Regional Summary, Thursday 2/14

Indiana Summary Changes Promised In Immigration Bill (Indianapolis) -- The bill intended to crack down on illegal immigration in Indiana is expected to undergo modifications before it reaches the House of Representatives floor. Senator Mike Delph defended the legislation during three hours of debate by the House Public Policy Committee. One part of the bill would require the state superintendent of police to enter a memorandum of understanding with federal authorities to take on immigration enforcement duties in Indiana. Delph admitted in an exchange with Chairman Trent Van Haaften that provision could run into problems. Delph said part of the bills focus is on people who profit from illegal immigration. One result would be the revoking of a business license for a company found to have knowingly hired illegal workers three times over ten-years. The bill defines an employee as a person who works 15-hundred hours a year. Van Haaften worried about the effect of treating seasonal work differently from year-round employment. The chairman added concerns about requiring county prosecutors to bring civil cases, not criminal actions, against businesses. Additional hearings are expected next week. --- State Senator Ford Returns Home After Cancer Diagnosis (Indianapolis) -- Indiana state Senator David Ford has returned home following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Ford was described last month as "critically ill" before undergoing surgery. A statement from Fords office at the state house said he is receiving hospice services and monitors legislative business. Fords body is responding to his first course of chemotherapy, according to the statement. But it is too early to determine its success. The four-term Republican is from Hartford City. --- Former New Albany Mayoral Candidate Arrested (New Albany) -- New Albany police arrested a former mayoral candidate and her husband after they found marijuana in their home. Yvonne Kersey and Frank Lucchese were both arrested after police found an indoor-marijuana growing operation in the basement, along with 23-pounds of the drug. Officials say Kersey had called police claiming to be a victim of an computer crime. Police say when they arrived at her house, they smelled pot, prompting the search. Both Kersey and Lucchese are charged with possession and dealing marijuana. --- Offices Evacuated After Pipe Bomb Scare (Merrillville) -- No injuries are reported after an office building in Merrillville, Indiana was evacuated Wednesday due to a bomb threat. Merrillville Police officials say a man called the offices of Brown Mackie College, which is in one of the Twin Towers buildings, around 10:30 a.m., and said there was a pipe bomb in the building. A search turned up nothing, and occupants of the building returned to their workplaces about an hour later. --- Former Deputy Gets Prison In Wifes Death (Indianapolis) -- A former Marion County special deputy will spend 25-years in prison for shooting his wife to death. Ray Spradley apologized to the family of Nikki Henderson during his sentencing hearing on Wednesday. Spradley was on trial for murder, but a jury returned a voluntary manslaughter conviction. Spradley told Hendersons mother, "I was not trying to take your daughters life." Police responded multiple times to domestic disputes at the couples apartment before Henderson was killed. Judge Grant Hawkins said Spradleys career in law enforcement and his lack of criminal history make him unlikely to be a repeat offender. --- Convicted Killer Gets More Than 200 Years In Prison (Indianapolis) -- The man convicted of killing two woman in an Indianapolis apartment has been sentenced to 271 years in prison. Royal Amos shot 31-year-old Erika Thornton and 20-year-old Keyonia Dunn to death, and injured four children. Dunn was pregnant with Amos child at the time of the crime nearly two-years-ago. Thorntons friend Lakisha Vaughn says the nature of the crime has been difficult to understand. Amos told a Marion County judge that he will appeal the the convictions, which include attempted murder and burglary. Family members of Thornton said that the children who survived the crime remain emotionally affected. Convicted accomplice Howard Harris is already serving a 260-year sentence. Kentucky Summary (Frankfort, KY) -- The governor is going to brief reporters behind the closed door of room 110 at the Capitol this morning, then hold a news conference early this afternoon to make details of his expanded gambling plan public. The governor will be unveiling two-pieces of proposed legislation. One would be an amendment to permit the casino gambling, and the other enabling legislation to specifically outline where the casinos would be located. (Harrodsburg, KY) -- Harrodsburg Police detectives are trying to determine who, when and why after skeletal remains of a newborn are discovered in a trunk in the attic of a house in Harrodsburg. Police say the Mercer County Coroner took the remains to the State Medical Examiners Office where the investigation reveals the remains are those of a fetus that came to full term. The cause of death remains a mystery. Police trying to determine who bore the baby and why the remains were in a trunk in the house. (Frankfort, KY) -- A neighbors video tape of a puppy being abused by his owner in Pulaski County has helped spur lawmakers to propose a bill to toughen the penalties for animal abuse. The bill would make the crime a felony with an increased jail sentence from a few-weeks or months in jail to years in prison. Supporters of the bill rallied at the Capitol, and the center of attention was Romeo, the dog abused as a pup is now living the good life on a farm with other dogs. The proposed law is called "Romeos Law." (Bowling Green, KY) -- Hourly workers at the General Motors Corvette plant in Bowling Green are considering a company buyout offer. GM sending letters to over 70-thousand workers across the country outlining the buyout offer. The president of the United Auto Workers local in Bowling Green says he expects 70 will accept the buyout. (Nicholasville, KY) -- Nicholasville Police say