Woman's body found in car trunk

ANDERSON TWP. - A woman's body was found in the trunk of an abandoned vehicle near a gravel pit in Anderson Township Wednesday. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Gail Sims, 46, of the 600 block of Terrace View in Union Township, Clermont County.

A deputy responded to the 7200 block of Broadwell Road near Round Bottom Road about 10:50 a.m. to check on an abandoned vehicle, the sheriff's office said. The deputy found a 1998 white Mitsubishi convertible off the side of a gravel road. After further investigation, the body was discovered in the trunk.

The body was transported to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. A second vehicle was found nearby in a gravel pit lake but appears to be unrelated to the homicide investigation, the sheriff's office said. Anyone with information regarding the homicide is asked to call the sheriff's office at (513) 825-1500.

Council looks to renegotiate

Cincinnati City Council said Wednesday that it wants to renegotiate the city's contract with the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority to eliminate provisions that require the agency to spend 1 percent of its gross operating budget on promotions and advertising. Council also wants to place a hold on releasing more than $9 million in funds to SORTA until it provides the city with information about its advertising expenditures, which was requested by Mayor Charlie Luken a week ago. The city provides SORTA with $37.3 million of its $73.5 million annual budget. Council's finance committee will review the matter Monday.

P&G honored as business of year

Tonight at the opera, Cincinnati Opera will present A.G. Lafley, chairman and chief executive of Procter & Gamble Co., the Bravo Award for U.S. Business of the Year from OPERA America, in recognition for its $600,000 pledge for the creation of Margaret Garner, the first major commission in the company's history. The award for long-term commitment to the arts is given to one American and one Canadian corporation annually.

Margaret Garner, the true story of a Kentucky slave who killed her child rather than see her returned to slavery, is by Grammy-winning composer Richard Danielpour and best-selling author Toni Morrison. It will premiere in Cincinnati in July 2005, to honor the opening of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Voter information over picnic lunch

Voter information and a free lunch are offered 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. today when the AARP Ohio Voter Express sets up at Picnic Area 22 in Mount Airy Forest Park, 5083 Colerain Ave. Along with a free box lunch and discussions on issues such as Social Security and affordable health care, visitors will find presidential voter guides, voter registration information, absentee ballot information and updates on federal and state legislation.

Boaters warned of water dangers

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued a statewide boating advisory Wednesday for all inland waters that will remain in effect until waters return to near normal levels. Boaters should wear life jackets and keep a lookout for any hazards and pay particular attention to any areas that are subject to flash flooding.

TRAFFIC WATCH

Ky. 1936 will be closed in Campbell County between Wolff and Pleasant Ridge roads from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for culvert replacement.

CORRECTION: Michael Esposito was son-in-law

Michael J. "Mickey" Esposito was the son-in-law of Joseph L. DeCourcy Jr., who died Tuesday. Esposito was misidentified in an obituary in Wednesday's Local News section.