You are viewing the May 27, 2014 daily archives

Quick Look: Where NSA Reform Stands
With Edward Snowden's interview with Brian Williams set to air May 28, we examine where NSA reform stands, using resources and information from all over the globe. WOUB's Julia Rabe reports.

Safety Forces Say They Like One Bill That Would Reform Red-Light Cameras
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
Posted on:
Backers of a bill that would reform the way red light cameras are used say it’s important to keep those tools in place for safety forces. Lieutenant Brenton Mull of the Columbus Police Department says the red light cameras are saving lives and reducing traffic accidents. Mull says he likes a new bill that would… Read More

New Proposed Changes To Conceal-Carry Law Brings Back Old Battles
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
Posted on:
Another bill that tinkers with the state’s concealed-carry weapons law is in a Senate committee now. Two groups that have always been very involved in the issue are once again clashing over the proposed changes. It’s no secret that law enforcement has had serious concerns about concealed-carry weapons permits. And this bill to make some… Read More

Energy Bill Passes Tricky Ohio House Committee
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
Posted on:
A controversial energy bill takes another step after legislators passed it out of a House committee Tuesday, but Republican leadership moved the bill while facing strong opposition from members of their own party. The new energy bill would, among other changes, freeze Ohio’s efficiency and renewable standards for two years. Republican Representatives Mike Duffey of… Read More

Why Young, Female Athletes Tear ACLs More Than Males
By: Jeff St. Clair | Ohio Public Radio • WKSU
Posted on:
Teenage girls scramble in a hard fought match in the sprawling soccer complex next to the expressway interchange near Lodi. Fifteen year-old Bethany Jewell is from Salem and plays on the Keystone traveling team. A sturdy metal brace grips her right knee as she runs down the field. She recalls a similar game about a… Read More

Memorial Day Weekend Crash Deaths Down In 2013
By: WOUB Staff Writer
Posted on:
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 13 people died during the Friday through Monday holiday weekend. That's five fewer than last year. The patrol says three of the fatalities this year were related to drunken driving. The patrol's 757 arrests for impaired driving were a 7 percent increase from 2013. Citations for seat-belt violations increased… Read More

Glouster Residents React To Police Chief’s Arrest
Finding someone in Glouster who wanted to talk to us about police chief Lucas Mace's arrest was not easy. We managed to track down two males who wouldn't give us their full information – or allow us to record them on video – but would answer a few questions. From Zac (he didn't want his… Read More

Police Arrest 49 During Patrol Blitz In Ohio County, WV
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
Law enforcement officers made 49 felony and misdemeanor arrests and issued 82 citations during a patrol blitz in Ohio County. The Mountaineer Highway Interdiction Team and other officers also recovered prescription painkillers, marijuana and psilocybin during the operation. Officers conducted the saturation patrol between May 19 and May 23 on highways and secondary roads, and… Read More

Ohio Senator Wants Better Sunscreen In U.S.
By: Rachel Bailey
Posted on:
Sunscreen – We take for granted that it will help protect us from the damaging effects too much sun. According to Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, American sunscreen does not protect against cancer as well as European sunscreen. There are more than 2 million cases of skin cancer each year in the United States, and 90… Read More

Severe Weather Causes Power Outages Across Region
By: Atish Baidya
Posted on:
Hundreds of people in portions of southeast Ohio are without power as thunderstorms roll through the region. According to AEP Ohio’s outage map 860 customers in Scioto County, 190 customer in Vinton County and 103 customers in Jackson County are without electricity. According to the National Weather Service, Scioto County remains under a severe thunderstorm… Read More

Athens QB Burrow Commits To Ohio State
By: Eric Singer
Posted on:
Athens quarterback Joe Burrow had made it known that he wanted to decide on his collegiate plans before his senior season began this August. Tuesday morning, Burrow followed through on his word, as he announced that he had committed to the Ohio State University on his Twitter account. Burrow, who stands at 6-foot-4, is rated… Read More

Prosecutor Delivers 12-Count Indictment Against Glouster Police Chief
By: Tom Hodson
Posted on:
Update 8:30 p.m. The Trimble village counsel met on Tuesday night and said Lucas Mace has been placed on unpaid, administrative leave, but he has not been fired. The Athens County Grand Jury issued a 12-count indictment against Glouster Police Chief Lucas Mace. The indictments were announced Tuesday at a press conference conducted by Athens… Read More

