January 6 / 11:30 pm
Rowland Sworn In as Governor
(Hartford-WTNH) _ From parades to ceremonies to glittering entertainment, this has been quite a day for Governor John Rowland, who was sworn in for his second term as Governor of Connecticut Wednesday. Rowland becomes the first Republican governor to serve a second term since Gov. Raymond Baldwin in 1945.
In his inaugural address, the 41 year old Rowland thanked the voters for "trusting me with the enormous responsibility of leading this state for the next four years. It is a responsibility I take very seriously and look forward to with great enthusiasm."
Rowland dedicated the day to his father, who is ill and not able to attend the ceremony.
Rowland's swearing-in followed oaths of office by the constitutional officers, most of whom were reelected by voters. They include Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Comptroller Nancy Wyman, Treasurer Denise Nappier, and Susan Bysiewicz, who is now Connecticut's Secretary of the State. Lt Governor Jodi Rell was sworn in earlier in the morning.
 Here is the text of Rowland's inaugural address.
 Here is a video of the swearing in ceremony (Real Format).
Ball Concludes Inaugural Events
 (Hartford-WTNH) _ The Hartford Armory was rocking late into the night Wednesday as the Governor, First Lady Patty Rowland, and an invitation-only list of thousands celebrated in style at the inaugural ball. The fun was expected to last until 2:00 am.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis talked with the Rowlands on this special day.
Inaugural Parade Kicks-Off Festivities
 (WTNH) _ The first of the inaugural events took place on the streets of Hartford. Governor John Rowland and First Lady Patty Rowland, followed by Lt. Governor Jodi Rell and the rest of the constitutional officers, started the festivities by walking in the inaugural parade. The 1.4 mile parade route wound through Hartford streets from the Old State House to the Legislative Office Building, where the inauguration ceremonies were held. The parade got underway about 15 minutes behind schedule. The Rowlands were late leaving the Governor's Residence.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has more on the parade.
Big Guns Salute Governor
 (Hartford-WTNH) _ There was more pomp after the swearing-in ceremony. Rowland and the others went outside for a 19-gun salute by the Connecticut Army National Guard's 192nd Field Artillery Battalion. Two of the governor's nephews helped fire the big guns.
Rowland Looks Ahead in State of State Address
 (Hartford-WTNH) _ Following swearing in ceremonies for his second term as Governor, John Rowland outlined his vision for Connecticut in his annual State of the State address. Looking ahead to the turn of the millennium, the Governor called this "Connecticut's Century". Rowland said he wants to increase the property tax credit to $350 and suggested the possibility of another tax rebate. Rowland said the state must continue to control the cost and growth of state government.
Gov John Rowland: "A lean government, free of excessive programs, rules and regulations, helps us keep our budget in balance, provide tax relief, and create economic opportunity. Keeping a lid on the growth of government also gives us the option to invest wisely when the opportunity presents itself: "
Rowland concluded on an upbeat note, telling lawmakers "there's no limit to what we can achieve on behalf of the people of this state."
Legislative reaction from both sides of the aisle has been positive, but lawmakers will await his specific budget proposals, which will come next month.
Sen George Jepsen, D-Majority Leader: "He hit the right tone. I don't think he intended to talk a lot about specifics today. I think that will wait for the budget message. I think he hit the right tone in terms of pushing for bipartisan working relationships like we had last year."
Sen Louis DeLuca, R-Minority Leader: "I think we all want to control spending, and we all want to cut taxes. The questions will be which ones, and I think we will reahc a compromise like we have in the past."
Here is the text of Rowland's State of the State address.
General Assembly Session Begins; Lyons Becomes Speaker
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Not only is this inauguration day, it is also the first day of the 1999 General Assembly. The first order of business was the swearing in of the 151 member House of Representatives - 96 Democrats, 55 Republicans.
There are 19 new members; 11 democrats, 8 republicans.
For the first time in history, the speaker of the house is a woman. Representative Moira Lyons of Stamford, the former majority leader, was sworn in by outgoing speaker of the house Tom Ritter.
Rep. Moira Lyons, Speaker of the House: "It is a very humbling experience, especially when you walk out into the chamber and everybody was so warm and receptive, and in essence what I said was true: Though I may be perceived as making history today, it really was a result of people voting for me, so it was a cumulative effort of all the members of this body."
Upstairs in the state senate, there are three new members, all Republicans in the 36 member upper chamber. The Senate is now comprised of 19 Democrats and 17 Republicans. Lt. Governor Jodi Rell was sworn in by her husband Louis, who is a justice of the peace. She is the first woman in history to be elected to a second term as Lt. Governor. And state Sen. Kevin Sullivan of West Hartford was sworn in by his wife, Caroline Thornberry, as senate president pro tem.
Larson Joins US House
(Washington DC-WTNH) _ One of the state's top Democratic lawmakers had his own swearing-in ceremony to attend hundreds of miles south in Washington. John Larson took the oath of office as a member of the House of Representatives Wednesday. He represents the 1st congressional district. That's the seat vacated by Barbara Kennelly, who ran unsuccessfully against Gov John Rowland.
