Darke County Ohio News

Youngstown Vindicator... DeWine: Drilling laws ‘not adequate’ By Karl Henkel
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine thinks Ohio’s natural-gas and oil drilling laws are “not adequate” compared with other states. "I think Gov. [John] Kasich has made the point very correctly that fracking can be very good for our economy,” DeWine told The Vindicator on Tuesday. “We want to encourage growth and jobs, but at the same time, we have to assure the public that the protections are in place.” DeWine said through investigation and research... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Ohio Republicans say Sherrod Brown has voted with Obama 95 percent of the time - Republicans in Washington, D.C., and Ohio have vast ideological differences with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat. Brown says the government plays a positive role in people’s lives when it provides a safety net (new health insurance programs, financial regulation, help for cash-strapped cities and schools) while supporting the private sector. Republicans... read more.

The Columbus Dispatch... New voucher effort serves special-needs students, By Catherine Candisky
Wednesday January 25, 2012 - Ohio is about to launch its fourth tax-funded education-voucher program, this one for students with special needs. The application process is expected to begin in early February for the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship, named after the former state representative from Delaware who pushed for the program. The vouchers — up to $20,000 a year — will be available for the 2012-13 school year. Supporters say the program will give students with disabilities... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Kucinich gets Barney Frank’s endorsement in primary battle
Former House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts is backing Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich in his primary battle against Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Frank, who will retire from the House of Representatives at the end of this year, announced his support in a letter posted on Kucinich’s campaign website. “I am very appreciative of his strong support for an end to... read more.

Youngstown Vindicator... Kasich’s taking speech on road splits lawmakers
State lawmakers were split Tuesday on Gov. John Kasich’s plans to take his State of the State address on the road next month. It’s nothing against Steubenville, the location of the Feb. 7 speech to a joint session of the General Assembly. But Democrats and Republicans both voiced concern Tuesday about the costs involved and in the traditions being broken by having the annual event away from the Statehouse. “I love Steubenville, but I love my taxpayers more,” said Rep. Lynn Wachtmann... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio on list of worst states for binge drinking, by Laura Englehart
Saturday, January 21, 2012 - It turns out that Ohioans can really throw ‘em back, and that’s bad news for employers. A recent federal report shows that nearly 20 percent of Ohioans 18 and older said they binge drink, which for men means consuming five or more alcoholic drinks within a short period, and for women, four or more. Ohio ranks ninth in the U.S. for highest rate of binge drinkers. Wisconsin... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... New AEP rates stun small businesses
01/27/12 - The PUCO has fielded about 25 complaints about rates from small businesses this week. Some small-business owners are furious about a sudden rise in electricity costs, the result of a new American Electric Power rate plan that took effect this month. With immediate increases of up to 40 percent, business owners said they are faced with cutting workers, reducing investment and making other... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Two Greenville residents arrested for B&E
On January 26, 2012 at approximately 11:38 AM Darke County Sheriffs Deputies along with Preble County Sheriffs Deputies responded to 62 Billman Rd., in southern Darke County, on a complaint of subjects possibly on the property stealing scrap metal. Upon arrival Deputies confronted two subjects in possession of items from the property. Both subjects were apprehended without... read more.

Bloomberg... Ohio to Get $1.4 Billion From Development Agency’s Bond Sale, By Mark Niquette
Jan 23, 2012 - A nonprofit organization created to keep and attract jobs will lease Ohio (STOOH1)’s liquor-distribution enterprise using $1.4 billion from long-term bonds backed by its profits, said Tim Keen, the state budget director. The state is transferring its wholesale liquor enterprise for 25 years to JobsOhio, a private, nonprofit entity the Legislature brought into being last year at the behest of Republican Governor John Kasich. Ohio doesn’t have government- run liquor stores; it buys and... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Tax group names ‘Dirty Thirty’ companies, by DBJ Staff
Saturday, January 21, 2012 - U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Citizens for Tax Justice has released a list of 30 corporations that spent more to lobby Congress than they did in taxes. The report, Representation without Taxation: Fortune 500 Companies that Spend Big on Lobbying and Avoid Taxes, focuses on an area the group that corporate power and influence is on full display: corporate tax policy... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Suspect Confesses to Numerous B&E’s
Fonner admits to committing numerous break-ins to businesses in 5 counties - On the afternoon of January 23, 2012 Detectives from Darke County traveled to Mercer County to interview Douglas N. Fonner, 27, Mendon, Ohio. Fonner was previously arrested by Mercer County Deputies in Mercer County in connection with a number of recent break-ins at grain elevators and other local businesses. Darke and... read more.