Athens Community Pays Tribute To Veterans And People Who Suffered From Mental Illness
By: Merle Tilk
Posted on:
Pearl Mae Hanley-Coakley died 64 years ago after suffering from Huntington's disease which causes the death of nerve cells in the brain. After her death she was buried at one of the cemeteries at the Athens Mental Health Center, also known as the Ridges. For 62 years her descendants didn't know anything about her until two… Read More

Kara Raines Named New Principal At Athens Middle School
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
Posted on:
In the wake of longtime principal Paul Grippa’s imminent retirement, the school district has hired Kara Raines to take his place. “I’m honored to get to take the reins at this point and looking forward to it,” Raines said about her new role at the school. Serving 28 years at the middle school, Grippa has… Read More

Ohio University Professor Killed In Pakistan
By: WOUB Staff Writer
Posted on:
Columbus-area cardiologist and Ohio University professor Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar was killed in Pakistan on Monday, according to The New York Times. Qamar was in the country as a hospital volunteer. His wife, sister-in-law and son were with him when he died. From the report: “This is a faith-based target killing of a very precious… Read More

An Explanation Of Mace’s Legal Proceedings
By: Tom Hodson
Posted on:
Glouster Police Chief Lucas Mace, who was arrested Friday, made his initial court appearance in Athens County Municipal Court Tuesday morning. Mace, who is out of jail after posting $10,000 bond Saturday morning, was represented by his attorney Claire M. Ball Jr. A tentative preliminary hearing to determine probable cause was set for June 2… Read More

Changes To Common Core Bill Would Prohibit Collaboration With Other States
By: Bill Rice | WCPN
Posted on:
Changes to House Bill 487 passed by the Ohio Senate last week would prohibit the state board from developing new standards in social studies and science in collaboration with other states, as was done with the Common Core math and English standards. Ohio has already developed new social studies and science standards on its own…. Read More

Court Asked If Threats To Ohio Governor Are Public Record
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
The Ohio Supreme Court is ready to hear arguments in a legal dispute over the state's decision to withhold records from a political blogger documenting threats against Republican Gov. John Kasich. Lawyers for Plunderbund and the Ohio Department of Public Safety address the court Tuesday. Court documents indicate the Democratic-leaning political blog sought investigation files… Read More

Ohio Senator Calls Ukraine’s Election Legitimate
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
An Ohio senator who observed Ukraine's presidential election this weekend says the experience in the crisis-torn European nation was inspiring and he viewed it as a legitimate election. Twenty-one candidates competed Sunday to become Ukraine's next leader. With votes from 80 percent of the precincts counted Monday, Petro Poroshenko was leading with about 54 percent… Read More

AEP Proposes Rate Cut For Customers
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
American Electric Power is planning to cut rates for most residential customers by more than 12 percent. A typical household bill would be 12.6 percent less than under current rates under a plan submitted by the utility. That's based on forecasts of market conditions next year, when the plan would take effect. A trial-like regulatory… Read More

Two Teens In Custody After Accused Officer Assault
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
Two teenagers accused of assaulting an off-duty Parkersburg police officer are in custody. Police Chief Joe Martin tells media outlets that a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy attacked Officer D.E. McClain after exchanging words with him. Martin says the 63-year-old McClain was driving Friday night when he saw the juveniles walking in the center… Read More

Bill Halting Renewable Energy Targets Scheduled For Vote
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
A bill halting the phase-in of Ohio's renewable energy and efficiency standards is re-emerging after the long weekend. The contentious proposal delays targets for how much energy Ohio utilities must generate from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, by 2025. House Public Utilities Chairman Peter Stautberg delayed the vote to Tuesday after intensive lobbying… Read More

State Highway Officials Evaluate Bids For Courtesy Patrol
By: Associated Press
Posted on:
State highways officials are evaluating two bids for a contract to operate the West Virginia Courtesy Patrol. The bidders are the patrol's longtime operator, Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia, and IncidentClear. IncidentClear operates service patrols in Massachusetts, Nevada, and Dallas County, Texas, along with similar programs in several large cities. Department of Administration spokeswoman… Read More

NMF Artist Preview: Saintseneca
By: Evan Sites
Posted on:
Up-and-coming Columbus, Ohio, band Saintseneca kicks off its summer tour this weekend at the Nelsonville Music Festival.
WOUB contributor Evan Sites talks with Saintseneca's main singer/songwriter, Zac Little, about his group's new album and his songwriting process.

Ridges Ceremony Pays Tribute To Those With Mental Illness
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
Posted on:
“Remember us for we too have lived, loved and laughed.” That statement — which was originally placed on a plaque outside a restored mental hospital cemetery in Massachusetts — was one of the many sentiments expressed during a Memorial Day ceremony organized by the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). As… Read More