Connecticut State Police arrested a man in Trumbull early Monday morning after officers pulled over the car he was in and found eight pounds of marijuana, according to state police. 

Police investigated when a white 2014 Volkswagen Passat that was stopped on Route 8 around 12:15 a.m. didn't move over a lane and almost hit the State Police cruiser, according to police. 

Officers searched the car and the passenger, Jonathan Ven, 21, of Naugatuck, admitted to having a small amount of marijuana, which he gave to the officer, according to state police. 

However, when troopers searched the car, they found eight pounds of marijuana. Ven admitted that the marijuana was his and said it was mailed to him so he could sell it, according to state police. 

Ven was charged with possession of a kilogram or more of marijuana, with intent to sell and possession of a controlled substance. 

Bond was set at $100,000.

A 58-year-old man is dead after fire broke out in a Naugatuck mobile home early Friday morning and police have identified him as Paul Kingman.

Firefighters were called to Idleview Park on Idleview Drive around 1:30 a.m. for a fully engulfed structure fire.

Two women were able to escape the fire and told fire officials a man was still sleeping in a back bedroom of the home.

Firefighters tried to get inside, but heavy smoke and fire kept them from getting to Kingman man in time. By the time firefighters got to him, he had died, officials said.

Surrounding mobile homes were evacuated and mutual aid was called in from Middlebury, Oxford and Beacon Falls to help fight the fire.

There are no hydrants in the area, so firefighters had to bring water in by truck.

Officials said damage to the mobile home is extensive. The Red Cross is assisting residents of the mobile home.

There is a full propane tank on the property and officials were worried that it might explode.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Famous Vermont coffee roaster and small appliance brand Keurig Green Mountain announced Monday a merger with a Plano-Texas based company behind some of the best-known brands in store drink aisles.

Dr Pepper Snapple Group has more than 50 beverage brands, including Dr Pepper, Snapple, 7UP, Sunkist, Mott’s juices, A&W Root Beer, Hawaiian Punch, Mr & Mrs T drink mixers, Schweppes, Squirt, and Canada Dry.

The new beverage giant will call itself Keurig Dr Pepper, the companies said in a news release.

The announcement said the companies will have combined 2017 revenues of about $11-billion.

Keurig’s CEO, Bob Gamgort, said in a statement that combining hot and cold drink lines will create opportunities to increase exposure for products with growth potential. Gamgort will be based in Burlington, Massachusetts.

"The combination of Dr Pepper Snapple and Keurig will create a new scale beverage company which addresses today’s consumer needs, with a powerful platform of consumer brands and an unparalleled distribution capability to reach virtually every consumer, everywhere," Gamgort wrote.

The companies said the merger will result in a powerful nationwide distribution network, able to reach virtually every consumer, everywhere.

"I think it’s all great news for Vermont," said Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont. "It should increase the growth here in Vermont, I think—hopefully we’ll have a piece of that—so it’s all good news."

This isn’t the first time Keurig has gotten involved with the cold beverage sector. Several years ago, before it was sold to a private equity firm, it formed a partnership with Coca-Cola and made a small appliance to produce soda at home. The KOLD platform was not seen as a success, and was discontinued.

"The carbonated beverage space has been in decline for years," said St. Michael’s College business professor Robert Letovsky, who noted that drinks associated with natural, organic, or healthy ingredients seem to be popular with customers right now.

Letovsky said the merger should give the brands extra strength with retailers when it comes to shelf space and pricing.

"If you’re a brand—7Up, Dr Pepper, Keurig—you’ve got to have some stick," Letovsky told necn. "You’ve got to have some leverage, in order to be able to moderate those demands."

Letovsky said he expects a focus on research and development from the combined companies, saying any drink maker needs to be keenly aware of changing consumer tastes.

The transaction is expected to close this spring, according to the news release. Current Dr Pepper Snapple shareholders will receive $103.75 per share in a special cash dividend, and retain 13 percent of the combined company, the announcement said.

The new Keurig Dr Pepper said in its announcement it’ll find $600-million in synergies on an annualized basis by 2021, but there was no word on any specific potential impacts on its New England operations.

The combined company will continue to operate out of their current locations, the news release said.

South Africa's second-largest city, Cape Town, is facing the worst crisis in a yearslong drought as authorities warn of a coming "Day Zero," when it must shut off many of its citizens' water taps, NBC News reported.

That day is currently forecast for April 12, officials say, and it would make Cape Town the world's first major city to run dry.

The crisis has produced both anxiety and resolve among the seaside city's 4 million residents, many of whom are not believed to be abiding by current restrictions. 

But 26-year-old Sitaara Stodel isn't one of them — she's constantly thinking about Day Zero, and doing everything she can to stave it off: "I'm even having nightmares about wasting water. The other day I had a dream that I took a long shower by mistake!"

Milford police are trying to identify a suspect accused of using a fake Connecticut license to withdraw money from a victim’s bank account.

Police said the suspect pictured above used a fake Connecticut license made using the victim’s personal information to make withdrawals from the victim’s account at a Chase Bank location in Rye, New York and another Chase Bank in Rye Brook, New York, on December 1.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect pictured above should contact Milford Police Detective Gallagher at 203-783-4762.

The former star of "Family Flip," a show that premiered on HGTV and ran for one episode, has been charged with the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl at his Old Lyme home in November.

