Tristate Regional News, Wednesday 5/02

Indianapolis Summary: --- Possible Income Tax Increase In Indianapolis (Indianapolis) -- There could be an increase in income tax as Indianapolis grows. Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson says today the tax would be needed to help cover costs of crime fighting and pensions for older police officers. Peterson says the city needs 85-million-dollars for the causes. He says it appears a new income tax is the only tool available to take care of those needs courtesy of the Indiana General Assembly. An increase of a tenth of a percent is already on the way this year, but thats from a plan that was approved in 2005. --- Indiana Attorney General Cautions Hispanic Community About Human Smuggling Scam (Indianapolis) -- The states attorney general is warning the Hispanic community about a human smuggling scam that may be targeting Indiana families. Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter says scam artists are claiming to have successfully smuggled a family member across the border and then threatening to hold that person in custody until they get money through a wire transfer. Carter says the families are being bullied and pressured into sending thousands of dollars to the scammers. He says the smugglers never actually had their family member in custody. He says anyone who is contacted by these kind of scam artists should contact U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement. --- Plea Deal Reached In Pike County Triple Murder (Petersburg) -- A plea deal has been reached in a triple murder case in Pike County. Twenty-three-year-old Nicholas Harbison has agreed to plead guilty to killing three people and wounding another. It happened in a rampage in a southern Indiana cornfield last summer. The agreement would put Harbison behind bars for life without possibility of parole instead of the death penalty. Those killed in the attack were 21-year-old Daniel White, 18-year-old Keela Lynch and 17-year-old Rebekah Acorn. Whites 18-year-old brother, Cameron White, was shot twice and stabbed, but was able to place cell phone calls that guided emergency workers to the attack scene. --- INDOT Announces Grant Funding Available For School Pedestrian Routes (Indianapolis) -- INDOT officials are asking schools throughout the state to propose safer ways to help kids walk and bike to and from school. The state is planning to award one-point-eight-million-dollars in federal grant money this year to provide safe routes to school. The federal program aims to help kids get to school safely. The grants will be awarded in the fall. --- Indiana Chickens Connected With Contaminated Pet Food (Indianapolis) -- Reports from two federal agencies are showing that chicken feed at 30 broiler poultry farmers and eight breeder poultry farms in Indiana contained byproducts from pet food manufactured with contaminated wheat gluten imported from China. However, according to the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration, they say the likelihood of human illness from eating chicken thats fed with the contaminated product is very low. Both the FDA and USDA said in a joint statement that officials first learned about the contamination as part of the investigation into imported rice protein concentrate and wheat gluten. Both have been found to contain the industrial chemical melamine, and related compounds and the agencies say the Indiana farms received the feed in early February. --- Hillary Clinton To Visit Home Of Melvin Simon Saturday (Indianapolis) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has announced that she plans on attending a brunch on Sunday at the Hamilton County home of mall developer Melvin Simon and his wife Bren. According to campaign Spokesman Blake Zeff, the event is a private fundraiser and donors will give at least 500-dollars each to attend. The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, says the Simon family have contributed more than 32-thousand-dollars to Clinton so far this year. The event will not be open to the media. --- "Greys Anatomy" Star Patrick Dempsey Will Drive Indianapolis 500 Pace Car (Speedway) -- The star of ABCs "Greys Anatomy" will be driving the pace car in this years Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced that Patrick Dempsey will drive the Chevrolet Corvette convertible during the 91st Indianapolis 500 on May 27th. Dempsey is the co-owner of the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 team Vision Racing, and drives in some sports car and off-road events. Chicago Summary: --- Death Of Inmate Leads To Investigation (Chicago) -- The death of a 23-year old inmate Tuesday caused a lock-down at Chicagos Metropolitan Correctional Center while officials launched an investigation. The body of Habib Solebo was found during a routine bed-check. ABC7 1/81/8 WLS 3/83/8 reports the inmate had been asking for medical attention since June of last year. His lawyer says Solebo suffered from mysterious seizures and blackouts. --- Statewide Smoking Ban Easily Clears Last Legislative Hurdle (Springfield) -- A statewide smoking ban in Illinois is now up to the governor. The Illinois House easily passed a plan to ban smoking in bars, restaurants, casinos, and all other "indoor workplaces" in the state. Opponents tried to fight the plan, saying towns and cities have been able to write their own smoking rules for two years. But supporters like West Side Democrat Karen Yarborough say not every town or city has gone smoke free, but everyone