House panel approves $2.5M for bridge plan

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee Friday approved granting Kentucky $2.5 million for further planning and design on a potential replacement for, or renovation of, the Brent Spence Bridge.

Congress has already given the state $2 million for a a study to determine the best alternatives involving repairing, upgrading or replacing the 40-year old structure. That study began this year.

The additional money must still be approved by the full House and Senate.

That process is expected to extend into the fall.

Cocaine-sale suspect faces new charges

An 80-year-old man arrested last week for selling cocaine has since been arrested on more drug charges and is back out of jail again.

Roy Mosley, of Over-the-Rhine, was arrested by Street Corner drug unit officers July 16, charged with drug trafficking and released from jail on his own recognizance.

When officers went back to the apartment Tuesday looking for someone else, they found Mosley with a baggie of powder cocaine, according to court records. On those charges, he got out of jail the next day.

He was indicted Friday on last week's charges.

Father accused of owing $70,937

HAMILTON - A former city resident, accused of owing $70,937 in back child support, has been apprehended, Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said Friday.

Fred Brown, 42, was arrested July 8 in Hopkinsville, Ky., to face nine counts of failing to pay child support. Brown, who was in the Butler County Jail, is set to appear Aug. 4 before Common Pleas Court Judge Patricia Oney.Brown's former wife and their two children, ages 11 and 17, still live in the city.

"This father has put his children in a terrible mess," Piper said.

"The 17-year-old boy cannot get a job because his mother can't afford the driver's education necessary to get his driver's license," he said.

In 2000, there were 66 criminal non-support indictments, he said.

During 2001, the number of such indictments increased to 121. "Last year, we reached 200 indictments, and are on pace to reach that number again this year," Piper said.

UC offers free tests for skin cancer

Tristate residents can get free skin cancer screening exams next month from the University of Cincinnati's department of dermatology.

Exams will be offered from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 8 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9 at the UC Medical Arts Building, Suite 5300, 222 Piedmont Ave. in Corryville.

Skin cancer cases continue to rise in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. This year, the society predicts more than 7,600 Americans will die from melanoma and 2,200 will die from non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.

If treated in the early stages, about 95 percent of skin cancers can be cured.

The screenings are sponsored by 3M Pharmaceuticals.

Schools to share nursing curricula

YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown State University and Cuyahoga Community College on Friday signed an agreement to allow the schools to share their respective nursing curricula.

The partnership gives Youngstown-area residents an opportunity to pursue an associate degree in applied science in nursing at Cuyahoga Community College by using distance-learning lectures beamed to YSU.

In turn, Cleveland-area residents who already have an associate's degree in nursing can complete studies for a bachelor of science degree in nursing at the Youngstown school via distance-learning classes transmitted to the community college known as Tri-C.

A goal is to allow Ohio and Pennsylvania residents to get a post-secondary degree while minimizing travel, the schools said.

Hospital expands breast cancer center

Bethesda North Hospital has expanded its breast cancer center to offer monitoring and education services for women at high risk of developing the disease.

The hospital's "High-Risk Breast Center" will offer advanced diagnostic services, expert consultation, access to clinical trials and programs about how to reduce breast cancer risks.

The program is intended for women with a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, those who have had unusual cells detected in breast biopsy tests and those previously treated for breast cancer.

For information, call 745-1344.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports