Connecticut

CT smog problem gets no relief from Supreme Court’s EPA ruling

Published

1 year ago

June 27, 2024

CT smog problem gets no relief from Supreme Court’s EPA ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday halted, at least temporarily, a Biden administration rule that would have helped moderate Connecticut’s longstanding summertime smog and other air quality problems.

The rule would dramatically cut Midwestern and Western power plant and industrial emissions that travel east into Connecticut and contribute to the state’s high asthma rates and air quality that is perpetually out of compliance with federal standards.

The court’s action, a 5-4 decision written by Neil Gorsuch with the three liberal justices and Amy Coney Barrett dissenting, once again thwarts decades of legal efforts by Connecticut to force upwind states to do something about the cross-state pollution that disproportionately plagues Connecticut.

“This case is going to have a direct impact on the air quality of Connecticut and the entire Long Island Sound region, the entire New England region,” said Roger Reynolds, senior legal director for the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound. “Connecticut and New York are working hard to reduce emissions, but that’s being completely undermined by pollution that’s coming in through these Midwest power plants. And if we’re not able to address the pollution from the Midwest power plants, we’re never going to be able to effectively address pollution in Connecticut.”

“This disappointing decision is a serious setback for Connecticut’s air quality and public health,” said Attorney General William Tong in a statement. “As Justice Barrett states in her dissent, this injunction ‘leaves large swaths of upwind states free to keep contributing significantly to their downwind neighbors’ ozone problems for the next several years.’ That’s an unacceptable outcome. But our fight is not over. While the Supreme Court has temporarily paused enforcement of the Good Neighbor Provision, we will continue to aggressively pursue our ongoing litigation.”

The ruling adds to the list of recent pushbacks to Biden administration environmental policies by this most conservative iteration of the Roberts court. Two years ago, it prevented the Biden administration from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. It narrowed what bodies of water can be protected under the Clean Water Act. Before this term ends, there will a major decision that many expect will significantly weaken the power of administrative agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to follow the science. On Tuesday, the court announced that next term it would take up a challenge to the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act that requires in-depth environmental reviews for federal projects.

“This is the worst three years for the environment in the Supreme Court ever, since the passage of our major environmental laws in the early ’70s,” Reynolds said. “There is a clear pattern of weakening the ability of agencies, and there’s a particular focus on the EPA.”

The rule at issue, known as the Good Neighbor Plan, was finalized by the Biden administration in March 2023. It ordered 23 states in the Midwest and West to reduce pollution from their power plants and industrial operations, tightening previous standards set in the Obama administration. The Trump administration took no similar action, even though to be in compliance with the Clean Air Act, it was supposed to. The Clean Air Act, in place since 1970, contains a good neighbor policy designed to keep upwind states from polluting downwind ones.

While the rule was implemented in some of the states, many states had fought the plan, resulting in a hodge-podge of court rulings that have and have not included stays of the rule. A few states that were not granted stays appealed to the Supreme Court as an emergency, and the court decided to hear the appeal to decide whether to grant the stay while the various cases continue to wind through courts.

Connecticut was among a dozen states and other entities that filed comments with the Supreme Court asking it to not impose a stay.

In the meantime, Connecticut is facing yet another summer of air pollution and bad air quality. Pollution emanating from the west and south of Connecticut typically travels east and north on the prevailing winds and in the summer essentially “cooks” in the sun, forming ozone or smog. Connecticut is its landing pad.

The EPA has noted that “southern Conn. experiences the highest ground-level ozone levels in the eastern half of the U.S. The ozone recorded at air quality monitors in Southwest Conn. comes almost entirely (90-95%) from out of state. Connecticut cannot reach attainment with EPA’s ozone air-quality standard without upwind emission reductions from sources in States south and west of Connecticut.”

The American Lung Association’s 25th annual State of the Air Report, released late last year, found that, once again, Connecticut received an F grade in four of its eight counties for high ozone levels, and that Fairfield County has the worst ozone pollution east of Texas.

For nearly half-a-century most of Connecticut has registered ozone that exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standards set by the EPA. Right now, the southern part of the state — Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties — doesn’t even meet the more lenient 2008 standards. Officially, that’s called being “in non-attainment,” and those counties worsened in recent years to being in “severe non-attainment.” The entire state is in moderate non-attainment with the stricter 2015 standards. It’s anticipated that designation will worsen to “serious.”

Already this ozone season, which runs from March through September, the state has registered 12 bad air days. In the whole of last season there were 19, low for the state and nothing like the brown cloud pollution of the 1970s.

Some of what causes the state’s ozone problem is created locally, largely from transportation. The last coal-fired power plant in New England — the Merrimack Station near Concord, N.H. — is set to close in 2028.

The Good Neighbor Plan as conceived would have taken effect in 2026. EPA projects that in that year alone it would have prevented some 1,300 premature deaths, avoided more than 2,300 hospital and emergency room visits, cut asthma symptoms by 1.3 million cases, avoided 430,000 school absence days and 25,000 lost workdays.

The high court is likely to see the case again as the lower court challenges continue to play out.

This story was originally published by the Connecticut Mirror.

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Connecticut

Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut

Published

2 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut

DALLAS (WTNH) — A New London-based group is partnering with a Texas-based restaurant planning to open its first locations in Connecticut.

New London Hospitality has signed a new area development agreement with Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, for the development rights of three future locations in the state, according to a press release from Twin Peaks.

The release lists New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and Stamford or Bridgeport as potential markets.

According to the release, New London Hospitality is run by Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, who have experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with major hotel brands including Hilton, Red Roof Inn and Choice Hotels.

