Darke County Ohio News

Christian Science Monitor... Paul Ryan: GOP primary should not be ‘personality contest’
By Dave Cook, staff writer, February 16, 2012 - Rep. Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin said Thursday that the GOP needs an election that carries a mandate. In Ryan’s view, Mitt Romney has offered a positive agenda for fixing the nation. WASHINGTON - House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R) of Wisconsin said that given the nation’s tough fiscal situation presidential candidate Mitt Romney should offer voters a “positive agenda” for how to fix the nation’s problems – and that Mr. Romney... read more.

Ohio News Network... Ohio’s Woman: Jo Anna Krohn
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio - A teacher’s aid who lost her teenage son to prescription drug abuse is now educating and supporting those who have lost loved ones. Jo Ann Krohn has Gov. Kasich’s attention after helping people in rural Scioto County, reported ONN’s Denise Alex. Wesley Workman died in 2008. Devastated and distraught, the Scioto County mom knew she had to go on and reached... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, February 18, 2012 - Politics is often a game of inches, especially when you’ve got a contest like this year’s for the White House. Gains in the economy or even perceptions that it’s improving could be enough to get President Obama across the finish line ahead of his Republican opponent. For the first time in over two years, the number of Americans who believe the economy will be stronger one year from now is slightly higher than the number who expect it to be weaker. Thirty-seven percent... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Firms hiring jobless vets eligible for tax credits, by Laura Englehart
Friday, February 17, 2012 - Businesses who hire unemployed veterans now can receive a tax credit. The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 provides a tax credit of as much as $9,600 for for-profit companies, or $6,240 for tax-exempt organizations. The amount depends on a number of factors including the length of time the veteran was unemployed before hire, hours a veteran works and the amount... read more.

CNS News... Cain: ‘We Must Outsmart the Stupid People Running America’, By Fred Lucas
February 10, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Thursday, former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain hailed the American Revolution -- and said it’s time for another one. “It’s time for a new American revolution, not with bombs and bullets but with brains and balance,” Cain said. “We must outsmart liberals. We must outsmart the... read more.

New York Times... Interference Seen in Philadelphia Papers, By Amy Chozick and David Carr
February 15, 2012 - Last week, Gregory J. Osberg, chief executive and publisher of the Philadelphia Media Network, which publishes The Inquirer, The Daily News and Philly.com, summoned the news organization’s three most senior editors to his office. Over three hours, he told them he would be overseeing all articles related to the newspapers’ impending sale. If any articles ran without his approval, the editors would be fired, according to several editors and reporters briefed on the... read more.

Darke County Republican Men’s Club… Good turnout for introduction of Primary Candidates
By Bob Robinson - The Brick Room at Brethren Retirement Community was nearly full Saturday morning as Darke County Republican Men’s Club members and interested citizens had an opportunity to meet the Republican candidates they will be voting for in March. The annual event is presented so voters will know the qualifications and goals of the candidates. This year the Primary will have... read more.

Beagle’s Ag-LINK Bill Earns Senate Passage
Reforms will assist farming operations throughout Ohio - COLUMBUS — The Ohio Senate today offered its approval of legislation to modify the Agricultural Linked Deposit Program, which supports Ohio’s agricultural community by permitting the Ohio Treasurer of State to invest in eligible lending institutions that then lend money to an eligible agricultural business at a reduced interest rate. Senate Bill 281, sponsored by State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City), will increase the maximum amount... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Rick Santorum would win Ohio if GOP primary were today, poll shows
WASHINGTON -- Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum’s popularity surge has extended to Ohio, where he now is favored among likely Republican voters to win the state’s GOP primary, a new poll shows. But the latest Quinnipiac Poll, noting the ups and downs of Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and others, comes with caution. “Unclear is whether that momentum fizzles as happened to Santorum in New Hampshire after winning Iowa, and as happened to Gov. Mitt Romney... read more.

Representative Richard Adams Announces ODNR Award of $5,450 to Miami and Darke Counties - COLUMBUS, OH – State Representative of the 79th House District Richard Adams (R-Troy) announced that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) awarded grants to assist communities in reducing litter through cleanup activities and education/awareness efforts. Applicants ranging from Ohio counties, municipal corporations, townships, villages, solid waste management districts... read more.

