(Connersville, IN)--A Connersville man has now admitted to committing multiple rapes 16 years ago after recently obtained DNA and genetic evidence provided prosecutors with an inarguable case.  Lloyd Ailes, who is now 58, has pleaded guilty in court to raping women in Connersville and Oxford in 2006.  Last December, DNA and forensic genealogy connected Ailes to the investigations that had gone unsolved for 16 years.  Ailes is now set to be sentenced at the end of next month.

(Cedar Grove, IN)--The Indiana State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Franklin County.  It happened on Friday night in Cedar Grove when Franklin County deputies responded to a suicidal man.  The suspect fired at least one shot at deputies.  Deputies then returned fire and struck the suspect once.  The suspect was flown to UC Health.  His identity and condition have not been released.  The case will be forwarded to the Franklin County prosecutor’s office.

(Richmond, IN)--A Reid Health staff member sustained multiple injuries late Sunday night after allegedly being attacked by a patient.  It began with the report of a female acting strangely at a Chester Boulevard fast food restaurant.  21-year-old Dakota Ripberger was then taken to Reid, which is when the alleged attack occurred.  Ripberger has been charged with felony battery resulting in moderate bodily injury.

(Wayne County, IN)--Wayne County leaders are officially tossing their support behind a massive project that would widen I-70 to three lanes through the county as part of a bigger goal of having at least three lanes for all of the interstate’s 150-mile run across Indiana.  EDC CEO Valerie Shaffer has written a letter to INDOT that was presented this week to Wayne County Commissioners.  The project is still years away.  Initial plans call for two lanes of I-70 in both directions to remain open during the widening.  The interstate would not become a toll road.  INDOT will apply for federal funding for the project.

(Whitewater Valley)--Area grocery stores are seeing the same shortages of baby formula being seen across the country.  And, when they do get it, they’re seeing hoarding like when toilet paper was in short supply when Covid-19 began.  Here’s an employee of Woodruff’s Market in Liberty Friday morning.  "We get a truck in (Friday).  We're gonna get some formula.  But, we're gonna be shorted some also."  Area health leaders caution against diluting formula with milk or water.  Here’s an RN at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on Thursday.  "If you start messing with the dilution of the formula, you can make your baby very sick."  Much of the problem stems from a shutdown at a Michigan plant.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond Community Schools employee presented the results of a survey she distributed to other employees to the RCS Board Wednesday night.  The survey focused on the Board’s recent decision to offer its members health insurance for one dollar per year.  LC Caraway said that 102 employees responded.  101 of the 102 said that the decision would not positively impact the Richmond community.  Other similar questions had responses that were similar in proportion.  Here’s Caraway addressing the Board Wednesday night.  "It comes off as inconsiderate and thoughtless to add more financial padding to (members) who are by no means struggling when that money could be helping staff members not have to choose between paying a water bill and getting a tank of gas."  Caraway said that even if the Board does not reverse its decision, she hopes it opens the door to communication.

(Whitewater Valley)--It probably comes as little – if any – consolation, but gas prices in the Whitewater Valley were below state and national averages Thursday morning.  According to AAA Thursday, the cheapest gas in our area Thursday morning was in Preble County, where the average price is $4.21.  Wayne County’s average is $4.36.  The most expensive gas in our area is in Butler County, where it will cost you an average of $4.37.  Indiana’s statewide average is $4.41.  Ohio’s is 12 cents cheaper at $4.29.

(Richmond, IN)--Girls Inc. of Wayne County has a new leader.  She’s Tai Muldoon, and she’s no stranger to the organization.  Tai is a Girls, Inc. alum, having participated in the program as a young girl in Wayne County.  She comes to Girls, Inc. from the Ivy Tech Foundation, where she was the Assistant Director of Development.  The organization supports local girls in a variety of ways through service and advocacy.

