Regional Summary Friday 3/14

Indiana Summary Indiana Gasoline Prices Come Down A Little (Indianapolis) -- Indiana gasoline prices have come down a little since yesterday. Prices for regular unleaded gasoline at three-dollars-45 cents a gallon are today selling at three-dollars-35 cents a gallon. Some experts say that prices could be coming down more but for how long isnt known. Analysts say that gasoline prices could be at or around four-dollars a gallon by summer. --- Report: National City For Sale, Wells Fargo May Be Suitor (Cleveland, OH) -- National City Bank is reportedly up for sale. "The Wall Street Journal" reports the Cleveland-based bank is looking for potential buyers. A National City spokeswoman, however, calls the report, quote, "speculation," but the banks top executive has recently and publicly floated the possibility of a merger. "The St. Louis Business Journal" reports Wells Fargo Bank may be on the short list of potential buyers for the National City chain. And "The Wall Street Journal" indicates that Key Corporation of Cleveland or Cincinnati-based Fifth-Third Bank may also be interested. National City which has branches throughout the Midwest, including Indiana, has been hard hit by the mortgage crisis and their stock prices have tumbled. --- Property Tax Vote Delayed Until This Morning (Indianapolis) -- A vote on property tax reform that includes rate caps is expected this morning in the Indiana legislature. The House and Senate adjourned around 11 p.m. Thursday after a busy day of caucuses for both parties. Senator Luke Kenley says the average property tax bill will drop by one-fourth under an agreement reached earlier in the day. Homestead property taxes could not exceed one-percent of asses value under House Bill 1001. Rental and business property would have higher limits. The process of putting the statute into the constitution would also begin. Part of the lost property tax revenue comes in a one-percent increase in the state sales tax. Senate Democrats balked at a Thursday night vote in order to study the bill more completely. The legislation includes referendums on some new school building projects, which Republicans had sought. Democratic proposals for an increase in the earned income tax credit and renters deduction are part of the agreement. (Indianapolis) -- An illegal immigration bill under consideration in the Indiana legislature is likely to end up in a study committee. House and Senate conferees could not agree on wording of a final bill, which effectively ended its chances of becoming law this session. Conference committee chairman Senator Tom Weatherwax says there were too many differences to be resolved in one day. House conference members were not appointed until Thursday morning. Senate Bill 345 would have created a three strikes system for businesses proven to have knowingly hired illegal immigrants. The most severe punishment was loss of the business license in Indiana. The bill stalled despite impassioned pleas from its author, Senator Mike Delph, who urged colleagues to pass a bill that has "teeth in it." His compromise agreement was met with an offering from Senator Dennis Kruse which would have removed all punishments for violating employers. --- Andre Carson Sworn In, Takes Over Seventh District (Washington, DC) -- Thirty-three-year old Andre Carson was sworn in yesterday in Washington and now serves Indianas Seventh Congressional District. He takes over for his grandmother, the late Julia carson who passed away late last year after suffering from cancer. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officially swore in Carson inside the House chamber. He vowed to work hard for Indiana. Carson hopes to win a full term in Congress later this year as he faces seven challengers in the May Primary. Among them, Jon Elrod, the Republican opponent who was defeated by about ten votes. --- Obama To Visit Plainfield On Saturday (Plainfield) -- Presidential candidate Barack Obama will host a town hall meeting in the Plainfield High School Gymnasium at 12:30 p.m. this Saturday. The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. In order to get in you must have a ticket along with a photo ID. If you would like a free ticket via e-mail, you must register on Obamas website. Kentucky Summary (Louisville, KY) -- A man who died earlier this week after being struck by a vehicle has been identified as David Volpert. The Jefferson County Coroner says Volpert, who was homeless, died from multiple blunt force injuries from the incident. Metro Police say Volpert was hit as he tried to cross Preston Highway. Toxicology tests will be performed on the victim and the driver who hit him. Officials say Volpert was walking alone and was wearing dark clothes when the accident occurred. (New Albany, IN) -- The funeral of Joe Huber will be held today. The 74-year-old passed away Monday due to complications from leukemia. He is the founder of Joe Huber Family Farm & Restaurant in Starlight, Indiana. His funeral will be held this morning at 11 a.m. at St. Johns Catholic Church in Starlight. (Louisville, KY) -- The Louisville Zoo has received accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The zoo underwent an investigation to ensure it met animal care standards, among others. The "Courier Journal" reports that the AZA requires resubmission every five years to maintain the accreditation. (LaGrange, KY) -- Norton Healthcare is donating ten-thousand-dollars to the new Oldham County Hazardous Materials Team. The donation was announced yesterday and will be on behalf of Norton Brownsboro Hospital, which will open in 2009. The HazMat team is made up of fire and EMS volunteers, all who are certified hazardous materials technicians. Nearly 33 technicians have been trained to serve the county over the past four months. (Louisville, KY) -- The annual St. Patricks Day Parade will be held tomorrow afternoon. Transportation officials are reminding motorists that Bardstown Road will be closed from Rosewood to Highland Avenue from 2:45 to 5 p.m. tomorrow. Baxter Avenue from Highland Avenue to Broadway will also be closed. Officials say Broadway from Baxter to Barrett Avenue will be closed as well but only from 1 until 4 p.m. Anyone wanting additional information can contact 511. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear unveiled an eight-point-15-million-dollar initiative yesterday aimed at helping farmers whose crops were damaged by severe weather conditions last year. The Kentucky Agriculture Relief Effort, K.A.R.E., will use ag development funds to help farmers recover from the devastation caused from back-to-back weather disasters. Officials say farmers crops were destroyed last year after the late freeze last spring and the extensive drought throughout the summer and fall seasons. Anyone wanting more information can visit www.agpolicy.ky.gov. (Elizabethtown, KY) -- Police are looking for a man who is allegedly walking into banks without a gun and is taking thousands-of-dollars. Officials say the man is using methods some investigators have never seen before. The suspect has escaped with around 50-thousand- dollars from Kentucky banks, although police do not know who the suspect is. Police say the suspect is passing around bad Comchecks, which are used for advances in the trucking industry. The suspect is allegedly forging signatures, then walks over to the teller and gets them to cash the fake checks. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Hardin County Detectives. Illinois Summary --- Weis Replaces 21 Of 25 District Commanders (Chicago) -- Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis 1/81/8 WEESE 3/83/8 is replacing 21 of the citys 25 district commanders. In a statement, Weis said the selection process was "focused and deliberate in choosing proven leaders." He said many of the faces are familiar "to the rank and file as well as the community." Weis, an FBI veteran, was sworn in as Chicagos 50th police superintendent on February 1st. The changes in the Chicago Police Departments ranks are effective as of Sunday. --- Mayor Tightens Belt On Spending Plan (Chicago) -- Amid a slowing economy and following a winter that strained the citys budget with excessive snow removal costs, Mayor Daley says that the city will make a 20-million-dollar round of budget cuts. The mayor plans to implement a hiring freeze in all departments for most positions and will have three-percent across-the-board cuts on all nonpersonnel costs. This will not include costs critical to public safety and contractually-obligated expenses. --- Gunfire Kills Three In Separate Incidents (Chicago) -- Three people are dead after separate shooting incidents across Chicago last night. Police are investigating after a 39-year-old man was found shot in the head in the 100 block of East 72nd Street around 9:30 p.m. Also about that time, a 43-year-old man was found dead in an alley in the 118-hundred block of South State Street after a possible domestic dispute. Around 11 p.m., an adult male was found shot in the head in the 800 block of South Western Avenue. A 35-year-old woman is recovering after being shot in the 87-hundred block of South Escanaba Avenue last night. --- Trial Set For Girls Accused Murderer (Wheaton) -- The trial for a man accused of abducting, raping and killing a Naperville girl 25-years ago has now been scheduled to begin next January 20th. Fifty-one-year-old Brian Dugan is accused of killing ten-year-old Jeanine Nicarico 1/81/8 nih-KAIR-ih-co 3/83/8 in 1983. He is currently serving two life sentences for other murders and faces the death penalty if convicted of killing Nicarico. --- Aurora Man Gets 48-Years For Attempted Murder (Saint Charles) -- An Aurora gang member convicted of trying to kill a man who was carrying his young daughter outside his home is now facing 48-years in prison. Twenty-five-year-old Ernesto Urzua was sentenced yesterday after being convicted in January of attempted first-degree murder. The victim fell on his daughter to protect her, but he was struck four times. Prosecutors say the victim is permanently paralyzed from the chest down and has limited use of his left arm. The case is pending against another defendant. --- Former Metra Chairman Offers Testimony To Rezkos Level Of Influence (Chicago) -- Tony Rezkos fraud trial is set to resume on Monday. Former Metra Chairman Jeffrey Ladd said Thursday that he often represented hospital companies in front of the Illinois Hospital Planning Facilities Board, chaired by Thomas Beck. Ladd said he expressed concern to Beck about Rezkos level of influence. Rezko is accused of demanding campaign contributions for Governor Blagojevich from companies who wanted state business. Blagojevich is not charged. --- Cook County Commissioners Son Gets 30 Days For DUI (Chicago) -- Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraicas son Marko has begun serving a 30-day jail sentence for DUI. Twenty-seven-year-old Marko Peraica of Riverside was convicted last October on charges stemming from an incident in 2004. Prosecutors say Marko Peraica tested positive for marijuana and cocaine during a presentence evaluation. Tony Peraica says he is "deeply saddened" to know that his son, who works in the Cook County Clerks Office, jeopardized the safety of others. Tony Peraica is also the Republican candidate for Cook County States Attorney. --- Workers Treated After Being Exposed To Fumes (Franklin Park) -- Seven workers at a dry-soup company in west suburban Franklin Park are recovering after being taken to hospitals because they were exposed to fumes from battery acid. Officials expected the employees of Unilever Bestfoods Foodservice all to be treated and released last night. The incident happened at the Unilever facility at 93-53 West Belmont about 5:30 Thursday afternoon. --- One Man Might Be Responsible For A Crime Wave (Oak Lawn) -- One man might be responsible for a series of crimes in the south suburbs. The "Southtown Star" reports police are investigating robberies which happened early Thursday morning at a Circle K store in Oak Lawn and at a Clark gas station in Mokena several hours later. Investigators believe the same man struck again at the Citizens Financial Bank in Palos Heights about 12:30 Thursday afternoon. Investigators say the man was armed with a knife during the robberies. --- If The Cubs Win, The Store Loses (Chicago) -- The Chicago Cubs havent won the World Series since 1908, and a store in Chicagos suburbs hopes that streak will last for at least one more year. SuitePlay is offering customers a complete refund on purchases made through April 14th if the Cubs win this years World Series. SuitePlay, which has stores in Algonquin, Deerfield, Downers Grove and Naperville, has reportedly taken out an insurance policy just in case the Cubs win it all and customers get to cash in. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-03-14-08 0641CDT