If you like shooting stars, you're in luck. The annual Lyrid meteor shower, which got going this year on April 16, is expected to peak in the early morning on Sunday, April 22, NBC News MACH reported.

Your best bet for seeing the action will come after the moon sets at around midnight local time. Find an area far from sources of light and buildings or other possible obstructions, lie face-up on a blanket or lawn chair with your feet facing east, and simply look up.

The Lyrids aren't as spectacular as the Perseids, which return each August. But with the first recorded sighting of the Lyrids going all the way back to 687 B.C., they're the oldest known meteor shower.

Skywatchers should expect an average display this time. Though the Lyrids have been known to produce up to 90 meteors per hour, this year most people should expect to see about 10 per hour.

If you have a Toys R Us gift card, now is the time to use it. The toy retailer will no longer accept gift cards after Saturday, April 21. E-gift cards and Endless Earnings will also stop being accepted after Saturday. 

Toys R Us, which announced in March that it would be shutting down operations in the United States and Puerto Rico, says on its website that gift cards cannot be exchanged for cash, all sales are final and orders are not being accepted online.

Toys R Us credit cards are being accepted through the end of the company's liquidation sale. Loyalty rewards and coupons, as well as gift cards from Canada, stopped being accepted in March. 

In announcing its closing, Toys R Us CEO Dave Brandon said in a press release that the company does not have the financial support needed to keep its U.S. operations running. 

"We are therefore implementing an orderly process to shutter our U.S. operations and will pursue going concern sales or reorganizations of certain of our international businesses, while our other international businesses consider their options," Brandon said. 

A fire broke out in a house in Middletown on Saturday morning.

Firefighters responded to the 2-alarm fire at 1580 Bartholomew Road and brought the fire under control in about 25 minutes, according to fire officials.

The house suffered significant damage mostly to the back of the structure.

Emergency crews from surrounding areas were called to the scene with tanker trucks to help provide water because there were no hydrants in the area, officials said.

No one was home at the time of the fire, according to fire officials.

The occupants of the home will not be able to stay in it due to the amount of fire and smoke damage.

Middletown's fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

A LifeStar helicopter has responded to Meriden to transport a woman who fell from some rocks.

The scene is on Westfield Road, according to a spokesperson for LifeStar.

No other details were immediately available.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar is in critical condition at a local hospital after collapsing during Friday’s game against the Houston Astros.

Farquhar, who pitched the sixth inning of the game, suffered a brain hemorrhage in the dugout afer the inning and was rushed to a local hospital.

Later testing revealed a ruptured aneurysm that caused his brain to bleed, the White Sox said in a statement.

He is currently in critical, but stable, condition at RUSH Hospital, the White Sox said. No further information on his condition was made available. 

"The White Sox will provide additional updates on Farquhar's health over the coming days as appropriate, but the club also asks that you respect the privacy of the Farquhar family at this time," the team said. 

The Astros, the team that is currently in Chicago playing the White Sox, sent a message of support to Farquhar on social media: 

"Get well soon Danny," the tweet reads. "Our thoughts are with him and his family during this difficult time." 

White Sox manager Rick Renteria offered his thoughts and prayers to his pitcher. 

"We all need to stay positive and be focused on thinking and praying for the best," he said before Saturday's game. 

"It crushes us in this clubhouse," pitcher James Shields said. "Nothing really matters baseball-wise when something like that happens, you know?" 

The Sox also asked for fans to offer their positive thoughts and prayers as Farquhar is treated. 

A vigil was held in Suffield tonight after a teenage girl lost her life too soon.

The service was held for family and friends of Brianna Mailloux at the First Church of Christ on High Street in Suffield. She attended Suffield High School. 

State Police are continuing to investigate a crash on Interstate 91 in Windsor that killed a Suffield High School student on Thursday. Police have not confirmed the name of the teen, but a reverend present at the vigil tonight confirmed Mailloux was killed in a car crash. 

