Spielman

The Buckeye Nation is buzzing this afternoon with this latest news, as reported by the Dispatch:

Former Ohio State linebacker Chris Spielman is one of 16 players and two coaches who were elected to the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced today.

Spielman, a Massillon native, played for OSU from 1984-87. He was a two-time All-American and winner of the 1987 Lombardi Award. He recorded 546 career , tackles, third on the school's all-time list, including a school-record 283 solo stops.

Spielman went on to play 11 years in the NFL, for Detroit and Buffalo, before retiring while with the Cleveland Browns in training camp in 1999.....

Congratulations to Spielman!!! Spielman left professional football to support his wife through her cancer diagnosis. Today Stephanie and Chris Spielman do an incredible amount of work helping cancer charities, survivors and families, the Race for the Cure, and the James Cancer Hospital.

Read This

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones is thinking seriously about challenging Republican Rep. John Boehner in the Republican primary, according to a story at Cincinnati.com. Although people regard Boehner as safe, there seem to be some grumbling going on in his district.

* Movieweb has information about an academic survey completed by The Ohio State University:

STUDY: CONSERVATIVES THINK COLBERT IS ONE OF THEM

Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert has become the subject of an academic survey conducted at Ohio State University titled "The Irony of Satire: Political Ideology and the Motivation to See What You Want to See in The Colbert Report." The survey, conducted among 332 undergraduates, concluded that many conservatives believe that Colbert is on their side. As reported by today's (Wednesday) Chicago Tribune, the researchers observed that "conservative viewers often don't comprehend Colbert's "deadpan satire" and process his messages "as being conservative, Republican, and disliking liberals." The study was uploaded on Colbert's website beneath the headline, "Science Proves Stephen Colbert Also Popular With Conservatives."

Is it possible that Republicans don't understand that he is mocking them?

** If you're interested in seeing some behind the scenes photos from the White House, you must visit the slideshow at Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/29/300-photos-from-obamas-fi_n_192756.html

Problems Ahead?

* Governor Ted Strickland's education proposals will be heading over to the Ohio Senate, where Republicans will probably tear it apart and shred it beyond recognition.
The Newark Advocate:

Democrats made one last sales pitch Tuesday on their proposed overhaul of Ohio's education system before their plan heads to the GOP-controlled Senate, where criticism and an uncertain future await.

The Democrats who control the Ohio House said the Ohio Association of School Business Officials had endorsed their plan to fix the state's school funding system, which has repeatedly been deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court. The funding change, and curriculum changes that stress problem-solving and interdisciplinary skills, are on track to pass the House today.....

*** Big changes ahead for Filene's, according to the Dispatch:

....Retail Ventures Inc., the Columbus-based retailer that bought Filene's Basement out of bankruptcy nine years ago, also raised the possibility that the chain could seek bankruptcy protection in a filing Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but didn't provide details.

The filing also said Retail Ventures paid a California liquidator, Buxbaum Holdings Inc., $1.3 million in fees and $375,000 for expenses to dispose of Filene's Basement. Retail Ventures transferred Filene's Basement to Buxbaum a week ago.

Oh, no.

>>>>>>> That massive factory egg farm is already causing problems for the state and it hasn't even been built!!!!

Dispatch:

A 6 million-chicken egg farm proposed for Union County doesn't need to get a state water-pollution permit right away and might never need one, according to the company that wants to build it.....

....The company, based in Johnston, Iowa, faces an Ohio EPA accusation that it's inevitable that manure from the farm will pollute nearby Bokes Creek.

The EPA wants the farm to apply for a permit that would set water-pollution limits, but company attorney Kevin P. Braig said yesterday that Hi-Q doesn't have to until at least six months before the operation opens. Even then, he said, a permit might not be necessary...

This is awful. Hi-Q is pitting itself against the state, the neighbors, and the environment. This can only get worse.

Will Chase Bring More Jobs?

Central Ohio is waiting to see if Chase will bring some new jobs here.
Dispatch:
Ohio officials took a significant step forward in their bid to bring 1,150 new JPMorgan Chase jobs to the Columbus area by approving a $14 million tax incentive yesterday.

City and state officials have been courting Chase in recent months as the company looks to consolidate operations following the purchases of Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns.....

.....In addition to the state deal, Columbus is "moving ahead" with its own $8.2 million tax-incentive package for Chase, said Michael Stevens, deputy director with the city Department of Development. Westerville City Council is considering a seven-year, income-tax offset incentive of $223,000."This is a very important step in this process, and we are hopeful that the final steps from the city of Columbus and Westerville are successful as well," Lyttle said of yesterday's vote by the state's tax authority....

