Regional Summary, Tuesday 12/4

Indiana Summary: --- Couple Questioned After Infant Hurt In Fall (Bloomington) -- A couple in Bloomington has been arrested after police say an infant fell and was injured. Investigators say that Mystica Tapp and Anthony Helms are being questioned. Authorities say Tapp tells them her son was sleeping next to her in bed and her boyfriend, Helms, was nearby when they both awoke to find the baby crying on the concrete bedroom floor. Police say the pair had passed out after smoking marijuana. The infant suffered a fractured skull. Tapp says that she brought the baby to a Bloomington hospital. Later, doctors told her the child had a fractured skull. Thats when protective child services was notified. Tapp says that shes going through drug treatment to get her baby back. Helms is the babys father. He is still in jail on a 20-thousand-dollar bond. --- Police: Man Caught With 800-Dollars Worth Of Counterfeit Cash (Bloomington) -- Anthony Burns has been arrested in Bloomington and charged with trying to rip off a video game store using counterfeit money. Investigators say Burns was caught using 800-dollars worth of fake 20-dollar bills at the store. Detectives say suspects have also used fake cash at several convenience stores and gas stations, but no other arrests have been made. --- Citizens Show Up For Vigil For Slain Cab Driver (Indianapolis) -- Citizens showed up last night at a vigil for an Indianapolis cab driver who was shot to death last week. The "Drive-BY" prayers were held for Herbert Coomer. He was found dead in the back seat of his cab after picking up a fare at the Hillside Tavern on East 10th Street. Kenneth Bartley is in custody for the killing. Coomers cab was parked in the driveway of Bartleys home. His trial is set for late next month. --- Here Are The Mondays Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Midday: 8-4-4; Daily Three-Evening: 0-6-3; Daily Four-Midday: 6-9-9-0; Daily Four-Evening: 9-9-0-0; Lucky Five-Midday: 5-8-9-17-22; Lucky Five-Evening: 2-5-15-30-35 Kentucky Summary: Covington , KY) -- The National Weather Service has issued a Snow Advisory for Northern Kentucky. Forecasters say the first appreciable accumulating snow of the season may fall tonight and tomorrow. They say one to two inches of snow is possible across the extreme northern part of the state. (Lexington, KY) -- Kentucky freshman Alex Legion is leaving. UK Athletics confirms Legion talked with Coach Billy Gillispie last night and expressed his decision to transfer. Coach Gillispie says, quote, "Its unfortunate and not what I wanted to hear, but I understand. We hate to see him leave, but if he can be happier elsewhere then all you can do is wish him the best." Legion, a Michigan native, has played in all six UK games. Legion is not leaving because of playing time, but because of the coach. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor-elect Steve Beshear says hes not just worried about future budgets, but about keeping the current budget balanced. Beshear says hes "very concerned about the financial outlook for the Commonwealth." Beshear says hes still working to get his arms around the current budget, but doesnt envision any layoffs. (Harlan, KY) -- Striking nurses are to vote today on the latest contract offer from Appalachian Regional Health. Hundreds of nurses went on strike at ARH facilities in Kentucky and West Virginia in October. An ARH official says the contract offer addresses the unions issues and offers a competitive wage and benefit package. A spokesperson for the nurses calls the proposal "outrageous." (Frankfort, KY) -- Plans calls for a full day on Inauguration Day. The governor-elect and his running mate will take the oath of office in private ceremonies at midnight Monday. Their day begins Tuesday with a private worship service. The public ceremonies begin with the parade scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Steve Beshear will take the oath of office again at 2 p.m. then present his inaugural speech. There are several inaugural balls being held around the capitol that night, free and open to the public. (Washington, KY) -- Senator Mitch McConnell wont comment on who he would like to face as a challenger in his re-election. In a teleconference with Kentucky, McConnell was asked about a Democrat challenger. McConnell says, quote, "I usually dont mention that until they decide The Democrats dont need any advice from me." (Frankfort, KY) -- The Kentucky Democratic Party Central Executive Committee is making it official. It has voted unanimously to name Jennifer More chair of the party and Nathan Smith as vice chair. Moore is a Louisville attorney. Smith is the first Northern Kentuckian to serve in either of the top two elected offices for the Kentucky Democratic Party. (Lexington, KY) -- Lexington has recorded a record number of bank robberies - there were 22 holdups this year. The latest robbery was yesterday when a man wearing an "old man" Halloween masked held up a Fifth Third bank. There were no injuries. Investigators believe the same man may have held up a Chase Bank in Lexington in November. Illinois Summary: --- National Weather Service Issues Snow Advisory (Chicago) -- Anywhere from four-to-six-inches of snow is expected to blast the Chicago area between this afternoon and tomorrow. The National Weather Service has issued a Snow Advisory for all of Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. It goes into effect at noon today, and expires at noon tomorrow. Forecasters expect snow to start in Northwest Illinois this afternoon and reach the Chicago metro area by late afternoon. The heaviest snow will fall during the evening. Lake and McHenry Counties will likely see the most snow. A Snow Advisory means drivers should prepare for snow-covered roads and limited visibility. --- Latest Transit Meeting Called "Positive" (Chicago) -- Top lawmakers who attended yesterdays closed door meeting on construction and