May 6 / 11:00 pm
Teen arrested for Internet threat against school
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ Waterbury officials call it a prank gone awry, but they're not laughing. A 15-year old is under arrest on charges of charged with making a bomb threat over the Internet at the Crosby High school complex.
This follows town hall's enacting of tough new security measures at all Waterbury schools, including banning all but transparent book bags.
 News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports.
Meantime in Milford, State police arrested 17-year-old Delwright Correia of West Haven on charges of sending a threatening e-mail to Platt Technical High School.
An e-mail sent to Platt march 29th threatened the school's director and students. Police charged Correia with threatening and various computer crimes. He's free on $1,000 bond.
Yale remembers Suzanne Jovin with community award
 (New Haven-WTNH) _ A posthumous honor for Yale Student Suzanne Jovin.
She worked hard to strengthen ties between the university and the city of New Haven, and Thursday members of Jovin's family came from Germany to accept the "Elm and Ivy" award on her behalf.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports.
Yale lecturer questioned in Jovin cases loses job
(New Haven-AP) _ A Yale faculty member who has denied any involvement in the stabbing death of a student is losing his teacher job.
 James Van de Velde has been told that he will not be asked to return for the next academic year.
Van de Velde is among a pool of suspects in the December Fourth killing of Yale senior Suzanne Jovin. Yale officials say the decision has nothing to do with the link to the student murder. But Van de Velde's attorney says that statement is nonsense. Attorney Ira Grudberg believes negative publicity about his client has influenced Yale to cut its ties to Van de Velde. Van de Velde is a lecturer and a school official says all lecturers are subject to one year appointments. Nobody has been charged in Suzanne Jovin's death.
Colin Powell discusses school violence, Kosovo
(New Haven-WTNH) _ As Connecticut authorities struggle to deal with threats of violence at the state's schools, retired General Colin Powell is weighing in on the issue. The former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff visited Southern Connecticut State University Thursday night. Powell is different kind of battle this time -- a battle for America's kids.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.
Bailey Settles Suit as Serpico prepares to testify
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Connecticut's chief state's attorney has decided to settle a gag-order lawsuit. Inspector Gregory Dillon won a $2.7 million verdict last November, after jurors found that John Bailey violated Dillon's first amendment rights by telling him he was not allowed to talk with anyone about his allegations of FBI wrongdoing. The settlement comes as Frank Serpico, perhaps the country's most famous police whistle blower, was all set to testify in the case.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.
Senate 28-8 approves bill for new Long Lane School
(Hartford-AP) _ The state Senate approves a bill to build a new Long Lane School in Middletown. The bill passed on a 28-8 vote and now goes to the House. A vote there is expected later on today. The bill would build a new $50 million facility for 240 juvenile criminals and delinquents.
The current facility is over a hundred years old. It's been plagued by recidivism, runaways and the suicide of a 15-year-old girl.
The bill also includes money to clean up the current site, which will be sold to Wesleyan University. Even lawmakers who voted for the bill say more needs to be done to serve troubled teenagers. They've included in the bill a million dollars to study where three regional juvenile centers could be built.
The new facility also will be built in Middletown, likely on the Connecticut Valley Hospital campus. The state wants to begin construction this spring.
Next month critical for Hartford development
(Hartford-WTNH) _ The next 30 days are critical for the capitol city and for the University of Connecticut. The general assembly session ends on June 9th, and the city and the university must have a new plan.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Bridgeport development project moves step closer to reality
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ On the heels of the Patriots collapse, Governor John Rowland got some good news on a state development project Thursday. News Channel 8 has learned the Bridgeport Harbor Place project is a step closer to reality. Developer Alex Conroy has told the governor a Tennessee-based real estate trust company is willing to invest in the project. The huge entertainment and retail development on the waterfront requires close to $300 million in private investment to qualify for $200 million in city and state financing. The developer is set to meet with Bridgeport leaders this afternoon.
Mall opponents must open books to the state
(Hartford-AP) _ The state Ethics Commission says an organization that's fighting the New Haven mall must open its books. The commission says the Save Our Downtowns Alliance has been lobbying state officials in its bid to block the Long Wharf Mall. The alliance must show where its money comes from and how the group spends it. The commission's executive director says the group's Web site and its recent delivery of petitions and post cards against the mall to the Connecticut Development Authority show it's trying to influence state officials, making it subject to state disclosure requirements. The organization has admitted it receives much of its funding from Westfield America which owns malls in Meriden, Milford and Trumbull.
Schools tighten security for academic tests
(Middletown-WTNH) _ 36,000 students are taking the Connecticut Academic Performance test this week. The test was developed 4 years ago to give educators a better idea of students skill levels. But in order to preserve the integrity of the tests school districts have developed strict procedures to prevent any tampering.
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer has the story.
AmeriCares readies shipments to tornado victims
(Norwalk-WTNH) _ The death toll after this weeks tornadoes in Oklahoma is at least 41, but upwards of 50-people are still reported missing. That means the death toll could rise dramatically. Vice president Al Gore is touring the widespread damage caused by the dozens of tornadoes.
Gore says the government will spend nearly $6 million to hire people to help clean up. Connecticut organizations are also reaching out to the victims in Oklahoma.
News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports.
Quinnipiac law dean dies
(WTNH) _ The man who led the effort to save the University of Bridgeport law school has died. Terrence Benbow died unexpectedly at his Fairfield home Wednesday. Dean Benbow was currently teaching at Quinnipiac Law School, and in the early 90's he led the way for the UB Law School to become part of Quinnipiac College. Benbow was 69 years old.
Fatal shooting investigated in Hartford
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Hartford police are investigating a fatal shooting today. Police were called to 33 Lenox Street in Hartford around 1:45 am. They found a man in a car who had been shot in the head. The victim, identified as 26 year old Anthony Bennefield, has been shot at least two times, and was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital. Police say it appears another vehicle pulled up alongside the car Bennefield was in and opened fire, then drove off. The suspect car was last scene traveling east bound on Albany Ave. Anyone with information is asked to call Hartford Police.
Accused student voyeur criticized, warned by judge
(Meriden-AP)_ A Cheshire High School student accused of secretly videotaping female classmates while they were undressing has been criticized and warned by a judge. Jonathan Humphreville reportedly had been trying to contact several female students whom he has been accused of secretly videotaping changing clothes during pool parties at his home. Humphreville is charged with breach of peace in connection with the incident and has been out on $5,000 bond under the condition he have no contact with any of the girls in the tapes. The judge told him yesterday that if she receives more complaints from the girls and their parents, she'll set bond so high that Humphreville will never be able to get out of it. The judge also say she's considering putting Humphreville on electronic monitoring.
Family of lottery gunman won't get guns back
(Hartford-AP) _ The weapons used in last year's Lottery Headquarters killings will not be returned to the dead gunman's family. A judge has issued a protective order thwarting an effort by the father of lottery gunman Matthew Beck, who was seeking the return of the weapons his son used in last spring's massacre. Donald Beck had said he wanted to sell the weapons and give the proceeds to the victims' families.
USS Miami returns from tour in Adriatic
(Groton-WTNH) _ A happy homecoming in Groton Thursday. The crew of the USS Miami returned to the sub base after an unusually eventful tour of duty.
The Miami has been overseas for the last sixth months in the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. The sub and her crew took part in attacks on Iraq and Yugoslavia, firing dozens of tomahawk missiles.
They got a heroes welcome on their return.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
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