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From the 3/29/07 Athens News: City, developer reach settlement in lawsuit Thursday, March 29th, 2007 The city of Athens and firm developing a large site on the west side of the city have jointly announced the settlement of a federal lawsuit over the development. University Estates, Inc. (UE), is working on a mixed commercial/residential project on an 830-acre site off Ohio Rt. 682 and Armitage Road, which was recently annexed into the city. More at http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27770

From the 3/12/07 Athens News: Contractor sues U. Estates developer Monday, March 12th, 2007 A developer who is suing the city of Athens for allegedly tying up a large housing/commercial project in red tape, has now been sued by a Nelsonville paving company for alleged non-payment of the contractor's bill for work on the project. Black Top Contracting, Inc., sued University Estates, Inc. in Athens County Common Pleas Court last Monday. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27601

From the 2/8/07 Athens News: With settlement supposedly pending, UE suit still active Thursday, February 8th, 2007 Although a settlement is in the works, attorneys defending the city of Athens against a lawsuit filed by the developer of University Estates have not stopped fighting the case. In a memorandum filed in federal court last Thursday, attorney Matthew Fornshell of Columbus sought to protect additional communications by Athens Law Director Garry Hunter from being submitted as evidence. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27288

From the 1/29/07 Athens News: Talks may resolve Estates legal dispute Monday, January 29th, 2007 A tentative settlement is in the works to end litigation between University Estates developers and the city of Athens, two attorneys close to the negotiations confirmed Friday. http://athensnews.com/index.php?action=viewarticle&section=news&story_id=27188

From the AP, 4/12/07: Delta may shuffle regional lineup THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines Inc., which has indicated it might sell feeder carrier Comair after it exits bankruptcy protection, could make changes to the lineup of regional carriers that handle its connecting flights in the interest of quality, Chief Executive Gerald Grinstein said Wednesday. "If we're not getting the right service, we'll make the substitutions," Grinstein said. Grinstein's comments follow statements by Delta executives last month that the Atlanta-based airline could sell or spin off Erlanger-based Comair after Delta emerges from bankruptcy. They also come as Delta renews its push to improve customer service. Comair, a subsidiary of Delta, and Atlantic Southeast Airlines were ranked near the bottom of a recent airline quality survey on lost baggage and flight delays. Delta sold ASA to SkyWest for $425 million in 2005 but still uses it for connecting service. Full story at http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070412/BIZ01/704120332/1076/rss01

From the 4/12/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Traficanti wants Cafaro Co. to drop lawsuit The JFS move to Oakhill is tentatively set to take place next month. By PETER H. MILLIKEN VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER YOUNGSTOWN — The chairman of the Mahoning County Commissioners has asked Ohio Valley Mall Co., a Cafaro Co. subsidiary, to drop the lawsuit in which the company seeks to bar the county from spending money to renovate Oakhill Renaissance Place. "This lawsuit is frivolous," said Commissioner Anthony T. Traficanti during an emergency meeting Wednesday of the county's building commission, which is overseeing renovation of the Oakhill building. "This is our decision to move our agency. It's not Mr. Cafaro's or Ohio Valley Mall's decision," Traficanti said of the plan to move the county's Department of Job and Family Services to Oakhill. "We're going to move into our county-owned building ASAP," he added...

From the 4/12/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: UAW rejects retirement buyout offer By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle LORDSTOWN — Union bargainers for workers at the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex assembly plant rejected an initial retirement buyout offer from management, according to a union leaflet released Wednesday. United Auto Workers Local 1112 negotiators also stated an International UAW representative is scheduled to arrive at the complex today to join the talks. Leaders said they are continuing to meet with management to ‘‘address all issues’’ for their members. ... [email protected] http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=16814

