Regional Summary Friday 5/30

Indiana Summary --- Developers Break Ground On New JW Marriott Downtown (Indianapolis) -- Developers broke ground yesterday morning for the new JW Marriott and three other Marriott hotels that will be built in downtown Indianapolis. The JW Marriott, which will be a four hotel complex will add 15-hundred rooms, along with the citys largest hotel convention and meeting center. This was a huge feature in the Super Bowl bid, because no other city has this level of a hotel and convention expansion under way. It will also feature a blue glass curtain wall design on all four sides and will stand 375 feet with 34 floors and more than a thousand rooms. The JW Marriott will stand out on the skyline of Indianapolis and will be the seventh tallest building in the city. Cory Chambers with the JW Marriott says quote, "It will be largest JW Marriott in the world." Developers are also planning to build three more hotels on site, including the Indianapolis Courtyard, the Indianapolis Fairfield Inn and Suites and the Indianapolis Springhill Suites, all by Marriott. The grand opening for the JW Marriott will be in March of 2011. --- Victim Of Fatal Expressway Wreck Identified (Gary) -- A woman who died in an accident on the I-80/94 Expressway early this morning has been identified. The "Northwest Indiana Times" reports the Lake County coroners office says 25-year-old Yolandria Davis of Gary was not wearing a seatbelt. Indiana State Police say Davis car was headed westbound in the right lane near Cline Avenue. It veered into the right center lane and into the middle of a semitrailer. Davis died at the scene. A 29-year-old Gary man who was a passenger was also not wearing a seatbelt. He was taken to a hospital with head and brain injuries. The truck driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not injured. The right three westbound lanes were closed for more than two hours following the accident. --- Fire Destroys Carmel Dairy Queen (Carmel) -- A fire yesterday destroyed a landmark, this one a Dairy Queen restaurant in Carmel. Investigators say they now believe that the fire started in the back of the eatery at 951 North Rangeline Road just after 6 p.m. There were no injuries. The restaurant had been opened for over 40 years. The manager says this is especially though now that kids are getting out of the school and the summer season is here. --- Dog Shot By Police Officer Serving Warrant (Indianapolis) -- An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer yesterday shot a dog as the officer was serving a warrant. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Forest Avenue. The officer was serving a drug warrant at the time and says he shot the dog as it attacked him. At last word this morning, the dog has survived. The man served the warrant was arrested. --- Here Are The Latest Winning Numbers From The Hoosier Lottery Daily Three-Midday: 0-2-0; Daily Three-Evening: 0-0-0; Daily Four-Midday: 9-8-3-3; Daily Four-Evening: 9-6-9-8; Lucky Five-Midday: 6-7-12-21-36; Lucky Five-Evening: 11-14-18-31-36. Kentucky Summary Governor Wants Pension Reform Agreement (Frankfort, KY) -- Governor Steve Beshear is calling on legislators to agree on major pension reform issues in the next three weeks. The governor says then he can call a Special Session, the pension reforms can be adopted and Kentucky taxpayers will save millions of dollars. The time deadline is June 30th, the end of the fiscal year. IRS Arrests IRS Employee (Covington, KY) -- Federal agents have arrested a northern Kentucky IRS employee. The "Kentucky Enquirer" reports that tax examiner John Snyder is charged with looking into the personal information of Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, Vanna White and almost 200 other celebrities and professional athletes. Authorities say they determined that Snyder was accessing information on a sensitive database for no legitimate reason. Snyder is due in federal court on July 1st. Jury Returns Verdict In Cynthiana (Cynthiana, KY) -- A jury has found Harrison County businessman Larry Willis guilty in the shooting of his wife and recommends he spend ten years in prison. WLEX TV reports the jury found Willis guilty of first and second degree assault in the shooting of his wife Ruby Willis. The shooting last July in the couples Cynthiana home. At Home Work Coming To Bowling Green (Bowling Green, KY) -- Contact Center Resources, a company that uses a work at home program to serve its clients is coming to Bowling Green. WBKO TV reports the company will be using dozens of people to work from their homes in the Bowling Green area to service customers of DIRECTV. Mercer School Superintendent Staying (Harrodsburg, KY) -- Mercer County School Superintendent Bruce Johnson had indicated to the school board that he intended to resign. The "Advocate Messenger" reports Johnson has not decided to stay and honor his four-year contract that ends in 2012. In written statement Johnson says he had just offered the board of education the option of his release. Marker For Music Maker (Frankfort, KY) -- The Kentucky Historical Society will dedicate a historic highway marker in honor of the late Homer Ledford. The dedication is Saturday morning in Winchester. Ledford was a master