Darke County Ohio News

Our First Snowfall, Bob Robinson photos
WHIO-TV video - One of the nice things about digital photography is that it takes interesting photos under low light conditions… check them out. According to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Roadways were treacherous across Darke County as heavy snow continued to fall Tuesday night. The office advised using extra caution and reducing speeds. No traffic incidents were reported... read more.

Toledo Blade... Bill to have Edison statue languishes
COLUMBUS -- Over the last year, Ohio lawmakers have fought over everything from collective bargaining rights to congressional redistricting, and from election law to budget cuts. And through it all, a bill that most people considered to be a feel-good, easy decision has quietly gathered dust in a legislative committee. It’s been nearly a year and a half since Ohioans “elected” prolific inventor and Milan, Ohio, native Thomas Alva Edison to stand for Ohio in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Ohio State Patrol sees major spike in drug seizures this year
Trooper Michael Trader spends his days driving the Ohio Turnpike, talking to his 3-year-old partner and searching out the most elusive of travelers: The drug mule. The work can be numbing, as Trader and his police canine, Argo, seek to outsmart smugglers who have studied the cat-and-mouse game in an attempt to stoke a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise. As drugs flood Ohio, mules -- the slang for couriers hauling cocaine and marijuana -- have turned roadways into high-stakes pipelines.... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Retailers, sports bars upbeat for Urban Meyer era at Ohio State
by Ginger Christ, Reporter - Monday, November 28, 2011 - On Saturdays, throngs of scarlet and grey clad football fans crowd bars and restaurants across Ohio to cheer on the Buckeyes. The fervor reaches the far corners of the state, from Dayton to Ashtabula — the home town of new OSU coach Urban Meyer — creating a revenue stream that ebbs and flows with the team’s wins and losses. The Buckeyes.... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Forecasts of 600,000 holiday jobs offer many hope
Recent forecasts indicate U.S. retailers might hire more than 600,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, offering hope to throngs of displaced workers who can’t find full-time jobs or are working reduced hours. Last year, an average of 255,000 Ohioans worked part time for economic reasons, up more than 1,000 percent from about 23,000 in 2007 when the recession began, according to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even workers with full-time jobs are looking... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Supercommittee’s failure will trigger ‘some ugly things’ in Ohio
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The supercommittee is kaput, so now all 535 members of Congress will try to do what a mere dozen could not -- or else let $1.2 trillion in unpopular spending cuts begin in little more than a year. Few congressmen and congresswomen from Ohio like that prospect, because it would affect popular or important programs. Nevertheless, Northeast Ohio could be affected in these ways if the automatic cuts triggered by the supercommittee’s failure take place... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio banks post 25% profit growth, by Ginger Christ, Reporter
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - Ohio commercial banks and savings institutions have recorded growth in profit for six consecutive quarters. The 237 financial institutions in the state saw aggregate profits climb 25 percent year-over-year to $16.2 billion during the third quarter, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s quarterly report. That compares to $12.9 billion during the third... read more.

Primary Election season begins… Pike files her petition for March Primary, By Bob Robinson
Darke County Clerk of Courts Cindy Pike filed her petition for the office in the March Primary on Monday. If elected in November, it will be her fifth 4-year term in office. Less than a month after the November election, the March Primary has begun. While a number of petitions have been picked up, only two others had been filed to date. Darke County Commissioner Mike Rhoades (term to... read more.

Record Pub... Kasich helps open Kent firm, by Thomas Gallick
November 23, 2011 - Ohio Gov. John Kasich stopped in Kent Tuesday with a message of hope for those seeking a Rust Belt revival. “People thought manufacturing was dead,” Kasich said. “Well, they’re dead wrong.” Kasich visited Kent to celebrate the opening of MAC LTT, just one stop on his recent tour of sites in the state where new jobs have been created. In the past week, the governor has traveled from Toledo to Cincinnati announcing nearly 2,000 new jobs coming to the state... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Turner offers bill to bust down export barriers
WEST CARROLLTON — More exports mean more jobs as the region struggles to emerge from the economic downturn, and no business knows that better than Appleton Papers Inc. The West Carrollton employer of 450 workers with $850 million in sales last year ships product to 70 countries. But the employee-owned paper maker wouldn’t be as stable an employer today had it not won a 2008 International Trade Commission case against unfair imports from China and Germany that undercut its... read more.

Darke County’s Most Wanted... Daniel S. McKenzie
WANTED FOR: Darke County Common Pleas Court – 2 Count Indictment for Theft; Issued June 10th, 2010. Miami County – Probation Violation / Domestic Violence; Issues May 23rd, 2011 - LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: 8900 Monroe Central Road, West Manchester, OH ---or--- 1006 West Greene Street, Piqua... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Mandel: Delay in oil drilling costs jobs
Ohio Treasurer and Republican Senate candidate Josh Mandel is stepping into the debate over whether Ohio’s federal lands should be used for oil and gas exploration. Mandel, who hopes to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, in next year’s election, last week called on Wayne National Forest Supervisor Anne Carey to reverse her decision to temporarily seal off federal lands from oil and gas exploration, saying, “I believe this Washington bureaucrat is standing in the way of thousands of new... read more.

Toledo Blade... Ohio’s smoking rate among highest in U.S.
DAYTON -- More than a quarter of Ohioans smoke cigarettes, making the state’s smoking rate one of the highest in the nation, according to a new study. About 26 percent of Ohioans smoked cigarettes in 2011, matching the rates of Missouri, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, according to a study released by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Only Kentucky, where 29 percent of residents light up, had a higher rate, according to the survey of 177,600 Americans... read more.