State police have charged 36-year-old Christopher Dionne, of Old Lyme, with fourth-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child after a 10-year-old girl said he touched her inappropriately when she was sleeping at his house in November for a party. She also told authorities Dionne said something inappropriate during an incident a couple months earlier.

The victim’s mother contacted police on Nov. 27 and reported that Dionne might have sexually assaulted her daughter, according to police.

The mother noticed something was wrong after picking up her daughter, so she asked the child what happened. The 10-year-old told her that she’d been sleeping on the couch and Dionne was touching her buttocks when she woke up in the middle of the night, according to state police.

The girl also said Dionne touched her chest and took a photo as he held her shirt up, according to state police.

He then came back and did it over again over a matter of a few hours, according to the arrest warrant application. She told them two other children were sleeping in the same room when it happened.

When the girl spoke with a social worker, she said Dionne was sitting down on the coach next to her head. When he touched her, told her not to tell anyone and asked if she was a “big girl or a little girl,” then he asked if she wanted to see his penis, according to the arrest warrant application.

The girl told the social worker she told him ‘no’ and Dionne told her not to tell her mom or “I’ll have to go to jail and (my daughter) won’t have a daddy,” according to the arrest warrant application.

Dionne eventually went to sleep in his bedroom, according to the arrest warrant application.

The victim also told police that there was a similar incident in September, when Dionne asked the girl if she wanted to kiss his genitals, according to state police. She said she told him no then too.

People who spoke with police said Dionne was in Santa Monica, California, filming the TV show “House Rescue” with his twin brother until Dec. 22.

After police spoke with his family, Dionne contacted police himself and told them the 10-year-old woke up when he returned home from a night out, so he sat next to her on the couch and that’s when she put her arm around his waist and started to rub his stomach, according to police.

Dionne said he told the girl it was inappropriate, but she continued to do it and he told her “That’s big girl stuff,” according to state police.

Then the girl started to cry, so Dionne said he rubbed her back and told her to go back to sleep before he left and went to sleep in his bedroom.

Dionne also told police that he was concerned about the allegations going public “due to all the stories in the media and the fact that he is on TV,” according to state police.

When police spoke with Dionne's attorney, he said he would have Dionne speak with police when he returned from California if he was not being charged, but he would advise Dionne not to speak with authorities if he was being charged, according to the arrest warrant application.

Dionne was arrested Monday and bond was set at $100,000. He is out on bond. The case is transferred to Part A and his next court date is Feb. 14.

NBC Connecticut reached out to HGTV and they said Dionne appeared in the pilot of a show that premiered on the network more than two and a half years ago and it was not picked up for a series. They said the show is no longer on HGTV.

A spokesperson for A&E, which was working with Dionne and his brother on a new show, said the network was suspending production of the series in light of the allegations.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that President Trump was not involved in the decision of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stepping down from his position, and also hoped that everyone would "get the Russia fever out of their system" soon.

A New London police officer has been charged with hitting a man in the face while he was in police custody, according to the Office of the Chief State's Attorney.

The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney confirmed that 50-year-old Deana Nott of Waterford was arrested Monday and charged with third-degree assault.

Officials allege that while on-duty as a New London police officer on June 22, 2016, Nott hit a male prisoner in the face with a closed fist while he was sitting handcuffed in the back of a cruiser.

According to the arrest warrant, the incident began when police were called to a domestic dispute. Police said that the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Adonis Smith, was resisting arrest.

The warrant states that Nott hit Smith when he was placed in the back of a police cruiser, and that the incident was all captured on video. According to the warrant, the video showed that Smith was handcuffed with his hands behind his back during the interaction and when Nott struck he cursed at her, at which point Nott told him to "cry about it."

Smith suffered a cut to his lower lip and declined medical treatment after the incident. The arrest warrant states that Smith told police he was “hyped up” when police arrived because he’d had a fight, but claimed he was not aggressive and he did not believe his conduct amounted to resisting arrest.

Smith said that when he arrived at the police department he told the supervisor he was punched by an officer and was offered medical attention, but denied being asked if he wanted to make a complaint.

Smith never filed a complaint with a police department.

He was ultimately charged with interfering with an officer, third-degree assault and breach of peace. He was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison, suspended after six months.

Officer Nott was released on a promise to appear and is due in court on Feb. 1.

New London Police released the following statement in response to the charges:

"The City has a policy of not commenting on criminal matters involving its employees. The underlying incident was investigated pursuant to the Police Department General Duty Manual, a pre-disciplinary hearing was held with all parties represented and discipline was issued and served in this incident. The City is prepared to fully cooperate with the State’s Attorney’s Office."

Some kids dread the first day of school, but the Hernandez family woke up at 5 a.m. Monday anxious to start classes.

Carmela Apolonia Hernandez stood in the doorway of North Philadelphia’s Church of the Advocate as her kids jumped into a waiting car. She could not go with them because her ankle monitor kept buzzing.

The Hernandez family has lived in sanctuary since mid-December. That ankle device has been with the 36-year-old mother even longer. It was given to her in 2015 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials issued a deportation order for the family.

But six weeks after entering sanctuary, Hernandez is determined to give her kids the most normal life possible, which includes getting them back into the classroom despite the risk of detention.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” she told NBC10. "We have a lot of support from the community."

In reality, things might not end well for the Hernandez family.

They first crossed into the United States from Mexico in 2015 fleeing gun violence that claimed the lives of their relatives. Hernandez’s brother and two of her nephews were gunned down by narcotraffickers when they couldn’t pay extortion fees, she said.

