Compiled from staff and wire reports

Fairfield OKs rise in Park-N-Ride fare

FAIRFIELD - City Council on Monday approved a 25-cent increase for the Park-N-Ride service, raising the fare from $1.75 to $2 per ride effective in June if all other parties agree.

The move still must be approved by the Butler County and Cincinnati City Council, which provides the majority of local funding for the transit authority through a 0.3 percent earnings tax.

Earlier this month, the Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority tentatively authorized a fare increase.

The suggested fare increase comes after West Chester Township rejected a proposal that called for the township to pay $11,437 for service for the rest of the year.

This month, Fairfield City Council accepted a similar proposal requiring the city to pay $8,973 to continue its service for the rest of the year. Public hearings about the proposed fare increases on the Fairfield and West Chester routes will be held this spring; no date has been announced yet.

`Safe Haven' law to be advertised in theaters

TOLEDO - Movie theaters in the city will begin showing ads promoting the state's Safe Haven law that allows parents to give up their babies without facing criminal liability.

The ads will be shown within weeks at five theaters, said Jennifer Hanson, spokeswoman for National Amusements Inc.

A group led by Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates has been trying to figure out how to let more people know about the law.

Bates said the group asked teens to help with ways to get the message out.

They recommended using advertising at malls, movie theaters and schools.

State officials have said in recent months they were concerned that not enough people have heard about the program meant to prevent injury to newborns who might otherwise be harmed or deserted.

Parents must give up the child within three days of its birth but are not required to identify themselves. They are asked to complete a voluntary medical history form supplied by the state.

If a child has been abused, neglected or harmed, the guarantee of anonymity and freedom from prosecution no longer apply.

Controversial housing plan OK'd

HAMILTON TWP. - The Zoning Commission narrowly approved rezoning late Monday for a controversial subdivision that will hold 448 homes and condominiums at Montgomery-Morrow and Morrow-Cozaddale roads.

The Villages of Classicway now goes before the Hamilton Township trustees for approval. It would take a unanimous vote to overturn the zoning board's 3-2 vote, which is not likely, Trustee Clyde Baston said Tuesday.

While township leaders are agreeable to the project, dozens of residents and at least one business operator have protested, saying they are concerned about traffic, school overcrowding and potential flooding.

County and township officials are in the process of slowing residential growth by requiring larger lot sizes and more green space. Those proposed changes haven't been adopted yet.

Socialville-Foster roadwork approved

MASON - The city is moving forward with plans to widen Socialville-Foster Road.

Council on Monday approved a $166,153 contract with LJB Engineers & Architects to do the engineering work for the project. Plans include widening about a half-mile of the road, from Mason-Montgomery Road to the east corporation limit, to five lanes.

That work, expected to begin next year, is estimated to cost about $1.5 million, City Engineer Richard Fair said. The state will cover $505,900 of that cost, he added.

Warren County will widen another 0.8 mile of the road, from the corporation line to Interstate 71, to three lanes, Fair said.