Toledo Blade... Ohio loses ground in tobacco fight
COLUMBUS -- Once a national leader in the battle against tobacco, Ohio has surrendered some of its hard-fought gains, anti-smoking activists argued Thursday. In the wake of a poor report card from the American Lung Association, Ohio activists renewed their call for hikes in tobacco-related taxes to fund smoking cessation programs and to keep the toll-free, state-run Quitline in operation. In last year’s budget, state lawmakers continued funding for enforcement of the voter-approved... read more.

Ohio Supreme Court... Year-End Federal Judiciary Review
Jan. 24, 2012 - U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. recently released the 2011 year-end Federal Judiciary Review in which he discusses the Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct and its application. The report also included analysis of caseloads in the various federal courts. Some of the statistical highlights include: In 2011, caseloads increased in the U.S. district courts and in the probation and pretrial... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio booze sales jump, vodka brand remains top seller
Thursday, January 19, 2012 - Liquor sales in Ohio hit record levels in 2011 as more drinkers reached for the top shelf. Sales of liquor containing at least 21 percent alcohol by volume increased $40 million, or 5.3 percent, to $793.7 million in 2011, the Ohio Department of Commerce said Thursday. The cash boost outpaced the state’s overall consumption, which increased 3.9 percent to 11.4 million... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Rep. Dennis Kucinich wants Constitution to require that taxpayers fund all federal campaigns - Add amending the U.S. Constitution to the uphill battles undertaken by Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich announced Thursday that he’s seeking a Constitutional Amendment that would require that all campaigns for U.S. President, Vice-President, House of Representatives, and Senate be paid for exclusively by taxpayers. His amendment also would block outside expenditures on behalf of any candidate. He said the measure is needed to counteract... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Improving graduation rates at Ohio’s public universities a priority for Gov. John Kasich, Chancellor Jim Petro - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio’s public four-year colleges don’t have a problem attracting students, but keeping them enrolled long enough to get a degree continues to pose a challenge. About 56 percent of students who enrolled full time as freshmen in 2004 had earned degrees six years later, according to the Ohio Board of Regents. That’s just about the national average. Retaining and graduating more students is a top priority for Gov. John... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Dayton region unemployment drops to 8.2%, by Ginger Christ
Tuesday, January 24, 2012 - Darke County: 7.7 percent, up from 7.6 percent in November and down from 10 percent in December 2010 - The Dayton-area unemployment rate continues to fall, reaching its lowest level in three years. The December jobless rate for the Dayton metropolitan statistical area was 8.2 percent, the lowest since November 2008, according to Tuesday data from the Ohio... read more.

State of the Union Address 2012
Wed, Jan 25 - As predicted by most of the "Talking Heads" on both sides of the aisle, President Obama's "State of the Union" address was more about hitting the campaign trail than it was the actuality of the state of the union. He talked about what he wanted to do - such as making the wealthy pay their fair share - while he spent little time on what was actually accomplished. Also as predicted on both sides... read more.

Cincinnati Enquirer...VP rumors start as Terrace Park’s Portman endorses Romney
Ohio’s junior senator, Rob Portman of Terrace Park, endorsed GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney in South Carolina Thursday, immediately firing up speculation that Portman could be a potential running mate for the GOP frontrunner. Portman, who attended the GOP candidates’ debate in South Carolina Thursday night, has the resume of a vice presidential candidate – seven terms representing Southwest Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, White House experience as President George W. Bush’s.... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Kodak lawsuits pile up as bankruptcy looms, by DBJ Staff
Eastman Kodak Co. is getting aggressive at going after rivals it believes have violated its many digital patents, and filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday. The lawsuits come as the company is trying to protect its valuable patents that it is reportedly trying to sell as it considers a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, according to the Wall Street Journal. The suit against Samsung claims it violated Kodak’s patents when... read more.

Darke County Econ. Development...Ohio Receives Funding to Support Small Business Exports
More than 150 Grant Opportunities to Increase Exports. Columbus - Today, the Ohio Department of Development announced the International Market Access Grant for Exporters (IMAGE) program, which is part of the National Export Initiative to double U.S. exports by 2015. The program is administered through the Department’s Office of Export Assistance and is designed to increase exports and create jobs by helping... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
South Carolina: Gingrich 33%, Romney 31%, Paul 15% - Saturday, January 21, 2012 - And then there were four. The South Carolina Primary claimed two of the Republican presidential hopefuls this past week – Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry – before a single vote was cast. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are now running nearly even, but with all the charges in the air, who knows if that will last until the votes are counted this evening? Gingrich surged ahead of Romney 33% to 31% in the final Rasmussen... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... In emotional speech, Kasich talks of faith, civil rights, By Joe Vardon
Wednesday January 18, 2012 - WILBERFORCE, Ohio — Tears rolled down Gov. John Kasich’s cheeks yesterday while the choir belted out Amazing Grace. As How Great Thou Art wound to a close, he urged the mostly African-American crowd at historically black Central State University to its feet. Wiping away tears and humbly telling the audience, “I don’t really know what I’m going to be talking about today,” Kasich launched a nearly 30-minute speech delving into issues of faith and perseverance... read more.

