January 15 / 10:00 pm
Weather Socks State Again, and What a Mess
(WTNH) _ Thursday it was snow, today it's ice and rain that's turning the state into a slick and wet mess.  This morning roads were slick from overnight freezing rain, then a blast of warm air sent temperatures soaring and rain started pouring, turning the morning rush into slush. Local street flooding was reported. The National Weather Service even issued a Flood Warning at one point. Some towns reported more than 2" of rain.
While parts of the state did not even get into the teens Thursday, our SchoolNET station at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport reported a temperature of 48 degrees at Noon. Thunder also rattled windows in the southern part of the state. Temperatures will be below freezing at night, so any leftover moisture on the roads could freeze over, creating black-ice.
Earlier in the morning, Lt Governor Jodi Rell urged everyone to stay off the roads because of treacherous driving conditions. Rell also told state workers to delay coming into work. Also, all state Department of Motor Vehicle branch offices closed for the day. The winter weather took a toll on the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Ice built up on the glass roof of the atrium and plugged up the drains, causing water to drip into the building. 400 workers were sent home.
Bradley International Airport closed around 7:00 this morning, and remaind closed for 12 hours. They had been experiencing delays and flight cancellations since early in the morning because of ice. Crews were busy de-icing planes all day. It could take a couple of days until things are back to normal.
At New Haven's Union Station, crews did their best to keep on schedule. However, Metro North's New Haven line was running 20 minutes behind schedule for much of the day. Connecticut Transit Buses are operating as best as conditions could allow.
For the second straight day, nearly all public and parochial schools cancelled classes, and some universities opened a couple of hours later than usual.
So how were people coping with all this?
 News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer Reports.
Car Runs Into Building
(New Haven-WTNH) _ One driver is proof of how bad driving was Friday morning, when their car hits a florist's shop. The accident happened on Grand Avenue in New Haven just before ten this morning. Police say the driver of the Toyota Camry lost control on the ice, jumped up the curb, and slid into the shop. The unidentified driver has some minor injuries
New Mix May make Icy Roads Easier to Clear and Drive On
(Thompson-WTNH) _ And it's slow going out there. Even though the worst is over the roads are still slick in spots. One community may have a slick solution to the road problems.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring has that story.
Caring for Windshields, Wipers in Frozen Conditions
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Winter weather means windshields are a mess. We start our cars early in the morning but after nights like last night that may not be enough.
u may need something more.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports
Weather Hampers Search For Cause of Plaza Fire
(Orange-WTNH) _ Investigators were back at the Orange Plaza Friday looking for the cause to Thursday's massive fire. It took firefighters from 4 towns several hours to put out the blaze. Some businesses, including Val's Formal Wear, Heart's Content Bridal Boutique, and a clothing consignment store were were destroyed or damage. The nasty weather hampered officials in their search for the cause. An excavating machine had to be used to break thru the frozen shell so investigators could get to the center. Officials believe the fire started in the second floor above the bridal or tux store. Future brides who had dresses on order there are now left scrambling to make new arrangements and hopefully get their money back.
Arguments Continue in Clinton Impeachment Trial
(Washington-AP) _ Senators have been given a refresher course on the law, when it comes to perjury and obstruction of justice. And they've been told that the evidence shows that President Clinton is guilty of both crimes, and that he should be removed from office. For a second day, senators sat and listened as Republicans from the House Judiciary Committee opened their impeachment case against Clinton -- and appealed for senators to let them call witnesses. In fact, prosecutor Bill McCollum suggested that President Clinton be invited to testify as well. He said Clinton repeatedly says one thing, while other witnesses say something else. And McCollum says if senators have any doubts as to who's telling the truth, they should bring in the witnesses. But Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is rejecting any suggestion that Clinton should be called to testify. He says even in an impeachment trial, a person is innocent until proven guilty -- and should not have to come forward to try to prove his innocence. The Senate will be back in session tomorrow morning for the final few hours of opening statements by House prosecutors.
Chief Capitol Correspondent Mark Davis has more on the day's events.
JAMA Editor Fired over Article Coinciding with Clinton Impeachment Trial
(Chicago-AP) -- An article about whether Americans consider oral sex to fit a definition of sex has gotten a leading medical journal editor fired. The article is in next week's Journal of the American Medical Association. And it was released as President Clinton's impeachment trial was under way. The chief executive officer of the AMA, Doctor Ratcliffe Anderson, says he made the decision to fire Doctor George Lundberg as editor. Anderson says Lundberg "was focused on sensationalism here, not science." Anderson also says the timing of the publication "represents a serious breach in the integrity of JAMA." He says he believes the article was expedited when it should not have been. Clinton has said in grand jury testimony that he did not consider oral-genital contact to fit a definition of sexual relations.
