A smog alert is in effect through sundown Monday.
Sarah Brugger, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, said the alert reflects these problems: Rising ozone levels Friday.
Higher temperatures and less rain than expected through the weekend.
Uncommonly dense concentrations of vehicles coming downtown Sunday for fireworks and the Bengals.
She asked residents to consider carpooling for weekend events. Waiting until after 6 p.m. to refuel vehicles or to use gas-powered lawn tools also will help, she said.
Price Hill man charged with burglary, rape
Cincinnati police have arrested a Price Hill man on charges of aggravated burglary, rape and violation of a protection order in an alleged assault against his girlfriend.
Tracy Busch, 21, of the 4000 block of St. Lawrence Avenue, was arrested Thursday. Police say he broke into the woman's Price Hill home and raped her.
He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center. A grand jury will decide whether to indict him.
Woman fends off attack at car lot
COLERAIN TOWNSHIP -- A 21-year-old woman was able to fight off a man who attempted to rape her Thursday night between cars parked on the lot of Bob Townsend Ford at Colerain Avenue and Ronald Reagan Highway, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies said.
Sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said the alleged assailant was arrested in a room at the Red Carpet Motel near the dealership. He told officers he is Jose David Cruz Santos, 37, although he had no identification. Mr. Barnett said investigators think he is an illegal alien.
Police had taken fingerprints and were attempting to confirm his identity. The Immigration and Naturalization Service was notified, Mr. Barnett said.
The victim told police she was waiting at a bus stop when her assailant approached, grabbed her by the arm and pulled her on to the car lot. He then pulled her down between vehicles. She was able to kick the assailant off her and run to the Red Carpet Motel and call deputies, sheriff's officials said.
Mr. Cruz Santos was being held Friday at the Hamilton County Justice Center on charges of abduction and attempted rape, Mr. Barnett said.
Springfield Twp. arrests five on drug charges
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP -- A 3-month investigation into drug trafficking resulted in five arrests Thursday evening, police said.
Police Sgt. Scott Middendorf said two search warrants were served at townhouse apartments on Roosevelt Drive off Hamilton Avenue in the township's Seven Hills area. A substantial amount of crack cocaine was recovered and Pamela Reliford, 28, was arrested at one of the residences. She was charged with drug abuse. Two other adults and two juveniles were arrested nearby, the sergeant said. The other adults were identified as Corey Bronson, 25, and Bryan Jones, 18, both charged with trafficking in drugs. The juveniles, both boys, 17 and 16, also were charged with trafficking in drugs. Several more arrests are anticipated, Sgt. Middendorf said.
Council opening forums on police relations
Cincinnati City Council is opening public discussion on ways to improve police-community relations.
The first hearing on recommendations made seven months ago in a Police Mediation Report is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sept. 15 in City Hall chambers, 801 Plum St.
Council received recommendations in February from a group that formed to examine community concerns after police shot and killed brick-wielding mental patient Lorenzo Collins in February 1997.
A Justice Department mediator was called in by city council to guide a panel of city administrators and six community groups -- including the local chapter of the NAACP and the Baptist Ministers Conference of Greater Cincinnati -- to make recommendations.
The panel suggested forming a civilian review board to oversee investigations of police misconduct, hiring a civilian training director at the police academy and giving preference on promotional exams to officers who live in the city.
Since then, Ted Schoch, a retired assistant police chief, has been hired as the civilian training director at the police academy. Councilman Tyrone Yates, chairman of council's law and public safety committee, said the public hearing is meant to revisit the panel's recommendations. It will be the first of several public hearings on the mediation report.
Pedestrians among five hurt in crash
MIDDLETOWN -- Five people were injured when two vehicles collided, went off the side of a street and struck two pedestrians here Friday afternoon.
The five were taken to Middletown Regional Hospital, where one was listed in critical condition. The conditions of the others were not available late Friday.
According to Middletown police, a car was southbound on University Boulevard, attempting to turn west onto Sunset Place about 3 p.m., when the driver spotted friends walking along University and decided to make a U-turn to speak with them.
The car pulled into the path of a van heading north on University, police said. The vehicles crashed, then went off the roadway, striking two pedestrians. The person critically injured was a passenger in one of the vehicles.
The crash remains under investigation.
Wooden water pipes will be on display
A network of early 19th century wooden water pipes -- unearthed on the riverfront during the construction of Paul Brown Stadium -- will be donated for display in Cincinnati.
Hamilton County Commissioner Tom Neyer Jr. said Friday that remains of the city's first water system will be displayed at the Cincinnati Fire Museum, Cincinnati Water Works and the Cincinnati Historical Society. The new stadium is also expected to have a section of the wooden water pipes on display.
In the early 1800s, logs with a 2 1/2-inch bore were used to carry water throughout the principal streets of the Queen City, according to A History of Cincinnati, compiled by Henry A. Ford and Kate Ford. Later, the logs were replaced with large iron pipes.
