Tristate Regional News, Friday 5/04

Indianapolis Summary: Runners Preparing For Large Mini-Marathon This Weekend (Indianapolis) -- The nations largest half-marathon is bringing thousands of runners to Indianapolis. The OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon takes place tomorrow morning in downtown Indianapolis. Brock Monroe is running the race for the first time this year. The mini-marathon has been a sellout for the past six years. A 5K run is also being held tomorrow. The 35-thousand runners will wrap up the race with a "Rest and Recovery Area" at Military Park featuring beer, food and music. This is the 31st year for the race. --- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kicking Off Pre-500 Festivities (Speedway) -- Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A.J. Foyt will be honored Sunday as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opens its gates for the month of May. Sundays festivities also include an autograph session, music and other events designed to give race fans a taste of the upcoming month. Sunday also features a Rookie Orientation Program for first-time racers and what the IMS calls "refresher laps" for several veteran drivers. The 91st running of the Indianapolis 500 takes place on Sunday, May 27th. --- Indianapolis Area Sees Jump In Gas Prices (Indianapolis) -- People looking forward to a weekend getaway will be paying more at the pump than they were just a few days ago. Prices at many Indianapolis-area gas stations are well above 3-dollars-a-gallon, although some stations continue to sell regular unleaded for under 3-dollars. Triple-A Hoosier Motor Club spokesman Greg Seiter says there really isnt a good reason for the high price at the pump. Seiter says some of the blame could be due to seasonal demand and the switch to reformulated gas in some states. He says Hoosiers should consider calling the states gas gouging hotline if they think they are being gouged at the pump. The number is 866-241-9753. --- Purdue University Board of Trustees Set Monday Meeting To Vote On New President (West Lafayette) -- Purdue Universitys Board of Trustees have set a meeting for Monday afternoon to vote on a new president. The board is set to pick Martin Jischkes replacement Monday after a search of more than six-months. Jischke announced plans last August to step down at the end of June to spend more time with his family and pursue other goals. A reception for the universitys next president will take place after the vote in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. --- Hillary Clinton Set To Visit Suburban Indianapolis For Private Fundraiser on Sunday (Carmel) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is set to raise some major campaign cash during a private fundraiser in Carmel, Indiana this weekend. Clintons campaign would only say that the Senator would visit Indianapolis on Sunday morning before heading to a town hall meeting in Iowa. However, the "Indianapolis Star" says Clinton will take part in a fundraising brunch organized by one of Indianas largest political donors. Bren Simon plans to host the fundraiser at her large Carmel estate. Bren Simon is the wife of Simon Property Group co-owner Melvin Simon. --- Holiday World Theme Park Opens This Weekend (Santa Claus) -- Southern Indianas Holiday World theme park opens for the season this weekend. Holiday World President Will Koch says the park features a new tilt-a-whirl this year in its Thanksgiving section called the Turkey Whirl. Koch says the Thanksgiving section is also getting a new restaurant this year. The parks Splashin Safari water park opens on May 12th and features a new water slide called Bakuli. This is Holiday Worlds 61st season. --- Winning Lottery Numbers Drawn Here are Thursdays winning numbers from the Hoosier Lottery. Daily Three-Midday: 6-7-8, Daily Three-Evening: 3-3-6, Daily Four-Midday: 1-2-1-9, Daily Four-Evening: 3-0-5-3, Lucky Five-Midday: 5-9-12-33-34, Lucky Five-Evening: 4-14-21-27-28. Kentucky Summary: Her Majesty Heading For Bluegrass (Versailles, KY) -- Queen Elizabeth the Second is expected to arrive in the Bluegrass sometime late today. According to the "Herald Leader," referencing the "Sunday Times of London," the queen will likely spent the night as the guest of former British Ambassador Will Farish at his Lanes End Farm in Woodford County. Tomorrow, her majesty journeys to Louisville for the Derby. Galas And Gatherings (Frankfort, KY) -- The Governor and Mrs. Fletcher host a gala in a big tent at the Capitol tonight, the proceeds going toward the renovation of the Governors