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Yalies rally to stop gas pipeline expansion in Connecticut

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Yalies rally to stop gas pipeline expansion in Connecticut


The Yale College Democrats and Yale Student Environmental Coalition joined a rally in Hartford to stop fracked gas expansion.


Emily Khym

10:57 pm, Feb 12, 2025

Staff Reporter

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Phoenix Boggs, Contributing Photographer

The Yale College Democrats and Yale Student Environmental Coalition rallied alongside other environmental advocates to stop Project Maple on Tuesday in Hartford.

“Stop Project Maple” is an ongoing campaign in Connecticut that aims to oppose the expansion of a gas pipeline from New York to Massachusetts. Tuesday’s protest targeted Eversource, a utility company interested in purchasing additional gas from the project.

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“Yesterday, we were at Eversource calling on them to both stop funding fossil fuels and stop purchasing our electricity and our heating from fossil fuels,” said Sena Wazer ENV ’26, a Stop Project Maple intern. “At the same time, we also wanted to call them out for having prices that are really unaffordable and taking advantage, especially of low-income ratepayers in Connecticut.”

Wazer claimed that Connecticut’s electricity bills are 91 percent higher than the national average due to companies such as Eversource. 

The two organizations hosted a poster-making event the night before where students made posters that read “Stop Project Maple” and “End Ever Sour.” Yalies went to Hartford Tuesday afternoon to join the protests.

“We started by listening to the organizers as they gave speeches,” said Christian Thomas ’26, Yale College Democrats president. “We participated in a die-in to represent the potential climate catastrophe that can come from oil pipelines like Project Maple.”

The protest included listening to speeches and a march to Eversource’s headquarters in Hartford. Alycia D. Jenkins, an organizer for the Connecticut chapter of the Sierra Club, a national environmental organization, started the rally by reading one of her poems.

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Wazer and other activists also gave speeches on the environmental harms of fossil fuels as well as the need for clean energy. The protest called on Eversource to stop funding fossil fuels, stop purchasing electricity and heating from fossil fuels and address unaffordable prices, particularly affecting low-income ratepayers in Connecticut.

Eversource did not immediately respond to the News’ request for comment.

“It was really impactful to stand there out in the freezing cold holding our signs and seeing other people who came out from all over CT to raise awareness about the harms that Project Mapel will incur upon our communities in Connecticut and the broader New England area,” Phoenix Boggs ’26, YSEC political outreach chair, said.

Boggs hopes that joining this rally can act as a springboard for YSEC to be more involved in policy advocacy work.

For Yale Dems, local clean energy and sustainability is a priority in campaigning. 

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“Our aim was to advocate for a more sustainable approach to gas transport and consumption and urge Connecticut lawmakers to support clean energy options,” said Jack Dozier ’27, Yale Dems communications chair. “We were incredibly excited to co-sponsor the trip to Hartford as we recognize that these are incredibly important priorities, especially in a time when many environmental resources and whole chunks of the EPA are being gutted.”

Stop Project Maple is hosting a workshop on writing a Letter to the Editor on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. online. 

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EMILY KHYM


Emily Khym covers transportation and infrastructure for the City Desk. She also lays out the print paper as Production & Design staff. Originally from Honolulu, Hawai’i, she is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Political Science with an Energy Studies certificate.

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HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries

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HBO casting in CT for neighbor dispute docuseries


A hit HBO documentary series is looking to Connecticut for stories to feature in its second season.

The show “Neighbors” follows on-going neighbor disputes across the country. The goal of the show is to help neighbors reach a resolution, according to the show’s casting director and executive producer Harleigh Shaw.

“Each story we explore, we spend extensive time with neighbors on both sides to really understand the full context beyond the disputes,” Shaw said.

Producers wanted to share stories in the second season that were based in states that weren’t featured earlier this year in the first season, including Connecticut, Shaw said.

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“A lot of the things that we’re most interested in are things that may seem small, but become a bigger issue between the neighbors,” Shaw said. “Anything from disagreements over gardening practices to property lines to noise to dock issues, if it’s a waterfront property. A whole myriad of things. We’re really open to anything.”

However, the show does avoid situations that are violent or dangerous.

Residents from Connecticut looking to participate should be open to third party conflict resolution, according to Shaw.

“Some of the ways that we did that were through mediation,” Shaw said. “That’s a huge one. But there are other things in terms of resources we’d be open to help the neighbors to like help work through the issues.”

Filming will take place throughout the summer and is expected to be completed by the end of September.

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The show’s production team is located in New York City and Los Angeles.

“Connecticut has always been really interesting because it’s just a short trip away, and we’re just curious to explore the types of neighbor dynamics that are going on there,” Shaw said.

Connecticut residents who are interested in being on “Neighbors,” can apply at helloneighbortv.com and are encouraged to submit information about themselves as well as their neighbor dispute.

“The neighbor disputes are the entry point for this show, but we’re always also just very interested in inspiring amazing people doing cool stuff,” Shaw said.

“Neighbors” premiered in February and was quickly renewed. The show averages about 3 million viewers per episode.

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The show features stories that make viewers laugh and cringe, according to HBO Programming’s Executive Vice President Nina Rosenstein.

“At a time when even the smallest disagreements can spiral out of control, ‘Neighbors’ feels both hilariously absurd and surprisingly relatable,” Rosenstein said. “What makes the show special isn’t just the stories and people they find, but the empathy and humanity they bring to each episode.”





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‘Serious’ crash closes Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury

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‘Serious’ crash closes Sugar Hollow Road in Danbury


DANBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — Danbury drivers can expect hours-long closures on Sugar Hollow Road early Monday morning after a “serious” crash, according to local police.

Police said the morning crash has caused closures in both directions at the Ridgefield Line (Bennetts Farm Road) and at Miry Brook Road.

The road is expected to close for approximately three to four hours, police said.

Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes, including George Washington Highway and Route 53.

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There are no words on injuries.

Additional information was not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


Download the News 8 app to get breaking news and weather alerts.

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Watch News 8 on WTNH.com or the free WTNH News 8 streaming app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and select Samsung Smart TVs.



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Cyclosporiasis outbreak prompts food safety concerns in Connecticut

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Cyclosporiasis outbreak prompts food safety concerns in Connecticut


ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WFSB) – People like Dena Pizzoferrato are changing what they put in their grocery carts after hearing about a cyclosporiasis outbreak.

“I’m kind of a little nervous so I’m looking to see what I buy right now,” Pizzoferrato said. “Today I didn’t buy any lettuce. I said I’m OK for now.”

Doctors say the illness is spread through parasites that make their way onto fresh produce. There have been 23 reported cases in Connecticut since May, but the CDC says the number is likely higher. Across the country, more than 840 cases and 86 hospitalizations have been reported in 31 states.

Symptoms include diarrhea and nausea that can last days to weeks. Doctors have not identified a source for the outbreak.

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Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said a range of produce could be contaminated.

“Typical things you would think are vegetables or fruits. In the past, it’s been raspberries, basil, cilantro. You may find it in lettuces, bagged salads. So it’s a variety of things that can be contaminated, but they have not found it at this time,” said Wu.

Wu said residents should take precautions with their produce. “Take precautions with your fruit and your produce. We give the same advice when people go overseas that you should always peel something. You should always boil something,” he said.

Doctors also recommend washing produce thoroughly if boiling is not an option, and washing hands regularly.

Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.

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