Tristate Regional News, Thursday 5/10

Indianapolis Summary: Governor Signing Cigarette Tax Hike During Ceremony Today (Indianapolis) -- The governor will be joined by lawmakers and health officials today as he signs a cigarette tax hike into law during a ceremony at the Statehouse. Governor Mitch Daniels will sign legislation passed by lawmakers last month that increases the price-per-pack by 44-cents to pay for a number of health insurance programs for the uninsured. The state has already begun seeking bids from private contractors to manage the healthcare program. --- Marion County Republicans Continue Criticism Following Tuesday Primary (Indianapolis) -- Tuesdays botched primary election in Marion County continued yesterday with a closed door and a delay. Dozens of Democratic and Republican workers showed up at the countys vote center warehouse yesterday, thinking they would begin certifying the votes, but found a locked door. Marion County Republican Party Executive Director Kyle Walker says he continues to blame Democratic Marion County Clerk Beth White for the election-related problems. Walker says the workers who showed up at the warehouse yesterday were told to report back at 10 a.m. before being told to wait until today to begin certifying the vote. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether any candidates will head to court to challenge Tuesdays primary. Five precincts failed to open at all on Tuesday while dozens of other precincts opened late. There were also problems with finding enough people to staff the polls and issues with ballots being sent to the wrong precinct. White has apologized for Tuesdays issues. --- Senator Asks For Review Following Botched Primary (Indianapolis) -- A state senator from Indianapolis is asking for a legislative review of Tuesdays botched primary in Marion County. Five precincts failed to open at all in Marion County while dozens of precincts opened late. There were also issues with ballots going to the wrong precinct and a lack of volunteer workers to man the polls. State Senator Pat Miller says she is asking Senate President Pro Tempore David Long to place the state review of the primary before a legislative interim study committee this summer. Long is the chairman of the Legislative Council. Miller also says she plans to offer legislation next year to prevent voter disenfranchisement in the future. --- Officials Reassuring Parents, Students Following Alleged Rape (Indianapolis) -- School administrators in Warren Township are working to reassure parents and students that their schools are safe following an alleged rape that took place Monday in a stairwell. Seventeen-year-old Michael Bell faces rape and other charges as an adult for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl. Metropolitan School District of Warren Township Superintendent Peggy Hinckley joined school officials yesterday to pledge to take additional steps to secure their schools. Hinckley also sent a letter home to parents yesterday outlining the school districts security procedures. Warren Central High School Principal Tony Burchett says Bell also faces expulsion. --- Police Say Three Men May Be Responsible For Robberies (Indianapolis) -- Police in Indianapolis say three men may be responsible for at least 15 armed robberies in recent weeks. Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana has posted pictures of the three men on the crimetips.org website. IMPD Detective Rob Challis says the three robbed gas stations and other businesses in Indianapolis, Cumberland and Avon over the past two weeks. The three allegedly robbed the stores without wearing disguises. Anyone with information is being urged to call Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS. --- Chicago Men Indicted For Allegedly Making Child Pornography (Indianapolis) -- A Chicago man faces federal charges in Indianapolis for allegedly making child pornography while he lived in Ohio a few years ago. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Susan Brooks says 36-year-old Sang Jang faces up to 30 years in prison and a quarter-of-a-million-dollar fine if convicted. Prosecutors say Jang and another man, David Turner, produced child pornography involving a 14-year-old girl while the two lived in Ohio in 2002 and 2003. Brooks says Jang allegedly sent the images and videos to Turner after Turner moved to Bloomington, Indiana. Turner has already been sentenced to 100 years in prison for producing child pornography involving the Ohio girl and others. --- Indianapolis Animal Care And Control Sending More Officers On Patrol (Indianapolis) -- More animal control officers are being sent to patrol Marion Countys streets after a series of pit bull attacks. Indianapolis Animal Care and Control 1/81/8 IACC 3/83/8 officials say two more officers are being sent out on patrol, bringing the total number of officers to 23. IACC officials say dog bites are more common this time of the year because more animals and people are outside enjoying the warmer weather. A