“Deepak and Kam bring a powerful combination of hospitality expertise and operational discipline,” Twin Peaks CEO Kim Boerema said in the release. “Their experience growing multi-unit concepts makes them ideal partners as we enter Connecticut. We are confident they will help anchor Twin Peaks as a new favorite for sports fans throughout the state.”

Twin Peaks describes itself as “the ultimate sports lodge featuring made-from-scratch food and the coldest beer in the business, surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs. At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs.”

“Twin Peaks delivers everything guests want in a sports bar — scratch-made food, 29-degree draft beer, and the best place to catch every game,” Verma said. “We look forward to introducing the brand’s signature lodge experience and welcoming Twin Peaks girls to Connecticut, establishing a new home base for local sports fans and food enthusiasts.”

Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There are 114 locations in the United States and Mexico. The closest location to Connecticut is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Connecticut

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

Published

14 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — As Friday’s stormy weather brings strong rains and damaging winds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and local agencies are reporting the following alerts.

Stormy Friday Weather

Note: Not every alert can be attributed to weather.

Current Traffic Alerts:

NEW HAVEN – Two-vehicle crash on Route 15 southbound between Exits 46 and 42B. The right lane is closed. Reported at 3:28 p.m.
OLD SAYBROOK – Route 154 (Main Street) closed in both directions between Willard Ave Ext. and Cromwell Ave because of tree down with wires. Reported Friday, December 19 at 2:20 pm.
PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed # 105 Norwich Road and Kinney Hill Road for tree in wires. Reported at 12:31 p.m.
PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed in both directions at Arbor Lane due to a pole down in wires. Reported at 12:25 p.m.
N. STONINGTON – Route 184 (Providence New London Turnpike) closed in both directions at Rt 49 (Pendelton Hill Road) because of tree down. Reported at 12:11 p.m.
COLCHESTER – Colchester Route 85 New London Road closed between Lake Hayward Road and West Road because of Wires Down. Reported at 12:04 p.m.
UNION – Route 171 closed at Route 197 and Rindge Road for a tree down in wires. Reported at 12:02 p.m.
DEEP RIVER – Route 80 (Winthrop Road) closed in both directions between Cedar Swamp Road and Bahr Road because of a tree down. Reported at 11:58 a.m.
OXFORD – Route 67 is closed at Route 42 for wires and a transformer down. Reported at 11:49 a.m.
LEBANON – Lebanon RT-207 Exeter Road is closed at Clubhouse Road because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 11:46 a.m.
NORTH BRANFORD – Route 17 northbound and southbound at the intersection of Rt 22 is closed. Utility work in area. Reported at 11:47 a.m.
BRANFORD – Localized flooding is currently occurring in multiple areas of town.
SEYMOUR – Fire officials are asking people to avoid Highland Avenue and Gilyard Street because a large tree has snapped a telephone pole. Please use alternate routes.
MIDDLETOWN – Multiple businesses without power.
EAST LYME – Route 161 (Flanders Road) closed in both directions at Society Road because of pole down with wires. Reported at 11:50 a.m.
EAST LYME – Tree down on powerlines on West Main Street, Niantic (Rte. 156) in the area of #278. Roadway is currently closed at Douglas Avenue and Four Mile intersection. Eversource has been notified. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
MANSFIELD – Route 195 is closed at Ledgewood Drive for a tree down across the road. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
GUILFORD – Route 146 Leetes Island Road closed in both directions between Wingate Road and Moose Hill Road because of a tree down with wires. Reported at 11:44 a.m.
THOMPSON – Thompson Route 193/Thompson Road is closed between Route 12/Riverside Drive and Robbins Road because of a Tree Down. Reported Friday, December 19 at 11:36 am.
COLCHESTER – Colchester Route16/Middletown Road is closed between Bigelow Road and Victoria Drive because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
HARWINTON – Harwinton Route 4/Burlington Road closed between Harmony Hill Road and Route 72 Terryville Road because of a tree down with wires on the road. A fire was also reported. Reported at 9:14 a.m.

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Connecticut

Connecticut doctor warns about ‘super flu’ as holiday gatherings approach

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Connecticut doctor warns about ‘super flu’ as holiday gatherings approach

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Doctors are voicing concerns on the rising number of flu cases, including a new strain some are referring to as the “super flu,” as many are gathering indoors with loved ones for the holiday season.

With Christmas just a week away, Dr. Ulysses Wu, the chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said there are growing concerns over the new H3N2 flu strain.

“We had a very late flu season this year, but we’re making up for it like gang busters,” Dr. Wu said. “What’s happening with this one is, this has changed a bit, making it a little bit more infectious. It invades our immune system a little bit more, and that’s why we’re seeing a rise in cases.”

The most notable jump in the U.S. has been happening in New York City, with 14,000 cases reported in the first week of December. That is a 460% jump from the same time last year, according to the state flu tracker.

Dr. Wu warned that, because of its location, Connecticut is at risk to see a jump in flu cases.

“Remember, we’re sandwiched between New York and Boston, and we do have our share of travelers and commuters as well,” Dr. Wu said. “Our rates have certainly increased and that’s to be expected.”

Dr. Wu recommended that it is best to listen to medical professionals when it comes to the flu vaccine and the new H3N2 strain.

“So people are saying, ‘Oh well it’s changed, the vaccine isn’t going to work.’ It is still going to work,” Dr. Wu explained. “The whole point is to modulate the course of the disease so it’s not as severe.

Dr. Wu said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are also up among children and older adults in Connecticut. When it comes to holiday celebrations, Dr. Wu recommends using common sense — wash your hands, stay home if you are sick and get vaccinated if you haven’t been already.

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