From the 3/20/07 DDN: Dayton Daily News: Developers to present case on Troy project (1/23/07) Council OKs Honey Creek rezoning By Doug Page Staff Writer Tuesday, March 20, 2007 TROY — The City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to rezone 201 acres for the city's largest residential project. The proposed Honey Creek planned development would build 298 homes and 98 condominiums on the city's northeast edge. An identical rezoning was approved by the council last year but overturned by almost a 2-to-1 margin in a November referendum. "I recognize the citizens have rejected this proposal," said Council Member Al Clark, one of two members who had not publicly expressed an opinion until Monday night. "Because controlled residential growth ... is in the best interest of the citizens and the future of Troy, I vote 'yes' " for the rezoning, he said. Clark joined Shirley Saxton, Ted Mercer and Mark Douglas in the majority. MORE: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/03/20/ddn032007honeycreek.html

From the 4/11/07 DDN: Employment down, wages up locally By Kristin McAllister Staff Writer Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Montgomery County saw a decrease in the number of people employed between September 2005 and September 2006, but experienced wage growth greater than the national average, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the Miami Valley counties, only Montgomery County was included in the report. The county had a 1.8 percent decrease in the number of jobs, but a 3.7 percent change in the average weekly wage, which was $777 for the third quarter of 2006. The national job growth rate is 1.7 percent and the average weekly wage rose by 0.9 percent compared to 2005 third quarter data. Jefferson County, in Los Angeles, had the largest over-the-year percentage increase in employment among the largest counties in the U.S., according to the report. Kent County, R.I., had the largest over-the-year gain in average weekly wages in the third quarter of 2006, with an increase of 18.4 percent. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/04/11/ddn041107employmentweb.html

From the 4/12/07 Blade: Supplier to Dana could seek hefty claims Dana Corp. could be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars if it decides to part company with its largest supplier over the cost of component parts. The Toledo automotive parts supplier wants to end its contract with Sypris Technologies Inc. or find a cheaper supplier of various castings and forgings it buys from the company for $194 million a year. Dana said in court papers this week that Sypris thinks it is owed damages of hundreds of millions of dollars, but the local firm said the amount would be much smaller. ---- More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070412/BUSINESS03/70412015/-1/RSS04

From the AP, 4/11/07: Judge OKs bidding for sale of bulk of Dana hose, tubing business ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — A bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved bidding procedures for auto parts maker Dana Corp.’s sale of the majority of its hose and tubing business. A Turkish company beat out more than 100 others with its bid of $70 million. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Burton Lifland could give final approval to the sale June 6 if no higher bid emerges. Dana has sought to sell noncore assets as part of its restructuring. ---- More at: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070411/BUSINESS03/70411021/-1/RSS04

From the 3/22/07 Dayton Business Journal: Ohio mass layoffs up 78% from '06 Dayton Business Journal - March 22, 2007 Large-scale layoff events in Ohio last month jumped 78% February 2006, federal officials reported Thursday. The state experienced 41 mass layoffs of 50 workers or more in February, leading to 4,174 initial claims for unemployment insurance, compared with 23 events leading to 2,772 claims for insurance during February 2006. California had the highest number of claimants with 19,809, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Nationwide, there were 1,280 large-scale layoffs in last month, leading to 143,977 claimants, with most of those in the Midwest, where 26,603 people filed insurance claims. E-mail [email protected]. Call 222-6900. http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/03/19/daily25.html?from_rss=1

From Business First of Columbus, 2/23/07: Ohio third in U.S. for layoff claims in January Business First of Columbus - February 23, 2007 Large-scale layoffs in Ohio jumped in January compared with last year, federal officials reported Friday. In January, the state experienced 61 mass layoffs of 50 workers or more, leading to 8,883 initial claims for unemployment insurance, compared with 50 layoffs of 6,484 workers during January 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Based on the initial number of claims, Ohio ranked third-highest among the states. California led the nation with 33,560 initial claims. New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan rounded out the top five. Those states made up 52 percent of all mass layoffs and initial claims for unemployment insurance associated with those layoffs, officials said. Large-scale layoffs across the country also increased in January. The nation experienced 1,237 mass layoffs, leading to 126,370 unemployment claims, compared with 1,112 mass layoffs and 109,429 initial claims during the same period in 2006. http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/02/19/daily33.html?from_rss=1