worker deserves the same protections. The plan now heads for Governor Blagojevichs desk. The governor has said hell likely sign the plan, but wants to look at all of the details first. --- Suburban Student Still Out of Class (Cary) -- The Cary-Grove High School student who was removed from school for writing a violent essay is still not back in class. Meanwhile, Allen Lees attorney Dane Loizzo says he may resort to legal action if his client isnt allowed to return this week. The "Chicago Tribune" reports Lee is being taught off-campus for security reasons after writing the essay, which mentioned narcotics and a school shooting. He was also charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and removed from the U.S. Marines, where he had plans to join after graduating. --- Chicago Immigrant March Peaceful (Chicago) -- Chicago police officials say about 150-thousand people gathered Tuesday to peacefully protest immigration laws. That number is much smaller than the 400-thousand that took part in a march for the same cause last year. Mayor Daley took the stage and gave a passionate speech today, saying "will you please stop dividing our families? Our nation is one of compassion and understanding. And we have to understand that this country was built by immigrants; our past, our present and future." Similar marches were also held in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Detroit. --- Huberman Takes The Helm (Chicago) -- The Chicago Transit Authority has a new president. The board unanimously voted Tuesday for Mayor Daleys former Chief of Staff, Ron Huberman. Hell get a salary of 197-thousand-dollars per year. The 35-year-old has many ties to Springfield because of his work with the mayor, and says hell start making changes to the transit authority "immediately." CTA Chairman Carole Brown says says his enthusiasm "only helps us" and he has some "good ideas." Huberman takes the post of former CTA President Frank Kruesi, who stepped down on April 19th after a nine-year tenure. --- Police Find Four Human Skulls in Wicker Park Apartment (Chicago) -- Chicago Police detectives are conducting a death investigation after four human skulls were found in a mans Wicker Park apartment Tuesday night. Shakespeare District Lieutenant Perry Nigro said officers were called to the 21-hundred block of North Damen Avenue after a person reported seeing a skull boiling in a pot on the stove. The resident of the apartment, 26-year-old Brian Sloan, said he arrived home around 11 p.m. and was met by the officers, who wanted to question him. The "Chicago Tribune" reports it was determined that Sloan was using the skulls for medical purposes. No criminal activity is suspected, and Sloan was not arrested. The skulls are now in the custody of the Cook County medical examiner. --- Former Governor Cross-Examined in Federal Embezzlement Trial (Chicago) -- Cross-examination of former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson will continue today in the trial of media baron Conrad Black. Tuesday, Thompson, who served as an independent director of Hollinger International, testified that publishing firm executives duped the board into approving a number of allegedly fraudulent deals. So far, Thompsons colleagues on the audit committee also stated on the witness stand that they were deceived into signing off on deals that benefited Black and his co-defendants. Thompsons cross-examination is expected to last all day today. --- Ex-Daley Aides Hope To Be Vindicated Through Wisconsin Ruling (Chicago) -- Three former members of Mayor Richard Daleys staff convicted of rigging City Hall hirings and promotions are hoping a recent federal ruling saves them from prison. Lawyers for Robert Sorich, Timothy McCarthy and Patrick Slattery are pointing to a ruling from two weeks ago in a similar case involving a state official in Wisconsin. That official had also been accused of doling out jobs based on political clout, but her conviction was thrown out because there were no bribes or kickbacks involved. The "Chicago Tribune" reports Sorich and Slattery are currently free on appeal, while McCarthy has already reported to prison. --- Jury Hears of Another Confession in Browns Murders (Chicago) -- Testimony continues in the Browns Chicken murder trial of Juan Luna. The "Chicago Tribune" reports that on Tuesday, Palatine Police Sergeant Richard Cruz told jurors another man confessed to the murders in 1999, but under cross-examination, Cruz said he had doubts about the truthfulness of that confession. That man was never charged with the crime. Earlier in the trial, prosecutors played a 2002 videotape of Luna confessing to the killings. Defense attorneys claim that confession was coerced. Luna and co-defendant James Degorski are charged with murdering seven people at the Palatine restaurant in 1993. Degorski will be tried at a later date. --- Chicago Alderman Says Plans For 2016 Olympic Village Wont Do (Chicago) -- A Chicago alderman says the current design for the Olympic Village for the 2016 games is all wrong. Fourth ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle says planners should "start from scratch" in redesigning the village, which will be located at McCormick Place-if Chicago is awarded the Olympics. Preckwinkle says the village should have streets that make it look more like a real neighborhood and should be connected to downtown. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports "Chicago 2016" officials plan to solicit public opinion before making final decisions.