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Attorneys for Ralph L. Lynch will wait two more weeks before asking a judge to move his murder trial out of Cincinnati.
Mr. Lynch, 48, is accused of raping and murdering 6-year-old Mary Jennifer Love in June. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death.
His attorneys want Judge Robert Kraft of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to move the trial because they fear publicity about the high-profile case will make it impossible to select an impartial jury.
But they asked the judge Wednesday to delay a hearing on the matter until Oct. 1 so they would have more time to compile videos, newspaper clippings and other evidence that would support their argument. Mr. Lynch is not scheduled for trial until next year.
Work almost finished on Pete Rose Way
Traffic jams caused by construction on westbound Pete Rose Way shouldn't be an issue anymore.
Two new westbound lanes opened early Tuesday. The new eastbound lanes should open next week, said Steve Bailey, Cincinnati traffic engineer.
The street needed to be reconfigured to make room for the new Paul Brown Stadium. The new Pete Rose Way curves around the stadium site.
City budget director named to finance job
Cincinnati Budget Director William E. Moller has been promoted to assistant director of the city's finance division.
Mr. Moller will be involved in several aspects of managing the department. His responsibilities will include accounts and audits, income tax, retirement systems, treasury and purchasing.
During his 23 years with the city, Mr. Moller has held several posts, including assistant director of research, evaluation and budget, and program coordinator for the health department.
Man gets three years for courthouse fight
A Cincinnati man was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday for starting a brawl last April at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Larry Wright pleaded guilty last month to two counts of intimidating a crime victim and one count of inciting violence. He was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Arthur Ney.
Prosecutors say Mr. Wright threatened Brendan Rice, the victim in an assault case, after one of Mr. Wright's relatives was sentenced for attacking Mr. Rice. At that time, Mr. Wright began shouting in the courtroom. Within minutes, a fight involving more than a dozen friends, relatives and police officers erupted outside the courtroom of Judge Thomas Crush.
Suit charges bias at gas station pumps
CHICAGO -- A Chicago police officer filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday charging Shell Oil Co. and dealers in five states -- including ones in Cincinnati and Covington -- with discriminating against black customers.
Daron Hill said he videotaped instances of Shell dealers making a black customer pay before pumping gas. Moments later, a white customer was allowed to pump before paying, Mr. Hill said.
Mr. Hill, a 12-year patrol officer, said the main purpose of the lawsuit is to get Shell to make its stations stop the practice. He has a similar lawsuit pending against Amoco Corp.
The lawsuit, which alleges a nationwide pattern, seeks to be declared a class action. It also names Shell stations in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.
Widow sues over private-prison death
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The widow of an inmate slain at Ohio's only private prison has filed a $110 million lawsuit claiming guards weren't properly trained and didn't protect her husband.
India Chisley of Beltsville, Md., is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and $100 million in punitive damages for the March 11 death of her husband, Bryson Chisley, at the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Superior Court in the District of Columbia against the district, which had imprisoned Mr. Chisley, and Corrections Corporation of America, which runs the Youngstown prison.
