Compiled from staff and wire reports

Single-car crash injures two men

GREEN TOWNSHIP - Two Hamilton County men were taken to University Hospital early Saturday after a crash in the 3300 block of North Bend Road.

Police said Daniel J. Duncan, 23, of College Hill was driving west when he lost control of his vehicle, struck a parked vehicle and hit a utility pole, ejecting passenger Justin K. Watson, 22, of Cheviot from the car.

Neither was wearing a safety belt. They were taken by ambulance to University, where Mr. Watson was listed in fair condition Saturday. There was no record of Mr. Duncan's condition.

The crash remains under investigation by the county Sheriff's Office.

Brookville man dead after road accident

BROOKVILLE, Ind. - A Brookville man was pronounced dead Fridaymorning in a two-car crash along Indiana 252, about a half-mile east of the city.

Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff's Department said Henry Aulbach, 59, was westbound when he struck the front corner of an eastbound mobile home that was being driven up a curving hill by Bruce Estes, 33, of Fountain City.

Mr. Aulbach was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr. Estes was not injured.

An investigation continues.

Florence police hunt armed bank robber

FLORENCE - Florence Police and the FBI continued to search Saturday for a man who robbed a Provident Bank branch in the 6700 block of Dixie Highway of an undisclosed amount of money Friday afternoon.

Investigators said the bank robber entered the bank shortly after 2 p.m. and demanded money while brandishing a butcher knife.

Several employees were inside the bank but no one was injured.

To leave an anonymous tip, call Florence Police Lt. Tim Chesser at (859) 647-5446.

Charter school returns funds

An Avondale charter school, Learning Opportunities of Cincinnati, Inc., returned more than $447,000 in state funds and closed its doors on Friday - at least temporarily.

The school, formerly called Sabis International School of Cincinnati, has appealed to the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals an order from Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Andrew "Skip" West forcing it to give back the money and close, according to the school's Dayton attorney, James R. Greene III.

The state Board of Education contends the school has been operating without required permits.

The state also contends that the school did not perform required background checks on teachers.

Students escape fire at fraternity house

ATHENS, Ohio - A fire at an Ohio University fraternity house Friday morning forced about 30 students from their home.

One student hurt her arm jumping from a second-floor window of the Beta Theta Pi house, university police Lt. Steve Noftz said.

The fire started about 7 a.m. and caused major damage to the house, said fire Chief Bob Troxel, who estimated the loss at about $350,000.

Three men charged with looting homes

AKRON - Three men were indicted Friday on charges they looted two homes in suburban Twinsburg that had suffered storm damage when tornados hit the state this month.

Looters pried boards off two neighboring houses about 3 a.m. Nov. 13, police said. They stole video game equipment, DVDs, cameras and clothing.

Jesse Kisner, 19, Zachary Drewniak, 18, and Jeffrey Dixon, 21, were indicted on two counts each of burglary. They each face up to eight years in prison if convicted.

GOP governors elect Taft as officer

COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft on Saturday was elected vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association at its annual convention, his office said.

Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado was elected chairman.

DUI brings principal a one-day suspension

FAIRFIELD - A Hamilton school principal who was cited for DUI will serve a one-day unpaid suspension in addition to punishment imposed by the courts.

Wilson Junior High School Principal J. Greg Rulon, 42, will serve his suspension Wednesday, school officials said.

The suspension came two days after Mr. Rulon pleaded guilty to an Oct. 12 DUI charge in Fairfield Municipal Court.

Apartment fire displaces five families

CARLISLE - A fire at the Meadows of Carlisle apartment complex in this Warren County town displaced five families and is being labeled as suspicious.

A fire official said no one was hurt in the afternoon blaze, and damage is being estimated at $156,000.

Three of the eight apartments in the complex were destroyed and a fourth suffered heavy smoke damage.