January 26 / 7:00 pm
State Lawmaker Found Dead from Apparent Suicide
 (Brookfield-WTNH) _ A Connecticut State Lawmaker and police officer was found dead in a cemetery Tuesday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 30 year old Scott Santa-Maria was found dead at Central Cemetery in Brookfield about 7:30 this morning.
 Here's more on what happened.
Robbery Likely Motive for Crime Leading to Officer's Murder
 (East Hartford-WTNH) _ East Hartford Police say robbery is a likely motive for the brutal beating of a man which ultimately led to the murder of an East Hartford police officer.
Dozens of police and cadets continue to search for the killers of officer Brian Aselton. He was killed Saturday night responding to a noise complaint at an apartment building on Main Street. Gregorio Velez was found severely beaten inside his apartment that same night.
At a news conference shown live on News Channel 8 at Noon, East Hartford police chief James Shay says they found a "sizeable sum of cash" in Velez's apartment. Chief Shay said the sum was "more than you would have in your house."
He would not comment on whether drugs were involved, or if Velez knew the killers.
Police sources tell News Channel 8's Judy Chong that Velez was reportedly having an affair with a married woman prior to his beating. But our source will not say if the two men were there because of the affair, or simply to rob him.
Chief Shay they are working on several leads. Their hotline remains open for people to call with any information that may lead to an arrest. The number is 860.528.4401, or people may call State Police at 1.800.842.0200. Three rewards totaling $80,000 are offered in the case.
A wake for officer Aselton will be held Wednesday night at Samsel and Carmon funeral home in South Windsor. The funeral will be Thursday morning at 10:00 at St. Margaret Mary Church in South Windsor. Aselton will be buried with full military honors.
Boy Scout Leader Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession
(New Haven-AP) _ A former Boy Scout troop leader accused of sexually abusing some of his Scouts was sentenced to five years in prison today on a separate federal charge of possessing child pornography. 41 year old Joseph Dabrow pleaded guilty in August to a single charge of possessing child pornography. Judge Janet Bond Arterton also ordered him to have three years of supervised release. When he gets out of jail, he has to register as a sex offender. In November, Dabrow was arrested on nine counts of risk of injury to a minor and five counts of fourth degree sexual assualt. He is accused of fondling several boys and exposing himself to others. Those charges are still pending.
DCF Head Faces Tough Questions at Hearing
(Hartford-WTNH) _ The head of Connecticut's troubled Department of Children and Families faced some tough questions Tuesday. Kristine Ragaglia, who became DCF commissioner last year, is now up for reappointment. She told a legislative commitee the 42,000 children in her care are better off now than they were a year ago. She also spoke about the need for a new juvenile detention center to replace Long Lane. She plans to break ground on a new building in April or May.
Some representatives raised concerns about the lack of minority staff at Long Lane. Ragaglia says she's having trouble finding qualified minority job applicants. She says she's working on ways to promote minorities from within.
Four Hurt in School Bus Accident
(Granby-WTNH) _ Four people are in the hospital recovering from a school bus accident in Granby this morning. Police say a truck collided with the school bus on Route 20 around 7:00 am. The driver of the truck and three students were hurt. The bus was picking up students at their stop when the truck, coming from the opposite direction, sped out of control, toppled over, and slid into the bus. None of the students involved in the accident were seriously hurt. Names of the victims are not available.
Couple Injured When Car Hits School Bus
(Farmington-AP) _ A local couple were critically injured after their struck a school bus that had stopped to drop off students, police said. Arnold Ferguson, 87, and his wife, Jeanne, 74, were listed in critical condition at Hartford Hospital Monday night, a hospital spokesman said. Arnold Ferguson was driving a Dodge on Farmington Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Monday when the car rear-ended the bus, The bus driver and 20 children were not injured, police said. The cause of accident remains under investigation.
Senators Go Behind Doors Again to Debate Calling Witnesses
(Capitol Hill-AP) _ Senators are again shutting the doors. They'll deliberate in secret on whether to allow the questioning of witnesses at the Clinton trial.
Senate rules call for secret deliberations on motions during impeachment trials. As he did yesterday, before senators deliberated whether to dismiss the charges, Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin moved to open the debate to public view. But again, he was defeated, this time by a vote of 58-41. Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland is ill, and wasn't at today's vote. Senators are expected to debate well into the evening on whether prosecutors can question three witnesses -- Monica Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan and Sidney Blumenthal. Clinton lawyers told them today they don't need to hear any more testimony and that if witnesses are questioned, it will mean a much longer trial. Prosecutors said witnesses will clear up some differing testimony, and make it clear that Clinton is guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice. Votes are expected tomorrow -- both on witnesses and on whether to dismiss the charges. House prosecutors are expected to win both votes. In fact, Republican Senator Phil Gramm says he expects some Democrats to join Republicans in voting to hear from witnesses.