Most Wanted: Todd Jason Hill
As of 11-24-11 one of our first featured fugitives, Todd Jason Hill, has turned himself in to the Darke County Sheriff's Office. A new fugitive will replace Hill on the Most Wanted site in the next few days.

Darke County Sheriff's Office... Motorcycle-vehicle injury accident
On November 25, 2011 at approximately 11:30 A.M. Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Twp Fire, Greenville Rescue and Careflight were dispatched to the 5000 block of State Route 49 in reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a blue Dodge Dakota, driven by William Stevens, 63, of Greenville was pulling out of a private drive into the path of a motorcycle driven by Rick Honeyman, 60, of Greenville which was traveling ... read more.

Ohio & Michigan Governors wager on Match-up
[COLUMBUS and LANSING] – This Saturday the Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines meet for the 108th time on the football field and, for the first time since 1942, both states’ governors—Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Ohio Gov. John Kasich—are graduates of the respective universities. To mark the occasion, Kasich and Snyder are wagering home-state pies on the game. Snyder has placed a Michigan cherry pie on the line and Kasich a chocolate... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Ohio prosecutors want veto power in having a judge decide a case
Ohio prosecutors want to change the law to give themselves veto power when a criminal defendant chooses to have his case heard by a judge instead of a jury. The bill was introduced last month by former Summit County prosecutor Lynn Slaby, who is now a state representative, at the urging of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. It’s not the first time prosecutors have pushed for the change. Slaby said the judiciary is overwhelmingly fair, but there are instances when a judge might have... read more.

The White House... From First Lady Michelle Obama
Good morning, Every Thanksgiving, Barack sits down to call some of our troops and thank them for their service. When he tells me about these conversations, it always reminds me of how blessed we are to live in a country where men and women will stand up to protect our freedoms and preserve our way of life. And whenever I’ve had the chance to meet with these heroes and their families, I’ve always walked away inspired by their courage and in awe of their strength... read more.

Most Wanted: Todd Jason Hill
Featured fugitive Todd Jason Hill has began complying with the courts and has been relieved of at least one of the warrants issued. He still must serve 5 days in jail to fully comply and be removed from the DCCS Most Wanted list. As of now, a reward is no longer available. If there are any further updates, we will notify our email alert subscribers immediately. To view his profile, click here. To view all fugitives being featured, click here.

Dayton Daily News... Ohio to require online state tests for school districts
Three years from now, all school districts in Ohio will start using new online state tests that will replace the standardized No. 2 pencil-and-paper assessments. While some local school officials see advantages with online testing, the planned switch also is causing concern because it’s unclear who is going to pay for the computers and software upgrades that may be needed. “We have lots of concerns but not answers,” Kettering Superintendent Jim Schoenlein said, noting that... read more.

Darke County’s Most Wanted... Adam Travis Ballard
From the Darke County Crime Stoppers: A new fugitive has been added to the Darke County Crime Stoppers Most Wanted list, Adam Travis Ballard is wanted for failure to appear on Forgery charge. WANTED FOR: Failed to appear on the original charge of Forgery. A bench warrant was then issued by Darke County Common Pleas Court... read more.

Toledo Blade... Bill to expand school vouchers called attack on public schools
Published November 21, 2011 - Local opponents of a bill that would expand private school vouchers in Ohio are calling it an extreme measure and an attack on public education. State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), officials of Toledo Public Schools, union leaders, and Toledo Board of Education members assailed House Bill 136 and called for its defeat. The bill expands school vouchers to all school districts, regardless of academic performance, and eventually would give funding to students already.... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... DeWine takes aim at child sex abuse
November 21, 2011 - Attorney General Mike DeWine will put the “full weight” of his office behind an initiative to prevent child sex abuse by hiring 15 investigators to catch pedophiles and child pornographers on the Internet, he said yesterday. The plan has been in the works for two months, before the recent scandal at Penn State University drew national attention to sex crimes involving children. DeWine called what is alleged at Penn State “unconscionable” and said he worries that people will shrug it off as.... read more.

Foxnews... Blame Game Erupts as Hope for Deficit Deal Fades
Published November 20, 2011 - Republicans and Democrats on the so-called Super Committee can’t agree on much. But as the deficit-cutting panel careens toward a Wednesday deadline without a deficit-cutting deal, they can agree on this -- it’s all the other side’s fault. In separate interviews across Washington Sunday, members of the committee charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in savings hurled recriminations at one another for their apparent failure to strike an agreement. Sources... read more.

Washington Examiner... Obama USDA delays shale drilling, up to 200k jobs
President Obama’s United States Department of Agriculture has delayed shale gas drilling in Ohio for up to six months by cancelling a mineral lease auction for Wayne National Forest (WNF). The move was taken in deference to environmentalists, on the pretext of studying the effects of hydraulic fracturing. “Conditions have changed since the 2006 Forest Plan was developed,” announced WNF Supervisor Anne Carey on Tuesday. “The technology used in the Utica & Marcellus Shale formations... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Future in doubt as Postal Service loses $5 billion
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - The U.S. Postal Service, in the midst of a potential reorganization that could close hundreds of facilities nationwide, including in the Dayton region, said Tuesday that it finished its fiscal year with a loss of $5.1 billion, according to CNNMoney. The loss would have been even greater -- $10.6 billion -- if Congress hadn’t allowed the Postal Service to delay a payment... read more.

