Two indicted in armed robbery at Ohio racino

Two indicted in armed robbery at Ohio racino

DAYTON

A Dayton man accused of robbing a couple at gunpoint as they left a southwest Ohio racino has been indicted on two counts each of aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

Authorities allege 54-year-old Douglas Hughes approached the couple to ask for a ride on Dec. 15 outside the Hollywood Dayton Racino, and they agreed. Investigators say he then pulled out a firearm inside their van and demanded their money before eventually leaving the vehicle and walking away.

They identified him using surveillance video and a gaming card.

The Montgomery County prosecutor says Hughes is in custody on a $200,000 bond. No attorney is listed for him in court records. His arraignment is scheduled Tuesday.

Flu hospitalizations in state exceed 1,900

COLUMBUS

Ohio health officials say 935 patients with the flu required hospital care last week, nearly doubling the statewide total of flu hospitalizations to more than 1,900 so far this season.

Flu season can stretch from autumn into spring, and this year it appears to be severe and may be peaking early.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the 900-plus hospitalizations last week top the worst weeks of the previous two flu seasons. There were 400 hospitalizations in one week last year, and about 700 in the worst week the previous year.

The Cleveland area appeared hard-hit last week. More than one-third of the reported flu hospitalizations were in Cuyahoga County.

Experts worry this flu season will be rough because the dominant strain isn’t covered in this year’s vaccine.

High winds continue

WILMINGTON

Forecasters are warning Christmas travelers of high winds expected to sweep across Ohio just as many people catch flights and are on the road for holiday festivities.

All of the state is under wind-related advisories from the National Weather Service into today. The exact times vary in different regions.

Forecasters say such winds could make travel especially dangerous for large vehicles.

Judge to high court: Keep me out of jail

CINCINNATI

A suspended juvenile court judge is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to keep her out of jail.

An attorney for Judge Tracie Hunter on Wednesday filed an emergency request to the court to allow the judge to remain free. Hunter has been ordered by her trial judge to report Dec. 29 to begin serving her six-month Hamilton County Jail term.

Hunter was convicted of unlawful interest in a public contract.

Hunter has argued she has a strong likelihood of winning an appeal of her conviction. She also has cited in court filings health issues, lack of jail space, and her community ties.

The Democrat took the bench in 2012 after a lengthy legal battle over disputed 2010 election results. She contended the charges against her were politically motivated.

Husband says shooting of wife was accident

MEDINA, Ohio

A Northeast Ohio sheriff’s office says a man who shot his 75-year-old wife with birdshot as she sat in a recliner told deputies it was an accident that occurred as he was checking a shotgun to see if it was loaded.

The Medina County Gazette reports the woman was struck in the head Sunday when the shot came through a wall at their home in York Township, near Medina. She was taken to Akron City Hospital, where she remained listed in serious condition Wednesday.

Her 77-year-old husband told deputies he got the gun from a closet because he wanted to use it to scare off geese from a pond on their property, and the weapon went off.

The sheriff’s office says it’s under investigation as an accident.

K-9 unit dog runs away

WILMINGTON

Police in a southwest Ohio community are on the lookout for one of their own — a K-9 unit dog who ran away while being boarded.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that a handler left the 2-year-old male Belgian Malinois, named Karson, at an animal care center last Thursday. Karson somehow got loose Tuesday afternoon and was last seen headed west on state Route 73.

Handler Jerry Popp and his son were searching Wednesday at a public park. Popp says he was supposed to pick up Karson on Wednesday after returning home from an out-of-state wedding.

Popp says he feels horrible and fears the dog is scared, wet and hungry.