A First Alert remains in effect for today and tomorrow. 

NBC Connecticut Meteorologists continue to track heavy downpours and strong winds for today into tomorrow.

The first band of showers moved through the state this morning the second wave of moisture will enter the state later tonight.

A few scattered showers and areas of drizzle will be present this evening with showers becoming more widespread after 10 p.m.

Heavy rain will move in late tonight and early tomorrow morning.

The other aspect of the stormy weather will feature strong gusty winds.

A High Wind Watch is in effect for tomorrow with gusts that could approach or exceed 50 mph.

There is some good news for the weekend weather. The rain will taper off between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday and the sun will make appearance by the afternoon.

The pick of the weekend remains Sunday with partly to mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the middle 50s. 

A school bus or van driver is accused of sending obscene photos to a 13-year-old girl on his route, then asking her to send him nude photos of herself and he has been arrested.

Federal officials said 36-year-old Jose Manuel Santos, 36, of Bridgeport, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with transfer of obscene materials to a minor, and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, according to federal officials. 

Officials said the teen’s mother gave the victim’s cell phone to investigators who found a sexually explicit photo of Santos that he sent to the girl and text messages from Santos in which he asked the girl to send him a sexually explicit photo of her, federal officials said.

The court documents said the company Santos works suspended him as soon as the allegations were made. 

Santos appeared in court today and was detained.

No additional information was immediately available, including where Santos is or was a bus driver.

In solidarity with the victims of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life synagogue attack, major Jewish organizations have invited people of all faiths to "show up for Shabbat" this weekend. 

The American Jewish Committee started the Show Up For Shabbat campaign to increase attendance at Friday night and Saturday religious services as a show of support for Pittsburgh's Jewish community after 11 people were killed in the shooting at their house of worship a week ago. 

The Oct. 26 tragedy is the deadliest act of anti-Semitism to occur on U.S. soil to date.

Daniel Elbaum, the American Jewish Committee’s chief advocacy officer, said the Jewish community is taking initiative to send a message that challenges the hate that motivated the Pittsburgh shooting.

“That message for Jews is we’re not afraid, that we won’t go back to those dark times in our history when Jews were afraid to publicly congregate in our places of worship,” Elbaum said. “And we wanted to give an opportunity to our allies, to our friends and all other communities to stand with us, to show their solidarity and say that a crime against one of us is a crime against all of us.” 

The movement has attracted the attention of orthodox and reform congregations across the country and world, as well as many politicians and public figures.

The Jewish Federations of North America have partnered to help spread the word.

The Tree of Life will hold their Shabbat services at the neighboring Beth Shalom synagogue, which has enough seating for 1,000 attendees, according to the Boston Globe.

Rabbi Matthew Soffer of Temple Israel of Boston told the Boston Globe his synagogue is expecting about 1,500 people to join its Friday evening Shabbat of Comfort, Community, and Courage service. Soffer also said Boston’s Gov. Charlie Baker, Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Sen. Edward Markey, City Councilor Ayanna Pressley and Police Commissioner William Gross plan to attend.

For those unable to attend Shabbat in-person, New York City’s Central Synagogue will live-stream its services, starting at 6 p.m. Friday and 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Prominent political figures and celebrities have also urged people to attend Shabbat service this weekend. 

“This weekend, Americans of many faiths are gathering to send a message of strength and unity against the forces of anti-Semitism that continue to exist in this country,” tweeted Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. “We have so much more in common than what separates us.”

When the American Jewish Committee tweeted at “Entourage” actor Jeremy Piven to ask if he would attend services, Piven responded, “It would be an honor.”

The initiative has also spread to Jewish congregations across the pond.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted Thursday that he planned to attend services in his city.

“Places of worship should be sanctuaries and safe spaces,” Khan wrote. “Tomorrow I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with Jewish Londoners for their Shabbat service to show solidarity to the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting last weekend.”

