May 3 / 6:15 pm
Suit against Patriots less likely, State ponders development options
(WTNH) _ The New England Patriots say they're going to stay in Massachusetts. Patriots spokesman Stacey James tells News Channel 8, "the New England Patriots are not for sale."
The dust has hardly settled in Hartford as Connecticut lawmakers try to determine the next move for the revitalizing the capitol city.
Meantime, The prospect of legal action against the New England Patriots appears to be diminishing. Attorney general Richard Blumenthal tells News Channel 8 that finding any evidence of illegal behavior may be very difficult.
 Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Kraft says decision was in "best interest" of fans, Pats not for sale
(Boston-AP) _ The word from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is that he was acting in the best interest of the fans when he killed the stadium deal with Connecticut. Kraft's first and only comments on the issue came during an event he attended yesterday at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Steam plant owners still want to move
(Hartford-AP) _ Owners of a steam plant on what was to be the site of a New England Patriots stadium say they still want to move. The plant was long considered a sticking point in the negotiations to bring the Patriots to Hartford. A deal was finally struck last month between CTG Resources and the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority to move the plant and the gas company's headquarters. CTG officials say the Patriots' pullout does not change that deal. City and state politicians are scrambling to dust off the original plans for Adriaen's Landing. The development included a domed, 35,000-seat stadium for the University of Connecticut. Officials say the plant will still have to go to make way for the smaller stadium.
With Patriots gone, will Long Wharf mall get a push forward?
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Even though the Patriot deal has fallen apart. There are other projects in the works that will hopefully breathe new life into Connecticut's cities. One is the Long Wharf mall in New Haven.
It's taken some time to get off the ground, and like the stadium deal, many wonder if it's something we really need.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.
State surplus projections continue to increase
(Hartford-AP) _ The state surplus continues to grow as income tax receipts come in higher than expected. The state comptroller now estimates the surplus at $493 millions. That's $30 million more than Comptroller Nancy Wyman projected last month. Wyman says the income tax is driving the surplus. Tax receipts are expected to bring in $430 million more than originally estimated.
Lawmakers are debating how to spend the surplus. Some of the money is being used to pay for one-time expenses. The governor is pushing for about $80 million to go for another round of tax rebates.
Refugees to make Connecticut home
(East Hartford-WTNH) _ Hundreds of Kosovo refugees are scheduled to arrive at Fort Dix, New Jersey Tuesday. Of the 400 families coming to the United States, two will start their new lives in the Hartford area.
Local Albanians and charities are helping the refugees make a home in Connecticut.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
Special Elections held today
(WTNH) _ Today is election day in several Connecticut towns. Voters are going to the polls in municipal elections in Andover, Bethany, Groton, Litchfield, Naugatuck, Sherman, Stonington, and Woodbridge, to pick Mayors, Selectmen, or Wardens. Polls are open until 8:00.
Results can be found on the Secretary of the State's website at www.state.ct.us/sots/ElectionsDivision/elecresults.htm
Highway closed for hours after truck accident
(East Hartford-AP) _ All lanes of Interstate 84 eastbound in East Hartford reopened just before 5:00 pm Monday, after authorities cleared a tractor trailer accident. The highway had been closed since about 8:45 am. Officials say some diesel fuel has spilled, as well as boxes of macaroni and other food items that the truck was carrying. Department of Transportation officials rerouted traffic at exit 55 onto Route 2. DOT vehicles, state police and firefighters were on the scene to help clear the highway. There were no reports of injuries.
Connecticut submariner named "Sailor of Year"
(Groton-WTNH) _ For the first time in ten years, a submariner is the Navy's 'Sailor of the Year'. The proud winner is assigned to a submarine stationed at the base in Groton, and even better he's a Connecticut native.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
Fire danger remains high
(AP) _ The warm, crisp weather has been great for outdoor activities, but has brought the threat of brush fires with it. The weekend found firefighters battling several brush fires. State officials were called to six brush fires in 24 hours. About 50 acres of woods and swamplands in Salem burned after three separate fires cropped up yesterday. Seven area departments joined Salem's volunteer firefighters to douse the fires. Heavy smoke near Route 85 was reported yesterday afternoon. Firefighters in communities including Groton, Norwich and Preston responded to brush fires as well yesterday. In Meshomasic State Forest in Glastonbury, firefighters returned yesterday to a fire that reignited after burning some 44 acres on Saturday. A fire that came within 100 feet of several homes in Willimantic yesterday is considered suspicious. More than 50 firefighters battled the fire, which scorched about seven acres near the Mansfield line.