State Senator Bill Beagle... Ohio Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Encourage Growth of Agricultural Businesses - COLUMBUS—State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) recently introduced legislation to modify the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program, which supports Ohio’s agricultural community by permitting the Ohio Treasurer of State to invest in eligible lending institutions that then lend money to an eligible agricultural business at a reduced interest rate. Specifically, Senate Bill 281 will increase... read more.

Counting the Homeless in Darke County
January 25th is the date set for the fifth Point-In-Time study of a twenty-four hour period to tally the number of sheltered homeless and those persons who are homeless and cannot be surveyed. There are those individuals living in cars, at campgrounds, under bridges or other locations throughout the county. Homelessness is not just in Greenville. Even the smallest town in Darke County... read more.

Christian Science Monitor... Is Mitt Romney really a job creator? What his Bain Capital record shows.
By Ron Scherer & Leigh Montgomery - January 19, 2012 - Mitt Romney is running for president on his business acumen, saying he knows what it takes to create jobs. He puts less emphasis on what he knows about eliminating jobs. Marion, Ind., has experienced both via Romney and Bain Capital. Before Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital bought the rambling SCM factory in Marion, Ind., it was running three shifts a day, making hanging file folders and other office supplies. But on July 5, 1994, everything... read more.

Governor John Kasich... Kasich will deliver State of State Address at Steubenville’s Wells Academy
Ohio’s Best Public Elementary School to be Site of Historic, On-the-Road Address - COLUMBUS – Today Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich announced that he will deliver the annual State of the State address on Feb. 7 at Wells Academy in Steubenville. Wells Academy is the highest-ranking public elementary school in Ohio, measured by test results, and part of Steubenville City Schools. It is consistently viewed as one of the best, most innovative elementary schools in Ohio... read more.

OFRW... Greenville resident Zeiter appointed to Awards Committee
COLUMBUS, OH ─ Jean Turner, President of the Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW), has announced the appointment of Sally Hole Zeiter as Co-chair of the OFRW’s Awards Committee for the 2012 and 2013 term. As such, Zeiter will serve on the OFRW’s Board of Directors. “I am very honored to be serving the OFRW on this committee.“ said Zeiter regarding her recent appointment. “This is such... read more.

Darke County Republican Mens Club… Commissioners tout positives, note challenges
By Bob Robinson - 2012 Budget balanced with $500 thousand increase - Despite continuing funding cuts from the state, Darke County Commissioners told Republican Mens Club members and guests Saturday that they’ve signed off on a balanced budget with an increase of over a half million dollars. The 2012 General Budget is $15,283,197 compared to 2011’s $14,728,394, an increase of $554,804... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Kasich seeks taxes on oil, gas drilling
Assessments would help pay to repair roads - Gov. John Kasich also wants to broaden the state’s severance tax to include propane. By Dan Gearino and Joe Vardon - Wednesday January 18 - Ohio’s oil and gas industry would pay an “impact fee” for deep-shale wells to cover the cost of infrastructure damage caused by oil and gas extraction, part of a package of taxes and fees for the industry that Gov. John Kasich soon will propose. Kasich confirmed his intentions to The Dispatch... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Department… Saturday's Snow Emergency
A Level 1 Snow Emergency was declared at 11 p.m. Friday evening, and cancelled Saturday at 11 a.m. A Level 1 is issued when roads are hazardous, but does not impose any restrictions on travel. In cancelling Level 1, the release said, “Road conditions continue to improve, however most secondary roads remain snow and ice covered. Caution should still be used while driving today.”