From the 1/25/07 DDN: Ohio has fourth most mass layoffs in U.S. Dayton Daily News Thursday, January 25, 2007 Ohio ranked fourth in the nation for the most mass layoff claims in 2006, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report. With 317,907 filings, California recorded the largest number of claims — 21 percent of the national total. The states with the next highest numbers of claims were Michigan (127,964), Pennsylvania (89,559), Ohio (80,291), and New York (76,638). The bureau categorizes a mass layoff claim as one involving at least 50 people from the same establishment. The largest over-the-year increases in claims were reported in transportation equipment manufacturing (4,303), machinery manufacturing (2,585), and electrical equipment and appliance manufacturing (1,985). Ohio ranked fifth nationwide for having the most claims filed in the transportation equipment manufacturing business with 15,848 claims. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/01/25/ddn012507layoffs.html

From the 4/11/07 Pickerington Times-Sun: Meetings about memorandum of understanding continue By DAVID S. OWEN In a meeting March 27, officials from Violet Township, Bloom Township, Canal Winchester and Lancaster met to discuss the purpose and benefits of entering into Joint Economic Development Districts together and are looking at the possibility of drafting a master economic agreement to encompass them. The meeting was only one in what is expected to be many meetings that might occur in order to prepare them for future JEDDS in and along the U.S. Route 33 Corridor. In late February the four government entities joined into a Memorandum of Understanding to be able to take advantage of possible future economic growth opportunities along the Route 33 Corridor. In March, Pickerington was invited to participate in the MOU and City Council unanimously voted in favor of joining it. Full story at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-11/4-11_pkmouagreement.html

From CoStar Group, 4/11/07: * RENDERING Opus North Breaks Ground on West Chester Facility Park 75 at Union Center Bldg. II to Total 282,500 SF Opus North Corp. broke ground this week on Park 75 at Union Center Building II, a 282,466-square-foot industrial facility in West Chester, OH. The state-of-the-art distribution building is being constructed on 14 acres at 9841 Windisch Road in the Tri-County Industrial submarket. It will feature a cross-docked design, 32-foot clear heights, an ESFR sprinkler system, and 34 truck docks and 29 trailer spaces. The facility is slated to complete this fall. Dave Noonan and Norm Khoury from Colliers Turley Martin Tucker are the project's listing agents. http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=59B35A8A5C5EB7F32B01C54D37B033FD&ref=1

From ThisWeek Olentangy, 4/12/07: Orange hotel may boost tax revenue Thursday, April 12, 2007 By MARK MAJOR ThisWeek Staff Writer When the proposed Value Place Hotel opens next year, Orange Township's population of hotels will have increased by 100 percent. The 121-room extended stay hotel, planned for about 2.8 acres at the intersection of Halfway Avenue and U.S. Route 23 just north of Orange Point Drive, also should give a boost to the township's bed-tax receipts. The bed tax, passed in February 2003, has brought in almost $70,000 since its inception, said Donna Batten, the township's fiscal officer. The 120-room Conference Center at Northpointe, 9423 U.S. Route 23, has been the only hotel within Orange Township since the 3-percent bed tax was approved. The center generated $24,830 for the township last year, Batten said. Developers for the Value Place project have said the units will cost $199 a week and will include the features of a small apartment. Value Place representatives have said they hope to resolve sign and other issues with the township soon and have a county building permit in hand by the end of the summer. If all goes well, the facility should be open for business by early 2008, they have said. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041207/Powell/News/041207-News-334939.html From Big Walnut News, 4/11/07: Sunbury considers land for rec center Land on state Route 61 could house the facility if voters OK a May bond issue. By JENNIFER NOBLIT Sunbury Village Council last week heard the first reading of an ordinance that will give the Eastern Delaware County Recreation Center a home. Members of the Eastern Delaware County Joint Recreation District asked council earlier this year for land along state Route 61, north of state Route 3 near the Sunbury Church of the Nazarene, that would house a 50,000-square-foot recreation center for residents of the Big Walnut Local School District. Last Wednesday, council members heard the first reading of an ordinance that would turn over the land to the group if a 27-year, 1.2-mill bond issue is approved by voters May 8. MORE: http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-11/4-11_bwJRDland.html

