DAYTON, Ohio - First lady Laura Bush will encourage soldiers and airmen to consider a teaching career after the military in a scheduled visit to Ohio this week.

Mrs. Bush is to promote the federal Troops to Teachers program Wednesday morning at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton.

The program offers stipends or bonuses to former members of the military who agree to teach for at least three years. The program has placed more than 4,000 teachers nationwide since 1994.

Applications have increased in the year since Mrs. Bush began touring bases to promote the idea, program director John Gantz has said. Schools are interested, too, calling to find out how to get involved.

A former librarian, Mrs. Bush has often promoted teacher recruitment and child literacy.

Six arrested in prostitution sting

Six people were arrested during a prostitution sting Saturday night in downtown Cincinnati and Walnut Hills.

One of the men arrested, Reginald Brown, 29, of downtown, was charged with obstructing official business after identifying undercover police officers to someone under investigation during the sting, according to his arrest report.

Arrested and charged with soliciting were: Terrell Owens, 29, of Westwood; Brahim Abdellahi, 27, of Florence; Aliou Diallo, 25, of Mount Airy, Celeste James, 38, of Elsmere. and Daniel Henry, 50, of Cold Spring.

Mr. Owens also was charged with drug abuse after allegedly offering an undercover officer crack cocaine for sex.

Couple injured as plane crashes in field

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - An apparent power failure forced a small plane to land in a soybean field outside Springfield, injuring the pilot and passenger, authorities said.

David and Pam Campbell of South Charleston were in stable but serious condition Sunday morning at Community Hospital, a nursing supervisor said.

Pilot David Campbell, 53, and Mrs. Campbell, 49, took off Saturday from Mad River Airport in Clark County and headed for Madison Airport in London, the State Highway Patrol said.

Mr. Campbell told troopers the 1976 Cessna Cardinal's only engine lost power, forcing the emergency landing about 8:30 p.m. in Harmony Township. The plane's nose was damaged, patrol Sgt. Douglas Eck said.

Man charged with arson of apartment

NORWOOD - A 26-year-old man was charged early Sunday with aggravated arson after allegedly setting another man's apartment on fire Saturday night.

Richard Timerding, of the 2000 block of Crown Avenue in Norwood, is accused of setting the building on fire about 10:13 p.m. No one was hurt, Norwood firefighters said Sunday. A damage estimate was not available.

Mr. Timerding was charged after a fire investigation dog named Maverick discovered fire accelerants, including a gas can, in Mr. Timerding's apartment, according to police records.

The dog also detected the accelerants on Mr. Timerding's pants and shoes, police report. His right pant leg was melted, and a first-degree burn was found on his right knee.

Mr. Timerding is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center and will appear in court today.

Candidate launches television campaign

INDIANAPOLIS - Republican Todd Rokita began airing his first campaign commercial Sunday in his bid to become Indiana's next secretary of state, urging a "get-tough plan" for those who cheat investors and pensioners.

The 30-second spots for Mr. Rokita, who is currently deputy secretary of state under incumbent Sue Anne Gilroy, are being broadcast on network stations in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Evansville.

Mr. Rokita faces Democrat John Fernandez, the mayor of Bloomington, and Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris Nov. 5 in what will be the top statewide ticket on the ballot. There are no races for governor or U.S. Senate in Indiana this year.

Two women sought after bar stabbing

MIDDLETOWN - Police searched Sunday for two women who fled a Central Avenue bar after a 38-year-old woman was stabbed there late Saturday.

Tammy Flack was listed in serious condition Sunday at Middletown Regional Hospital with multiple stab wounds, according to a nursing supervisor. Ms. Flack was involved in a disturbance with two other females at Jeepies Bar at 1724 Central Avenue about 10:30 p.m., Middletown police said.

Ms. Flack was found outside the bar's back door.

Anyone with information is asked to call Middletown Police: (513) 425-7700.

Firefighter seeking new compensation law

AKRON, Ohio - A firefighter who says he contracted AIDS on the job is working on behalf of a law that would automatically grant workers' compensation benefits to firefighters who contract any of several diseases.

Stephen Derrig, 35, learned he had AIDS in March 2000 when trying to figure out what was leaving him breathless and without energy.

Mr. Derrig said he knew he didn't fit any known risk factors for AIDS. He was certain the immune deficiency disorder came from his work as a paramedic.

"When you come on the job, you are told that you will be taken care of if you become injured or sick from the job," Mr. Derrig told the Akron Beacon Journal. "When you are in your most vulnerable state, you shouldn't have to fight."

Although he filed for workers' compensation almost immediately after learning he had AIDS, the case was not resolved until July. That's when the city - following up on its pledge to re-evaluate its aggressive stance on appealing awards to employees - dropped a court challenge it had filed.

Study backs Indians seeking casino in Gary

GARY, Ind. - The Miami of Oklahoma can open a casino in Gary without hurting the existing riverboat casinos, according to a new study paid for by the tribe.

A copy of the study was given to Mayor Scott King two weeks ago, but it has not been made public.

Mr. King and tribal officials, however, said the study validates the tribe's claim that a casino in Gary would not hurt the city's two existing riverboats, Trump Indiana and Majestic Star.

The city now awaits a second study by a University of Texas professor researching the tribe's land claims.

The Miami of Oklahoma once owned large swaths of land in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. By 1826, treaties had dwindled their land claims to a few remaining outposts. Most of the tribe eventually was relocated to Kansas and then Oklahoma.

The Miami contend that the minutes of those nearly 200-year-old treaties show the tribe never signed away its holdings.