January 14 / 6:15 pm
Fire Rages at Shopping Plaza
(Orange-WTNH) _ Firefighters are battling a huge fire at the Orange Plaza.
The three-alarm fire broke out at the plaza on the Connecticut Post Road around 4:00. Callers to News Channel 8 say the flames are making the sky look like it's on fire! The strip mall has many stores, including Heart's Content Bridal Boutique, Val's Formal Wear and Dip Top Ice Cream parlor.
No word on a cause, or if there any injuries.
Cold, Snowy Weather Strikes State; Schools Closed
(WTNH) _ Winter strikes again, and it doesn't appear like we're going to get a break from this nasty weather. This morning it was snow causing driving problems and school closures. Now it's ice that's the problem.
The National Weather Service has posted a Winter Weather Advisory for temperatures below zero through midnight.
 Storm Team 8 says conditions will worsen later in the night and into Friday morning, when freezing rain and sleet coats the snow left on the roads. By Friday morning, this should turn to rain, which could cause flash flooding.
Before Noon Thursday, the Dept of Transportation reported more than 2" of snow in several towns. North Canaan has 2 3/4 inches of snow, Darien, Putnam, and union recorded 2 1/2 inches of snow.
Nearly all public and parochial schools cancelled classes for the day, giving students a day to play if they were brave enough to go outside in the chilly temperatures. Many universities also cancelled evening classes.
 News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has more on the snowy conditions.
Businesses Offering Daycare for Employees on Snow Days
(Windsor-WTNH) _ On days when schools are closed, parents often have to scramble to find day care, and if that's not available, take a day off work so the kids aren't home alone. Now one business offers a new approach: Bring the kids to work for supervised care.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.
Man Wanted for Questioning in Boy's Death Arrested
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ A man wanted for questioning in the shooting of an 8 year old Bridgeport boy and his mother has been arrested on weapons charges.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
Opening Arguments Underway in Clinton Impeachment Trial
(Washington-AP) _ Just as one lie leads to another, one obstruction of justice leads to another obstruction. Those words come today from Asa Hutchinson, one of the Republican congressmen serving as prosecutors in President Clinton's impeachment trial.
 He's been outlining what he says was a series of efforts by Clinton to prevent Monica Lewinsky, Betty Currie and others from testifying truthfully about the Clinton-Lewinsky relationship. Hutchinson says it all began the day Clinton learned that Lewinsky was a potential witness in the Paula Jones lawsuit against him. Using enlarged timelines and testimony as visual aids, Hutchinson told senators that Vernon Jordan's efforts to find Lewinsky a job were aimed at securing a false affidavit from her. And he said when Clinton sat down with secretary Currie, to discuss what she knew about his meetings with Lewinsky, it was "witness tampering, pure and simple." This is the first of an expected three days of opening statements by House Judiciary Committee Republicans.
Chief Capitol Correspondent Mark Davis reports.
More on the impeachment arguments.
AG Suggests Use for Tobacco Settlement Cash
(Hartford-WTNH) _ More plans are drafted for the tobacco settlement money, this time from the man who successfully prosecuted the case. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says all of the $3.6 billion expected to come to Connecticut over the next 25 years should go directly to tobacco prevention and cessation programs.
Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General: "We need to devote the money that this settlement has created to counter marketing, advertising and promotions that relentlessly and ruthlessly continue to be targeted at our children."
A coalition of groups also wants to see the general assembly pass laws banning smoking in all restaurants and further increase the price of cigarettes. As we reported yesterday, some legislative leaders want to invest the money and use part of it to pay for school building and other city projects. A battle over how to spend the money is expected in the legislature.
Reward Increased for Wells Fargo Fugitive
(San Juan, Puerto Rico-AP) _ The FBI is boosting the reward for the capture of a Puerto Rican fugitive in the Connecticut Wells Fargo robbery case. The reward for Filibertos Ojeda Rios is now up to $500,000. He's wanted in the 1983 armored truck robbery in West Hartford. Until today, the FBI was offering a $150,000 reward. Ojeda Rios, leader of a pro-independence group has been a fugitive since 1990. He was sentenced in absentia to 55 years in prison for the September 1983 robbery of more than $7 million from a Wells Fargo depot. Prosecutors say the money to finance the group which was known as the Macheteros, or "cane cutters." The group was accused of bombings and attacks on US government installations during the 1970s and 1980s. In all, 15 people were arrested in Puerto Rico for the robbery. Twelve were convicted.
Cop Calls for Registry to Keep Track of Arsonists
(Hartford-AP) _ A Hartford police sergeant says there should be a public registry to keep track of firebugs. Sergeant Norberto Heurtas is looking for support of a bill to require convicted arsonists register with their local police departments, in much the same way sex offenders are now required to do under Megan's Law. Huertas says he's seen too many lives and buildings scarred by arson and has encountered too many repeat offenders in 21 years on the job. Under the proposal, local departments would keep a registry of the names and addresses of convicted arsonists. The state police would keep a master list. The idea is being criticized by the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union. The CCLU's director says if the bill passes, you might as well set fire to the Constitution. He says it's a blatant invasion of privacy.
Torrington Company Shutting Down
(Torrington-AP) _ The Torrington area will be losing 175 jobs this summer because of a company shutdown. IMI Cornelius Wilshire plans to close its doors around late August, shipping production elsewhere. The company, with headquarters in Minnesota, is a worldwide supplier for beverage dispensing equipment. A company spokes says that because of the economic crisis in Asia, the business has just dried up and the company doesn't need six production plants anymore. The business has been in Torrington for more than 30 years, although it's operated under several different names. The company says some of the 175 employees will be able to transfer to other facilities, but for the most part they will be let go.
Mattress Recalled
(WTNH) _ The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has recalled 192-used mattresses sold as new. As News Channel 8 reported yesterday, the Department of Consumer Protection singled out four stores caught selling used mattresses that were not sterilized and did not have properly marked yellow tags as required by state law. The tags were missing a mandatory Connecticut ID number.
The local stores that sold the mattresses are:
- Arrow Discount Furniture, Main Street in Bridgeport,
- Factory Bedding Outlet, East Main Street in Bridgeport
- Stanton Furniture Clearance outlet, Grand Avenue in New Haven
- Stanton Furniture, Grand Avenue in New Haven
Other mattress stores may have similar names, but these are the only four locations the Department of Consumer Protection mentioned by name. If you have questions about a mattress you purchased, call the Consumer Protection at 1.800.842.2649.
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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