CNSNews... Pelosi: Republicans Want ‘to Use the Excuse of Religious Freedom’ to Harm ‘Women’s Health’ By Elizabeth Harrington - February 9, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on Thursday that Republicans in Congress want “to use the excuse of religious freedom” to take an action that will harm women’s health--in rolling back the regulation that will compel all health-care plans to cover sterilizations and all FDA-approved contraceptives including... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Republicans bash Brown for saying budget is not meaningful
National Republicans are criticizing Sen. Sherrod Brown for a recent radio appearance in which Brown said Senate passage of a budget is not “all that meaningful.” Speaking on Majic 105.7 in Cleveland, Brown called the fact that Congress has not passed a budget for 1,000 days “a good talking point for Republicans.” “But the fact is that we’ve had a Budget Act where we have that plan set out,” he said, referring to the Budget Control Act passed by Congress last August. “The budget’s only for... read more.

Kasich appoints Daniels to lead Ag Dept
COLUMBUS—Governor John R. Kasich today announced the appointment of Sen. David Daniels (R-Greenfield) to serve as director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Daniels has represented Ohio’s 17th Senate District since January 2011 and will submit his resignation to the Ohio Senate on Wednesday. He is expected to be sworn in and begin his duties as ODA director on Thursday, February 16. Daniels replaces Jim Zehringer who Kasich appointed to lead the Ohio Department... read more.

Secretary of State Jon Husted... Federal law allows more registered voters than voting age
Secretary of State Husted to Attorney General Holder: Inconsistent Federal Law Opens Door to Potential Voter Fraud. Secretary of State analysis shows that in two Ohio counties, there are more registered voters than people of voting age population. COLUMBUS – Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted today sent a letter to United States Attorney General Eric Holder seeking a meeting to resolve the inability of states such as... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Ohioans like ‘right-to-work’ idea, poll says
Ohio should become the nation’s 24th “right-to-work state,” voters in a new poll declare. By a 14-point margin – 50 percent to 36 percent – participants in the Quinnipiac Poll say the Buckeye State should join Indiana in making it more difficult to mandate union membership. The poll comes less than four months after Ohio voters crushed Senate Bill 5 by 23 points in a referendum on slashing public employee union rights. “Given the assumption that the SB 5 referendum was a demonstration of union... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Gov. Kasich approval rating climbs to 40%
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - Gov. John Kasich is still building off a rocky first year in office that saw one of his landmark initiatives defeated at the polls, but his approval rating is improving among Ohio voters, according to a new poll. About 40 percent of registered voters approve of the job Kasich is doing, compared with about 46 percent who disapprove, a Quinnipiac University poll of 1,421 registered voters found... read more.

Darke among Top Area Counties in Development Projects
County companies, development efforts acknowledged at the regional level - DARKE COUNTY- According to state and regional data, Darke County companies were among the most aggressive in the Dayton region in 2011 in terms of the planning and implementing of local expansion projects. Furthermore, those companies partnered with local and state economic development organizations more consistently... read more.

Rep. Jim Buchy... Algae Farming to be classified as Agriculture
COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) and State Senator Lou Gentile (D-Steubenville) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives voted to concur with the Senate amendments on House Bill 276. The bill will now become law pending the signature of Governor Kasich. House Bill 276, which was jointly sponsored by Buchy and Gentile, clarifies the definition of agriculture as it... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Thousands of jobs expected for skilled, educated
Thousands of job openings are expected in southwest Ohio in the next five years in the fields of computer science, insurance and finance and accounting, and the labor needs will exceed the number of new college graduates with relevant degrees, according to a new study. Young people had an abysmal employment rate last year, and many are struggling to compete for jobs with older, out-of-work residents with more experience and education. But many unemployed Ohioans are not qualified... read more.

Contested Races in the Republican Primary: Diane L. Delaplane, Darke County Commissioner
Personal and professional information about yourself: I am married to Donald Delaplane; we have two children, Doug & spouse Kelly Delaplane and Danielle & spouse Anup Patel and three grandchildren. I attended Sinclair Community College, Neave Township Fiscal officer, and was Administrative Assistant for Farm Bureau, Ohio Township Association State Secretary, Sunday school teacher... read more.