WHIO-TV... Hours after new ‘Most Wanted’ is activated 2 arrested, By Steve Baker
DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — Just hours after the Darke County Sheriff’s Department activated an updated “Most Wanted” program Tuesday afternoon on the department’s website, two individuals were arrested. Nearly five hours later, Rebecca Leas of Sidney was arrested in Greenville on a warrant for non-support. She was booked into the Darke County Jail. Four hours after Leas was nabbed... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, November 19, 2011 - For President Obama and congressional Democrats, it was a breakthrough week of sorts. For Republicans, yet another presidential hopeful appears headed for the top. For all of us, it was another week of economic business as usual. The Rasmussen Consumer and Investor Indexes, which measure daily confidence among both groups, showed slight improvement this week over recent months, but roughly 60% of both groups say the country is still in a... read more.

Ohio Supreme Court... Court Awarded $30,000 Grant to “STOP” Domestic Violence
Nov. 17, 2011 - The Supreme Court of Ohio was recently awarded a $30,000 grant to support and enhance the judiciary’s response on how it handles domestic violence cases. The Office of Criminal Justice Services at the Ohio Department of Public Safety announced the S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant Program award to the Court on Nov. 15. The money will be allocated on Jan. 1, 2012. The S.T.O.P. VAWA Grant Program is a federal formula block grant provided... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Sen. Portman hints at deficit panel failure
Sen. Rob Portman said Thursday that if a congressional committee cannot meet a Nov. 23 deadline to come up with a plan to cut the deficit by as much as $1.5 trillion, he is open to altering the law that would impose mandatory $500 billion cuts to the Department of Defense. His comments signaled the first time that Portman, R-Ohio, a key member of the 12-member “supercommittee,” has publicly said the committee may not reach its goal... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... If union deal sets tone, raises may cost Ohio taxpayers $191 million
State employees won’t get a base-pay raise under a proposed contract extension. But that doesn’t mean their pay won’t rise. In fact, on average, state employees will see an estimated $3,298 annual increase, before taxes, from the restoration of step pay and longevity pay. Both are included in a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract between the state and the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association. With 34,000 members, it is the largest state employee union... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Study: Federal health care may cost Ohio jobs
by Laura Englehart - Wednesday, November 16, 2011 - The private sector and especially small businesses in Ohio could lose thousands of jobs when federal health care laws take hold, according to a new study. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to raise revenue, includes a tax on health insurance premiums, structured as an annual fee on insurers, beginning in 2014... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio unemployment rate down to 9 percent
Friday, November 18, 2011 - Ohio’s unemployment rate in October was 9 percent, improving on the 9.1 percent rate in September and 9.7 percent a year ago, the state’s Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday. About 526,000 workers in the state were unemployed in October, an improvement from the 534,000 who were jobless in September. A year ago, Ohio had 571,000 unemployed... read more.

OhioVotes2011... InvestOhio Looks To Grow Small Businesses, By Candice Lee
November 14, 2011 - Barbara Thompson ditched the corporate world and opened her own Hyde-n-Seek Designs six years ago. “We do things that are totally different than most marketing firms. Most of our stuff is three-dimensional. We focused initially on invitations, announcements and business portfolios.” Hyde-N-Seek Designs is a successful business venture Barbara swore to start before age 50. She relied on friends, even her parents, for money to get her marketing company off... read more.

Crain’s Cleveland Business... Republic Steel to add nearly 450 jobs in Lorain, By Dan Shingler
November 16, 2011 - Lorain is about to get nearly 450 new jobs thanks to a planned $85.2 million investment by Republic Steel, the company announced today at an event with Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Canton-based Republic said its money will go toward installing a new electric arc furnace and supporting equipment at the Lorain plant, adding 449 jobs to its existing work force of 480 people. Republic makes highly-engineered steel at the plant, which has the strength and other qualities needed for... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Officials ask occupy protestors to leave for holiday fest
by Joe Cogliano - Thursday, November 10, 2011 - A clash between local officials and Occupy Dayton protestors may be brewing if protestors don’t move during an upcoming three-day downtown holiday celebration. Sandy Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, on Wednesday met with Occupy Dayton protestors to ask them to move to another location during the popular event... read more.

New York Times... Google’s Lab of Wildest Dreams, By Claire Cain Miller and Nick Bilton
November 13, 2011 - MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In a top-secret lab in an undisclosed Bay Area location where robots run free, the future is being imagined. Sergey Brin, one of Google’s founders, is said to be deeply involved in Google X. It’s a place where your refrigerator could be connected to the Internet, so it could order groceries when they ran low. Your dinner plate could post to a social network what you’re eating. Your robot could go to the office while you stay home in your pajamas... read more.

Cincinnati Enquirer... ‘Occupy’ police overtime tab: $128k
Occupy Cincinnati has cost the city about $128,000 in police overtime, according to the Cincinnati Police Department. That accounts for roughly 1,900 overtime hours - plus benefits - accumulated from Oct. 8 through Nov. 7, according to CPD’s Personnel and Finance Management Section. Not counting benefits, the tab for overtime manpower has been $91,000. That compares with $6,800 in police overtime for President Barack Obama’s September speech near the Brent Spence Bridge... read more.

Dayton Development Coalition... DDC to lead Ohio’s Aerospace & Defense Initiative
DAYTON, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) has selected the Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) to execute key elements of the State’s strategy to promote aerospace and defense industry growth and development in the Dayton Region and throughout the State. The $7,000,000 grant, approved today by the State Controlling Board, commissions the DDC to facilitate... read more.

