Tristate Regional News, Thursday 5/03

Indianapolis Summary: Mayor Of Anderson Set To Announce Continued Facelift For Downtown Today (Anderson) -- The mayor of Anderson plans to announce the latest buildings downtown that will get a facelift today. Mayor Kevin Smith says 13 downtorn buildings will get an exterior upgrade this year as part of a program that aims to improve the look of the downtown area. The program requires businesses to pay for half of the cost of improvement in exchange for a forgivable loan from the city to add new shutters, entryways, flower boxes and other improvements to the building. --- Three Persons Hurt In Triple Crash (Boone County) -- Three persons were injured this morning in a triple crash in Boone County. The accident happened along State Road-32 East. A car and two pickup trucks were involved. The car ended up rolling into a field, upside down with the driver trapped inside. All were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Traffic was being allowed to use the open lane, alternating between eastbound and westbound traffic. --- Pilot In Helicopter Crash May Have Been Found In Lake (Knox) -- Authorities in Northern Indiana say a body pulled from a lake Wednesday morning may be a missing pilot whose helicopter crashed last month. Department of Natural Resources for Northwest Indiana Spokesman Gene Davis says the decomposed body found in Bass Lake is believed to be Bruce Groen of Crete, but has not been positively identified. Forty-one-year-old Stephanie Nottke of Frankfort, a passenger in Groens helicopter, was pulled from the lake, hours after the April 22nd crash and died a short time later. Davis said authorities are examining dental records in attempt to confirm the identity of the body. --- Indiana Mans Prison Sentence Upheld (Indianapolis) -- Indianas highest court says a man accused of setting a fire in the back of a paint truck that killed two people and injured ten others was properly sentenced. The Indiana Supreme Court says a judge properly sentenced Tommy McElroy to eight-years in prison following the July 2003 fire along an Indianapolis Interstate. The Indiana Court of Appeals had previously overturned the sentence. The fire started after a truck owned by Rolands Painting and Trim broke down along I-465 and a second company-owned truck picked up the first group. There were 13 people in the enclosed cargo area of the truck when investigators say McElroy tried to light a coworkers newspaper on fire. Investigators say the man with the paper, Otis Turner, then spread lacquer thinner on the floor and McElroy flicked his lighter toward the lacquer, causing a horrific fire in which the employees were trapped inside of the truck while it drove along the Interstate. Turner and another worker died in the blaze. --- Indiana Set To Execute Man Convicted For Gruesome 1984 Killing Tonight (Michigan City) -- An Indiana death row inmate is set to die overnight for stabbing an elderly neighbor to death during a home robbery in 1984. A federal judge refused to block the execution of David Leon Woods earlier this week. Woods is set to die after midnight for the murder of 77-year-old Juan Placencia in Garrett, Indiana in 1984. Placencia was stabbed more than 20 times by Woods as Woods and a group of men robbed his home of 130-dollars and a television set that was later sold for 20-dollars. The Indiana Parole Board unanimously recommended against clemency for Woods last week. --- Homeland Security Officials Meeting With College Officials Today To Talk Security (Indianapolis) -- State homeland security officials are meeting with representatives from college and university campuses today to talk about campus safety. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is hosting todays meeting at the Indiana Government Center in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting incident. Indiana Department of Homeland Security Executive Director Eric Dietz says the meeting will be used to talk about available state resources, common campus security issues and what kinds of things can be done to improve campus security. --- Unser Jr., Foyt To Team Up For First Time This Month At Indy (Indianapolis) - Al Unser Jr. will tote six Indianapolis 500 driving victories and a lot more history when the Number 50 ABC Supply Company entry makes its qualifications attempt for the 91st Indianapolis 500. Unser, a two-time winner of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing," is joining forces with A.J. Foyt Racing and its full-time IndyCar Series driver, Darren Manning, for the Month of May. Their Honda-powered Dallaras will take the track for the first time May 8th. The run for the AAMCO Transmissions Pole Award is May 12th. Kentucky Summary: Gas Prices Keep Rising (Frankfort, KY) -- Gasoline prices in Frankfort, Lexington and in many areas moved to three-dollars-nine cents a gallon, a one day increase of over twenty cents. But in some places its even higher, www.louisvillegasprices.com reporting prices of three-dollars-nineteen a gallon and even higher. Henry Promises Pay Hike (Frankfort, KY) -- Democratic candidate for governor Steve Henry is promising state workers a five percent pay raise each year if elected. According to the Herald Leader Henry also is vowing to maintain current state worker benefits, and honor the merit system. Henry says taking care of state workers is "an investment in the state." KEA Holding Off Endorsement (Frankfort, KY) -- The Kentucky Education Association is withholding an endorsement in the Democratic governors primary. KEA, executive director Mary Ann Blankenship tells the "Herald Leader" we have "too many good friends in the state to choose one to support." The 38-thouand member teachers union is expected to make an endorsement in the general election. Governor Appoints Judge (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Ernie Fletcher has appointed Tamra L. Gormley, of Versailles, as family court judge for the 14th Judicial Circuit, which consists of Bourbon, Scott and Woodford Counties. Gormley is director of the Kentucky Volunteer Lawyer program. Gormley received her law degree from the University of Kentucky. She will serve until the seat is filled by General Election in November. Germany Company Investing In Kentucky (Frankfort, KY) -- A German company is creating jobs in Kentucky. The Cabinet for Economic Development reports Mauer, a plastic injection molding manufacturer is building their first US plant in Boone County. When completed the plant will employ 100 people, the company says they expect 85 of those jobs to go to Kentucky residents. The plant operation represents an almost 11-million-dollar investment