Crash kills area man

BATAVIA TOWNSHIP - A Batavia man was killed Friday night after his vehicle crashed into a tree along Olive Branch-Stonelick Road, 2 miles north of Ohio 32.

Kenneth M. Hudson, 43, was not wearing a seat belt, and possible alcohol use is under investigation, said troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Batavia post.

Mr. Hudson was traveling south on Olive Branch-Stonelick Road when he lost control of his vehicle while attempting to negotiate a bend in the road, troopers said. He crossed the centerline, partially leaving the road, and then swerved back to the other side, striking a tree.

He was transported to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Price Hill man shot

A Price Hill man who was critically injured in a Friday night shooting in Walnut Hills may have been rushed to the hospital by the same people who shot him, Cincinnati police said Saturday.

Police are looking for the people who shot Derrick Knox, 20, about 10:45 p.m. Police were dispatched to Oak Street and Stanton Avenue, but they could not find the victim.

They soon learned that a green sport utility vehicle and its occupants had delivered Mr. Knox to University Hospital's main lobby and then rushed away without leaving any information.

Mr. Knox is in critical condition. To leave an anonymous tip, call the police homicide unit, 352-3542, or CrimeStoppers, 352-3040.

Debate of Issue 8

Xavier University will host a debate on Cincinnati Issue 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kelley Auditorium, Alter Hall, 3643 Ledgewood Drive, Evanston.

Issue 8 would prohibit city money from supporting campaigns by candidates for mayor or City Council in Cincinnati. It's an effort to repeal a campaign finance reform plan that would give matching funds to candidates who agree to limit their private contributions.

Arguing in favor of Issue 8 will be Councilman Chris Monzel. Arguing against will be Bill Woods of Citizens for Fair Elections.

Classes to resume

WAYNESVILLE - Wayne Local Schools will be back in session Monday after all classes were canceled Friday because a water main break left school buildings without water pressure.

Around 7:30 a.m., as middle and high school students were arriving at school, someone discovered that the toilets wouldn't flush.

"We would have had no water for toilets, cooking or drinking," said Ron James, district treasurer.

District officials told students to load back on the buses, which took the students home. Elementary students had not yet been picked up at that time.

Crews fixed the water main break on Chapman Street, near the district's campus, by mid-afternoon. They will be testing the pressure throughout the weekend.

Web sting nets man

Drake

BLUE ASH-A 52-year-old Marion, Ohio, man was arrested Saturday morning in Blue Ash for allegedly trying to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

Perry C. Drake allegedly talked to the "girl" in an Internet chat room over the past few days, discussing and requesting specific sexual acts, according to police reports.

Investigators said Mr. Drake asked to meet the girl, who turned out to be an undercover detective with the Regional Electronic and Computer Investigations unit. Mr. Drake has been charged with three felonies: one count of attempted unlawful sexual contact, and two counts of importuning.

Pot plants in attic

Cincinnati police on Friday night found a marijuana-growing operation in a Carthage attic.

District 4's Violent Crime Squad did a search in a house in the 7000 block of Van Kirk Avenue and found 39 plants inside. The pot was growing with the help of heat lamps. Police also seized $700.

Taftquack ads OK

CLEVELAND - The Democratic gubernatorial campaign of Tim Hagan may continue using "Taftquack" Internet ads resembling the AFLAC insurer's TV commercials, a federal judge said.

U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen O'Malley denied AFLAC's request for a preliminary injunction blocking the ads ridiculing Mr. Hagan's opponent, Gov. Bob Taft.

No reasonable person seeing the Internet ad would conclude the Hagan campaign is affiliated with AFLAC, the judge said Friday.

Compiled from staff and wire reports