NEW HAVEN — Lucy Ballester, the owner of Soap-Edi on Chapel Street in New Haven, said she initially wanted the stretch of the road between in front of her shop to open to two-way traffic.
Connecticut
Timeline For Storms, Significant Flooding Today Released, Debby's Impacts Rise
SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT — A flood watch is in effect from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning as heavy rain and storms “could lead to flash flooding concerns,” according to the National Weather Service.
Additionally, the remnants of Debby “could lead to a moderate to high impact event across the area” from Thursday through Saturday, the weather service said.
The weather service said 1–2 inches of rain is forecast on Tuesday afternoon and through Wednesday morning, but some areas may see up to 5 inches of rain by Wednesday morning.
Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Flooding could be locally significant, causing major disruptions to transportation, flooding basements, first floors of residences and businesses, underground infrastructure, and posing an elevated threat to life,” the weather service shared in a statement.
“Risk for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms primarily with strong to damaging winds gusts this afternoon and evening,” the weather service added.
Find out what’s happening in Across Connecticutwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“There is high confidence in bands of heavy downpours and thunderstorms developing in the vicinity of the Tri-State area along a stalling frontal boundary this (afternoon) into tonight, most likely focused on southern portions of the area, but there is still some uncertainty regarding location,” the weather service shared in a morning briefing.
“While heavy rainfall is likely this afternoon into tonight along a stalled frontal boundary, the front, along with the heaviest rainfall, is expected to shift south Wednesday morning. Confidence is only moderate with this timing,” the weather service added.
As of now, Debby is forecast to bring more rain and thunderstorms to southern Connecticut from Thursday through Saturday, before nicer weather is expected on Sunday. Specific impacts have not been released, but will be shared later in the week as the remnants of the storm move closer to the area.
See also: Man Tries To Steal Cop Car With Officer Inside, Crashes Into Church, Video Shows
Here is the updated forecast details for coastal sections of southern Connecticut:
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 82. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 64. East wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then showers likely between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Northeast wind 10 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind around 11 mph.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 77. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Here is the updated forecast details for inland sections of southern Connecticut:
Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 62. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 75. Chance of precipitation is 80%
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Connecticut
New Haven’s Chapel Street shift from one-way to two-way traffic brings confusion, concerns
Pedestrians dash across Chapel Street where a new two-way traffic pattern has opened between College and York Streets in New Haven, Conn., Thursday, April 23, 2026.
She thought the change would bring more customers to her business, which sells bath bombs, soaps and lotions.
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“Now it’s kind of harder for them to get here,” Ballester said, who has been in the space for four years.
Chapel Street, between College Street and York Street, was converted from one-way traffic to two-way traffic starting April 20. The change is part of a broader effort to improve the safety of Chapel Street, one of New Haven’s longest, busiest and most crash-prone arteries.
Chapel Street goes through at least seven neighborhoods stretching from Fair Haven in the east through Mill River, Wooster Square, Downtown, Dwight and Edgewood, West River and Westville.
On April 23, though, New Haven crossing guards manned crosswalks, guiding pedestrians across the street and stopping traffic. Police officers sat in cars on the corners of Chapel Street where traffic change happened to make sure people weren’t driving in the wrong lane.
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One police officer said he saw 10 people drive in the wrong lane on April 22. By around 11:50 a.m. on April 23, he said he saw four people who drove in the wrong lane. He added a fifth one just moments later when a blue pickup truck turned from College Street into the wrong lane on Chapel Street.
The police officer laid on the horn at the driver.
Ballester said there’s more traffic and it is more difficult to get to and leave her shop. She also said her customers said they have to park further away to get to her. She lives in Hamden and usually Ubers to her store or she’ll sometimes drive with her husband.
“I literally don’t even want to deal with it,” Ballester said.
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Ballester said she lost parking spots in front of her store to a loading space, where a truck was unloading food on April 23.
“(The traffic) just makes the drivers angry,” Ballester said. “Just makes everybody upset.”
Balester said before there was “flow” and the cars were moving more, but now the street is congested.
Bryn McGuire, who lives in Clinton and drives to New Haven to attend classes at Gateway Community College, said the street seems “more calm” than he remembered it being. He said he’s been visiting New Haven for more than 20 years now.
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“That’s what I’d certainly like to see if it makes it more convenient to get around here, that’s great,” McGuire said. “But I think it’s very much a wait and see.”
He said he wanted to see more pedestrian infrastructure, such as bike lanes.
Plans call for Chapel Street, which already is a two-way street from Fair Haven to College Street, eventually to be open to two-way traffic all the way to Ellsworth Avenue, where it currently becomes two-way as it crosses Ella T. Grasso Boulevard into Westville.
The announcement came just over a year and a half after New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, joined by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, announced an $11 million federal grant for the “Chapel Street Safe Streets Project.”
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At the time of the announcement, nearly 900 accidents had taken place over four years along Chapel Street between State Street and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, including three fatalities and 18 serious injuries, according to the University of Connecticut’s Connecticut Crash Data Repository, officials said at the time.
This story includes reporting by staff writer Mark Zaretsky.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Connecticut Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.
Those who want to play in Connecticut can enter the CT Lotto, Millionaire for Life and Cash 5 games as well as play the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. There are also two drawings a day for the Play 3 with Wild Ball and Play 4 with Wild Ball games.
Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.