Elbaum said it’s been “truly wonderful” to see how quickly #ShowUpForShabbat resonated with Jewish and ally communities as far away as London, South Africa and Asia.

“We’re hopeful that this is just the beginning of the story, that these relationships that have been rebuilt...can help us address some of the real pressing issues in society and really heal a lot of rifts that our society feels,” Elbaum said.

Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, hopes the campaign shows that the Jewish community and its supporters will not tolerate hate, will remember the innocent lives lost and will celebrate the first responders who saved lives last weekend.

“We come together as a community that will not tolerate hate, will not tolerate anti-Semitism, we will not tolerate racism, we will not tolerate xenophobia,” Silverman said. “We will be resilient, we will be unified and we will be together.”

Draping a bulletproof vest over the “Fearless Girl” statue in New York City Friday, a Parkland father sought to spread a bold message: “Fearless Girl” was suddenly #FearfulGirl, protected only by the bulletproof attire she donned.

Manuel Oliver, whose 17-year-old son Joaquin Oliver was killed during the Parkland school shooting in February, placed the vest on the statue in the hopes of promoting sensible gun laws ahead of Tuesday’s elections, according to a statement.

“The Fearless Girl is undeniably brave, but bravery isn’t bulletproof,” the statement read.

Oliver’s organization, Change the Ref, seeks to use urban art “as creative confrontation to expose mass shooting disastrous effects in America,” according to the official Twitter page. The organization tweeted an image of #FearfulGirl with the caption: “She can’t be fearless if she’s afraid to go to school.”

Activist David Hogg retweeted the image, saying “This is America.”

The bronze, 50-inch-tall Fearless Girl statue was installed in front of Wall Street’s charging-bull statue just before International Women’s Day in 2017. State Street Global Advisors commissioned and placed the statue, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“Change the Ref” partnered with nonprofit “Fighting Gunfire With Fire” on the project. University of Alabama advertising students MK Holladay, Emeline Earman and Mingyu Jo came up with the idea, which grew into #FearfulGirl, according to the statement.

#FearfulGirl is the latest in a series of projects from Oliver that protest gun violence. Last week, Oliver created a 3D sculpture of his late son to fight blueprints used to print 3D guns.

For any new law school graduate, the relief of being admitted to the bar is real.

"It’s just the end of law school and feeling like I can relax," Denia Perez said.

For one new attorney, it’s an accomplishment that wasn’t allowed for her until now.

"I get to be a part of history," Perez said.

Perez is a Dreamer, a DACA recipient who came to the U.S. from Mexico at 11 months old. Until last year the Quinnipiac law grad wasn’t allowed to practice law in Connecticut, so she worked to change it.

"We amended the language in the practice book so that people with work authorization would be able to be admitted to the Connecticut bar," Perez said.

"For someone to take that on early in her career she probably has a very bright future in front of herself," Jonathan Shapiro, president of the Connecticut Bar Association said.

Perez’s mom is proud of the first of her kind attorney and for what she calls a hard-fought journey for citizenship.

"I wanted her to be successful because I didn’t have the opportunity to go at school back there," Genoveva Noriega said.

"She’s felt the pain so she knows what it’s been taking your mom your dad is going to be away from you," Noriega added.

For Perez its personal experience now paving the way for her to put into practice.

"I’m really glad I was able to do this for myself but also honestly for other people who are like me I want to stay in Connecticut," Perez said.

Perez is now working as a fellow in New York, she plans on putting her experience to practice and becoming an immigration attorney.

The race for U.S. Senate in Connecticut is shaping up to be a referendum on President Trump.

While Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has become a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, Republican challenger Matthew Corey told NBC Connecticut the state needs a senator who will be more willing to work with the Trump administration.

“Whether you agree with the administration or not, we need someone in Washington that will work with this administration, there’s too much federal funds and too many needs in Connecticut like crumbling foundations and infrastructure needs,” Corey said.

On the final Friday before Election Day, Murphy went for a walking tour of businesses on New Haven’s Whalley Avenue.

