NBC Connecticut Meteorologists have issued a First Alert for strong winds Saturday night into Sunday morning. 

A strengthening low pressure system will move over the Great Lakes region on Saturday while high pressure jogs to the east. This weather setup will lead to a strong southerly wind Saturday evening into Sunday morning. 

We're forecasting southerly winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph possible. The highest gusts will likely be recorded along the shoreline.

Take a look at First Alert Future Wind Gusts at 9 p.m. on Saturday. 

Strong winds could lead to sporadic power outages throughout the state as there is the possibility of small tree limbs falling.

In addition to the wind aspect of the storm we're also tracking rain.

Most of Saturday should remain dry with scattered showers entering the state after 2 p.m.

Scroll through below for an hour by hour synopsis of First Alert Future Radar.

8 A.M. Saturday - Dry

2 P.M. Saturday - A few showers work into western Connecticut.

5 P.M. Saturday - Showers become more widespread in western Connecticut.

8 P.M. Saturday - Periods of heavy rain and strong winds throughout the state.

8 A.M. Sunday: The rain will be over by the morning with a breezy northwest wind.

Authorities removed 21 cats, three live dogs and three dead dogs from a home on Beechwood Avenue in Torrington Friday after a complaint about living conditions in the home. 

Torrington police said the investigation began after Torrington Regional Animal Control received a complaint about the well being of animals at 163 Beechwood Ave. The person told police the house was cluttered and there were multiple cats and several dogs in the house, some caged and some loose.

Animal Control officers made contact with the owner and interviewed witnesses. Police said the owner was uncooperative and would not let authorities check the condition of the animals.

Based on the investigation police obtained a search and seizure warrant and removed the animals from the home. Police said there were 21 cats and three dogs living in the house. They also found three dead dogs during the search.

Most of the animals were in cages and did have food and water. Officers said there were items piled up throughout the house and the conditions made it difficult to gather the loose animals.

The animals are being evaluated by a veterinarian and will be cared for by Torrington Regional Animal Control.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Roy Moore scandal has unleashed a torrent of online donations to Democrat Doug Jones, who was collecting around $250,000 per day in its immediate aftermath, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity.

Democrats may end up in the unlikely situation of dramatically outspending the GOP in the Senate contest in deep red Alabama now that national Republicans have abandoned Moore. The Republican candidate's bank account had been depleted by a tough primary battle even before nine women came forward to accuse of him of sexual impropriety.

The scandal has super-charged Jones' already robust online fundraising to "Ossoff-level money," as one Democrat put it, referring to failed Democratic congressional candidate Jon Ossoff, who amassed a staggering $30 million in a Georgia special election earlier this year.

Doctors say a new technology unveiled today at Connecticut Children's Medical Center will improve outcomes for premature and newborn babies.

Sarah and Chris James know how the right technology can make a difference.

Their pregnancy was going smoothly until the delivery of their daughter Rosie. During ten hours of second-stage labor, Rosie was deprived of oxygen, and was not breathing when born.

Doctors assessed Rosie's condition at the NICU in Danbury, and said she needed a special cooling treatment immediately. That treatment was only available over an hour away in Hartford.

Her father remembers following the ambulance in the snow.

"To be honest, I wasn't sure where I was going."  He said his mind was rushing "in a million different directions."

Dr. Marilyn Sanders, a neonatologist at Connecticut Children's, said in cases like Rosie's, cooling can slow down the metabolism and prevent damage.

She said the technology has proven to be extremely successful.

"It has increased the numbers of babies who have survived without any major neurological problems," she explained.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center now has, thanks to donors like Pampers, the first mobile cooling unit in the state. The machine, once the size of a refrigerator, is now just the size of a breadbox, and can be transported directly to babies at one of thirteen partner hospitals.

Today, Rosie is 7 years old and at the top of her class. Her mother described her as a miracle and her character as strong and persistent.

"That started from the moment she was born," she said.

Sarah is grateful the same equipment that saved her daughter’s life will now help others.

"It’s ensuring that those babies get whatever they need right away so the consequences of whatever happens at birth are minimized," she said.

President Donald Trump has began paying for his own legal defense in connection with the FBI's investigation into the influence of Russian meddling in national elections, CNBC reported. 

The Republican National Committee and his campaign were paying for Trump's steep legal fees.