Rep. Gyle of New Fairfield to take Public Health Job
(Hartford-AP) _ State Rep. Norma Gyle of New Fairfield has left office to become deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Health, the agency announced Wednesday. Gyle said she will help the agency develop anti-smoking programs. Connecticut is expected to receive $5.5 billion over the next 25 years to settle its lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Gyle served seven terms representing New Fairfield, New Milford and Sherman and was the ranking Republican on the Public Health Committee. The governor must call a special election within 10 days. The election must be held 46 days after the day the special election is called _ late February or early March.
Teens Get Anti-Smoking Message at Young Age
(West Haven-WTNH) _ Connecticut will receive more than $3.5 billion from the tobacco industry settlement over the next 25 years.
The state legislature will decide how to spend that money.
But anti-smoking advocates say teaching kids about the dangers of smoking should be the top priority, and the younger the better.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.
Town Debates Cost of Replacing Historic School
(Old Saybrook-WTNH) _ Residents of Old Saybrook are faced with a tough choice.
They can either approve the demolition of an historic school or they can try to come-up with millions of dollars to renovate the place. The question is: is the Main Street School worth saving?
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.
Education Chief Outlines Five Year Plan for State's Schools
(Hartford-AP) _ The state's education commissioner says Connecticut has made steady progress in cutting down on racial isolation. But Commissioner Theodore Serge says more has to be done. Sergi is proposing a five-year program to step up the state's role in public schools. The plan includes increasing the state's share of costs for local education to 50%, from the current 40%. Sergi suggests creating an open-enrollment plan for Hartford students, allowing them to choose suburban schools. Sergi says increasing numbers of magnet and charter schools serving thousands of students, plus other efforts between districts are bringing together more children of different racial and ethnic groups. The proposals are in Sergi's annual report being released today.
Patient Walks Away from Psychiatric Hospital
(Middletown-AP) _ A search is ongoing for a psychiatric patient who walked away from a psychiatric hospital in Middletown on Monday. Officials at the Connecticut Valley Hospital say 41-year-old Daryl Wallace was committed to the state hospital system seven years ago after being charged with arson. Police say Wallace does not appear to pose a threat to anyone. He is described as a 6-foot, 2-inch black man weighing about 195 pounds. He was last seen wearing an aqua shirt, khaki pants, a brown leather jacket and a burgundy baseball cap. He has black with gray hair and brown eyes.
Search for Clues Continues After Body is Found in Burning Car
(Southington-WTNH) _ Southington police say they're having trouble identifying the body found in a burned car in the Mt. Southington ski parking lot Tuesday.
They think it's the car's owner, a woman in her 20's from Windsor.
But police can't find dental records. So the only way to officially identify her is through DNA testing. That could take weeks. Police have ruled out mechanical failure as a cause, but they still don't know how the woman died or how the fire started.
Cop Quits After Prostitution Arrest
(Hartford-AP) _ A city police officer arrested for soliciting a prostitute while on duty has resigned. Jeffrey Beecham, 28, had been suspended without pay following his arrest Dec. 11 at Colt Park in the city's south end. The arrest came after an internal investigation by the department's intelligence division and vice squad, police said. Beecham resigned Thursday after two years on the force, Chief Joseph F. Croughwell Jr. said Tuesday. Hartford's police department is the subject of a federal grand jury convened in November to investigate claims some police officers forced prostitutes to perform sexual favors in return for protection from arrest.
Jobs Lost as Waterbury Plant Closes
(Waterbury-AP) _ A restructuring and plant closing by a Tennessee-based company means the loss of about 80 jobs in Waterbury. The workers at Lakewood Metal Products learned yesterday that Tennessee-based Moll Industries is closing the Waterbury facility this spring. The local plant makes metal components for cosmetic packages. The shutdown is a result of restructuring by Moll Industries, which plans to focus more on plastic processing and mold design. Lakewood Metal's human resources department is trying to find new jobs for its 80 workers affected by the shutdown. Moll Industries has started negotiations to sell the plant's assets.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud
(New Haven-AP) -- A Norwalk woman has pleaded guilty to collecting Social Security benefits under the name of an infant girl who died in 1965. The US attorney's office in Connecticut says 33-year-old Roberta Richmond Davis defrauded the Social Security Administration of nine-thousand, eight-hundred dollars. Davis used the name of Cathy Coward to obtain a Social Security number and then collect benefits. Coward died in Iowa as an infant 33 years ago, before obtaining a Social Security number. Davis will be sentenced in March. She faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Three Kings Day Celebrated
 (Hartford-WTNH) _ So the tree's down, the holiday cards are in the recycle box, and so is your Christmas spirit. If you don't want to say goodbye to the holiday quite yet, you should have joined the Hispanic community in celebrating Three Kings Day.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
State Sex Offender Website Online
(Hartford-WTNH) _ The State of Connecticut's Sex Offender Registry went online at the first of the year. Residents can look to see if a convicted sex offender is living in their neighborhood by accessing the information through the Department of Public Safety's website at www.state.ct.us/dps/
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