“I want to make sure everybody here understands the stakes of this election,” Murphy said. “Here in New Haven people are very disappointed with President Trump, they’re really sickened about how he’s chosen to end this campaign by trying to divide us from each other”

The senator stopped at Greg Simpkins’ barbershop.

“I like the way he fights for us,” Simpkins said. “I always see him, there’s an issue we have in this state, he goes down and fights.”

In Enfield, Corey met with supporters at Bosco’s auto repair shop.

“I resonate with them because I’m a small business owner, blue collar worker,” Corey said.

Co-owner Joe Bosco said he wants a U.S. senator who will be supportive of the president.

“Here in Connecticut, we’re never going to get nothing,” Bosco said. “You may like the man or hate man, you have to work the man and you can’t be beating him up all the time because he’s going to give the money somewhere else.”

Leading up to the midterm elections, the president has made immigration a central issue, claiming he can eliminate birthright citizenship with an executive order.

“The president doesn’t care about the Constitution,” Murphy said. “The idea that he’s going to change it by executive order is nonsense, that executive order would be overturned by the courts within about five minutes.”

“I think we need to look at birthright citizenship,” Corey told NBC Connecticut. “You should have some stake in our country, not just people that come over here to have a baby and say look hey I’m part of the community, I’m part of society.”

Murphy said health care is the top issue on the minds of Connecticut’s voters.

“People are really fearful that President Trump is going to take away their health care, put the insurance companies back in charge of their health care, take away protections for people with pre-existing conditions,” Murphy said.

“The Affordable Care Act has made it unaffordable for a lot of small business owners like myself,” Corey said, “I believe the president is on the right track.”

Since being elected six years ago, Murphy has become a national leader in the push for more gun safety laws.

“We know that sensible gun laws work here in Connecticut,” Murphy said. “We’ve seen a sharp reduction in gun murders in this state and it’s because we have universal background checks. We make sure everybody who buys a gun isn’t a criminal and we need other states to do the same thing, I think we can pass that next year if democrats do very well.”

Corey said he does not think it is necessary to “make law abiding citizens go through more hoops and hurdles to enjoy their second amendment rights.”

“We need to focus on is more mental illness, we need to focus how hostile the media is who is fueling these people with mental illness,” Corey added.

NBC Connecticut asked Corey if there are areas where he disagrees with President Trump.

“Yeah a lot of the tariffs I don’t agree with,” Corey said, “but I think those are bargaining chips, he’s bringing countries to the table, if that’s the means we have to do it that’s great.”

Both Corey and Murphy said they plan to make joint campaign stops over the next few days with their party’s candidates for governor.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be a blue wave or not,” Murphy said. “I just think here in Connecticut folks understand that Donald Trump isn’t good for our state and that Bob Stefanowksi, the Republican candidate for governor gives Donald Trump an A rating. I don’t think that squares with Connecticut values.”

Some Norwich seniors were concerned transportation issues might prevent them from casting their ballots Tuesday. 

Previously, the seniors road a Southeast Area Transit (SEAT) District bus, which dropped riders off in front of the doors of Rose City Senior Center. But recently the route changed, and the bus wasn’t scheduled to drop off in that spot.

Gail Forbes a hip problem and said she would be in pain if she had to walk from a bus stop two-tenths of a mile away to her polling place at the senior center.

“I hear a lot of people saying well, if you don’t vote you can’t say anything. Well if you can’t get out and vote because transportation is no longer available to you, what do you do,” Forbes asked.

She lives in senior housing in the Taftville section of Norwich, doesn’t have a car and said SEAT buses come directly to her complex. But that route no longer goes to the door of the senior center.

Instead it drops passengers off about two-tenths of a mile away on Ox Hill Road.

“I could walk it, but I would be in pain. But I’m looking at some people who are in walkers who can’t really walk that far,” Forbes said.

