This year's finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame include Ohio natives Cris Carter of the Vikings, and Edward DeBartolo, former owner of the San Francisco 49ers. But, as WKSU's Kabir Bhatia reports, visitors to the Hall in Canton have one name they want to see enshrined this year.  Kabir Bhatia reports

Ohio’s pension plans should be getting millions of dollars they lost as part of a bad investment. Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles reports.  Jo Ingles reports

A Cleveland charter school is closing sooner than expected after years of financial trouble. The state had scheduled to close Marcus Garvey Academy in June but the school voted instead tol shut down on February 20th,

The school had been hit with more than $350,000 in audit findings and also dealt with a cheating scandal where the answers on standardized tests were changed.

Stanley Miller, former director of the Cleveland NAACP who took over the school last summer, says Marcus Garvey was given no chance to survive.  Jo Ingles reports

The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office has said that a Florida man accused of illegally flipping hundreds of homes directly contributed to the housing blight in greater Cleveland.

Blaine Murphy was arraigned Thursday on charges that he forged the deeds under the name Bryce Peters Financial.

Assistant County Prosecutor Michael Jackson said Murphy never filed the appropriate paperwork stating that he was flipping the houses that had major problems.  Jo Ingles reports

  Jeff St. Clair reports

Controversial education advocate Diane Ravitch is in Cleveland today  to talk about school reform. The one-time supporter of school choice and standardized testing now backs teacher unions and says charter schools undermine public education. StateImpact Ohio’s Ida Lieszkovszky  sat down with Ravitch to get her thoughts on school reform.

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Farmers markets are sprouting up all over Northeast Ohio like hardy seedlings in fertile ground.  Outdoors in summer and indoors in winter, the markets are teeming with hungry locavores.  Vivian Goodman reports

As drilling rigs fan out over Ohio, an anti-fracking movement is spreading too.  But WKSU’s Tim Rudell reports that discussions – like the one in Youngstown Thursday night  is no longer as likely to be pro and con as it is to be an examination of  the nuances of science, law and the economy.   Tim Rudell reports

A bill banning insider trading by members of Congress got a “yes” vote from both of Ohio’s senators yesterday. But it got only qualified support from one of them.

 Republican Sen. Rob Portman, praised the bill, saying it “ensures that those who abuse their access to inside information will be held accountable.”  

 Ohio’s other senator, Democrat Sherrod Brown, also voted for the Stock Act. But an amendment he offered would have gone much further by requiring lawmakers to sell stocks that could create conflicts of interest or to put the stock in a blind trust.  M.L. Schultze reports

Cleveland’s casino likely won’t know for a few more weeks just when it will open. But its owner, Rock Gaming, is interviewing for security, administrative and retail positions through Friday.

The invitation-only event at Quicken Loans Arena will choose 700 people from more than 24,000 applicants.  The casino has committed to hiring at least 90 percent of its workforce from Northeast Ohio.

Recruiting for table game dealers began last fall, and about 600 candidates are currently in training.

Jennifer Kulczycki, spokeswoman for Horseshoe Cleveland, said more than 36,000 people in all have applied for casino jobs, ranging from dealers to security guards.  Vivian Goodman reports

Former Ohio State University football coach Jim Tressel is headed to the University of Akron – again. StateImpact Ohio’s Molly Bloom reports that the school announced Thursday that Tressel will be hired as Vice President for Strategic Engagement, effective May 1. 

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A think tank on the political left says that if an oil and gas drilling boom really does come to Ohio as predicted…..taxes on the drillers should be hiked. The mere mention of the idea has leaders of the drilling industry seeing red. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.  Bill Cohen reports

The process of drawing legislative and congressional lines for Ohio still leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some of the state’s leaders. Some of them want to change the process now.

Included is Republican Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted. He thinks the process of redrawing congressional district maps is not a compliment to lawmakers.  Jo Ingles reports

Akron-area Rep. Lynn Slaby  is a step closer to leaving the Statehouse.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Nominating Council sent his name and three others to Gov. John Kasich today. Kasich will be appointing one of them to a five-year term on the commission beginning in April.

Slaby is in his first term in the Ohio House. A Republican, he’s also a retired prosecutor and judge.

Twenty people put their names in for the PUCO spot. The other Northeast Ohioan who made the final cut is Michael Verich of Warren, a Democrat who spent 12 years on the State Employment Relations Board, and whom Kasich appointed last year to the Ohio Lottery Commission.

   M.L. Schultze reports

Ohio lawmakers are reconsidering a requirement that an eighth of the state’s energy come from wind, solar and other 
renewable resources by the year 2025.  But, as WKSU’s Kabir Bhatia reports, utility companies are still shopping 
for the renewables.  Kabir Bhatia reports

  Amanda Rabinowitz reports

Deborah Delisle served as Ohio’s Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2008 to 2011. Now, she’s heading to DC. President Barack Obama has nominated her to a top post in the U.S. Department of Education. StateImpact Ohio’s Molly Bloom spoke with Delisle this week.