State police ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them. 

Four people are dead and police are searching for a gunman after a shooting at a Nashville-area Waffle House early Sunday, authorities said.

Metro Nashville Police said the gunman began shooting a rifle at 3:25 a.m. at the Antioch restaurant. Witnesses said the gunman arrived in a pick-up truck and opened fire, walked into the Waffle House and continued shooting, according to police.

Three people died at the scene and a fourth died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, police said. At least four others were injured. Because the glass of the restaurant's front window was shot out, some people had cuts on their faces.

Police named 29-year-old Travis Reinking from Illinois as a person of interest. The vehicle the gunman arrived in is registered to Reinking.

A 29-year-old patron who attempted to flee the restaurant struggled with the gunman for the firearm, according to police. The patron grabbed the gun from the man and tossed it behind the counter, officials added, and the gunman fled.

"No doubt he saved many lives by wresting the gun away and tossing it over the counter and prompting the man to leave," police spokesman Don Aaron said.

Witnesses saw the man leave the restaurant and shed his green jacket, which had additional ammunition in it, according to police. Aaron said the man lived at an apartment complex in the area and, based on witness reports, went to the complex and put on a pair of pants.

Aaron said witnesses saw a man in a nearby wooded area, and several police dogs were tracking the man, some six hours after the shooting.

A motive has not yet been determined, and the investigation is ongoing at the scene. 

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Ill., responded to the shooting on Twitter later Sunday, mourning the "innocent victims" and thanking first responders. He also called for change in gun laws.

"Many will say now is not the time to discuss change. But now IS the time," Cooper wrote. "We can and must do everything possible to prevent these tragedies and keep Americans safe. That starts with restricting widespread civilian access to military-grade assault weapons."

Nashville Mayor David Briley said the shooting represents "a tragic day" for the city. 

"My heart goes out to the families & friends of every person who was killed or wounded in this morning's shooting. I know all of their lives will be forever changed by this devastating crime," Briley said on Twitter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins on Sunday slammed former FBI Director James Comey for releasing his memoir during the ongoing Russia probe, saying she worries the book could interfere with the investigations.

"I cannot imagine why an FBI director would seek, to essentially, cash in on a book when the investigation is very much alive," she said on Sunday's "Meet The Press. "He should have waited to do his memoir."

Collins, a Republican member of the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence, which is conducting its own investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, also said that if she were advising a future FBI director, she would tell them two things: to "always follow the Department of Justice's protocols and guidelines" and "don't write a book in the middle of an investigation."

Comey, who was fired by President DonaldTrump last May, has attempted to pitch himself as above the political fray but has again been under scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans since re-emerging on the public stage.

Spring temperatures are finally here!

You can expect lots of sun and temperatures in the 60's today, perfect for enjoying some time outside.

These sunny, spring-like temperatures will stay through the beginning of the week, but you may need your umbrella later in the week so enjoy it while you can!

NBC Connecticut meteorologists are tracking the potential for rain moving in on Wednesday.

A trip to the world championships was on the line this weekend for dozens of soap box derby competitors.

Bristol held a series of qualifying regional races. Racers racked up points in the hopes of competing for the top title in Akron, Ohio.

Racers have been drawn to Bristol’s soap box derby for decades.

“I raced as a kid with my dad back in ’76, ‘77’, ’78,” said John Strand, of New Milford.

Strand keeps the tradition going with his four daughters, including 19-year-old Payton, the 2016 World Champion.

“I’ve gotten a lot of friends, a lot of good memories, I’ve been taught a lot,” Payton Strand said.

The strategy of soap box derby racing sounds simple: get down to the bottom of the hill as quick as you can and cross the finish line first.

“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Strand pointed out.

Competitors have to build their car to the perfect specifications first.

“Working in the garage with the kids is the biggest bonus,” John Strand said.

To keep their wheels spinning, racers put a lot of miles on mom and dad’s car too.

