National Roundup

Ohio
Man reunites with stolen car after 30 years

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) - A northeastern Ohio man has been reunited with his car after it was reported stolen more than 30 years ago.

The (Canton) Repository reports that 52-year-old Ron Reolfi bought the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro for around $600 when he was 19.

The North Canton man last saw the car on Oct. 24, 1981. He parked it outside a grocery store where he worked, and it was gone 20 minutes later.

Reolfi says he thought he'd never see it again.

He says someone in Maryland sold the car to a person in Delaware. Authorities were then alerted that it had been stolen.

Reolfi's dad, whose name was on the title, received an email last year with a photo of the vehicle.

Reolfi says recovering the car was "really emotional" for him.

New Mexico
Thrift-store workers find $290K in bonds

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (AP) - Two thrift-store workers in Truth or Consequences found more than clothes and knickknacks in the donation box, instead finding an envelope stuffed with $290,000 in U.S. savings bonds.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that an employee of the Community Health Foundation Thrift store found the envelope while sifting through donated items. The manager called the police and turned the bonds over to an officer who happened to know the man in whose name the bonds were subscribed.

Police say they contacted the man, who recalled the exact amount of the bonds and said he was unaware his personal property had been donated. He had recently been moved into an assisted living center and an advocacy group acting as his guardian had cleaned out his apartment.

Colorado
Woman trapped for days after car crash sues GM

DENVER (AP) - A woman who was trapped in her car for nearly a week after crashing off a Colorado highway is suing General Motors over alleged defects in her 2009 Chevy Malibu.

The Denver Post reports the lawsuit filed Tuesday by Kristin Hopkins says that GM learned of the malfunctions that caused her vehicle to crash six years before the April 2014 accident near Fairplay.

Hopkins' attorney says the problems with her Malibu were addressed in two recall notices, both issued after the crash.

GM said in a statement Tuesday it would work to determine what caused the crash.

Hopkins was trapped in the overturned car for several days before being spotted by passers-by. She lost the lower half of her legs.

Massachusetts
Officials consider state registry for animal abusers

BOSTON (AP) - Pet shops and animal shelters would have a new way of ensuring that a pet is winding up in the care of a responsible owner if legislation under consideration in Massachusetts becomes law.

The proposal calls for creation of an animal abusers registry that would include the names of people with prior convictions for animal cruelty. The information would not be made available to the general public but could be accessed by animal breeders, shelters and pet stores.

The bill is scheduled for a hearing before a legislative panel Wednesday.

Supporters of the measure say it would help keep animals away from people with a history of abuse.

Tennessee this year became the first state to pass a similar law. Bills are pending in several other states.

Kentucky
Attorney disputes charge against student for crash

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - An attorney has disputed charges filed last month against a University of Kentucky law student who operated a drone that crashed inside Commonwealth Stadium before the Wildcats' season-opening football game against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Multiple news outlets report that 24-year-old Peyton Wilson pleaded not guilty Tuesday to second-degree wanton endangerment.

Attorney Luke Morgan says Wilson cooperated fully with the UK police investigation and is being punished for coming forward to officials. Morgan says there are currently no Federal Aviation Administration rules on drones.

UK Police Chief Joe Monroe has said Wilson was operating the unmanned aircraft Sept. 5 outside the stadium when he crashed it into the suite level glass on the south side of the stadium. Several fans stood below, but no one was injured. The stadium was not damaged.

Illinois
Councilman pleads not guilty to murder charge

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) - An East Chicago councilman who's running unopposed in the upcoming election has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

Forty-two-year-old Robert Battle entered the plea Tuesday in Lake County court. He is accused in the shooting death of 31-year-old Reimundo Camarillo Jr. of East Chicago. Court records show Camarillo was shot once in the back Oct. 12 in East Chicago and pronounced dead at the scene.

The (Munster) Time reports defense attorney John Cantrell filed a motion for bail in the case. Battle is being held without bail in the Lake County jail.

In a separate case Battle is charged with intent to distribute marijuana stemming from his arrest Sept. 23 after police found more than 73 grams of the drug and $100,700 in cash during a traffic stop.

Oregon
Troutdale buys gun used in 2014 school shooting

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The city of Troutdale, Oregon, has paid nearly $4,000 to acquire the rifle used in last year's shooting at a local high school.

Freshman Jared Padgett killed a Reynolds High classmate, then himself, with an AR-15 rifle he stole from his older brother. The brother, Lucas Padgett, went to court this summer, asking a judge to order the city to return his property.

The judge ruled that city police had to return the rifle unless it could prove it was still being held as evidence.

The City Council last week approved paying the brother $3,950 for the rifle, ammunition and other items recovered at the scene.

Mayor Doug Daoust said Tuesday that the action will help the city in its healing process.

Published: Thu, Oct 22, 2015