Missing Juvenile from Pitsburg found deceased, November 17, 2011
On November 17, 2011 at approximately 5:55 pm the Darke County Sheriff’s Office received a call from 8732 Miller-Brumbaugh Road in southern Darke County. The caller reported that her 15 year old son had walked away from the residence after getting upset. The family reported that the teenager has a history of running away. The caller stated that they had searched the buildings on the premises and the teenager... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... UC man dead following 2-vehicle accident
On November 16, 2011 at approximately 4:08 PM Darke County Deputies, along with Ansonia Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the intersection of State Route 49 and Beamsville-Union City Road in reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a black 1991 Ford F150 truck, driven by Guadalupe Delacruz, 59, of Union City, Ohio, was eastbound on Beamsville-Union City Road approaching the stop sign at State Route 49. A red 1994 Ford truck, driven... read more.

Akron Beacon Journal... D-Day vet remembers seeing boxcars full of Holocaust victims
TALLMADGE: He saw incredible and horrible things when he was at war. In spite of those things, William “Bill” DiPuccio Sr., now 93, said his service in Europe — from Normandy to Berlin — “was a great time of my life.” DiPuccio was among countless men and women across the country who remembered their time in uniform Friday as the nation celebrated Veterans Day. Across the region, ceremonies included events at the University of Akron, at the Green Veterans Memorial Park, at... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Jobless rate for single moms at 25-year high
The aftermath of the worst recession in decades hit everyone hard, but it was especially harsh on single mothers, whose unemployment rate last year reached a 25-year high. Single mothers are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as married men and women, and 40 percent of households headed by single mothers with children in Montgomery, Greene, Butler, Clark and Warren counties fall below the poverty line, according to a Dayton Daily News analysis of federal labor... read more.

From WHIO-TV... Bradford man pleads not guilty to rape
MIAMI COUNTY, Ohio — A Bradford man charged with rape will not be getting out of the Miami County Jail anytime soon. On Monday morning, Justin Cain, 35, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to rape and two counts of gross sexual imposition. His bond was set at $450,000. Police said his alleged victim was a juvenile. Get more Northern Bureau and Dayton news by clicking here.

From WHIO-TV... Darke Co. businessman found electrocuted, By Steve Baker
Click below to see the video - DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — Investigation continues on the Darke County side of the Darke-Mercer County village of Burkettsville into the death of a businessman. Deputies said it appears that Joseph Werling, 39, of Burkettsville, was the victim of an electrocution. They said he was working in the boiler room of the family business when the incident happened. Deputies, fire, rescue squad... read more.

Crime Stoppers… Darke County’s Most Wanted is back, By Bob Robinson
Click below for a link to the WHIO-TV Video - Following a three-year absence, Darke County’s Most Wanted is back. When it was used prior to that, the program resulted in 50 arrests. Detailed information is available on the program’s new website by clicking the button on the right hand side of this page, or by clicking the link at the end of this story. “The web site features five individuals... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Electrocution in Darke County
On November 14, 2011 at approximately 18:07 PM Darke County Deputies, along with Burkettsville Fire, St. Henry Rescue and the Darke County Corners Office responded to 100 Plum St., Burkettsville, in reference to a possible electrocution. Preliminary investigation revealed that Joseph Werling, 39, of Burkettsville, was found deceased due to electrocution. This incident remains under investigation.

Columbus, Ohio... Zehringer appointed new Director of Natural Resources
COLUMBUS—Today Governor John R. Kasich announced that Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Jim Zehringer will become Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) later this afternoon. Dr. Tony Forshey, the state veterinarian for the past six years, has been named interim director of ODA. As Director, Zehringer replaces David Mustine who now oversees energy development efforts at JobsOhio. ... read more.

Foxnews.com... As Deadline Nears, Debt Reduction Panel Weighs Undoing Its Own Rules
November 13, 2011 - With 10 days left until an automatic trigger for debt reduction, the Super Committee tasked with finding a plan to get rid of $1.2 trillion in impending debt over the next 10 years may have to punt. Six Democrats and six Republicans appointed to the panel -- itself a source of contention among colleagues and transparency advocates -- have until Nov. 23 to find the balance that will get past Congress..read more..

Dayton Business Journal...... 30-year U.S. mortgages fall below 4%, by Jeff Clabaugh
Friday, November 11, 2011 - Long-term mortgage rates edged lower again this week, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage back below 4 percent. A 30-year fix averaged 3.99 percent in the week ending Nov. 10, down from 4.0 percent last week, according to Fredddie Mac’s weekly rate report. A 15-year fix averaged 3.30 percent, down from 3.31 percent. The average rate on a one-year adjustable rate mortgage rose to 2.95 percent, from 2.88 percent last week. ... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls, by Wayne Allen
Saturday, November 12, 2011 Poll after poll shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to be the Republican presidential contender voters are most comfortable with and the GOP hopeful who continues to run most competitively with President Obama. But that’s not enough for a lot of Republican voters. Just this past week, new surveying found that Romney is the GOP candidate viewed most favorably by all voters. This parallels other recent findings that voters see Romney as the GOP hopeful ... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Dayton businesses ready for latest Twilight movie, by Ginger Christ
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - Dayton is on board to sink its fangs (sorry I had to) into the next Hollywood installment of Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight saga. The third film, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1,” will debut at midnight Friday, Nov. 18 at a number of local theaters. In preparation, Beavercreek-based Cake Hope and Love, a local bakery, is selling Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn cupcakes. ..read more..