We need to keep our fingers crossed that Chase delivers these jobs to Ohio.

* Rep. John Boehner, Republican leader, said some words last week that admitted Bush tortured. In a column in the Salem-News, columnist Dorsett Bennett penned a reaction to Boehner's words:

Republican House of representatives minority whip John Boehner inadvertently admitted to the Bush torture when he said, "Last week they released these memos outlining torture techniques. And that was clearly a political decision".....

...Nice try Boehner. What you think, that the rest of us are, all four years old? In the same news conference in which Boehner used the term torture (which the US does not do (?), to describe what the US did in fact do), Boehner did try to implicate the Democrats on to the torture hot seat by claiming that Democrats were told that water boarding was taking place, and that House Speaker Pelosi supposedly knew about it....

....When Bush's last Attorney General denied that his confirmation hearing that water boarding was torture, for high-ranking officers of the Army Navy and Marine Corps, wrote a letter to to the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy. They condemned water boarding "The rule of law is fundamental to our existence as a civilized nation. The rule of law is not a goal which we merely aspire to achieve; it is the floor below which we must not sink water boarding detainees amounts to illegal torture in all circumstances". So said in a letter by Judge Advocate Generals Rear Adm. Donald Guter, Rear Adm. John Hutson, Maj. Gen. John Fugh, Brig. Gen. David Brahms....

Pelosi has stated that she was not told that water boarding was being used.

**** Did Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette (OH-14) help AmTrust Bank? Cleveland.com looks at the story:

Nearly four months after the deadline came and passed for AmTrust Bank to dig itself out of a financial mess or else, there's no indication the Cleveland bank is any healthier. Yet regulators have taken no additional action involving the area's fourth-largest bank.

A Wall Street Journal story Friday suggested that AmTrust has pulled some strings to catch a break and said that U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette offered to help AmTrust stay alive.

But a spokeswoman for the Bainbridge Republican said that's not true.....

I'll keep an eye on this and see if something more develops.

This and That

* Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) visited a group that called attention to the abduction of children in Africa. The children are then forced into armies. (Lantern)

* According to ESPN, seven former Ohio State football players were drafted in this weekend's NFL Draft. I guess this proves that Coach Tressel helps his players develop into young men and excellent athletes. The seven former Buckeyes include Malcolm Jenkins, Chris "Beanie" Wells, James Laurinaitis, Brian Robiskie, Donald Washington, Brian Hartline, and Marcus Freeman.

* On the Today Show, they discussed alternatives for the summer instead of summer camp. Because of tough economic times, some parents are unable to send their kids to camp. The website MOM CENTRAL has some ideas for summer activities. I'd also suggest to parents to check their local Y's, city recreation centers, or hire college students for summer activities. College students majoring in teaching will be looking for summer jobs, and may jump at the chance to make money while designing summer activities for your children.

* The Palm Beach Post has an interesting opinion column called The Lose-Lose GOP Strategy.

* In a desperate move to attract viewers, Channel 4 in Columbus, Ohio, is giving away prizes to "loyal" viewers. The station has laid off tons of people and, from my perspective, appears to be struggling. They've resorted to reading e-mails, and Twitter postings on the air within a broadcast, especially on the weekends. In more cost-cutting efforts, their fancy, over-hyped, brand new broadcast center on Capitol Square, is rarely used. Formerly owned by NBC, the station was bought by another company and then the cuts started.

A Beautiful Day

We spent the better part of the day at the Ohio Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes had their annual Spring Game in front of..more than 95,000 fans. Awesome!

Dispatch:

A crowd of 95,722 -- thought to be a national record for a spring football game -- showed up at Ohio Stadium today, and in the second quarter Terrelle Pryor made it worth the while, putting on a passing show that spurred the Gray to a 23-3 victory over the Scarlet.....

....Pyror, who wound up 13 of 18 passing for 191 yards and the two TDs. He was sacked three times, two times after he took off the black jersey.

After that, the biggest highlight came when walk-on Gray running back Marcus Williams burst through a huge hole at left guard and raced 75 yards in the third quarter, getting caught by linebacker Tyler Moeller at the 8-yard line.....

This record crowd, according to the Dispatch, was bigger than Alabama's previous record.

GO BUCKEYES!

Stimulus Money Brings Jobs for Ohio Youth

There are some jobs in Ohio as a result of the Federal Stimulus.