theyve arrested eleven-people in an ongoing drug round-up. Police say the eleven are all facing trafficking charges. Investigator says one of those arrested is charged with selling drugs near a school. (Grayson, KY) -- Kentucky State Police say murder suspect Robert Drown now faces assault charges. Drown being held in the Carter County Detention Center in connection with the murders of Jennifer Ison and her two-daughters is now charged with assaulting another inmate, Donnie Elliott. State Police and Drown got in to an altercation with Elliott in a dispute over what to watch on television. Elliott required surgery for his injuries. (Lexington, KY) -- The organizers of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games asked for volunteers two-weeks ago, now they say almost four-thousand-people signed up to work. Organizers say they can still use more volunteers and people can sign up online at feigames2010.org. Illinois Summary --- Police And Fire Crews Rescue Residents From Fire On Near North Side (Chicago) -- Some Chicago Police officers and firefighters are being hailed as heroes this morning after rescuing several people from a fire. The fire broke out about 2:30 a.m in a seven-story building in the 900 block of North Hudson Avenue in the Cabrini Green housing project. Officers saw flames coming from a fifth-floor apartment and ran into the building and started knocking on doors. When firefighters arrived on the scene they searched the burning apartment for occupants. Two people were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with smoke inhalation from the fire which was put out in about half-an-hour. --- Man Taken Into Custody Reportedly Not Involved In Tinley Park Case (Chicago) -- A Chicago man wanted for parole violation who was taken into custody because he resembled the gunman in the shooting deaths of five women in Tinley Park reportedly doesnt appear to be involved in those murders. The "Chicago Sun-Times" sites unnamed sources as saying the 39-year-old man doesnt appear to be the gunman being sought following the February 2nd murders at a Lane Bryant clothing store. The man was picked up this week. --- Baby Apparently Dies Of Suffocation, Autopsy Today (Chicago) -- An autopsy is scheduled for today on a four-month-old Chicago boy who police believe may have suffocated inside a blanket Wednesday morning. Officers responding to a call in the 16-hundred block of West Juneway Terrace found the infant unresponsive. Police say it appeared the child was wrapped too tightly in a blanket in an attempt to keep him warm. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is conducting an investigation, but the department says it has had no prior contact with the boys family. --- Suburban Man Charged In Connection With Fire Which Killed One Son, Left Other Hospitalized (Wheaton) -- A Glendale Heights man is expected to be released from the hospital today and then will be facing murder charges in the death of his young son. Thirty-four-year-old Kaushik Patel is scheduled to appear in DuPage County Bond Court Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors say Patel has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and one count of aggravated arson for allegedly setting his two sons on fire in the familys home in November. Four-year-old Om 1/81/8 ohm 3/83/8 Patel died January 17th. Seven-year-old Vishv 1/81/8 vish 3/83/8 Patel remains hospitalized. Mister Patel was also injured in the incident. --- Guilty Plea May Be Possible In Bartender Beating Case (Chicago) -- Nearly one year after a Chicago police officer was caught on videotape allegedly beating up a female bartender, a guilty plea may be possible. An attorney for 38-year-old Anthony Abbate has met privately with prosecutors and a judge. The incident happened on February 19th, 2007 at Jesses Shortstop Inn on the Northwest Side. Abbate, who faces up to five years in prison, is due back in court on March 11th. --- Tribune To Cut Jobs (Chicago) -- The "Chicago Tribune" says it is cutting about 100 jobs by the end of March. The positions will be eliminated through buyouts, layoffs and other means. The cuts are the first at the newspaper since billionaire Sam Zell took over as chairman and CEO late last year. --- Sears Cutting Jobs At Hoffman Estates HQ (Chicago) -- Sears is cutting about 200 jobs at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates. According to a company spokesman, the jobs being cut are in support functions such as marketing, finance and store operations. Sears employs about five-thousand people at its Hoffman Estates headquarters. --- Some Tapes Of Accused Nicarico Murderer Will Be Allowed At Trial (Wheaton) -- A judge has ruled that portions of old audio recordings may be used in the trial of a man accused of killing a Naperville girl. Brian Dugan is accused of killing ten-year-old Jeanine Nicarico 1/81/8 nih-KAIR-ih-co 3/83/8 on February 25th, 1983. Three years after that, Dugan was recorded for a state police study of sexual predators while he was serving life prison terms for two murders, including that of a seven-year-old girl. --- Police Investigating Chicago Heights Home Invasion, Stabbing (Chicago Heights) -- Chicago Heights Police say they have been questioning someone in Tuesdays stabbing death of a 21-year-old man and also continue to look for suspects. The "Chicago Tribune" reports Arnell Elam was in his home on 19th Street just before midnight on Tuesday night when intruders entered the house. Elam began fighting with a male intruder and was then stabbed several times with a kitchen knife. Elams girlfriend and child were in the home at the time but were not injured. --- Twenty-Five-Million-Dollar Renovation For Chicagos Favorite Fountain (Chicago) -- Grant Parks 81-year-old Buckingham Fountain is getting a new look. The Chicago Park District has approved a 25-million-dollar facelift for the fountain with work tentatively scheduled to begin just after Labor Day and continuing through the spring of 2009. Workers will be concentrating on the fountains outer basin and the areas surrounding grounds. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-02-14-08 0649CST