Headlines for the morning of Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Summit County Council has voted to allow the county Port Authority to issue about $17 million in short-term bonds to Industrial Realty Group for the massive Goodyear project. The development, which is to include an office and retail complex as well as the company's world headquarters at the site, has stalled due to a lack of private funds. The deal must still be approved by Akron City Council, which is expected to vote on it next Monday.

The Summit and Portage County chapter of the American Red Cross has announced cutbacks. The Beacon Journal reports the organization is laying off a third of its 35 staff members as well as cutting its veterans' financial assistance program. The agency says investment losses have cost the agency about $600 million since June.
Ohio.com story

The Ohio Historical Society says it will lay off 25 workers and reduce hours at some sites because of state budget cuts. The agency also says it will use private funds to help keep 18 state memorials and museums open through June 30, but will reduce hours at sites including Zoar Village in Tuscarawas County and the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor. Zoar and Youngstown are also included in a list of sites that will close for one week starting March 28.

About 50 people gathered outside Cleveland City Hall yesterday to protest a proposal to split up their City Council wards. Last November, voters approved the plan to reduce the number of council by two to 21. Council must approve the plan by April 1. Council members Brian Cummins and Zack Reed, who both stand to lose most of their political base in the move, have been critical of the move. The Plain Dealer reports Cummins will submit his own redistricting plan.

Ohio Teamsters pulled about $14 million in assets out of Cleveland-based KeyCorp last. KeyBank and its parent company, KeyCorp, are the primary lender to Oak Harbor Freight Lines, based in Auburn, Washington. More than 550 Oak Harbor workers are fighting to save retirees' health care. The Cleveland-based Teamsters say the union will not support a company that it claims is abusing worker's rights.

Cleveland City Council's Finance Committee has approved nearly $3 million in loans to Steel Warehouse of Ohio. The Indiana-based company plans to build an industrial parts processing plant on land near the Arcelor Mittal plant along the Cuyahoga River The loan will help Steel Warehouse buy property for the development and officials say it would create at least 100 jobs.

The hospital chain that is the Mahoning Valley's second-largest employer has filed for bankruptcy protection. Forum Health says the Chapter 11 filing should not disrupt services for patients nor for payroll for its roughly 4,000 employees. Forum already has cut contributions to 401(k)s, pension plans and health care benefits for nonunion employees and it trying to get the hospital unions to agree to concessions. The hospital says the filing will give it time to more fully implement its strategic plan to try to increase admissions, cut costs, and reestablish a presence in Boardman. Akron Children's Hospital took over the Forum Health campus in Boardman last year to create a new children's hospital there.
vindy.com story

The 750 registered nurses at Akron General Medical Center have accepted a pay freeze just weeks after refusing to take a pay cut. The Beacon Journal reports members of the nurses union at Akron General voted late last week to approve the one year-freeze. The hospital has been negotiating concessions with the nurses and support staff unions after the hospital reported a 10-million dollar loss last year. Last week, Akron General laid off 145 employees, or about 2 and a half percent of its workforce, but no nurses. It also previously laid off 20 managers.
Ohio.com story

In Cactus League baseball, the Indians scored three runs in the 9th inning to hold off the Seattle Mariners 4-1. Chris Gimenez hit a three-run homer with two outs in the 9th to seal the win for Cleveland.