Recovery Ohio has the details:

Recovery Conservation Corps:

This initiative will provide employment sites for the workforce investment boards to hire youth ages 16 to 24 to improve Ohio's state parks and natural areas. Focusing on both rural and urban areas, particularly those in economic decline, Corps workers will assist with projects such as building recreation lands, boardwalks, observation areas and trails and curbing the spread of invasive species. The state will provide $2 million for support services through a partnership with the workforce investment boards on this initiative.

"These workers will gain critical experience and on-the-job training as they improve the state's parks, wetlands, forests and other natural areas," said ODNR Director Sean Logan....

Employment Spectator has additional information---

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has launched the Recovery Conservation Corps, which will team up with the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and the state’s one-stop employment centers to create jobs for young Ohioans aged 16-24. Hundreds of youths will be hired to work 752,000 man-hours building trails, boardwalks, and observation areas, and....

If you are interested, contact your local county office (see map for your county and telephone number). Make sure you stipulate that you are interested in the Recovery Conservation Corps.

Other material about Recovery Ohio for individuals (weatherization, job assistance, college financial aid info, etc.) can be found at

http://recovery.ohio.gov/individuals/

We should say a "thank you" to President Obama and our Ohio Democratic members of the U.S. House and Senate for their support of the Recovery (Stimulus) plan.

Friday Evening

**** Update:
The FDIC has a few additions on the Failed Bank List. Earlier this evening, there was only one bank on the list for today. At this moment, there are four banks on the Failed Bank List from today.

* John Demjanjuk, the alleged Nazi death camp guard, supposedly is unable to walk and confined to his bed. However, federal prosecutors have video of Demjanjuk walking and other supporting evidence to show that he seems rather fit for a man of his age. 10tv.com has the story. This drama with Demjanjuk has gone on far too long. He needs to be deported to face trial.

* According to the Toledo Blade, 150 Toledo police officers have been laid off because of a $20.7 million budget shortfall....

Taking Note

* Did Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy's letter to an AIG owned mortgage company help a constituent? The Dispatch has a story on how Kilroy's office intervened and it may have caused a change of policy by AIG's American General Finance.

* This Week News also has an article about Kilroy:

In office for only little more than three months, U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy has already voted on successful legislation that will help ensure fair pay for women and health insurance for children.

But still on her busy agenda is pushing ahead with health care reform, cancer research funding, and, of course, the economy.

Kilroy, who represents the 15th district and is the first Democrat to represent central Ohio in congress in many years, spoke to the Women's Business Network of the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce last Thursday at the Jessing Center at the Josephinum.....

Thanks, Mary Jo!

> Do you ever wonder if some Republicans just hate clean air, clean water, and the environment? Why is it that certain Republicans just seem to vote against certain legislation? A recent vote on HR 1145 (Roll Call Vote 205), National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009, shows that all the NAY votes are Republicans: Broun (GA), Culberson, Flake, Foxx, Franks (AZ), Garrett (NJ), Hensarling, Miller (MI), Poe (TX), Shadegg. What is wrong with these people???? Broun (GA), Flake, Shadegg (as well as GOPers McClintock, Paul, and Young (AK) voted against the Green Energy Education Act (HR 957, Roll Call Vote 199).

Recent Developments....

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is taking further steps to end some spending by the state government, according to the Plain Dealer:
With Ohio's tax collection numbers continuing to nosedive, Gov. Ted Strickland took drastic steps Wednesday to control state spending in hopes of forestalling another round of budget cuts before this summer.

Strickland hopes to keep the current two-year budget, which runs through June 30, balanced. But state tax collections over the past four months have lagged behind projections by about $200 million while the state has already seen nearly $2 billion in cuts and spending reductions this fiscal year....

......The freeze will not affect purchases considered essential to health, safety and welfare, such as food and medical supplies for those in mental health and state prison facilities...

**** It seems as if the party of "NO!" (AKA Republican Party and the GOP) has similar ideas on conservation. Here are two examples from recent voting records as posted by the Clerk of the House:

HR 411 To assist in the conservation of rare fields and rare canids by supporting and providing financial resources for the conservation programs of nations within the range of rare field and rare canid populations and projects of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare field and rare canid populations.

The Roll Call Vote shows that 117 Republicans and 1 Democrat (Huh?) voted against this bill, including the following: Austria, Bachmann, Blunt, Boehner, Foxx, Jordan(OH), Issa, LaTourette, Pence, etc., etc., etc.

In another Roll Call vote for HR 388 (To assist in the conservation of cranes by supporting and providing, through projects of persons and organizations with expertise in crane conservation, financial resources for the conservation programs of countries the activities of which directly or indirectly affect cranes and the ecosystems of cranes.), 115 Republicans and 1 Democrat voted against the Crane Conservation Act of 2009. According to Roll Call Vote 193, Nays included Austria, Bachmann, Blunt, Boehner, Foxx, Issa, Jordan(OH), Pence, Tiberi, etc., etc., etc.

