Woman fatally shot while cooking Thanksgiving dinner

Woman fatally shot while cooking Thanksgiving dinner

COLUMBUS

Authorities say a woman was fatally shot while cooking Thanksgiving dinner after someone fired shots into a Columbus home.

Police have identified the woman as 34-year-old Adrian Scott. She was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly before 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Dispatch reported a man who identified himself as Scott’s boyfriend said Scott was standing at a kitchen table preparing macaroni and cheese when shots rang out. Five people were inside the house at the time. No one else was injured.

Scott didn’t live in the home.

No suspects or motive for the shooting has been released.

Patrol: Hit-and-run crash kills pedestrian

LEBANON

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said a vehicle struck and killed an 18-year-old man as he was walking near his father’s home in southwest Ohio, and the suspected driver in the hit-and-run crash said he thought he hit a deer.

The patrol says Skyler P. Ludington, of Botkins, was struck on a road in Warren County shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Patrol Sgt. James Sparkman said the driver suspected of hitting Ludington called 911 to report apparently hitting a deer, but hung up. He was located a short time later at his home in Washington Township.

Investigators with the patrol’s Lebanon post are trying to determine what caused the crash and whether alcohol might have played a role.

2 people killed, several injured in collision

BOWLING GREEN

Authorities said two people have been killed and several people injured after a car failed to yield to oncoming traffic and was struck by an SUV in northwest Ohio.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the driver of the car and a front- seat passenger were killed Thursday afternoon in the crash on U.S. Route 6 just south of Bowling Green. A backseat passenger in the car was flown to a hospital with critical injuries.

It is unclear how many people were hurt in the SUV. Their injuries aren’t considered life threatening. None of those killed or injured in the crash have been identified.

Man continues fight to get back exotic animals

TOLEDO

The former owner of six tigers and several other exotic animals is making another plea to the Ohio Supreme Court to get his big cats back.

Kenny Hetrick wants Ohio’s top court to hear an appeal of a lower court’s decision that sided with the state in its legal battle over the animals.

A state appeals court in October ruled that the Ohio Department of Agriculture had the right to deny a permit to Hetrick for his roadside animal sanctuary near Toledo.

The ruling overturned a Wood County judge’s decision ordering the state to give Hetrick a permit and return the animals.

Ohio took custody of 11 animals from Hetrick in January 2015 after officials say he ignored warnings that he needed a permit.

City agrees to report immigrant arrests to federal agents

EAST CLEVELAND

Officials in a cash-poor northeast Ohio city said they’ve agreed to report the arrests of immigrants who are in the country illegally after accepting federal grant money.

Cleveland.com reported the Justice Department awarded East Cleveland more than $425,000 this week. The Justice Department said they gave special consideration to applicants that agreed to report immigrants in custody without proper documentation and to allow immigration agents into jails.

East Cleveland officials said they plan to use the grant money to hire two police officers.

Mayor Brandon King, a Democrat, said the city is willing to cooperate with federal authorities if it puts more officers on the street.

Republicans tap ex-legal counsel as staff chief

COLUMBUS

Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof has named a former chief legal counsel to Senate Republicans as the caucus’ next chief of staff.

John Barron currently serves as deputy executive director and general counsel to the Ohio Casino Control Commission. He takes over for outgoing Senate Chief of Staff Jason Mauk on Dec. 18.

Obhof made the announcement Wednesday. He said Barron is respected for his strategic skills and steady temperament, and his previous work in the Senate makes him familiar to many senators and staff.

Associated Press