Regional Summary, Wednesday 2/13

Indiana Summary Easier Weather For Indiana After Snow And Ice Strike (Indianapolis) -- Indiana is in for some easier weather after yesterdays ice and snow strike. Warmer temperatures will settle in with some rain and sunshine for the rest of the week. In Indianapolis, a high of 28-degrees is forecast for today, and for Valentines Day, a high of 44-degrees forecast. Yesterday, around 90 accidents happened after mostly ice struck south of Indianapolis. --- Mayor To Control IMPD And Battle Increased Homicide Rate (Indianapolis) -- Monday night the City Council voted 21-8 to give Mayor Greg Ballard control of the police department. However, his job wont be easy. The citys homicide rate is up 66-percent over last year, which includes four children that were killed. Police say they havent seen this many child homicides in years. They say drugs are a primary cause of these homicides, with marijuana as a driving force behind the brutal Hovey street murders, that killed two mothers and their babies. The mayors office takes control of the Metro Police department on February 29th at 12:01 a.m. --- Woman Found Frozen In Vacant Lot Was Shot To Death (Gary) -- A Gary woman whose frozen body was found Sunday night was shot to death. The "Northwest Indiana Times" reports the Lake County Coroners office says 41-year-old Dionne Moore died of multiple gunshot wounds. Moores body was found around 7 p.m. in a vacant lot at Connecticut Street and 18th Avenue. Police are asking anyone with information to call them. Detective James Bond said quote "have some compassion and give this woman some justice." --- Stylish Robber Strikes Again (Highland) -- The man nicknamed "The Kangol Bandit" appears to have struck again. FBI officials say they believe the man, known for wearing a sporty hat, glasses and a business suit, held up a Centier Bank branch in Highland, Indiana on Monday. The same man has been linked to four other holdups in northwest Indiana, as well as five more in Chicago and Calumet City, dating back to November. The robber is described as a dark-skinned African-American, about 40-years of age, five-foot-six-inches-tall with a thin build. Anyone with information should call the FBI at 312-421-6700. --- Celtics Clip Pacers (Indianapolis) -- Paul Pierce had game-highs of 28-points and 12-rebounds to lead the Celtics in a 104-97 win over the Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. Ray Allen added 23-points for Boston, which moved to 40-and-9 with its fourth straight win. Leon Powe pitched in with 16-points and nine boards in the victory. Danny Granger ended with 18-points and 10 rebounds to pace Indiana, which had won its previous two contests. Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy and Kareem Rush dropped in 13-points apiece in the losing effort. --- Here Are Tuesdays Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Midday: 5-4-7; Daily Three-Evening: 9-7-6; Daily Four-Midday: 6-7-2-6; Daily Four-Evening: 2-0-6-2; Lucky Five-Midday: 9-10-15-18-35; Lucky Five-Evening: 5-7-9-20-32; Mix & Match: 7-14-43-47-50. Kentucky Summary (Louisville, KY) -- Many parts of the Kentuckiana area are covered in ice this morning. Yesterdays snow was starting to melt yesterday afternoon, but, with tempatures below freezing overnight, that melted snow has now turned to ice. Highway crews from both Kentucky and Indiana have been treating interstates and major roads, but, warn of smaller side streets that still may be blanketed with ice. (Louisville, KY) -- The father of a man accused of killing his stepmother and 12-year old half sister committed suicide Sunday. The Jefferson County Coroner says Paul Hughes died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hughes son, Martin Hughes, is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. Hes being held at Metro Corrections on a one-million-dollar bond. The "courier journal" reports that Laura Hughes and Tessa Hughes were found murdered in their South Louisville home on February 2nd. (Jeffersonville, IN) -- The search for missing a southern Indiana Marine is yielding no results. Earlier this month Eric Hall went missing in Florida, while he was staying with relatives. The 24-year-old marine said he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and possibly experiencing hallucinations and flashbacks. Hall was injured three-years-ago while serving in Iraq. The "Jeffersonville Evening News" reports that, the Charlotte County Florida Sheriffs Office is the lead agency in charge of finding the marine. (Louisville, KY) -- The man accused of stabbing a man in 2006 will go to trial today. The trial is scheduled to begin today for 43-year-old Andre Hill. Hill is accused of stabbing Roy Matlock to death in January of 2006 on St. Joseph Street. (Elizabethtown, KY) -- A man accused in the death of a Louisville woman waived his right to a probable cause hearing in court earlier this week. Wendy Sue Logsdon was found beaten and burned in rural Hart County last month. Twenty-seven-year-old Jeremy Shields is accused in her death. Since he waived his right to a probable cause hearing, all evidence in Logsdons