Big Event

There is a big event this Saturday, April 25th, to benefit the Fisher House. The Ohio Combat Veterans' Motorcycle Association (Chapter 12) is sponsoring their second annual Ride for Veterans. Registration begins on Saturday at 9am at Quaker Steak & Lube (8500 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43240). For additional information, registration details, visit the Ohio Combat Vet website. Even if you are not a rider, you can visit vendors, cheer on the riders, and participate in the auction that follows the ride.

Earth, Jackets, and Money

* I remember the first Earth Day celebration on the campus of The Ohio State University in April of 1970. Little did I know that the spring of 1970 would change our lives in so many ways. (A few weeks after that first Earth Day, the students were shot at Kent State.) Today, the Lantern has an article about Earth Day activities.

* Even though the Columbus Blue Jackets lost three games in the playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings, fans in central Ohio are still very proud of the Jackets. Bob Hunter has a column in this morning's Dispatch:
....Although Detroit's victory was disappointing for the local fans, it probably didn't totally spoil the evening. The fans cheered every big hit by a Columbus player, and after R.J. Umberger scored the team's only goal to cut the lead to 3-1 with 3:53 remaining, they went back to chanting. For a lot of fans, this night was a destination in and of itself, with or without the victory.....

* Is this the beginning of the end for Filene's Basement????? The chain has been sold to a liquidator, according to the Dispatch.

* Some the right wing county commissioners Republicans in Warren County, Ohio, have turned down money from the federal stimulus. In an effort to play politics with people's lives, these buffoons decided that the people of their county don't need help. According to the Oxford Press, the unemployment rate in Warren County, Ohio, is 8.7%. Obviously, the arrogant Republican commissioners don't care about the unemployed or their families.

Meanwhile, other Ohio counties are asking for the money that has been refused by the Warren commissioners. The Toledo Blade is reporting that Lucas County Commissioner, Ben Konop, has asked for the money for his county. (Note: Warren County, Ohio, is in the congressional district of Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt. Need I say more?)

Is it enough?

Republican golden boy, Jon Husted, has turned over some records to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in order to prove his residency.
Dayton Daily News:

....The documents include a single Dayton Power and Light bill from April 2 showing his monthly usage as 197 kilowatt hours at his home at .... Sherbrooke Drive, Kettering.

The average residential user consumes 940 to 1,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month, depending on whether the home is heated by gas or electricity, said Kelly Millhouse, spokeswoman for Dayton Power and Light.

Husted did not submit his water bills, but records obtained from Montgomery County show his usage at the Kettering home since 2002 was far below the 1,600 cubic foot average for his Castle Hills residential neighborhood....

The newspaper article also reports that Husted has done some whining because he felt Brunner should have taken only his sworn statement about his residency. I think Mr. Husted is very accustomed to getting his own way. For example, someone should investigate how the Austin Interchange (see Dayton Daily News article) got moved to the front of the line while other more important projects were left behind. How many people in the Ohio Department of Transportation did Husted call to get his pet project moved to the front of the line? Who owned the land around the area where the interchange is being built? Do these current/previous landowners have ties to Husted or any other Republicans who pushed for the Austin development? I'm just asking.

Central Ohio Notes

Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) spoke at an Earth Day festival at Goodale Park (Dispatch):

....Inside the shelter house at the park yesterday, U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy updated listeners on the federal government's stimulus package and its inclusion of funds to train workers for green-collar jobs. Ohio coal miners are among the workers that Kilroy, a Columbus Democrat, said she hopes will benefit from job retraining amid a shift from reliance on coal to more use of solar and wind power.

From her congressional website, Kilroy updates her constituents on a recent meeting she held:

U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, met with first responders from each county of Ohio’s 15th Congressional District to hear their needs at the federal level today in Hilliard. Kilroy also announce deadlines for some of the $5.22 billion in funds that will be invested in public safety through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Creating jobs and turning this economy around is my top priority, but without a true sense of security and safety we cannot prosper,” said Kilroy. “Part of this recovery is making sure our challenges don’t get bigger, that crime doesn’t soar, that cutbacks do not slow our response time or take away the funds needed for important training.
We dedicated nearly $6 billion dollars in the recovery package to keep our police and firefighters on the street.....

Kilroy has been working hard to stay in touch with her constituents.

