Two masked men robbed a Hyde Park bank Thursday.

        The robbers entered the back door of the PNC Bank branch at 3442 Edwards Road just after 10 a.m., Cincinnati police said. Armed, they demanded money and left with an undisclosed amount.

        The three bank employees present were not hurt. No customers were in the bank at the time, investigators said.

        Witnesses told police the two black men left through the same rear door and fled in a maroon or faded red Chevrolet with this partial Ohio license plate: BHT-926. Witnesses could not make out the last number. Police said they think the plate came off another vehicle.

        The first suspect was described as about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 250 pounds. He wore a black, hooded sweat shirt and blue jeans.

        The second man stood 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 1, had his hair braided in corn rows pulled back into a tail and wore an untrimmed moustache and goatee. He wore a blue hooded sweat shirt.

        Both men wore black masks, with holes cut out for their eyes and mouths.

        Police ask anyone with information about the robbery to call them at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040, where tipsters remain anonymous but can receive money for helping.
       

Federal expenditure expands bus program

        The local JobBus program Thursday received another $999,570 in federal funds to keep operating and expanding next year.

        The program, which uses local transit companies throughout the region, links workers in low-income areas to jobs throughout the region.

        The service has moved workers to jobs in Hamilton, Butler and Warren counties, but will now provide service in Clermont County in Ohio as well as Campbell, Boone and Kenton counties in Northern Kentucky.

        “With all the difficulties the region has had from the shortage of workers to air quality, JobBus is an invaluable resource to local businesses and the community,” said Jim Duane, executive director of the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments, which will administer the grant from the Federal Transit Administration.

        Other agencies involved with JobBus are the Butler County Regional Transit Authority, Clermont Transportation Connection, and the Warren County Transit and Employment Initiative Vans.
       

Second Street to reopen Monday

        A unified Second Street now has an official opening date - Monday at 5 a.m.

        After months of delays on the one-way eastbound street, city officials Thursday said Second Street would open all the way from the connections to Interstate 71/75 and U.S. 50 on the west side of town through Elm, Race, Vine, Main and Walnut streets and down a new ramp to Broadway and Pete Rose Way.

        These openings will allow all Second Street traffic to reach Main Street and Pete Rose Way from the west.

        Officials also reminded motorists that the eastbound lanes of Fort Washington Way will be closed beginning 10 p.m. today until as late as 8 a.m. Sunday to allow workers to open an extra travel lane.

        When the highway reopens Sunday, three eastbound and westbound lanes will be open.
       

College prep programs win foundation grants

        Two Cincinnati schools Thursday received grants to increase college access from the KnowledgeWorks Foundation.

        Ursuline Academy received $100,000 for its minority recruitment and mentoring program. The proposed program's goal is to increase educational opportunities for underrepresented students in a college prep environment.

        Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation received $25,000 for its Citywide SAT/ACT Summer Workshop 2001.

        The workshop helps prepare disadvantaged public high school students for academic testing through instruction, practice exams and mastery of test style.

        The grant includes additional funding for instructor training as the foundation explores ways to expand the program.

        KnowledgeWorks is a Cincinnati-based philanthropy dedicated to increasing the number of people who value and access education by removing barriers to educational opportunity.

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