Here’s a look at Wednesday, April 22, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 22 drawing
24-29-32-49-63, Powerball: 11, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 22 drawing
24-25-27-28-35
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play3 numbers from April 22 drawing
Day: 9-0-9, WB: 6
Night: 3-3-6, WB: 6
Check Play3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Play4 numbers from April 22 drawing
Day: 2-7-2-5, WB: 5
Night: 4-2-0-7, WB: 8
Check Play4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 22 drawing
17-26-43-44-53, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Connecticut Lottery prizes up to $599 can be easily claimed at any authorized CT Lottery Retailer without additional forms or documentation or by mail. For prizes between $600 and $5,000, winners have the option to claim by mail or in person at any CT Lottery High-Tier Claim Center or CT Lottery Headquarters. For prizes between $5,001 and $49,999, winnings must be claimed in person at the Connecticut Lottery headquarters or by mail. All prizes over $50,000 must be claimed in person at CT Lottery Headquarters. Winners are required to bring a government-issued photo ID and their Social Security card.
CT Lottery Claims Dept.
15 Sterling Drive
Wallingford, CT 06492
For additional details, including locations of High-Tier Claim Centers, visit the Connecticut Lottery’s claim information page.
When are the Connecticut Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 10:38 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 5: 10:29 p.m. daily.
- Play3 Day: 1:57 p.m. daily.
- Play3 Night: 10:29 p.m. daily.
- Play4 Day: 1:57 p.m. daily.
- Play4 Night: 10:29 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Connecticut editor. You can send feedback using this form.
As the legislative session approaches its May 6 conclusion, a new national report underscores what many residents already feel: the state’s affordability challenges remain deeply entrenched.
Despite acknowledging cost reduction as a top priority heading into the 2026 session, lawmakers are advancing policies that risk moving in the opposite direction — potentially worsening the state’s already high cost-of-living and weak economic outlook.
According to Rich States, Poor States, published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Connecticut ranks 46th in the United States for its economic outlook and 48th for economic performance. The outlook ranking represents a decline from the previous year and continues a troubling long-term trend.
Over nearly two decades, Connecticut has consistently placed in the bottom tier, averaging around 38th overall. Its highest placement was 32nd in 2009, while it fell as low as 47th in both 2015 and 2016.
These findings are not an outlier.
Other national assessments, including the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index, Wallethub’s rankings for business environment and costs, and CNBC’s 2025 “America’s Top States for Business” report, show similar results. Across these measures, Connecticut consistently underperforms in areas tied to economic competitiveness, including tax burden, regulatory climate, and labor policy.
Overall, the state imposes high personal and corporate income taxes, maintains one of the heaviest property tax burdens in the nation, and ranks poorly in structural indicators such as estate taxes and labor flexibility.
Connecticut did post strong GDP growth in 2025, ranking 12th nationally. But that short-term performance masks longer-term challenges. From 2014 to 2024:
- GDP growth ranked 41st
- Domestic migration ranked 43rd
- Non-farm employment growth ranked 45th
These indicators suggest that while the state can experience periods of growth, it continues to struggle with attracting residents, retaining workers, and expanding its economic base.
Even within New England, a region known for higher costs, Connecticut trails most of its neighbors: See Table One
While other states in the region face similar structural challenges, Connecticut’s relative performance remains among the weakest.
There has been progress.
Since 2017, Connecticut’s fiscal guardrails have introduced spending discipline, bond rating upgrades, helped reduce pension liabilities, and contributed to the buildup of a $4.1 billion Rainy Day Fund. These reforms also enabled the largest income tax cut in state history.
However, the state still carries one of the highest debt burdens in the nation, particularly when measured on a per-capita basis. In recent years, adjustments to the guardrails have also raised concerns about maintaining their long-term effectiveness.
Preserving the core principles of these reforms, disciplined spending, predictable budgeting, and continued progress on long-term liabilities, remains critical to improving the state’s fiscal outlook.
Strengthening Connecticut’s economic outlook trajectory will require addressing structural challenges in taxation, spending, and regulation.
Instead, lawmakers are considering proposals that would increase taxes on high earners and businesses, including a potential statewide property tax, higher income tax rates, and a capital gains surcharge.
These policies carry risks. Connecticut already relies heavily on a relatively small group of high-income taxpayers (2.5%), who account for a disproportionate share of income tax revenue (41%). Increasing that burden further may influence decisions about where individuals live, work, and invest.
A shrinking tax base would have broader consequences, affecting revenue stability and the state’s ability to fund services.
Connecticut’s challenges are not new: they are structural and well-documented.
High housing costs, rising energy prices, and a heavy tax burden continue to drive concerns about affordability. Surveys consistently show residents considering relocation to states with lower costs and stronger economic growth.
At the same time, population growth in lower-cost states across the South and Southeast reflects a broader trend: individuals and businesses are responding to policy environments that support affordability and opportunity.
Reversing course will require more than incremental adjustments.
It will require a renewed focus on fiscal discipline, structural reform, and policies that improve competitiveness, including controlling spending, maintaining effective guardrails, and reducing tax and regulatory burdens.
Connecticut has seen what works. The challenge now is sustaining and building on those reforms.
As the legislative session enters its final weeks, the direction is becoming clear: without meaningful structural change, the state risks continuing the same pattern of high costs, slow growth, and persistent outmigration that has defined its economic trajectory for decades.
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