>>>> Are you also troubled by Republican Jon Husted's apparent arrogance regarding his residency? Husted, owns a home in Kettering, but spends 99.9% of his time in fancy-schmancy Upper Arlington. He has done very little to defend his living arrangements, but even Republicans are starting to question it. Do you think he can represent Kettering, if he openly lives in another district? You can contact the Montgomery County Board of Elections to file a complaint by contacting the following numbers: Phone: (937) 225-5656 Fax: (937) 496-7798

Sunday, Sunday

* Why is the state of Michigan promoting their state's tourism in Ohio? We lived in Michigan for four long years and I do not plan to return.

* New practices in Ohio agriculture are helping the state and our farmers, according to a column in the MansfieldNewsJournal:

....In 2009, we are a society cognizant of our actions, moving toward self-sufficiency and sustainability. We use canvas shopping bags, we repair and reuse and we are connected to the needs of our local communities. We have rediscovered one of the undeniable benefits of reducing waste: What is best for the environment is often best for our wallets.

Agriculture is following that movement of sustainability...

...Ohio agriculture is already preserving our rural heritage, supporting the economy and helping us meet green energy needs. Supporting and promoting sustainable practices ensures that Ohioans will be able to enjoy these benefits and live off the land for many years to come.

It bears repeating...."...What is best for the environment is often best for our wallets..."

Ohio News

Is there politics behind the recent announcement from State Auditor Mary Taylor? Taylor, a Republican, made the following prediction, as noted in the Daily Record:

The lone Republican among Ohio's statewide office-holders warned lawmakers Thursday the proposed budget they are considering could lead to a $7.9 billion deficit in 2013.

Mary Taylor based the results on an analysis conducted by her office on Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland's spending plan for the next two years.....

...Strickland, in a prepared statement in response to the Taylor's report, countered that his budget proposal was fiscally responsible and sustainable. He added a failure to use federal stimulus dollars would mean more job losses and decreased state services for residents in need....

Taylor and Republicans are making a concerted effort to fight against Strickland's budget and other proposals. However, Ohioans want to know if Taylor's 'analysis' was influenced by the input of Ohio Republican lawmakers or are her findings unbiased?

*** The high speed rail plan proposed by the Obama administration could change the face of transportation in Ohio and the nation. If you've ever been in Europe, you are aware that passenger trains are an important part of commerce. Why not add trains here?

Cleveland.com:

....President Barack Obama and top transportation officials proposed routes that could run from Cleveland to Toledo before heading to Chicago, and from Cincinnati to Indianapolis and then to Chicago. Another route could run between Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati....

Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said studies have indicated 16,700 new jobs could be created in Ohio by expanding passenger rail service, in addition to tens of thousands of construction jobs.

"It is the right thing to do for our mobility and our environment," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said of Obama's ambitious rail plan....

Commuters, students, visitors, farmers, business people, and others could use trains for many different reasons. For example, farmers could ship produce to other cities. College students could take classes at another university in a different Ohio city. We should not let anyone stop the development of this new rail system because we have more to gain than lose.

More Money

The money race is on for Ohio's members of Congress. Cleveland.com has the money totals for Ohio's delegation. Here are some highlights:

Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover
Raised: $410,293
Amount from PACS: $217,300
Spent: $70,712
Cash on hand: $588,815

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus
Raised: 228,809
Amount from PACS: $148,464
Spent: $100,718
Cash on hand: $189,171

Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Cincinnati
Raised: $197,144
Amount from PACS: $144,625
Spent: $27,926
Cash on hand: $211,984

* Looks like Republican Rob Portman, a member of the Bush administration, is trying to visit every city in Ohio to raise money for his Senate campaign. Portman is very, very conservative, although he doesn't want you to know that. Here are a few highlights when Portman was a member of Congress (ontheissues.org):

1. Against strengthening Social Security lockbox.
2. Favored privatizing social security. (Aren't you glad this didn't pass????)
3. Voted yes on authorizing military force in Iraq. (Supported Bush's war.)
4. Supports teacher-led prayer in public schools. (Absolutely ridiculous idea.)
5. Voted against adoption by gay partners in DC. (Someone should ask him why.)
6. Against women's reproductive freedom.

Read through the Portman record on your own to see his extreme right wing views/record.

Problems

> Ohio has an inadequate school funding mechanism that was ruled unfair by the Ohio Supreme Court decades ago. Despite calls by parents and teachers to fix it, state legislators choose to ignore the problems. As a result, teachers and school staff members lose jobs, and Ohio's children fall behind with cuts in programs, books, and educational materials. Cuts will occur in the Oregon school district, Beachwood, Canal Winchester, just to name a few. The teacher layoffs are like a regular spring ritual in Ohio, and unfortunately, will continue until someone fixes the method by which schools get their funding.

