January 8 / 6:30 pm
Winter Storm Arrives; Schools Close Early
 (WTNH) _ A mixed bag of winter weather is continuing to move through Connecticut. We'll see up to 5" of snow in the northern part of the state, and a little less in the south, over the next couple of hours. Highways in the southern part of the state are covered by snow, making driving conditions potentially dangerous. No major accidents have been reported.
It won't always be snow tonight. Warmer air is moving up from the south, and later in the evening the precipitation should change to freezing rain, sleet and then all rain.
In advance of the storm, many schools closed early and cancelled activities. Some colleges also cancelled evening classes.
Early Dismissals Have Some Parents Scrambling
(Branford-WTNH) _ When schools decide to have an early dismissal it makes it tough for parents who have to rearrange schedules to make sure their home for their kids.
 News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.
Senate Adopts Impeachment Procedures
(Washington, DC-AP) _ The Senate has voted unanimously to approve the resolution on how to handle President Clinton's impeachment trial. All 100 senators voted for the resolution hammered out in an extraordinary caucus of both parties earlier today. Under the resolution, the trial begins Wednesday with motions, followed by opening presentations the next day. Senators will decide later on which, if any, witnesses will be called.
The plan that's been put together by Senate Democrats and Republicans calls for 24 hours of Senate time for each side to present their case. That's expected to be spread out over three eight-hour days apiece, starting on Thursday of next week.
House managers will have that much time, and President Clinton's lawyers will as well. Senators say there will then be 16 hours for members of the Senate to ask questions. The questions would be submitted through Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
They say at that point, there may then be a number of motions -- including one by House managers to allow the calling of witnesses, or to introduce other kinds of evidence.
Chief Political Correspondent Mark has more on the story.
Even as Democrats and Republicans were working on the rules for President Clinton's impeachment trial, most Americans say it won't matter to them. A USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll out this morning finds 59% say nothing could come up in the trial that would change their opinion on whether Clinton should be removed. Just 11% say they could still be swayed by the evidence. And neither party is getting rave reviews for its handling of the impeachment proceedings. 57% disapprove of how Senate Republicans are going about it, while 45% dislike what the Democrats are doing. As for President Clinton, two polls out this week put his job approval ratings at 63% or better -- down from 73% last month.
Censured Judge Reappointed by Rowland
(Hartford-AP) _ A Stamford judge who was censured after he failed to pay a court-ordered judgment has been reappointed to the bench. Judge Harold Dean was reappointed by Governor Rowland after the judicial selection commission recommended him for another term. Dean, who has been a judge since 1969, was censured last year after he failed to pay off a $129,000 judgment on a defaulted real estate loan.
Dean cited a 1937 state Supreme Court ruling to prevent the creditor from taking his assets. The case prompted the Legislature to change that policy. He is scheduled to go before the Judiciary Committee later this month for a hearing on his reappointment.
One Dead, One Hurt in Murder/Suicide
(Monroe-WTNH) _ A double-shooting leaves a husband dead and his wife in critical condition. It happened about 7:30 Friday morning in Monroe.
The couple's teenage daughter heard them arguing and then heard gunshots.
Police found 53 year old Mario Dinacola dead. His wife Loraine Dinacola was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital. Friends say the Dinacolas were in the process of getting a divorce.
Lina Aversa, Victims' Friend: "He was just talking to me and talking to my husband. He loved his family and he said he was getting separated and he was hurting a little bit, but I never knew he was going to do this."
No word on who fired the gun.
Fires Damage Two Homes
(Goshen-WTNH) _ A fire in Goshen did a lot of damage to one family's home.
The fire began at a home on Sharon Turnpike around 7:30 this morning. Four people were inside when it began according to fire crews. We're told they got out okay but their home suffered a lot of damage. The residents are staying with family members.
Trouble with an oil furnace sparked a fire in West Haven. The owner of a home on Elm Street was working on his furnace this morning. He left to take his kids to school, and when he came back the house was on fire.
No one was hurt, but the house has suffered heavy damage.
The Red Cross is helping the family find a place to stay.
