Girl, 8, hit by school bus

        LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. — A third-grade girl was injured Tuesday when she stepped off a curb and walked into the side of a moving school bus about 3:20 p.m.

        Witnesses told police the girl, Anna Neace, was walking home from school when she walked into the right front of the bus just behind the front wheel. The bus was turning when the accident happened. It was not clear if a rear wheel then ran over her.

        The driver, Sherry Getz, 46, of Lawrenceburg, was not cited.

        The girl was flown to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Her condition was not immediately available.

Woman acquitted of disrupting meeting

        An Evendale woman who'd been charged with disrupting a Village Council meeting during a debate over the hiring of former Cincinnati police Officer Stephen Roach was acquitted Tuesday.

        Hamilton County Municipal Judge David Stockdale said prosecutors failed to prove that the actions of Lynn Watts prevented the council meeting from continuing.

        Mrs. Watts, 42, was a member of a group of Evendale residents who protested the hiring of Officer Roach. He fatally shot a fleeing, unarmed black man April 7, 2001, in an incident that sparked days of rioting in Cincinnati.

        The group had argued that residents were not consulted about the officer's hiring and asked that he be dismissed from the force.

        On May 2, during a village meeting to discuss the hiring, Mrs. Watts was arrested after her comments went beyond the allotted 90 seconds.

        A videotape showed that the meeting continued after Mrs. Watts was removed.

        Judge Stockdale granted the acquittal as part of a request made by Mrs. Watts' attorney, John Feldmeier.

Hamilton man dies when vehicle hits pole

        HAMILTON — A 37-year-old Hamilton man died Tuesday morning after his vehicle crashed into a utility pole.

        Edward A. Kehling was pronounced dead at Fort Hamilton Hospital just after 7 a.m., said Andy Willis, investigator for the Butler County Coroner's Office. Investigators think Mr. Kehling may have fallen asleep at the wheel, Mr. Willis said.

        Police reports show that Mr. Kehling was involved in a previous crash under similar circumstances. On June 8, he dozed off and crashed into a utility pole at Ohio 129 and Fair Avenue, a report says.

        Tuesday, Mr. Kehling was apparently heading home around 5:50 a.m. when his 1992 Dodge Durango failed to make a turn onto the Columbia Bridge and crashed into the metal pole at Neilan Boulevard and Pershing Avenue, Mr. Willis said.

        An autopsy showed Mr. Kehling died of internal injuries.

Man in custody died of cocaine abuse

        HAMILTON — The Butler County Coroner's Office has ruled a man died from cocaine abuse while in custody of West Chester Township police last month.

        Coroner Dr. Richard P. Burkhardt said therefore the Aug. 13 death of James “Greg” Baker Jr., 22, of Woodlawn, was accidental, his office reported Tuesday.

        No further details were released, and Dr. Burkhardt was not available for comment Tuesday.

        West Chester police had arrested Mr. Baker on drug charges at the Tri-County Inn. Police said he was cooperative, but Mr. Baker appeared to have suffered a seizure after they handcuffed him and put him in the back of a cruiser. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital Fairfield.

UC quarterback cited for underage drinking

        Gino Guidugli, the 19-year-old starting quarterback for the University of Cincinnati football team, was cited by police for underage consumption of alcohol Tuesday.

        Police cited Mr. Guidugli after he was found in possession of a beer when officers responded to a report of a large fight at a fraternity house near the UC campus. Police records show the quarterback was cited at 2:15 a.m. while attending a rush event at Delta Tau fraternity house in the 2800 block of Clifton Avenue.

        Mr. Guidugli is scheduled to appear in Hamilton County Municipal Court on Oct. 9 at 10 a.m.

        Brain McCann, UC assistant sports information director, said Tuesday that Mr. Guidugli had met with Head Coach Rick Minter and Athletic Director Bob Goin and the matter had been addressed.

        Later in a statement, Mr. Minter said, “I'm aware of the situation that occurred Monday night involving Gino Guidugli, and I am very disappointed that it happened. As it is, I consider this to be part of Gino's private life, and it will be handled in that manner. Our response to the incident will occur internally.”

        The sophomore quarterback is a graduate of Highlands High School in Fort Thomas.

Flag dragger claims police violated rights

        A Cincinnati man claimed in federal court Tuesday that Hamilton County sheriff's deputies violated his constitutional rights when they arrested him for dragging an American flag.

        Terry Summers, who for years has participated in public protests against police and city officials, was arrested Sept. 18 and again Tuesday during demonstrations in front of the Hamilton County Courthouse.

        In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Mr. Summers said the constitutional right to free speech allows him to legally drag the flag on the ground. The deputies, however, arrested him and charged him with disorderly conduct.

Green Twp. woman cleared of perjury

        A Green Township woman who fought to have a perjury charge against her dismissed has been acquitted of the charge.

        Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Ann Marie Tracey found Laura Miller, 43, not guilty Monday.

        Ms. Miller had been accused of lying under oath during the March trial of a west-side doctor who had been accused of illegally obtaining prescription drugs.

        According to her attorney, Jay Clark, Ms. Miller was accused of testifying before a grand jury that the doctor asked her to obtain prescription drugs in her name for him. But during a March trial, she said he did not ask her to do this.

        Mr. Clark argued that his client remembered that another person had asked her to get the drugs. As a result, the doctor and his wife were acquitted.

        Judge Tracey determined Ms. Miller believed in the truthfulness of her statements and did not intentionally try to deceive anyone.

       Compiled from staff and wire reports

Urban housing choices broaden
Briefly on national stage, Patton now diminished
City labs will have role in biotesting
First tickets draw 30-day suspension
Anderson skating may get a boost
Input sought on school construction
Jorg not to blame for death, says examiner
Obituary: Vernon Watson, man of integrity
Ohio EPA hears opposition to expansion of Rumpke landfill
Suit seeks $25,000 in I-275 wrong-way collision
Tristate A.M. Report
UC welcomes pioneers from West High
BRONSON: Religious freedom
SMITH-AMOS: Campaign finance
GUTIERREZ: Paul Patton
KORTE: City Hall
Ex-deputy gets 4-year sentence for rape
Prosecutor eludes debate on trustees
Reappraisal won't help Lakota much
Sixth-graders learn the basics
Suspect kept job after $16K missed
Affrilachian poets shine this weekend
Editorial writers address Patton affair
Hours extended for tax amnesty
Kentucky News Briefs
Newport bond rate improves
No suspect in Highlands threat
Patton reducing political activities
Some blame mine as Harlan stream runs dry
Two Louisville police officers charged with stealing cash