INDIANAPOLIS - About 800 National Guard members from Indiana and other states who are heading to Bosnia-Herzegovina on peacekeeping duty received a warm sendoff at a ceremony attended by Gov. Joe Kernan and other dignitaries.

About 500 Indiana Guard members were among the group that Kernan characterized as "well-trained and up to the task, no matter what the task."

"Know that you have the unconditional support of every man, woman and child that calls Indiana home," Kernan, a decorated Navy veteran, told the group Saturday at the Indiana Convention Center.

The Indiana-based troops being deployed are from the Indianapolis-based 38th Infantry Division, the Terre Haute-based 38th Support Battalion and the Indianapolis-based 138th Personnel Services Battalion.

Mountain lion escapes from car, gets shot

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A 150-pound mountain lion that had escaped from its owner's car after a minor traffic accident was shot and killed by police after it became agitated and tried to jump on an officer.

The cat was hiding in some bushes Saturday night when an animal control officer fired several shots of a tranquilizer gun, police spokesman Tom Rhoades said. The mountain lion then became agitated and tried to jump on a police officer.

The mountain lion's owner, Gary Dutcher of Fort Wayne, was returning from a veterinary hospital about 6:30 p.m., after getting treatment for the four-year-old cat's injured tail. The cat, named "Samson," was riding uncaged in the vehicle.

Proposed street above Ky. cave stirs debate

LEXINGTON - A developer wants to put a street above a cave, but Lexington planners are worried that could lead to trouble.

A city planner pointed out that a street in Bowling Green built over a cave in the late 1980s suddenly fell into the cave in 2002, taking four vehicles with it. No one was hurt, but the repair bill was about $1 million.

Planner Jim Rebmann said Lexington could be in for major headaches and bills if it takes possession of the proposed road and the road collapses.

Developer Tim Haymaker has hired experts who will tell officials that won't happen in this city.

Bowling trophies will find new homes

SANDUSKY, Ohio - Nick Spadaccini used to strike out when trying to find a place to donate his spare bowling trophies.

After being turned down by Goodwill, the Salvation Army and local bowling alleys over the past two years, a fellow bowler suggested the Sandusky Recreation Department.

Three weeks ago, the Sandusky City Commission accepted the 23 trophies, two plaques, one medal and two pins. The award plates will be changed, and the trophies will be prizes at the city's summer bowling camp.

Musician Roberto Ocasio dies in crash

CLEVELAND - Roberto Ocasio, a versatile musician and band leader of Latin Jazz Project, has been killed in a car accident on Interstate 90. He was 49.

Ocasio's car went off the road at an exit in Cleveland on Saturday, hit a chain-link fence and overturned, police said. Ocasio, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected. He was pronounced dead at Lakewood Hospital.

Ocasio performed more than 250 times last year, mostly in Cleveland, said Bev Montie, Ocasio's manager.