May 10 / 11:15 pm
Man armed with knife shot by police
(Meriden-WTNH) _ A suspect was shot and killed my police in Meriden Monday after he reportedly lunged at officers with a knife. Police approached a van blocking traffic at about 11:15 am. The man inside, 36-year-old Antonio Antolini, got out of the vehicle and allegedly thrust a knife at police.
 News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
Governor requests study on shootings by police
(Hartford-AP) _ Governor Rowland has requested a report on how police shootings can best be investigated in Connecticut. The governor made the request this morning, just hours before a man was fatally shot by Meriden police after a traffic stop. 36-year-old Antonio Antolini is the third Connecticut resident to be fatally shot by police in four-and-a-half months. Franklyn Reid of New Milford was shot after a chase and scuffle on December 29th. 14-year-old Aquan Salmon of Hartford was shot after a chase on April 13th.
Rowland asked Chief State's Attorney John Bailey to evaluate how the state should investigate police shootings, so the investigations are viewed as impartially as possible. He asked Bailey to report back to him by September 15th.
Slain DEP officer to be honored in Washington
(Washington-AP) _ Family members of a slain DEP officer from Connecticut will receive a medal of honor from President Clinton in Washington on Saturday.
Officer James Spignesi Junior will be honored as part of a ceremony honoring law enforcement officers from across the country who were killed while on duty. Spignesi, a 21-year DEP veteran, was fatally shot while on patrol in Scotland, Connecticut in November. He was the first conservation officer in the state killed on the job. On Thursday, his name will be placed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, along with 155 other officers killed in the line of duty last year.
Buying booze online not easy in Connecticut
(WTNH) _ These days you can buy just about anything online including alcohol. Right now a lot of states are struggling with the problem of kids buying booze online. What about Connecticut?
News Channel 8's Darren Kramer reports.
Fire damages 159 year old B&B
(Westbrook-WTNH) _ Fire has damaged a historic house in Westbrook, causing some damage. The blaze broke out at the Talcott Mountain Bed and Breakfast early Monday evening. Fire crews were in the area at the time and were able to put it out quickly before the building was heavily damaged. The house was built in 1840.
School evacuated after discovery of suspicious object; Device deemed harmless
(Plainville-WTNH) _ Anxious moments at Plainville high school this morning, when the school was evacuated following the discovery of a suspicious object. Fears of a bomb were eased however when the State Police bomb squad learned the device was not an explosive. Police say the device, which turned out to be nothing but batteries in a paper tube, was discovered this morning inside a student's locker. While it turned out to be harmless, police say the object did appear highly suspicious. Police say it was painted black and had wires on it. Teachers later identified the items as part of an old science project.
The school's 800 students were evacuated to the football field, then sent home for the day.
Restrictions eased at Waterbury schools
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ School officials in Waterbury are lessening some of the restrictions placed on students following a threat made against a school complex. Last week administrators closed off all lockers, and students could only carry their books in clear plastic bags. Now the school is allowing students to use their lockers again. Some afterschool programs at Crosby High School will also resume. A 15-year-old Crosby High student was arrested for posting a threat against the school in an Internet chat room.
DCF selects old warehouse site for new Long Lane School
(Middletown-AP) _ A new juvenile training facility will be build on an old warehouse site near Connecticut Valley Hospital, the Department of Children and Families said Monday. The site, one of four DCF considered, will allow for the best layout and the quickest construction, the agency said.
Here's more of the story.
Bridgeport nursing home workers end strike
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ Nursing home workers in Bridgeport will go back to caring for their patients Tuesday. 150 workers at the Grant Street Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bridgeport agreed to return to work while the union resumes contract negotiations with management. The walkout began last Tuesday.
Another nursing home in Ansonia ended its strike this past weekend.
Tax burden highest in Connecticut
(Hartford-WTNH) _
In 1998 Connecticut had the highest per-capita tax burden in the US.
The reason -- Connecticut residents earn more money than anyone else.
According to the US Census Bureau, state residents paid 63 percent more in sales, income and other taxes, for a total of $2,869 per person, even though state tax rates are going down, because of booming capital gains in the stock market. State legislators are preparing to cut taxes even more in the next four weeks.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Several lawmakers push to revoke Long Wharf mall funding
(New Haven-WTNH) _ The proposed Long Wharf Galleria in New Haven could be facing an assault by state senators. There's talk of taking back the money which had already been approved by the state legislature. That's $28 million in state funding.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.
