Few Outages Reported In Connecticut At Start Of Storm

Connecticut's largest utility said fewer than 200 customers were without power as the massive hurricane hitting the East Coast began its approach to southern New England. Connecticut Light & Power said Monday that 189 customers were without power. The Berlin  based utility is assuring customers and state officials that it has made significant improvements to avoid widespread outages similar to what followed the freak October snow storm that hit Connecticut last year. CL&P says it expects 300,000 to 600,000 homes in the state to lose electricity during the storm. The United Illuminating Co., which serves shoreline towns that are expected to be hit hard by storm surges from Long Island Sound, reported no outages early Monday morning.

Malloy: Worst Storm Scenario Expected For Connectcut

Governor  Malloy says the state is likely to see the worst-case scenario from an East Coast superstorm, which he's calling the "largest threat to human life this state has experienced in anyone's lifetime." Malloy said Sunday that strong storm surges and flooding are expected along the shoreline and power outages could last for days. The worst storm conditions are expected Monday afternoon into Tuesday, with wind gusts of up to 70 mph. Residents in many shoreline towns have been ordered to leave their homes. Schools across the state will be closed Monday. Utility workers are on standby to restore possible power outages as soon as possible. Malloy also ordered all nonessential state employees to stay home on Monday, and state courts are expected to be closed.

President Signs Emergency Declaration For Connecticut

President Barack Obama has signed an emergency declaration for Connecticut as Hurricane Sandy approaches. The declaration requested by Governor  Malloy would allow the state to request funding and other assistance in advance of the storm. Malloy says he spoke with Obama on Sunday. He says it's clear federal emergency management officials are taking the storm threat seriously. Sandy is expected to come ashore late Monday or early Tuesday, most likely in New Jersey, colliding with a wintry storm moving in from the west and cold air streaming down from the Arctic. Connecticut is bracing for strong storm surges and power outages that could last for days.

Amtrak Cancels Northeast Service Ahead Of Sandy

Amtrak says it is canceling service across the northeastern U.S. on Monday as Hurricane Sandy threatens to create a wet, windy mess in the region. Amtrak said in a news release Sunday that it was canceling all service north of New York at 7 p.m. Nearly all service across the Eastern Seaboard will be canceled starting Monday. Amtrak says it has not yet determined when train services will resume. Alternate transportation is not available. Some trains will continue to run in Florida and the Carolinas.The news release says customers can receive a refund or voucher for future travel.

UConn Closing Campuses, But Dorms To Stay Open

The University of Connecticut has notified students and employees that all the school's campuses across the state will be closed on Monday because of the major storm hitting the East Coast, but dorms and dining halls at the main campus in Storrs will remain open. UConn officials say they will make a decision on whether to keep the campuses closed on Tuesday as well after assessing the weather conditions.Residence halls, dining facilities and other services will continue to operate as usual in Storrs, and school officials are working to contact students who live off campus.

Former TSA Officer Faces Sentencing For Bribery

A former Transportation Security Administration officer is facing sentencing this week for accepting cash in exchange for allowing illegal prescription painkillers to pass through airport security without detection. Christopher Allen of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in New Haven. He pleaded guilty in April to extortion and receipt of a bribe. Authorities say Allen accepted cash from a trafficker to ensure the trafficker would not be stopped by TSA officers as he carried oxycodone pills through airport security. Allen's attorney says his conduct was a marked deviation from an otherwise law-abiding life. He says that the conduct occurred after a person cooperating with the government induced him to participate in criminal conduct and that the purported drugs were actually baby aspirin or other placebos.

Ex-President Clinton Leads Rally For Murphy

Former President Bill Clinton visited Connecticut to lead a rally for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Chris Murphy in Waterbury. Clinton criticized the proposals of Murphy's opponent, Republican Linda McMahon, saying in a half-hour-long speech that the Democrat has a better jobs plan and better proposals to deal with the national debt.The Sunday afternoon event was originally planned for an outdoor park but was moved to the Palace Theater because of the approach of Hurricane Sandy. Murphy has represented Connecticut's 5th Congressional District since 2007. He is locked in a tight race with McMahon for the seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Lieberman. McMahon held a "Job Creators for Linda" rally on Sunday in Watertown. She was joined by Sheila Bair, the former chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.