A woman in her 50s was seriously injured in a fire early Sunday morning at an Avondale group home.

        Mary McDonald was in critical condition at University Hospital late Sunday, where she was being treated for smoke inhalation, a nursing supervisor said.

        The fire was reported about 5:20 a.m. at a seniors' group home on Glenridge Place, fire officials said. Eleven other residents of the home got out of the building without injury.

        The fire started in a first-floor unit and caused an estimated $100,000 damage, fire officials said. The cause remains under investigation.
       

Man charged in two robbery cases

               HAMILTON — A Hamilton man was charged in two robbery cases Saturday, and police say he fits the description of a man involved in other area robberies. After his vehicle was found to match the description of the getaway car, police said, Antonio Holmes, 35, of Carver Place led officers on a short chase, hitting several cars. He was arrested following a holdup of a Subway restaurant at 1021 High St.

        Shortly before that holdup, a robbery was attempted at Shanghai Chinese Restaurant at 851 High St., police said.

        Mr. Holmes was charged with aggravated robbery, attempted robbery, fleeing and eluding police, and violating parole. He will be arraigned this morning in Hamilton Municipal Court.
       

Would-be robber fires shot at man

               A 54-year-old man escaped injury Sunday when an armed robber tried to steal his wallet at a Colerain Township bus stop and later fired a shot at him.

        The man, who was not identified by police, was sitting at the bus stop at Colerain Avenue and Springdale Road about 5:30 p.m. when the robber walked up behind him, grabbed the wallet from his rear pocket and ran across Springdale Road, officials with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said.

        The man chased, then caught the robber at a nearby Shell gas station, fought him and got his wallet back, police said. The robber pulled out a handgun and fired one shot.

        The robber is described as white, in his early 20s, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair. He was wearing a red shirt, blue jeans and white gym shoes. Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 352-3040 to leave an anonymous tip.
       

Two arrested after police car damaged

               A College Hill man and a Bevis man were charged with vandalism and obstructing justice after an unoccupied Cincinnati police car's windows were broken with bricks Saturday night.

        Kevin Hoskins, 26, of the 1000 block of Ebony Lane in College Hill and Johnathan Palmer, 25, of the 2800 block of Bentbrook Drive in Bevis were arrested within an hour of the incident on Nottingham Road in South Cumminsville.

        The windows of the District 3 vehicle were broken and the mobile video recorder and antenna were damaged, police said.

        Mr. Hoskins was charged with two counts of vandalism. Mr. Palmer was charged with one count each of vandalism and obstructing justice.
       

Lebanon council to broadcast meetings

               LEBANON — For the first time, residents here will be able to keep an eye on their elected officials from their living room.

        City Council goes live at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on Lebanon Cable Channel 6, telecommunications director Jim Baldwin said. Council decided at a work session July 2 to begin broadcasting its regular meetings from the city building, 50 S. Broadway.
       

$100K grant to help develop skin lightener

               Emerging Concepts Inc., a Cincinnati-based biotech company, has received a $100,000 grant to develop a skin lightener that could eliminate freckles and liver spots.

        The yet-to-be-named compound was discovered by Dr. James Nordlund, a professor of dermatology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. James Leyda, president of Emerging Concepts, said the compound appears to be more effective and milder than hydroquinone, the only FDA—approved skin-lightening agent.

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