Mail Magazine 24... Dynamic Solar System - the actual effects of climate change
The sun - the amazing star - This article references figures and graphics that will not be available if you click the link below. Also, it is the second of two articles. The first can be accessed at the link as well. In all cultures the sun determined the course of events. Very early, the sun’s importance to life on Earth has been detected. Even today “her” metal that has “her” color, is a synonym for prosperity... read more.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel... Ohio Farmers can apply online for Interest Rate Reduction Program
Applications will be accepted through March 9 - Application process has been streamlined and simplified to better serve Ohio’s agricultural community - COLUMBUS - Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announced today that the 2012 Agricultural Linked Deposit Program (Ag-LINK) application period will begin on Thursday, January 19, 2012 and end on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 5:00 PM. This will mark the 27th year that the Treasurer’s linked deposit program has assisted Ohio farmers. “We are... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Level 1 Snow Emergency Cancelled
This update was posted about noon Friday. If you would like to receive “Breaking News” updates, click below. As of 10:30 AM, Darke County Sheriff Toby L. Spencer has canceled the Level 1 Snow Emergency for Darke County. Road conditions continue to improve, however another round of snow and freezing rain is expected across Darke County this evening ... read more.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel... Mandel Releases Top-Bottom Review for Calendar Year 2011
Review Outlines Steps to Improve Operations, Safeguard Investments, Leverage Technology, Increase Transparency and Modernize Banking Practices - COLUMBUS - Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel released a report today outlining the results of the Calendar Year 2011 Top-Bottom Review. This report builds upon findings released at the end of the 2011 fiscal year, and includes full calendar year results... read more.

Darke County Engineer Jim Surber... Restoring Historic 1881 Mill Road Bridge
34th Annual Darke County Engineer’s Annual Report 2011, By James P. Surber P.E., P.S. Darke County Engineer - In his report, Darke County Engineer notes two bridges that are historic. One of them is the Mill Road bridge off Hwy 36 (near Gettysburg) that is currently under restoration. It was built in 1881 and the current plans are to restore it for pedestrians and bicycles on the Darke County multi-use... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Single Vehicle Injury Accident
On January 19, 2012 at approximately 11:29 AM Darke County Deputies, along with Pitsburg Fire, Arcanum Rescue and Greenville Rescue were dispatched to the 2100 block of St. Rt. 49 south in reference to a one vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a tan 2002 Chevy Silverado, driven by Bruce E. Miller, 77, Greenville, Ohio was northbound on St. Rt. 49 when he lost control of his vehicle on the snow covered roadway. Miller’s vehicle traveled across the... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Level One Snow Emergency in Effect
January 19, 2012 - A LEVEL 1 SNOW EMERGENCY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR DARKE COUNTY DUE TO HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS CAUSED BY FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW. Darke County Sheriff Toby L. Spencer has issued a Level 1 Snow Emergency for Darke County. This Snow Emergency has been issued to warn those who must travel on Darke County roadways to use extreme caution due to hazardous road conditions. Snow continues to fall across Darke County... read more.

Politico... Poll: Obama, Mitt Romney dead heat, By MJ Lee
1/16/12 - President Barack Obama and Republican front-runner Mitt Romney are locked in a statistical tie, according to a new national poll Monday. In an Obama-Romney race, 46 percent would vote for the president, while 45 percent would back Romney, the Fox News poll finds. But the president enjoys more positive support than the former Massachusetts governor, with 74 percent of his supporters saying they would be voting “for” Obama and 21 percent saying they would be voting “against... read more.

Darke County Economic Development... OJT Grants Summary of Programs 2012
General Characteristics... On-the-Job Training Grants may be made to employers who hire dislocated or other unemployed persons. There are several different programs, each having its own unique characteristics and requirements. In all of the programs, it is critical that the employer and the job seekers complete all eligibility and application requirements before the hiring takes place. All grant awards are based upon the availability of funds and budget limits do exist. Staff members of the... read more.

Foxnews... As Keystone pipeline decision looms, White House suggests deadline is too soon, By Doug McKelway - January 15, 2012 - Another all-but-certain battle over the fate of the Keystone XL pipeline is fast approaching as the White House signals resistance to a new Feb. 21 deadline for approval of the project and interest groups step up their campaigns. The White House agreed to the new deadline as a part of Republican language inserted in the recently passed payroll tax cut extension, but with... read more.

U.S. Congressman John Boehner... Obama Job Council Endorses GOP Job Creation Approach
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) issued the following statement in response to recommendations released today by President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness endorsing GOP approach to job creation. “With this report, President Obama’s own panel of experts has endorsed the approach to job creation House Republicans have been pursuing for more than a year. American job creators understand that we must ease the regulatory... read more.

MSNBC... Zappos says hacker may have accessed info on 24 million customers
By Bob Sullivan - Online retailer Zappos.com is telling 24 million customers that their personal information has been hacked, and forcing all of them to reset their passwords. Cyber criminals may have accessed customers’ names, e-mail addresses, billing and shipping addresses, phone number, and the last four digits of consumers’ credit card numbers, the firm said in an announcement that was posted on Zappos’ Web... read more.

