CLEVELAND - Two Republican campaign consultants could have received hefty bonuses if they eliminated a GOP primary for a contested southern Ohio Senate seat, The Plain Dealer reported Thursday.

Political consultant Brett Buerck and fund-raiser Kyle Sisk, both close political allies of House Speaker Larry Householder, have clauses worth thousands of dollars written into their contracts with Rep. Jean Schmidt, the newspaper said.

Buerck would have received $30,000 and Sisk $20,000 if Schmidt's opponent in Tuesday's primary, fellow House Republican Tom Niehaus, didn't run in the primary, the newspaper reported.

Schmidt, backed by Householder, and Niehaus are running for the seat now held by Senate President Doug White, a Republican from Manchester who cannot run again because of term limits. Messages were left for Schmidt, Niehaus and Householder.

Buerck said the bonus clause is not unusual and serves as an incentive to lay the political groundwork necessary to persuade an opponent not to file for a seat.

Sextuplets, mother doing well after birth

AKRON - Ohio's first set of sextuplets was born all within the same minute Thursday at Akron General Medical Center.

Jennifer Hanselman, 29, of Cuyahoga Falls, delivered the three girls and three boys after nearly five weeks of bed rest at the northeast Ohio hospital, which had assembled a team of 34 doctors and nurses for the delivery.

The mother and infants were doing well, doctors said. The babies were listed in critical condition, which is a standard label for premature births.

Accused priest killer pleads not guilty

LEXINGTON - An Ohio man charged with the murder of a retired Catholic priest and sex offender pleaded innocent Thursday in Fayette County.

Jason Anthony Russell, 27, has been indicted for the killing and on charges of burglary, theft and being a persistent felon. Circuit Judge Pamela Goodwine did not set a bond for Russell, who is being held in the Fayette County jail. A status hearing on Russell's case will be held March 26 by Circuit Judge Gary Payne.

Police say Russell, of Ironton, Ohio, killed Joseph Pilger, 78, whose body was found Dec. 5 at his southeast Lexington home.

Earlier this year, Pilger was named in a sex-abuse lawsuit against the dioceses of Lexington and Covington. That suit was settled.

Design unveiled for history museum

INDIANAPOLIS - A 90-foot glass tower, performing arts center and cafe would be part of a proposed Indiana Museum of African American History in downtown Indianapolis.

The design concept released Wednesday for the four-story, 120,000-square-foot museum building includes a multicolored glass tower that would overlook White River State Park.

The $50 million museum's grounds would feature many details reflecting the experience of black Americans, said Alpha Blackburn, chairwoman of the museum board.

Only $1 million has been raised for the project so far, but the museum's board hopes it can open in 2008.