killing will be submitted to a grand jury the judges review. (Louisville, KY) -- Mayor Jerry Abramson, as well as local leaders from colleges and universities, announced a major new initiative yesterday to encourage citizens to return to college and finish their degrees. The "Graduate Greater Louisville" program will attempt to reach 177-thousand-people in the 13-county Louisville Metropolitan area who have some college, but didnt graduate. Graduate Greater Louisville is a joint partnership between Greater Louisville Inc, the metro chamber of commerce, Kentuckiana Works, the mayors office and 23-colleges and universities in both Kentucky and Southern Indiana. More information on the program is at www.graduategreaterLouisville.com. (Mt. Washington, KY) -- The Mt. Washington City Council will hold a special meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. The council is planning to discuss the citys general liability-insurance contract and will also have the first reading of an ordinance amending the citys Alcoholic Beverage Control ordinance. The meeting with be held at the City Hall Annex Building. (Hardin County, KY) -- Animal Control is investigating the Hardin County Humane Society after reported problems at a Clarksville, Indiana kennel operated by the same organization. The Pets Project Foundation oversees the Humane Society in Radcliff, as well as Creekside Animal Kennel in Clarksville. Animal control officers in Southern Indiana have cited Creekside four times since 2006 for unsanitary conditions, neglect and abuse. Some dogs from the Clarksville facility have been brought to the Hardin County Humane Society. The founder and director of the Pets Project Foundation, Wes Auberry, could not be reached for comment. (Louisville, KY) -- Waterfront officials again will auction boat slips at Waterfront Park for use during Thunder Over Louisville. A slip will be assigned to a successful bidder based on the amount of bid, size of vessel and the date bid is received in the Waterfront Development office. All bids must be received by March 3rd. The "courier journal" reports that more details can be obtained by calling 574-3768. Thunder Over Louisville is the kick off to the Kentucky Derby Festival and is scheduled for April 12th. Illiniois Summary --- Report: Police Identify Suspect In Tinley Park Shootings (Tinley Park) -- Tinley Park police have reportedly identified a suspect in the shooting deaths of five women at a clothing store eleven days ago. A source close to the investigation tells the "Southtown Star" investigators are trying to find the man for questioning. A tip received by the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force apparently led to the identification. No more information about the man is available. The five women were shot during a botched robbery at a Lane Bryant store. A sixth woman was shot in the neck, but survived and has helped police come up with a sketch. She remains in protective custody. Eight electronic billboards along Chicago highways are now featuring both the police sketch and reward information. --- Police: Suspect Reportedly Had Her Children Restrain Victim During Beating (Minneapolis, MN) -- A Minneapolis woman allegedly had her own children hold down a four-year-old Chicago boy while she beat him to death. Authorities have charged 37-year-old Carla Poole with second-degree murder for the death of her cousin, Demond Reed. According to a court complaint, investigators found Reeds body hidden inside a trash bag Sunday, and autopsy results showed the boy had suffered multiple injuries, including head bruises, stomach lacerations, and bleeding on his brain. Hennepin County Chief Felony Prosecutor Mike Freeman says Pooles children told investigators they saw their mother hit Demond. Pooles eleven-year-old daughter also told police that she saw the suspect spank the victim after he soiled his pants. The charges say Demond then had a seizure and thew-up. He stopped breathing and Poole attempted to perform CPR on him. According to the complaint, the next morning, the child was not breathing and was left on a bed for about two days. The eleven-year-old girl also told police her mother then moved the childs body to the closet. --- Family Of Murdered Gary Boy To Accept Donations (Gary, IN) -- Family members of the 13-month-old Gary boy who was fatally shot last month have started a benefit fund. Josiah Shaw was killed, and his mother, 29-year-old Kwana Shaw, was critically wounded in an attack by a masked gunman on January 28th. Centennial United Methodist Church Pastor Tommy Kimble says Kwana Shaw is improving, but is still hospitalized. Kwanas mother, Donna Shaw, says donations are being accepted to help cover funeral and medical expenses. Kimble says he hopes to hold a memorial service for the boy as soon as Kwana is healthy enough to attend. No arrests have been made. --- Lawmakers Face Problems, Election For New Session (Springfield) -- Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield, and a mountain of problems today. The acrimony that kept legislators in session almost every month of 2007 is sure to continue, but