craftsman, musician and teacher. Ledford performed and crafted thousands of musical instruments. His banjos, violins, mandolins and dulcimers were sought by musicians worldwide. Illinois Summary --- Mole Center Stage In Singers Trial, Star Witness Talks (Chicago) -- A mole continues to be the hot topic in singer R. Kellys child pornography trial. On Thursday, a forensic video analyst said a mark that appears on a 2002 police photograph of Kelly is similar to one on the man in the controversial sex tape. The defense pointed out that the mark seems to disappear several times during the 27-minute amateur production. Testimony from the prosecutions star witness, Lisa Van Allen, could come next week. The 27-year-old Georgia woman is expected to testify that she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the alleged victim. --- Obamas Campaign Apologizes For Pastors Mocking Of Clinton (Chicago) -- There is another controversy surrounding Barack Obamas presidential campaign and a Chicago religious figure. Obamas campaign is apologizing for remarks made by Obama supporter Reverend Michael Pfleger 1/81/8 Flay-guhr 3/83/8 about Hillary Clinton at Obamas church. Pfleger mocked Clinton and said she believed she was entitled to the Democratic nomination. Pfleger has issued a statement of apology. --- Rezko Faces Vegas Felony Arrest Warrant (Las Vegas, NV) -- The jury in the federal corruption trial of political fundraiser Tony Rezko is not scheduled to meet again until next week. Meanwhile, a Las Vegas judge has issued a felony arrest warrant for Rezko. He is reportedly wanted for not paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in debts to several casinos. Rezko is on trial for allegedly shaking down companies that wanted state business in exchange for contributions to the campaign of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich 1/81/8 bla-GOYA-vich 3/83/8. The governor has not been accused of any wrongdoing. --- No Reported Injuries In West Side Factory Fire (Chicago) -- The Chicago Fire Department says it doesnt believe there are any injuries following a fire at a factory on the West Side. The fire broke out in a one and-a-half story factory on the 20-hundred block of West Hubbard about 3 a.m. and was struck in less than a half-hour. Crews remained on the scene doing clean-up work. Fire Department officials say its not known how the fire started. --- Two More Testify In Peterson Case, Peterson In Court Today (Chicago) -- Drew Peterson is scheduled to appear in court today on a charge of unlawful use of a weapon. Meanwhile, Stacy Petersons aunt says her niece wanted out of her marriage with Drew before she disappeared last October. Candace Aikin was one of two people who testified Thursday before a Will County special grand jury investigating the case. Aikin told the "Chicago Tribune" she visited Stacys two children earlier this week. Also appearing in court Thursday was 22-year-old Kimberly Matuska, who denied a report she was involved with Drew Peterson. --- Message Shuts Down Orland Park School (Orland Park) -- Classes are expected to be back in session today at an Orland Park school that was evacuated Thursday due to a reported threat. District 135 officials say there will be an increased police presence today at Jerling Junior High School where a threat was found written inside of a girls bathroom just prior to the 3:15 p.m. dismissal time. The threat, which mentioned danger would occur Thursday evening, was later deemed to be not credible. --- Street-Gang Leader Arrested (Chicago) -- The head of a local gang is now under arrest, along with 50 others, after a large drug bust. Chicago police announced the arrest of Shawn Betts yesterday. The "Chicago Tribune" reports he is the leader of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang on Chicagos West Side. Police seized large amounts of cash, narcotics, firearms and vehicles in the large bust. --- Seized Dogs Could Be Put Up For Adoption (Lynwood) -- Some of the dogs that were confiscated earlier this month from an alleged dogfighting operation in south suburban Lynwood may be put up for adoption. Police say 21 dogs, along with exercise equipment and a book on dogfighting, were seized during the May 12th bust. Forty-two-year-old Harry Starks of Sauk Village was charged with 21 counts of felony dogfighting and is free on bond. --- Chicago Dentist Pleads Guilty To Role In Prostitution Ring (Chicago) -- A Chicago dentist is expected to be sentenced to up to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to taking part in a prostitution ring. Fifty-nine-year-old Gary "Doc" Kimmel has admitted to supplying luxury cars and Marina City apartments to a nationwide prostitution ring in exchange for at least 372-thousand-dollars. Three accused pimps that Kimmel bought cars for or rented apartments to have already been sentenced in the ring. --- Gospel Fest Starts Today (Chicago) -- Downtown Chicago will be filled with gospel music this weekend. The 24th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival starts today at Millennium Park and runs through Sunday. More than 90 performers will appear on three stages throughout the three-day event. Admission is free. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-05-30-08 0652CDT