Darke County’s Most Wanted... DCSO & Crime Stoppers launch new web link
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Darke County Crime Stoppers, has launched a new web link for unsolved cases. If you know of any information that might help solve the following crime, you may provide it anonymously be calling the tip line below. There is an award available. CASE DETAILS - On 01-05-12 at 9:12 a.m. Darke County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Birt’s Store in... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
South Carolina: Romney 28%, Gingrich 21%, Santorum 16%, Paul 16%
Saturday, January 14, 2012 - Next Saturday’s South Carolina Republican Primary is expected to thin the pack of presidential hopefuls, but for now Mitt Romney, winner of both the Iowa caucuses and last Tuesday’s New Hampshire Primary, is the man to beat. New numbers out of South Carolina and Florida suggest that may be easier said than done. Romney still holds.... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: Kodak to focus on printing after bankruptcy , by DBJ Staff
If Eastman Kodak Co. carries through with a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the coming weeks as media reports suggest, it could mark the end of a rich, 131-year history as the king of all-things related to photos and cameras, according to a report by MarketWatch.com. In the report, Rafferty Capital Markets Analyst Mark Kaufman says the company likely will completely exit the consumer photo and camera business. “Forget about it.... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Injury accident at 49 and Pitsburg Laura Rd
On January 16, 2012 at 7:08 PM Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Fire and Arcanum Rescue were dispatched to the intersection of State Route 49 and Pitsburg Laura Road reference a two vehicle injury accident. Investigation revealed that a 2004 Chevy Impala, driven by Benjamin Stump, 17, of Arcanum was northbound on State Route 49 attempting to turn left. A 1992 Olds Cutlass, driven by James Bingham, 58, of Greenville was traveling southbound on State Route 49 when the vehicles... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Most Ohio jobs to require education beyond high school
More jobs in Ohio will require a postsecondary education in the next six years while workers who only finish high school or drop out will face languishing employment opportunities, according to a recent report. By 2018, about 57 percent of all jobs in the state will require some training beyond high school, according to a report released last fall by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. The number of jobs available to high school graduates and dropouts in the state will... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... IRS audits targeting millionaires, by Ginger Christ
Friday, January 6, 2012 - The tax collector likely won’t be knocking at your door if you make less than $1 million. In 2011, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service audited 12.48 percent of individuals who made upwards of $1 million, according to data the agency released Thursday. That’s up from the 8.4 percent audited in that bracket the previous year and well above the 5.87 percent average examined from... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Bill proposes $8,000 stipend for athletes
Editor Note: Good grief! Will anyone ever get a clue? The NCAA approves of a plan to give athletes a $2,000 stipend, but a Dayton-area Democrat says he wants to quadruple the amount for those performing in Division I. Rep. Clayton Luckie wants Ohio to take the lead nationally in getting collegiate athletes a fair stipend for their efforts that make “millions of dollars for these universities.” “I think $2,000 is an insult,” Luckie said yesterday, noting that he was a roommate with four... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio farm offices slated to close, by Joe Cogliano
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - Five Ohio Farm Service Agency offices, including two in the Dayton region, will close under a new cost-cutting proposal by the United States Department of Agriculture. Local FSA offices slated for closure include Clark County, which would be consolidated with Madison County FSA office in London, and Montgomery County, which would be consolidated with the Preble County FSA office in Eaton. A public meeting in each affected county will be held within the next 30... read more.

GCSD and P4P Partner... Greenville High School CTC to Add Adult Workforce Training
District inaugurates county’s workforce development efforts with new program - GREENVILLE- On Tuesday, the Greenville School Board’s approval of a service agreement with The ProtoGen Group for adult workforce training is now the first step towards a workforce development campaign for Darke County. According to Superintendent Susie Riegle, the school has been working with the county’s Partnering... read more.

WHIO-TV... Open containers found in crashed car with teens
Story and video - DARKE CO., Ohio — Deputies in Darke County responded to a rollover crash that involved six teens on early Saturday morning. The crash happened around 1:13 a.m. in the 7400 block of North Star- Fort Loramie Road. Deputies said their preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old male from Fort Loramie, lost control and struck a guardrail. The vehicle... read more.

