Regional Summary, Thursday 12/20

Indiana Summary: --- Hundreds Turn Out To Oppose Fishers Annexation Of Geist (Fishers) -- Residents who live near the Geist Reservoir are confident they can stop an annexation attempt by the town of Fishers. Several hundred people turned out to voice their frustration at a Fishers Town Council hearing on Wednesday. The council was labeled as "dictators" by a parade of Geist home owners in attendance. A vote on the annexation must wait for at least 30 days after the hearing. Opponents would then have 90 days to collect enough signatures to ask a judge to stop the annexation. Fishers representatives claim Geist will have better services and lower tax rates after annexation. --- Indiana Selected For Teacher Education Pilot Program (Indianapolis) -- Indiana has been selected to launch a pilot program to improve the quality of classroom teachers. The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation designed the program that is being a funded by a ten-million-dollar grant from the Lilly Endowment. Participants will receive a stipend to complete a year-long masters program. Ball State University, IUPUI, Purdue University, and the University of Indianapolis will host the Indiana Teaching Fellowship. Those fellowship recipients will then be required to teach for three years at an identified "high-need" school. The program will initially prepare 80 new math and science teachers a year. --- Former President Of College In NC Will Head University In Indiana (Indianapolis) -- A former president of Livingstone College has been tapped to head a school in Indiana. In January, 58-year-old Dr. Algeania 1/81/8 al-GEEN-ya 3/83/8 Freeman will take over as president of Martin University in Indianapolis. Freeman reportedly has spent 35 years in a variety of roles in higher education. Freeman will succeed Benedictine monk Father Boniface Hardin, who founded the university in 1977. Martin University, the only predominantly black institute of higher learning in Indiana, was originally founded to serve adult, minority, and low-income individual. --- Ball State Apologizes To Former Coach (Muncie) -- Ball State University has issued a public apology to former mens basketball coach Ronny Thompson for events leading to his resignation. The university statement from president Jo Ann Gora said "unprofessional and unauthorized behavior" of employees resulted in Thompson leaving the school. He stepped down in July after one year on the job. An external review commissioned by the school found there was not sufficient evidence to report Thompsons alleged rules violations to the NCAA. Thompson, who is the son of Georgetown coaching legend John Thompson, alleged that racism played a role in undermining his program. --- Election Board To Certify New Winner In Muncie Mayors Race (Muncie) -- The mayoral election recount in Muncie has created a new winner in the tight race. The Delaware County Election Commission could certify Republican Sharon McShurley as the winner on Thursday. Democrat Jim Mansfield had entered the recount with a nine vote lead out of more than 12-thousand ballots cast. The "Muncie Star Press" reports that the commission disqualified 19 absentee ballots on Wednesday because they were marked with the initials of a representative from only one party. Two sets of initials are needed before the ballots can be mailed. --- Funeral For Richmond Soldier Today (Richmond) -- A U.S. Army soldier killed while on duty in Iraq will be laid to rest on Thursday. The funeral for Johnathan Lahmann will be held at Tiernan Center, next to Richmond High School. The public ceremony starts at 1 p.m. Lahmann was killed earlier this month when his vehicle hit a roadside IED. Several hundred people turned out to pay their respects to Lahmann during the visitation on Wednesday afternoon. Kentucky Summary: (Louisville, KY) -- Nine men alleged to be members of the gang known as the "Victory Park Crips" were indicted yesterday on dozens of felony charges, including, assault, robbery, kidnapping, drug trafficking and criminal syndication. These indictments come more than five years after police and prosecutors first charged six members of the gang with the murders of three people and attempted murders of four. The men will be arraigned in court on December 26th. Louisville, KY) -- A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court accusing Metro Police of acting recklessly against a teenager who was running away when he was fatally struck. Officials say Montrell Mucker died in February after being struck by a police cruiser. Attorney Joseph Rousselle says police mishandled the scene, failing to alert EMS and worrying more about protecting officers rather than doing a proper investigation. The lawsuit names the Louisville Metro Government, and two officers in the cruiser at the time of the incident. (Louisville, KY) -- A sports center for the disabled was announced yesterday. The center will be build along Brentlinger Lane in Fern Creek and will include many amenities for disabled children and adults. The project is a partnership between Louisville Metro Government and the Integrity Foundation. It will include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a six-hole golf course, a bowling alley, basketball courts, a dance studio and a softball field for disabled athletes. (Louisville, KY) -- University of Louisville Head basketball coach Rick Pitino won his 500th victory on Tuesday night. The Cardinals defeated Marshall 85-75 on Tuesday night picking up the victory for Pitino. This season marks the 24th college season for Pitino. Derrick Caracter, who was allowed back on the team after being indefinitely suspended made nine of eleven shots and scored 18 points in the 23 minutes he played to help secure the victory. (Louisville, KY) -- Mayor Jerry Abramson says residents can recycle their trees after the holidays and turn them into nutrient rich mulch. The mayor says the trees will be mulched at no cost to residents. Trees can be deposited curbside beginning on Wednesday, December 26th and residents can also dispose of their trees at one of the citys four tree-cycling centers on December 26th, 27th, and 28th and then again on January 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. All locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include the recycling centers on Hubbards Lane and Dixie Highway, the Public Works Yard on Newburg Road and the Waste Reduction Center on Meriwether Avenue. (Louisville, KY) -- The Indiana Department of Transportation has signed a contract for design approaches to the East End Bridge. Construction is scheduled on the project sometime between 2010 and 2013. Officials say the project will include a major interchange at Old Salem Road. The cost estimates will run around 222-million dollars and the cost of the land is at 14-million dollars. The contract was signed with the Columbus, Ohio design firm, Burgess and Niple Incorporated. (Shepherdsville, KY) -- Bullitt