Regional Summary, Monday 5/12

Indiana Summary --- Former Cop Pleads Guilty (Clarksville) -- A former cop pleaded guilty last week to drug charges. Officials say former Clarksville Police Officer Franklin Mikel was sentenced to 12 years for selling drugs. Indiana State Police say Mikel was caught in the act to selling pills to an undercover officer, some while in uniform. Mikel pleaded guilty to three counts of dealing in a controlled substance. Mikel is set to face up to 12 years, with ten of those to be served behind bars. --- Indy 500 Track Closed Today, More Practice Later This Week (Indianapolis) -- It was a great day Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Pole Day, but Sunday was a wash out. After a couple days shut down for the running of the race cars, action resumes as drivers and crews continue to compete for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing this month. On Saturday, Scott Dixon took the pole for the May 25th race. --- Two Shot In Anderson Bar (Anderson) -- Two people were shot and seriously wounded over the weekend after an argument on the dance floor at an Anderson bar. Police say they were called to the Club 7-6-5 bar on Nichol Street where they found the two hit by gunfire. One person was shot in the head, another in the abdomen. The investigation into the incident continues. --- Here Are The Latest Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Evening: 6-3-0; Daily Four-Evening: 6-8-5-9; Lucky Five-Evening: 11-12-18-33-34. Kentucky Summary (Cumberland Falls State Park, KY) -- The National Weather Service damage assessment team confirms two F1 tornadoes touched down in Kentucky on Sunday. An F1 tornado has winds of over 95 miles per hours. The first touched down west of Cumberland Falls State Park and continued into Whitley County. Numerous trees fell, some onto cars and buildings. Later, a second F1 tornado touched down near Wooton in Leslie County. It also took down trees and power lines. (Berea, KY) -- Both north and southbound lanes of Interstate-75 in Rockcastle County was shutdown overnight after a fatal accident. State Police say the driver of a tractor trailer ran up on a non injury accident and struck a vehicle. The truck then overturned and slid into a bridge abutment. The unidentified truck driver was killed. Two other people were injured and taken to the hospital. (Danville, KY) -- An unidentified 14-year-old girl was fatally injured in a traffic accident in Boyle County. The girl was driving the car involved in a single vehicle accident. A 17-year-old boy was a passenger but his condition is unknown. (Louisville, KY) -- Despite trailing in polls of Kentucky voters, Barack Obama is holding a rally in Louisville. The rally is tonight at seven at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Clinton campaign is also active in Kentucky today. The "Daily Independent" reports Chelsea Clinton begins the day in Ashland, then makes several other campaign stops for her mother. (Lexington, KY) -- The "Herald Leader" and "Courier Journal" are endorsing different candidates in the Democratic senatorial primary. The "Herald Leader" endorses Greg Fisher saying he is the "fresh face in the race, and delivers the message of change with a fresher voice." He also has less "baggage" than Bruce Lunsford. The "Courier Journal" endorses Bruce Lunsford, saying he has the resources and energy needed to win in November, as well as the imagination and determination required to shine in the U.S. Senate. (Frankfort, KY) -- Kentucky voters can have a lot of questions answered online. The Secretary of States Office reminds Kentuckians about a way to view sample ballots, get access to candidate information, check voter registration, and find polling places. The information can be found at vote.ky.gov. (Glasgow, KY) -- Glasgow City Council will have a chance to vote on a smoking ordinance. Councilman Freddie Norris is presenting the ordinance to council today. It would ban smoking in public buildings and businesses. Illinois Summary --- Rezko Case Reaches Closing Arguments Today (Chicago) -- The fraud trial of political fundraiser Tony Rezko reaches its endgame today. Closing arguments are set to begin in federal court. Rezko is accused of shaking down companies that wanted to do business with the state for contributions to Governor Blagojevichs campaign. Defense attorneys will likely claim during closing that the prosecution did not prove any of the allegations against Rezko. Federal prosecutors claim Rezko worked through Stuart Levine, who testified against Rezko, to rig deals on the states hospital expansion and teacher pension boards. Rezko is charged with 24 criminal counts, including mail fraud and extortion. --- R. Kelly Child Porn Case Resumes With Jury Selection (Chicago) -- One-hundred-50 potential jurors will reconvene in a Chicago courtroom today as jury selection continues in musician R. Kellys child pornography trial. Those jurors first heard the charges against Kelly during a brief session Friday. Outside the courtroom, supporters and detractors will likely gather to voice their opinions on the musicians guilt. Friday, dozens of Kellys backers crowded outside the Chicago courtroom to defend the