May 1 / 6:00 pm
Death of Patriots deal Surprises few, leaves plenty of questions
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Now what? That's the question reverberating around Hartford, one day after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft picked up his football and went back home to Boston. The questions being asked by politicians and everyone else include what happens to Adriaen's Landing? What will we do with the surplus money? Will it mean tax rebates?
 News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue talked with Hartford business owners about the death of the deal.
Stadium fallout gives rebate new life; Support for governor in question
(HARTFORD-AP) _ The death of the New England Patriots football stadium has breathed new life into the governor's plan to issue another round of tax rebates. The money is there, but his political support, in the wake of the Patriot pullout, remains to be seen.
Here's more of the story
Boston lawmakers congratulate Kraft
(Boston-WTNH) _ While the deal is off for Connecticut, many Massachusetts officials are applauding. Boston mayor Tom Menino and speaker of the house Thomas Finneran spoke out in favor of Kraft's decision Saturday. They say the team belongs in Foxboro.
Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston: "They put their best foot forward and it wasn't good enough. Hartford isn't Boston. The Patriots stayed where their heart really belongs, Foxboro and Massachusetts."
The Massachusetts deal to keep the team in Foxboro includes money to improve the infrastructure around Foxboro stadium.
Refunds for season ticket buyers
(WTNH) _ When the announcement was made that the Patriots were moving to Connecticut, thousands of fans plunked down money for deposits on season tickets, even though the waiting list was years long. Now many fans will likely we demanding refunds from the team. A form is available on the Patriots website so people can request a refund.
Plane crashes, Pilot parachutes to safety
(New Milford-WTNH) _ A scare in the air over New Milford Saturday afternoon, when a small plane crash forced a pilot to parachute to safety.
Police say the small, single engine plane went down this afternoon.
The unidentified pilot was taken to New Milford hospital with minor injuries, and was expected to be released. No word on what caused the plane to malfunction. The pilot has not been identified.
Bear nabbed in neighborhood tree
(West Haven-WTNH) _ A wild discovery in West Haven early Saturday.
 A bear was spotted early this morning roaming near Brower Street. The animal was later cornered in a tree by fire officials. Animal control officers from the Department of Environmental Protection were called in, and they shot the animal with a tranquilizer gun. It was then taken away in a special cage by the DEP.
News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports.
Megan's Law has real estate agents wondering what they have to disclose
(New Haven-AP) _ Megan's Law, which requires public notification when a child molester, rapist or other convicted sex offender moves into a community, has real estate agents in a quandary. They're wondering whether they must disclose the presence of pedophiles to prospective home buyers. Agents in most states are looking for clarification wherever they can get it -- from the government, lawyers, the insurance industry -- so they can avoid being held liable in lawsuits. That's what Laurie Janik, an attorney for the National Association of Realtors in Chicago, says. The group represents 720,000 real estate agents nationwide. She says in most cases, the agents do not know where sex offenders live. She says the issue is whether they have any duty to find out. If an agent discloses that a sex offender lives in the neighborhood, the seller may try to sue if no one wants to buy the house or if the property value drops as a result.
April one of driest months ever
(Hartford-AP) _ It's official. April showers never showed. Only 1.1 inches of rain fell during the month, far below the four inches that are normal for the month. The conditions were ripe for brush fires and there were plenty of those, say state officials. DEP Forest Fire supervisor estimated there were between 125 and 250 brush fires in the state. About 700 acres were scorched. Forecasters say the dry weather is likely to continue for the next several days.
Millstone III down for refueling
(WTNH) _ The Millstone Three nuclear power plant was scheduled to be shut down this morning for six weeks of routine refueling and maintenance. Northeast Utilities, which operates the plant, had hoped to reopen another reactor, Millstone II, in time for the refueling of Millstone III. But a judge this week issued a restraining order to keep Millstone II closed. It has been closed for three years for safety reasons.
Sheff lawyer named Dean of law school
(Houston-AP) _ John Brittain, one of the lead lawyers in Connecticut's Sheff versus O'Neill school desegregation case, has a new job. The University of Connecticut professor has been named dean of Texas Southern University's law school. Brittain had been a visiting professor at TSU, and was picked unanimously yesterday by university regents to lead the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He will start on July 1st.
Grass law reminder
(AP) _ The dry weather might delay the mowing season, but when it is time to mow the lawn, there's a new state law to consider. The law that bans disposal of grass clippings at landfills and waste-to-energy plants. State environmental officials say the grass is hard to burn into energy because it's made of 80 percent water. And they say picking up and hauling the clippings to landfills is expensive. Homeowners can leave the clippings on the lawn or start a compost heap in the backyard and dump the clippings out there. So they're urging folks to mulch it, compost it or face a fine.
Traveling Prize Patrol tracks winners to Foxwoods
(Ledyard-AP) _ Sitting around a blackjack table at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Charil and Pierre Noel were feeling lucky. They were up about $200. Or so they thought. The Prize Patrol from Publishers Clearing House, with giant check in tow, tracked the New Hampshire couple from their home to tell Charil Noel she had just become the newest $100,000 sweepstakes winner.
Here's more of the story.
"Eagle" to lead OpSail Celebration
(New London-AP) -- The Coast Guard barque Eagle will lead the parade of tall ships up the Thames River during the four-day OpSail 2000 celebration in New London. Coast Guard Captain Robert Papp, commanding officer of the Eagle, accepted the invitation "on behalf of the Eagle, and on behalf of the Coast Guard." He was among an estimated 600 cadets, academy staff and local officials, who gathered during ceremonies Friday at Eagle Pier on the grounds of the Coast Guard Academy. The OpSail is expected to draw up to 200 foreign ships and more than 1 million visitors to the city from July 12th through the 15th in the year 2000. The flotilla will visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, Miami, Norfolk, Virginia, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, before stopping in New London.
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