Regional Summary, Tuesday 3/4

Indiana Summary --- Plans To Change IMPD Announced By Mayor Ballard (Indianapolis) -- Plans were unveiled yesterday by Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard for changes to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Ballard says that police officers have not been able to effectively fight crime due to not being staffed properly and low morale. Ballard says his plan eliminates many top positions such as the assistant chief which will help give Indianapolis more funds that will lead to the hiring upwards of 73 new officers. Initiatives include reducing police busy work by hiring civilian officers who would help file reports. Another element of the plan is to help offenders find jobs once they get out of jail. Yesterday, twenty security cameras were added to higher crime areas of the city. --- Camera Catches Shooting On Indigo Bus (Indianapolis) -- A security camera caught Saturday nights shooting on an Indigo bus which help police with their investigation. Police say that a teen has been released from the hospital after he was shot in the chest. The camera shows an altercation after a man steps on a womans foot. Detectives say that a man boarded a northbound bus,and as the man was walking down the isle, he stepped on a womans foot that led to a confrontation. There were about 20 passengers on the bus when the situation started. The bus driver told everyone to calm down, but the matter escalated. The man pulled a handgun and fired a shot down the corridor of the bus. The bullet struck a 15-year-old boy. Kevin Gladney was hit and later taken to the hospital. The suspect fled the scene. Police ask that anyone with information about the suspect to call them at 262-TIPS. --- Police Say Man Shoots And Kills Wife, Then Self (Elwood) -- Police say that a man released on bond shot and killed his wife, then himself Sunday. A four-year-old girl discovered her mother shot to death. Investigators say that 26-year-old Robert Lamberson shot and killed Kristina Lamberson, then turned the gun on himself. Police found a shotgun near the bodies in the residence. The girl used her mothers cell phone to call her aunt who then called 911. The childs grandparents arrived at the scene around the same time as police and took the girl away. Police say that Robert Lamberson had been released from jail, on bond, earlier in the day. --- Here Are Mondays Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Midday: 4-5-8; Daily Three-Evening: 7-3-0; Daily Four-Midday: 1-2-2-3; Daily Four-Evening: 9-8-3-2; Lucky Five-Midday: 8-18-21-22-36; Lucky Five-Evening: 5-7-22-26-32. Kentucky Summary (Frankfort, KY) -- One-year ago today a fire extensively damaged several-buildings on the St.Clair Mall in downtown Frankfort. Work continues to rebuild what was lost. While Stephen Malcolm, who plead guilty to starting the fire, awaits sentencing. (Flemingsburg, KY) -- Fire gutted a century old building in downtown Flemingsburg, destroying the pool hall inside. The fire started under a grill at Harmons Pool Room. There were no injuries. (Lexington, KY) -- Developers are to announce plans to build a 40-story high rise in downtown Lexington. The building will contain a hotel, garage, condos and retail businesses. (Honaker, KY) -- State Police are searching for two-suspects after a violent home invasion in Floyd County. Two-men, one with handgun and one with an axe forced their way into a home, spraying two-women with mace, threatening a child with the axe and escaping with one-thousand-dollars. One of the victims says the home invaders were after prescription drugs. (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear says he will be traveling to Dearborn, Michigan in a few-weeks to meet with officials of the Ford Motor Company. Ford announcing this week that it is suspending a shift at its Louisville plant. Its expected to mean the loss of about 800-jobs. Governor Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson have not released the specific dates of their trip. (Crofton, KY) -- A FEMA mobile disaster recovery center is open at the Crofton City Hall in Christian County. FEMA also opening centers in Fayette, Monroe, Meade and Hard counties this week. The centers to assist local residents in counties declared disaster areas after tornados and storms on February 5th and 6th learn about possible federal assistance. (Frankfort, KY) -- Two international observers are coming to the Commonwealth this week to observe a Kentucky Army National earthquake drill. The two-officials are from Ecuador and have dealt with volcanic eruptions and floods. Kentucky Guard troops are taking part in an earthquake recovery drill in Frankfort and western Kentucky along the New Madrid fault. (Frankfort, KY) -- Radio stations, television stations and local emergency management are taking part in a statewide tornado drill this morning. Test warnings are to be sent and sirens sounded at 10:07 a.m. EDT. (Frankfort, KY) -- Kentucky State Police report that through last week 114 have lost their lives in traffic accidents in Kentucky. Last week, 17-people died in 17-separate accidents, including three-pedestrians and two motorcycle riders. Of the twelve motor vehicle fatalities, eight of the victims were not wearing seat belts. (Frankfort, KY) -- Speaker Jody Richards doesnt expect the casino amendment to make it to the House floor this week. Richards says he doesnt have the votes to pass the amendment and doesnt know for sure how to get them. Speaker Richards says "Im going to have to get a lot of help from the governor." Illinois Summary --- Rezko Jury Selection Continues Today (Chicago) -- Jury selection continues today in political fundraiser Tony Rezkos fraud trial. Hes accused of shaking down companies wanting state business for campaign contributions, much of which allegedly went to Governor Rod Blagojevich. Senator Barack Obama has also received money from Rezko, but says hes donated all of that cash back to charity. Neither Blagojevich nor Obama has been charged with any wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters at separate news conferences yesterday, both again worked to distance themselves from the Rezko case. In the Chicago courtroom, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve questioned more than 40 