Christian Science Monitor... US crime rate at lowest point in decades. Why America is safer now.
By Daniel B. Wood, Staff writer - The crime rate for serious crimes, including murder, rape, and assault, has dropped significantly since the early 1990s in part because of changes in technology and policing, experts say. The last time the crime rate for serious crime – murder, rape, robbery, assault – fell to these levels, gasoline cost 29 cents a gallon and the average income for a working American was $5,807... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Ohio license plate slogans: God the clear winner, LeBron an object of scorn - COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s pretty clear: Ohioans love God. And they also love to mock Ohio State football. Don’t believe it? Take a look at the list of phrases folks would like to see displayed on Ohio’s new license plates, which will debut later this year. About three-quarters of the nearly 400,000 responses the state received contained the word God, with most of those settling... read more.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich Administration… Health Care Payment Reform Initiative Launched
COLUMBUS – Governor John Kasich’s Administration today launched a formal initiative to partner with health care stakeholders to begin to change Ohio’s public and private health care business models from one that is based on volume to one based on value and performance. The Office of Ohio Health Plans (Ohio Medicaid), under the leadership of Director John McCarthy, has begun to work with Catalyst for... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Rollover Accident on 571
On January 12, 2012 at 8:07 PM, Darke County Deputies, along with Greenville Township Fire Department and Greenville Rescue were dispatched to the 2700 block of State Route 571 for a rollover accident with entrapment. Investigation revealed that Jacob Hill, 19, of Greenville was eastbound on State Route 571 when he lost control of his vehicle and drove off the left side of the roadway. Jacob’s... read more.

M@il Magazine 24... New Round of VERY SERIOUS Facebook / bank account hacks
by Sean Gallagher, Uptime (Ars Technica) - The latest variant of Ramnit, the Windows malware responsible for the recent theft of at least 45,000 Facebook logins, is the latest example of how malware writers and cyber-criminals take “off-the-shelf” hacks and bolt them together to teach old viruses new tricks. Facebook passwords aren’t the only thing that the Ramnit virus can grab—thanks to the integration of some of the code from the Zeus botnet trojan, Ramnit can now be customized with modules... read more.

WHIO-TV… Cigarettes stolen from Greenville carry-out
GREENVILLE, Ohio — Police are searching for two men who stole cigarettes from McMiller’s Carry-Out, 601 Martin Street early Wednesday morning. The thieves broke into the business around 1 a.m., took cigarettes and fled the scene. At this time, there is no word on a description of the thieves or how many cigarettes they made off with. Read this and other articles at WHIO-TV

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Gas-rich Ohio is in the running for a $2 billion chemical plant
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A giant chemical plant that processes natural gas is coming to the Midwest and Ohio leaders hope the state’s newly tapped gas deposits, coupled with growing industries that use gas products, make Ohio the favored location. Shell Chemical is finalizing plans for a $2 billion complex that is expected to create hundreds of jobs and pull other industries and manufacturers into its orbit. Shell has said only that it plans to build in either West Virginia, Pennsylvania or Ohio, three states... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: postal cuts may cost businesses $100M annually
by Susan R. Miller - Thursday, January 5, 2012 - Plans by the U.S. Postal Service to do away with next-day delivery of first-class mail could prove costly for America’s large companies. A new report released by REL Consulting, a division of Miami-based The Hackett Group, suggests the lag time created as a result of the cuts could cost a typical large U.S. company up to $100 million a year by making it harder... read more.

Student Report... Bomb Threat Puts School on High Alert, By Naiesha Thobe, Teen Scribe
Just past noon on January 10th, Greenville Senior High School went on lockdown due to a written bomb threat. Students were held after the bomb threat had been received and were later evacuated from the premises. Reports say that a man handed an envelope containing the threat to a student and told her to give it to the administration. A teacher was given the envelope and the police force was quickly called on... read more.

WHIO-TV Video... Bomb threat delays opening of Greenville High School
Threat cancels basketball game - By Teesha McClam - GREENVILLE, Ohio — The Greenville City School District announced Tuesday night that all of its schools will operate Wednesday on a 2-hour delay, an announcement that came several hours after the high school was evacuated and a basketball game was canceled because of a written bomb threat. According to police dispatch... read more.

