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Reps. Mike Dovilla and John Adams… House resolution passed supporting America’s energy independence Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline Would Mean Thousands of Ohio Jobs - House Majority Policy Chairman Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and House Majority Whip John Adams (R-Sidney) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Resolution 305. The measure urges the administration of President Barack Obama to allow for increased offshore oil and natural gas production, as well as complete construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. At a time when Ohioans are paying near... read more. Sex Offender gets 60 days, Tier II registration and tough community sanctions, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – On July 11 Zachary D. Moore received 60 days in jail with work release, 60 hours of community service, $3,000 in fines, and supervision for the legal maximum 60 months from the court of Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Hein. He is also required to register as a Tier II Sex Offender. Hein said the Court has a lot of discretion. “Prison is not the best option,” he said, noting the defendant has a good job and is paying restitution... read more. Classified cancels, puts finishing touches on Eagles celebration, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Due to likelihood of bad weather, which had been standard fare throughout the week’s Independence Day celebrations in Darke County, Greenville Eagles 2177 scheduled the July 5 performance of Classified in its large facility on Shade Road. “We were trying to play it safe,” said Eagles Worthy President Steffanie Baker. “Classified cancelled. They said they wouldn’t play indoors.” Noting that Classified plays most of its venues indoors, Baker said the group told her its “indoor” sound ... read more. Rep. Adams Announces Funding for Edison State Community College COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-Troy) today announced the State Controlling Board’s release of $32,500 for a parking lot expansion project at Edison State Community College. According to documents from the Office of Budget and Management, the project will expand two parking lots at the college, adding approximately 110 net new parking spaces in order to relieve the ongoing parking issues at the college. The project is needed to provide convenient parking at the high... read more. AT&T enhances local wireless network for Eldora Speedway Company Expands Wireless Network Capacity for Customers - ROSSBURG, Ohio (July 12, 2013) — As thousands of people converge on Darke County for the 30th annual Kings Royal Weekend at Eldora Speedway, AT&T* is boosting network capacity to help its customers have a great wireless experience. The company has expanded mobile Internet coverage to accommodate increased wireless network demands from high concentrations of... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Three transported to Wayne following head-on collision On July 13, 2013 at approximately 6:14 p.m. Darke County Deputies along with Gettysburg Fire, Gettysburg Rescue, Bradford Rescue and Greenville Rescue were dispatched to US Route 36 east and Old US Route 36 in reference to a two vehicle head on injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a green 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Bronson Fisher, 28, Piqua, Ohio was eastbound on US Route 36 when his vehicle traveled left of the... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… One airlifted after falling off motorcycle On July 13, 2013 at approximately 4:58 P.M. Darke County Deputies along with Gettysburg Rescue, Gettysburg Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to Childrens Home Bradford Road east of Auld Road in reference to the passenger of a motorcycle had fallen off on to the roadway. Upon arrival emergency personnel found the victim, Crystal Werner, 29 of Greenville, Ohio was the passenger of a motorcycle when she fell off on to the roadway, Werner was... read more. Greenville Police… Two adults cited for child abuse GREENVILLE - On July 5 a child victim was brought into the Greenville Police Department by her father and step-mother. They reported that her mother, Kimberly Durst, dropped her off the previous day and stated she had paddled the child and “got a little carried away,” that the child had a bruise on her bottom. The step-mother saw the top of a bruise above her pants but did not inspect the child at the time. When it was time for the child to... read more. New York Times… Seeing Opening, House G.O.P. Pushes Delay on Individual Mandate in Health Law By Jonathan Weisman and Robert Pear - July 9, 2013 - WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders on Tuesday seized on the Obama administration’s one-year delay of a mandate for larger employers to offer health insurance or face penalties, demanding the same postponement for the mandate on individual insurance purchases and promising a series of showdowns aimed at dividing Democrats from the White House. Republicans believe they are getting traction thanks to what they see as the Obama... read more. Daily Caller News Foundation…‘Gasland Part II’ director uses hoax as evidence against fracking 07/08/2013 – Filmmaker and anti-fracking activist Josh Fox’s new film “Gasland Part II” uses a Texas environmentalist’s hoax to show hydraulic fracturing allegedly contaminating water. The Washington Free Beacon reports that the controversial anti-fracking sequel features a scene where a Texas landowner is able to light the contents of his garden hose on fire. This is then used as evidence that nearby oil and gas operations caused the contamination. However, a Texas court ruled that the scene was a hoax ... read more. Darke County Sheriff's Office…Arrest made for trafficking drugs in Darke County On July 12, 2013 at approximately 12:55 a.m., the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic’s Unit and Sheriff Deputies executed a Search Warrant at 10119 State Route 47, north of Union City, Ohio, following an on-going narcotics investigation. Michelle Middaugh, 45 years old, was arrested for Drug Trafficking in heroin and Endangering Children. While executing the search warrant, investigators recovered heroin, drug paraphernalia, and... read more. Darke County Sheriff's Office…Car/bike accident results in fatality On July 12, 2013 at approximately 8:27 A.M. Darke County Deputies, Darke County Coroner’s Office, Arcanum Rescue, Tri Village Rescue and New Madison Fire were dispatched to the 5400 block of Delisle Fourmans Road in reference to a vehicle striking a female on a bicycle. Preliminary investigation revealed a 1993 Honda Civic driven by Jessica Jones, 24, of Arcanum, Ohio was travelling east bound on Delisle Fourmans Rd. in the 5400 block. A bicycle, ridden ... read more. Moore Arrested and Charged With Felonious Assault 7/09/2013 - GREENVILLE - Donald Eugene Moore, 28, is being charged with one count of Felonious Assault and is being held on $100,000 bond at the Darke County Jail. Additional charges are pending. The arrest and charges were a result of an investigation into a stabbing on July 5. The Greenville Police Department and dispatched units to 100-B Armstrong, Greenville. The victim, James Hamilton... read more. Single vehicle accident on 121 South On July 10, 2013 at approximately 1824 hrs. Darke County Deputies, along with New Madison Fire and Tri Village Rescue were dispatched to SR121 north of Hollansburg Sampson Rd. in reference to a vehicle in to a pole. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Dodge Dakota, driven by Mary Mehaffie (73) of Greenville, was southbound on SR121 north of Hollansburg Sampson Rd.  Mehaffie got off the right side of the road and tried to get back on the road, when she over-corrected... read more. One injured in single vehicle rollover accident On July 10, 2013 at approximately 12:38 PM Darke County Deputies along with Tri-Village Rescue, New Madison Fire, Liberty Township Fire, and CareFlight, responded to a one-vehicle injury rollover crash in the 2300 block of Hollansburg-Sampson Road. Preliminary investigation revealed a white 2004 Ford F-150 driven by Amanda Price 25, Hollansburg, Ohio was traveling east on Hollansburg-Sampson Road and drove off the right side of the roadway and overcorrected traveling off the left side... read more. Toledo Blade… Both sides of debate find Ohio abortion law decision to be historic New budget puts restriction on access - By Jim Provance - COLUMBUS — Texas Sen. Wendy Davis (D., Forth Worth) made national news when she recently filibustered on that state’s Senate floor for 11 hours until the clock ran out on passage of a sweeping anti-abortion bill. Hours later, Democratic women stood on the floors of the Ohio House and Senate to make many of the same arguments that Ms. Davis made, but a budget bill similar to what was blocked in Austin made it to Ohio Gov... read more. Columbus Dispatch…State debt a drag for businesses Ohio employers have been shelling out millions in higher taxes for the state’s failure to repay a massive federal loan to cover unemployment benefits during the recession. While legislators just handed small businesses an annual income-tax break of roughly $550 million a year in the budget, the state’s failure to repay the $1.5 billion federal debt has saddled all Ohio employers with a $272 million tax increase over the past 18 months. Ohio taxpayers have paid an additional $136.5 million in interest ... read more. FBI… Terror Financing; Tracking the Money Trails 07/05/13 - The U.S.-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki once wrote an essay called “44 Ways to Support Jihad.” Five of his top 10 strategies focused on the same topic—money. It’s not surprising. Money fuels the operations of terrorists. It’s needed to communicate, buy supplies, fund planning, and carry out acts of destruction. But there’s a flip side to this proverbial coin. In the shadowy, secretive world of terrorists, this spending leaves a trail—a trail that we can follow to help expose... read more. Henderson is Chamber’s 2013 Citizen of the Year, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Mike Henderson, Mote & Associates, was named the Darke County Chamber of Commerce 2013 Citizen of the Year on June 28. The 2012 Citizen of the Year, Ty Baker-Baumann, introduced Henderson as “a very humble person who serves quietly” as she announced him as the recipient of the award. The Ansonia graduate has been involved in many community projects and organizations, including the Darke County Chapter... read more. The Hill… GOP Rep. Jenkins: Democratic inaction caused student loan interest rate hike By Daniel Strauss - 07/06/13 - Jenkins's call, in the weekly Republican address, came a week after the interest rates doubled when Congress failed to come to a deal extending the 3.4-percent interest rate. "Republicans made every effort to stop interest rates on some student loans from doubling, as they unnecessarily did on July 1st," Jenkins said. "For too long, politicians have been in charge of setting these rates, and we keep coming back to cliffs and deadlines like this one. Paying for college is... read more. Darke County Courts… Gorrell pleads ‘not guilty’ to five felonies, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Robert K. Gorrell, Greenville, pleaded not guilty July 2 to five felony counts, four of them first degree felonies. Two counts were aggravated burglary, trespassing in the home of the Locke residence with the purpose of committing a criminal offense. The charge also includes inflicting, or threatening to inflict harm. Two counts were aggravated robbery, attempting to or committing a theft offense. All four are first degree felonies... read more. Commissioners express opposition over annual dog license budget amendment By Bob Robinson - GREENVILLE – In its July 1 meeting the Darke County Commissioners noted for Journal Information a letter to Ohio Gov. John Kasich in which the Commissioners, Michael Stegall, Diane Delaplane and Michael Rhoades, Darke County Auditor Carol Ginn and Darke County Animal Control Officer Duane Sanning requested a line item veto on a Senate Budget Amendment changing the availability... read more. ODOT… Happy New Year! Fiscal New Year, that is, because July 1 marks the start of state government’s fiscal year 2014 and the first day of a new biennial transportation budget that will take the Ohio Department of Transportation  (ODOT) through June 2015.  It’s a time for all of us here – working with you, our friends and stakeholders – to make a fresh start, with new energy and enthusiasm for the goals we’ve set for the years ahead. Governor Kasich also recently signed the new state budget into law, and it builds on the job-creating... read more. Greenville Police special releases July 5, 2013 - The following were posted as they were released at County News Online’s facebook page, BobRobinsonCNO - GREENVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING STABBING - At 6:49 a.m., a call was received by the Greenville Police Department and dispatched units to 100-B Armstrong, Greenville.  The victim, James Hamilton, 29, appeared to have stab wounds and was transported to Miami Valley Hospital. The Greenville Police Department urges citizens to remain vigilant... read more. Police Beat… Busy week for Greenville police with assaults and child endangering On June 21 Marcie Manning, 430 E. Fifth St., called to report a small boy walked into her apartment. She had no idea who the child was and she could not understand him. The child had only a pull-up diaper that was soiled with loose stools and urine. He had a backpack with miscellaneous clothing inside. One officer transported the child to the police department while another canvassed the neighborhood. Darke County Childrens Services was... read more. The Declaration of Independence It's July 6, 1776, and the word is already spreading throughout the 13 colonies. It will be a few more weeks before the following document makes its way across the ocean, but the die has been cast. And the rest is history. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America In Congress, July 4, 1776 When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the... read more. Rollover accident; three juveniles treated, adult careflighted On July 3, 2013 at approximately 7:12PM Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Fire and Rescue, Greenville Rescue and Careflight were dispatched to the 3800 block of State Route 49 in reference to a single vehicle rollover accident involving a SUV. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2006 Chevy Tahoe driven by, Jessica Engling, 35, of Kettering was southbound on State Route 49 in the 3800 block when she drove off the right side of the roadway and into the side ditch. The SUV then became... read more. Council on Rural Services… Sequestration impact: Head Start classrooms closing PIQUA – In the wake of sequestration, federal spending cuts, and the ongoing need for continued enhancement of quality in the early childhood education programs, the Board of Trustees and the Policy Council of the Council on Rural Services (CORS) has approved a realignment plan for its Head Start and Early Head Start program in three of their nine counties. Although this realignment has come about because of the sweeping sequestration cuts in March, the CORS organization is also addressing many ... read more. Ohio Senate President Keith Faber... Faber Honors Darke Co. Special Olympics Dawgs Basketball Team COLUMBUS - Ohio Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) today honored the Darke County Special Olympics Dawgs Basketball Team on their 2013 Division III State Championship. Faber praised the Dawgs athleticism, good sportsmanship and competitive spirit and congratulated them on this great accomplishment. ... read more. Fox 8 Cleveland… Students React to Loan Interest Rates Doubling, by Dave Nethers July 1, 2013 - AKRON– Interest rates on unsecured federal student loans doubled from 3.4% to 6.8% on Monday after Congress took a 4th of July break without the Senate voting on a related bill that would keep them lower. The news concerned many students at the University of Akron, where roughly 75% of the students receive some kind of federal aid to pay for their education. “I really have to look at the reflection at the end of the tunnel because the debt that I am going to accumulate over the years... read more. Kasich signs budget; $2.7 Billion Tax Cut, $1.5 Billion New Funds for Education COLUMBUS – At a ceremony this evening in the Ohio Statehouse’s Lincoln Room, Gov. John R. Kasich signed into law the FY2014-15 state budget, which builds on the pro-growth policies in the historic budget he signed two years ago with $2.7 billion in tax cuts and $1.5 billion in new funds for education. Other highlights of the new budget include: - A new plan to inject up to $3 billion in federal, state and local funds into Ohio’s highways; - A new college and... read more. Dayton Daily News…Another IRS official takes the Fifth, By Jamie Dupree June 26, 2013 For the second time in a month, an IRS official has taken the Fifth Amendment before a Congressional committee, this time in an investigation about whether that official helped a friend win a $500 million IT contract with the tax agency. "Mr. Chairman, on the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer any questions and invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege to remain silent," said Gregory Roseman, the Deputy Director of Enterprise Networks and Tier Systems Support at the... read more. Police Beat…Nude male detained on Martin Street On June 16 police were dispatched to the 800 block of Martin Street reference a nude male subject walking down the street. He was covered in blood with several cuts on his body. The subject appeared to be in need of medical help, so EMS was contacted and staged in the area. When the individual observed the police he began running east past Integrity Way. He was alternately quiet and combative; it took two officers to put handcuffs on him ... read more. State Senator Keith Faber…Faber tells locals about administration accomplishments, discussions, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Ohio had 88,000 new business filings in 2012, an all-time high. Ohio unemployment is below the national average. School districts get an 11.2 percent increase, the largest in history. These were just some of the accomplishments of the Kasich administration since 2010, according Ohio Senator Keith Faber. He... read more. FBI… Grand jury returns indictment on Boston Marathon Bombing suspect WASHINGTON—A federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment against Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev for his alleged role in using weapons of mass destruction at the Boston Marathon to kill three individuals and maim or seriously injure many others, as well as for using a firearm to intentionally kill Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Police Officer Sean Collier. Tsarnaev, aka “Jahar Tsarni,” 19, a U.S. citizen residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was charged today by indictment with the use of a... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Woman killed in fatal accident identified The female driver of the Toyota Tacoma from Sunday’s fatal accident at the intersection of State Route 503 and Hollansburg-Arcanum Road has been identified by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. The deceased has been identified as Mabel L. Landis, 83, of Lewisburg, Ohio. Landis’ passenger, Marshall Stikeleather, 91, Lewisburg, Ohio was transported to Wayne HealthCare.  Stikeleather was later transported to Miami Valley Hospital by Spirit... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Camper Fire Claims a Life On July 1st, 2013 at approximately 2:48 AM the Darke County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a small camper being on fire at11614 Mangen Road north of Versailles, Ohio. The Versailles Fire Department, Versailles Rescue Squad, and Darke County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene.  The 911 caller reported that a single occupant was possibly inside the burning camper. Emergency responders located the body of an adult... read more. Fracking a “non-issue” for Darke County, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – “The only impact this process will have on Darke County is the possibility of lower fuel prices due to the increased availability of fuel sources.” That was the basic message of the two speakers June 24 at the Lighthouse Christian Center. Entitled “Just the Fracks!” the public information forum was held by the Darke County League of Women Voters as the other side of the issue following a public forum conducted earlier that... read more. Commissioners help BRC amend bond at tax-exempt rate GREENVILLE – At their June 26 meeting, Darke County Commissioners signed a resolution allowing Brethren Retirement Community to borrow money at a tax-exempt rate. On hand for the paperwork were Marc Kamer, Peck, Shaffer & Williams, Amy Becker, Fifth-Third Bank, and John Warner, CEO of Brethren Retirement Community. Kamer told the commissioners that the paperwork was simply to allow BRC to amend its Adjustable Rate Demand Health Care Revenue Bonds at a reduced... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… One killed in Darke County accident On June 30, 2013 at approximately 12:22 PM Darke County Deputies along, with Arcanum Rescue, Greenville Rescue, New Madison Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to the intersection of State Route 503 and Hollansburg-Arcanum Road in reference to a two vehicle, serious injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a silver 2001 Oldsmobile Alero driven by Adam J. Bartle, 18, New Paris, Ohio was traveling east bound on Hollansburg-Arcanum... read more. Court News Ohio… Appeals Court Upholds ‘Adam Walsh Act’ Provision, By Dennis Whalen June 18, 2013 - The First District Court of Appeals has upheld as constitutional a provision of Ohio’s Adam Walsh Act (AWA) that requires juvenile courts to sentence certain juvenile sex offenders to registration requirements that extend beyond the defendant’s 21st birthday. In a 2-1 decision announced June 12, the court of appeals held that a juvenile offender does not have a fundamental right to have the punishment imposed by a juvenile court for a crime he committed as a minor terminate when he... read more. Fatal accident takes life of Maria Stein woman CELINA, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports his office is investigating a fatal traffic crash.  Mercer County 9-1-1 received several calls at 5:39 PM advising of a crash at the intersection of State Route 29 and State Route 118 (North). The investigation revealed that Michelle R. Bruns, age 36, of 2243 State Route 716 Maria Stein, Ohio, was driving a 2010 Lexus southbound on State Route 118.   Thomas L. Sims Jr., age 36, of 6123 East... read more. Economic Development Enterprise Zones; Strengthened Child Enticement Legislation Clear the House COLUMBUS–State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today announced the Ohio House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 112 with broad bipartisan support. The legislation, which Beagle sponsored, will extend Ohio’s Enterprise Zone Program by two years. The current program is set to expire in October 2013. The Enterprise Zone program allows local governments to... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle…Beagle Honors Little Miss Ohio, Emma Moore COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) was proud to present Emma Moore of Tipp City with a resolution from the Ohio State Senate this morning. Emma was crowned Pure American Pageant’s Little Miss Ohio, and will be representing Ohio this July in the national competition. ... read more. City of Greenville…Greenville selected for $1.2 million grant The City of Greenville has been selected for funding of a $1.2 million grant through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Small City Program. Greenville was one of seven cities in Ohio that were awarded funding from this Program of $13.0 million which was announced the first part of June 2013. The proposed project will take place on Sweitzer Street from Pine Street to Fourth Street and then proceeding down... read more. Three transported to Wayne following crash On June 27, 2013 at approximately 11:37 AM Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire, and Greenville Township Rescue, responded to the intersection of US RT 36 and Jaysville-St. Johns Road on a report of an injury crash. Preliminary investigation revealed a blue 2006 GMC Sierra pick up truck, driven by Gary Harman 55, Arcanum, Ohio was traveling South on Jaysville-St. Johns Road and stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of US RT 36. Harman then pulled into the... read more. Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges Applauds Focus on Continued Tax Relief in State Budget COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges released the following statement today applauding the Governor and Legislature for their continued focus of providing Ohio families tax relief in the state budget: "As the budget negotiations begin winding down, I applaud the continued strong focus on cutting taxes. Conservative policies of spending restraint and tax cuts are getting Ohio's economy back on track and anything that the General Assembly and Governor Kasich can do to let Ohioans... read more. Two Arrested on Drug Charges in Greenville 6/25/2013 - GREENVILLE - On June 25, at approximately 4:07 p.m., members from the Greenville Police Department, Darke County Juvenile Probation Office, Miami County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit, Darke County Sheriff's Office, and Union City, Indiana Police Department, executed a search warrant 416 1/2 E. Third St., Greenville. The search warrant was a result of a lengthy drug investigation by the Greenville Police Department... read more. Commissioners approve DWART planning team, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE - In its June 17 meeting the Darke County Commissioners approved a planning team to develop a response plan for the county’s Dangerous Wild Animal Response Team (DWART). “This is a state law signed by the governor (Gov. John Kasich) last year. The purpose of the team is to develop a response plan,” said Mindy Saylor, Darke County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). She ... read more. The Cincinnati Enquirer… Ohio tops nation in May job growth, By Dan Horn Ohio topped the nation last month when it added 32,100 jobs, far more than any other state and the most here in a single month in at least a decade. Kentucky and Indiana saw smaller gains from April to May. The monthly state jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that most of Ohio’s new jobs came from professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, government, education and health services. Growth in manufacturing and financial services was flat... read more. “Get out the vote” campaign to be ramped up, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Nearly 100 volunteers for the “Friends of Quality Greenville Schools” met June 13 prior to the Greenville School Board meeting to make plans for their final push to get out the vote in favor of the levy that will be on the ballot Aug. 6. “Early voting and absentee voting begins on July 2,” ‘Friends’ chair Jan Teaford said. “We will begin our door-to-door campaign on July 13.” Volunteers consisted of teachers, administrators and... read more. Greenville Police… Four arrested on active warrants GREENVILLE – On June 14, in response to a possible domestic call, Greenville Police arrested Tim Smith near 412 Harrison Ave. He had an outstanding police arrest warrant on an original charge of Operating a Vehicle while Impaired (OVI), bond $4,000. He was also wanted on a warrant through Kettering Police on a bond of $1,750. After transport to the Darke County Jail he was served with two misdemeanor citations on a separate case. On June 13... read more. Columbus Dispatch…GOP tax plan unpopular in schools, By Jim Siegel Saturday June 22, 2013 Public-school advocates asked lawmakers yesterday to keep in place the state’s decades-long practice of picking up 12.5 percent of the cost of new levies. As part of a new GOP tax package that includes significant income-tax cuts, a quarter-percent bump in the state sales-tax rate and a smaller commercial-activities-tax exemption for businesses, the state no longer would pay a portion of new levies. Associations representing superintendents, treasurers and school boards... read more. State Senator Keith Faber…Faber Unveils Budget Tax Reform Plan Budget proposal maintains focus on helping families, creating jobs COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) and Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) today were joined by Chairman of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) and Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) at a press... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine…Columbus Man Sentenced for Running Veterans Charity Scam (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien today announced that John W. Hargrove has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for soliciting money for a fraudulent charity, Ohio Veterans Source (Ohio Vets), which he falsely claimed would aid local veterans. Hargrove has been ordered to pay more than $2,000 in restitution and has no chance for early release. "Any kind of charitable scam is ... read more. IRS sent $46 million in tax refunds to 23,994 unauthorized aliens at same address, By Jason Howerton June 21, 2013 - The IRS sent more than $46 million in tax refunds to 23,994 “unauthorized” alien workers who all listed the same address in Atlanta, Ga., in 2011, according to an audit report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). However, the Atlanta address that received millions of dollars in refunds was not the only address apparently housing thousands of “unauthorized” aliens. In fact, it wasn’t even the only address in Atlanta that was claiming such a situation... read more. Smith, Surber, students honored at School Board, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – The Greenville City School District Board of Directors accepted the resignations of several teachers, coaches and staff members at its regular monthly meeting on June 13. Notable among these were Michelle Smith, 32-year Vocal Music Teacher and the leader of Greenville’s successful Wavaires program. Smith was also the District’s Vocal Music Director and Fine Arts Department Chair. She resigned for retirement purposes... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Professional Solicitor Charged with Charitable Law Violations (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against Massachusetts-based Integral Resources Inc. for multiple violations of Ohio's Charitable Organizations Act. The Attorney General also was granted a request for a temporary restraining order to stop Integral Resources from soliciting in Ohio. "This professional solicitor misled Ohioans about who it was and how donors' money would be used," Attorney General... read more. Mercer County Sheriff Office arrests three for heroin possession Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced today the arrest of three Celina area individuals yesterday on possession of heroin charges.  The arrest was the result of a traffic stop for improper lane use as well as information regarding the use of drugs. Arrested for possession of heroin were: Frederick S. Cass, age 25, of 558 East Wayne St., Celina, Mario J. Rodriguez, age 32, of Celina  (listed as at large), Stephany M. Fontainini, age 19, of 500 Bruns Ave, #34, Celina... read more. Secretary of State Jon Husted… Husted Releases New Business Filing Figures for May 2013 COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced that 8,229 new entities filed to do business in Ohio in May 2013. These numbers are up compared to May 2012, in which 7,687 new entities filed with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s office has assisted with 40,733 new business filings to date in 2013 (January-May). This is an increase from the same time period last year, in which there were 39,252 new business filings. Though the most visible role of the Secretary of State is... read more. Greenville firefighters awarded commendations, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Three Greenville firefighters were awarded commendations at the Greenville City Council meeting June 18 for their quick action when Firefighter Charles “Chuck” Gasper suffered cardiac arrest at a recent fire. The firefighters are FF Robert Wheeler, FF Shannon Fritz and Lt. Shawn Brandenburg. Greenville Fire Chief Mark Wolfe recommended the commendation that was presented to each of the men. It read: “Even though our... read more. Legislation Honoring Fallen Ohioans Passes Ohio House COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-Troy) today applauded the Ohio House of Representatives’ passage of House Bill 19, legislation that designates several memorial highways in honor of 10 Ohio heroes. House Bill 19 includes a provision to rename a portion of State Route 55 in Miami County—running in an easterly direction between the municipal corporations of Troy and Casstown—as the “Pfc. Jeffrey L. Rice Memorial Highway.” “I am pleased we can honor Jeff Rice for his sacrifice as... read more. Ohio Governor John Kasich… Ohio to launch human trafficking awareness campaign Contract Awarded to Develop Statewide Education Effort - COLUMBUS – Continuing Ohio’s aggressive agenda to end human trafficking, Gov. John R. Kasich today announced that the state will launch a new public awareness campaign to combat human trafficking by educating the public on how to recognize and report the crime, as well as help victims gain access to services and treatment. The Kasich Administration and the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Attorney General DeWine Announces Agreement with Go Green For the Cause to Stop Charitable Solicitations (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced an agreement with Florida-based Go Green For the Cause, Inc., Bin Boy Management LLC, Presidential Clothing Recyclers, and individuals Jay Katari and Nicole Leve to stop charitable solicitations in Ohio. An Attorney General investigation found that Go Green For... read more. KitchenAid Enters Home Soda Category in Collaboration with SodaStream…Brands Collaborate on KitchenAid Soda Maker “Powered by SodaStream” BENTON HARBOR, Mich. and AIRPORT CITY, Israel - June 17, 2013 - KitchenAid, a leading maker of premium kitchen appliances and culinary tools and a brand of Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR), and SodaStream International, Ltd. (NASDAQ: SODA), the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of home beverage carbonation systems, today announced a collaboration... read more. Coldwater Police Department…Two arrested following drug deal Coldwater Police Chief Jason Miller announced today the arrest of two individuals in Coldwater. On June 18, 2013 Coldwater Officers received a complaint of possible drug trafficking in the area of Hardin Street. An undercover officer from the Grand Lake Task Force was sent to the area and observed a drug deal take place. The vehicle involved was quickly stopped in Celina, where drugs were located. That incident led to a search warrant being issued for a residence at 607 North Second Street, Coldwater... read more. 499th and 500th fugitives added to Ten Most Wanted List June 17, 2013 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today the additions of Jose Manuel Garcia Guevara, aka “Pelón,” an alleged murderer and rapist, and Walter Lee Williams, an alleged child sex predator, to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. These men represent the 499th and 500th additions to the list, respectively. The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was established in March 1950. Since then, 469 fugitives have been apprehended or located, 155 of them as a result of citizen ... read more. Court News Ohio… Court of Claims Cites Achievements in 2012 Annual Report June 14, 2013 - The Court of Claims of Ohio in 2012 eliminated backlogs and cut costs by more than half a million dollars, according to the court’s 2012 annual report released June 14. The Court of Claims is given original jurisdiction to hear and determine all civil actions filed against the state of Ohio and its agencies. Court of Claims Clerk Mark Reed said the court had a 102 percent clearance rate for cases last year. The court received 924... read more. The Hill… Boehner: No immigration vote without ‘majority support’ of GOP conference, By Molly K. Hooper 06/18/13 - Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday told GOP lawmakers that he would adhere to the “Hastert Rule” on immigration reform and not hold a vote without the support of a majority of the caucus. "I don't see any way of bringing an immigration bill to the floor that doesn't have a majority support of Republicans," Boehner told reporters following a closed-door House GOP conference meeting, where he offered a similar message to his members. However, Boehner may have... read more. Greenville Levy Information… Responses to utility questions from taxpayers by Douglas Fries, Superintendent, Greenville Schools - Following are the responses to the utility question savings on the upcoming bond issue.  Also attached are three other questions that we were given. What will happen with old buildings? The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission will fund the demolition and abatement of the three elementary buildings along with the Junior High School if it is determined to be in the best public interest to do so... read more. Fox News…IRS supervisor in DC scrutinized Tea Party groups' cases June 17, 2013–IRS supervisor acknowledges examining Tea Party... WASHINGTON – A Washington-based IRS supervisor acknowledged she was personally involved in reviewing Tea Party applications for tax-exempt status as far back as 2010, Fox News confirms -- a detail that further challenges the agency's initial claim that the practice of singling out those groups was limited to a handful of employees in Ohio. Congressional sources confirmed to Fox News that Holly Paz, who until... read more. Darke County Commissioners…Commissioners address signs, award Community Development Block grants, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – “There is talk that the commissioners used county General Fund dollars to purchase those signs in front of the Courthouse and your Commissioners building,” said Greenville citizen Fred Dean during the question and comment part of the June 10 public meeting. “No, that is not... read more. U.S. Attorney’s Office… Cleveland Man Found Guilty of Trying to Use Explosives to Destroy a Bridge June 14, 2013 - CLEVELAND—A Cleveland man was found guilty of trying to use explosives to destroy a bridge in Northeast Ohio, announced Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland Division of the FBI. Joshua Stafford, 24, was found guilty of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, and malicious use of an explosive device to destroy property used in... read more. The Hill… Opinion shift on gay marriage all but impossible for court to ignore, By Sam Baker 06/16/13 - The dramatic shift in public opinion on same-sex marriage is likely to affect the Supreme Court’s historic rulings on the issue later this month. The justices often say they do not worry at all about politics or public opinion, and simply do what they believe the law compels them to. But it will be hard if not impossible for them ignore the enormous transformation in opinion on same sex marriage, legal scholars say, especially with two cases that offer them flexibility in how to rule... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Vehicle Pursuit/Mobile Meth Lab On June 15, 2013 at approximately 2:46 pm a Darke County Sheriff’s Office Deputy initiated a traffic stop in the 4500 block of US RT 36 west on a blue 2000 Chevy Venture mini van with three occupants.  Upon the deputy’s approach to the vehicle, the driver and occupants fled the scene.  Deputies pursued the suspect vehicle through central and southwestern Darke County.   The pursuit ended in the 1300 block of Richmond-Palestine Road.  The... read more. Darke County Republican Women… Juvenile Probate’s biggest challenge is placement, By Lyn Bliss “The biggest challenge is placement… taking a kid and putting them somewhere.” said Juvenile Probate Judge Jason Aslinger. “Funding effects just about everything. Every juvenile sent somewhere has some impact on the budget.” Aslinger spoke recently at the Darke County Republican Women’s Club regular monthly meeting. During his presentation, he described the job of the Juvenile/Probate Division of the Darke County Court of... read more. Charges filed against two for Grube murders The Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office confirms that charges have been filed regarding the murders of Robert Grube and Colleen Grube. Specifically, on June 13, 2013, the Mercer County Grand Jury returned Indictments against Bryant L. Rhoades (DOB: 10/06/90) and Trevin M.A. Sanders Roark (DOB: 4/11/94). The Indictments allege that on or about November 29-30, 2011, both Rhoades and Sanders Roark committed numerous criminal acts including Aggravated Murder, Murder, Involuntary... read more. Youngstown Vindicator…Plan would put Ohio's 'checkbook' online, By Marc Kovac Wed, May 8, 2013–A Republican lawmaker and the GOP state treasurer want to post Ohio’s checkbook online, enabling residents to keep tabs on state spending, particularly who receives public funds. State Rep. Mike Dovilla of Berea, R-7th, said he plans to introduce his “Open Ohio” legislation this week to create an online database detailing all of the state’s expenditures. The site would be maintained by the state treasurer’s office and would provide an easy way for users to search checks issued by ... read more. Greenville Police…Beat Drug bust nets arrest, possible citations GREENVILLE – A drug bust was executed on June 4 through a search warrant at 118 Montgomery St. Donald Lee Garrett was arrested and taken to the Darke County Jail. Numerous drug materials were found in the house. A third person, Courtney Weatherspoon, was provided a copy of the search warrant and advised the she could be facing charges as well. Both she and the owner, Larry Fourman, would be receiving a Notice to Abate ... read more. U.S. Att. Office...Company officials admit bribing doctors for more than $100 million in test referrals June 10, 2013 NEWARK, NJ—The president of Parsippany, New Jersey-based Biodiagnostic Laboratory Services LLC (BLS), three BLS employees, and three associates admitted today to a conspiracy in which millions of dollars in bribes were paid to physicians over a number of years in exchange for blood sample referrals worth more than $100 million to the company, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. Each of the seven defendants—David Nicoll, 39, of Mountain Lakes, New Jersey; ... read more. DCSO, GPD...Three arrested in Darke County for Drug Trafficking On June 12, 2013 at approximately 5:00 p.m., a joint operation was conducted by Darke County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department. 32 year old, Michael A Lewis Jr., 23 year old, Chakarra K. Thompson, and 28 year old, Dustany M Forman were arrested for Drug Trafficking in Heroin and Crystal Meth. Citizens are urged to contact the Greenville Police Department at (937) 548-4150 option 2 or the Darke County Sheriff’s Office at ... read more. Boehner Congratulates Winners of 2013 Congressional Art Competition WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) congratulated Sara Thompson on winning the Eighth District grand prize in the 2013 Congressional Art Competition. This yearly competition invites high school students from congressional districts across the country to submit artwork for their district-wide competitions. Artwork from this year’s competition was mounted in the U.S. Capitol this morning ... read more. FBI Releases Preliminary Annual Crime Statistics for 2012 Washington, D.C. - June 03, 2013 - According to the FBI’s Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, released today, the nation experienced a 1.2 percent increase in the number of violent crimes and a 0.8 percent decline in the number of property crimes in 2012 when compared with data from 2011. The report is based on information the FBI gathered from 13,770 law enforcement agencies that submitted six to 12 comparable months of data for both 2011 and 2012. Violent Crime - In 2012, the... read more. Senate Passes Small Business Tax Cut, Largest Education Investment in Over a Decade COLUMBUS– The Ohio Senate today approved House Bill 59, the state’s biennium budget proposal, which includes at its cornerstone a $1.4 billion tax cut for Ohio’s small businesses and a $717 million increase in state education funding, the largest legislative investment in education in more than 10 years. Announced by State Senator Bill Beagle (R – Tipp City) the nearly $62 billion bill acts as the state operating budget for the two-year period beginning on July 1... read more. Congressman Boehner on Upcoming Farm Bill Debate WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the United States Senate preparing to vote on legislation to extend the nation’s farm and agricultural programs, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) issued the following statement on the upcoming debate on such legislation in the House: “The Majority Leader has announced that the House will consider the Farm Bill this month.  The Leader and I will encourage the Rules Committee to provide a fair process that will allow for a vigorous and open debate – the kind of... read more. Federal Bureau of Investigation… The Verdict: Hang Up; Don't Fall for Jury Duty Scam 06/02/06 - The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest. You say you never received a notice. To clear it up, the caller says he'll need some information for "verification purposes"-your birth date, social security number, maybe even a credit card number. This is when you should hang up the phone. It's a scam. Jury scams have been around for years, but have seen a resurgence in recent... read more. County employees walk a million steps for challenge, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE – Three Darke County employees walked over a million “steps” during the Spring “Activity” Challenge that was offered to all employees. At the June 3 meeting of the Darke County Commissioners, Business Administrator John Cook said 107 participants started out on April 3, National Walking Day. Fifty one finished six weeks later on May 15. The challenge was to start at 5,000 steps a day and work up to 10,000 steps a day by week six. The goal over the period was 315,000 steps... read more. Suzanne Hopper Act…Widener, Beagle Honor Legacy of Deputy Hopper Senate Bill 7, the “Deputy Suzanne Hopper Act” now law COLUMBUS– State Senators Chris Widener (R–Springfield) and Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today announced that Senate Bill 7 has been signed into law by Governor John R. Kasich. The bill, which the Senators jointly sponsored, is designed to keep law enforcement officers safe by giving them access to additional ... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Report details sex-assault crisis in Ohio's juvenile prisons Three facilities have rates among 13 highest in the nation - The Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility has a sexual-assault rate estimated at 30.3 percent, second highest in the U.S., according to a report released yesterday by the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics. Two other Ohio correctional facilities also post rates among the highest in the nation for rape and other sexual acts forcefully committed against juvenile offenders. The Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility (23.2 percent)... read more. Greenville Police Beat… Five transported to Darke County Jail on outstanding warrants Derek Armstrong, Dayton, was arrested June 3 by Dayton Police on a warrant out of Greenville for DUI and Drug Abuse with a bond of $3,000. Greenville police picked Armstrong up and transported her to the Darke County Jail without incident. Greenville police, on learning of an arrest warrant on Elizabeth Whitley, 208 Washington Ave., went to that address and spoke to Jordan Tedore. Tedore stated she was at 216 Anderson Ave. The officers went to that address and was told she was at 208 Washington... read more. Darke County Republican Chairman… Cindy Pike resigns as chair, will continue serving the party By Bob Robinson - GREENVILLE – “I’m not riding off into the sunset,” said Cindy Pike, Darke County Republican Party Chairman. “I love my job (Darke County Clerk of Courts) and plan to run again, and I plan to continue volunteering.” She just no longer wants to do it as the chairman of the party. “I’ve really loved working with all the people in Darke County, and believe that together we have done a good job. I just think it’s time for someone else to take the... read more. New York Times… Rice to Replace Donilon in the Top National Security Post, By Mark Landler June 5, 2013 - WASHINGTON — President Obama announced on Wednesday afternoon that Susan E. Rice, the American ambassador to the United Nations, would replace Tom Donilon, who is resigning, as national security adviser in a major shakeup of his foreign-policy inner circle. The appointment, which Mr. Obama made in a Rose Garden ceremony, puts Ms. Rice, 48, an outspoken diplomat and a close political ally, at the heart of the administration’s foreign-policy apparatus... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer…Bill would expand secrecy on economic development deals, By Chrissie Thompson Jun. 4, 2013– Local governments could discuss economic development in secret under a change to the Ohio Senate’s latest version of the 2013-2015 budget. The amendment, unveiled Tuesday in the Senate Finance Committee, would create an exception to the Open Meetings Law: Governing bodies could call closed sessions to discuss businesses’ requests for tax breaks. Committee Chair Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, said those discussions include businesses’ “proprietary information.” Requests ... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Chief justice says state still not in compliance on school funding By Catherine Candisky - June 4, 2013 - Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor says state lawmakers have failed to fix the way public schools are financed since the high court in 2002 issued its last of four rulings that the funding system was unconstitutional. “I don’t think it’s changed,” O’Connor said yesterday when asked during a meeting with The Dispatch editorial board about the General Assembly’s response to the DeRolph decision. “I’m waiting like everyone else to see what the... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Joint drug bust results in arrest of two suspects On June 4, 2013 at approximately 7:00 p.m., a joint operation was conducted by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department with assistance from Greenville Rescue. A search warrant was executed at 118 Montgomery St. in Greenville following an on-going narcotics investigation. 28 year old, Donald L. Garrett Jr., was arrested for Drug Trafficking in cocaine and taken to the Darke County Jail. While executing the... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office…Countywide outdoor weather warning sirens tested At noon on Monday, June 03, 2013, the Darke County Emergency Communications Center, located at the Sheriff’s Office, conducted the first countywide test of the outdoor weather warning sirens. Authorities in Ansonia, Arcanum, Bradford, Burkettsville, New Madison, North Star, Rossburg, Union City Ohio, Versailles and Wayne Lakes reported that their sirens were working correctly. The test on the siren at Gettysburg was not successful due to a programming error, but steps will be taken to correct the... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer…State senator wants open-enrollment review, by Jessica Brown Jun. 2, 2013–As The Enquirer reported in October, open enrollment policies are becoming more common. Of the 49 districts and four vocational districts in Southwest Ohio, 29 have open-enrollment policies compared to 19 in 2008. One of the vocational schools has open enrollment. Open enrollment is more common in Clermont, Butler and Warren Counties than in Hamilton County. Just months after this region’s largest district, Cincinnati Public Schools, adopted an open-enrollment policy, one state... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Injury accident on Hollansburg-Arcanum Rd On June 3, 2013 at approximately 1:24 AM Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue, New Madison Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to 4600 Block of Hollansburg-Arcanum Road in reference to an injury accident involving a SUV. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2002 Jeep Liberty driven by Jennifer N. Borasz, 30, Darke County Ohio was westbound on Hollansburg- Arcanum Road in the 4600 block. Borasz failed to negotiate the curve in her SUV. The SUV drove off of the south... read more. Politico… Poll: President Obama job approval rating down, By Kevin Cirilli 5/30/13 - President Barack Obama’s approval rating took a hit amid three controversies surrounding his administration, including an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service unfairly targeting conservative groups seeking nonprofit status, a new poll Thursday showed. Obama has a 45 percent approval rating and a 49 percent disapproval rating — compared with a 48 percent approval, 45 percent disapproval rating from May 1, according to the Quinnipiac University poll... read more. Darke County Sheriff's Office... CareFlight called to motorcycle, SUV accident On June 2, 2013 at approximately 2:42 PM Darke County Deputies along with Arcanum Rescue, Pitsburg Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to the intersection of State Route 49 and Oakes Road in reference to an injury accident involving a motorcycle and an SUV. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle driven by, James R. Clevenger, 61, Lewisburg Ohio was northbound on State Route 49 at Oakes Road.  A southbound 2006 Jeep Commander driven by, Sherri L. Wright, 49... read more. Rasmussen… What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, June 01, 2013 - Health care and housing are hotter topics for many Americans these days than the growing controversies surrounding the Obama administration. Amid increasing news reports of potential big insurance rate hikes, Scott Rasmussen’s latest weekly newspaper column contends that consumers are set to repeal a large part of President Obama’s health care law. “Advocates of the plan dramatically misread the public mood. Only 28% of voters believe the top priority should be guaranteeing... read more. Ohio Governor John Kasich… Ohio continues to attract jobs Companies to Create 1,108 Jobs and Retain 21,264 Jobs Statewide - COLUMBUS – Gov. John R. Kasich today announced the approval of assistance for 10 projects set to create more than 1,100 jobs and retain 21,264 jobs statewide. During the Ohio Tax Credit Authority’s (TCA) monthly meeting, it reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Together the projects are expected to result in more than... read more. Dayton Daily News… Governor could decide fate of Internet cafes soon Thursday, May 23, 2013 - COLUMBUS — A bill to effectively ban Internet cafe sweepstakes parlors cleared the final hurdle Wednesday and is on its way to Gov. John Kasich’s desk. The Miami Valley is home to an estimated 100 of the parlors also known as Internet cafes. The Ohio Senate approved House Bill 7 in a 27-6 vote, a mix of Democrats and Republicans split on whether they consider the cafes an extension of gambling or employers of thousands of Ohioans. The House also split when it... read more. Darke County EMA…Correction to previous Outdoor Warning Siren press release If a warning has been issued or a tornado has been spotted in the county ONLY sirens in the impacted area will be activated. This will eliminate any confusion in other parts of the county that are not experiencing inclement weather. The Sheriff will activate the impacted area’s outdoor weather siren when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for the area that the siren serves. The project of activating outdoor warning sirens from.. read more. Dayton Business Journal…Ohio identifies new 70 mph speed zones The Ohio Department of Transportation unveiled a map identifying interstate highway locations where motorists will be legally permitted to drive 70 miles per hour beginning this summer. The new designations follow recently passed legislation permitting speeds to increase from 65 to 70 mph on certain sections of interstate highways. H.B. 51 – the state’s transportation budget bill, which goes into effect on July 1, 2013 – increased speeds to 70 miles per hour on interstates that are “outside... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Motorcycle rider injured, fair condition On May 29th, 2013 at approx. 452 PM Darke County Deputies, along with Ansonia Police Department, Ansonia Fire and Rescue, and Careflight were dispatched to the 3800 Block of ST RT 47 E in reference to an injury accident involving a motorcycle. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2002 Honda motorcycle driven by Travis Simmons, 25 of Union City IN. was westbound on ST RT 47. Simmons lost control of his motorcycle on a curve and traveled off the right side of the roadway. Simmons was ... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Two arrested in drug lab raid On May 29, 2013 at approximately 3:31 PM the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Clandestine Drug Lab team arrested Robert Harris (26) and Jennifer Murphy (39). Both are from Greenville, Ohio and both were arrested for Illegal possession of chemicals for the manufacturing of methamphetamine in a residence located at 110 West Main Street Yorkshire, Ohio. Present in the home at the time of their arrest were a 14 and 15... read more. New York Times… Last Inspection: Precise Ritual of Dressing Nation’s War Dead, By Ashley Gilbertson DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — The soldier bent to his work, careful as a diamond cutter. He carried no weapon or rucksack, just a small plastic ruler, which he used to align a name plate, just so, atop the breast pocket of an Army dress blue jacket, size 39R. Sergeant Deynes, guided by an official military record, assembles the badges, medals, unit patches and ribbons that would go on the dress jacket. “Blanchard,” the plate read. Capt. Aaron R. Blanchard, a 32-year-old Army pilot, had been in ... read more. Secretary of State Jon Husted… Post-2012 General Election Voter Fraud Report Through involvement in Interstate Crosscheck Program, Secretary to refer 20 double voters to the Ohio Attorney General; Issues directive to further safeguard Ohio’s elections system - COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today released the first ever statewide report on voter fraud based on a review of cases by Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections and the Secretary of State’s office following the 2012 Presidential Election. To date, 135 cases have been referred to law enforcement for further... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Ansonia resident awaits trial on rape charges GREENVILLE - Ansonia Police Department arrested Ansonia resident Jason T. Shaw, 26, on a warrant issued by the Darke County Court of Common Pleas. Shaw was indicted by the Darke County Grand Jury on six counts of rape of a child under the age of 13, a felony of the first degree. The indictment was the result of an investigation conducted by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. Shaw is being held in the Darke County Jail on a bond of $500,000. The... read more. Representative Richard Adams… New Website a Valuable Resource for Individuals and Businesses While the budget bill was still in the Ohio House of Representatives, committee hearings about the budget were posted online, where people could tune in to watch deliberation and testimony about the legislation. Filming committee meetings served a very important purpose, which was to make state government more open to the people of the state. Ohioans deserve to know what their tax dollars pay for. Similarly, letting people and businesses know the rules that... read more. Court News Ohio… Ohio Supreme Court: Insurance Policy Language Does Not Preclude Uninsured Motorist Coverage For Damage Caused by Government Driver By Dennis Whalen - May 21, 2013 - The Supreme Court of Ohio ruled today that when the uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage in an Ohio auto insurance policy includes in the definition of an “uninsured vehicle” vehicles whose drivers are subject to governmental immunity, other policy language limiting coverage to damages an insured person “is legally... read more. Attorney General DeWine Honors 690 Missing Ohio Children (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- One day before National Missing Children's Day, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine reminded Ohioans about the hundreds of children who remain missing in the state. Right now, 690 children are missing in Ohio. Attorney General DeWine attended a balloon launch at Columbus Preparatory Academy in honor of National Missing Children's Day, which is observed on May 25th.  