Regional Summary, Monday 1/28

Indiana Summary: Man Arrested After Police Say He Robbed His Fathers Store (New Castle) -- Police in New Castle have arrested a man they say robbed his fathers store. Twenty-two-year Jonathon Brock Perdue is charged in robbing a convenience store. He faces a host of other charges. Detectives say Perdue walked through the stores front doors with an ax in his hands and demanded money. He remains in jail on a 28-thousand-dollar bond. His trial has been set for May. --- Shelby County Man Charged in 24-Year Old Indiana Murder (Terre Haute) -- A Shelby County man has been arrested and charged in the 1984 murder of Loretta Keith of Terre Haute, Indiana. Kevin Mark Weeks lived in Terre Haute at the time of the murder. Another man, David Scott, was arrested and convicted for the murder, and is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence. Scotts family recently asked the Indiana State Police to conduct a DNA analysis of evidence found at the scene, which pointed to Weeks. The DNA analysis was not available in 1984 when Scott was arrested. Scott will appear in court this week to petition to be released from prison. Weeks is being held at the Shelby County Jail awaiting extradition to Indiana. --- Here Are The Latest Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Evening: 2-6-3; Daily Four-Evening: 7-5-4-9; Lucky Five-Evening: 2-7-25-32-34. Kentucky Summary: (Louisa, KY) -- Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics from dozens of citys and towns responded to eastern Kentucky to pay their final respects to Paintsville paramedic/ EMS Director Christa Burchett. Burchett was fatally injured while assisting a woman pregnant woman involved in a minor accident when both women were struck and killed by a coal truck. (Camp Nelson, KY) -- The family of buried him at Camp Nelson National Cemetery over the week. Jack Caldwell a World War Two veteran was on trial for murdering a neighbor when he died. His death fueled a debate over where he could be buried, his family wanted him buried at Camp Nelson but Veterans Administration officials said federal laws prohibit people charged with murder from being buried there. Family and veterans groups appealed, and the VA agreed to permit the burial. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings remain at half-staff. Already flying at half-staff for a Fort Campbell soldier who died in Iraq, the governor has learned of the death of another Fort Campbell soldier. Sergeant Tracy Renee Birkman of New Castle, Virginia has died in Iraq. The Department of Defense says the 41-year-old soldier has died from non-combat related injuries. (Frankfort, KY) -- Will Anne Northup begin a campaign to re-start her political life this week? The Louisville Republican will make an announcement tomorrow in Frankfort. Northup may announce she is running in the Republican primary for the nomination which would permit her to run for her old House seat. The seat now held by Congressman John Yarmuth. Northup was also defeated in her run for governor. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear is preparing a very important speech. Tomorrow night he presents his first budget address to the General Assembly. The speech will be broadcast live on KET. The governor has already said the project state revenues will require belt-tightening. (Lexington, KY) -- Organizers of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games begin the week breathing easier, Governor Beshear has diverted 28-million-dollars from other state park projects to the Kentucky Horse Park. The money to be used to build an indoor arena and improve roads at the park. The park is the site of the 2010 games expected to bring several hundred thousand people to the area for the ten-day international event. (Ashland, KY) -- A public hearing will be held tomorrow night at Boyd County High School. The state Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet is holding the hearing to take citizen input on a proposed almost 200 acre expansion to the Big Run Landfill. Some citizens are upset because the company that owns the landfill brings out of state waste to the site. Illinois Summary: --- Another Illegal Immigrant Housed At Humboldt Park Church (Chicago) -- For the second time, a church in Chicagos Humboldt Park neighborhood will give sanctuary to a single mother defying a deportation order. Flor Crisostomo 1/81/8cree-SO-stuh-mo3/83/8 will follow the path laid by immigration activist Elvira Arellano 1/81/8 el-VEER-uh ahr-ee-AHN-oh 3/83/8 by taking up residence at Chicagos Adalberto United Methodist Church today. She does not speak English, but Reverend Walter Coleman says Crisostomo could not just give up her fight for a better life. The 28-year-olds three children live in Mexico, but she says she would have difficulty providing for them if she returned home. Crisostomo was arrested in 2006 when immigration officers raided her Chicago employer, IFCO Systems. Arellano spent a full year in sanctuary at the church, but was deported after leaving for immigration-related events in Los Angeles. --- Ted Kennedy Endorsing Obama Today (Washington, DC) -- Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy is endorsing Illinois Senator Barack Obama for President. Kennedy is scheduled to join Obama at a Washington, D.C. rally today. Its a significant endorsement for Obama, as Kennedy is a strong voice for the Democratic establishment whose backing was also sought by Hillary Clinton. Kennedys niece Caroline, the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, endorsed Obama yesterday in the "New York Times". She says the Senator can inspire this generation the way her father, John F. Kennedy, inspired his. --- Accused Murderer Denies Allegations That He Murdered Family (Wheaton) -- A Naperville man is continuing to maintain his innocence just days