Latest Connecticut news, sports, business and entertainment

YALE KILLING

Yale killing suspect due back in court

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — An animal research technician charged with killing a Yale University graduate student returns to court this week

Raymond Clark III, who was charged with strangling 24-year-old Annie Le (LAY) of Placerville, California, is scheduled to appear Wednesday in New Haven Superior Court. Le's body was found stuffed behind a research lab wall on the day she was supposed to get married in September 2009.

The 26-year-old Clark has pleaded not guilty to murder. He's being held on $3 million bond at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield.

Police have said a green-ink pen under Le's body had her blood and Clark's DNA. Police said Clark signed into the secure building with a green pen the day Le disappeared.

PLASTIC BAG FEE

Conn. lawmakers to debate proposed grocery bag fee

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A bill that would impose a nickel fee for plastic grocery bags is up for debate at the Connecticut State Capitol.

The General Assembly's Environment Committee is scheduled Wednesday to hold a public hearing on the legislation and other bills that deal with everything from raw milk to outdoor wood-burning furnaces.

The proposed grocery bag fee has been an issue in recent years. The bill now requires proceeds to be collected for municipal recycling efforts.

Disposable bags affected by the legislation include paper or plastic sacks provided when goods are purchased. Reusable bags, bags used to cover dry cleaning and those used to protect delivered newspapers are exempted.

The legislation says the five-cent fee would not be charged to people using food stamps.

SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES

Sunday liquor sales on tap for Conn. Hearing

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Allowing alcohol sales in Connecticut on Sundays is once again on tap at the state Capitol.

The General Assembly's General Law Committee has scheduled a public hearing for tomorrow on legislation allowing liquor stores and supermarkets with the proper permits to sell alcohol on Sundays.

Testimony will be heard on several other alcohol-related bills.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat, has said he will sign a bill into law allowing Sunday liquor sales. Former Republican Governor M. Jodi Rell had opposed it.

A legislative report last year estimated the state could reap an additional $7.5 million to $8 million in tax revenue. But the Connecticut Package Store Association has opposed the bill over the years, saying it would cost each store at least $14,000 a year and would drive hundreds out of business.

HARTFORD-TRANS FAT BAN

Hartford considers trans fat ban in food

(Information in the following story is from: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hartford is considering joining other cities banning trans fats served in food establishments.

Councilman Larry Deutsch, who introduced the resolution with Councilman Luis Cotto, compares trans fats to salt in diets or smoke. He says his proposal is intended to improve health and reduce health care costs.

Trans fats are more solid than oil, which helps keep foods stay fresh longer. But many doctors say trans fat raises cholesterol levels.

Deutsch is a pediatrician and says foods with trans fats can lead to heart disease, certain types of cancer and obesity.

Nicole Griffin is executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, which represents more than 600 restaurants and businesses in the state. She says most restaurants don't cook with trans fats anymore.

COACH-SEX ABUSE

Perjury trial for Mass. gymnastics school owner

WOBURN, Mass. (AP) — Jury selection is expected to begin in the trial of a former Massachusetts gymnastics school owner accused of lying to a grand jury investigating the rape of a teenage student and molestation of another in the 1990s.

The selection is scheduled to begin today in Middlesex Superior Court for the trial of 53-year-old Stephen DiTullio of Littleton.

The trial comes more than eight months after a former coach at The Gym Nest, DiTullio's gymnastics school in Acton, was jailed for eight to 10 years for raping one of his students — beginning when she was 14 — and molesting another.

DiTullio was indicted along with Steven Infante of Milford, Conn., on a charge of perjury. Prosecutors said DiTullio lied to a grand jury when he denied any knowledge of alcohol being provided to the teenagers.

BUS OFF ROAD

College school bus slides off road in Vermont

WESTMINSTER, Vt. (AP) — Police say a 24-passenger bus carrying college students to a basketball game had to be evacuated after sliding off a road in southern Vermont.

Vermont State Police say the bus slid off River Road in Westminster yesterday afternoon when the driver pulled over to check directions. When police arrived, the bus was leaning over but did not topple.

Officials say the bus was carrying about 20 students from Lincoln College of New England in Connecticut, who were on their way to a basketball game at Landmark College in Putney. The students were taken to the game by private vehicle.

The bus was pulled back onto the road by a tow truck. Nobody was injured and no tickets were issued.