> The huge factory egg farm in Union County, Ohio, will have an impact on the land and water in the area, according to an article in the Columbus Dispatch:

A 6-million-chicken farm proposed for Union County might have to get the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's approval and take extra steps to protect a nearby stream from pollution before its first egg is laid.

Ohio EPA officials said the farm, to be built by Hi-Q Egg Products, based in Johnston, Iowa, will pollute Bokes Creek, a stream already contaminated by other nearby chicken farms. They say they don't believe Hi-Q's claims that its farm won't harm the stream....

....The Ohio EPA is concerned about a plan to spread 23.5 million gallons of manure-contaminated water used to wash eggs on 160 acres of farmland that Hi-Q owns near the barns. EPA officials said pipes under the field that drain storm water would send pollutants to streams that drain to Bokes Creek....

Yuck! Do you remember when former Republican candidate Steve Stivers helped Hi-Q get into Ohio?

News

* Could a statewide ban of text-messaging while driving be in our future here in Ohio? According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, a ban just passed the Cleveland City Council.

* Central Ohio fans are excited about the Columbus Blue Jackets qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Blue Jackets website has info about tickets.

* A construction worker was killed yesterday at the former Holiday Inn on Lane, located just north of the Ohio State campus. The former hotel is being converted into a residence hall for the university. Details about the construction accident can be found at the Bucyrustelegraphforum.com.

* The Ohio State University is on Facebook----- http://www.facebook.com/osu

* The Suburban News has an event that should not be missed and it involves 'Handsome Young Men...'

A Hilliard franchise of College Hunks Hauling Junk will host a parking lot barbeque and garage sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 to benefit the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and its program, "Operation Feed."

College Hunks Hauling Junk, a national organization employing college-aged men to haul away junk and bulk refuse, was founded two years ago....
....The April 25 event is being held in conjunction with Earth Day, said Jeff Arpin, director of operations for the Hilliard branch of College Hunks Hauling Junk, located at 3999 Parkway Lane....

Politics

> The U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. George Voinovich has been the center of attention for months here in Ohio. Several prominent politicians have announced their intentions to seek the seat. Among the names interested in being Ohio's new U.S. Senator are Democrats Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, as well as conservative Republican Rob Portman, a former member of the Bush administration. It should be a very interesting race to watch.

> The total insanity right winger Glenn Beck's '912 Tea Party' campaign has been demonstrated in the video at the Huffington Post. In the video (YouTube video), one attendee suggests "...burn the books..." and another suggests the government is doing some "brainwashing." On the video, one tea party person suggests that "....Obama is a puppet of George Soros....."

Hmmm. Let me see if I get this straight. There is a loosely organized group of people, organized by an over the top, emotional, extreme right wing radio/TV personality, who advocate "burning books" and not paying taxes. Some of them believe that the government will start "brainwashing" the citizens when our TVs go digital. It looks like these people watch too, too much Faux News.

Mark Your Calendars for this Special Benefit!

There will be a very special benefit for Neurofibromatosis Type 2, or NF2, that many people in central Ohio may want to attend:

