Compiled from staff and wire reports

Traffic stop leads to drug interdiction

BLUE ASH - A late night traffic stop Saturday turned into a drug bust when police discovered the vehicle was carrying supplies to make methamphetamine.

Blue Ash officers stopped a vehicle on Hunt Road about 11:45 p.m. because it had expired license plates. Inside, they found "items and chemicals" used to make the drug, according to a police statement.

Meth labs are treated as hazardous materials sites, the statement said, so the area around the vehicle was blocked off. Blue Ash called for help from Sgt. Matt Johnson of the Greenhills Police Department, who has been trained in handling meth labs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency also was called, Blue Ash police said.

Charges were pending against two men in the vehicle, whom authorities did not identify.

An early budget expected in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS - Democrats who control the Indiana House were expected to present a two-year budget proposal today, fully two weeks before the full House must pass a plan and send it to the Republican-dominated Senate.

"Our goal is to move the budget earlier than usual," said House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend.

Whatever the plan, a quick endorsement from the budget-writing House Ways and Means Committee is expected since Democrats have a commanding majority on that panel. In the full House, however, their majority is just 51-49.

Bauer did not say last week exactly what the spending plan would include. But Democrats have been working toward one that would give public schools at least some funding increases over current levels.

Armed robber hits Roselawn shop; 1 shot

An armed robbery Saturday at a Roselawn barber shop left one person hurt.

About 3 p.m., someone entered the Envisions shop on Reading Road, shot one person in the leg and stole $45 plus a $50 Shop-Vac, police said.

Contact us with your war stories

Hundreds of Tristate men and women in the U.S. armed forces have left home and family behind in recent weeks.

As the chance of war with Iraq increases, the Enquirer wants to tell the stories of those who serve as well as the family left behind.

If you are a serviceman or -woman willing to share your experience with our readers - or if you are a family member with a loved one overseas - please contact reporter Howard Wilkinson by e-mail at

hwilkinson@enquirer.com, call 768-8388, or mail to Howard Wilkinson, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202.

The Enquirer appreciates your help and your service.

Firefighters rescue dog stuck in drum

Firefighters in Aurora, Ind., Saturday rescued a dog whose head was stuck in a 55-gallon drum.

Firefighters responded about 3:45 p.m. to a house on Lower Dillsboro Road, where they found Bear with his head lodged in the metal barrel. The used an industrial cutting tool to free him. No one was sure how long the dog had been there.

"The dog was freed without injury and seemed to be very happy at his release," said First Lt. Kevin Turner, public information officer.

Black families needed to integrate

INDIANAPOLIS - School leaders and housing officials are trying to recruit black families to move to Indianapolis' south side, which remains predominantly white despite decades of racial integration efforts.

The recruitment effort comes as the city phases out forced busing of school children as a result of a 1998 agreement. U.S. District Judge S. Hugh Dillin ordered forced busing in 1981 to encourage racial integration in schools.

In many areas - including Indianapolis' south side - integration has failed to catch on outside the classroom. Thousands of black families have joined whites moving out from the central city since 1940, with many moving into communities on the city's north side.

But few have bought homes in Marion County's southern tier of townships. The 2000 U.S. Census showed just 35 black home owners in Decatur Township; 56 in Franklin Township; and 68 in Perry Township. Those numbers represent less than 1 percent of the townships' home owners.

Presidents Day closings

Postal service...No delivery

Library...................Open

Banks................Closed*

Trash collection

Cincinnati: One-day delay

Rumpke: Regular service for Hamilton, Warren and Butler counties, one-day delay in Northern Kentucky, and Adams, Brown and Highland counties.

CFI: Regular schedule

Metro......Regular schedule

Parking meters.....Coins required (Cincinnati)

Courts.................. Closed

Government offices

Federal............... Closed

City and County..... Closed

State.................. Closed

Stock markets.......... Closed

*Fifth Third and U.S. Bank in-store branches will be open. The Fifth Third Banking Center at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will be open.