Booze sales on Dec. 25; 4 tales of donors; Christmas lights illuminate birth

CLEVELAND (AP) — A man has paid off more than $106,000 in shoppers' layaways at two Wal-Mart stores in northeast Ohio.

WEWS-TV in Cleveland says the man told Wal-Mart employees that he liked to do something special on his birthday every year. They say he insisted on remaining anonymous.

The anonymous donor paid off a total of nearly $70,000 for the layaways at the Steelyard Commons store in Cleveland and about $36,000 for those at the Wal-Mart in Lorain. Items on layaway included toys, 70-inch televisions and even a pair of socks.

Tara Neal said she had paid $10 on a bed for her 3-year-old daughter at one of the stores when she was told Tuesday that the remaining balance of more than $80 was paid. She said it was "like Santa."

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana residents will be able to purchase wine, beer or other alcoholic beverages on Christmas Day for the first time in decades under a change in state law.

Alcohol sales of any kind in Indiana have long been banned on Christmas Day.

But the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission said Tuesday that Hoosiers can buy alcohol drinks at any restaurant, bar, liquor store or grocery store that's open starting this Christmas Day for consumption on the premises. That's because of a change in state law that took effect in July.

The exception is in years when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, as it will next year.

In such years, liquor stores and grocery stores cannot sell alcohol, but people can still order alcoholic drinks at bars and restaurants.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A man accused of stealing a package from a mail carrier as part of a scheme to pick up marijuana has pleaded not guilty in federal court.

Raymond Stenson, of Enderlin, is charged in federal court with robbery, theft and assault. Authorities say he first followed the mail carrier into an apartment in an attempt to get the package, and then snatched it from the carrier outside of his mail van.

The carrier chased after Stenson and tackled him to get the package back. Stenson allegedly told the mail carrier he looked like someone who liked to smoke pot and said he would give him some if he could keep the package.

Trial is scheduled for Feb. 16. A federal public defender could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Law enforcement authorities say a Montana driver ended his life after he crashed his pickup truck in southeast South Dakota.

Sioux Falls Police spokesman Sam Clemens says several people witnessed the crash around noon Wednesday and tried to help the driver who had just taken an Interstate 29 off-ramp exit in Sioux Falls and veered of the roadway.

Clemens says the 57-year-old man from Billings, Montana, stabbed himself in the chest after the crash. He died at the scene.

Clemens says the man's pickup truck struck a light pole and may have rolled before it came to a stop.

ASHLAND, Mo. (AP) — City officials have passed an ordinance restricting the use of drones to owners' private property.

The ordinance was approved Monday after the Ashland Board of Aldermen passed it on Dec.1.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that owners may fly the drones outside their property if they receive permission from other property owners. The ordinance also states that drones cannot be flown higher than 130 feet.

In contrast, the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits drones from flying higher than 400 feet, or within 5 miles of an airport. Ashland is about 5 miles from Columbia Regional Airport.

Acting city administrator Lyn Woolford said the new ordinance is more of a guideline than a restriction, noting that it was adopted to deal with an expected surge of drones given as Christmas gifts.

"It's just to give guidelines... so they would fly it appropriately and not be disruptive," Woolford said.

Woolford also said that the 130-foot flight restriction was established because the city's water tower is 132 feet tall.

Mayor Gene Rhorer said a property owner's discovery of an errant drone several weeks ago "kind of brought about our awareness on the up-and-coming drone frenzy." He said city officials worked with FAA and Columbia Regional Airport officials to craft the ordinance.

Enforcing the legislation is the final step, Rhorer said.

Registration will cost $5 and must be renewed every three years. Owners will have to mark aircraft with an identification number.

FLUSHING, Mich. (AP) — Gold coins are making a very valuable sound in the Michigan kettles of The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army of Genesee County says a coin worth $1,100 was deposited in a kettle at a grocery store in Flushing. And for the third year in a row, a Kruggerrand worth $1,200 was dropped into a holiday collection kettle at a Kroger store in St. Clair Shores.

The coin could help pay for more than 80 toys or 48 winter coats.