before his trial is to start. Eric Hanson tells the "Daily Herald" in a jailhouse interview he doesnt know who killed his parents, sister, and brother-in-law -- but he knows it wasnt him. Hanson spoke to the newspaper earlier this month. He says he was asleep at his parents Aurora home at the time police say they were shot in upstairs bedroom. Hanson says he doesnt know how his other two relatives were beaten to death. Police in Wisconsin arrested Hanson a day after the September 2005 incident. Authorities say he was headed to Minnesota to kill his surviving sister, though Hanson disputes that. Hanson is charged with fifteen counts of first-degree murder and seven other counts related to the killings and the theft of 80-thousand dollars from Hansons parents. He admits some of the theft, but says his parents planned to let him pay it back over time. --- Judge Hires Ex-Gang Enforcer As Consultant (Chicago) -- A Cook County judge has hired a one-time gang enforcer as a campaign consultant, leading at least one opponent to criticize his judgment. Michael Hyman was appointed to the bench in 2005. Hes now running for a full term, and the "Chicago Sun-Times" reports he paid admitted Gangster Disciples enforcer Wallace "Gator" Bradley 13-thousand dollars last year. The money went toward community relations and consulting. One of Hymans three opponents, Cook County states attorney gang crimes unit supervisor Brian Sexton, says its a serious lapse in judgment. Hyman says that since Bradley has worked for Representative Jesse Jackson Junior and others, he was a logical choice to have spread the word. The other Circuit Court candidates are Kim Kardas and Jack Murphy. --- RTA Board Likely Voting On Transit Funds Today (Chicago) -- Members of the Regional Transporation Authoritys Board of Directors will likely vote to accept new money from state government at their meeting this morning. Their meeting was originally set for January 17th, but the board agreed to wait until after legislators and the Governor approved a hike in the regional sales tax. Lawmakers also agreed to the Governors decision to allow seniors to ride free, and RTA members could discuss that issue as well. Metra says it still plans to raise fares in order to help bolster its capital budget. --- OHare Tops Cancellation Lists (Chicago) -- Travelers scheduled to depart from Chicagos OHare International Airport had better call ahead, no matter when their flight is scheduled. Government statistics show that more than 30-percent of flights originating at OHare left late last year, making it the nations latest airport. And the "Chicago Tribune" reports that more than 13-thousand departures, or almost four-percent of scheduled take-offs, were cancelled between January and November. Thats more than double the number of flights cancelled at the worlds busiest airport, Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson, and is the largest number of cancelled flights at any airport in the world. Only one-percent of Midway flights were cancelled. A number of factors including weather and congestion can cause cancellations. --- Teen Held Without Bail In Truman College Murder (Chicago) -- A South Chicago teen charged with killing a Truman College student two months ago is being held without bail. 17-year-old Charlie McDonald appeared in bond court Sunday. Hes charged with one count of first-degree murder for the November 19th killing of 18-year-old Isaac Pink. Police say Pink was shot multiple times in the 10-thousand block of South Oglesby Avenue on Chicagos Far South Side. Prosecutors say McDonald turned himself in Thursday after two months on the run. He is a reputed gang member. --- Early Vote Numbers Chicagos Highest Ever (Chicago) -- More than 44-thousand Chicagoans have already voted in next Tuesdays primary. The previous record for an enture early-voting period was around 25-thousand votes, set last year. City residents set a new single-day record Saturday with nearly 15-hundred ballots cast. Officials in DuPage and Lake Counties also report significant increases in ballots cast in the first 13 early voting days. Even though the Illinois primary election takes place February 5th, many Chicagoans have already voted. Officials attribute the uptick to the wide-open Presidential races in both parties, and two prominent candidates with ties to Illinois - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Early voting continues until Thursday, January 31st. --- "Idol" Contestants Ill Daughter Draws Attention To Disease (Chicago) -- A Chicago native whos making waves on the FOX show "American Idol" is also raising awareness about a genetic disease. Angela Martins eight-year-old daughter has Rett Syndrome, a rare and incurable ailment that causes young girls to lose all speech and motor skills. The 26-year-old singer wowed the contests judges and was featured on the January 15th "Idol" premiere. International Rett Syndrome Research Foundation head Chuck Curley tells the "Chicago Tribune" his organizations website received ten-thousand hits in the two days after the show aired. Thats more attention that it got in the entire month of December. Curley hopes Martin will continue to advance in the talent competition, and in doing so draw attention to those afflicted with Rett syndrome. --- Fresh Snow Footprints Lead Police To Alleged Burglar (Bartlett) -- Bartlett police made a quick arrest in a string of weekend car burglaries just by following footprints in the snow. Authorities say the tracks led from two unlocked cars directly to the front door of 20-year-old Christopher Lupers home, about a block away. Officers say Luper cooperated with them when confronted with the evidence. Hes charged with two counts of criminal trespass to a motor vehicle in the Saturday morning incidents. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-28-08 0611CST