OHIO

May 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

OHIO

Accused of road rage against fire captain

NEW PHILADELPHIA

Authorities say an Ohio man is charged with menacing after he swung an aluminum baseball bat at an off-duty fire captain in a confrontation sparked by road rage.

Police say Loren Jent, 21, of Massillon was a passenger in a pickup truck driven in New Philadelphia on Thursday by his girlfriend, who became frustrated trying to pass vehicles on the right and tailgated and sideswiped the captain’s car.

New Philadelphia Fire Capt. Wes Tucke says Jent took two swings at him but did not hit him.

Jent has been ordered to appear in New Philadelphia Municipal Court on Thursday.

Jent’s girlfriend, Christina Rowe, 20, of Port Washington, was cited for reckless operation and improper passing on the right.

PENNSYLVANIA

Poland, Germany take titles in Sudoku contest

PHILADELPHIA

The defending champ in the World Sudoku Championships has retained his title and Germany has taken the team title.

Jan Mrozowski of Poland was among the 120 players from 32 countries in this year’s competition. The 23-year-old defended his 2009 title by solving 10 puzzles in a playoff round in a time of 54 minutes 4 seconds.

The two-day competition that ended Saturday in Philadelphia marked the first time the event has been in the United States.Legality of execution

WILKES-BARRE

A judge must now decide whether a man can be legally put to death for the murders of 13 people almost three decades ago.

Luzerne County Court Judge Joseph Augello said Friday he will make a ruling “in due course” on whether George Banks is competent.

Banks, 67, was sentenced to death for the September 1982 murders of 13 people, 11 of them his own family members and five his own children, in Wilkes-Barre and Jenkins Township.