Community Common... Progress Being Made In Drug Battle, by Wayne Allen
State numbers are indicating that Scioto County’s drug problem is showing signs of improvement. An Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS) projection based on State Board of Pharmacy data for the first six months of 2011 shows a 10 percent decrease in opiates dispensed in Scioto County. “Scioto and Gallia County had two of the highest per capita dosage rates for prescription painkillers in the state in 2010,” the ODADAS released in its annual report... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Internet retailers split over online sales tax bill
Thursday, November 10, 2011 - Amazon.com Inc. endorsed a proposed national online sales tax bill introduced Wednesday, but eBay Inc. criticized it. Republicans Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Michael Enzi of Wyoming and Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin introduced the bill, which would create a national sales tax for online purchases and give states two paths to collect billions in unpaid sales taxes on goods bought over the Internet. States that sign on to a multistate legal agreement... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Senators urge appeal of cigarette warning label ruling
by Laura Englehart - Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - Following a U.S. District Court ruling Monday that blocked the Food and Drug Administration from requiring graphic warning labels on cigarette packages, cartons and advertisements, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and others petitioned for an immediate appeal. Brown, along with Democratic senators from Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, New... read more.

State Senator Bill Beagle... $10 Million to be released for Workforce Expansion
Wright-Patterson to benefit from latest investment - COLUMBUS — The State Controlling Board today announced that a total of $10 million will be released over the next two years to help bolster ongoing job creation and commercialization efforts at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) and Springfield Air National Guard Base (SANG). In addition, the Wright State Applied Research Corporation has agreed... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Kasich ponders road ahead in view of Issue 2 defeat, poor approval rating - COLUMBUS, Ohio - To say that Ohio Gov. John Kasich suffered a setback this week with the resounding defeat of Issue 2 might be an understatement, given the potential side implications for the first-year chief executive. Kasich is a brand unto himself, with a penchant for winning people over with his persistence and confident understanding of the inner workings of government, learned from his years as... read more.

From Yahoo... Supreme Court Will Rule This Year on Health Reform Law
By Ariane de Vogue | ABC News - Plus comments from Congressman John Boehner and Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine - The Supreme Court announced Monday morning that it will hear a challenge to the Obama administration’s signature legislative achievement: the health care reform law. In a paper statement the Court said it would focus on a case brought... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Inmates suing state for loss of privacy
Records of HIV status open to other prisoners, they say - At least seven HIV-positive inmates have sued the state, claiming they were ridiculed, harassed and threatened after their medical records were released to the general prison population. The lawsuits, filed as recently as last week in the Ohio Court of Claims, stem from an incident in June at the 2,600-inmate Mansfield Correctional Institution. Prison officials negligently put a record of inmates being treated for HIV in a place where it... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Kasich’s history shows he can rebound
Ohio is wondering: How will governor react to SB 5 loss? Gov. John Kasich awoke yesterday morning facing the following realities: • A key component of his agenda, Senate Bill 5, had been squashed by Ohio voters who defeated Issue 2 in an off-year election that set a modern record for turnout. • Pre-election polls showed that almost a third of his fellow Republicans would be voting against the measure. • And, after 10 months in office, Kasich’s approval rating is in the 30s... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Tea Party group pushes for Ohio amendment, by Jeff Bell
Thursday, November 10, 2011 - A conservative group connected to the Tea Party movement is calling for a constitutional amendment to make Ohio a right-to-work state – a move that comes just two days after voters shot down a law viewed by many as anti-union. The Columbus-based 1851 Center for Constitutional Law said in a release Thursday it has submitted signatures... read more.

Rep. Richard Adams... Adams receives “Defender of Liberty” Award
American Conservative Union Announces Inaugural Conservative Ratings of the Ohio General Assembly - Country’s Leading Conservative Organization Rating State Legislators in Five Key Battleground States - COLUMBUS, OH – Richard N. Adams was a recipient of the “Defender of Liberty” award, given to those members of the Ohio General Assembly who scored 100 percent in the American Conservative Union Ratings of Ohio. The American Conservative Union today announced... read more.

The White House... 2011 SAVE Award
Good morning, I want to introduce you to a few federal employees who are serving our country every day, and who are thinking about ways to make sure your tax dollars aren’t wasted. Yesterday, President Obama announced the four finalists for the 2011 SAVE Award, an annual contest for federal employees to submit their ideas for cutting costs by making government more effective and efficient. We need your help to determine this year’s winner – help us choose who gets to discuss... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Caterpillar seeks site for North American plant, by Rich Rovito
Friday, November 11, 2011 - As part of a strategic decision to move production closer to the majority of customers who use the company’s products, Caterpillar Inc. announced Friday that it plans to open a new manufacturing facility in North America for small track-type tractors and mini hydraulic excavators. The decision to shift production from Japan is driven by proximity to a large base of... read more.

Business Courier... Development agency details InvestOhio process
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 - Ohio is making $100 million in tax credits available in the program’s first two years. The Ohio Department of Development Tuesday announced a two-phase application process for InvestOhio, a tax credit program that aims to fuel $1 billion in private investments in Ohio small businesses. The program was part of the two-year budget signed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in June. It allows people to claim a tax credit worth up to 10 cents on every dollar they... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... New census formula shows more in poverty
Last year, “poverty” meant that a family of four made less than $22,113. But it should have been more like $24,343 for that family, the U.S. Census Bureau proposed yesterday in a new calculation that would add about 2.5 million more Americans to the total living in poverty. The “supplemental poverty measure” — which will not replace the official federal rate — also would shuffle the deck of who is considered to be in poverty. People older than 64 would see the largest leap in their poverty... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Banks’ losses are credit unions’ gains
Sunday, November 6, 2011 - Credit unions have taken advantage of the opportunity to grow their customer ranks as some big banks have stirred up consumer anger over debit card user fees and federal bailouts. There was even a “Bank Transfer Day” planned for this weekend that has attracted national media attention. The Credit Union National Association, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, recently... read more.

