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From the AP, 5/21/07: Unions open to takeover of AK Steel By Terry Kinney Associated Press Monday, May 21, 2007 CINCINNATI — With several years of labor peace nearly assured, AK Steel is an attractive takeover target in an industry where global giants keep gobbling up independent steelmakers, analysts say. Despite their affiliation with three different international unions — Machinists, Autoworkers and Steelworkers — some local presidents say they would work together to help facilitate a takeover. "On a local basis, we meet monthly, and we have the ability to speak as one voice," said Brian Daley, president of Machinists Local 1943. Read more: http://www.middletownjournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/21/mj052107AKSteelUnion.html

Link contains a photo. From the 5/12/07 Middletown Journal: Union leader endured plenty AK Steel union chief says his relationship with Machinists' leaders isn't why he's stepping down. By Dave Greber, Ed Richter Staff Writers Saturday, May 12, 2007 MIDDLETOWN — A 13-month lockout at AK Steel Corp.'s Middletown Works from which less than half the original members emerged, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor into reported fraud and theft and as much accolades and support as criticism. That was 2006 — and a small portion of 2007 — for Brian Daley, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 1943. Read more: http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/12/mj051207daleyfolo.html

From the 5/8/07 DDN: Analyst skeptical of bid for AK By Dave Greber Staff Writer Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Shares of Curtis Street-based AK Steel Corp. surged above 10 percent during mid-day trading today on the New York Stock Exchange amid an unattributed report the local company would be bought out by ArcelorMittal. According to the report from the Financial Times Web site, Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal — the world's largest steelmaker — has offered a $40-per-share bid for what some believe to be its U.S. rival. Such a bid would place the local steelmaker's worth at $4.5 billion. But some analysts weren't buying the report. "There's a lot of money out there chasing companies and AK is one of the ones that's attractive," said longtime steel analyst Charles Bradford of Bradford-Soleil Research this afternoon. Read more: http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/05/08/mj050807akweb.html

From the 7/13/07 Youngstown Vindicator: County OKs payment for Oakhill The county auditor says he'll cut the check if the court orders it. By PETER H. MILLIKEN VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners have authorized county Prosecutor Paul Gains to formally agree to pay $75,000 for the county's purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place — the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center. In Thursday's resolution, the commissioners responded to a bankruptcy trustee's complaint demanding payment and agreed the purchase price is "a moral obligation of the county," said George Tablack, county administrator. Tablack said he expects U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kay Woods to order that the money be paid for the 353,184-square-foot Oakhill building, at 345 Oak Hill Ave. http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/301163588323499.php Struthers' Depression-era stadium coming down Youngstown Vindicator, 7/12/07 The east stands of Struthers High School Football Stadium had stood since the Great Depression but started coming down Wednesday. The demolition is the beginning of Phase I of the stadium renovation project. The board of education awarded contracts totaling $285,603 for the first phase June 26.