Hernandez feared the same fate if she remained in her hometown.

At the San Diego border, Hernandez voluntarily presented herself to border agents and begged for refuge. Instead, she and her children were arrested, detained for three days and sent to Pennsylvania to be reunited with a relative, an American citizen, pending immigration proceedings.

Recently, Hernandez’s ankle monitor has begun to beep and buzz more frequently. She thinks ICE is trying to wear her down, Hernandez said.

But on Monday morning, Hernandez was flanked by local lawmakers, religious leaders and immigration advocates who would escort her kids out of the church and into greater Philadelphia.

“I’m a little nervous about what’s going to happen today, but I’m also happy to be returning to school,” said 13-year-old Keyri. "I missed it."

The Philadelphia School District is ready to receive the children. Superintendent Dr. William Hite, through a statement, told NBC10 that “every child has the right to access a free and public education that develops their fullest potential.”

“Our schools are safe places to learn, and we welcome every child and family with open arms regardless of background,” he added. “We wish our new students all the best as they begin their first day in our public schools.”

ICE generally avoids enforcement at “sensitive locations,” including schools, medical centers, religious institutions and ceremonies and even public demonstrations, according to immigration officials.

“In an exercise of discretion, ICE has allowed Ms. Hernandez to remain free from custody while finalizing her departure plans,” immigration officials said.

She was ordered to leave the country in December.

By sending the Hernandez children to school, immigration advocates are issuing the latest in a string of snubs against immigration officials.

Last week, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the appointment of a special counsel within his office who will work closely with prosecutors to reduce deportations for low-level and non-violent offenders. Meanwhile, Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted last week that he would not visit a White House that “vilifies immigrants.”

And advocates with the New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia are "ready to mobilize" should ICE arrest the Hernandez children, according to community organizer Sheila Quintana. The organization has also reached out to local lawmakers, including New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker.

But inside the Church of the Advocate, Hernandez seemed more like a concerned mom on her children's first day of school. 

“I told [my kids] to stay strong and not to worry because everything is going to be OK,” she said.

Quinnipiac University has appointed Judy D. Olian as the school's ninth president.

William Weldon, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, made the announcement Monday.

“Judy Olian brings a rich combination of academic and intellectual expertise, an innovative and student-centered focus, fundraising successes and leadership qualities at a global level to Quinnipiac University,” Weldon said in a statement.

Olian will officially take over as president on July 1, 2018, as former President John Lahey retires. Lahey announced his plans to retire last April after serving as president of Quinnipiac since 1987. Olian has been the dean and John E. Anderson Chair of Management at the UCLA Anderson School of Management since 2006.

“The opportunity to lead Quinnipiac University is especially gratifying. Quinnipiac achieves strong alignment between learning and market needs and impacts a broad mix of students and professionals through life-changing development and career opportunities. Quinnipiac is a very nimble, bold and creative institution. I believe that Quinnipiac can be a model for higher education, preparing young people and professionals for work, life and citizenry in the 21st century," Olian said in a statement.

Olian was recommended to the full board of trustees by a search committee of trustees. The search committee was helped out by the global search firm of Spencer Stuart. This company helps academic institutions find and recruit leaders with the talent and credentials to do well in today's complex academic environment.

“This is an exciting time for Quinnipiac University,” Lahey said in the statement. “We wish Dr. Judy Olian the best of luck as she builds on the success forged by our students, faculty and staff, working with the Quinnipiac community to move our institution to even greater levels of achievement.”

The 2018 flu outbreak has been one of the worst in almost a decade, claiming 32 lives and causing more than 800 hospitalizations in Connecticut.

With the strain spreading quickly, some pharmacies are having a hard time keeping prescription flu medicine like Tamiflu, which claims to lessen and shorten flu symptoms, on the shelves.

Both Walgreens and CVS told NBC Connecticut they are experiencing a greater demand for antiviral medication like Tamiflu and its generic version.

Spokespeople for each company said some stores could temporarily run out of the drug.

Meanwhile, small, local pharmacies appear to be doing just fine. NBC Connecticut called 10 locally-owned drugstores in 10 towns and cities across Connecticut. They all either have plenty of Tamiflu, or can have it delivered the next day.

The difference is the chain stores buy their estimated inventory in bulk from one wholesaler before the flu season begins. Local shops can order on the fly.

“They’re going to pay a lot more,” said Lenox Pharmacy owner Margaret Kelly. “When you buy 10,000 of something and I buy three, the price structure’s a lot different.”

Tamiflu’s not the only flu-fighter in demand: flu shots are, too.

According to the state’s health department, Saturday Jan. 27's flu clinics held statewide vaccinated more than 1,000 adults and children, each hoping this year’s notorious viral infection keeps a safe distance.

Westport police have arrested a man who worked at the Westport Library on child pornography charges.

The investigation began in August 2017, when Westport police were notified by the Connecticut State Police Computer Crime Unit that an unidentified person is Westport was sharing child pornography over Facebook. Westport police said they identified the suspect as 43-year-old Robert Kelly.

On Jan. 16 investigators executed a search warrant at Kelly’s home and seized several electronic devices. A search of the devices turned up at least 45 images of child pornography, police said.

Police secured an arrest warrant for Kelly and he turned himself into police on Jan. 29. Kelly is charged with possession of child pornography, promoting obscene performance, and obscenity.

Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer confirmed that Kelly was a library employee and released the following statement:

"We are shocked and saddened by this news. The safety of the Library patrons, staff and the community is a priority for us. The moment we were made aware of this investigation, we immediately restricted Mr. Kelly’s access to the Library, and its property, and instructed him not to perform his duties. This is now a police matter being handled by the Westport Police Department. As soon as we have an opportunity as an employer to move forward, we will do so."

Kelly was released on a $100,000 bond and is due in court on Feb. 7.

Crews remained on scene of a massive fire at a Willimantic waste company more than 36 hours after it first broke out, and the community rallied to help responders with the massive undertaking.

Monday night firefighters were finally starting to wind down their operation at the Willimantic Waste Paper Co., Inc. on West Main Street.

The fire at the 100,000-square foot facility broke out Sunday morning. The scene was so large and smoke so intense it caused road and school closures even as crews continued to manage the smoldering materials inside the building.

Monday night the air was clear of smoke, West Main Street had reopened, and just a skeleton crew remained on scene. Officials said there was concern winds could cause the fire to flare up so firefighters remained on guard.

The community came out to support the crews working long hours to contain the situation.

“We saw massive amounts of smoke. We saw flames, tons of flames. We saw it as it was progressing,” said Julie Begin, who owns nearby Blondie’s Diner.

Begin brought breakfast over for weary crews.

“Huge tragedy and we’re just here to help as a community. Anything we can do to help,” Begin said.

Relief also arrived from Rhode Island. More than a dozen volunteers traveled to the scene to operate this “Providence Canteen.”

“It’s something we enjoy doing. We enjoy helping out the first responders,” said Louie Caranci, a Providence Canteen volunteer.

They took care of firefighters and offered food and drinks.

“They come out of there. They’re dehydrated. They want something,” Caranci said.

In the end it took about a dozen departments and hundreds of firefighters to snuff out one of the biggest fires this community has seen in years.

The Willimantic fire chief said his crew of 29 members is grateful for all of the support.

“We have a lot of tired firefighters who still have to go to work, still have to respond to calls tonight, tomorrow and the next day. So we’re working to get them some rest but the work doesn’t stop,” said Fire Chief Marc Scrivener.

The Devivo Family, which owns Willimantic Waste, thanked first responders for all the work.

“Tonight we are grateful. First and foremost we want to thank the first responders who have come from far and wide to assist us today, and will continue to assist in the days to come, we will never have the right words to thank you, we are forever grateful,” the family posted on Facebook Sunday.

Scrivener said smoke is no longer a concern because very little is coming off of the site.

Tuesday morning they’re going to regroup and figure out the plan going forward.

Blake Griffin is no longer a Los Angeles Clipper. 

According to multiple reports, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Detroit Pistons have agreed on a deal to send forward Blake Griffin to the Motor City in exchange for multiple players and draft picks. 

Details on the trade are still coming in, but according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Clippers are sending Griffin, Brice Johnson and Willie Reed to the Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a 2018 first-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick.

• Hawaii Missile Alert Employee Thought Attack Was Real: FCC

The Clippers and Pistons have agreed on a deal to trade Blake Griffin for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round and a second-round draft pick, league sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 29, 2018

Griffin re-signed with the Clippers this past offseason on a five-year, $171 million deal, that would keep him in Los Angeles for the peak of his career. The 28-year-old did not have a no-trade clause in the deal, and is now on his way out of town. 

Many will point to the new Clippers special consultant Jerry West as the architect of this trade, since West has been behind multiple re-builds and trades over the course of his career with the Lakers, Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors.

“Blake is one of the best players ever to wear a Clippers jersey. We want to express our gratitude and respect for everything he has done for this team and the City of Los Angeles. This was a very difficult decision, but we ultimately felt it was appropriate for the franchise,” said Lawrence Frank, President of Basketball Operations. “We would also like to thank Brice and Willie for their contributions to our organization.”

However, West, head coach Doc Rivers and Clippers' owner Steve Ballmer were all part of a meeting last summer with Griffin at Staples Center, as they created a museum of his career with the Clippers, courting him to stay in LA.

That meeting ended with Griffin saying, "I want my legacy to be a Clipper."

“Blake Griffin had a tremendous impact on this organization and his legacy within the community of Los Angeles will be permanent. It was a pleasure getting to know and cheer for Blake. I wish him, as well as Brice and Willie, the best of luck. While change is hard, my confidence in our front office, led by Lawrence Frank and Michael Winger, along with the sage counsel of Jerry West, has never been higher. I believe today, more than ever, in our ultimate goal of winning an NBA Championship,” said Steve Ballmer, Chairman of the L.A. Clippers.

Griffin, was the former No. 1 pick of the Clippers in the 2009 NBA Draft, spent eight seasons with the Clippers. He holds career averages of 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 35.1 minutes in 504 games (all starts). The 2011 NBA Rookie of the Year, he was selected to five NBA All-Star games. He ranks second in franchise history in scoring (10,863 points, 21.6 ppg).

Griffin's career has been marred by injuries, but this move is still surprising as Griffin was the face of the franchise and a stalwart in Hollywood, appearing in movies, television and commercials. 

The Clippers are only one game out of the 8th seed in the Western Conference.

The Clippers will travel to Detroit to play the Piston on Feb. 9. 

There are several issues on the roads this morning, including in Milford, where a garbage truck hit a pole on Spruce Street. 

The wires came down and were on fire. 

No information was immediately available on injuries. 

United Illuminating is reporting 85 power outages.