NBC Connecticut rose the concerns to Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom, who reached out to SEAT. General Manager Mike Carroll sent out an email later in the afternoon saying they will drive passengers to the door of the senior center on Election Day.

Carroll said the change in drop-off location came because new buses SEAT acquired over the summer would scrape along the pavement when driving up the incline into the senior center.

While Mahan Road was recently repaved, public works said the pavement is not any higher. The parking lot to the senior center was not repaved.

Mike Wolak, senior affairs director with the Rose City Senior Center, pointed out the scrapes on the road and also another entrance to the Senior Center yards away. He said coach buses opt to use that entrance.

“It seems like there should be a simple solution to it. Why doesn’t the SEAT bus just use the first entrance? There’s plenty of room down on that far end to swing a bus through here,” Wolak said.

But he hasn’t reached out to SEAT about it since he hasn’t personally heard complaints about the issue.

The senior center does have its own transportation but besides medical calls, they will not be running during Election Day. Classes at the center were canceled because it’s a polling place.

Carroll said SEAT would prefer buses do not go through parking lots.

“Because there are safety issues in parking lots, there’s pavement issues in parking lots, there’s running time issues in parking lot,” Carroll said.

When asked about using an older bus for the route, since they didn’t hit the pavement, Carroll said, “we really can’t dedicate on any given day based on the make of the fleet.”

SEAT will be posting the fact they’re stopping at the senior center on Election Day on their website and Facebook and Twitter accounts. They will be using one of the older buses from 2007.

SEAT will continue to explore other options after that, according to Carroll.

Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford said she was on a Delta Air Lines flight into Boston Tuesday night when she noticed that a passenger next to her was in distress.

Stanford, who is an African American physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, said she was helping the passenger when her medical credentials were questioned by several flight attendants, even after she showed the flight attendants her medical license.

"She is a highly sought after, highly talented physician," said Dr. Michael Sinha, a research fellow at Harvard Medical School. "She has two residencies and two fellowships under her belt."

Shortly after the incident, Stanford sent several tweets about it.

"As a black woman doctor who showed my medical license to help a passenger on DL5935 your flight attendant still did not believe I was a physician," she said in one tweet.

In a statement, Delta said, "We thank Dr. Stanford for her medical assistance on board Republic flight 5935 IN D-BOS, and are sorry for any misunderstanding that may have occurred during her exchange with the in-flight crew."

Sinha is an advocate for gender equity with degrees in medicine and law who works with Stanford through the American Medical Association and the Massachusetts Medical Society.

"Myself and a couple of my colleagues really want this to become a national issue and to have this conversation again," he said.

Sinha also said Standford participated in a bias-in-medicine symposium just over a week ago, with her friend, Dr. Tamika Cross — a black OB-GYN who also accused Delta of discrimination in 2016, which sparked the hashtag #whatadoctorlookslike.

After the 2016 incident, Delta stopped requiring attendants to verify medical credentials.

Shilpa Pherwani is CEO of Interactive Business Inclusion Solutions, which works with companies to provide employees with diversity and implicit bias training.

The company is currently working with another major airline to audit its diversity policies.

"Really look at training, that gets to how you are recruiting and hiring," Pherwani said. "How you do career development. How you're giving performance evaluations, feedback, how do you develop your people, is it an equitable environment?"

In another tweet, Stanford said she spoke with Delta, which promised to address the incident and thanked her for being a Sky Miles member. She is unsure whether any further changes will be made.

Delta also said the plane on which the incident occurred is operated by Republic, a Delta Connection carrier.

"We are proud of Dr. Stanford for immediately coming to the aid of an ailing passenger but are dismayed that her credentials and qualifications were questioned," Massachusetts General Hospital President Peter L. Slavin said in a statement.

During a rally in New Britain with organized labor groups Friday, Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Ned Lamont provided a pledge to public sector unions.

“I support labor,” Lamont said. “I support the right to organize. I support collective bargaining.”