Greenville Fire Deparment... Structure Fire at Fram
At 2304 hours on Monday February 13, The City of Greenville Fire Department was dispatched to a fire alarm activation at the Fram Group facility at 851 Jackson St. Fire crews found that a vent stack from a cure oven on a paint line had been on fire. As personnel were completing extinguishment of this fire, plant personnel notified them that another machine was on fire. This machine was left operating when plant personnel evacuated the building for the fire alarm activation from the stack fire. ... read more.

DeWine joins Attorneys General in Challenging Contraception Mandate
DeWine, Twelve State Attorneys General Challenge Mandate Requiring Religious Organizations to Offer Insurance Coverage for Contraception Services for Their Employees
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today joined with 11 fellow attorneys general in sending a letter to Secretaries Sebelius, Geithner and Solis regarding the Obama administration mandate to.... read more.

Contested Races in the Republican Primary: Jason Aslinger, Probate/Juvenile Court Judge
Personal and professional information about yourself: My name is Jason Aslinger. I have been married to Karin (Funderburg) for 14 years, and we have been blessed with three children: Audrey, Jacob, and Hallie. We attend the Ansonia Church of God. I have lived in Darke County my entire life, growing up in Greenville and graduating from Greenville High School. I have been at attorney for fifteen years. I am the current.... read more.

Contested Races in the Republican Primary: James Detling, Probate/Juvenile Court Judge
Personal and professional information about yourself: Raised in Darke County, I graduated from Mississinawa Valley High School in 1979. I attended The Ohio State University, and graduated with honors in 1983. I graduated from the University of Toledo Law School in 1989. I had the honor of graduating first in my class, and was named the Outstanding Graduate. I returned to Darke County in 1995. I was a partner in the..... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, February 11, 2012 - Here we go again. Another Republican surges up out of the pack to challenge Mitt Romney’s grip on the party’s presidential nomination. Meanwhile, President Obama appears to have helped his rivals with a bad political call forcing Catholic institutions to go against their basic beliefs and pay forcontraception. In a survey taken Monday evening, Romney reclaimed the lead in the national race for the Republican presidential nomination, jumping ahead of former House Speaker... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Ohio’s prisoner medical costs top $222 million, By Jim Otte, WHIO-TV
Lawsuit, age of prisoners may have led to increase. Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - The cost to Ohio for prisoner medical care last year topped $222 million, leading state prison officials to seek ways to bring it down. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections is under a federal class action lawsuit filed in 2003 to improve medical care for prisoners, and that has led the state to hire hundreds of medical staff and build new facilities for prisoner care. In 2010, the state paid an average... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Ohio lands $335M from mortgage settlement, By Ginger Christ
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - Ohio will receive $335 million from a federal-state settlement with the nation’s largest mortgage servicers. The state is part of a $25 billion settlement with five of the largest mortgage servicers — Ally, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorganChase and Wells Fargo — over foreclosure abuses, fraud and unacceptable mortgage practices. The Ohio share will be distributed... read more.

Contested Races in the Republican Primary: Amanda Farley, Darke County Clerk of Courts
Personal and Professional Information about yourself: My name is Amanda Farley and I graduated from Indiana University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. I job shadowed and interned with various departments in our county. While earning my degree I took courses in creative writing, public administration, government finance and budgets and many criminal justice... read more.

Contested Races in the Republican Primary: Cindy Pike, Darke County Clerk of Courts
Personal and professional information about yourself: I have a degree in Business Management and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies. Prior work experience includes: managing a small business with approximately 25 sales people; Deputy Clerk in Darke County Court; and Accounts Payable Clerk. Prior to being elected I worked as a paralegal and managed a law office for 13 years... read more.

From the editor… County News Online Candidate Questionnaire
Last month, County News Online sent out a questionnaire to each of the candidates in three contested Primary elections: Darke County Clerk of Courts, Darke County Juvenile/Probate Judge and Darke County Commissioner. Candidates were given four questions with approximately a month in which to respond. The questions were as follows: 1) Personal and professional information about yourself... read more.