Mansion. Tomorrow, the Fletchers will welcome an expected crowd of over ten-thousand to the Governors Derby Breakfast. Beginning at 7, a breakfast will be served to all that come. Then the Fletchers and those theyre entertaining train to Louisville for the Derby. New Economic Director (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Ernie Fletcher has appointed a former UPS Vice President as secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development. John Hindman worked for United Parcel Service for over 30-years in a variety of roles. Governor Fletcher says the Louisville man expertise with economic development and international trade make him the "perfect choice for the position." Secretary Of State Candidates Agree "No Runoff" (Frankfort, KY) -- The three Democratic candidates for Secretary of State agree on one thing, theyre against a runoff election for governor. Though not needed since enacted in 1992, it seems quite possible a runoff will be required this Summer if no candidate wins the May 22nd primary with more than 40-percent of the vote cast. According to the "Courier Journal" candidate Dick Robinson says a runoff will be too costly for counties, candidate MaDonna White says people talks with dont understand why the person who gets the most votes doesnt win, and candidate Bruce Hendrickson says Abraham Lincoln only got about 40-percent when he won the presidency in 1860. State Senator Suspects Gas Gouging (Frankfort, KY) -- State Senator David Boswell is urging Kentuckys Washington delegation to take action on gasoline prices. The Sorgho Democrat says, while gas prices soar due to supposed shortages, oil companies are making record profits. Boswell wants congressional members to examine possible avenue to implement price gouging legislation. Lots Of Leads In Scott County Double Murder Case (Sadieville, KY) -- Investigators say theyre getting a lot of leads, some they believe are substantial as they search for suspects in the double murder of a Scott County couple. Jim and Vivian Gray were discovered in their northern Scott home just over a week ago, fatally wounded. Scott County Sheriffs Detective Jack Patrick says hes following up on leads and preparing evidence for shipment to the crime lab. Man Mowing Lawn Killed By Lightning (Nicholasville, KY) -- A man mowing his lawn in Nicholasville this week was struck and killed by lightning. Jessamine County Coroner Keri Sallee tells the "Jessamine Journal" that Charles Hibbs was using a riding mower to work in his yard on Wednesday when a storm moved in. Sallee says the 66-year-old man was struck by lightning and apparently died instantly. New Amusement At State Resort (Frankfort, KY) -- The state is looking for a developer to build and operate an indoor water park at Kentucky Dam Village. The state is accepting bids to lease six-acres to someone to build and operate the indoor water park, with some of the revenues going back to the state. Officials says the indoor water park will encourage more year-round visitation at Kentucky Dam Village. Chicago Summary: Obama Gets Secret Service Protection (Chicago) -- Illinois Senator Dick Durbin says he requested Secret Service protection for fellow Illinois Democrat and presidential contender Barack Obama. The general election is a year and-a-half away and this is the earliest a presidential candidate has ever received the protection. Durbin says he raised concerns about the Chicago democrats safety with congressional leaders because there have been racist reactions to Obamas presidential bid. Reverend Jesse Jackson, a presidential hopeful in 1984 and 1988, held the previous record for early protection and says hes not surprised that Obama is being guarded. --- "The Color Purple" Opens in Chicago (Chicago) -- Chicago is awash in purple. "The Color Purple," the musical theatrical production of the movie that Oprah Winfrey starred in more than 20 years ago, premiered last night at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. The production originally opened in New York two years ago but its now making its first stop in Chicago, where Winfrey lives and hosts her TV show. Winfrey is a producer of the musical and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the movie which is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. --- World Boxing Championships Coming to Chicago, Mayor Hopes Its Olympic Preview (Chicago) -- Athletes from all over the world are coming to Chicago in what could be a sign of things to come. Its been announced that about 600 fighters from 100 nations will compete at the International Boxing Association 