New School For Newtown Students Renamed Sandy Hook

 Sandy Hook Elementary School parent Vinny Alvarez says he took advantage of an open house at his daughter's new school to thank a teacher who helped protect her class from a rampaging gunman.      Alvarez says the teacher, Courtney Martin, locked her classroom door and kept the children in a corner until it was safe to leave the building.  He was visiting the school in the neighboring town of Monroe, Conn., where Sandy Hook children are resuming classes Thursday for the first time since the Dec. 14 shooting that left 20 children and six educators dead.  Newtown Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson announced that the Sandy Hook staff decided that the students' new school, the former Chalk Hill Middle School in Monroe, would be renamed Sandy Hook Elementary School.

 Rep. King Says Boehner Promises Sandy Aid Votes

 A New York lawmaker says House Speaker John Boehner has promised votes to aid victims of Superstorm Sandy by Jan. 15. Republican Rep. Peter King says the speaker will schedule a vote Friday for $9 billion in flood insurance and another on Jan. 15 for a remaining $51 billion in the package. The votes will be taken by the new Congress that will be sworn in Thursday.  Boehner's decision to cancel an expected vote Tuesday night had outraged lawmakers from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including many in his own party.  King said Boehner made the promise in a private meeting with lawmakers from affected states. King and others said they were now satisfied that the aid will be forthcoming.

Connecticut Light And Power Proposes $47M Transmission Project

Connecticut's largest utility is proposing to spend $47 million to bury power lines to improve electric reliability in Stamford.  Connecticut Light & Power is proposing a 115,000-volt underground transmission line about 1.5 miles that will connect two substations in the city.  Critics who said CL&P, a subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, restored power too slowly after powerful storms in 2011 urged the utility to bury lines to avoid power outages.  However, spokesman Frank Poirot  said Wednesday that the Stamford project was proposed four or five years ago to keep up with rising demand for electricity in the populous southwestern Connecticut city. He says burying lines is feasible in urban, densely populated areas.     CL&P has invited the public to view the project at 6 p.m. Jan. 8 in the Stamford Government Center.

Charlestown Police Issue Warrant In Hit-And-Run

Charlestown police have issued an arrest warrant for a Connecticut woman they say was involved in a hit-and-run that injured a 16-year-old boy.  Chief Jeffrey Allen says a warrant was issued for 42-year-old Adriana Wright of North Stonington and that she's expected to turn herself in Thursday at Washington County District Court.  Allen says she faces two felony charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury and reckless driving resulting in serious injury.  Police say Wright hit the boy around 9:15 p.m. Thursday on Route 2 near the intersection of Lauri Drive while he was walking in the breakdown lane. Allen says the boy suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including a concussion and abrasions and contusions.

Retired Connecticut Chief Justice Robert Callahan Dies

Former Connecticut Chief Justice Robert J. Callahan, who served on the state's highest court for 14 years, has died. He was 82.  His son, Robert J. Callahan Jr., said Wednesday his father died at 7:30 p.m. New Year's Day at Norwalk Hospital, in the company of his wife and eight children. Callahan said his father had suffered from Parkinson's disease.   Callahan retired in 1999 after three years as chief justice. He was named to the state supreme court in 1985 after serving as a prosecutor, circuit court and superior court judge.   Governor  Malloy said Callahan "made a lasting impact on Connecticut."   Callahan authored hundreds of opinions, and led an initiative to improve trust and confidence in the courts.  The Norwalk native graduated from Boston College and Fordham University Law School. He served in the Army.