CNS News... ‘We Felt It Coming,’ Santorum Says After Triple Win, By Susan Jones
February 8, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) - Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, on the morning after his triple win in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, said he “felt it coming.” “The last few weeks, while we weren’t doing particularly well in the polls in Florida and Nevada, we were doing great in getting the kind of support that we needed to keep this campaign going. Our fundraising was maybe our best two weeks, the last two weeks,” Santorum told Fox & Friends on Wednesday. “So we felt it -- we felt it... read more.

Toledo Blade... Kasich: End partisanship to help Ohio
Touting 2011, governor calls for collaboration - By Jim Provance - STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- Gov. John Kasich called Tuesday for an end to the partisan battles that characterized 2011 and urged Democrats and fellow Republicans to work together to get as close as possible to creating “a prosperous Ohio, a richer Ohio, the Ohio free of unemployment.” “I think we have to steer clear of mindless partisanship,” he told... read more.

CNS News... ‘If it’s Halftime in America, I’m Fearful of What the Final Score is Going to Be’
By Matt Cover - February 9, 2012 - (CNSNews.com) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), referencing the ‘Halftime in America’ Super Bowl ad, said that he was “fearful of what the final score is going to be,” if President Barack Obama is reelected in November. “If it’s halftime in America, I’m fearful of what the final score is going to be if we let this president start the second half as the quarterback,” Perry said in a speech... read more.

Darke County Commissioners... Get ready for March 6
By Bob Robinson - Reminder: All candidates for public office in the Republican primary have been invited to speak at the Republican Mens Club Saturday morning - Minutes from the last two weeks of publicly announced meetings of the Darke County Commissioners have been posted. County News Online began posting minutes from these meetings in April 2011. How many ... read more.

Toledo Blade... Ohio Democrats losing battle of campaign coffers
COLUMBUS -- If campaign cash were votes, Democrats are already losing in their bid to claw their way back into relevancy in the Ohio General Assembly. Campaign-finance reports filed Tuesday showed majority Republicans sitting on a massive pot of cash nine months ahead of this year’s elections for state Senate and House seats. Senate Democrats, outnumbered better than 2 to 1 in the 33-member chamber, showed a campaign bank account containing $38,555 compared with the... read more.

Cleveland Plain Dealer... Brown has sold his stocks, and wants colleagues to sell, too
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote this week on a bill that would expressly prohibit lawmakers and their staffs from using “nonpublic information,” gained through their official duties, for their personal benefit. It would end what lawmakers say is confusion about when and whether existing insider-trading laws apply to them. Can well-educated (and wealthy, for the most part) leaders really be confused about right, wrong and breaking the law? Well, considering that Congress... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Steel-related bill to benefit Ohio, by Joe Cogliano
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - A proposed new law would require steel purchased by the U.S. military to be completely made in America. On Thursday, six senators including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced legislation that would restore a decades old rule requiring that steel purchased by the U.S. military be both melted and finished in the U.S. Brown said the rule was overturned by the... read more.

Darke County Sheriff’s Office... 3 Vehicle Accident on South 49
On February 10, 2012 at approximately 5:35 P.M. Darke County Deputies along with Pitsburg Fire Department, Arcanum and Greenville Rescue were dispatched to State Route 49 and Grubbs Rex Road in Darke County Ohio in reference to a three vehicle injury accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Ford Mustang driven by, Graeme Mitchell, 50, Arcanum, Ohio was north bound on State Route 49 stopped in the roadway waiting to turn left onto Grubbs Rex Road. A 2001 Ford... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Gingrich rally draws hundreds downtown, by Joe Cogliano, Senior Reporter
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - Mitt Romney may raise more money, but Newt Gingrich told supporters in Dayton that he’s a stronger conservative candidate with more “people” power to attract voters to the polls. Gingrich was greeted by hundreds of supporters Tuesday afternoon who packed the front lobby of Memorial Hall downtown. The stop was one of three in Ohio he was schedule to make during the day. Gingrich also took a jab at President Barack Obama for touting the recent drop in... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Bill would restrict smoking in cars
Arguing that a child has no way to escape the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, a Columbus Democrat told a Senate committee yesterday that it’s time for Ohio to ban smoking in vehicles with passengers younger than 6. “Smoking is especially dangerous in cars because the toxic air is much more concentrated and smoke fumes in vehicles pose a greater risk for children,” said Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, the bill sponsor. The bill likely will get more hearings, and the committee... read more.