Check the interactive traffic map for issues on the roads. 

Do the words "tax return" send shivers down your spine because you always end up with a gigantic headache and little or no tax refund at the end? Maybe the problem is in preparation and planning – or lack of it. Tax law is complicated, and it takes a coordinated, sustained effort to optimize your refund. Let these nine tips help you acquire the best refund possible.

1. Don't Delay – The IRS started processing forms for the 2017 tax year on Jan. 29, 2018, and you don't have to wait until right before this year's deadline of April 17. If you need motivation, think of what you can do with a tax refund windfall. The sooner you file, the sooner you can put your refund to use. Two other reasons to avoid procrastination: the earlier you begin, the more time you'll have to locate any missing documents and data; and the sooner you file, the harder it is for a tax identity theft to target you. 

2. Contribute to Retirement Plans – Retirement plans allow you to build a tax-deferred nest egg while lowering your taxable income for the year. Max out your 401(k) and traditional IRA contributions if you can. The limits for a 401(k) are $18,000 plus an extra $6,000 catch-up contribution if you are over 50. IRA limits are $5,500 with a $1,000 catch-up contribution.

3. Review Possible Deductions – The new tax law will raise the standard deduction in 2018, making it less likely that itemizing makes sense. However, the taxes you file this year are for tax year 2017, meaning the existing deduction rules still apply. Review the itemized deductions in the Schedule A instructions, and look for the "above the line" deductions on Form 1040 – these deductions subtract from your adjusted gross income and you don't have to itemize to take them.

4. Check Qualification for Tax Credits – Pay special attention to any tax credits for which you qualify. Tax credits are even more valuable than tax deductions because they subtract directly from your tax bill, while tax deductions only reduce your tax bill in proportion to your tax rate.

Refundable tax credits are the most valuable of all, as they can provide a refund in excess of the tax that you owe. Most credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, are targeted at helping low-income taxpayers who need the most help.

5. Get Organized – Do you have all of your tax documents in order? Start with the forms necessary for this year's filing – W-2 forms from employers, all varieties of 1099 forms that show income and assets, your 1095 form for proof of health insurance, and last year's tax form. If you plan to itemize deductions for things like charitable contributions, make sure you have the necessary receipts and paperwork to back up the deductions.

6. Use Helpful Software – If you plan to do your own taxes, there are many fine software packages to choose from that can guide you through the filing process. Check into your options, look for online reviews to see how previous customers have fared, and select the software option that best fits your needs and cost limitations. If you can't afford any software, the IRS Free File system may be able to help.

7. Review Upcoming Changes – The recently-passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may not affect your 2017 taxes that you are preparing to file, but it is almost certain to change them for 2018. Take the time to review summaries of the changes and see how they will affect your 2018 filing. You may need to make changes during the year to optimize your results in next April's filing.

8. Adjust your Withholding – Review your withholding rate to make sure you are paying the right amount of taxes throughout the year. That's especially important given the new tax brackets that take effect in 2018.

While a refund is nice, don't go overboard in your withholding. A refund is essentially the government returning your overpayment in taxes throughout the year. You could be putting that money to work yourself instead of letting the government hang on to it tax-free.

9. Seek Help If Necessary – Tax laws can be confusing. If your tax situation is complex and you don't have the time, patience, or ability to maximize your tax return, seek the advice of a competent tax professional – but do your research first and be skeptical of broad claims. Anybody who can guarantee you the highest refund without reviewing your individual situation is probably stretching the truth.

Armed with these tips, you can prevent those tax-time headaches with the best cure possible – a nice fat tax refund. It's more effective than aspirin.

More From Our Partners at Moneytips:
Itemize Or Take The Standard Deduction On Your Federal Income Tax?
Top Tax Benefits of Home Ownership
Do You Qualify For An Earned Income Tax Credit?

Although her solar panels successfully sustained Hurricane María’s winds, Madeline Batista couldn’t turn on her lights, her refrigerator or other appliances that needed electricity. The photovoltaic system, installed at her Naguabo home by Sunnova, stopped working. It was connected to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) network, which was destroyed by the hurricane. 

Meanwhile, in the mountains of Adjuntas, community organization Casa Pueblo still had power. Neighbors sought help from the facility, the only place with power in town during the María emergency. Casa Pueblo’s solar panels were equipped with batteries that allowed it to operate full time, independently from PREPA, and have power at night. The place became an autonomous energy oasis. People went there to charge their phones, receive respiratory therapy with energy-powered machines, and above all, organize to help each other after the worst natural catastrophe the island experienced in its modern history. It was a concrete example of community self-management. 

However, most of the more than 10,362 renewable energy units installed by Puerto Ricans ended up as a roof ornaments, as in the case of Batista, according to an investigation by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI). The Naguabo resident belongs to a group of consumers that purchased energy packages from Sunnova Corporation, whose photovoltaic panels and services have not delivered on the promise of saving money. Although it is not the only company that installs this equipment in Puerto Rico, the Texas company is the main provider of renewable energy for residences, and the only one certified by the Energy Commission to offer them as leases.

Before Hurricane María, more than 1,000 people had filed complaints against Sunnova at the Independent Office of Consumer Protection (OIPC), a consumer advocate that monitors PREPA and energy companies. The complaints were mainly related to overbilling problems from Sunnova. 