Children released 690 balloons representing each missing... read more. Darke County Economic Development introduces new area plant managers, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE - “It’s been an easy transition,” said Billy Bryant, new plant manager for Florida Production Engineering in New Madison. Bryant said everyone in Darke County is nice and friendly… an easy transition. Jim Dura, new plant manager from the FRAM Group, had the same story to tell regarding his transition seven months earlier from Erie, Penn. “I love Darke County,” he said. “My wife loves it, loves the people.” Darke County Economic... read more. Rollover crash near Yorkshire, three injured Yorkshire - On May 27, 2013 at approximately 12:42 a.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Osgood Fire and Rescue were dispatched to SR705 and North Star Fort. Loramie Rd. in reference to a one vehicle rollover accident with three subjects injured.  Osgood Rescue requested mutual aid from Fort Loramie rescue to respond to the scene. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2002 Ford F150, driven by Aaron York (22) of Versailles, was driving westbound on SR705 and was coming up... read more. ICYMI: New Obama Administration Policy Aiming to Put Ohio Farms Out of Business Posted by Ohio Republican Party - May 23, 2013 - COLUMBUS - Family farms and small businesses in 28 rural Ohio counties will be penalized by a policy created by President Obama's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The new rule issued by CFPB Director and former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray will limit thousands of family farms and residents in rural communities from being eligible for financing at community banks. "One in seven jobs in Ohio is related to the agricultural industry... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Castine resident dies in accident Arcanum - On May 26, 2013 at approximately 5:56 p.m the Darke County 911 center received a call in reference to a male subject struck by a tree in the area of Grubbs Rex Rd and Frazier Rd. Darke County Deputies, along with Arcanum Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the scene. Initial investigation revealed that two male subjects were clearing out an area inside the woods.  The subjects were cutting a tree that was already lying on the ground, but was... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine…Mystery Shopper Scam (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Scammers are using counterfeit checks that appear to be from The Ohio State University Medical Center, according to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The checks are part of a mystery shopper scam, in which consumers receive a letter stating that they have been selected as a "customer service evaluator" and must evaluate their local money transfer service by wiring hundreds of dollars. "We want to warn consumers that ... read more. Key IRS official to take the Fifth…House oversight panel looking for answers today, Written by Deirdre Shesgreen May 22, 2013 WASHINGTON — Lois Lerner, the embattled IRS official who played a key role in the agency’s screening of tea party groups for additional scrutiny, will invoke the Fifth Amendment at a House oversight committee hearing today, according to a letter sent to the committee by her lawyer. Attorney William Taylor cited the criminal investigation into the IRS’ decision to target tea party groups for greater scrutiny beginning in 2010. “She has not committed any crime or made any misrepresentation but... read more. Darke County Courts…Gorrell pleads guilty on five felonies; receives 12 years in prison, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE - MacKenzie Gorrell, 20, pleaded guilty to five felonies, plus a firearm specification, on May 21 in return for a 12-year sentence. Under the terms of the plea agreement he will not be eligible for parole consideration for eight years. When released he will have five years of mandatory supervision by the Adult Parole Authority. Violation of his parole could result in an additional prison term not to exceed half of his original sentence. Juvenile. ... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office…UC resident arrested for Aggravated Menacing…Suspect allegedly discharged firearms while intoxicated Union City–On May 25 at approximately 5:08 p.m. Darke County Deputies were dispatched to 13215 Ohio Indiana Stateline Rd. in reference to a male subject with a weapon. When deputies arrived they spoke with two male subjects who advised they were mowing grass at 13215 Ohio Indiana Stateline Rd. when they were confronted by... read more. Douglas E. Dickey Memorial Hwy…Pfc. Dickey’s example must be passed on, By Bob Robinson ANSONIA - “We are long overdue honoring this patriot,” said State Rep. Jim Buchy on May 18. “He gave his life saving those with him.” Buchy said that Darke County has had three Congressional Medal of Honor winners, two of them from the Civil War. The third is Private First Class Douglas E. Dickey. Buchy spoke to over 100 people at the Ansonia American Legion Douglas Dickey Post No. 353. The occasion was the dedication of State Rte. 47 as the ... read more. Suspect from Mercer unmarked car theft in custody… Sheriff reviewing storage policies for vehicles CELINA, OH -  Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported today that his office is in the process of updating policies on firearms that are stored in office vehicles.  The Sheriff’s Office does not disclose the types of weapons deputies have at their disposal as it is a risk to deputies for criminals to know what resources are available and what resources are not available. Firearms in marked patrol vehicles are kept in the passenger compartment for easy access when needed.  They are secured by locked storage... read more. Greenville Police Beat… Two drivers cited for OVI, Operating a Vehicle Impaired GREENVILLE - Following a two-vehicle collision on Washington Ave. and Pine St. on May 19, Jason Robert Ferguson was arrested for suspicion of OVI. Ferguson allegedly struck a parked vehicle in which Jeffrey Eugene Hashman was sleeping. The officer observed him in pain and asked him to sit until paramedics arrived. The officer then spoke with a witness, Jessica Frazier, who said she heard what she thought to be tires skidding and a loud bang. She turned around and saw that Ferguson’s vehicle... read more. Darke County EMA… Changes in Outdoor Warning Sirens The project of activating outdoor warning sirens from the Darke County Emergency Communications Center located at the Sheriff’s Office is now complete. Some residents in county Villages will notice a change in testing of these sirens. Beginning June 3, 2013 sirens located in Ansonia, Arcanum, Ithaca, Bradford, Burkettsville, Gettysburg, New Madison, Wayne Lakes, North Star, Rossburg, Union City, Versailles, and Eldora Speedway will be... read more. Mercer investigates theft from unmarked sheriff’s vehicle Celina, OH – Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that his office is investigating a theft that occurred in the parking lot of Zuma Automotive, 314 South Main Street in Celina. An unmarked vehicle, assigned to a Detective from the Sheriff’s Office, was entered sometime Monday, May 20 to Tuesday, May 21 and items were stolen. Stolen from the vehicle were a Sheriff’s Office winter jacket with a metal breast badge, a Sheriff’s Office rain coat with a metal breast badge, a bullet resistant vest, a Sheriff’s Office Remington ... read more. Pewstates…Oklahoma’s “Life-Preserving” Law Raises Questions for Doctors, By Michael Ollove TULSA, Okla. – University of Tulsa law professor Marguerite Chapman has been studying end-of-life issues in Oklahoma for three decades and has come to a conclusion: “It’s getting almost to the point that you need a government permit in order to die in this state.” Certainly, dying has gotten a lot more complicated here, the result of a unique measure passed by the Oklahoma legislature and signed into law last month by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine…DeWine Announces Clinic, Pharmacy Raids Authorities Remind Citizens to Report Suspected Prescription Drug Abuse at 855-BCI-OHIO (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that multiple federal search warrants were served this morning in connection with an ongoing prescription drug abuse investigation in central Ohio. Authorities with the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) assisted multiple agencies, including the... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… What is rural? Most Ohio farm counties still don't qualify, despite update By Stephen Koff - May 21, 2013 - Washington -- It’s official: A Washington bureaucrat could stand amid 1,000 acres of tall corn and still not realize he was in the country. That means that starting next year, some Ohio farmers might not be able to get a mortgage. The reason? They don’t live in counties defined by regulators as “rural,” even if they’re surrounded by cows, pigs, chickens or soybeans. The rural label packs a federal regulatory punch, especially as it pertains to balloon mortgages, or ... read more. AG Mike DeWine… DeWine Announces First Quarter Update on National Mortgage Settlement Ohioans Received $86 Million in Early 2013 - (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that today's release of monitor's data shows more than 2,000 Ohioans have received more than $86 million in consumer relief from the National Mortgage Settlement in the first quarter of 2013. "Today's data released by the settlement monitor shows that Ohioans continue to take advantage of the significant relief opportunities provided in ... read more. Mansfield News Journal… Puppy mill reforms are slow to form in Ohio, By Russ Zimmer 15 Ohio breeders in 'Horrible Hundred’ - May 19, 2013 - At a commercial dog breeder in rural Richland County, a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector discovered one adult dog’s teeth were so loose they could be “moved back and forth with the inspector’s finger.” That was in March 2011. Last year, as response to horror stories like the one above, Ohio passed the Commercial Dog Breeders Act, which went into effect in March 2013. The act was intended to regulate high-volume dog breeders... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Legislators mull Medicaid changes rather than expansion Ohio Medicaid recipients could face time limits and work requirements under alternatives being discussed in the legislature to Gov. John Kasich’s proposed expansion of tax-funded health care for the poor and disabled. Republican leaders also are considering taking thousands of pregnant women, disabled workers and children off the Medicaid rolls and putting them into yet-to-be-established health exchanges. “It’s always better to create a path for short-term benefits with long-term... read more. U.S. House of Representatives… Ohio House members ask Obama to address adoption ban WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter sent to President Obama this week, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) joined other members of the Ohio delegation in urging the president to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to find solutions for children and families affected by the Russian government’s ban on American adoptions of Russian children.  Speaker Boehner met personally this week with Ohio... read more. Toledo Blade… Ohio groups long ago sounded alarm on IRS, By Tom Troy and Vanessa McCray Conservative Ohio groups more than a year ago raised the alarm that the Internal Revenue Service was holding up their applications for tax-exempt status, leading Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Urbana) to request the audit that led to the IRS's admission that it targeted Tea Party-related groups for close scrutiny. The scandal on Wednesday broadened enough to prompt President Obama's Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to request the resignation of acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller... read more. Breitbart… Ryan to IRS: ‘How can we not conclude that you misled this committee?’ By Joel B. Pollack - 17 May 2013 - Former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Commissioner Steven Miller, who only took over in November and resigned this week at President Barack Obama's behest, will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee Friday on his role in targeting Tea Party and conservative groups for audit or excessive review. Miller was the first senior IRS official to be disciplined in the scandal, though the problems began before... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle… Enterprise Zone program extended two years COLUMBUS– Senate Bill 112, sponsored by State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City), today passed the Ohio Senate with strong bipartisan support. If enacted, the bill would extend the certification deadline for Ohio’s Enterprise Zone program for an additional two years. “The Enterprise Zone program empowers local governments to incentivize investment and job creation in a needed area of their community,” said Beagle. “This is a program that has a proven track... read more. Job & Family Services… Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation; Unemployment slightly down Ohio's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in April 2013, down from 7.1 percent in March, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).  Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 7,600 over the month, from the revised 5,175,600 in March to 5,183,200 in April. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in April was 400,000, down from... read more. Youngstown Business Journal…2012 Utica Results Show ‘Onset of New Boom', By Andrea Wood Friday, May 17, 2013–YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Oil production in the state’s Utica Shale/Point Pleasant formation increased 93% in 2012 compared to 2011, and natural gas production rose by 80%, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reported Thursday afternoon. While the increases are huge, just 87 horizontal wells were in production in 2012, officials emphasized, and their days in production were relatively few because midstream gas processing infrastructure has yet to come on line. Still, the... read more. Ohio EMA, EPA…Accident exercise at Continental Carbonic deemed “successful”, By Bob Robinson GREENVILLE - “Attention all personnel. An emergency has happened. Evacuate plant and go to staging area…” It was 9:15 a.m. May 11 and the employees at Continental Carbonic immediately left the plant in accordance with the company’s emergency plan. The accident exercise had begun. “We have a mock ammonia... read more. Ohio Federation of Republican Women…Local Republican Women Attend OFRW Legislative Day COLUMBUS, Ohio – Darke County Republican Women’s Club member Lyn Bliss joined Republican women’s club leaders from across Ohio at the Statehouse recently for the Ohio Federation of Republican Women’s (OFRW) annual Legislative Day. The Legislative Day included a tour of the Statehouse, visits with numerous State Senators and Representatives, along with private conversations with members of the Senate and House leadership ... read more. Pharmaceutical Manufacturer to Pay Ohio $3.8 Million (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that Ohio has joined with other states and the federal government in a $500 million dollar settlement to resolve civil and criminal allegations against a pharmaceutical manufacturer in India. Investigators said Ranbaxy, a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Gurgaon, India, introduced adulterated drugs into interstate commerce. As a result, false or fraudulent claims were submitted to Ohio's Medicaid Program. The total ... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office…Shooting; Brother Arrested for Felonious Assault On Friday, May 18, 2013 at approximately 10:43 p.m., the Darke County 911 Center received a call from a man reporting that he had just shot his brother. The caller was identified as 30 year old Kody Clark who stated that the incident had just occurred at his residence located at 41 Knottingham Wayin Sherwood Forest, Greenville, OH. Darke County deputies along with the Arcanum Rescue Squad were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival... read more. Greenville Police Beat…“It was only one burglary” A rash of burglaries continue with Greenville Police arresting Brian Peters and Ty Howell. Greenville police also responded to a suspicious person call in the 1000-Block of Central Ave. which resulted in the arrest of Rodney Jett of Springfield for Falsification. Additional Warrant arrests were made on Scott Alan Williams, Dustin B. Clark and Robert Price. Warrant Arrests On May 11 police responded to a Burglary at the residence of Linda Stebbins ... read more. Pewstates… Safety Net Hospitals Won’t Be Docked in States That Don’t Expand Medicaid By Christine Vestal, Staff Writer - Safety net hospitals – which serve the majority of Medicaid patients and the uninsured – have feared a big financial blow in 2014, especially in states that declined to expand their Medicaid programs. But the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this week indicated they may not be hit as hard as first thought. Instead of punishing states that refuse to expand Medicaid, the funding cuts – $500 million in 2014 and $600 million in 2015—will be allocated among states... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Half of small business owners say health care reform is bad for them By Kent Hoover - Small business owners just don't know what's good for them -- at least that's what President Barack Obama seems to think when it comes to health care reform. A new Gallup Poll finds that 48 percent of small business owners think the Affordable Care Act is going to be bad for their business. These... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… DeWine joins 43 AG’s to request Prescription Drug Warning (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin labeling addictive prescription painkillers with warnings for expectant mothers. Attorney General DeWine was one of  43 state and territorial attorneys general who signed a letter addressed to the FDA today calling for a "black box warning" on prescription painkiller packaging.  The warning would alert pregnant women and their health... read more. Montgomery County school wins $1,000 science competition Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School advances to final round for $5,000 - COLUMBUS– State Senators Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) today announced that Amanda Ooten, an AP Biology Teacher at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School in Dayton, Ohio, is the winner of the “Make My LabWoRx” contest. Ooten's winning video and lesson plan demonstrate how nerves transmit signals through the body. “It is critically important that American... read more. Supreme Court Seeks Public Comment on New, Revised Probate Forms May 13, 2013 - The Ohio Supreme Court will accept public comment until June 11 on probate court forms that concern Medicaid estate recovery, real property certificates of transfer, foreign adoption, and disinterment applications. Amendments to the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio cover Probate Forms 7.0, 7.0(A), 12.0, 12.1, 19.2, 19.3, 25.0, 25.1, 25.2, 25.3... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Rep. Mike Turner seeks jail time for IRS agents who launch political investigations By Sabrina Eaton - May 13, 2013 - Dayton-area GOP congressman Mike Turner has teamed up with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, to introduce legislation that would make it a crime for Internal Revenue Service agents to launch politically motivated investigations. Their bill was prompted by an IRS official's admission last week that its agents targeted tea party organizations for intrusive examinations of their tax-exempt status. "Americans should not have to wonder... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Postal Service's $1.9 billion loss means reform can't wait any longer The U.S. Postal Service's $1.9 billion loss in the second quarter proves that Congress "can't afford to wait any longer" to pass postal reform legislation, said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del. Carper, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has been the main force in Congress behind changing the Postal Service's business model. That could include allowing the Postal Service to restructure its retirement health benefits payments, continue reducing its number of facilities... read more. Ohio Governor John Kasich… Local entities to receive $112.8 Million Workers’ Comp Rebates Rebates total $429,100 for Darke County - COLUMBUS – The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) would return $112.8 million to nearly 3,800 local governments and schools under the $1 billion rebate proposed by Governor John Kasich and BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer last week. The proposal also includes a tripling of safety grants and a 4 percent rate reduction for public employers.  The rebates and reforms are made possible by larger... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… DeWine Announces Statewide Safe Neighborhoods Initiative to Help Communities Combat Violent Crime (AKRON, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a bold, new, holistic initiative aimed at decreasing violent crime in Ohio by targeting Ohio's most violent offenders. The Attorney General's Safe Neighborhoods Initiative will begin in Akron and eventually spread to other crime-ridden neighborhoods within communities... read more. DeWine Announces DNA Results in Cleveland Kidnapping Case (CLEVELAND) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced the preliminary results of DNA testing performed in connection with Cleveland kidnapping and rape suspect Ariel Castro. The Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) received a sample of Castro's DNA late yesterday afternoon, and forensic scientists worked throughout the night to confirm that Castro is the father of the six-year-old girl born in captivity to one of the kidnapping victims. Castro's DNA profile was... read more. Court News Ohio…Students Advocate for Justice in their Communities May 10, 2013–It’s not every day that middle school student activists try to solve problems such as animal abuse, bullying, domestic violence, homelessness, and teen pregnancy. But that was the scene May 7 at the Riffe Center in Columbus when more than 150 Ohio students took part in the 19th annual Youth for Justice Summit, a program of the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. “These students are tackling real world problems,” said OCLRE Executive Director Lisa Eschleman. “Domestic... read more. CNO adds new leadership… County News Online welcomes Olson, Wombolt to team County News Online is pleased to announce that Amanda Rodeheffer-Olson has been promoted to Editor and Jaime Wombolt has been named Director of Marketing for County News Online. “With the announcement this weekend that I have joined the Early Bird team, it was obvious that some changes needed to be made,” said Bob Robinson, who has now assumed the Managing Editor role for CNO. “Early Bird publisher ... read more. The Hill… Whistle-blower: Special forces could have saved Americans in Benghazi, By Julian Pecquet 05/06/13 - U.S. special operations forces in Libya could have saved Americans killed in the attack last Sept. 11 on the consulate in Benghazi but were told to stand down, a State Department whistle-blower has told congressional investigators. The testimony by Gregory Hicks, who will appear before a House panel on Wednesday, contradicts previous testimony by administration officials who have said all U.S. forces in Libya were deployed the night of the attack. Hicks was in Tripoli during the attack and... read more. Breitbart… ABC News: Obama Admin scrubbed terror references in Benghazi talking points, By John Nolte May 10, 2013 - UPDATE: Here are the 12 talking point revisions. Keep in mind the Obama Administration has repeatedly denied making these revisions and denied straight through to Sept 19 that there was any evidence of a terror attack. It looks as though after eight long months, the wheels might have finally come off the Obama Administration's coverup of the September 11th anniversary attacks in Libya. To justify lies told for over a week about a spontaneous protest, the White House has consistently... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… DeWine Seeks Consumer Restitution from Storm-Chasing Roofer (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today filed a lawsuit charging Restore It USA, LLC and its owner James Twaddle with multiple violations of Ohio's consumer laws. According to the lawsuit, the business targeted consumers whose homes were damaged by storms but failed to deliver promised services. "Businesses are required by law to fulfill their promises to consumers," Attorney General DeWine said. "When they don't, we will take action."Restore It USA is located at 132... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Internet cafe drama stirs debate on campaign contributions and access to legislators, By Robert Higgs May 04, 2013–Intrigue surrounding legislation that would all but ban Internet cafes in Ohio could easily have given voters the impression that the key to getting a legislator’s attention is an open wallet. More than two-thirds of the House voted for the bill that targets the sweepstakes parlors in mid March, just before a two-week... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Dayton region must focus internships, leaders say, By Tristan Navera The number of internships in the Dayton region has increased 7.1 percent in the past year, but that falls below the national average. Internships are key to the development of Dayton’s workforce. That’s the word from local business leaders and higher education officials during a Friday business briefing. During the meeting — held at University of Dayton’s River Campus — local officials praised the results of the 20 by 20 challenge, a long-term... read more. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel…Transparency Legislation to post State Checkbook Online introduced COLUMBUS- State Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) was joined by Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel at a press conference today to unveil legislation seeking to establish "Open Ohio," a state government expenditure database showing taxpayers exactly where their money is being spent. In an effort to increase government accountability and transparency, this legislation creates a searchable, freely accessible database that displays the ... read more. Breitbart...Benghazi hearing aims to reveal high level decisions-makers, By Kerry Picket May 8, 2013 - Republicans on the House Oversight Committee say there will be “explosive” revelations that will come forth during the Committee’s hearing on Wednesday when three State Department witnesses reveal what they knew the night the U.S. consulate and CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya were attacked by terrorists. Committee members will be hearing the testimonies of State Department employees Greg Hicks, Mark Thompson, and Eric Nordstrom. The Committee appears to be interested in finding... read more. $153 Million Class Action Settlement Against Fannie Mae, KPMG (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a $153 million settlement has been reached in a class action shareholder lawsuit with Fannie Mae and accounting firm KPMG. The settlement must be approved by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. "I am pleased to see this litigation finally resolved on behalf of the Ohio pension funds and other members of this very large class," said Attorney General DeWine. "The settlement brings closure to... read more. The Hill… Holder v. Brownback? DOJ and Kan. on collision course on guns, By Ben Goad 05/04/13 - The Obama administration is on a collision course with the state of Kansas over a new law that claims to nullify federal gun controls. Attorney General Eric Holder has threatened litigation against Kansas over the law in what could the opening salvo of a blockbuster legal battle with national ramifications. “This is definitely a case that could make it to the Supreme Court,” Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said Friday afternoon. “There is nothing symbolic about this law... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Ohio's education standards debated, By Charlie Boss and  Jim Siegel May 5, 2013 - New math and English standards known as the Common Core are already in Ohio classrooms, even as opposition mounts from groups that include those affiliated with the tea party. Kindergartners in Hamilton schools are having book discussions, writing their thoughts about where a sneaky rabbit might have gone at the end of their story. A third-grade class in Reynoldsburg is trying to explain what words such as pollution and contamination mean in a unit where they will create their own water... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Ohioans Dispose of Approximately 16 Tons of Unwanted Pills (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Attorney General Mike DeWine and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today thanked Ohio residents for properly disposing of more than 16 tons (32,369 pounds) of unwanted prescription medications during last Saturday's drug take-back day. The DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of prescription drug disposal. "Improper use of prescription... read more. The Hill… Obama won't rule out American boots on the ground in Syria, By Julian Pecquet 05/03/13 - President Obama did not rule out sending U.S. troops to Syria on Friday but said he did “not foresee” such a scenario if his administration confirms that Bashar Assad's regime has used chemical weapons. “As a general rule, I don't rule things out as commander-in-chief, because circumstances change. You want to make sure I always have the full power of the United States at our disposal to meet American national security interests,” Obama said during a press conference in Costa Rica. “Having... read more. Dayton Attorney Indefinitely Suspended, By Dennis Whalen May 1, 2013–Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print The Supreme Court of Ohio today indefinitely suspended the law license of Dayton attorney  Marc N. Greenberg for engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with undercover police agents whom he believed to be 12 and 13-year-old girls, and using his computer webcam to transmit obscene video and still photos to those persons. Greenberg’s license has been under an interim suspension since November... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine…Lawsuits close three Internet Cafes (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today filed lawsuits against three internet cafes which failed to file affidavits of existence after a statewide moratorium went into effect in 2012. "While we suspect Ohio gambling laws are likely being violated at nearly all internet cafes in Ohio, the clearest illegal activity occurs when an establishment opens in violation of the statewide moratorium," said Attorney General DeWine. "My office... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Kasich proposes $1 billion Ohio BWC rebate to employers, By James F. McCarty May 02, 2013 - Gov. John Kasich proposed today returning $1 billion in rebates to 210,000 employers from excess assets held by Ohio's Bureau of Workers' Compensation. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. John Kasich said today that he wants to return $1 billion in insurance premiums to 210,000 public and private employers in amounts ranging from $5 to millions of dollars. Kasich said the rebates would come from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation’s net assets, which exceed $8 billion and are more... read more. Court News Ohio…Foreclosures Statewide Drop Again in 2012, By Bret Crow May 2, 2013–Darke County slightly up over 2011. The number of Ohio foreclosure case filings continues to decrease. Continuing a recent trend, the number of Ohio foreclosure case filings decreased again in 2012 by 1.5 percent, according to data released today by the Ohio Supreme Court. For 2012, common pleas courts across Ohio reported 70,469 new residential, commercial, and tax foreclosure case filings to the Supreme Court, or about 1,000 fewer compared to 2011. The Supreme Court began... read more. Federal News Radio… Bill would ax FEHBP in favor of Affordable Care Act plan, by Jason Miller Wednesday - 5/1/2013 - Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) wants to move federal employees, the president, vice president and members of Congress off the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program and on to insurance exchanges. Camp and six other members introduced H.R. 1780 last Friday to change the law requiring the executive and legislative branches to use these new plans under the Affordable Care Act. Camp, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, was joined on the three-page bill by Reps ... read more. Ohio Public Radio… Name Game and Blame Game Starting Already in 2014 Gubernatorial Race By Jo Ingles - Name calling has already begun in the race for Ohio Governor but it’s not what you think. The Ohio Republican Party has requested documents that Democratic Gubernatorial candidate and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald has not signed because his name was not spelled correctly. And the Ohio Democratic Party is firing back with a similar request of its own. Back in 2011, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald put out a staff memo saying he would no longer sign legal... read more. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel… Investment Program Passes $1 Billion in Less Than a Year STAR Plus Quadruples Rate of Return Over Traditional Investment Program - COLUMBUS - State Treasurer Josh Mandel announced today that STAR Plus, a first-of-its-kind local investment program, has surpassed $1 billion in local government investments. The STAR Plus Program was launched in June 2012 and has seen tremendous growth since its inception, with local governments of all sizes choosing to safely invest their tax dollars through the... read more. Court News Ohio… Appeals Court Rules Police Violated Man’s Fourth Amendment Rights, By Jenna Gant April 29, 2013 - The Second District Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court should have suppressed evidence of drug possession obtained in a traffic stop for unpaid traffic tickets. Evidence of drug possession against a Dayton man should have been suppressed by the trial court because it was obtained in a traffic stop not for a crime but for unpaid parking tickets, the Second District Court of Appeals has ruled. Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas convicted Edward L. Dukes of a fifth... read more. Washington Times… Obama, Clinton blew Benghazi response: Republican report By Stephen Dinan - Tuesday, April 23, 2013 - House Republicans have concluded that the Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies bear no blame for failing to halt the terrorist assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last year, releasing a report Tuesday that said President Obama and the State Department set up the military for failure. The report also found that plenty of intelligence presaged the attack, but the White... read more. Court News Ohio… Lawyers Working for Multiple Firms Permissible, By Bret Crow April 12, 2013 - Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline changed perspective on lawyers practicing with more than one firm in Ohio at the same time. The Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline no longer advises that a lawyer may not practice with more than one firm in Ohio at the same time, according to an advisory opinion. Finding “substantial justification for a new perspective... read more. Versailles man injured in ATV accident On April 27, 2013 at approximately 10:58 PM Darke County Deputies along with Versailles Fire, Ansonia Rescue, and CareFlight responded to the intersection of Greenville-St. Mary's Road and Burns Road on a report of a 3-wheeler ATV injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a Suzuki 3-wheeler ATV, operated by Charles Francis, 25, of Versailles was traveling West on Burns Road and struck a guardrail at the intersection of Greenville-St. Mary's Road.  Francis was ejected from the ATV... read more. One Year Later, "Brutus" Makes a Difference at Grand Lake St. Marys New dredge pumped more than 123,000 cubic yards of sediment out of lake CELINA, OH – More than a year after being put into service, “Brutus,” a 57-ton dredge, has helped increase the amount of sediment removed from Grand Lake St. Marys, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The department removed a record 289,000 cubic yards from the lake last year. “Utilizing Brutus has greatly improved our efforts to remove... read more. USA Today… Boehner-led cost-cutting saving millions in the House, by Susan Davis April 25, 2013 - WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives will spend 15% less on its own operations this year than it did three years ago under a cost-cutting effort launched by Speaker John Boehner that is on pace to save taxpayers more than $400 million by the end of this year. When Republicans took control of the House in January 2011, Boehner, the new speaker, said cutting House spending would be a priority. Since then, House lawmakers have seen a nearly 20% decrease... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer…Delays predicted in Common Core success Apr. 22, 2013–There’s good news and bad news about the rise of the Common Core, that new system of math and English standards people hope will reshape and restore American education. The good news: the Common Core’s tougher tests and higher standards in most grades will likely push teachers and students to stretch further academically than they would have under current academic standards. Ultimately more kids may make it to college or a career well prepared, many experts say. But until then... read more. The Weekly Standard…The Fractured Left Good news on natural gas is bad news for a Democratic party full of environmental true-believers Much has been said recently about the deep tensions within the Republican party. Far less has been said about a sharp division arising inside the Democratic party. That latter tension was front and center recently when former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Daily News drawing on his experience overseeing extensive natural gas... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine…Training Video sent to All Ohio School Districts Video entitled "School Shootings: How to be Aware, Prepare, and be a First Responder in a Crisis" (LONDON, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today he is sending a training video to every school district in Ohio to arm administrators, teachers, and school employees with knowledge should they ever face a school shooting crisis. "Quite frankly, I hope it's knowledge no one in Ohio will ever have to use from this day... read more. Darke County Republican Women…Chief Justice French speaks to DCRW French spoke about some of the experiences during the appointment process and said this is a great time for women in the legal/court system, particularly with this being the first time the Chief Justice of Ohio has been a woman. "The beauty of the building literally brought tears to my eyes, the first day I entered." explained French. She said that information is provided regarding the court, the judicial system, and the education center ... read more. New York Times… Conservative Koch Brothers Turning Focus to Newspapers Supporters of libertarian causes, held a seminar of like-minded, wealthy political donors at the St. Regis Resort in Aspen, Colo. They laid out a three-pronged, 10-year strategy to shift the country toward a smaller government with less regulation and taxes. The first two pieces of the strategy — educating grass-roots activists and influencing politics — were not surprising, given the money they have given to policy institutes and political action groups. But the third one was: media... read more. Watchdog.org… Florida experts say as power of blogs grow, so may regulations, By Marianela Toledo April 19, 2013 - MIAMI — Blogs may be one of the last vestiges of the independent press, but as their influence grows, so could regulations. The impact of blogs became evident when the Federal Trade Commission stepped in with guidelines on their use recently. “The Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines are just the beginning of the regulations that will establish the rules for the content of blogs,” said Alejandro Alvarado, a Florida International University journalism professor and director of... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle… Senate Provides Funds for Job Training, Workforce Development COLUMBUS– The Ohio Senate today passed Senate Bill 1, sponsored by State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City), which aims at helping Ohio’s unemployed and underemployed find work through continued education and job training. The bill, which Senator Beagle jointly sponsored with State Senator Troy Balderson (R–Zanesville), authorizes a revolving fund, which will provide loans to Ohioans who need additional job training. The loans will be distributed through... read more. Tax-News… Congress Studies US Financial Products Tax Reform, by Mike Godfrey 25 March 2013 - Led by its Chairman Pat Tiberi (R – Ohio), the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures has held a hearing on the draft proposals released by the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee's Chairman Dave Camp (R – Michigan) on financial products tax reform. As part of its discussions on comprehensive tax reform, the Ways and Means Committee released a discussion draft on January 24, 2013, of one specific component of broader tax reform... read more. Mercer County Sheriff's Office… Mercer County Deputy arrested, terminated Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced today the termination of Court House Deputy Mark Germann.  Germann has been employed by the Sheriff’s Office since April 18, 1988.  On March 29, 2013 he retired, but wished to remain employed and was allowed to do so.  Deputy Germann started as a new probationary employee on April 1, 2013. The termination is the result of Deputy Germann’s arrest by the Van Wert Post of... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Department…Darke County Most Wanted Captured after standoff with Deputies On April 20, 2013 at 7:42 P. M. Darke County Deputy’s were dispatched to 205 N. Bridge St. in Gettysburg, Ohio on a tip that a suspect in the Tuesday home invasion in Greenville was located there. Mackenzie Gorrell, 20, of Greenville was located at the address but refused to exit the apartment. Gorrell was believed to be armed and... read more. Court News Ohio…Ohio Supreme Court Law Library Hosts Talk about Dog Fighting, By Jenna Gant April 18, 2013–Known as “Ace Ventura” among his colleagues, retired Sergeant David Hunt of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, one of the country’s foremost experts on dog fighting, was a featured guest speaker today at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center. The Ohio Supreme Court Law Library hosted Hunt for American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.”  Hunt said dog fighting became notorious when pro football player Michael Vick was... read more. The Hill… EPA release of farmers' personal information appalling, By Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) 04/18/13 - Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they mistakenly released personal information of thousands of farmers to environmental groups in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. This breach of confidentiality resulted from the agency’s desire to appease environmentalists, and I am appalled that the EPA would be so careless with the personal information of these hardworking farmers. In 2011, the EPA proposed a rule that... read more. Mercer County Sheriff’s Office… Officer involved shooting ruled justified Grey says shooting a homicide, not murder as reported - Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced today that the Sheriff’s Office investigation into the officer involved shooting in Celina has been completed.  A Press Conference was held at 9:00 AM this morning to announce the facts of the investigation. First, in order to clarify a mistake by the Celina Daily Standard, Sheriff Grey announced that the investigation was never... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Top 10 states for parent involvement in education, By Tristan Navera Ohio scored a high ranking from the Center for Education Reform for the amount of involvement parents can have in their children’s education. The state took fourth place in the Center’s “Parent Power Index” which ranks states based on the number of school choices, teacher quality, transparency of schools for information, and online learning options available to parents. Among the qualities of the state, the Center praised the... read more. Court News Ohio...Lawyers Texting for Clients Deemed OK by Disciplinary Board, By Bret Crow April 11, 2013–Board of Commissioners on Grievances & Discipline advisory opinion addresses texting between lawyers and prospective clients.Ohio lawyers can text prospective clients if they comply with applicable rules and abide by restrictions, according to an Ohio Supreme Court Board of Commissioners on Grievances... read more. Columbus Dispatch...JobsOhio writes checks to state for $8.4 million Turns out you kept JobsOhio afloat with about $8 million for the agency’s first 19 months. Yesterday, a Kasich administration official confirmed that JobsOhio, Gov. John Kasich’s privatized development agency, recently repaid the state$8.4 million — fulfilling a March 19 promise to return all public funds JobsOhio received since opening its doors on July 5, 2011. Lyn Tolan, the Development Services Agency’s new deputy director, itemized the state’s public funding of JobsOhio to The Dispatch yesterday. The ... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Department...Two Darke County accidents; one resulting in a fatality On April 19, 2013 at approximately 0903 am Darke County Deputies along with Ansonia Fire, Ansonia Rescue, and Union City Rescue was dispatched to the 2700 block of Beamsville Union City Road in reference to a single vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a green 2000 Ford Taurus driven by Teresa Corn, 55, Union City Indiana was eastbound on Beamsville Union City Road.  Ms. Corn’s vehicle traveled off the left side of... read more. WTOP… Lawmakers increase travel as rest of country deals with budget cuts By Sara Carter, John Solomon and Phillip Swarts - Thursday - 4/11/2013 While the rest of Congress was struggling to avoid the dreaded fiscal cliff late last year, then-Sen. John Kerry whisked off to London with a top aide. It was a classic farewell trip for a veteran Democrat about to become America’s next secretary of state. What wasn’t classic was the cost to taxpayers: $17,500 for two airline tickets to London that normally cost just $3,000. Across the Capitol, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor... read more. DC Crime Stoppers… Two new fugitives: Mackenzie Gorrell and an Unknown Accomplice CrimeStoppers Alert: Two new fugitives have been added to the Darke County Most Wanted list. These suspects are wanted in connection with a recent armed robbery out of Greenville. We need to get these guys off the streets and behind bars where they belong. Please share their profiles below with everyone you know. Rewards are available on both. Mackenzie Lee Gorrell. Wanted for: April 2013 – Warrant for 1 count of Aggravated Robbery ... read more. Fox News… New science standards have educational publishers turning the page Apr 12, 2013 - The release of proposed new national science standards, including the emphasis of manmade climate change, will alter the classroom landscape for millions of students in the United States, as well as for at least one education publisher readying for the "major" undertaking. The Next Generation Science Standards, which were released Tuesday after development by 26 states and several national scientific organizations, recommend that educators for the first time identify climate change as... read more. Pewstates… New State Gun Laws Show Power of One-Party Control, By Maggie Clark Gun rights activist Siri Davidson carries her AR-15 as she walks toward the Utah State Capitol at a gun rights rally on March 2. So far this year, 15 states have adopted laws to loosen gun restrictions and four states have passed laws to tighten gun regulations. (AP) New this year: South Dakotans can now carry concealed pistols while riding their snowmobiles. And Arkansas and North Dakota residents are now free to bring their guns to church, as long as their pastors say it’s alright... read more. Dayton Business Journal… OSU grads make best-paid list Graduates of The Ohio State University engineering school made NerdWallet Inc.’s new list of 25 schools with the best-paid graduates. The Ohio State students earn an average of $59,468 upon graduation and ranked No. 22. Ohio State was the only Ohio college on the list. The financial planning site based its findings on senior exit surveys at 100 schools. Carnegie Mellon University programs account for five of the Top 25. Carnegie Mellon School... read more. Attorney General DeWine Announces Guilty Verdict in Patient Abuse Case (TOLEDO, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a Lucas County Common Pleas Court jury has returned a guilty verdict in the case of a former nurse's aide accused of abusing a patient. Tacarra Bryson was convicted of one felony count of patient abuse. The 31-year-old was working at Liberty West Nursing Center in Toledo when she engaged in an altercation with a patient in February 2012.  The aide was convicted of throwing the patient to the ground and... read more. Mercer County Sheriff's Office… Osgood resident missing, found dead Celina, Ohio:  Mercer County Sheriff Grey reports his Office received a call on Saturday April 13, 2013 at 2:09 AM from a third party caller.  The caller reported a male had reportedly ingested some sort of powder, became paranoid and crawled out a window wearing only boxer shorts and a T-shirt and ran away.  The third party caller also indicated over two hours had passed before she received a call from the person who last saw the male.  The... read more. Christian Science Monitor… Boston Marathon tragedy: 2 dead, at least 28 injured in blasts By Mark Trumbull, Staff writer, Eoin O'Carroll, Staff writer - April 15, 2013 - The Boston Marathon finish line was the scene of two large explosions Monday that killed at least two people and injured many more. A third explosion occurred at JFK Presidential Library, several miles away. BOSTON - Two explosions near the finish line brought a tragic halt to the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon while the race was still in progress. A third... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine…  "Buy-Here-Pay-Here" Car Dealer charged with Law Violations What to look for when buying a used car - (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against Dads Car Lot Inc. and its owners William D. Taylor Sr. and Gary Jones. The lawsuit charges the Pickerington used car dealer with multiple violations of Ohio's consumer laws. "Buying a car is a major purchase for most consumers and they rightly expect to be treated fairly according to the law," DeWine said... read more. Columbus Dispatch...DeWine going after Internet cafes, By Alan Johnson Thursday April 11, 2013 – Armed with an appellate court ruling that Internet sweepstakes cafes are illegal gambling, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said he’s going after them statewide. DeWine said yesterday that he’s tired of waiting for state lawmakers to act on legislation regulating or eliminating the 820 Internet cafe operations in the state. “We now have a decision out of the 8th District Court of Appeals which says these places are illegal,” DeWine told The Dispatch. “We’re going to take that... read more. U.S. Congressman John Boehner...President’s Budget: “It Is Time for Washington to Deal with Its Spending Problem”...Video of Press Conference WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) made the following remarks at a press conference with Republican leaders today discussing President Obama’s budget: “House Republicans passed a balanced budget that will help foster a healthier economy and to help create jobs.  Unfortunately, the... read more. The Washington Times… Insurers can’t charge more for smokers in health exchanges, By Matthew Cella Tuesday, April 9, 2013 - The board charged with implementing federal health care reforms in the District has voted to prohibit insurance companies from charging higher premiums to cigarette smokers, adding the city to a handful of states rejecting such surcharges because of the effect they have on poor families who are more likely to smoke. The D.C. Health Benefit Exchange executive board voted Monday to join Rhode Island, Vermont and Massachusetts in eliminating smoking premiums... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Woman Robbed with a Knife Union City-- On Saturday April 13, 2013 at approximately 12:39 am, Darke County Deputies responded to an armed robbery at the trailer court located at 503 Beamsville-Union City Road. Preliminary investigation revealed 67 year old Judith Tacy was inside her residence sitting in a chair when an unknown male entered her residence through the unlocked side door with a large knife and held it to her throat demanding her money and her medication... read more. Pewstates...Obama Budget Calls for More Competitive Grants, By Jake Grovum, Staff Writer President Barack Obama’s budget, released Wednesday, envisions a revamped relationship between the federal government and the states, calling for principles from the competitive Race to the Top education program to be applied to more federal grant programs. Throughout the White House budget, there are hopeful references to trimming wasteful and inefficient spending, and one path touted toward those ends is a proposal to expand the ideas inherent in Race to the Top to other programs. The original Race... read more. Ohio Chamber of Commerce...Darke County Chamber wins 2012 Best Advocacy Campaign Award  Columbus, OH – The Ohio Chamber of Commerce awarded the Darke County Chamber of Commerce with the 2013 Best Advocacy Campaign Award. The winner of the Best Advocacy Campaign Award is the chamber of commerce that has organized an effective grassroots campaign to advance an important business issue... read more. Legislation to increase Transparency of Government Bond Issues announced COLUMBUS - At a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse today, State Rep. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announced legislation that will increase transparency for taxpayers as local and state issues are placed on the ballot. Rep. Roegner will introduce the bill tomorrow and it is co-sponsored by Reps. J. Adams, Blair, Duffey, Hood, Lynch, Terhar, Thompson and Wachtmann. The bill, a collaboration between Treasurer Mandel and Rep. Roegner, would require that political... read more. Mercer County Sheriff's Department… Twelve indicted and arrested on Drug Charges Celina, Ohio – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced the indictment and Arrests of 12 persons. All charges are resulting from an investigation by the Grand Lake Task Force. The Task Force is a combined effort of law enforcement agencies in Mercer and Auglaize Counties. Deputies were assisted by the Celina Police Department. ARRESTED: James C. Prater, Age 23, 813 Sycamore Street Celina, Ohio, 3 Counts of trafficking in ... read more. Mercer County Sheriff’s Office… Officer Involved Shooting in Celina Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported that Celina Assistant Police Chief Calvin Freeman requested the Sheriff’s Office investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred in Celina.  Mercer County 9-1-1 received a call at 12:38 PM today of a male walking westbound on Market Street. The male was described as wearing a cowboy hat, shirtless, shorts and sandals with a gun tucked in his pants.  The caller stated the suspect took the gun out, waved it around, but did not point it at... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Female struck by vehicle near Rossburg Rossburg - On April 9, 2013 at approximately 1145 a.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Rossburg Fire and Union City Rescue, were dispatched to Rossburg Lightsville Road and Lightsville Northern Road in reference to a female struck by a moving vehicle. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Ford E250, driven by John Kopilec (35) of Rossburg was north bound on Lightsville Northern Road when the front passenger, Quintina Kopilec, 30, Rossburg tried to jump from the vehicle during a... read more. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine… Former Mayor of Stockport Convicted on 21 Counts (McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that a Morgan County Common Pleas jury has convicted former Stockport Mayor Michael Shane Shuster on 21 felony counts including eight counts of gross sexual imposition, seven counts of sexual battery and six counts of rape. A special prosecutor from the Ohio Attorney General's Crimes Against Children Unit was assigned to the case to assist Morgan County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Howdyshell... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Researchers may have found a drug to kill all cancers Researchers at Stanford University may have found a drug that kills all different types of cancers, according to a report in Science Magazine. The report says researchers first discovered the basis of this treatment 10 years ago, and have been working on testing and developing it ever since. A protein called CD47 is the key to the drug and treatment, and in the latest testing it was successful at killing human breast, ovary, colon, bladder, brain, liver, and prostate tumors that were transplanted into mice... read more. Rasmussen… What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, April 06, 2013 - Americans like a level playing field, but that’s not what they see these days. As April 15 approaches, half of Americans think they are paying more than their fair share in taxes to Uncle Sam. Forty-eight percent (48%) think the federal government puts more focus on making Wall Street profitable than on making sure the U.S. financial system works well for all Americans. Scott Rasmussen’s weekly newspaper column says that to fight inequality, it's time... read more. Thatcher Dead at 87… Thoughts on the passing of Margaret Thatcher Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher passed away on April 8 at the age of 87. Speaker Boehner: WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the passing of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher: “The greatest peacetime prime minister in British history is dead.  Margaret Thatcher, a grocer’s daughter, stared down elites, union bosses, and communists to win three consecutive elections... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Motorcyclist transported by CareFlight, serious condition On April 7, 2013 at approximately 7:16 PM Darke County Deputies, along with Tri Village Rescue, Hollansburg Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to the 1300 Block of Hollansburg-Richmond Road in reference to an injury accident involving a motorcycle. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2001 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Paul V. Burns, 26, Richmond Indiana was south bound on Hollansburg-Richmond Road.  Burns passed another south bound motorcycle at a high rate of speed, Burns lost... read more. Celina Fire Department… Fire breaks out at C-Town Wings The Celina Fire Department received a call from Mercer County Central Dispatch at 2356 hours on April 7, 2013 reporting a fire at 107 S Main St in the 2nd floor apartments above the C-Town Wings Restaurant. Three adults escaped the two heavily damaged 2nd floor apartments.  Two of the adults were transported by Mercer County EMS to Coldwater Hospital for smoke inhalation.  