“Those rally races can take us anywhere from Virginia up to Connecticut,” said Nathan Kleintop of Perkiomenville, Penn., whose son and daughter competed.

They were joined by racers from New Hampshire, New York and Massachusetts.

“It’s good quality family time so it kind of breaks up school and work and the kids just really have a good time with it,” added his wife, Tara.

The Strands have made pit stops up and down the Eastern seaboard over the years. All four daughters have placed at the World Championships.

“It’s amazing. It really is,” said Strand.

While the race may be over in seconds, these families say the memories really do last a lifetime.

Officers are investigating a motorcycle crash in Hamden that seriously injured one person on Saturday.

Investigators say 28-year-old Eric Weinstein of North Haven was driving on Dixwell Avenue near Colony Street shortly before 8 p.m. when his motorcycle collided with a car.

First responders transported Weinstein to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he is currently listed in critical condition with serious, life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Anyone with information on the accident is asked to call Hamden Police at (203) 230-4030.

Larry Nassar had done "the treatment" on gymnast McKayla Maroney before, but nothing prepared her for what happened in a Tokyo hotel room in October 2011.

"That was the scariest night," Maroney told NBC in her first-ever interview about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Nassar, the former Olympic doctor now at the center of an ever-widening sexual abuse scandal. "He went, like, overboard that night."

Maroney is one of more than 265 girls and women — including a half-dozen Olympians — who say Nassar molested them under the guise of medical procedures.

She told her story as part of a months-long "Dateline" investigation, airing Sunday night on the program at 7 p.m. ET. The probe looked into allegations that USA Gymnastics could have stopped Nassar earlier and tried to silence his victims when they finally spoke up — accusations the organization denies.

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 40 flights nationwide Sunday so the company can inspect engine fan blades. 

The move comes after the mid-air incident last Tuesday, April 17, where an engine exploded on Flight 1380. The explosion damaged sections of the wing and fuselage where a passenger, 43-year-old Jennifer Riordan, was partially blown out of a window and later died.

Federal investigators are looking to see whether a broken fan blade on the engine was to blame for that event.

Southwest said in a news release that this move to cancel flights on Sunday comes as a part of their accelerated engine fan blade inspection program, announced on Tuesday night — not the emergency directive issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday. The directive requires operators to inspect fan blades on certain engines within 20 days, according to the FAA's website. 

The total number of flights canceled by the airline as of Sunday afternoon was 48, according to the tracking website FlightAware.

The Dallas-based airline said they minimized impact to flights last week by re-routing aircraft and using spare aircraft when available. Additionally, they said they've conducted inspections overnight. 

As of Sunday afternoon, Southwest canceled more than a dozen flights to and from Dallas Love Field, according to FlightAware.

A man from Shelton is facing various gun and drug charges after a traffic stop in Westport Sunday morning.

Tony Bowens Jr. of Shelton was stopped for going 63 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone on Bayberry Lane at around 9 a.m., according to police.

When officers conducted a motor vehicle stop, they say they smelled marijuana coming from his vehicle.

During the stop, officers also learned Bowens had an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear and as a result, his Connecticut pistol permit had been revoked.

While searching the vehicle, officers found a loaded handgun underneath the driver's seat and ammunition in the console of the car. They also found .06 ounces of marijuana, police said.

Bowens was taken into custody and is being charged with violation of probation, possession of marijuana, weapon in a motor vehicle, failure to surrender permit and carrying a pistol without a permit. He was also issued a misdemeanor summons for speeding.

He was released after posting $50,000 bond and is scheduled to be in Norwalk Court next month.

Bowens is also facing separate charges for his outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear in Fairfield. He was released after posting a $5,000 bond and will be in Bridgeport Court next month for that charge.

Milford firefighters responded to a brush fire on Sunday afternoon.

The fire was burning in the woods off Wampus Lane, according to dispatchers.

Firefighters were called to the scene around 3:30 p.m.

There were no other details immediately available.

