Regional Summary, Monday 5/19

Indiana Summary Field Full For Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis) -- The field is now full for the running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The pole was filled by 6 p.m. Sunday at the two-and-a half mile oval with Scott Dixon in the lead on the first row. Some crashes helped fill the day at the track as fans came out in warm, sunny weather to view the final days of qualifications. --- New Recruits Take Oath For Enlistment (Indianapolis) -- New recruits took the oath yesterday during Armed Forces Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. They were young men and women ready to serve America. Senator Richard Lugar delivered the enlistment speech as he has done in years past. There were 55 recruits attending the ceremony Sunday. --- Two Arrested After Chase, Suspects Connected To Stolen Equipment (Indianapolis) -- Police in Indianapolis arrested two men this morning after a chase, and found stolen equipment. Investigators say thousands of dollars of construction equipment has been recovered from the suspects. Police used a pit maneuver to stop the men after the high speed pursuit at Murry and Shelby Streets. Police say they saw the men breaking into pickup trucks around East Street and Thompson Road around 1 a.m. As authorities confronted the suspects, they took off with police in hot pursuit for about a half hour. --- Body Found In White River In Anderson (Anderson) -- Anderson Police are investigating the death of a man found floating in White River over the weekend. The man is 22-year-old David Wayne Barttrum of Anderson. Police say he was found near Derby Downs on Sunday. He had been reported missing five days earlier. Madison County Coroner Ned Dunnichay says there are no visible signs of trauma on the body. The remains were seen by a fisherman searching for a good spot to throw his line, according to Detective Kevin Smith. --- Funeral Today For Four Victims Of Indianapolis Fire (Indianapolis) -- A mother and her three children killed in an Indianapolis house fire will be laid to rest today. Sisters Camary and LeNesha Drake died on Mothers Day as a result of the fire at the familys home on Hillside Avenue. Twenty-eight-year-old Natasha Drake and two-year-old son Elijah Drake died last week from their injuries. Services are at noon at Indiana Baptist Church on Millersville Road. A visitation starts at 10 a.m. An unattended candle might have sparked the blaze. Natasha Drakes mother and a man were able to escape the house unharmed. --- Three Teens Die In Hancock County Car Crash (Greenfield) -- Three teens died over the weekend in a single car crash in Hancock County. Investigators say speed was a factor, and maybe drugs. Investigators say the car was traveling around 100-miles-per-hour early Sunday morning when it slammed into a tree, then caught fire. Two boys and a girl died in the accident along County Road 300 North and Fortville Pike. The victims have been identified as the driver, 19-year-old Scott Spencer of New Palestine and passengers 18-year-old Amy Green of New Palestine and 20-year-old Tyler Pinegar of Indianapolis. Police say that some marijuana was found in the car. --- Three Teens Killed In Car Crash (Hanna) -- A deadly accident near Hanna, Indiana has left three teens dead. Police say 15-year-old Brandon Hughes, 14-year-old James Zemanek and 16-year-old Chance Garling where killed when their pickup truck slammed into a train. The accident happened at a railroad crossing at County Road 250 west news County Road 1650 South. Officials say the Norfolk Southern freight train was travelling at roughly 59-miles-per-hour. There are no electronic safety devices at the crossing, but officials say there are stop signs and a railroad crossing sign. Officials believe the pickup was traveling at a high rate of speed and didnt see the train in time to stop. --- Camm Case Heads Before Supreme Court (New Albany) -- David Camms case will head to the state Supreme Court later this week. Arguments will be presented nearly eight years after Camms family was murdered in their Georgetown, Indiana home. Camm was convicted once and that ruling was overturned. Camms second trial ended in him being convicted a second time but appeal lawyer Stacy Uliana says the jury was slanted because the defense could not give details of co-defendant Charles Boney 1/81/8 Boh-NAY 3/83/8. Boney was tried separately in Floyd County and was convicted of murder and sentenced to 225 years in prison. He has appealed his conviction. Camms lawyer, Stacy Uliana, will present the case for Camm on Thursday in Indianapolis. Prosecutor Keith Henderson has declined to comment on the appeal, according to the "Courier Journal." Kentucky Summary (Louisville, KY) -- The North Central District Health Department says improper food handling likely caused over a hundred people to get sick on Easter Sunday at a Shelbyville restaurant. The Health Department investigated the incident after numerous people were reported sickened after eating ham at the facility. Tests showed that the hams at the restaurant came back from the USDA negative for staph, which means the hams were likely contaminated at the restaurant. (Louisville, KY) -- Louisville Metro Police are investigating the citys latest homicide. Police say a white male in his 20s was found shot outside of a vacant house on Stana Drive, which is off Terry Road. The victims name has not been released. If you have any information youre asked to call the anonymous tip line at 574-LMPD. (Louisville, KY) -- New York Senator Hillary Clinton will hold a Get Out The Vote rally tonight at the Kentucky Exposition Center West Hall. The event starts at 9 p.m. tonight and the