These threads are regional. It's the same for all of the metros in Ohio. Just scroll past it if you don't care to read it. It's really not that difficult! From the 4/12/07 Solon Herald Sun: Senior housing rezoning: a hot issue Thursday, April 12, 2007 By Bob Sandrick Solon Herald Sun First of two parts It was just over a year ago that TransCon Builders Inc. proposed a golf-course community for senior citizens on Aurora Road next to Hawthorne Valley Country Club... Contact Sandrick at [email protected] http://www.cleveland.com/sun/solonheraldsun/index.ssf?/base/features-0/117639590758340.xml&coll=3 From the 4/12/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Residents teed off over zoning in Vermilion Township MEGAN KING, Morning Journal Writer 04/12/2007 VERMILION TOWNSHIP -- Opposition continued last night in Vermilion Township about rezoning for a local golf course in order to permit the building of a hundred homes around the course. But despite the opposition, the township trustees unanimously approved rezoning the property... http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18199537&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6 Plaza brings new life to long-vacant corner West Side Sun News, 4/12/07 A tired street corner appears to be regaining some life after the recent grand opening of a retail complex. The long-vacant Carousel Lanes was reopened as the Ridgeway Plaza, on Ridge Road south of Denison Avenue. It is between a bingo hall to the north and more retail to the south. The most noticeable blemish remaining at that corner is a former doughnut shop that has sat boarded up for years... Justice goes uptown News Sun, 4/12/07 A City Council court construction subcommittee has reached a verdict: A new, free-standing municipal courthouse should be built on the site of a former used car lot at the north end of town. ... Industrial park proposal is moving forward Ashtabula Star Beacon, 4/12/07 Mayor Robert Schultz's goal of expanding the village's economic base is closer to becoming a reality, taking the form of a proposed industrial park... Bond issue show, tell Lakewood Sun Post, 4/12/07 Lakewood residents will get two chances in April to see the results so far of the city's school building program. Next month, they'll get one chance to decide if they want it to continue...

From the AP, 4/12/07: * PHOTO: Honda workers line up in their vehicles along Honda Parkway during a 30-minute lunch break in Marysville. Honda banned all smoking on the campus Feb. 8. AP Photo Honda Motor Co. wants to stop smokers from driving away MARYSVILLE (AP) - When lunchtime comes at the Honda Motor Co. plant in central Ohio, some workers head for their vehicles, head off the property and park along two nearby roads to get in a few puffs of their cigarettes. Read more: http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070412/NEWS01/704120312/1002/rss01 From the 4/12/07 Salem News: Salem council butts in on cigarette litter By LARRY SHIELDS Salem News staff writer SALEM — The city will ask the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce for assistance in controlling cigarette butt litter downtown. Streets, alleys and sidewalks committee Chairman Mary Lou Popa said she wanted receptacles there explaining that since the state ban on smoking in public buildings took effect last December, the sidewalks have become littered. Read more: http://www.salemnews.net/news/articles.asp?articleID=5538

From the 4/11/07 DDN: Strickland reappoints three PUCO commissioners Dayton Daily News Wednesday, April 11, 2007 COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland on Monday reappointed three members of the state's utility regulatory panel who resigned Friday and a fourth whose appointment had been questioned. Strickland's reappointments followed hasty recommendations made earlier Monday by the nominating council of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. ... http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/04/11/ddn041107strickland.html

From the 3/22/07 Dispatch: * GRAPHIC: Poll results Ohioans like their new governor, poll finds Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:33 AM A poll unveiled yesterday shows that the popularity of Gov. Ted Strickland has increased in the past two months. The fact that there's "a new sheriff in town" has spiked Ohioans' approval of all public officials and created a general optimism about the state's future, says Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. A big reason for the boost: Gov. Bob Taft is no longer in office, Brown said. Taft's approval ratings were in the teens when he left office. "Bob Taft's unpopularity skewed the view of all state government," Brown said. ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/03/22/ohioan.html

