Regional Summary, Wednesday 2/27

Indiana Summary --- Governor Daniels Shows Up For Jury Duty, But Not Picked (Indianapolis) -- Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels showed up yesterday morning for jury duty in Indianapolis, but he wasnt chosen. Daniels was contacted by summons to appear, as he has done before. The Governor had to go through the security system like everyone else, including removing the lid from his coffee. It turned out that enough jurors were found and the Governor returned to his office at the statehouse. Daniels waived the 15-dollars he received for his time. Members on a jury receive 40-dollars. --- Job Cuts At IPS, Budget And Performance Blamed (Indianapolis) -- Changes are coming to the Indianapolis Public Schools and not for the better. Jobs are being cut due to the budget and poor performance according to administration. Superintendent of IPS Eugene White has recommended that 15 positions be cut by next year. Included on the list are those persons working in high level administration jobs to principals. Even office staff have been included. White says IPS could be looking at a 14-million-dollar shortfall in 2009. White says that more jobs may need to be cut in the future. --- Here Are Tuesdays Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Midday: 8-8-7; Daily Three-Evening: 9-5-9; Daily Four-Midday: 7-0-2-4; Daily Four-Evening: 9-5-0-3; Lucky Five-Midday: 4-7-14-22-23; Lucky Five-Evening: 3-8-20-31-35; Mix & Match: 17-26-38-45-50. Kentucky Summary (Elizabethtown, KY) -- FEMA has rolled its mobile disaster relief center into Elizabethtown. The bus with Internet access and satellite TV is open for business in the parking lot at the Emergency Management Office on Rineyville Road. FEMA has set up in several other Kentucky locations this week to counsel and assist people affected by the recent tornadoes. (Frankfort, KY) -- A House committee is expected to take another vote on the casino amendment after a day of drama. The committee rejected two proposed amended casino amendments, then the House speaker removed one of those who voted "no" from the committee. Speaker Jody Richards then appointed two new members to the committee. The governor admonished lawmakers to remember that "80 percent of Kentucky voters want the right to express themselves on the amendment." The committee is expected to revisit and re-vote on the casino amendment. (Frankfort, KY) -- The Council on Postsecondary Education is formally raising concerns about the proposed cuts in funding for higher education. The council approved a resolution calling on lawmakers and the governor to identify additional revenue sources to address the states budget deficits. Under the current proposed budget, postsecondary and adult education faces a 12 percent budget reduction. (Lexington, KY) -- An extensive management audit by an outside consulting firm recommends Lexington make over 400 changes in the way its government operates. From changing the way Lexington is identified, instead of Lexington Fayette Urban County Government to Lexington, and reducing the staffing of firefighters on emergency care units and fire trucks. The consultants say the changes are not about saving money, but about more efficient government. (Frankfort, KY) -- Representative Tom Burch says his cell phone bill has died in committee. The bill would have prevented drivers from using cell phones except with hands-free systems or in emergencies. Cell phone usage by drivers is already banned in six states. Burch says statistics indicate more than 20 percent of all accidents in the country can be attributed to cell phone usage. (Frankfort, KY) -- A bill to abolish the off of state treasurer and make the auditor and attorney generals races non-partisan has passed the Senate. The duties of the treasurer would be passed out to other executive branch agencies. The House is not expected to pass the legislation. (Carlisle, KY) -- Carlisle Police are searching for suspects after reported violent home invasion. Two men forced their way into a womans home, then during an altercation she was wounded. She was taken to a Lexington hospital. The search continues for the suspects. Family members say the woman was treated and released. Illinois Summary --- IRS Investigates Obamas Church A speech by Senator Barack Obama to the United Church of Christs 2007 General Synod has spurred an IRS investigation. The churchs national office says the IRS is conducting a tax inquiry into alleged "political activities." In a letter, the IRS contends there is "reasonable belief" that the church has "engaged in political activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status." A spokesman for the church says the Illinois senator was invited to speak at the church a year before joining the Democratic presidential race. Obamas speech was preceded by an introduction clarifying that his appearance was not a campaign related event. And no political propaganda or activities were allowed inside the venue. --- Three-Days Left For Cook County Budget Discussions (Chicago) -- Cook County Board President Todd Stroger might be able to pass his budget proposals, if he agrees to a few concessions. A report in the "Chicago Sun-Times" says commissioners and labor leaders will vote today in favor of Strogers proposed tax hike if he agrees to make it less than one-point-two-five-percent. The officials also want Stroger to scale back his plan to increase spending and add employees, and turn over control of the county hospitals to an outside firm. One of the commissioners reportedly changing his stance is Roberto Maldonado, who has previously been against a tax hike of any kind. The report says that if Stroger agrees, he will get the votes that will enable him to balance his budget and keep government operating. Proposed tax increases would involve plane tickets, car and hotel room rentals, and purchases of clothing, alcohol and other merchandise. --- Chicago School Closing Plan Fought (Chicago) -- Teachers and parents will pack a Chicago Board of Education meeting today in protest of a plan to close 