three-year-old girl and 61-year-old man have been mauled by a bit bulls in recent days. --- Indians Lose To Syracuse (Indianapolis) -- Right-hander Josh Banks needed just 92 pitches for his second complete-game win of the season and third baseman John Hattigs RBI single in the fourth ended up being a game winner as Syracuse edged Indianapolis 2-1 Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field. The Chiefs improve to 13-and-18 overall and 4-and-11 on the road, while the Indians fall to 19-and-12 overall and 9-and-8 at home. Indianapolis continues to lead the International Leagues West Division despite the setback. Indianapolis evened the count with a run in the second. Third baseman Russ Johnson smashed a double to left and came the rest of the way on back-to-back groundouts. Kentucky Summary: Investigators Believe Carter County Fire Triple Homicide (Hitchins, KY) -- Kentucky State Police say a fire that took the lives of a Carter County woman and her two daughters is arson and the three are homicide victims. Investigators wont say how they believe the three died, only to say they were found in different parts of the mobile home. Although the names of the victims have not been officially released, Channel 27 1/81/8 WKYT 3/83/8 identifies the three as 31-year-old Jennifer Isom, and her daughters, ten-year-old Shannah and four-year-old Marissa. The bodies have been sent to Frankfort for an autopsy. Hiker Stranded In Gorge (Chimney Top, KY) -- A hiker spent the night in the Red River Gorge. Channel 27 1/81/8 WKYT 3/83/8 reports the hiker armed with a cell phone, bag of sunflower seeds and bottle of water called for help Wednesday afternoon when he realized he was lost. Rescuers apparently located the hiker from the air Wednesday night, but because of the rugged terrain were still attempting to reach the hiker at first-light. Votes For Miller Wont Count (Frankfort, KY) -- Jonathan Millers name will appear on the primary ballot even though he has officially withdrawn from the Democratic governors race. Secretary of State Trey Grayson says its too late to remove Millers name, but county clerks wont count any voters he receives. According to the "Herald Leader," Grayson has instructed clerks to post notice at all polling places that votes cast for Jonathan Miller wont be counted. Third Meth Lab Discovered In Rowan County (Morehead, KY) -- For the third time in 32 days a meth lab has been discovered in Rowan County. The "Morehead News" reports two meth labs were discovered in a Morehead mobile home park at the end of March, now this week a lab is discovered in a camping area near Cave Run Lake. Drug enforcers warn that with the weather warming up, meth labs may be located anywhere. They urge people to report anything suspicious to law enforcement. KBI Seizes Illegal Diet Drugs (Frankfort, KY) -- Officials say Kentucky Bureau of Investigation agents have seized drug shipments from an illegal Florida Internet pharmacy in Lexington. Agents seized three-thousand phentermine pills being sent to people in a number of Kentucky counties. According to the Attorney Generals Office the KBI has seized more than 1-million-dollars in illegal Internet pharmaceuticals since the crackdown began months ago. New Education Commissioner (Bowling Green, KY) -- Kentuckys new Education Commissioner starts work on July 16th. The Kentucky Board of Education has ratified a contract with Barbara Erwin, currently superintendent of a school system in St. Charles, Illinois. The four year contract, calls for a salary of 220-thousand-dollars. Ashley Judd College Graduate (Lexington, KY) -- Actress Ashley Judd can add a BA degree in French to her list of credits. Judd has completed a correspondence course to receive the credit she needed to finish the work on her degree. The "Herald Leader" reports Judd attended the University of Kentucky from 1986 to 1990, but left one course short. UK officials say Judd was one of the four-thousand people who graduated from the University of Kentucky over the weekend. Chicago Summary: Dozens Attend Service For Missing Plainfield Mom, FBI Involved (Plainfield) -- A vigil took place last night for missing Plainfield mother Lisa Stebic. The FBI is now also involved in her search. About 100 people attended last nights event, spelling out the word "hope" with candles. Stebic has been missing for more than a week since leaving her home last Monday night. Her family is offering a 20-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to her whereabouts. For more information, visit www.lisa.stebic.com. --- Officer Shoots, Kills Man in Attempted Robbery (Chicago) -- A man is dead after he was shot by an off-duty Chicago police officer during an attempted robbery last night. Police say the incident occurred at around 11:30 p.m. near 111th Street and Michigan Avenue when the officer was leaving a currency exchange after buying stamps. When he opened his car door, a male suspect stuck a gun in his back and demanded money. The officer handed over 11-dollars, and the suspect asked for