Batista’s backyard is a parcel of land that can be crossed from one end to another in less than a minute. It has cement planters on both sides of her clothesline, where Batista grows yautía, moringa, mango, chives, papaya, kale, in addition to raising chickens and geese. She says it is for food security and self-sufficiency. That’s part of the reason why she decided to install solar panels—Batista wanted to be ready for when PREPA’s service failed. 

Three years earlier, she signed a contract with Sunnova to buy solar energy and rent 16 photovoltaic panels. The bill was $108 per month for 25 years, with an additional payment of $3 per month to PREPA. She says she always has to pay more. 

Batista climbs an aluminum ladder up to her home’s roof and shares her frustration: “I like solar energy because it is clean and produces no noise, but if you do not have a battery that allows you to disconnect from the network, the panels do not work.” When she entered into the energy purchase agreement with Sunnova, nobody from the company or PREPA informed her that the photovoltaic panels wouldn’t work even during the day, when the sun was out. 

According to Batista, Sunnova said it can solve the battery problem, but it would mean a an additional contract for energy storage equipment. Batista believes it is not a good deal for her, since it means spending even more money.

Products Without Batteries
Solar products without batteries were never established in the Puerto Rican market to withstand hurricanes, but to produce savings on customer bills, said Máximo Torres, an engineer and founder of Puerto Rican company Maximo Solar. 

“That model is for the United States, but in Puerto Rico there are blackouts and hurricanes,” Torres added. His company supplied photovoltaic panels financed by Sunnova until 2017, but it is no longer associated with Sunnova. Now his company installs equipment with batteries, like those at Casa Pueblo. 

The realization that solar equipment connected to power grids would not work in stronger hurricanes was not a new revelation for companies like PREPA (a public corporation), Sunnova or Maximo Solar. In 2012, for example, hundreds of residents in New York and New Jersey could not operate their solar energy equipment during Hurricane Sandy, a category 2 storm. 

That was a learning experience for the industry: when the transmission and distribution of energy are carried out through a centralized infrastructure, the system is more vulnerable to hurricanes—as demonstrated by María, which led to Puerto Rico’s grid collapsing because power plants were connected to a single source at PREPA. 

Faced with the reality that most of Puerto Rico’s energy is produced in the island’s southern region and is mainly consumed mainly in the metropolitan area (after being transported through the mountains by cables that the winds destroyed), the alternative is to produce power through microgrids. In other words, produce energy in many sectors near different consumption centers, said engineer Lionel Orama, coordinator of the Island’s National Institute of Energy and Sustainability (INES), a group of University of Puerto Rico academics that conducts research to solve the island’s energy problems. 

“María slapped us in the face and made us learn that we have to change the way we see the photovoltaic system, not just as a way to pay less money to PREPA, but to achieve security during hurricanes,” Orama added.

Energy Independence in the Mountains
On Dec. 26, Alexis Massol, one of the Casa Pueblo founders, drove to the Saltillo sector of Adjuntas, crossing a bridge over a ravine, traveling through a muddy road and arriving at a cement house. There, the transmission antenna of Casa Pueblo’s radio station was being set up. Unlike the organization’s headquarters located in Adjuntas’ urban area, this house had to depend on a power plant after the hurricane. 

Since then, there are now 42 solar panels that Radio Casa Pueblo has recently installed on the roof and on a ranch behind the house. Inside, there is a battery bank that provides power for three straight days, in case bad weather does not allow the panels to receive enough sunlight. 

Efraim Ayala, a technician for Maximo Solar, lowered a “PREPA” lever to take Radio Casa Pueblo “off the grid” or outside the network. “They are now disconnected from PREPA,” he informed Massol. And that’s how Radio Casa Pueblo created Puerto Rico’s first radio transmission tower powered entirely by a renewable and independent source from PREPA. 

“We no longer have to pay money to the Authority. We will have savings,” said Massol, who is internationally recognized with the Goldman Environmental Prize (considered the “green” Nobel). “I feel happy. The energy we produce does not have to affect the environment because it is clean. We want to be prepared for climate change.” 

Casa Pueblo, with almost 40 years of community self-management and activism in favor of environmental causes, is one of the few organizations that can claim victory. Hurricane María revealed that of all the residential, commercial and industrial solar projects connected to PREPA (including those of companies besides Sunnova), only a few were able to operate independently after a failure in the power network. The equipment is part of the net metering system, in which companies sell part of the energy they produce with their renewable systems to PREPA. 

“About 10 percent of all those connected to the net metering system have batteries,” Francisco Rullán, executive director of the State Office of Public Energy Policy (OEPPE) told the CPI. “Now, with the onslaught of the hurricane, I would tell you that most want to install them.” María brought about a great change in the island’s renewable industry: the push to install batteries. 

For Efraín O’Neill, energy systems researcher at the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayagüez campus, talking about energy security and independence also means that local companies must be in charge of managing the renewable system. 

Texas-based Sunnova has 62 percent of all the net metering system business at the residential level in Puerto Rico, according to research by the CPI. 

The net metering system has 10,362 customers, PREPA told the CPI. In addition to Sunnova’s 6,000 customers who are already connected to the network, it has almost 4,000 customers waiting for PREPA to connect them into the net metering system, which would give the company 97 percent of Puerto Rico’s residential business for renewables. 

“We went from fossil dependency to renewables dependency with a company that is not from here. We continue to send the money out of the island,” O’Neill said about Sunnova’s market dominance. 

