Regional Summary Friday 3/7

Indiana Summary Heavy Winter Weather Returns For Weekend (Indianapolis) -- Some heavy winter weather is on its way back to Indiana. The National Weather Service is predicting snow early this afternoon and continuing into Saturday. As much as six or more inches could fall in central Indiana. Road crews are prepared to assault the elements and drivers are advised to use caution. --- Semi Truck Carrying Plastics Burns, Causes Traffic Backup (Johnson County) -- A semi truck carrying plastics burned yesterday afternoon along I -65 near Franklin in Johnson County. The burning truck affected the northbound lanes. State Police say there were no injuries. --- Six-Million-Dollar Drug Bust In Harlan Indiana (Harlan) -- The Allen County Police Department says theyve made the biggest drug bust in department history, equaling six-million-dollars. Authorities say it all started when they pulled over Matthew McChesney of Harlan, where they found a few pounds of marijuana in his car, along with 250-thousand-dollars in cash. This led them to his home, where they discovered three-tons of marijuana. --- Police: Teens Sold Drugs At Hamilton County Shopping Centers (Indianapolis) -- After a four-month investigation, two Indianapolis teenagers are now behind bars. Authorities say Nick Robinson and Christopher Jameson, both 19-years-old, supplied drugs and Ecstasy to kids all across Hamilton County. According to Major Lee Goodman, of the Hamilton County Drug Task Force, the two were selling both prescription drugs and ectasy to mostly teens and people in their early 20s, but in some cases, the buyers were as young as 12-years-old. Police say the arrest is just part of a bigger problem in Hamilton County, where theres a growing problem with teenagers abusing prescription drugs. If the two teens are convicted, they could face up to 20-years in prison --- Latest Winning Hoosier Lottery Numbers Daily Three-Midday: 6-8-9; Daily Three-Evening: 4-5-9; Daily Four-Midday: 3-5-1-3; Daily Four-Evening: 4-5-4-7; Lucky Five-Midday: 4-14-15-18-26; Lucky Five-Evening: 14-25-27-33-35. Kentucky Summary (Louisville, KY) -- Kentucky Transportation officials say they have prepped roadways as heavy snow accumulation is predicted for the area throughout the day. Roads throughout Jefferson, Oldham, Franklin, and Bullitt Counties have been treated in case of bad weather. Officials say personnel are prepared to work long hours to help clear any accumulation from the roadways. Local crews have applied brine to all area roadways as well. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear is now proposing a 70-cents per pack cigarette tax increase, to the current 30-cents a pack cigarette tax. The governor told reporters yesterday that he felt a tax increase would be a last resort, but, quote, "We have arrived at that stage". The governor announced his cigarette tax proposal after meeting with House Democratic leaders. The governor says the increase could raise revenue for the next budget that is faced with cuts in funding for education and healthcare. (Louisville, KY) -- One person was rescued from an apartment fire in Jeffersontown yesterday, and five people, including children were hospitalized. The incident happened along Glenawyn Circle where firefighters found an apartment complex on fire. Officials say one woman was in a second floor apartment while four children and another woman was taken to a local hospital because of smoke inhalation. Three firefighters were also taken to the hospital for evaluations. All three have been released. (Louisville, KY) -- The Fraternal Order of Police has filed a complaint with the Kentucky Department of Labor regarding the Metro Governments new cruiser policy. LMPD Officers will now have to pay 60-dollars a month to use police cruisers while off-duty. FOP President John McGuire says a number of the orders members are angry about the fee and how it is being enforced. He says, by contract and state law, things that deal with wages, hours, and working conditions need to be negotiated, and the move was not. (Louisville, KY) -- Many Fern Creek business owners met with Louisville Metro Police officials earlier this week after a string of break-ins in the area. Business owners say they have experienced a huge number of car break-ins, vandalism, and graffiti in their parking lots in the past three-months. Police officials say they believe juveniles are behind the recent string of crimes and police are working to increase patrols in the area. Major Larry Watkins with the 7th Division says police have already arrested one juvenile from the Fern Creek area. (Louisville, KY) -- Work continues on the Big Four Ramp project. Waterfront officials are laying the groundwork for the old Big Four Bridge while they wait on approval for federal funding for the project. Officials say the work is nearing completion and say that the half-mile long bridge will eventually be the centerpiece of Waterfront Park. The waterfront agency has asked federal highway officials for 13-million-dollars, ten-million to install railings and a deck, and three-million-dollars to build a ramp. (Louisville, KY) -- A machinery maker will launch its educational center at the University of Louisville with a grand opening next week. Haas Automation Incorporated will launch the center within the J.B. Speed School of Engineerings Rapid Prototyping Center. The Haas center will open with a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting on March 12th and will continue with an open house until 4 p.m. for invited industry representatives and members. The center is on the first floor of the Vogt Building along Eastern Parkway and Third Street. (LaGrange, KY) -- The annual Oldham County showcase event will be held this Saturday. The event is expected to draw over one-thousand people. The showcase will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the YMCA Soccer Complex in Buckner. The event will include a new car show, face painting, free health screenings, YMCA Zumba and Family Fitness Dance Demonstrations, among others. Nearly 75 to 85 booths stocked with information on local businesses will be available, as well as a number of activities. (Louisville, KY) -- The Dave Matthews Band, along with special guest Willie Nelson, will perform live in concert at Louisville Slugger Field on August 1st. The performance will be the bands first since 1995. Tickets will go on sale to the general public Saturday, March 29th at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets. General admission standing room tickets on the field are 65-dollars, lower bowl reserved seats are 65-dollars and upper deck reserved seats are 55-dollars. The event will be held rain or shine. Illinois Summary --- First Witness Testifies In Corruption Trial (Chicago) -- More testimony is expected this Monday in the fraud trial of Tony Rezko. A witness told a federal jury yesterday that the former fundraiser was one of the top "bundlers" of campaign donations for Governor Blagojevich. Kelly Glynne served as finance director during Blagojevichs first gubernatorial run. Glynne said Blagojevich attended a private party at Rezkos Wilmette mansion the night after he was elected governor in 2002. Glynnes appearance on the witness stand Thursday came after opening statements in the trial of the governors former adviser. Rezko is charged with shaking down companies that wanted state contracts and for his influence on appointments to state boards. --- Killer Steals Victims ID (Waukegan) -- Police say a north suburban man faked his own death after murdering another man and stealing his identity. Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran says 40-year-old Ari Squire of Lake Barrington did not die when a pickup truck apparently fell on him. He explained that Squire lured Justin Newman of Arlington Heights to his home by promising him a job. Squire murdered Newman, making it look like a pickup truck fell on him and then caught fire. He also made it look like Newman was Squire. Squire fled in Newmans car, and took his ID. Squire killed himself a week later in a Missouri motel room when police arrived to question him. --- Three Top Gary Cops Free On Bond After Indictments (Gary, IN) -- Gary Police Chief Thomas Houston and two of his top officials remain free on bond after being indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights violations. Houston was charged Thursday with six counts involving the alleged assault and detainment of suspects last June. Deputy Chief Thomas Branson was indicted on three counts of civil rights violations and one count of lying to federal agents. Sergeant Thomas Decanter is charged with one civil rights violation. U.S. District Court Magistrate Paul Cherry released the three men on 20-thousand-dollar signature bonds. Their next court appearance is March 14th. --- Police Believe Two Shootings Connected (South Holland) -- Police in south suburban South Holland say two shootings that happened yesterday afternoon may be linked. Chief Warren Millsaps says officers were called around 3:37 p.m. about shots being fired at 152nd and Drexel Avenue. The victim was pronounced dead shortly after. Meanwhile, another gunshot victim, a male, was found alive at 152nd and Cottage Grove Avenue. He had also been shot once and was taken to a hospital in Harvey. There is no word of who shot the two, or why. However Chief Millsaps says quote "this is not in any way a school shooting, it has nothing to do with Christ Our Savior School, or any of the students from Christ Our Savior." Police do not have a motive, but there are reports that both people shot are brothers. The South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force has been activated and is the lead investigating agency. --- Congressional Race To Be Determined Tomorrow Tomorrow is the special election in Illinois 14th congressional district. Voters will get an opportunity to select a successor to finish the remaining term of retiring House Speaker Dennis Hastert. The candidates are Republican hopeful Jim Oberweis and Democrat Bill Foster. This will be the first election in Illinois held on a Saturday in at least 25 years. Voters will get to do it all again in November when they will decide who gets to serve the full term. --- Superintendent Weis Wants Officers in Shape Without Using Cash Incentive (Chicago) -- Chicagos new police chief says hes considering a required physical fitness exam for officers. Superintendent Jody Weis 1/81/8 WEESE3/83/8 told the "Chicago Sun Times" that the current system of using monetary bonuses to urge cops to get fit is not effective. He is leaning toward measuring the body fat of officers, and not just how much they weigh. Weis says he doesnt anticipate any changes for at least a year and he expects to work with the union. Police who pass an annual physical earn 250 dollars. Last year, 38-hundred of the citys nearly 13-thousand officers signed up to take the test. Close to 24-hundred passed and about 100 flunked. The rest avoided the exam. --- 1969 Cop-Shooting Suspect A Free Man (Chicago) -- The man who shot and wounded a Chicago police officer almost 40-years ago is a free man. Joseph Pannell walked out of Cook County Jail Thursday morning, and his attorney says he plans on "reacquainting himself with his family." Pannell served nearly 30-days after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated battery in connection with the shooting of officer Terrence Knox in 1969. He will also contribute 250-thousand-dollars to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, which gives aid to the children of critically-injured officers. The money was raised by community members in Toronto, where he had lived under an assumed name, as well as from Cook County defense attorneys. Pannell will also serve two-years on probation. Knox has retired and now lives in southwest suburban Orland Park. --- Woman Accused Of Demanding Money From Suburban Official (Lake in The Hills) -- A northwest suburban Lake in the Hills woman is accused of sending a number of disturbing e-mails to the village president, ordering him to pay her hundreds of thousands of dollars. Police say 43-year-old Amy Pezen is charged with eight counts of disorderly conduct after delivering 41 e-mails to Ed Plaza between February 1st and 21st. Court records show Pezen demanded that Plaza pay her 500 thousand dollars a year "for eternity" and an annual income for the next ten thousand years. She also threatened to send him to prison if he did not pay for her move out of the suburb. Pezen is free on one thousand dollars bond pending a court date later this month. --- Officer Who Committed Felony Is Terminated (Chicago) -- A veteran Chicago Police officer is no longer with the force after he was found not to be truthful when applying for the job more than a decade ago. The "Chicago Tribune" reports 39-year-old David Hays was fired last month after an investigation concluded that he did not reveal a felony conviction on his job application. He pleaded guilty in 1995 to leaving the scene of an accident after he crashed a car into a state troopers vehicle, injuring the officer, and then running off. Hays later turned himself in and was sentenced to two years of probation. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-03-07-08 0717CST