The Flint Journal says the Flushing coin is from 1979. The Salvation Army of Genesee County says it has been years since a gold coin was donated.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — An unusual donation will help the Sheboygan Salvation Army move closer to its red kettle fund-raising goal.

Volunteers ringing bells at Festival Foods in Sheboygan found a diamond ring at the bottom of a red kettle. Sheboygan Salvation Army development director Abby Block says the one carat diamond ring was wrapped in its receipt and was purchased in 1996 for $2,200.

Block tells Sheboygan Press Media they haven't yet had the ring appraised for its current value and are discussing how to maximize the donation, including selling at an online auction or possibly to a jeweler.

The Sheboygan Salvation Army has a fund-raising goal of $160,000 this year.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An anonymous donor has arranged for four gold coins to be given to two Wichita nonprofits.

The Wichita Eagle reports that two gold coins were given Tuesday morning to the Guadalupe Clinic and two more later to the Lord's Diner.

For more than a decade, the Wichita Community Foundation has presented the gold coins to local nonprofits from an anonymous donor.

The first set of gold coins was distributed in 2005 to five organizations. This year's coins are valued at $1,064 each.

The Guadalupe Clinic provides health care for those in need at three locations. The Lord's Diner provides 2,200 to 2,500 meals daily at a cost of a $1 a meal at four Wichita locations.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa shouldn't have awarded a series of contracts to a prominent Republican Party consultant without opening them to competition, the president of its governing board says.

Iowa Board of Regents president Bruce Rastetter told Iowa Public Radio on Tuesday that he was unaware of the school's no-bid contracts with former Iowa GOP chairman Matt Strawn until he read a recent Associated Press story detailing them. He said he believes that Strawn is capable but "the optics of this are not pretty or perfect."

"I believe that in those situations the universities should do a bid process. We'll be talking about that," Rastetter said during an interview on IPR's River to River program (http://bit.ly/1P8eRmX ).

Rastetter said the board would also review a policy that allows universities to award contracts worth less than $25,000 without obtaining quotes from multiple vendors. He said that has been an issue at all three of Iowa's public universities and expects the board will adopt specific policy changes in April.

The board does not plan to investigate how Strawn's contracts were awarded, spokesman Josh Lehman said Wednesday.

The AP reported last week that Strawn's company received $322,000 in university contracts over the last 2½ years for social media consulting and polling services that were often delivered by subcontractors with GOP ties of their own.

Strawn's initial contract for social media and grassroots advocacy was for $24,900, or just below the $25,000 threshold that triggers competitive bidding. Much of that work was performed through Wholecrowd, a Washington-based digital media startup founded by former Iowa GOP executive director Jim Anderson. Strawn and Anderson touted Wholecrowd's work for UI at a 2013 Republican Party conference on technology in Michigan.

Around that same time, the university waived competitive bidding requirements to award Strawn larger polling contracts by saying his firm was the only one that could provide that service. But Strawn subcontracted with a prominent Texas-based Republican pollster, Chris Perkins.

Perkins' firm also has conducted focus groups for the university under Strawn's contracts, which are managed by UI vice president for external relations Peter Matthes, a former staff director of the Republican caucus in the Iowa Senate.

Iowans Defending Our Universities, a group that has been critical of the regents and new UI President Bruce Harreld, issued a statement Wednesday calling for Matthes to be fired for his role in the contracts.

A university spokeswoman said the contracts went through the normal review process when awarded. The university has refused to release any details about the polls or their findings, citing an exemption to the open records law for reports that would help its competitors "and serve no public purpose."

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A female firefighter was subjected to equipment tampering, clothing destruction and gender-related slurs at a central Ohio fire department, according to a federal discrimination lawsuit alleging a pattern of sexual harassment.

Amie Morningstar of the Circleville Fire Department was also required to meet tougher training and work standards than male counterparts and was denied promotions because she's a woman, according to the lawsuit filed Friday.

The harassment got worse after she reported it to her superiors, according to the lawsuit. Circleville is about 30 miles south of Columbus.

"Morningstar has been subjected to retaliation, discrimination, and unwelcome sexual harassment, including but not limited to, sexual advances and/or requests for sexual favors, and other conduct of a sexual nature," according to the lawsuit filed by attorneys Brian Duncan and Greg Barwell.

