Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Tuesday she's poised to veto portions of a criminal justice bill that toughens penalties for repeat, violent offenders. The bill, which was passed last week by both the House and the Senate, was crafted in part as a response to the deadly home invasions in Cheshire and New Britain.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Rell said she is willing to sign the portion of the bill that strengthens and streamlines the persistent felony offender law, even though she would prefer "the bill also include a strong 'three strikes' provision." She said the problem with the bill is the $10 million appropriation to hire more prosecutors, probation officers, and state police and increase spending on prison re-entry programs.

"I am willing--indeed, I am eager--to sit down with legislative leaders to find a way to pay for these much-needed changes. But to sign Senate Bill 671 in the absence of a state budget would be irresponsible," Rell said.

(Updated 6:08 p.m.) Former Lt. Billy White, the center of a New Haven police corruption scandal, was sentenced to 38 months in prison Monday, despite emotional testimony about his years of public service.

Judge Janet Arterton handed down the sentence, which also included two years of supervised release, in U.S. District Court in New Haven. The courthouse was mobbed with supporters and reporters; the crowd spilled out into the hallway.

In addition to his prison sentence, White was ordered to pay $15,505 in restitution. he was fined $20,000, and he has to forfeit $10,200 in bribes he accepted from local bail bondsmen.

Click here to continue reading Paul's report.

The Connecticut Supreme Court will be asked Tuesday to determine if Connecticut schoolchildren have a right to an adequate education.

Yale Law students filed the case against the state more than two years ago on behalf of 15 students and their families that feel the quality of education is falling far short of its intended goal. The Attorney General's office is expected to argue on behalf of the state.

"By recognizing that each child in this State has the right to an adequate education, the Supreme Court can empower the Legislature to provide our children with the kind of education they deserve," David Noah, one of the law students who will make the oral arguments to the court, said in a press release.

"I have my Automatic Rifle ready to go an won't hesitate to use it to kill These Rodents."

A crusader against New Haven's immigrant-friendly ID plan said he had nothing to do with the above words contained in a letter to New Haven's mayor's office.

The anonymous handwritten missive came up during the morning half of a day-long hearing Monday before the state Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) in Hartford.

Click here to continue reading Paul's report.

One woman, a supposed confidential informant in three homicides, told police that a detective forged her signature when filling out receipts for money -- money she never got.

The allegation is one of several startling revelations in a series of previously sealed arrest warrants in the case of ex-Detective Clarence Willoughby (pictured).

Willoughby, a 24-year veteran of the force, resigned shortly before turning himself over to police on Feb. 6 on larceny and forgery charges. He is accused of pocketing thousands of dollars in informant money in four incidents spanning from 2003 to 2007; he has pleaded not guilty and retained defense attorney Norm Pattis.

Click here to continue reading Melissa's report.

A federal judge upheld a vote by Foxwoods Resort Casino dealers to unionize Friday, ruling that there was no misconduct by the United Auto Workers union prior to the election in November.

Hartford Judge Raymond P. Green concluded in this decision that Foxwoods did not prove union organizers intimidated casino workers to get them to vote in favor of joining the UAW.

The decision will now be sent to the National Labor Relations Board's regional office so the election results can be certified.

The City of Hartford is making their position on the detention of undocumented workers and illegal immigrants known.

Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts said in a press release Friday, that "If ICE or some other federal agency makes a specific request concerning suspected or actual criminal activity, then the Hartford Police Department will provide available support services during these federal operations. We will hold or detain persons suspected of criminal activity, upon request. However, the HPD will not honor any request from ICE to hold or detain a person where a civil or administrative warrant is involved."

Click here to read the full press release.

A Freedom of Information hearing officer heard motions Tuesday in a complaint seeking the names, addresses, and photographs of New Haven residents enrolled in a controversial municipal identification card program.

The ID cards are believed to be the first in the country designed specifically to bring undocumented people out of the shadows and to give them access to community and banking services. The cards are available to all Elm City residents, even if they are documented citizens.

In a packed room Tuesday, Freedom of Information Commission hearing officer Sherman London consolidated two complaints. One was filed by Chris Powell, the managing editor of the Journal Inquirer, who told the commission he was just representing himself in the matter and that the newspaper was not involved. The other complaint was filed by Dustin Gold, who was represented by Michael Hethmon, an attorney from the Immigration Reform Law Institute.

An association of black state troopers said Thursday that it will be filing a federal class action lawsuit against the state accusing the public safety commissioner of discriminating against black candidates seeking jobs as state troopers.

The Connecticut Chapter of the Black State Troopers Coalition, says Commissioner John Danaher arbitrarily decided to use a higher score on the written entrance exam to eliminate a majority of black state trooper applicants, who had passed the test with scores of 65 percent or better.

Traditionally if a trooper scores 65 percent or better on the written exam they're allowed to proceed to the next set of tests, such as the agility or polygraph test, Capt. Joe Davis, president of the state coalition, said.

The United Church of Christ's nonprofit tax status has been called into question by the Internal Revenue Service because Illinois Senator Barack Obama gave
this speech at the General Synod in Hartford this summer.

Obama, a member of the church, appeared at the Hartford Civic Center on June 23, 2007 to address a crowd of more than 10,000 UCC members, who were passing around dozens of cookies, not political literature, which could cost the church its tax status.

Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez was outraged by the allegations made by the IRS.

In a press release sent out Wednesday, he said, "Monday's action by the IRS is an intimidation tactic aimed at preventing churches and people of faith from hearing from public officials about the important issues of the day."

Perez was so upset by the allegations he sent this letter to Connecticut's Congressional delegation.