Money and property seized in drug arrests is providing $40,000 in scholarships for 160 students to attend a drug prevention conference that begins today in Cincinnati.

        “What better purpose is there than to designate funds from drug dealers to give students so they may attend a conference designed to train them to be leaders in their own schools to help keep their peers off tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs?” asked Cincinnati Police Lt. Col. Richard S. Biel.

        More than 400 Greater Cincinnati junior and senior high school students will attend the 25th annual PRIDE World Drug Prevention Conference at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center, thanks in part to the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office.

        Scholarships went to 20 teams of eight adolescents and two adult chaperones to pay conference fees.

        Cincinnati Community Action Now (CAN) assisted in selecting the youths for the four-day conference.

        The Rev. Mingo Peterson, who serves on a subcommittee of CAN and is an adviser for the Evanston Youth Association, said students were selected for leadership potential.

        “We are trying to get some kids to give other kids some information,” he said.

        Keyana Williams, a senior at Western Hills High School,attended the conference three years ago and has been selected this year, too. She said after the conference, she “spread the word” at school.

        Woodward High School senior Vincent Ward Jr. has also been chosen to attend the conference.

        “I want to be a part of the solutions,” he said. “I want my voice to be heard.”

        He said he wants to discuss the issues and look for solutions.

CAN co-chair has no doubt of success
Jazz fest's 40-year run interrupted
Couple fighting to share name
ACLU adds its Y-E-S to deal
Appeals court to rule on ban of concealed weapons
Drug money turned to good use
Man found slain on Roselawn street
Man to plead insanity in street sweeper theft
Moldy ceiling causes kids to pack food
New fire chief is promoted from ranks
Personal info on Web site weighed
Police see insult in demonstration at their memorial
Princeton play gets good marks
Schools discipline blacks more often
Skateboarders gain city support
Square's uses mulled
Students going silent to support gays
Taxpayers may get reminder county skimps on city parks
Teacher shortage may grow
Tristate A.M. Report
BRONSON: Free pass
HOWARD: Some Good News
Bodies of area soldiers come home
Few turn out for car tax hearing
Kids' brains put to test
Organizers set cultural celebration
Planning method OK'd
Suburban Insider
Tire explosion critically injures Batavia trucker
Candidate's loyalty challenged
Charges won't be pursued in groin shooting
Charity pulls plug on one of oldest bingo games
Covington hears pleas for spending
Guitars part of campaign
Kentucky News Briefs
Middle school band director resigns
Two N.Ky. cities cool on notion of merging