Indiana House OKs tax bump for casinos

        INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's House of Representatives approved an increased tax rate for riverboat casinos while ending a $3 tax on each patron and allowing boats to stay docked.

        Indiana faces a $1.3 billion budget deficit. The bill will be considered by the State Senate next week.

        The bill would also allow slot machines at racetracks and off-track betting parlors.

        Under the bill, a 20 percent flat tax paid on casino revenue will be replaced by a 28 percent tax on revenue up to $100 million and 31 percent tax on revenue above that, said John Schorg, a spokesman for House Democrats. The measure was approved 51-47, he said.

        The proposed measure wouldn't affect the earnings of Argosy Gaming Co., which owns the casino in Lawrenceburg, or other publicly traded companies that own gambling boats in Indiana.
       

Police search for Mount Healthy robber

        MOUNT HEALTHY — Police are searching for a man who held up the Firstar Bank at 7433 Hamilton Ave. Friday morning.

        The robber, armed with a handgun, stole an undisclosed amount of cash. There were no injuries. The robbery happened about 9:40 a.m.

        The man was described as black in his mid- to late-20s, about 5-feet-9 with a thin build and thin moustache. He was wearing a white Panama hat, oversized cream suit jacket and oversized black pants. He was last seen in an alley near the bank.
       

Chabot leaves MIA records with S. Korea

        WASHINGTON — Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, unable to gain entry into North Korea during a recent visit to Asia, left information on a missing U.S. soldier from Cincinnati with South Korea and U.S. diplomatic and military officials.

        The Cincinnati congressman had wanted to present dental records and other material on Cpl. Edward Gibson, missing in action during the Korean War, directly to North Korean officials. Mr. Gibson's family has sought to identify his remains for years and hopes to one day have a grave to honor the soldier's memory.
       

Red Cross to hold 97th annual meeting

        The Cincinnati Red Cross will hold its 97th annual meeting at a noon luncheon Friday at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center, Fifth and Elm streets, downtown.

        The organization will honor 10 local companies that supported the Red Cross with time and money following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

        Ken Thompson, whose mother was killed in the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing, will speak.

        Tickets are $35. Information and reservations: 579-3911.

Swaim Park to debut aquatic shelter

        MONTGOMERY — Swaim Park will debut a new shelter for Todd Pond's aquatic wildlife, including frogs, fish, turtles and migratory water fowl, at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

        The permanent shelter was designed by environmental artist Lynne Hull as part of Cincinnati's Contemporary Art Center's Econvention exhibit.

        Ms. Hull's art has been commissioned throughout the United States. For more information about Econvention, log on to www.spiral.org.

Greenhills renews contract with Rumpke

        GREENHILLS — Council members unanimously renewed a new, five-year contract Tuesday with Rumpke Waste Inc.

        For the first three years, the village will pay $12,545 a month — or $150,540 a year — for weekly garbage and yard waste pick-up service. The last two years accompany a renewal option.

        The village would have paid $20,000 more if council members had chosen the only other bidder, CSI Waste, Municipal Manager David Moore said.
       

Elmwood Place names police chief

        ELMWOOD PLACE — Acting Police Chief William Peskin had the “acting” dropped from his title this week.

        Chief Peskin, a lieutenant who had been acting chief for six months, was promoted to police chief. Chief Peskin has been with the department since 1988.

        Other police department promotions announced were Sgt. Jeremy Alley to lieutenant and Cpl. Paul Corbeil to sergeant.
       

Symmes Twp. seeks Nature Works grant

        SYMMES TOWNSHIP — Township administrators are applying for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Nature Works grant.

        At a Tuesday session, trustees gave Administrator Gerald Beckman the OK to pursue the grant, which could be used for the construction of a $300,000 skateboard park.

        The state agency will decide the amount, Mr. Beckman said.
       

Two men indicted on gun charges

        CINCINNATI — An Ohio man and a Jordanian were indicted on accusations that they bought 470 handguns over three years and illegally shipped them to Jordan for resale, federal authorities said Friday.

        The indictment issued Thursday said Atallah Adwani and Samaan Hattar bought the guns from a federally licensed gun dealer in suburban Cincinnati from 1995 to 1998 and smuggled them to Mr. Hattar's home country of Jordan.

        The indictment said Mr. Hattar sold the guns for profit in Jordan or gave them to Jordanian authorities to gain favor for businesses that Mr. Adwani and Mr. Hattar operated there.

        The men are charged with conspiracy, lying about why they were buying handguns, dealing in firearms without a license, illegally shipping them from the United States and foreign travel to engage in selling firearms.

        Mr. Adwani, 45, of Mason, was arrested Friday by federal firearms agents. Mr. Hattar is still thought to be in Jordan, investigators said.

        Mr. Adwani was arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court. Over the objections of federal prosecutors, Judge Herman Weber released him on a property bond pending trial. No trial date has been set.

        Mr. Adwani surrendered his passport and a 9 mm handgun he had when he was arrested. His travel is restricted to southern Ohio while the charge is pending.

        Charges of conspiracy, dealing guns without a license and making false statements to buy firearms are each punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted. Illegally exporting firearms and foreign travel to deal firearms carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison. The offenses also carry fines up to $250,000.
       
       

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