Springfield News-Sun... School would train for Ag jobs, By Megan Gildow-Anthony
Widener touts major need in Ohio for skilled workers in industry. Thursday, January 26, 2012 - SPRINGFIELD — One in seven jobs in Ohio is in the high-need industry of agricultural bioscience, and Springfield officials plan to fill that need through a new regional STEM academy that could be located in South High School. State Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield, said Thursday that he wants to start a school called the Global Impact STEM Academy here. He is working with Springfield City School... read more.

Congressman John Boehner... House Will Act to Reverse Attack on Religious Freedom
Note: USA Today story link provided below. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) made the following statement on the House floor: “In recent days, Americans of every faith and political persuasion have mobilized in objection to a rule put forward by the Obama Administration that constitutes an unambiguous attack on religious freedom in our country. “This rule would require faith-based... read more.

WHIO-TV... Faulty connection blamed in Darke Co. house fire, Staff Report
DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — The fire that destroyed a home on Richmond-Palestine Road was the result of a faulty connection that involved a wood stove and the chimney, a fire official said Wednesday night. “Literally, the fire was between the stove and chimney,” said Company Officer Tracy Brown, incident commander with the Hollansburg Fire Department. The flames “literally blew a hole... read more.

Darke County Emergency Services… Commissioners consider sales tax option for 911 Service
By Bob Robinson - Commissioners testing the waters for taking a .25 percent renewable sales tax increase to the voters in November… DARKE COUNTY - Darke County Commissioner Mike Stegall told Greenville Kiwanians Wednesday that state funding might be going away for the county’s 911 emergency services. Stegall said that General Fund money pays for the Sheriff’s Department, as well as much... read more.

Lt. Governor Mary Taylor... Taylor Praises New Law Protecting Those Who Report Abuse
Lt. Governor Mary Taylor today praised lawmakers for passing House Bill 66, allowing the Auditor of State to create an online fraud and abuse reporting system for state employees. Governor Kasich signed HB 66 into law on February 2, 2012. “In my former role as State Auditor, I worked diligently to help create legislation that would give state employees a safe vehicle for reporting fraudulent and/or abusive activity, and would allow protection for employees who file fraud and abuse reports through the... read more.

Greenville City Schools... Isolated case of bed bugs found
The monitoring of the health and wellness of the Greenville City School student population is of utmost priority. District policies and procedures have been developed to guide, educate, and inform parents and staff about health issues in the school environment which include but are not limited to: lice, flu/cold, scabies, bed bugs, intestinal virus, pink eye, chicken pox, and ring worm. In an effort to keep you informed, two bed bugs were recently found on a student’s book bag and on a student’s coat... read more.

Christian Science Monitor... Facebook IPO turns graffiti mural into a $200 million payday
By Matthew Shaer - February 3, 2012 - David Choe, the artist commissioned to paint a mural in Facebook HQ in 2005, is about to become a very rich man indeed – all thanks to some graffiti murals and the Facebook IPO. Good work if you can get it. In 2005, the artist David Choe was hired to paint some murals in Facebook HQ. Facebook, then a young and scrappy social network, offered Choe... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... UD researchers unlock secret of McRib marketing, by Ginger Christ
Monday, February 6, 2012 - The appearance of McDonald’s Corp.’s McRib sandwiches aren’t as predictable as the annual arrival of the Shamrock Shake. But, University of Dayton marketing experts think they have unlocked the secret to the popular pork sandwich’s releases that have helped drive its cult following. “We see a noticeable trend that leads us to believe that McDonald’s uses the McRib to exert... read more.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich... 2012 State of the State Address
Gov. John Kasich held an historic State of the State address outside of the Statehouse in Columbus. The site of Tuesday’s night’s address was Steubenville, Ohio. That wasn’t the only thing “different” about his speech. According to plunderbund.com “The AP’s Julie Carr Smyth described it as “a rambling, unfocused address in the auditorium of an elementary school” and that pretty much sums it up.” and “this speech wasn’t... read more.

Rasmussen... What They Told Us: Reviewing Last Week’s Key Polls
Saturday, February 04, 2012 - Mitt Romney’s victory in Florida put him back on top as the clear frontrunner in the race for the GOP nomination. Rasmussen Reports and others had accurately projected Romney’s victory in advance but the fact that he got more votes than Gingrich and Santorum combined still caught many observers off guard. Romney is expected to win big in Nevada today and has leads in the next two primary states—Michigan and Arizona. A commentary by Larry Sabato and his.... read more.

Dayton Business Journal...Air Force to get first female four-star General, by Joe Cogliano
Monday, February 6, 2012 - The first female four-star General in the U.S. Air Force may soon land at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. On Monday, President Barack Obama nominated Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger for a promotion to General — making her the first woman to hold the rank. If confirmed by the Senate, it would mark Wolfenbarger’s return to Wright-Patt as commander of Air Force Materiel Command. She would take over... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: Chinese trade practices risk 200k Ohio jobs, by Joe Cogliano
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - A trio of new reports release Tuesday claim that 1.6 million jobs in the U.S. auto supply chain — including nearly 200,000 in Ohio — are at risk because of illegal trading practices by China. Officials from the Economic Policy Institute, which authored two of the reports, said U.S. automakers have enjoyed a strong turnaround since the government aided the restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler, with U.S.-based.... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... Candidates for state’s top court rake it in, By David Eggert, Jim Siegel & Darrel Rowland
Wednesday February 1, 2012 - A 6-1 majority on the state Supreme Court is not enough for Ohio Republicans. Butler County Domestic Relations Judge Sharon L. Kennedy raised more than $152,000 since Nov. 7 — which Ohio Republican leaders are touting as a record for a challenger at this stage of the campaign — in her bid to unseat Democratic Justice Yvette McGee Brown. However, McGee Brown has raised nearly $214,000 in just the past three weeks, campaign-finance reports... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... U.S. military sales to foreign nations doubles, by Joe Cogliano
Saturday, January 28, 2012 - Sales of military weapons to foreign countries have risen dramatically in the most recent four-year period, with sales to top 10 buyers more than doubling from the previous period. The 10 countries that bought the most U.S. military goods and services from 2007 to 2010 placed combined orders of $66.3 billion, up from $29.4 billion in the 2003 to 2006 periods, according to data from... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... U.S. manufacturing posts robust growth, by Joe Cogliano
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - U.S. manufacturing started the year off with a bang. January marked the 30th consecutive month the industry was in growth mode while the rate of growth also accelerated, according to a report on Wednesday from the Institute for Supply Management. The PMI, an index used to measure the strength of the industry, jumped 1 percentage points to 54.1 percent last month. A... read more.

Darke County Economic Development... Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
On January 20, 2012, the Rural Business -Cooperative Service invited agricultural producers and rural small businesses to apply for grants and loan guarantees through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The Rural Energy for America program is design to assist applicants install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. Parties interested in applying for the REAP grant only or REAP grant and loan guarantee in combination must submit their... read more.

TRAC Votes to Accept Draft List... Launches Public Comment Period
COLUMBUS (Tuesday, January 31, 2012) –The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) today voted nine to zero to accept the draft list of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) major new transportation projects throughout the state. The TRAC vote launches a 45-day written public comment period as the state looks to adopt what ODOT Director and TRAC Chairman Jerry Wray describes as an “honest and fiscally responsible list of current and new construction projects... read more.

Dayton Business Journal... Report: Bigger trucks on roads to cost counties $40M, by Joe Cogliano
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - County officials from around Ohio are mobilizing against a measure that would allow bigger trucks on the nation’s roads. The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is slated to vote Thursday on whether or not to allow bigger trucks, up to 97,000 pounds for single-trailer trucks and more than 100,000 pounds for double- and triple-trailer trucks on American... read more.

Darke County’s Most Wanted... David McCowan, Jr., and Stacey Denham
From the Darke County Crime Stoppers: Two new fugitives have been added to the Darke County Crime Stoppers Most Wanted list. The most recent addition is David Woodrow McCowan, Jr., wanted for Failure to Report, Failure to Comply with Child Support Enforcement and more, including Domestic Menacing. Added earlier was Stacey Ann Denham, wanted... read more.

Cincinnati Enquirer... What do you want to hear from Kasich?
For the first time in state history, an Ohio governor will make his State of the State speech in a location other than the statehouse in Columbus. On Feb. 7, Gov. John Kasich will deliver his second such speech at a successful elementary school about 150 miles away in Steubenville. The speech at Wells Academy, which the governor’s office says is the highest ranking public elementary school in the state based on test results, is expected to focus on improving education. In his first State of... read more.

