Regional Summary, Thursday 1/24

Indiana Summary: --- Indiana Senate Committee Approves Immigration Bill (Indianapolis) -- An Indiana Senate committee has voted in favor of new rules over illegal immigration. Senate Bill 335 sets penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers. Senator Mike Delph sponsored the legislation that won support following a series of changes. Louis Moffa is one of the lawyers suing Arizona over a similar law and he claims illegal immigration benefits state economies. Part of the Arizona lawsuit argues that only the federal government can regulate immigration. Other critics representing interests from the restaurant industry to the Catholic Church assailed the bill as unfair. But Delph argued that it only affirms "the rule of law." Businesses could eventually lose their license if they are found in violation three-times over a ten-year span. It would also be a misdemeanor to transport or harbor illegal immigrants. Delph agreed to exempt medical providers, religious groups, attorneys, and some relatives of illegal immigrants. The 10-1 vote advances the proposal to the entire Senate. --- One-Person Shot, Three-Arrested After Home Invasion (Indianapolis) -- One-person remains in stable condition after being shot early this morning in Indianapolis. Police say that the victim is a convicted drug offender. Channel 13 1/81/8 WTHR 3/83/8 reports the shooting happened inside a house at 5400 Milhouse Road near Southport Road and I-465. There were three children inside the home at the time but none were injured. Police have arrested three of four-suspects after a brief car chase that ended when the suspect vehicle drove into a ditch. Weapons were found in the car and on the suspects. No names have been released. Channel 13 1/81/8 WTHR 3/83/8 says police learned the action started with a home invasion as the suspects were looking for drugs. --- Extension Gives Prosecutors More Time In Hovey Street Murders (Indianapolis) -- An extension for prosecutors has delayed the first court hearings for the suspects in the murders of two Indianapolis women and their two-children. A total of five men are in the Marion County Jail on accusations that could lead to the death penalty, if they are convicted. Gina Hunt and one-year-old son Jordan, and Andrea Yarrell and four-month-old daughter Charlii were all shot to death in a home on Hovey Street. Hunts mother Elizabeth Duncan says she is not sure what good would come if the death penalty is attached. Court documents state the men thought there was 50-pounds of marijuana in the home, and believed it would be easy to rob because only women and children were inside. Dontae Hobson, Ronald Davis, Zarumin Coleman, Jasper Frazier, and Tommy Warren all made brief court appearances on Wednesday. Extra security was on hand as the five-men were brought in separately over the course of 90-minutes. Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi calls the potential for a capital case "a very real possibility." The formal charges will be filed today with hearings at 3 p.m. --- Group Gangs Up On Student Nurse (Gary) -- A Gary man is facing battery charges for allegedly beating a student nurse outside the campus of The Methodist Hospitals. The "Gary Post-Tribune" reports 19-year-old Keith Rhodes was arrested by a Gary police sergeant who was working as a security guard at the hospital. Gary police officials say the unidentified victim was attacked by a group of three-men when he accidentally bumped into a man who was trying to help his wounded friend. Witnesses said the nurse sustained bruises on his face and body. --- Driver In Critical After Southeast Indiana Crash (Ripley County) -- A 72-year-old man is in critical condition after a traffic crash this morning in Southeast Indiana. Police say Howard Bloss of Milan turned into the path of a tractor trailer at U.S.-50 and Route-101. He was taken to University Hospital in Cincinnati by helicopter. Police say frost on Bloss windows may have kept him from seeing the oncoming truck. --- Woman Arrested For Prostitution In Carmel (Carmel) -- A woman was arrested yesterday on charges of prostitution at a massage parlor in Carmel. Police say that Xiuli 1/81/8 Hew-lee 3/83/8 Yang Hinderliter was taken into custody after investigators say the 47-year-old woman is a licensed massage therapist but shes not legal. An undercover officer went into the business for a message, but was offered a sex act. It followed a month-long investigation into the practices at Paradise Massage. --- Hinrichs Thirty-Eight Leads Bulls Past Pacers (Chicago, IL) -- Kirk Hinrich 1/81/8 HINE-rik 3/83/8 poured in a career-high 38 points and dished out 10 assists as the Bulls bounced the Pacers 108-95 at the United Center. Andres Nocioni 1/81/8 no-see-OH-nee 3/83/8 added 24 points and seven rebounds for Chicago, which has won three of its last five games. Joakin 1/81/8 JO-kim 3/83/8 Noah had a double-double with 14 points and 15 boards for the Bulls, who learned earlier in the day that Luol Deng could miss up to three weeks with tendinitis in his left Achillies. Danny