"BEN" EFIT FOR NF2
Sunday, May 31, 2009
2-6 p.m.
Oakhurst Country Club

All proceeds benefit Children's Tumor Foundation


* Special Appearances by *
Two-Time Heisman Trophy Winner, Archie Griffin
Former Buckeye, Dan Stultz
Julie Hanna and Animals from the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
~~~
* To order tickets, visit http://active.com/donate/BenefitforNF2
(Auction items can be viewed at: http://benefitfornf2.tripod.com/id1.html)

___________

Ohio News for Friday

Vindy.com:
Ohio likely will lose one of its congressional seats — and perhaps two — after next year’s census, Gov. Ted Strickland said.

The governor pointed to that fact in emphasizing the importance of the decennial population count, after signing an executive order establishing a committee to ensure residents’ participation.....

With redistricting and the census, the new congressional lines will bring big changes to Ohio politics.

* Columbus hockey fans are happy and hopeful for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
USA Today:

That the Columbus Blue Jackets' secured their first playoff berth in franchise history doesn't mean there's a "Mission Accomplished" banner hanging in the team dressing room....

Go Jackets!

* The parents of Matt Maupin, an Ohio soldier captured and killed in Iraq, keep his memory alive through their Yellow Ribbon Support Center in Clermont County, Ohio, according to 10tv.com:
It was Friday April 9, 2004 in Iraq, high noon, when insurgents captured Private First Class Keith "Matt" Maupin of Batavia, Ohio, during an ambush on his convoy.

"Matt went to Iraq to do his part for the country," said his father, Keith Maupin. But his son would never return alive. Promoted to the rank of staff sergeant while he was listed as missing, Matt Maupin's remains were found last March and returned to Ohio on April 26, 2008.....

....The anniversary of Staff Sgt. Maupin's capture also marked the fourth anniversary of the Yellow Ribbon Support Center's awards dinner. More than 100 scholarships were handed out to high school students in Maupin's honor. The soldier's father says $240,000 in scholarship money has been raised since the program began.

**** Do you remember the campaign that the payday lenders had last year to try to stop the cap on their interest rates? A majority of the payday lenders did not leave the state and they are still making money off of people. I feel so sorry for people every single time I see them walk out of one of those places.

Working Hard to Get People Working Again

Renewableenergyworld.com reports that a business is moving to Ohio-

Isofoton's U.S. subsidiary, Malaga Isofoton North America, has signed an agreement with the state of Ohio by which the state will assist the company in building a new solar photovoltaic module production facility.
The agreement concludes process that was initiated in 2007. During the past two years the company conducted studies to find the proper location and partners for the facility.
The start of the production at the plant will take place between the years 2010 and 2011, with an estimated production capacity of 60 megawatts of photovoltaic modules. Isofotón is now seeking strategic utility partners to develop its U.S. business plans......

* The Chicago Tribune has information on another move by the Obama White House to help Ohio's unemployed autoworkers:
Ohio is getting a visit from the new White House official leading efforts to help cities and towns that depend on the auto industry.
Ed Montgomery is scheduled to meet with Gov. Ted Strickland and local officials in Cleveland on Thursday.
The White House says the meetings will be closed to the public and the news media. Officials say Montgomery will discuss the administration's plan to support and revitalize auto industry communities and workers......

I'm sure Ohioans are happy to see that President Obama and Gov. Strickland are working together to get people back to work. This is just too important to just sit and do nothing. It will take a lot of effort, but hopefully, it will pay off in the end.

Kilroy on Countdown

Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) appeared on tonight's Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Kilroy talked about her experience of being stalked, badgered, and interrupted by right wing nut case, Rep. Foxx. The stalking, badgering, and interrupting of Democrats speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives is part of a new campaign by Republican Eric Cantor to target freshmen Democrats.

Unfortunately, this behavior by Republicans only displays the fact that Cantor, Foxx, and the rest of the Party of No, are so inept that they can't come up with substantial legislation. This Republican harassment is not going to win them any additional friends. Just look at today's New York Times/CBS poll:

(1.) Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
66% Approve
24% Disapprove
10% Don't Know/NA

(18.) Regardless of how you usually vote, who do you think is more likely to make the right decisions about the nation's economy ---- Barack Obama or the Republicans in Congress?
63% Obama
20% Republicans in Congress
2% Both
2% Neither
7% DK/NA

(31.) In general, is your opinion of the Republican party favorable or not favorable?
31% Favorable
58% Not Favorable
11% DK/NA


Republicans------ we're just not that into you.

Ohio News

Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) is making some strong efforts to recover the bodies of MIAs from World War II, according to the Madison Press:

U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy took the cause of Madison County native Lt. John W. Funk Jr. and other MIAs from World War II to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Military Personnel last week.

Kilroy, who represents Madison County as part of Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, wants increased resources for the U.S. Defense Department’s Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) in Hawaii. JPAC is the organization charged with recovering the bodies of American soldiers, sailors and airmen lost to combat in World War II and subsequent conflicts....

....On April 2, she sat on the committee as it heard testimony from various veterans’ organizations, as well as the JPAC commander, Rear Admiral Donna L. Crisp. She questioned Crisp and others about the need for money and critical personnel at the agency.....

Thank you, Mary Jo, for your work in helping families of MIAs.

>>> Coach Jim Tressel made a visit to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, according to the Dayton Daily News:

Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel, his wife Ellen and linebacker Marcus Freeman visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to salute the U.S. military during the Coaches Tour 2009 Kickoff Briefing on Monday April 6. The event is a precursor to Coach Tressel's participation in the Coaches Tour 2009 to the Middle East in May and June.

(You can check out the slide show of photos from his visit at the Dayton Daily News link.)

The Ohio State Spring Game will be held in "The Shoe" on April 25th. Hopefully, the weather will be better than it is right now.

Ohio Republicans Still Offer No Real Solutions

Questions about Ohio's school funding first went to court in 1991 with a court case. Several years later while George Voinovich was still governor, the Ohio Supreme Court declared that Ohio's school funding was unconstitutional. In the meantime, nothing has been done to fix the way the state of Ohio funds public education. The Republicans have controlled the state for decades. They've passed laws about flags, the silly Defense of Marriage Act, and several other nonsensical, right wing legislative activities, but they've done absolutely nothing about school funding.

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland announced a plan to fix the school funding issue. Democrats in the state legislature have hailed his recommendations for correcting decades of problems. However, the Ohio Republicans are doing nothing. For example, Republican Jim Hughes offered a law about urine collecting, but nothing about funding public education. (See Ann Fisher's commentary in the Dispatch about Hughes and the urine-fetish bill.)

Now another Ohio Republican has tried to slow down the process of correcting the funding issue.
10tv.com:
State Rep. Seth Morgan filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ted Strickland in the Ohio Supreme Court on Monday.

Morgan, a Republican from Huber Heights, said he wants the governor's office to turn over all correspondence, including e-mails, regarding how the administration arrived at its new evidence-based school funding formula, 10TV's John Fortney reported....

Ohio Republicans have failed repeatedly to fix the problem. The Republicans need to stop their stupid antics and get something done. Ohio's school children are suffering and falling behind because of the Republican Party's lack of efforts for equitable public education funding. They need to provide leadership or get out of the way.

Chase Bank

> Did a recent letter by Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15-D) to Chase help save jobs for central Ohio? Will more jobs be created with Chase's new acquisitions?
Dispatch:
JPMorgan Chase has confirmed that it is in talks with Columbus officials about the possibility of bringing a significant number of jobs to central Ohio.

The discussions came to light during a letter-writing skirmish between Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy and JPMorgan Chase executives about a reported plan to outsource jobs....

According to the article, Kilroy's office had been contacted by a number of local Chase employees after rumors of layoffs were spreading throughout the Columbus locations. With a concerted effort by Mayor Coleman's office and Mary Jo Kilroy, a possible outsourcing may turn into saving jobs and creating new ones. I'll keep an eye on developments.

> Here is a recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives for the government to regulate tobacco products.
Clerk of House of Representatives:
HR 1256 -To protect the public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with certain authority to regulate tobacco products. Sponsor: Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] (introduced 3/3/2009): http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll187.xml
The bill passed with 298 votes for and 112 against. Note: John Boehner, Republican and avid smoking fiend, voted against the bill.

Good Stuff and Not So Good Stuff

Good stuff:
Gov. Ted Strickland has signed new transportation legislation that will help improve Ohio's economy with money provided by the federal stimulus package.
WTTE:
....The measure will allow truck drivers to push the pedal to up to 65 mph on the state's interstates, instead of the current truck speed limit of 55 mph.

The budget also will let the state seek federal funds to launch passenger rail service connecting Ohio's major cities.

And, the legislation makes extended unemployment benefits available to an estimated 35,000 Ohioans.

Those people who will get extended unemployment benefits should realize that the bill passed in the House and the Senate because of Democrats. Not one Ohio Republican voted for the stimulus package.

I look forward to the day when we can travel to Cincinnati or Cleveland by train. It will certainly open many possibilities. When I was a child, my family traveled on trains. It was definitely a fun, less stressful way to travel. If you've ever been to Europe, you are aware that trains provide an important means of transportation.

>>>> Not so good....

Word has it that Republican Jon Husted, sometimes from Kettering, but mostly from Upper Arlington, will soon announce his intention to run for Ohio Secretary of State. Hopefully, someone will follow him around with a video camera to record his temper, which is well known by state employees.

Ohio Republicans want to control the voting process in the state. If you remember, that is how George W. Bush became President. All Ohioans, Democrats and Independents, must work hard to keep Husted and Republicans out of the office of Ohio Secretary of State because they plan to restrict voting.

Providing Leadership

While some people might say that President Obama has been trying too hard to fix problems left by the previous administration, most of us realize that he doesn't have the luxury of sitting back and resting. There is just too much to do. When George W. Bush was declared President, he had a surplus to cushion the beginning of his administration. President Clinton had provided jobs and a thriving economy. Unfortunately, Bush made everything a mess with an unnecessary war in Iraq, a lack of oversight with the financial community, and other missteps.

Right now President Obama is providing us with strong, positive, leadership. He is providing change in the way Washington does business. For that, we are grateful.

However, some people are concerned about the fate of the American automobile companies. We, the American people, lent them money and expected the automakers to assess their companies and make adjustments. The autoworkers who have lost their jobs and taken buyouts have sacrificed their way of life. It is not too much to demand that the CEO's and executives provide real plans to make their companies leaner and more efficient.