Sunday was a beautiful day to get outside and many people headed to the newest attraction on New Haven’s shoreline.

Fishermen and others celebrated the reconstructed pier at Fort Hale Park in New Haven.

“It’s pretty impressive. There’s tables for fishermen to clean their fish,” said Don Iddings of West Haven.

Special features for those fishing are just part of the excitement.

The much-anticipated pier juts out from the shoreline, offering sweeping views of the New Haven Harbor and the Long Island Sound.

“I didn’t know it was actually rebuilt. The minute I saw it was we came running out, so it’s really good. I’m glad that they did that,” said Todd Andresen of Branford.

It’s a far cry from how it looked several years ago.

Back in 2013, we checked out how Irene and Sandy had ripped the structure apart.

It had been a popular spot for fishermen and sightseers.

“It was actually really sad. I’ve been coming here my whole life,” said Andresen.

Shorty after, the work to rebuild began.

Help arrived in 2015 from the state in the form of a $1.8-million bond to underwrite reconstruction.

Many are impressed with the results.

“I’m really glad that they did this, not just for the fishermen, but it’s just really nice to come out into the water,” said Andresen.

There will be a grand reopening on Monday at 10 a.m.

Among those invited to attend are Governor Dannel Malloy, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee and New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.

Hamden police are searching the person who robbed a man at knife-point in a grocery store parking lot on Sunday morning.

Investigators say a man from North Haven was putting his groceries inside of his vehicle around 8 a.m. when he was approached by a man with a knife in the parking lot of Stop & Shop on Dixwell Avenue.

The man with the knife demanded the other man's groceries and cell phone before taking off. He is believed to have gotten into a red Ford Fusion with a Connecticut plate of AB47088. Police describe the driver of the car as a heavy-set woman. The vehicle was last seen traveling on Dixwell Avenue, according to officers.

Authorities are describing the man with the knife as being 18 to 21 years old, about 5'10" with a thin build and curly hair.

If you have any information about the incident, you're asked to contact Hamden Police at at (203) 230-4030.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was forced to exit Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies after he was struck in the head by a pitch, the team said. 

The Cubs say that Bryant suffered a small laceration above his eye from where his sunglasses impacted his face, but that he had passed all concussion tests thus far. 

The team also expects Bryant to travel with his teammates to Cleveland, where they will play the Indians on Tuesday. 

The incident occurred in the first inning of the game when a pitch from German Marquez went inside on Bryant, striking him on the bill of his helmet. The ball also appeared to glance off Bryant’s sunglasses and face, and trainers immediately rushed to his aid:

Bryant left the game because of the incident, and David Bote came in to replace him at third base in the winning effort. 

USA Gymnastics tried to silence top athletes after they reported being molested by team doctor Larry Nassar and as they pushed to meet with law enforcement officials, the gymnasts and their family members told NBC News.

Claims that the sports federation stressed discretion above all else are bolstered by text messages, emails and other materials reviewed by NBC News during a months-long investigation for a special edition of Dateline that aired Sunday.

The Dateline investigation also included: Olympian McKayla Maroney's first interview since her disclosure last year that Nassar repeatedly abused her; the first interview with coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi, who owned the Texas ranch where Nassar abused elite athletes; and revelation that USA Gymnastics wanted Aly Raisman to promise confidentiality as part of any agreement, according to Raisman and her family.

A Naugatuck teen has been missing for nearly three months and police are hoping the public can provide news leads on where she is. 

Sixteen-year-old Christine Carrero was last seen around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 4 and police have reached out to the public in hopes that they will receive fresh leads on where she is to make sure she is safe. 

She is a foster child and had previously run away, but tended to return after a few days. She might be in Waterbury, in the Elliot St area, according to police. 

Christine is 5-feet-2, weighs 130 pounds and has brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information on where she is should call the Naugatuck Police Department at 203-729-5221 or the NPD Confidential Tip Line at 203-720-1010.