Tuesday, July 04, 2000
Local Digest
Plea bargain reached in death of baby girl
By
An Over-the-Rhine father avoided a possible life sentence Monday when he pleaded guilty to fracturing the skull of his 9-month-old daughter.
Michael Cooper, 24, pleaded to involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors agreed to drop the murder charges against him. Common Pleas Judge Patrick Dinkelacker sentenced Mr. Cooper to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Mr. Cooper struck the child while his wife was at work on April 5 and he was home with the baby and two other children, ages 2 and 4.
The baby girl, Mika, was not breathing when her mother returned home that evening. She never regained consciousness.
Prosecutors say an autopsy revealed that blunt trauma to her head caused a fractured skull and brain injury.
Man charged in girlfriend's death
A man charged with killing his girlfriend, whose body was found in her Evanston home early Sunday, was arrested Monday in Pinellas County, Fla., police said.
Stanley Waller, 49, was arrested after his vehicle was spotted outside a convenience store, police said. Homicide investigators were en route to Florida Monday night.
The body of Marilyn Kendricks, 45, was found by relatives at 2:15 a.m. inside her home in the 3500 block of Evanston Avenue. Late Sunday, police issued a murder warrant for her Mr. Waller, who police said was her boyfriend.
Public forums seek comment on CPS budget
The public can comment on the final budget for Cincinnati Public Schools at a 6:30 p.m. Thursday hearing at the Mayerson Academy.
The lastest changes to the $374 million budget include:
• Removal of $315,000 for teacher recruitment. Instead, $150,000 from human resources will be used for technology infrastructure. Another $150,000 for teacher recruitment and incentives will be allocated if the levy passes in November.
• Funding for the newly designed Project Succeed for chronically disruptive students was expanded to $303,100 to fund a full year of programming.
• Revenue projected from open enrollment (tuition reimbursement from students living outside the CPS district) was removed, decreasing funds by $150,000.
• Funding for full-time principals at McKinley and Swifton elementary schools was restored at a cost of $200,000.
The current budget runs through June 30, but the board can pass temporary budgets until October, when state law requires a permanent budget for the year.
3 more arrested in death of pizza deliverer
WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Three more people have been charged in the slaying of a pizza delivery driver.
Kevin D. Terry, 18, of Washington Court House, and two teen-age boys were arrested over the weekend and charged with complicity to aggravated murder, the police department said Monday.
Matthew McCullough, 19, surrendered Friday and was charged with aggravated murder in the slaying of Precious Canter. Mr. McCullough's current address was not available, but he has lived in Washington Court House and Xenia, police said.
Ms. Canter, 31, of Washington Court House, was found dead early Thursday near her car in an alley behind a middle school parking lot.
The names of the teen-agers, who are 16 and 17, were not released because they are juveniles.
Group threatens desegregation suit
COLUMBUS — The school board could be facing a federal lawsuit because its public schools are divided by race, family income and academic achievement, the president of the Columbus Urban League said.
The end of busing to desegregate Columbus public schools has led to the inequities, said Urban League President Sam Gresham Jr.
That could be used as evidence in a lawsuit against the district, he said. A federal lawsuit filed against the board in 1979 pointed out similar inequities and led to the establishment of crosstown busing to improve racial balance.
“It's obvious to them now they have a serious legal issue, as well as a political issue,” Mr. Gresham told the Columbus Dispatch for a story Sunday. “We can't let it sit there.”
A recent series of stories in the Dispatch found that since busing for desegregation ended in Columbus in 1996, the district's 88 kindergarten-through-fifth grade elementary schools have become divided by race, income and achievement. Most of the poorest schools are overwhelmingly black.
Hometown dedicates statue to Gen. Sherman
LANCASTER, Ohio — It took more than 100 years, but there's finally a statue of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman in the town square of his hometown.
The monument to the Civil War general was dedicated Sunday afternoon.
Jon Hale, master of ceremonies for the event, said several previous attempts to place a statue at the site were unsuccessful. The first attempt was in 1895, and other efforts were made in 1936 and the late 1980s.
The sculptor, Mike Major of Urbana, took three years to complete the work.
Peace, prosperity put new face on patriotism
Doughboy one of few remaining
Fireworks users ignore law
Falmouth man hurt by fireworks
There's something about Rosemary
Pops' real show behind the scenes
CPS teachers say evaluations fair
Tristate on lookout for mosquito-borne virus
Danger signs of the deadly virus
Holiday crashes kill six
Crash during police chase kills Dayton man
SAMPLES: Teen-age drivers, watch out
Driver charged in boy's death
Nursing home patient was raped, police say
Parents hunt son's killer
Pig Parade: Sparkling Swine
KNIPPENBERG: Inmates in the opera draw some attention
After 23 years, chief steps aside
Butler workers' contract on hold
Charges uncertain in boy's shooting
Extra school year has some support
GET TO IT
Inner-city kids get computer access
Kentucky Digest
Lawmaker nearby when terrace fell
'Learn by doing' school's focus
Local Digest
Ohio Lottery's profits fall for fourth consecutive year
Peaselburg on parade again
Police chief's job may be lost
'Taste of Boone County' continues
