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‘Do not risk your life’: CT governor declares state of emergency

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‘Do not risk your life’: CT governor declares state of emergency


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  • Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is urging motorists to avoid travel on Sunday, January 25, 2026, due to a major winter storm.
  • The state is expected to receive 14 to 20 inches of snow, potentially the largest snowfall from a single storm in over a decade.
  • Officials warn of heavy snowfall rates and possible whiteout conditions, making travel extremely dangerous.
  • The Connecticut Department of Transportation has over 600 snowplows ready and advises drivers to give them ample space.

Gov. Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency ahead of the major winter storm that is anticipated to impact Connecticut starting Sunday.

Additionally, he has signed an order prohibiting commercial vehicles – such as permitted vehicles, trucks, RVs, tractor trailers, tankers and vehicles with trailers – from traveling on all limited access highways in Connecticut beginning at noon on Sunday, and remaining in effect until further notice.

Limited access highways are generally those that are designed to carry large volumes of traffic and have controlled access with on and off ramps.

“This storm is going to significantly impair the ability to safely drive, and we want to get the word out that it will be extremely dangerous to be on the roads,” Lamont said. “Do not risk your life and the lives of others. I am strongly urging everybody to make plans now to be at a specific location on Sunday morning and remain there for the duration of the storm, which is likely to continue overnight and go into at least Monday morning.”

The order prohibiting commercial vehicle travel does not apply to emergency response and recovery vehicles, including public safety vehicles, utilities vehicles, and vehicles carrying essential personnel or supplies.

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The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all of Connecticut as of Sunday morning. The forecast as of noon on Saturday is showing that the state will receive 14 to 22 inches of snow, which at times may come down at very heavy rates of more than 2 inches per hour, causing whiteout conditions that will make driving extremely difficult.

Snow is expected to begin on Sunday morning and become particularly heavy in the afternoon and evening. Lighter rates of snow will remain on Monday morning and afternoon before tapering off and ending on Monday evening. This is estimated to be the largest snowfall total Connecticut has received from a single storm in more than a decade.

“Driving in these conditions, especially during the height of the storm when we will experience whiteout situations that make visibility very limited, will be extremely dangerous,” Lamont said.

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The Connecticut Department of Transportation has more than 600 snowplows and specialized equipment ready for deployment statewide. Crews will work around the clock as needed to clear snow and ice and restore safe travel conditions.

Tips for winter driving and staying clear of snowplows

The Connecticut Department of Transportation advises motorists to use the following tips whenever approaching a snowplow:

  • Give plows space: Stay well behind plows and avoid their blind spots, especially in the rear corners.
  • Never pass in active plowing zones: Passing snowplows can reduce visibility and increase the risk of collisions with thrown snow or the plow itself.
  • Be patient: Plows often drive slowly to clear snow effectively; crowding or tailgating can endanger both drivers and operators.

To ensure safety during icy and snowy conditions, the public is encouraged to:

  • Delay travel if possible: Staying home during the storm is the safest option.
  • Slow down: Reduce speed and allow extra time to stop on snow or ice-covered roads.
  • Leave extra space: Increase following distance between vehicles, especially behind snowplows.
  • Be vehicle-ready: Keep fuel tanks full or electric vehicles charged and ensure tires and lights are in good condition.
  • Pack emergency supplies: Carry blankets, water, food, a flashlight, a phone charger, and a first aid kit.
  • Stay informed: Monitor forecasts and check real-time traffic and road conditions at CTroads.org before traveling.
  • Never drive impaired: Winter conditions demand full attention and alertness at all times.

To subscribe to emergency alerts through the state’s CT Alert notification system, visit ct.gov/ctalert.

For emergency management news and resources, visit the state’s CTPrepares website at ct.gov/ctprepares.

For updates on any incidents that may be impacting state roads and highways, visit CTtroads.org. For those who utilize public transportation, visit the transit operator’s website for updates on any potential delays or cancellations.

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For more information about winter driving safety and snowplow awareness, visit nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips.



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Truck crash and fuel spill causes traffic backups on I-91 in New Haven

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Truck crash and fuel spill causes traffic backups on I-91 in New Haven


State police responded to I-91 in New Haven for reports that a tractor trailer was struck by another truck Saturday morning.

