Holiday shoppers are out in force across Connecticut as stores offer bargains on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year.

Enriching the lives of area student musicians is not only a goal of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, it's a passion.

It's a bit of an inconvenience, but by next week it should be second nature. Starting Saturday, all local calls will require an area code.

A hazardous weather outlook has been posted by the National Weather Service as a strong low-pressure system now centered off of North Carolina drifts north toward the region.

On Saturday it will become mandatory to dial the three-digit area code and the seven-digit phone number for any local call in Connecticut whether on a landline, an Internet-connected phone or a cell phone.

Mary M. Alston Lucky, 72, of New Haven, departed this life on October 31, 2009. She was the widow of Winston Lucky, Sr.

Verizon Wireless is investing in New Haven County, Conn., to stay ahead of rising demand for wireless voice, 3G multimedia and Internet access.

A weak low pressure system moving eastward south of Long Island will mean cloudy skies for Fairfield and New Haven counties today with temperatures in the low- to mid-50s, just a little below average highs for today's date.

Find Freddie Cruger at Wallingford's Trail of Terror. www.secure.bebo.com If the rainy weather kept you from partaking in some of this year's Halloween attractions be thankful Wallingford's Trail of Terror has accommodated you.

The documentary program, Lincoln on Professionalism, is based on Lincoln's life as a lawyer, using his own writings and reflections on the practice of law as the program's foundation.

New federal funding may soon find its way to New Haven in an effort to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS. The U.S. Senate on Monday approved to increase federal funding by millions of dollars for Connecticut and New Haven HIV/AIDS services.

Of the 1,500 regional clients for SCORE, a counseling agency for small businesses, only about 20 percent have a Web site or expect to incorporate it into a business plan.

Submitted by Sanderson, Diane mailto:Diane.Sanderson@ct.gov on 2009-10-05.   Approximately 275 high school students from across Connecticut worked at Camp Farnam in Durham to upgrade the facilities as part of a SkillsUSA community service project organized by the Connecticut Technical High School System .

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for Fairfield County and southern New Haven County until 6 p.m. Saturday.

I like animals as much as the next guy, maybe more, judging by the way I let several cats control my daily routine, but I've always wanted to strangle those cute dogs and cats on the state's "Caring for Animals" specialty license plates.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON NY HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NEW HAVEN COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... * UNTIL 830 PM EDT... * AT 739 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NICKEL SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.

Sales of single-family homes in Fairfield and New Haven counties increased in August compared with a year ago, although prices continued a downward slide.

The HomeZooEd 4H Club of New Haven County is sponsoring their 2nd Annual BBQ with all of the trimmings, raffles, door prizes, a moon bounce and two bands will be performing.

Federal prosecutors disclosed that "one or more" of their "prospective witnesses" against James Botti may have been given immunity against prosecution for a crime they committed.

In this far-flung hill town of covered bridges and secluded homes, the daily rhythm has been rippled recently with an unfamiliar worry.