Tuesday, April 28, 1998
In his first court appearance since admitting he killed two Bond Hill boys in 1980, Joseph Paul Franklin will be arraigned today. Security will be heavy for the avowed racist serial killer, who has repeatedly said he would not hesitate an escape attempt. In 1980, he slipped out of the Florence police station, where he was being questioned about several homicides.
Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ralph Winkler will conduct the arraignment. But he will not use his own courtroom; a nearby one has more room for security personnel.
Mr. Franklin, who is awaiting execution for a slaying in Missouri, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the sniper slayings of Darrell Lane, 14, and Dante Evans Brown, 13. The cousins were shot as they walked along Reading Road.
Judge links warrants, driver license renewals
In another effort to reduce the number of people in Hamilton County with outstanding warrants for their arrests, driver's license renewals will no longer be given to area scofflaws.
Judge Mark Schweikert, administrative and presiding judge of the Hamilton County Municipal Court, has ordered Clerk of Courts James Cissell to report to the registrar of motor vehicles the names of people with outstanding warrants.
It is part of the judge's continuing effort to crack down on people who skip court.
Beginning May 1, police will arrest people who skip court even once. It used to take a new charge to get someone with one outstanding warrant arrested. Last year, the court issued 24,800 warrants for failure to appear.
accountable is reviewed
Councilman Todd Portune on Monday raised questions about the cost and effectiveness of a parental responsibility program. Council will consider Wednesday whether to extend the law, which makes parents accountable for their minor children's crimes. The law makes it illegal for a parent, parents or other persons with custody of a child under 18 to fail to supervise the child. The first offense calls for a fine of up to $250 and - or community service. That is waived if the parents take a parent-training class.
Council needs five votes to extend the ordinance. Phil Heimlich, Dwight Tillery, Charlie Winburn and Tyrone Yates are in favor.
Singer Paul Robeson subject of UC lecture
Boston College historian Andrew Buni will give the annual Taft Lecture on Paul Robeson at the University of Cincinnati at 3:30 p.m. today in 127 McMicken.
His topic will be "Paul Robeson: Years of Promise and Achievement, 1898-1939."
Professor Buni -- a specialist in race -- is completing a biography of Mr. Robeson, a black singer whose left-wing politics and resistance to racism undermined his career.
County vows stadium won't exceed $287 M
Hamilton County commissioners signed agreements Monday officially guaranteeing a maximum price of $287 million for the Bengalsstadium, a price that had previously been announced.
That cost covers the $270 million stadium itself; the team's three riverfront practice fields and practice facilities, at a cost of $10 million; and other costs such as carpeting and furniture. The agreement signed with the Bengals amends the team's lease to give the county additional concessions. For instance, the county will pay the team $2 million in penalties, rather than $4 million per game, if the stadium isn't ready for the first two games of 2000. Commissioners also agreed to hire a consulting engineer to review riverfront parking options.