The harassment continues to create a hostile work environment for Morningstar, the lawsuit said. Morningstar is asking a judge to order an immediate end to the alleged harassment and damages above $75,000.

Circleville Fire Chief Marc Zingarelli, accused in the lawsuit of frequently directing gender-related slurs at Morningstar, did not return messages seeking comment. Circleville Law Director Gary Kenworthy declined to comment Wednesday and said he's instructed city employees not to discuss the case.

After Morningstar became a full-time firefighter in 2007, someone urinated in her shampoo bottle, placed bodily fluid on her blanket in her firehouse bunk and cut holes in her t-shirts, according to the lawsuit. Her equipment including her face mask was tampered with, firefighter gloves and hoods were repeatedly taken and her communications radio hidden for months, the lawsuit said.

Morningstar, 33, the department's only female firefighter, worked as a volunteer firefighter and emergency responder from 2003 to 2007, after which she was hired as a full-time firefighter.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Decorative Christmas lights helped illuminate the roadside birth of a Plainwell couple's fourth child.

MLive.com reports that Bill Hux was rushing his pregnant wife to Borgess Medical Center early Monday morning when she told him to pull over. Hux quickly chose the brightest house he could see, which he said was strewn with snowmen, sleighs, lighted snowflakes and fully trimmed with Christmas lights.

Carla Hux had nearly given birth to their daughter by the time her husband opened the passenger door. The couple wrapped the 8 lbs., 6 oz., newborn and called emergency responders to the scene.

"I just thank them for what they do. They were great, real nice. They were professional," Bill Hux said.

And although there was a car parked in the driveway of the house, no one ever emerged from the house to check on the situation. Hux said he may go back and tell the homeowners what happened.

This is the second close call the couple has experienced while making the 10-mile trek to the hospital.

"We nearly had Leah, our 3-year-old, in the van while we were on the way," Bill Hux said. "She (his wife) told me to pull over then. But I said, 'No, we can make it.'"

Hux said their now-3-year-old daughter was delivered on a transport bed inside the hospital as Carla was being rushed to the birthing area.

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln businessman has dropped his $100 million lawsuit against the central Nebraska city of Hastings, saying he and city officials reached an agreement that will let him operate a members-only strip club that, in exchange, will not be allowed to sell alcohol.

Shane Harrington said the Midwest Girls Club will officially open Thursday as a private club in Hastings and will operate every weekend for the foreseeable future. He said under the deal reached Tuesday, only dues-paying members will be allowed into the club. They can bring their own alcohol, but it won't be sold there, the Hastings Tribune reported.

Harrington previously filed lawsuits against officials in Hall and Seward counties after he failed to gain approval for adult businesses in those counties. Earlier this month, he began operating a members-only strip club out of a Hastings bar called The Shed after it closed for the night, surprising city officials because he hadn't sought permission.

Under the agreement with the city, the bar will close and the private strip club will take over the space. It will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but it could also host special events on other days, the newspaper reported.

Harrington said he's glad to be able to drop the lawsuit and to provide adult entertainment to those in the community who want it.

"It's unfortunate that we had to file a lawsuit," he said. "I feel like we're all on a really good page, and it's a good feeling that they allowed us to come in and show them what we can do and that we can follow the law and entertain customers and make everyone happy."

CHICAGO (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it has settled a lawsuit it filed against the Chicago Board of Education alleging pregnancy discrimination against teachers.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago last December, said the board had a pattern of discrimination against pregnant teachers at Scammon Elementary School that resulted in the women receiving lower performance evaluations and threats of termination.

Under the terms of the settlement, the board must pay $280,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to eight women and change its personnel policies to guard against discrimination based on gender and pregnancy. It also must establish training requirements that reinforce a commitment to a workplace without gender-based discrimination.

Chicago Public Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit stems from complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission made by teachers at Scammon Elementary School. Federal officials say the EEOC tried to resolve the case before referring it for litigation.