Bloomberg first reported the president would be paying his own legal bills Friday.

The legal bills have been piling up for both Trump and those around him.

An interview with investigators could cost more than $30,000, according to the Bloomberg article.

Acting New London Police Chief Peter Reichard has been selected as the city's next Chief of Police.

The mayor’s office announced the decision Friday evening. Reichard has been acting chief since November 2016.

He was selected to head the department after a search that turned up 14 applicants from across the country.

“Throughout the selection process Chief Reichard competed and performed in an exemplary manner earning the confidence of the selection committee and Mayor Passero,” read the announcement from the mayor’s office.

Reichard's predecessor, Margaret Ackley, served as chief from 2009 to 2016.

The date of Reichard’s swearing in has not been decided.

The excitement is building in New Haven for 'The Game,' between Yale and Harvard at the Yale Bowl, not only for football fans but also for the businesses that get a boost from their visit.

The Yale University Football Team can clinch an outright Ivy League title for the first time in 37 years with a win Saturday afternoon over Harvard.

According to the Yale Athletics Ticket Officer, there have been more tickets sold before this year’s game day at the Yale Bowl than ever before. The university is expecting a crowd of more than 50,000 football fans.

Every two years when Yale hosts the game against its rival from Cambridge, New Haven’s restaurants and hotels see a big boost in business.

On Friday, Terri Montag and her daughters from Ohio checked in to the Omni Hotel in downtown.

"I turned it over to my daughters," she said. "They kind of did the research and we’re at the Omni, beautiful, the architecture."

Montag’s oldest daughter Victoria is only in the eighth grade, but she already has her sights set on attending Yale.

"Because of all the wonderful opportunities and experiences that they offer here," she said.

For her 14th birthday, Montag is visiting the Elm City for the first time. The family plans to take a campus tour Friday before watching the 134th meeting between Yale and Harvard on the football field.

"It is tradition,” Terri Montag said, "it is kind of what we have comparable in Ohio with Michigan and Ohio State."

There are 306 guests rooms at the Omni Hotel on Temple Street and every one of them will be occupied this weekend, Director of Sales and Marketing Dana Zimmerman said.

"This is every other year that Harvard comes to play Yale so of course it’s really fantastic," Zimmerman said. “All the alumni come back for it."

John Brenna is the chef and owner at Elm City Social and Olives and Oil.

"We’re expecting a lot of business," he told NBC Connecticut.

With the big rivalry game in town this weekend, Brennan said reservations have been made for 200 guests Friday and Saturday at each restaurant.

"It’s like really rich in history just like the city of New Haven," Brennan said of The Game. "So we love it, we love to see new people in the city, show them what we got, show them that New Haven is really great culinary scene and a great bar scene as well."

"Of course, we we’ll accept Harvard fans just keep the cheering to a minimum," he joked.

Yale alumnus Brian Reilly is planning to tailgate with family and former roommates at the Yale Bowl Saturday morning.

"It means a lot," he said. "It is always a fun day, it is always a huge turnout, but I can understand why it’s a big turnout tomorrow because we’re going win the Ivy League outright."

City of New Haven Deputy Director of Emergency Operations Rick Fontana said Yale, New Haven and West Haven Police are working together to keep the large crowd of football fans safe.

"Know your surroundings," Fontana said. "If you see something say something, but we’ll do our best, we collaborate with Yale University on a daily basis."

The early fans arrive, the better, Fontana said, because "when you do metal detection it creates a longer line for everybody."

Knowing security is a top priority for Yale and local police, Reilly said he can stay focused Yale and Harvard’s clash on the field.

"I don’t worry about it," he said, "if I do that means the terrorists are winning."

Parking is sold out at the bowl, but there will be free shuttle buses from City of New Haven Parking Garages downtown.

Yale is asking any fan who plans to bring donations for the Connecticut Food Bank to only bring non-perishable items and not turkeys.

Gates for the Yale Bowl will open at 11 a.m. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

Some Stonington residents are having trash troubles, concerned that their town-required garbage bags are falling apart and possibly getting smaller.

"Every week the drawstring breaks," posted one resident on the Stonington Community Forum Facebook page.

"They are truly terrible. Very thin. Not worth the price," posted another resident.

"They definitely are a lower quality. Thinner, appear to be smaller…," posted a third.

