March 3 / 11:30 pm
Lewinsky: Loathing Starr, Clinton 'sorry he got caught'
(AP) _ Disclosing an abortion and thoughts of suicide, Monica Lewinsky gave the world an unabashed account of her life Wednesday and unleashed her long-pent-up loathing for Kenneth Starr's investigation. And she said she now regards President Clinton "to be a much bigger liar than I ever thought." In a television interview and a separate book, the 25-year-old former White House intern spoke openly of sexual encounters with the president and several other men.
 Here's more on the story.
Here are excerpts of the Barbara Walters interview.
Here's what was reported ahead of the 20/20 broadcast.
What were people in Connecticut hoping to hear in the interview tonight?
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue asked around.
Judge Sides with State in Sheff vs O'Neill Case
(New Britain-WTNH/AP) _ The state is making a good faith effort to integrate the Hartford city schools, even if the progress is not as fast as desegregation activists would like, a judge ruled today.
"The state has acted expeditiously and in good faith to respond to the decision of the Supreme Court."
Judge Julia L. Aurigemma
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Lawyers representing minority students said the governor and the Legislature have dragged their heels in responding to the 1996 decision that found the schools unconstitutionally segregated. But Middletown Superior Judge Julia L. Aurigemma sided with the state, which had argued that there was no "magic bullet" which could right the wrongs of segregation overnight. "The plaintiffs have sought court intervention before the state has had an opportunity to take even a second step in the remedial process," the judge wrote. "The state has acted expeditiously and in good faith to respond to the decision of the Supreme Court."
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz has reaction from the state and plaintiffs.
State Delays Approval of New Charter Schools
(Hartford-AP) _ The state is delaying approval of new charter schools because of funding uncertainties, putting a temporary halt on the plans of 10 applicants for the experimental public schools. "Right now the Legislature and governor's office are still in negotiations about where money will be directed. ... Without a guarantee of funding we can't go forward," said Thomas Murphy, a spokesman for the state Department of Education. Charter schools are publicly funded but operated outside local school board control. The schools are intended to spark creativity and offer parents a choice of where to send their children. Currently, there are 13 state-funded charter schools in Connecticut, with a total enrollment of about 1,500. The cost to the state is $9.8 million, or $6,500 per student. Average per-pupil spending in non-charter schools is $7,900. Charter schools are less expensive because they do not have such big expenses as special education and transportation.
Search Underway for Missing Attorney
 (WTNH) _ Connecticut state police officers are looking for a prominent Connecticut lawyer who has been reported missing.
Francis McKeon Buckley, better known as F. Mac Buckley, was last seen on Monday.
His office says he called in Monday afternoon but hasn't been heard from since.
Buckley is best known for his work with young boxers, and as the defense attorney for accused mobsters during the Connecticut mob trials of the early 90s.
Buckley, who is 57 years old, is described as 5'11", and about 230 pounds. He has green eyes and sandy brown hair. Police are also looking for Buckley's green 1998 Lincoln Navigator SUV.
Trooper Accused of Sexual Abuse
 (North Stonington-WTNH) _ People expect to feel safe and secure around police officers. But a Connecticut State Trooper is accused of violating that trust. A North Stonington woman says Trooper Joseph Miller came to her house while on duty and allegedly attacked her. It's an accusation that's being taken seriously by police, but people who know the trooper believe he's innocent.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
Boy Threatened to Bring Gun to School
(Colchester-WTNH) _ A five year old Colchester boy reportedly threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot some of his classmates. School officials in Colchester reported the boy's comments to police Monday after children riding on a school bus said they heard the kindergartner make the threat to shoot five of his classmates. State police did go to the boy's home but found guns safely locked away.
No police action was taken, but school officials are handling the matter internally.
This incident comes on the heels of another just three weeks ago, when a first-grader stabbed a third-grader with a knife while the two waited for a bus.
Animal Rights Groups Urge State to Regulate Rodeos
(Hartford-AP) _ Animal rights groups are asking the Legislature to lasso rodeos with regulations to make sure the animals are well-treated. Dozens of rodeo workers in ten-gallon hats, however, say no additional regulations are needed, since the state already has outlawed animal cruelty. The bill was proposed after a steer died at a rodeo in Guilford last summer. It would have the state Agriculture Department adopt rodeo regulations, using a national rodeo organization's standards as a guideline. Rodeo opponents say the animals suffer broken bones, internal bleeding, stress and pain in rodeos. Rodeo workers say they care for the animals, which are valuable and almost like a member of their families. They say the rodeo industry polices itself and has standards to make sure animals are not mistreated.
Groups Want Power Plants to Meet Air Standards
(Hartford-AP) _ Environmental groups are asking the Legislature to require the state's five dirtiest power plants to meet modern air pollution standards.
The old plants, which burn coal and oil, are not required to comply with the federal Clean Air Act. A bill before the Environment Committee would have the state sell bonds to get the needed money to retrofit the plants, or would require the plants to shut down. The plants are scheduled to be sold as part of the electric deregulation law that goes into effect next year.
