Regional Summary, Wednesday 1/23

Indiana Summary: Frigid Temperatures In Indiana This Morning (Indianapolis) -- Frigid temperatures are being felt this morning in Indiana. Its eleven-degrees in Indianapolis with a wind chill not far from zero. A high of 28-degrees is forecast for the capital city today. Temps in the 30s and up to around 40 are forecast for the weekend and through Monday. There could be a court decision after the Fishers Town Council voted last night for annexation with Geist. And the latest winning numbers in the Hoosier Lottery. --- Fire Leaves Heavy Damage To Kokomo Church (Kokomo) -- A fire has left serious damage to a church in Kokomo. Numerous units were called to the Oakford Baptist Church last night after fire broke out there. A church administrator says that the most damage occurred in administrative offices, pastors offices, and the youth chapel. Investigators say that there were a few people inside the church at the time, but all made it out safely. One firefighter was slightly injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. --- Plainfield Police Investigate Religious-Related Graffiti (Plainfield) -- Plainfield Police today are investigating what they call religious-related graffiti. At least one person is suspected in spraying the profanity along the main thoroughfare. Investigators say the markings are possibly cult-related. A 21-year-old man is being questioned in the case. --- Court Decision Likely After Fishers Town Council Votes For Annexation (Fishers) -- There could be a court decision after the Fishers Town Council voted last night for annexation with Geist. Geist is no longer bordered by Fishers, and is now part of Fishers after the Fishers Town Council voted on the Geist annexation proposal. Fishers Council says that Geist residents have been paying less taxes than the residents in Fishers while they still receive the same services. Council members say the annexation would raise Geist taxes to a fair level. --- Tuesdays Winning Hoosier Lottery Numbers Daily Three-Midday: 5-7-0; Daily Three-Evening: 6-9-9; Daily Four-Midday: 4-2-4-2; Daily Four-Evening: 5-0-3-1; Lucky Five-Midday: 1-3-6-21-24; Lucky Five-Evening: 1-7-21-28-32; Mix & Match: 10-13-20-30-40. Kentucky Summary: (Louisville, KY) -- A jury acquitted a gun dealer and his wife of fraud charges yesterday after eleven hours of deliberations. The two were accused of conspiring to defraud Owsley Brown Frazier and his museum by overcharging him for historic weapons. The jury found Michael Salisbury and Karen Cruse Salisbury not guilty of money laundering for allegedly hiding kickbacks in Karens bank account. Michael Salisbury was convicted of two counts of failing to file taxes, which are misdemeanors. He will be sentenced in April. (Louisville, KY) -- The University of Louisville unveiled a new brand yesterday. The university unveiled their new tagline, "Its Happening Here" during separate events on the Belknap and Health Sciences Center campuses. The new tagline replaces "Dare To Be Great," which has been used in U of Ls marketing campaign since 2000. The campaign includes a new signature and monogram for the university. 1/81/8 note nature of following 3/83/8 (Shepherdsville, KY) -- A Bullitt County man is facing seven years in prison after pleading guilty sex abuse charges earlier this week. Bryan Stewart was charged with sex abuse and possession of matter. Police say they started investigating Stewart after his wife discovered a videotape he allegedly made of an underage girl while she was in the bathroom. Stewart pleaded guilty to molesting the ten-year-old girl yesterday in court. He will be sentenced in March. (Louisville, KY) -- The Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control board is set to rule on an argument to reopen a Preston Highway liquor store. Neighbors had complained that the Fairgrounds Liquor store had caused problems for years before it closed in April. New owner Roger Beets wants to reopen the store and says he has taken measures to curb possible problems. A local ABC administrator had denied Beets application in September because the city has projects underway to improve the Preston Highway corridor and because neighbors had complained. The board should issue a ruling later today. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear has named LaDonna Thompson as Kentuckys Corrections Commissioner. This is the first time a woman has been appointed to head the states Department of Corrections. The 45-year-old Thompson has spent 18 years with the Department of Corrections, the last two and half years as Deputy Commissioner of the Agency. (Louisville, KY) -- Louisville firefighters are urging the public to buy carbon monoxide detectors. The move came just after a carbon monoxide leak at a local hotel sent 17 people to a local hospital. Firefighters say the detectors look and work like smoke detectors and are just as important. State laws do not require the detectors in commercial buildings and while residents cant see or smell CO2, the detectors can and will sound an alarm as soon as a detection is occurring. (Hodgenville, KY) -- The Kentucky Historical Society is updating plans for the National Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Inaugural Ceremony. The ceremony will be held at the Lincoln Birthplace in Hodgenville on February 12th. Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. The ceremony marks the official beginning of the national bicentennial commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Lincolns birth. President George W. Bush is among the federal and state officials invited to attend, so far there has been no confirmation from the White House. The ceremony is free and open to the public and begins at 10:30 a.m., the gates will open at 7 a.m. (Louisville, KY) -- Conservation officials are warning residents about the danger of frozen lakes. Authorities say many area ponds and lakes are now coated with sheets of ice because of the recent temperatures and snow fall. Officials say although ice may frozen, people should use caution before trying to skate or walk on it. Authorities says good clear ice should be four inches deep before someone can walk on it. Officials say the best way to keep yourself safe is to avoid frozen lakes and ponds altogether. Illinois Summary: --- Street To Stay Closed After Burst Pipe Creates Huge Hole (Chicago) -- Workers will be on the scene of a water main break on Chicagos North Side for at least a week as they try to fix an 80-foot wide hole in the pavement. A nearly 100-year-old cast iron pipe broke open early Tuesday morning, flooding the 18-hundred block of Montrose in the Ravenswood neighborhood. Over four-feet of water sat in the roadway at one point, partially submerging parked cars and closing several nearby streets. The ensuing pavement collapse even caused part of a building to crumble. Officials say Montrose will likely be closed between Wolcott Avenue and Honore Street through the weekend. As a precaution, the road is currently closed between Ashland Avenue and Damen Street. CTA Brown Line trains arent affected, but pedestrians can only walk east of the Montrose station. --- Kankakee River Flooding Near Wilmington (Chicago) -- Ice jams continue to cause major flooding problems on the Kankakee River near Wilmington. An ice jam about three-miles west of the Interstate-55 bridge has caused major problems for residents of at least one subdivision, and firefighters had to pull trapped drivers from cars on now-flooded Blodgett Road. National Weather Service meteorologists say the floodwaters have stabilized for now, but they caution that ice jams can break apart and move downstream. If that happens in this case, more flooding is possible. A flood warning is in place for extreme east-central Grundy County and southwestern Will County until Thursday morning. --- John Stroger To Be Laid To Rest Today (Chicago) -- Mourners are paying their final respects to a leader called both powerful and compassionate. A wake for former Cook County Board President John Stroger was held yesterday. One mourner in attendance, commissioner Bill Beavers, says the stroke his friend suffered two-years ago brought his life to an untimely end. Stroger passed away Friday morning at the age of 78. A viewing will be held from 9 until 11 this morning at Saint Felicitas Church at 15-26 East 84th Street in Chicago, followed by a funeral mass. Details regarding the internment will be announced at St. Felicitas. --- Blagojevich Campaign Incurs Neraly One-Million-Dollars In Legal Fees (Chicago) -- Governor Blagojevichs campaign fund owes a Chicago law firm nearly one-million-dollars. Campaign disclosure reports filed yesterday indicate "Friends of Blagojevich" recorded a 965-thousand-dollar debt in 2007 for legal fees provided by Winston and Strawn. Campaign officials wont say what the law firm has worked on for the governor, but disclosure reports indicate the fund has racked up more than two-million-dollars in legal fees since a federal investigation came to light in October 2005. Federal officials allege, as part of their case against fundraiser Tony Rezko, that "Public Official A" told a separate fundraiser that contributors would be rewarded for their donations. Sources say Blagojevich is "Public Official A", but the administration has denied that. --- Olympics Expert Puts Chicago In 2016 Lead (Chicago) -- Chicago has the inside edge on winning