“This worries me. You have another PREPA basically. This is a problem,” said José Alberto Pérez Vélez, the OIPC’s director, regarding the development of a possible monopoly. “The company then has more responsibility in terms of the guidance it must offer to customers. We have to prevent these companies from becoming what PREPA was, through overbilling, poor service and inefficiency.” 

Cars Become Generators
In Batista’s garage, there is a car with the hood open. She had to connect a 1,500-watt inverter to the vehicle’s battery, and plug in an extension cord to carry power to the refrigeration appliances and the fan. But she needed to pump more and more gas every time to keep the car on and protect the battery.

“Sunnova told me that in the meantime, to solve the problem, I should buy a power generator,” she added. “And I can’t stand generators. I can’t sleep with the noise.” 

Having a power generator or using the car completely goes against Batista’s goal of cleaner energy. According to Batista, using more power from fossil fuels is what causes global warming. 

“This movement from citizens who are for renewable energy, for cleaner energy, don’t deserve that after they make such a large investment,” said Pérez Vélez. 

Sunnova’s Response
Sunnova, however, blames PREPA for the interruption of its customers’ service. 

“People were left without power because of PREPA’s regulations. Solar panels cannot work if PREPA’s grid does not work. If the network collapses, all renewable systems collapse 100 percent,” said Karla Zambrana, general manager of Sunnova in Puerto Rico, during an interview with the CPI. 

Renewable equipment is automatically disconnected when PREPA’s service is interrupted. It is a security measure to avoid sending electricity to PREPA’s network and protect employees who are repairing the grid. 

On Oct. 10, during meetings that Gov. Ricardo Rosselló held with different sectors, he asked Sunnova representatives to find solutions. “The goal was to eliminate the bureaucracy of the interconnection process with PREPA, so that customers, once the grid is restored, can begin to enjoy the service quickly without the bureaucratic process,” Zambrana told the CPI. 

For the OIPC, the problems with the net metering system are a shared responsibility with PREPA. “When the net metering system started, you could have been waiting for PREPA to connect you for more than a year. Then there was 2014 and 2016 legislation that lowered the time to 70 days. It is a significant step forward, but we are well behind,” Pérez Vélez said. “There are jurisdictions in the United States where you can do it online and it takes two or three days. It’s not fair that you have to wait so long to produce clean energy.” 

As of today, the island generates only 2 percent of its energy from renewable sources, mainly from solar and wind utilities contracted under the administration of former Gov. Luis Fortuño. The process is currently being questioned in the courts. Law 82 of 2010 ordered Puerto Rico to generating 12 percent of all electricity with resources such as solar and wind by 2019. 

Confusion Following Sunnova’s “Media Tour”
The day after meeting with Rosselló, Sunnova’s chief executive officer, John Berger, appeared in Puerto Rican media, talking about bringing batteries to solve the lack of power among customers. But he overlooked a key detail: he did not say that there would be an additional cost. 

As a result, Lydia Rosa, a Carolina resident with 30 Sunnova solar panels, believed that the batteries were going to be provided for free, because she thought that the company assumed the responsibility to fix the problem. 

She wasn’t alone. “Many people called my office to complain that they needed a battery,” Pérez Vélez said, addressing the confusion created after Sunnova’s media tour. 

The company had to clarify information with the media: customers had to pay for the batteries. 

Rosa said that when she contacted the company to solve her problem, she was offered a 13.5 kilowatt hours (KWh) battery, at $100 per month, for 10 years. The energy storage device would never belong to her because, like the solar panels on her roof, Sunnova offers equipment only through leasing, a business model known as PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). Sunnova does not allow its customers to buy batteries at a better price from another supplier. 

“Puerto Ricans were treated like idiots,” Rosa said. 

So why is Sunnova offering batteries now? 

“María’s impact made us change our business model to provide a solution to the customer so they are able to enjoy energy continuously. That’s when we made this market decision,” Zambrana told the CPI. 

The CPI also asked Zambrana if the company had thought about this offer before Hurricane María. 

“Yes. What Hurricane María did was speed up the time to bring the product,” she replied. Sunnova has been in Puerto Rico since 2012. 

The hurricane also highlighted the tensions between PREPA and Sunnova, a company eager to expand its business and resolve confusion with customers. Rosselló’s latest executive order did not lead to a resolution, since PREPA did not expedite the process of connecting private equipment to the public electricity grid. 

As of Dec. 1, the net metering system had 10,362 subscribers, the same as before the hurricane. PREPA’s slow response caused Sunnova to respond. The company’s management sent a letter (which it did not make public) to PREPA executive director Justo González and governing board, as well as to Rosselló, alleging the agency’s inaction and the reluctance to work with Sunnova. 

“PREPA has not complied with the governor’s Executive Order, which unfortunately creates a situation that casts a shadow over PREPA’s efforts and commitment to expeditiously bring back power to its clients, and commitment to its obligations. Sunnova hereby requests a final and definitive date to complete this process,” Berger said in the statement. “The lack of power after three months, and the reluctance of PREPA to work with companies like ours, continues to hinder relief and recovery efforts on the island—to the detriment of local residents.” 

PREPA’s executive director did not respond to several requests by the CPI for interviews to talk about this matter and other aspects related to renewable energy.

Quality of Life in the Face of an Emergency
In the remote sector of El Hoyo in Adjuntas, there is a three-feet wide cement path that leads to 25 modest homes built mainly of wood. In eight of the homes, Casa Pueblo has installed solar equipment that looks like a doll house. The equipment works well. There are two photovoltaic panels and a battery, with a 300-watt inverter, that connects to two light bulbs, a handheld radio and a mini-fridge. 