Police Search for Girl Presumed Missing
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Hartford police are continuing to look for clues this morning in the bizarre case of a possible abduction. Yesterday afternoon someone called police and said a little girl who was walking down Prospect street near the Travelers building when a man pulled his car over and grabbed her.
The witness says the girl screamed for help, but police have no reports of any missing children or any other clues in the case. Now they are trying to find out if anyone is missing their daughter.
Joseph Croughwell, Hartford Police Chief:
"We have checked with other law enforcement and state police they have nothing to report so we are treating it seriously."
The girl was described as a 5-years old with blonde hair, wearing a blue knit cap, blue coat, and pink pants. I you have any information, please call Hartford police at 860.527.6300.
Fire Damages Vacant Mill
(Vernon-WTNH) _ Investigators in Vernon are trying to figure out how a fire at the old Roosevelt Mills started. Fire officials say the blaze started at about 9:00 Tuesday night. Firefighters battled smoke and flames for a couple of hours before it was finally under control. The building has been abandoned for nearly ten years.
No one was hurt.
Norwalk Officer Directed to pay $383,000 in Chase Deaths
(Waterbury-AP) _ A jury says that a Norwalk officer they found partly responsible for the deaths of two people after a chase, must pay $383,000 in damages. Last month the Waterbury Superior Court jury had found that Officer William Lowe violated the civil rights of the three people in the case that he had pulled over. The three were all from Bridgeport: 28-year-old Michael Towns, 12-year-old Corey Jones and 13-year-old Shamon Clark. The February 12, 1992 chase began after Lowe pulled over Towns' car in South Norwalk on a routine traffic stop. Towns fled onto Interstate 95, struck a small tree in Bridgeport and plunged into a pond. Towns and the 12-year-old drowning, Clark was injured. The city of Norwalk says it will appeal the verdict and the damages.
Man Charged with Having Sex with Girl he met on Internet
(Stonington-AP) _ A 35-year-old New York City man is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old Stonington girl he met in an Internet chat room. Edward Collazo of Queens, N.Y., was arraigned Tuesday on charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. Police said the girl and Collazo met over a year ago while conversing in a chat room on America Online. He gave her a false name, police said. The two met in person last spring. On his visits to town, the two would go to a motel and have sex, police said. Collazo was being held in lieu of $100,000 bond, and is scheduled to be back in court March 9.
Suspended Sentence in Day Care Abuse Case
(Danbury-AP)_ A Danbury woman accused of abusing children at New Fairfield's Teeter Totter day care center has been given a suspended prison sentence. Deborah Rosa yesterday pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in the case. She had been charged with risk of injury when she was arrested last year. She pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless endangerment and was sentenced to two suspended one-year prison terms and three years on probation. Court documents say the abuse occurred between April and June and included screaming, name-calling, rough grabbing or throwing. The owner of the center, Lynda Hansen, was also charged with risk of injury, because police said she knew Rosa was abusing children, yet did not take any action. Hansen's case is pending.
Music Professor Claims Rock Concert Caused Hearing Loss
(New Haven-AP) _ A music professor is suing the rock band, the Smashing Pumpkins over what he says is hearing loss from one of band's concerts two years ago. Peter Jeffery a Princeton University professors, is also suing the city of New Haven and the New Haven Coliseum where the band had its concert on January 25th of 1997. Jeffery, who lives in Guilford, says he suffers from hearing loss in his left ear and ringing in the ears. He also claims earplugs he wore at the performance did not protect him from the excessive noise. The lawsuit say it was his first live rock concert and he had gone to it with his 12-year-old son.
Red Cross Pushes for Use of Portable Defibrillators
(West Hartford-WTNH) _ $350,000 people die from heart attacks each year, and now a landmark initiative is helping Americans receive life lessons. The Red Cross will help save lives by including automatic external defibrillators in training for CPR. The devices are small, portable, and easy to use.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer takes a closer look at these life-saving devices.
Husky Bucks - Where the Money Goes at Tournament Time
(WTNH) _ It's tournament time for college basketball and that means big bucks for UConn. The Huskies are considered by most as contenders to win it all.
The more they win, the more they advance, the bigger the payoff.
But where does the money go?
News Channel 8's Sports Director Noah Finz reports on who benefits most from March Money.
More four-year degrees Proposed for UConn Satellite Branches
(Hartford-AP) _ A compromise has been reached on expanding four-year degree programs at UConn's branches. Under the plan, UConn campuses in Waterbury, Torrington and West Hartford would offer two bachelor's and two master's degree programs, with others possible if UConn shows the need. Bachelor degree programs will also be offered in coastal students and maritime studies at the Avery Point campus in southeastern Connecticut. The Stamford campus is to offer a new bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in computer science. A new bachelor's degree in urban studies is to be offered at the Waterbury, Torrington and West Hartford which will be linked under a single administrative structure. The agreement yesterday between UConn officials and officials at the Department of Higher Education still needs approval from the state Board of Higher Education.
Consumer "Phone Rage"
(WTNH) _ Along with the internet, many companies are turning to automated phone systems to conduct business. And while some consumers like the convenience of the internet, they don't like pushing buttons or waiting on hold to speak to an operator.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports on what's being called "phone rage."
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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