May 11 / 11:00 pm
School dress code faces court challenge
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ Since it went into effect last year, Waterbury's school dress code has gotten overwhelming public support.
But now four families are in court challenging the dress code and uniform policies. The policy bans jeans, and specifies what styles and colors kids can wear. Supporters say it reduces distractions and keeps kids focused on learning, but opponents say it violates their rights.
 News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.
Fumes force school evacuation
(New Haven-WTNH) _ A New Haven school was evacuated Tuesday morning because of some fumes in the building. The High School in the Community was evacuated about 10:30 am after a student smelled a strong sulfur-like smell in one of the classrooms. At least six students and one teacher have been taken to the hospital. No word yet on their conditions or what caused the smell.
Students arrested for threats against two Connecticut schools
(AP) _ Three arrests have been made in two different threats involving Connecticut schools. A 17-year-old Amsterdam, New York boy has been charged with threatening to bomb McAlister Middle School in Suffield. Authorities say the threat was made late Saturday on an America Online chat room.
Two teenagers have been charged with making threats against Vernon Center Middle School. A 13-year-old girl has been charged after the discovery of graffiti in a bathroom at the middle school that made a reference to "blowing up the school." A 15-year-old boy has been charged after police say he wrote threats on the wall of the school.
Here's more on the story.
Parents upset over handling of bomb threat
(Vernon-WTNH) _ Some parents in Vernon are angry with the way middle school administrators handled a recent bomb threat at school.
Last Wednesday school officials found a threat to blow up a school on a bathroom wall at Vernon Center Middle School. It was not until the next day, after students returned to school, that they were finally evacuated from the building and sent home. At a town meeting Monday, many parents said that call should have been made earlier.
Jim Hoover, Former Councilman: "They should have called the police department on Wednesday night. The fire department and the bomb squad and get the school checked out, and not wait until the next morning when the school is full of kids to get blown up. Praise God that didn't happen."
The town council voted to put an officer at the middle school through the end of the year.
Coach arrested in slapping incident
(Stamford-AP)_ A coach in the Stamford Baby Ruth baseball league has been arrested, accused of slapping one of his players. Rocky Progano has been charged with risk of injury to a minor and third-degree assault after an incident Sunday. Police say Progano struck the 14-year-old in the face after a disagreement between the boy and Progano's son. According to police, the two players were horsing around during a game when Progano's son lightly struck the other boy in the leg with a baseball bat. Progano was released on a promise to appear May 19th in Stamford Superior Court.
Fugitives: Where do they go when they're on the run
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Gabrielle Gladstone -- F. Mac Buckley -- Alex Kelly.
They were or are wanted men with at least one thing in common: they went on the run.
News Channel 8's Christina Hager talked with fugitive hunters about where Gladstone and some other well known fugitives on the run might be right now.
Here's the story.
"Booster bags" helping thieves rip-off stores
(Farmington-WTNH) _ Thieves at local malls are foiling high-tech security systems at malls in Connecticut and across the country with the help of doctored shopping bags. The so-called 'booster bags' are enabling thieves to steal millions of dollars worth of merchandise right under the clerks' nose.
And they're made from products you can find in your own home.
News Channel 8's Christina DeFranco reports.
Group finds link between pesticides, well water contamination
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Is the pursuit of a green lawn lacing well water with chemicals? A group has been looking at the question, studying homes where pesticides are part of the lawn care drill every summer, and others where they're not but the neighbors use them.
What did they find?
News Channel 8's Jayne Saffer reports.
Bill requiring schools to notify parents of pesticide applications moves to House
(Hartford-AP) _ A bill requiring schools to alert parents when pesticides are being applied has made its way to the House. The legislation passed the Education Committee today by a vote of 17-4. The legislation would allow parents to request they be told when pesticides are sprayed on school property. The bill also would require only certified people do the spraying.
Supporters of the bill say a growing number of children are getting sick from inhaling traces of pesticide after the chemicals have been sprayed in schools.
Proposed 'Open Space Tax' faces plenty of opposition
(WTNH) _ The mood at the state capitol is all about cutting taxes, except for one called the 'open space' tax. Some call it the 'stealth tax' because almost no one is talking about, and if it passes home sellers won't be happy. The tax would be on real estate sales and the money could be used by cities and towns to buy open space, park land or clean up contaminated soil. The idea isn't sitting well with everyone.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Family of man killed by police battled drug abuse
(Meriden-WTNH) _ The father of a man shot and killed by police in Meriden Monday says his son would never have hurt anyone. Police say Antonio Antolini was shot and killed after lunging at officers with a knife. Family members talked about Antolini's battle to beat a drug addiction.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.