C-Town Wings Restaurant also sustained smoke and water damage. The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office has been contacted... read more. Wall Street Journal...Job Growth Slows to a Trickle Unemployment Rate Falls One-Tenth of a Percentage Point to 7.6%, By Brenda Cronin The unemployment rate ticked down to 7.6% in March while only 88,000 non-farm payrolls were added to the economy. Sudeep Reddy and Phil Izzo analyze the numbers. Photo: Getty Images. Employers added fewer jobs in March than in any month in almost a year, a dark cloud after several months of slowly improving conditions in labor markets. Just 88,000 jobs were... read more. National Journal… House Republicans Map Out Strategy for Debt-Ceiling Battle, By Nancy Cook January 31, 2013 - When House Republicans return from recess next week, one of their top priorities will be charting out the next fiscal battle -- the debt ceiling. Tea party members view this as a key time to extract serious cuts to entitlement programs from President Obama and the Democrats. “This is going to be where the rubber meets the road,” Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., said before Congress left Washington roughly two weeks ago... read more. WHIO-TV… State goes after food stamp violators, By Cornelius Frolik The state of Ohio on Tuesday announced it has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use technology to crack down on fraud in the federal food stamp program, which costs U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Under a new agreement, Ohio will try to identify fraud among recipients of food stamp benefits by sharing information about their transactions with USDA. USDA said it will... read more. Secretary of State Jon Husted...Absentee Voting for Ohio’s May Election begins today Columbus – Secretary of State Jon Husted announced that Ohioans participating in the May 7, 2013 Primary/Special Election may vote absentee starting today. Election Ballot Issues - On May 7th voters in 74 counties will decide several local races and 355 local issues, including 116 school issues and a number of local tax levies, bond issues and charter amendments. A complete list of local issues appearing on the ballot is available here and at ... read more. Crain’s Cleveland Business...Heck with the naysayers: Kasich stumps in Cleveland for his 'transformative' budget, By Jay Miller April 3, 2013 - Gov. John Kasich came to Cleveland today for a speech at the City Club of Cleveland. His goal: Push the “bold” and “transformative” two-year budget he has proposed that is struggling before the state Legislature, even though the Ohio House and Senate both are controlled by fellow Republicans. The governor and a panel of his staffers spoke for 50 minutes to sel ... read more. Morrow County Sentinel… Human predators seek prey in rural Ohio, By Ed Taylor, Mt. Gilead In the twenty-first Century slavery is still a global abomination. Human trafficking victims, modern-day slaves, are taken from their homes to new locations and are forced to work without pay; some in agriculture, fishing, mining, construction, hotel housekeeping and some in the sex trade. Recently, four hundred Thai workers were promised good jobs in Hawaii. When they arrived, ready to begin work, their passports were confiscated by the traffickers who had “hired” them and they served as slave ... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Injury accident at SR121 and US36 Greenville - On April 4, 2013 at approximately 11:50 a.m. Darke County deputies along with, Tri-Village rescue and New Madison Fire Dept. were dispatched to SR121 and US36 in reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2007 Honda Civic, driven by Michelle Heath (57) of Greenville, was driving eastbound on US36. Heath stopped at the stop sign at the intersection. Heath then started pulling across the intersection and was struck by a 2003 Buick LaSabre, driven ... read more. Great Darke County Fair… Lester Ward named Fair Parade Marshall, Great Darke County Fair dates Aug. 16-24 - Born September 17, 1922, Lester E. Ward Jr. was raised on a farm in Indiana. He began working in a factory near Richmond IN after graduating from high school and then enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps when WWII broke out. He was onboard a United States Air fighter; a B-17, when it was shot down across enemy lines. He became a WWII Prisoner of War and went through the ... read more. Ohioans’ personal income on rise, Buckeyes’ per capita gains tied for 2nd highest in U.S. in 2012 By Cornelius Frolik - Ohio’s per capita personal income rose at one of the fastest rates in the nation last year, another sign that the state’s economy is recovering more quickly than most of the country, according to data analyzed by the Dayton Daily News. Per capita personal income — which includes all earnings such as wages, dividends, interest income and rents — increased by 1.7 percent to $39,289 between 2011 and 2012. It was a larger increase than ... read more. Akron Beacon Journal… Ohio counties see sales tax collections rise, By Rick Armon April 1, 2013 - Ohioans had no problem pulling money out of their wallets last year, and county governments were a big winner. County sales tax collections rose 7 percent statewide, to $1.5 billion — the biggest one-year jump since well before the Great Recession, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Taxation. The increase put a collective smile on the faces of county leaders, who have been complaining for years about declining revenue... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Opinion poll: ‘Heartbeat’ bill divides Ohio evenly We should be able to use marijuana for medicinal purposes, refuse union membership regardless of our workplace and cast our ballot on a weekend before an election. But we don’t think pot should be legalized outright, are OK with having guns in locked vehicles parked under the Statehouse or Riffe Center and are deadlocked on whether abortions should be banned once a fetal heartbeat is detected. All of these issues that were part of a Saperstein Associates poll of more than 1,000 Ohioans for The... read more. Court News Ohio… New Felony Sentencing Guidelines Take Effect, By Jenna Gant April 1, 2013 - Senate Bill 160 clears up ambiguity in sentencing those who commit fourth and fifth degree felonies. Ohio judges can now sentence those who commit fourth and fifth degree felonies, the lowest felony levels, to prison for a first time offense in more cases. The new Ohio bill went into effect on March 22. In September 2010, Senate Bill 86 limited the ability of judges to send many first-time felons to prison for committing... read more. Rasmussen… What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, March 30, 2013 - President Obama is focusing on immigration reform once again, a move signaled by his appearance on two Spanish language television networks this past week. Voter skepticism about the federal government’s willingness to enforce immigration laws plays a major part in the debate. Historically, the United States is a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. Voters continue to respect both traditions. Sixty-eight percent (68%) think immigration, when done within the law... read more. Upstart Business Journal… Want a job? Get in touch with your risk-loving personality by Romy Ribitzky - It was the combination of the photo and headline that caught my eye. A man inside a cave, peering up, unsure of how he’s going to tackle the next step, but certain enough that a next step is coming. Coupled with the call-to-action, Wanted at Work: Take More Risks in College, I had to click. In his LinkedIn post, author Jeff Selingo said, “We don’t create enough settings in college for students to fail, certainly... read more. April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month March 29, 2013 - The Ohio Supreme Court Law Library is featuring a display in conjunction with the ASPCA's "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month." Laws on the prevention of cruelty to animals will be on display at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center this month. In conjunction with ASPCA’s “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month,” the Ohio Supreme Court Law Library is featuring a display that will be open for viewing by the public from April 1 to May 24. In addition to highlighting recent Ohio legal... read more. Dayton Business Journal...Dayton lawyer discusses potential impact of Supreme Court same sex marriage ruling, By Olivia Barrow Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve probably seen some of the buzz about the current discussions of same sex marriage by the Supreme Court. The debate, evaluating the constitutionality of California’s ban on same sex marriage and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, has polarized many social media outlets, with businesses and... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine...AG Warns of Increase in Tax-Related Identity Theft (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned Ohioans of an increased number of tax-related identity theft complaints recently received by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section Identity Theft Unit. "Of all the tax-related identity theft complaints my office has on file, more than half of the complaints were made in March, and we still have a few days to go," said Attorney General DeWine.  "With the tax filing deadline just a few... read more.  Attorney General Mike DeWine… Ohio Unsolved Homicides: The Bricca Family (CINCINNATI, Ohio) -- As part of his Ohio Unsolved Homicides Initiative, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for information regarding the murders of a Cincinnati family in 1966. "This gruesome triple homicide happened nearly five decades ago, but we still have hope that someone out there knows something," said Attorney General DeWine.  "It is possible that the killer could be deceased, but nonetheless, it is important that we do all we can to solve the mystery of who murdered this family... read more. The Business Courier… Study: A little Facebook won’t hurt you, By James Ritchie If you’re feeling guilty about sneaking onto Facebook at the office, you can relax: It’s actually helping you to do your job. So says a new study. Social media and digital devices are allowing people to be more flexible about when and where they work, researchers at the United Kingdom’s University of Warwick found. “We found that the ubiquitous digital connectivity altered workers’ sense of ‘presence,’” professor Joe Nandhakumar said in a press release, “and helped rather than hindered the effective... read more. Lima News...Legislators: Energy drives economic growth, By Heather Rutz Tuesday, March 26, 2013 - ST. MARYS — Access to safe, clean, cheap energy will drive the U.S. economy, legislators told a crowd Tuesday at Midwest Electric’s annual member breakfast. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana; U.S. Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green; Ohio Senate President Keith Faber, R-Celina; Ohio Rep. Matt Huffman, R-Lima; and Ohio Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville spoke at the co-op Owners for Political Action meeting. Midwest Electric has 700 members who belong to the PAC; more than... read more. AGs Call for Broader Exceptions to Obamacare Mandate Violating Religious Liberty (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today joined attorneys general from 12 other states in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adopt broader religious exceptions to the HHS mandate that many businesses and non-profit organizations purchase specified insurance products even when it violates their sincerely-held religious beliefs. The attorneys general voiced their concerns in a letter sent today ... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Department… Deputies investigate Semi Accident On March 27, 2013 at approximately 10:56 A.M. the Darke County Sheriffs Office received a call of a single vehicle semi accident on St. Rt. 47 east of the Village of Versailles.  Darke County Sheriff Deputies along with Versailles Police Department and Versailles Fire Department arrived on scene to find a semi truck hauling corn on its side. The driver of the truck, James A. Kuether, age 65 of Yorkshire was transported from the scene by Versailles Life Squad to Wilson Memorial Hospital... read more. $86 Million in new investments to spur local economies COLUMBUS – Today Governor John R. Kasich announced the approval of assistance for 13 projects set to create 1,417 jobs and retain 2,995 jobs statewide. Together the projects are expected to result in more than $57 million in new payroll, and spur approximately $86 million in investment across Ohio. During their monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners... read more. Mercer County Sheriff’s Office… Grube Homicide suspects from Darke County Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville and Union City, OH & IN PD, the Ohio AG and others assisted Celina, OH – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey this morning at a press statement announced the arrests of Bryant Rhoades and Trevin Sanders for the November 2011 homicides of Robert and Colleen Grube in their rural Fort Recovery home. Rhoades was arrested at his residence just outside of Greenville and... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Semi Rollover Accident On March 25, 2013 at 8:20 PM Darke County Deputies were dispatched to the area of New Weston Ft. Loramie Road and Hillgrove Ft. Recovery Road on the report of a semi on it's side.  Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver, Patrick W. Moore Jr., 49 of Arkansas, was eastbound on New Weston Ft. Loramie Road when he drove off the right side of the roadway and was pulled further by the deep snow. The 2006 Freightliner and trailer, which was loaded with eggs, rolled over onto its side.  Moore... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Government auditors to review sequestration cuts U.S. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has asked auditors to review five different areas of sequestration, Federal News Radio reported. The Government Accountability Office will examine the actual sequestration order, as well as the July 31 memo to agencies from the Office of Management and Budget. Ryan also wants GAO to look at any supporting reports, regulations and orders for compliance with the Budget Control Act, the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit... read more. The National Review… A House GOP Win; They are prevailing in the budget battle, By Andrew Stiles March 21, 2013 - When it comes to this year’s budget debate, Republicans are united, and they are winning. At least for now. On Thursday, House Republicans plan to pass a budget that reaches balance in ten years — decades sooner than previous efforts, and without additional tax increases — with near-unanimous GOP support. Shortly thereafter, they are likely to approve a continuing resolution that locks in federal spending at sequestration levels through September 30. President Obama will sign the... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… New Efforts to Help Sexual Assault Victims announced Survey Shows 59% of Ohio Counties Do Not Have Comprehensive Services - (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced details of a plan to address existing gaps in sexual assault services across Ohio. The formation of the new Sexual Assault Services Expansion Program comes after a survey conducted by the Attorney General's Office found that 59% of Ohio's counties do not have comprehensive, direct sexual... read more. Darke County Sherriff's Office...LEVEL 1 SNOW ADVISORY ISSUED Sheriff Toby L. Spencer announced that as of 8:30 PM on 03/24/2013, Darke County will be at a Level 1 snow advisory.  Level 1 is when all roadways are hazardous.  Extreme caution should be used if travel is necessary. Travel is not being limited at this time; however, blowing and drifting snow is causing some roadways to become slick and hazardous. Thank you for your patience during these severe weather conditions. Authority Darke County Sheriff Toby L. Spencer February 2013 Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted) Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in February, unchanged from January, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).  Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 16,100 over the month from the revised 5,181,100 in January to 5,197,200 in February. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in February was 401,000, up from 399,000 in January.  The number of unemployed has decreased by 30,000 in the past 12 months... read more. Montgomery Advertiser… Ten Commandments: Proposal legalizes displays, by Brian Lyman ACLU says Alabama lawmakers are setting themselves up for lawsuits - Mar. 21, 2013 - A House committee approved a constitutional amendment Wednesday that would authorize governments and schools to display the Ten Commandments, but an American Civil Liberties Union attorney said the law can’t “trump the Constitution.” The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, would allow public schools and public bodies to display “historically significant displays which reflect the... read more. Weather.com… Snowy Midwest Through Sunday Spring has arrived, but Winter Storm Virgil will make it feel like we are in the heart of winter for millions from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic through this weekend and into Monday. Virgil has delivered around 8 inches of snow to Denver and 14 inches of snow to Goodland, Kan. as of early Saturday afternoon. Snow and gusty winds forced the closure of I-70 in eastern Colorado Saturday morning. We expect a swath of significant snowfall and... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Freeway speed limits may increase to 70 mph, By Jim Siegel Monday March 11 - From the Dayton Business Journal - The speed limit on many of Ohio’s freeways would increase to 70 mph under changes to the state transportation budget made today by a Senate committee. As of last year, 35 states, including West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky, had posted speed limits at or exceeding 70 mph on some segments of their road systems. The Ohio Turnpike, which is run independently, raised its speed... read more. Darke County Sheriff's Office... Drug Search Warrant Executed in Beamsville, OH On March 20, 2013 at approximately 4:14 PM deputies from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office along with detectives from the Greenville Police Department, Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations and a K-9 Unit from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office executed a drug search warrant at 6099 Beamsville-Union City Road in the small community of Beamsville, OH in Darke County. Items seized during the search of the property were several packages of a green leafy substance (believed to ... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer... EXCLUSIVE: State tests require computers some schools can't afford Mar 18, 2013 - Ohio public schools appear to be far short of having enough computers to have all their students take new state-mandated tests within a four-week period beginning in the 2014-15 school year. “With all the reductions in education funds over the last several years and the downturn in the economy, districts have struggled to be able to bring their (computer technology) up to the level that would be needed for this,” said Barbara Shaner, associate executive director of the Ohio Association ... read more. Mercer County Sheriff’s Office... Large drug sting… 12 arrests, property seized Celina, Ohio – Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey announced the indictment and Arrests of 12 persons. All charges are resulting from an investigation by the Grand Lake Task Force. The Task Force is a combined effort of law enforcement agencies in Mercer and Auglaize Counties. The Celina Police Department and the Shelby County Ohio Sheriff’s Office assisted with these apprehensions. ARRESTED... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Injury accident near Hollansburg New Madison -  On March 21, 2013 at 11:55 a.m. Darke County deputies, along with Hollansburg Fire and Tri-Village Rescue, were dispatched to the 900 blk. of Rush Rd. in reference to a single vehicle accident into a pole. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Shannon Riley (38) of Arcanum, was eastbound on Rush Rd. when her vehicle went off the left side of the roadway and struck a utility pole.  Riley's vehicle then overturned and came to final rest in a field. Riley... read more. Midmark Announces New Offices in Dayton; “Midmark Center” will be located at the University of Dayton – River Campus” VERSAILLES, Ohio – (March 20, 2013) – Midmark Corporation, a leading provider of medical, dental and veterinary healthcare equipment solutions, today announced it has finalized lease negotiations and will move its headquarters to the 1700 South Patterson Building on the University of Dayton's River Campus. The headquarters... read more. SCAM ALERT: Telephone Scams Request Personal Information COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is warning Ohioans about two identity theft scams targeting unemployment compensation claimants. In one scam, a telephone caller indicates that a job is available but says the individual must provide a credit card number and other personal information in order to be hired. In another scam, a telephone caller provides general information about unemployment compensation and then asks for the individual’s Social Security... read more. Columbus Dispatch... Bill to ban assault weapons is dropped WASHINGTON — An assault-weapons ban will not be included in a package of gun-safety legislation that will come to the Senate floor, the measure’s champion, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, said yesterday. The California Democrat said her party’s leaders told her that her legislation, approved last week in the Senate Judiciary Committee in a party-line vote, could be offered as an amendment to the larger bill. Feinstein expressed disappointment that her attempt to revive the 1994 ban was dropped to clear the way... read more. The Hill… Supporters rally to defense of 'Obama phone' program, By Brendan Sasso 03/16/13 - Republicans have targeted a federal phone subsidy, widely referred to as the "Obama phone" program, as a prime example of wasteful government spending. But supporters of the program are coming to its defense, arguing that it is crucial for ensuring that needy people are able to communicate with their loved-ones and call for help in an emergency. "Allow me to set the record straight," said Mignon Clyburn, a Democratic member of the Federal Communications Commission, in a... read more. Business Privacy Rights threatened; Auditor Dave Yost demanding access to JobsOhio nonpublic dollars From Rob Nichols, Press Secretary, Gov. John Kasich: "JobsOhio is working. After losing 400,000 jobs Ohio is now up more than 116,000 jobs and the $9 billion in new investment that JobsOhio has helped attract is part of that success. JobsOhio is indeed moving at the speed of business. “The Auditor’s attempt to re-write the law to make JobsOhio a slow, bureaucratic public body again will kill JobsOhio and its job creation efforts.  And if companies that... read more. The Hill… States to feds: Hands off our guns, By Benjamin Goad 03/17/13 - A growing number of states are moving forward with legislation to exempt them from new federal gun controls and, in some cases, brand as criminals anyone who tries to enforce them. While many of the bills are considered symbolic or appear doomed to fail, the legislative explosion reflects a backlash against legislative and regulatory efforts in Washington to tamp down on gun violence. As of this week, at least 28 states had taken up consideration of gun bills this year... read more. Upstart Business Journal… 1776: Where Traditional DC meets Startup DC, by Laura Baverman March 18, 2013 - If sequester means thousands of unemployed smart people end up in Washington D.C., Evan Burfield wants to give them an office, train them for startups and put them to work building businesses that transform the way industries like healthcare, education, energy and government operate. The serial entrepreneur who last built and sold Synteractive, a firm that built social apps for startups and government... read more. Federal News Radio… Agencies suffering reductions in services even before furloughs occur, By Jason Miller Thursday - 3/14/2013 - Sequestration-related furloughs may still be at least a month away, but agencies already are feeling the effects of budget cuts. Border Patrol agents, Transportation Security officers and many other federal employees are beginning to experience major changes in how they do their jobs. Both Border Patrol agents and TSOs have been told by their respective agencies — Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration — that one way they will... read more. Alabama Wire...AEA vows legal fight not over on Alabama Accountability Act, By Kim Chandler March 14, 2013 - MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Gov. Robert Bentley has signed into law a controversial school choice bill that gives families zoned for "failing" schools  tax credits to pay tuition at a private school or better public school. “It’s a great day for the parents and children of the state of Alabama who are living in failed systems,” said Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, who helped push the measure through the Alabama Legislature. Bentley signed the bill, known as the ... read more. Washington Times…CPAC 2013: Ted Cruz urges conservatives to stand up for the U.S. Constitution, By Seth McLaughlin Saturday, March 16, 2013 - Additional CPAC links posted below…Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas closed out the annual Conservative Political Action Conference by calling on the thousands of people in attendance to join him in standing up for the U.S. Constitution. Mr. Cruz also poked fun at Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who labeled him... read more. Beagle Pushes Program Sharing Option for Colleges and Universities COLUMBUS–State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today introduced Senate Bill 69, which aims to streamline and maximize the Course and Program Sharing Network (Program Share). Program Share allows colleges, universities and adult career centers to share existing programs with one another in order to save on the costs of establishing a program from scratch. “The skills needed in today’s workforce are constantly changing and becoming more and more technical,” said Beagle, who also Chairs the... read more. Bloomberg...Refusal to Expand Medicaid May Cost Employers $1 Billion, by Alex Wayne Mar 13, 2013 - Governors who refuse to expand their Medicaid programs for the poor may cost employers in their states as much as $1.3 billion in federal fines, a study found. A clause in the 2010 health-care overhaul penalizes some employers when their workers aren’t able to obtain affordable medical coverage through the company. Employers can avoid those fees if their workers qualify for Medicaid as part of an expansion that as many as 22 states have rejected, according to a report today by... read more. DeWine, Stewart announce Fifth Damal Home Care Conviction More than $400,000 to be Repaid to State of Ohio - (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Carter Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, today announced the fifth and final health care fraud conviction in connection with Damal Home Health Care Services of Columbus. This morning a U.S. District Court judge sentenced Damal's co-owner, Yasin Warsame, of Westerville, to 90 days incarceration followed by three years of probation. The 45-year-old previously ... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle … Paid Statehouse Fellowship Opportunities Available COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today announced that the Ohio Legislative Service Commission is accepting applications for its 13-month Legislative and Telecommunications Fellowship Program. The Commission will hire 20-plus fellows to work with members of the Ohio General Assembly during the 2014 calendar year. “The Legislative Service Commission fellowship is an excellent way for individuals to learn more about state government ... read more. Beagle Moves to Clarify, Strengthen Child Enticement Laws COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today introduced Senate Bill 64 to strengthen Ohio’s child enticement laws by clarifying that a potential offender must have unlawful intent for their actions to be considered illegal. The legislation, jointly introduced with State Senator Gayle Manning (R–North Ridgeville), is in response to a recent ruling by the 9th District Court of Appeals where Ohio’s current child enticement law was found unconstitutional... read more. NFRW… Rand Paul, other Republican elected officials brief NFRW members Local Resident Among More than 100 ‘Red Coats’ at U.S. Capitol - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), fresh from a 13-hour Senate filibuster that captivated the nation the night before, privately briefed more than 100 Republican women leaders from across the country during the National Federation of Republican Women’s (NFRW) biennial Legislative Day at the U.S. Capitol on March 7... read more. Ohio Jobs & Family Services… Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation (Seasonally Adjusted) Ohio's unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in January, up from 6.7 percent in December, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).  Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 3,800 over the month from the revised 5,175,000 in December to 5,178,800 in January. The number of workers unemployed in Ohio in January was 399,000, up from 385,000 in December.  The number of unemployed has decreased by 42,000 in the past 12 months.... read more. Rasmussen… What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, March 09, 2013 - Despite record stock market gains and a slightly improved jobs picture this week, Americans still express a lot of uncertainty about the economy and the future in general. Like long-term economic confidence a month ago, short-term confidence in the U.S. economy is now at a new low. Just 25% of Americans think the economy will be stronger a year from today. At week’s end, just 14% of consumers rated the U.S. economy as good or excellent, while 46% deemed... read more. Darke County Red Cross… New Tornado App from American Red Cross Audio alert feature can help save lives when users can’t monitor the weather - Darke County, March 4, 2013 — The American Red Cross has launched its official Tornado App, putting lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in, visit or have loved ones in tornado-prone areas. This free app—available in English or Spanish—gives iPhone, iPad and Android smart phone and tablet users instant access to local and real-time information, so they know what to do before, during.... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle… Beagle Receives Ohio Library Council’s “Andrew Carnegie Award” COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) this morning was presented with the “Andrew Carnegie Award” from the Ohio Library Council (OLC). According to the OLC, the award is presented annually by the Board of Directors to a government official in recognition of their support for the ideals and challenges to public libraries. “I am incredibly honored to be recognized by the Ohio Library Council through the Andrew Carnegie Award,” said Beagle. “The... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle...Beagle Initiative Aims to Help Schools Save on Electricity Bills COLUMBUS–State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today introduced legislation to allow a consortium of school districts to utilize tax-exempt bonds for the pre-purchase of electricity in bulk. “This legislation will allow our school districts to take advantage of a shared service opportunity that promises real savings on overhead costs,” Beagle said. “Every dollar we save on the electric bill is another dollar that can be spent educating...read more The Columbus Dispatch… Jobs Ohio employees well-paid in 1st year, By Joe Vardon March 2, 2013 - Four people working at Gov. John Kasich’s Jobs Ohio are paid more than Kasich gets to run the state. President and Chief Investment Officer John Minor is one of three making $225,000 a year at JobsOhio, according to a report released yesterday containing never-before-seen financials for Kasich’s privatized economic-development agency. Overall, JobsOhio spent about $2.8 million on salaries in fiscal year 2012 — its first year of operation — and half of its 26 employees receive at... read more. Anne Vehre Board of Directors, League of Women Voters of Darke County... To Frack or not to Frack By To Frack or not to Frack is the question the League of Women Voters of Darke County will be asking at their first educational forum of the year. The forum, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenville on Monday, March 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. Joe Logan, Director of Agricultural Programs for the Ohio Environmental Council and co-chair of the board of directors for the Coalition for a Prosperous America, will be one of the featured speakers. He has... read more. Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, March 02, 2013 - The sequester’s here and happening, but outside of Washington the nation pretty much took it in stride. At the beginning of the week, only 40% of Likely U.S. Voters thought President Obama and Congress should stop the so-called sequester spending cuts from going into effect on March 1. Despite the apocalyptic warnings coming out of Washington, D.C., that was up only slightly from the start of the month. Still, 46% felt it will be bad for the economy if the automatic... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Revising Kasich’s budget will require rebalancing revenue, By Jim Siegel Wednesday February 27, 2013 - Conservative groups don’t want Republicans to expand Medicaid. Oil and gas drillers don’t like the proposed severance tax on them. Some businesses don’t like parts of the sales-tax expansion. And schools and local governments want more money. Any of these changes would punch varying-size holes in Gov. John Kasich’s proposed two-year, $63.3 billion budget. But unlike some of the more recent budgets, lawmakers would have choices in how to fill those holes... read more. Versailles teen injured in two-car accident On March 5, 2013 at approximately 6:40 A.M., Darke County Deputies along with Versailles Fire, Versailles Rescue and CareFlight were dispatched to the area of Conover Road and Burns Road on a report of a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2006 Ford Mustang, driven by a 16 year old female of Versailles, Ohio was traveling north on Conover Road and failed to stop at Burns Road. The Ford Mustang was struck by an east bound 2002 Pontiac Grand... read more. Attorney General Mike Dewine… Record Number of Concealed Carry Licenses Issued in 2012 (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a report indicating that more than 78,000 concealed carry licenses were issued in Ohio in 2012, the largest number since licenses were first issued in 2004. According to statistics reported to the Attorney General's office, county sheriffs in Ohio issued 64,650 new licenses and 12,160 renewal licenses in 2012, or 78,810 total licenses. The number of new licenses is also the largest in a single year since licenses were first issued in 2004... read more. Columbus Dispatch… More teen drivers dying in crashes; Distractions caused by wireless devices may be factor For the second year in a row, the number of teen drivers involved in fatal crashes is on the rise. That worries safety officials, who note that the numbers had been declining for nearly a decade. According to a report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association, there was a nearly 19 percent increase in the number of deaths among 16- and 17-year-old drivers in the first six months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011. In all, the number increased from 202 to 240... read more. Research and development leads to cheaper food; A Report on the Boehner Farm Forum Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane - Congressman John Boehner's 22nd Annual Farm Forum was well attended by many from Darke and surrounding Counties. I had the pleasure sitting with Gwen Wolford, PhD who is Director, Government Relations of Ohio State University Extension and OARDC for the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) along with Don and John Lecklider and several others. I was very... read more. Ohio Senate President Keith Faber… Faber Announces Paid Statehouse Fellowship Opportunity COLUMBUS– State Senator Keith Faber (R-Celina) today announced that the Ohio Legislative Service Commission is accepting applications for its13-month Legislative and Telecommunications Fellowship Program. The Commission will hire 20-plus fellows to work with members of the Ohio General Assembly during the 2014 calendar year. "The fellowship program is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain a better understanding of public policy and... read more. Court News Ohio… Reporting Requirements for Mentally Ill Offenders Focus of New Bill By Bret Crow - February 21, 2013 - Ohio Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Widener. A bill introduced in the Ohio Senate last week would require judges to report to law enforcement when they sentence a violent offender to mental-health treatment instead of incarceration,or if they approve a conditional release for an individual found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity.Sponsored by President Pro Tempore Chris... read more. Federal News Radio… Low morale?You're not alone, new federal survey shows, By Michael O'Connell Thursday - 2/28/2013 - As Congress and the  White House duke it out over sequestration and the possibility of agency furloughs, morale in the federal workforce is understandably low. In January, Federal News Radio conducted an anonymous online survey on federal morale and leadership. The survey asked managers and employees what morale levels were like in their offices and what factors had the greatest impact on office morale. The response was loud and clear — the majority of the... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Intoxicated driver crashes into house Resident injured; listed in good condition - On March 2, 2013 at approximately 10:15 PM Darke County Deputies along with New Madison Fire, and Tri-Village Rescue, responded to the 3800 block of SR 121 in Ft. Jefferson on a report of a vehicle that struck a house. Preliminary investigation revealed a black 2003 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 31 year old Bruce A. Burns, Greenville, Ohio was traveling East on Weavers Ft. Jefferson Road and failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of SR... read more. 22nd Annual Farm Forum held,By Lyn Bliss, Associate Editor Tough fracturing regs; improvements through bioengineering - “One thing I learned in my time at the USDA, about regulations, is if it walks,crawls, slides or slithers; if it moos, clucks, bleats or neighs; or if you can sniff it, eat it, smell it, or smoke it, the USDA probably regulates it. “The agriculture arena has improved around this country,we’ve gotten better with food and fiber, fabric and fuel production. We’re becoming... read more. John Boehner says White House 'trying to play games', By Kevin Cirilli 2/27/13 - Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) is calling it“outrageous” for the government to release illegal immigrants from detention before the sequester deadline and says the White House is“trying to play games” “This is very hard for me to believe that they can’t find cuts elsewhere in their agency. I frankly think this is outrageous and I’m looking for more facts but I can’t believe that they can’t find the kind of savings they need out of the department short of letting criminals go... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Jordan says sequester will help conservatives make budget cutting progress By Sabrina Eaton - February 27, 2013 - Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan speaks at a press forum for Conservative House of Representatives members at the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Jordan says upcoming budget cuts under the  "sequester" process "won't be the end of the world" and will be an initial step towards savings that represents a victory for conservatives. On Wednesday, Jordan told a Capitol Hill press conference that he'd prefer that the cuts have less of an impact on defense, but... read more. Columbus Dispatch… Kasich again tackles faculty load, By Ryan Clark Saturday February 23, 2013 - Gov. John Kasich’s office has renewed a2011 attempt to make Ohio’s public-college professors teach more classes. Critics say it’s a one-size-fits-all solution to a multifaceted issue. A little-noticed provision in the state budget bill would revamp the way Ohio universities and community colleges can change their employees’ workload. Boards of trustees currently have the ability to modify faculty workload — even to subvert collective-bargaining agreements... read more. Supreme Court To Hear Appeal of Public School Teacher Fired for Religious Displays and Teaching By Dennis Whalen - February 22, 2013 - The Ohio Supreme Court hears oral arguments in nine cases on February 26 and 27. The Supreme Court of Ohio will hear oral arguments in nine cases on February 26 and 27,including the appeal of a Mt. Vernon middle school teacher who was fired for refusing to stop presenting extracurricular materials to his students that advocated the religious doctrine of creationism and challenged the reliability of the district’s approved science curriculum... read more. Rasmussen… What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls All eyes are on Congress and the president as the countdown to the March 1 spending cuts continues. Scott Rasmussen says in his latest weekly newspaper column that “a panic is bubbling to the surface in Washington, D.C.” as this sequester deadline approaches. The process“will be further proof to voters that their elected officials are incapable of doing their jobs. So incapable, in fact, that automatic,arbitrary and thoughtless budget-cutting is a better option than anything Congress and the president could... read more. DeWine: Ohioans have received $280 Million in Mortgage relief (COLUMBUS, Ohio)-Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that today's release of a monitor's report shows that more than 7,000Ohioans have received more than $280 million in consumer relief from the National Mortgage Settlement announced one year ago. "The two goals of the National Mortgage Settlement were to compensate Ohioans for the damage caused by robo-signing and to prevent future bad acts," said Attorney General DeWine. "Today's monitor's report shows that Ohioans are... read more. The Vindicator, Patriot Water claims ODNR attack on its business, By Jamison Cocklin WARREN - The face-off between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Patriot Water continued Tuesday, as the company’s president, Andrew Blocksom, had choice words for an agency he says is attacking his business. Blocksom finds himself in yet another dispute with ODNR,which he says has taken aim at his company because the agency views it as a competitor in the drilling-waste-disposal business. Patriot learned from a representative at D&L Energy last... read more. Note from a reader… Beware Misleading Information Regarding the recent article posted from the Dayton Business Journal ranking schools by SAT scores:  The information is truly misleading.  On average Arcanum-Butler High School only has one to three students who take the SAT. Editor: Arcanum was ranked No. 30regarding “Best SAT Scores.” DBJ… Sequestration to cost Ohio $111 million in lost wages, by Joe Cogliano, Senior Reporter Sequestration will suck more than $111 million from Ohio’s economy in lost wages during the first six months after it kicks in and the vast majority of that will come from workers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, according to a U.S. Air Force document obtained by the Dayton Business Journal. The document outlines the state-by-state impact of furloughs of civilian workers expected to start in the spring — and run... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer… Gov. Kasich focuses on Medicaid, job creation, tax reforms in State of the State By Robert Higgs - February 19, 2013 - LIMA, Ohio - Gov. John Kasich used his State of the State address Tuesday to tout proposals in his budget plan he says will drive Ohio forward, saying now is not the time to ease up on the gas. "Keep your eyes on the mountaintop," the first-term Republican governor implored the audience at the Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center. The plan, billed as Ohio's Jobs Budget 2.0, includes a bold overhaul of the state's taxing systemintended to bolster... read more. Aurora Advocate… Transcript of Gov. Kasich's State of State Speech February 20, 2013 - A transcript of the State of the State speech delivered by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in Lima on Tuesday night: Thank you.Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, members and colleagues from the General Assembly, members of my cabinet, the great people of Lima. We love the way you welcomed all of us here today. Am I right, members of the General Assembly? And, of course, my wife, Karen Kasich. Sweetie... read more. Rasmussen… What They ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, February 16, 2013 - Voters must sometimes wonder what part ofthe phrase “spending cuts” their elected officials don’t seem tounderstand. In this weekend’s edition of What America Thinks, ScottRasmussen and his guests, former DNC Chairman Howard Dean andRepublican Senator Bob Corker,  discuss spending and otherissuesraised by President Obama in his latest State of the Union address.What America Thinks airs on 61 TV stations nationwide. Find a stationin your area... read more. DaytonDaily News… Medicaidexpansionin Ohio would avoid a $404M budget gap, ByJackie Borchardt COLUMBUS — State officials told lawmakers Thursday that rejecting Gov.John Kasich’s proposal to expand Medicaid to Ohio’s working poor wouldcause a $400 million hole in the state budget that would need to bepatched with money dedicated for schools, law enforcement and localgovernments. Greg Moody, director of the Governor’s Office of HealthTransformation, said extending Medicaid will actually save Ohiotaxpayers $404 million over two years for several reasons such asdecreasing state... read more. SenatorSherrod Brown… PromotingUASResearch & Development in the Miami Valley During a meeting with the nominee for secretary of defense, formerSenator Chuck Hagel, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown urged for support inexpanding the research, training, and development of unmanned aircraftsystems (UAS) in Ohio. Sen. Brown discussed a number of his Ohiopriorities with Hagel during a meeting in Sen. Brown’s office thisweek. UAS will play a critical role in border security measures,wildfire suppression, and search and rescue... read more. TheHill… Republicans:ObamaState of the Union dims hopes for deficit-reduction deal By Alexander Bolton - 02/13/13 - Republican lawmakers say a deal toreduce the deficit and replace $85 billion in automatic spending cutsset to take effect on March 1 is even less likely after PresidentObama's State of the Union address. While Obama tackled the deficithead-on in his speech, mentioning the word "deficit" 10 times at thetop of his address, Republicans accused him of paying lip service tothe debt in a speech that called for a higher minimum wage and newspending on programs... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Morethan 7,000 new jobs in works for Dayton region,By JoeCogliano Economic development groups in the region are reporting more than 7,100potential jobs in the pipeline, according to Dayton Business Journalresearch. The numbers come from 19 groups that are reporting more than100 total projects in the planning stages so far this year. The DaytonDevelopment Coalition has the largest number of new jobs in the workswith 3,000. Some of the total jobs listed as in the works could beduplicates because the DDC handles any projects up for stateincentives... read more. BeagleLegislation Provides Funds for Job Training, Workforce Development Also, Lehner & Beagle seek to modernize state Jobs support -COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today introduced thefirst piece of legislation for the new General Assembly. Thelegislation is aimed at helping Ohio’s unemployed and underemployedfind work through continued education and job training. Senate Bill 1,which Beagle jointly introduced with State Senator Troy Balderson(R–Zanesville)... read more. $29MillionToyota Settlement over Unintended Acceleration Ohio to receive $1.7 Million - (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Attorney General MikeDeWine today joined 29 other states in announcing a $29 millionsettlement with Toyota Motor Corporation and its related North Americanentities over allegations Toyota concealed safety issues related tounintended acceleration. Ohio, a lead state in the investigation, willreceive just over $1.7 million as a result of this settlement. "Whenit... read more. CNSNews… GAO:35% of Major FederalRegulations Were Issued Without Public Notice February 8, 2013 - By Matt Cover - (CNSNews.com) – According to theGovernment Accountability Office (GAO), 35 percent of major federalregulations – those with at least $100 billion in annual economicimpact – were issued without a public notice from 2003 to 2010. The GAOalso said that 44 percent of non-major regulations were issued withouta public notice, which is referred to as a Notice of ProposedRulemaking (NPRM). “During calendar years 2003 through 2010, agenciespublished... read more. ColumbusDispatch...Solar-powerdevelopers putting  together Plan B New proposal to address PUCO concern about need for energy - By DanGearino- February 8, 2013- Developers of what has been called the largest solar-power project inthe Midwest say it will get built, despite a setback dealt them lastmonth by utility regulators.Turning Point Solar partner David Wilhelm said, “Reports of our demiseare exaggerated. Plan B is coming together."The project calls for construction of a 49.9-megawatt plant on a sitenear Zanesville.The plan to save it likely will involve.... read more. Ohio Job & Family Services...NewReport Details Growth of Shale Industry COLUMBUS, OHIO - A new quarterly report from the Ohio Department of Joband Family Services (ODJFS) will track changes in Ohio’s oil and gasindustry and give policy makers, workforce development professionalsand the public insight into how the shale industry is impacting Ohio’seconomy. “The growing oil and gas industry holds great economicpotential for Ohio,” said ODJFS Director Michael Colbert. “This reportprovides... read more. SpeakerBoehner Statement on the State of the Union WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) released thisstatement following tonight’s State of the Union address and Republicanaddress to the nation: “Four years after the president first addresseda joint session of Congress, Americans are still asking, ‘where are thejobs?’   Tonight, he offered them little more thanmore ofthe same ‘stimulus’ policies that have failed to fix our economy andput Americans back to work.  We cannot grow the middle classandfoster job creation by growing... read more. FoxNews.com… Factcheck on Obama's State of the Union address February 13, 2013 - WASHINGTON –  President Barack Obama didsomecherry-picking Tuesday night in defense of his record on jobs and laidout a conditional path to citizenship for illegal immigrants that maybe less onerous than he made it sound. A look at some of the claims inhis State of the Union speech, a glance at the Republicancounterargument and how they fit with the facts: OBAMA: "After years ofgrueling recession, our businesses have created over 6 million newjobs." THE... read more. MidmarkPresident and CEO to Attend State of the Union Address VERSAILLES, Ohio – (February 11, 2013) – Dr. Anne Eiting Klamar,president and CEO of Midmark Corporation, will attend President BarackObama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb.12 as a guest ofHouse Speaker John Boehner. Midmark is represented by Boehner as partof Ohio’s 8th Congressional District. “I’m honored to attend my firstState of the Union address as a guest of House Speaker John Boehner,”said Klamar. “As part of the healthcare industry, we mustcontinuously... read more. MarcoRubio's Republican response, Posted by CNNPolitical Unit (CNN) - Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida delivered the Republican responseto President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday. Thefull text of his remarks, as released by his office... Good evening.I’m Marco Rubio. I’m blessed to represent Florida in the United StatesSenate. Let me begin by congratulating President Obama on the start ofhis second term. Tonight, I have the honor of responding to hisState... read more. Washington Post… State ofthe Union 2013:President Obama’s address to Congress (Transcript)- February 12, 2013 - Here is a full transcript of President Obama’s2013 State of the Union address as delivered. PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thankyou. Please, everybody, have a seat. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President,members of Congress, fellow Americans, 51 years ago, John F. Kennedydeclared to this chamber that “the Constitution makes us not rivals forpower, but partners for progress.” (APPLAUSE... read more. NewYork Times… Congressto See MemoBacking Drone Attacks on Americans By Michael D. Shear and Scott Shane - February 6, 2013 - WASHINGTON —The White House on Wednesday directed the Justice Department to releaseto the two Congressional Intelligence Committees classified documentsdiscussing the legal justification for killing, by drone strikes andother means, American citizens abroad who are considered terrorists.The White House announcement appears to refer to a long, detailed 2010memo from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel justifyingthe... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Tophighschools with best SAT scores in Dayton region Darke County Schools, by ranking: Versailles 9, Arcanum 30, FranklinMonroe 37, Greenville 63 and Ansonia 64. If you ever wondered whichhigh schools in the Dayton region have the smartest students, you'renot alone. The high school is among the most important of all theschool levels for preparing a student for college; and knowing whichschools have students that are the best prepared for higher educationis critical for parents... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… SyntheticDrug Search Warrants issued, Arrests Made Store Inside Ohio Shopping Mall Among Locations Targeted - (ASHTABULA,Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that authorities inAshtabula and Seneca counties executed search warrants at areabusinesses today as part of an ongoing effort to fight the illegal saleof synthetic drugs. In Ashtabula, agents with the Attorney General'sBureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) assisted officers with the TAGLaw Enforcement Task Force, Ashtabula County Sheriff's Office... read more. Bloomberg… RepublicanGovernors Finding Sense in Medicaid Expansion,By AlexWayne Feb 7, 2013 - Six Republican governors have agreed to expand Medicaid,the second-largest piece of President Barack Obama’s U.S. health-careoverhaul, accepting federal money to ensure their state’s residentshave access to medical coverage. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, anAffordable Care Act opponent, said yesterday it makes sense for the“physical and fiscal health” of his state to participate in the law’sexpansion of Medicaid, the state-federal health plan for the poor. Hebecame the... read more. WHIO.com… Deadwoman atgas station was Ansonia resident GREENVILLE —  The woman found Thursday in the restroom of aSunocogas station dead of an apparent gunshot wound was a 58-year-old Ansoniaresident. Foul play is not suspected in the death of Carol Kramer, theGreenville Police Department said Friday afternoon. The Darke CountyCoroner’s Office was not ready to release a preliminary ruling onKramer’s cause of death, police Detective Eric Kiryluk said Fridayafternoon... read more. DarkeCounty Courts… CommonPleasCourt Monthly Report Greenville, Ohio-  Jonathan P. Hein, Judge of the Darke CountyCourt of Common Pleas, reported on the following actions undertaken bythe Court for the month of January, 2013: 29 new civil cases filed orreopened; 39 civil cases completed; 135 total civil cases remainpending. There were 26 new criminal (felony) cases filed; 20 criminalcases completed; 64 criminal cases remain pending. Regarding domesticrelations cases, 36 new cases or... read more. WHIO-TV… Socialmedia postgetting public officials in trouble, By AndrewJ. Tobias COLUMBUS — A high-ranking state official is in hot water over a recentposting she made on Facebook, illustrating the tightrope publicofficials must walk while using the relatively new technology. OhioSchool Board President Debe Terhar drew fire last week after shere-published on her personal Facebook page a friend’s picture thatseemed to equate gun control efforts with the views of Adolf Hitler... read more. WHIO-TV Video… LotteryTargetsRetailers Who Steal Winning Tickets By Jim Otte - Dayton -For some people working at Ohio Lottery outlets,the lure of easy money is too much to resist. In the last two years, 24workers at gas stations and carryouts statewide have been caughtstealing winning tickets from unsuspecting lottery players. The stolenprize money ranged from $5 to $10,000. How were they found out? Thelottery's own investigative unit not only... read more. DeWineTakesCriminal, Civil Action Against Synthetic Drug Crimes (SPRINGFIELD, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat state and local law enforcement served five search warrants inthree counties this morning as part of an intensified effort to stopthe sale of synthetic drugs. The warrants, served in Clark, Montgomery,and Guernsey counties, came as a result of a series of investigationsthat uncovered synthetic cannabinoids, also known as synthetic... read more. KasichCommunication Department… WhatThey're Saying About Kasich Tax Cut Plan Richard K. Vedder, Professor of Economics at Ohio University and FormerSenior Economist at the U.S. Joint Economic Committee: “GovernorKasich's tax proposals are welcome, because they address Ohio's biggestlong term problem, sluggish growth in job opportunities and incomes.Despite some meaningful improvements in the past three years, Ohiostill has income levels below the national average, and too many of ourbest and brightest youth are leaving the Buckeye State for greenerpastures... read more. WashingtonExaminer… Portman:Abortionclinics marketing to minors, By Michal Conger February 6, 2013 - Abortion clinics are marketing their services tominors in states with parental consent laws, drawing them to stateswhere they can get an abortion without their parents’ permission,according to Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. “Ohio and the majority of otherstates require parents’ involvement if their minor children have anabortion,” Portman said in a Jan. 24 statement. “Yet, 13 states and theDistrict of Columbia do not have such laws on the books. Minorswho live in the states... read more. The U.S. can't be complacent onjob creation,By John Kasich John Kasich, Governor of Ohio, on the steps his state has taken tocreate jobs and fuel economic growth. Countries in eastern Asia andEurope have, in recent decades, developed highly effective trainingsystems that help their citizens prepare for success in a competitive,global economy. Key to this has been the ability of policy-makers tolisten to job creators and respond with training programs that meettheir needs. The United States... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… ClandestineLab Unit responds to two Drug Labs On February 7, 2013 at approximately 1:05 am Darke County Sheriff’sDeputies along with the Ansonia Fire Department responded to the 10,400block of Beisner Road in reference to a ditch fire.  Uponarrivaldeputies discovered the materials burning appeared to be items used inthe manufacturing of Methamphetamine.  The Darke CountySheriff’sOffice Clandestine Drug Lab team responded to the scene to neutralizeand removed all hazardous... read more. StateRep. Buchy… BuchySeeksConstituent Input on Proposed Reforms in the State Budget COLUMBUS— Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) today announced an effort to gainpublic input on the possible reforms in Governor John R. Kasich’s statebudget proposal.  