 Protest Against Patriots Deal
(Hartford-WTNH) _ A small protest at the State Capitol against the plan to bring the New England Patriots to Connecticut. About 15 demonstrators showed up, including members from the Libertarian Party and Green Party. They wanted to make it clear that they are opposed to the $374 million stadium deal.
Development Agreement Delayed
(Hartford-AP) _ A deadline to come to terms on a development deal for the New England Patriots stadium in Hartford has been extended. The deal was supposed to be signed today, but the deadline's been put off until February fifth. Governor Rowland's spokesman says lawyers for the state and the Patriots need more time to go over the fine points of the deal. Dean Pagani says there are no major sticking points to the agreement. The agreement will spell out exactly how the stadium will be developed and operated. Pagani says the lawyers intend the February fifth deadline to be firm.
Boy Expelled After Threatening Teacher
(Oxford-AP) _ A 12-year-old Oxford student who had called the governor's office to complaint about his teacher has been expelled for threatening her. The boy, a student at Great Oak Middle School, has been expelled for a full calendar year. He will receive tutoring to keep up with his studies. Officials say the boys threat against the teacher was made in November. Officials say he threatened to kill the teacher, although no weapon was involved. The boy apparently began by calling the Superintendent of School;s office to complain about the teacher and then called the governor's office. When he wasn't getting anywhere with someone in the governor's office, the boy reportedly said he would kill the teacher.
National Guard Pilots Quit over Requirement for Anthrax Vaccination
(Windsor Locks-AP) _ A dispute over a vaccination involving biological warfare has prompted eight Connecticut Air National Guard combat pilots to quit. Their resignations are to protest a requirement that they be inoculated with an anthrax vaccine. Anthrax is a disease that has been turned into airborne spores by Iraq and other countries so it can be sprayed or fired as ammunition. The resignations involve members of the 103rd Fighter Wing which is based at Bradley Airport. The fighter pilots, who have flown missions in Bosnia and other overseas missions say they're deeply concerned about their own health and safety. Colonel Walter Burns confirms that eight pilots have resigned in response to the controversy. He says a ninth pilot's resignation was only partially due to his opposition to the vaccine.
The other 480 members of the Air Guard units have accepted the vaccination without protest.
Lawmakers Propose Giving Lotto Loser Millions
(Hartford-AP) _ Lawmakers from New haven and Waterbury are proposing a bill to pay a $5.8 million jackpot to a Lotto winner with bad timing. They say the state should pay Clarence Jackson of Hamden the money, even though he filed a claim for his winnings three days after the deadline. Similar bids to get legislative backing failed in 1996 and 1997. This time out, New Haven Representative Chris DePino and Waterbury Representative Reginald Beamon say, in their words, that the Lottery should just "give the kid the money." Jackson, who operated a cleaning business to support his ailing parents, says he did not realize he had a winning ticket until minutes before the one-year deadline expired at midnight October 13, 1996, a Sunday.
In October, a judge rejected his lawsuit to get paid.
Special Election Set for New Fairfield Legislative Seat
(Hartford-AP) _ The governor's ordered a special election to replace a lawmaker who's taken a job with the state health department. The election will be held March second for the 108th district, which includes New Milford, New Fairfield and Sherman. The former holder of the seat, Norma Gyle of New Fairfield, is working on tobacco education efforts for the health department.
Fired Foxwoods Employee Wins Job Back
(Ledyard-AP) _ A Foxwoods casino employees fired in 1995 has won his job back and $90,000 in back salary. A Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Court judge has ordered the tribe to reinstate Stephen Colvin, who was fired from his job as a slot technician after Norwich police charged him with using a stolen cellular phone in June 1995. The charges against Colvin were dismissed a month later.
Caldor May Sell Stores
(Norwalk-AP) _ A deal to sell 64 of Caldor's 145 discount retail stores is in the late stages of negotiations and an agreement is expected within two weeks, according to published reports. Citing anonymous sources, the New Haven Register reported Friday that the stores would be sold to a pair of Midwestern retailers _ Kohl's and Target Stores _ as well as Kmart, the nation's third- largest retailer.
Caldor spokeswoman Wendi Kopsick would not comment on the report Friday. Word of the negotiations comes nine days after Caldor said it stopped paying its suppliers. The talks appear to increase the likelihood the Norwalk-based chain, which has been under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 1995, will go out of business.
Study Says Halting Needle Exchange Bad Idea
(New Haven-AP) _ UConn researchers say that getting rid of a needle exchange program in Windham was not a wise move. A study shows that getting rid of the program significantly increased the use and reuse of unsafe needles by intravenous drug users. Windham County State's Attorney Mark Solak says the study's conclusions have no valid factual basis.
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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