State Drops Company Providing Medicaid Coverage
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Health maintenance organizations in Connecticut may be faced with some big changes that may not be in their favor. Some state legislators are fighting for the right to sue. And one managed care organization is already getting slapped with a suit.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.
Failed Comptroller Candidate Gets State Job
(Hartford-AP) _ A Republican candidate for comptroller who dropped out after questions were raised about his past has landed a new state job. Antonio Serbia is now executive assistant to the state's commissioner of transportation with a $90,000 a year salary.
Serbia had been on Governor Rowland's ticket until he stepped down in August after reports surfaced that he had paid his taxes late, had been acquitted of bank fraud charges in his native Puerto Rico and had embellished academic credentials on his resume.
His new job pays more than the $65,000 a year he would be paid if he had been elected a comptroller. A spokesman for the governor says Rowland was aware Serbia was being considered for the DOT job, but says the hiring was not at the governor's request.
State Lotto Game Suffering Player Doldrums
(WTNH) _ Lottery players in Connecticut are apparently not too wild about the state's Wild Card Lotto game. These days, when it comes to winning over the public, another game is taking the prize.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz has the story.
Church's Drive in Theatre Proposal Dumped
(Stamford-WTNH) _ It's curtains for a proposed drive-in theater in the parking lot of a Stamford church. The pastor from the Holy Spirit Catholic Church wanted to show drive-in movies in the parking lot to raise money for their school. But some neighbors opposed the church's plan, saying the drive-in was inappropriate for their neighborhood. The town denied the church's petition.
DEP Officer Assaulted During Poaching Arrest
(Canterbury-AP) _ DEP officials say an investigation into deer poaching led to an assault on a conservation officer in Canterbury yesterday. Authorities say 38 year old Corey DeGray of Brooklyn was dressed in camouflage and carrying a high-powered rifle when he was spotted walking out of some woods in Canterbury. Deer hunting season in Connecticut ended last week. DEP officer Danny O'Brien confronted DeGray, and DeGray allegedly assaulted him before driving away. DeGray was apprehended a short time later in woods behind his home, and charged with assault on a police officer, possession of a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle, hunting while under suspension and illegal deer hunting. He was released on a $15,000 bond.
Report says NU not Punished for Questionable Firing
(Waterford-AP) _ A federal agency has concluded that Northeast Utilities was not punished for the illegal firing of workers who raised safety questions. The Office of Inspector General in the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission reached the conclusion this week after looking into some whistleblower complaints involving the Millstone nuclear power complex. The inspector general investigated the NRC's handling of harassment and discrimination complaints made by 22 Millstone workers. In December of 1997, a panel of NRC staff decided to take enforcement action against NU, based on evidence that there was discrimination against possibly three employees who had raised safety issues. But the NRC's Office of Enforcement never followed through. NRC Chairwoman Shirley Jackson has now asked the staff for more information on the inspector generals' critical report. NU says it does not comment on internal NRC reports.
Teen Charged With Crossbow Murder On Trial
(Middletown-AP)_ Testimony has begun in the murder trial of a Portland teenager accused of killing his father with a crossbow. Salvatore Colavito is accused of killing his father in October 1996 at their home in Portland. Salvatore's mother and his defense attorney say the crossbow arrow that killed Leonard Colavito was fired accidentally, after Salvatore tripped over the family cat.
Small Town Gets Multiplex
(Jewett City-WTNH) _ Coming soon to the small borough of Jewett City: A new six-screen movie theatre!
Developers plan to convert an old supermarket into a state-of-the-art cinema!
In the past, Jewett City has had trouble with bored teenagers loitering on downtown streets. The question is will this change all that?
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.
Caldor Not Buying New Merchandise
(Norwalk-AP) _ Officials at Caldor Corp. said Friday the company is not buying or receiving any merchandise from its suppliers while it continues discussions with its creditors. The Norwalk-based discount retailer filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in September 1995, and had planned to emerge from bankruptcy in the spring of this year. Wendi Kopsick, a Caldor spokeswoman, would not comment on the current situation and whether it will force closing of any or all of the company's 145 stores. The $2.5 billion company operates stores in nine states, including Connecticut and New York. It was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange last September.
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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