Man accused of setting series of fires
(Hartford-AP) _ A convicted arsonist was arrested early today and charged with setting a series of fires, including one that caused an Amtrak passenger train to be delayed for an hour. Emanual White Rose, 39, was arrested after police responded to reports of four fires in metal trash bins within minutes of each other. Authorities then discovered two brush fires in the vicinity, including one beside the train tracks on New Park Avenue. Police said Rose ran across the tracks in front of an oncoming train, in an attempt to elude arresting officers. When taken to the police station, they said, he became enraged and destroyed a desk in an interrogation room. Rose was charged with reckless burning, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. He was ordered held on $750,000 bond pending arraignment.
Three Stabbed at party, Man arrested
(Fairfield-AP) _ A weekend party will mean a court appearance for a 23-year-old Bridgeport man. Lenin Flores faces assault charges after police say he stabbed three youths during a birthday party for a teenage girl in Fairfield Saturday night. Two of the injured teens have been treated and released from Saint Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport. A third teen is hospitalized in stable condition with a chest wound.
New York Man arrested following low-speed chase
(Wallingford-AP) _ A deaf man from New York is in custody after taking police along on a low-speed chase between West Haven and Wallingford. Police say Victor Bruno handed a bomb threat not to a police officer in West Haven, then drove away. Police followed him for 14 miles before he was stopped in Wallingford. Police say he may have been angry at federal officials who are deporting him.
Building to transform into retirement community
(Waterford-WTNH) _ It's out with the old and in with the new in Waterford,
as an old office building will be transformed into an assisted living retirement community. The old office building on Waterford Parkway South was never finished and will be torn down to make way for the new development. The three-story iron skeleton has been an eye-sore along the highway for ten years. The new complex will consist of more than a hundred apartments.
David Vail, Bridges Communities: "This has been a rotting steel skeleton for 10 years and now all of a sudden it's coming down, it's been a real eyesore, and something of beauty is going up in its place."
The developers expect to begin construction on the apartment complex this week in hopes of opening the facility in March of next year.
Chronotherapy - using time to better dispense medication
(WTNH) _ Asthma is worse at night, heart attacks happen more often in the morning, so taking you medication at a certain time makes sense. It's called chronotherapy, and it's proving to be very effective and timely.
Health Team 8's Susan Hiland reports.
Delivering food to the hungry
(WTNH) _ Connecticut is going to be helping the hungry. The National Association of Letter Carriers is gearing up for their 8th annual food drive this weekend. News Channel 8's Diane Smith is their celebrity spokesperson.
All you have to is place nonperishable for items by your mailbox on Saturday, May 8th, and your letter carrier will deliver it to the food bank.
Star Wars toys hit the shelves, disappear just as fast
 (East Haven-WTNH) _ This is a big day for toy lovers and Star Wars fans.
Today is the first day that the new Star Wars toys are in toy stores, and people started lining up at midnight to get them. Toys R Us, FAO Schwartz, and other stores, opened their doors just after midnight to satisfy fans who had to have one of everything, from action figures to light sabres to underwear.
Leon: "Are you going to go home and play with him."
Anthony DeMaio, New Haven: "No, No! He stays in the package. I hang on to 'em... You gotta have a part of it. I got a lot of stuff from the original Star Wars, and I'll get a few from the new one.
Industry experts estimate by the end of the year Lucasfilms, Ltd. will have sold $2 billion worth of star wars merchandise. "Star Wars: Episode I _ The Phantom Menace" _ is due to be released on May 19th. The original Star Wars movie first hit screens in 1977.
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