Possible Clues:

• State of NE USA
• Join snub about independent state
• Couple: one getting divorced, given state of the union
• State to hit the right target with one austerity measure?
• Join one canal somewhere north of New York
• The Nutmeg State
• New London location has bridge over one canal
• Join one and divide the state
• US state link I removed
• Couple I snubbed, one of fifty in the US