There is a thread of comments about the town garbage bags that residents are required to purchase.

"The bags fall apart! I don’t like these old bags! We need new bags and we’re going to get new bags," said Stonington First Selectman Rob Simmons.

He said he’s seen a quality problem for the past several months.

The town’s five-year contract with current vendor WasteZero, based out of North Carolina, expired at the end of October, said John Phetteplace, Stonington’s solid waste director.

"We’ve complained to them and complained to them," Simmons said.

The town is now soliciting bids for a new contract.

One issue was that the plastic at the top of some garbage bags wasn’t sealed properly, so when someone pulled the drawstring, it fell out, Phetteplace explained.

It was caused by an issue in production, Phetteplace said. The machine used to seal the plastic wasn’t hot enough. Those bags should have been discarded, but weren’t.

As for concerns about the bag’s size, Phetteplace said it’s remained the same, but the way the drawstrings are now being sealed reduces the circumference of its opening. Though there have been inconsistencies in color, the bag’s strength has stayed the same, too.

"(WasteZero’s) shipping them out is inconsistent. All the cases aren’t the same. So it made it difficult for us to do inventory. They weren’t able sometimes to get the bags to us before we were closed," Phetteplace said.

He said the problems don’t appear to be batch-wide. And the company seems like it’s fixed the issues.

With the exception of the last several months, Phetteplace said the program has run well. A few years ago that the town received bags with no side seams, but Phetteplace said WasteZero came to town and replaced them all.

Many residents haven’t noticed any issues with the trash bags. Like Linda Santos who said she hasn’t experienced any problems with the garbage bags in her 18 years living in Stonington.

Mark Dancy, president of WasteZero, said he had employees in town last week to look at every case of garbage bags to make sure they were up to standard.

Part of the issue with the color was because their supplier was hit by Hurricane Harvey so the product was delayed, Dancy said.

As for any defects, Dancy said, "As a manufacturer, you strive to have no defects but the reality is the manufacturing process is not perfect. Whenever we make a mistake we let our customers know to please call us. That’s why we put an 800 number on our product. And we encourage people to call us and let us know. When we have quality issues, we get back to the customer right away. It’s something we take pride in. And again, I’m sorry anyone in Stonington had a bad experience with our product."

The bag program, where residents are required to purchase yellow bags to dispose of their trash, started in 1992. Phetteplace said it has significantly reduced the amount of waste disposed of in town.

One 33-gallon bag costs $1.25; one 15-gallon bag costs $0.75, according to the town website. Sleeve options are also available.

President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, failed to disclose what lawmakers called a "Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite" involving a banker who has been accused of links to Russian organized crime, three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News.

An email chain described Aleksander Torshin, a former senator and deputy head of Russia's central bank who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as wanting Trump to attend an event on the sidelines of a National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Kentucky, in May 2016, the sources said. The email also suggests Torshin was seeking to meet with a high-level Trump campaign official during the convention, and that he may have had a message for Trump from Putin, the sources said.

Trump Jr.'s lawyer and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Congressional committees and special counsel Robert Mueller are investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

Two Quinnipiac students face arson charges after allegedly setting fires in dormitory bathrooms, according to the Hamden Police Department.

Hamden police said the two students, identified as 19-year-old Bernhard Wright and 18-year-old Carmelo Fazzolari, lit fires in three different bathrooms in ‘The Commons’ dormitory building between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Friday. Investigators found fires set in two trash cans and several bathroom stalls.

Police said 482 students live in The Commons.

Other students reported the fires to Residential Life who called the university maintenance department. One student was burned when he tried to move a burning trash can, police said.

Wright and Fazzolari were each charged with third-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless burning and third-degree criminal mischief. Both were released after posting a $10,000 bond and are due in court on Nov. 30.

Anthem and Hartford HealthCare have reached an agreement that puts Anthem members back in-network with the healthcare provider.

The three-year agreement offers patients with Anthem insurance in-network benefits to Hartford HealthCare offerings, according to statements from both companies.

In October, after months of negotiations between the insurance company and the healthcare provider they announced they had failed to come to an agreement, causing hundreds of thousands of Anthem policyholders to be treated as out-of-network patients.

