About The West Haven Post

Major news headlines for West Haven, Connecticut, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, include legal convictions, infrastructure updates, and a celestial event. 

Local Crime and Legal News

• West Haven Man Convicted on Gun and Drug Charges: On January 20, 2026, a jury in Milford Superior Court found 44-year-old Seth Tyson of West Haven guilty of criminal possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. The conviction followed a West Haven police raid on his apartment that uncovered fentanyl and a firearm.
• Plea Deal in Boat Crash: A man from Lyme was offered a plea deal in court on Tuesday regarding a fatal boat crash in Old Saybrook that killed three people. 

City Development and Government

• Acoustic Firm Hired for "Mysterious Hum": On Monday evening (Jan 19), the City Council voted unanimously to transfer $16,000 to hire an acoustic firm to investigate a persistent low-frequency hum reported by West Shore residents. The study will involve ten microphones placed across the city for a week.
• Wegmans Grocery Store Interest: Mayor Dorinda Borer confirmed city efforts to attract Wegmans to the former "The Haven" site on Water Street, with meetings scheduled for the coming weeks.
• Traffic Signal Upgrades: The city recently secured a $9 million state grant to replace traffic signals at nine busy intersections. 

Environmental and Weather Events

• Northern Lights Visible: Residents in West Haven and surrounding areas observed the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) on the night of January 20, 2026, following powerful solar storms.
• Significant Power Outage: Mayor Borer reported a major power outage in the city that disabled numerous traffic lights, resulting in over 100 emergency calls.
• Major Snowstorm Warning: Officials began issuing warnings for a predicted major winter storm expected to bring up to 18 inches of snow to the region by the weekend. 

Civic and Public Health

• Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month: Mayor Borer and state officials held a briefing to highlight Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month.
• State Official Departure: It was announced that West Haven’s Finance Director, Michael Gormany, will be leaving his post to return to his former role as controller for the City of New Haven in April.