Opinions are being collected in an onlinesurveybelow. Recently, Governor Kasich released his plans for reform as partof the proposed state budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal years. Representative Buchy remains in the process of reviewing GovernorKasich’s reform package which... read more. WHIO-TV… Policeinvestigate death at Greenville gas station GREENVILLE — Police are investigating a death after the body of a womanwas found in a Greenville gas station restroom.Police responded to the Sunoco gas station in the 800 block of MartinStreet this morning. The store owner, Kasey Obed, said a female walkedinto the gas station and asked to use the restroom. A couple minuteslater, the cashier heard a noise, and when they went back to therestroom, the woman was found dead from an apparent self-inflictedgunshot wound.Police are... read more. Kentucky.com… PostalServicewants to cut Saturday mail delivery By Beena Raghavendran — McClatchy Newspapers - February 6, 2013- WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service plans to end Saturday maildelivery beginning in August, a sign that the long-suffering agency mayfinally be succumbing to e-commerce.Postmaster General and CEO Patrick R. Donahoe said at a pressconference Wednesday that moving to a five-day delivery week startingthe week of Aug. 5 is a necessary... read more. SpeakerBoehner Press Office… HouseAction taken to Force a Balanced Budget February 5, 2013- In this story: Politico report on Boehner statement; Explanation“What is Sequestration”WASHINGTON, DC – At a press conference with Republican leaders today,House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) discussed President Obama and SenateDemocrats’ failure to offer a serious budget or plan to replace thepresident’s sequester, and highlighted the action House Republicans aretaking to hold them accountable.... read more. ChicagoTribune… More911 calls won'tget in-person response, By Hal Dardick andJeremy Gorner February 3, 2013 - The Chicago Police Department hopes to free up theequivalent of 44 officers a day by no longer dispatching cops forcertain crimes, like burglaries and car thefts in which the offender isno longer at the scene and no one is in immediate danger.Police confirmed the change, which takes effect Sunday. PoliceSuperintendent Garry McCarthy told aldermen last year he wasconsidering a move in that direction.The change is not related to plans by Mayor Rahm Emanuel andMcCarthy... read more. ZanesvilleTimes Recorder… Republicansmore likely than Democrats to own firearms Feb 5, 2013 - Written by Paul Singer and Gregory Korte - Members ofCongress were asked whether they owned firearms. Here is how theyresponded, including support from pro-gun groups. WASHINGTON — Ohio’scongressional Republicans are much better armed than their Democraticcounterparts — a fact that helps explain the deep partisan divide asCongress gears up for its first major votes on gun control in a decade.Among Ohio lawmakers, eight Republicans said they owned guns, whileonly... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… SyntheticDrug Training Begins (PERRYSBURG, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that75 law enforcement officers and prosecutors attended the firstInvestigating Synthetic Drugs training course offered through the OhioPeace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). Today's training took placethis morning at Owens Community College just outside ofToledo. Instructors include members of the Attorney General's specialprosecutions unit as well as a... read more. FoxNews… Record-settingasteroid to shave past Earth this month An asteroid about half the size of a football field will zoom pastEarth on Feb. 15, closer than the man-made satellites that power GPS,says NASA. "This is a record-setting close approach," Don Yeomans ofNASA's Near Earth Object Program at JPL said in a video released byNASA this week. Yeomans, however, emphasized that the asteroid,designated 2012DA14, won't hit Earth. "It will come interestinglyclose, closer than many... read more. FoxNews… EarthWarming, Sun Heat toBlame? Feb 02, 2013 - The Earth has been getting warmer -- but how much ofthat heat is due to greenhouse gas emissions and how much is due tonatural causes? A leaked report by a United Nations' group dedicated toclimate studies says that heat from the sun may play a larger role thanpreviously thought. "[Results] do suggest the possibility of a muchlarger impact of solar variations on the stratosphere than previouslythought, and some studies have suggested that this may lead tosignificant regional... read more. NewYork Times… BirthControl RuleAltered to Allay Religious Objections, ByRober Pear February 1, 2013 - WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Fridayproposed yet another compromise to address strenuous objections fromreligious organizations about a policy requiring health insurance plansto provide free contraceptives, but the change did not end thepolitical furor or legal fight over the issue. The proposal couldexpand the number of groups that do not need to pay directly for birthcontrol coverage, encompassing not only churches and other religiousorganizations, but also some... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Kasich’sschool-funding plan greeted with relief Ohio school superintendents were relieved yesterday when Gov. JohnKasich told them his two-year school-funding plan would not cut theircurrent levels of state aid. In fact, the $15.1 billion education planwould increase state funding to schools by 6 percent in the comingschool year and 3.2 percent the next. “This is not hard to figure out:If you are poor, you’re going to get more. If you are rich, you’regoing to get less. If you have gifted students, you’re going... read more. DaytonPolice Cold Case… OhioUnsolvedHomicides:  Officer Kevin Brame (DAYTON, Ohio) – As part of his Ohio Unsolved Homicides Initiative,Attorney General Mike DeWine is hoping to help the Dayton PoliceDepartment gather new evidence in a cold case that has directlyimpacted their department. Officer Kevin Brame joined the Dayton PoliceDepartment in 1993 and was shot to death while he was off-duty inNovember 1999.  He was only 31-years-old. "Kevin's ultimategoalin life was to be a good officer and contribute to... read more. ToledoBlade… Sen.Portman tointroduce proposals to cut U.S. deficit, ByTom Troy U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) said Wednesday he plans to introduce acouple of amendments that will push Congress and the administration totake action to reduce the size of the federal budget in return forincreasing the long-term debt limit. Meanwhile, a group of about 25people saying they represent workers and the elderly demonstratedWednesday outside the Social Security Administration office at 4906Monroe St., one of several public events organized by the AFL-CIO... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Top25 OddballInterview Questions for 2013 The most challenging — and bizarre — questions that job candidates willface as they interview this year have been compiled by California-basedGlassdoor.com in the Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions for 2013.Included in the list are several companies with operations in theDayton area. Questions were shared by tens of thousands of jobcandidates during the past year. Human resources... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Planto replacelicense plates blows a flat, By Ryan Clark Friday February 1, 2013 - Put down the screwdriver. It looks like Ohiodrivers can keep their license plates. The Ohio Department of PublicSafety requested a budget item requiring drivers to replace theirlicense plates every seven years for a fee of $10, which would add upto an estimated $5 million a year. But Rep. Rex Damschroder, chairmanof the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland SecurityCommittee, said public-safety officials told him the request will notbecome reality. Earlier this... read more. OhioJFS… StatewidePhone NumberMakes it Easy to Report Child Abuse COLUMBUS, OHIO - Ohioans who suspect child abuse or neglect now onlyneed to remember one phone number. The Ohio Department of Job andFamily Services (ODJFS) has launched 855-O-H-CHILD (855-642-4453) anautomated telephone directory that will link callers directly to achild welfare or law enforcement office in their county. Reports can beanonymous. “It is important that Ohioans be able to report suspectedchild abuse quickly, easily and anonymously. This one, easy... read more. ToledoBlade… Kasichreveals schoolfunding plan expanding charter school funding By Jim Provance - COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich’s school funding proposalrolled out today targets more aid for poorer school districts, expandsfunding for charter schools and access to vouchers to attend privateschools, and dangles $300 million in one-time carrots before schools toinnovatively break the public education mold. Basic aid to schoolswould increase 6 percent in the first year of the two-year budget... read more. 10TV.com… TopOperative SaysCordray Will Return To Ohio Cordray to challenge Kasich in 2014 - Wednesday January 30, 2013 -COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Democratic operative close to former Ohio AttorneyGeneral Richard Cordray predicts "he will be back home in a month."Cordray is currently the director of the Consumer Financial ProtectionBureau in Washington.  Cordray took the helm of the agencythrougha recess appointment by President Obama. His term... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Injuryaccident on SR 49 North On January 31, 2013 at approximately 4:30 pm Darke County Deputiesalong with Greenville Township Fire, Greenville Township Rescue andCareFlight were dispatched to the 8000 block of State Route 49 north inreference to a single vehicle injury accident. Preliminaryinvestigation revealed a white 2003 Chevy Venture van driven by HeatherL. Knowles, 35, of Greenville, Ohio was northbound on state route 49,north of Horatio-Harris Creek Road. Knowles lost control of the minivan on the  ... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer Exclusive… Kasichsays 2-year budget has $1Bsurplus,Written by Paul E. Kostyu Expectfight on whether to spend or save doubled 'rainy day fund' - Jan 30,2013 - COLUMBUS — When the governor publicly releases his proposedtwo-year operating budget on Monday, it will show a $1 billion surplus,he says.But until then, no one will know just how Gov. John R. Kasich and hisstaff arrived at that figure. That’s because they’re not telling anyoneabout the two-year budget proposal – including legislators and theirleaders in either party.It means the surplus – called the rainy day... read more. ToledoBlade… Kasichset to unveil school funding plan, By JimProvance & Nolan Rosenkrans Area districts brace for unknown - COLUMBUS — It’s been a decade sincethe Ohio Supreme Court issued its fourth and final ruling declaring thestate’s funding of schools unconstitutional because it placed studentsin poorer districts at a competitive disadvantage with their wealthiercounterparts. With that, the high court ended its participation in whathad been an 11-year fight. Each modern-era governor has attempted toput his brand on an ever-changing funding formula. This week, Gov. JohnKasich... read more. TheHill… Republicansshift gears on immigrationahead of reform debate with Obama, By MikeLillis 01/25/13 - House Republicans have reshuffled their troops ahead of ahigh-stakes clash with President Obama over immigration reform, leavingreform advocates with a new glimmer of hope that an elusive resolutionto the thorny issue is within grasp this year. For years, conservativeopponents of comprehensive immigration reform have fought successfullyagainst efforts to overhaul the system, particularly as it pertains tothe fate of the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… Takestepsagainst Tax-Related Identity Theft (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – In observance of Data Privacy Day on Jan. 28, OhioAttorney General Mike DeWine is encouraging consumers to protect theirpersonal information to avoid tax-related fraud and identity theft.Recent reports suggest that criminals are stealing personal informationfrom legitimate taxpayers to obtain fraudulent tax refunds from theInternal Revenue Service (IRS). "Helping Ohio consumers withinformation to help protect their... read more. ToledoBlade… HouseOKs suspension of U.S. debt limit,By Tracie Mauriello, Block News Alliance Kaptur votes against legislation; local GOP lawmakers favor passage -WASHINGTON — Over objections from minority members but with the tacitblessing of the President and support of Senate Democrats, the House onWednesday voted to suspend the limit on government borrowing. The bill,which heads to the Senate, also includes a provision to hold lawmakers’pay in escrow starting April 15 if they haven’t passed a budget bythen. The legislation allows an unspecified amount... read more. StateRep. Richard Adams… AdamsAppointed as Chair of FIHUD COLUMBUS—Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives William G.Batchelder (R-Medina) this week appointed State Representative RichardAdams (R-Troy) to serve as chair of the Financial Institutions, Housingand Urban Development Committee.  State Representative JayHottinger (R-Newark) will serve as the vice chair.  StateRepresentative Kevin Boyce (D-Columbus), a former State Treasurer, willserve as ranking member... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… Appealscourt strikes down Obama's recessappointments By Stephen Koff - January 25, 2013 - Washington -- A federal appealscourt this morning ruled that President Barack Obama exceeded theConstitution's bounds by making recess appointments to a federal laborpanel last January, side-stepping the Senate when it was not formallyin recess. The case concerned Obama's appointments on Jan. 4, 2012, tothe National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB. But the same circumstanceswere at play that day when Obama also made a recess... read more. WHIO-TV… Noarrests in Union City, Ind. stabbing UNION CITY, Ind. — A man was treated and released at Reid HospitalThursday night after he reported being stabbed by one of three maleswho were trying to rob him, according to the Union City PoliceDepartment. The 36-year-old man told police he was approached by threemales on North Plum Street after buying items at the Family Dollar. Thevictim reported he fought with the group after they demanded what wasin the Family Dollar bag and then his wallet... read more. USAToday… Obamanominates White to SEC, renominatesCordray, By David Jackson President Obama will nominate a former U.S. attorney to lead the SEC.Mary Jo White served for nearly a decade as U.S. attorney in New York.Obama also re-nominated Richard Cordray to be consumer watchdog.President Obama nominated former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White onThursday to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission, pledgingtough enforcement of new Wall Street regulations. "We need to keepgoing after irresponsible behavior in the financial industry so that... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… UnsolvedHomicide Training Begins (WEST CHESTER, Ohio) – Today Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's Bureauof Criminal Investigation hosted the first of several training coursesthat will teach authorities investigative strategies for unsolvedhomicide cases. The Unsolved Homicide Investigative Strategies andResources training is happening today and tomorrow at the West ChesterPolice Department.  Additional courses are planned across thestate this year... read more. WHIO-TV… Localteacherstrain to handle active shooters, By JackieBorchardt Teachers are in class today, but not to educate others — they are thestudents. Today is the first of five regional courses being taughtaround the state of Ohio to instruct school workers, includingteachers, how to handle an active shooter situation. Attorney GeneralMike DeWine said his office began preparing the courses after a schoolshooting in Chardon in northeast Ohio last year. DeWine said interestin the courses has been... read more. SanCincinnati Enquirer… Graduation,dropout rates are improving, NewportIndependent turnssurging problem around Jan22, 2013 - Written by Jessica Brown - A national report released todayhas good news about the nation’s high schools.Fewer students dropped out of high school in 2009-10 than the previousyear, and more students overall graduated.That’s according to a preliminary report from the U.S. Department ofEducation’s National Center for Education Statistics.Meanwhile, state data shows the Newport Independent School District ismaking progress in curbing its dropout rate. The Enquirer reported inMay... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle…Over $1.6 Million for CollegeScholarshipsAvailable COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City), the recentlyappointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on Workforce &EconomicDevelopment, today announced that the Ohio Association of CareerColleges and Schools is now taking applications for the 2013Legislative Scholarship Program. The program offers over 400scholarship opportunities valued at more than $1.6 million tograduating high school seniors in Ohio. The scholarships aredesigned... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Rolloveraccident near Union City On January 24, 2013 at approximately 8:40 A.M., Darke County Deputiesalong with Union City Fire and Rescue and CareFlight were dispatched tothe area of Beamsville-Union City Road and Hillgrove-Ft. Recovery Roadon a report of a one vehicle injury crash with ejection.Preliminary investigation revealed a blue 1994 Ford Ranger, driven by30 year old, John V. Neargarder of Union City, Ohio was traveling easton Beamsville-Union City Road and passed another vehicle in the samedirection at a high rate... read more. SanJose Mercury News… Transcript:Obama's inaugural address 2013 The White House's official transcript of President Obama's inauguraladdress, Jan. 21, 2013, timed at 15 minutes: Vice President Biden, Mr.Chief Justice, members of the United States Congress, distinguishedguests, and fellow citizens: Each time we gather to inaugurate aPresident we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution.We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds thisnation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of ourfaith or the origins... read more. Brrr… Coldspell hits county Darke County and the Miami Valley have been experiencing extreme coldtemperatures since Sunday night, with lows reaching 5 degreesFahrenheit and wind chills as much as 10 degrees below zero. On Mondayit warmed up to 18 degrees with light snow. The dry blowing snow causedmultiple traffic incidents, including a 52-car pile-up on I-75. SeveralDarke County residents reported their car doors were... read more. WND.com… Homeschooler'sNeighbor Sparks SocialServices Case, By Alyssa Farah Investigator did 'drive-by,' said family was planning to flee -Published: Jan. 19 - A Colorado homeschooling mother has won asocial-services case sparked by a neighbor’s complaint about the familythat escalated when a social worker did a “drive-by” and concluded theywere planning to flee. A neighbor of the single mother, whose identityhas been withheld to protect her family’s privacy, tipped off socialservices that the mother had been homeschooling several children,according to the Home... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… ActiveShooter Training for Educators Begins (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today joinededucators and law enforcement officers at the first regional "ActiveShooter Training for Educators" class taught today in Columbus. Twotraining sessions are being held at the Education Service Center ofCentral Ohio, where Attorney General DeWine addressed participants. "Interms of student and teacher safety, our educators are the firstresponders," said Attorney General DeWine. "I'm... read more. BobBennettRe-Elected Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party COLUMBUS - Bob Bennett released the following statement after he wasunanimously re-elected to serve another term as Chairman of the OhioRepublican Party. Marilyn Ashcraft (Marietta), Tracey Winbush(Youngstown), Bob Bennett (Cleveland), Ranae Lentz (Bellefontaine) "I'mproud to serve a twelfth term as chairman of the Ohio Republican Partyand I'm honored to chair the Party of leaders who aren't afraid totackle the big and challenging issues facing hard working Ohio... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff's Office… Singleoccupant transported following collision On January 21, 2013 at approximately 0946 am Darke County Deputiesalong with Arcanum Fire and Arcanum Rescue were dispatched to 4110State Route 49 south in reference to a single vehicle injury accident.Preliminary investigation revealed a tan 2003 Buick Century driven byJack A. Davis, 67, Pitsburg Ohio was northbound on state route 49 inthe 4100 block.  Davis’ vehicle traveled off the left side oftheroadway, striking a fence.  Davis’ vehicle... read more. WHIO-TVVideo… ‘White-out’conditionslead to 50-vehicle pileup on I-75 By Mandy Gambrell, Andy Sedlak - MIDDLETOWN — Luke Stevens said “it wascomplete ice” when the car he was in with three others was hit during amassive pileup on Interstate 75. An estimated 40 to 50 vehicles crashedinto each other near the Ohio 122 exit in Middletown just before noonMonday. No one involved sustained life-threatening injuries, thoughmultiple people went to hospitals, officials said. Stevens, 18, of... read more. TheHill… Obamasworn in for secondterm during White House ceremony, By KevinBogardus 01/20/13 - President Obama was sworn in for his second term on Sunday,accompanied by his family in a short ceremony in the White House.Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath ofoffice to Obama in the Blue Room, as the swearing-in was watched by apress pool and broadcast by cable networks. Obama followed presidentialprecedent in choosing Roberts as chief justice to administer the oathof office to him. The... read more. Kasichaskslegislature to deliver State of the State Address in Lima COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich formally asked the GeneralAssembly to convene a special joint session in Lima on Feb. 19 for hisannual State of the State address. Continuing a tradition he began lastyear at Steubenville’s Wells Academy, the top-ranked public school inthe state, Kasich’s decision to deliver the State of the State outsidethe capital again is rooted in his desire to make state government moreaccessible to Ohioans and shine a light on communities across Ohio... read more. Kasich&Taylor Speak at MLK Celebration Ohioans Recognized for Carrying on King’s Legacy - Columbus — GovernorJohn R. Kasich and Lt. Governor Mary Taylor spoke today at the 28thannual Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration heldat the Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus.  The event wassponsored by the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission,which is housed within the Equal... read more. Darke County CommissionersMeeting Minutesnow current Darke County Commissioners meeting minutes have been brought up todate, and will stay updated on a weekly basis. County News Onlineexpresses its sincere apologies for its laxity in following throughwith one of the core reasons it was established… to keep communityresidents informed of the public activities of its public servants.CNO, since its inception, has been... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Localitiesscramble tosolve fund woes Ohio budget cuts reaching deeper into local governments' pockets -Written by Sharon Coolidge, Carrie Blackmore Smith and John Johnston -Jan 16, 2013 - No more trash collection. Less police and fireprotection. New taxes and fees. Borrowing from savings. That’s howcities, villages and townships in Southwest Ohio are dealing withcontinued efforts to wean them off state funding. The biggest cut yetis the elimination of the estate tax, which hit local municipalitiesthis year... read more. Secretaryof State Jon Husted … Bright“I.D.E.A.” and Election Official of the Year Awards Presented Columbus – Secretary of State Jon Husted announced Friday the BrightI.D.E.A. (Innovative Developments in Election Administration) Awardrecipients at the Ohio Association of Election Officials Conference.Local boards of elections were asked to submit their Bright I.D.E.A.’sto the Secretary of State prior to the conference to be consideredaccording to the following criteria: • The development of an innovationthat was successfully put into practice. • The I.D.E.A. caused a... read more. PlainDealer...Canmembers of Congress retire with full pay after just one term?PolitiFact Ohio By Tom Feran, The Plain Dealer - January 11, 2013 - Political trendscome and go, but the classics endure.Such is the case with a chain email PolitiFact Ohio received to startthe new year. When we received a nearly identical version a couple ofyears ago, we said it could be "a new classic of the genre."The email claims that Congress gets special perks nobody else does;complains that a complacent media ignores the news, and requests thatrecipients of the email forward it on to 20 more people... read more. Beagle Named to Chair WorkforceDevelopment Tipp City Senator named to top position of Senate Workforce &Economic Development Committee - COLUMBUS– Senate President Keith Faber(R–Celina) today named State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) Chairmanof the Senate Standing Committee on Workforce & EconomicDevelopment. A newly created panel, Beagle’s committee will beresponsible for designing new, creative initiatives to expand... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… PhoneScam Alert Citizens report that they receive multiple phone calls from a person,who in most cases is what sounds to be an adult male with a foreignaccent.  The caller was demanding payment for the digging ofgravesites that the citizen had not requested.  In what isbelieved to be an act of intimidation, the caller then advised that hehad their personal information; such as date of birth, address, socialsecurity number, etc... read more. Darke GOP Men Host CoalRepresentative, By Lyn Bliss,Associate Editor Missy Mae Walters was the featured speaker at the recent Darke CountyRepublican Men's Club Meeting. Walters is the Southwest Ohio RegionalCoordinator for Count on Coal. Eighty-two per-cent of Ohio's energy isgenerated through the use of coal - providing 118.1 billion kilowatthours of electricity, or enough power for the equivalent of 4.8 millionhomes and 212,000 businesses. Ohio ranks number ten in... read more. StateSenator Bill Beagle… FundingforOhio Co-op & Internship Programs Announced SinclairCommunityCollege and University of Dayton get piece of $11 million- COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) announced todaythat the State Controlling Board has approved nearly $11 million infunding for the Choose Ohio First Co-op/Internship Program. “Mostemployers today are seeking workers who have more than just a degree,”Beagle said. “Internships and co-ops allow students to develop the realworld skills and experiences they... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Stategives $5 millionfor mental-health services to head off violence Gov. John Kasich says families in crisis need help. - By Alan Johnson -Thursday January 10, 2013 - In the days following the Dec. 14 massacreat Sandy Hook Elementary School, the phone lines lit up at the NationalAlliance on Mental Illness Ohio. There were calls from parents worriedabout their children struggling with mental illness and from othersconcerned about the worsening crisis of untreated mental illness. Sincethen, the list of families in crisis that the Ohio group is workingwith has topped 1,000... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, January 12, 2013 - When it comes to politics, America isclearly two different nations without much middle ground. Half of alllikely voters now give President Obama positive marks for leadership,his highest ratings since the early months of his presidency. But takea closer look: Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Democrats and 53% of votersnot affiliated with either of the major political parties give Obamagood or excellent marks... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Ohio’spublicschools rate 12th in U.S. with B- grade, ByCatherineCandisky Friday January 11, 2013 - Ohio’s public school system earned a bettergrade on the nation’s report card this year, but the state’s rank —fifth in the nation three years ago — fell to 12th. Education Week’sQuality Counts 2013 gave Ohio schools a B-. For the fifth year,Maryland ranked first in the nation with a B+, followed byMassachusetts, New York and Virginia, all earning Bs. South Dakotaranked last with a D+. The national average was C+. “We’re pleased tobe rated 12th and to be... read more. AttorneyGeneral DeWine Releases 2012 Human Trafficking Annual Report (COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today released theHuman Trafficking Annual Report, which outlines efforts made by theOhio Attorney General's Office in 2012 to better protect Ohioansagainst the threat of human trafficking. "Human trafficking is ahorrendous crime that preys upon the most vulnerable among us, oftentargeting our children," said Ohio Attorney General MikeDeWine. "I am proud of the... read more. AdamsSworn Inas State Representative of the 80th House District COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-Troy) yesterday wassworn in as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 130thGeneral Assembly. He represents the 80th Ohio House District, whichincludes Miami County and portions of Darke County. “I look forward tocontinue my work representing the citizens of the 80th District in theOhio House of Representatives during the 130th... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Employersto feel pains from nasty Ohio flu season, byOlivia Barrow This year’s flu season has taken a mean turn in Ohio, with 1,922influenza-related hospitalizations reported in the state so far. Thatcompares to 86 last winter and 175 the year before. “Flu season got anearly start in Ohio but it’s not too late to get your flu vaccination,”said Dr. Ted Wymyslo, director of the Ohio Department of Health. “Wealso want to help Ohioans understand more about the protection offeredby... read more. OhioAttorney General, BWC… CelinaMan pleads guilty to Worker’s Compensation Fraud (COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio Bureau ofWorkers' Compensation (BWC) Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer announcedtoday the conviction of a Celina man caught on camera defrauding Ohio'sworkers' compensation system. Jason Dross, 39, pleaded guilty to onecount of Workers' Compensation Fraud in November.  He wassentenced this morning to pay the state $31,736.98 in restitution.Authorities with the BWC began investigating the Mercer County manafter... read more. WHIO-TV… Arcticfrontexpected in region next week, By Mandy Gambrell SOUTHWEST OHIO — Though some areas of Southwest Ohio reached recordhigh temperatures Friday, an arctic front is on the way next week.Temperatures will stay warmer this weekend as rain falls Saturday nightand Sunday, with highs in the 60s Saturday. A few inches of rain arepossible, said Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson. Rain is expected totaper off Sunday night, but may end with a little light snow, he said.Temps fall into the 30s by the end of Sunday and down to 25 degreeson... read more. CourtNews Ohio… AppealsCourtUpholds Health Department Finding of Smoking Ban Violations, $2,500 Fine,By Dennis Whalen - January 9, 2013 - The Tenth District Court ofAppeals has upheld a ruling against a Dayton bar for violating Ohio'sstate-wide smoking ban. The Tenth District Court of Appeals has upheldsmoking ban violations against a Dayton bar in a ruling that clarifiesthe application of the law. The decision affirmed a trial court rulingthat the observations of two Montgomery County health departmentinvestigators that multiple patrons of a Dayton bar were smoking ina... read more. Upstart Business Journal… LarryPage believes driverless cars can make the world a better place,by Michael del Castillo - January 3, 2013 Google’s cofounder and chiefexecutive Larry Page is certain in his belief that driverless cars aresafer than human chauffeurs. In a report published today by Fortune,the founder dutifully laid out his company’s reasons for getting intothe upstart industry. Fortune described Page’s enumeration of thebenefits of driverless cars as "methodical," as he cited energysavings... read more. TheHill… Biden,NRA to meet onguns, By Justin Sink and Jennifer Martinez 01/08/13 - Vice President Biden will meet with the National RifleAssociation (NRA) and a range of other groups this week as PresidentObama’s gun violence task force shifts into high gear. A flurry ofmeetings with Biden and other Cabinet members were announced on Tuesdaythat will include gun-safety and sportsmen’s groups as well asHollywood and video-game interests. The pace and scope of Biden’s work— the task force he is leading is said to be considering significantchanges... read more. UpstartBusiness Journal… GuyKawasaki sees self-publishing, self-reliant future for authors by Teresa Novellino - January 7, 2013 - Guy Kawasaki is a venturecapitalist, an entrepreneur and a former “chief evangelist” at Apple(Nasddaq: AAPL), so sometimes you forget that he’s also a prolificauthor, someone whose must-reads for company founders include The Artof the Start and Rules for Revolutionaries. Writing and publishingbooks was what he focused on in an interview with VentureBeat inconjunction with the release of his newest book, APE: Author,Publisher, Entrepreneur... read more. WHIO-TV Video… DarkeCountywarns residents after fake worker incident Man invades home, claimed to be from health department - GREENVILLE —The Darke County health commissioner and the sheriff’s office arewarning residents to always ask for proper identification wheneveranyone visits their home claiming to be on official business. “Do youever let anybody in your house if they don’t have ID? Nope. It’s justthe wise thing to do,” Tom Riley, a county resident... read more. TheHill… Demslook for up to$1T in new revenues, By Alexander Bolton 01/07/13 - Democrats say they want to raise as much as $1 trillion innew revenues through tax reform later this year to balance Republicandemands to slash mandatory spending. Democratic leaders have had littletime to craft a new position for their party since passing a tax dealTuesday that will raise $620 billion in revenue over the next 10 years.The emerging consensus, however, is that the next installment ofdeficit reduction should reach $2 trillion and about half of it shouldcome... read more. State Senator Keith Faber… FaberSworn in as President of the Ohio Senate COLUMBUS – State Senator Keith Faber (R-Celina) today was sworn in asPresident of the Ohio Senate during opening day ceremonies at theStatehouse, which marked the start of the 130th General Assembly.Serving the residents of the 12th Ohio Senate District, President Faberis the first Senate President to serve from Mercer County.  AsPresident, Senator Faber will oversee the 33-seat chamber... read more. NewYork Times… HealthInsurersRaise Some Rates by Double Digits, By ReedAbelson January 5, 2013 - Health insurance companies across the country areseeking and winning double-digit increases in premiums for somecustomers, even though one of the biggest objectives of the Obamaadministration’s health care law was to stem the rapid rise ininsurance costs for consumers. Dave Jones, the California insurancecommissioner, said some insurance companies could raise rates as muchas they did before the law was enacted. Particularly vulnerable to thehigh rates are small businesses... read more. SpeakerJohn Boehner… BoehnerAddressesthe Opening Session of the 113th Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following is the full text of House Speaker JohnBoehner’s (R-OH) address to the opening session of the 113th Congress,as prepared for delivery: “Leader Pelosi, members of the House andSenate, dear family and friends, fellow countrymen: “We meet again atdemocracy’s great port of call.  Every two years, at thishour,the Constitution brings a new order to this House.  It is aninterlude for reflection, a glimpse of old truths... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… NewMadison House Fire Ruled Arson On December 29, 2012 at approximately 8:31 pm, the Darke CountySheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a house fire at 2116State Route 121, just north of New Madison, Ohio. New Madison FireDepartment along with several other mutual aid fire departmentsresponded to the scene to extinguish the blaze. The Darke CountySheriff’s Office and State Fire Marshal’s Office were requested toinvestigate the fire... read more. Newsfrom 'TheHill'… Nation’sjob-marketrecovery rests in lawmakers’ hands, By VickiNeedham 01/06/13- A robust labor market recovery this year is dependent onCongress and the White House successfully resolving major budget issueswithin the next couple months. Economists and business groups say thejob market, which continued improving during months of tense talks overthe so-called "fiscal cliff," faces a jolt if policymakers can't cleara looming trio of budgetary hurdles. Concern is heightening around therisk to the economy of failing to reach an agreement on a debt-limit... read more. News from ‘The Hill’… Houseapproves 'fiscal cliff' deal; bill headed to Obama's desk By Russell Berman and Pete Kasperowicz - 01/01/13 - The House lateTuesday night voted to approve a sweeping tax deal to prevent the mostsignificant effects of the "fiscal cliff," overcoming Republicanresistance to raising income tax rates on the wealthiest earners. The257-167 vote culminated a day of high drama in the Capitol, asRepublican leaders considered and then quickly abandoned a plan toattach steep... read more. News from ‘The Hill’… Senatepasses 'cliff' bill; House balks Jan 1, 2013 - Senate-passed 'fiscal cliff' agreement in trouble inHouse - The Senate’s New Year’s Eve compromise on the "fiscal cliff"hit major turbulence in the House on Tuesday, and the Republicanmajority is likely to try to amend the bill and send it back to theSenate, House Republicans said. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor(R-Va.) told his conference he is flatly opposed to the Senate... read more. WHIO-TV,ODE… Ratings,PerformanceStatistics for Local Districts These are the ratings, performance index (PI) scores and poverty levelsnoted by the Ohio Department of Education for the more than 400 schoolsin our nine-county Miami Valley region, per the preliminary data fromthe 2011-12 Ohio Report Cards. The performance index score reflects theachievement of every student enrolled for the academic year for schoolsserving third through eighth grade or 10th through 12th grade. Thereport card rating is based... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Companies,colleges partner to create 3,500 internships Thursday, December 13, 2012 - Dayton-area colleges are being awardedmore than $2 million as part of an Ohio investment toward creating moreco-ops and internships.In total, the state is spending $11 million on the program, along withmatching funds from Ohio employers such as Honda Motor Co., Procter& Gamble Co., Owens Corning and First Energy.The grants are part of Gov. John Kasich's workforce developmentstrategies to... read more. County News Online… Allsnowadvisories and emergencies cancelled Also, DBJ: Heavy snow, wind weigh on Dayton region, plus a WHIO-TVvideoAt 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Sheriff Toby Spencer brought Darke County backto a Level 1 snow advisory. At 1:45 p.m. all snow advisories andemergencies were cancelled.“Some secondary roadways remain snow and ice covered; extra cautionshould be exercised while driving.”The county had been moved to a Modified Level 3 at 6 a.m., then Level 2at 8 a.m.... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… LevelThree Snow Emergency Issued Eight to 10 inches of snow Wednesday was predicted for the Darke Countyarea late afternoon Tuesday. Due to expected high winds, a BlizzardWatch had been issued by the National Weather Service.About mid-day on Wednesday, a Level Three Snow Emergency was issued byDarke County Sheriff Toby Spencer. High winds had started Tuesday nightand were responsible for blowing snow that made roads all butimpassible.... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Top15 most-popular social media sites, by OliviaBarrow Monday, December 17, 2012 - Getting plugged in to social media is thenext biggest thing for advertisers, but with so many social networksout there, which do you choose? With 750 million unique monthlyvisitors, Facebook ranks far and away as the most popular socialnetworking site, according to an eBizMBA ranking in December. But don’tforget about Twitter, with 250 million visitors, and LinkedIn... read more. TreasurerJosh Mandel… ImpendingTAG expiration requires newinvestment options COLUMBUS - Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel sent notice to local governmentfinance officers today that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's(FDIC) Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) Program is currently set toexpire on December 31, 2012. The TAG program was created in 2008 inresponse to the global financial crisis, and provides an uncappedfederal guarantee on funds held at FDIC-insured depository institutionsin noninterest-bearing transaction accounts... read more. Silicon Valley Journal… JohnMcAfee on drugs, guns and money, by CromwellSchubarth Friday, December 14, 2012 - Software mogul John McAfee is on the runagain in Miami, but this time it's his mouth not his feet doing thework. In a wild interview on CNBC's Squawk Box, the 67-year-old who iswanted for questioning in connection to a murder in Belize, talkedabout drugs, guns and money, as well as his weeks in hiding. Here aresome of the highlights: — On money: "Any idiot can make... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, December 22, 2012 - ‘Twas the week before Christmas, and thequestion remains: Will taxes go up, or will they stay just the same?Voter confidence is fading that Congress and the president will reach adeal to avoid the December 31 “fiscal cliff” of big tax hikes andautomatic across-the-board spending cuts. But voters still seePresident Obama as more willing than congressional Republicans... read more. OhioDepartment of Transportation… MildWinter Leaves Motorists Outof Practice ODOT’s best advice when driving in winter conditions: Ice &Snow,Take It Slow - COLUMBUS (Thursday, December 20, 2012) – As Ohioans getready to drive in the first possible winter storm this season, the OhioDepartment of Transportation (ODOT) warns motorists in Ice and Snow,Take It Slow, especially on interstates and state-maintained highwayswhere speeds are faster and traffic volumes are higher. Research showsby the time the first winter storm hits, most motorists have forgottentheir safe... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Armedstaffer may be option for schools,DeWine says Ohio’s top law-enforcement officer says schools should consider arming“someone” in their building to defend students against a gunman.Stressing that it is a decision to be made by local school districts,Attorney General Mike DeWine said that “if I was on a school board ...I would seriously consider having someone in that school, who may be anex-police officer, someone who has significant training, someone whohad access to a gun in school.” “But you would have to be very carefulabout it... read more. Father arrested, charged in childabuse case On Friday, December 21, 2012 at 10:35 pm, Cody Cantrell, age 21, wasarrested at his residence, 740 Greenville Nashville Rd., Greenville, OHby Darke County Sheriffs Office on a warrant for felonious assault andchild abuse, both felonies of the second degree.  A summonshasbeen issued to Chelsea Hartman, age 20, of Greenville, for child abuse,felony of the third degree. The case was initiated on November 28, 2012when a two week old... read more. USAToday… Worlddoes not end, Mayanenthusiasts enjoy the day, David Agren The last day of the Maya calendar came Friday, but nothing really badhappened as some claimed it would. Mexico tourism officials werethankful for the business. ISLA MUJERES, Mexico — Alfredo Izquierdodressed in white and stood on the cliffs of this island near Cancún,where Mayan women would come for fertility rituals centuries ago. Hecame to the most easterly point in Mexican territory to... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… TwoArrested in Burglary in Process On Thursday, December 20th, 2012 at approximately 2:35 PM, Darke CountySheriffs Deputies responded to 165 South Main Street in Palestine, OHon a report of a burglary in progress. Witnesses to the crime informedauthorities that the door to the residence had been kicked in andChristmas presents were being taken. The witnesses took photographs ofthe suspects and provided... read more. WHIO-TVVideo… Timeline:Winter weatherarrives in region SOUTHWEST OHIO — The Southwest Ohio and Eastern Indiana regions areunder a Winter Weather Advisory through 10 p.m. Friday. The area isunder a wind advisory through 4 p.m. Friday. The following is atimeline of weather events as they are reported to and by Storm Center7. 5:12 a.m.: Dayton Power and Light is reported 233 customers withoutpower in Montgomery County, 19 outages in... read more. UpstartBusiness Journal… Obama:'Time' person of the year (and leader of an awesome geek squad) byJ. Jennings Moss, Editor - December 19, 2012 - “You do understand thatas President of the United States, the amount of power you have isoverstated in some ways,” Obama tells Time magazine. “But what you dohave the capacity to do is to set a direction.”If there's a message for entrepreneurs and startup founders from Timemagazine's selection of President Barack Obama as its Person of theYear for 2012, it's this: Surround yourself with geeks.The magazine spills considerable ink talking about... read more. ColumbusDispatch… BlameGame back in Cliff talks, By Lisa Mascaro andMelanie Mason Wednesday December 12, 2012 - WASHINGTON — Optimism surroundingsecretive high-level budget talks faded quickly yesterday amid a freshround of partisan finger-pointing, reducing the chances of resolvingthe fiscal standoff by Christmas. House Speaker John Boehner of WestChester spoke to President Barack Obama by phone late in the eveningafter presenting a GOP counteroffer. Republicans, meanwhile, showedfurther signs of political division. Top members of the party... read more. StateSenator Bill Beagle… ThirdFrontier Funding available for Dayton Area Tech Start-Ups $4 Million Approved for Region’s Entrepreneurial Signature Program -COLUMBUS – State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today announcedControlling Board has approved $4 million from the Ohio Third FrontierProgram to Dayton-based Development Projects, Inc. (DPI) to advance theEntrepreneurial Signature Program in West Central Ohio. “TheEntrepreneurial Signature Program provides local technology... read more. TheHill… Report:Boehner proposes tax hike fornation's millionaires, By Kyle Balluck 12/15/12 - Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has offered to raise the toptax rate for earners making more than $1 million, a source told theAssociated Press. The development in the fiscal talks comes amidpessimism the Speaker and President Obama can hammer out a deal beforeChristmas. The source said Obama has not accepted the offer, accordingto the Associated Press, which added that Boehner is still seeking morespending cuts than... read more. UpstartBusiness Journal… Canpotbusinesses stop holding their breath? byTeresa Novellino December 14, 2012 - President Barack Obama says federal authoritiesshould not make it a “top priority” to step in and assert federal lawin the states of Colorado and Washington, both of which legalizedmarijuana for recreational use. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Obamatold ABC News’ Barbara Walters in an interview that airs in fulltonight on 20/20. "It would not make sense for us to... read more. TheHill… Reports:Obama to nominate Kerry forsecretary of State, By Kyle Balluck 12/15/12 - President Obama has decided to nominate Sen. John Kerry(D-Mass.) as the next secretary of State, according to news reports. Anunidentified source told CNN that a formal announcement could come asearly as next week. ABC News, quoting unidentified sources, said news,including the mass shooting at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, haddelayed the announcement. Kerry emerged as the favorite to succeedSecretary of State Hillary Clinton when U.N. Ambassador Susan... read more. Rasmussen… Biggergovernment is better; WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, December 15, 2012 - Since Election Day, the number of voterswho like the idea of bigger government is up, but most still have theopposite view. One-in-three Likely U.S. Voters (34%) now prefer alarger government with more services and higher taxes to one with fewerservices and lower taxes. That's the highest level of support forbigger government we have ever measured. Most voters (56%), however,still favor smaller... read more. NewarkAdvocate… Consequencesof the fiscal cliff,Written by Congressman Pat Tiberi Dec 11, 2012 - Nearly everywhere you turn headlines give updates on the“looming fiscal cliff” and give dire warnings about what would happenif a compromise isn’t reached. But there’s a lot of confusion aboutwhat exactly the fiscal cliff is and what the consequences are if thecountry reaches it. The fiscal cliff is a combination of nearly $600billion in tax hikes and indiscriminate spending cuts set to takeeffect on Jan. 2. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that if thenation goes “over” the... read more. ToledoBlade… Mich.Gov. Snyder signs into lawright-to-work bills limiting unions, By TyrelLinkhorn Union members, supporters crowd Capitol - LANSING —Michigan Gov. RickSnyder has signed right-to-work legislation, dealing a devastating andonce-unthinkable defeat to organized labor in a state that has been acradle of the movement for generations. He put his signatures on thebills today, hours after the state House passed the measures. Mr.Snyder says a failed ballot proposal to enshrine collective bargainingrights in the constitution triggered the discussion that led to thepassage... read more. WHIO-TV… Locals,schoolsreact to elementary shooting, By Jill Kelley The shooting at a Connecticut elementary school Friday that killeddozens of people, including at least 20 children, has promptedquestions about the security measures in place at Dayton-area schools.“It puts everyone on hyper-vigilance; it is human nature,” said JillMoberley, Dayton Public Schools spokeswoman, of the shooting’s relationto Dayton. “We want to assure parents that Dayton Public Schools has adistrictwide security... read more. Reaction to the OhioTransportation Plan Ohio Trucking Association - COLUMBUS, OHIO, DECEMBER 13, 2012 -- Of allthe possible scenarios regarding the future of the Ohio Turnpike thathave been put forth in the past year, the Ohio Trucking Association(OTA) believes Governor Kasich has chosen the best one for alltravelers in the state. "I'm gratified that as a trade associationrepresenting a major user of the turnpike, we have had manyopportunities to voice our concerns with the Ohio Turnpike Commission,ODOT, KPMG, and... read more. ColumbusDispatch… OhioTurnpike to stay public,By Joe Vardon Ohio gets piece of national $42.9 million Pfizer settlement - December12, 2012 - Gov. John Kasich will not try to lease the Ohio Turnpike toa private entity and instead try to generate cash for stateinfrastructure projects while keeping the 241-mile toll road as apublic asset, according to several lawmakers briefed on theadministration’s plans. The state could leverage the turnpike byissuing new debt against it or redirecting toll revenue toward projectsaway from the turnpike. Kasich would need a... read more. TragedyInConnecticut: 20 Children, 6 Adults Killed At Elementary School By Mark Memmott - NPR, Obama, Boehner - December 14, 2012 - NPR SpecialCoverage Of The Conn. School Shooting The nation is watching in horrortoday as the scope of a tragedy in Newtown, Conn., becomes clear. As avisibly upset President Obama said at midafternoon, "our hearts arebroken." At Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School, authorities say, agunman fatally... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Thecase against tolls: Does it hold up?, ByJason Williams Dec 12, 2012 - The governors of Ohio and Kentucky are scheduled to signan agreement today in Covington that will map out how to pay for a $2.5billion Brent Spence Bridge replacement.U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood is scheduled to join Ohio Gov.John Kasich and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear in urging the projectforward. Both governors favor charging tolls as a way to raise revenueand fast-track construction.Not everyone agrees.In recent weeks, local lawyer and conservative talk-radio... read more. Ohio Dept. of Transportation... OhioLaunches ‘Jobs andTransportation Plan’ Ohio Turnpike will not be leased; Commission remains public,independent; Tolls remain low COLUMBUS (Thursday, December 13, 2012) – Governor John R. Kasichembarked on a two-day state tour as he, Ohio Department ofTransportation (ODOT) Director Jerry Wray, Ohio Turnpike Director RickHodges and others unveil a first-of-its-kind plan to generateapproximately $3 billion for highway road construction... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Husted:Feds should pay for new voting machines, ByBarry M. Horstman Dec 10, 2012 - WASHINGTON — Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted saidMonday there is one major thing the federal government could do to helpimprove elections in Ohio: give the state the tens of millions ofdollars it needs to upgrade or replace its aging voting machines. “Ourmachines are old – they’re wearing out,” Husted told a conference onthe 2012 election sponsored by the Pew Center on the States. “We can’trun an ... election system on the cheap.” Like most states, Ohio in themid... read more. CensusCountdown Begins for America’s Farmers and Ranchers Washington, December 10, 2012 –America’s farmers and ranchers will soonhave the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities bytaking part in the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every fiveyears by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) NationalAgricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census is a complete countof all U.S. farms, ranches and those who operate them... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine … AGasks for assistance regarding businesspursuit route (CLEVELAND, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking forassistance from Cleveland-area business owners to help investigatorspiece together the police pursuit that ended in an officers-involvedshooting incident late last month. Two people died. Agents with theBureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) have collected severalsurveillance videos from businesses located along the chase route, andthey are hoping to find more. "We want to make sure this investigationis as thorough as possible,"... read more. Warningto Homeowners… Bewareof companies offering valuationappeals assistance Darke County Auditor, Carol Ginn, and Sheriff Toby Spencer are warningproperty owners to beware of companies offering to assist withvaluation appeals. Tax Compliance Services, LLC of Cleveland has mailedletters to area residents saying they could be overpaying their taxesbecause “the County” value of their property might be in error. Ginnsaid owners can do the research on their own and can file an appeal forno charge with the Board of Revision (BOR). “We often advise homeownersto contact... read more. TheHill… WhiteHouse could protect middle class fromtax hikes if deficit talks falter By Peter Schroeder and Bernie Becker - 12/09/12 - The White House hasthe power to temporarily protect taxpayers from middle-class tax hikeseven as upper income rates rise if Congress does nothing and all of theBush-era tax rates expire in January. Experts and lawmakers alike agreethat Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has the power to adjust howmuch is withheld from paychecks for tax purposes — for all taxpayers orjust for some. By doing so, Geithner could ensure paychecks... read more. UpstartBusiness Journal… Entrepreneurshipbooms in U.S., but real potential lies elsewhere By Laura Baverman, Contributing Writer - November 29, 2012 - Patyourselves on the back U.S. entrepreneurs. You’ve created a movement.The rate of entrepreneurship is growing at the fastest pace sincepre-recession, creating tons of new jobs and outpacing activity inother global nations. And these aren’t forced entrepreneurs. They’re soconfident, they’re leaving perfectly fine existing jobs to chase adream or test a... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’sKey Polls Saturday, December 08, 2012 - The GOP is losing the messaging war inthe ongoing debate over how to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff.”Voters are more confident that the president is willing to agree to adeal with both spending cuts and tax increases than Republicans are.Just 40% think Obama will insist on tax increases only, while 51% feelthe GOP will insist on spending cuts only. Most unaffiliated voters areskeptical that either side is really willing to accept a deal. Thepresident “is... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… BarackObama won Ohio by 166,214 votes,final tally shows By Rich Exner - Friday, December 07, 2012 - Ohio's final electionresults released Thursday show that Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romneyby 166,214 votes, or 3 percentage points. Both the turnout and marginof victory were down from 2008, when Obama defeated Republican JohnMcCain. But the 5,580,822 people who cast ballots in this year'spresidential race were the third most in Ohio history, behind only 2008and 2004. The final tally shows Obama with 2,827,621 votes (50.7percent)... read more. Darke County Crime Stoppers… NewFugitives added to Most Wanted The Darke County Crime Stoppers have added two new fugitives to theirMost Wanted list: Buddy Eugene Clark and Jeremy Allan Wynn. BuddyEugene Clark - Wanted For Trafficking in Cocaine. Jeremy Allan Wynn -Wanted For Possession of Cocaine, a felony of the 5th degree. StillListed on Darke County's Most Wanted are: Two unknown subjects wantedfor Armed... read more. Investigation into two-week oldbaby withinjuries On 11-28-12, Greenville Police were dispatched to Children's MedicalCenter in Dayton, OH on a 2 week old baby that arrived there withsignificant injuries.  The injuries included broken legs, abrokenarm, swelling and bleeding of the brain, bleeding on the spine, facialbruising, and broken ribs.  The investigation concluded theinjuries occurred in the City of Greenville.  Followingfurtherinvestigation by detectives from Greenville Police Department, the casehas been submitted... read more. TheColumbus Dispatch… Portmanresists debt-ceiling proposal, By JessicaWehrman Thursday December 6, 2012 - WASHINGTON — Sen. Rob Portman urgesPresident Barack Obama to lay off a White House plan to change theprocedure that the federal government uses to raise the debt ceiling.Portman’s letter came after the U.S. Department of Treasury released ablog suggesting changing the current process — which requires Congressto vote to raise the debt ceiling — with a process in which Congressgains the right to formally “disapprove” of debt-ceiling increases butthe... read more. StateSenator Bill Beagle… Investmentplan for Struggling Communities Passes Ohio Senate NewMarkets TaxCredit Expansion Clears Chamber 31-2- COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) announced todaythat Senate Bill 327, legislation designed to boost investment in lowincome communities, passed the Ohio Senate 31-2. Joint-sponsored withState Senator Charleta Tavares (D–Columbus), SB 327 seeks to expandaccess to private investment capital for small businesses located ineconomically distressed areas of the state by... read more. NewTrainingProgram Available in Darke County Manufacturing Readiness program aims to prepare job seekers forpositions in Darke County and beyondDARKE COUNTY- Darke County has begun offering a manufacturing readinesstraining program to assist individuals seeking employment andopportunity in manufacturing in West Central Ohio. The program, whichwas developed with input from local companies, covers a broad range ofsubjects relevant to entry-level manufacturing positions includingtopics such as print reading, manufacturing... read more. Upstart Business Journal… Startupguru Steve Blank gives knowledge away for free byLaura Baverman - November 27, 2012- Talk about #GivingTuesday.Steve Blank—a Lean Startup pioneer, most-coveted Stanford professor,the man who packs rooms at conferences, whose courses are modeled inuniversities nationwide—has opened his library of presentations andlectures, books, and videos to any entrepreneur, wannabe entrepreneur,or entrepreneurship educator.Blank calls it open-source entrepreneurship, his chance... read more. Dayton Business Journal… DefenseForum: Some expansion plans on hold over sequestration byJoe Cogliano - Thursday, November 29, 2012- Until the dust settles in the battle over the so-called fiscal cliff,defense firms such as Peerless Technologies Corp. have put expansionplans on hold.Michael Bridges, president of Fairborn-based Peerless, is awaiting theoutcome before he goes forward with building additional space. But thathasn’t interfered with his focus on work the company has already won,or is going after.“We’ll be keeping... read more. DarkeCounty CIC Issues First Small Business Loan Board that runs the Partnering for Progress initiative issues its firstlow-interest loan locally to help spur investment, job creation - DARKECOUNTY- Under a new program, the Darke County Community ImprovementCorporation (CIC) has issued a low-interest small business loan for thefirst time in the organization’s history.  