You are viewing the July 31, 2014 daily archives

Justice Department Files Brief In Lawsuit Against Ohio Voting Rules
By: Nick Castele | Ohio Public Radio • WCPN
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The U.S. Department of Justice is weighing in on a federal lawsuit over voting times in Ohio. The NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union sued the state earlier this year over two changes in Ohio’s voting schedule, saying they hit African-American voters the hardest. One change eliminated the so-called “golden week,” in which people could… Read More

Report: Millions Start But Never Finish College
By: Amy Hansen | StateImpact Ohio
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For the past two decades, more than 31 million Americans started college, but never walked across the stage to grab a diploma. That's from a recent report by the National Student Clearinghouse. Not earning that degree can prove to be a costly decision, as such people decrease their potential median annual earnings by about $16,000…. Read More

OU Police Lieutenant Files Court Of Claims Case
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
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An Ohio University police lieutenant who filed a federal lawsuit against OU in a pay dispute has now filed the same lawsuit in the Ohio Court of Claims. Lt. Christopher Johnson filed the Court of Claims case on Thursday. As The Messenger previously reported, Johnson is asserting that he is due overtime pay for part… Read More

New Poll Has Good And Bad News For Democrats In Ohio
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
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The latest Quinnipiac University poll shows only 36 percent of registered Ohio voters surveyed approve of the way President Obama is doing his job. Fifty-nine percent of those who responded said they disapprove of Obama’s job performance. That’s close to his all-time low score in any of the nine states surveyed by Quinnipiac University. Democrats… Read More

Ohio State Fair ‘Midway Mood’ Reflects Consumer Optimism
By: Tom Borgerding | Ohio Public Radio • WOSU
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As a roaming Polka Band plays, the state fair midway is jammed. Tens of thousands of visitors come annually to the Fair and this year they’re more upbeat. Tim and Kathy Miller of Tiro and Kim Covey of Bucyrus are shopping for souvenir Tee-shirts. All three say they’re opening their wallets and pocketbooks a bit… Read More

City Says West Union Construction Won’t Heavily Impact Fair Traffic
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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Construction will continue on West Union Street this week, but the city is hoping the work will have minimal impact on the Athens County Fair, which begins Friday. Work began on the corridor earlier this summer and is anticipated to be complete before Ohio University’s homecoming parade on Oct. 11, which utilizes Union Street as… Read More

Welsh Writers To Offer Lectures, Workshops
The Gallia County Convention and Visitors Bureau, in conjunction with the Madog Center for Welsh Studies, is pleased to announce the arrival of Suzanne Iuppa and Phil Cope of Wales this fall. Both will be arriving on Sept. 1, and visiting Rio Grande the entire week while offering creative writing workshops, lectures and presentations. Suzanne… Read More

State Revokes License Of Toledo’s Last Abortion Clinic
By: Associated Press
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The interim director of the Ohio Department of Health has signed an order to revoke the license of Toledo's last abortion clinic. The order takes effect Aug. 12. Lance Himes signed the order Wednesday revoking Capital Care Network's license. The clinic has 15 days to file an appeal and request a court stay the order… Read More

Scioto County Prosecutor Challenges Ohio Prison Release Option
By: Associated Press
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A prosecutor says a procedure allowing the Ohio prisons director to recommend to judges early release for certain offenders violates the constitutional separation of powers. At issue in a complaint by Scioto County Prosecutor Mark Kuhn is a law allowing the prisons chief to recommend early release for offenders who have served at least 80… Read More

Fired OSU Band Director Says He Was Fixing Band’s Culture
By: Associated Press
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The fired Ohio State University marching band director says he was working to change a culture of hazing and inappropriate rituals among members. Jonathan Waters detailed the changes he was trying to make in a seven-page document prepared when the university began investigating allegations of problems with the band. His attorney released the document Wednesday… Read More

Ohio Mumps Cases Now Number 469
By: Associated Press
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The number of mumps cases in the recent central Ohio outbreak has reached 469 cases. Columbus Public Health says the number of cases linked to this year's outbreak in Franklin, Delaware and Madison counties is more than in the entire country last year. Patients have ranged in age from 4 months to 80 years, with… Read More

Kroger Restricts Pseudoephedrine Sales In West Virginia
By: Associated Press
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Supermarket chain Kroger is tightening monthly purchase limits of cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine at its West Virginia stores. The new limits at Kroger's 40 pharmacies in the state will be effective in the coming weeks and are more restrictive than those under West Virginia law. Kroger spokesman Carol York says the company didn't halt… Read More

Attorney General Mike Dewine Is ‘Very Excited’ About OU’s Survivor Advocacy Program
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine came to the Ohio University Women's Center Thursday to hear about the progress being made with a year-old outreach program. The Ohio University Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program (OUSAOP) offers 24-hour support services to victims of sexual assault in Athens, Perry and Meigs Counties. "This has been something-as far as the… Read More

New Call Center To Bring Jobs To Athens
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
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A call center that is expected to have 100 jobs — and potentially more — is coming to Athens. Tom Parfitt and Brent Hayes, owners of The Market on State, confirmed Wednesday that they have leased space in the East State Street mall to a company called Residential Programs Inc. for operation of a call… Read More

Some Schools Implement New Hour Requirements While Others Will Count Days
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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As schools are gearing up for the new school year some districts have implemented changes to the way time in school is calculated. Legislation approved by Ohio lawmakers became effective on July 1, requiring districts to switch from counting days in the classroom to counting hours of instruction. Under the new requirement, students in grades… Read More