February 22 / 11:00
Former Governor Ribicoff Dead
(AP) _ Abraham A. Ribicoff, who spent more than four decades in public service, serving as a U.S. senator, Connecticut's governor and member of the Kennedy administration, has died. He was 87.
Ribicoff, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died Sunday at a nursing home in Riverdale, N.Y., said ABC's Barbara Walters, a family friend.
``Connecticut and the nation have lost a patriot,'' said Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland. ``Abraham Ribicoff was one of the greatest leaders in Connecticut history. Beyond having served in all three branches of government, he stood for what was right regardless of the personal consequences.''
Ribicoff began his career as a state legislator in the Connecticut General Assembly and went on to serve as a municipal judge, a congressman, governor of Connecticut, a member of Kennedy's Cabinet, a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations and, for the last 18 years of his career, a U.S. senator.
As a senator, Ribicoff gained national prominence at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, when he made a blistering speech criticizing Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley for the strong-arm tactics used to control protesters.
``I don't think anyone involved in politics will forget his speech out in Chicago,'' Connecticut Democratic Party Chairman Ed Marcus said Sunday.
Former Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., a Republican turned independent who served with Ribicoff in the Senate, remembered Ribicoff as someone who was never afraid to go out on a limb for what he believed.
``Abe Ribicoff did what he thought was right and the devil take the consequences,'' Weicker said Sunday.
Ribicoff was born in New Britain on April 9, 1910. He attended the University of Chicago and graduated from its law school in 1933.
His political career began in 1938, when he was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly as a representative from Hartford. He served two terms, and in 1942, was appointed a municipal judge in Hartford.
In 1948, Ribicoff was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He served two terms before running for the U.S. Senate in 1952. He lost that race by 29,000 votes to Prescott S. Bush, the father of former President George Bush.
Ribicoff was elected as governor of Connecticut in 1954 - the state's first Jewish governor - at a time when being Jewish was seen by some as a political disadvantage.
Sales Gone for Season with Achilles Injury
(AP) - Nykesha Sales' career at Connecticut is over.Tests Sunday confirmed that
the senior star of the No. 2 Huskies ruptured her Achilles' tendon Saturday in the second half of UConn's win over Notre Dame, two points shy of becoming the school's all-time scoring leader.
RI Man Arrested in 1996 Jewell Robbery at Mall
(AP) - A Rhode Island man is accused of posing as a
customer and using charm in the theft of 29 uncut diamonds from a jewelry
store at the Connecticut Post Mall.
Carl Dinatele, 43, of Providence, was arraigned Friday in Milford Superior Court
on first-degree larceny charges.
Police said Dinatele walked into Harstan's Jewelers around 7:30 p.m. on Oct.
19, 1996, and pretended to be interested in buying diamonds.
When the saleswoman took out a wallet of diamonds worth between $94,000
and $167,000, Dinatele grabbed the gems and fled, police said.
Mother of Dead Baby Surrenders
 (WTNH) _ An East Hartford mother of a newborn left to die in a garbage bag was arraigned in court this morning. Nicole Coleman surrendered to police after receiving several days of psychiatric help.
 News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports.
Cops Hurt in Chase
(AP) _ A chase in New Haven sends four police officers to the hospital. Police say they tried to pull a car over but the driver wouldn't stop. The suspects wound up crashing into two police cruisers and then were chased down by police on foot. Two teenagers were arrested. The injured officers suffered just minor injuries.
New London Man Shot in Massachusetts
(AP) _ A prosecutor in Westport Massachusetts says four police officers acted reasonably when they shot a Connecticut man six times after an early-morning car chase on a dark road. District Attorney Paul Walsh said after one officer felled 21-year-old Richard Parker Junior of New London with one shot, the other three officers shot at him, hitting him on the torso and limbs. Walsh said Parker was acting in a bizarre manner at the time and appeared to point a gun at the police. Parker led police on a high-speed chase along I-195 early this morning before he spun out on an exit ramp. He is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon -- his car. He is in critical condition at Boston Medical Center. Walsh says the investigation is ongoing.
Lawmakers Consider Lowering Blood Alcohol Limit
(WTNH) _ A big push at the capitol today change Connecticut's drunk driving laws. Right now, the legal blood alcohol limit is .10. But if some lawmakers and groups such as "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" have it their way it would be lowered to .08.
Chief Capitol Correspondent Mark Davis has more on the story.
What's the Danger From Anthrax?
(WTNH) _
With the recent arrests in Las Vegas involving a biological agent -- the reality of a biological attack is all too real. Just how safe are we against attack? Experts say anthrax can kill so quickly that by the time any symptoms show up- it's too late to treat its victims.
News Channel 8's Wendy Cicchetti reports.
Branford Businesses Eligible For Loans
(WTNH) _ The owners of 10 businesses destroyed by fire in Branford will be able to get disaster loans. That's the word tonight from the US Small Business Administration.
Officials there agreed to a request from Governor Rowland that the area in downtown Branford be declared an "economic injury disaster loan area".
The business owners can now apply for loans up to $1.5 million to help rebuild. The fire broke out last month in Castellon bakery.
Remnants of the destroyed buildings have been torn down and the rubble removed.
Kennelly Hits Street to Gather Support
(WTNH) _
Polls show her down but she says she's far from out. Gubernatorial candidate Congresswoman Barbara Kennelly was attempting to show her strength today. That starts by trying to convince Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim not to get into the race.
