The average price of gasoline dropped four cents Wednesday in Cincinnati, while the national average remained virtually unchanged — though still lower than local prices.

        Gas on the Ohio side of Greater Cincinnati fell to $1.76 for unleaded and $1.95 for premium, both four cents better than Tuesday, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

        Earlier this month, premium eclipsed the $2-a-gallon mark.

        Prices in Northern Kentucky remained at $1.70 and $1.87, respectively, which are the national averages.

        The Ohio side of Greater Cincinnati is 20 cents above averages from a year ago today. AAA last year did not compile separate figures for Northern Kentucky.

        Gas prices typically rise in the spring and summer,because of increased demand and clean-air mandates for reformulated gas. Reformulated gas costs more to produce, while taking up refinery capacity that limits production of regular gas.

Police: Boys shot selves during burglary

        LOCKLAND — Two teen-age boys could face charges after police said they accidentally shot themselves while burglarizing a Lockland home Wednesday morning.

        The Lockland boys, both 14, are not being named and their injuries are not life-threatening. A single shot passed through one boy's hand and through the other's legs, Lockland Police Detective Terry Wilkerson said.

        The pair initially reported being shot at Williams and Patterson streets in Lockland by three people about 8:45 a.m. But police say the boys were robbing a nearby house on Rolef Avenue, found the gun in the house and it discharged.

        Nothing was taken from the home the boys were trying to rob, the detective said.

        Charges are pending.
       

Snag holds up bid for ballpark work

        Awarding a $4 million contract for metal wall panels, glass and glazing at Great American Ball Park became complicated Wednesday and will now be the subject of a special Hamilton County Commission meeting Friday.

        Waltek & Company Ltd., a local firm, was the apparent low bidder for the job at $3.76 million. But construction managers recommended awarding the bid to the Indianapolis firm ASI Limited, which submitted a bid of $4 million.

        Tom Gabelman, a consulting attorney for the county, said Waltek's bid should be disqualified because of “irregularities,” with the bid. Those irregularities include the company not writing out the final bid amount in the document as required and not stating how much small business participation would be part of the contract.

        John McCoy, an attorney for Waltek, said those problems were minor.

        Commissioners will vote on the issue Friday.
       

Broadnax: Black areas slighted

        A Cincinnnati man has requested a federal and state civil rights investigation of Cincinnati's Housing and Community Development programs.

        Stanley E. Broadnax, former city health commissioner, asked for the investigations on behalf of a group of African-American residents in Mount Auburn, one of the nine neighborhoods designated by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an empowerment zone. Mr. Broadnax sent requests to President Bush and Gov. Bob Taft.

        The civil rights complaint alleges that millions of dollars targeted to eliminate slums were denied and diverted from black neighborhoods and black redevelopers. According to the complaint, black neighborhoods have continued to “deteriorate and die” even though the city has received millions of dollars to revitalize neighborhoods and create jobs.

        His complaint alleges that in Mount Auburn, the city has blocked development of 700 units of new housing, 50 businesses and 1,500 jobs that were proposed by black property owners and redevelopers between 1977-2000.
       

Sketch shows man wanted for rape

        Cincinnati police have released a composite sketch of a man wanted in connection with an April 7 rape on Reading Road in Avondale.

        The victim was walking northbound in the 4000 block of Reading Road about 1 a.m. when the rapist pulled up
driving a gray, possibly 1980s-era four-door Skylark, Cutlass or LTD vehicle, police said.

        The man offered the woman a ride home and she accepted. But he drove past her home, stopped in the 1900 block of Lawn Avenue in Bond Hill and forced her to perform sex acts.

        The rapist is described as black, 36-40 years old, 6 feet tall and about 340 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

        Anyone with information about the rape or the suspect is asked to call the Cincinnati Police at (513) 352-6455 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.
       

Ceremony to open new fire station

        SILVERTON — State and local officials will help dedicate the new Deer Park-Silverton Joint Fire District station after traditional Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday.

        The dedication is 1 p.m. at the fire station at 7050 Blue Ash Road in Silverton. The event will immediately follow the annual Memorial Day parade, and residents of the fire district are invited.

        Among those expected to attend are state Rep. Michelle Schneider, R-Madeira, and Ohio Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale.

        Tours and safety demonstrations will follow.
       
       

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