A federal appeals court ruled 2-1 Tuesday to reimpose the death sentence for a man convicted of killing, robbing and trying to rape a Cincinnati woman in her apartment.

        The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit reversed a lower court's 1999 decision that set aside the death sentence for Jerome Henderson, a neighbor of the victim, 26-year-old Mary Acoff.

        Relatives found Ms. Acoff's body with her throat slashed on the floor of her living room in March 1985. Mr. Henderson, now 42, received the death penalty in August 1985 for killing Ms. Acoff during a burglary.

        In 1999, U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel set aside the death sentence, saying instructions the trial judge gave to encourage a deadlocked jury to reach a decision apparently prompted the jurors to later agree on the death sentence. That made the sentencing phase of the trial unfair to Mr. Henderson, Judge Spiegel ruled.

        Appeals judges Alan Norris and Alice Batchelder disagreed Tuesday, concluding the jury instructions were within acceptable guidelines.
       

One dead, 2 injured in vehicular crash

               FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - One person was killed and at least two others were injured Tuesday night in vehicular crash on Felicity-Higginsport Road in Clermont County.

        The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred about 8 p.m. in the 500 block, just outside Felicity. Detailsere not immediately available late Tuesday.
       

Court may close sex-crime trial

               HAMILTON — The Butler County Juvenile Court will consider whether to close proceedings involving a 9-year-old Monroe boy accused of a sex crime against a 3-year-old girl.

        A pretrial hearing on Tuesday was canceled after the boy's lawyer, Anthony Vannoy, sought to bar news reporters from attending, said Rob Clevenger, court administrator.

        Mr. Vannoy's motion will be considered at a hearing set for Sept.10.
       

PNC foundations issue $946,440

               PNC Bank announced three of its foundations issued grants totaling $946,440 to 51 Cincinnati-area organizations.

        The grants will help pay for initiatives from helping at-risk mothers and infants to supporting highway beautification.

        Donors are: Robert H. Reakirt Foundation, $351,840; the Jack J. Smith Jr. Charitable Trust, $308,000; and the Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust, $286,600.

        The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati received the largest amount, $100,000 for a capital campaign for teen centers.
       

School programs to be relocated

               The program at Sands Montessori in the West End will be moved into the Eastern Hills school building in Mount Washington beginning next school year.

        The district's elementary French and Spanish language programs now at Heinold Elementary School in Fairmount and Eastern Hills school will merge into a new language program in the Crest Hills school building in Roselawn for 2002-03. The Crest Hills' year-round program will cease at the end of this school year.
       

Racial discussion set for Thursday

               The seventh in a series of dialogues on solutions to race problems continues Thursday with a 1:30 to 4 p.m. meeting of community and business leaders at Health Alliance corporate offices in the old Jewish Hospital building, 3200 Burnet Ave., Avondale.

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Council ballot will get new look
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Xavier students, staff back to work
Bicentennial group plans history project
Cincinnatians headed to U.N. racism conference
Congrats
Lebanon closer to phone service
Local Digest
Monroe district finances solid
Monroe's next goal: New schools
Museum to showcase Shaker craftsmanship
New Lakota school to be flexible
School reforms urged
Pileup injures at least nine
Auction helps fight plant
Covington lawyer gets itch to run
Creationists converge on Boone Co.
Dental-care kits donated to schools
Ludlow residents revive community journalism
Cuyahoga property values restored
Kentuckians' paychecks come from buying American
Man convicted of complicity in death of girlfriend's father
Man pleads guilty to 1989 murder