Regional Summary, Tuesday 6/3

Indiana Summary Residents Allowed Back In Homes Briefly After Anderson Fire (Anderson) -- In Anderson, Hazmat and other authorities are allowing residents near a major overnight fire to go back to their homes to get basic needs, then they will either go to shelters or stay with other family or friends until the area around the fire is declared safe for a full time return. The fire started late last night and destroyed the old National Tile Building, more recently known as CPR Incorporated Plastics Materials Recycling Center. The blaze began around 11 p.m. Plastic recycling and alternators had been stored in the facility at 26th and Pitt Streets. Investigators say that it took about four hours to contain the fire. About 40 people had to be evacuated from the neighborhood with 20 homes directly affected. Seven fire departments responded to the fire. The structure sits on 15 acres. Madison County Emergency Management remains on the scene. Two employees were inside at the time the fire started and were able to make it out safely. The cause of the fire is being sought as soon as the flames and smoke subside. --- Apartment Residents Begin To Move On After Tornado (Indianapolis) -- The situation is improving some for residents of the Falcon Point Apartments in Indianapolis today. They have started the process of moving on by picking up some essential items after a tornado struck their homes on Friday night . All of the residents were forced out when their residences were either damaged or destroyed at the complex. Yesterday, people living there were escorted to their homes fire department and police personnel. They could take out vital papers, clothes, and pets. On Sunday.Indianapolis firefighters inspected the buildings determined that some apartments were too dangerous to enter let alone to live in right now. A second evaluation is to be done today after an initial estimate of 29-million-dollars in damage to buildings. --- Homicide Victim Identified In Indianapolis (Indianapolis) -- A homicide victim has been identified this morning after a shooting on Monday. Investigators say the fatal victim is 51-year-old Freddie Figueroa of the 29-hundred block of Embassy Court. The shooting happened at an automotive garage on the southwest side at 200 Warman Avenue. Police say that they were called out just after 7:30 p.m. after several shots were fired. Detectives say another victim was found and is listed critical condition at Wishard Hospital. He has been identified as 45-year-old Ismael Irizarry of the 75-hundred block of Keating Drive. No arrest has been made. --- Indianapolis Police Say Teen Shot After Running Over Mans Foot (Indianapolis) -- Police investigators in Indianapolis are looking to question a man after a shooting that wounded a 13-year-old boy. He is recovering after a shooting on Monday. Detectives say the teen stole his mothers car, then ran over a mans foot. That happened at the Baltimore Terrace Apartments. Records show that the teen continued to drive to 32nd and Nicholas Streets. Thats where the boy ran into another car. Hes listed in stable condition. --- Indiana GOP Picks Zoeller As A.G. Nominee (Indianapolis) -- Indiana Republicans have sided with Greg Zoeller 1/81/8 zell-err 3/83/8 in a contentious attorney general nomination contest. Zoeller beat out Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas by just over 300 votes from more than 17-hundred ballots cast at the state party convention. Zoeller has served as the chief deputy to outgoing Attorney General Steve Carter. Zoeller told the delegates his first job will be working to help re-elect Governor Mitch Daniels, who had supported Costas for attorney general. Daniels delivered a half-hour address touting changes during his administration, including transportation projects through the Toll Road lease and the HIP program. The attorney generals race was the only contested spot on the statewide Republican slate. --- Indians Lose To Toldeo Monday, 17-3 (Indianapolis) -- Designated hitter Timo Perez and left fielder Freddy Guzman combined to go 8-for-9 with seven runs and seven RBI as Toledo exploded for a 17-3 win over Indianapolis Monday evening at Victory Field. The International League West Division-leading Mud Hens improved to 36-and-23 overall, while the Indians fell to 28-and-31 on the season and 14-and-14 at home. Indianapolis continues its eight-game homestand tonight when first-year franchise Lehigh Valley makes its only appearance of the season at Victory Field. IronPigs lefty Travis Blackley and Indians righty Luis Munoz are the probable starters for the series opener at 7 p.m. Kentucky Summary (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear has signed an executive order officially endorsing equal opportunity employment to all state employees and perspective employees. Under the order, no one can be hired or fired based on race, age, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, ancestry, age, disability or veteran. The previous administration felt that this type of official order was unnecessary and already covered under the law. (Frankfort, KY) -- More than 25-hundred Kentucky adults are wards of the state because of their mental or physical abilities are to severe to take care of their own affairs. State Auditor Crit Luallen says a report prepared by her office shows the program needs improvements. Most importantly, Luallen says inadequate staffing puts their well-being at risk. She says despite the states economic crisis steps can be taken to better manage the program. (Franklin, KY) -- A former Louisville mayor is not the chair of the Kentucky Public Service Commission. Governor Steve Beshear appointing David Armstrong to the post. Armstrong, a Louisville attorney has also served as Kentucky Attorney General. (Frankfort, KY) -- Kentucky State Police report six people died last week on Kentucky roadways from Tuesday through Sunday. All of the fatalities involved motor vehicles and four of those victims were not wearing seat belts. (Richmond, KY) -- The Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents are extending the presidents contract. The board voting to add a year to Doug Whitlocks contract taking it through 2011. One board members says Whitlock has done "a superb job." The board also approved a 213-million dollar budget for the 2008 - 2009 academic year. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear is about to make his first trip out of the country as Kentucky governor. The governor will lead an economic development delegation to Japan. The group is to leave on Sunday for the week long visit. (Frankfort, KY) -- A random drawing has selected the six Kentucky counties for post election audits. The Attorney Generals office announces the audits will be conducted in Butler, Calloway, Letcher, Perry, Trimble and Webster Counties. Illinois Summary --- CTA Red Line Train Derails; One Injury Reported (Chicago) -- Everythings back to normal on the CTA Red Line after a minor early-morning derailment. CTA spokesperson Sheila Gregory says 14 people were on board a southbound train that left the tracks near the 95th/Dan Ryan terminal shortly after 2 a.m. Only one passenger sustained a minor injury, and passengers were able to walk through the train and exit onto a platform. Crews are still investigating that derailments cause. --- Kelly Jury Gets Day Off Following Emotional Testimony (Chicago) -- Jurors in the R. Kelly child pornography trial have today off, but lawyers do not. Kellys defense team is expected to question "Chicago Sun-Times" music critic Jim DeRogatis, who initially turned over to police the tape that allegedly shows Kelly having sex with a young girl. Yesterday, Cook County prosecutors rested their case but not before jurors heard emotional testimony from key witness Lisa Van Allen. She described three sexual encounters she had with both Kelly and the girl in question. Van Allen also testified that Kellys accountant paid her 20-thousand dollars to return a videotape of one of those sexual encounters. Defense attorneys questioned her motives and credibility, saying Van Allen was only out for money and revenge. Representatives for Kelly and the girl claim their clients are not the people on the tape. --- Verdict Expected Soon In Rezko Trial (Chicago) -- The jury in political fundraiser Tony Rezkos federal fraud trial could return a verdict as soon as today. Yesterday afternoon, jurors sent a note to the judge saying they were deadlocked on one of the 24 criminal counts. The note did not specifically state that a verdict had been reached on the other 23 charges, but many observers believe the jury has reached a conclusion on those counts. Jurors were ordered to try again on the deadlocked count. They adjourned at their normal time yesterday afternoon. Rezko is on trial for allegedly shaking down companies that wanted state business in exchange for contributions to the campaign of Governor Rod Blagojevich. --- Apartment Complex Burns In Harvard (Harvard) -- A four-alarm fire is burning at an apartment complex in the McHenry County town of Harvard. The blaze at the Northfield Court apartments began at about 4 a.m. Several ambulances have been called to the scene, but theres no word on any injuries. --- Blago Calls Budget Out Of Whack, Wants Lawmakers To Fix It (Chicago) -- It could be another long summer in Springfield as lawmakers haggle over a state budget. Legislators okayed a nearly 60-billion-dollar spending plan Saturday night. But Governor Rod Blagojevich says its two-billion dollars out of whack. He wants top lawmakers to come back to the Capitol this week, and "fix it." The governor wont say if hell call every lawmaker back for more special sessions, though hed need to, just to get a new plan passed. Last summer, lawmakers battled till August over a budget. Almost all say they do not want to do it again this year. Legislative leaders admit their plan is out of balance, but they say the governor is the one wholl have to fix it. --- Reverend Michael Pfleger Speaks With Newspaper Reporter (Chicago) -- A controversial Chicago clergyman says he did not know last Sundays service at Trinity United Church of Christ was being taped. Reverend Michael Pfleger 1/81/8FLAY-ger3/83/8 tells the "Chicago Sun-Times" Trinity officials informed him their online streaming system had been down all day. But his speech about race in America was recorded, and clips of Pfleger criticizing and mocking Senator Hillary Clinton have made national headlines. Pfleger has publicly apologized. He tells the newspaper he contacted the Clinton campaign to make a personal apology, but the Senator and her staff have not returned those calls. Trinitys most famous member, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, resigned from that church over the weekend in part because of Pflegers comments. Pfleger would not discuss whether he is in danger of losing his position as the head of Saint Sabina Roman Catholic Church, except to say that he serves at the discretion of Cardinal Francis George. --- Report: Chicago Schools Again Considering Property Tax Hike (Chicago) -- Chicago property owners might have to dig even deeper into their pockets to help pay for education. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports Chicago Public Schools officials are again considering a property tax increase to help close a 97-million dollar funding gap. It would be the 12th time in the last 14-years Chicago property taxes would rise to help pay for schools. A state-imposed cap would only allow a total property tax hike of 40-million, or about 20-dollars for a 250-thousand dollar home. CPS Chief Financial Officer Pedro Martinez says no decision will be made until July, and he says the school board is hoping to avoid heavier taxes. --- Three Gas Stations Charged With Overcharging (Chicago) -- Gas prices are high enough, but the city of Chicago says customers at three stations were paying much more than necessary. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports a BP Amoco in the 12-hundred block of South Wabash, a Marathon station in the 52-hundred block of West Division, and a Clark station in the 98-hundred block of South Halsted have each been fined for overcharging customers. Six other stations stand accused of deceptive practices this year. Consumer Services Commissioner Norma Reyes says the number of consumer complaints to the citys hotline is up 20-percent so far this year. --- Suspect In Custody For Allegedly Injuring Cicero Cop (Cicero) -- A 28-year-old Cicero man is charged with four counts of aggravated battery for allegedly hitting a town police officer with his car. Officers took Alejandro Quezada into custody yesterday for the Saturday incident. Hell appear in bond court today. Quezada allegedly knocked Officer Lisa Castillo to the ground with his car during an afternoon traffic stop. He sped off, and police say Quezada later abandoned the car he was driving. Castillo was treated at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn and released with a neck brace. --- Possible Attempted Murder-Suicide In Bloomingdale (Bloomingdale) -- A Bloomingdale man is dead and his wife injured in what suburban police say may have been an attempted murder-suicide. Officers found the two lying in the street in the two-hundred block of Millcreek Lane at about 10:15 last night. Police say 36-year-old Richard Painter was pronounced dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound at a nearby hospital. His 28-year-old wife remains hospitalized at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, but her condition is not known at this time. Police continue to investigate. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-06-03-08 0550CDT