From the 7/12/07 Twinsburg Sun: On the table Doctor submits proposal for 90-acre shopping mall Thursday, July 12, 2007 By Lena A. Ina The Twinsburg Sun TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP Dr. Bahman Guyuron hopes to create a shopping mall on 90 acres east of Hadden Road and south of Interstate 480 straddling the township and city... Contact Ina at [email protected] or (216) 986-5472. http://www.cleveland.com/sun/twinsburgsun/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1184258320286670.xml&coll=3 From the 7/12/07 Chagrin Herald Sun: Retail in store for Pine Crest Thursday, July 12, 2007 By Kim Wendel Chagrin Herald Sun ORANGE Realtors Kevin Holdash and Kevin Cooney are marketing a total of 53 acres along Pine Crest Drive and Harvard Road to commercial and retail developers for $350,000 an acre... Contact Wendel at [email protected] or (216) 986-5473 http://www.cleveland.com/chagrinheraldsun/news/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1184177359308890.xml&coll=4 Senior housing compromise sought Sun Courier, 7/12/07 Two plans for senior housing, one each from Mayor Fred Ramos and Vice Mayor Greg Kurtz, will be discussed in an ad hoc committee with the Planning Commission, with the date to be determined... Ruling overturns council decision Solon Herald Sun, 7/12/07 A Cuyahoga County judge has ruled that Solon developer DiSanto Enterprises Inc. can build the proposed Southwoods subdivision as a cluster-lot community... Developer eyes Chudakoff site Chagrin Herald Sun, 7/12/07 Developer Ramon D. O'Neal of A to Z Real Estate & Development, of Mayfield Village, is negotiating to buy developer Chuck Chudakoff's 18-acre property on Berkeley Avenue... Path leads to ballot News-Herald, 7/11/07 The development of a wooded area used as a walk-through between two Eastlake neighborhoods will not be placed on the November ballot by City Council's hand... Leroy wetlands project under way News-Herald, 7/9/07 JLake Metroparks is keeping a close eye on a developing wetlands mitigation project in Leroy Township. The agency is expected to assume management responsibilities of the 340-acre wetlands tract once the entire project is completed...

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From the 7/12/07 Johnstown Independent: School funding amendment won't appear on fall ballot Thursday, July 12, 2007 MARLA K. KUHLMAN Independent Staff Writer An effort to fix school funding in Ohio has fizzled, lacking sufficient signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The Campaign for Ohio's Future announced July 2 that its proposal wouldn't make it on the ballot because it had only collected 150,000 of 402,000 needed signatures on its petitions. "I think it will be a crushing blow for school finance," said Tom Suriano, Johnstown-Monroe superintendent. "It gave us hope and, specifically, it was for education in K-12. This was to get us set up from when school funding was voted unconstitutional (in 1997). We were supposed to get fair funding and get the responsibility off the local taxpayers and shift it to the state." http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/071207/Johnstown/News/071207-News-383121.html

Link contains a photo. From the 7/12/07 Blade: ELECTION 2007 COSI gets panel's support to put levy on the fall ballot Millage would provide $1.5M, trigger state aid By JOE VARDON BLADE STAFF WRITER COSI's fight for its life in Toledo got off to a good start yesterday when the Lucas County Citizens Tax Levy Review Committee voted to recommend the county commissioners place the science museum's five-year, 0.167-mill levy on the November ballot. David Waterman, chairman of COSI-Toledo's board of directors and managing partner of Shumaker, Loop, & Kendrick, said failure to pass a levy this time will result in the closure of the museum's Toledo operation. Not only did an identical COSI levy fail in November, but the tax review committee elected to remain neutral on the museum's levy request in 2006. The vote not to forward a recommendation for COSI was a first for the committee, which was formed in 2005 based on a suggestion by Commissioner Pete Gerken. Full article at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS16/707120346/-1/RSS10

From Cincinnati.com, 7/11/07: Mason Council tours new Mason Sports Park Contributed By Carrie Whitaker | The Enquirer Mason has acquired over 260 acres of potential parkland since 2001 and one of its priorities is to create more youth baseball fields, according to city officials. On July 16 City Council will tour the new Mason Sports Park, now under construction on Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Road, just east of U.S. 42. http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100211&sid=115262

From the 7/12/07 Enquirer: PHOTO: Costumes that escaped the fire still have water and smoke damage. On Wednesday, Erik Taylor, of Ron Taylor Repair, measures a doorway as he prepares to board it up with plywood. Photos by Glenn Hartong/The Enquirer PHOTO: Elaborate theatrical costumes are part of the debris. Owner Caren Young spent 20 years building the business. Show must go on after fire Theaters rally behind owner of burned-out costume company BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS AND JACKIE DEMALINE Cincinnati's close-knit theater community is rallying around Caren Young, who lost as many as 40,000 costumes that adorned actors on area stages for two decades. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEWS01/707120331/1077/COL02

From the 7/12/07 Blade: Merger issue factors in to Sylvania fire department future By JANET ROMAKER BLADE STAFF WRITER A new City of Sylvania fire department could provide a comparable level of service at a comparable cost, according to a report issued by a consultant hired to study fire and rescue services in the city. William Kramer, of Kramer & Associates of Cincinnati, earlier this week presented a 50-page report to city officials and provided a summary to officials and those in attendance at a special session of council. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/NEIGHBORS05/707110387

From the 7/12/07 Lorain Morning Journal: Lorain paves way for Lowe's KATE GIAMMARISE, Morning Journal Writer 07/12/2007 LORAIN -- Members of the city's Planning Commission yesterday recommended Lorain City Council approve revised plans for the commercial portion of the Deerfield development, which include a Lowe's home improvement store. There was one dissenting vote, Safety-Service Director Mike Kobylka said. ''I don't think it's the best use,'' Kobylka said. The store would be in the development on the west side of Oak Point Road, north of Interstate 90. The Lowe's would be located in the Lorain portion of Deerfield, which lies in both Lorain and Amherst. It would be north of a Target store, which is located on the Amherst portion of the site. ... More at: http://www.morningjournal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18577207&BRD=1699&PAG=461&dept_id=46371&rfi=6

From ThisWeek Pickerington, 7/12/07: Spring Creek Rezoning hearing continued to Aug. 2 Thursday, July 12, 2007 SEAN CASEY ThisWeek Staff Writer A public hearing on a contentious rezoning request in Violet Township will resume next month. Township trustees have scheduled a continuation on a variance application submitted for the Spring Creek development on Refugee Road for 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Pickerington Senior Center, 150 Hereford Drive. At issue are restrictions included in development plans for Spring Creek, a residential-cum-commercial project originally approved by township trustees in 1996. In those plans, property owners and the developer committed, among other things, not to build service stations or similar operations, businesses open after 1 a.m. or places selling alcohol for off-premises consumption after 11 p.m. in the commercial section of Spring Creek, which stands at the corner of Milnor and Refugee roads. They also pledged not to request curb cuts along Milnor Road. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/071207/Pickerington/News/071207-News-383933.html

Group not done Trustees ask for one more discussion BY HEIDI FALLON | [email protected] They thought their work was done. They were wrong. Members of the Delhi Township Business Task Force presented township trustees with their final report and recommendations July 12. Chip Brigham, task force facilitator, submitted his group's report along with the 96-page study done by the University of Cincinnati planning and design school. Following his report, Trustee Jerry Luebbers asked the group not to disband, but stay organized long enough to meet in an informal round-table discussion with township officials. "I think it would help us get to the more important issues in your report," Luebbers said. Many of the 14 members of the task force were present and agreed to the meeting. The group included representatives of the Delhi Business Association, business owners and residents. Read full article here: http://news.communitypress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/C2/20070712/NEWS01/707120331/

From ThisWeek Olentangy, 7/12/07: Construction nears for Havener Park Thursday, July 12, 2007 KELLEY YOUMAN, TRUXALL ThisWeek Staff Writer More than a year after Liberty Township and Preservation Parks of Delaware County accepted a nearly 200-acre land donation for what will become Havener Park, construction is expected to start soon. Township trustees on July 16 are expected to vote on a cooperative development agreement that spells out who will pay for the joint road connecting both the township side and Preservation Parks' half. Liberty in June 2006 accepted a donation from Phyllis A. Havener and her family of land between state Route 315 and Liberty Road, about a half mile north of Bean Oller Road. The park is two parcels, each planned for different uses. The main entrance will be at the Ford-Liberty intersection and the parcels will have a common road network. As proposed, the agreement calls for Liberty to pay 80 percent of road construction costs and Preservation Parks to fund 20 percent. The Preservation Parks side will be known as the Deer Haven Preserve and will include a nature center and bird sanctuary funded in part by a private donation. That donor for Preservation Parks' 97 acres has imposed the 2008 deadline, or the group could lose the money, Au said. MORE: http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/071207/Powell/News/071207-News-385595.html

What ever happened to cops walking a beat? What better way to heal the police-community divide than using an overpriced novelty device.