Granger had 33 points to lead Indiana, which fell to 1-and-1 on its four-game road trip. Jeff Foster added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers in the loss. Kentucky Summary: (Louisville, KY) -- Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against Cecil New, a man charged with murdering four-year-old Ivan Cano. New is expected to be back in court next month for a pre-trial hearing and his trial is expected to take place next year. Police officials found Canos body in the back of a garbage truck after he had been reported missing last summer. Prosecutors say they decided to seek the death penalty because, quote, "it met the criteria." (Crothersville, IN) -- The man who falsely confessed to the murder of ten-year-old Katie Collman in 2005, and later pleaded guilty to molesting a 13-year-old girl in 2003, has been released from a Indiana prison. Charles "Chuckie" Hickman was released on Friday from the Plainfield Correctional Facility after completing his sentence. Hickman had told police he took part in the murder of Collman after she saw him and others making methamphetamine. DNA evidence pointed to another man, Anthony Stockelman, of Seymour, Indiana. Stockelman later admitted to the murder. Hickman will be on probation for four years. Hes never given a reason for the false confession. (Louisville, KY) -- Jefferson Countys unemployment rate was up in December. New state figures show that the countys unemployment rate was five-point-four percent, which is up from four-point-eight percent from a year earlier. The jobless rates last month were up in 74 counties statewide from December of 2006. That rate fell in 33 counties. (Louisville, KY) -- Metro Police say a woman is dead after the car she was riding in crashed into a van on Taylor Boulevard earlier this week. The Jefferson County Coroner says Latonia Mitchell died of multiple blunt force injuries she sustained in the crash. Authorities say the driver of the car, Gabriel Nelson, had several outstanding warrants including assault, terroristic threatening, and domestic violence. Nelson was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say they monitored the vehicle driving recklessly along the Watterson Expressway at 95 miles an hour. (Louisville, KY) -- A Grayson County woman has won the "3-Line Lotto" from the Kentucky Lottery. Angela McNear of Big Clifty, KY won the jackpot of 670-thousand dollars on Tuesday. McNear purchased her ticket from a gas station Clarkson, KY. This is the second time in less than a year someone from Grayson County has won. In July of last year Connie Cain of Clarkson won 185-thousand dollars with the "3-Line Lotto" game. (Louisville, KY) -- The National Street Rod Association has signed an agreement to continue its annual show in Louisville. The group signed a 13-year agreement yesterday to continue the show through 2020. The car show attracts about 30-thousand visitors and eleven-thousand street rods to Louisville, which in turn generates about 15-million-dollars into the economy each year. The show is held at the Exposition Center each year and will be held this year July 31st through August 3rd. (Louisville, KY) -- The Louisville Metro Office of International Affairs is seeking applications for the fifth Mayors International Awards. The deadline for applications is next Friday, February 1st. The awards recognize businesses, community organizations, and non-profit agencies that recognize the value of multiculturalism and create an environment where newcomers feel welcome. Applications can be obtained by visiting www.Louisvilleky.gov/international. The awards will be handed out on March 24. (Frankfort, KY) -- Kentucky Department of Corrections head John D. Rees has announced that he will officially retire from the commissioners post on January 31st. Rees began as commissioner in 2004. Officials say under his leadership, the KDC underwent many changes and accomplishments. Rees also helped develop the Kentucky Corrections Health Services Network, which manages inmates savings in the detection of ineligible claims. Illinois Summary: --- Windchill Advisory Continues, Arctic-Like Temperatures Again Today (Chicago, IL) -- Its another bitterly cold day in the Chicago area. The high temperature for today is expected to be just ten degrees and a windchill advisory is set to last until noon with windchill temperatures possibly hitting 30 degrees below zero in some areas. Chicagos Department of Streets and Sanitation hopes to have the streets clear for the morning rush hour after several inches of snow fell on Wednesday. The rough weather also led to more than 200 cancelled flights at OHare Airport. Eight people in Cook County have died from the cold weather this winter. The most recent death was a 93-year-old Chicago woman who was found in her yard on Tuesday. --- Police Arrest Suspect In Accident That Injured Officer (Chicago) -- Chicago police say a 25-year-old motorist has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run accident Tuesday evening that left a police officer hospitalized in serious condition. Marcus Stanley is