May 16 / 6:15 pm
Plans drafted for ground troops in Kosovo
(Washington-AP) _ A published report says the Joint Chiefs have laid it on the line about the need for ground troops in Kosovo. Newsweek says the military leaders have written to Defense Secretary William Cohen. They say the Clinton administration must commit ground forces if it wants to return the Kosovo refugees to their homes. The report says time is growing short to get the refugees home this year. That's because it starts snowing in Kosovo in October. That means a ground war would have to start by August, which means ground troops have to start gathering by early June. Meanwhile, former Joint Chiefs chairman Colin Powell says NATO must go all out if it wants to win. He told NBC that means risking casualties.
Groups prepare for arrival of Kosovo refugees
(WTNH) _ Sponsor families in Connecticut are preparing to welcome the first of the Kosovo refugees later this week.
Some are friends - many are strangers. Sunday one community thanked those who've donated food clothing and money for refugee relief, but it is also asking for more help.
 News Channel 8's Jocelyn Sigue reports.
State goes after deadbeat parents
(WTNH) _ A major crack-down on deadbeat parents in Connecticut resulted in dozens of arrests over the weekend.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal joined representatives of the Department of Social Services and local sheriffs to announce the latest child-support crackdown. Officials say sheriffs throughout the state tracked down and arrested 33 deadbeat parents who owe more than $500,000. In five other sweeps this year, the state has caught 367 deadbeat parents.
Plane crashes into yard
(Monroe-WTNH) _ A Monroe family had quite a surprise Sunday morning when a small plane crashed on their front lawn. It happened at about 8:00 am on Bridle Path Road. The plane's engine apparently stalled. The pilot, 40-year old Phillip Abrams of New Jersey, tried to land the plane on a road but didn't make it. He was taken to Bridgeport Hospital where he was listed in fair condition Sunday night. The FAA, NTSB and the Connecticut Department of Transportation are investigating.
Search for missing pilot suspended
(WTNH) _ The search for a missing Massachusetts pilot has been called off.
69-year-old Gerard Finkenbeiner has been missing since May 6th. He took off from Norwood Airport in his single engine plane and hasn't been heard from since. Investigators combed several states, including Connecticut, for Finkenbeiner's plane. Rescue workers say they have exhausted all leads.
Irate Driver Arrested
(Norwich-AP) _ Norwich police said a woman who flunked her driver's test threatened to return the DMV office and employees. No one was injured in yesterday's incident at the Norwich DMV office but it earned Dawn Mitchell a court date. The 24-year-old Plainfield woman was charged with threatening, breach of peace and interfering with a police officer. She's scheduled to be arraigned in Norwich Superior Court on May 28th.
Preliminary FBI figures show drop in crime
(Washington-AP) _ Crime continues to fall. The Justice Department says preliminary FBI figures for 1998 show a seven-percent drop in serious crime compared to a year earlier. That's the seventh consecutive annual crime drop.
According to the preliminary figures, decreases were reported across the board in both violent crimes _ murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault _ and property offenses _ burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.
Robberies fell eleven percent and murders fell eight percent. In a statement, President Clinton calls the seven-year downward trend "remarkable."
In wake of Bailey case, FBI changing warrant review process
(New Haven-AP) _ The FBI is reviewing fugitive arrest warrants more strictly following allegations that some agents falsified warrants. Michael Wolf, the top FBI agent in Connecticut said those allegations were a "wakeup call". The claims were leveled at the bureau by state Inspector Gregory Dillon. Dillon was punished by his boss, Chief State's Attorney John Bailey for making the allegations. Dillon sued Bailey over a gag order issued to inspectors on the joint state and federal fugitive task force and was awarded a $1.5 million settlement last week. Wolf said the seven falsified warrants that Dillon identified contained only procedural errors. Some of the mistakes, he said, were made during an urgency to get the job done. Wolf said now all federal fugitive warrants must be reviewed by an FBI attorney before they are submitted to U.S. District Court. And FBI agents can no longer attribute warrant information to other investigators, he said.
Proposal would set up a network of the state's academic libraries
(Hartford-AP) - High school students could be doing research at the state's colleges and universities under the proposed Connecticut Virtual Library. That's one benefit of the proposal making its way through the state legislature. The plan to link the state's libraries would create a network of on-line resources with information on health, science, court cases, literature and other subjects for Connecticut students.
Here's the full story.
Jack Cruise, veteran Day sportswriter and editor, dies at 85
(New London-AP) _ John "Jack" Cruise, who covered eastern Connecticut sports for more than 60 years for The Day, has died. He was 85.
Known for his gentility in the often salty atmosphere of sports, Cruise died Friday at a Groton nursing home. "He was the dean, the standard. He brought joy and enthusiasm every time he came to the field," said New London High School Athletic Director Jim O'Neill. "He knew what it means to be a person of manner and grace."
Born and educated in New London, Cruise began working at The Day shortly after his 1931 high school graduation. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a decorated veteran of World War II.
Cruise is survived by his wife, Edith, two daughters, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Groton Heights Baptist Church.
TV personalities stress morality, media responsibility in commencement talks
(Hamden-AP) _ Well-known TV personalities told new college graduates in Connecticut Sunday that they should work to help create a more moral nation and a more responsible media. At the University of Hartford, veteran CBS newsman Mike Wallace urged 1,350 new graduates to take responsibility for shaping a better world.
Here's the full story.
Pizza profits help students go to college
(Meriden-WTNH) _ A Meriden business owner is giving up his pizza profits in order to help some of the neighborhood's high school seniors go to college.
Broad Street Pizza is normally closed on Sundays, but Nolberto Gonzalez decided to open his shop to help raise scholarship money for some local Hispanic teens. 70 percent of the day's profits will be added to other money raised by the "Meriden Hispanic Foundation." That fund is set up to help the city's Hispanic students further their education
Nolberto Gonzalez, Broad St. Pizza: "It's very important. I think it's the future of our town and our state. I figure I do something good for them."
Oscar Rosado, President, Meriden Hispanic Foundation: "Through this type of event, and festivals and dances, this is how we raise our money. This is a really great deal to us. We found out that we had a big drop out rate of high school students - Spanish students - and we saw the need in that area."
Since the organization was founded 12 years ago, Rosado says it has given $70,000 to aspiring college students.
|
