Staff/Wire reports

With two months to go, private fund-raisers are halfway to their goal of raising $26 million to build a new K-12 public arts school near Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine.

They still need $13 million more to secure matching funds from Cincinnati Public Schools and to ensure construction of what they say will be the nation's first K-12 public arts school. The new 1,350-student arts school would replace the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Pendleton and Schiel Primary School for Arts Enrichment in Corryville. A deadline looms to raise the rest by June so construction on the $52 million building can begin around 2005.

Two-day sweep, 252 arrests

Cincinnati police Monday announced their most successful neighborhood complaint response effort yet - 252 arrests in two, 12-hour days. The team effort draws together about 100 officers from all over the city and from the department's specialized drug and vice units. They focus on places residents have complained about, usually for drugs. This time, the arrests, mostly misdemeanors, were on charges from littering to selling cocaine. The top five neighborhoods for arrests: Over-the-Rhine, 105; Walnut Hills, 27; Avondale, 21; Price Hill and Evanston, both 12.

Bee sting sidelines city official

Cincinnati City Manager Valerie Lemmie will be out of work most of the week after an allergic reaction to a bee sting over the weekend, city officials said. Lemmie, who was stung near the eye, expects to be out three to five days. Meg Olberding, an assistant to the city manager, said Lemmie has been checking in with department heads by telephone from home.

Traffic watch

• Decoursey Pike in Kenton County will be closed for repairs between Ky. 536 in Visalia and Ky. 2044 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. weather permitting.

• Howe Road in Madison Township is closed between Mosiman and Eck roads for a bridge replacement until the week of July 19.

• Gaines Road in Green Township will be closed from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily between West Fork and Brierly Creek roads until May 10. Detours will be posted.

Recipient's name was incorrect

Brian Hinsley was misidentified Monday in a Metro story on organ donors.