July 29 / 8:15 pm
Water warning over, Residents told it's ok to drink
(Stratford-WTNH) _ A water warning for hundreds of businesses and homeowners in Stratford and Shelton is over.
Officials from Bridgeport Hydraulic Company said Thursday night tests show the water is free of the chemical contamination that caused the alert.
The chemicals were first detected Wednesday afternoon, and may have come from Sikorsky. The chemicals are used to keep fire lines clean and bacteria-free. They can also make people sick. All day long Thursday BHC workers were flushing out water systems in an effort to clear the chemicals from the pipes.
BHC recommends people run their hot water for 20 minutes, and their cold water for 10 minutes, just to make sure their in-house plumbing is clear.
State sues Waterbury chemical company
(Hartford-AP) _ A state lawsuit accuses a Waterbury chemical company of repeatedly dumping toxic substances into area rivers in violation of state environmental laws. The lawsuit, filed today against MacDermid Incorporated, claims the company discharged highly toxic chemicals above permitted levels into the Naugatuck River and the Steele Brook. But the chief executive of MacDermid says the lawsuit's inappropriate. Daniel Leever says the lawsuit is made up of allegations that were settled in previous actions against the company. He also says the company's cleaned up its act, and hasn't had a violation in over twenty months. MacDermid was fined $70 for a 1994 toxin spill into the Naugatuck River that killed 12,000 fish. The lawsuit was filed today by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on behalf of state environmental commissioner Arthur Rocque.
Bird may foul plans for new UConn building
(WTNH) _ Endangered birds are the new sticking point in the building battle on the University of Connecticut campus. State environmental officials also say the site for Pfizer's animal-vaccine research center is part of a drinking water conservation area. Members of the state's council on environmental quality say they'll visit Horsebarn Hill in Storrs next month.
They plan to speak with university officials before deciding whether to back a new study on how the $34-million center would impact the environment.
Four tied for lead at GHO '99
(Cromwell-WTNH) _ An exciting first day at the 1999 Canon Greater Hartford Open, with a four-way tie for the lead after the first round. Mike Springer, Tom Scherrer, Skip Kendall and Kevin Sutherland are in the clubhouse with -7 63's. Five players are tied for second a stroke behind the leaders. They are Pete Jordan, Justin Leonard, Stewart Cink, Alan Bratton, and Jay Delsing. Three others including are at five-under.
 Sports Team 8's Noah Finz reports.
 Here is the GHO '99 scoreboard.
Here are Friday's tee times
Police say girl abducted in Hartford and taken to Coventry
(Hartford-AP) _ Authorities are looking for the man who abducted a Japanese exchange student in Hartford this week after claiming to be a police officer. Hartford police say the girl, an exchange student from Louisiana, was standing at a bus stop in north Hartford Monday afternoon when the suspect identified himself as a police officer and offered to give her a ride to the downtown area. The girl says the man handcuffed her to a door handle and then fondled her breasts. She was taken to a rural area of Coventry where she was released, unharmed. Police say they are searching for a white male in his mid 40s who drives an older, gray two-door car.
Children of East Hartford couple to be split-up
(WTNH) _ An East Hartford brother and sister who survived their mother's killing rampage will likely be raised by two separate families.
Police say Kelly Silk killed her husband and two other children before killing herself and setting their house on fire last month. Assistant Pastor Chad Priggs and his wife Sara were named guardians for 9-year-old Jessica and 4-month old Joshua. But a spokesman for the Department of Children and Families tells News Channel 8 Jessica's biological father has requested custody of her. The Priggs will defer to him and only seek custody of Joshua.
Thompson pedestrian killed by motorist
(Thompson-AP) _ A 78-year-old Thompson woman was killed today when she was struck by a car while attempting to cross state Route 131 in front of the Quinebaug Post Office. Authorities say Edna June Mead was struck by a car driven by 79-year-old Roland Durand of Thompson. Mead was pronounced dead at the scene. No charges have been filed and the investigation is continuing.
Drunk driver gets prison sentence for deadly crash
(Glastonbury -AP) _ A 27-year-old Glastonbury man will serve four years in prison for a drunken driving accident that killed his friend. Richard Totten Junior was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison, suspended after four years. He pleaded guilty in Manchester Superior Court to charges of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle and operating under the influence. According to the arrest warrant, Totten's blood alcohol level was nearly two and a half times the legal limit during the accident that killed Kelley Griffiths of Glastonbury on September 12th, 1998. The 24-year-old Griffiths was killed when the Totten's pickup truck went off the road, overturned and hit a tree.
Robber hits bank
(WTNH) _ New Haven police are looking for the bank robber who hit a BankBoston branch Thursday morning. The robbery happened at the Fair Haven branch just after 9:00AM. After the teller handed over the money, the suspect took off on foot. No word how much cash he got away with.
Police are working with the FBI to see if this robber is the same person responsible for a robbery at the same branch last week.
Lack of students forces school to close
(New Britain-WTNH) _ Dozens of students will have to find a new school for the coming year. St. Thomas Aquinas High School says it will close for good. So what will students do?
