March 23 / 6:30 pm
Accused Stalker Agrees to Bond Restrictions
 (WTNH) _ A convicted sex offender charged with 4 counts of stalking students at the University of Connecticut campus faced a judge Tuesday. Police say students have reason to believe that John Urban followed many others.
Urban appeared in Rockville Superior Court, where a judge imposed new conditions on his bond.
 News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.
Bridgeport Man Linked to West Haven Rape by DNA
(West Haven-AP) _ DNA evidence has been used to link a Bridgeport man to a West Haven rape case. 33 year old Eric Jones has been charged in the July 1997 sexual assault of a West Haven woman. Investigators linked Jones to the victim using a state DNA data bank. Jones, who is serving a two-year prison term in another case, was arraigned yesterday charges of first-degree sexual assault and burglary. The victim was asleep in her bed at the time she was attacked and reportedly told police she didn't get a good look at the attacker. Prosecutors say a positive match was made February 23rd and charges were filed against Jones. The data bank allows the state to collect blood samples from people convicted of sexual assault, for comparison in other cases.
Stadium Suit Officially in the Courts; Mystery Board Meeting at CTG
(Hartford-WTNH) _ One roadblock could be clearing as another is being set up in the Patriots stadium proposal for Hartford. Just ten days remain until the state must give a formal report to the team on the status of clearing the site for the stadium along the Connecticut River. By now, just about everyone knows the Connecticut Natural Gas company headquarters and a steam plant are in the way.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
"Pill Bill" Gets Committee's Blessing
(Hartford-AP) _ A legislative committee has overwhelmingly passed a bill to require insurance companies to cover birth control. The vote covers companies that currently cover prescription medications. Under the so-called pill bill, coverage would be required for birth control pills, Norplant, IUDs and other birth control methods that require a doctor's involvement. Supporters say the legislation would lower health insurance costs, reduce unwanted pregnancies and bring equity to an insurance system where women have higher out-of-pocket costs than men. The bill endorsed today includes a conscience clause which allows religious employers to opt out of the law for moral reasons.
Committee Approves Ban on ATM Surcharges
(Hartford-AP) _ A proposal to bar banks from charging non-customers for use of automatic teller machines got a little closer to law Tuesday with an 11-5 committee vote. The bill now heads to a vote in the full House.
Some members of the Banks Committee said they supported the bill as a matter of fairness, because ATM use becomes a necessity for many people.
Here's more of the story.
HMO Bills Debated
(Hartford-WTNH) _ The so-called "patients bill of rights" was a hot topic in last year's elections nationwide, and today it's a big topic before several legislative committees in Hartford.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Family Refuses to Give Up Hope as Search for Missing Man is Scaled Down
 (Hamden-WTNH) _ The search for a missing Hamden man is limited now, with only one Colorado detective working on the case.
44-year old Rick Wallace was last seen more than a week ago at a Colorado Springs hotel restaurant where he was eating dinner with his daughter.
Wallace is the administrator of the Jewish Home for the aged in New Haven.
His family is now back in Connecticut, not giving up hope.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports.
Remains Identified as those of Missing Teen
(Middletown-WTNH) _ Middletown police say they've identified the skeletal remains found in a wooded area over the weekend as those of a missing teenager. 17 year old Louis Labbadia of Middletown was reported missing in July of last year. Labbadia's skeleton was found by some hikers off Long Hill Road on Sunday. The medical examiner is still looking at the remains and has not come up with a cause of death.
Millstone II Heats Up
(Waterford-WTNH) _ Crews at the Millstone power station were heating up unit two Tuesday for the first time in three years. The plant's reactor coolant system was heated-up to about 200 degrees. It's a major step toward returning the unit to service. Federal officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission still need to give final approval before unit two can be brought back on-line. Millstone III returned to service in July of 1998.
New London Crew Rescued After Boat Goes Aground
(Westerly, RI-WTNH) _ Crews are working to free a beached boat from Long Island Sound. The 85-foot fishing vessel out of New London ran aground last night during high seas and strong winds. A helicopter helped rescue four of the five crew members. The captain of the boat opted to stay on board to attempt to remove the vessel. Crews say it is not taking on water.
The vessel is not expected to be moved until high tide Wednesday.
UConn Final Four Tickets go fast in Student Lottery
(Storrs-WTNH) _ The frenzy for UConn Final Four tickets began at Noon in Storrs. A limited number of tickets were available through a student lottery. Some students camped out in hopes of improving their odds.
Sports Team 8's Persefone Contos reports.
Officer Demoted in Controversy Over Computer Use
(Middletown-AP) _ The official word is that a state police officer has been disciplined for misusing a computer. Unofficial word is he's been demoted for downloading pornography from the Internet. The Hartford Courant reports that Lieutenant William Pagoni has been demoted to master sergeant.
The paper says an investigation has found that Pagoni downloaded pornography while working at the barracks in Bridgeport last year, and again after being promoted to lieutenant and transferred to Litchfield.
State police will only confirm that has he has been accused of misusing a department computer and say that the internal affairs investigation is not yet finished.
Former New London may apologizes for DWI arrest
(Colchester-AP) _ A former New London mayor and state legislator is publicly apologizing for his recent drunken driving arrest. Jay Levin, who is now a lobbyist, was stopped on Route Two in Colchester on St. Patrick's Day after a motorist reported a car being driven erratically. Colchester police stopped the car just before seven that night and Levin was charged with drunken driving and failure to drive in an established lane. In a statement released yesterday, Levin says he regrets the arrest and takes full responsibility for his actions. He says he won't challenge the charge or fight the punishment imposed by the court and the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
After his arrest, Levin was released on a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Norwich on March 30th.
Injured Dolphin Finds New Home at Mystic Aquarium
 (Mystic-WTNH) _ It's 'Stormy's day' at Mystic Aquarium as they welcome a new resident. Stormy is a two-year old dolphin that was stranded on a south Texas beach last fall after being attacked by sharks.
Tuesday Stormy made the trip from Galveston to his new home in Mystic.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
Poison Prevention
(WTNH) _ This is national poison control week, and the places that give you help 24 hours a day now need help themselves. Dispensing vital lifesaving information everyday costs money. Across the country they need to find it or the places we rely on may not be there.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports.
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/sor.htm
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