charged with one count of aggravated battery to a peace officer. Police say the victim was on-duty in plain clothes when he was struck around 6:40 in the 55-hundred block of West Congress Parkway. Stanley fled, but was later arrested and is due in bond court today. --- Teachers And Principals At Bad Schools Might Get Fired (Chicago) -- Hundreds of teachers at Chicago Public Schools could be losing their jobs. The "Chicago Tribune" reports CPS is considering firing the teachers at eight chronically under-performing schools next fall. The principals at those schools would also be fired and replaced with better-trained educators. The proposal to fire the teachers and principals is expected to officially be made public today. The schools include Harper High School on the South Side, Orr High School on the West Side, Fulton and Copernicus Elementary Schools, Howe Elementary School and Morton Career Academy. --- Report: Auction To Be Held For New Cubs Box Seats (Chicago) -- Some new seats at Wrigley Field will reportedly be sold in a rather unconventional way. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports the 70 new "bullpen box seats" will be auctioned to the highest bidder. The new seats are scheduled to be built next to the Cubs dugout along the third base line. --- New Hotel/Residences Could Be Looking Right At Wrigley (Chicago) -- A proposed new hotel would be a neighbor to the "Friendly Confines." A Chicago developer has unveiled plans for a nine-story, mixed-use development with a hotel that would be right across the street from Wrigley Field. The "Chicago Tribune" reports the two nine-story buildings would be connected by a four or five-story base with a Hyatt Place hotel on the Clark Street side and residences at Addison and Sheffield. Some Wrigleyville residents are concerned the area is already too congested. --- Stroger Remembered At Funeral (Chicago) -- Former Cook County Board President John Stroger was remembered at his funeral on Chicagos South Side on Wednesday. Mayor Daley, Governor Blagojevich, and Illinois Senator Dick Durbin were among those in attendance at Saint Felicitas Church. Mayor Daley gave the eulogy for his longtime political ally calling Stroger, quote, "one of the most decent people Ive ever known in politics." Stroger died last Friday from complications of a stroke he suffered while seeking re-election in 2006. He was 78. Strogers son, Todd, is now the County Board President. --- Early Voting A Hit, One Week Left (Chicago) -- The Illinois primary election isnt until February 5th but many people have already voted. The Chicago Board of Elections reports about 30-thousand Chicagoans have taken advantage of early voting. Thats more early voters than there were before the 2006 general election. Officials in DuPage and Lake counties also report significant increases in ballots cast so far. Officials attribute the increase to the wide-open presidential races in both parties and two prominent candidates with ties to Illinois -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Early voting continues until January 31st. --- CTA Getting Technology To Help With Security, Emergencies (Chicago) -- The CTA is taking high-tech steps to improve security and reliability. More than 400 new "L" train cars will have wireless connectivity to give CTA operators and police officers the ability to look at live video shots from inside trains. The CTA says the newly equipped trains will be put in service in a couple of years and will also make it easier for first responders in the event of an emergency and will allow CTA personnel to identify mechanical problems more quickly. The new rail cars are being bought using capital funding from the Federal Transit Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation. --- Seniors Robbed By Imposters (Chicago) -- Chicago Police are telling senior citizens on the citys Southwest Side to be wary of two robbers who pretend to be city employees. Police say the men typically ring a victims doorbell between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., claiming to be from the water department and say they need to check the water pipes in the basement. When the victim escorts the offender into the basement, other offenders slip into the house to steal valuables. Police say the suspects are white or Hispanic, over 35-years-old, with dark hair and medium complexions. They may be traveling in an SUV or gray station wagon with a temporary license plate that may be covered in cardboard. --- Blue Man Group Sued For Camera Stunt A California grandfather wasnt impressed with a performance of the "Blue Man Group" at Chicagos Briar Street Theater. The "Chicago Tribune" reports James Srodon filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming the entertainers forced a camera into his mouth during the October, 2006 performance. Srodon says he struggled to free himself and remove the camera from his mouth but he was forcibly restrained. Srodon is seeking more than 50-thousand-dollars in damages for battery, negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-24-08 0639CST