Compiled from staff and wire reports

Two charged in Ameristop break-in

Cincinnati police got a break early Tuesday in a break-in in Price Hill, where officers have been frustrated by similar incidents lately.

Witnesses called police shortly after 1 a.m. to say two men were breaking in to the Ameristop, 3703 Warsaw Ave.

Sgt. Brian Norris spotted two men fitting the description, and officers arrested Walter Moore, 19, and Eddie Baker, 36, both of whom had broken glass and stolen cigarettes in their pockets, police said.

PLEADS GUILTY: DeMarlo Hayes (left) stands with her lawyer, Roxann Dieffenbach, as Ms. Hayes pleaded guilty to the May 11, 2001, murder of her 9-year-old son, Diarro Hayes. Common Pleas Judge Richard Niehaus, as part of an agreed upon sentence, ordered her to serve 20 years to life in prison. The Silverton woman, 27, could have faced the death penalty, but prosecutors dismissed that specification in exchange for her admission. She killed her son by stuffing his mouth with paper and taping it closed. His burned remains were found in Drake Park in Kennedy Heights. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

The two men are neighbors in an apartment house near the Ameristop.

Both were charged with breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony for which they could go to jail for a year.

Head of Toledo diocese has cancer

TOLEDO - The head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo has been diagnosed with cancer, the diocese said Tuesday.

Doctors found a cancerous tumor at the juncture of Bishop James Hoffman's esophagus and stomach and two nodules on his liver that are consistent with the spread of cancer.

He is to meet with a cancer specialist today and is to begin radiation and chemotherapy later this week. A prognosis was not given, the diocese said.

Bishop Hoffman, 70, wrote in a letter to church leaders that he has been losing weight and experiencing a loss of energy over the last several months. He said he became ill during last week's meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington and had to leave early.

He said Tuesday he hopes to continue working "as my energy allows." The diocese said he will continue to set spiritual and administrative direction, with Chancellor Michael Billian implementing his plans.

Bishop Hoffman has been head of the 330,000-member diocese since 1981. A native of Fremont, Ohio, he was ordained a priest July 28, 1957.

Kentucky man's body found in Ohio River

COVINGTON - The body of a man reported missing more than a week ago was found Tuesday in the Ohio River.

The body of Eusevio Alvarez, 34, of Covington, was found floating near a boat landing across the river from Cincinnati. An employee discovered the body about 7 a.m. Covington firefighters recovered the body.

A preliminary autopsy Tuesday failed to determine a cause of death, said police Sgt. Teal Nally. He said it may take several more weeks of testing before a cause of death is known.

Mr. Alvarez was reported missing by a friend on Nov. 9, police said.

$1 million first-flight ceremony detailed

DAYTON, Ohio - Next year's celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight will feature a $1 million ceremony including several astronauts at the Dayton Dragons' baseball stadium.

The July ceremony at the minor-league downtown stadium will focus on a runway spread across the center of the field, said Madeline Iseli, co-president of Inventing Flight: Dayton 2003, a private group promoting the celebration.

Ms. Iseli said Tuesday the runway will be used to launch balloons carrying replicas of pioneer airplanes and a giant-scale radio-controlled aircraft.

As a grand finale, she said, a prop made to look like a flying saucer will descend onto the runway and deposit astronauts including John Glenn.

Brad Tillson, chairman of Inventing Flight, said admission prices have not yet been set, but are likely to be more than $100.

Inventing Flight also plans festivities on New Year's Eve with a gala at the United States Air Force Museum. Visitors to the event will be greeted by the "Wings of Wonder" birds of prey exhibit from the Cincinnati Zoo.

Wilbur and Orville Wright invented, tested and developed their airplanes in their hometown of Dayton. They made the first successful, powered flight in North Carolina in 1903.

Ohio Republicans to try slots again

COLUMBUS - Senate Republicans will make another try at placing video slot machines at Ohio racetracks and they have asked for Democrats' help to ensure its passage against the promised veto of Republican Gov. Bob Taft, Senate President Richard Finan said Tuesday.

Taft spokeswoman Mary Anne Sharkey immediately restated Mr. Taft's opposition to the idea.

Sen. Lou Blessing, a Cincinnati Republican, introduced the bill that would authorize the installation of video slots at Ohio's seven racetracks. It is Mr. Blessing's second video gambling bill this session.

Mr. Finan assigned the bill to the Senate Agriculture Committee, which has scheduled the first hearing for Thursday.

Republicans hold a 21-12 advantage in the Senate but would need 22 votes, or two-thirds of the Senate, to include an emergency clause that would allow the bill to take effect without the usual 90-day waiting period. That is important because it would deny opponents the chance to conduct a referendum on its enactment.

Estimates vary on how much revenue video slots would raise for the state, but Mr. Finan said it could be about $500 million a year. GOP leaders are predicting a deficit for the two-year budget period beginning next July, with some estimates as high as $3 billion to $4 billion.