Dayton Business Journal, UD, Wright State study on treefrogs may aid humans
by Laura Englehart - Friday, November 4, 2011 - Some treefrogs can freeze themselves to survive winter months, and researchers at the University of Dayton and Wright State University hope to hone in on that ability to use on human organs for transplant. The two schools received a joint, three-year $562,000 grant in September from the National Science Foundation to investigate proteins likely active... read more.

U.S. Rep. John Boehner... Economists: GOP Jobs Strategy better than “Stimulus” for job growth
Nov 8, 2011 - Washington- Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today released a list of 132 American economists who believe the job creation strategy used in the House GOP Plan for America’s Job Creators will do more to boost private-sector job growth in America in both the near-term and long-term than the “stimulus” spending approach favored by President Obama. “This list underscores the need for immediate action on the now-22 bipartisan jobs bills passed by the... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Seniors at higher risk of abusing prescriptions
Seniors, who often take multiple medications prescribed by different doctors, are at risk for prescription drug abuse and may be subject to overdose and interaction side effects from those medications, Ohio health officials said. People aged 65 and older comprise 13 percent of the U.S. population, yet account for a third of the population using prescription drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Nearly 20 percent of the 125 unintentional prescription drug deaths... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Daytime Burglary Suspects in Custody
On November 9, 2011 at approximately 11:05 AM Darke County Deputies and Detectives responded to a residential burglar alarm at 6295 Willis Rd. Deputies observed forced entry that had been made into the residence however; the suspects had fled the scene prior to their arrival. Darke County Detectives requested Union City Indiana K9 Officer to respond to the scene to conduct a search of the... read more.

Darke County Partnering for Progress… No job losses on the horizon, By Bob Robinson
“For the first time, we are no longer in danger of losing jobs,” said Darke County Economic Development Director Marc Saluk. This was one of several “positives” noted by the county’s ED head at a recent Partnering for Progress Quarterly Meeting at the Greenville Golf Club. Saluk reported 520 jobs retained or created, with another 147 new jobs currently in progress. No possible job losses... read more.

Energy.aol... Utica Shale May Be Its Own Energy Game-Changer, By Jon Hurdle
October 7, 2011 - When it comes to superlative descriptions of oil and gas reserves, the Utica Shale may be in a class of its own. The rock layer that extends from Quebec to Kentucky with major concentrations in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia has been called the next big play for shale gas; attracted billions of dollars in land investment, and been hailed by Chesapeake Energy chief Aubrey... read more.

11th hour, 11th day, 11th month - Military Spot.com... Meaning of Veterans Day
While many realize that Veterans Day, which always falls on November 11, is a day to honor our Veterans, few realize the historical significance behind the day. Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day and marked the end of hostilities of World War I that occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. Therefore, the day is always recognized on November 11th, regardless of the day of the... read more.

Darke County death under investigation
On November 8, 2011at approximately 5:12 pm, the Darke County 9-1-1 Center received a call advising of a deceased male subject in a remote area near the Twin Maple Apartments, just north of Greenville, Ohio. Deputies and Detectives from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. The male subject, later identified as 32-year-old Timothy D. Hess of Greenville, was confirmed deceased by responding officers... read more.

Rasmussen... Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
Tuesday, November 08, 2011 - The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 21% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18 (see trends)... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Vets buy 1,200 flags for a proper pledge
Veterans rushed in to help the Columbus City Schools after a new school-board directive required that each day begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, but about 1,000 classrooms lacked American flags. The district was forced on the first day of school to use paper flags, plastic ones, projections onto walls and even displays on a computer screen to meet the need. After a Dispatch story about the shortage, Columbus-area veterans started planning to assault the problem... read more.

Darke County Election… Greenville schools to regroup for next campaign, By Bob Robinson
“There are three more opportunities for this to happen. Our kids deserve the best and the state dollars are there.” Greenville Supt. Susie Reigle said the School Board would make the final decision regarding when and if there would be another attempt to pass the levy for a new K-8 building on North Ohio, but added that it was likely there would be another try. “Our kids deserve the best,” she said. “The dollars... read more.

The Presidential Debates... A ‘Short List’ of coming debate media airings - The following information was sent by a County News Online reader. The debate dates noted below have not been verified. In Texas this past Saturday, C-Span covered the debate between Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Specific topics included: Medicare, Social... read more.

WHIO-TV… 9-year-old charged in Greenville arson
GREENVILLE, Ohio — Police in Greenville said they have arrested and charged a 9-year-old with arson in connection with a business fire on Oct. 30. The fire happened at Miami Valley Vending Services on Martin Street. Detectives said the 9-year-old was charged through Juvenile Court. They said they have been talking with the child since last Monday. According to police, the child confessed... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Senators eye tax collection for online sales, by Brian Reisinger
Monday, October 31, 2011 - A federal lawmaker from Tennessee is developing legislation that would enable states to require online retailers collect sales taxes that consumers are supposed to be paying by law. U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander’s office confirmed last week that the Tennessee Republican is working on the legislation with U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyoming. “I hope that we can introduce legislation... read more.