one political expert says 2008 might not be another year of fighting. University of Illinois at Springfield political science Professor Kent Redfield says lawmakers are facing a November election, and they dont want to give voters any more of a reason to toss them out of office. Redfield says the legislative year will either be short and sweet, or a drawn-out battle with between lawmakers and the governor, and between the two branches of the General Assembly. Redfield says the state budget will dominate discussions in Springfield, he does not expect any big ticket items from lawmakers this year. But he says Governor Blagojevich is always a wild card. Redfield says he wont bet against a surprise from Blagojevich at some point during the year. The governor is set to deliver his budget address next week. --- New Superintendent Considers Shift Changes (Chicago) -- Longer hours, fewer days. Thats one strategy new Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis 1/81/8WEESE3/83/8 is considering to both shorten sick leave and boost morale. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports Weis is looking at having officers work three 12-hour shifts a week. Officers currently work eight-hour shifts. The thinking is that officers will be able to spend more time with their families or relax in other ways. They also might be less inclined to drink after work, which could make them healthier. The police union is open to discussions, but is not committed to any change. --- Mexican President Stops In Chicago (Chicago) -- Improving his countrys economy was at the top of Mexican President Felipe Calderons mind as he made several stops in Chicago yesterday. At one of those stops, he met privately with immigration activists, including Emma Lozano. She told him the U.S. and Mexico must work together to help stop the flood of immigrants to this country. Lozano is working on behalf of Flor Cristostomo 1/81/8 cree-SO-stuh-mo 3/83/8, an illegal immigrant who is taking refuge in a West Side church. Calderon met with Mayor Daley and Governor Blagojevich and held a town hall meeting of sorts with Mexican immigrants at the Little Village Lawndale High School. Calderon talked about expanding his countrys economy to help lower the number of Mexicans seeking jobs in the United States. The Mexican president is on the West Coast today. --- Some DuPage County Leaders Want Executions To Resume (Chicago) -- Governor Blagojevich is facing some local pressure to end the states eight-year moratorium on the death penalty. DuPage County States Attorney Joe Birkett and Republican state representative Dennis Reboletti of Elmhurst have asked the governor to reinstate the execution of prisoners. Reboletti called the death penalty "the law of the state," and said "it should be enforced." But Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said the governor plans to keep the moratorium in place until there is no chance of an innocent person being put to death. Former governor George Ryan ended the practice in 2000, and later commuted approximately 160 sentences of Death Row prisoners. Since that time, the Illinois Supreme Court has approved a set of reforms for death-penalty cases. --- Priest Who Admitted Molesting Teens To Be Paroled (Geneva) -- A one-time Geneva priest who has spent the last three-and-a-half years in prison is scheduled to be paroled today. Mark Campobello has acknowledged abusing two teenage girls in 1999 and 2000 while working at St. Peter Catholic Church and Aurora Central Catholic School. He was expelled from the priesthood while in prison, but the Rockford Diocese was left to clean up the mess. Officials paid more than two-million-dollars to settle lawsuits and apologized to both victims. Campobello will be required to register as a sex offender within a week. --- Man Found Stabbed To Death In Chicago Heights (Chicago Heights) -- A Chicago Heights man is dead after he was apparently stabbed inside his home late Tuesday night. A Chicago Heights Police spokesman said officers responding to a report of a break-in around midnight found the 21-year-old victim lying dead in his basement, suffering from what appeared to be stab wounds. Authorities say investigators are still interviewing witnesses and no other specific information, including the victims identity, is available at this time. Police added that the victims girlfriend and their young child were found unharmed. --- Blackhawks Could Play At Soldier Field If Management Gets Its Way (Chicago) -- Someday soon, Soldier Field could play host to a hockey game. The Chicago Park District is backing a management company for the home of the Bears that is already talking with the Blackhawks about holding an outdoor game. The Park District Board is likely to approve a new contract with Soldier Fields current management group SMG at its board meeting today. That company wants to bring the Hawks to Chicagos lakefront stadium. Similar promotions have proved successful for the NHL, which saw 71-thousand Buffalo Sabres fans attend an outdoor game in that city earlier this year. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-02-13-08 0624CST