Compiled from staff and wire reports
Man charged in fatal fight in OTR
Cincinnati police have arrested a man accused of involvement in the death of Larry Thomas, 33, in Over-the-Rhine.
Mitchell Johnson, 19, was arrested Wednesday and charged with murdering Mr. Thomas.
Police say they are still searching for a second man in Mr. Thomas' death.
The two got into a fight with Mr. Thomas on Elm Street on Saturday, during which one of the men picked Mr. Thomas up and slammed his head into the sidewalk, police said.
Mr. Thomas was taken to University Hospital, where he died on Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 352-3542 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040. Callers can remain anonymous and may receive a reward for information.
Jewelry store robbed in Montgomery
MONTGOMERY - Three men wearing ski masks and armed with the handguns robbed a Main Street jewelry store Wednesday evening, police said.
The three men entered James Free Jewelers at 9555 Main St. about 6:28 p.m., police said. They smashed open two display cases and removed an undisclosed amount of merchandise before fleeing.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Montgomery Police Department at 985-1600 or 825-2280.
New Children Services chief's pay: $100K
HAMILTON - The Butler County Children Services board has approved an annual salary of $100,000 for the agency's newly hired executive director, Jann Heffner.She officially becomes head of the agency on Sunday. Her first day at work will be Dec. 16.Ms. Heffner also will receive use of a car and four weeks of vacation.
She is former executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption in Columbus. Before that, she was deputy director of the Office of Children and Families with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Ms. Heffner, who is recovering from hip-replacement surgery, did not attend Tuesday's board meeting.
Pharmacies to receive incentives under plan
State officials hope to squeeze $2.4 million in savings next year from the Medicaid budget by offering incentives to pharmacies that supply medication to nursing homes.
The program, launched by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, would allow pharmacies to keep a portion of the savings if they find ways to reduce their average monthly cost of prescription medications for Medicaid patients.
Savings could come from returning unused medications, emphasizing generic drugs or urging doctors to switch to lower-cost drugs and to discontinue medications as soon as possible.
Ohio officials say the program encourages pharmacies to closely monitor medication usage.
Council rejects plan to cut printing costs
Cincinnati City Council voted down a proposal Wednesday that would have required city agencies to disclose the cost of mass printing over $1,000.
Councilman Pat DeWine said his proposal would have cracked down on spending for items such as a 28-page, full-color annual report for the Metropolitan Sewer District that cost $7.73 each.
The motion was defeated 4-5. Joining Mr. DeWine in voting for the measure were fellow Republican Chris Monzel and Democrats John Cranley and David Pepper.
Green Twp. gets new fire truck, ambulance
GREEN TWP. - A new fire truck and ambulance are on the job with the Green Township Fire Department.
The department took delivery of the vehicles earlier this month. Cost of both vehicles without equipment: $884,000.
The $745,000 truck includes a 110-foot, vehicle-mounted ladder and a 300-gallon water tank.
The truck is stationed at the fire department's headquarters at 6303 Harrison Ave., and replaces a similar 1981 one. The $139,000 ambulance, assigned to the Covedale station at 2280 Sylved Lane, replaces a 1987 model.
Tot in stolen car returned safely
AKRON - An 18-month-old child in a car that was stolen was turned over safely to firefighters about three hours later, authorities said.
The woman who turned over the boy told firefighters she was given the child on a street by another woman who told her it had been in a stolen car, according to Stark County Sheriff Timothy Swanson.
The boy's parents, Ira Collier, 22, and Catherine Tabares, both of Canton, had stopped at Mr. Collier's home to get some clothes about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday. Both left the vehicle running with the boy asleep in the back seat.
Two or three minutes later, someone drove off with the car with the child inside.
The boy was turned over to firefighters before 3 a.m., Sheriff Swanson said. The car was found later.
The woman fled after turning the boy over to firefighters and has not been found.
Retarded man's confession tossed
INDIANAPOLIS - A mentally retarded man did not know what he was doing when he told police he raped and killed an 11-year-old girl, ruled a judge who threw out the confession.
Charles Daugherty, who has an IQ of 67, was not capable of understanding his constitutional rights when he confessed to the 1994 murder of fourth-grader LaShonna Bates, Marion Superior Court Judge Patricia Gifford said.
"The confession of the defendant was not a product of rational intellect and a free will and was, therefore, not voluntary," Judge Gifford wrote in the ruling issued Wednesday.
Mr. Daugherty, 32, has been held in Marion County Jail since his arrest in October 2000.
The former restaurant worker confessed when police promised to take him home after 13 hours of questioning, Judge Gifford noted.
Columbus airport bars given 15-day ban
COLUMBUS - The five bars and restaurants in Port Columbus International Airport will be banned from selling alcohol for 15 days after four of them sold beer to an underage informant.
The Ohio Liquor Commission ordered bar- and restaurant-management company Anton Airfood to start the moratorium Dec. 29. The ruling Tuesday affects all the establishments because they are covered by one liquor license.
The five establishments are Columbus Brewing Co., Damon's, High Street Cafe, Max & Erma's and Mulligans.