County School Board officials voted on Tuesday night to begin the 2008-09 school year a week earlier. The move came after teachers had complained that there were not enough instructional days in the school year to prep for CATS testing. The school year will now start on August 12th. Officials say with the new calendar that has been approved, CATS testing will now be held from April 20th to the 30th and the school year will end on May 22. (Frankfort, KY) -- The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is warning residents against drinking and driving during the holiday season. Officials say anyone who will be drinking over the holiday should make preparations to get home safely. Transportation Cabinet Secretary Joe Prather says at just one drink, impairment begins. He says residents should play it safe and never get behind the wheel of a vehicle when drinking. Officials ask that drinkers designate a sober driver or use a taxi when drinking. (Frankfort, KY) -- An eastern Kentucky lawmaker has resigned. Representative James Spencer resigned earlier this week, just three weeks before the start of the General Assembly session. Spencer says he decided to resign after consulting with his family. Governor Steve Beshear will set the date for a special election to fill his vacancy, which rests in the 95th District. Attorney General Greg Stumbo used to represent that district. (Bardstown, KY) -- Kentucky State Police say a man was admitted to a hospital with serious injuries after an incident in Bardstown. Police say Brent Jackson was pulling out of his driveway when he lost control of his vehicle, which overturned and struck a tree. Officials say the incident is still under investigation and say that alcohol may be a factor in the incident. The incident happened along KY-46. Illinois Summary: --- Lombard Astronaut Dan Tanis Mother Killed In Collision With Train (Lombard) -- Astronaut Dan Tani, a native of west suburban Lombard, is coping with the death of his mother while still aboard the International Space Station. Lombard Police say 90-year-old Rose Tani was killed on Wednesday afternoon when the car she was driving collided with a Union Pacific train in Lombard. Dan Tani has been at the space station since October and cant return to Earth until late January at the earliest. --- R. Kelly Due In Court Today, Could Be Arrested (Chicago) -- R. Kelly could end up behind bars if he doesnt show up in court today. The R-and-B singer failed to appear in a Cook County court yesterday in connection with child pornography charges against him, leading a judge to issue a warrant for his arrest. The judge then held off on that action but Kelly could be arrested if doesnt appear in court today. Kellys attorney said the Grammy-winning singer was on his way to Chicago from a tour stop in Sacramento when he was delayed by snow and then Kellys concert caravan was stopped for speeding in Utah. --- Glendale Heights Father Shot And Killed Walking His Dog (Glendale Heights, IL/Chicago) -- Glendale Heights Police are investigating the shooting death of a man who was killed while walking his dog. Investigators say 35-year-old Corey Krueger was found around 2:30 Wednesday morning only about 50 feet from his house. Krueger was married and had a 13-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son. Anyone with information is asked to contact Glendale Heights Police. --- Man Charged With Bomb Hoax At Downtown Building (Chicago) -- A man from Chicagos near Northwest Side has been charged with felony disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property after police say he carried a replica of a bomb into a downtown building. Police say 29-year-old Holace Aurelio Sender carried the hoax device into a building at 401 North Michigan Avenue at around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon. The Chicago Police Bomb and Arson Unit concluded the device was not dangerous. --- Police Stop Searching Canal In Connection With Peterson Investigation (Chicago) -- Illinois State Police say they have concluded their search of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in Romeoville and Lockport for any evidence connected to Stacy Petersons disappearance. The "Chicago Tribune" reports investigators are now concentrating their efforts elsewhere. Stacy Petersons husband, 53-year-old former Bolingbrook police sergeant Drew Peterson, has been named a suspect in the case but he has not been charged. --- State Senator Says He Paid For Governors "Hannah Montana" Tickets (Chicago) -- Governor Blagojevich and his family were not only lucky enough to see the recent "Hannah Montana" concert at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, they also got the tickets for free. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports the Blagojeviches were guests of Democratic State Senator James DeLeo, who says he bought the tickets at face value, 65-dollars each, out of his own pocket. Blagojevichs office says accepting the tickets was not a violation of the "Gift Ban Act." --- Chicago Law Firm Files Class Action Lawsuit Against The City Challenging Cell Phone Ban (Chicago) -- If youre one of 25-thousand drivers who has been given a ticket for talking on your cell phone while driving in Chicago, you may be off the hook. A class action lawsuit has been filed against the City of Chicago. The law offices of Blake Horwitz contends that the law was never properly enacted and the city did not post signs warning drivers about the ban. --- Software Glitch Shortchanges CPS Teachers (Chicago) -- Dozens of retired Chicago Public School teachers held a protest on Wednesday after a new software system shorted them on their pensions. The Chicago Teachers Union says most of the 16-hundred teachers who retired last June have been shortchanged. Some current employees have also had problems with their paychecks. A spokesman for the public schools says they should have the problem corrected in the near future. --- Olympic Athletes To Gather In Chicago (Chicago) -- Chicago might be getting a boost in its pursuit to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. More than 100 American Olympic athletes are scheduled to meet here in April for the "Olympic Team Media Summit," ahead of the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Theyll be interviewed by around 400 journalists. The Chicago 2016 committee says the press event could help Chicagos Olympic chances. --- Secretary Of State Says Police Will Be Out To Enforce "Dont Drink and Drive" (Chicago) -- "You Drink. You Drive. You Lose." Thats the message state officials are sending to motorists this holiday season. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White says special patrols will be set up during the weeks of Christmas and New Years. Last year, nearly 600 people died in drunk driving related accidents in Illinois, and Secretary White says thats simply unacceptable. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-12-20-07 0650CST