Tristate Regional News, Tuesday 5/08

Indianapolis Summary: Indiana Municipal Primary Is Today (Indianapolis) -- A low turnout is expected today as Hoosiers head to the polls for this years municipal primary election. Marion County Democratic Party Chair Michael OConnor says he thinks part of the low turnout during primary elections is related to the fact that people need to choose whether to vote on the Democratic or Republican ballot. Todays primary marks the first time that people in Wayne and Tippecanoe Counties will head to special voting centers to cast their ballots. The pilot project by the state allows people to stop by any voting center in Wayne or Tippecanoe County to cast their vote. --- East Chicago City Council Candidates Son Shot To Death (East Chicago) -- The seven-year-old son of a candidate in todays East Chicago City Council election is dead, apparently shot to death Monday. The "Chicago Tribune" reports police are investigating the death of Angel Silvas as a homicide. The boy was reportedly sitting in a car with his father, 24-year-old Michael Silvas Monday afternoon, when he was shot in the head. The incident occurred near 144th Street and Tod Avenue. Michael Silvas is a Democrat running for East Chicagos District One council seat. The citys mayor says there have been no plans to disrupt todays elections. --- Man Accused Of Drunk Driving Kills Man (Indianapolis) -- One man is dead and another sent to jail after an accident Sunday night on the citys southeastside. Police say the accident happened around 9:20 a.m. at Southeastern Avenue and East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive. According to authorities, they say a pickup truck traveling on Southeastern Avenue was struck by a red BMW which ignored the red light at East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive. The victim in the truck has been identified as 47-year-old Jimmy Cash. The driver of the BMW was 26-year-old Terry Record. He was arrested by police for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. Record refused to submit a breath test. Cash died at the scene. --- Fire In Downtown Crawfordsville Destroys Buildings (Crawfordsville) -- A major fire this morning has destroyed two structures and left another one badly damaged. Investigators say the fire erupted around 3:30 a.m. in a 19th century brick structure that housed the Silver Dollar Bar, a shoe store and apartments. The blaze spread to another old building leaving fire, smoke and water damage. Authorities are saying now there were no injuries. The cause of the fire is being sought. --- Purdue University Getting Its First Female President (West Lafayette) -- An internationally-recognized astrophysicist will be Purdue Universitys next President. The Purdue University Board of Trustees voted unanimously yesterday to offer the top job to current University of California-Riverside Chancellor France Cordova, who announced her intent to create a new strategic plan for Purdue. Cordova will be Purdues first female president. She will replace retiring President Martin Jischke at the end of June. Cordova says she plans to also work to increase diversity on campus, further Purdues ties to Indianas economic growth and improve education for students overall. Cordova worked on the Hubble Space Telescope during her tenure as Chief Scientist for NASA in the 1990s. She has also worked for a number of colleges and other scientific centers throughout her career. --- Indians Terrorize Chiefs In Indianapolis (Indianapolis) -- Right-hander John Van Benschoten pitched seven solid innings and Yurendell de Caster was 4-for-4 on Monday to lead the Indianapolis Indians to a 3-0 win over the Syracuse Chiefs at Victory Field. Van Benschoten allowed four hits and Josh Sharpless closed it out with two scoreless innings. De Caster had three singles and a double to raise his batting average to .348. Kentucky Summary: Flags Fly At Half-Staff For Fallen Kentucky Soldier (Frankfort, KY -- Governor Ernie Fletcher has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of Staff Sergeant Christopher N. Hamlin. According to the Department of Defense the 24-year-old London man died on Friday in Baghdad from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Sergeant Hamlins family tells the "Herald Leader," this was his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was scheduled to return home in March, but his tour was extended. Funeral services are pending. Senator Says Iraq Needs To Step Up (Washington, DC) -- Senator Mitch McConnell says the Iraqi government needs to step up and do a number of things theyre pledged to do. In a teleconference with Kentucky reporters, McConnell says "I think people are going to wait until probably late summer to get a sense whether the Iraqi government is doing what it ought to do, and whether the surge is being successful." Asked what happens if those things are not happening , the senator replied "Well find out when we get to that point." Tough Talk At GOP Debate (Lexington, KY) -- Governor Ernie Fletcher faced his two challengers for the Republican gubernatorial nomination last night on KET. According to the "Herald Leader," Anne Northup challenged Fletchers 2003 campaign promise to "change the culture of Frankfort." Northup says he got mired in a state hiring scandal. Fletcher said the "true mark of leadership is results" and he cited "four-years of surpluses." Billy Harper says there needs to be greater leadership from the governors office. Miller Leaves Race With Endorsement For Beshear (Frankfort, KY) -- Jonathan