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Next week Ohio Gov. John Kasich will take his first State of the State address on the road to northeast Ohio.  The governor will travel to Steubenville to honor the state’s top performing elementary school, report on his first year in office, and give his blueprint for the remainder of his term.  But as Tom Borgerding of member station WOSU reports the city is most interested in his jobs message.  Molly Bloom reports

A courtroom artist used to be a full time job at TV stations and newspapers. But now, most courts allow still and video cameras. So you're unlikely to see a person with a sketchpad -- outside of an occasional high-profile federal trial where the ban on cameras continues.

WKSU’s Mark Urycki reports that the federal corruption trial of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora has the media turning back to the old courtroom art form.  Mark Urycki reports

White Nose Syndrome has been discovered among bats living in a Summit County park, the latest confirmation of a spreading disease that has wipe out more than five million bats in eastern North America. 

Biologist with the metro parks system have confirmed the fungus among bats living in the caves and ledges of Liberty Park near Twinsburg. 

The disease was first discovered in New York state in 2007, and the first case turned up in Ohio last year. 

Ann Froschauer  is the white-nose syndrome communications leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. She says the concern about the fast-spreading killer is the variety of bat populations it can infect.  M.L. Schultze reports

Some county agenices have trimmed their budget requests by even more than the 23% reductions the Commissioners requested, and it looks like expenses could still exceed revenue by half a million dollars or so.

WKSU’s Tim Rudell has more on Wednesday’s hearings on a budget that – even with a new sales tax – is tight.  Tim Rudell reports

A Northeast Ohio judge’s new program will help homeowners in Summit County save money in case a partner dies.

Probate Court Judge Todd McKenney says a review of homes in Reminderville, north of Akron, found that one third did not have what’s called “survivorship” language. That provision gives sole ownership of a home to the living spouse when a death certificate is filed.

McKenney says having the provision can save a spouse up to 3-thousand dollars in court fees. And he says the court will save money as well.  Valerie Brown reports

Activists of a plan to make Ohio a so-called right-to-work state have cleared another legal hurdle, but they still have far to go before they can put their plan onto the ballot for voters to decide. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen reports.  Bill Cohen reports

Honda has announced yet another expansion of its car manufacturing operations in Ohio. Company officials hope it will spark a revival of the Japanese company. Ohio Public Radio’s Bill Cohen traveled to one of Honda’s plants in a small western Ohio town to get the details.  Bill Cohen reports

The Ohio Parole board has denied clemency to a death row inmate who was convicted of setting his home on fire with his family inside, killing his three year old son. Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports.  Jo Ingles reports

  Jeff St. Clair reports

  Amanda Rabinowitz reports

A transportation agency panel has voted unanimously to push back some major road work projects for years - and in some cases, decades – because there isn’t enough money to finish them. But Ohio Public Radio’s Karen Kasler reports this vote isn’t the final word on the issue.  Karen Kasler reports

Today is when the best high school athletes in the country sign letters of intent to play sports on college scholarships. With that, come some unrealistic expectations and pressures for students, parents, and coaches. WKSU commentator Terry Pluto talks to Amanda Rabinowitz about National Signing Day - that's ballooned from a simple, signed fax to a nationally-televised event.   Amanda Rabinowitz reports

County services for municipalities, jobs for veterans, and making downtown Cleveland the showplace of Cuyahoga County. Those are some of the items in a 12-point plan laid out by County Executive Ed FitzGerald today in his second state of the county address. As WKSU’s Kevin Niedermier reports, his “Western Reserve Plan” is aimed at making Cuyahoga County more prosperous and cohesive.  Kevin Niedermier reports

The trial of former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora was unexpectedly halted today (Tues) when a key witness became ill.      WKSU’s Mark Urycki reports former county employee J. Kevin Kelley testified in the morning but never returned after a federal courtroom break.  Mark Urycki reports

Akron businesses that have been fudging city income tax returns may want to pay up. City leaders say they’ve got some powerful new tools for catching tax cheats. But, before they fully roll those out, they’re offering a one-time, no-penalty amnesty to companies that come forward and pay what they owe. WKSU’s Tim Rudell reports.  Tim Rudell reports

Backers of the controversial heartbeat abortion bill that’s stalled right now in the Ohio Senate are trying a new tactic to get Senators to take up the bill soon. Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports.  Jo Ingles reports

A report released Tuesday says Ohio may lose nearly 200 thousand jobs in auto-parts manufacturing over the next ten years.

