The Hillsboro Indians boys soccer team participated in a scrimmage Thursday night, scoring three goals in their one half of action to defeat the Clermont Northeastern Rockets, 3-0 at CNE High School.

After approximately nine hours of deliberations, a jury of seven women and five men returned a not guilty verdict for a Hillsboro man who was charged with one count of second-degree felony endangering children.
 Gregory Kiley, 34, was tried over the course of two days in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
 As Clerk of Courts, Ike Hodson, read the verdict aloud Thursday morning, family members of the victim and defendant began crying.

A new Ohio law that modifies the sentencing structure for felony convictions and aims to reduce the number of low- to moderate-level offenders in the state prison system may save the state of Ohio close to $50 million. However, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss said that aspects of the law may bog down areas of the judicial system and will most likely have an impact on daily court operations.

Sen. Rob Portman has been named to the powerful new congressional committee charged with finding ways to reduce the U.S. budget deficit by at least $1.5 trillion over 10 years. Portman, R-Terrace Park, was selected by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, along with Senators Jon Kyl of Arizona and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania for the 12-member panel.

The 2011 Southern State Lady Patriots volleyball team will open their regular season on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at home against University of Cincinnati-Clermont at the Patriot Center at 6 p.m.