Lamont’s support for unions comes at a time when major organized labor groups could be targets for further concessions from unionized employees when budget talks start up in January and February of 2019, when the next General Assembly is seated.

The bargaining unit known as SEBAC, which represents tens of thousands of state employees, has provided cost-saving concessions over the years, but they have come at a cost when it comes to overall budgeting.

Those unions are immune from layoffs until 2022, and the contract does not expire until 2027, tying the hands of future governors and General Assemblies.

Lamont’s promises provide relief to unions who fear that Republicans, like Gubernatorial Nominee Bob Stefanowski, may pursue what’s known as, “Right to Work,” legislation.

“Right to work takes away eight hour days, overtime, health insurance,” said Sal Luciano, who starting in December will be the interim Executive Director of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. “All of those things really are products of being in a unionized environment.”

Republicans have said throughout the campaign that SEBAC must be reopened or renegotiated as part of the conversation to balance the state budget, which currently faces a two-year $4.6 billion shortfall.

The GOP’s candidate for lieutenant governor, Joe Markley, said Republicans have pledged to reduce taxes, and attempt to bring benefits like pensions in line with the private sector.

“If you want change in Connecticut, the only choice is Bob Stefanowski,” Markley said, during a campaign stop at the West Haven Rotary Club’s Taste of West Haven event Friday night.

Markley met with prospective voters during the evening.

He said while the Democrats keep discussing national issues and trends, he doesn’t think that’s going to work on November 6.

“People in Connecticut are smart enough to distinguish between national issues and state issues and the problem in Connecticut hasn’t been Washington, it’s been Dan Malloy and the Democratic Party.”

Democrats are counting on robust turnout in suburbs surrounding Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven from voters looking to rebel against Republicans in Washington DC. Markley says that energy is going against Connecticut Democrats.

“The wave is going to be in our direction and we’re going to come away with this, with governor and with both chambers of the legislature,” Markley said.

Vernon police are investigating after a man in a car approached a middle school student and made inappropriate comments to her while she walking down the street Friday, according to police.

Police said the girl was walking in the area of Tracy Drive, Vernon Summit Drive and Kenneth Drive around 2:37 p.m. when she was approached by a man driving a black Nissan. The girl reported the man made inappropriate comments to her then drove off. The girl went home and told an adult, who called police.

The girl was not hurt during the incident and the man did not try to get her into the car.

Vernon Public Schools have been informed.

Police have released surveillance footage of the vehicle involved. The man is described as in his mid-20s, with short dark hair. Anyone with information or who may have seen the vehicle in the neighborhood is asked to contact police at 860-872-9126. Information can be given anonymously.

Jewish congregations throughout the country are holding Sabbath services Friday for the first time since the deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue last week, inviting people of all faiths to attend through a social media campaign to #ShowUpforShabbat and support the Jewish community.

Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven in Orange had double their usual crowd at Sabbath service, and while they opened their arms to new faces, they also took new security measures.

“There are lots of people whose faces we don’t recognize, whose names we do not know, who felt that they really needed to be with us,” the rabbi said during services.

Dozens of Jewish communities in Connecticut took part in the national #ShowUpforShabbat initiative, started by the American Jewish Committee as a show of solidarity with the victims of last week’s mass shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue.

“It is painful, it is scary, but also it has been an incredible week of being inspired by how many people have reached out to us,” Rabbi Michael Farbman said.

Farbman said many in his congregation are shaken by the attack, which claimed 11 lives. He focused the service of prayer for the victims and supporting one another.

But for the first time ever, his temple doors were locked for Shabbat, with one of the congregation on guard.

For some, the service is a teachable moment.

“I want them to feel safe and comfortable in the community and to be strong and feel good about their Jewish identity and be proud of that,” said Cindy Kruger of Woodbridge.

“As long as we remember what makes us us, we will be ok. We’ve seen this before,” Farbman told his congregation.

Some congregations observe Shabbat services on Saturdays, offering more opportunity to lend support.