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.
Cameras off during Jai Alai robbery
(Milford-WTNH) _ Video surveillance cameras inside Milford Jai Alai were not turned on at the time of Tuesday's heist. Police searched outside the arena yesterday looking for clues that they hope will lead them to their two suspects. Two men jumped an armored car guard and locked him and two other guards in a vault. Jai Alai officials wouldn't comment on whether or not they think it was an inside job.
Bob Heussler, Milford Jai Alai: ""I don't want to speculate - nobody here wants to speculate all I know is that the track record here has been perfect. This is the first time anything of this nature has happened in the 23 years that we've been open."
Jai Alai isn't saying how much money was stolen.
Casino worker accused of credit scam
(Mashantucket-AP) _ A Rhode Island man who worked at the Foxwoods Casino has been charged with helping a customer in a casino credit scheme. Paul Contino of Westerly was arrested yesterday and accused of helping the customer use more than $43,000 worth of other people's casino credit. State police said Contino authorized the purchases of Dennis Sanseverino in January, February and March at Foxwoods retail stores. Police say he used casino computers to take complimentary points from gamblers without their knowledge and awarded the points to Sanseverino. Sanseverino of North Haven was arrested July 22nd. He was arraigned in New London Superior Court yesterday.
Man killed after argument
(Bridgeport-AP) _ An argument over a parking space may have been behind Bridgeport's latest homicide. 28-year-old Roosevelt Moise was shot in the neck last night after he apparently came to the aid of his girlfriend who was arguing with someone over a parking space. Moise was found in the street after police were called out to Granfield Avenue shortly after nine last night to check out a report of shots being fired.
Prosecutors say murder evidence too fragile to test
(New Haven-AP) _ Two of five pieces of forensic evidence collected in a 26-year-old murder case would likely be destroyed if subjected to further DNA testing, prosecutors say. Assistant State's Attorney James Clark warned of the damage in court papers filed Tuesday in response to a request from defense attorneys for Edward Grant. Grant is accused of stabbing Concetta "Penney" Serra to death in a downtown parking garage in 1973. Assistant Public Defenders Beth Merkin and Brian Carlow asked Superior Judge Roland D. Fasano to order the state to preserve all physical evidence. Prosecutors have said they intend to compare several pieces of evidence with DNA samples from Grant, 56, of Waterbury. Grant has maintained his innocence. He's being held in lieu of $500,000 cash bond. Prosecutors have not commented on a motive.
Navy wife sues government
(Hartford-AP) _ It's up to a federal judge in Hartford to decided if a former navy wife can sue the Navy for failing to prevent her navy officer husband from beating her. Annette LaFrancis says her husband's superiors at the US submarine base in Groton failed to enforce a no-contact order against him in 1995. Federal authorities say the lawsuit must be thrown out because the government can't be sued without its consent.
Dog declared a hero
(Waterford-AP) _ A nine-month-old dog is being credited with saving the life of a 3-year-old boy who was trapped inside a burning home. The fire broke out early Wednesday morning in the home of Robert Schlink, an inspector with the State Fire Marshal's office. Schlink and six other family members made it out of the home safely. He went back into the home when he realized his grandson, Alex, was still inside. Schlink said he could hear the 3-year-old boy crying but could not find him through the smoke and dark. He said that is when Misty, the family dog, went into the burning house and led Schlink to the toddler. "He was sitting under the dining room table and she (Misty) was sitting right alongside of him," Schlink said. All eight family members were taken to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, where they were checked for smoke inhalation and released.
Scientists say Connecticut may be due for an earthquake
(Middletown-AP) _ An active fault line has been discovered in Connecticut, and scientists say their evidence suggests the state is due for an earthquake.
Three Wesleyan University believe the fault, long thought to be dormant, is responsible for a pattern of earthquakes that have occurred about every 200 years in Connecticut over the past 1,200 years.
Here's the full story.
State unveils Y2K preparedness website
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Just 155 days remain until the year 2000, and Y2K readiness on the minds of many. Today, the state opened up a citizens website for Y2K questions and answers.
Chief Capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
The guide is available on the Internet at www.y2k.state.ct.us.
Website guides parents in safe web surfing for children
(WTNH) _ It's no secret that kids seem to know more about the internet than adults. Without adult supervision kids can log-on to sites parents would never want them to see. Today executives from internet companies from America Online to Microsoft unveiled a website to keep kids safe online. The site, GetNetWise, offers parents information on filtering software and child-friendly websites.
The site can be found at www.getnetwise.org
Emergency techniques for pets
(WTNH) _ Would you know what to do if your pet started choking, or stop breathing? The American Red Cross is teaching pet owners first aid. Being prepared for a pet emergency could save your best friends life.
Health Team 8's Susan Hiland reports.
Bus ridership increasing
(WTNH) _ For years taking the bus was a last resort mode of transportation for many reasons. But now that's changed, and so has the type of passenger buying tickets. The bus may now be one of the hippest ways to get around.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports.
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