House Republicans introduce bill to kill the Common Core
Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House are beginning a push to repeal Common Core learning standards by year's end, citing widespread discontent they're hearing from parents, teachers and communities.

Reps. Matt Huffman of Lima and Andy Thompson of Marietta said Monday that Ohio made a mistake four years ago in pursuing the standards and their legislation would seize back state control over the process.

It's unclear whether the bill could pass. Districts already are well on their way to implementing the standards, which have the backing of a diverse coalition including teachers' unions and community and business groups.

Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper says a repeal would create chaos for school districts. She says some large urban districts have spent two years preparing for the launch.


Secs. Duncan and Perez tour Toledo school today
Two members of President Barack Obama's administration are visiting northwestern Ohio to promote job training programs.

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez will be in Toledo on Tuesday to tour a public school that focuses on technology and job training. The Toledo Technology Academy won a $3.8 million federal grant for helping employers work with the school system and the students.

The two officials also will tour a center that helps train people for electrical and telecommunications careers.

 

RPM reaches $800 million asbestos settlement
The Medina-based maker of Rust-Oleum and other paint products has reached a nearly $800 million deal to settle asbestos claims against a former subsidiary.

Shares for RPM International rose sharply after yesterday’s announcement.

RPM, which also makes DAP caulk, was originally ordered to pay $1.2 billion to settle asbestos related claims from its former Bondex joint compound division.

The settlement still needs court approval.

Online retailer to add 900 Columbus-area jobs
An online retailer is opening a call center in central Ohio and bringing about 900 new jobs.

Seattle-based Zulily offers daily deals for women and children’s clothing.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that yesterday the Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 75 percent, 12-year income-tax credit for the company that will save the company about $6.2 million.

It's contingent on Zulily meeting annual targets for hiring in the first three years toward a total of 900 full-time jobs, and staying in central Ohio for at least 15 years.

Passenger in deadly plane crash still unidentified
Authorities in northwest Ohio are still trying to identify one of two people killed in a weekend plane crash.

One of the victims in the crash near Findlay was the CEO of an Ohio manufacturing company. A coroner was trying to identify the remains of a woman killed in the crash, but the Hancock County Sheriff's Office says DNA testing may be needed.

Deputies say Ralf Bronnenmeier, CEO of Grob Systems in Bluffton, was piloting the single-engine plane that crashed early Sunday morning.

Authorities say the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations.

The plane was traveling from Holland, Michigan, to Bluffton, which is near Findlay.

Year-round schools start in Cleveland
Students at a new school in Cleveland will make movies, video games and sound recordings to help learn traditional subjects.

The Cleveland High School for Digital Arts welcomed 116 freshmen Monday for their first day of classes.

Classes will be held year-round, with 10-week sessions followed by three-week breaks.

The school is the brainchild of Marsha Dobrzynski from the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning in Cleveland.

The Cleveland and Gund foundations are providing financial assistance.

Three other year-round schools, MC2STEM, Eagle Academy, and the PACT school also began classes this week in Cleveland.

Akron approves plans for new hotel expansion
Akron city council last night approved amended plans for a new 146 room hotel near downtown.  

It’s the first new hotel in downtown Akron to be built in decades, according to the Beacon Journal. 

Developer Joel Testa will receive Tax Increment Financing for the $20 million project, expected to be completed next summer. 

The new Marriott Courtyard is the latest addition to the city’s Northside district. 

Straight A Fund approves $145 million in school grants
Ohio officials have approved 37 grant applications involving nearly 200 schools and educational entities from an innovation fund established by Gov. John Kasich.

The Ohio Department of Education says nearly $145 million in grants were recommended by the Straight A Governing Board for funding in fiscal year 2015. The Ohio Controlling Board approved the expenditures Monday.

About 662 organizations applied for the "Straight A Fund" grants from the fund created to promote innovative local ideas and programs to help modernize Ohio's education system.

The fund was created in the state budget signed last summer by Kasich. 

Kindergarten teacher resigns after grabbing student
A school board in northwest Ohio has accepted the resignation of a kindergarten teacher accused of pushing and grabbing one of her students.

The Riverdale school board accepted the resignation of teacher Barbara Williams on Monday night without comment.

Williams has pleaded not guilty to a child endangerment charge after a surveillance camera appeared to show her shoving and picking the child up by the face. The video became public in May.

Williams, who taught in the district for 15 years, and her attorney have declined to comment about the charges.

Her resignation letter said she was leaving "for personal reasons."

An attorney for the family of the child involved in the incident says district students "will be safer as a result."

Cincinnati owes neighborhoods $4 million
A judge says the city of Cincinnati improperly borrowed millions of dollars designated for neighborhood projects to pay its taxes to the school district.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Gorman on Monday ordered the city to repay $4 million to neighborhoods and told officials not to make similar internal loans in the future.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the court will set a repayment schedule.

City council insisted it had always intended to pay the money back, but did not set aside the money for it in the 2015 operating budget. City lawyers argued that it was OK because it was an "internal loan."

The money will benefit the 12 neighborhood districts where community leaders can now start planning improvement projects.

State won’t inspect Skyhawk after accident
Ohio's amusement ride inspectors won't be conducting an official investigation into an accident that injured two people when a cable snapped on a swing ride at Cedar Point.

That's because the state investigates accidents only when someone is admitted to a hospital or stays overnight.

Cedar Point says the Skyhawk ride will remain closed until the park's investigation into the cause is completed. Two people were hurt Saturday night when a cable disconnected on the ride that swings up to 125 feet in the air.

A Department of Agriculture spokeswoman says state ride inspectors will be at the park in Sandusky later this week to meet with Cedar Point officials and the ride's manufacturer.

The inspectors also will need to sign off on the ride before it can reopen.

 

Byron named Lakers head coach
Former Cavs coach Byron Scott has been named the new head coach of the LA Lakers.

Scott picked up the pieces for the Cavs after the departure of LeBron James and coached the struggling team for three seasons.

Scott spent 11 seasons with the Lakers and helped the team win three NBA championships in the late 1980’s

James celebration sells out in hours
LeBron James' Ohio hometown says fans quickly claimed the thousands of tickets available for the homecoming event expected to be his first public appearance in the state since announcing his return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The free tickets for the Aug. 8 show at InfoCision Stadium in Akron were released Monday and were gone within hours.

Akron spokeswoman Stephanie York won't divulge how many tickets were offered but says demand was overwhelming. She says organizers hope to make more available.

York says the event is more of a show than a party or rally. The stadium holds more than 27,000 people, but it's unclear how much space will be used for the event.

James has created big buzz by returning to Cleveland four years after leaving for the Miami Heat.