in Kentucky. Walking Man Killed By Train (Franklin, KY) -- Kentucky State Police report a man was fatally injured by a train in Simpson County. Investigators say 56-year-old Reathell J. Sorrells was crossing the train tracks in an open area, the approaching trains engineer sounded the horn and bells, but couldnt stop to avoid the accident. Kentucky State Police are investigating. Family Will Have To Find Place To Stay While Home Rebuilt (London, KY) -- A Laurel County family lost the use of their home, when a semi blew a tire, and swerved off of the interstate and into their home. The accident on I-75 near London. There were no serious injuries reported but according to WLEX TV the house will have to be rebuilt. First Lady Ready For Derby (Frankfort, KY) -- Work continues to renovate the Governors Mansion, so the first family will hold a gala for Derby guests Friday night in a big tent. State workers are busy sprucing up the Capitol grounds for Saturday mornings Governors Derby Breakfast expected to draw over ten thousand people. First Lady Glenna Fletcher says she has accomplished her Derby to-do list, including the selection of the right hat for the race. Mrs. Fletcher says she bought her new hat last week. Chicago Summary: Police Seek Missing Suburban Woman (Plainfield) -- Police in southwest suburban Plainfield are looking for a missing 37-year-old woman. Police say Lisa Stebic was last seen around 6 p.m. Monday at her residence at 13-244 Red Star in Plainfield. She is described as a white female, five-feet-two-inches tall, 125-pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Plainfield Police Department at 815-436-6544. --- Woman Who Murdered Daughter Could Be Released From Prison (Chicago) -- A Chicago woman convicted of murdering her daughter may be released from prison. The "Chicago Tribune" reports a court ruling could overturn the conviction of Stacy Samuels. Samuels was found guilty in 2004 of smothering her eleven-month-old daughter and was sentenced to 30-years in prison. But the Appellate Court ruled she should be released because there was no physical evidence against her outside of her own confession. A spokesman for Cook County States Attorney Richard Devine says his office plans to appeal. --- 400 City Workers Make 10-Thousand-Dollars In Overtime (Chicago) -- There are accusations of political patronage at City Hall following word that some city workers have made thousands-of-dollars in overtime pay so far this year. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports more than 400 city employees made more than 10-thousand-dollars in overtime through the first three-months of this year, many of them in the Streets and Sanitation Department. Alderman Joe Moore of the 49th Ward says the overtime is a reward for Mayor Daleys allies. Streets and Sanitation spokesman Matt Smith says politics had nothing to do with it. --- Former Illinois Governor Accused of Lying About Fees in Black Trial (Chicago) -- Former Illinois Governor Jim Thompson is expected to be back on the stand today in the trial of Conrad Black. Yesterday, Blacks lawyer accused Thompson of lying about whether he approved non-compete payments for Black and other former executives of Hollinger International. Thompson is the former chairman of the companys audit committee. Black and other former Hollinger International executives are accused of stealing 84-million-dollars from the company. --- Daley OKs Sending Children To Springfield To Push For School Funding (Chicago) -- Mayor Daley is defending the fact that several busloads of children and teachers from Chicago went to the state capitol yesterday to draw attention to a lack of funding for public schools. The Chicago Public Schools spent 100-thousand-dollars to cover bus costs and substitute teachers for the lobbying effort. The Mayor said the students will quote: "learn more about civics in Springfield than any place else, its part of state government." Eight-thousand people converged on the state capitol yesterday to campaign for school funding. --- Strogers Picks Approved For County Jobs (Chicago) -- Two women with close ties to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger are getting county jobs. Donna Dunnings, Strogers cousin, was approved as the countys Chief Financial Officer. Carmen Triche-Colvin, the wife of one of Strogers childhood friends, was approved as the countys next purchasing agent. Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica says Dunnings appointment is a violation of the countys ethics policy, which Stroger denies. --- Defense Rests In Browns Chicken Trial (Chicago) -- The defense for Juan Luna has rested its case in the first of two murder trials for the 1993 Browns Chicken massacre in Palatine. Defense attorneys have been arguing that even though Luna confessed on tape, it doesnt mean hes guilty. A policeman testified yesterday that a perfectly innocent man being held by police might confess to a crime he never committed. Testimony continues today but not tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday because the judge has scheduling conflicts. No trial date has been set yet for Lunas alleged accomplice, James Degorski. --- Obama Campaign Gets Rights To "MySpace" Page (Washington, DC) -- Barack Obamas campaign says the Illinois senators MySpace is his space. Obamas campaign has taken control of a MySpace website dedicated to the Democratic presidential candidate. The site was started three-years ago by an Obama supporter who continued to run it until there was a dispute with the campaign. The "Washington Post" reports the man who started the site, Joe Anthony, wants 39-thousand-dollars for all the work he put into the site. --- Lawmakers Closer To Moving Up Primary (Springfield) -- A legislative panel has approved the plan to move Illinois presidential primary date up to February. Supporters hope the move will increase the states importance in the Presidential selection process. They say it will also help Barack Obama in his pursuit of the White House in 2008. The measure still has to go before the full Senate before it can be sent to Governor Blagojevichs desk. --- Spiritual Leader Coming To Town (Chicago) -- The Dalai Lama will make two appearances at Chicagos Millennium Park on Sunday. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports thousands of admirers from many different religions are expected to come out and see Tibets exiled political and spiritual leader. The Dalai Lama will speak at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday with the doors opening at 8 a.m. He will then give a public talk from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-05-03-07 0700CDT