A 16-year-old boy was sentenced Monday to 18 years to life in prison for the March shooting death of ice cream truck driver Floyd Kilpatrick.

        Charles Mitchell Roberts of Price Hill, who was indicted as an adult, called the shooting a “mistake” before being sentenced by Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ann Marie Tracey.

        His mother, Lisa Bell, told the judge that her son never had been in serious trouble before and that he'd opted to rob someone because she had lost her job.

        Mr. Kilpatrick, 51, worked as a driver with Captain Tom's. He was shot once in the chest at 9:30 p.m. March 23 while selling ice cream in English Woods. Mike Solomon, 20, who is awaiting trial on two counts of complicity and one count of furnishing a firearm to a minor, accused of giving the Mr. Roberts the gun..

2 Miami University students die in crash

        LONDON, Ky. — Two Miami University students died when their vehicle was struck by a truck traveling the wrong way on Interstate 75, police said.

        Killed in the crash Friday near London were Elizabeth Caden of Oak Park, Ill., and Tiffany Painter of Wadsworth, Ohio, both 19.

        The women were passengers in a Ford Explorer driven by Richard Vaccariello, 21, of Perry, Ohio, London Police Sgt. Chris Edwards said.

        The students' vehicle was driving south on I-75 when the vehicle was struck about 7:10 p.m. by a 1997 Ford F-150 traveling north in the southbound lanes, Sgt. Edwards said. The truck was driven by Harold W. Hollingsworth, 78, of Richmond.

        Mr. Hollingsworth was flown to the University of Kentucky Hospital and was in serious condition Monday.

        Police said Mr. Vaccariello also was flown to the UK hospital, where he was treated for a broken arm, while his other passenger, Kevin Bulmann of Traverse City, Mich., was not hurt.

Regional anti-terror task force formed

               MOUNT STERLING — As directed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio has formed its anti-terrorism task force.

        More than 60 federal, state and county agencies — stretching from Columbus to Cincinnati — were represented at a briefing Monday in Mount Sterling, near Columbus.

        Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper, who attended, said new anti-terrorism laws, mail security, bioterrorism and cyberterrorism were among the topics. He also said that authorities in the southern district have scheduled interviews with 50 people as part of their anti-terrorism efforts.

        “We must protect our way of life and the activities of this Anti-Terrorism Task Force is a great beginning,” Mr. Piper said.

Oxy makers develop harder-to-abuse pill

        The maker of OxyContin, a powerful painkiller, announced Monday it has begun a clinical trial of a reformulated version of the drug that would be harder to abuse.

        OxyContin, made by Purdue Pharma L.P., is a time-released medication that helps relieve chronic pain for several hours per dose. However, drug abusers have learned to get high by crushing the pills, then chewing, snorting or injecting the entire dose at one time.

        The new pill adds an anti-opioid drug called naloxone, which can nullify the effect of the painkiller. When swallowed for proper use, the naloxone would not be absorbed. But when crushed and injected, the naloxone would take effect, preventing abusers from getting as high.

Driver faces 4 counts of vehicular assault

        WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP — A Columbus man is facing a string of felony charges after a two-vehicle crash Sunday evening on Interstate 74 that sent six people to hospitals.

        Jason Stidham, 22, is charged with four counts of aggravated vehicular assault and was being held Monday at the Hamilton County Justice Center.

        Deputies say Mr. Stidham was driving east on I-74 east of Ohio 128 when he lost control, crossed the median and drove into westbound traffic, colliding with a car carrying four women.

        The driver of the other car, Carolyn Macke, 63, of Deer Park, was in serious condition at University Hospital on Monday. Passengers Virginia Edgington, 61, of Blue Ash, was in good condition at University, and Amy Wurtzler, 39, of Hartwell, was treated at University and released. Rita Brinkmeyer, 71, of Norwood, a third passenger in the Pontiac, was in fair condition at Good Samaritan Hospital.

        Mr. Stidham's passenger, Charles Braskett, 21, of London, Ohio, was listed in fair condition at University.

        The accident remains under investigation.

Survey results sent to state officials

        TURTLECREEK TWP. — Residents have sent state transportation officials the results of an unscientific survey showing opposition to Middletown Regional Hospital moving here.

        Of 68 families who returned questionnaires, 90 percent are against the move and 93 percent are against Middletown annexing here, according to Keep Out, the grass roots group.

        The survey was sent to 300 families close to the proposed site, Keep Out says, making the response rate 23 percent.

        Middletown Regional has been lobbying the Ohio Department of Transportation for permission to build an Interstate 75 interchange at Greentree Road to serve the proposed new development.

Mayor boots Rev. Lynch from race commission
Text of Lynch's response
Text of Black United Front letter
Israel bombing victim was student here
Parents seek help in sex case
How to protect your kids from sexual abuse
Ted Gregory visitation today
Unknown boy seen trailing Patty
Case tests college admission policies
'Equal funding' approved for city schools
Family finds biracial adoption a blessing
Meeting to consider county plan
Possible witnesses to shooting sought
Proposal cuts funds for biomedical research
PULFER: Tough talk about war, reputation
Sycamore day celebrates Kwanzaa fest
Congrats
Golfers on a roll as fall lingers
Good News: Program for kids in need
Local Digest
Mason-Montgomery to reopen
Two Miami students die in crash
New Lebanon council feels its way
Nonprofit to help farmers' business
Store relies on free labor
Testimony rebuts insanity plea
Fairfield waits on bus allocation
Kentucky Digest
New recreation sites entertained
Politician's re-election bid begins
Care program battles fund cuts
Frankfort woman delivers quintuplets
Horse, tobacco sales hit farm economy