MOUNT AIRY - Mercy Hospital Mount Airy will begin a $2.7 million redesign of its emergency department next month. The project is expected to increase the capacity of the emergency department from 19 to 30 beds. The project, to be completed by August 2005, also will include a seven-bed "fast track" suite to handle less-urgent cases.

Dinner fund-raiser for injured player

A "Dinner for Victor Thompson" will raise funds for the Princeton High School senior halfback injured in a football game this month. It will be Thursday at Baxter's Restaurant, 11305 Princeton Pike, Springdale. The serving staff of Baxter's has agreed to donate all tips earned from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; the restaurant also will make a donation.

Thompson has undergone three surgeries and will have at least four more operations. He has been moved to Drake Hospital for therapy.

C-Span airs local radio show today

The C-Span cable television network will broadcast the Lincoln Ware Show on WDBZ-AM (1230) today, part of a weeklong series of talk shows from the nation's battleground political states.

The show runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the station, which is targeted toward Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky's black community and known as "The Buzz."

Ware has been hosting the talk show on WDBZ since 2000.