Afternoon headlines for Thursday, March 26, 2009

State officials are announcing today which projects will be funded by the $935 million in federal stimulus money the state must use for roads and bridges. Under federal guidelines, priority is to be given to projects in economically distressed areas, projects that would create a large number of jobs and projects that could be completed within several years. Work is expected to begin this summer. Tuesday is the deadline for ODOT to submit a project list with the Federal Highway Administration.

Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish says state lawmakers may consider oil and natural gas drilling in state parks as a new revenue source amid the recession. But Budish says the Legislature would want to make sure any drilling on public lands would not harm the environment. State Natural Resources Director Sean Logan, a former lawmaker, said there is growing legislative interest in allowing drilling. Last month a nine-member state study committee, including two industry representatives, recommended that drilling be allowed on state park land where the state holds mineral rights. The committee estimated that drilling would generate at least $3 million a year for Ohio.

Residents of a quiet eastern Ohio subdivision are trying to stop construction of a major police and military training center next door. Templar Tactical, the suburban Cleveland company that will operate the 200-acre facility, says there will be live-fire shooting ranges and a helicopter landing pad. Nearby resident Robert Heinton has collected more than 800 signatures asking Guernsey County commissioners to halt the project. He says it will ruin home values in his rural community near Lore City, about 80 miles east of Columbus. County Commissioner Steve Allen says training exercises could bring in more than 4,000 police officers and military reservists each year, creating new business for hotels and restaurants.

An Ohio nurse says she's looking forward to giving President Barack Obama her perspective on health care reform. Cathy Stoddart of Mingo Junction works at
a hospital in Pittsburgh, 35 miles away. She is among a group of nurses from across the U.S. invited to the White House today. About 100 nurses, teachers and small-business employees are scheduled to ask Obama questions during a town hall-type meeting that also will allow for regular folks to quiz him via the Internet. Stoddart says she plans to tell the president she's tired of taking care of people after they're too sick, because they couldn't afford to see a doctor earlier.

The government says initial jobless benefit claims rose slightly last week while the number of people continuing to claim benefits set a record for the ninth straight week. The figures indicate the labor market remains weak even as some other economic indicators come in better than expected. The Labor Department said today that first-time claims for unemployment insurance rose to a seasonally adjusted 652,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 644,000. That is slightly above analysts' expectations. Ohio had one of the largest declines in new applications, down about 3,400 from the previous week. Nationwide, the total number of people claiming benefits is up 122,000 to 5.56 million, much higher than economists' projections of 5.48 million.

Cleveland's mayor has endorsed a proposed ban on text messaging while driving in the city. Mayor Frank Jackson's administration said Wednesday it would support the city council proposal but wants a $100 fine for the first offense, instead of a warning. The mayor also wants Cleveland emergency responders to be exempted. The plan offered by Councilman Zack Reed calls for a warning on the first offense, a $100 fine for the second and a $250 fine after that. He calls text messaging while driving a serious problem. Councilman Michael Polensek questions whether the ban should be a high priority. The National Conference of State Legislatures says eight states now have laws prohibiting texting behind the wheel, though Ohio isn't one of them.

A federal reserve official spoke to students today at the University of Dayton says this year's economy may be starting out as bad as last year's ended. Richard Fisher, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said the first quarter of 2009 may mirror the fourth quarter of 2008. But he hopes the nation will begin to see a tempering of the economic downturn in the second quarter. However, he says he expects negative growth for the year. Fisher said there are some recent positive indicators in terms of housing activity and durable goods, but that shipments are still strongly down. He hopes federal stimulus package and initiatives by the Federal Reserve Board will begin to allow credit markets to heal.

A southwest Ohio legislator plans to introduce a bill that would make it a misdemeanor for minors to send nude images over their cell phones. Republican state Rep. Ronald Maag said today that the bill would make creation, exchange and possession of nude materials through a telecommunications device by minors a first degree misdemeanor. Minors showing themselves nude in text messages could face the same charge. The practice, termed 'sexting' is an increasing concern for parents, school officials and authorities. Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel had asked legislators for changes in Ohio law. Currently, minors involved in sexting could face felony charges under Ohio's child pornography law. Maag says prosecutors still could pursue harsher penalties if appropriate.

Gov. Ted Strickland says 149 infrastructure projects will be fully or partially funded in Ohio using federal economic stimulus money. Strickland said today that the spending of $774 million in federal money will create or retain an estimated 21,257 jobs. The roadway, bridge, pavement and maritime projects will take place in 87 of 88 counties. Strickland says Noble County did not submit a federally eligible project. Strickland says the stimulus funds are being targeted broadly to benefit all Ohioans. But there will also be region-specific projects targeting particular areas in the state. Decisions on the spending of another $161 million has been left to regional planning groups in Cleveland, Akron, Dayton, Youngstown, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Canton.

Ohio gasoline prices have cracked the $2 barrier for the first time since early November as refineries shut down for maintenance before the big summer driving season. Triple-A says today's statewide average price for regular is $2.05 a gallon.

Infielder Andy Cannizaro has been assigned to the Cleveland Indians' minor league training camp. Cannizaro hit .227 with one home run and two RBIs in 16 spring training games. The Indians are the third organization for the 30-year-old, who has a .274 average in 734 minor league games. Cannizaro played in 13 games for the New York Yankees in 2006 and one game for Tampa Bay last year, then was purchased by Cleveland from the Rays last August.