"This settlement puts in place meaningful measures to eradicate the kind of antiquated thinking that resulted in the loss of these dedicated female educators from Scammon Elementary School," said Julianne Bowman, director of EEOC's Chicago District.

In 2009, the Chicago school board settled a pregnancy discrimination complaint with the Justice Department, agreeing to pay $45,000 in lost back pay and compensatory damages to a former teacher.

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Joliet Central High School has awarded honorary diplomas to two Vietnam War veterans who joined the military before they were able to graduate.

Greg Warren and Donald Boyer finally received their diplomas Tuesday night at a school board meeting during a ceremony honoring their service. The director of alumni relations tells the Herald-News that the men were the 58th and 59th veterans to be awarded high school diplomas by the school district after serving in the military.

Warren enlisted in the Marines in December 1967 after he was convicted of a crime and was told he couldn't return to Joliet Central. He would've graduated in 1968.

Boyer wanted to continue his family's military tradition, so he enlisted in the Army in early 1968. He was set to graduate in 1969.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln high school math teacher has been charged Monday with driving drunk for a third time.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 41-year-old Terry Harms, of Cortland, was stopped by a city police officer around 2 a.m. Saturday.

The officer says Harms smelled of alcohol and that his blood alcohol level registered at .165 percent — more than twice the legal limit to drive in Nebraska.

Harms teaches at Lincoln North Star. He pleaded not guilty Monday to third-offense DUI and not having a valid registration.

Court records show Harms was convicted of drunken driving in 2007 and 2011.

School district officials say they are reviewing the case and that Harms has been asked not to return to work until a decision on his employment is reached.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A University of Missouri employee has resumed working after her videotaped clash with a student photographer during campus protests helped fan debate about free press.

The Columbia Missourian reports that the MU Office of Greek Life said Tuesday that Janna Basler has returned to her job in the office.

Basler and assistant professor Melissa Click of the school's communications department drew criticism for trying to stop a photographer from taking pictures of protesters celebrating the university system president's resignation announcement last month. Video posted online shows Basler telling photographer Tim Tai, a student working freelance for ESPN, to "leave these students alone" in their "personal space."

Basler was placed on administrative leave for more than a month. She said in a statement she was "deeply sorry for what happened."

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two youth organizations in Sioux City have teamed up with a bicycle shop owner and anonymous donors to give bicycles to more than 300 children.

The Sioux City Journal reports that Girls Inc. gave out 115 bicycles Friday, and the Boys Club of Sioux City surprised 225 boys with bikes Tuesday afternoon. The children also received helmets and locks.

Doug Albrecht, owner of Albrecht Cycle Shop, worked with the anonymous donors to order the mountain bikes. The team assembled about 60 bicycles a week over five weeks.

The retail value of each bike is about $400, but Albrecht was able to get a discount from the manufacturer since they were purchased in bulk. He says this is the largest one-time donation the bikes shop has ever seen.

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — An 11-year-old girl insisted on facing the man who sexually abused her as he was sentenced in a northeast Ohio courtroom.

A service dog was there to comfort the victim as she watched 40-year-old William Ensminger be sentenced to eight years in prison Tuesday on three felony counts in Akron. The Cuyahoga Falls man pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition in the case.

Summit County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Dangelo called the child "a brave little girl." The Akron Beacon Journal reports she handed a letter to a caseworker who read it aloud.

Dangelo says the crimes occurred over a four-month span and the girl told officials at a child advocacy center that Ensminger had been molesting her.

Ensminger says he's hoping to get help for his problems.

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. (AP) — A judicial watchdog group is recommending a four-month suspension without pay for an Upper Peninsula judge who dismissed charges and tickets in dozens of cases without holding a hearing.

Chippewa County District Court Judge Elizabeth Church has agreed to settle the case with the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission and accept the suspension, although the final decision rests with the state Supreme Court.

Church, whose court is in Sault Ste. Marie, admits that she committed misconduct. In one case, she visited a criminal defendant in jail before trial without telling the prosecutor.

The Judicial Tenure Commission made its recommendation this week. Commission member David T. Fischer wanted a tougher penalty. He says Church "may simply not have the right stuff" to be a judge.