18-schools. Parents United for Responsible Education executive director Julie Woesterhoff called the boards proposal "an attack on the public schools by the school system," and said it would lead to a disruption in education and the loss of hundreds of teaching jobs. Also to be voted on at todays board meeting is a new plan which would allow principals at Chicagos eight top college prep high schools to hand-pick some of their incoming freshmen who fall just short of the entrance requirements. The program is designed for star athletes, top musicians, kids from disadvantaged families, those who have lost a parent, or have other extenuating circumstances. --- NIU Continues Moving Forward (DeKalb) -- Yesterday brought relief, mourning, and finally, some recovery to the Northern Illinois University community. The day began with news that the final hospitalized survivor of the Valentines Day shooting spree, 19-year-old Lauren Debrauwere 1/81/8de-BROW-urr3/83/8, was headed home. Witnesses have said DeBrauweres boyfriend, Daniel Parmenter, gave his life to shield her. Also yesterday, the geology class that was the scene of the February 14th shootings met for the first time since the attack. The classroom itself will be closed for at least the rest of the semester. The NIU basketball team capped off yet another emotional day for the school by hosting Western Michigan in the schools first athletic event since the incident. Before that game, a long period of silence was observed in honor of the five-students killed at Cole Hall. --- Stacy Search Fundraiser Planned As Drew Returns To Court (Bolingbrook) -- Lawyers for Drew Peterson will again argue in court today for police to give back his personal property. The former Bolingbrook cops wife Stacy went missing on October 28th, and investigators took cars, computers, and other items from the Peterson home. So far, a judge has denied attempts to get those things returned. Yesterday, Stacys friends and family promoted a fundraiser theyre holding this weekend to finance search efforts. The last search for Stacy happened two-months ago, before the weather turned. Drew Peterson has been named a suspect in her disappearance, but no charges have been filed. --- Jury To Debate Hanson Death Penalty Today (Wheaton) -- A DuPage County jury will likely begin deliberations on whether convicted murderer Eric Hanson deserves the death penalty today. The same jury found Hanson guilty last week of killing his parents, his sister, and his brother-in-law in September of 2005. Prosecutors say he did so after they learned he had stolen thousands of dollars from his parents. A psychologist testified yesterday that Hanson suffers from narcissistic personality disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But Marva Dawkins did admit that Hanson could tell right from wrong at the time of the murders. The jury will have to vote unanimously for Hanson to receive the death penalty. If jurors disagree, he will be sentenced to life in prison. The judge in the case has indicated that jurors will be sequestered if they dont come to a decision today. --- Snow Removal Costs Snowball (Chicago) -- Chicagos snowplows have shoveled away all of the money the city set aside for snow removal this year. The Streets and Sanitation Department spent 20-million-dollars on snow removal between the start of 2008 and February 18th. Thats a million-and-a-half more than expected, and theres still four-weeks left until spring. A spokesman for the citys budget office tells the "Chicago Sun-Times" snow removal is critical to public safety, and says any overage will be paid out of the citys corporate fund. --- House Panel Approves Lowering Voting Age (Springfield) -- Seventeen-year-olds would get the right to vote under a new state constitutional amendment approved Tuesday by a state legislative panel. Representative Lou Lang of Skokie announced Tuesday that the Illinois House Elections and Campaign Reform Committee has voted five-to-three in favor of lowering the states minimum voting age to 17, without restrictions, for state primary and general elections. Seventeen-year-olds who will turn 18 in time for the general elections are already allowed to vote in primaries in eleven-states. Lang cited the historic presidential campaign of Illinois Senator Barack Obama, saying it "has energized youth like no other in decades." He added the proposal would "help build a foundation" for stirring a long-term interest in participating in elections. If the amendment is approved, Illinois would become the first state in the nation with an unrestricted 17-year-old minimum voting age. --- Man Thrown From Van On Dan Ryan (Chicago) -- Homicide charges could be filed against a man who crashed a minivan on the Dan Ryan Expressway last night, killing another man clinging to the vehicle. "ABC-7" 1/81/8WLS3/83/8 reports 26-year-old Eric Holmes of South Holland was trying to stop the driver from stealing his mothers van. It all started at a gas station near 95th and State Streets, where Holmes was filling up the minivan. The unnamed suspect apparently jumped in and drove off. Holmes grabbed on to the van and would not let go, even when the driver got on the Dan Ryan and repeatedly swerved to shake him loose. Witnesses say the driver then intentionally crashed the minivan into a retaining wall, killing Holmes. Authorities have the suspect in custody and are reviewing video evidence from the gas station. --- Police: Frozen Peanut Butter Was Laced With Drugs (Schaumburg) -- A Schaumburg man may have planned to skip the jelly and make a peanut-butter-and-pot sandwich instead. Police say they found a frozen, four-pound brick of peanut butter laced with hashish at the home of 27-year-old Eric Koch. Officers searched his apartment after an undercover cop bought some marijuana from him outside the residence. Authorities also found more drugs and nearly five-thousand-dollars of cash. Koch is charged with three felony counts each of marijuana possession and delivery, and one-count of cocaine possession. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-02-27-08 0633CST