Compiled from staff and wire reports

Some lanes to close on I-471 bridge

Varying lanes of the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge carrying Interstate 471 over the Ohio River will be closed this weekend for routine maintenance on the expansion joints.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Wednesday advised that those attending games during the final weekend of the Cincinnati Reds' season should seek alternate routes from Great American Ball Park. One lane of eastbound Fort Washington Way will be closed when entering the bridge, and the lane closure will continue over the span. The work is scheduled to start Friday and conclude Sunday.

Alternate routes include I-71/75 south over the Brent Spence Bridge or taking Pete Rose Way to the Taylor-Southgate Bridge, the Roebling Suspension Bridge or the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge.

Council acts to get decision appealed

Cincinnati City Council voted 8-1 Wednesday to ask the city solicitor to appeal a federal judge's order temporarily barring enforcement of campaign finance reform measures in the city charter.

Republican candidate Pete Witte filed suit this week, claiming the charter's ban on candidates accepting campaign contributions from other candidate committees is an unconstitutional restriction of free speech and free association. U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith has tentatively agreed, issuing a temporary restraining order.

The motion by Democrat David Crowley asked the solicitor to immediately appeal the ruling. Republican Chris Monzel voted no, saying the solicitor should argue the case on the schedule already set by Beckwith.

The judge has scheduled a hearing on a permanent injunction for Oct. 16.

Caldwell presidentof medical academy

Dr. Esly Caldwell, an internal medicine specialist who has practiced in Cincinnati for 36 years, has been installed as the president of the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati.

As president of Cincinnati's chapter of the American Medical Association, Caldwell will serve for the next year as a local voice on physician issues.

Caldwell is a member of numerous professional organizations, and fellow of the American Academy of Physicians and Surgeons. .

Boy charged withsetting fire to home

DEERFIELD TWP. - A 15-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated arson after confessing he set fire to his family's Kings Mills Road home, authorities said.

Seven people were home when the fire broke out after 7 p.m. Saturday. Three of the family members were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns and released.

The fire caused $50,000 in damage.

Robbery suspects chased and nabbed

MIDDLETOWN - Following a chase through several Butler County communities by car and on foot, city police arrested a pair of bank robbery suspects Wednesday afternoon.

"There was a big chase and we caught them," said police Maj. Mike Bruck. "That's unusual when you catch them in the act."

Police received a holdup alarm from Lebanon Citizens National Bank, 4441 Marie Dr., about 1:30 p.m. Officers pursued the suspects through the city and into Monroe and Liberty townships. In the area of Yankee and Millikin roads, the men got out of their car and ran. They were caught after a foot chase, Bruck said.

Women can learn of heart risks

FLORENCE - The St. Luke Hospitals plan to launch a program today to raise awareness among women about their risks of heart disease.

Heart disease kills more women each year than the next seven causes of death combined-and almost twice as many as all forms of cancer. Yet, most women believe that breast cancer is their greatest health risk, hospital officials say.

Organizers will release details of recent research about awareness among Northern Kentucky women of heart disease and risk factors.

The event also will include a speech from Mary Bunning, wife of Sen. Jim Bunning and a heart attack survivor.

The program, called Women's HeartAdvantage, was designed by a Philadelphia hospital system and VHA Inc., a national alliance of 2,200 health-care organizations. It seeks to teach women about heart attack symptoms that can differ from symptoms experienced by men, and to improve how doctors work with women to diagnose and treat heart disease.