The report from the Economic Policy Institute says China’s trade policy is hurting U.S. auto-parts manufacturers. The report says China subsidizes its auto-parts industry at a cost of almost 28 billion dollars.

Susan Helper is a professor of economics at Case Western Reserve University. She says state and local governments can take steps other than cutting taxes to support auto-parts companies here in Ohio.  Valerie Brown reports

Ohio pit bull owners may no longer have to buy pricey liability insurance for their dogs. The Ohio Senate has approved a House bill that waives the insurance requirement for specific breeds. Republican Senator Mark Waggoner says under his plan, local communities can still set their own rules to control vicious dogs.  Jo Ingles reports

The Great Lakes Commission says it has three ways to keep invasive and voracious Asian carp out of the Great Lakes – at a cost of up to $9.5 billion.

The group wants to separate the lakes from the Mississippi River watershed by installing barriers in the Chicago shipping channel. A study released today outlines three options: a single barrier, a system of four barriers and system of five.Tim Eder is director of the Great Lakes Commission. He says the cheapest and most flexible of the options for Chicago is the four-barrier plan.

   Laura Fong reports

Democrats are deep in the minority in the Ohio House. But that’s not stopping them from unveiling a long list of priorities. Topping the list is a plan to give the state’s budget surplus to cities and schools to reverse employee layoffs. But the Democrats aren’t likely to get their way.  Bill Cohen reports

  Amanda Rabinowitz reports

Ohio’s inspector general is supposed to serve as a watchdog against corruption in the executive branch of state government. But some are criticizing the current inspector general for actions they say are not in the interest of taxpayers. There is a call now to change the way the I.G. is appointed.  Bill Cohen reports

As Florida voters go to the polls for a critical Republican primary today, Ohio voters can start cast their ballots as well.  Karen Kasler reports

The number of homeless youth in Ohio is on the rise, more than doubling since 2005. Many of these young people know a degree is their best bet to get out of homelessness, but as StateImpact: Ohio’s Ida Lieszkovszky reports, getting A’s can be tough when you’re looking for a roof to sleep under.

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The unemployment rate among Ohio veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is 15 percent. For younger vets – 18-to-24 – it’s even higher. One out of every five don’t have jobs.
Efforts to change that are increasingly relying on veterans themselves.  M.L. Schultze reports

First Energy’s decision to close four coal-burning plants along Lake Erie may cost as many as 500 jobs.

But it also is expected to save millions of fish.

Rick Unger is the president of the Lake Erie Charter Boat Association. He says he’s sorry to see the plants shut down, but expects the charter fishing industry to benefit.  Ozie Ikuenobe reports

Some key Ohio Republicans are talking about changing the election law their party passed last year. And they want lawmakers to act before voters get a chance to decide the issue this fall.

The law would curtail early and absentee voting, and make other changes. But most of the changes are stalled because opponents of the law gathered enough signatures to force a voter referendum in November.

Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State, Jon Husted, says all that is causing confusion, and lawmakers should change the law as it is on the books.

But some voting-rights advocates say now is not the time to do that. Greg Moore of Fair Elections Ohio says applying one set of rules to the March primary and another to the November general election could confuse voters.  Jo Ingles reports

Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections begin early voting tomorrow  for the March 6th primary. WKSU’s M.L. Schultze has more on the preparations for Ohio’s Super Tuesday election.

   M.L. Schultze reports

Clarification: Akron was among the earliest Ohio cities to adopt the technology.  The Sheffield digester is the first in the region funded by USDA's REAP program.

A town in Lorain County is about to become one of the first communities in Northeast Ohio to power its waste-water treatment plant with another kind of waste.

The French Creek Waste Water treatment plant in Sheffield Village plans to bring a biodigester on line this spring. It uses bacteria in an environment devoid of oxygen to turn municipal waste into methane gas – and eventually into electricity that will run the treatment plant.

The biodigester is being built with the help of more than 2 million dollars in federal loans and grants. And in an interview this morning (Monday), U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the investment is worthwhile.  M.L. Schultze reports

   M.L. Schultze reports

  Jeff St. Clair reports

A new poll of shows that half of 18- to 29-year-olds view President Obama favorably.  WKSU’s Kabir Bhatia has more on the read on young voters heading into this year’s presidential election.  Kabir Bhatia reports

How many engineers does it take to change a light bulb?  Five. But it took an act of Congress to make it practical. 

In this week’s Exploradio we meet a small group of engineers at GE’s East Cleveland lighting headquarters who are changing the light bulb as we know it.  Jeff St. Clair reports

Slot machines at racetracks……Speed limits…...undocumented immigrants….and newly-passed changes in election rules. Ohio legislators plan to talk about all those issues this week.  Bill Cohen reports