A crash has closed part of Route 8 in Thomaston on Saturday morning.

Troopers said they responded to Route 8 northbound near exit 40 around 8 a.m. after getting a report of a crash with injuries. According to officers, a serious injury was reported.

Police at the scene have shut down Route 8 southbound, prior to exit 41. Motorists are asked to use an alternate route.

It is unclear when the road will reopen.

Neil Covert wants to replace Connecticut’s outgoing Democratic governor, Dannel Malloy, with a Republican who will not propose higher taxes or tolls on the state’s highways as a way to tackle the state’s financial problems.

On Tuesday, the 49-year-old Kent resident will vote for Bob Stefanowski, who is in a tight race against Democrat Ned Lamont.

Stefanowski says he will phase out the state income tax over eight years and other taxes immediately, proposals Lamont argues would drive up the need to raise property taxes.

Covert, who works for Westport Glass Co., knows that the Democrats have been trying to link Stefanowski to President Donald Trump, but says the strategy makes little sense, nor does it faze him. He likes Trump.

“I’m just looking for a boost in the economy,” Covert said this week during a lunch break in Greenwich. “This year I’ve seen more work trucks on the road.”

But for Patrice Yachkoff, a 39-year-old stylist for a store in Greenwich, Trump is key to her decision this year. She will vote for Lamont, both because of his ideas — she is open to tolls on out-of-state trucks traveling through Connecticut as Lamont favors — and her opposition to Trump.

“I would never vote for anybody that agrees with Trump,” said Yachkoff, who lives in Norwalk.

The political strategies at play add up to a tug of war between Republicans focused on dislike for Malloy and Democrats hoping to capitalize on low regard for President Donald Trump.

Stefanowski has repeatedly tried to link Lamont with his fellow Democrat, among the most unpopular governors in the country, if not the most unpopular.

“Connecticut used to lead the nation in jobs and growth,” Stefanowski wrote in one early tweet. “Now because of the failed leadership of politicians like Dan Malloy and Ned Lamont, we have fallen to 49th in the nation. It’s time to #RebuildConnecticut.”

Lamont for his part wants to tie Stefanowski to a president whose approval rating in the state is only at 34 percent, according to a September poll, and whose policies Lamont says would hurt Connecticut. When Trump endorsed Stefanowski after he won the GOP primary, Lamont was quick with a Twitter insult: “Bob Trumpanowski.”

More seriously, he criticized the effects of the GOP-led tax reform on Connecticut residents and predicted damage from Stefanowski's economic proposals.

“Thanks to Trump, 181,000 Connecticut residents are being taxed on an extra $10 billion,” he wrote. “The cap on deductions hits CT hard. Our middle class is paying billions more for giveaways to the wealthiest and big corporations. Stefanowski's plan hits CT's middle class one more time.”

Governor races are typically about local not national issues, but Trump’s is not a typical presidency and the divisiveness surrounding his administration is affecting politics at all levels. Connecticut’s troubled economy is looming large, but so is the president. In one campaign video, for example, Lamont is seen talking to a crowd about women's rights, abortion rights -- and Trump.

"None of these are state issues," said Scott McLean, a political science professor at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. "They don't have to do with the state issues that voters tell us they care about, which is the economy and taxes, schools. It's all about linking the Republicans in Connecticut with what's going on in Washington."

But if Republicans are successful, Malloy’s struggles with the state's economy will reflect on Lamont no matter that Lamont and Malloy are not political allies, that Lamont challenged Malloy for the 2010 Democratic nomination for governor and that Lamont, like Stefanowski in fact, has never served in state government.

"Lamont has not been part of the Malloy administration, the Malloy team, so he can say that there is some distance between him and the governor," said Ronald Schurin, an associate professor of political science at the University of Connecticut. "The Republicans will say, 'Well, it's a difference without a real distinction. They're both Democrats."

Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the state 5 to 3 and the midterm elections could draw large numbers of voters dismayed with Trump's behavior. Against the Democrats' hopes of Connecticut remaining blue as a "blue wave" sweeps the country is the state's history of electing Republicans, John Rowland for three terms as governor (though he was later twice convicted on federal charges and went to prison) and then his lieutenant, Jodi Rell in 2006.

“There is an atmosphere that it’s possible and a history of it happening so in that sense it’s good for the Republicans but the challenges are difficult,” said Matthew Hennessy of Tremont Public Advisors, a Connecticut lobbying and public affairs firm.

The Cook Political Report classifies the governor's race as a toss-up, and says the seat is one of two that are at risk among the nine that Democrats are defending.

“Connecticut is a solidly blue state which inherently favors Democrat businessman Ned Lamont, but voter dissatisfaction with the direction of the state may help GOP businessman Bob Stefanowski exceed expectations,” it wrote.

A Sacred Heart University/Hearst Connecticut Media poll released Thursday showed Stefanowski ahead, 40 percent to 38 percent for Lamont. A recent one from the Quinnipiac Poll found that Lamont was ahead 47 percent to 43 percent. Both leads were within the margin of error. An independent candidate, Oz Griebel, was polling in the single digits.

A top issue for most voters is Connecticut’s financial woes, the $4.6 billion deficit projected for the upcoming two-year budget. It is one of the few states that hasn’t recovered all of the jobs lost during the 2008 recession, a report issued in July found. A loss of manufacturing was the largest cause for the drop in the state’s economy.

For 77-year-old Carolyn McGrath, the state’s fiscal problems are a top concern. Malloy has driven the state into a financial hole, sending home prices down, she said. Stefanowski, unlike Malloy, understands financial issues, she said.

“We’ve got a good Republican here,” she said. “We’ve got to save the state. He’s our last hope.”

Stefanowski, 56, is a former business executive who worked for General Electric, 3iGroup plc, UBS and Dollar Financial Group and who now lives in Madison. He has focused on reducing taxes — phasing out the state income tax, corporate income tax and business entity taxes and eliminating the gift and estate taxes — and cutting state spending.

But he also has an A from the National Rifle Association, in a state that was devastated by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and has refused to clarify his position. Democrats have been trying to use the high rating against him, arguing that he will try to roll back the legislation passed after the shooting that Lamont says he will protect.

Lamont, 64, who lives in Greenwich, is an entrepreneur who built a telecommunications business. He beat former U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman in 2006 in the Democratic primary, before losing in the general election to Lieberman, who ran as an independent. He is emphasizing job training, transportation improvements and tolls on tractor-trailers traveling on Connecticut's highways.

Two students at Norwalk Community College — Victoria Rosenblum, 20, of Greenwich, Kevin Ostos, 22, of Stamford — were as focused on national issues as on local issues: The Paris Agreement on climate change, student loans, immigrants. They will be voting for Lamont.

They both work at a kennel, she as a dog walker, he was an attendant.

Ostos said Trump represented the parts of the country resistant to change — more accepting of immigrants and of rights for the transgender community, for example.

“Everything is changing more rapidly than the older generation can comprehend,” Ostos said. “Trump represents the generation that is nationalistic.”

Rosenblum said she appreciated the tax cut approved by Congressional Republicans and Trump, but beyond that: “He doesn’t have the country’s best interest at heart.”

Police and firefighters are investigating after a car crash caused small fires in multiple homes in Windsor Locks on Saturday morning.

According to police, a car traveling west on Grove Street hit a Frontier pole around 6:30 a.m. Cable wires on the pole heated up and caused some small, smoldering fires in some homes on the street.

The crash has caused power outages to the houses on the street. It is unclear when power will be restored.

Police said nobody was injured in the crash.

In honor of the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States, dozens of volunteers placed 12,000 American flags, one at each headstone, in the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown on Saturday morning.

“I think it’s a great cause,” volunteer Robert Rodriguez said. “The Veterans have given us plenty and without their sacrifices we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today.”