the 2016 Summer Games, according to one respected Olympics expert. Ed Hula, who runs the website aroundtherings.com, puts Chicagos bid just two-points ahead of both Madrid and Rio de Janeiro in his initial Olympic Bid Power Index. Chicago scores well for its city-centered plan, a strong marketing program, and having a solid infrastructure already in place. Hula cautions that the rankings do not predict the outcome of a notoriously fickle International Olympic Committee decision. Tokyo comes in fourth out of the seven cities submitting bids, with Doha, Qatar; Prague, Czech Republic; and Baku, Azerbaijan also in the mix. --- Cop Assault Victim Speaks Out (Chicago) -- The Chicago man shackled to a wheelchair and beaten multiple times by a police officer says he doesnt remember the details of the 2005 attack. All Randle Miles recalls is not knowing if he would live or die. Miles tells the "Chicago Sun-Times" that he was drunk when William Cozzi hit him about ten times at Norwegian American Hospital. The incident was caught on tape, and Cozzi was suspended without pay for two-years. He also pled guilty to misdemeanor battery and was given 18-months of probation. Cozzis suspension is due to expire in April. Police officials tried to have him fired, but the Chicago Police Board enforced the lighter sentence. New police Commissioner Jody Weis says hell review the matter when he takes office in February. --- Alleged Cop-Shooter Gives Up Extradition Fight (Chicago) -- A fugitive who allegedly shot a Chicago Police officer almost 40-years ago before fleeing to Canada will return to stand trial. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports 58-year-old Joseph Pannell fled the country to avoid prosecution on charges he shot police Officer Terrence Knox in 1969. Court records indicate Pannell, a reputed member of the Black Panther Party, was arrested twice, but skipped bail both times. The city of Chicago, behind police Superintendent Philip Cline, sought his extradition in 2004 on a charge of attempted murder. Now, Pannells attorney, Neil Cohen, says his client has waived extradition and will return to Chicago within 30-days because he "wants to have his trial." Cohen says Pannell had a change of heart after what he sees as a different political climate in this country. The 60-year-old Knox, now retired and living in Orland Park, says he simply wants justice to run its course. --- Armed Teen Shot At School By Off-Duty Officer (Chicago) -- An off-duty police officer acting as a high school security guard shot a 16-year-old student who ran from a metal detector yesterday morning. The student was already suspended from Phillips High School Academy on Chicagos South Side. Authorities say he showed up to school with a gun, triggering the metal detector. When a security guard patted him down and found the gun, the boy ran off. Two guards gave chase, with one shooting the boy near the CTA train station in the 300 block of East 43rd Street. It is not known if the teen pointed a gun at the officer. The Independent Police Review Board will investigate. The teenager is hospitalized in stable condition. --- Arlington Heights Offer Some Support For Racetrack Slots (Arlington Heights) -- It appears the Arlington Heights Village Board is in favor of adding slots to the Arlington Park racetrack, even though no formal vote has been taken in more than a decade. Five of the eight trustees and the Village president voiced support for the proposal during a board meeting last night. Nearly 100 people showed up, and about 15 spoke for or against the possibility. The Village Board voted down the idea in 1997, the last time a vote was taken. Now Park President Roy Arnold says the 80-year-old venue wont survive without slot machines and video poker. The state is considering a gambling expansion plan that would include slots at Arlington. Village Trustees did say last night they should be the ones making the decision and negotiating a deal, not state lawmakers. --- Driver Killed As Car Crashes Into Metra Train (Downers Grove) -- A 29-year-old man is dead after his car was struck by a train Tuesday afternoon in Downers Grove. A Metra spokesman said the unidentified victims vehicle was struck head-on near the Maple Avenue crossing around 4:30 p.m. He had to be extricated from the car, and was taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, where he was pronounced dead. Downers Grove Deputy Police Chief Jim Black said it was not known why the vehicle was on the tracks. The Maple Avenue crossing was closed for about an hour during the investigation. Metra Burlington Northern trains were also stopped for more than an hour. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-23-08 0607CST