Boater Dies After River Accident In Shelton

A 55-year-old man who was pulled from the Housatonic River in Shelton after a boating accident has died. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection told the Connecticut Post that the man died Saturday at Yale-New Haven Hospital. His name is being withheld pending notification of his family. Shelton police say several people were on a boat that struck an object in the river near a boat ramp Friday night. One of the boaters fell overboard and others in the group couldn't find him. Firefighters found the man about 15 minutes after being called to the scene. He wasn't breathing and was given CPR. State authorities are investigating the accident.

New Fairfield Man Faces Charges In Wife's Death

Police say a 63-year-old man shot and killed his 47-year-old wife after an altercation in their New Fairfield home. Authorities say Robert Bell allegedly shot his wife, Svetlana, four times after an altercation Saturday night. Police say they received a 911 call from Robert Bell requesting an ambulance shortly after 7 p.m. When they arrived at the residence, police found Svetlana Bell unresponsive on the kitchen floor, with apparent gunshot wounds to her chest area. She was transported to Danbury Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a short time later. Authorities say Robert Bell has been charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and other offenses. He is due in Danbury Superior Court on Monday.

FEMA Closing Greenwich Storm Center

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it's closing a disaster recovery center set up after Superstorm Sandy at the Western Greenwich Civic Center in Greenwich. FEMA says it will shut the center on Wednesday. Residents who had storm damage may register online for help, through the agency's Helpline call center or at a center that remains open. Homeowners, business owners and renters who had damage from Hurricane Sandy in one of the Connecticut counties designated for individual assistance have until Dec. 31 to register for federal help. Nearly six weeks after Sandy pounded the Northeast, FEMA is winding down its in-state operations. It also is closing disaster recovery centers in Old Saybrook and Groton.

Longtime Connecticut Sportscaster Arnold Dean Dies At 82

Longtime sportscaster Arnold Dean, creator of one of the first sports call-in shows, has died at age 82. Brooklawn Funeral Home says Dean, who was born Arnold D'Angelo, died Saturday at his home in Rocky Hill. His family tells the Hartford Courant  that his death comes a day after having his pacemaker replaced. Dean's career in sports broadcasting spans more than 60 years. He spent much of his career at WTIC-AM in Harford, starting in 1965. The radio station says he began hosting "SportsTalk" in 1976. It was one of the earliest all-sports call-in shows. Dean would interview such sports legends as Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. WTIC Operations Manager Steve Salhany says Dean was "a consummate professional, consummate gentleman, and an all-around good person."

Hope And Fear In Gay Marriage Cases At High Court

Gay marriage supporters see 41 reasons to fret over the Supreme Court's decision to take up the case of California's ban on same-sex unions. While nine states allow same-sex partners to marry, or will soon, 41 states do not. Of those, 30 have written gay marriage bans into their state constitutions. That fact is worrisome to those who firmly believe in a constitutional right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation, but who also know that the Supreme Court does not often get well ahead of the country on hot-button social issues. The justices will hear cases this term on California's Proposition 8 and a federal law that prevents gay couples from receiving federal benefits for married people.

Deer Hunter Dies After Heart Attack

Connecticut environmental officials say an East Hartford man hunting for deer with friends in the Salmon River State Forest suffered an apparent heart attack and has died. A spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says state police received a call at about 7 a.m. Saturday and responded to a medical emergency about a half-mile into the state park in Marlborough. The name of the 43-year-old man is being withheld until his family is notified.

Bristol Man Charged In Car Theft With Toddler Inside

A Bristol man has been accused of stealing a car in Hartford with a 2-year-old boy in the back seat. The New Britain Herald reports that Devon Mills was held on $750,000 bond following his arraignment Friday on charges of kidnapping, risk of injury and larceny. The 24-year-old Mills is accused of stealing the car on Thursday as it idled outside a fast food store. He was caught when bystanders called in his location. Hartford police issued an Amber Alert notifying other agencies, the media and public. Police say Mills left the child with an acquaintance so he could bring a friend to Bristol Hospital. Mills told police he took the car with the child inside because he was upset that the boy's father left him alone in the car.