From the 7/12/07 Dispatch: GRAPHIC: Three shootings One street, three deadly ends Man, 75, latest to have his life taken on E. Morrill Thursday, July 12, 2007 3:33 AM By Mark Ferenchik and Theodore Decker THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Last July, Jeff Massie was painting the porch of the E. Morrill Avenue house he shared with his ailing father, Garland. The color, a bright green, was a sign of rebirth. He had thought about moving his dad, his brother and himself from their South Side home of more than four decades because of the crime and violence on the street. But he decided to stay after the city swept through last year to rid the area of troublemakers. Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/12/MORRILL.ART_ART_07-12-07_A1_0678TE9.html

From the 7/12/07 Pulse-Journal: ODOT shortfall: cost for community likely to rise State agency won't be contributing expected amount to fund Bypass Ohio 4 widening project. By Tim Tresslar Staff Writer Thursday, July 12, 2007 Local communities likely will have to shoulder a larger share of the engineering costs for the proposed Bypass Ohio 4 widening as the state grapples with limited funds for transportation improvements. Engineering for the proposed project will carry an estimated $2.7 million price tag, said John Fonner, director of the Butler County Transportation Improvement District. Local officials had hoped the Ohio Department of Transportation would kick in about $1.3 million for that phase, but now anticipate receiving less than that, Fonner said after Monday's TID meeting. During the next two to three months, local officials will be working with ODOT to determine how much it can provide for the $32 million widening project, Fonner said. "I think going into the fall, we'll really know where we stand," he said. ODOT's Transportation Review Advisory Council doles out funding for major improvement projects such as the bypass widening. But the council has too many projects vying for too little money, said Scott Varner, an ODOT spokesman. In addition, the legislature has required the council to fund first tier projects — those close to construction with identified funding sources, Varner said. During the next five years, the agency faces a $1.5 billion deficit as it pays for those projects. Fonner said a loss of state and federal money wouldn't derail the project but could force local communities to pay a bigger share of engineering fees and also lengthen the time the project will take. "It's not unusual for projects like this to get done in phases over a multi-year period," he said. Fairfield Twp. Administrator Mike Rahall was unsure how an ODOT shortfall would affect their portion of the funding. "We're the smallest player in the group compared to Fairfield, Hamilton and the county, so we'd have to see what we're going to need to do as a group," he said. Trustee Joe McAbee said the township pledged $1.5 million nearly two years ago toward the $10 million expected to come from local sources, including – at that time – the cities of Hamilton and Fairfield, as well as the county. The Butler County Engineer's Office applied last month for a maximum $2.5 million grant from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments on behalf of the township. That money would help fund a $5.5 million intersection improvement project that will add several turn lanes and widen the intersection at Bypass Ohio 4 and Hamilton-Mason Road. "We pledged $2.5 million" toward those intersection improvements, McAbee said. "You can't fix Hamilton-Mason without putting more lanes on the bypass and vice-versa." OKI will announce grant awards by August. TID officials also hope to receive ODOT approval by August for a preliminary engineering report for Bypass Ohio 4, Fonner said. The report needs the state's OK before engineering consultants, M-E Companies, can begin design work, Fonner said. Fairfield Public Works Director Dave Bock said the city of Fairfield is still proceeding outside of this joint project in hopes of getting its portion of the project done before the rest of the bypass. The preliminary engineering still needs ODOT's stamp of approval, Bock said. http://www.fairfield-echo.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/11/pjw071207tid.html

From the 7/12/07 Enquirer: Kohl's coming to Walton BY BRENNA R. KELLY | [email protected] WALTON - Residents in southern Boone County will be able to shop much closer to home when a new Kohl's department store opens here next year. Kohl's is planning to build a store at the Walton Towne Center, according to plans submitted to Boone County Planning Commission. Read more here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070712/NEWS0103/707120366/

