Teen-ager dies in Dayton hospital

WEST CHESTER TWP.- Four days after a head-on collision, a Liberty Township teen-ager died Saturday at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio,

Todd Stoops, 17, had been in critical condition since losing control of his car Tuesday while eastbound along Union Centre Boulevard, near Ohio 747, and hitting another vehicle head-on.

The other driver sustained minor injuries.

Stoops was not wearing a seat belt.

Power restored in Pendleton Co.

FALMOUTH - Pendleton County residents continued to recover from an ice storm that brought the Tristate to its knees eight days ago.

About 200of 2,100 Pendleton County customers remained without power Saturday afternoon, said Tony Warren, of Blue Grass Energy, which serves more than 50,000 consumers in 23 Kentucky counties.

About 75 customers in Falmouth remained without power.

Hundreds of employees and contractors were out Saturday repairing equipment while tree trimming crews were clearing debris from service lines.

Warren said he hopes to have all repairs completed by tonight.

Blue Grass Energy staff will remain on the job 24-hours-a day throughout the weekend to answer consumer calls at 1-888-546-4243.

Plan to cut program may cost state more

CLEVELAND - Gov. Bob Taft's threat to cut a program that helps seniors stay in their own homes would cost the state more in the long run, according to the Department of Aging.

Taft said last week that if lawmakers balk at raising taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to help balance the budget, he would begin cutting three programs, including the Passport program.

The department said if seniors don't get assistance staying in their homes, the state will end up paying more to put them in nursing homes.

The agency, which runs Passport, will have to turn away about 150 people a month if the $1.8 million is cut from the program, said the agency's spokesman, Steve Proctor.

University of Toledo kills fireworks show

TOLEDO - The University of Toledo canceled fireworks shows that were to take place before its men's and women's basketball games on Saturday because of the nightclub fire in Rhode Island.

A rock band's pyrotechnics display ignited the fire that killed dozens Thursday night.

The school will replace the fireworks with confetti, said Toledo spokesman Paul Helgren.

The school normally shoots off fireworks a few games each season.

The fireworks are high above the court and away from fans.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports