July 1 / 6:15 pm
Funeral Service held for slain priest
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Thousands are saying goodbye to their Father, colleague, and their friend.
Funeral services were held Thursday for the late Reverend Robert Lysz. More than 2,000 mourners gathered at the Cathedral of St. Joseph's in Hartford to remember Lysz. His body was discovered murdered last week inside his Bristol parish.
 News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports in this video story.
 Here's the text version of Verna's story.
Transformer fire causes blackout around Yale-New Haven Hospital
(New Haven-WTNH) _ A transformer fire could be causing some huge problems at Yale Medical School in New Haven. A fire broke out in the basement of the Connecticut Mental Health Center and is causing power outages around the area, involving Yale-New Haven Hospital and parts of the medical school. The area is working on backup generators. According to an immuno-biology professor if the power doesn't fully come back on soon it could mean a loss millions of dollars in experiments. Power is expected to be back on line by 7:00PM. Connecticut Mental Health Center will not have power restored tonight. They're also using generators. Some patients have been relocated.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports in this video story.
Small fire forces evacuation of state Capitol
(Hartford-AP) _ An elevator motor fire forced the evacuation of the state Capitol this morning. Capitol police said the fire was extinguished quickly and did not spread. No injuries were reported. State workers and visitors who were evacuated at about 9:30 a.m. were told to stay outside until firefighters fanned smoke from the building.
Fire danger high, and fireworks can make it worse
(Old Lyme-WTNH) _ State environmental officials are issuing warnings about fireworks and forest fires. The past few months have been extremely dry and the fire danger continues to be very high.
Officials say fireworks like bottle rockets and roman candles, which are illegal in Connecticut, can easily ignite parched grass and leaves.
Ralph Scarpino, DEP Fire Control: "Every year when we have a dry Fourth of July weekend we see an increase in the number of wild land fires due to illegal fireworks, so there's a plea from us to refrain from using those illegal fireworks."
Firefighters are also urging caution at parks and camp grounds.
They say make sure camp fires aren't left unattended, and dispose of your hot charcoal properly.
Dry weather forces town to reschedule fireworks display
(Litchfield-AP) _ The dry weather has sparked enough concern among Litchfield town leaders to postpone the annual Fourth of July fireworks display.
Bob Saucier, the town fire marshal, says one little ember is enough to spark a fire. The fireworks display in the parking lot of Litchfield High School planned for Saturday has been postponed until July 17th. Debbie Connole, assistant recreation director, says this is the first time in recent years that annual display was postponed. Bay Fireworks of Syosset, New York has been paid $7,500 to perform the display.
Officials in Vernon tell News Channel 8 they are postponing their fireworks display for one day. Instead of Friday, July 2nd, fireworks will be launched Saturday July 3.
DEP patrolling the water for drunk boaters
(Old Lyme-WTNH) _ With hot, sticky weather in the forecast it's bound to be a busy weekend on Connecticut's waterways. Boating season is in high-gear and state law enforcers want to make it as safe as possible, especially when it comes to drinking. So the Department of Environmental Protection is starting special 'spot checks' on the water. They'll be stopping boaters and checking for violations including anyone who may have had too much to drink.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
Changes in taxes take effect
(Hartford-WTNH) _ July 1st is 'New Year's Day' for the state budget cycle, and that means over $100 million in tax cuts, effecting everything from vitamins to movie tickets.
Chief Capitol Correspondent Mark Davis has the story.
Hartford students begin summer school
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Thousands of Hartford students are heading back to school for the summer. The program is designed to help some students improve test scores and others pass to the next grade. Today was the first day of the program, and many students are excited to spend their free time learning.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.
Man dies in shooting, Another critical
(Bridgeport-AP) _ One Norwalk man is dead and another is in critical condition after an early-morning shooting in Bridgeport. Police say 26-year-old Derrick Owens was found dead in the city's west end with 19 bullet wounds. 23-year-old Marque Young is listed in critical condition at Saint Vincent's Hospital after being shot at least five times.
Murder suspect must get new lawyer
(Bridgeport-AP) _ A Superior Court judge says a suspect in the murder of an eight-year-old boy and his mother must get a new lawyer. That's after prosecutors argued that Russell Peeler Junior's lawyer leaked information to his client that led to the slayings of Leroy Brown Junior and his mother, Karen Clarke.