Dayton Daily News... More than half of firms fail to meet job creation promises
More than half of the companies that accepted state tax incentives to bring new jobs to the Dayton area or keep existing ones here failed to follow through on their end of the deal, according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. As part of a first-of-its-kind review, the AG’s office looked at nearly 3,000 Ohio Department of Development tax incentive agreements statewide with 2010 deadlines. That included 50 awards worth $21.2 million in state money given to companies in Montgomery County and... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Fatal Accident North of Versailles
On January 10, 2012 at approximately 9:08 AM Darke County Deputies, along with Versailles Fire, Versailles Rescue, CareFlight and a Darke County Coroners Investigator were dispatched to the intersection of Reed Road and Long Road approximately one mile north of Versailles. Preliminary investigation revealed a green 2003 Chevy Silverado, driven by Mark A. Pax, 67, Versailles, Ohio was westbound on Long Road... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, January 07, 2012 - Like a weathered old gunslinger who has to face down every newcomer who thinks he’s faster on the draw, Mitt Romney has yet another challenger stepping out of the pack. First it was Michele Bachmann followed by Rick Perry; then it was Herman Cain. Next came Newt Gingrich, and now it’s Rick Santorum. After his photo finish with Romney in last Tuesday’s Iowa caucuses, Santorum is now in second place among Republican voters in the race for the party’s... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Gas prices may crack $4 by spring, by Laura Englehart
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 - With the average fuel price at $3.29 per gallon nationwide, drivers could pay more than $4 per gallon for fuel when prices peak in the spring and summer months, analysts say. While prices have fallen in recent months, the current average is 22 cents more than the price a year ago of $3.07 per gallon. In the past seven years, fuel prices have peaked 93 cents to $1.31... read more.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor... CSI Ohio Initiates New Business Rule Review Process
Columbus – Lt. Governor Mary Taylor today announced that all future state agency rules which adversely impact businesses will be subject to analysis under CSI Ohio, the Common Sense Initiative. The analysis will help ensure that those affected by business regulations are given the opportunity to help shape those regulations, and will force agencies to validate that the purpose of the regulation justifies the impact to... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Cordray issues a warning to money giants
WASHINGTON — Richard Cordray said yesterday that the new federal consumer-protection agency he heads will aim to make “sure that financial institutions are playing by the rules,” warning the industry that “there are real consequences” for violating the law. The former Ohio attorney general gave a speech at the Brookings Institution one day after President Barack Obama used a recess appointment to name him director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Cordray said he has “examiners... read more.

Congressman Boehner Statement on December Unemployment Report
Jan 6, 2012 - Washington - Congressman John Boehner (R-) released the following statement regarding the Department of Labor’s latest unemployment report: “It’s good news that more Americans found work last month despite a sluggish economy, but both parties must come together and do more to address the ongoing uncertainty that small businesses face. Today marks the 35th consecutive month of unemployment above eight percent, and too many Americans continue to struggle to... read more.

Christian Science Monitor... Unemployment rate falls to 8.5%; GOP still using jobs as battering ram, By Ron Scherer - January 6, 2012 - With 11 months to go before the presidential election, the economy has finally started to produce more jobs. The economy added 200,000 new jobs in December, the best showing since last spring, the Department of Labor reported Friday. The unemployment rate fell from 8.7 percent to 8.5 percent, its lowest level since February 2009. The better jobs numbers immediately... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... A right-to-work law in Indiana could be a learning experience for Ohio
By Kevin O’Brien - A week before Issue 2 got clobbered at the polls, Ohio Tea Party activists and the libertarian 1851 Center for Constitutional Law announced that they were laying the groundwork for a constitutional amendment to make Ohio a right-to-work state. The announcement wasn’t trumpeted amid euphoric expectation that Ohioans would pass Issue 2, thereby affirming a perfectly sensible law to curb the power of public employee unions. Rather, it came amid a growing certainty... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Ohio teachers to be watched and graded on classroom performance… and many are OK with that - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Teachers across Ohio should expect a lot more criticism of their classroom work in the next few years. Their principals will be in their classrooms more. Or their assistant principals, or even outside evaluators, all watching them, taking notes and essentially grading the teachers. Don’t expect glowing reviews either, or the perfunctory check mark... read more.

Christian Science Monitor... Recess appointee Cordray ready to ‘prove’ worth of consumer bureau
By David Grant - January 5, 2012 - WASHINGTON - No matter how Richard Cordray was appointed, he believes Americans will support him and the federal government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) when they begin to see the fruits of its labor. “The most important thing we can do as a bureau is keep our nose to the grindstone and keep doing our work,” Mr. Cordray, CFPB director and former head of its enforcement division, said Thursday during a public appearance in... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Dayton Development Coalition sets plan for 2012, by Joe Cogliano
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - Armed with millions of dollars in new state grants, the Dayton Development Coalition is on track to be the leading economic development player in the region this year. The new programs will expand — and more narrowly define — the coalition’s role in bolstering the defense industry and general economic development. For example, in its new role with JobsOhio, all projects in... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Manufacturing sector ends 2011 on strong note, by Joe Cogliano
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - Manufacturing in the U.S. continued to push upward in December. The PMI, an index used to measure the strength of the industry, jumped 1.2 percentage points to 53.9 percent last month, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management. December’s figure marked the industry’s second straight month of higher numbers as well as the 29th consecutive... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Hiring in 2012 may be better than outlook, by Jeff Clabaugh
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - A Careerbuilder survey of hiring executives finds 23 percent of U.S. companies plan to hire full-time employees in 2012, little changed from its 2011 forecast. Midwestern employers are right on par with the national average, with 23 percent of them also saying they plan to hire next year. Six percent of Midwestern employees said they planned to reduce headcount... read more.