more. The officer started to give him his roll of stamps, then drew his gun and fatally shot the suspect. The officer was not hurt. --- Coach Plans To Plead Not Guilty To Sexual Assault Charges (Naperville) -- A Naperville soccer coach accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls on his team is expected to plead not guilty. The "Chicago Tribune" reports 36-year-old Gustavo Nicosias lawyer announced his client would plead not guilty when Nicosia appeared before a judge via closed-circuit television yesterday. The judge said if the soccer coach manages to post his 50-thousand-dollar bond he will be allowed to continue coaching three boys teams, but not the girls team. He will also have to surrender his passport. Nicosia has not been able to post bond and remained behind bars last night. --- Transformer Fire Gets Kids Out Of Class (Glen Ellyn) -- Classes are cancelled for the rest of the week at Glenbard West High School after a fire knocked out power to the Glen Ellyn school on Wednesday. The cancellation affects about 21-hundred students. The building was immediately evacuated when an explosion and fire at a ComEd transformer spread to the school. No one was injured. Authorities say there was a fire in the same transformer last year. Extra curricular activities normally scheduled outside or in the schools gym will be held as usual. For more information, visit the schools website at www.glenbard.net. --- Vote Coming on Gross Receipts Tax (Springfield) -- Members of the Illinois House are expected to vote today on Governor Blagojevichs gross receipts tax, a measure that will directly impact school, transit and healthcare funding. The governor made a rare appearance before the House yesterday to push for his 7-billion-dollar tax, which is the largest proposed tax in state history. Under the plan, companies with more than 2-million-dollars in revenues would pay the tax on most business transactions. The governor contends that big businesses throughout the state are dodging corporate income taxes and placing the burden on individual taxpayers. --- Spire Plan Approved, Expected to be Completed in 2010 (Chicago) -- The two-thousand-foot Chicago Spire will be going up along the banks of the Chicago River if funding is approved. The full city council has approved a zoning measure that would allow the 150-story skyscraper, which will be the tallest building in the U.S., to be built. The trickiest part of the project now will be securing a two-point-four-billion-dollar loan on the faith that the space will be rented out. The twisting tower will feature a riverfront plaza, retail shops, six levels of underground parking and sprawling condominiums. Its expected to be completed in the year 2010. --- Jury Gets Luna Case (Chicago) -- Jury deliberations are expected to continue today in the trial of one of two men accused in the 1993 Browns Chicken murders. Prosecutors wrapped up closing arguments against Juan Luna yesterday, saying he was "intent on committing murder" when he entered the Palatine restaurant. Luna and James Degorski are charged with killing seven employees. A trial date for Degorski has not been set. --- Bond Set For Student Accused of Making Threat (Crystal Lake) -- A student at Crystal Lake Central High School is due back in court next week after being charged with a felony, accused of writing threatening graffiti on a bathroom wall, causing a security scare. Eighteen-year-old Matthew Hayes was arrested on Tuesday for last months incident and was being held at the McHenry County jail yesterday on 75-hundred-dollars bond. Hayes allegedly referenced the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings and implied that similar violence would occur at his school. Hes charged with criminal defacement of property and disorderly conduct. --- Edwards Campaigns At Luncheon (Chicago) -- Barack Obama may be Chicagos "favorite son," but another Democratic presidential candidate drew a big crowd in Chicago on Wednesday. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who was John Kerrys running mate for the White House in 2004, spoke at a lunch held by the "Women Employed" organization. Edwards blasted President Bushs Iraq policy, saying the president is "trying to thwart the the will of the American people." Edwards called on Congress to insist on timetables for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq and he added that President Bush has "made it clear that he will not negotiate." --- Pit Bull Owner Puts Dog to Sleep after Attack (Crystal Lake) -- A suburban pit bull owner says he has put his dog to sleep after it viciously attacked another dog Tuesday. David Wuich of Crystal Lake says he had his three-year-old dog Shady euthanized Wednesday. Police say Shady broke through the screen door of an apartment and mauled a Labrador retriever, causing cuts to the labs head and ear. Wuichs family says they tried to find a pit bull rescue facility, but couldnt get any help. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service) RNS-05-10-07 0350CDT