From the 7/12/07 Yellow Springs News: Villagers overflow church at meeting to save the college By Diane Chiddister It was hot at the emergency town meeting that took place Tuesday night at the First Presbyterian Church in support of keeping Antioch College open. It was hot partly because the meeting followed a hot and humid day and the room had no air conditioning. Mostly, though, it was hot because the room was very, very crowded. People began streaming into the meeting, which took place in Westminster Hall, way before the 7:30 starting time, and by the time the meeting began the room was packed. Those who attended were old, young, and all ages in between, some sitting in wheelchairs, others holding babies. The chairs held about 200 people and they filled up fast, with others standing against walls and sitting on tables. More at http://www.ysnews.com/stories/2007/07/071207_studentsgrieve.html

From the 7/12/07 Cincinnati Business Courier: Ohio foreclosures rose in June Cincinnati Business Courier - 2:33 PM EDT Thursday, July 12, 2007 Ohio had the ninth-highest number of foreclosures in the country in June, according to The Bargain Network Monthly U.S. Foreclosures Trend Report. Ohio saw 3,725 homes enter foreclosure in June, a 1.6 percent increase from May, said the report released Thursday. "We are still hurting on the employment front and we are a target for adjustable loan rates to kick up," said Richard Stock, director of the University of Dayton's Business Research Group. ... More at: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/07/09/daily41.html?from_rss=1

From the 7/12/07 Blade: Big shareholder objects to Dana stock plan Appaloosa Management LP, the largest shareholder of Toledo’s Dana Corp., has filed what it called a preliminary objection to Dana’s request for approval of an agreement allowing investors to purchase $750 million in convertible preferred stock. The money would be used to fund a trust taking over Dana’s retiree health benefits. Appaloosa contends that the negotiations with Centerbridge Capital Partners LP, which would put $500 million into the purchase, were “the product of a defective process” that “resulted in the undervaluation” of Dana. A bankruptcy court hearing is scheduled July 25 on the investment agreement and on the newly negotiated contract with the United Auto Workers and the United Steelworkers. MORE: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/BUSINESS03/70712003/-1/RSS04

From the 7/12/07 Springfield News-Sun: Clark State's Greene County campus to get distinct courses for workforce By Kelly Baker Staff Writer Thursday, July 12, 2007 Greene County has a distinct workforce with distinct professional development goals. A $300,000 federal grant to Clark State Community College is designed to help the county get there. U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson's office announced Wednesday that up to $1.4 million in funding for health and education projects in the 7th District had been approved by the House Appropriations Committee. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill and will now go to the full House for consideration. ... http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/07/12/sns071307greenecampus.html

From the 6/6/07 Dispatch: City creating office to help homeless Wednesday, June 6, 2007 3:24 AM By John Futty THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Some of Columbus' most significant homeless camps have disappeared in the past 10 months. In a coordinated effort involving city departments and homeless-advocacy groups, eight camps were cleaned up and most of the residents were relocated to permanent housing. ... http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/06/06/homeless.ART_ART_06-06-07_B4_FG6UCO3.html

From the 5/4/07 Dispatch: New housing for homeless Charity plans second Downtown building Friday, May 4, 2007 3:38 AM By Debbie Gebolys THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The nonprofit developer that built the Commons at Grant to house the formerly homeless is planning a second Downtown project. National Church Residences weathered some controversy in 2002 when it opened the Commons at Grant at Grant Avenue and Fulton Street on the southern edge of Downtown. Now, the developer wants to build a similar facility on the northern edge. The Commons at Buckingham would be a $14 million complex at 328 Buckingham St., northwest of Columbus State Community College between I-670 and Abbott Labs. ... http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/05/04/COMMONS.ART_ART_05-04-07_B1_876J97R.html