May 24 / 6:00 pm
Lightning strikes senior complex, causes fire
(Windsor-WTNH) _ Residents of a Windsor seniors complex are back in their rooms after a lightning strike caused a fire Monday afternoon. It happened at the Fitch Court Apartments, which is located at Bloomfield Ave and Fitch Court. It's a former school converted to senior housing. The lightning ignited the cupola on the building. The fire was extinguished quickly, and residents were allowed to go back inside. There are no injuries reported.
Arrest made in hit and run of 10 year old girl
(West Haven-AP) _ Two people were arrested in a hit-and-run accident that critically injured a 10-year-old East Hampton girl, police said. Dawn Dibene, 21, of West Haven, was charged Sunday with felony evading for driving the car that struck the girl as she crossed a city street about 8 p.m. Saturday night, police said. Luis Calderon, 18, of New Haven, was charged with hindering prosecution and trying to cover up the investigation. Dibene was being held on $250,000 bond and is due in court Monday. Calderon was released on a promise to appear in court on June 8. The girl, whose name has not been released, remains in critical condition. A spokesman at Yale-New Haven Hospital said the girl was so seriously injured doctors had to induce a coma to work on her. They do, however, expect her to recover.
Services held for couple killed in crash
(Cromwell-WTNH) _ Funeral services were held Monday is held for two victims of a deadly highway crash. Gerard and Esther Weitzman were laid to rest in Cromwell.
The couple was killed Friday night on 1-91 in Meriden. That's when witnesses say a pick-up truck crossed the median and slammed head-on into their car.
Three others were also killed in that accident. The driver of the pick-up was reportedly was suffering from chest pains in the days before the accident.
Report Critical of Millstone
(Waterford-WTNH) _ Workers at the Millstone III nuclear power plant appear to be repeating some of their past mistakes. A recent report from the plant's nuclear oversight office cites 'poor planning' and increased chances for an accident. The oversight office acts like an internal watch-dog. In this case, the scheduled refueling of unit 3 was stopped until certain problems could be straightened out.
 News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our southeastern newsroom at The Day.
Body Identified as missing Hartford woman
 (WTNH) _ Investigators have confirmed a corpse found last November in a New Jersey lake is that of Rosa Delgado of Hartford. In October of 1997, Delgado disappeared with her 4-year old daughter, Rosa Marie Camacho, who is still missing. Former Hartford police officer Julio Camacho has been identified as a prime suspect in the case. Camacho has been questioned by a grand jury, but there have been no arrests.
Teens charged with making bomb threat
(Windham-AP) _ Two pupils at Windham Middle School have been accused of staging a phony bomb threat that caused authorities to lock down the school over the weekend. Police say the two pupils will be referred to juvenile court to face charges. School officials, meanwhile, say the two will face expulsion. The note turned out to be a hoax, but officials banned pupils from bringing handbags and backpacks to school Monday and attendance was down about 20 percent.
Students talk about school violence
(Hamden-WTNH) _ Some Connecticut school students are doing their part to stop school violence. A new program hopes to bring together the voices of teens to come up with a solution to the problem. Most of the teens had a lot to say.
News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports.
General assembly prepares to debate gun bills
(Hartford-WTNH) _ As the nation's focus continues on school violence and gun control, the Connecticut general assembly is poised to take up a new package of gun proposals. But one part is very controversial. It's a proposal that would allow you to complain to police if you thought someone you know or work with is unstable, dangerous, and also owned guns.
And the complaint could lead police to get a warrant and seize the guns.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis has the story.
Yale students graduate, Elizabeth Dole speaks about gun locks
(New Haven -WTNH) _ The leaders of the next millennium are joining the real world Monday. Some 3,000 undergrads and graduate students received their degrees at Yale University's 298th commencement. Adding to the excitement was the commencement speech by republican presidential hopeful Elizabeth Dole.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.
Group wants vote on Long Wharf mall
(New Haven-WTNH) _ Another push is being made to stop the proposed Long Wharf mall. New Haven mayoral candidate James Newton and other downtown merchants announced Monday they are sending a letter to the president of the board of alderman calling for a non-binding referendum vote on the mall construction project. The group is also appealing to the board of aldermen for a referendum as well.