Police say that while there are no injuries, the accident caused a fuel rupture on the passenger side.

DEEP’s Emergency Response Unit say they arrived on scene where they found the tractor trailer’s saddle tankers containing diesel fuel had ruptured.

Officials estimate about 100 gallons of fuel was lost and leaked into the ground soil and the nearby waterway which is a tidal marsh of the Quinnipiac River.

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They say the environmental cleanup contractors are on scene with ERU Responders and are working to remediate the contaminated soil and water.

There are no warnings issued to the public at this moment.



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CT Agency Picked To Lead Federal Career Training Grant Expansion

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CT Agency Picked To Lead Federal Career Training Grant Expansion


Federal bill H.R. 1 enacted an expansion of Pell Grants to include short-term, career-focused training programs. These Workforce Pell Grants offer need-based aid to low-income students for programs ranging from eight to 15 weeks and comprising 150 to 599 clock hours of instruction.



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SCORE Events And Webinars For Western Connecticut

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SCORE Events And Webinars For Western Connecticut


Published: Mar 20, 2026 7:00 am

SCORE, or Service Corps of Retired Executives, is a national nonprofit organization that offers free and confidential business mentoring services to small business owners. There are local divisions of SCORE, as well as a national level, that regularly host events, workshops, and webinars to assist small business owners with growing their business. SCORE of Western Connecticut is hosting a lot of events in this last week of March, into April, and beyond.

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On March 23 at Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road, Easton, SCORE of Western Connecticut will host “Start Your Business Here — Business Planning and Goals.” This event will help business owners be specific and clear on their goals for business and personal life, provide instruction on building a step-by-step action plan to achieve those goals, and work on confidently communicating the business idea to others. Presenters Joe Ziskin and Joe McCaffrey will lead this workshop. Ziskin is a strategy and business development advisor and an “entrepreneur in residence” at University of Bridgeport’s Innovation Center. McCaffrey is a business advisor with Community Investment Corporation, a certified business mentor, and subject matter expert in commercial real estate, small business strategic planning, financial management, and capital sources with Fairfield Country SCORE. Registration is requested. Interested parties can register at score.org/westernconnecticut by clicking on “Workshops and Webinars” and registering for “Start Your Business Here.”

On March 25, noon, an online webinar will take place. “Resources for Veterans Starting a Business” will empower veterans with a wide range of national programs and support systems designed specifically to help vets launch and grow businesses. Registration is required for online access. Registration can be completed by taking the same steps as above, but searching for “Resources for Veterans Starting a Business” instead.

There are several other events at the end of March, like “Is Your Business Positioned for Success? Diagnostic Business Readiness Scorecard” on March 25, 6 pm, at Norwalk Library, 1 Belden Avenue, Norwalk; “Creating Effective Surveys for Nonprofits” on March 26 online, noon; and “Developing Financial Projections for Your New Small Business” also on March 26, online, 6 pm for $10.

On April 2, 6 pm, at Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, “Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business” will take place. Presenter Lorraine Duncan will walk attendees through making LinkedIn profiles “client attractive,” making the time spent on LinkedIn manageable for each person, learning how to reach out to target markets, and applying growth hacking strategies. Duncan has over 30 years in business marketing and consulting experience. She runs her own digital marketing agency, Biz Gone Social, where she advises small businesses on how to utilize social media in their marketing and guides them to online marketing solutions. Additionally, she does the social media management for them. Registration is requested, and can be completed by visiting score.org/westernconnecticut, clicking on “Workshops and Webinars,” and registering for “Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business.”

April has several events for small business owners, too. On April 6, SCORE is back at Easton Public Library, 6 pm, for “Start Your Business Here — Forming and Launching a Business and Key Technologies.” SCORE will also host an event at Trumbull Library, 33 Quality Street, Trumbull, 6 pm, for “Effectively Promoting Your Business in 30 Seconds (or less).”

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For an entire list of Western Connecticut SCORE webinars, events, and workshops, go to score.org/westernconnecticut and check out the “Workshops and Webinars” tab.





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