Chief Political Correspondent Mark Davis has the story.
Kennelly picked up an endorsment from the state's largest union Friday. Members of AFSCME _ a union for public, state and local employees _ unanimously backed Kennelly at tonight's delegate meeting in Cromwell. Union spokesman Bill Meyerson says the group supports Kennelly because the state needs a governor who will work to improve public service and not dismantle it. The union represents from 34,000 workers.
Coach Takes Stand in Little League Trial
(AP) _ A little league coach accused of pushing a 13-year-old umpire testified today that he neither pushed nor struck anyone. Richard Burns said he took his team off the field after an altercation broke out during the October 19, 1996 game and never returned to the field. Burns said that before leaving the field he grabbed a bat being brandished by a league official at one of Burns' coaches. Burns _ who is charged with breach of peace _ also said he was embarrassed by the actions of his own third base coach, who had been critical of the umpiring. Final arguments were set for Tuesday.
Guilty Plea in Killing of Teen
(AP) _ A Manchester man charged in the killing of a New Britain High School student in front of the school has ended his trial with a guilty plea. Maurice Flanagan pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. In exchange for the plea, he will receive a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The plea ended his Hartford Superior Court jury trial that had begun Wednesday in which he faced charges of murder, kidnapping, arson and conspiracy. Flanagan is one of three charge in the November 1993 killing of Miguel DeJesus Junior. One other suspect in the DeJesus killing has been sentenced to 20 years in prison while charges are pending against the third suspect.
Anniversary of Girl's Death Prompts Changes at DCF
(WTNH) _
It was a tragic death -- 2 year old Raegan McBride dying in the hands of a daycare provider. Soon after the little girls death last February, her mother went on a mission to change a system she said ignores children's rights. At that time -- a scathing report accused state social workers of ignoring complaints of child abuse. Some children complained they were being abused while in the care of Kathy Greene, the woman charged in the death of Raegan McBride. So, has anything changed at DCF over the past year?
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.
Campaign To Find Missing Kids
(AP) _ Local lawmakers and business leaders are targeting teenagers to make sure they stay safe. They unveiled a new campaign Friday to help find missing kids. It's sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited children. Part of that effort is billboard ads. They say the problem of missing children is something that should concern everyone.
Kelly Lombardi / ADVO, Inc.: "We all need to get involved. This includes taking the times to look at pictures. Our children know the rules."
Here are some of the rules to stay safe:
- Don't go out alone
- Always tell someone where you are going
- And say "no" to doing something if you feel threatened
The face of a missing girl from Hartford has been put on a card and sent out to more than 4-million people. 4 year old Rosa Camacho and her mother Rosa Delgado have not been seen since October.
Hospital Names New (old) President
(WTNH) _ Griffin hospital in Derby has named a familiar face as an interim president and chief executive officer. Patrick Charmel will take over responsibility for handling all corporate and hospital management decisions. Charmel resigned in December amid protests from hospital employees. Charmel will replace John Bustelos, who resigned earlier this month.
Woman Killed in Parking Lot
(AP) _ A 71-year-old woman has been killed in a parking lot accident in Branford. Police say Jane Flynn was killed after she was struck by a car in a bank parking lot yesterday. Police say she may have been pinned between her car and that of the 80-year-old man whose car hit her. She was hit by a car driven by Walter Wasilewski as she walked to the rear of his car, which was backing out from a handicapped space. Wasilewski was not charged and the accident is still under investigation.
EB Not Planning Merger With Rival
(AP) _ Don't look for the Electric Boat shipyard to merge with its submarine building rival. EB's president John Welch says while the working relationship with Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock is going well, there are no plans for a merger. EB and Newport News are working on different phase of the new generation of attack submarines. EB has laid off thousands of workers over the past decade, but Welch says the shipyard continues to remain a key economic force in the region. Welch says among the ways of expanding the work load of Electric Boat is returning to performing repair work on submarines stationed at the US Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Welch says Navy plans to consolidate submarine use to the Groton base is a step in the right direction for EB.
Historic Inn Closing
(AP) _ A 100-year tradition is coming to an end in New Preston. The historic Inn on Lake Waramaug is changing hands and closing its guest room doors after more than 100 years. The inn will officially close Sunday. The new owners, Douglas and Dorothy Hamilton, will take possession of the property next Wednesday. According to a published report, the sale prices is about $2.5 million. The new owners plan to renovate the inn and reopen it this summer as The Lakeview Inn, a fine-dining restaurant. The inn will not offer overnight accommodations. Douglas Hamilton says The Lakeview Inn was the original name of the historic lodging house.
Beach Battle Continues
 (WTNH) _ The battle for the beach in Greenwich continues in court, but a final decision is weeks if not months away.
An official of a Greenwich homeowners association testified Friday that the group has allowed access to Greenwich Point only because there are restrictions. They own the only access road and gave the town the right to use the road in the 1940s with the understanding it would only allow use by town residents.
An economist and traffic engineer say opening up the beaches to outsiders would create traffic chaos. They were the final witnesses for the town.
Lawyers are scheduled to make their closing arguments on March 27th, but the judge's ruling may not come until 120 days after that.
Here's News Channel 8's Christina Hager's original report.
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