Expect Rail and Road Delays And A Possible Government Shutdown

1. Dire predictions of the possibility of a major storm hitting us right about now seem to have blown over. The forecast for this week promises to be as lovely as last week was, with www.weather.com predicting temperatures in the mid- to high-70s and overnight lows in the mid- to high-50s.

Monday will be on the cooler side, with a high of 69 degrees and an overnight low of 52 degrees. There's also a 20 percent chance of rain today, although it should sunny and dry from Tuesday until Thursday, when there's a 10 percent chance of rain. 

2. This week's commute is going to be as messy as last week's if you're heading to and from New York. Metro North is running at half capacity during peak morning times starting Monday, and that could continue over the next few days. Rail riders are being advised to drive instead, which is adding to what is pretty awful traffic on I-95 through New Haven and Fairfield County at the best of times.

3.  The Board of Selectmen's meeting for Tuesday, October 1, has been canceled. The Board's next scheduled meeting will be October 15. Here's what other municipal meetings are still happening this week:  

• Tuesday, Oct. 1: Shellfish Commission meets at Town Hall Auditorium at 7 p.m. 
• Wednesday, Oct. 2: Democratic RTM Caucus meets at 7:30 p.m. in the Louise T. Appleby Meeting Room; Flood and Erosion meets at Town Hall Auditorium at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 3: Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall Auditorium; Republican Caucus meets at 7 p.m. at Louise T. Appleby Meeting Room.

4. The Legislature's task force on victim privacy will hold its first public hearing in Hartford on Tuesday. The goal of the group is to gather information and recommend ways to protect information relating to victims and their families when sharing it with the media and public.

5. Will the government shutdown on October 1? That's the threat and it could result in furloughs for 800,000 federal government employees. Here's what else it would affect.