HARTFORD, Conn. -- It's a four-day weekend for many state employees as they take the second of four unpaid furlough days to save money.

Many key state agencies were shut down Monday following the July Fourth holiday weekend, including the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

State courts are open as are state agencies responsible for public health and safety. The state lottery headquarters is closed but the lottery drawings are going on as scheduled.

The furloughs come under the agreement between the state and employee unions to help close the state's budget gap.

State workers agreed to take one unpaid furlough day before June 30 and three furlough days in each of the next two fiscal years.