However, the new contract is retroactive to October 1, meaning patients who received care in that time period will only be charged in-network prices for those services. The previous contract ended September 30, so this means there will be no break in coverage.

“We deeply understand and regret the inconvenience and disruption that being out of network has caused our patients and communities,” said Jeffrey Flaks, Hartford HealthCare’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Everything we do is aimed at creating more access to exceptional services. I speak for all my colleagues at Hartford HealthCare in thanking our patients for their understanding during this difficult time.”

“Our members remained our number one priority as we worked hard and in good faith to find common ground and reach agreement. We are very pleased that they are immediately regaining in-network access to all of the hospitals and providers that are a part of the Hartford HealthCare system. We are happy that the end result is a fair agreement with sustainable increases and additional incentives that reward HHC hospitals for improvement in patient safety. We look forward to working closely with HHC to minimize any further disruption and ensure quality affordable healthcare for our members,” wrote Jill R. Hummel, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in a statement announcing the news.

Hartford HealthCare facilities include Backus Hopsital in Norwich, Hartford Hospital, Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain and Southington, MidState Medical Center in Meriden, and Windham Hospital.

All lanes are closed on I-84 eastbound near exit 16 and 17 at the Southbury-Middlebury line because of an accident involving two tractor trailers.

State Police also said the center and left lanes on I-84 westbound are closed near exit 16 and 17. 

According to police, one of the tractor trailers caught fire.

One person was hospitalized with minor injuries.

More details were not immediately available. It is unknown at this time how long the lanes will be closed.

One person is dead after a crash in Woodstock early Saturday.

Connecticut state police said one person was killed when a car traveling on Route 171 in Woodstock struck a tree and caught fire. It happened just before 1 a.m.

The victim has not been identified.

State police are investigating. Anyone with information should contact Trooper Storm at Troop D 860-779-4900 ex. 2046.

No other details were immediately available.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin is considering a run for governor, he confirmed Saturday.

"It’s not something I had planned to do right now, but over the past few weeks I’ve heard from a number of people around the state urging me to consider it. I haven’t made a decision, but I am considering it, and I’m the coming weeks, I’ll be talking with and listening to folks in the City of Hartford and elsewhere about it," Bronin, a Democrat, said in a statement.

Several well-known Democrats have expressed interest in running since Gov. Dannel Malloy announced that he will not seek re-election.

Middletown Mayor Dan Drew announced in July his intention to run for governor and former Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jon Harris and Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim announced they were forming exploratory committees.

East Haven police are searching for a suspect who stole a donation jar off the counter of a local liquor store.

Police said they responded to East Haven Discount Wine and Liquors at 659 Foxon Road Thursday to investigate the theft. The owner told police the stolen jar was full of money for cancer research.

Surveillance footage shows a female suspect enter the store at 1:13 p.m., walk around then grab the jar and walk out.

The woman was wearing a grey American Eagle sweatshirt and sunglasses.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information on this crime should contact East Haven police at 203-468-3820 or on their Facebook page. All tips will remain anonymous.

Los Angeles police are investigating almost two dozen cases of alleged criminal sexual misconduct connected to multiple people within the entertainment industry, a senior department official told NBC News.

The cases involve individuals who are known publicly as well as others who have not yet been identified, the official said Friday.

Allegations span from misdemeanor sexual battery to felony rape, and in many cases, there are multiple complaints lodged against the same individual, the official said. With calls from victims continuing to roll in, the number of investigations is expected to rise.

While police have not said publicly who is under investigation, law enforcement's response comes after a mounting list of Hollywood heavy hitters, including Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey, have been accused of some form of sexual misconduct.

Kevin Neal’s family knew he was mentally ill, but they never thought he would kill five people and attack an elementary school in rural northern California. But Neal committed both those acts on Tuesday, and it has left his family asking some very difficult questions, NBC News reported.

Sheridan Orr, Neal’s sister, said her brother made threats for nearly 20 years. Though they continued to pressure him to receive help for his mental health, he seemed unwilling to pursue treatment.

Experts say it is difficult to know what to do in those situations, but Dr. James Fox, an expert on gun violence and author of “Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder,” said it's dangerous to assume that the mentally ill tend to commit these shootings.

"There’s not really a correlation," said Fox, who maintains a database on mass shootings. "We like to think that these people are different from the rest of us. We want a simple explanation and if we just say they’re mentally ill, case closed. Because of how fearful dangerous and deadly their actions are, we really want to distance ourselves from it and relegate it to illness."

