Connecticut Senators Propose Assault Weapons Ban

Connecticut's two U.S. senators will join California Sen. Dianne Feinstein and other key senators in proposing a retooled federal ban on assault weapons in the wake of the deadly Newtown school shooting. Sen. Richard Blumenthal told The Associated Press on Wednesday the proposed legislation, to be unveiled Thursday in Washington, D.C., will more narrowly define what's considered an assault weapon under a resurrected ban and forbid high-capacity magazines. Blumenthal said this marks "the most significant" bill to be proposed since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, although he acknowledged it faces an uphill battle. It's also the first bill Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy have worked on together as senators. Robert Crook, a state gun rights advocate, said assault weapons bans have not been proven to be effective.

2 Children Died Of Smoke Inhalation In Putnam Fire

The office of Connecticut's chief medical examiner says two girls found dead after a house fire in Putnam died of smoke inhalation. The 3-year-old and 6-month-old sisters were killed in a fire Tuesday that also injured four adults including their pregnant mother. The cause of death was released Wednesday following autopsies by the medical examiner's office. Fire Marshal Norm Perron told The Bulletin of Norwich that fire was caused by accident but it will be difficult to determine the origin because the damage is so widespread. WVIT-TV reports the girls were identified as Alexis Auger and her younger sister, Ava Auger. Officials believe there were five apartments in the Victorian-style house, which was built in 1867 and had nearly 4,500 square feet of living space.

Sandy Hook Students Will Have Shorter School Year

Students at the Newtown, Conn., elementary school where 20 classmates were shot dead by a gunman last month won't have to make up days they missed after the massacre. The state Board of Education on Wednesday granted a waiver shortening their school year from the mandatory 180 days to 177 days. The school district originally had planned a 183-day school year. The Sandy Hook Elementary School was closed after the Dec. 14 shooting, in which the gunman also killed six adults before committing suicide. The more than 400 students from the school returned to classes Jan. 4 at a former middle school renovated for them in nearby Monroe. They missed just six days of classes because of an already planned holiday break. The General Assembly had passed legislation allowing for the waiver.

Middlebury Man Pleads Guilty In Donovan Case

A Middlebury man who owned two roll-your-own tobacco shops in Waterbury has pleaded guilty for his role in an alleged campaign financing plot surrounding former House Speaker Chris Donovan's one-time congressional campaign. Forty-year-old Paul Rogers pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of devising a scheme to bribe a public official, one count of conspiring to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission and impeding the agency's enforcement of federal campaign finance laws. Prosecutors say Rogers and others schemed to hide the source of $27,500 in contributions to Donovan's campaign in hopes of trying to block state legislation that would be harmful to the roll-your-own tobacco industry. Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13. He's the third defendant to plead guilty to charges related to the conspiracy.

Connecticut Representative Larson To Hold Debt Ceiling Forum

Connecticut U.S. Rep. John Larson is hosting a public forum on the federal debt ceiling. The 1st District Democrat is expected to discuss how Congress is dealing with the limits on borrowing, automatic budget cuts and how the process could have a lasting impact on national and local economies. The forum will be held Thursday at the East Hartford Cultural Center Auditorium and will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Republicans on Wednesday passed legislation in the House of Representatives to suspend a requirement for Congress, for nearly four months, to approve a higher limit on America's borrowing. The 285-144 vote showed the GOP was backing away from an immediate battle with second-term President Barack Obama and a possible first-ever default on the country's obligations.

Lawmakers Confirm McDonald To Connecticut Supreme Court

Former Stamford state Sen. Andrew McDonald has been confirmed to Connecticut's State Supreme Court, becoming the state's first openly gay appellate jurist. The House of Representatives approved McDonald's nomination Wednesday on a 125-to-20 vote. Earlier in the day, the Senate confirmed McDonald on a 30-3 vote. The 46-year-old McDonald was praised by his former Senate colleagues and House members as someone with both the intellect and temperament to serve on the state's highest court. However, he was criticized by Republican Sen. Michael McLachlan of Danbury for proposing legislation in 2009 giving lay members of the Roman Catholic Church more control over parish finances. McLachlan called the failed proposal "a direct attack on the Catholic Church." McDonald has most recently served as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's legal counsel.

Ohio Taxpayer Challenges Sending Fine To Newtown

A taxpayer has challenged an Ohio judge's decision that a $5,000 fine paid by a former high school basketball coach who videotaped boys in a locker room shower should go the Connecticut community where a gunman killed 26 people. The challenge was sent Wednesday to the Stark County prosecutor by Craig Conley, an attorney representing Thomas Marcelli on behalf of county taxpayers. Conley says fines should go to the county under Ohio law. Judge Frank Forchione (for-SHOH'-nee) had sentenced coach Scott Studer to 15 years in prison and sent his fine to the Newtown school support fund. The judge says he will review the challenge. Conley asked John Ferrero, who led the coach's prosecution, to seek an out-of-county prosecutor to handle the fine issue. A message was left for Ferrero.

Rhode Island Judge Orders Legion of Christ Papers Unsealed

A Rhode Island judge has ordered the unsealing of documents related to a disgraced Roman Catholic organization called the Legion of Christ as it faces questions about its relationship to wealthy elderly patrons. A Superior Court judge Wednesday ruled the public should be allowed to scrutinize the documents. The documents are from a lawsuit filed by a woman contesting the will of a wealthy aunt who left the Legion $60 million. The Legion argued the documents could taint prospective jurors. The Associated Press and The New York Times are among media organizations that sought to have the documents unsealed. The Vatican took over the Legion in 2010 after determining its late founder molested seminarians and fathered three children. The Legion also is being sued in Connecticut by a man who says he's the son of its founder.

New HavenMan, 29, Killed In Connecticut Shooting

A 29-year-old New Haven man has died after being shot. Police officers found Lonni Star after receiving a call shortly before 6:40 p.m. Wednesday about a man who'd been shot. They found Star at a Dunkin Donuts store and took him to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police believe Star was shot at another location and driven to the store by a woman who called 911 for help. Authorities are seeking witnesses to the crime.