From the 3/4/07 Dispatch: Strickland cabinet choices praised Budget, tax chiefs called key to success of governor's budget, expected March 15 Sunday, March 04, 2007 Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Former Gov. Richard F. Celeste says his favorite story about J. Pari Sabety involves a Chrysler vice president pulling him aside during a 1990 Toledo news conference. Celeste had assigned Sabety, his executive assistant for economic development, to represent the state in negotiations with Chrysler and the city of Toledo to expand Jeep production there without sacrificing environmental standards. The Chrysler executive wanted to hire her, Celeste said. ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/03/04/20070304-C3-00.html

From the 2/20/07 PD: Strickland focuses on Ohio's growth Says better schools, transportation can help Tuesday, February 20, 2007 James Ewinger Plain Dealer Reporter Gov. Ted Strickland said Ohio still ranks in the top 10 states for manufacturing, for concentration of Fortune 500 companies, for production of durable goods and bio resources and for overall size of the state economy. But the economy here continues to underperform, and efforts to rebuild it will be hampered as demands on the state budget continue to outstrip declining revenues, he said. ... To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: [email protected], 216-999-3905 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1171967877286780.xml&coll=2 Also from the 2/20/07 PD: Governor's address Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Gov. Ted Strickland spoke Monday before The Press Club of Cleveland. Among the topics: Declining revenue will not keep pace with inflation and will fall further behind the state's needs. He and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher have set economic development as a major priority. He wants a bipartisan push in the legislature to address Ohio's school funding problems during the budget he is working on now. ... http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1171965828286780.xml&coll=2 From the 2/20/07 Dispatch: Strickland wishes he could take back refugee remarks Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Mark Niquette THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Gov. Ted Strickland says he has learned an early lesson in office the hard way: When the chief executive of a large state speaks, people listen. Strickland, on the job for six weeks, is being slammed nationwide in newspaper editorials and Internet blogs for supposedly being heartless because of comments he made last week about Iraqi war refugees. When asked whether he thinks any of the 7,000 Iraqi refugees that the Bush administration plans to allow into the United States this year should come to Ohio, Strickland, who opposed the war as a congressman, said no. ... [email protected] http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/20/20070220-A1-03.html Also from the 2/20/07 Dispatch: Worried about ethics of gift, Strickland cuts $31 check Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Gov. Ted Strickland faced an early test of the new ethics policy he has adopted for himself, his wife and members of his administration. The policy essentially prohibits gifts other than token T-shirts or meals of less than $20 from anyone other than close family members and friends who are not lobbyists or state vendors. But his wife, Frances, received a book worth $31. ... http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/contentbe/dispatch/2007/02/20/20070220-D7-10.html

Link contains photos. From the 2/16/07 Chillicothe Gazette: Strickland talks jobs Education key to development potential By LOREN GENSON Gazette Staff Writer Job creation and building a strong economy will play key roles in Gov. Ted Strickland's Turn Around Ohio initiative, and all Ohioans can play a role, he said in a visit to the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce annual dinner Thursday night. "A governor alone can't build jobs, a governor alone cannot lift economic challenges," Strickland said. "But with the right leadership, Ohioans can. I'm here tonight to ask you to help." ... (Genson can be reached at 772-9369 or via e-mail at [email protected]) http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/NEWS01/702160301/1002/rss01

From the 2/15/07 Blade: Strickland's cabinet choices draw criticism Finkbeiner 'very disappointed,' wants more Toledoans By JIM TANKERSLEY BLADE POLITICS WRITER Carty Finkbeiner was an early supporter of Ted Strickland's gubernatorial campaign. Now he's an early critic of the new governor. Toledo's mayor declared himself "very disappointed on the foot-dragging regarding key persons and positions that involve Toledoans" in an e-mail sent to Mr. Strickland's chief of staff less than a month after the governor took office. The Jan. 26 message goes on to decry Mr. Strickland's failure to fill a regional deputy director position at the state transportation department, for which Mr. Finkbeiner said he had recommended three candidates. ... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070215/NEWS09/702150389/-1/RSS