Compiled from staff and wire reports

Prosecutors to unveil latest in abuse case

Hamilton County prosecutors will announce a development today in their investigation into sexual abuse allegations involving Greater Cincinnati priests.

Judy Salisbury of San Diego screams with joy as she learns that her husband, Dr. Pat Salisbury, would be going to Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle for his residency program in anesthesiology. The celebration was part of Match Day, an annual event in which nearly 24,000 medical school graduates nationwide learn the next step of their careers - all on the same day. Salisbury was among 152 medical school graduates from the University of Cincinnati who learned their fates Thursday. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

Prosecutor Mike Allen called a press conference for noon to discuss the status of the investigation. Allen would not comment on the announcement, and officials at the Archdiocese of Cincinnati said they did not know anything about it.

Prosecutors have been investigating accusations against priests for nearly a year, ever since church officials acknowledged that five priests employed by the archdiocese had been previously accused of sexual misconduct.

Judge returns Ansley to mental institution

HAMILTON - A Butler County judge on Thursday ordered Tonda Lynn Ansley, accused of shooting a Miami University professor to death, returned to a high-security mental institution.

Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth made the decision after Ansley's court-appointed lawyer, Melynda Cook-Reich, raised concerns about her client's condition deteriorating while Ansley has been held in the county jail.

Last month, Spaeth ruled Ansley had been restored to competency and therefore would stand trial for the July 27 slaying of Sherry Lee Corbett, 55.

Spaeth ruled that Ansley would be returned to the Columbus-area institution and held there until her trial, set for May 19.

The next step: a hearing Tuesday, where three different professionals are to report whether they think Ansley was insane at the time of Corbett's slaying. Cook-Reich is attempting to pursue a "not guilty by reason of insanity" defense on her client's behalf.

Man indicted in attack on wife, friend

HAMILTON - Archie William Payne, 43, has been indicted for kidnapping, domestic violence, tampering with evidence, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of attempted murder in connection with a Feb. 9 incident at a residence in Trenton when he allegedly tried to kill two people.

The charges stem from alleged attacks on Payne's wife, Christine A. Payne, 36, and an acquaintance of the couple, Charles D. Hembree, 27. A shot was fired, but no one was struck, police said.

Other Butler County indictments released Thursday included:

Michael L. Wilson, 20, of Hamilton, accused of raping a 12-year-old girl at a Hamilton residence.

Pedro Rivera Jr., 27, who lists an address in the Bronx, New York, is accused of involvement in an alleged stolen-car ring. He is charged with three counts of receiving stolen property and three counts of tampering with records. Katina Marie Sibcy, 35, accused of grand theft by deception and forgery. The charges stem from the alleged theft of $50,000 from a Fairfield dentist for whom she worked.

Joe Piesiuk, 48, accused in an alleged home-improvement scam. Piesiuk is charged with 23 counts of theft by deception, 10 counts of money laundering and a count of racketeering in corrupt activity.

Hospital deal ties repayment to quality

Mercy Health Partners and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield have agreed to an unusual contract that will tie hospital reimbursement rates to "quality performance."

The Mercy hospitals will get paid more if they score well on a collection of quality measures developed by Anthem in 1992. Anthem's program tracks how closely providers match best-practice guidelines set by various medical specialty associations and other industry sources.

The deal is the first of its kind in Greater Cincinnati for Anthem, the biggest health insurer in Ohio and a leading insurer in eight other states.

Mercy employs about 6,000 people who work at five Tristate hospitals - in Anderson Township, Batavia, Mount Airy, Westwood and Fairfield - and a variety of other health services.

Security breach closes airport's concourse

COLUMBUS - A passenger who breached a security checkpoint at Port Columbus International Airport forced security officials on Thursday to shut down a concourse for about 90 minutes and rescreen passengers.

A man who walked from a concourse and through a security exit told a police officer that he left a bag by a gate, said Tom Rice, federal security director at Port Columbus.

As the officer turned to talk to someone else, the man walked back into the concourse and then ran, he said. The man did return to the security checkpoint where he and the bag were checked before he was allowed to go, Rice said.