(Wayne County, IN)--One person is dead as the result of a three-car crash in Wayne County Tuesday afternoon.  It happened at around 4:45 on Pottershop Road near Creek Road.  According to the Indiana State Police, an SUV driven by Rafael Lopez – who was driving without a license – tried to pass a van at the crest of a hill and in a no-passing zone.  Lopez’s SUV collided head-on with an oncoming motorcycle being ridden by 47-year-old Samuel Weller of Liberty.  Weller was pronounced dead at the scene.  Lopez was taken to Reid Health to be tested for drugs or alcohol.  There is no indication so far that Lopez has been charged criminally.

(Richmond, IN)--More details were released later Tuesday about the drug bust exclusively reported by Kicks 96 and The Point News Tuesday morning.  It involves the arrests of Josh Wooten and Trey Seifer on South 8^th in Richmond.  More details reveal that a huge amount of cash was recovered by the Wayne County Drug Task Force - $28,000.  Investigators also recovered $6500 worth of cocaine and $11,000 worth of marijuana.  Police also located two handguns, an electronic money counter, and a large digital scale.  Both Wooten and Seifer are free on bond.

(Richmond, IN)--The multiple accomplishments of 2021 were highlighted when Wayne County’s Economic Development Corporation held its annual meeting this week.  Last year, the EDC worked with several companies on various aspects of their businesses.  Three projects resulted in more than $20 million in investment and 76 new full-time jobs created.  Those three companies – ITD Engineering, Primex, and Hills Pet Nutrition – were recognized for their expansion and retention efforts.

(Indianapolis, IN)--Two Connersville friends of former Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle were sentenced Monday to 30 years in federal prison for setting up cameras in their home to capture sexually explicit images of children.  Russell Taylor and his ex-wife, Angela Baldwin, pled guilty last year to multiple offenses.  At least one of the multiple victims was a young Connersville girl.  "This sentence was imposed because of a pattern of persistent conduct.  It's a horrific exploitation of children who should be able to trust you," said U.S. Attorney Zach Meyers.  Some of Taylor and Baldwin’s victims testified Monday about how the abuse has affected their lives.  Fogle is about halfway through his prison sentence.

(New Madison, OH)--A long-time area manufacturer is closing its doors.  EG Industries in New Madison will cease operations with work being shifted to other plants.  Company officials said in a prepared statement that EG has a long history in New Madison and that it was a difficult decision to make.  The exact number of people who will be affected has not been released.  Production will continue for a few months until the transition to other plants is complete.  EG Industries is a plastic injection molder.

(Preble County, OH)--The Preble County Sheriff’s Office asked for the help of the public Monday in identifying a couple of burglars.  The burglary occurred on Sunday afternoon when a male and a female took items from a home in the 100 block of Quinn Road just north of U.S. 35.  Home surveillance cameras captured multiple clear images of the burglars.

(Richmond, IN)--Two Richmond men who were arrested together less than a year ago on serious charges were arrested again Monday afternoon.  36-year-old Josh Wooten and 23-year-old Trey Seifer were taken into custody on South 8^th on Monday.  Both are charged with dealing cocaine or other drugs.  Both were jailed last fall when shots were fired at multiple locations across the city.  Six years ago, Wooten was sentenced to 15 years in prison for numerous cases, but served just a fraction of that sentence.  Also arrested at the scene Monday on less serious charges was 18-year-old Jordan Blair.  As is nearly always the case with alleged drug dealers, both Wooten and Seifer have already bonded out and were free Tuesday morning.

(Richmond, IN)--A survey and associated information is being distributed Friday by one employee of Richmond Community Schools to all other RCS employees after the Board’s recent decision to provide its members with health insurance for a dollar per year.  That survey, which has been obtained exclusively by Kicks 96 and The Point News, includes six yes-or-no questions including whether or not the decision was made with the best interest of RCS students and staff in mind.  The results of the survey are expected to be presented to the Board when it meets on Wednesday of next week with the hope that the Board reverses its decision.

(Preble County, OH)--Residents of Preble and Darke County who have AES Ohio as their supplier for electricity are being told to brace for a huge increase in their monthly electric bill.  AES is the former DP&L.  An AES spokesperson said Thursday that, beginning at the first of next month, the residential supply charge will more than double.  That spokesperson blamed inflation and the situation in Ukraine for the increase.  The average residential AES customer will can expect an increase of at least $60 per month.