Neighbors cheer destruction of house
(New Haven-WTNH) _ While the battle rages over putting up a new mall, neighbors are applauding the tearing down of a house. A home in the Cedar Hill neighborhood of New Haven is now gone. LCI, New Haven's Liveable City Initiative, bought the property and demolished it. Neighbors say the State Street home was plagued by gangs, drugs, and was even a murder scene.
Bob Gezano, New Haven: "This is the culmination of efforts spanning 12 years, 4 mayors. This definitely takes a bite out of crime and drug running."
The spot will be turned into a city parking lot.
Search underway for missing Massachusetts pilot
(WTNH) _ Rescuers are combing areas of Connecticut and several other states, looking for a missing Massachusetts man and his plane.
69 year old Gerhard Fenkenbeiner took off from Norwood Memorial Airport in Norwood, Mass., Thursday afternoon. He hasn't been seen since.
Fenkenbeiner's friends say he usually tells them where he's going, but this time is different. They say as of yet he hasn't contacted them. The Civil Air Patrol is searching areas of Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island as well as Connecticut.
Men charged with violating fishing laws
(WTNH) _ Two lobster fishermen are accused of breaking a number of fishing laws. 39-year-old Robert Gozzi of Guilford and 25-year-old Stephen Vecker of Northford are facing 141 counts of breaking lobsters into parts while at sea.
It's illegal because once on shore officials can't tell how many lobsters they took or their original size. The men are accused of other violations as well. They face thousands of dollars in fines.
Lobstermen get angry over trap-tax plan
(Stonington-WTNH) _ Connecticut's commercial lobstermen are outraged over a plan to tax their traps. The plan is part of a bill being considered by lawmakers. Under it an annual fee of up to $1 would be tacked-on to every lobster trap used in Connecticut. For some it could be an extra $2-3,000 expense each year.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern Newsroom at The Day.
Shipwork cuts runs for Bridgeport/Port Jefferson ferry
(Bridgeport-WTNH) _ Watch out for delays if you take the ferry between Bridgeport and Long Island. The number of runs has been cut in half because one of the ferrys is in for routine maintenance. They're running every three hours right now, and that reduced schedule is going to last through Thursday.
For some more info, you can call the Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Steamship company at 1.888.443.3779, or on the internet at www.bpjferry.com.
Motorcycle accident leaves man in critical condition
(WTNH) _ A Milford man was in critical condition Monday morning after he crashed his motorcycle on an Interstate 91 off-ramp in Meriden. Police say 44-year-old Wayne Sadrozny of Milford lost control as he tried to cut over the grassy median onto I-91 Sunday night. The southbound off-ramp at exit 17 was closed for more than an hour during he emergency and accident investigation.
Hiker rescued after falling 30 feet in state park
(Hamden-AP) _ A hiker from Waterbury has been hospitalized after a fall from a 30-foot ledge in a state park in Hamden. Officials says Robert Tamaro is recovering today after tumbling from the ledge at Sleeping Giant State Park yesterday afternoon. Authorities say Tamaro has several broken ribs from the fall. He was hiking with his wife and two nephews. Tamaro is in stable condition at Saint Raphael's Hospital in New Haven. It took Hamden firefighters, members of the mountain rescue unit and state Department of Environmental Protection officials more than 90 minutes to rescue Tamaro.
Latin Kings leader arrested for court no-show
(Milford-AP) _ Federal marshals are holding a Latin Kings gang leader who failed to show up in court last week. Eduardo Baez, a reputed former president of the gang, was arrested over the weekend at a fast food restaurant in Milford. Officials say they found $15,000 in cash and a gun in his car. Baez, whose last known address was in New Haven, is being held in an undisclosed location and bond has not been set. Baez, who has a doctorate in psychology, pleaded guilty last month to conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering charges under the federal organized crime statute. He has admitted to conspiring to kill members of a rival New Haven-based gang known as the Netas.
Baez had been free on bond when he missed preliminary court appearance on Friday.
Making a home safe for older people
(WTNH) _ Most homes are hazardous for older folks. A recent study showed 90 percent had at least two hazards, but you can take some very simple steps to make a home safe for the elderly.
Health Team 8's Susan Hiland reports.
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