Lieberman Will Vote to Dismiss Charges
(Washington, D.C.-AP) _ Senator Joe Lieberman told The Associated Press today he will vote to dismiss the case against President Clinton. Lieberman has worked behind the scenes to try to forge a bipartisan agreement in the impeachment trial of President Clinton. He joins fellow Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, who last week said he would vote for acquittal. The Senate is expected to vote on dismassal tomorrow.
Pope John Paul II Arrives in St Louis
 (St Louis-WTNH) _ St. Louis is giving Pope John Paul II a warm welcome.
It's the pontiff's fifth trip to the states. President Clinton took time out from his impeachment trial to meet the Pope as he arrived in the US.
News Channel 8's Darren Kramer reports from St. Louis.
Fire Kills One in Southington
(Southington-WTNH) _ An early morning fire has claimed the life of an elderly person. The fire began at about 3:30 this morning at an apartment complex located on 3 Darling Street in Southington.
It took fire crews about an hour and a half to get the fire under control. People living in one half of the complex had to be evacuated. No information on the cause of the fire.
New Airport Firefighting Equipment
(Groton-WTNH) _ There's a new state-of-the-art emergency response vehicle roaming the runways there. It's part fire engine part rescue truck, and it's taking safety to new heights at the Groton-New London airport.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.
Hearings Begin on Curfew Law
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ A federal court in Bridgeport heard arguments Tuesday on whether the town of Vernon's teen curfew is constitutional.
Under the law teens must be off the streets by 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Janet Ramos filed suit against the town last year on behalf of her teenaged sons. The Connecticut Civil Liberties Union is backing her up.
Town officials say their curfew is based on a Texas law that has been upheld by the courts.
Americares Sending Relief to Earthquake Vicitms
(New Canaan-AP) _ A New Caanan-based private non-profit international disaster relief organization says it will immediately deliver some 7,000 pounds of medical and relief supplies to Bogata, Colombia. AmeriCares says another 56,000 pounds of aid will go on Saturday, to provide relief for victims of the earthquake that struck Colombia this week.
Colombian officials say the earthquake has killed at least 1,000 people and injured hundreds more. The quake shook cities and towns in the western part of the country yesterday afternoon. The Red Cross says the quake destroyed some 700 buildings in the city of Armenia and left 180,000 homeless.
Suit Claims Danbury Discriminated Against Black Police Applicant
(Danbury-AP) _ A Waterbury man is suing the city of Danbury, claiming it has not hired him for the police force because he's black. Edward McCall filed the suit as a follow up to a complaint he filed in 1997 with the state's Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. The lawsuit claims that some white police applicants were hired even though their civil service test scores were lower than McCall's. The suit also claims those people were hired, in part, as retaliation against McCall for filing the CHRO complaint. City officials deny the allegations.
The lawsuit asks that McCall be hired and get back pay retroactive to June of 1997.
New London Council Rejects Water Park Plan
(New London-AP) _ The people who run Lake Compounce Amusement park in Southington have lost a bid to put up a water park in New London. The New London City council last night voted down a proposal from Kennywood Entertainment for a water park at Ocean Beach. The vote came after several local people spoke out against the plan to operates a $7 million water park at the beach. Some councilors cited some of the strings attached to the Kennywood proposal including a requirement that the city building a five-story garages to generate income for a water park and a very long lease.
Town Offers Gun Locks
(Columbia-AP) _ Free gun locks are being offered in another Connecticut community. The town of Columbia is handing out the safety devices to gun owners. More than 800 locks have been distributed in Andover, Coventry and Manchester. The city of Bridgeport also kicked off a similar program a few weeks ago.
State Employers Hold Line on Health Care Costs
(Hartford-AP) _ A national survey shows that although health care costs went up last year, big companies in Connecticut managed to keep the increase down a bit. A survey by William Mercer Incorporated found that the state's large employers kept the increase in employee health care costs last year to 2.4%. However, the actual cost of about $4,300 was well ahead of the national averages by hundreds of dollars. There are projections that costs will go up about nine percent this year and there is no letup for employers of all sizes. What that means is that workers will also have to dig deeper since employers usually share health care costs with them. The study shows that a part of the problem is prescription drug costs, which rose near 14% on average for employers last year.
Safety Concerns Of Aftermarket Auto Parts
(WTNH) _ Consumer Reports says parts being used to repair cars and truck are inferior and cost you your life in a serious accident. The investigation is revealing insurance companies are passing on factory-made parts to save money and instead going for more generic parts.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava explains.
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/
|
|
