March 24 / 6:30 pm
Rally Cheers Huskies on to Final Four in Florida
 (WTNH) _ The UConn Huskies received a rousing sendoff Wednesday afternoon before hopping on a plan bound for the Final Four in Florida. Thousands of men, women and children packed into Gampel Pavilion to cheer and applaud the UConn men, who are making their first trip to the Final Four. It only lasted a few minutes, but it meant a lot to both the coaches and players.
Jake Voskuhl: "It's great. We're really fortunate to have fans like that."
Rashamel Jones: "Hopefully we can go down there and do the type of job we know we can do."
Richard Hamilton: "It's the most enjoyable time of the year, and we just want to go ahead and take advantage of it."
The Huskies hopped on a chartered flight to St. Petersburg. They'll fly in a Northwest Airlines 727 is normally used by the Indiana pacers. It has with wide, comfy seats and snacks you won't find on a regular flight - plenty of veggies and dip and juice and water - and then steak, chicken or turkey for dinner.
UConn will play Ohio State in the semi-finals on Saturday. The winner will be in the championship game on Monday.
State Police Getting New Radios
 (Middletown-WTNH) _ After nearly 20 years of haggling, Connecticut state police are about to get a new radio communications system. The one they've got now has been around since the 40s. The problem with it is that many areas of the state are in "dead zones". On at least one occasion, a trooper used his personal cell-phone to communicate. Wednesday morning the state signed a $36 million dollar deal with Motorola to upgrade the communications system to cover 98% of the state. Public Safety Commissioner Dr. Henry Lee called it a historic day. Officials say this will be the best telecommunications system of any state in the country.
Rock Regan, Dept. of Information & Technology: "This technology is a tool. It's a tool as important as the car, as the handcuffs, as the weapons, as the structures that we have located throughout the state."
Connecticut was the first state in the country to have a 2-way radio system. That was back in 1939. Police say this new system should be up and running in about 18-months.
Inmate Suicides Prompt Review of Prison Policies
(Niantic-WTNH) _ The prison policy in Connecticut is under scrutiny after two recent inmate suicides at the womens prison in Niantic.
Within a ten-day period two women hanged themselves at the York Correctional Institution. Now staff there is being shuffled and state officials are scrambling for answers.
 News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.
Plea Bargain Off, Man to be Tried in Double Stabbing
(Hartford-AP)_ A man accused of killing two teens at a Glastonbury party last July wall go to trial. Attempts to reach a plea bargain agreement have fallen through. Joseph Pranckus of East Hartford is charged with capitol felony and tow counts of murder in the Fourth of July stabbings. He's charged with killing 18-year-old Bryan Judd and 16-year-old Paul Potkaj. Police say the teens were stabbed during a fight that broke out at a house party. The 26-year-old Pranckus has pleaded innocent. His public defender says he and the prosecutor couldn't agree on any deals proposed during pre-trial conferences.
Pranckus contends the stabbings were in self-defense. He says the stabbings occurred after he was attacked by four or five people at the party.
Report: Grand Jury Investigates Theft From Police Evidence Room
(Ansonia-AP) _ According to a published report, a grand jury has begun investigating the disappearance of drugs and money from the Ansonia Police Department evidence room. The Connecticut Post reports that several members of the department have been subpoenaed during the last week to testify in front of a one-judge grand jury in Middletown Superior Court. The case involves the theft of about $28,000 in cash, 374 bags of cocaine and 15 grams of crack cocaine from the evidence room in 1997. Police officials have been questioned in the past during an investigation started in July 1997 by the Chief State's Attorney's office.
Father of Slain Officer Critically Injured in Car Crash
 (Lebanon, N.H.-AP) -- The father of slain East Hartford police Officer Brian Aselton is in critical condition today after a car accident. 66-year-old Peter Aselton and other family members were on their way to a dinner in honor of Aselton in East Hartford Tuesday when the accident occurred in Vermont.
Family members say Peter Aselton is hospitalized at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire with a broken back and ribs and internal injuries. Brian Aselton was killed January 23rd while responding to a dispute at an East Hartford apartment building. Four suspects are charged in his death.
Fire Claims Life of Woman, Dog
(Simsbury-WTNH) _ Still no word on what caused the fire that took the life of an 80 year old Simsbury woman. Betty MacArthur died in a fire at her home on west mountain road last night. Neighbors tried to rescue the woman but thick smoke prevented them from entering the house. Fire officials say MacArthur lived with her dog who was also killed.
Republicans Protest Rainbow Flag Flying at Capitol
 (WTNH) _ They're calling it the great flag flap. A controversy at the state capitol over the rainbow gay rights flag. It's flying over the state capitol this week. Some lawmakers say it sends the wrong message.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Lawmakers Call for Ban on Gas Additive
(Hartford-WTNH) _ It's time to ban MTBE - those words Wednesday from a large, bi-partisan group of legislators at the state capitol.
For most of this decade the additive has been in gasoline sold in Connecticut, but it has been showing up in well water and many people claim health concerns. MTBE is intended to reduce pollution from exhaust fumes.
Sen. Louis DeLuca, R-Woodbury:
"I disagree because no studies have proven that MTBE has contributed anything to improving the air quality." They're saying the air quality is improved and many attribute MTBE but there have been a number of things done at the same time such as the emissions program in the state of Connecticut."
DeLuca was joined by 25 other state reps and senators. The proposed MTBE ban comes before the assembly's public health committee next week.
Republican wins election to replace late Brookfield legislator
(Brookfield-AP) _ Brookfield Republican David Scribner has been elected to the Connecticut House, to complete the term of his friend Scott Santa-Maria, who died in January. In yesterday's special election, Scribner, the town's treasurer, won over Democrat James Bryan of Bethel and Judy Bolt, an independent from Bethel. In January, Santa-Maria was found dead in a cemetery with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.
Local Man, Woman Charged in Antiques Theft
(WTNH) _ A New Haven woman is one of three charged in connection with an antique heist in the southern Berkshires. 33-year old Karen Luchuk is charged with stealing a half million dollars in antiques from 14 summer homes in four different Massachusetts towns. Paintings, rugs, furniture and other items were taken during the 1993 thefts. Julius Virzi of Orange and two other men are also charged.
NU to Install Radiation Monitors Near Millstone
(Waterford-AP) _ People who live near the Millstone nuclear power complex in Waterford will be able to get constant updates of radiation levels.
Northeast Utilities has agreed to install a monitoring system to send radiation information to computers at town halls, libraries and schools in the area. The monitoring system will measure radiation levels at points around the plant every two minutes. It will detect sudden increases in radiation and will be able to track radiation levels over longer periods of time to show trends.
Neighbors of the plant have raised concerns in recent years about radiation levels at the plant.
New Admissions Building Due for Trinity
(Hartford-AP) _ A new $10 million building will be going up on Trinity College's campus in Hartford. Trinity's board of trustees has approved the construction of a new admissions building. Construction, which will be funded through anonymous donations from two alumni, is expected to be completed in fall 2000. The new building is part of the school's plan to spend $100 million over the next three years on campus improvements. The spending plan includes renovating dormitories and expanding the library and arts center.
Sam-e Growing in Popularity in Treating Depression
(WTNH) _ Every year 30,000 Americans commit suicide, and depression plays a big part in that. Now there's new natural supplement -- a "depression drug" you might say -- to treat the condition. It's on store shelves already and it's also effective in treating other illnesses.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue 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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