May 9 / 9:00 pm
Rescuers, DEP don't want repeat of tragic summer of 1998 on the water
(New Haven-AP) _ The folks who patrol the Connecticut waterways are hoping for a little peace and quiet this summer. Last year was one of the deadliest in the state. There were eight boating fatalities, about twice the normal the number. Most of those were alcohol related. New safety rules go into affect this year, including stricter life preserver use and limits on water skiing.
 Here's more of the story.
The DEP says the rules are contained in the latest Connecticut Boater's Guide. You can download a copy from the DEP's Bureau of Outdoor Recreation website.
Hiker rescued after falling 30 feet in state park
(Hamden-AP) _ A hiker has been hospitalized after falling about 30 feet from a trail at Sleeping Giant State Park. Authorities say the 32-year-old man's injuries do not appear life-threatening. Hamden firefighters and the town's mountain rescue unit located the man in the wooded park early this afternoon. The man was taken by ambulance to the Hospital of Saint Raphael in New Haven. The name of the hiker has not been released.
U.S. embassy in Beijing besieged by anti-NATO protesters
(Beijing-WTNH) _ Chinese demonstrators called Americans words they have reserved for their wartime enemies - fascists and imperialists - and pitched rocks through windows of three embassies Sunday to condemn NATO's accidental bombing of China's Embassy in Yugoslavia. Demonstrators by the thousands flowed past the main U.S. Embassy buildings in Beijing on a quiet lane lined with locust trees. Many carried signs with four Chinese characters that mean "a debt of blood must be repaid in blood." It was the biggest public protest since the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations 10 years ago.
Thousands of police kept watch Sunday, the second day of the government-sanctioned protest, but did not try to stop the rock-throwing. 'We are essentially hostages of the embassy at the present time now. We've been here 48 hours without being able to leave,'' U.S. Ambassador James Sasser told AP Radio by telephone. He said protesters had thrown a gasoline bomb through a window and that the government had encouraged the protests. Protesters also smashed up paving stones to throw at embassy buildings.
Lieberman Critical of China
(Washington-WTNH) _ Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman was critical of China on the Sunday morning talk shows. He says the Chinese government is doing nothing to stop the demonstrations against NATO.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Connecticut: "What happened in Belgrade yesterday was a terrible accident, a mistake. No one in their right mind could think that the United States or NATO would intentionally target the Chinese embassy. What is happening in Beijing and throughout China today is intentional."
Lieberman says the protests may strain relations between China and the US.
Stolen van crashes into nursing home
(Manchester-AP) _ Manchester police say a 20-year-old Hartford man stole a van loaded with Sunday newspapers and crashed it into a local nursing home about five o'clock this morning. Ryan Robbins allegedly made off with a small Hartford Courant van but his getaway was foiled when he drove it into a brick wall at the Bidwell Health Care Center. He then fled on foot. The suspect was picked up in Glastonbury about four hours later. Police say a man saw a barefoot Robbins walking through his neighborhood and offered him a pair of shoes. He then became suspicious and called police. Robbins was picked up about 9:00 AM and was booked on several charges, including larceny, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and driving while under suspension. He's being held on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow at Manchester Superior Court. No one at the nursing home was injured in the early morning accident, but the impact caused part of a ceiling to collapse. Police say before the crash the suspect was driving erratically along Interstate 384 and papers were strewn all over the road.
Plumbing students charged in home thefts
(Southington-AP) _ Three students in a vo-tech plumbing class were charged with stealing from the home their class had been hired to renovate. The students at the Wilcox Regional Vocational Technical School in Meriden were part of a class of about 20 students installing the plumbing in an addition on a Southington home. The class began work in March and after about two weeks, the homeowners noticed several items missing including camcorders, compact discs and numerous Beanie Babies. Police said an investigation resulted in the arrest last week of Jesse Wotton, 18 and Benjamin Karras, 17, both of Meriden, and Oscar Pires, 18, of Wallingford. They face various charges of larceny and conspiracy. A court date was not immediately available.
Law grads honor late Dean Benbow
(Hamden) -- It was graduation day today for more two-hundred-and-nine students from the Quinnipiac College School of Law. And while it was a day to celebrate, many reflected on the recent loss of a popular retired dean who died unexepectedly last week. The graduates wore yellow ribbons to honor 69-year-old Dean Terence Benbow, who died of natural causes at his home in Fairfield. Supreme Court Justice Richard Palmer delivered the commencement address and urged the graduates to follow Benbow's example by developing a strong character and sense of justice. Also today, Quinnipiac held commencement ceremonies for about 200 graduate students.
Students offered college tuition if they finish high school
(Norwalk-AP) _ More than forty students living in a Norwalk housing project have been offered a deal: Finish high school, and earn an all-expenses paid trip to college. New Canaan philanthropist George Bauer will sponsor the students through the I Have a Dream Foundation. The New York City-based program has put more than ten thousand disadvantaged students through college since 1981. There there are 160 programs in 57 cities nationwide. Students are normally chosen from one grade in one school. But Norwalk organizers hope a federal grant will allow students from grades three to eight to participate.
|