artist. Only two men showed up to argue for his guilt, calling him the "worlds greatest pedophile" and urging prospective jurors to send Kelly to prison. Kelly is accused of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl. --- Watchdog Group Slams Governors Proposed Budget (Chicago) -- The state cannot afford many of the proposals in Governor Blagojevichs new budget. Thats the word from the non-partisan Civic Federation of Chicago, which is releasing a reported on the proposed 2009 budget today. The group claims Blagojevichs blueprint takes on billions more in debt and relies too heavily on raising business taxes, and would put the state in even worse fiscal shape. Spokesman Lawrence Msall tells the "Chicago Tribune" the Governors proposed three-percent spending cuts in some areas and corporate tax relief are good ideas. But he says those changes wouldnt make up for spending hikes in other areas. State government is supposed to pass a budget by the end of the month, but like last year, that seems unlikely. --- Strogers Choices For Health Board Criticized (Chicago) -- Critics say the nine people chosen for a board that will oversee the Cook County Health System will not represent the county as a whole. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports six of County Board President Todd Strogers live in the city of Chicago. Others live in Evanston and Flossmoor, and the final member resides in Naperville. Stroger says the choices represent Cook Countys diversity. County Commissioner Liz Gorman tells the paper she wants to know who will watch out for suburban interests. --- Little Storm Damage In Chicago (Chicago) -- Chicago was mostly spared any damage from yesterdays heavy storms. Emergency crews dealt with about 350 reports of downed trees and limbs, though most were very light. A Streets and Sanitation Department spokesman says there were fewer than 60 traffic signal problems and just a few dozen issues with city light poles. There were only a few incidents of larger trees falling. --- Report: United, US Airways To Merge (Chicago) -- Chicago-based United Airlines is reportedly close to a merger deal with US Airways. Sources tell the "Chicago Tribune" the combined carrier would be based in Chicago, but US Airways executives would run what would become the nations second-largest airline. United and US Airways first considered a merger in 1995, and announced another agreement in 2000. Both of those proposed deals fell apart. United has already been spurned by Continental and Delta Air Lines this year. Delta announced a merger with Northwest Airlines last month. --- Tribune Selling "Newsday" To Cablevision (New York, NY) -- Long Islands hometown newspaper could soon belong to Cablevision. Although details are still being ironed out, Cablevision is expected to announce an agreement to buy "Newsday" for 650-million dollars from the Chicago-based Tribune Company. News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch had been interested in the newspaper and had offered 580-million dollars. However, over the weekend, Murdoch pulled out of the running, saying a deal had become "uneconomical." Tribune owner Sam Zell says the agreement allows his company to retain three-percent interest in the new partnership. --- Gymnastics Teacher Once Convicted Of Sex Crimes Wont Take Plea (Aurora) -- A former Aurora gymnastics teacher whose conviction on sex crime charges was overturned earlier this year is vowing to take his chances with a second trial. Michael Cardamone was originally convicted of fondling seven young gymnastics students between 1997 and 2002. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison despite strong public support for leniency. But an appellate court ruled in March that the judge let jurors hear too much evidence about alleged sexual conduct that was not part of the charges. Cardamone tells the "Daily Herald" hes still determined to clear his name and will not make any plea deals with prosecutors. DuPage County States Attorney Joe Birkett says thats fine, because he wont be offering any plea deal. The Illinois Supreme Court is reviewing the appellate court decision. --- Police Investigate Domestic Stabbing In Romeoville (Romeoville) -- Romeoville police say a man stabbed himself and an infant during a domestic incident last night. It happened shortly after 5 in the 19-hundred block of Cobblestone Drive. Authorities say the 25-year-old was found on the ground with a self-inflicted stab wound to the stomach. A one-month-old boy next to him had two "superficial" stab wounds to the chest. Both are hospitalized, but expected to make a full recovery. Police are still investigating. --- Expedia Names Chicago Hotel Worlds Best (Chicago) -- If you want to stay in the worlds best hotel, you wont have to travel very far. Online travel company Expedias new list of top lodging rates the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower at 20 East Chestnut as the best place to lay your head. The 32-story glass prism boasts nearly 400 rooms and 33 suites. Expedia considered value, service and customer reviews when compiling the list. Expedias top resort worldwide is the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-05-12-08 0627CDT