November 8, Darke County Election Results... The expressions tell the tale
By Bob Robinson - Greenville Schools Levy defeated; Monnin re-elected; Sommers, Mattix chosen for Greenville School Board, Greenville Library Levy passes; Godwin elected to Greenville City Council Ward One. State Issues 1 & 2 fail; Issue 3 passes. The expressions tell the tale as Greenville Schools Treasurer Carla Surber, Superintendent Susie Riegle, re-elected Board Member... read more.

One Careflighted in 2-vehicle crash near Ansonia
Ansonia – On November 8, 2011 at approximately 2:04 p.m. Darke County 911 received a call in reference to a two vehicle injury accident on SR 49 and Ansonia Elroy Rd. Darke County Deputies were dispatched to the scene along with Ansonia Fire and Rescue and Greenville City Fire. Initial investigation revealed that a 2005 Buick, driven by James Perkins (79) of Ansonia, was southbound on SR 49. ... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, November 05, 2011 Herman Cain is beating the odds so far. Despite this week’s media frenzy about sexual harassment allegations against him in the 1990s, Cain says his fundraising is up, and his poll numbers in the Republican presidential race are as good as ever. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary voters – taken Wednesday night after three days of press coverage about the allegations - shows the Georgia businessman... read more.

Akron Beacon Journal... Area school board members struggle with smaller budgets, effects of school choice - Mary Lou Dodson’s interest in school issues started years ago when her daughter was a freshman in high school and taking a science course that had no permanent teacher for six weeks. Dodson attended a school board meeting to raise concerns. And by the end of the meeting, she decided that she could make a difference as a member of the board. ... read more.

Ohio Supreme Court... Bar Admissions Ceremony
Nov. 7, 2011 - Anne Evans never thought this day would come. After waiting months to see if she passed the bar exam, Evans became a full-fledged attorney on Monday. “It was so exciting. It was really the culmination of so many years of work and then when you graduate, that’s special, but when you are actually admitted to the bar, that’s something that I’m going to remember... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... New congressional map rolled out
Kucinich on the outs, Democrats balk at quick vote - COLUMBUS, Ohio — A revised congressional map unveiled Thursday by Ohio House Republicans squeezes Cleveland congressman Dennis Kucinich by dropping more than 90,000 Lucas County voters into a solidly Democratic Lake Erie district so that it now appears to favor Toledo Rep. Marcy Kaptur. The shift in that district -- where Democrats Kucinich and Kaptur are pitted against one another -- was one of the new story lines as... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: Most productive employees use Macs
Monday, October 31, 2011 - Do you have a Mac in your office? If not, you may want to rethink the PC vs. Apple choices you have made in the past. That’s because a new report from Forrester Research says that the most productive employees use Mac computers in the office. Analyst David Johnson wrote in the report, “It’s time to repeal prohibition and take decisive action. Mac users are your HEROes and you should enable them not hinder them.” Forrester uses the acronym... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Cordray held hostage, White House charges
A White House official today charges that the nomination of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head a new federal consumer agency is “being held hostage’’ by 44 Senate Republicans, including Rob Portman of Ohio. “Richard Cordray’s nomination is being held hostage by these 44 senators,’’ White House aide Stephanie Cutter told reporters in a conference call. “As the president has said, Congress... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Ohio ranks second in nation in overall jobs increase
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — Ohio’s military facilities will show a net gain of 2 percent in jobs during the next two years despite the Air Force’s system-wide reduction of civilian employment, according to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Led by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which expects a net gain of 363 positions in fiscal years 2012 and 2013, the state ranked second... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Manufacturers optimistic after strong auto sales, by Joe Cogliano
Saturday, November 5, 2011 - Sales of new autos in the U.S. hit an eight-month high in October, which may signal consumers are ready to buy again in bigger numbers. Led by increases at General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group, the annual selling rate for the month was above 13.2 million vehicles, the best performance since February and a 7.5 percent increase compared to... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Money rains, rallies rock in Issue 2 slugfest
Karate Coyote headlined a “rock the repeal” rally at a Columbus union hall, Gov. John Kasich continued his pro-Senate Bill 5 push in northeastern Ohio and outside money began raining across the Buckeye State as the contentious Issue 2 campaign enters its final days. More than $5 million in TV ads will dominate the airwaves in the frantic final days of the hostile off-year election, with half of it being spent by “vote yes on Issue 2” groups that acknowledge they are underdogs in the fight to preserve... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Kasich steps up push to pass Issue 2 with rally in Independence
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich is down in the polls -- and so is his signature overhaul of collective bargaining for public workers. But rather than shy away from a potentially bruising referendum battle, Kasich intensified his salesmanship of the new law Thursday with a home-stretch swing through Northeast Ohio. The Republican governor, along with Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, attended rallies here and in Akron in support of Senate Bill 5, which is on Tuesday’s ballot as Issue 2... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Wright-Patt to net 350 jobs after restructuring, by Joe Cogliano
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base appears to have fared well during the latest streamlining efforts. Officials said the base will post a net gain of more than 350 positions when the dust settles on a restructuring effort announced Wednesday. Air Force Materiel Command will consolidate its 12 centers into five, two of which will be based at Wright-Patt in Dayton. Wright-Patt... read more.

Foxnews.com... Cain Offers Ethics Reminder to Reporters in Pushback Over Sex Harassment Allegations - November 06, 2011 - Attempting to turn reports of sexual harassment allegations back on the media, the campaign for Republican presidential contender Herman Cain is targeting journalists by passing out a code of ethics offering guidelines on how to report stories. On Sunday, Cain campaign spokesman J.D. Gordon emailed passages from the Society of Professional Journalist Code of Ethics that... read more.