A neighbor keeps two bottles of water in the mini-fridge, along with a snack and the insulin she needs to keep cold for her diabetic husband. In another house located on a hill, María Medina can now turn on the machine she needs to conduct her daily dialysis and address her kidney failure. She will no longer have to follow manual treatments, which is less effective than automated treatments. “For me, this has been an opportunity to get out of the crisis,” explained Medina, who got two additional panels from Casa Pueblo for the dialysis machine. “This was my Christmas present.” 

Reducing Consumption
For Puerto Rico to make the leap into energy sustainability, it must begin by reducing consumption and thinking about equipment that meets the most important needs, Orama told the CPI. 

“These days you can mount solar panels with energy storage that is costing 20 cents per kilowatt hour, almost the same as what you are paying PREPA. We have to start talking to people again about the fact that there is equipment that provides, at the very least, quality of life in emergencies. That is much better than zero energy or a noisy power generator that harms the environment and makes you spend money and time standing in lines to buy gasoline,” said Orama, referring to alternative systems outside of Sunnova. 

The emergency solar equipment that Casa Pueblo distributed costs about $1,800 and has been a salvation for the massive blackout caused by María. “We have to think about a system that serves us for the essentials, to gradually become independent from an oil-based system,” Massol added. 

A few steps from Adjuntas’ town square, at Casa Pueblo’s headquarters, Massol walked into the location just as the power was beginning to be restored in the town. It had been more than three months since the hurricane hit on Sept. 20. He saw a neighbor asking for a hand lamp, which charges by leaving it in the sun all day. After seeing a Casa Pueblo employee supply the equipment, Massol pointed to a sign posted on the roof of the organization’s headquarters, which says: “Transforming the crisis with solar energy alternatives.” 

That motto is not a fantasy, he told the CPI. “There is an energy option here that works perfectly. This environmental discourse is not a utopian message. It’s a practical message,” Massol said. 

When Solar Energy Is More Expensive
At the OIPC, Pérez Vélez reviews the importance of renewable energies and how poorly they have been implemented in Puerto Rico. 

Many of the complaints to the OIPC are from consumers who paid about $300 to PREPA and after signing a contract with Sunnova to lower their bills, paid this Texas company up to $200 per month plus almost $200 to PREPA, for a total of $400. 

“They went looking for something better and came back with worse,” Pérez Vélez said. 

When consumers entered into leasing agreements for the photovoltaic panels with Sunnova, the panels were expected to produce about 1,500 kilowatts. They ultimately generated half of that. “Because the panels generate less than the customer needs, the equipment is interconnected with PREPA to buy electricity. You will never pay only the $3 to PREPA that they promised you. It will always be more,” he explained. 

Sunnova said it cannot guarantee customers that they will only pay the PREPA the estimated $3. “PREPA’s bill for each client depends on the amount of energy used in the network after the production of solar energy has been discounted,” the company said in a statement. 

The CPI confirmed that at least one company, Alpha Solar, sells Sunnova contracts, so sometimes customers are doing business with Sunnova without knowing it. After signing an energy purchase agreement, the companies that install Sunnova equipment are Windmar Home, New Energy, Pure Energy, Integrated Solar Operations and Mel Pro. 

Sunnova arrived in Puerto Rico six years ago, when the cost of PREPA’s energy was quite expensive, at about 28 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). It tried to compete with PREPA by implementing a cost of almost 20 cents per kWh. But that was not going to last long. 

“The company knew that the cost of PREPA’s kilowatt hour was not going to stay that high. The people of Puerto Rico could not continue paying those amounts,” Pérez Vélez added. 

Batista pays 19 cents per kWh to Sunnova, plus 21 cents per kWh to PREPA. When the cost of the public corporation’s energy fell to 17 cents per kWh in 2016, Sunnova’s cost remained higher. She always paid two high bills, with different collection criteria—and she always paid more than what she was promised. 

The OIPC considers Sunnova contracts as burdensome. For instance, the contracts do not permit disputes in local Puerto Rican courts. All disputes go through an arbitration process in Texas, which consumers themselves have to pay, according to Pérez Vélez. 

Of the complaints filed with the OIPC before the hurricane, 300 became formal complaints before the Energy Commission (EC), which oversees the island’s public energy policy and investigates these issues.

“Now we have to add a new factor to the investigation: seeing what the customer’s expectation is when a contract is signed and if the expectation was to have only clean energy or to have sustainability when the grid collapsed,” said José Román, interim president of the EC. The investigation is looking into if, according to customers’ energy expectations, Sunnova now has to provide the battery service free of charge, added Román. 

As for the town of Adjuntas and Casa Pueblo? Despite costly solar equipment, many know that their strategy can lead the island to energy independence. For example, when the entire town was in darkness, a group of neighbors went to a community cinema powered by solar energy, as they did on Dec. 23 to watch a documentary. And that Casa Pueblo can send a cable to power the radio station’s cabins, which are behind the house, as they did after Hurricane María. The organization has already distributed almost 10,000 solar lamps. At night, in the darkness of the mountains, you can see the lights moving.

This story from Puerto Rico's Center for Investigative Journalism was made possible as part of a collaboration with the Futuro Media Group, supported by the Ford Foundation. English Version by Michelle Kantrow and Julio Ricardo Varela. Leer in Español. 

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