Miller, trailing in the polls and in campaign funds is dropping out of the governors race. The state treasurer tosses support to Steve Beshear. Miller says hasnt been offered anything in a Beshear administration for his support. Guilty Plea In Vote Buying Case (Lexington, KY) -- Four-days into the jury trial in federal court, Roosevelt "Sonny" Swartz of Olympia pleads guilty to conspiracy to buy votes in the May 2006 primary in Bath County. The 68-year-old Swartz, admits that along with former Bath County Judge Executive Walter Shrout, he gave several thousand dollars to five people, for them to use to buy votes for Shrout. Swartz, faces up to five-years in prison and a 250-thousand-dollar fine. First Family Court Judge In 49th Circuit (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Ernie Fletcher has appointed Martha B. Harrison of Scottsville, as family court judge for the 49th Judicial Circuit, which consists of Allen and Simpson counties. She is the first family court judge for that district. Eleven Who Die In Accidents Not Wearing Seat Belts (Frankfort, KY) -- Kentucky State Police say eleven of the 16 people who died in motor vehicle accidents on Kentucky roads last week were not wearing seat belts. The KSP reports seventeen people died overall, one in a motorcycle accident. Investigators say alcohol is suspected in the five of the motor vehicle accidents. Chicago Summary: Clinton Says Shell Fight For Illinois Votes (Chicago) -- U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton met with black ministers in Chicago Monday and told them that she has no plans to concede a single black vote to Chicago or Illinois to Barack Obama. The "Chicago Tribune" reports Clinton, a former Park Ridge resident, spoke about her 2008 presidential bid before several dozen black ministers in Chicagos Loop. She says she will compete for delegates, and wont let Obamas "favorite son" status deter her from fighting for this state. It had been questionable whether Clinton would make any large expenditure of resources here because state legislators are working to bump the March primary to February 5th, and Obama is expected to hold a considerable amount of the vote here. --- Chicagoans Feeling More Pain At The Pump Than Rest Of Country (Chicago) -- Chicagoans are paying an average of three dollars and thirty-three cents for a gallon of unleaded gas, 30-cents above the national average. Chicago customers must pay more than those in many other areas because of environmental standards and high taxes. Experts fear prices may go much higher as summer approaches. --- Group Opposes Mayors Plan For OPS Reform (Chicago) -- A citizens group is calling on Chicago Aldermen to reject Mayor Daleys plan to reform the Office of Professional Standards. The group consists of attorneys and other advocates who have represented victims of alleged police abuse. They say the mayors proposal represents only minor changes in the oversight of the police department and wont do enough to change "business as usual." The group is pushing for an entirely new and independent board of oversight, made up entirely of civilians. Representatives of the group will make their argument during Wednesdays City Council meeting. --- Chicago Firm Hired To Help Find Chicagos Next Top Cop (Chicago) -- Chicago has hired a local firm to head up the search for the citys next Police Superintendent. David Gomez & Associates will assist the Police Board in streamlining candidates, eventually coming up with the final three. Mayor Daley is bound by law to choose one of those three. The new Superintendent will be replacing Phil Cline, who stepped down last month amid numerous allegations of police misconduct. Cline remains in the position until his successor is chosen. --- Star Witness Finally Takes Stand In Conrad Black Trial (Chicago) -- A month-and-a-half into the Conrad Black trial, the prosecutions star witness finally took the stand Monday. David Radlers testimony focused on his relationship with Black, from the time the two went into business together in 1969 through the 1990s, when the men had become wealthy newspaper moguls. Radler has agreed to testify against Black in exchange for a 29-month prison sentence. He has already paid over eight-million-dollars in restitution. Black is accused of bilking Hollinger International out of 84-million-dollars. Hollinger was once one of the worlds largest newspaper companies, counting the "Chicago Sun-Times" among its properties. --- Reward Now Offered For Information On Missing Woman (Plainfield) -- Lisa Stebic was last seen over a week ago, and her family is now prepared to pay for information that might help find her. A 20-thousand-dollar reward is now on the table as Plainfield Police continue to follow what few clues they have. The family says there have now been six-thousand "hits" on the web site theyve set up to aid in the search. Stebic disappeared a week ago Monday after telling her family she was going to work-out with a woman shed met on the internet. --- Governor Blagojevich Offers Support For Kansas Storm Victims (Chicago) -- Governor Rod Blagojevich has sent official communication to his counterpart in Kansas, offering condolences and support in the aftermath of last weekends devastating tornadoes. Blagojevich offers Illinois help in many areas, including rescue and recovery, in his letter to Governor Kathleen Sebelius. At least twelve people died in Kansas as a result of the storms. Dozens were injured and hundreds are without homes. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-05-08-07 0349CDT