March 30 / 6:15 pm
UCONN WINS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Returns Home To Cheers at Airport, Storrs Rally
 (Windsor Locks-WTNH) _ From Windsor Locks to Storrs and across Connecticut, UConn fans are hailing their conquering heroes.
Under beautiful sunny skies, thousands of cheering fans welcomed the NCAA Mens basketball champion UConn Huskies back to Connecticut at Bradley International Airport.
The Huskies knocked off Duke 77-74 last night to win their first ever NCAA crown.
Crowds cheered as the chartered Northwest Airlines jet touched down just before 2:00 in the afternoon. Looking like the kings of the basketball world that they are, the team climbed onto the the back of a flatbed truck and showed off the NCAA trophy.
"We're just so excited," said center Jake Voskuhl. "I just thanked God for everything He's done for us."
"It's the greatest feeling in the world," said Kevin Freeman.
Richard Hamilton said he only got about a 1/2 hour sleep overnight. He also told Sport Team 8's Persefone Contos he's not even thinking about the possibility of going to the NBA.
Then the team went out into the crowd to shake hands and high-five as many fans as possible.
 View the airport celebration and hear comments from players and Coach Jim Calhoun. (Real Player format video).
Comments from Jake Voskuhl..
Comments from Richard Hamilton..
Gampel Pavilion Rocks for Huskies
 (Storrs-WTNH) _ If Jim Calhoun and the Huskies thought the airport rally was something to see, they must have been blown away by the sight in Storrs. Fans started filing into Gampel Pavilion even before the team had left the airport, and by the time the ceremony started around 4:00, the celebration was ready blow the roof off the building.
Fans roared their approval as each player was introduced. Khalid El-Amin, whose pre-game boast that they'd "shock the world" came true, egged the crowd to cheer even louder. And later in what was likely a bribe to Richard Hamilton, the crowd began to chant "one more year, one more year." Hamilton gave up a shot at the NBA last year to return to UConn, and it paid off with a national title.
"Y'all are the greatest fans ever. The greatest," co-captain Rashamel Jones told the crowd. "You guys are #1 also, remember that. You guys are #1."
The usually understated coach Jim Calhoun brought the crowd to it's feet when he took the microphone. "Yesterday, we kicked some ass and broke some hearts," Calhoun said.
When it was all over, "We are the Champions" blared over the PA system, and the team shook hands with many of their fans, and headed out for a well-deserved rest.
Coach Calhoun speaks to Gampel crowd.
UConn players Rap.
Moore Graces SI Cover
 (WTNH) _ His defense and offensive skills played a key role in UConn's win over Duke, and for that Sports Illustrated is making Ricky Moore its Star. A shot of Moore driving to the basket will grace the cover of SI this week. Moore scored 13 first half points and grabbed 8 rebounds to help spark UConn to the national championship.
UConn Memorabilia a Hot Commodity
 (Storrs-WTNH) _ Faster than a fast-break, UConn fans across the state are snapping up championship t-shirts and sweatshirts. Starter, one of the big names in NCAA apparel, got these items out to the public bright and early Tuesday. "Experience in Design" in West Haven stayed up all night printing the prize shirts and hats. The gear can be purchased at Bob's, JC Penney's, Champs, and of course on campus in Storrs.
 Check out some of our 8-Interactive E-mails congratulating the Huskies on being #1.
Murder in Madison Investigated
(Madison-WTNH) _
Police in Madison have a murder investigation on their hands today. Police got a call around 12:30 early Tuesday morning from a man who said he had just killed someone. When officers arrived at 58 Hartford Avenue, they found the body of a woman. Officers then arrested 43-year old David Taylor for the killing. Neighbors tell us she was the nanny who took care of his two children, and that the family is from England. They were living in Madison for the winter. Sources tell News Channel 8 the woman was hit with a hammer. Police are not revealing her name until they notify her family in Europe. Neighbors tell us she was born in what was Czechoslovakia.
Identity of Body Discovered
(WTNH) _ The body found at Mt. Southington ski area in January has been identified. Police say 26-year old Uma Balakrishnan of Windsor was found inside a burning Ford Escort. It took months to identify her because the car was so badly burned. There were signs of an accelerant found inside the passenger compartment of the car and there are no signs of foul play.
Fire Damages Home - Arson possible Cause
 (New London-WTNH) _ A suspicious fire hit a notorious house in downtown New London this morning. The house at 7 Mountain Avenue was found burning around 10:00am. Investigators won't say for sure but officials believe it may have been intentionally set. Two months ago officers from the state gang task force raided this same house and arrested its two residents for possession of heroine with intent to sell. The owner had been warned recently that the property may soon be seized.
Committee Kills Bill Aimed at Lowering Car Insurance for City Residents
(Hartford-AP) _ A legislative committee kills a bill that aimed to lower car insurance rates for city residents. The bill died when the Insurance and Real Estate Committee failed to act on it by today's deadline. The bill would have ended the insurance industry's practice of setting rates based partly on where the car owner lives. Supporters of the bill claim this system amounted to discrimination against city residents, many of whom are poor and minority.