A $100,000 loan hasrecently been issued to Ohio Plastics Processors of Greenville insupport of the company’s job creating project and investment in thelocal... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Q&A:Justin Bayer, Welcome to College LLC, by JoeCogliano Thursday, November 29, 2012 - Justin Bayer had big dreams aboutrevolutionizing the college visit, he just needed technology to catchup. In 2004, the University of Dayton graduate was running a tourprogram for the admissions office at an East Coast university when hehad an epiphany. While laying in bed at 2 a.m., he decided to find outif the domain name welcometocollege.com was available. It was, so... read more. WHIO-TV Video… Thanksfor thank-you letter from Afghanistan, BySteve Baker Greenville letter-writer receives American flag from Afghanistan -GREENVILLE, Ohio — As a class assignment for 6th graders nearly a yearago at the middle school in the Greenville School District studentswrote letters of appreciation to the military men and women inOperation Enduring Freedom overseas in Afghanistan. About a year later,much to the tearful surprise of 13-year-old Natalie House, a seventhgrader at the Jr. High School in Greenville, she received an Americanflag from the... read more. LifeToday… At $7a cup, this Starbucks joe is blackgold, By Ben Popken, TODAY contributor Fancy a $7 cup of Starbucks? In this day of skyrocketing gas, grain andfood prices, only a select few do. But that's the price for a specialrare brew Starbucks is serving up in just a few locations. If you wantto sip this black elixir, you'll have to ask for "Costa Rica FincaPalmilera," and fork over $40 for a half-pound. Also, you'll need tolive in Seattle or Portland. Only 48 stores in the country have thebeans, and 46 of them are in one of these two cities. It's not just anyStarbucks there that have them... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’sKey Polls Saturday, December 01, 2012 - How long will this current era of goodfeelings last? President Obama, like most Election Day winners in yearspast, is enjoying a bounce in his job approval ratings in the RasmussenReports daily Presidential Tracking Poll. For the second week in a row,41% of Likely U.S. Voters think the country is heading in the rightdirection. That’s up 25 points from a year ago and close to the highestlevel of optimism during the Obama presidency... read more. HouseSpeaker John Boehner… BoehnerResponds to Obama’s Unserious Fiscal Cliff Proposal WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) delivered thefollowing response to President Obama today, urging the administrationto work with Republicans on a balanced approach to resolving the fiscalcliff that includes serious spending cuts and pro-growth tax reformsneeded to address the debt and help the economy grow. “The presidenttraveled to a small business in Pennsylvania today to talk about thefiscal cliff.  Unfortunately... read more. ToledoBlade… Economicactivity hints at fear ofconsequences as Ohio senator seeks reform, ByTom Troy The approaching “fiscal cliff” of big budget cuts and big tax increasesis already having a negative effect on the economy, U.S. Sen. RobPortman (R., Ohio) said Thursday. In a telephone news conference withOhio reporters, Mr. Portman said a lot of economic activity thatnormally would happen in 2013 is happening right now as investors tryto avoid the effects of threatened tax increases. The fiscal cliffrefers to the combination of tax increases and spending cuts that willtake effect Jan. 1 unless... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Boehnerunhappy at Dems for lack of cuts WASHINGTON — A pessimistic-sounding John Boehner complained yesterdaythat President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats have refused tooffer deep spending cuts as part of a major budget agreement. Emergingfrom a meeting with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the Housespeaker said he was “disappointed in what’s happened in the last coupleof weeks” as the White House and congressional Republicans have workedon a plan to avoid the combination of tax... read more. USAToday… Deadly'superbugs' invade U.S. health carefacilities A new family of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as CRE, is raisingconcerns across the medical community because of its ability to causeinfections that defy even the strongest antibiotics. The antibioticresistance is spread by mobile pieces of DNA that can move betweendifferent species of bacteria, creating new, drug-defying bugs. 12:34PMEST November 29. 2012 - CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The doctors tried oneantibiotic after another, racing to stop the infection as it tore... read more. USA Today… Deadly'superbugs'invade U.S. health care facilities A new family of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as CRE, is raisingconcerns across the medical community because of its ability to causeinfections that defy even the strongest antibiotics. The antibioticresistance is spread by mobile pieces of DNA that can move betweendifferent species of bacteria, creating new, drug-defying bugs. 12:34PMEST November 29. 2012 - CHARLOTTESVILLE... read more. AkronBeacon Journal… WhiteHouse: Taxhike threat could hurt retailers November 27, 2012 - 12:36 AM - WASHINGTON: On the heels of record salesover the Black Friday weekend, the White House warned that automaticfederal tax increases set for next year could hurt the rest of theholiday shopping season and would likely crimp consumer spending byabout $200 billion in 2013.The report released Monday projects that if Congress fails to act andmiddle-income taxes rise, consumer spending growth could be sliced by1.7 percentage points and economic... read more. State Representative Jim Buchy...BuchyElected to Leadership Position in Oho House COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) today waselected by members of the Ohio House Republican Caucus to join Houseleadership as the assistant majority whip for the 130th GeneralAssembly beginning in January. Rep. Buchy previously served as theassistant majority whip when he was a member of the Ohio House in thelate 1990s. The role of the whip and assistant whip is to gauge supportfor legislation and policy... read more. Dayton Business Journal...Report:Free checking at big banks slowly disappearing byOlivia Barrow, Staff Reporter - Monday, November 19, 2012 - The era offree checking at banks may be ending.Although more than six out of 10 small banks and credit unions stilloffer free checking, only one-quarter of banks with more than $10billion in deposits still the service free of charge, according to asurvey by the Ohio Public Interest Research Group.Stephen Wilson, chairman and CEO of Lebanon-based LCNB Corp., saidhe... read more. Court News Ohio... AshtabulaSchool Visits Supreme Court for First Time, ByJenna Gant November 27, 2012 - Sixth grade students from Superior IntermediateSchool drove about 3.5 hours from Ashtabula for a field trip to theThomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center. It’s the first time ever a schoolfrom Ashtabula County made the trek to Columbus to visit the OhioSupreme Court.“The more that they are hearing about what an exciting experience thisis and that we’re the first from Ashtabula County, they really areexcited. They... read more. AkronBeacon Journal… Abortionsfall to historic low in Ohio, By Rick Armon November 27, 2012 - Ohio women are having fewer abortions in the state.Induced abortions dropped 12 percent last year, hitting an all-time lowsince the Ohio Department of Health started tracking them more than 35years ago. There were 23,250 abortions by state residents in Ohio lastyear, compared with 26,322 the previous year, according to the lateststatistics released by the state. Overall, there were 24,764 abortionswhen out-of-state residents are included. Abortions have fallen inOhio... read more. SenatorKeith Faber Elected President of the Ohio Senate COLUMBUS– State Senator Keith Faber (R–Celina) today was unanimouslyelected by the Senate Majority Caucus to serve as President of the OhioSenate for the 130th General Assembly. President-Elect Faber, who wasfirst elected to the Ohio Senate in 2007, has served on the Senateleadership team since 2009 when he was selected as Majority FloorLeader by his colleagues. Currently, Senator Faber... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Risein Medicaid costs slows Ohioofficials hopethat reforms explain why recent spending is $121M less than projected Reforms of the tax-funded Medicaid program under Gov. John Kasich’sadministration might be helping rein in costs for the health-careprogram that insures 2.4 million poor and disabled Ohioans. Accordingto the latest state financial reports, total Medicaid spending is up 2percent in the fiscal year that began July 1, but that is 2.4 percentless than projected. More... read more. TheHill… GOP,Dem lawmakers seeroom for compromise ahead of fiscal talks By Alicia M. Cohn - 11/26/12 - As they return to Washington this week,lawmakers from both parties are talking compromise to avoid theimpending “fiscal cliff,” showing a willingness to put once inviolablepositions on the negotiating table. More senior Republicans distancedthemselves from conservative activist Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledgethis weekend in an apparent effort to signal their willingness tobroker a deficit-... read more. TheHill… Withsecond term assured, Obama aides eyejobs as lobbyists on K Street, By KevinBogardus 11/24/12 - With President Obama's reelection a done deal, headhuntersare expecting worn-out administration aides to look for new jobs in theinfluence industry. Several Obama aides started making post-electionplans well before November, holding discussions with executive searchfirms in Washington as early as this past spring. Their stock has risensince Obama’s victory, but they face a tough job market on K Street,where belt-tightening has become the norm... read more. BusinessFirst… GirlScout cookiesgetting new look, by Evan Weese, Webcoordinator Wednesday, November 21, 2012 - The Girl Scouts have baked up somechanges to their signature cookies. But don’t worry, it’s not thecookies themselves. For the first time in 13 years, the $790-millionGirl Scout Cookie Program is rolling out a new package design,showcasing the brand’s identity in a more contemporary look. “The newboxes feature information that’s important to share with people whosupport Girl Scouting by buying cookies... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’sKey Polls Saturday, November 24, 2012 - Americans have a grimmer view of theeconomy since President Obama was elected, although it hasn’t made adent in their holiday shopping. Many seem more accepting, too, ofhigher taxes in the future. Fifty percent (50%) of American Adults nowbelieve the economy will be weaker in a year's time. That's a 27-pointjump from October and the lowest finding since September of last year.Thirty-six percent (36%) predict the economy will be weaker fiveyears... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Injuryaccident on Hwy 36 Bradford - On November 24, 2012 at approximately 1:37 a.m. Darke CountyDeputies, along with Bradford Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the9100 Blk. of US36 in reference to a single vehicle roll over accident.Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2004 Jeep Liberty, driven byBobby Copeland (42) of Arcanum, was eastbound on US36. Copeland'svehicle went off the left side of the road and drove up anembankment.  Copeland's vehicle then overturned and rolledbackdown the... read more. TheHill… Businessesdemand debt-limit hike as partof deal on ‘fiscal cliff’ By Peter Schroeder - 11/23/12 - Businesses want Washington to increasethe U.S. debt limit as part of a package to avoid the “fiscal cliff,”thus averting two crises in one go. But conservative Republicanlawmakers would cry foul. For, while corporate America wants to headoff market turmoil and the economic uncertainty that debt-limit dramamight bring, Republicans want to use the threat of a debt-limitstandoff to extract the biggest spending cuts possible. The TreasuryDepartment says the... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Whydid 81 voters cast ballots twice? Some could face charges, Hamilton County officials say - Nov 21, 2012 -Eighty-one Hamilton County voters cast more than one ballot in the Nov.6 election, a fact that could leave some facing legal charges,officials said Tuesday. The disclosure that some people voted twice inthis month’s presidential election came as the Hamilton County Board ofElections agreed to count nearly 15,000 provisional and absenteeballots, potentially changing the outcome on several local ballotmeasures... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Criticalinjury accident on 118 On November 22, 2012 at approximately 1:38 AM Darke CountyDeputies, along with Ansonia Fire Department, and Ansonia Rescue weredispatched to the 11,600 block of State Route 118 on a one vehicleinjury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a green 1999 ChevyBlazer, driven by Angel Nicely, 20, Rossburg, Ohio was north bound onState Route 118. Angel lost control of the vehicle causing it tooverturn several times on the roadway and in the ditch. Angel wasejected from the vehicle before it ... read more. CourtNews Ohio… FormerAttorney General Dann’s Law LicenseSuspended , By Dennis Whalen November 20, 2012The law license of former Ohio Attorney General Marc E. Dann has beensuspended for six months for engaging in conduct that resulted in hisconviction on misdemeanor criminal counts of soliciting impropercompensation and filing false financial disclosure statements duringhis tenure as attorney general.In a 7-0 per curiam opinion announced today, the Supreme Court of Ohioadopted findings by the Board of Commissioners on Grievances andDiscipline that Dann “engaged in conduct that.. read more. TheHill… Boehnertightens grip on rank and file to maximize power in 'fiscal cliff' talks,By Molly K. Hooper - 11/20/12 - Speaker John Boehner is tightening hisgrip on the House Republican Conference weeks before an anticipatedvote on a deficit deal. The Ohio Republican has smoothed overdifferences with Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), expanded hispowers on the panel that doles out plum committee assignments, shotdown a challenge to his earmark moratorium and worked behind the scenesto ensure that Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) would win herleadership contest... read more. Greenville City Police… MaleSubject arrested following search warrant On Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at approximately 4:38 p.m., theGreenville Police Department and the Darke County Special Response Teamassisted the Union City, Indiana Police Department in the execution ofa search warrant at 316 Tecumseh St. in Greenville. The search warrantstemmed from an investigation conducted by the Union City, IndianaPolice Department for alleged Sexual Misconduct... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Spencerexpresses his gratitude Sheriff Toby L. Spencer would like to express his gratitude to thecitizens of Darke County for recent “timely and accurate” crimetips.  Over the past several weeks there have been multiplearrests of persons who were observed at the scene of rural burglariesin Darke County.  It is because of these reports that Deputieshave been able to respond to the area on four separateoccasions. As a result, the responsible... read more. DarkeCounty Economic Development… UCCoalition receives US EPA Grant Site Specific Assessment Grant Funds Will Support Redevelopment ofBrownfield Sites Contaminated with Hazardous Substances and Petroleum,and Play Key Role in Regional Redevelopment Efforts; Cross-State GrantCollaboration May Be First of a Kind. UNION CITY – The Union CityCoalition (the Coalition) is pleased to announce that it has received aU.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Brownfield Site-SpecificAssessment Grant, for Brownfield sites in Randolph County, Indianaand... read more. DarkeCounty’s Most Wanted… Threefugitives added; robbery suspects still being sought Darke County Crime Stoppers has added 3 new fugitives to the MostWanted list. They are: Gregory Bowling, Wanted for Failure to Appear,Parole Violation, Age 30. Last know area: Greenville, OH or Dayton, OHor Lewisburg, OH. Joey (Joseph) Mogle, Wanted for Aggravated Arson, Age22. Last known area: Greenville, OH or Arcanum, OH. Aaron Sturgill,Wanted for Trafficking Cocaine, Breaking and Entering, Age 27. Last... read more. One injured in single vehicleaccident Ansonia -  On November 20, 2012 at approximately 1443 P.M.DarkeCounty deputies, Ansonia P.D. and Ansonia Fire and Rescue weredispatched to SR118 just north of the Ansonia Village limits inreference to a one vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigationrevealed that a 1996 Chevy S-10, driven by Robert Christman (62) ofGreenville, was southbound on SR118 and veered off the right side ofthe roadway and struck a large metal sign... read more. DarkeCounty Economic Development… AreaSuperintendents Visit Midmark and Crown Companiesandschool officials discuss opportunities for students, forging newpartnerships VERSAILLES- School district superintendents from two states, fourcounties, and twelve different school districts came together recentlyto meet with area business as a part of Darke County’s workforcedevelopment initiative.  The effort is led by the county’scollaborative economic development effort known as Partnering for... read more. TheColumbus Dispatch… Ohiounemployment rate: 6.9%,By Mark Williams Although still high, a rate back below 7% could be a psychologicalboost, some say. Saturday November 17, 2012 - Ohio’s recovery from deep recession hashit two milestones. For the first time since the summer of 2008, thestate’s unemployment rate is less than 7 percent and the number ofunemployed workers has dropped below 400,000. October’s jobless ratewas 6.9 percent, down from a revised 7.1 percent in September,according to the Ohio... read more. Kasich,Taylor Block Obamacare in Ohio COLUMBUS, OH - Governor Kasich and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor acted courageously on behalf of all Ohioans by choosing not to moveforward operating a healthcare insurance exchange in Ohio after threeyears of moving deadlines, arbitrary timetables and overly restrictivefederal regulatory mandates concerning healthcare exchanges createdunder Obamacare. "This is a state's issue and Governor Kasich and Lt.Governor Taylor are sending a strong message to the federalgovernment... read more. Veterans Day… MississinawaValley students honor Vets, By Kara Jessup,CNO TeenReporter “Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10minutes. He stays up for days on end. You take a warm shower to helpyou wake up. He goes days or weeks without running water…” You are acivilian. He is a soldier. On Monday Nov. 12th, Mississinawa Valleyheld a Veteran’s Day assembly to honor those men and women who haveserved or are currently serving for our country. An estimated... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Airlinestoface pilot shortage with new rules Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - New federal mandates requiring pilots tohave six times the current minimum of experience may trigger the mostserious pilot shortage since the 1960s for U.S. airlines, just asthousands of pilots begin reaching the industry's mandatory retirementage of 65, according to Pacific Business News. The Wall Street Journalalso reports the federal mandates will require all newly-hired pilotsto have at least 1,500 hours of flight experience, which will increasethe cost and time it... read more. CourtNews Ohio… Victimsof AttorneyTheft Received $930,000 in Fiscal Year 2012,By Bret Crow November 8, 2012 - In Fiscal Year 2012, the Clients’ Security Fund ofOhio awarded nearly $930,000 for 175 claims of attorney theft,according to the fund’s annual report released today. The claimseligible for reimbursement resulted from the dishonest conduct of 60attorneys. The fund’s Board of Commissioners also determined that fourattorney fee applications were eligible for reimbursement of $1,030 inattorney fees. “As indicated in this report, the... read more. TheHill… Obamagives no hint ifhe will lean to center or left during second term By Niall Stanage and Amie Parnes - 11/15/12 - Saying, “I didn’t getreelected to bask in reelection. I got elected to do work,” PresidentObama on Wednesday set out his stall for the first months of his secondterm. But he gave no clear hint about whether he would tack to the leftor to the center now that he has run his last election campaign. Onseveral big issues, including the fiscal cliff, immigration reform andclimate change, the president’s comments at his first press conferencesince... read more. ToledoBlade… Ohioans’foodstamp aid to be reduced,By Kate Giammarise Benefit to fall $50 a month starting in January - Ohio familiesreceiving food stamps could get an unwelcome surprise come January: $50less every month in assistance.For the 869,000 households enrolled in the program for the poorestOhioans, that could amount to about $520 million annually out of thegrocery budgets.Because of the way the federal government calculates utility expensesfor people receiving the benefit, a mild winter nationwide last year,and a lower price for natural gas, many families... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Processof drawing legislative and congressional maps may change,by Jim Siegel November 12, 2012  - Issue 2 is dead, buried deep by Ohiovoterslast week. But over and over again, opponents of the redistrictingplan, be they Republicans or editorial-page writers, noted that theiropposition was not based on the belief that the current system ofdrawing legislative and congressional districts is good. In fact, mostacknowledged that it remains badly in need of an overhaul. Among themis Secretary of State Jon Husted, who for years as a state legislatorand now as the state’s... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Whatbusinesses need to know about Obamacare, byOlivia Barrow Thursday, November 8, 2012 - In the wake of the presidential electiontwo things are now certain for businesses: President Barack Obama ishere to stay, and so is Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act is one ofthe biggest issues looming over businesses as they look into the nextyear. The Dayton Business Journal asked Kim Wilcoxon, a partner withThompson Hine in southwest Ohio, how businesses... read more. Greenville Police Department… ArmedRobbery at FairgroundsDrive-Thru On November 13, 2012 at approximately 10:00 p.m., the Greenville PoliceDepartment received a 911 phone call from the an employee at theFairgrounds Drive­Thru, 1207 Sweitzer St., advising he had just beenrobbed at gunpoint by an unknown male suspect.  During therobberythe suspect displayed a handgun and had the clerk place an undeterminedamount of cash in a black plastic bag and then ordered... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Injuryaccident breaks gas line, shuts down 127 On November 13, 2012 at 5:22 am Darke County Deputies along withArcanum Rescue and New Madison Fire Department responded to a singlevehicle injury accident at US 127 north of Hogpath Road, GreenvilleOhio. Preliminary investigation revealed a red 1998 Ford sedan wastraveling north bound on US 127 drove off the right side of the roadwaystriking an above ground gas line. The driver of the vehicle wasidentified as Jesse Simpson, 24, of West Alexandria Ohio. Simpson wastransported... read more. Investors.com… PrivateSectorTroubled, Bailing Out After Obama Win Posted 11/12/2012 - The National Manufacturers Association forecasts 6million layoffs and an 11% unemployment rate as a result of Obama'spending tax hikes and regulatory siege. Starting with Pepsi, some 4,000layoffs have been announced in the wake of the election. Boeing hasannounced it will lay off 10% of its white collar work force, costingthousands of jobs. Caterpillar is laying off 100 as it shuts a plant inMinnesota. The coal industry is particularly hard hit and itsexecutives have made clear... read more. ABC6On Your Side… Gov.KasichPromotes Job Readiness Program To Teens COLUMBUS -- Ohio Governor John Kasich is making a push to teach highschool students how to get a job after they graduate. Governor Kasichvisited with juniors from Mifflin High School Thursday, discussing the"Road to Readiness" program that gives students real-world access toleading businesses and professionals to gain insight into futurecareers. "When people go to school, they ought to be taking somethingthat prepares them for a job, " Governor Kasich said. "I absolutelybelieve that over... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Multipleinjury accident at Hwy 36 & Arcanum Bears Mill Greenville - On November 11, 2012 at 11:54 a.m. Darke County Deputiesalong with Gettysburg Fire and Rescue were dispatch to US36 and ArcanumBears Mill Rd. in reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Dueto the amount of injuries reported Greenville Township Rescue was alsodispatched for mutual aid. Preliminary investigation revealed that a2008 Buick, driven by Donnie D. Baker (77) of Greenville, wasnorthbound on Arcanum Bears Mill Rd. and had stopped at the... read more. Ctrfor Constitutional Law… Legal Center moves to preventstate fromenforcing precious metals law Regulations prohibit advertising and impose warrantless searches -Columbus, OH - The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law today moved infederal court to immediately enjoin the state from enforcing the "OhioPrecious Metals Dealers Act," against Ohio coin dealers threatened withcriminal sanction for advertising their businesses, and sweepingwarrantless searches of their business records and properties withoutprobable cause. The legal action is filed on behalf of Liberty Coins,a... read more. Common Core Standards… NextGeneration Educational Standards to be more rigorous By Bob Robinson -  “It will be a public relations nightmare,”saidDave Shellhaas of the Darke County Educational Service Center. “We willtake a hit.” In last year’s ranking – statewide – 23 percent of publicschool districts achieved Excellent with Distinction, 41 percentExcellent, 28 percent Effective, 6 percent Continuous Improvement, 1.8percent Academic Watch and 0.2 percent... read more. CourtNews Ohio… TwoIncumbentSupreme Court Justices Defeated in General Election By Bret Crow - November 7, 2012 - For the first time in 40 years, twoincumbent Ohio Supreme Court justices lost in the same election,according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s General Election.Justices Robert R. Cupp and Yvette McGee Brown were defeated by former11th District Court of Appeals Judge William O’Neill and Butler CountyDomestic Relations Court Judge Sharon L. Kennedy, respectively. JudgeKennedy will fulfill the unexpired term of that seat on the bench andwill... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Investingadvice: No need to panic, by Olivia Barrow Tuesday, October 23, 2012 - Weak third quarter earnings reports anduncertainty caused by the upcoming election are weighing down the stockmarket, but there’s no reason to panic, a local investment expert says.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by as much as 232.8 pointsTuesday in mid-afternoon trading, falling 1.74 percent to 13,113.09.Some big stocks that were down in the early... read more. Ohiorankedsecond in Site Selection’s 2012 ranking of state business climates In its 2012 Top State Business Climate Rankings, Site Selectionmagazine ranked Ohio second — up seven places from last year, themagazine reports. Ohio is the only state in this year's top 10 rankingfrom the Midwest region. The publication’s business climate ranking is“based 50 percent on a survey of corporate site selectors” and 50percent on the following five criteria: the state’s placement in themagazine’s most recent Governor’s Cup ranking, its CompetitivenessRanking and its projects logged into the publication’s New PlantDatabase, as well as the “Tax Foundation and KPMG’s Location Mattersanalysis of state tax burdens,” the article said. For the full story,click here Politico… JohnBoehner:No taxhike on top earners, By: Jake Sherman November 5, 2012 - COLUMBUS, Ohio — You want to know how unbendingSpeaker John Boehner is on tax increases? He’s not willing to evenconsider hiking taxes on people making more than $1 million — somethingthat’s been floated in the past as a possible compromise by members ofboth parties. “We’re not raising taxes on small-business people,”Boehner told POLITICO during an interview in an Italian restauranthere. “Ernst and Young has made this clear: It’s going to cost... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Survey:Most like their doctor, but fret about health care outlook by Laura Englehart - Monday, October 22, 2012 - A recent survey findsthat nearly 80 percent of adult patients like their physicians, butmany disapprove of the direction of health care. The survey, conductedthis past summer by The Physicians Foundation, polled more than 2,200people 18 and older and concluded that, of those who visited a doctorat least once in the past year, 79 percent were “very satisfied... read more. Election 2012… Stateissuesfail, Statehouse doesn’t change, By BobRobinson  “When it was only 71 percent for Romney, I knew we had lostOhio.What a sinking feeling it is… what is wrong with the American people?”This comment summarized the feelings of one Romney supporter aspresidential candidate Mitt Romney did not do as well in Darke Countyas expected. Another Romney supporter wrote on Wednesday morning: “Withtwo real choices at our disposal, ‘We... read more. Election 2012... BarackObamahas been re-elected President of the United States BREAKING: At 11:16 CBS News called Ohio for President Barack Obama.Obama has been re-elected President of the United States. AssociatedPress and Fox News also called the vote for Obama. As of 11 p.m. therace was down to Ohio, Virginia & Florida. RepublicanPresidentialCandidate Mitt Romney needed all three. Democrat President Barack Obamaneeded only one of the three. Obama got Ohio. As... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Holidayhiringboom expected in Dayton, by Olivia Barrow Monday, November 5, 2012 - Retailers across the country are gearing upfor the holiday shopping season by increasing inventory and addingstaff. And that's expected to translate into a boom in the number oflocal temporary jobs. Between the Dayton area's three shopping mallsalone — The Mall at Fairfield Commons, The Dayton Mall and The Greene —about 2,200 jobs will be added, according to local officials. That’sanywhere from a 20 to 40 percent staff increase, depending on themall... read more. ChristianScience Monitor… Pollsshow adead heat. So why so many predictions of an Obama win? By Liz Marlantes - November 5, 2012 - Among pundits and prognosticators– as well as the public at large – there's an expectation thatPresident Obama will win reelection, despite the fact that the race isstill a virtual tie, nationally. Is it just us, or does it seem likesome of the suspense has leaked out of this campaign? In the finalhours before Election Day, the mindset among the chattering class seemsto have shifted from: "This thing is too close to call, it’s right downto the wire, a real nailbiter," to... read more. Livingthe Dream… TheDream is Aliveand well!, By Lyn Bliss Bob Robinson tends to give me great titles in his comments to me. Whenhe received the picture of Paul Ryan and me, he sent back, “The dreamis alive and well!” That seemed to be an appropriate title for thislast installment of the most exciting year I have ever lived! As thisis being written, the polls are 18+ hours away from opening. Ithas been a demanding campaign. As I said to a friend, “This old broadis exhausted!” At the same time, this... read more. UpstartBusiness Journal… Jobsrise, butso does unemployment rate, by Kent Bernhard,Jr. November 2, 2012 - Unemployment numbers released this morning gave bothPresident Barack Obama and his rival, Mitt Romney, ammunition for thefinal weekend of the campaign. Employers added 171,000 jobs in October,a better-than-expected number from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Theunemployment rate, though, ticked up to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent,after a 0.3 percent drop in the previous month. Economists hadexpected... read more. Search Warrant at Michael’s Clocks On 11-02-12 at 4:31pm, officers from Greenville Police Department andDarke County Sheriffs Office conducted a search warrant at Michael’sClocks located at 601 S. Broadway. The search was conducted to searchfor items take from a burglary occurring in the early morning hours ofNovember 2, 2012 and Wal-Mart thefts/gift card scam. Items wererecovered from the burglary and other evidence. No arrests made at thistime and the case remains open to investigations. ClevelandPlain Dealer… MittRomney orBarack Obama? How to tell who's winning Ohio on election night By Stephen Koff, Plain Dealer Washington Bureau Chief - November 04,2012 - WASHINGTON — When political strategists talk about Ohio’sRepublican comfort zone, they often point to Butler and Warren,neighboring conservative counties just north of Cincinnati. PresidentBarack Obama will lose there. You can bank on it. So why on earth willGreg Schultz, Obama’s Ohio campaign director, keep an eye on thesesouthwestern Ohio counties once the polls close Tuesday... read more. ColumbusDispatch… InMarietta, Ryanblasts Obama as a fear monger, By Joe Hallett Sunday November 4, 2012 - MARIETTA, Ohio — In the frenetic final daysof the presidential campaign, GOP vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryanyesterday beseeched voters to pause and contemplate what’s at stake.Speaking in a half-filled auditorium at Marietta College, as 1,200chanted “Three more days,” Ryan assailed President Barack Obama formaking the campaign about “small things” at a time when voters face amonumental decision... read more. Sandy’sDevastation: An Overview… Damageassessed, rebuilding begins from Sandy By Kara Jessup, CNO Teen Correspondent - As the second costliesthurricane in recorded history, according to CBS News, wrapped up itsdamaging trek from the East Coast into the Midwest, people beganassessing the damage and beginning the long road to recovery. On Oct.22, Hurricane Sandy started in Jamaica developing from an elongatedtropical wave near the Caribbean Sea. It traveled through Haiti, Cuba,Dominican Republic, Bahamas... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Midmarkinvesting $1.5M in Versailles expansion, byOlivia Barrow Friday, November 2, 2012 - Midmark Corp. is investing $1.5 million intoexpanding its Versailles facility. The medical equipment manufacturerannounced in May it would move its executive offices to Dayton and add100,000 square feet to its Versailles campus at 60 Vista Drive.Sydney-based Ferguson Construction won the contract, according to aMiami County building permit. A spokesperson for Ferguson confirmedthe... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Stormaffectspresidential race, By Joe Vardon Tuesday October 30, 2012 - AVON LAKE, Ohio — President Barack Obama andRepublican challenger Mitt Romney both face dangers as they attempt tosteer their ships between superstorm Sandy and the race for the WhiteHouse, which ends one week from today. “It’s the classic double-edgedsword of governing,” University of Virginia political science professorLarry Sabato said. The national political expert’s state is key forboth campaigns and was directly affected by the storm... read more. Darke County Crime Stoppers… “Unknowns”Added to the Most Wanted Fugitive List Darke County Crime Stoppers has added two new Most Wanted fugitives,the two “unknowns” who are believed to be involved in two recentrobberies. “These guys are suspects in recent robberies in Greenvillearea. A cash reward is currently available, but may be increased andmade public within a few days.” In addition, current Most Wantedfugitives include: Stacy Denham, 31, for Theft from... read more. Secretaryof State Jon Husted… ElectionDay confusion on provisional ballots stayed by court Third consecutive ruling upholding Secretary of State - COLUMBUS –Regarding today’s decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals togrant a stay in SEIU v. Husted, see attached, all of the following maybe attributed to Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted: “With six days togo before Election Day, I am pleased that the Court has granted a stayin this case so that I can give the 88 county boards of elections theclear direction they need on the rules for processing provisional... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… ArmedRobbery at Parkside Beverage Dock On 11/01/12 at approximately 8:15p.m., the Greenville Police Departmentreceived a 911 call from the Parkside Beverage Dock at 511 Memorial Dr.in reference to an armed robbery. During the robbery, the suspects tookan undetermined amount of cash and 3 cartons of Marlboro RedCigarettes. A handgun was displayed and the cashier was tied up butphysically unharmed. The suspects left on foot westbound from thebusiness... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… DaytimeBurglar Suspects Arrested On November 1, 2012 at about 2:35 PM, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office911 Center received a call from a resident reporting a burglary inprogress in the 3500 block of Hollansburg-Tampico Road near Glen Karn,which is located in the southwest portion of Darke County. Theresident reported that they heard a knock on their front door but didnot answer the door.  Moments later, the resident wasconfrontedby an unknown female suspect who let herself into... read more. StateSenator Bill Beagle… Beagleannounces Funding for Technology-Based Jobs Over $500,000 to Grow Advanced Manufacturing and Tech-Based StartupsCOLUMBUS— State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) announced today thatthe state Controlling Board has approved the use of funds to advanceinitiatives that are focused on improving technology and innovation inthe Miami Valley.More than $500,000 in state grants will be split between the Universityof Dayton and the Dayton, Miami Valley Entrepreneurs Center. TheUniversity of Dayton will receive $250,000 to advance... read more. EconomicDevelopment Office… Darke County CIC Expands - Expansion enables P4P effort to bettertackle workforce development initiative, ByMarc Saluk,Director DARKE COUNTY- The Darke County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC),the governing board of the county’s Partnering for Progress (P4P)initiative, has announced the addition of five new seats on the boardand several other recent personnel changes. According to officials, thechanges are designed to better enable P4P... read more. CourtNews Ohio… 9/11Hero Speaks to Ohio’s Law Enforcement Officers,By Jenna Gant October 26, 2012 - Jason Thomas, a former marine who was instrumentalin the heroic rescue of two New York Port Authority Officers onSeptember 11, 2001, gave the opening remarks at the 2012 LawEnforcement Conference in Columbus on October 25. The two-dayconference gathered Ohio’s state, county, and municipal law enforcementofficers to talk about an array of subjects challenging today’sofficers. It featured 30 educational workshops on topics includingofficer-involved shooting... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Ohio'snightmare voting scenario, by Barry M. Horstman ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: Provisional ballots might put a kink in ElectionDay - Oct 25, 2012 - A new Ohio program intended to make voting easiercould keep the presidential election in doubt until late November ifthe national outcome hinges on the state’s 18 electoral votes. UnderSecretary of State Jon Husted’s initiative to send absentee ballotapplications to nearly 7 million registered voters across Ohio, morethan 800,000 people so far have asked for but not yet completed anabsentee... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Romney,Obama covetvotes in Ohio, By Joe Vardon and Joe Hallett Friday October 26, 2012 - In another indicator of just how close therace for the White House is in Ohio, both President Barack Obama andRepublican nominee Mitt Romney drew about 12,000 people to eveningrallies at opposite sides of the state last night. Romney’s eventinside the Defiance High School football stadium west of Toledo was histhird Ohio rally of the day and included crowd-pleasing performances bymusic legends Meat Loaf and Randy Owen of Alabama... read more. MansfieldJournal… Presidentialbarometer:Ottawa County usually votes in favor of winning candidate Written by Benjamin Lanka - Oct 26, 2012 - Political pundits arespending millions of dollars throughout the country trying to determinewho will win this year’s presidential election. They might just want toknock on a few doors in Ottawa County. The small county on the coast ofLake Erie represents the best indicator of one of the country’s mostcritical swing states states when it comes to presidential politics. Infact, it has correctly chosen the presidential candidate to win Ohiosince... read more. GreenvilleFire Department… CarbonMonoxidedeath in Greenville At 21:25 hours (9:25 p.m.), Monday, October 29, 2012, Greenville Policeand Fire Departments along with Greenville Township Rescue weredispatched to a Carbon Monoxide Emergency reported at 1241 OaktreeDrive, Greenville. Upon arrival personnel found three victims insidethe residential structure. Officers from the Greenville PoliceDepartment removed three victims from the structure. CPR was initiatedon one of the... read more. U.S.Congressman John Boehner… WhiteHouse Must Explain Its Role in Delphi Pension Scandal WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) releasedthe following statement calling on the Obama administration to releaseall records associated with the decision to slash pensions fornon-union auto workers at Delphi during the taxpayer-funded autobailout: “Thousands of auto workers in Ohio, Michigan, and elsewheredeserve to know what role the Obama administration played in cuttingtheir pensions while protecting the president’s... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, October 27, 2012 - So where do we stand with Election Day aweek-and-a-half away? The Rasmussen Reports Electoral Collegeprojections show President Obama with 237 Electoral Votes and MittRomney with 206. The magic number needed to win the White House is 270.Eight states with 95 Electoral College votes remain Toss-ups: Colorado,Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. Newpolling from Florida and Virginia shows Romney with a two-point... read more. CourtNews Ohio… Pardonby theGovernor Doesn’t Entitle Defendant to Sealed Criminal Record By Chris Davey - October 22, 2012 - A Dublin man who received a pardonfrom then-Governor Ted Strickland in 2011, is not entitled to have hispast criminal record sealed, the Tenth District Court of Appeals hasruled. In a 3-0 decision announced October 11, the court of appealsreversed a ruling in which a Franklin County common pleas court judgehad granted an application by James A. Radcliff to seal multiple priorcriminal convictions he had received throughout Ohio between 1973 and1981... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff… Greenvilleresident, 50, victim of US 127 and SR 47 crash Ansonia – On October 27, 2012 at approximately 5:29 a.m. Darke CountyDeputies, along with Ansonia Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to US127and SR47 in reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Mutualaid was also requested from Versailles Fire and Rescue. Preliminaryinvestigation revealed that a 2002 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Robert H.Pierce (31) of Ansonia, was eastbound on SR47.  Pierce failedtostop at the stop sign at the intersection of US127 and struck a 2000... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff… Arcanumwoman dead in second fatal accident Arcanum – On October 27, 2012 at approximately 1:27 p.m. Darke CountyDeputies, along with New Madison Fire and Tri-Village Rescue, weredispatched to US127 and SR 503 in reference to a two vehicle injuryaccident involving a semi and a car.  Mutual aid from ArcanumFireand Rescue were also dispatched to the scene. Preliminary investigationrevealed that a 2007 Chevy Malibu, driven by Lisa A. Wright (43) ofArcanum, was southbound on SR503.  Wright failed to stop atthestop... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Threevictims identified in Byrkett Road accident Five fatalities on Darke County roads in one day - Greenville – OnOctober 27, 2012 at approximately 5:16 p.m. Darke County Deputies,along with Tri-Village Rescue and New Madison Fire were dispatched toByrkett Rd. and Barry Dr. in reference to a single vehicle rolloveraccident with injuries. Initial reports advised three subjects weretrapped inside the vehicle and mutual aid was requested... read more. Darke County LWV… Adams,Fishersquare off at Candidates’ Forum, By ElaineBailey Questions included bailout, St. Mary’s, wastewater from fracking - ACandidates’ Forum sponsored by The League of Women Voters of DarkeCounty included Q&A’s for 80th House District incumbent RichardN.Adams (R) and challenger Dave W. Fisher (D); and Ohio Court of Appeals,2nd District candidates Carley Ingram and Jeffrey M. Welbaum. The forumwas held on the second Monday prior to... read more. Greenville Career Technology… StateSenator Bill Beagle Tours GSD Career Tech Center State Senator Bill Beagle (R - Tipp City) toured Greenville CareerTechnical Center on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.  Senator Beagleserves on Governor John Kasich's Executive Workforce Board. As amember of the panel, Beagle plays a role in advising the Governor andthe Office of Workforce Transformation regarding the development,implementation, and continuous improvement of Ohio's workforce... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Collegecostsrise just 3% in Ohio, By Encarncion Pyle Wednesday October 24, 2012 - Over the past five years, in-state tuitionand fees at Ohio’s public universities rose an average of 3 percent,the second-lowest increase in the country after Maryland, a new reportfinds. But students at the state’s four-year schools are still paying alot of money: an average of $9,190, despite tuition limits that go backto 2007-08. That’s more than 6 percent higher than the national averageof $8,655, according to the College Board’s annual pricing andstudent-aid reports... read more. Death on Darke County roads… Threefatal accidents on the same day Three dead, several injured in separate Darke County accidents. WHIO:DARKE COUNTY — Earlier Sunday… One driver is dead, and another is beingtreated at an area hospital after an accident at U.S. 127 and StateRoute 47 Saturday morning. News Center 7’s Steve Baker said that onedriver was dead at the scene, and the other was taken to Wayne HealthCare in Greenville after the 5:30 a.m. accident west... read more. CourtNews Ohio… GuideAssistsin Developing Parenting Time, By Bret Crow October 23, 2012 - By publishing the "Planning for Parenting Time:Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart," the Ohio Supreme Court hopes itwill help parents living apart reduce conflict and plan parenting time.The Ohio Supreme Court has published a guide to help parents livingapart reduce conflict and plan parenting time. The genesis for“Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio’s Guide for Parents Living Apart”came from a 2005 report of the Advisory Committee on Children, Familiesand Courts, said... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… SingleVehicle Accident On October 26, 2012 at approximately 1013 AM.  Darke CountyDeputies along with Osgood Rescue and Osgood Fire were dispatched toState Route 705 near Coble Road in reference to an injury accident.Preliminary investigation revealed a 2005 Chevy Pickup Truck driven byGreg Langenkamp, 32, of Osgood was traveling Westbound on State Route705, when he lost control of his vehicle after passing anotherwestbound vehicle on a curve. Mr. Langenkamp over corrected, travelingoff the... read more. WHIO-TV Video… Greenvilleflowershop robbed at gunpoint GREENVILLE — Greenville police are investigating a robbery at TheFlower Patch flower shop. The suspect in the incident at the businesson Rhoades Avenue this afternoon was armed. Police are looking for awhite man in his mid-20s with longer blond hair, who was wearing ablack cap with a white letter on it and denim jeans. He may be 5-feet-7inches to 5-feet-9 inches tall. The suspect was... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Younghome buyers more savvy than their parents, survey says By Olivia Barrow - Tuesday, October 23, 2012 - A recent national surveyof young peopleaged 18 to 35 shows that young home buyers are more educated than ever,and despite the recent housing crisis, homeownership is still seen asan indicator of success.The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research for Better Homes andGarden Real Estate and asked 1,001 nationally representative Americanskey questions about their perspectives on homeownership.The survey showed... read more. TheBeacon Journal… Brown,Mandel focus on attacking each other, By DaveScott October 20, 2012 - COLUMBUS: Thursday night’s debate between U.S.Senate candidates Sherrod Brown and Josh Mandel offered a chance tohear the candidates repeat their stump speeches. And also the chance tohear the candidates repeatedly call each other a liar. Mandel, Ohio’streasurer, hammered away at Brown for permitting “Wall Street bailouts”and contributing to Obama’s attempts to revive the economy. “SherrodBrown has had his chance,” Mandel said at the debate in Columbus... read more. Darke County League of Women Voters… Candidates Night on Youtube.com The Candidates' Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of DarkeCounty will be broadcast in its entirety on YouTube.com. If you wereunable to attend the Candidates’ Night, please be sure go online to seethe program. It lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.  Paste this linkinyour Internet browser http://youtu.be/byssYr1Eb9Y or go towww.youtube.com and in the search bar put... read more. ToledoBlade…  Specialteamscalled in locally for presidential ground game By Tom Troy and Nolan Rosenkrans - Marquee-name volunteers, targetedvoter lists in play - There’s the airgame — television and radio advertising. There’s the stage game —rallies with candidates and celebrities. And then there’s the groundgame — phone calls and door-knocking. In a close election, the groundgame is where an election is won. With polls showing the race in Ohionarrowing to a dead heat between Democratic President Obama andRepublican challenger Mitt Romney... read more. Two car accident sends one tohospital Greenville - On October 23, 2012 at approximately 4:49 p.m. DarkeCounty Deputies, along with Greenville Township Fire and Rescue, weredispatched to SR49 and Hillgrove Woodington Rd. in reference to a twovehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1994Chrysler New Yorker, driven by Claire Stammen (23) of Versailles, waseastbound on Hillgrove Woodington Rd.  Stammen pulled up totheintersection at SR49 and had stopped.  Stammen then pulled outinto the... read more. GreenvilleFire Department… Structurefireat Sater and Gray in Greenville At 8:38 AM Tuesday, October 23, 2012, the Greenville Fire Depertmentwas dispatched to the intersection of Sater St. and Gray Ave. on areport of smoke coming from a residential structure.  Whenunitsarrived at 8:42 AM, they discovered a 1-1/2 story wood frame dwellinginvolved in fire.  A smoke detector activated and alerted theeight occupants of the fire and all evactuated the structure beforearrival of the fire department.  Several rooms in the rear ofthestructure were heavily... read more. Politico… Presidentialdebate: Sharp reaction to Obama's 'bayonets',By KatieGlueck 10/22/12 - President Barack Obama sparked an onslaught of Twittercommentary, Google searches and fact-checking when he referenced“horses and bayonets” in Monday night’s third and final presidentialdebate. “Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets,because the nature of our military has changed,” Obama said, after Gov.Mitt Romney jabbed the president for, he said, overseeing a Navy thatis smaller than at... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Ralliesbuild buzz; dothey win races? by John Johnston Pundits say visits critical to excite supporters, entice media - Oct19, 2012 - In Ohio this autumn, the presidential candidates and theirrunning mates are like pumpkins. They’re everywhere. Since June 1,President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have visited 24times; Mitt Romney and Rep. Paul Ryan have dropped in 39 times. They’vecovered the state from A(kron) to Z(anesville) in search of Ohio’s 18precious electoral votes that make us a key swing state. But domultiple personal... read more. Thumbtack… Gascosts,tight lending weigh heavily on entrepreneurs Ohiosmallbusinesses rate economy, ethics in government as most importantelection issues- "I have good credit, but I am unable to get a loan for a housebecause I am unable to save enough for a downpayment. This has held meback in growing my business. I am barely able to pay my bills everymonth, let alone save over $10,000 to be able to obtain a housing loan.I still have outstanding student loan debt, and I will... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Collegedebt for Ohio graduates ranks No. 7 nationally by Laura Englehart - October 18, 2012 - The average student loan debtfor 2011 graduates increased more than 5 percent from the previousyear. Students who borrowed for college and graduated with a bachelor’sdegree this past year had average debts of $26,600, up from $25,250 in2010, newly released data from The Institute for College Access andSuccess shows. More than two-thirds of students graduated with debt in2011. The... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Report:Iran behind cyberattacks on big banks Monday, October 15, 2012 - A series of cyberattacks on big banks inrecent weeks is part of a growing cyber ware between Iran and the U.S.,according to a report in the New York Times citing Americanintelligence officials. Iran created a cyber unit as part of itsmilitary in 2011 that American officials believe is behind the attackson at least six American banks and the oil industry in Saudi Arabiarecently, the Times' report said. The Web sites of banking giants PNCFinancial Services Group... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… U.S.manufacturing effort targets military veterans,by JoeCogliano Monday, October 15, 2012 - A new national effort is being launched totrain military vets for jobs in advanced manufacturing. TheManufacturing Institute announced it has formed a coalition withGeneral Electric, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Alcoa and other partners tobolster the talent pipeline and enhance American competitiveness. Amongits goals, the Get Skills to Work coalition will focus on acceleratingskills training for U.S. veterans; helping veterans and employerstranslate... read more. ColumbusDispatch… GrandLakeSt. Marys: Treatment for algae hit, miss, BySpencer Hunt October 15, 2012 - A two-year, $8.5 million state project to stop toxicblue-green algae in Grand Lake St. Marys isn’t working. In April, the13,000-acre lake in western Ohio was sprayed with aluminum sulfate, acompound that is supposed to keep the algae from feeding on phosphorusin the water.  It cost $5 million. A similar “alum” treatmentwascredited for keeping algae levels relatively low in 2011. That cost$3.5 million. But this year’s treatment was spoiled by winds thathelped stir phosphorus... read more. OECFinds Issue2 Primary Message False COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party executive director Matt Borges saidthe group supporting issue 2, Voters First, was hoisted by their ownpetard today following the Ohio Elections Commissions unanimousdecision found probable cause the group made false statements on theirwebsite."The elections commission dismissed all of Voters Firsts frivolouscomplaints against the Ohio Republican Party, but found probable causewith their cornerstone message that 'Politicians, lobbyists, and... read more. Darke County Republican Party… PersonalTouch for Calling GREENVILLE – The Darke County Republican Party has added a personaltouch to those calls you get asking for your support. Since February ofthis year, Darke County residents and elected officials have beenmaking phone calls on behalf of the Ohio Republican Party. This pastSaturday, Representative Jim Buchy (R-84), Representative Richard N.Adams (R-80) and Darke County Commissioner Mike Stegall spent theirSaturday... read more. WheelingNews Register… MinersAsk President Obama To Stop the ‘Absolute Lies’ By Casey Junkins - October 13, 2012 - BEALLSVILLE - Coal miners at theAmerican Energy Corp. Century Mine said they want President BarackObama to stop what they term "the war on coal" - and to stop spreading"mistruths" about them. Miners gathered Friday afternoon to expresstheir opposition to Obama's energy and environmental policies, whichthey believe threaten their jobs. Miner Mitch Miracle read aloud aletter the miners mailed to Obama that outlines some of theirconcerns... read more. Courier-Journal… 2012Presidential Debate: Fact-checking Tuesday night's melee Written by Calvin Woodward & Tom Raum, Associated Press - Oct17,2012 - Mitt Romney wrongly claimed that it took 14 days for PresidentBarack Obama to brand the assault on the U.S. Consulate in Libya aterrorist act. Obama yet again claimed that ending the Afghanistan andIraq wars makes money available to "rebuild America," even though itdoesn't. A look at some of their claims: OBAMA: The day after lastmonth's attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, "I stood inthe Rose... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… RobberySuspect Apprehended On October 16, 2012 at approximately 2:07 P.M. Darke County SheriffsOffice received a call about a female that had assaulted and stolen anelderly males money at his home.  Darke County Deputieslocatedthe vehicle the suspect was in and made a traffic stop on the vehicleon US 36 near Crumrine Rd. The investigation revealed that Julie A.Cockrell, 46, of New Madison entered the home of an elderlyacquaintance on Hollansburg Tampico Rd.  Ms. Cockrell askedthevictim for money and... read more. Fox News… Aggressivesecond presidential debate leaves analysts split on who won October 17, 2012 - Americans on Tuesday night saw a more aggressivePresident Obama in his second debate with Mitt Romney, as politicalanalysts appeared split on a clear winner after predominantly givingRomney the edge in the first debate. “I think it’s a split decision,”Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, a Fox News contributor, said afterTuesday's town hall-style debate at Hofstra... read more. Policymic.com… WomenHelp Romney Jump Ahead of Obama in Swing States,By Alex Marin On the eve of the CNN/Hofstra University Town Hall Presidential Debate,Republican challenger Mitt Romney has jumped ahead of President Obamain the crucial swing states, according to the latest USA Today/Galluppoll. Romney now leads Obama by four percentage points among likelyvoters in the states that will decide the election. Oddly enough, it'sfemale voters who are giving Romney his new edge. The... read more. Aerospace ProfessionalDevelopment Centeropens Newcenter willhelp match workers and employers in the aerospace industry- COLUMBUS – State Senators Chris Widener (R- Springfield), PeggyLehner (R- Kettering) and Bill Beagle (R- Tipp City) today joinedWright State University officials and representatives from Ohio’saerospace industry at the opening of a new center designed to helpmatch workers with job openings and educational developmentopportunities in the aerospace and defense industries. “Ohio’saerospace industry has a large number of opportunities available, andthis center will ensure that workers have the skills and training thatare in demand by... read more. GovernorJohn Kasich… SupremeCourt applicants sought COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich announced that from Oct. 15 toNov. 16 he will accept applications from attorneys who would like to beconsidered for appointment to the Supreme Court of Ohio to replaceJustice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton. Justice Stratton announced on May 22that she would retire at the end of the year before her term expires in2014.  The application and additional information will beavailable at http://governor.ohio.gov/supremecourt starting at 9 a.m.on Monday... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Smallmanufacturers bucking outsourcingtrend Monday, October 8, 2012 - Small manufacturers in the U.S. increasinglyare bucking the trend of outsourcing jobs to China and other developingcountries globally, opting instead to build products they can stampwith the "Made in the U.S.A" label on them, according to an Inc.comreport. The reason many smaller manufacturers are reversing the coursemany of their peers took during the past three-decades is because theyfind their customers increasingly are asking for a level of quality ofprecision... read more. StateSenator Bill Beagle... BeagleAnnounces October as Ohio Manufacturing Month COLUMBUS–State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) announced today that October2012 will be known as Ohio Manufacturing Month. “Ohio Manufacturingcontinues to make a strong comeback, but a lot of folks don’tappreciate the nature of what goes on in a manufacturing shop today,”Beagle said. “Ohio Manufacturing Month is a great opportunity to showthe community how advanced, technical, and precise the modern world ofmanufacturing has become... read more. OhioSecretary Jon Husted... Hustedto appeal Federal Court decision to U.S. Supreme Court Pledgesthatwhatever the outcome, voting hours will be uniform statewide- COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced that he willask the U.S. Supreme Court to make the final determination on whetherthe General Assembly of the State of Ohio or the federal courts shouldset Ohio election laws. Husted will be appealing the Friday decision bythe Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Obama v. Husted. Regarding thisdecision, all of the... read more. JudgeSharon Kennedy... Kennedyseeksseat on the State’s highest court. JudgeSharon L. Kennedy was sworn in for her third term as Judge of theButler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, in2010. First elected in November 1998, Kennedy has served asAdministrative Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic RelationsDivision since 2005.As Administrative Judge, Kennedy has improved thecourt’s case management system to ensure the timely resolution of casesfor families and children. Beginning her legal... read more. ColumbusBusiness First… Kasich:Businesses should embrace natural gas vehicles,by JeffBell Tuesday,October 9, 2012 - With Ohio sitting atop the potentially lucrativeUtica shale play, Gov. John Kasich is using his bully pulpit to pushbusinesses to spark the use of natural gas vehicles in the state. “Thestate can do what we can to jump-start this with vehicles in ourfleets,” he said Tuesday during a natural gas vehicle summit at OhioState University, “but it’s going to be the business leaders. (They)have to show this is something they... read more. StateSenator Keith Faber… Video:Faber Discusses Ohio’sOngoing Economic Recovery COLUMBUS– State Senator Keith Faber (R–Munson Township) issued a filmedstatement regarding Ohio’s continued economic recovery. The video canbe viewed through the Ohio Channel. In the video, Senator Faber reviewsthe progress that the 129th General Assembly has made in putting Ohioon the right economic path. Some of these accomplishments includeseeing the state’s credit rating improved, the closing of an $8 billionbudget deficit, and making strides toward careful regulatory... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, October 13, 2012 - The math is pretty simple: The Big Threeare Florida, Ohio and Virginia. It is virtually impossible for MittRomney to win the White House without winning at least two of thethree, and right now he’s ahead by two in Virginia and has widened hislead in Florida to four. If Romney wins all three states, he is likelyto win the election. President Obama can keep his job if he wins twoout of the three, and the president is still holding on in Ohio wherehe... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… One-vehiclerollover on South 127 On October 12, 2012 at approximately 8:37 PM Darke County Deputiesalong with New Madison Fire, and Tri-Village Rescue, responded to the3100 block of US RT 127 on a report of a one vehicle roll-over crashwith a utility pole knocked down. Preliminary investigation revealed agreen 1994 Dodge Ram truck, driven by 39 year old Bryon L. Shannon,Greenville, Ohio swerved to miss hitting a deer on the roadway causingthe vehicle to travel off the right side of the road then back ontothe... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Biden,Ryanquarrel on just about everything DANVILLE, KY. — If the presidential debate last week felt like a wonkyclassroom lecture, the vice presidential debate Thursday night moreclosely resembled a playground quarrel. Vice President Joe Bidenattacked U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan from the start and was far more aggressivethan President Barack Obama was in his first debate with Mitt Romneyone week ago. The approach drew a strong response from Ryan, whosparred with Biden in a lively and sometimes animated conversation... read more. TheExaminer… Battlegroundpolls2012, Romney is leading Obama in Ohio and Florida By Sahit Muja - The race between President Barack Obama and Republicanpresidential nominee Mitt Romney remains tight in the battleground ofOhio. According to Gravis Marketing new poll of 1,594 Ohio voters whoindicated that they were registered to vote in the upcomingpresidential election finds that the Obama vs. Romney race is veryclose. Among all of the likely voters, 1,313 of the poll'sparticipants, Romney is leading with 45.9 percent of the people sayingthat they'd vote for him, compared... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… DBJnamesManufacturing Awards winners Versailles’MidmarkCorporation wins for Workforce Training - Friday,October 12, 2012 - The Dayton Business Journal named the winners in itsfirst-ever Manufacturing Awards at an event Thursday evening. A packedhouse filled the Dayton Masonic Center on Thursday for the first DaytonBusiness Journal Manufacturing Awards. Seven winners were named acrossa variety of categories, including workforce training, exporting and... read more. AttorneyMike General DeWine… ThreeChildPornography Arrests in Geauga County (GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine todayannounced the arrests of three men wanted in connection with twoseparate alleged child pornography possession and dissemination cases.A Geauga County grand jury indicted Matthew Logrande, Clayton McCoy,and David McKibben late yesterday afternoon.  Warrants fortheirarrests were issued today.  Logrande is the focus of oneinvestigation, while McKibben and McCoy, who... read more. TheHill… SesameStreet asks Obamacampaign to take down attack ad featuring Big Bird By Daniel Strauss10/09/12Sesame Street has asked President Obama's campaign to take down itslatest attack ad against Mitt Romney, which features footage of BigBird."Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do notendorse candidates or participate in political campaigns," a Tuesdaystatement on Sesameworkshop.org reads. "We have approved no campaignads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad betaken down."The Obama campaign... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine ...ConvictedChild Rapist gets double life sentence (CHILLICOTHE, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat a Washington Court House man has been sentenced to two lifesentences following his conviction on a total of nine charges of Rape,Gross Sexual Imposition, and Felonious Sexual Penetration.Visiting Judge William Corzine sentenced Gary Freeland to twoconsecutive life sentences plus two years Friday afternoon. A RossCounty jury found him guilty... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… Ohio'sU.S. Senate race draws millions in outside money; will it work? By Stephen Koff - Saturday, October 06, 2012 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -There's a lot you can do with $19 million. Some shrewd people inpolitics and business thought the best use for the money was to tellOhioans what kind of lawmaker they have in first-term U.S. Sen. SherrodBrown. The $19 million –- the amount that outside groups spent on TVand radio ads slamming the Democrat from 2011 through the end ofSeptember -- came from conservative super PACs and other third-partygroups... read more. ToledoBlade… Romneyset to rip rivalon security across globe WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney is intensifying his efforts to draw a sharpcontrast with President Obama on national security in the campaign’sclosing stages, portraying Mr. Obama as mishandling the tumult in theArab world and leaving the nation exposed to a terrorist attack inLibya. In a speech today at the Virginia Military Institute, Mr. Romneywill declare “hope is not a strategy” for dealing with the rise ofIslamist governments in the Mideast or an Iran racing toward thecapability to build a nuclear... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Close as the presidential race has been for months, it doesn’t takemuch to make a difference, and Mitt Romney’s debate win this past weekappears to have impacted the numbers in the Key Three Swing States –Florida, Ohio and Virginia. It’s too early to say what impact Friday’sgovernment jobs report will have. New Rasmussen Reports polling takenafter the debate finds Romney up two in Florida, up one in Virginia anddown one in Ohio. It is virtually impossible for Romney to win theWhite House... read more. Horner gets recognition fromPhil-Am PressClub San Francisco, California:  A press release from thePhilippineAmerican Press Club, USA confirmed that a local aspiring writer,Elizabeth Horner, was one of the finalists and was accorded honorablemention in the Youth Voice 16-24 years of age category, during theirOctober 4, 2012 Plaridel Awards Night honoring “outstanding journalistsin the Filipino-American milieu”. Nominations came from publishers ofmajor media outlets from... read more. JusticeRobert Cupp… Cuppseeksre-election to the Ohio Supreme Court Justice Robert Cupp is seeking re-election to Ohio’s highestcourt.  Robert Cupp has served as a justice on the SupremeCourtof Ohio since January, 2007. Much of Justice Cupp’s 30-year legalcareer has been committed to effective public service. Prior to hiselection to the Supreme Court, he served as a judge on the 3rd DistrictCourt of Appeals; as a State Senator for 16 years, including two termsas the President Pro Tem, the Senate’s 2nd highest leader... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… MorethanNine Tons of Prescription Pills Collected in Ohio (COLUMBUS, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announcedthat Ohioans returned more than 9 tons (18,721 pounds) of unneededprescription drugs on Saturday, during the Drug EnforcementAdministration's (DEA) fifth national Prescription Drug Take Back Day.The Ohio Attorney General's Office partners with the DEA and otherlocal law enforcement agencies to warn residents about what can happenwhen pills are taken by those who do not... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… Arrestof indicted Craigslist Scammer (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Morrow CountyProsecutor Charles Howland announced today the indictment and arrest ofalleged Craigslist scammer Nicholis Corey Garner. The indictmentalleges that Garner is a member of a larger group that has usedpostings of cars, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles for sale onCraigslist to steal tens of thousands of dollars from victims acrossthe country. "The indictment and arrest of Nicholis Corey Garner sendsa... read more. Upstart Business Journal… Unemploymentdrops to lowest level since 2009, by KentBernhard, Jr October 5, 2012 - The second-to-last monthly jobs report before theNovember elections contained a bit of good news for President BarackObama—and the American economy—as employers added more jobs thanexpected and the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level sinceJanuary 2009. The September unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent from8.1 percent, and employers added... read more. CongressmanJohn Boehner… Unemploymentreport: Positive but far too slow Also: Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett - September Report:7.8 percent - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-WestChester) released the following statement today regarding theDepartment of Labor’s unemployment report for September 2012: “Whilethere is positive news in today’s report, job creation is far too slowand the unemployment rate is far too high. Administration officialssaid unemployment would... read more. CourtNews Ohio… JuvenileCourtmay grant temporary child visitation rights to a nonparent duringlitigation of custody suit,By Dennis Whalen - September 26, 2012 - The Supreme Court of Ohio ruledtoday that while a child custody proceeding is pending before ajuvenile court, the court may issue an order granting temporaryvisitation with the child by a nonparent under Ohio Juvenile Rule13(B)(1), where the court finds that the visitation is in the bestinterest of the child. The court’s 5-2 decision, authored by JusticeEvelyn Lundberg Stratton, reversed a ruling in which the Tenth DistrictCourt... read more. The Denver Post… Transcript:Firstpresidential debate,Obama vs. Romney 10/04/2012 - What follows is a complete transcript of Wednesday night'sdebate between President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and Republicanchallenger Mitt Romney: JIM LEHRER: Good evening from the Magness Arenaat the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. I'm Jim Lehrer of the"PBS NewsHour," and I welcome you to the first of the 2012 presidentialdebates... read more. Bloomberg…Ohio Voters Disapprove AllAds as Campaigns Take Over TV, By Mark Niquette Oct 3, 2012 - As “Access Hollywood” plays in Pamela Wilson’s livingroom,a commercial featuring a crying girl in a stroller appears and aworried voice says,“The future is getting worse under Obama.” Wilson pulls up a casinogame on her laptop.Looking up, Wilson, a 64-year-old retired postal worker who lives inReynoldsburg, Ohio,a Columbus suburb, said she would rather play games, check e-mail orread a book than watchanother presidential campaign spot. “It just really gets frustratingbecause... read more. TheHill... Senatehinges on NewEngland, By Alexander Bolton 09/28/12 - The battle for control of the Senate could come down to NewEngland, a region wherethe GOP brand was seen as defunct a few years ago. A best-case scenariofor Republicans would allowthe party to retain Senate seats in Massachusetts and Maine whilepicking up a seat in Connecticut.Coupled with gains in other parts of the county, it would likely beenough to make Sen. MitchMcConnell (R-Ky.) the majority leader. But to do so, the GOP will haveto beat history. No Republicanhas.... read more. RomneyBusVisits Greenville, Lyn Bliss, Assistant Editor The Romney “Commit to Mitt” bus was in Greenville recently to helppromote the Romney/Ryan campaign. The bus was inthe area of the Darke County Board of Elections and was here toemphasize voting early and helping get out the vote.Pictured are just a few of the folks who kept the bus busy for the hourit was in Greenville. Following visiting the bus,a number of the attendees visited the Darke County RepublicanHeadquarters, located at.... read more. Washington Post… Romneygoes onoffense, forcing Obama to defend record ByDan Balz and Amy Gardner - October 3 - DENVER — An energetic MittRomney launched a series of attacks against President Obama hereWednesday night, calling into question the president’s record on theeconomy, health care and the deficit, and arguing that he would takethe country in a fundamentally different direction. Obama sought toparry Romney’s criticisms, charging that his presidential rival favorsa... read more. AG DeWine, County Prosecutor… HumanTrafficking Indictment announced (DELAWARE, Ohio) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and DelawareCounty Prosecutor Carol O'Brien announced today the arrestand multi-count indictment of a man accused of coercing several womento prostitute themselves in both Delaware and Franklincounties. Members of a Delaware County grand jury indicted David Nelms,of Columbus, on 17 charges, including: Engaging in a Patternof Corrupt Activity with a Human Trafficking Specification... read more. OhioTreasurer Josh Mandel… InteractiveOnline Maps AllowOhioans to Search State Properties and Buildings- COLUMBUS - Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel has launched new interactiveonline mapping tools at www.OhioTreasurer.gov to allow Ohioans to viewand search state properties and buildings.  The new toolsleveragestatewide imaging and mapping software, and make detailed informationabout state owned properties and buildings available to all Ohioans."We have digitized our state properties database so that for the firsttime Ohioans can view online images... read more. DaytonDaily News… Ohiopublic pay called too generous, By JoshSweigart State employees in Ohio receive $9.89 per hour more in wages andbenefits than their private-sector counterparts, according to a reportreleased Thursday by a conservative watchdog group. This disparity islarger than in 44 other states, according to the report from WashingtonD.C.-based Citizens Against Government Waste. It gives Ohio the gradeof “F” compared to other states. A major driver of this difference,according to report authors, is generous public sector pensions:“Taxpayers in every... read more. Darke County Democrats… DemocraticParty Headquarters open The Darke County Democratic Headquarters has recently opened. It islocated at 124 West Fourth St. The phone number is 937-316-6166 and thehours are 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. All signs, buttons etc. are free to interestedmembers of the public. Democratic Candidates for public office includePresident Barack Obama/Vice President Joe... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Nearly65K Ohioans eligible for mortgage settlement funds by Olivia Barrow - Monday, September 24, 2012 - Thousands of Ohioresidents who lost their homes to foreclosure in the past three yearsmay be eligible for payment from a national mortgage bank settlement.Under the $25 billion National Mortgage Foreclosure settlement, 64,428Ohio borrowers who lost their home to foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2008,and Dec. 31, 2011, will soon receive claim forms... read more. MidmarkCorporation… Rothstein,V.P. andG.M. Medical Division, to retire MikeWalker andMatt Bourne Assume New Leadership Roles- VERSAILLES, Ohio – (October 1, 2012) – Midmark Corporation todayannounced the retirement of Joe Rothstein, vice president and generalmanager, medical division at the end of 2012. “Joe has done atremendous job of leading our medical division through successivegrowth during his years here at Midmark Corporation,” said presidentand CEO Dr. Anne Eiting Klamar. “He embodies our Midmark brand traits –genuine, expert, inspired... read more. OhioRepublican Women Electors… Majorityare Ohio Federation of Republican Women (OFRW) Members In accordance with section 3513.111 of the Ohio Revised Code, themembers of the Republican State Central and Executive Committee of Ohio(RSCECO), have, in the absence of a State Convention, the duty andauthority to nominate candidates for Presidential Electors. Theresolution was unanimously adopted by the RSCECO at a meeting held inColumbus on September 21, 2012. The RSCECO submited the names of thefollowing persons to be elected as Presidential Electors at the... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, September 29, 2012 - The presidential race remainscompetitive even though voters still trust Mitt Romney slightly morethan President Obama when it comes to handling economic matters. WillWednesday night’s first presidential debate make a difference? With arace this close, possibly but not likely, Scott Rasmussen argues in hislatest weekly syndicated column. “Events in the real world matter morethan debates,” Scott writes. “Only in the absence of other news could aslight change... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Fatalityin multiple vehicle injury accident On October 2, 2012 at approximately 7:05 AM Darke County Deputiesalong, with Arcanum Fire, Arcanum Rescue and Pitsburg Fire weredispatched to State Route 49 north of Oakes Road in reference to amultiple vehicle, injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed agreen 1998 Ford contour driven by, Tyler J. Kuhn, 19, Greenville, wastraveling northbound on State Route 49 north of Oakes Road. Kuhn's vehicle traveled across the centerline... read more. LimaNews…Teacherevaluations coming,much work to prepare, implement, By Beth L.Jokinen ELIDA — While the coming teacher evaluation system is state mandated,much of the work will be done at the local level, with decisions neededto be made by next summer. About 40 area school officials, includingboard members and superintendents, attended a training on the systemThursday. Held at Elida High School, the Allen County EducationalService Center did the training. “The landscape is changing, to say thevery least,” said county Superintendent Brian Rockhold. “When talkingabout... read more. ZanesvilleTimes Recorder… Welfarerollsshrinking because of work rules, by BenjaminLanka Sep 28, 2012 - Despite campaign claims that work rules for welfare havebeen gutted, thousands of Ohioans have left the program's rolls largelybecause of those rules. An analysis by The Dayton Daily News found theNo. 1 reason people went off welfare is because officials are taking aharder stance on requiring people to perform work activities asrequired under law. That includes work, community service or jobtraining for at least 30 hours per week. In Muskingum County, the dropin welfare... read more. AttorneyGeneral DeWine… BorrowersWho Lost Homes to Foreclosure May Be Eligible for Benefit (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said today thatclaim forms are going out to 64,428 Ohio borrowers who lost their hometo foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011 and whomay be eligible for payment under the $25 billion National MortgageForeclosure settlement. Eligible borrowers had mortgages withAlly/GMAC, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, thenation's five largest mortgage servicers who agreed to the... read more. WeeklyRepublican Address… VernonParker (AZ) on Jobs & Restoring the American Dream WASHINGTON, DC – Delivering the Weekly Republican Address,congressional candidate Vernon Parker (R-AZ) highlights his experiencegrowing up in a tough neighborhood with guns, gangs and violence, andcalls for common-sense solutions to help create jobs and restore theAmerican Dream so others will have the opportunity he had to work hardand build a brighter future.  Parker, who is seeking torepresentthe people of the Phoenix area’s new Ninth Congressional District, alsonotes... read more. Representative Jim Buchy… BuchyNamed “Watchdog of the Treasury” Award honors fiscal discipline, responsible spending of tax dollars -COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville.) was recentlyhonored at the “Watchdog of the Treasury” award ceremony, hosted by theUnited Conservatives of Ohio. The award recognizes key legislators orpolicymakers who strive to restore responsible limited government,lower taxes, free enterprise and regulatory... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… BCImakes 10,000th criminal DNA match (LONDON, Ohio) – Today Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced thatscientists with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) madetheir 10,000th DNA match, linking a suspected criminal to the scene ofa crime. The DNA profile connected a suspect to a Columbus burglarycase. Experts at BCI have been adding DNA profiles to the nationalCombined DNA Index System (CODIS) since 2001.  The... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Authordigsinto politicized relationship between president, high-courtconservatives,By Jack Torry - September 23, 2012 - WASHINGTON — When the U.S. SupremeCourt last spring upheld the key feature of the 2010 health-care law,stunned legal conservatives turned their fury on Chief Justice JohnRoberts, who provided the pivotal fifth vote to keep most of the lawintact. How could a conservative chief justice betray conservatives andRepublicans by upholding the key legislative achievement of PresidentBarack Obama? Jeffrey Toobin, CNN analyst and... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Biotechjobs booming in Ohio, by Laura Englehart Thursday, September 20, 2012 - Ohio has added 8,500 bioscience-relatedjobs in a little more than a decade, according to a new report. Therewere 1,491 jobs created or retained in the Dayton region in just thepast four years alone, leading to a huge surge in local biotechemployment at hundreds of companies in the region. Among the largestnew projects in the region is the new Abbott Laboratories... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Majorityapprove of Kasich's job performance, Paul E.Kostyu Sep. 24, 2012 - COLUMBUS — A majority of Ohio likely voters approve ofthe job Gov. John R. Kasich is doing, according to a new Enquirer/OhioNewspaper Organization poll. His 52 percent rating is 3 points betterthan the percentage of Ohioans who voted for him in 2010. It’s thefirst time any poll has put his number above the 50 percent mark. InJuly 2011, it was 35 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll. At least30 percent of Ohio Democrats approve of the job he is doing, the pollshowed... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Two-vehicleaccident near Arcanum, one CareFlighted Arcanum - On September 28, 2012 at approximately 11:44 a.m. DarkeCounty Deputies, along with Arcanum Fire, Arcanum Rescue and BradfordRescue were dispatched to Hogpath Rd. at Arcanum Bears Mill Rd. inreference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigationshowed that a 1993 Buick, operated by Heather L. Brown (40) ofHollansburg, was eastbound on Hogpath Rd. and had stopped at the fourway stop at Arcanum Bears Mill Rd.  Brown’s vehicle thenstartedto pull... read more. P4P, GHS Career Tech… NewTraining Program Launched Businesses, government, and education team up to address skills gap inlocal workforce - DARKE COUNTY- After months of planning, the firststage of Partnering for Progress’s (P4P) workforce developmentinitiative has been launched with the recent issuance of a trainingcurriculum designed, in conjunction with the area’s businesses, toaddress the oft-spoke of skills gap in... read more. Rasmussen…What They Told Us: Reviewing LastWeek’sKey Polls Saturday, September 22, 2012 - 35% Say U.S. Heading in Right Direction- Generic Congressional Ballot: Republicans 44%, Democrats 43% -Senate Balance of Power: Dems 48 GOP 45 Toss-Ups 7 - 40% BelieveEconomy is Getting Better: Seven Year High - Mitt Romney’s newly airedcommentthat 47% of Americans are dependent on the government and locked in tovote for President Obama has prompted debate all week. Scott Rasmussenargues in his latest newspaper column... read more. EdisonCommunity College…Governor’sReps visit for Tour, Workforce Collaborations Edison Community College hosted Rich Frederick, Director of theGovernor’s Office of Workforce Transformation on Tuesday for adiscussion on collaborativeefforts between secondary, post-secondary and local industry partners.The meeting included a tour of Edison’s facilities and provided ashowcase ofexamples of local partnerships and curriculum development that has beenstrategically designed to create post-secondary ... read more. State Representative Richard Adams… Adams named “Watchdog of theTreasury” Award honors fiscal discipline, responsible spending of tax dollars -COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-Troy) recentlywas honored at the “Watchdog of the Treasury” award ceremony, hosted bythe United Conservatives of Ohio. The award recognizes keylegislators or policymakers who strive to restore responsible limitedgovernment, lower taxes, free enterprise and regulatory relief,and personal freedom. .. read more. OhioGov. John Kasich… Sen.Beagle to serve on Executive Workforce Board COLUMBUS - Gov. John R. Kasich today announced the members of theGovernor's Executive Workforce Board, taking another significant stepto reform Ohio's broken workforce development system. A policy prioritysince running for office, Gov. Kasich firmly believes that Ohio'seconomic future is dependent upon a strong workforce and continues tochampion reforms that will help Ohioans get the training they need toget back to work. In February 2012, Gov. Kasich created theGovernor's... read more. EconomicDevelopment Office… MidmarkExpands Support ofEconomic Development  Faith in county’s P4P initiative leads to increased participation -VERSAILLES-  Midmark Corporation has announced that it willsignificantly increase its contribution to Partnering for Progress(P4P), Darke County’s collaborative economic development initiative,beginning in 2013. The $10,000 annual contribution, which represents asubstantial increase from the company’s initial $1,000 annual level ofparticipation, will be reviewed again at the end of next year. “Theincrease represents... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… HelpingFoster Youth with CreditReport Errors (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Attorney General Mike DeWine recently sent lettersto the state's public children services agencies offering help inmeeting a new federal mandate requiring youth at least 16 years old andwithin the foster system to have their credit checked. The mandate alsorequires the clearance of any errors found on their credit report."Unfortunately, foster youth can be especially vulnerable to becomingvictims... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Bigbankstocks likely to benefit from Fed move Monday, September 17, 2012 - Big banks such as Citigroup and JPMorganChase will likely see stock gains after decisions from The Fed andEuropean Central Bank, according to the Wall Street Journal. Largerfinancial institutions have been saddled in a waiting game, but movessuch as The Fed buying $40 billion in mortgage securities per monthshould cycle more dollars through the big banks. That decision mayprompt more businesses to seek loans, and more consumers to refinancehome loans... read more. Secretaryof State Jon Husted…Morethan484,000 Absentee Ballot Applications so far  Columbus – Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced thatasof Friday, September 14, an estimated 484,000 absentee ballotapplications had been received by county boards of elections statewide.This includes more than 475,600 non-military and more than 8,600military and overseas voter absentee ballot requests. Military andoverseas ballots will be mailed out beginning later this week onSaturday, September 22, 2012, and ballots... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle… Beaglehonored as Watchdog of the Treasury COLUMBUS– State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) was recognized thisweek as a “Watchdog of the Treasury” for his commitment to fiscaldiscipline during the 129th General Assembly. “It is important forelected officials to remember that the money they are entrusted tooversee belongs to the people who elected them,” said Beagle. “Everyhard-earned tax dollar must be carefully handled so that we can ensurea stable state government that serves the... read more. ChristianScience Monitor… Whoare the 47 percent? 5 jobs held by people who pay no income tax. In a secret video, Mitt Romney said 47 percent of Americans don't payfederal income taxes – and he was right. Half of that 47 percent don’towe anything because they can claim deductions. But the other half areworkers who hold jobs that don't pay enough for them to owe incometaxes to Uncle Sam (though federal payroll taxes for Medicare andSocial Security get deducted from their paychecks), according toRoberton Williams, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center... read more. DBJ Poll: Economytop factorleading into presidential election, by LauraEnglehart Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - More than half of respondents to a DBJpoll said their greatest concern heading into the presidential electionis the economy. With the presidential election fewer than 50 days away,the most prevalent concern in the Dayton region is the economy,according to a Dayton Business Journal online poll. More than half of213 poll respondents said their “greatest concern heading... read more. AkronBeacon Journal… RomneyandObama embrace coal industry, By Sean Cockerham September 17, 2012 - WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney and President Barack Obamahave wholeheartedly embraced coal on the campaign trail, despite paststatements from Romney and Vice President Joe Biden that pollution fromcoal-fired power plants kills people. Coal has become a major issue inthe presidential campaign, in part because the coal state of Ohio isamong a handful of states that are expected to decide the election.Romney is telling voters that Obama is “waging war on... read more. Representative Richard Adams… ReformsBolster, Stabilize Retirement Systems COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-Troy) has announced thatthe Ohio House of Representatives today took a significant step towardresponsible pension reform with the bipartisan passage of a series oflegislation aiming to improve the solvency of the five state retirementsystems. Senate Bills 340, 341, 342, 343, and 345 make sweeping reformsto the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Rash of Daytime Burglaries inCounty Neighborsasked to be vigilant,take safeguards for property - TheDarke County Sheriff’s Office has responded to a rash of burglaries andmotor vehicle break-ins which have occurred throughout Darke Countyduring daytime hours.  Darke County Sheriff’s Deputiescontinue tobe vigilant in patrols; however we need the assistance of our localcitizens. Darke County Sheriff Toby L. Spencer requests citizens... read more. ToledoBlade… Partiesplayfootball with Ohio’s gains - Dems, GOP each claim credit claim credit By Tom Troy - It’s a standard part of Gov. John Kasich’s politicalstump speeches these days: “Ohio’s on a comeback now.” Mr. Kasich bragsabout thestate’s growing rainy-day fund and its rapid gains in job creation. Buthe never mentions his Democratic predecessor, Ted Strickland, or theDemocraticPresident in the White House. “We went from 48th in job creation in thenation to fourth and first in the Midwest. Ohio’s rockin’ it,” Mr.Kasich told aRepublican audience in the rural Cincinnati... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… 250Marijuana plants trafficking operation shut down On September 20, 2012 at approximately 1:39 AM Darke County Sheriff’sDeputies responded to 3938 Red River West Grove Road to investigate atip receivedearlier in the evening on suspicious drug activity. Deputies arrivedand observed from the road what appeared to be numerous marijuanaplants growing inthe yard. Deputies approached the property on foot to investigatefurther when they were met by the resident armed with a shotgun.... read more. Gov. John Kasich launches budgetcollaboration among colleges and universities By Reginald Fields - Tuesday,September 11, 2012 - COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Facing ever-rising tuitioncosts, a slow-growing economy and conservative budgeting, Gov. JohnKasich onTuesday asked the state's college and university presidents to help himrewrite Ohio's higher education funding formula. They've offeredsimilar help before.Last year the Republican governor asked Ohio State University PresidentE. Gordon Gee to.... read more. The Hill… Romneycampaign dealswith fallout from '47 percent dependent' leaked video ByJustin Sink - 09/18/12 - Mitt Romney’s campaign dealt with a newdistraction Tuesday after an undercover video surfaced of him telling agroup of fundraisers that“47 percent” of voters are “dependent on government.” The video, postedby liberal magazine Mother Jones, was taken on May 17 at a fundraiserhosted byMarc Leder, co-CEO of the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners Inc.It shows the GOP presidential nominee telling the small group.... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, September 15, 2012 - The presidential race definitely had itsups and downs this past week. At the start of the week, President Obamacoming off a successful national convention had bounced ahead of hisRepublican challenger Mitt Romney. By week’s end, the bounce was gone,and the race looked like the conventions had never happened in thedaily Presidential Tracking Poll. Likely to complicate the picture wasthe killing of the first U.S. ambassador overseas since 1979... read more. Court News Ohio… OhioTeachers Receive Constitutional Lesson, ByBret Crow September 12, 2012 - Ohio teachers learned more about the threebranches of government and how to teach them to their students onTuesday and today at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center and OhioStatehouse. The teachers were participating in the annual OhioGovernment in Action program sponsored by the Ohio Center forLaw-Related Education. The two-day seminar devoted to... read more. Republican Mens Club… KasichLiaison Sandra Brassington speaks to GOP Men,by Lyn Bliss "I've never seen a more principled man that understands what needs tobe done, and puts his head to it and gets it done." said SandraBrassington, Southwest Ohio Regional Liaison for Governor John R.Kasich as she spoke about the Governor and the job he has been doing.Brassington also discussed local revenue cuts and praised local officeholders on county, township and municipal... read more. City of Greenville… Garrisonappointed New Safety Service Director, By BobRobinson Greenville Mayor Mike Bowers announced the appointment of CurtGarrison, former Village Administrator for Arcanum as his new SafetyService Director, City of Greenville. Garrison will start his newposition October 1. “I am excited about serving the City ofGreenville,” Garrison said. “It is bittersweet leaving the Village ofArcanum.  I have been able to accomplish many items during mytenure because of the people... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Report:Medicare cuts to cost Ohio 31K jobs, by LauraEnglehart Thursday, September 13, 2012, 10:39am EDT - Ohio could lose more than31,000 jobs in the health care industry by 2021, with the 2 percentreduction of Medicare spending that starts in January, according tothree national health care associations. A report released by theAmerican Medical Association, American Hospital Association andAmerican Nurses Association shows that as many as 766,000 jobs could belost nationwide in about a decade. Ohio would be the sixth hardest-hitstate in the country... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… FinalArrest made in Telemarketing Land Scam Case (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat the last suspect in a multi-state telemarketing ring is now incustody. Deputies with the Howell County, Missouri, Sheriff's Officearrested Michael Sweigart last night.  Several anonymous tipstothe Attorney General's Office led officers to a home in West Plains,Missouri, where Sweigart went into custody without incident. Hehad been on the run for more than two... read more. Rasmussen… DailyPresidential Tracking Poll Saturday, September 15, 2012 - Virginia: Obama 49%, Romney 48% - OhioSenate: Brown (D) 49%, Mandel (R) 41% Just 29% Are Even Somewhat Confident Libya Will Punish Ambassador’sKillers. Sign up for free daily updates. The Rasmussen Reports dailyPresidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows Mitt Romney attractingsupport from 48% of voters nationwide, while President Obama earns 46%of the vote. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and fourpercent... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… NewProgramto Help Identity-Theft Victims Launched (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced anew statewide program designed to help victims of identity theft repairdamage to their credit reports and rectify other problems associatedwith identity theft. "The effects of identity theft can linger foryears, causing serious problems for the victim," Attorney GeneralDeWine said. "We've created this program to help individuals resolvethe damaging effects of identity theft... read more. TheHill… GOP,Dems trade blameon spending, then pass six-month resolution By Pete Kasperowicz - 09/13/12 - House Republicans and Democrats spentan hour blaming each other for Congress's failure to complete its workon 2013 spending bills this year, then held their noses and passed agiant, six-month continuing resolution that will keep the governmentrunning until late March. Members easily approved the spendingresolution early Thursday evening in a 329-91 vote that saw 70Republicans vote against it, along with 21 Democrats. Dozens ofRepublicans were... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Twovehicle injury crash near New Madison On September 16, 2012 at approximately 2:26 PM Darke County Deputiesalong with New Madison Fire Dept., Tri Village Rescue, and Careflightwere dispatched to the intersection of US Route 127 and State Route 503in reference to a two vehicle injury crash.  Preliminaryinvestigation revealed that a 2006 Chevy Malibu, driven by CarlaDetling, 37, of Arcanum,  was traveling northwest on SR 503,whenthe driver failed to yeild at a stop sign and was struck by a 2003Chevy Blazer, driven by... read more. State Senator Keith Faber… FaberHonored as a “Watchdog of the Treasury” COLUMBUS– Recognizing his commitment to low taxes, fiscal restraint andsmaller government, State Senator Keith Faber (R–Celina) was recentlynamed the “Watchdog of the Treasury” by the United Conservatives ofOhio. Having been granted this honor based on his fiscally responsiblevoting record during the 129th General Assembly, this award marksSenator Faber’s fifth General... read more. TheHill… Congresslooking atlast week of work before elections, By PeterSchroeder House and Senate lawmakers will be back in town next week for what willbe their last period of work before the campaign season enters itsfinal stretch, and they will spend their brief time on Capitol Hillattending to some loose ends. The highest-profile event next week willbe in the Senate, as lawmakers are expected to pass a six-monthcontinuing resolution that will keep the government funded until lateMarch. Despite 70 Republican defections, House members easily passedthe bill on... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… Copingwith a drug, mental health crisis? Cuyahoga County gets $1.8 million tohelp- By Sarah Jane Tribble - Friday, September 07, 2012 - CLEVELAND, Ohio— The Ohio Department of Mental Health announced Thursday that it willgive Cuyahoga County $1.8 million to create an alternative treatmentsolution for people suffering from a psychiatric episode or substanceabuse. The short-term option, proposed by Cleveland's biggest hospitalsand community providers, would move people out of emergency departmentsto a dedicated, 72-hour unit that is expected to provide... read more. SalemNews… Shaletied to 8,000new jobs, By Brenda J. Linert YOUNGSTOWN - More than 8,000 new jobs have been created in the lastyear with a direct link to the Utica Shale boom. And that's justa start, business officials said. Development of the Utica Shale,described by a top executive of Consol Energy as still in its "infancystages,"will mean jobs and probably lots of them. Harry Schurr, general managerof Utica Operations and Hess J.V., was one of a number of speakers atThursday'sYoungstown Ohio Utica & Natural Gas, or Y.O.U.N.G., expowho.... read more. Issue2Proposed Redistricting Amendment, By DennisWhalen Supreme Court Orders Ballot Board to Replace Language - September 12,2012 - Secretary of State Husted calls emergency Ballot Board meeting.RulesBoard-Approved Ballot Language Contains Material Omissions and FactualInaccuracies, Does Not Properly Identify Substance of the Amendment. Ina percuriam decision issued late Wednesday, The Supreme Court of Ohiogranted a writ of mandamus sought by... read more. StateSenator Bill Beagle… UDtoReceive Third FrontierFunding $2.99 Million to Support Advanced Material Development - COLUMBUS –State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today announced ControllingBoard approval of roughly $3 million in Ohio Third Frontier Programfunding to the University of Dayton to advance the Innovation PlatformProgram. The University will use the funds to focus on the developmentof new materials to be used in additive manufacturing processes thatwill meet the needs of the aerospace industry in Ohio. “Theaerospace... read more. Media Research Center… DuringDNC, 2 of 3 Networks Ignore Dire Jobs Picture By Julia A. Seymour - 9/6/2012 - For three nights, ABC and NBC fail tomention the national unemployment rate or the ‘nearly 13 million’people looking for work. The national unemployment rate is currentlyhigher than when President Barack Obama took office, but he and manyothers have been making the case at this week’s Democratic conventionthat he should get four more years as president. But... read more. CourtNews Ohio… LatestOSBAPublication Covers Fundamental Legal Principles,By BretCrow August 16, 2012 - The Ohio State Bar Association recently published afree legal handbook for consumers and journalists that aims to conveyfundamental legal principles to the layperson. While the Ohio State BarAssociation’s (OSBA) new legal handbook for consumers and journalistsis not intended to be a definitive work, the 14th edition of “The Law& You” provides laypersons with an overview of the fundamentalsoflaw, particularly as they apply in Ohio. The 349-page handbook, whichwas funded... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Stateleader: Kidsneed compassion, by Paul E. Kostyu 5 QUESTIONS: Harvey J. Reed - COLUMBUS — Every day, Harvey J. Reed isone of the 95.7 percent of Americans the U.S. Census Bureau sayscommute to work. But Reed is one of just 8 percent who take 60 minutesor more – in his case about an hour and 40 minutes – to get there.That’s because as director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services,Reed travels 94 miles each day, from Blue Ash to Columbus. Then backagain. Reed is one of the highest-ranking Southwest Ohioans in the... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… U.Smanufacturing continues slowdown in August, byJoe Cogliano Tuesday, September 4, 2012 - Manufacturing — one of the recent brightspots of the U.S. economy — continued to slow in August, according to aTuesday report from the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI, anindex used to measure the strength of manufacturing, was at 49.6percent last month, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points compared toJuly. A reading below 50 percent indicates the manufacturing economy isgenerally in... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey ToldUs: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, September 08, 2012 - What a way to end a convention. By mostaccounts, Democrats had a highly successful national convention inCharlotte, but Friday’s jobs report put a sour finish to a weekPresident Obama’s party hoped would put him on the road to reelection.While the results seemed to surprise many economic forecasters,American workers saw it coming. The Rasmussen Employment Index fellnine points in August to 72.0, the lowest level of confidence sinceOctober... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Ohioutility wants endto regulated gas pricing, By Dan Gearino Dropping ‘default’ price will cost users more, advocate says - Anortheastern Ohio gas utility wants to be the first in the state to endregulated pricing, a move that a consumer advocate says will remove akey protection for the people who pay the bills. Dominion East Ohio,which serves the Cleveland area, has asked state regulators to approvea plan that would eliminate “default service” for natural gas. Ifapproved, the state would no longer oversee a process designed to helpassure low... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… KitchenAidinks lease for Darke County facility Wednesday, September 5, 2012 - KitchenAid has inked a deal to lease a41,000-square-foot facility in Darke County. The company will use thefacility — the former Master Industries building in Ansonia — foroverflow inventory as it continues to grow market share and migrateproduct back to the United States, according to Bruns Realty Group.Tipp City-based Bruns handled the leasing of the building. TheKitchenAid division... read more. Court News Ohio… Websitepostdoes not give required notice in Foreclosure sale By Dennis Whalen - Posting Details of Sheriff’s Sale on Website DoesNot Give Required Notice of Sale to Party With Interest in ForeclosedProperty - An April 2009 sheriff's sale of a foreclosed property inClermont County was at the center of the case from the Twelfth DistrictCourt of Appeals. In a decision announced today, The Supreme Court ofOhio held that when the address of a party with a property interest ina foreclosure... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… OneVehicle Rollover Accident On September 9, 2012 at approximately 3:03am Darke County Deputiesalong with Ansonia Fire, Ansonia Rescue and CareFlight responded to aone vehicle accident on State Route 47 near White Coppess Road.Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2011 Nissan Infinti driven byTravis Hery (23), of Columbus, Indiana was eastbound on State Route 47just west of White Coppess Road. Hery's vehicle traveled off the rightside of the roadway striking a ditch and culvert causing the vehicleto... read more. ToledoBlade… Firmgets moretime to repay $4M, By Kris Turner Perrysburg solar panel maker in default on state loans - The OhioDepartment of Development has given Willard & Kelsey SolarGroupuntil Oct. 26 to repay more than $4 million it owes from a $5 millionloan. The decision was revealed Wednesday, the same day on which thedepartment previously demanded full repayment be made. The Perrysburgsolar-panel manufacturer has missed or made partial loan payments sinceSeptember, 2011, and is in default on its loan. In an Aug. 6 letter... read more. City of Greenville… GreenvilleAuditor Myers resigns County News Online received a letter on Friday that Greenville AuditorNancy Myers is resigning to take a position in Marysville, Ohio. Belowis her letter in its entirety. It is with mixed emotions that I makethe following statement: I have chosen to accept the position ofAssistant Finance Director for the City of Marysville, Ohio. Iwas contacted by Marysville’s Administration and requested to submit aresume... read more. National Federation of Republican Women… NFRW Plays Significant Role atGOPConvention Local Republican Leader Serves as Alternate Delegate for the State ofOhio - TAMPA, Fla. – A local Republican woman leader is among thehundreds of members of the National Federation of Republican Women(NFRW) who served as delegates or alternates to the Republican NationalConvention in Tampa on Aug. 27-30. Lyn Bliss of Greenville served asand Alternate Delegate. She is among the approximately 650... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… Ohio'sSecretary of State Jon Husted must appear in federal court to explaindelay in restoring early voting,By Joe Guillen - Thursday, September 06, 2012 - COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Afederal judge ordered Secretary of State Jon Husted on Wednesday topersonally appear next week at a hearing about his reluctance torestore early voting the weekend before the Nov. 6 election. JudgePeter Economus, whose ruling Husted has resisted, scheduled the hearingon Sept. 13 in the U.S. District Court in Columbus. Economus set thehearing after President Barack... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Department… Motorcyclistin critical conditionfollowing collision on 127 On September 8, 2012 at approximately 10:42 AM Darke County Deputiesalong with Greenville Township Fire, Greenville Township Rescue andCareFlight were dispatched to the intersection of US RT 127 andChildrens Home Bradford Road in reference to a two vehicle seriousinjury accident involving a motorcycle and vehicle. Preliminaryinvestigation revealed a silver 2000 Buick LeSabre, driven by Samuel D.Yagle, 79, Versailles Ohio was eastbound on Childrens Home BradfordRoad crossing... read more. CNN Money… Augustjobs report:Hiring slows, unemployment falls, By SteveHargreaves September 7, 2012 - Ohio August jobs report at 7.2 percent, unchangedfrom June and July - ORP Chairman Bennett releases statement below -NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The labor market lost momentum last month as jobgrowth fell to a disappointingly slow pace. The unemployment rate alsofell, as more people stopped looking for jobs. The economy added 96,000jobs in... read more. GovernorJohn Kasich… USDAdesignates 85 Ohio counties as natural disaster areas COLUMBUS – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted GovernorJohn R. Kasich’s request for a Secretarial disaster designation for 85of Ohio’s 88 counties following the severe heat, rainfall shortages andother weather-related disasters that struck large areas of the stateover the spring and summer.  The designation gives eligibleOhiofarmers access to drought-related federal assistance such as emergencylow-interest loans for crop losses, relief payments for non-insurablelosses... read more. Democratic National Convention… JoeBiden DNC Speech 09/06/2012 - My fellow Democrats, and my favorite Democrat. Jilly, Iwant you to know that Beau, Hunt, Ashley, and I are so proud of you. Weadmire the way you treat every single student who walks into yourclassroom. You not only teach them. You give them confidence. And thepassion you bring to easing the burden on the families of our warriors.They know you understand what they're going through. It makes adifference... read more. Democratic National Convention… PresidentObama's speech to DNC in Charlotte September 6, 2012 - Michelle, I love you. The other night, I think theentire country saw just how lucky I am. Malia and Sasha, you make me soproud…but don’t get any ideas, you’re still going to class tomorrow.And Joe Biden, thank you for being the best Vice President I could everhope for. Madam Chairwoman, delegates, I accept your nomination forPresident of the United States. The first time I addressed... read more. ColumbusDispatch… DemshopeObama speech will have charisma of 2008, ByJoe Hallettand Jack Torry September 2, 2012 - Four years after crossing history’s threshold asthe nation’s first black presidential nominee, PresidentBarack Obama will aim to rekindle the excitement that girded hisjourney to the presidency, poised to accept his party’s nominationfor a second term at the Democratic National Convention this week inCharlotte, N.C. The times — and the candidate — are very differentfrom that August night in 2008 when Obama’s acceptance speech presented84,000 supporters in the... read more. Democratic National Convention… FormerPresident Bill Clinton’s Speech, September 5 - We're here to nominate a President, and I've got one inmind. I want to nominate a man whose own life has known itsfair share of adversity and uncertainty. A man who ran for President tochange the course of an already weak economy and then justsix weeks before the election, saw it suffer the biggest collapse sincethe Great Depression. A man who stopped the slide intodepression and put us on the long road to recovery... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Department… Injuryaccident near New Madison On September 4, 2012 at approximately 8:07 PM Darke County Deputiesalong with Tri-Village Rescue, Liberty Township Fire, and CareFlightwere dispatched to the 1200 block of US Route 36 west in reference toan injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2007 GrandCaravan driven by Latisha Bell, 25; Richmond, Ind. was drivingeastbound when she went off the side of the roadway and struck aguardrail.  Mrs. Bell’s vehicle over turned, went through autility pole, and came to rest on... read more. DemocraticNational Convention… SanAntonio Mayor Julian Castro’skeynote speech My fellow Democrats, my fellow Texans, my fellow Americans: I standbefore you tonight as a young American, a proud American, of ageneration born as the Cold War receded, shaped by the tragedy of 9/11,connected by the digital revolution and determined to re-elect the manwho will make the 21st century another American century—PresidentBarack Obama. The unlikely journey that brought me here tonight beganmany miles from this podium. My brother Joaquin and I grew up withmy... read more. Ohio Supreme Court… SchoolYear Kicks Off With Field Trips to Supreme Court,By Bret Crow August 21, 2012 - As school bells ring in a new school year acrossOhio, students will again take field trips to the Thomas J. Moyer OhioJudicial Center, home of the Ohio Supreme Court, as part of their civiceducation curriculum. The first tour of the 2012-13 school year isscheduled for later this month, and the pace will continue to buildthrough the fall, according to Jay Wuebbold... read more. Democratic National Convention… TedStrickland’s speech at the DNC I'm Ted Strickland, and I come from Duck Run, Ohio. Let me tell you,folks in Ohio know what happens when you have a president who stands upfor average working people. Ina Sidney is a grandmother who lost herability to provide for her family when they closed down the auto plantin Perrysburg, Ohio. Ina says thanks to Barack Obama for having thecourage to back an industry that others had given up on. She's... read more. Democratic National Convention… MichelleObama’s speech at the DNC Thank you so much, Elaine…we are so grateful for your family’s serviceand sacrifice…and we will always have your back. Over the past fewyears as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege oftraveling all across this country. And everywhere I’ve gone, in thepeople I’ve met, and the stories I’ve heard, I have seen the very bestof the American spirit. I have seen it in the incredible kindness andwarmth that... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… Brown,Mandel offer sharp contrast on economy, ByDeirdreShesgreen Senate candidates' plans are extremely different - Sep. 2, 2012 -WASHINGTON — Ask Ohio voters what this election is about, and theanswer could not be more clear: the economy. Ask Democratic Sen.Sherrod Brown and Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel about the bestway to spur job creation and jump-start economic growth, and theiranswers could not be more different. Brown is an old-school populistand self-styled defender of the little guy. He says the path toeconomic prosperity is cracking... read more. ColumbusDispatch… Demshope Obama speechwill have charisma of 2008 By  Joe Hallett  and  Jack Torry - September2, 2012 -Four years after crossing history’s threshold as the nation’s firstblack presidential nominee, President Barack Obama will aim to rekindlethe excitement that girded his journey to the presidency, poised toaccept his party’s nomination for a second term at the DemocraticNational Convention this week in Charlotte, N.C.  The times —andthe candidate — are very different from that August night in 2008 whenObama’s acceptance speech... read more. Rasmussen… DailyPresidentialTracking Poll SWING STATE DAILY TRACKING: Obama 45%, Romney 45% Saturday, September 01, 2012 - The Rasmussen Reports daily PresidentialTracking Poll for Saturday shows Mitt Romney attracting support from47% of voters nationwide, while President Obama earns 44% of the vote.Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) areundecided. As expected, Romney is enjoying a modest bounce from the... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us:Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, September 01, 2012 - Just as Labor Day marks the end ofsummer for most Americans, it also signals the beginning of thepresidential campaign season for many. Now they’ll focus on the racewith Election Day looming just two months away. So where do PresidentObama and Mitt Romney stand at this point? Heading into the RepublicanNational Convention, the candidates have been even for months in thedaily Presidential Tracking Poll. At week’s end, Romney was starting toenjoy... read more. TheWhite House… Servingthosewho served us Two years ago, President Obama traveled to Fort Bliss, in Texas, tomark the end of the combat mission in Iraq. In his remarks that day, hetalked about how part of ending a war responsibly is taking care ofthose who fought it. The President promised to increase support forveterans, to ensure that our wounded warriors receive the care theyneed, and to help servicemembers and their families find opportunitiesonce they've returned home. Yesterday, President Obama returned to FortBliss to reaffirm... read more. Republican National Convention… Livingthe Dream… Final Notes, By Lyn Bliss What to say about the past week spent in Tampa at the GOP NationalConvention? Bob said he’d like a “wrap-up” – and I am trying to come upwith something that would provide that. When I think of the week andwork on explaining it, I come up with words like inspiring,informational, educational, enjoyable, outstanding, and otherdescriptive terms along those lines. But, I think the two... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… DeWineappeals Obama for America v. Husted Ruling (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced hewill appeal the ruling for a preliminary injunction issued today byUnited States District Judge Peter Economus in Obama for America v.Husted. "With all due respect to the Judge, we disagree with his rulingtoday," said Attorney General DeWine.  "We have always alloweddistinction for military voters, and to say this violates equalprotection is wrong. "My job as the Attorney General is to defend thelaws of the... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… Ohioanswarned of Traveling Scam Artists (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is warning Ohioansto watch for traveling scam artists offering roof repair, drivewaypaving and sealing, and tree trimming. "We've received at least onereport of suspected travelers in Clinton County," Attorney GeneralDeWine said. "With just a few weeks of summer left, we don't want totake any chances. We're warning all Ohioans to be skeptical of anyonewho shows up unexpectedly offering home repairs." "Travelers," as... read more. OhioGov. John Kasich… $259Million Invested into Ohio’s Communities COLUMBUS – Gov. John R. Kasich today announced the approval ofassistance for 17 projects set to create more than 1,300 jobs andretain 2,728 jobs statewide.  