Here's the full story.
Defendant slips handcuffs at arraignment
(Danielson-AP) _ Authorities say a court-bound burglary suspect was free for about 30 minutes after he slipped his handcuffs and fled to a nearby bakery in Danielson. One of the bakery owners pressed a silent alarm after the man helped himself to a soft drink and asked for a lift. Michael Missino who was being held at the Corrigan Correctional Institution in Montville, was free yesterday as police and deputy sheriffs searched for him. State police say the 33-year-old Missino was being removed from a prisoner transport van beside the superior court when he fled along the Main Street. After eluding police in the foot chase, he entered the back door of the new Custom Creations. Co-owner Donna Bacon said Missino claims she was looking for someone. She said she and co-owner Dawn Ennis tried to be calm, so as not to startle the man, who they said was polite and well-mannered except when he grabbed a soft drink without asking, or paying.
Survey shows support divided for Adriaen's Landing
(WTNH) _ A new poll says people in Connecticut are divided over pumping public money into Hartford's Adriaen's Landing project.
A new Hartford Courant/Connecticut poll says that over a third of people around Connecticut support spending $455 million dollars of state money on the project. But 42 percent are against using taxpayer money.
The plan is to build a domed stadium, convention center and parking facilities along the Connecticut River.
Hartford school shuffle to put managers in classroom
(Hartford-AP) _ Seventeen top managers in the city's school system have been reassigned to other jobs, with six of them headed back to classroom teaching. The reorganization will empty the district's central office and allow new Superintendent of Schools Anthony Amato to install a hand-picked team.
Here's the full story.
Campaign seeks to keep children in Connecticut
(WTNH) _ The state of Connecticut is making a pitch to keep kids from leaving the state. The governor kicked off a media campaign Thursday aimed at Generation X-ers, saying Connecticut has a lot to offer young people. The 'You Belong in Connecticut' campaign stresses the region's access to Boston and New York and a lot more.
Gov. John Rowland, R-Connecticut: "If you want easy access to the airports, if you want easy access to culture, if you want good schools, if you want great community services, if you want entertainment, if you want every aspect of city life but with a taste of New England... the place to be is right here in Connecticut."
The ad campaign begins on youth-oriented radio stations and will include billboards and career fairs.
Dog proves inspiration to others
 (Killingworth-WTNH) _ Imagine being all alone in the middle of a natural catastrophe. That's exactly what happened to a stray dog, one mighty dog that luckily beat the odds. Daniel has become a very special pet for a Connecticut family. And Daniel will soon inspire strangers to turn their tragedies into triumph.
News Channel 8's Andrea Stassou reports.
Winning ticket for $150 million Powerball prize bought in Minnesota
(Roseville, MN-WTNH) _ The big winner in the Powerball lottery drawing has come forward to collect her cash. 21-year-old Farrah Slad of Brainerd, Minnesota has the only winning ticket in last nights $150 million dollar drawing. Slad says she bought her winning ticket at a store while on her way to her parents home.
Farrah Slad: "...At first I was looking over the numbers I noticed I had the five numbers but didn't think had Powerball. Passed over to her dad....looked
it over hundred times....still shocked."
Slad, who works for a mortgage company, says she does not have any immediate plans but she may start shopping for a new car. Last nights jackpot was a $150 million dollars, but Slad decided to take a lump sum payout which comes to about $50 million after taxes. The winning numbers were:
5 10 12 20 40 Powerball: 3
Blood in high demand once again
(WTNH) _ There is a national blood shortage. Some hospitals are cancelling elective surgery. Unfortunately the outlook for donations in the future looks bleak.
Health Team 8's Susan Hiland reports.
Here's where you can donate blood.
Parents can get organized with "Familytime" Software
(WTNH) _ These days, it seems everyone is looking for ways to save time, especially families where both parents work. Now a new type of "smart software" can help give families more quality time.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava
"Marcus Camby Day" celebrated
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Connecticut honored a hometown hero Thursday. It was "Marcus Camby Day" in the state. The New York Knick star received a homecoming fit for a King!
Sports Team 8's Dan Thoene reports.
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