Adriaen's Landing back on track
(Hartford-AP) _ Governor Rowland and legislative leaders say they're ready to move ahead on the revitalization of Hartford, despite the loss of the New England Patriots. After a two hour session at the governor's mansion this morning, the political leaders say they're back on track with plans for Adriaen's Landing. There's a new developer in the picture who is bringing some $200 million to the table. The project is still to include a convention center, domed stadium and retail space. A spokesman for the governor says Phoenix Life which has been a spark behind the who project since day one, is still involved. Monday's session comes as Governor Cellucci of Massachusetts signs into law bill to keep the New England Patriots in Massachusetts. The bill provides $70 million dollars for infrastructure improvements around the site of a new, privately-financed stadium in Foxboro.
Chat room "dates" lead to arrests
(Coventry-AP) _ Two Meriden men have been charged with picking up two underage Coventry girls they met in an America Online chatroom. William Jones, 22, and Robert Williams, 20, were charged with risk of injury to a minor. Police said Jones and Williams picked up the girls, aged 13 and 14, about 1 a.m. Saturday. Authorities said the suspects were confronted by an older brother of one of the girls. The brother pursued the men and girls in a 30-minute car chase that ended with another confrontation, in which the brother managed to extract his sister and her friend from the suspects' car. The brother then reported the incident to the police, who contacted Jones and Williams and told them to come down to headquarters. The suspects were arrested and released on a promise to appear in Rockville Superior Court on June 1.
Man charged with trying to swim away from accident scene
(Norwich-AP) _ A Norwich man faces several charges after police say he tried to swim away from the scene of an accident. Shawn Murphy was twice pulled from the Eighth Street Canal in Norwich by police investigating a two car accident on North Main Street early yesterday. Police say the 39-year-old man fought with police who showed up to check out the report of an accident about 3:30 yesterday morning. According to police, Murphy tried to escape police by twice jumping into the canal and trying to swim away. He was finally captured and taken to Backus Hospital for treatment of hypothermia. He's due in court today.
Guardsmen get send-off to duty in Europe
(Orange-WTNH) _ Another call to duty for Connecticut soldiers.
24 reservists from the National Guard's 103rd Air Control Squadron Unit in Orange will leave for Italy next month to support "Operation Allied Force".
They'll join forces from other allied nations to support the NATO operations in Kosovo. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro met with the guardsmen, and said she's proud of them for their dedication, commitment and sacrifice for their country.
Master Sgt. Larry Mayes: "That's why I joined the military so I can do my part for God and my country. That's what I committed to."
This unit is the only air control squadron in New England.
Officials say these reservists could be gone for up to nine months.
New company is freezing pet DNA for the future, for a price
(Farmington-AP) _ Genetic scientists have cloned sheep and cattle. Now a couple of Connecticut entrepreneurs are cashing in on pet owners' hopes for carbon-based copies of Rover and Fluffy. Dr. Heather J. Bessoff and Ron D. Gillespie are collecting samples of DNA from beloved pets, living or recently deceased, in preparation for the day when cloning becomes commonplace.
Here's the full story.
Bridge Closure ties up traffic for a year
(Norwich-WTNH) _ Folks who live in and around Norwich are bracing for a year's worth of traffic headaches. The problems revolve around the Eighth Street bridge, which was shut down Monday so the state can begin to make long overdue repairs. Detours have been put in place causing confusion and tie-ups in downtown Norwich, especially during rush hour. The bridge is just one of two spans crossing the Shetucket River, and it's expected to stay closed for about a year.
TV stand recalled
(WTNH) _ A recall is underway for a TV stand that that can easily tip over.
Sauder Woodworking company is recalling two million oak TV carts that hold a TV and VCR. It has a swivel top, and a bottom shelf with hinged double doors. The model numbers are 5155, 5055 and 5251. The stand can easily tip over. Call 1.888.800.4590 if you have any questions, or check their webpage at www.sauder.com.
Demand up at food pantries, soup kitchens
(WTNH) _ Despite the booming economy, the need for emergency food to help the hungry in Connecticut is growing.
The Connecticut Association for Human Services says there are increasing numbers of of children, working adults and the elderly at the state's food kitchens.
Paul Gionfriddo, C.A.H.S.: "People are hungrier in 1999 than they were in 1998 and through very extensive surveys; one of over a hundred emergency food providers, and another of over four hundred emergency food participants."
88 percent of the food sites reported level or increased demand over the past year.
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