May 25 / 11:00 pm
Woman, children hit by train - Four dead, One critical
 (Fairfield-WTNH) _ A six year old boy remains in extremely critical condition after being hit by a train. His mother and three siblings were killed in the accident. The tragedy on the tracks happened in Fairfield at about 2:20 am. Investigators are still trying to figure out what the family was doing on the tracks in the middle of the night.
 News Channel 8's Christina Hager reports.
 Here's video of Christina's story
Trains may not be heard until it's too late
(Clinton-WTNH) _ Even if the mother and children heard the train coming they may not have had enough time to get out of the way.
Many Amtrak trains travel through Connecticut up to 90-miles an hour.
But sometimes you can't hear them until they are just yards away. In a few months when high-speed rail service begins the trains will be even quieter.
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.
Here's video of Peter's story.
News Channel 8 tape used in Curtis competency hearing
(WTNH) _ Some say he's getting away with the murder of his former girlfriend. The competency hearing for Kenneth Curtis continued in Bridgeport Tuesday. Years ago Curtis was declared incompetent to stand trial.
But in 1997, News Channel 8 found Curtis earning A's and B's in college level classes. And a key piece of videotape was entered as evidence in the case.
Team 8 Investigator Paul Adrian reports.
Waste Watch
(WTNH) _ Just about everyone makes a personal phone call at work once in a while, maybe even every day. But what about someone who racks up phone bills to '900' numbers totaling more than $11,000? It's just one example of waste discovered by Connecticut's state auditors in recent months.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Lawmakers reportedly close on state budget deal
(Hartford-AP) _ Democratic state leaders say they're close to a budget deal with the Republicans and the governor, although many big issues have yet to be resolved. Democrat leaders in the House and Senate say they're pushing for a budget that will be under the state spending cap. They also say they want to use the state surplus to pay cash for things the state would otherwise have bonded. But Republicans say they're seeking to be further under the spending cap. And, they're concerned that any state surplus is not spent on programs that will need money year after year. No agreement yet also on whether a tax rebate will be offered, or the size of any tax credits.
Lawmakers plan to meet later tonight and all day tomorrow.
Groups complain about watered-down Patients Bill of Rights
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Trouble concerning the so-called "Patients Bill of Rights." The Connecticut managed care reform bill apparently is not living up to expectations. A coalition of health care providers and consumer advocates say the bill has been watered down.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Nuisance bill heads to governor
(Hartford-AP) _ Police will have more power to close businesses and residences considered to be neighborhood nuisances. The Senate has given final approval to a bill that would expand the state's existing nuisance abatement law by allowing officials to take action after three arrest warrants have been issued at a certain location. The bill, which was passed unanimously, has been approved by the House. Governor John Rowland is expected to sign it.
Film commissioners want more funding
(WTNH) _ Bringing Hollywood to Connecticut costs money, and so far the state has not been willing to spend it. The state spends $150,000 per year on the Connecticut Film Commission, but those involved in the effort say they've got to have at least $350,000 or it's not even worth the effort.
Chief capitol correspondent Mark Davis reports.
Authorities arrest 28 in tri-state drug ring bust
(Norwalk-AP) _ 28 people have been arrested on charges of operating a drug distribution ring in southeastern Connecticut. The 28, which include four men from New York and New Jersey, were arrested Tuesday after a raid conducted by more than two hundred law enforcement officers. Investigators from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency and state and local police executed four federal search warrants in Norwalk and Trumbull early this morning. They found about $50,000 in cash, eight firearms, a large cache of ammunition, drugs including cocaine and marijuana, and drug-making paraphernalia. All are being held for arraignment later this week.
"Barney" causes outage
(New Haven-WTNH) _ A purple dinosaur knocked out power in parts of new haven Tuesday afternoon. A a mylar balloon of 'Barney' got tangled around some wires, causing a black-out around Liberty and Cedar Streets.
United Illuminating says about 2,300 customers lost power for 45 minutes.
Lawsuit filed over break-in shooting
(Waterbury-AP) _ A man who broke into a Waterbury house and was shot as an intruder is suing the homeowner. Louis Steponaitis wounded Clarence Wiggins with a shotgun last December after Wiggins broke into a Waterbury home. Wiggins says he was only trying to find a warm place to sleep but Steponaitis he fired after Wiggins advanced on him when he told him to get out. Steponaitis, who was renovating the property, says the place had been broken into five times the week before the shooting and items were stolen on several occasions. Police say Wiggins kicked down a wallboard barricade in order to get upstairs, where Steponaitis was waiting with the shotgun. Wiggins says he thought the house was abandoned. He said the house was not locked and he broke the wallboard while trying to flee.
Student charged with arson arrested again
(Shelton-AP) _ A Shelton High School senior charged last week with arson has been arrested again for threatening to kill students on prom day.
Police say 18-year-old Renee Adams is charged with inciting injuries to persons and intimidation based on bias or bigotry. She is free on 20-thousand dollars bond and due in Derby Superior Court on June 7th. According to authorities, Adams wrote a note on a school computer warning that "everyone who comes to school May 28 is dead." Police say Adams, who is white, also singled out minority students and athletes. Friday is senior prom night, and students attending the prom are required to attend classes that day. Adams was arrested last Thursday for allegedly setting fire to a bulletin board on April 29th, forcing the evacuation of the building. School officials say Adams faces expulsion.
City Worker arrested after vehicle crash
(Stratford-AP) _ A Milford public works employee faces charges for allegedly crashing a city-owned truck while driving drunk. Police say 45-year-old Thomas Pecor crashed the Chevrolet pickup into a parked car and then left the scene Friday afternoon. An 11-year-old girl sitting inside the car was not injured. Authorities say Pecor admitted he had been drinking and scuffled with police when they tried to arrest him. Pecor is charged with driving under the influence, interfering with an officer, evading responsibility and failure to drive right. He is due in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 1st. Pecor is a driver and laborer for the city. His main duty is picking up materials for recycling. City officials say a hearing will be held to determine whether he will be suspended from work.
Bridgeport diocese settles lawsuit
(Stamford-AP) _ There's been a settlement of sex abuse charges against a former Shelton priest. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport has settled a lawsuit filed by a man who claimed he was molested 16 years ago by the priest. The diocese and attorneys for the man will not disclose terms of the settlement.
The man claimed he was molested twice by the Reverend Martin Federici in 1983 while the priest served as pastor of Saint Joseph's Church in Shelton. The man was 15 at the time. 22 other cases against five other priests in the diocese are still pending.
Study: Rich are paying more taxes
(Hartford-AP) _ The rich are paying more of Connecticut's income tax than ever before, according to a new study by the University of Connecticut's Center for Economic Analysis. In 1997, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 46 percent of all state income taxes were paid by people who earned more than $150,000, or just six percent of tax filers. People earning more than $1 million annually, which make up less than half of one percent of all filers, pay more than 20 percent of the overall income tax bill. UConn economists say the numbers show the rich are doing the heavy lifting of the tax burden. They say the shift is fueled by success on Wall Street and continuing tax cuts in Connecticut.
Clinical trials for a breast cancer drug to get underway
(WTNH) _ It's being called one of the largest breast cancer studies ever. 22,000 women are needed to test a new drug that could reduce breast cancer. There are 400 test sites in the country, and several here in Connecticut.
Health Team 8's Susan Hiland reports.
Getting your grill ready for summer
(WTNH) _ This coming weekend is one of the biggest barbecue weekend of the summer. And guess what - there are some safety tips you should go over before you get the burgers going.
Consumer Team 8's Anna Sava reports.
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