doors open at 7 p.m. The New York Senator and Democratic presidential hopeful will be joined by former President Bill Clinton and former first-daughter Chelsea Clinton. The Kentucky primary is tomorrow. (Frankfort, KY) -- U.S. Senator Barack Obamas fundraising in Kentucky topped both U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and likely Republican nominee John McCain, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports. Obama collected 847-thousand-405-dollars from Kentuckians compared to 625-thousand-976 dollars Clinton brought in. Reports show that McCain has garnered around 170-thousand dollars. The campaigns updated reports through April are due in tomorrow, which is the states primary. (Louisville, KY) -- Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain was in Louisville on Friday night. The Arizona senator spoke at the National Rifle Association Convention. McCain criticized Illinois Senator Barack Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton on their foreign policy and on gun issues. While speaking about the plans from the two Democratic Presidential hopefuls to remove troops from Iraq, McCain said, quote, "A premature withdraw would be reckless for our security and our values." During McCains speech he didnt mention health care or the economy. Those two issues have been a hot topic with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. (Louisville, KY) -- The University of Louisville recently sent out letters to nearly 20 employees in the presidents office warning them of a security breach. Officials say the breach involves documents being copied and taken from a private office. An investigation is ongoing. Spokesman John Drees says the breach may have resulted in employees social security numbers being compromised. The documents also contained personal information including student and employee identification numbers and salary information. (Louisville, KY) -- Metro Police have arrested a mother who left her baby inside a car for several hours. Police say Amanda Lindsey has been charged with wanton endangerment and assault. Officials say Lindsey was drunk when she called police saying she had forgot where her car was, and her baby was inside. Police found the baby and the car nearly three hours after the call at Louisville Memorial Gardens, about ten miles from where Lindsey was. Officials also claim Lindsey assaulted an officer who responded to the call. (Louisville, KY) -- Mayor Jerry Abramson will hold the monthly community conversations tonight. The event will take place at Jeffersontown High School along Six Mile Lane. Anyone wanting more information can contact Metro Call at 311. (Louisville, KY) -- Councilman Madonna Flood and Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth will hold a special flag presentation to the Okolona Post office today. The ceremony will get underway at 9 a.m. OSHA has named the Post Office as a voluntary protections programs star site. The post office is the second VPP star site in the city of Louisville and is the first post office to receive the honor. (Louisville, KY) -- The Louisville Metro Parks Department will hold a public meeting on Wednesday to begin developing a master plan for the future of Jefferson Memorial Forest. The meeting will be held at Fairdale High School at 6 p.m. Officials want to hear the publics suggestions on how to expand and develop the forest and programs there. Suggestions are wanted over possible routes through the forest for a paved trail that would be part of the City of Parks Louisville Loop. (Elizabethtown, KY) -- Kentucky State Police say one person was injured in a crash in Hardin County over the weekend. Richard Figueroa was transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital and then onto University of Louisville Hospital after a motorcycle turned into his vehicles path. Walter Foreman, the driver of the vehicle was not injured. The incident happened along KY-220. Illinois Summary --- Pain At The Pump As Gas Prices Hit Record High (New York, NY) -- Chicago has the highest gas prices in the nation. The latest Lundberg survey puts the price of gas in the Windy City at four-07-per-gallon. Long Island, New Yorks not far behind. The national average for unleaded is three-79-a-gallon, and those numbers are likely to go up. Survey editor Trilby Lundberg says increasing pressure on the refining margin, including higher gasoline demand in the summer months, will likely cause more pain at the pump. The new prices are records both in the dollar amount and the amount when adjusted for inflation. --- Cop Denies Niles Bar Attack (Chicago) -- A Chicago police officer accused of attacking two people at a Niles restaurant over the weekend says he was trying to protect a woman. Gerald Callahan was arrested soon after the early Saturday morning altercation at The Chambers Seafood Grille and Chop House and charged with two counts of battery. Witnesses said Callahan attacked the man and woman for no apparent reason, then ran off. But the 42-year-old Callahan tells CLTV he only pushed the man because that man slammed the womans head into a bar. Callahan says he was not drunk at the time, and claims a Niles police dog bit him on the leg after the arrest. Niles police say the off-duty officer has not filed a complaint. Callahan is on paid leave pending an investigation. Two years ago, then-Police Superintendent Phil Cline recommended Callahan be fired for a different incident, but he was reinstated by the Police Board. --- More Clout Allegations In Stroger Administration (Chicago) -- Two ex-convicts who are also brothers of state legislators are on the Cook County payroll. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports Board President Todd Stroger personally promoted James DAmico and hired Myron Colvin. DAmico is a 24-year veteran employee who now heads the countys Facilities Management department. Hes the brother of Representative John DAmico and pleaded guilty to making threatening phone calls during a 1996 political campaign. Colvin is Representative Marlow Colvins brother and pleaded guilty to assault in 1989. Hes been hired as a grant writer in the countys POET job-training program. A spokesman says both men are extremely qualified. But Jay Stewart with the Better Government Association says Stroger is operating on the "Friends and Family" hiring program. --- Suburban GOP Worried About Obama Effect (Grayslake) -- A number of suburban Republicans are rooting for Senator Hillary Clinton to capture the Democratic presidential nomination. Theyre worried that Illinois Senator Barack Obamas popularity in the state could cause huge numbers of Democrats to show up and vote, thus damaging chances for Republicans in other races on the ballot. The state GOP has already lost one major race. Aurora doctor Bill Foster up-ended dairy magnate Jim Oberweis in a special election for former House Speaker Dennis Hasterts seat in Congress. Many observers point to a growing number of suburban Democrats as one factor in that win. Lake County Board member Larry Leafblad tells the "Daily Herald" the prospect of an Obama-led ticket has Republicans doing much more organizing at the local level than usual. --- State Report Documents Alleged Springfield Hotel Fraud (Chicago) -- A report expected today from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias 1/81/8juh-NEW-lee-us3/83/8 claims the former owners of a Springfield hotel "improperly diverted" nearly two-million dollars from the hotel for their own gains. The treasurer tells the "Chicago Tribune" the report shows Republican power-broker William Cellini orchestrated a scheme to cook the books at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Convention Center. Illinois gave the owners a large loan to build the complex. Those owners were only required to make payments on the loan if the hotel was profitable, which happened only twice. The report claims Cellini and his associates hid profits to make it seem the hotel lost money. A lawyer for Cellini refutes the allegations. The FBI and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigans office are investigating. The state took the title to the 23-year-old hotel in June after a long court battle. --- Man Dies After Falling From Chicago Police Vehicle (Chicago) -- Authorities say a Chicago man died Saturday after he fell trying to escape from a police wagon on the citys South Side. Police say the man was arrested around 2:00 a.m. Saturday in connection with a domestic disturbance at the home of a woman who had an order of protection against him. Authorities say 25-year-old Antonio Dampier of the 29-hundred block of West 38th Street fell out of the police wagon while he was handcuffed. He then landed head-first on the 28-hundred block of South State Street. Dampier was pronounced dead just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Stroger Hospital. Area Three Detectives are investigating. --- Minuteman Project Founder Predicts Organizations Death (Chicago) -- The Minuteman movement is apparently running out of time. More than 20 chapters of the anti-illegal immigration group have folded in the past year-and-a-half, and founder Jim Gilchrist tells the "Daily Herald" his organization has "lost the battle". Gilchrist blames a lack of communication and donations and an increase in fighting between factions for the failures. The Skokie-based Illinois Minuteman project is one of the chapters thats recently shut down. Chicagos Minuteman Project is still running, but its director says Skokie members have not moved over to his group. --- Report: State Finances Forcing Safe School Route Delays (Chicago) -- More than one-hundred projects intended to make it safer for kids to get to school remain on the drawing board three years after federal funding was first approved. The Safe Routes to School program was created in 2005, but Illinois didnt start taking applications for the grants until last April. Winners were announced this past March, but none of the eight-point-three million dollars has been passed on. The "Chicago Tribune" reports Illinois Department of Transportation has told school districts and municipalities they will have to wait to build sidewalks, crossing guard safety vests, and other more ambitious projects. The newspaper reports IDOT is holding onto the cash because of the states weak financial position. --- Rezko Jury Deliberations Continue (Chicago) -- Jurors in the Tony Rezko fraud trial will continue their deliberations today. The ten-woman, two-man jury got the political fundraisers case late Tuesday. Jurors have deliberated for the equivalent of a day-and-a-half so far. Rezko is accused of shaking down companies that wanted state business in exchange for contributions to the campaign of Governor Blagojevich. The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing. --- Kelly Trial Opening Statements Tomorrow (Chicago) -- Opening statements in R-Kellys child pornography trial begin tomorrow, almost six years to the day after the musician was first indicted. Last week the prosecution and defense agreed on a jury made up of eight men and four women. Eight of the jurors are black and four white, despite defense arguments for a more racially diverse jury. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13. The tape was allegedly made between 1998 and 2001, and surfaced in June of 2002. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-05-19-08 0618CDT