The congressman is one of nine lawmakers — five Republicans, four Democrats — appointed to the Select Committee on Homeland Security. Several congressional committees will consider the president's recommendations, but the select committee, chaired by House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, will compile the final draft of the legislation.

        Mr. Bush wants Congress to establish a department that would oversee a range of security issues, from border control to securing the nation's airports.

        The president did not suggest that the two main intelligence agencies — the FBI and the CIA — come under the jurisdiction of the new department, but some lawmakers will likely debate that idea at hearings.

        House leaders hope to schedule a vote on the proposal before a summer recess in August.

FROG AND TOAD: Alexis Hodges, 4, of Erlanger puts her toy frog up to the glass of the display at the FROGS! traveling exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden on Wednesday. The exhibit, located in the Safari Gallery, shows off more than 30 species of frogs from around the world. The exhibit is on display through Sept. 2. Zoo hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

       “We currently have over 100 government agencies responsible for homeland security, and we need to make sure our efforts are better coordinated,” Mr. Portman said. “A new Department of Homeland Security will not make us immune from terrorism, but it will make us safer.”
       

Driver gets 2 years in crash with officer

        A North College Hill man who caused serious injury to a Cincinnati police officer last fall when he crashed into the officer's cruiser on Interstate 75 was sentenced to two years in prison Wednesday.

        Michael Barksdale, 34, was driving drunk Oct. 6.

        Officials said a blood test determined he was more than twice the legal limit of .10.

        Mr. Barksdale was traveling along northbound I—75 about 5:30 a.m. that day when he crashed his Ford Mustang into a Cincinnati police Crown Victoria that had its lights on.

        Officer Milton Hampton was guarding a lane closed for construction and had been sitting in the lane protecting workers. He suffered serious injuries, but has recovered and returned to work.

        Mr. Barksdale pleaded guilty this month to one count of aggravated vehicular assault.

Bible student jailed on internet sex charge

        WEST CHESTER TWP. — A Cincinnati Bible College student who interned at a church here is accused of soliciting someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl on the internet for sex.

        Jonathan Kolmorgen, 34, also is being investigated in his role as an intern youth minister at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, West Chester Township Police Sgt. Matt Brillhart said Wednesday.

        A message left on the church's voice mail was not returned Wednesday.

        Mr. Kolmorgen, of the 2200 block of Westwood-Northern Boulevard, is being held in the Greene County Jail in Xenia, Ohio.

        He is accused of trying to meet the 14-year-old, “Stacy” — actually a police officer posing as a teen on an internet chat room — in Xenia for sex. He was met Saturday at the rendezvous point, a fast-food restaurant, by an undercover officer, Greene County Assistant Prosecutor Craig King said.

        Mr. Kolmorgen is charged with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, authorities said.

        This was the 37th such arrest by that county's law agencies since they began their Internet sting program two years ago, Mr. King said.
       

Parents get DNA kits for newborns in Ind.

        LAWRENCEBURG — Many hospitals send newborn babies home with bags full of toys, diaper coupons and other health-related goodies.

        But at Dearborn County Hospital, babies started going home Monday with DNA sampling kits.

NURSES APPROVE STRIKE: Nurses march Wednesday in front of University Hospital, where they voted this week to strike if negotiations don't produce an agreement by July 1. The hospital and the Registered Nurses Association say they hope it won't come to that, but the union filed a strike notice Tuesday. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        The program, launched in conjunction with the Indiana State Police, is intended as a better way than fingerprints for police to identify lost or abducted children, confused seniors and others who may be unable to communicate — and, when necessary, dead bodies.

        Each DNA kit contains an envelope, a swab and instructions for collecting and preserving a DNA sample. Families are expected to keep the kits in home freezers, not send them in to police. The idea is to give the sample to police if a family member is missing.

        The hospital plans to distribute 5,000 of the kits in coming months through the hospital and at the county fair, a senior expo and a health fair.

        NORWOOD — A man is facing an aggravated robbery charge after police say he held up the Quality Inn Hotel and then led officers on a car chase Wednesday morning.

Man facing charges in Quality Inn holdup

        Phillip Hammonds, 29, no address available, is accused of being the man who entered the hotel at 4747 Montgomery Road about 10:45 a.m., displayed a weapon and demanded money, Norwood Police Detective Gary Fye said. The man escaped with an undetermined amount of cash, but hotel employees got the license number of his car as he drove away.

        Police officers quickly spotted the car on Montgomery Road and gave chase. The car crashed at Lexington Avenue and Montgomery Road.

        “The vehicle actually hit a pole and flipped over onto its hood,” Detective Fye said. “He got out and ran.”

Serial bank robber gets 20 years in prison

        A serial bank robber was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday in Hamilton County Court after the man agreed to plead guilty to robbing four banks and a United Dairy Farmers store.

        Kelvin Smith, 30, was found guilty of robbing the UDF, the Hamilton County School Employees Credit Union, Franklin Savings and Loan, a Provident Bank branch and a Fifth Third Bank branch.

        He could have received up to 100 years in prison, but instead got a 20-year sentence from Common Pleas Judge Dennis Helmick in the plea agreement.
       

Mistrial declared in pandering case

        A mistrial was declared Wednesday in the case of adult bookstore owner Shawn Jenkins, who had faced two counts of pandering obscenity after being accused of selling an obscene video to undercover police.

        Mr. Jenkins, who owns Tip Top Magazines in Corryville, was charged in July 2001 in connection with the adult video “Max Hardcore Extreme Vol. 7.”

        Mr. Jenkins' jury trial was stopped after one of his defense attorneys, H. Louis Sirkin, said prosecutors failed to tell him that officers had initially tried to have him indicted for more than one video, but grand jurors opted to only charge him for one.

        Mr. Sirkin said he'd have prepared his defense differently if he'd known that information.

        Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Richard Niehaus ordered both sides to return to court July 8 to set a new trial date.
       

Sites for Hilltop games still uncertain

        About 300 Hilltop Youth Athletic Association football players and cheerleaders still are unsure where they'll practice in 2003.

        Cincinnati Public Schools' $1 billion building program will necessitate taking over fields, including Crawford Field in College Hill, where the Hilltop players have played for 35 years, according to Hilltop President Anthony Harris.

        He said he has been working with Cincinnati Public Schools and might have a site worked out for games, but wants to use nearby McAvoy Park for practice.

        Cincinnati Recreation Director James Garges said the city's recreation and planning departments are working with Cincinnati Public Schools to resolve the field issues.

        Council's board of education cooperative affairs subcommittee will address ball field relocation at 3 p.m. June 24 in City Hall.
       

Council "gets tough' on city litterbugs

        Sponsors of a litter ordinance passed by Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday say the new law will “get tough” with property owners with refuse and high weeds.

        The ordinance, proposed by Councilmen Pat DeWine and David Pepper, gives property owners five days to rid their properties of weeds, litter and other outdoor nuisances. If they do, they must sign a sworn statement and the fine will be waived. If they don't, the city will clean the property for them and send them the bill.

        It replaces an existing system warning property owners 15-days before being cited.
       

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