January 23 / 6:00 pm
Lewinsky Ordered to Answer Questions From Starr With House Managers Present
(Capitol Hill-AP) _ Cries of "partisanship" are being heard again in the Senate after a secret move by House prosecutors to question Monica Lewinsky. A judge ruled today that Lewinsky would have to be interviewed by the House trial managers or by Kenneth Starr on behalf of the managers. A Lewinsky spokeswoman had said there might be an appeal. But a lawyer for Lewinsky says while he opposed having her answer questions, she will comply with the judge's order. Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle says it's "as clear a demonstration of raw partisanship" as he has seen so far. He called it a violation of Senate rules, and a violation of due process.
A Democratic senator is trying to stop the prosecutors' questioning of Monica Lewinsky. And Tom Harkin of Iowa says it's an urgent request because, he says, the questioning is set to take place tomorrow. Harkin believes the judge who ruled today that Lewinsky would have to appear for questioning was acting unconstitutionally. He says the Constitution gives the Senate the power to try impeachments without interference by the courts. So, Harkin has written a letter to Chief Justice William Rehnquist asking him, as the presiding judge of the court of impeachment to stay today's order from federal judge Norma Holloway Johnson. He says Rehnquist should do so until the Senate changes its rules, to make clear how the interviewing of witnesses will be handled. Harkin says there's nothing in the current rules that would allow either side to question witnesses by itself.
 Here's more on the Lewinsky decision.
Here's more on the debate in the Senate over the impeachment and Lewinsky.
Dodd Ready to Acquit Clinton; Lieberman Undecided on Many Issues
(Washington, D.C.-AP) _ Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd says he'll vote to acquit President Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. But Joseph Lieberman, Connecticut's junior Democratic senator, still hasn't made up his mind on any of the major issues. Dodd is one of the first Democrats to definitively say he'll vote for acquittal. At the end of the first day of trial questioning by senators yesterday, Dodd told reporters that he'll also support a motion to dismiss the charges against Clinton. The motion will be offered by Democrats next week. But if that motion fails, the Senate will ultimately have an up-or-down vote on the articles of impeachment. In that case, Dodd says he'll vote for acquittal. The issues Lieberman's still mulling over include the calling of witnesses, dismissal of charges, conviction or acquittal.
Court Reinstates Bribery Convictions for Former Waterbury Politicians
(Hartford-AP) _ A federal appeals court has reinstated the bribery convictions of former Waterbury Mayor Joseph J. Santopietro and the city's former Republican chairman, Perry A. Pisciotti. Friday's decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could extend Santopietro's 90-month prison term and lead to a return to prison for Pisciotti, who was released in September 1996. The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel is the latest twist in the appellate battle that began in April 1992, when a federal jury convicted Santopietro, Pisciotti and five others in a municipal corruption scandal. An earlier appeals court decision forced a lower court to throw out the bribery convictions, end Pisciotti's nine-year prison term about five years early, and reduce Santopietro's nine-year sentence by 18 months.
Students Prepare for Trip to See the Pope
(Hamden-WTNH) _ When Pope John Paul II arrives in St Louis next week for his papal visit, some Connecticut high schoolers will be there to see him.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
Propane Leak Cleaned-Up
(Stamford-WTNH) _ Firefighters in Stamford were busy Saturday cleaning up 1,000 gallons of liquid propane. The flammable liquid was leaking from a supply valve at a construction site on Washington Boulevard. The tank had fallen off its base because of the wet weather. They got everything cleaned-up ok, and nobody was injured.
Cause Identified for Deadly Fire
(Chester-WTNH) _ State fire officials say a basement water heater was the cause of a fire in Chester that killed three members of one family. 73 year old Anna Hull, her 36 year old son George and her 13 year old grandson Lewis Walden were killed when fire swept through their home on December 30th. The preliminary report from the state fire marshal's office states the blaze was started by the hot water heater.
Historic Mansion Destroyed by Fire
(Sharon-AP) _ One of the town's oldest homes, owned by multi-millionaire investment banker Henry Kravis, has been destroyed in a fire. Flames destroyed the second floor and roof, leaving only a shell of the Georgian-style mansion that has graced Main Street since before the Revolutionary War. The house was on the National Register of Historic Places. John Cotton Smith, who served as governor from 1813 to 1817, once lived in the house. No one was injured in the blaze, which was reported at 12:30 Friday afternoon. The cause remains under investigation.
Former DCF Employee Granted Special Probation in Assault Case
(Enfield-AP) _ A former Department of Children and Families employee has been granted special probation in an assault on an 8-year-old girl she cared at her mother's Windsor day care center. Demetria Salam of Hartford allegedly dragged, pushed and kneed the girl during an incident that occurred in the spring of 19-96. Her mother, 56-year-old Kathy Greene, faces 18 charges of child abuse, including one count of manslaughter in the death of another child at the day care center. Salam, who was fired from her DCF job after her arrest, must serve accelerated rehabilitation for two years. As a condition of her probation, the 32-year-old Salam cannot work in close contact with children. If she completes the probation successfully, the arrest will be erased from her record.
Man Sentenced for Child Sexual Assault
(Hartford-AP) _ A 33 year old Hartford man will serve four years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14 year old girl. Micheal McBride pleaded guilty in a plea bargain agreement. He was arrested in March 1997 after police say a young neighbor complained that, about a week earlier, he had sexually assaulted her while she was in bed. McBride received a 10-year sentence, suspended after four years. When he leaves prison, he will be on probation for another 10 years.
Man Pistol-whipped and Robbed in Home Break-in
(West Haven-AP) _ West Haven police are investigating a report that a city homeowner was pistol-whipped and robbed of at least $3,000 at gunpoint by four masked strangers. Police say today no arrests have been made, but they aren't releasing many other details. Sherman Preola told police he struggled with the robbers in his home about 2 AM Friday before they beat him with their automatic weapons. He says his wife was asleep upstairs.
Talks to Move Plant Moving Slowly
(Hartford-AP) _ A negotiator working to move a plant that sits on the proposed site of the $374 million stadium for the New England Patriots says the talks haven't gathered much steam. Robert E. Wright, president of the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority, says little progress has been made. The authority is negotiating with the owner of the steam plant on a deal that would allow the authority's trash-burning plant in Hartford's South Meadows to produce steam to heat and cool downtown Hartford's large office buildings. The goal is to clear 11 acres along the Connecticut River for the stadium. Wright declined to reveal details of the talks, but he said he is discouraged by the lack of progress in recent weeks.
NRC Rejects Tougher Standards on Waste Storage at Connecticut Yankee
(Haddam-AP) _ The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has rejected a petition to impose tougher standards on the nuclear waste storage facility that will be left behind when Connecticut Yankee is dismantled. The Citizens Awareness Network argued that once Connecticut Yankee is gone, the spent-fuel storage that remains will be nothing but a nuclear waste dump and should be regulated as such. The NRC decided to stick with its current policy that allows decommissioned plants to maintain storage facilities under their existing operating license. Under that policy, there are no requirements for hearings or approval of the storage plans by the regulatory panel.
British Art Center Reopens
(New Haven-WTNH) _ The Yale Center for British Art reopened its doors Saturday after a massive renovation project. The center was founded 33 years ago when Paul Mellon donated funds to construct and endow a building to house his collection of British art. Mellon was in the Yale class of '29. The center closed for a year during the renovations.
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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