2007 World Championship on October 17th through November 1st at the U-I-C Pavilion. The event will serve as a qualifier for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Mayor Daley told the "Chicago Sun-Times" the boxing showdown will be, a quote: "great opportunity to showcase some of the ideas we have for 2016." Chicago is the U.S. city competing to host the 2016 Summer Games. --- Bulls Finally Know When Theyll Play Game One (Chicago) -- After dispatching the defending champion Miami Heat last Sunday, the Bulls finally know the exact time theyll play game one of their second round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons. The Bulls will tip-off at 6 p.m., Chicago time, Saturday in Auburn Hills, Michigan against their old rivals. The exact time wasnt determined until several other playoff series were completed. The Bulls will play the first two games of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series on Detroits home court, before returning to Chicago for games three and four, the exact times and dates of which are not set. --- Missing Woman Hasnt Used Her Credit Cards; Cell Phone Since Monday (Plainfield) -- Police are still searching for a 37-year-old mother of two from Plainfield who disappeared Monday night. Lisa Stebic has not been seen since she left to work out at Plainfield North High School. Her estranged husband, Craig Stebic, says he thinks someone picked her up at the house on the way to her workout, but he doesnt know who that might be. Lisa Stebic hasnt used her cell phone or credit cards since Monday. Stebic has brown hair and hazel eyes, is five-feet-two-inches tall, and weighs about 120 pounds. --- Naperville Police Search For Carjacker (Chicago) -- Naperville Police are looking for a man who stole a Lisle womans rental car at gunpoint yesterday. Police say it happened about 2:30 p.m. at the Homestead Village Hotel at 18-27 Centre Point Circle. The man threatened the 47-year-old woman with a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded her rental car, a black Chevrolet Impala, and then drove away. The woman was not hurt. Anyone with information should call Naperville Police at (630) 420-6726 or Naperville Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006. --- Chicago Businessman, Passenger Killed in Montana Plane Crash (Chicago) -- A Chicago businessman and his passenger have been killed in a plane crash in Montana. The "Montana Standard" reports Allan Hamilton and John Wauterlek, who is also from Illinois, died when Hamilton lost control of his twin-engine Cessna jet while flying in rainy and snowy weather and crashed in a farm field just east of the airport yesterday. Police say that, according to a flight plan Hamilton had filed, the plane was flying into Dillon, Montana from Rockford, Illinois. The "Montana Standard" reports Hamilton was a principal in Hamilton Partners, a Chicago area real estate firm and owned a ranch in Montana. The crash is being investigated. --- RTA Director Warns Of Problems If More State Funding Is Not Approved (Chicago) -- The RTA is warning of fare hikes, layoffs and service cuts if Illinois lawmakers dont come up with more funding. The RTA wants 400-million-dollars more in annual operating funds and ten-billion-dollars in new capital funds over the next five years. The RTA says Executive Director Stephen Schlickman told Thursdays monthly board meeting quote: "the moment of crisis is upon us." --- DNA Expert Says Luna Was at Crime Scene (Chicago) -- Prosecutors have rested their case in the trial of Juan Luna, one of two men accused of killing seven people at a Browns Chicken restaurant in Palatine in 1993. The "Chicago Tribune" reports prosecutors called a DNA expert to the stand on Thursday who said that DNA on the remnants of a chicken dinner at the restaurant matched Lunas. He said that Luna was 234 million times more likely to be a contributor to the crime than a random person on the street. Closing arguments are scheduled for next Wednesday. No trial date has been set yet for Lunas alleged accomplice, James Degorski. --- Arlington Park Opens Today With New Track (Chicago) -- A new racing season begins at Arlington Park today and many will have their eyes on the track as well as the horses. Arlingtons new 11-million-dollar track will be unveiled today. More than 20 horses were fatally injured at the track last year, prompting installation of a new synthetic track. The gates open at 11:15 this morning and the first official race will be at three oclock this afternoon. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-05-04-07 0702CDT