Hartford Schools Out of the Red
(Hartford-AP) _ Hartford's school system is running in the black for the first time in years. Some numbers crunching shows that if finances continue going as they have since last July, the school system will have a $785,000 budget surplus. The positive cash flow is being pegged on savings from salaries, canceled leases on portable classrooms and a new effort to get reimbursements from outside funding sources are helping keep schools stick to their $184 million budget. The financial situation is a far cry from last year, when the district struggled out of a $2 million hole created by old, unpaid bills. School officials say the black ink that's on the books now means an end to scraping for basic supplies in the wake of spending freezes.
Lowering Level of Mercury Discusses
(Cromwell-WTNH) _ Reducing mercury in the environment was the aim of a summit meeting in Cromwell Monday. 150 representatives from the New England states and the Eastern Canadian provinces want to reduce mercury emissions by 50% by the year 2003.
Connecticut studies have resulted in fish consumption advisories going back several years. Another report is expected in the spring.
Woman Killed After Wind Overturns Car
(Stormville, New York-AP) _ A 70-year-old Connecticut woman has been killed and her husband critically injured after a gust of wind caused their car to overturn in New York state. Officials say that 70-year old Margarete Shaw was killed instantly yesterday when she was thrown from the passenger's seat after her husband lost control of the car. A gust of wind caused the driver, 74-year-old Louis Shaw of Torrington, to lose control of his Suburban while it was pulling a mobile home The car overturned in a wooden area in Stormville. Louis Shaw was admitted to Saint Francis hospital in Poughkeepsie in critical condition.
Residents Buying Land to Save Mobile Homes
(Milford-WTNH) _ Residents of a mobile home park in Milford are fighting to keep their homes. Families who live at Ryder Park are now trying to buy the property.
A few months ago the Target department store chain was planning to buy the land.
to open a new store. 250 residents have gotten together and plan to keep their homes by buying the property before Target can develop it.
Rep. Jim Amann, D-118th district: "The property itself is worth $10 million. Residents are in negotiations to purchase the property themselves. They have investors in back of them going forward with this."
The Ryder Park residents have the support of Milford's mayor and other local legislators.
Cigs Top Prison Contraband
(Hartford-AP) _ State officials say the favorite forbidden items in the state prisons are cigarettes. It's because prisons went smoke-free in 1996, making tobacco the contraband of choice.
A deputy commissioner says inmates have become more interested in sneaking in cigarettes than anything else. The department's anti-smoking initiative started in 1995, and a year later, all tobacco products became Class-A contraband. That means any inmate found sneaking a smoke in one of the state's 19 correctional facilities faces disciplinary action. Although no official statistics are kept, prison officials say there's no doubt that cigarettes are in more demand than any other addictive substance. Although there's a zero tolerance for all contraband, officials say they would much rather deal with inmates smuggling tobacco rather than drugs. One says with drugs there is violence.
Navy Loans "Turtle" to Foundation
(WTNH) _ The US Navy has granted permanent loan of it's research submarine, 'Turtle' to the Sea Research Foundation. The ceremony was held at the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton Monday. The foundation overseas the Mystic Aquarium and the Institute For Exploration. The 'turtle' will be on display this summer at the Mystic Aquarium. The turtle was designed and built by Electric Boat back in 1968.
Cookies Recalled
(WTNH) _ If you're allergic to nuts, we have an important Consumer Team 8 recall.
Dangold Incorporated is recalling Allegro Butter Cookies filled with chocolate.
They are in seven ounce boxes sold before November.
The UPC numbers are as follows: 0927-1936-1831 and 0927-1936-1817.
The cookies are made with hazelnuts that are not listed on the box.
To return them call 718.591.5286 or take them back where you bought them for a full refund.
Dog Insurance
(WTNH) _ Is your canine costing you more for insurance? Or can you get it at all. It won't be easy according to insurance companies. Dog bite claims have skyrocketed and insurance companies are tired of paying out. So dog-owners will now be the ones to pay.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports.
(New London-WTNH) _ Skeletal remains found in New London over the weekend have been identified. Police say the body is that of James Connor of Essex who has been missing for several months now.
State, CNG Work Out Cleanup Plans for Stadium Site
(Hartford-AP) _ Connecticut's Attorney General thinks there might be a conspiracy to monopolize women's professional basketball. Richard Blumenthal has issued a subpoena to the National Basketball Association for what he says is a look into such a possible conspiracy. The investigation comes following the failure of the American Basketball League. It filed for bankruptcy and shut down operations of its teams, including the Hartford-based New England Blizzard. Blumenthal says there is evidence that the NBA actively took actions to exclude the ABL from access to TV and product sponsorships. The attorney general says the ABL may have been blocked out by the NBA and he's hoping the documents he's subpoenaed will help answer his questions.