Secretary of State Jon Husted... Nine candidates filed for Ohio March 6 Presidential Primary
Secretary Husted today announced that nine candidates filed for Ohio’s March 6 Presidential Primary Election.
Included below is a listing of those candidates who filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office by today’s 4:00pm deadline. Any previous filings for presidential delegates and congressional candidates (on or before the previous deadline of December 7) have been deemed null and void per House Bill... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Election year to test Facebook friendships
Like many other Americans, David Bickham joined the Facebook party in 2009 and began reconnecting with long-lost friends. But talk of kids and sports often gives way on the social network to posts about politics — and for Bickham, that’s where the party ends. “I actually unfriended one of my best friends from high school and college because of his need to constantly spew his political beliefs, and the hate with which he did it,” said Bickham, a 48-year-old Lancaster resident. He hasn’t heard from... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... 5 Arrested in Methamphetamine Lab Bust
On January 3rd, 2012 the Deputies and Detectives from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, along with Investigators from the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office and Agents from the Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded 1024 State Route 571 to execute a pre-dawn hour search warrant on the residence located there for the manufacturing of methamphetamine... read more.

Greenville Resident Lyn Bliss to serve on NFRW Legislative Committee
Alexandria, VA─Rae Chornenky, President of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) has announced the appointment of Lyn Bliss to the Legislative Committee of the NFRW. Bliss was appointed to fill the position for a two year term. “This came as a surprise, and I am looking forward to serving President Chornenky and Chairladies Geary and White. This will be a demanding opportunity... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Arrests of repeat DUI offenders increasing
SPRINGFIELD — More people are being arrested for driving under the influence, including more with multiple convictions for impaired driving. That has local authorities taking more steps to crack down on the problem. Sgt. Steve Duteil of the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Springfield post said two drivers have been arrested in the last two weeks who have 16 total convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Duteil called habitual repeat offenders.... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Sears, Kmart to shut stores as sales fall
At a time when holiday sales overall have turned out better than expected, Sears Holdings Corp. has been an exception. It said yesterday that it will close 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores after disappointing seasonal sales. The final list of stores to be closed hasn’t been determined, Sears said. In a change of strategy, the company said it no longer plans to keep “marginally performing” stores open while it works to improve their... read more.

Toledo Blade... Ohio, 7 other states set to hike minimum wage
NEW YORK -- Eight states -- including Ohio -- will ring in the New Year with a higher minimum wage, under state laws that require wage floors to keep pace with inflation. San Francisco, one of the few cities that sets its own minimum wage above the federal level, is also raising wages for the lowest-paid workers in the new year. It will become the first big city in the country to require companies to pay more... read more.

Candidate for Juvenile/Probate Judge... James Detling Announces Campaign Team
Juvenile/Probate Court candidate James Detling recently announced the selection of his campaign management team. Detling is a candidate for the Darke County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile/Probate Court position. The Primary Election is March 6, 2012. Ann Riegle of Wayne Lakes will be Detling’s Campaign Chairman. As a non-profit director and professional... read more.

Sixteen “write-in” candidates for Central Committee, A first time for this position...
GREENVILLE -- “I just want to help strengthen the party – because I care.” was the response of Joe LeMaster as he filed a form with the Darke County Board of Elections (DCBOE) to become the write-in candidate for the Darke County Republican Central Committee. LeMaster, if elected, will become the representative for Arcanum B precinct. Several Darke County residents arrived at the DCBOE shortly before the 4 p.m. deadline... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Top 25 oddball job interview questions of 2011, by Laura Englehart
Wednesday, December 28, 2011. The weirdest job interview questions of the year — and the companies that asked them — have been compiled by California-based Glassdoor.com in the Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions of 2011. Included in the list are several companies with operations in the Dayton area, including Deloitte, American Airlines and Best Buy. Questions were shared by tens of thousands of job candidates... read more.

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