Chinese journalists visiting Quinnipiac college ordered to return home
(Hamden-AP) _ A group of Chinese journalists visiting Quinnipiac College have been ordered to return home. A spokesman for the Chinese consulate in New York says the 20-member delegation had urgent matters to attend to in China, but declined to say what they were. Yin-Long Tang, the spokesman, says the order was unrelated to NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, which has strained relations between the two countries. The journalists, who came to American to learn about the US justice system, were just four days into their 18-day visit. The order to return came from the Ministry of Justice, with which many of the journalists are affiliated. A trip to China planned for later this month by a Quinnipiac College staffer and students also has been cancelled because of anti-American protests there.
State experts talk about swatting mosquito problem before it starts
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Connecticut residents may get a break from pesky bugs this year. Researchers say there will be fewer mosquitoes because of the dry spring we've had. The Department of Environmental Protection met with municipal officials Tuesday to discuss just how the state will fight the pests in the coming months.
News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
Duracell takes Energizer to court over ad campaign
(WTNH) _ The Energizer bunny is going, and going, and going to court. Gillette, which makes Duracell batteries in Bethel, is suing Ralston Purina, the makers of Energizer batteries. Duracell says Energizer's claims that its products last longer are based on unreliable tests from a Popular Electronics magazine article. Gillette wants the ads to stop and to be compensated. Ralston-Purina says they stand by their advertising claims.
Fire that killed 92-year-old man blamed on electrical short
(Danbury-AP) _ A fire that claimed the life of a 92-year-old Danbury man is being blamed on an electrical short. John Gorski died of smoke inhalation in the fire that broke out at his home about 4 am yesterday morning. Fire officials say the blaze started in the basement, but they are not sure what caused the short. The fire was fully involved when firefighters arrived.
Gorski ran a saw and lawnmower repair business in Danbury.
Man killed in Windham highway accident
(Windham-AP) _ A 34-year-old Stafford Springs man has died after being struck by a car in Windham. State police say Anthony Sikorski was struck on Route 32 last night near his parked car. Police say Sikorski was in a travel lane of the roadway when a car driven by Russell White of Baltic struck him.
Sikorski was taken to Hartford Hospital by Lifestar Helicopter where he died.
Tax collector threatens late fee for 3-cent property tax bill
(Norwich-AP) _ Joseph Hockhousen says Norwich officials threatened to put a lien on his property and charge him a $24 late fee because his tax payment was short by three cents. Hockhousen received a letter yesterday saying if the remainder of his $96.28 bill is not paid by May 31st, he will be penalized.Hockhousen
says he was shocked. He paid the three cents, but also gave town officials a piece of his mind. City Tax Collector Theresa Giovanni has apologized for the lien notice, saying a computer failed to catch the three cents owed before the bill went out. She says the tax collector doesn't usually come knocking for less than a dollar -- staff will pay it out of a slush fund or out of their own pockets.
Town leaders to boycott Pequots meeting
(Ledyard-AP) _ The open informational meeting scheduled by the Mashantucket Pequots for this week will be missing a few local political leaders. The leaders of North Stonington, Preston and Ledyard say they don't expect to attend this Friday's meeting because of what happened at last month.
In a letter to the tribe, the leaders of the three towns say they had been hopeful about last month's session that was supposed to promote better relations between the Pequots and their neighbors. However, they claim that the session turned into something of a town bashing session and the public was not allowed to ask questions or raise issues of concern. The relationship between the town and the tribe began to sour after the Pequots opened Foxwoods Casino in 1992. Since then, the tribe's push to add land to its reservation has touched off legal battles which are still pending.
Ikea recalls toy after death of child
 (Stockholm-AP) _ The Ikea home and accessories company on Tuesday issued a worldwide recall of a stacking-rings toy after a 5-year-old child choked to death on one of the pieces.
The toy, called the Mula ring pyramid, consists of brightly colored rings that are to be stacked on a dowel. The smallest piece is a ball about 1.5 inches in diameter. Ikea issued the recall after receiving a report that a child had choked to death when the ball became lodged in his throat.
Company offers what it calls "Safe" internet access
(WTNH) _ Many parents are worried their kids will find Internet sites that feature violence or pornography. Some companies have developed software to filter out offending material and provide for safe surfing. One company is going a step further.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports.
Genetic diagnosis may prevent some inherited diseases like Sickle Cell
(WTNH) _ Doctors have discovered a way to ensure a couple won't have a baby with sickle cell anemia. The first test tube babies were born without the disease through genetic testing.
Health Team 8's Susan Hiland reports.
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