The drizzly morning could not keep Rodriguez, a father-of-two, from sharing the experience with his two sons and nieces, a first time for all of them.

“What we have came at a cost, and I think that they should kind of recognize that it’s a good thing to have service to the United States of America.”

Dozens of volunteers, many of them Veterans, take part in the community event, which happens the weekend before Veterans Day.

“It’s just a tremendous camaraderie and with the whole community,” Jack Botti with the Middlesex Veterans of Foreign Wars explained. “You’ve got the Boy Scouts, firefighters up here, police departments, air patrol.”

Botti said the time-honored tradition will live on for generations to come.

“I have family members buried here from great uncles and aunts, all the way down, aunts and uncles, a brother-in-law, so there’s a lot of family. It just hits home and it is home.”

The flags will be removed on November 17.

New London Police are investigating after shots were fired on Friday night.

Officers said they were called to the intersection of Vauxhall Street and Briggs Street around 11:30 p.m. after getting a report of five to six gunshots fired.

Witnesses told police that someone shot out of a vehicle that was driving by Vauxhall Street onto Briggs Street, towards Interstate 95. The vehicle was described as a gray four-door Honda or Mazda hatchback with rims.

Officers said they recovered evidence near the intersection.

The investigation is ongoing.

Firefighters and police are investigating after a tree landed on a car in Newington on Saturday afternoon.

First responders were called to Main Street after getting a report of a tree landing on a car.

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Police said two people were in the car and both were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries.

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Main Street is expected to be closed for an extended period of time. There is no estimate for when the road may reopen. 

Neighbors in the area say the power is out.

The investigation is ongoing.

Six homes in West Hartford are reporting more sewer problems after last nights heavy rain, according to the Metropolitan District Commission. 

The MDC said six homes, including three that were previously impacted by the sewer line break last month on Linbrook Road, experienced a sewer surcharge. 

According to the Commission, a sewer surcharge occurs after a heavy amount of rain falls in a short amount of time. 

The large amount of rain water in addition to the excess groundwater seeps into the sewer pipes and overwhelms the capacity of the sewer causing flows to back up into basments and streets, the MDC reports. 

Of the six homes impacted, most had a minimal amount of backup into basement sinks, a spokeperson for the MDC said in an email to NBC Connecticut. 

Homes on Wynwood Drive, Auburn Road, Montclair Drive, North Main Street and Linbrook were impacted. 

The MDC said it is working with impacted homeowners at this time. 

NBC Connecticut has a crew on scene and will update this story as more information become available. 

The New England Patriots will reportedly honor the Boston Red Sox ahead of Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots did not officially confirm the honoring, but said in a statement Saturday that the team has historically honored the Red Sox with pregame ceremonies after recent World Series Championships.

Red Sox Manager Alex Cora reportedly confirmed the news while visiting Puerto Rico with the trophy and several players on Saturday.

East Windsor Police have arrested a man who is accused of stealing a leaf blower from a landscape business early Sunday morning.

Officers were called to Beebe Landscape Services on Winkler Road for a burglary alarm around 12:49 a.m.

As an officer was checking the property, he observed 29-year-old Nicholas Ruvolo, of Enfield, wearing a black mask at the back of one of Beebe's vehicles.

According to police, when Ruvolo saw the officer, he ran though the parking lot and into a wooded area. Despite numerous warnings, Ruvolo failed to stop. Shortly after, he fell. As he attempted to get back up, the officer deployed his taser and took Ruvolo into custody.

Investigators said Ruvolo had triggered an alarm by entering one of the trailers and removing a leaf blower.

Officers said they found his vehicle nearby on Mourning Dove Trail. Inside of his vehicle, police found a chainsaw that had been reported stolen out of Newington.

Ruvolo is facing charges including burglary, larceny, criminal trespass, possession of burglar tools and interfering with a police officer. He was held on bond and is scheduled to be in court on Monday.