(Richmond, IN)--A Richmond woman was taken into custody Thursday and charged with a felony after repeated calls of a young child wandering the streets.  Police were called to the area of Butler and North West J Streets.  RPD officers located the child, who was unharmed.  Scanner traffic indicated that two adults were found asleep in different locations.  26-year-old Whitney Baker is now charged with felony neglect of a dependent.

(Wayne County, IN)--There was a problem with the counting of votes in Tuesday’s primary election in Wayne County.  According Clerk Debbie Berry, one of the vote centers had turned in an incorrect storage device that was supposed to contain vote counts.  Zero votes from that center were registered.  On Wednesday, staffers retrieved the storage device containing counts from an additional 92 ballots from that vote center that had not been counted on Tuesday night.  The 92 additional votes did not alter the outcome of any contested race nor did they change the selection of state convention delegates.  Berry said that steps will be taken to make sure the same thing does not happen again.

(Richmond, IN)--Several Richmond Community School teachers are poised to continue to challenge a recent RCS Board decision which allows Board members to receive health insurance coverage for a dollar a year.  One teacher has created a survey that is being distributed to all RCS employees.  That teacher said that the goal is to "present the Board with a myriad of responses from the staff as to how the decision has been affecting them"with an additional goal of bringing the decision into reconsideration.  The RCS Board is set to meet again on Wednesday of next week.

(Richmond, IN)--The Reid Health Police Department is now a full-fledged police department.  And, Wednesday night, they arrested a couple for possessing numerous drugs.  Reid Police caught 47-year-old William Binion and 32-year-old Danielle Lang.  Officers also allegedly recovered methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription drugs, syringes, and drug paraphernalia.  The amount of drugs recovered has not been released.

(Whitewater Valley)--Here are some election results from contested races in Wayne County after primary voting Tuesday.  Contested local races were on the Republican side.  Wayne County will have a new Commissioner after incumbent Ken Paust was defeated by Brad Dwenger by more than a 2-1 margin.  The race for county auditor was much closer.  Mark Hoelscher edged out Kim Walton only 135 votes after more than 4400 ballots were cast.  And, in the race for Wayne County Council District 3, Beth Leisure defeated Carol Study by a 72-28% margin.  In Randolph County, Mike Stine edged out Ricky Brown for County Council District 2 52-48%.  Jeffrey Adams cruised through the race for Union County Sheriff.  Among four Republican candidates for sheriff in Fayette County, Zacharia Jones was the top vote-getter, finishing 64 votes ahead of Robert Revalee.  And, in Preble County, a tax levy at Tri County North passed by just 11 votes.

(Williamsburg, IN)--A fire rekindled at a home in Williamsburg Wednesday morning, and the rekindling turned out to be much worse than the original fire.  Photos from the scene of the home on Pleasant Street indicate that it was nearly destroyed by fire.  The first call came in Tuesday night.  The call for departments to return came at around 4 Tuesday morning.  But, that time, the home was reportedly fully engulfed.  There’s no word on what started the original fire, and there were no reports of any injury.

(Richmond, IN)--Five years in prison is the sentence for a 35-year-old Richmond man who admitted to having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl.  Jacob French pled guilty as part of a plea deal.  Court documents indicate that French had admitted through text messages to his wife that he had had the relationship.  It’s the second such conviction from the same address on Boston Township Line Road.  Last year, former RP&L General Manager Jim French was convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor and was sentenced to six years in prison.

(Wayne County, IN)--Details of a tragic weekend crash in northwestern Wayne County were released Monday.  It happened on Lamar Road when a driver from central Indiana went left of center prior to cresting a hill in an effort to move over for a resident who was mowing in the area.  An SUV driven by 24-year-old Cheyanne Garringer, who was nine months pregnant with twins, was headed in the opposite direction when she crested the hill.  Garringer was taken to Reid Health for an emergency C-section and for treatment of her own injuries.  One of the two twins did not survive.  Sheriff Randy Retter said Monday that current conditions of victims are not available and that the incident remains under investigation.