Arguments in ex-Akron officer's murder case set for Monday A judge says she'll hear arguments over a new trial for a former Akron police captain accused in the 1998 slaying of his ex-wife. At issue is the interpretation of an appeals court ruling last week in the case of defendant Douglas Prade. His attorneys say the Ninth District Court of Appeals requires Summit County Judge Christine Croce (KROH'-chee) to order a new trial, while prosecutors say the court left it up to the judge. Croce has scheduled a hearing for Monday. Prade spent nearly 15 years in prison in the shooting. He was freed last year after a judge exonerated him, then went back to jail when that ruling was reversed.
Ohio sets new laws for tattooing and piercing Ohio is redrawing the rules for tattoo artists and piercers for the first time since the late 1990s. New regulations going into effect Sept. 1 include limiting piercing guns for use only on lower earlobes, and restricting minors from getting certain areas of their bodies pierced, even if their parents approve. New state laws also require all body art businesses to have an infection and disease control plan. The updates also are expected to protect consumers by encouraging more training among the public health inspectors who make sure the rules are being followed. Patrick McCarthy, president of the newly created Association of Body Art Professionals, tells The Akron Beacon Journal (http://bit.ly/1Aus7si ) that the changes are good for the industry, which has grown significantly since the last times rules were changed.
Tressel officially installed as YSU president Youngstown State University has officially installed Jim Tressel as president. Though the former Ohio State football coach has been on the job for weeks, he took an oath at a ceremony Monday, officially making him the ninth Youngstown State president. Governor John Kasich spoke at the ceremony and says Tressel and his wife give the jolt, energy, leadership and vision the university needs. Tressel officially became president July 1 at the school where he started his college coaching career years earlier. Youngstown State agreed to pay him $300,000 a year as president.
All rides at Cedar Point reopen after brief power outage All rides at Cedar Point opened as scheduled Monday after a power outage the night before stranded some visitors on rides. A park spokesman said in an email that a "small portion" of the park experienced a power outage on Sunday night and that all guests stranded on rides at the time were escorted off safely. A FirstEnergy spokesman said the outage was caused by a fault in a cable. Last month, two park visitors were injured when a cable attached to the Skyhawk ride snapped.
Fuel spill near Cincinnati An estimated 5,000 gallons of fuel oil spilled into the Ohio River about 20 miles southeast of Cincinnati. A Duke Energy official says the spill happened late Monday night at one of its substations in New Richmond. A Duke Energy spokesperson says the spill occurred during a fuel transfer and lasted 10 to 15 minutes before it was stopped. An official with the Cincinnati Marine Safety Detachment says the spill is considered medium-sized, saying that designation applies to inland leaks between 1,000 and 10,000 gallons. It will likely take several days to clean up the spill and that a vacuum likely will be needed to suck the oil out of the water.
Ohio tops nation in job losses Ohio lost more jobs than any other state last month. Ohio employers cut 12,400 jobs in July, topping the 9,000 jobs lost in Maryland and the 4,600 lost in South Carolina. The state reported on Friday that Ohio’s unemployment rate edged up to 5.7 percent in July from a seven-year low of 5.5 percent in May and June. Ohio was one of 30 states to report a higher unemployment rate in July. Still, Ohio’s unemployment rate is down from 7.5 percent last July, and the number of unemployed workers has dropped by 110,000 over the past year.
Civil rights complaint filed over food stamp work requirements Legal advocates for the poor have filed a civil rights complaint with the federal government over Ohio's move to waive work requirements for food stamp beneficiaries in certain counties while enforcing them in most. The Legal Aid Society of Columbus claims the waiver has benefited rural counties with mostly white recipients, while adversely affecting minorities in urban areas. State officials reinstated the work rules last year, citing an improved economy. Adults without dependent children must spend at least 20 hours working, job training or volunteering to get food stamps. Sixteen high-unemployment counties were exempt. State officials say they are working with counties to support Ohioans transitioning off food assistance. |