prospective jurors. She says jury selection probably wont wrap up until Wednesday. Opening statements would come Thursday, and the trial could last three to four-months. --- Site Of NIU Shootings May Not Be Destroyed (Springfield) -- The 40-million-dollar plan to bulldoze Cole Hall at Northern Illinois University and replace it with a new building has run into some opposition at the state Capitol. Cole Hall is the site of the Valentines Day shootings, where a gunman killed five NIU students and injured 18 more. Governor Blagojevich and school officials unveiled their plan to replace Cole Hall last week, but now a legislator whose district covers NIU says hes against it. State Senator Brad Burzynski says the topic has generated more input to his office than any other in his 18 years in office. He tells the "Chicago Sun-Times" the proposal is now "off the table." A spokesperson for the DeKalb school says officials want input from those on campus, and the governors office says it will follow the universitys lead. --- Governor Promises More Pilgrim Baptist Church Funding (Chicago) -- Governor Blagojevich is again vowing to help the historic Pilgrim Baptist Church rebuild. After a 2006 fire devastated the landmark structure, the governor pledged one-million-dollars toward its reconstruction. But that money went instead to a school that rented space inside the church, and not the parish itself. Blagojevich blames subordinates who negotiated the deal, some of whom have already left state government. He stood with church leadership yesterday to pledge yet another one-million-dollars. It could still take a month or more before the church sees that money. Pilgrim Baptist Church is considered by many the birthplace of gospel music. --- Police: Child Never Was In Stolen Car (Chicago) -- A 24-year-old Chicago man whose car was stolen is charged with filing a false police report. Police say the man reported the theft from a gas station near the intersection of South 87th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue at about 9:30 last night. He said he had left the car running while he went inside, and someone jumped in and drove off. Police say that did happen. Theyve recovered the car, and officers are still searching for the thief. The victim also said his two-year-old child was in the car. Police spent nearly three-hours looking for the toddler before learning he was actually safe at a nearby home. Authorities have not said why the father claimed his son was taken. --- Report: State To Bid On Wrigley Next Week (Chicago) -- Illinois Sports Facilities Authority will make a pitch to buy Wrigley Field from the Tribune Company next week. Former Governor Jim Thompson, who heads the authority, tells the "Chicago Sun-Times" engineers are still trying to figure out how much it will cost to renovate the field. He says if it will cost too much to both buy and fix the field, the state wont be interested. Thompson also remains adamant that Chicagos landmark ordinance must be eased, or else necessary construction wont be possible. --- Federal Report Again Blasts County Government Hiring (Chicago) -- Patronage lives in Cook County. So says a report from retired Cook County Circuit Judge Julia Nowicki, who was appointed by the federal government to monitor hiring in county government. The report says Board President Todd Strogers administration has not done enough to curb illegal political hiring. An attorney for Stroger says the administration has cooperated with Nowickis investigation, and says the county is confident that rules and regulations are being followed. --- Ex-Newspaper King Begins Prison Term (Chicago) -- Former newspaper baron Conrad Black is now a federal prisoner. Black began serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence in a Florida prison yesterday. He and two others were convicted last July of stealing millions from Hollinger International, now known as the Sun-Times Media Group. Black wanted to remain free on bond pending an appeal, but a federal judge denied that request last week. The 63-year-old is at the low-security Federal Correctional Complex in Coleman, Florida. --- Top Cops Contend They Followed The Law In Ambrose Case (Chicago) -- Chicagos top two federal law enforcement officials fiercely denied yesterday that they botched the questioning of a deputy U.S. Marshal accused of leaking secrets to the mob. Both Chicagos top FBI official, Robert Grant, and U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald testified at a hearing in the case of John Ambrose. He has pled not guilty to charges that he tipped off friends of the Chicago Mob that mobster Nicholas Calabrese was cooperating with the FBI. Ambroses lawyer wants statements made by his client thrown out because Ambrose was not read his Miranda rights. Grant and Fitzgerald testified that Ambrose was not under arrest, so they did not have to read him his rights. Three-days of testimony in the case took place in December, and more is expected today. --- Quadriplegics Award Reversed On Appeal (Chicago) -- A state appellate court has overturned a nearly 27-million-dollar judgment awarded to a Chicago woman paralyzed during a crash with a police car. The 2001 crash made Margaret Petraski a quadriplegic. A Cook County Sheriffs patrol car responding to a call hit her vehicle near Midlothian. The appellate court panel ruled a jury should have heard evidence about Petraskis blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash. A new trial is likely. --- Pilot Lands On Golf Course (Lincolnshire) -- Robert Kadera might be an "ace" pilot, but hes still in trouble with the police. Kadera landed his Piper Clipper airplane on a Lincolnshire golf course Saturday afternoon so his son could make it to a tennis match. The "Chicago Tribune" reports the 65-year-old Lake Villa man and his 14-year-old son Isaac were found walking across the Cranes Landing Golf Course at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort shortly after the landing. Isaac says his father came up with the idea, to shave a half-hour off the 45-minute drive. Police are considering several charges, including trespassing. Isaac Kadera didnt make his tennis date, and says his opponent doesnt believe the story. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-03-04-08 0639CST