Bellefontaine Examiner... Crash closes U.S. 33 for several hours, By Bellefontaine Examiner Staff
Thursday, 02 February 2012 - Dennis Wilson, Greenville, suffered minor injuries - Wreckage from a three-vehicle crash about 5:55 p.m. Thursday shut down U.S. Route 33 between township roads 87 and 89 near Heartland of Indian Lake for about six hours while debris and vehicles were removed from the scene. Troopers of the Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol report Jon G. Burns... read more.

Washington Post... Punxsutawney Phil shadow means 6 more weeks of winter
Thursday, February 2 - Groundhog Day 2012 - Groundhog Day is upon us, and Americans tuned in from around the country Thursday morning to watch Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter. As Jason Samenow reported: At 7:25 a.m. this morning, amidst mostly cloudy skies, and temperatures in the low 30s, Groundhog Phil saw his shadow in the little town of Punxsutawney, Pa... read more.

Dayton Daily News... Initiative seeks to promote students for jobs
DAYTON — The upDayton Young Creatives Summit Kickoff on Tuesday included a sneak peek of a website designed to help the community combat brain drain by retaining the best and brightest from area colleges. The kickoff was a preview of the April summit. DaytonINTERNS.net, an initiative designed to promote the hiring of college-age students by Miami Valley businesses, non-profits and governmental bodies, will officially launch in the spring, according to John Jones, chair of upDayton... read more.

Gov. John Kasich... Insurance Industry Leaders to Make New Investments in Ohio
Progressive Insurance and Allstate Insurance to Retain Thousands of Jobs in Northeast Ohio - COLUMBUS – Gov. John R. Kasich today announced that two giants in the insurance industry – The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies and Allstate Insurance Company – will invest $35 million and $20 million, respectively, to strengthen their already large presence in Northeast Ohio. Ohio is the eighth largest... read more.

State Senator Keith Faber... Faber Legislation to Offer More Choice to Auto Owners
COLUMBUS— State Senator Keith Faber (R – Celina) today presented testimony on Senate Bill 273, legislation that would alleviate some of the restrictions on Ohio’s salvage vehicle market which is one of the most restrictive in the country. The bill allows for a greater number of participants to compete in the salvage motor vehicle auction process while also opening internet auctions as another forum to purchase the approximately 100,000 totaled vehicles sold by Ohio insurers each year... read more.

WHIO-TV... Juvenile arson suspect not competent to stand trial
GREENVILLE, Ohio — Authorities said a 10-year-old boy who was charged with starting a fire that heavily damaged a downtown Greenville business last fall will not stand trial. The fire happened on Oct. 30 at the Miami Valley Vending Service company on Martin Street. The boy was 9 years old at the time and was eventually charged in juvenile court with arson. Officials said the boy was recently determined not competent to stand trial because of his age, he would not be able to... read more.

Secretary of State Jon Husted... Absentee Voting for Primary has started
Deadline to register to vote for March 6 Election is Feb. 6 - Secretary of State Jon Husted is reminding all Ohioans planning to participate in the March 6 Presidential Primary Election of some key upcoming dates and deadlines. Absentee Voting by Mail - Starting January 31, 2012 - Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections will begin mailing absentee ballots to voters who have already requested to vote... read more.

Columbus Dispatch... In Ohio, dropout law hard to enforce
During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Barack Obama urged states to require students to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18 — a law already in effect in Ohio and 19 other states. Still, at least 23,000 Ohio teens dropped out in the 2010-11 school year. And only a small number of those kids took advantage of an Ohio provision that lets them “ officially” leave school if they’re at least 16, have a full-time job and have permission from a parent and the district. Most of those... read more.

Partnering for Progress... DCED Report: County Success noted at DDC Annual Meeting According to the Darke County Economic Development office, this slide was presented recently at the Dayton Development Coalition’s annual meeting. It shows the coalition’s membership on a map marked with orange dots. The nice part is this - the dot size correlates with the number of projects brought forward in 2011. As you can see, only Clark county did as well as Darke County did. “So....what does this mean? First and... read more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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