transit needs are reporting "progress." Three of the four legislative leaders huddled with Governor Blagojevich Monday afternoon, but House Speaker Michael Madigan did not attend. Top GOP leaders later met with Madigan. Tom Cross, the top Republican in the Illinois House, says the meeting is one of the best of the year. Senate President Emil Jones office says lawmakers are at 99-percent done on a deal. The leader will sit down again today with Governor Blagojevich. They need to find a plan to pump hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars into the CTA and billions more into a statewide road and bridge construction plan. The rest of the Illinois General Assembly could be called back to Springfield to vote on something next week. State lawmakers have been trying to find common ground since late May, and have so-far been unsuccessful. --- Fire Officials Investigate Occupancy Of Home That Burned, Killed Two Kids (Chicago) -- There may have been more people living in a Southwest Side bungalow that caught fire yesterday than building codes allowed. Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford says ten people were living inside the structure near West 66th Place and South Kedize Avenue. The fire broke out in the homes basement just before 5 a.m. but authorities have not determined a cause. Three-year-old Jessie and ten-month-old Juan Rosales died in the fire. Their mother, Maria de La Luz Rosales, is still hospitalized with serious injuries. Another woman suffered second-degree burns. --- Naperville Mother Drug-Free When She Set Self, Children On Fire (Naperville) -- Neither drugs nor alcohol affected the Naperville mother who killed herself and her children by starting a house fire last summer. The "Naperville Sun" reports Cook County Medical Examiners office documents show 32-year-old Nimisha Twari did not have narcotics or alcohol in her system. Police believe Tiwari poured gasoline around the master bedroom and set it on fire. Her husband was not home, and has said his wifes mental state was declining due to multiple sclerosis. --- Amtrak Crash Lawsuit Filed (Chicago) -- A Michigan family is suing both Amtrak and the Norfolk Southern freight line over Fridays train crash on Chicagos South Side. Six members of the Hamstra family were injured when the passenger train they were riding in slammed into the back of a frieght train. They have all been treated and have returned home. But their lawsuit alleges that Amtrak and the freight line, Norfolk Southern, caused the crash, due to "excessive speed, poor communication or other negligence." The railroads have not commented. The National Transportation Safety Board says the Amtrak train was going about 25-miles-an-hour faster than it should have been at the time of the crash. But the NTSB has not issued a final report about exactly what caused the accident. --- New Tax, Ticket Payment Machines Open (Chicago) -- Chicago residents now have a new way to pay their parking tickets. The citys Department of Revenue has opened 14 new electronic pay kiosks. Five of the machines, at four police stations and OHare International Airport, are open 24-hours-a-day. Residents can pay parking tickets, red-light camera fines, and water and sewer bills at the machines with no added fees. The kiosks accept cash, checks or credit cards. --- Probation For Teen Driver Who Crashed, Killing Two (Mundelein) -- A Mundelein teenager who caused a 2005 crash that killed two friends will not go to jail. Richard Wood was sentenced yesterday to two-and-a-half years of probation and community service. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to reckless homicide in September. His car lost control as it crossed railroad tracks, killing 16-year-old passengers Israel Bueno and Jason Gembra. Prosecutors had asked for a stiffer sentence because Wood has been arrested three times on alcohol and drug charges since the crash. But family members say Wood is overwhelmed with shame from the accident. --- State Solicits Bids For Tenth Gaming License (Chicago) -- Illinois Gaming Board will soon be accepting bids on the states unused tenth casino license. That license belonged to Emerald Casino and was slated for Rosemont. But the Gaming Board revoked it after learning that the company lied to state investigators and may have been involved with organized crime. Separate court decisions last week greatly hampered Emeralds fight to retain the license. Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe says the state will start taking bids from investment bankers to try and find an expert to help sell the license. --- NBA Great Gives School Five-Million-Dollar Assist (Chicago) -- NBA great Michael Jordan is opening his wallet for a Chicago private school. Jordan pledged five-million-dollars to the Hales Franciscan High School renovation project yesterday. The historically African-American all-boys school is working to raise 15-million-dollars. Jordans gift means the school near 49th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue is 60-percent of the way toward its goal. At a breakfast yesterday, Jordan said that while the students may not be able to play pro basketball, hes sure they will all find success. Nearly all Hales graduates go to college. --- NBA Owner Cuban Still Interested In Buying Cubs (Chicago) -- If Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is going to buy any major league baseball team, it will be the Chicago Cubs. Cuban has made overtures about buying that team from the Tribune Company, but theres no deal yet. He attended the Mavericks-Bulls game at the United Center last night and told reporters owning the Cubs would be special for him. Cuban is one of professional sports most outspoken owners and says he would be involved in day-to-day operations if he owned the Cubs. Analysts say the price tag for the Cubs could be as high as one-billion-dollars. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-12-04-07 0641CST