A family living on opposite sides of the U.S.-Mexico border for more than 15 years was reunited for a few short minutes Saturday, when U.S. Border Patrol agents open the gates.

It was all part of an event, now in its sixth year, called "Opening the Door for Hope" that allows a select number of families, to embrace their loved ones for three minutes at Friendship Park, an area between two border fences at Border Field State Park near south San Diego. This year 12 families were selected.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) allows families to see each other through a fortified fence at Friendship Park while still remaining firmly in their countries. But for this special event, agents opened the gates that separate them, allowing loved ones to hug, kiss and talk without boundaries.

"There will be families hugging one another that, for one reason or another, can't cross [the border] north or south," said Enrique Morones, director of Border Angels, a nonprofit that supports San Diego's immigrant population.

For families to qualify, the person from the U.S. must have legal documentation.

One at a time, people were allowed to pass through the open gate and embrace loved ones. One couple even took their few minutes to get married. With such a short amount of time, few words were spoken, instead sharing tearful hugs. 

"A lot of tears were running down my face too, but out of joy more than anything," said Vicente Saldana, a DACA recipient and recent UC San Diego graduate, who was there with his sister and niece to see his mother for the first time in 10 years. 

The day put things into perspective for him. 

"We are free to be here in the U.S. but at the same time, we’re limited in what we can do, where we can travel and who we can be with," Saldana said. "We just try to stay strong and push hard every day and we know that one day we will be able to reunite with her."

Claudia Rocha traveled about 500 miles from San Jose, California, to be one of those families after her husband, Guillermo, worked with Border Angels to apply.

She told Telemundo 20 in San Diego that it's been 15 years since she has seen her parents. She also has a brother whom she hadn't seen since he was a months-old infant.

"I have a little brother who is 15 years old and he's also excited because, well, he doesn't know me -- he only knows me through pictures. And he tells me he wants to meet me," Claudia said ahead of the event. "I want to hug them and not let them go for those few minutes."

Morones says he is not sure how much longer the reunification event will last, because of the Trump administration and stricter immigration policies.

“We hope that Congress will do something for us 'Dreamers' at the end of the day," Saldana said. "We're good people and we're here with good intentions."

For now, loved ones are embracing the opportunity to embrace each other, if only for three minutes. 

It may have been common to look away from fraternities issues in the past, even deadly ones. But not anymore.

This year alone, the deaths of four pledges in alcohol-related incidents and various hazing infractions have led to the closing down of some or all Greek life activities on several college campuses and the filing of criminal charges against more than two dozen students, NBC News reported. 

While college administrators, for the most part, have acted quickly after the most recent deaths, it is still highly unlikely that any would move to permanently ban fraternities outright, experts told NBC News.

Penn State University implemented new regulations for its Greek life and suspended some fraternities after the death of a sophomore pledge, Timothy Piazza, after an alcohol-filled hazing ritual in February. Prosecutors filed charges in the case last week against 17 people linked to the fraternity. A school spokeswoman said the university president will meet with his counterparts at other colleges in the Big 10 conference next year to discuss potential solutions.

State police say they've arrested an Ellington man after he fired nearly 40 rounds from several guns at a speed limit sign after a night of drinking.

Police say that on Saturday night around 10:30 p.m., Alexander Czaja, 22, had been drinking at a friend’s house when he decided to walk home.

At some point during his walk on Minor Hill Road, Czaja fired over 11 rounds from a 12-gauge shotgun, 17 rounds from a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber and six rounds from a Smith and Wesson .357 revolver at a speed limit sign.

Police received several 911 calls from residents in the Crystal Lake area of Ellington reporting the gunfire.

When troopers arrived on scene, the discovered Czaja emerging from the woods carrying a shotgun. Czaja was given commands to drop the open.

He complied and police were able to place him in handcuffs. During this time, the discovered that the was armed with two additional hand guns and more than 25 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.

Czaja was charged with Unlawful Discharge Of Firearms, Illegal Carry Firearm under Influence of Drugs and /or Alcohol, Criminal Mischief and Reckless Endangerment.

He was released on bond and scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on November 27.

Czaja’s pistol permit and guns were seized.