But critics of the bill say it would have meant higher car insurance costs for people who live in the suburbs and the country. The committee did approve a bill to allow for group purchases of insurance, which may save consumers some money. The bill that made it out of committee also would study the car insurance system to see other ways to cut rates.
Prison Official Quits in Wake of Two Suicides
(East Lyme-AP)_ Two recent suicides at the state prison for women have prompted the resignation of a supervisor of mental health services at the prison. Karen Graf says her unit does have enough staff to deal with either the routine or the crisis mental health referrals inside the Niantic prison.
In her letter of resignation, Graf says she can't guarantee the safety of inmates with mental health needs. She resigned last week. Inmates Lynda Hogan of Enfield and Bobbi Jo Garcia of Rockville hanged themselves earlier this month. Graf's resignation has been confirmed by a spokesman for the managed care program at the University of Connecticut.
Hundreds from Florida Pratt Operation heading to Connecticut
(East Hartford-AP) _ Some 600 Pratt & Whitney employees in Florida have accepted offers to move to Connecticut under plans to have company engineers work in manufacturing plants. The idea is that having engineers in the plants should help them design engines that are easier and cheaper to build and maintain. Pratt has been cutting jobs because of a decline in military engine orders, deferrals in engine deliveries by Asian airlines, and improvements in efficiency. The military engines are designed in Florida and built in Connecticut and according to one company official, persuading Florida employees to accept the job offers was critical. The engine manufacturer now has 13,000 workers in the state. Pratt also will have 1,000 fewer employees at its plant in West Palm Beach, Fla. That operation now has 4,900 workers.
Talks Fail, Teacher Libel Claims Heads to Court
(Danbury-AP) _ Negotiations have failed and a libel suit filed by a Brookfield teacher against a local couple is heading to court. Veronica Berrill claims Katie and Neal Houde accused her of "homosexual recruiting" and made other libelous statements in letters circulated to Brookfield school officials in the fall of 1995. Berrill, the widow of the cartoonist who drew the comic strip Gil Thorpe, says she was defamed. The trial is scheduled for October in Danbury Superior Court. The lawsuit came out of a controversy after Berrill was one of six faculty members who posted a "safe zones," refuge for gay, lesbian and bisexual students who wished to express themselves without worrying about being judged. The Houdes' daughter was a student in Berrill's homeroom and claims that the Houdes libeled her in a letter to the Board of Education and to local newspapers in October 1995.
Judge lets stand $120 million ruling against Aetna
(San Bernardino, California-AP) _ The nearly $121 million judgment against Aetna US Healthcare in its treatment of a California cancer patient has been upheld. A California judge has ruled that the jury's award against the health care giant will stand. In January, a jury awarded Teresa Goodrich the money and found Aetna contributed to the shortening of her husband's life. David Goodrich died in 1995 from stomach cancer. Teresa Goodrich's attorney says he's glad the jury's message to Aetna will stand and hopes it will lead to HMO reform across the country. Aetna attorneys had said Goodrich sought treatment outside the Aetna plan without first getting approval. And they say he was never an appropriate candidate for the experimental treatments because his cancer had progressed too far.
New Dispatcher Returns to Work Following Bogus Check Charge
(WTNH) _
(Bridgeport-AP) _ Just weeks after a state police dispatcher was arrested in a bizarre twist over a bad check, he's going back to work.
Earlier this month, Gregory Zeoli's name turned up after he had typed his name into a computer system that checks suspects against a list of outstanding arrest warrants. He was arrested. But his lawyer says evidence was presented showing the charge against Zeoli was based on a forgery of his name and the charges were dropped yesterday.
Head of Program on Cambodian Genocide Quitting
(New Haven-AP) _ The director of a Yale program that collects evidence of atrocities in Cambodia is quitting. Ben Kiernan is stepping down five months after being cleared of misappropriating US State Department funds. Kiernan, who founded the Cambodian Genocide Program in 1994 with a State Department grant, says he'll leave Yale for a few months, beginning in May. He spend the time taking up a summer fellowship at Melbourne University in his native Australia. The Cambodian Genocide Project was established to document crimes against humanity, assemble legal expertise and prepare historical evidence for possible prosecutions against members of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, who reigned in Cambodia from April 1975 to January 1979.
Munchkin Tryouts
(Wallingford-WTNH) _ Dorothy, you're not in Kansas anymore, you're in Wallingford. Hundreds of kids took to the stage at the Oakdale theater in hopes of landing a coveted role as a munchkin in the stage version of "The Wizard of Oz". Obviously, height was one of the things judges were looking for - 4'10" being the ideal munchkin height. Only three lucky munchkins will be chosen. "The Wizard of Oz" comes to the Oakdale April 29 through May 2.
The star of the show is Mickey Rooney as the wizard.
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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