Ohio

CHICAGO, June 23, 2008 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 asks the public to provide information that could affect its decision to approve a request from AK Steel Corp. AK Steel wants an exemption that allows the company to continue to dispose of hazardous waste from its steelmaking operations into two existing underground injection wells on its property in Middletown, Ohio. The original exemption from federal restrictions on land disposal of hazardous waste was approved in 1990.

EPA tentatively plans to re-issue the exemption pending public comment. It has reviewed information provided by the company that shows the waste will not move out of the underground layers of rock where it will be confined when it is disposed in the deep wells.    » read more »

Announcement of 20 Finalists Continues Through Friday, June 27; Profile of all 20 Cities July 4 – 23

June 17, 2008 -- SportsCenter’s interactive search for America’s top championship city continued last week with the announcement of five new finalists on the ESPN flagship news and information program Tuesday, June 10, to Monday, June 16. The five cities announced include Los Angeles, Columbus, Ohio, Chapel Hill, N.C., Ann Arbor, Mich., and San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Kyle P. Norris, 22, of Zanesville, Ohio, died May 23 in Balad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during a patrol May 22 in Jurf as Sakhr, Iraq.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Source: DOD

May 23, 2008 -- COLUMBUS – The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which has been prosecuting a securities class action case against American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and 22 other defendants for more than three years, announced its intention to add claims relating to AIG’s recent multi-billion dollar write-downs stemming from its exposure to problems in the residential housing market.    » read more »

5.23.08 - Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today signed Senate Bill 289, legislation that will establish the Ohio Department of Veterans Services and ensure employment rights to those serving in the uniformed services.

“I am proud that Ohio will have a new department to ensure Ohio’s veterans and their families have one central place to go to access the benefits they deserve,” Strickland said. “The Ohio Department of Veterans Services will be an advocate for Ohio’s veterans in Washington, ensuring our state’s veterans have greater access to federal benefits and programs.”

The new department will assume the duties of the Governor's Office of Veterans Services, including the Ohio Veterans’ Home Agency and the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Board.    » read more »

5/21/2008 -- Ohio automatic delegate Craig Bashein of Hunting Valley announced his support for Hillary Clinton today. The Ohio Democratic Committee elected him one of its automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention on May 10.

"Hillary brings a wealth of proven experience in both domestic and foreign policy that provides a great sense of confidence and security in our future," Bashein said. "She has the strength and determination to beat John McCain this Fall."

Source: Hillary Clinton campaign

May 20, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Branden P. Haunert, 21, of Cincinnati, Ohio, died May 18 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.    » read more »

May 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Mississippi.

Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, California.

Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colorado.

All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations.

They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD

5.5.08 - Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Treasurer Richard Cordray, House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller and Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern called for Attorney General Marc Dann’s resignation last night.

The text of a letter sent to Attorney General Marc Dann last night, Sunday, May 4, 2008, follows:

Sunday May 4, 2008

Attorney General Marc Dann
State of Ohio
Rhodes State Office Tower
30 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Dear Attorney General Dann,

We write to you tonight to ask that you resign your position as Attorney General of the State of Ohio.    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- In Youngstown, Ohio today, John McCain, "standing before a nearly shuttered factory pocked with broken windows," tried to sell his failed Bush economic ideas but failed miserably, showing just how out of touch he is with the issues facing America's families. McCain, the ninth richest member of Congress, even went as far as comparing his presidential primary campaign to the struggles of workers hit hardest by the Bush economy in Rust Belt cities such as Youngstown where jobs have left and people are struggling to find work. [McClatchy, 4/22/08; Roll Call, 9/10/07]

John McCain speaks at CMU: Photo by Patrick Gage (CC)    » read more »

DNC Member Enid Goubeaux cites Obama’s ability to end "politics as usual"

April 21, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Today, Ohio superdelegate and DNC member Enid Goubeaux endorsed Barack Obama.

Her statement is below:

Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

"I am endorsing Sen. Obama because his message, ‘yes we can’ has inspired so many voters, especially younger voters, to take part in shaping our country's future.

"I believe that Sen. Obama will end politics as usual which divides the nation and prevents us from confronting our most serious problems."

Source: Barack Obama campaign

Nineteen States and Puerto Rico Urge The U.S. Supreme Court To Protect Employees From Retaliation

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and the attorneys general of 18 other states and Puerto Rico, today asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that employers cannot retaliate against an employee involved in an employer’s investigation of sexual harassment.

The amicus, or “friend of the court,” filing supports a woman who was fired after participating in a company investigation of sexual harassment.

The case, Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, addresses whether an employer may fire or demote an employee for participating in an employer’s internal investigation of discrimination.    » read more »

April 8, 2008 -- Columbus -- Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann today offered advice for consumers affected by the recent shutdown of the Columbus-based airline, Skybus, Inc.

“We will do all we can to assist consumers left stranded by the collapse of Skybus,” Attorney General Dann said. “We will look at all the facts and cooperate with local and federal prosecutors to determine if any civil or criminal action should be pursued. In the meantime, consumers should immediately contact their banks and credit card providers to try to get their money back."

Skybus jet: Photo by OZinOH (CC)    » read more »

4.7.08 - Columbus, Ohio - Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced that nine mortgage loan servicers agreed to sign a “Compact to Help Ohioans Preserve Homeownership,” the first agreement of its kind in the nation.

In a Governor’s Office ceremony this morning, executives from six mortgage loan servicers signed a document pledging that they will work with the state in making every possible attempt to prevent default loans and foreclosures in Ohio.

Foreclosed shanty: Photo by Sharyn Morrow (CC)

Executives from three other companies mailed signed copies.    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- The Department of Defense today announced the change in status of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom from missing-captured to deceased.

The armed forces medical examiner confirmed on March 29, human remains recovered in Iraq were those of Staff Sgt. Keith M. Maupin, 24, of Batavia, Ohio.

Maupin had been listed as missing-captured since April 16, 2004. His convoy came under attack by individuals using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire on April 9, 2004.

He was assigned to the 724th Transportation Company, Bartonville, Ill.

The incident remains under investigation.

Source: DoD