Compiled from staff and wire reports

United Way might not meet '03 goal

The 2003 United Way campaign in the Greater Cincinnati region has reached $49,773,104, or 82.3 percent of goal, as the drive enters its final day today.

The campaign officially ends today with a dutch-treat finale luncheon at the Cincinnati Convention Center. The amount announced then will be a combination of dollars and pledges received along with projections on the campaigns still under way.

The campaign supports United Way-funded services provided by more than 170 agencies and initiatives in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Catholic schools here launch site

Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati launched a Web site for parents and students this week.

The site, www.valuesforalifetime.com, is part of a marketing plan to raise the image of the Archdiocese's 134 schools in 19 counties, including the Cincinnati and Dayton areas.

The site maps each of the 77 elementary and 17 high schools in Greater Cincinnati, with links to the schools' Web sites.

Suspect in shooting eludes police search

NORTH COLLEGE HILL - Hamilton County sheriff's deputies are asking for public help in finding a woman accused of shooting another woman here Oct. 23.

Shalanda Levy, 20, is accused of attempted aggravated murder in the shooting of Janeal Gaffney, 18, of North College Hill. Gaffney was shot multiple times near the intersection of Columbine Court and Clovernook Avenue. Her condition was unavailable Wednesday.

Levy is believed to be armed, officials said. She hangs out in English Woods, they said, and along Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine.

Investigators ask anyone with information about Levy to call them at 851-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 352-3040.

Low Ohio turnout on Nov. 4 predicted

COLUMBUS - About 36 percent of Ohio's registered voters will go to the polls Tuesday, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell predicted Wednesday.

Blackwell based his prediction on estimates from the boards of elections in Ohio's 88 counties and past turnout for similar elections.

About 2.6 million of Ohio's 7.1 million residents eligible to vote are expected at the polls, Blackwell said.

Turnout was 36 percent in 2001 and 35 percent in 1999.

Tank leak blamed in Ivy Hills fire

NEWTOWN - Fire officials here said Wednesday that a leaking gas tank contributed to a fire at Ivy Hills Country Club.

The fire broke out Tuesday at about 4:30 p.m. in the club's maintenance building, 7511 Main St.

Terry Ramsey, assistant chief with the Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District, said gas leaking from one of the club's mowers ignited.

Officials estimate the damage at $500,000 including contents and structure.

No one was injured.

Problem building cited in inspection

MADISONVILLE - For the second time in five days, a team of police officers and city inspectors targeted a problem residence in a city neighborhood.

On Tuesday, workers inspected the apartment building at 4804 Whetsel Ave., a place to where police make an estimated two to three runs a week for everything from drug complaints to prostitution and assaults, said Officer Thomas Rackley.

He used an environmental search warrant to get into the building, where he said inspectors found exposed wiring, structural damage and combustibles in the basement. The city ordered the owner to fix the problems.

On Friday, a similar joint effort targeted a house on Erie Avenue in Madisonville and one on Marburg Avenue in Hyde Park.

Both had more significant code violations, enough to immediately be ordered vacated.

Challenge to city election law stands

A panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to set aside a lower court's ruling striking down part of Cincinnati's campaign finance law Wednesday.

The challenge to the inter-candidate contribution ban came from Republican Pete Witte, a candidate in Tuesday's election. He won a preliminary injunction in federal court allowing him to accept contributions from other candidates.

The three-judge appeals panel said the city's appeal "presents serious appellate issues," but that the city had not demonstrated an irreparable harm that would warrant an immediate stay in the lower court's ruling. Witte said he had already accepted a contribution from Republican Chris Monzel.