Parker said.

“We wanted to talk as parents,” said Parker, who has relocated his family back to Utah following the rampage.

Alissa Parker told CBS reporter Nora O’Donnell that she told Peter Lanza “there is a lot of hope and opportunity to gain from this, and that he holds the key to that. There is information and things to be learned from this and without his cooperation it would go nowhere.”

The Parkers said that Peter Lanza is taking an active role in getting answers to why Adam shot his way into the elementary school and murdered 20 children.

O’Donnell told the couple that some people would question their interest in meeting the father of their daughter’s killer. Anger would be a waste of energy and wouldn’t change anything, Robbie Parker said.

The Parkers said they tell their daughters to express what they are feeling and when one of Emilie’s sisters asked about Adam Lanza, Alissa asked what she thought of the killer’s decision.

“It was a bad decision,” the little girl replied.

The flash mob was organized by a Broadway choreographer but drew many from other walks of life, the New York Times reports.

Read the full story here.

First Selectwoman Pat Llodra made the decision, the local weekly reports.

And while nothing has been decided about the school building itself, there have been informal, preliminary discussions about tearing it down and replacing it with a memorial park.

If that happens, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said, he’d like to take some of the weapons the city collected in its gun buy-back program, melt them down and bury the material on the site.

Read the full story here:

http://newtownbee.com/News/News/2012/12-December/2012-12-20__18-53-06

Read the full story here:

Lenn Libby has produced a memorial t-shirt that he hopes will raise funds for the victims’ families. The $10 shirts are available at his business, Pro Line Sports and Design, 171 Bruce Avenue in Stratford. Walk-in business is brisk, he said, though the only advertising he has done is on his Facebook page.

“This has really exploded, as my Facebook friends have shared it. I’ve got bulk orders from organizations like fire departments and more than 400 (shirts) through individual sales,” said Libby, who has a 2 1/2 year old grandson. “Obviously this whole thing has hit me hard,” he said.

Libby said he plans to donate all of the proceeds from the shirts to funds supporting the victims and may contribute to a memorial for teacher Vicki Soto.

Richard Nucifora of Milford said his friend’s generosity doesn’t surprise him. “He started the day after it happened. It’s a beautiful shirt and it should help the victims.”

The New Milford police Department made the announcement on Thursday night, saying that although there had been multiple threats there was no immediate danger to students.

The rumors were investigated and determined to be unsubstantiated, police officials said in a statement, but in light of the mass shootings in Newtown a week ago it was determined to be in the best interests of the community that schools be closed.

The New York Daily News reports that Derek Jeter stepped up to give a grieving mother some comfort as she mourns the loss of her daughter, 27-year-old Victoria Soto.

Soto lost her life protecting children from the gunfire of Adam Lanza during the Sandy Hook shooting—a heroic stance by a wonderful teacher, who was also a New York Yankee fan.

Soto’s funeral was yesterday in Stratford. Here’s the story on Jeter and the Soto family.

The man was located and identified, and the lockdown was lifted, Assistant Chief Anthony Cuozzo said. It was a resident surveying his property from the street, Cuozzo said.

Police will offer up to $200 in a gift card for a working handgun. People turning in rifles will receive a $75 gift card. A weapon determined to be an assault-type rifle will be eligible for a higher rate of remuneration. More details will be released at the press conference on Friday.

“Following last week’s tragedy, it has become a national priority to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” said Finch, a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. “Chief Gaudett and I are encouraging City residents to turn in their guns so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.”

The department has a “no questions asked” policy that will allow people to turn in weapons anonymously without fear of being prosecuted for illegal gun possession.

There is $100,000 from city funds and private donations, to pay out for the weapons. The buyback is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Bridgeport Police Department Community Services Division, 1395 Sylvan Avenue in Bridgeport.

People turning in weapons must follow a precise protocol.
1. Firearms MUST be delivered unloaded;
2. Firearms MUST be put in a clear plastic bag and put into another container (gym bag, backpack, etc);
3. If depositing ammunition in addition to a firearm, ammunition must be delivered in separate bag;
4. If transporting the firearm by car, the firearm must be transported in the trunk of the car;
5. After the firearm is screened by officers and determined to be a working firearm, a gift card will be given;
6. Non-operational guns, antiques firearms, BB guns and holsters will be accepted but do not qualify for a gift card.