Akron Beacon Journal... Natural gas, oil reserves are big, Ohio is estimating
KIRTLAND: A state official estimated Tuesday that as much as 5 billion barrels of oil and 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could be underground in eastern Ohio. The oil and natural gas is in the Utica shale that is 100 to 300 feet thick under the eastern half of the state, said Lawrence Wickstrom, state geologist and head of the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Geological Survey. And this, he said, is “a very conservative estimate” of the Utica potential. No dollar figure... read more.

Ohio Supreme Court... Death Penalty Task Force Receives Charge
Nov. 3, 2011 - At the first meeting today of the Joint Task Force to Review the Administration of Ohio’s Death Penalty, Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor outlined the group’s charge. “It should be made perfectly clear from the outset that this task force is not being asked to make a judgment on whether Ohio should or should not have the death penalty,” Chief Justice O’Connor said during her welcoming remarks. “This will not be your charge. What you are being asked... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Planned layoffs decline in Ohio, U.S.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - October’s planned layoffs sharply declined from September highs for both the U.S. and Ohio. Ohio employers announced only 172 job cuts in October, down from 1,022 in September. U.S. job cuts dropped to 42,759 from a 28-month high of 115,730 in September according to global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. The financial and government sectors led the bounce back. The government announced just 2,785 cuts this past month... read more.

Toledo Blade... Toledo area poverty rate worst in U.S.
The number of poor people living in Toledo’s poorest neighborhoods grew by more than 15 percent in the past decade, giving the metropolitan area the unenviable distinction of No. 1 among American’s largest metro areas. More than 46,000 people reside in neighborhoods with poverty rates of 40 percent or higher in the metro area -- which includes Lucas, Fulton, Ottawa, and Wood counties -- with all but one of the 22 poor neighborhoods located within the borders of Toledo... read more.

AMAC, Inc. Obama Health Care Law Headed to Supreme Court
by The Association of Mature American Citizens, By Gene Barrett - The US Supreme Court will decide on November 10 whether or not to consider the case of President Barack Obama’s controversial health care law. The decision, which will be made in closed session by the nine justices, could be made public that day or on the following Monday, November 14. The justices will assess five of the six pending... read more.

Toledo Blade... Early voting’s end angers Democrats
COLUMBUS — County boards of election must stop early in-person voting as of 6 p.m. Friday, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has advised, prompting Democrats to cry foul. The Rev. Jesse Jackson used a rally Wednesday at the U of Toledo to urge students and others to “occupy” the downtown voter-registration center “all day and night” this weekend. This occurs as a number of counties are reporting higher-than-usual absentee mail-in and early in-person voting for an off-year election... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Issue 2 foes lack identity
The pro-Issue 2 campaign has a face. The opposition has no face or many faces, depending on how you look at it. The unequivocal pitchman for Building a Better Ohio, the Republican group supporting Issue 2, is Gov. John Kasich, who has been on a mad dash across the state for about a month speaking at traditional campaign rallies. We Are Ohio, the labor coalition responsible for placing before voters the GOP-backed limits on collective bargaining for public employees in Senate Bill 5... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... U.S. trucking industry sees monthly rebound
by David Twiddy - Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - U.S. trucking companies saw freight levels rebound slightly in September, furthering analysts’ belief that the U.S. economy may still steer clear of a second recession, according to the latest data from the American Trucking Associations. The trade group’s truck tonnage index increased 1.6 percent last month after declining a revised 0.5... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Federal mandate on health care unaffected
Voters can voice their objections to the new federal health-care law on the Nov. 8 ballot, but a proposed amendment to the state constitution won’t exempt Ohioans from a requirement that most Americans buy health insurance by 2014 or face penalties. Even if it passes, state Issue 3 would have no effect on President Barack Obama’s health-care law because federal law supersedes state law, legal experts on both sides agree. The fate of the insurance mandate — the focus of several lawsuits... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Issue 2 vote to resound nationally, expert says
Both sides are counting on simple messages and deep-pocket supporters. COLUMBUS — With just 10 days left before Ohio voters decide the outcome of a referendum on Senate Bill 5, the collective bargaining reform law, supporters of the law are working to convince voters that it is in their best interest while union leaders and opponents of SB 5 are campaigning to keep momentum and voters on their side. Senate Bill 5 will appear on the statewide ballot as Issue 2 and is being closely watched... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Official: Obama jobs bill would bring $1.1B for Ohio infrastructure
by Adrian Burns - Thursday, October 27, 2011 - More than $1 billion in transportation funding will come to Ohio if Congress passes the transportation portion of President Barack Obama’s American Jobs Act, U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari said during a visit to Columbus Thursday. Porcari was in town to advocate for the president’s jobs bill to local business leaders... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Absentee voting breaking marks for an off-year ,
Sunday, October 30, 2011 - With 50 people an hour casting ballots at midday yesterday, absentee voter turnout continued to run heavy in Franklin County. Most attribute the heightened interest to the contentious state Issue 2 campaign. What’s not as clear is whether one side or the other is benefiting more.... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls,
Saturday, October 29, 2011 - For many conservatives and Tea Party voters, the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination boils down to “anyone but Romney.” Yet the former Massachusetts governor remains a frontrunner for the nomination, while the various conservative hopefuls rise and fall. Romney is still the GOP presidential contender who voters consider most qualified to be president, although he falls short of the number who feel that way about President Obama.... read more.

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