During its monthly meeting, theOhioTax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposalspresented to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Collectively the projects are expected to result in more than $45million in new payroll and $259 million in investment across Ohio.Projects approved by the TCA... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… DeputiesRespond to Report of Fight in Progress On August 30, 2012 at approximately 7:53 PM Darke County Deputies weredispatched to the 12,600 block of State Route 49 North in reference toan assault with injury. Preliminary investigation revealed MichaelSchaffer, age 43, of Lightsville was involved in an altercation withmultiple subjects.   Mr. Schaffer sustained injuriesto hishead, arms and back during the physical altercation.  UnionCityRescue responded to the scene and transported Mr. Schaffer to the DarkeCounty Sheriff's Office to meet... read more. Republican National Convention… FullText of Ann Romney’s Speech August 28, 2012 - Luce, thank you for that kind introduction. I want totalk to you tonight not about politics and not about party. And whilethere are many important issues we'll hear discussed in this conventionand throughout this campaign, tonight I want to talk to you from myheart about our hearts. I want to talk not about what divides us, butwhat holds us together as an American family. I want to talk to you... read more. Republican National Convention… Textof Condoleeza Rice's Speech The following is a transcript of a speech that former Secretary ofState Condoleezza Rice gave at the Republican National Convention onAug. 29, 2012. RICE:  Thank you.  Thankyou.  Thankyou.  Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you somuch. Good evening. Good evening, distinguished delegates.  Goodevening, fellow Republicans.  Good evening, my fellowAmericans.We gather here at... read more. Republican National Convention… Textof Mitt Romney’s speech August 30, 2012 - Mr. Chairman, delegates. I accept your nomination forPresident of the United States of America. I do so with humility,deeply moved by the trust you have placed in me. It is a great honor.It is an even greater responsibility. Tonight I am asking you to joinme to walk together to a better future. By my side, I have chosen a manwith a big heart from a small town. He represents the best of... read more. Republican National Convention… Livingthe Dream, Day 5, By Lyn Bliss I’m tired – I’m coming home!!  But, whee – a ride it’s been!Thiswhole week has FAR exceeded ALL expectations! I just don’t think thatmy writings have given any sort of a full accounting of all the minuteby minute things that have happened. Right now, the bags are packed andI’m ready to go to the airport – thought that might be a priority! Itwas sort of a challenge, as we were given so... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal… Ohioadds 100,000 jobs in past year Ohio has added 100,000 jobs statewide in the past year, ranking it No.4 best in the nation. Ohio ranks as the fourth-best state in thecountry forgrowing jobs in the past year, adding 100,000 new jobs as of June,according to a Bizjournals.com report. Forty-four states and theDistrict ofColumbia managed to expand their employment bases during the past year,according to the latest figures from theU.S. Bureau of LaborStatistics. Leadingthe way is California, which had hemorrhaged more than 1 million... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… TwoVehicle Injury Accident on Hwy 47 On August 30, 2012 at approximately 0614 hrs. Darke County Deputiesalong with Versailles Rescue and Versailles Fire were dispatched toStateRoute 47 at Darke-Shelby County Road in reference to an injuryaccident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 1997 Chevy Venturedriven byBrian Shiverdecker, 45; Greenville was driving northbound onDarke-Shelby County Road. when he failed to yield the right of way,pulling intothe path of a westbound, 2001 Honda Accord driven by... read more. Republican National Convention… Textof Paul Ryan's Speech,By Lyn Bliss Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored by thesupport of this convention for vice president of the United States. Iaccept the dutyto help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity –and I know we can do this. I accept the calling of my generation togive ourchildren the America that was given to us, with opportunity for theyoung and security for the old – and I know that we are ready... read more. Republican National ConventionLivingthe Dream, Day 4, By Lyn Bliss Day four—my, the time is flying!! The alarm went off way too early!But, I think I better get used to it – we are estimated to be back tothe hotel around 2 a.m. The Ohio delegation started out the morningbreakfast being treated to a whole new side of state auditor Dave Yost.After welcoming us, he led us in America the Beautiful… while providingaccompaniment on a baby grand piano. WOW, is he GOOD!!... read more. U.S.Representative John Boehner… PresidentObama’s Policies“Haven’t Fixed Anything” The Christian Science Monitor hosted a roundtable interview withSpeaker John Boehner for more than 50 reporters at the RepublicanNational Convention today. In his opening remarks, Boehner said theconvention would be an opportunity for the American people to learnmore about the Romney-Ryan ticket and how they’re going to putAmericans back to work. After spending August campaigning forRepublican candidates, Boehner said it’s clear that “this election isabout... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Pedestrianhit on 127, criticalcondition On August 28, 2012 at approximately 11:55 PM Darke County Deputiesalong with Greenville Township Rescue, Greenville Township Fire, andCareFlight, were dispatched to the intersection of US RT 127 andKruckeberg Road on a report of a semi pedestrian accident. Preliminaryinvestigation revealed a 2003 Freightliner from Drew Ag Transport Inc,Greenville, Ohio. driven by Thomas E. Runner, 52, Union City, Ohio wastraveling Northbound on US RT 127 and struck Alisha D. Keith... read more. Republican National Convention… Livingthe Dream, Day 3,By Lyn Bliss Day three – starts with a bang, ends with a whimper…. The day beganwith an Ohio delegation breakfast sponsored by Attorney General MikeDeWine, with a fantastic speech by Rick Santorum. Great way to startthe day! Since all Monday events were cancelled and combined with thosealready scheduled for Tuesday – it was one very busy day!! Thisconvention was set up with a “theme” for each day... read more. Remarksby Speaker John Boehner, Republican NationalConvention August 28, 2012 - Ladies and gentlemen, thank you and welcome. We begintonight with a fundamental question: can we do better? The answer, inmy view, is obvious: you bet we can. The American people are stillasking ‘where are the jobs,’ but President Obama only offers excusesinstead of answers.  His record is a shadow of hisrhetoric. Yet he has the nerve to say that he’s moving us forward, and theaudacity to... read more. TheHon. Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey,Republican National Convention August 28, 2012 - This stage and this moment are very improbable forme. A New Jersey Republican delivering the keynote address to ournational convention, from a state with 700,000 more Democrats thanRepublicans. A New Jersey Republican stands before you tonight. Proudof my party, proud of my state and proud of my country. I am the son ofan Irish father and a Sicilian mother.  My Dad, who I amblessed... read more. FoxNews… AnnRomney at the Republican National Convention Excepts of transcript - Published August 28, 2012 …Well, I want to talkto you tonight not about politics and not about party.  Andwhilethere are many important issues that we will hear discussed in thisconvention and throughout this campaign tonight, I want to talk to youfrom my heart about our hearts. I want to talk about not what dividesus, but what holds us together as an American family.  I wanttotalk to you... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer… CanRomneyunite Ohio delegation? Many Buckeyes attending convention originally were Rick Santorumbackers - Aug. 26, 2012 - Written by Paul E. Kostyu - Republicans trekto Tampa, Fla., for the Republican National Convention this week forthe coronation of Romney and his running mate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan,R-Wis., as their presidential ticket. Smiles will abound in Tampa, andOhio Republicans will unite there behind the Romney-Ryan ticket, butthe convention is just the start of the final campaign... read more. TheHill… Boehnerraises $4Mover August recess, By Molly Hooper 08/26/12 - Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has raised nearly $4 milliondollars since the House broke for August recess, according to figuresprovided by a Boehner political aide. The highest-ranking electedRepublican has wasted little time barnstorming the country, traveling9,126 miles and holding 47 events over the last 23 days. The efforthighlights Boehner's press to retain the House GOP majority sinceregaining it in 2010. The Boehner political team considers 50 Houseseats to be in play... read more. Republican National Convention… Livingthe Dream, Days 1 & 2, By Lyn Bliss Have you seen pictures of teenage girls when they are excited – wherethey jump up and down and scream?? Driving to the Columbus Airport, Ithought to myself, “If I was a teenage girl, I would be jumping up anddown while screaming!!” We had checked the flight schedules and all was“on-time” at the moment of departing Greenville. When Jean and Iactually arrived at the airport, that was... read more. Rasmussen… ReviewingLastWeek’sKey Polls Saturday, August 25, 2012 - Voters are clear that the economy is themost important issue in this year’s presidential campaign, but rightnow “legitimate rape” and a plan to reform Medicare seem to bedominating much of the media coverage. Short- and long-term confidencein the nation’s economy continues to hover around lows for the year.Twenty-nine percent (29%) of homeowners believe the value of their homewill go down over the next year.   One-in-four (24%)thinkthe value of their home... read more. RepublicanNational Convention… ChairmanBennett: Our Chief Priority is Safety COLUMBUS - Today, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett said thatthe Ohio Republican Party is continuing to monitor the storm situationin the gulf and planning accordingly for the safety of the entiredelegation. "Our chief priority is the safety of our delegates, guests,visiting friends and family and Florida residents. We are continuing tomonitor the situation and will update everyone as the situationevolves." The Republican National Convention will convene on... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… MultipleVehicle Accident on Hwy 127 On August 26, 2012 at approximately 12:04 PM Darke County Deputiesalong with Ansonia Rescue, Versailles Rescue, Greenville TownshipRescue, Osgood Rescue, Ansonia Fire and CareFlight were dispatched toUS RT 127 and State Route 242 in reference to a multiple vehicle,injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Toyota RAV4driven by Colby Morris, 19, Greenville was driving southbound on US.RT. 127 when he struck the rear of a 1999 GMC Yukon that was stoppedin... read more. DailyCaller… ICEagents sueNapolitano, Morton over immigration policies,By CarolineMay 08/23/2012 - Ten Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fileda lawsuit against Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano andICE Director John Morton Thursday, taking on recent Obamaadministration directives which they say prevent them from upholdingthe law. The suit, filed in federal court in Dallas, Texas, challengesthe administration’s June 15th deferred action directive whichinstructed ICE agents not to arrest certain illegal immigrants fordeportation and facilitate... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff… Two-vehicleaccident near Arcanum One careflighted, serious condition - On August 24, 2012 atapproximately 9:02 AM Darke County Deputies along with Tri-VillageRescue, Arcanum Rescue, New Madison Fire and CareFlight were dispatchedto the intersection of US Route 127 and Delisle-Fourmans Road inreference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigationrevealed a white 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan, driven by Linda R. Benedict,59, Russia, Ohio was southbound on US Route 127 approaching... read more. Beagle Appointed to ThirdFrontier AdvisoryBoard COLUMBUS – State Senator Bill Beagle (R–Tipp City) today announced thathe has been appointed to the Third Frontier Advisory Board by SenatePresident Tom Niehaus (R–New Richmond). “Serving on the Third FrontierAdvisory Board will allow me to leverage my private sector experiencein finance to be an effective advocate for the Miami Valley economy,”Beagle said. “I am looking forward to working on this board to ensurethat the Third Frontier program succeeds in... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… PresidentObamatells Capital University crowd that controlling college costs is a toppriority,By Aaron Marshall - Tuesday, August 21, 2012 - BEXLEY, Ohio --President Barack Obama pushed a new message in the fight for thepresidency Tuesday, touting his administration's efforts to makecollege more affordable and contrasting them with opponent MittRomney's proposed cuts to higher education funding. Speaking before areceptive crowd of 3,300, including many college students, on thesuburban Columbus campus of Capital University on a sun-splashedafternoon... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer… Ohiobusinesseswant nearly $1.3 billion in workers' compensation premiums returned- ByPeter Krouse - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- More than 270,000 Ohio employers,most of them small businesses, hope a Cuyahoga County judge concludesthey were charged excessive workers' compensation premiums and are owednearly $1.3 billion. But the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensationcontends the premiums it charged the businesses between 2001 and 2008were fair and that many of those claiming to be unfairly penalized, attimes benefited from the system... read more. AgDirectorDaniels Visits Darke County Fair, By Al Bliss OnTuesday August 21, 2012, David Daniels, Ohio State AgricultureDirector, visited the Darke County Fair. Starting a few minutes after10:00 a.m. at the Republican Tent, the group, led by Representative JimBuchy, Ohio House District 84, toured through the Coliseum and then toevery animal display barn to reach the Future Farmers of Americadisplay and activity area adjacent to... read more. Greenville City Council… TrilogyHealth Care zoning request passes 6-1, By BobRobinson VillageGreen opening uncertain due to seasonal weather, permits -- “I’mpleased,” said Trilogy Health Care’s Russ Oberhausen. “This is what weneeded and I’m happy that we have the approval to move ahead with ourplans.” Greenville City Council voted 6-1 to overturn the Planning& Zoning Commission’s recommendation to turn down Trilogy’srequestfor a zoning.... read more. OhioAttorney General Mike DeWine… Husband-Wifeteam convicted ofBWC Fraud (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ohio Bureau ofWorkers' Compensation Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer announcedtoday the convictions of a husband and wife who worked together todefraud the state of nearly $175,000. Robin Hammond pleaded guiltytodayto a felony charge of Workers' Compensation Fraud, while her husbandRandy Hammond pleaded guilty to a felony Complicity to Workers'Compensationcharge. Investigators said the couple, from Galion, grossly... read more. Rasmussen…WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, August 18, 2012 - The vice presidential candidates attracteda little more news than usual this past week. After MittRomney named Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan to be his running mate,Vice President Joe Biden made some high-profile gaffes.New polling finds voters are evenly divided as to which man is betterqualified to be president if necessary. Mitt Romney announcedRyan as his running mate on Saturday, and following the... read more. Coshocton Tribune…… Hustedsuspends 2 local election officials Aug. 18, 2012 - COLUMBUS -- Secretary of State Jon Husted suspended twoelection officials onFriday in southwest Ohio after they voted to extend early voting hoursin the general electionbeyond the uniform, statewide hours he set this week. The move byHusted, the state's chief electionsofficial, is the latest in a series of flare ups over when Ohioans cancast an early ballot in person inthe presidential battleground state. The issue has essentially... read more. ToledoBlade… Auditor:Schools should report data manipulation, ByNolan Rosenkrans State Auditor Dave Yost has asked Ohio school superintendents tovoluntarily report possible attendance data manipulation in theirdistricts, promising to advocate for those who step forward. Mr. Yostis investigating the manipulation of attendance data at schools acrossthe state, prompted by reports of practices in Columbus, Toledo, andLockland schools that administrators had withdrawn, then re-enrolledstudents who were habitually absent. The practice could improve testscores and attendance... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Ohiobehind in super PAC contributions August 16, 2012 - Contributions from Ohioans to super PACs ranked 15thin the country during the last 18 months, a nonprofit Californiaresearch firm found. Ohioans gave about $3.8 million to super PACsbetween Jan. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, according to a MapLightanalysis of Federal Election Commission data. Berkeley, Calif.-basedMapLight found that about two-thirds of all super PAC... read more. Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor… Lackof Court Funds is anAccess-to-Justice Problem ByJenna Gant - August 15, 2012 - Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor speakswith members of the Columbus Metropolitan Club about court funding.Courts shouldn’t limit access to justice due to a lack of courtfunding, Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor along with William Robinson,president of the American Bar Association, told members of the ColumbusMetropolitan Club (CMC) on Wednesday. It was part... read more. Republican National Convention... Headlinersinclude Ohio’s U.S.Senator Rob Portman Tampa, Fla. - Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebustoday announced six headliners addressing the Republican NationalConvention August 27-30. The speakers are: U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte,United States Senator from New Hampshire and former New HampshireAttorney General. Former Democratic National Convention Speaker ArturDavis, former Alabama congressman from... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer… BusinessWise:Now that's Common Sense By Tom Cooney and Crystal Faulkner - Aug. 15, 2012  - Thereseemsto be so much red tape that comes along with owning my own business. Iheard about a state initiative that is helping business owners avoidexcess costs and needless rules and regulations. Can you shed light onthis? You are referring to the Ohio Common Sense Initiative (CSI). Gov.John Kasich established the CSI in January... read more. Ryanreturns to alma mater Miami U, By Lyn Bliss “President Obama is out of ideas” - Senator Rob Portman and OhioGovernor John Kasich were among the dignitaries sharing the stage withWisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan when Ryan returned to Miami Universityrecently. “One of the difficulties we have is the wind is always in myface coming from Washington. And, I’ll tell you why. They regulate likethere is no tomorrow... read more. AG Mike DeWine… MoreThan aDozen Drug Arrests in Alleged NW Ohio Cocaine Ring FREMONT, Ohio—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined Sandusky CountySheriff Kyle Overmyer, Ottawa County Sheriff Stephen Levorchick, andFremont Police Chief Tim Wiersma this afternoon to announce the arrestsand indictments of more than two dozen people in three counties today.The indictments come after several years of investigating by agentswith the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal... read more. Representative Bill Beagle… BeagleReceives Champion of Small Business Award COLUMBUS – State Senator Bill Beagle (R – Tipp City) announced todaythat he has received the Champion of Small Business award from theNational Coalition for Capital. The award recognizes individuals whohave demonstrated strong leadership in supporting policies that promotegreater access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs,specifically those in economically distressed communities... read more. NewJudicialCollege Online Course Focuses on Kids in Court,By JennaGant August 14, 2012 - Judges and magistrates can start registering for freeonline Judicial eCademy course. The Ohio Supreme Court Judicial Collegethis week released a new free online course featuring original materialand expert faculty from Ohio and Washington, D.C. The new course,called “Ensuring Meaningful Opportunities for Youth Engagement inCourt,” focuses on children’s... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… DeWineUnveils New BCI Forensic Dive Team (CIRCLEVILLE,Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that thenewly formed Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) Forensic Dive Teamis now available to help Ohio law enforcement agencies recover criminalevidence in water. "BCI's investigative capacity will no longer belimited to the water's edge," said Attorney General DeWine. "Criminalsmay run, but we hope they'll no longer be able to hide evidence used intheir crimes in the water. The Dive Team is... read more. OhioTreasurer Josh Mandel... STARPlus Surpasses $100 Million in Deposits Local Governments Benefit from Increased Yield, as Community Banks KeepOhio Tax Dollars in Local Communities SANDUSKY- State Treasurer Josh Mandel announced today that the STAR Plus localgovernment investment program has surpassed $100 million in localgovernment deposits and continues to add new accounts each day. Theannouncement was made at the Community Bankers Association of OhioAnnual (CBAO) Convention in Sandusky, in which... read more. StateRep. Richard Adams… FundingAnnounced for Troy Business COLUMBUS—State Representative Richard Adams (R-Troy) today announcedthat the State Controlling Board has approved the release of $2.35million to West Troy Tool and Machine, Inc., a filtration manufacturerof tooling, components and mechanical assemblies in Troy, Ohio. “Thisarrangement between the State of Ohio and West Troy represents the kindof relationship that is great for the people wanting to keep theirjobs, the persons wanting to obtain jobs and the taxpayers of ourstate... read more. ColumbusDispatch... Who’sbestto run exchange? Ohio opts to let feds set up health-insurance marketplace, citing cost;others prefer state - Gov. John Kasich’s decision to have the federalgovernment set up an online marketplace where individuals and smallbusinesses can shop for health coverage has failed to resolve thedebate about whether Ohioans would be better served by a state-runexchange. Many health-care providers, patient advocates and statelegislators favor a state-run exchange, saying it could be crafted tobetter... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Sidneybusinessman stars in new Mitt Romney ad, byCaleb Stephens Monday, July 30, 2012 - A Sidney businessman appears in a new Webadvertisement for Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. DennisSollmann, president of Sollmann Electric Co., criticizes PresidentBarack Obama’s recent speech, which included the line, “you didn’tbuild that.” Sollmann says in the ad that Obama was trying to say thatgovernment plays a role... read more. Ohio Supreme Court... Appeals Court Throws Out TrafficStopConvictions, By Bret Crow July 27, 2012 - Evidence obtained during a Canfield traffic stop shouldhave been suppressed by the trial court, the Seventh District Court ofAppeals ruled in a recent case. As a result, convictions for OVI,possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana werereversed. The unanimous decision authored by Judge Gene Donofrio calledthe February 7, 2011 traffic... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Ohiofund paying jobless benefits out of money, but state not working onlong-term fix- By Olivera Perkins - Monday, August 06, 2012 - The fund that paysjobless benefits in Ohio went broke in 2009, and state officials stillhaven’t worked on a long-term solution. The fund that pays joblessbenefits in Ohio went broke in 2009, and there’s no evidence the stateis looking for a lasting solution. The sagging Ohio UnemploymentCompensation Trust Fund needs a long-term fix to make it solvent, sayexperts and others who are urging officials to make it a priority.And... read more. Greenville City Council… Counciltables vote on Trilogy zoning request, By BobRobinson Greenville City Council approved a motion Tuesday to table the vote onlegislation prepared for Trilogy Health Care’s zoning change requestfor 6.41 acres on Russ Road. The vote was five to one with CouncilmanTracy Tryon voting no. City Councilman Todd Oliver made the motion dueto the absence from the meeting of Councilman John Baumgardner. “Ibelieve this should be voted... read more. CourtNews Ohio... OhioLegalAssistance Foundation Releases 2011 Annual Report,By BretCrow August 3, 2012 - Ohio legal aid and pro bono attorneys have helped save2,370 homes from foreclosure since 2008, according to the Ohio LegalAssistance Foundation 2011 annual report, which was released this week.Ohio legal aid and pro bono attorneys have helped save 2,370 homes fromforeclosure since 2008, according to the Ohio Legal AssistanceFoundation 2011 annual report, which was released this week. Created in1994, thefoundation funds civil legal aid for low-income Ohioans bysupporting.... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey ToldUs:Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, August 04, 2012 - The frustration in America these days runsdeep. Just 14% think today’s children will be better off than theirparents.That’s the most pessimistic assessment ever and the number is evenlower among those with children at home. Worker’s confidence in thejobs market hasfallen to the lowest level of 2012. Long-term optimism about theeconomy is at the lowest level ever recorded. Just 40% believe the U.S.economy willbe stronger in FIVE years. That’s down from... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Economist:Slow year for commercial real estate, byOlivia Barrow Thursday, August 2, 2012 - Slow growth in the U.S. economy means a slowyear for commercial real estate, according to Cassidy Turley’s ChiefEconomistKevin Thorpe. In order to return to historic leasing activity levels,the U.S. office sector needs an average national GDP growth rate of 2.5percent,Thorpe said in his U.S. Macro Forecast. The meager 1.5 percent growthrecorded for the second quarter of 2012 means... read more. The Daily Caller... Republicansannounce first wave of convention speakers, Ohio Governor John Kasich joins Huckabee, Marinez and others asfeatured speaker, By Vince Coglianese 08/06/2012- On Monday morning, the Republican National Committee announced thefirst wave of headliners who will be speaking at 2012′s RepublicanNational Convention. South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, formerArkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Ohio Governor John Kasich, New MexicoGovernor Susana Martinez, Senator John McCain... read more. Secretary of State Jon Husted... HustedCertifies Redistricting Amendment, Petitioners have met requirements to place issue on November 2012ballot. - COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today certified thatpetitioners seeking to place a redistricting reform constitutionalamendment on the November ballot collected an additional 151,889 validsignatures. The total number of valid signatures now certified is406,514 and meets the constitutional requirements. Petitioners needed385,253 valid signatures... read more. CNSNews… 195,000Fewer Americans Had Jobs in July; 150,000 Dropped Out of Labor Force By Terence P. Jeffrey - August 3, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) - There were195,000 fewer people employed in the United States in July than inJune, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the nationalunemployment rate ticked up from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent. Meanwhile,150,000 people simply dropped out of the labor force during the monthand did not seek to find a job. In June, according to BLS, there hadbeen 142,415,000 people employed in the United States... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… Injuryaccident near Union City On August 5, 2012 at approximately 7:38 PM Darke County Deputies, alongwith Union City, Ohio Rescue, Union City, Ohio Fire, and Careflighthelicopter were dispatched to the 600 block of State Route 571, inreference to a one vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigationrevealed a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina, driven by Christopher L. Rogers, 36,Greenville, Ohio was traveling northwest on State Route 571 when helost control of the vehicle traveling off the north side of theroadway... read more. Dayton Business Journal… AffordableCare Act to impact 2.7M Ohioans, by LauraEnglehart Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - Pre-existing conditions in Darke, Preble andShelby counties combined: 34,200. Under Affordable Care Act provisions,more than 2.7 million Ohioans will have health insurance when theywould have otherwise been denied because of pre-existing conditions,according to a new report. The total, which does not include residents65 and older, represents about 30 percent of Ohioans... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Sequestrationjob numbers flawed,by Joe Cogliano Friday, August 3, 2012 - As if the defense industry didn’t face enoughuncertainty, now some insiders say a projection of 40,000 job losses inOhio as a result of sequestration is deeply flawed. To rebut a recentreport released by the Aerospace Industries Association, The BrookingsInstitution this week published “The Cracked Crystal Ball: The Problemwith Predicting Defense Jobs and Sequestration... read more. CNSNews... RepublicansQuestionLabor Department’s ‘Misleading’ Guidance on Federal Contractors,By Susan Jones - August 3, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – How did you come upwith that one? House Republicans want to know how and why PresidentObama’s Labor Department decided that businesses do not need to givefederal contractors 60 days’ notice of the mass layoffs that are set tohappen on Jan. 2 -- unless Congress does something to stop theautomatic budget cuts (sequestration) that will take effect on thatdate. On Thursday, Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), chairman... read more. Secretaryof State Jon Husted… AugustBusiness Profiles Featured businesses excite, thrill and amaze for “Extreme Ohio” theme.COLUMBUS – Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced that as partof an ongoing effort to recognize the impact of Ohio businesses, AugustOhio Business Profile encourages Ohioans to do something exhilaratingand thrilling as summer comes to a close with the “Extreme Ohio”theme.  “The companies featured this month prove Ohio is notonlya great place to live, but also a great place to vacation and enjoy... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… SingleVehicle Fatal Accident near Arcanum On August 4, 2012 at approximately 6:14 AM Darke County Deputies, alongwith Arcanum Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the 7400 block ofGrubbs-Rex Road in reference to a single vehicle serious injuryaccident. Preliminary investigation revealed a black 1998 Chevy blazerdriven by Joseph S. Brandenburg Jr., 43, Arcanum Ohio was eastbound onGrubbs Rex Road east of Albright Road.  Brandenburg... read more. MiamiCounty Municipal Court… JudgeMel Kemmer Retires Gives “OPERS benefit limitations” in SB 343 as reason - About midwaythrough his second term on the bench, Miami County Municipal CourtJudge Mel Kemmer retired on Tuesday. In a letter to Chief JusticeMaureen O’Connor, Judge Kemmer cited “OPERS benefit limitations” inSenate Bill 343 as the reason for retiring early. Elected to theposition in 2003, Judge Kemmer was re-elected in 2009. He practiced lawfor more than 26 years before becoming a judge. Before that, Judge... read more. Huffington Post... UnemploymentRate Rises To 8.3 Percent, By Christopher S.Rugaber U.S. Adds 163,000 Jobs In July - WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added163,000 jobs in July, a hopeful sign after three months of sluggishhiring. The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment raterose to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent in June. July’s hiring was thebest since February. Still, the economy has added an average of 151,000jobs a month... read more. WHIO-TV Video... RobertKindredheld on $100K cash bond, By Steve Baker Prosecutor suggest $75K bond, Judge set it at $100K cash - DARKECOUNTY, Ohio — Several days after he was captured in rural RandolphCounty, Indiana, attempting to hide from deputies in the trunk of astolen car, Robart Scott Kindred, 42, appeared via video forarraignment in Darke County Common Pleas Court in Greenville from thecounty jail. The grand jury recently indicted the former Versailles... read more. ToledoBlade... Medicaiddecision could widen care gap, By CatherineCandisky 600,000 in Ohio could be without coverage - COLUMBUS -- If Gov. JohnKasich decides against expanding the state’s Medicaid program, morethan 600,000 of the poorest Ohioans could remain without healthinsurance while those with slightly higher incomes would qualify forsubsidies and tax credits to buy private coverage. The potential gapwas created last month when the U.S. Supreme Court, while upholdingmost of the federal health-care law, tossed a requirement that statesexpand... read more. Brown... OhioansEncouraged toApply for Nomination to U.S. Service Academies Interested Ohioans are encouraged to seek nomination from U.S. Sen.Sherrod Brown’s office to U.S. Military Service Academies for 2013admission. “Ohio’s students have the integrity, courage, and knowledgeneeded to enroll in our nation’s prestigious military academies and Iam honored to nominate students for this high honor,” said Sen. Brown.“These academies develop the next generation of leaders who willserve... read more. November Decisions... Deadlinepasses as OVF petition resubmitted The Ohio Voters First petition that failed last week was resubmittedSaturday. It calls for an appointed bi-partisan commission to drawlegislative maps following census population redistributions. Thecurrent system calls for state leaders to redraw districts, whichtypically means the party in power. According to one state senator,plus a number of others who have studied the petition, “it allows foran... read more. Gov.John Kasich… Ohiocontinuesto attract new business investment 25 New Projects Expected to Create 2,003 Jobs in Ohio Communities -COLUMBUS – Gov. John R. Kasich today announced the approval ofassistance for 25 projects set to create more than 2,000 jobs andretain 2,655 jobs statewide.  During its monthly meeting, theOhioTax Credit Authority reviewed economic development proposals brought tothe board by JobsOhio and its regional partners.  Together theprojects are expected to result in more than $84 million in new payrolland $212 million in... read more. GovernorTimPawlenty visits Dayton, By Lyn Bliss,Assistant Editor “It’s true in Ohio, and it’s true all across this country... we need tomake sure for Ohio and for the country we have a President and aCongress that are making the load lighter and not heavier for those whowant to provide jobs in this country,” said Governor Tim Pawlenty, “Youcan’t be pro-jobs and wildly anti-business. That’s like being pro-eggand anti-chicken.” Pawlenty, past governor of Minnesota, was... read more. Economic Development… Countyloan assists All American Clothing Co. growth All American Clothing to move into former Creative Cabinets facility inArcanum - ARCANUM- Darke County has again utilized its low interestrevolving loan program to assist the expansion of a localbusiness.  Last Friday, the county commissioners closed the15-year, 1.8% loan which will enable All American Clothing Co to moveinto the former Creative Cabinets facility in Arcanum. The company,which currently... read more. PraiseforMidmark, Darke County’s Growth Highlight P4P Meeting Dayton Development Coalition CEO discusses county’s role in regionaleconomy and praises local companies for expansion efforts - VERSAILLES- The third Partnering for Progress Investor meeting of 2012 presentedeconomic development to attendees from a different perspective thannormal at last Friday’s meeting. About 85 people from Darke County’sbusiness community attended... read more. ColumbusDispatch... Statesrun risk of losing control, From Reuters The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which representsinsurance regulators in all 50 states, says state governmentssuch as Ohio’s that opt for federal health-care exchanges risk losingcontrol of lucrative private health-insurance markets withintheir borders. “If the states do not get ready for this, then they losethe ability to regulate. It’s the whole marketplace, “ BrianWebb, NAIC’s health-policy and legislation manager, told a forum hostedyesterday by the nonpartisan Alliance for... read more. Attorney Mike General DeWine... AllSchools are urged to SubmitSafety Plans(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today at the 2012Ohio Safe Schools Summit called on all schools to meetthe state law requirement that directs them to file a copy of bothfloor plans and safety plans with the Attorney General’s Ohio Bureauof Criminal Investigation (BCI). “The great majority of Ohio schoolshave filed their plans with us, but for more than 150 school buildingswe have not received anything,” said Attorney General DeWine. “We hopethat we will... read more. Car thief suspect taken into custody... Robert Scott Kindred apprehendedinRandolph County On July 30, 2012 at approximately 2124 hrs. the Darke County Sheriff’sOffice was advised by Randolph County Indiana Sheriff’s Office thattheyhad recovered a 2004 Ford Taurus, which had been stolen from DarkeCounty on July 17, 2012 from Klipstine Rd. in Versailles, Ohio. Thesuspect,Robert Scott Kindred, who was the possible suspect in stealing thisvehicle, was located with the vehicle sitting at an abandoned residenceon CountyRoad 400 E, just.... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... Manufacturerto move subsidiaryto Piqua, by Joe Cogliano Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - A Miami County equipment manufacturer plansto relocate a Cleveland-area subsidiary to its local headquarters.Piqua-based French Oil Mill Machinery Co. announced its TMP Inc.division will move on Aug. 8. Acquired in 2009, TMP supplies its ownline of technologically advanced hydraulic presses, rubber mixers,related components, controls and auxiliary equipment. “Moving TMP intoour Piqua headquarters is an additional step we are taking in order tofurther... read more. U.S. Congressman John Boehner… People will hold Democratsaccountable for tax hikes on small businesses- WASHINGTON, D.C. – At his weekly press briefing today, CongressmanJohn Boehner (R-West Chester) highlighted the stark contrast betweenRepublicans taking action to stop the small business tax hike thatthreatens 700,000 jobs, and a campaigning President Obama who has beentoo busy to even meet with his own jobs council that opposes the taxhikes he is... read more. Localsenjoy reception at Official Governor’s Residence Ohio Federation of Republican Women President Jean Turner (center) andFirst Vice-President Lyn Bliss were among a number of invitees held byGov. John Kasich at the Ohio State Official Governor’s Residence for asummer reception. The reception is an annual event sponsored by theOhio Republican Party (ORP) and the governor in a Republicanadministration... read more. DaytonDaily News... Casinotaxmoney helps cities, but still falls short, ByJoanne HuistSmith DAYTON — The first distribution of Ohio’s gross casino revenue tax willreach county coffers by the end of the month. Local officials calledthe new funding source a welcome infusion to lean budgets, but say theincome falls far short of making up for state budget cuts in recentyears. “At this point, any dollars that can be used for generaloperations are certainly welcome,” Joe Tuss, Montgomery County’sinterim county administrator said. “We’ve gone through extremelydifficult budget reductions... read more. Toledo Blade... Areabusinessowners bash Obama’s remarks, By Tom Troy Event 1 of 24 set up by Romney camp in swing states - Citing vision andhard work by themselves or other family members, several small-businessowners joined the Republican effort Wednesday to condemn PresidentObama’s campaign remarks that they say suggest entrepreneurs didn’tbuild their own businesses. The anti-Obama, push-back event in Hollandwas sponsored by... read more. Toledo Blade... Obamakeeps leadas Romney focus wavers, By James O’Toole President up 6 points in national polls - Despite the worst economy inmost voters’ memories, Republican presidential candidate, formerMassachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, trails President Obama in most nationalsurveys. This week, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal released a newpresidential poll showing President Obama with a six-point advantageover his Republican challenger -- the... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey Told Us:Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, July 28, 2012 - During this past week, Mitt Romney opened hisbiggest lead in over a month over President Obama. During the sameweek, consumer confidence fell to the lowest level of 2012. It’sno coincidence that they happened during the same week. Long-termoptimism about the U.S. Economy Fell to a new low this month. Just 40%believe the economy will be stronger in FIVE years... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Droughtcould push food prices up by 3 to 5 percent next year By Shaina Cavazos - Thursday, July 26, 2012 - CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thissummer’s record-breaking heat could push food prices up by 3 to 5percent next year, nearly double the normal rate, according the latestprojection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Expect to pay up to5 percent more for beef, 4.5 percent more for dairy, 4 percent more foreggs and poultry and 3.5 percent more for pork because of soaringanimal feed costs. “It’s all contingent on corn prices, and here in... read more. Ohio Governor John Kasich… ExecutiveOrder signed to help drought-stricken farmers Severe heat, sparse rain hurting Ohio’s farmers, agriculture industry -COLUMBUS – In response to severe heat and rainfall shortages acrosslarge areas of the state which are afflicting much of Ohio’sagriculture industry, today Governor John R. Kasich signed ExecutiveOrder 2012-11K instructing state agencies to help farmers reduce thenegative impacts of the drought and to seek federal assistance. As partof Kasich... read more. WHIO-TV Video… Cleaningup afterthe storm in Bradford, By Steve Baker BRADFORD, Ohio — Residents and village crews spent Thursday cleaning upand accessing the damages following a storm Wednesday evening with highwinds and heavy rain. There were no reports of any injuries. A largetree limb fell on and damaged a home in East Oakwood Street, the homeof Velma Ingle. On Liberty Street a limb damaged a parked car andpickup truck. The winds... read more. CNSNews… HouseGOP LeadersIndicate They Will Fund Implementation of Obamacare By Elizabeth Harrington and Jon Street - July 24, 2012 - (CNSNews.com)–When asked whether the House Republicans would permit or not permitfunding for Obamacare in whatever legislation is enacted to fund thegovernment after Sept. 30--when the current funding legislation runsout--House Speaker John Boehner responded that “our goal would be tomake sure the government is funded,” thus indicating that HouseRepublicans do plan to fund implementation of Obamacare... read more. Dayton Business Journal... DaytonDaily News, union ink tentative agreement, byOlivia Barrow Monday, July 23, 2012 - The Dayton Newspaper Guild has negotiated atentative agreement for a new contract with the Dayton Daily News,according to The Newspaper Guild. The guild’s previous contract expiredin 1989. One of the major points of disagreement in the negotiationscentered on outsourcing and whether the newspaper could allowfreelancers to work in place of laisd off... read more. ChillicotheGazette... Prisonsshift culture to provide safer environment, meaningful programs forinmates- Jul. 22, 2012 - After spending more than three years of hispost-adolescent formative years locked up, Daniel Ervin is just fourmonths away from heading home to South Charleston. Ervin, 25, shakeshis head a little as he gives a basic explanation of what brought himto Chillicothe: hanging out on the streets with the wrong people andbreaking into people’s homes. “It just caught up to me,” he said. InJuly 2009, he was sent to prison for three years and six months oncharges of breaking... read more. CNS News… Boehner:Americans‘Asking Where Are the Jobs,’ Not Where Romney’s Tax Returns Are,By Elizabeth Harrington - July 18, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – Speaker ofthe House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said demands that Republicanpresidential candidate Mitt Romney release additional tax returnsbeyond the two years of returns he has disclosed is a “side show,”designed to distract from the real issues. At a Capitol Hill Club pressconference in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday... read more. SafetyServiceDirector Rodd Hale resigns Assumes position of Versailles Village Administrator August 20 - OnJuly 25, 2012, Greenville Safety Service Director Rodd Hale sent thefollowing: While I am very excited to start a new chapter in my career,it is with regret I will be leaving the administrative team of the Cityof Greenville. I sincerely value the time I have spent as the Directorof Public Safety and Service for the City of Greenville. Theopportunity provided... read more. Courtof ClaimsApproves $1.5 Million ODOT Settlement Agreement,By BretCrow July 18, 2012 - The Court of Claims of Ohio approved a $1.5 millionsettlement agreement between the Ohio Department of Transportation andKokosing Construction Co., Inc. on July 12 for extra work performed andextra costs incurred on a road construction project. The agreementsettles a nine-count complaint Kokosing filed in the Court of Claims onMarch 14, 2008 related to the Interstate 70/I-75 InterchangeRehabilitation Project north of Dayton. After awarding the constructionbid... read more. CNS News... WhiteHouse: ObamaNot Gutting Welfare Reform By Fred Lucas - July 18, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – White House PressSecretary Jay Carney denied the Obama administration was trying toundermine the work requirements of the 1996 welfare reform law and saidthe Department of Health and Human Services waiver proposal is similarto what Republican lawmakers backed in the last decade. Late last week,the Department of Health and Human Services... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey ToldUs:Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, July 21, 2012 - Central to the race between President Obamaand Mitt Romney is the question of how big a role the governmentshould play in the economy. Voters strongly believe that it’s importantfor the government to create an environment that encourages economicgrowth and ensures economic fairness, but growth is seen as the higherpriority. Most believe Romney champions growth, while Obama is morefocused on fairness. “The president’s attacks on Romney’s time a... read more. The Business Journals... The5price traps airlines set for flyers,by Joe Brancatelli,  Wednesday, July 18, 2012 - A proposed settlement last week betweenbanks and retailers has opened the door for credit-card surcharges.Guess which industry can’t wait to ding you a few bucks for theprivilege of using your Visa or MasterCard when you make a purchase?That’s a trick question, of course. This is, after all, a column aboutbusiness travel, and you probably already know that U.S. airlineshave been salivating at.... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… FugitiveSafe Surrender EventsScheduled (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat two Fugitive Safe Surrender programs will be conductedsimultaneously in Columbiana and Trumbull counties at the end of July.The Fugitive Safe Surrender program provides an opportunity for adultswith outstanding, non-violent warrants to turn themselves in toauthorities in a peaceful, faith-based environment. Trumbull County:First United Methodist Church of Warren, Rev. Rick Oaks... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Ohiohome sales climb nearly 11%,by Olivia Barrow Thursday, July 19, 2012 - Ohio’s housing market continued to rebound inJune. Home sales rose 10.6 percent throughout the state in June,compared to the same period last year. The increase marked the 12thconsecutive month of gains, according to Multiple Listing Servicesdata. With 52,896 new and existing homes sold in the first half of2012, the market has shown a 12.8 percent increase in sales... read more. ToledoBlade... Obamacampaignsues Husted over early voting issue, By JimProvance COLUMBUS — President Obama’s campaign sued Ohio Secretary of State JonHusted today to keep him from enforcing a law closing the doors toin-person early voting during the three days immediately preceding theNov. 6 election. Lawmakers recently undid a far-reaching,Republican-backed election reform law when faced with a Democratic-ledeffort to repeal it at the polls, but they did not repeal a separatesubsequently passed law that duplicated one provision of the repealedlaw. That... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Department… Motorcycle,Pickup truck accidentnearAnsonia On July 21, 2012 at approximately 3:02 PM, Darke County Deputies alongwith Ansonia Fire, Ansonia Rescue, and Versailles Rescue weredispatched to the intersection of State Route 185 and Greenville St.Marys Road on a reported crash involving a pickup truck and amotorcycle.  Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006HarleyDavidson motorcycle, driven by Theodore Mottashed, 63, of Lebanon, wassouthbound on Greenville St. Marys Road when it failed to yield at astop sign... read more. OhioDepartment of Transportation... ODOTnegotiates lower electric bill saving taxpayers millions COLUMBUS (Monday, July 16, 2012) – Continuing a trend of improvingefficiency, the Ohio Department of Transportation has, once again,saved millions of dollars and redirected it from its operating budgetto major new construction projects around the state. ODOT recentlyselected DP&L Energy Resources to supply electric to ODOT’sfacilities around the state, saving the department $2 million annually.“With absolutely no cost to taxpayers, we were able to find enoughmoney to pave a 20 mile... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... Ohioending overdraft fees on unemployment-benefits card by Adrian Burns, Staff reporter - Monday, July 16, 2012 - The state isending its practice of allowing U.S. Bank   to sock theunemployed with overdraft fees on debit cards loaded with unemploymentpayments, the liberal Cleveland think tank Policy Matters Ohio isreporting. “Beginning Wednesday, July 18, the prepaid debit card Ohiouses for unemployment compensation, the Reliacard, will no longercharge $17 per ATM or transaction-based overdraft,” the group said inan announcement... read more. Yahoo... MassShooting at Colo.Movie Theater, 12 People Dead, By AnthonyCastellano A lone gunman dressed in riot gear burst into a movie theater inAurora, Colo., at a midnight showing of the Batman film “The DarkKnight Rises” and methodically began shooting patrons, killing at least12 people and injuring at least 50. The suspect, James Holmes, 24, ofAurora, was caught by police in the parking lot of the Century 16 MovieTheaters, nine miles outside Denver, after... read more. OhioSupreme Court… CourtNews Ohioto Feature Expanded Judicial System News July 16, 2012 - On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Ohio will launch acomprehensive, multichannel, multimedia program covering news about theOhio judicial system for the judiciary, the legal community, and thegeneral public. Billed as the “news bureau for the Ohio judicialbranch,” Court News Ohio will feature expanded news about Ohio courtsonline (courtnewsohio.gov), in print (a monthly print publication CourtNews Ohio Review) and on TV (CNO-TV, which will air on the OhioChannel). A service of the... read more. Lyn Bliss, Greenville… Localgraduates from Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute Betty D. Montgomery, chair of the board for The Jo Ann Davidson OhioLeadership Institute, announced that Lyn Bliss of Darke Countygraduated from the prestigious statewide Jo Ann Davidson OhioLeadership Institute at a recent ceremony that took place in WashingtonD.C. “These outstanding women leaders are dedicated to applying theirexperience and skills to community and public service,” saidMontgomery. “It is inspiring... read more. ColumbusDispatch... Medicaidestimate grows by $365M State says several factors raised 2014-15 cost expectations 63% - Gov.John Kasich says he doesn’t know if the state can afford adding morepoor, uninsured Ohioans to Medicaid rolls as called for in PresidentBarack Obama’s health-care law. Even if Ohio opts out of expandingMedicaid, as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month states could do,the Kasich administration projects nearly 400,000 Ohioans alreadyeligible will sign up, costing taxpayers $940 million in 2014 and 2015.That price tag... read more. Dayton Business Journal, J.C.Penney analyst: ‘CEO has to go’ by Steven R.Thompson Wednesday, July 11, 2012 - After J.C. Penney cut 350 employees from itsPlano headquarters Tuesday, retail analysts said they are unsure howthe company can continue to follow through with its transformationstrategy. One analyst even said it was time for CEO Ron Johnson toleave. “The next step is the CEO has to go, I guess,” said HowardDavidowitz, chairman of New York-based Davidowitz &... read more. Greenville City Council… Zoninglegislation to be prepared for vote Aug. 7,By BobRobinson Council President Burkett voted “yea” to break a 3-3 tie - GREENVILLE -“That’s the property we are willing to invest our money in,” saidRamsey Development’s Tim Huber. “If we can’t build there I guess wedon’t build in Greenville.” Following a Public Hearing where theCouncil room was packed with supporters for Trilogy Healthcare,Greenville City Council President John Burkett heard a... read more. Searchcontinues for suspectafter new sighting Robert Kindred object of two-day search in Darke County On July 16, 2012 at approximately 11:19 AM the Miami County Sheriff’sOffice notified the Darke County Sheriff’s Office that a deputy wasrequesting assistance in stopping a stolen vehicle near Bradford,Ohio.  A pursuit of this vehicle ensued and at approximately11:39AM the suspect entered a cornfield... read more. T.E.A.Patriots Host Mitt RomneyRepresentative, ByBeverly Hughes The Darke County T.E.A. Patriots met Sunday afternoon, July 15 atLighthouse Christian Center, Greenville. Terri Studer from the SWDistrict of Ohio Romney for President Campaign facilitated discussionabout current voter identification activities. She was joined by NickBrusky, Ohio Republican Party Western Ohio... read more. Poll Worker Training AndDevelopment Funding Released Release of funds part of ongoing preparations for the 2012 PresidentialElection Darke County receives $3,520.31. COLUMBUS – As part of an ongoingeffort to ensure the proper safeguards are in place for Election Dayand it is a positive experience for voters, Ohio Secretary of State JonHusted today announced that $760,000 in poll worker training... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Outsourcing?U.S. Olympic team’s China-made uniforms become political fodder- By Stephen Koff - Friday, July 13, 2012 - WASHINGTON -- Nothing saysU.S.A. like red, white and blue. But the labels on the U.S. Olympicteam’s clothing in the Olympics opening ceremony on July 27 will say“made in China,” reports ABC News. And that displeases at least onelawmaker. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat harshly critical offoreign outsourcing, wrote to the U.S. Olympic Committee Thursday toremind it that there are fully capable clothiers in the United... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Report:Ohio middle of the pack for doing business, byDBJ Staff Friday, July 13, 2012 - Ohio sits squarely in the middle, when it comesto the best states in which to do business. The Buckeye State ranks No.25 in a new report from CNBC. The report scores all 50 states amid 51areas of competitiveness, which includes advice from groups such as theNational Association of Manufacturers and the Council onCompetitiveness. The 51 areas are sorted into 10... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office... Activefugitive search ongoing On July 15, 2012 at approximately 11:20 AM Darke County Deputies weredispatched to the 7300 block of Spidel Road, in reference to a possibleburglary in progress.  The suspect was last scene travelingwesttowards State Route 571 in a tan Honda.  Deputies observed avehicle matching the description approximately nine minuteslater.  Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop in the 7300block of... read more. DaytonDaily News... Statesenator urges bidding for safety agencies’ radios,ByAmelia Robinson Thursday, July 12, 2012 - Competitive bids for the purchase offirst-responder radios could save up to $1 billion, State Sen. ChrisWidener projected last week. The ability of safety agencies that jointhe state’s Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) to seekbids from various companies was included in the state capital budgetapproved in April. Joining MARCS would save communities the heavyexpense of building and maintaining their own radio systems andallow... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office… ATVAccident On July 14, 2012 at 5:30 P.M. Darke County Deputies along with SpiritMedical and CareFlight were dispatched to the Eldora Raceway in DarkeCounty Ohio on an ATV accident. Preliminary investigation revealed thatan ATV driven by a Caleb Martin (23), of Bowling Green, Ohio, lostcontrol in the camping area causing the rear passenger to fall off. Therear passenger, Tyler Santogrossi (25) also of Bowling Green, Ohio wastransported to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton by... read more. CNS News… BalancingBudget atCurrent Spending Would Take Record High Taxation By Terence P. Jeffrey - July 10, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) - Both PresidentBarack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney haverecently said they would like to balance the federal budget. However,according to data published by Obama’s own White House Office ofManagement and Budget, accomplishing that goal at anywhere near thecurrent level of federal spending would require imposing... read more. WHIO-TV… Birdcausesfield firenear Greenville July 12, 2012 - DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — Dayton Power and Light hasconfirmed that a bird flew into a transformer at the DP& Lsubstation in the 5000 block of  Sebring Warner Road nearGreenville Thursday afternoon. It created a spark and ignited a dryfield below. Fortunately, no power outages were reported. Officialsfrom DP&L said the substation also suffered no damage.Firefightersfrom a eight departments were called to a wheat field after gettingreports of the large fire. The fire charred about... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Totalof 667 Internet Cafes Operating in Ohio DeWine Renews Call for Regulation - (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine today announced that his office received 667affidavits from owners of internet cafes. The affidavits were requiredas part of Am. Sub. H.B. 386 which put a moratorium on any newelectronic sweepstakes parlors or internet cafés. All sweepstakesestablishments in existence and operating prior to the effectivedate... read more. StateSenator Keith Faber... AreaSchools Granted Ohio School Facilities Commission Funding COLUMBUS — Following the Ohio School Facilities Commission meetingtoday, State Senator Keith Faber (R-Celina) announces three WesternOhio schools will receive state funding for much needed improvements.“Our area students are among the brightest in the state and theycontinue to impress us year after year,” said Faber.  “Much oftheir success relies on having an appropriate environment to learn andthrive. I would like to congratulate our communities and schools onthis latest... read more. The Business Journals… NFIB:Small business confidence plunged in June, byKent Hoover Tuesday, July 10, 2012 - A widely followed index of small businessindicators plunged 3 points in June to 91.4, its lowest level in eightmonths. “All in all, this month’s survey was a real economic downer,”said William Dunkelberg, chief economist for the National Federation ofIndependent Business. The index, which is based on a random sample of740 NFIB members, found that small business owners... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… Passengersfall from back of pickup, ends in one fatality On July 12, 2012 at approximately 8:14 PM Darke County Deputies, alongwith Ansonia Rescue, Rossburg Fire, Spirit Medical Transport, and twoCareFlight helicopter's were dispatched to the 4400 block of North StarFt. Loramie Road in reference to a one vehicle injury accident.Preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Ford F-250, driven by HollyBurlile, 33, Tiffin, Ohio was traveling out of the Eldora Speedway... read more. ToledoBlade… Ohiotakes toughhealth law stance, By Tyrel Linkhorn Lt. Gov. Taylor rejects insurance exchange - BOWLING GREEN -- Lt. Gov.Mary Taylor used her strongest words yet in saying Ohio won’t set upits own state-run health insurance exchange, instead deferring to thefederal government to establish the key programs required under theAffordable Care Act. “At this point, we are not going to set up astate-based exchange,” Ms. Taylor told a group of about 200 Tuesdayduring a luncheon meeting of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Knowwhen to start your own business, by RobynDavis Sekula Friday, May 4, 2012 - For Michael Bridges, the decision to start hisown business came at a crossroads in his career when his employerlooked to make some changes at the company. That spurred him to quithis job and pursue a dream he had since college. “I was 40 and alwayshad the desire to start and run my own business, and I viewed it as aonce in a lifetime opportunity,” he said. More than a decade ago... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… StartofFunds for Demolition Grant Recipients Available (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that grantfunds for the demolition of abandoned houses through the Moving OhioForward Program are now available for approved grant recipients. Afterapplications or requests for extensions were received from all 88 Ohiocounties, the initial grant contracts were sent to approved countiesstarting today. “I am pleased that every county in Ohio is making aneffort to utilize these funds,” said DeWine. “One of the biggest... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… NursingHome Drug Diversion Announced (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat he is intensifying his efforts to stop pharmaceutical drug theftsin adult care facilities by offering investigative assistance to everynursing home, assisted living agency, and residential care facility inOhio. The effort is in response to growing concerns over prescriptiondrug abuse, including drug diversion (theft), by care facility... read more. Stateofficials mobilize to check on residents,Ohioans urged to check on those at risk from severe weather The message from state officials this morning is clear: Check onothers, and take care of them, in this extraordinary heat.It’s too easy, they said, to assume that someone else will. The elderlyare especially vulnerable, of course. They can beafraid to open their doors and windows for safety, and their homesquickly become hot boxes. “Knock on doors and say hello.If you have water, share it. If you know where a cooling station is,get your neighbor there,” said Ron Hakes, a regionalemergency services... read more. Rasmussen… WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, July 07, 2012 - Most Americans took time off this past weekto celebrate the nation’s birth. Seventy-seven percent (77%)watched fireworks, 62% enjoyed a cookout, and 33% sang patriotic songs.They did so largely because 84% are proud to be Americans.Two-out-of-three (64%) rate the Fourth of July as one of our nation’smost important holidays. And, overwhelmingly, Americansstill embrace the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence.Ninety-four percent (94%) believe... read more. AG Mike DeWine...TwoMoreTelemarketing Scammersin Custody; Two Remain At Large, (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that twomore members of a multi-state telemarketing ring,including its alleged ringleader, have been taken into custody byauthorities in Ohio and Florida. Only two of the 18indicted suspects remain at large. “I am pleased the ringleader of ascam that targeted vulnerable senior citizens isin custody and will face his day in court,” DeWine said. “We are... read more. CBSNews… Boehner:I can’t make you love Mitt Romney, By LucyMadison When House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, endorsed Mitt Romney forpresident in April, he pledged to do “everything I can to help himwin.” In his words, however, the one thing he can’t do is make voters“fall in love” with the candidate. Speaking last week at a fundraiserin Wheeling, W.Va., Boehner was surprisingly candid in hischaracterization of Romney’s candidacy when asked, in aquestion-and-answer session: “Can you make me love Mitt Romney?” “No,”he answered, as first reported by... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Droughtputting pressure on Ohio farmers, by Rick Rouan Friday, July 6, 2012 - Dry weather that has blistered the Midwest inrecent weeks is landing a haymaker on the state’s crops. In the lastweek, the share of Ohio corn crops that are rated poor or very poor hasgrown from 15 percent to 26 percent, an Ohio Department ofAgriculture    spokeswoman said. The shareof soybeansthat are rated poor or very poor has grown from 20 percent to 30percent during that time. “It’s... read more. CNS News... Rep.Steve King Says Obama Is Governing Like a ‘King’,By Elizabeth Harrington July 2, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) -- Pointing to the Health and HumanServices regulation that will require virtually all health care plansto cover sterilization, artificial contraception and abortifacients forfree, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said that President Barack Obama isgoverning like a “king.” The mandate, which goes into effect on Aug. 1,requires nearly all health insurers to provide sterilizations,contraceptives, and... read more. Cincinnati Enquirer… Mandelcalls health care ‘defining’ in Ohio race, ByDan Sewell Jul. 5, 2012 - GEORGETOWN, OHIO (AP) — The Republican challenger hopingto unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said Thursday the federalhealth care overhaul is a pivotal issue in their campaign. StateTreasurer Josh Mandel, beginning a two-day swing through southern andeastern Ohio, said Brown provided crucial support for President BarackObama’s legislation, while he would push for a repeal... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Kasichsigns bill that changes state tourism funding at Rock Hall By Rachel Dissell - Thursday, July 06, 2012 - CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gov.John Kasich chose one of Cleveland’s largest tourist attractions, TheRock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, to sign a bill Thursday thatcould double the amount spent each year promoting Ohio tourism -- thestate’s fourth largest industry. The legislation jump starts afive-year experiment to determine whether Ohio’s tourism industry cansupport its own marketing fund using a portion of sales tax revenue,which officials... read more. WHIO-TV… DarkeCo. man to prisonin Meth case, By Steve Baker DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — In Darke County Common Pleas Court in GreenvilleFriday Lyle Duke, 36, of near West Manchester entered a plea of guiltyto one count of illegal manufacturing of drugs. His arrest came onApril 5, 2012. He consented to a search of his barn located on U. S.Route 127 on the Darke County side of the Darke-Preble County line.Duke also reportedly confessed to investigators. He was... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… CheckComputers for Possible Infection from International Fraud Scheme- (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Attorney General Mike DeWine today warned Ohioansthat if their computers are infected with a certain kind of malware,they may not be able to connect to the Internet as of July 9, 2012.Temporary servers, set up to give those with computers infected in aninternational “click-fraud” scheme time to repair their systems, arescheduled to be turned off on Monday. “These servers have been runningfor several months but are set to shut down soon,” said Attorney... read more. Dayton Business Journal… Daytontech jobs carry six-figure starting salaries,by LauraEnglehart Monday, July 2, 2012 - As technology rapidly changes and new productscome online, companies have created new positions — and paired themwith substantial salaries. From smartphone applications to cybersecurity, businesses in the Dayton region require skilled informationtechnology workers, and they’re willing to shell out hundreds ofthousands annually to pay them. Jobs that earn top dollar at entrylevel include application... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Gov.John Kasich: Rainy day fund to see boost to $482 million Aaron Marshall, The Plain Dealer - 07/03/2012 - COLUMBUS, Ohio - Thestate of Ohio will tuck away another $235 million in its rainy day fundwhen the books close on fiscal 2012. But storm clouds are looming overthe next state operating budget, Gov. John Kasich said Tuesday. Kasichand state budget director Tim Keen laid out the state’s financialpicture for reporters during a conference call. The sunniest news wasthat Ohio’s rainy day fund -- as low as 89 cents in 2011 -- is set tonearly... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Manufacturingsector takes unexpected slide, by Joe Cogliano Monday, July 2, 2012 - U.S. manufacturing has taken an unexpecteddownturn. The industry went into contraction mode last month following34 consecutive months of expansion, according to a Monday report fromthe Institute for Supply Management. The PMI, an index used to measurethe strength of manufacturing, was at 49.7 percent in June, a decreaseof 3.8 percentage points... read more. Fox News.com... Unemploymentrate holds at 8.2 percent, with just 80,000 jobs added in June Speaker of the House John Boehner responds to the report - July 06,2012 - Employers added a meager 80,000 jobs in June, marking the thirdstraight month of weak hiring and raising concern that the economy hastaken a turn for the worse. The Labor Department reported Friday thatthe jobless rate was unchanged at 8.2 percent. The number of jobs addedin June was lower than expected, and rounds out a... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine… SexualPredator arrested on New Child Pornography Charges (ATWATER TOWNSHIP, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announcedtoday the arrest of a registered sexual predator on two charges ofpandering sexually oriented material involving a minor.  Thearrest happened in Portage County this afternoon after agents with theAttorney General’s Crimes Against Children Task Force said they foundevidence the man was downloading and sharing child pornography.Authorities with the Portage County Sheriff’s Office assisted in thearrest of Scott... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… BewareTraveling Contractors following Major Storms Tips for Repair and Removal Services - (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Following theviolent weather in Ohio this weekend, Attorney General Mike DeWinetoday offered a warning to residents to beware of traveling contractorswho try to take advantage of homeowners in need of assistance. “Theaftermath of the storms we recently experienced in Ohio has beendevastating,” Attorney General DeWine said. “But by working... read more. AGDeWine andCuyahoga Prosecutor Mason Announce Casino Indictments (CLEVELAND) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Cuyahoga CountyProsecutor Bill Mason, and members of the Ohio Casino ControlCommission announced today the indictments of seven men accused ofcheating at the newly opened Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland. “From thevery beginning we warned the would-be cheaters that our gaming agents,working under the Casino Control... read more. BeagleAppointed to Governor’s Executive Workforce Board COLUMBUS — State Senator Bill Beagle (R – Tipp City) was recentlychosen to serve on the newly-created Governor’s Executive WorkforceBoard. Governor John Kasich established the Executive Workforce Boardon February 9, 2012 through an executive order. As a member of thepanel, Beagle will play a role in advising the Governor and the Officeof Workforce Transformation regarding the development, implementation,and continuous improvement of Ohio’s workforce system. “Our... read more. Ohio Governor John Kasich… KasichDeposits $235.1 Million in Rainy Day Fund Ohio Ends FY2012 with a Balanced Budget and in Strong Fiscal Health -COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich announced that Ohio finishedFY2012—the first full fiscal year of his governorship—in strong fiscalhealth, with a balanced budget and a $235.1 million deposit in theBudget Stabilization Fund (BSF), Ohio’s rainy day fund.  WithKasich’s new deposit today, the state’s rainy day fund balance climbsto $482... read more. Treasurer Josh Mandel... Victimsof Severe Weather Eligible for Reduced Interest Rates COLUMBUS - Residents across Ohio impacted by damaging winds and severeweather during storms the weekend of June 30 could be eligible foremergency assistance in the form of reduced interest rates on loansunder Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel’s Renew Ohio & Rebuild OhioPrograms.  Small businesses and homeowners who apply for bankloans for construction, restoration, or cash flow for... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Tangiblesteps taken towardfulfilling education campaign pledge By Aaron Marshall - Promise: Scrap former Gov. Ted Strickland’sevidence-based school-funding model -- Gov. John Kasich - Regardless ofwhether you agree with him, Gov. John Kasich doesn’t like to beataround the bush. The Republican governor wasn’t exactly mincing hiswordsback on the campaign trail in 2010 when he pledged to completely undothe school-funding plan of Democratic Governor Ted Strickland. Kasichtold The Cincinnati Enquirer that if he was elected governor... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… $40Million Settlement for Ohio Medicaid (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today thatOhio and various other states and the federal government have reachedan agreement in principle for the largest healthcare fraud settlementin U.S. history. Under the terms of the settlement, GlaxoSmithKline(GSK)has agreed to pay $3 billion to resolve allegations that GSK engaged invarious illegal schemes related to the marketing and pricing of drugsitmanufactures.... read more. CNN... Ahealth care ‘Judas’ recounts his conversion,By John Blake (CNN) – When Wendell Potter first saw them, he froze. “It felt liketouching an electrical fence,” he says. “I remember tearing up andthinking, how could this be real.” Thousands of them had lined up undera cloudy sky in an open field. Many had camped out the night before.When their turns came, doctors treated them in animal stalls and ongurneys placed on rain-soaked sidewalks. They were Americans who neededbasic medical care. Potter had driven to the Wise County Fairgrounds inVirginia... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine… Ohioanscan now Register for BlueAlerts (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat Ohioans can now get Blue Alert information sent directly to theircell phone, email or fax machine. The Ohio Blue Alert system went intoeffect earlier this month.  Similar to an AMBER Alert, whichnotifies the public of a kidnapped child, a Blue Alert will rapidlybroadcast information to the public advising them of an at-largesuspect who... read more. State Senator Bill Beagle... WestTroy Tool and Machine to Expand Operations, Add 35 New Positions- Future plans help to retain 49 existing jobs - COLUMBUS— West TroyTool and Machine, Inc. received a big boost today as the DevelopmentFinancing Advisory Council (DFAC) approved $2.35 million to assist withtheir plans for expansion.  The loan, made available throughtheOhio Enterprise Bond Fund (OEBF), will allow for the Troy-basedfacility to purchase new production equipment and add 35 new... read more. Kasich Declares State of Emergency... Severe Storms knock out Poweracross 2/3 ofOhio Power Outages for One Million Homes, Businesses and Looming Heat WaveMandate Immediate Statewide Response - COLUMBUS – Today Governor JohnR. Kasich declared a state of emergency for the entire state of Ohioafter severe storms and high winds knocked out power for approximatelyone million power company customers across two-thirds of thestate.  The widespread... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Report:Lack of health coverage costs lives in Ohio,by LauraEnglehart Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Seventeen Ohioans died each week in 2010because they could not receive the health care they needed, accordingto a new report from Families USA. That translates to more than 900people annually between 25 and 64 years old. The report, Dying forCoverage, applies methodology from a 2002 Institute ofMedicine    report to state-level populationandmortality data... read more. DaytonDaily News... Newlawhits sex traffickers with tougher penalties,By CorneliusFrolik Thursday, June 28, 2012 - Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday signed into lawlegislation that provides more resources and protections to victims ofhuman trafficking and stiffens penalties facing criminal offenders. Ata ceremony in Toledo, which is one of the top recruiting cities foryoung sex-trafficking victims, Kasich praised state lawmakers for theirbipartisan support of legislation that will help combat the troublingactivity of modern slavery. “In regard to this horrible, horriblecrime... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Report:Lack of health coverage costs lives in Ohio,by LauraEnglehart Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Seventeen Ohioans died each week in 2010because they could not receive the health care they needed, accordingto a new report from Families USA. That translates to more than 900people annually between 25 and 64 years old. The report, Dying forCoverage, applies methodology from a 2002 Institute ofMedicine    report to state-level populationandmortality data... read more. Gov.Kasich Information Office... Kasichsigns 13 bills into law June 26, 2012 - COLUMBUS – Today Gov. John R. Kasich signed thefollowing pieces of legislation into law: H.B. 331 (Dovilla, Bubp)creates the Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council;H.B. 415 (Sprague, Hill) modifies the maximum amount the Treasurer ofState may invest in agricultural linked deposits in the AgriculturalLinked Deposit Program; H.B. 437 (Roegner, Patmon) increases the milesof out-of-state travel that a school district board can authorize forits... read more. BoehnersaysHouse will repeal if Court doesn’t strike it down June 27, 2012 - Congressman Boehner on ObamaCare: “If the Court DoesNot Strike Down the Entire Law, the House Will Move to Repeal What’sLeft of It” - WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a press conference today,Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) discussed Republicans’ planfor jobs, highlighting next month’s House vote to stop the tax hike onsmall businesses and reaffirming Republicans’ commitment to fullyrepeal any part of ObamaCare left intact by the Supreme Court’sruling... read more. WHIO-TV... NewHampshire mancaptured in Darke Co. DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — The Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension StrikeTeam and Acting United States Marshal Patrick Sedoti for the SouthernDistrict of Ohio announced today that  JeffreySPICER  wasarrested  Wednesday morning in northern Darke County villageofNew Weston. The SOFAST team received a request from the New HampshireJoint Fugitive Task Force for assistance in... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… June12 injury accident victim county’s 8th fatality Susan North succumbs to her injuries - On June 12, 2012 atapproximately 10:12 AM Darke County Deputies, Greenville TownshipRescue and Fire, Arcanum Rescue and Careflight were dispatched to theintersection of US Route 127 and Kruckeburg Road in reference to a twovehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2012Freightliner box truck, driven by Dylan W. Laird, 23 from Kettering... read more. Darke County Fire Chiefs... Openburning advisory in Darke Co. DARKE Co. — The Darke County Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc. and ourmember departments, with the support of Darke County Sheriff TobySpencer, is issuing an “Open Burning Advisory” for all of Darke Countyuntil further notice. The unusually dry conditions warrant such anadvisory with respect to all types of outside open burning and fires.The National Weather Service and the Ohio... read more. SiliconValley / San Jose Business Journal… Business social media use ishighest by faron Facebook Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - More businesses are using Facebook in theirsocial media strategies than any other network, a new study says. Thereport from InSite Consulting shows that 80 percent of Americancompanies use Facebook, compared to 45 percent that have a Twitteraccount, 48 percent that are present on LinkedIn and 31 percent who useYouTube. The survey also found that six out of 10 U.S. companies saidthey listen to consumer conversations on social media. Eight... read more. The Business Journals... CEOssay government fiscal flux a black cloud over hiring, sales,by Kent Hoover - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - The CEOs of the nation’slargest corporations are dialing back their expectations for sales,hiring and capital investment -- and it’s largely Washington’s fault.That’s the message from the latest survey of Business Roundtablemembers. The second-quarter survey found that 75 percent ofbig-business CEOs expect their sales to increase in the next sixmonths, down 6... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Large-scalelayoffs fall in Ohio; lowest in U.S. since ’07 Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - Mass layoffs affected fewer Ohio workers inMay compared with a year ago, according to federal data released thisweek. Last month, Ohio employers laid off at least 50 workers 37 times,resulting in 3,401 initial claims for unemployment insurance. That’sdown from May 2011, when employers laid off workers en masse 63 times,sending 5,170 workers to the... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, June 23, 2012 - Next week promises to be a big one. The U.S.Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionalityof President Obama’s national health care law and Arizona’s lawcracking down on illegal immigrants. If voters had their way, thehealth care law would be overturned and the state law upheld, butwhatever the high court rules, expect political fireworks. Voteropinions of the Supreme Court usually change little, but those ratingsjumped earlier this year when.... read more. Ohio Senator Bill Beagle... TroyMain Street Maintains Accreditation for Revitalization Efforts COLUMBUS— State Senator Bill Beagle (R- Tipp City) recognized the TroyMain Street organization today for their continued downtownrevitalization efforts and for maintaining their National Main StreetAccreditation. Developed over 20 years ago, the non-profit grouppromotes downtown recruitment and retention, improving the visual imageof downtown and coordinating downtown community events. “Troy MainStreet has helped revitalize not only... read more. Greenvilleman loses leg in motorcycle crash,By Steve.Baker@CMGOhio.com MIAMI COUNTY — A man lost his leg after crashing his motorcycle into apickup truck on Ohio 41 near Eldean Roadbetween Troy and Covington late Saturday evening. Miami County deputiesidentified the victim as 34-year-old Tristan Black,of Greenville. Deputies said the motorcycle appeared to be driving leftof center around a curve, when the driver drove themotorcycle into the drivers-side door of the pickup. Black wastransported aboard CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Thewomandriver.... read more. Secretary of State Jon Husted... Ohio’sSpecial Election is August7, 2012 Voters in 36 Ohio counties to decide 62 local issues. - Editor’s Note:Darke County has one local issue: 2.5 mill/s additionalfor cpt, commencing in 2012, first due in calendar year 2013, forgeneral permanent improvements. Secretary of State Jon Hustedtoday announced that while statewide preparations are well underway forthe 2012 General Election in November, voters in 36 Ohiocounties will be heading to the polls on August 7 to weigh in on.... read more. DeWine,MiamiCty Prosecutor announce Arrests in Telemarketing Fraud Ring (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Miami CountyProsecutor Gary Nasal today announced felony charges against 18suspectsaccused of running a telemarketing fraud ring from Ohio and Floridathat has stolen millions of dollars from thousands of victims in 41statessince 2007. Thirteen of the suspects have been taken into custody inOhio, Florida, Indiana, and New York. Those from out of state will beextradited to Ohio... read more. WHIO-TV...Greenvillebank robberflees empty handed, By Steve.Baker@CMGOhio.com GREENVILLE, Ohio — On Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 11:29am, officers ofthe Greenville Police Department were dispatched toMembers Choice Credit Union, 725 Pine St., Greenville, on a robbery.Employees advised that a white male estimated in his 40’s wearinga sock hat, sunglasses, blue jeans, and a button white checkered shirtwith yellow and gray stripes entered the bank demanding moneyfrom a teller. The suspect had.... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... CEOpay continues to climb Monday, June 18, 2012 - The leaders of large public companies broughthome an average pay hike of 5 percent last year, according to anarticle in the New York Times. The median pay for the 200 largestpublic company CEOs was $14.5 million in 2011. The increase comes amidtop executive pay remaining in the public spotlight. However, the CEOpay increase in 2011 was actually a drop from the previous year. In theDayton region, the top 10 CEOs of local public companies combined to... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Aetnasues Ohio over Medicaid contracts, by Rick Rouan Friday, June 22, 2012 - Aetna Inc. has asked a Franklin County CommonPleas Court to reinstate its Ohio Medicaid contract in a lawsuit filedWednesday. Aetna sued the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services,arguing its contract was rescinded after its score was improperlyreduced based on the state’s definition of whether it was fully at riskfor claims expenses in other... read more. CNSNews... $11Billion in GreenGrants Produces Few Jobs, House Report Says,By Fred Lucas June 20, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – An Obama administration green jobsgrant program that spent $11 billion lacks a verifiable job-countingsystem and likely created only a fraction of the jobs it claims,according to a staff report by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.While Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the grants “created tens ofthousands of jobs,” the government’s own National Renewal EnergyLaboratory estimates it created 910 direct jobs. The House reportcriticized even... read more. Economic Development... WorkforceDevelopment Center Groundbreaking Ceremony From the DCED June Newsletter - Workforce development is P4P’s numberone priority for 2012 and will likely remain the top priority for yearsto come.  The need seems obvious for many reasons as hundredsofthousands of well-paid manufacturing positions in this country gounfilled due to a lack of skills in the labor force.  This istruly a time where a highly skilled workforce and a highly adaptableand... read more. Legal Newsline... Groupfileschallenge of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau By John O’Brien - WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The CompetitiveEnterprise Institute is challenging the constitutionality of theConsumer Financial Protection Bureau, which was created by theDodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The CFPB,headed by former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, lacks adequatechecks and balances and violates the Constitution’s separation ofpowers... read more. Search for Greenville Schools Superintendent… Community forum results in dozensof “wants” By Bob Robinson - GREENVILLE - “If we found this ‘Superman’ – if he orshe really exists – you probably couldn’t afford him.” Dr. RichardCaster, Ohio School Boards Association, told an audience of about 30people at Memorial Hall Thursday night that their desired attributes ina new school superintendent were not unusual – other community forumshe conducted weren’t much different – but they... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... AttorneyGeneral: New mediation program for public records disputes By Aaron Marshall - Wednesday, June 20, 2012 - COLUMBUS, Ohio —Citizens having problems getting public records from governmentagencies can now turn to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for a newforum to resolve the dispute. Attorney General Mike DeWine on Wednesdayannounced the formation of a public records mediation program. The OhioAttorney General’s Public Records Mediation Program, which will beoverseen by lawyers in the AG’s public records unit, is aimed at... read more. OhioSupreme Court... Becomingunconvicted after being convicted When Defendant Completes Intervention Program, Court May Seal RecordImmediately Or Impose Waiting Period - Supreme Court Holds That LawGives Judges Discretion In Granting Motions to Seal - (June 21, 2012)The Supreme Court of Ohio held today that when a criminal defendant whohas successfully completed a program of intervention in lieu ofconviction (ILC) moves for an order sealing his or her record underR.C. 2951.041(E), the trial court has discretion either to grant themotion... read more. Dayton Business Journal... OhioHouse to create manufacturing task force, byJeff Bell Monday, June 18, 2012 - Some state legislators will start looking foranswers on how to improve Ohio’s manufacturing climate as part of aneffort introduced Monday by House Speaker Bill Batchelder, R-Medina.The Ohio House’s 21st Century Manufacturing Task Force is being createdto see what can be done to improve the state’s manufacturingcompetitiveness, Batchelder said in a release... read more. TheNews Leader… CapitalNews:GOP enters summer with proof of bipartisanship,by MarcKovac June 13, 2012 - Columbus -- Gov. John Kasich and the Republican leadersof the Ohio House and Senate took a much-deserved victory lap last weekto mark the completion of a spring session to beat all spring sessions.Last year was busy. This year could be called grueling. And Kasichsays, “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” when it comes to what’s next on hisagenda. “We’re going to continue to push and shove and reduce the costof doing business, help job creators, reward taxpayers,” he told... read more. UnionCityCollectively backs P4P Both sides of the state line join in supporting Darke County’s economicdevelopment effort - Union City- The Union City community on both sidesof the state line has jointly backed Darke County as three differentcommunity entities have thrown their support behind developmentefforts.  Union City, IN (UCI), Union City, OH (UCO), and theUnion City Community Economic Development Committee (UCCEDC)... read more. DarkeCountyDrug Task Force Executes Search Warrant, Arrests Two On June 21, 2012 at approximately 12:09 PM Darke County Drug Task Forcealong with Darke County SRT, Deputies from the Darke County SheriffsOffice, Officers from the Greenville Police Department and Miami CountySheriffs Office K9 responded to 117 E. Walnut Ln. in Palestine toexecute a search warrant.  The search warrant was obtainedbasedon a drug trafficking investigation done by the Darke... read more. ColumbusDispatch... ODOTurgesregional agencies to spend carryover funds for projects Regional planning agencies carrying millions of dollars on their booksfrom year to year are being told by the Ohio Department ofTransportation to start spending. Ohio has too many aging and congestedhighways to hold back money that’s supposed to go toward fixing them,state transportation Director Jerry Wray said. According to hisdepartment’s calculations, 17 regional planning agencies in Ohio left$169.8 million in federal transportation dollars unspent during thestate’s last fiscal year... read more. Dayton Business Journal... FifthThird among tops for overdraft fees, by SteveWatkins Monday, June 18, 2012 - Fifth Third Bank has tied for the highestoverdraft fees of any of the nation’s 14 largest banks, according to arecent survey by the Consumer Federation of America. Fifth Third andProvidence, R.I.-based Citizens Bank each charge $37 for someoverdrafts. Fifth Third’s fee looks slightly better in that it chargesa lower amount until the fifth overdraft in a year, when the fee... read more. Ohio Supreme Court... WomenJustices Speak at Buckeye Girls State June 15, 2012 - Dublin Jerome High School student Alison Trianfo wantsto be a prosecuting attorney advocating for children’s rights when shegets older. Trianfo will be a senior next year and said it was an honorand a privilege to be one of about 125 students to participate in aquestion and answer session with Ohio Supreme Court Chief JusticeMaureen O’Connor and Justices Evelyn Lundberg... read more. ClevelandPlain Dealer... Kasichadministration releases study to help governments share services Friday, June 15, 2012 - By Reginald Fields - COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov.John Kasich’s administration on Thursday released a report to municipalgroups encouraging them to move more toward sharing resources insteadof raising local taxes or waiting for more state funding help.Call it a nudge or more of a shove, but Kasich policy adviser RandyCole bluntly warned a small group in Columbus that embracing ashared-services approach might be local governments’ only saving graceif they want to stay solvent.... read more. Toledo Blade... Kasichspeaks toBuckeye Boys State Kasich tells Boys State crowd relationship to Lord is primary - By TomTroy - BOWLING GREEN — Gov. John Kasich urged youthto follow their dreams, take courses in college that advance theircareer goals, have a relationship with the creatorof the universe, and help other people along the way, in an address atBuckeye Boys State Friday. The speech, a traditionfor all but one of Boys State’s 76 years, almost didn’t happen, becauseof a conflict with... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, June 16, 2012 - When is bad news not bad news? Or at leastnot as shocking as it sounds? This week, it was when the governmentannounced that household net worth fell 40% between 2007 and 2010, butmost Americans already knew that because they’ve been living it everyday. All Rasmussen Reports major economic indicators – consumer andinvestor confidence, housing, personal finances, employment, you nameit – plunged in recent years and are still far from full recovery as... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Google,Facebook, Twitter fight‘bad ads’ Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal - Thursday, June 14, 2012 -Google Inc., Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. have joined an alliance ofonline advertising companies that is trying to protect consumers from“bad ads” that may contain links to viruses, spyware and other malware.The new Ads Integrity Alliance in a press release on Thursday said itsmembers have already been fighting... read more. Militarystruggles over its Right to Vote, By Lyn Bliss MOVE Act requires reapplying every year, available information confusing “The time involved makes it impossible for many military personnel tohave their votes counted,” said Elaine Herrick while speaking to theDarke County Republican Men’s Club (DCRMC) Saturday. Herrick addressedthe regular monthly meeting of the DCRMC regarding voting rights forthe military, voter... read more. MailMagazine 24... FallingPrices Signal Tougher Times Ahead? by EfremGraham The pain at the pump has eased up in the last few months, with gasprices falling sharply - just one of many commodities seeing a drop incost. But those cheaper prices may be a sign that even tougher economictimes are on the horizon. Relief at the Pump. Americans haveundoubtedly noticed gas prices have fallen markedly in the last fewmonths to a national average of about $3.53 a gallon. “Big difference.It doesn’t take as much money to fill your vehicles up,” one consumersaid. Gas has... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Ohioforeclosures surpass 10K in May Thursday, June 14, 2012 - The rate of foreclosures in Ohio last monthwas among the worst in the nation, a monthly report says. One in every495 housing units in Ohio had a foreclosure filing in May, ranking thestate No. 7 in the nation, according to Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTracInc.    Georgia, with a foreclosure filingagainst onein every 300 homes, had the highest rate in the country. Thenational... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Ohiounemployment falls to 7.3%, by Rick Rouan Friday, June 15, 2012 - Unemployment in Ohio inched down for the tenthconsecutive month in May, hitting its lowest rate since October 2008 asmore people went to work and fewer stood in the unemployment line. Thestate’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent last month, down from7.4 percent in April, according to data released Friday by the OhioDepartment of Job and Family Services. Unemployment... read more. TheColumbus Dispatch... Datasobering on Ohio kids’ poverty, obesity, ByJeb Phillips Wednesday June 13, 2012 - Nearly half of Ohio’s children received freeor reduced-cost school lunches in 2010, and those children were 30percent more likely to be overweight or obese than others, according toa new survey of the state’s children released yesterday. Kids Count,compiled by the Children’s Defense Fund in Ohio, offers an annualsnapshot of the well-being of the state’s youth. A new section of thereport called “Health Access” includes information about obesity, oralhealth and... read more. WashingtonTimes... Americanssaw wealth plummet 40 percent from 2007 to 2010 The recent recession wiped out nearly two decades of Americans’ wealth,according to government data released Monday, with middle-classfamilies bearing the brunt of the decline. The Federal Reserve said themedian net worth of families plunged by 39 percent in just three years,from $126,400 in 2007 to $77,300 in 2010. That puts Americans roughlyon par with where they were in 1992. The data represent one of the mostdetailed looks at how the economic downturn altered the... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Boehnerand Romney to hold joint rally in Troy by Joe Cogliano - Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - The Dayton region willtake center stage in presidential politics this weekend. House SpeakerJohn Boehner and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney willhold their first joint rally in Troy. The Washington Post says thejoint event is the latest instance of Romney teaming up withRepublicans... read more. Cleveland Plain Dealer... Secretaryof State Husted eases restriction on absentee voting By James Ewinger - Wednesday, June 13, 2012 - COLUMBUS, Ohio — OhioSecretary of State Jon Husted announced Tuesday that he will mailabsentee-ballot applications to all registered Ohio voters this year,making good on a promise he made to Cuyahoga County Executive EdFitzGerald. Husted, a Republican, barred county boards of electionslast August from mailing unsolicited ballot applications. FitzGerald... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine...  Constitutionalityof Federal CigaretteTrafficking Law (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has joined attorneysgeneral from 40 states and the District of Columbia in filing a briefwith the District of Columbia Court of Appeals defending theconstitutionality of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act.“The PACT Act is an important tool for Ohio to enforce its cigarettesales laws and prevent underage tobacco use,” said Attorney GeneralDeWine. “I am glad to join an overwhelming number of attorneys generalin filing this... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Threeof Dayton’s biggest banks make stocks to avoid list Friday, June 8, 2012 - Three of Dayton’s biggest banks have been namedto a list of five dividend-paying regional bank stocks to avoid bySeekingAlpha.com. “Many market observers suggest that the businessoutlook for U.S. regional banks has improved,” according to the column.“As the overall conditions deteriorate, so does the investmentpotential of the regional... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office… June9 Motorcycle Accident turns Fatal Seventh Fatality on County Roadways this Year - On June 9, 2012 atapproximately 9:14 PM Darke County Deputies, along with Ansonia Fireand Rescue, and Careflight from Miami Valley Hospital were dispatchedto the intersection of Kester Byard Rd and Riffle Rd, in reference, toa motorcyle accident with injury. Preliminary investigation revealed a2012 Harley Davidson, driven by Dwight David Idle, 55, Greenville... read more. YoungstownVindicator... Kasich:Bill is tough but fair, By Marc Kovac Tue, June 12, 2012 - AKRON - Gov. John Kasich touted energy legislationsigned into law Monday as tough but fair, protecting the environmentwhile setting the stage for economic development. “We were not going todevelop shale gas at the expense of the environment,” Kasich said. “Andwe have contained in this bill the most aggressive, clearest, fairestand strongest fracking regulations that you can find anywhere in thecountry.” He added later, “We have, without any doubt, the toughest... read more. Attorney General Mike DeWine... Moratoriumon new Internet Cafes Current establishments must be registered by July 11 - (COLUMBUS, Ohio)– Attorney General Mike DeWine said today that new state legislationnow effective bans any new openings of electronic sweepstakesestablishments, commonly called Internet cafes. It also places filingrequirements on any Internet cafes operating as of today. “These placeshave popped up across Ohio... read more. West Liberty-Salem Runner Vogel... Senate recognizes Meghan Vogelforsportsmanship COLUMBUS– Senator Keith Faber (R- Celina) and members of the OhioSenate today recognized Meghan Vogel, a junior at West Liberty-SalemHigh School, for her actions at the recent state track championship.Vogel – who had previously won a state title in the 1,600-meter race –was competing in the 3,200-meter race when a fellow competitor fell ashort distance from the finish... read more. DarkeCounty Sheriff’s Office... Two-vehicleinjury accident at 127 and Kruckeburg On June 12, 2012 at approximately 10:12 AM Darke County Deputies,Greenville Township Rescue and Fire, Arcanum Rescue and Careflightwere dispatched to the intersection of US Rpute 127 and Kruckeburg Roadin reference to a two vehicle injury accident. Preliminaryinvestigation revealed a 2012 Freightliner box truck, driven by DylanW. Laird, 23 from Kettering, Ohio was north bound on US Route127 at Kruckeburg Road. A second vehicle driven by Susan J. North, 56from Greenville, Ohio was.... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey ToldUs:Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Americans want a little less government in their lives, and theydefinitely don’t like the government telling them how biga Coke they can drink. While surveys for years have told us thatAmericans prefer a government with fewer services and lowertaxes, just over half (51%) also continue to believe the government ismore of a threat to individual rights than a protectorof them. At the same time, 51% think it’s more important for thegovernment to protect individual rights than to promote economicgrowth.This... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine... CommunityFraud Forums plannedfor Cyber Fraud Legislation (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announcedthat his office is hosting regional community fraud forums this summerto discuss how Ohioans can work together to fight fraud. Theannouncement comes on the same day that Ohio’s new cyber fraud lawtakes effect. The law gives the Attorney General new tools to helplocal prosecutors fight economic crimes. “We are committed to workingcollaboratively with local communities to protect Ohio families... read more. AttorneyGeneral Mike DeWine... DeWineannounces Home Health AidConvictions (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced todaythat a judge has ordered a co-owner of A Caring Alternative, a homehealth care agency in Cleveland, to pay nearly $262,000 in restitutionto the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services after aninvestigation revealed she was hiring home health care aides who didnot pass background checks. Agents in the Health Care Fraud Division ofthe Ohio Attorney General’s Office said Rose Radovanic, who pleadedguilty to a... read more. State Senators Beagle and Lehner... Funding announced for AviationHeritage Project COLUMBUS– State Senators Bill Beagle (R – Tipp City) and Peggy Lehner(R – Kettering) have announced that $3 million in Clean OhioRevitalization funding has been awarded to the Dayton Aviation HeritageRedevelopment Project.  The project site is located at 2701HomeAvenue in Dayton and was the location of the original Wright AirplaneFactory. Future plans for the site will incorporate the historicalbuildings as part... read more. Cincinnati.com... Ohiocourt:CPS unfair to charters, by Jessica Brown Jun. 6, 2012 - The Ohio Supreme Court has sided against the CincinnatiPublic School district in a precedent-setting case involving the saleof old school buildings to charter schools. The court ruled 6-1Wednesday that the district violated the law when it put a deedrestriction on one of its old school buildings in 2009 to prevent thenew owner from operating a school there. It ruled the restrictionunenforceable. The new owner, Roger Conners, sued. He claimed thedistrict was violating Ohio... read more. U.S.Congressman John Boehner... HouseRepeals ObamaCare Medical Device Tax WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) releasedthe following statement today after the House passed the Health CareCost Reduction Act (H.R. 436), a pro-growth jobs bill that repealsObamaCare’s tax on medical devices and will help lower health carecosts for struggling families and small businesses: “The president’shealth care law is raising costs and making it harder for smallbusinesses to hire new workers. Last week’s dismal jobs report showedthe president’s... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office... MotorcyclistAirlifted in Critical Condition On June 9, 2012 at approximately 9:14 PM Darke County Deputies, alongwith Ansonia Fire and Rescue, and Careflight from Miami Valley Hospitalwere dispatched to the intersection of Kester Byard Rd and Riffle Rd,in reference, to a motorcyle accident with injury. Preliminaryinvestigation revealed a 2012 Harley Davidson, driven by Dwight DavidIdle, 55, Greenville, Ohio was south bound on Kester Byard... read more. ToledoBlade... Browntakes studentloan fight to Owens With a deadline looming for Congress and President Obama to decide howto reduce college loan debt without increasing the national debt, U.S.Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) sought Monday to get students at OwensCommunity College in on the fight. Senator Brown, who is up forre-election this year, told a gathering of students and administratorsthat the interest rate on Stafford loans will rise on July 1unlessCongress acts. He said about 10,000 students at Owens and 25,000... read more. WHIO-TV... Searchcalledoff in possible Grand Lake drowning CELINA, Ohio — Authorities in Celina said they have called a searchafter they recieved a call about a possible drowning at Grand Lake St.Marys Wednesday afternoon. Investigators said they were not sure ifanyone was in the water, but they received a call that someone possiblysaw a child go into the lake. Dive teams assembled near the lighthouseand searched part of the lake. However, they said nothing was found andhave called off the search. The original emergency came ... read more. CincinnatiEnquirer... Mandelon5-hour fundraising blitz in DC Josh Mandel, the Ohio state treasurer and U.S. Senate hopeful, is on afundraising swingthrough Washington today. And from the look of the GOPcandidate’s schedule (kindly provided to us by Ohio Democrats), Mandelwill be scooping up a lot of cash from DC’s top lobbyists. The firststop is a 4 p.m. reception at 1425 K Street. It’s not clear who ishosting that event, but K Street is the corridor where many lobbyingfirms set up shop. About 90 minutes later, Mandel will be at a happyhour with Grover Norquist, the anti-tax activist, GOP insider, andconservative... read more. WHIO-TV Video... 2sentenced inJan. Darke Co. meth lab raid DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — Authorities said five adults from near Union Citywere sentenced to prison for operating a meth lab. A little more thanfive months ago, in the small village of Hillgrove, a home was raidedand a meth lab was dismantled. Christine Melchor was among the latestto be sentenced in the Jan. 4 raid. She received five years’ probation,53 days in jail with credit for time... read more. ToledoBlade... Whirlpoolencouraged by trade ruling CLYDE, Ohio — More than half of Whirlpool Corp.’s U.S. manufacturingemployees are in Ohio, but company officials say many of those jobs arebeing threatened by foreign companies selling washing machines in theUnited States for less than they cost to make. Late last year,Whirlpool filed petitions with the U.S. Commerce Department and theU.S. International Trade Commission alleging that large residentialwashers made in South Korea and Mexico were being sold for less thantheir... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Autoindustry creating jobs as bailout success debated by Joe Cogliano - Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - By all accounts, the U.S.auto industry is back on track as The Big Three are adding jobs andselling more cars. But the real aftermath of the $80 billion U.S. autobailout remains debatable. As election season gets into high gear, theauto bailout is becoming a political hot potato. President Barack Obamasupported the bailouts, while likely Republican nominee... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Facebookplummet causes others to delay IPOs Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Facebook Inc.’s much-maligned debut on theNasdaq stock market as a public company has caused other businesses todelay their planned IPOs, according to the Silicon Valley/San JoseBusiness Journal. The paper reports that Facebook dropped below $28 pershare, down about 27 percent from its May 18 IPO price of $38, beforeclosing at $28.91. The company was valued... read more. Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel... Mandelunveils STAR Plus to Northeast local governments First-of-its-kind Program a Win for Ohio Taxpayers and Local Economies- CLEVELAND - State Treasurer Josh Mandel unveiled the innovative newSTAR Plus program today to public funds managers for northeast Ohioschools, cities and local governments at a Center for Public InvestmentManagement (CPIM) conference in Cleveland.  Thisfirst-in-the-nation program will provide safe and competitive returnson... read more. WHIO-TV Video... 4jailed inUnion City, OH. meth lab bust UNION CITY, Ohio — Police in Union City, Ohio, said they arrested fourpeople Wednesday and searched a house where a suspected meth lab was inoperation. The four have been identified as Leslie Crowder, ChadBrumbaugh, Jeremy Cheyne, and Allison Setser, all of Union City. Policesaid Setser, Cheyne, and Brumbaugh were all involved in a longstand-off with police in 2011 in which police... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... Daytonadds 4,800 jobs in 12-month period, by DBJStaff Monday, June 4, 2012 - The Dayton region is showing signs of economicrecovery. The area added 4,800 jobs in past year, which ranks it No. 46in the nation in terms of raw jobs added. On a percentage basis, thenew jobs represent a 1.3 percent jump, which ranks Dayton No. 36nationally, according to an On Numbers report. On Numbers totaled thelatest employment figures for the nation’s 100 biggest labor markets,using newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.The... read more. The Blaze Video... HighSchoolRunner quits race to help Collapsed Opponent by Jonathon M. Seidl - June 4, 2012 - If you ever thought you couldn’twin by losing, here’s a story for you. Even though Meghan Vogel came inlast place in the recent Ohio D-III 3,200-meter state finals, she cameout as the winner. With just 50 meters left in the race, Vogel — ajunior who had earlier won the 1,600-meter race — noticed that one ofher opponents, sophomore Arden McMath, collapsed in... read more. FoxNews.com... Wisconsin’sWalker survives recall by wide margin, June06, 2012 Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker wakes up Wednesday knowing he’ll get tofinish his term, after voters by a wide margin sided with him in arecall election that attracted national attention and divided much ofthe state -- from opposing political parties to neighbors and evenfamily members. However, several key questions remain unanswered,including whether Wisconsin now can move past the... read more. TrilogyZoningChange goes to Public Hearing, By Bob Robinson Greenville City Council voted during it’s regular session Tuesdayevening to hold a Public Hearing on the Trilogy Health Services requestto change the zoning at Russ Road and Hwy 121 from GB (GeneralBusiness) to SU (Special Use). The hearing will be held during itsregular session on July 17. Council is expected to vote on the issuefollowing the hearing. Greenville’s Zoning Commission had... read more. DeWineJoinsProsecutor Mason to Announce Internet Café Indictments About Internet Cafes… from the Cleveland Plain Dealer - (CLEVELAND)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined Cuyahoga County ProsecutorBill Mason today to announce indictments involving alleged illegalactivity at internet cafés in the Cleveland area. “We are working hardwith partners like Prosecutor Mason to crack down on illegal internetcafes in Ohio,” said Attorney General DeWine... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... OhioEPA awards education grant to Darke County, byDBJ Staff The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has awarded an educationalgrant of $42,000 to the Darke County Educational Service Center as partof a larger amount of money doled out statewide, according to the OEPA.In total, 11 grants were awarded statewide for $350,000. More than 110teachers and 1,500 high school students from seven counties willbenefit from the Ohio EPA grant to the Darke County ESC. The grant willbe used for the pilot project, Producing Renewable Energy in Ohio.... read more. Darke County Sheriff's Office... BicyclistStruck by Truck On June 4, 2012 at approximately 4:24 PM, Darke County Deputies, alongwith Tri Village Rescue and Liberty Township Fire Department, weredispatched to Stingley Road, just east of Palestine Union City Road,reference an injury accident involving a pick-up truck and abicycle.  Preliminary investigation revealed that the 1985FordF150, driven by Paul D. West, 47, of Hollansburg, was westbound in the1600 block of Stingley... read more. Rasmussen... WhatThey Told Us:Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls Saturday, June 02, 2012 - Friday was a dismal day for Team Obama withthe unemployment rate inching back up and throwing cold water on hopesfor an economic recovery. It’s not the kind of news the president wantsto hear as he campaigns for reelection. After all, as Scott Rasmussencontends in his latest syndicated column, “The economy matters morethan campaign tactics, and the indicators at the moment are mixed atbest. Additionally, most Americans believe that the president’sinstincts... read more. Dayton Business Journal... Report:Ohio adding 20K summer restaurant jobs, byStephanieClouser Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - Ohio is expected to add nearly 20,000restaurant jobs this summer, an increase from March employment levelsof 5.3 percent. Restaurants across the country are expected to add450,000 jobs this summer, a 4.6 percent from the total number ofrestaurant jobs in March, according to a report from the NationalRestaurant Association. “Restaurant industry employment growth... read more. CNSNews... Rev.Wright on Obamas:‘Church Is Not Their Thing’, By Fred Lucas May 29, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – In speaking about Barack and MichelleObama, their longtime pastor, the Rev. Jermiah Wright said, “Church isnot their thing. It never was their thing.” President Obama and thefirst lady were married by Rev. Wright, and their two daughters, Sashaand Malia, were baptized by the controversial pastor. As head of theTrinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Ill., Wright sometimesdelivered sermons critical of U.S. foreign policy and asked whetherGod... read more. MailMagazine 24... LawmakersProbe Fast-Track Approval for Connected Green Companies By Lachlan Markay - Congressional investigators are probing potentialcronyism in a pair of federal green energy programs, including theEnergy Department loan program that guaranteed a $535 million loan tonow-bankrupt solar company Solyndra. In a letter to Interior SecretaryKen Salazar sent on Tuesday, embedded below, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL),chairman of the Budget Committee, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA),chairman of the House Oversight Committee, ask for information onfederal support... read more. Escape From New York? High-TaxingEmpire State Loses 3.4 Million Residents in 10 Years By Elizabeth Harrington - May 29, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – New York Stateaccounted for the biggest migration exodus of any state in the nationbetween 2000 and 2010, with 3.4 million residents leaving over thatperiod, according to the Tax Foundation. Over that decade the stategained 2.1 million, so net migration amounted to 1.3 million,representing a loss of $45.6 billion in income. Where are they... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office... FatalHead-On Collision near Arcanum On Friday, June 1st, 2012 at approximately 6:28 PM, Darke CountyDeputies, along with Pitsburg Fire Department, Arcanum Rescue, ArcanumFire Department, Greenville Township Rescue, Gettysburg Rescue, andGettysburg Fire Department was dispatched to a serious head on injuryaccident on State Route 49 near the intersection of Gettysburg PitsburgRoad. Preliminary investigation revealed a 2003 Buick... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... DaytonDaily News to outsource work offshore, staff cuts likely By Joe Cogliano - Friday, May 25, 2012 - Cox Media Group — parent ofthe Dayton Daily News — will send some of its advertising design andproduction work overseas and expects to lay off some workers. The moveis part of a larger plan by the media company that will be implementedat each of its four main newspapers starting this summer. An internalcompany memo dated May 24 said the restructuring effort will begin atits Ohio papers in August. The memo says offshore... read more. USA Today... Unemploymentrateticks up to 8.2%, 69K new jobs in May, By PaulDavidson Congressman John Boehner and Ohio Republican Chairman Bennett alsorespond to May Job Report... WASHINGTON—U.S. employers added just69,000 jobs in May--the fewest in a year-- as payrolls gains weredisappointingly tepid for a third month. The nation’s unemployment raterose to 8.2% from 8.1% as 642,000 Americans surged into the laborforce, the Labor Department said. Dow Jones... read more. DaytonBusiness Journal... Poll:Quality workers hard to find, by LauraEnglehart Friday, May 25, 2012 - Three-fourths of respondents to a poll say it’sa tall order finding quality workers to fill open positions. In arecent poll by the Dayton Business Journal, most respondents said “it’sa challenge” (42 percent) or it’s “very difficult” (34 percent) to findthe talent they need for their businesses. The other one-fourth saidit’s “fairly easy” (17 percent), or “Great people are banging down ourdoor” (7 percent). About 120 people responded to the poll. At a recentDefense Forum, hosted by... read more. Darke County Sheriff’s Office... May28 Motorcycle Accident turns Fatal Fifth fatality on County roadways in 2012 - On May 28, 2012 atapproximately 4:40 PM Darke County Deputies, along with Tri VillageRescue, Hollansburg Fire and CareFlight were dispatched to the 2300Block of Hollansburg-Richmond Road in reference to a serious injuryaccident involving a motorcycle. Preliminary investigation revealed a1983 Honda motorcycle driven by Charles C. Tucker III, 27... read more. To see Archives for the Previous Month's News... click here   County News Online is a Fundraiser for the Senior Scribes Scholarship Committee. All netprofits go into a fund for Darke County Senior Scholarships contact Copyright © 2011 and design by cigs.kometweb.com