Connecticut Senate Candidates Differ On Campaign Ruling

 Connecticut's Senate candidates differ over whether corporations should have the ability to make independent expenditures during political campaigns. Democratic U.S. Rep. Chis Murphy opposes the U.S. Supreme Court decision which prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures from corporations and unions. But Republican Linda McMahon says she believes corporations have free speech rights, allowing them to buy political ads. The two sparred over campaign financing, women's health care, taxes and other issues during their third debate Monday night in the close race.  The debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London highlighted how contentious the election has become. Both candidates were repeatedly interrupted by a boisterous audience of more than 600 people with cheers, boos, shouting and applause. McMahon and Murphy face their fourth debate on Thursday.

 Terror Suspects Face Connecticut  Trial Next October

 A federal judge in Connecticut has scheduled a trial for next October for two men extradited from Britain on charges they supported terrorists in Afghanistan and Chechnya by operating websites to raise cash, recruit fighters and solicit items such as gas masks.  Judge Janet Hall on Monday tentatively scheduled the trial date for 38-year-old Babar Ahmad and 33-year-old Syed Talha Ahsan. The men are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to kill people in a foreign country. Ahmad also is charged with money laundering. The men pleaded not guilty on Oct. 6 and are detained while they await trial. Prosecutors want the men tried together. Defense attorneys haven't taken a position.

Man Charged With Killing His Mother And 2 Others In 2010

A Manchester man has been arrested and charged with killing his mother and two other people in a grisly East Hartford slaying on Thanksgiving 2010. Forty-eight-year-old Brett Bednarz was arrested Monday morning. He is in custody on $3 million bail and has a court appearance scheduled for Tuesday in Manchester Superior Court. Bednarz's mother, Beverly Therrien, was found dead in her house along with the bodies of two tenants, Michael Ramsey and Pamela Johns.  Bednarz was previously identified by police as a "person of interest" in the slaying, but it was not immediately clear what prompted the arrest.  Bednarz is charged with three counts of murder in addition to capital felony murder, first-degree burglary, home invasion and criminal violation of a protective order.

Fallout Lingers Over Connecticut Higher Ed Pay Raises

A top Republican state lawmaker is renewing calls for legislative hearings into $250,000 in unauthorized pay raises in the state's higher education system. House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero says he also wants to know what Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy knew about the raises and when. The raises given over the past year to officials with the Board of Regents for Higher Education were publicly revealed last week and led to the resignations of the board's president and vice president on Friday.  Malloy senior adviser Roy Occhiogrosso ,  says the governor only recently learned about the raises and accused Cafero of playing politics shortly before the November election.  Democratic leaders in the legislature say they don't believe hearings are needed because the Board of Regents is taking action.

Hate Crime And Other Charges Dismissed Against Banker

 A judge has thrown out charges against an investment banker from Connecticut accused of a hate crime against a New York City cab driver.  The case was dismissed in Stamford Superior Court Monday against William Jennings. The Darien resident was accused of cutting the driver's hand with a pen knife after refusing to pay the $204 fare from Manhattan to Darien last December.  The Stamford Advocate reported a prosecutor said police were unable to find the knife, but the driver had it. Hassan Ahmad, the driver's attorney, said his client told the prosecutor he had the knife and was outraged the charges were dismissed. Jennings' attorney, Eugene Riccio, says the driver unlawfully restrained Jennings. He says Jennings brandished the knife to try to escape and the driver grabbed the knife.

Ganim Asks Appellate Court For Law License Back

 Former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim is asking the state Appellate Court to restore his law license that he lost following a corruption conviction. The Connecticut Post reports  that Ganim's lawyer filed the appeal on Monday.  A three-judge panel rejected Ganim's request last month to get his license back, saying he failed to show remorse for his crimes. The ex-mayor's lawyer also filed a request Monday with the panel asking it to correct its decision.  Ganim, who was once considered a Democratic contender for governor, was convicted in 2003 on federal corruption and bribery charges and sentenced to nine years in prison, a $150,000 fine and ordered to pay more than $148,000 in restitution.

Norwich Woman Charged In Hit-And-Run That Injured 2

Police say a Norwich woman told police that she was gambling and drinking at Foxwoods Resort Casino before she struck two pedestrians in a hit-and-run accident. One of the pedestrians had a leg amputated.  Amalia Rivera was arraigned Monday in Norwich Superior Court on two counts of assault, evading responsibility and failure to drive right.  The 36-year-old Rivera is accused of slamming her car into the back of another vehicle, pinning a woman between the cars. Police say Rivera believed she had hit a dog, but because it was dark she continued home. She was released on $70,000 bond.