09/01/10 HEADLINE NEWS…

The state is now telling people to avoid all contact with the water in LaDue Reservoir. It upgraded the advisory on the reservoir based on the results of the latest testing for toxic algae blooms. The reservoir is in southern Geauga County and is connected to Akron’s drinking water supply. But state officials have tested the treated drinking water separately and say it is safe.

Another area reservoir, East Branch, is under an algae advisory at lower levels than LeDue.

Akron says it mistakenly notified six police officers they are being laid off, and is rescinding their layoff notices. But now it will be laying off six other officers.

The city said Tuesday that it miscalculated the seniority of some officers when it sent out notices over the past four days. But now six other officers who thought their jobs were safe will get notices today that they’re the ones who will lose those jobs. The city is laying off 40 police officers, saying it can’t avoid the cuts unless the police union makes contract concessions. The union has questioned the city’s math and motives. The contract dispute has gone to fact finding.

A woman who bilked nearly 800 investors in a real estate investment scheme will serve seven more years in prison. 68-year old Joanne Schneider of Lakewood was originally sentenced last year to three years in the 60-million dollar Ponzi scheme she ran with her husband. An appeals court ruled the sentence was too light, and she was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison. The couple issued multiple fraudulent mortgages for the same property and misled shareholders about the failed Cornerstone retail and entertainment development in Parma Heights.

Six years in the making, Summit County is celebrating the opening of its new animal shelter. The 3-million dollar facility was built after animal rights groups complained about inadequate conditions in 2004.

The only 360-degree view of Greater Cleveland from a 600-foot vantage point is staying open to the public a little longer. The observation deck at Cleveland’s Terminal Tower will remain open weekends starting Saturday through the end of October. The Observation Deck, closed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, reopened in July and closed August first.

A Michigan-based American Indian tribe wants to join a lawsuit demanding stronger action to prevent Asian carp from infesting the Great Lakes. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians filed a motion joining by Ohio and four other states. The tribe says it wants to make sure the case devotes enough attention to its treaty-guaranteed fishing rights. A hearing on the suit resumes next week.

The U.S. education department estimates that more than 5,000 teachers will be hired or retained with Ohio’s 350-million dollar share of federal money. Northeast Ohio schools are getting $75 million from the federal education jobs fund money announced Tuesday. Cleveland is getting the most funds in the state at more than $17 million. Akron is getting more than $6.5 million.

Union workers are on strike against another union, the largest representing teachers in the state. The Ohio Education Association says members of a union representing half of its 220 employees went on strike early today, when the previous contract expired.

The association says it is disappointed an agreement was not reached in time to keep the Professional Staff Union from walking out.

Flights at Cleveland Hopkins could be drastically scaled back as the result of Continental’s merger with United Airlines. The Plain Dealer reports a preliminary analysis by Continental says it may slash daily flights at Hopkins by more than half, from 42 average daily departures to 20. Also, the analysis suggests that flights on regional partners that serve Continental would plunge from a daily average of 168 to 13. Continental’s chief executive says no firm decisions have been made.

Starting today, thousands of Ohioans will be eligible for health care coverage through a government. Health care advocate Call Owners says the new pool is an exciting part of the health care reform law.

This pool covers people who have pre-existing health conditions that render them uninsurable on the private health insurance market. Chris Littleton, president of the Ohio Liberty Council and a tea party activist, says he doesn’t like the new federal reforms because they treat health care coverage as if it’s a right.

Additional health care reforms will be put in place later this month, including one that allows parents to keep their adult children on the family health care plan until age 26.

James Traficant’s supporters are jubilant after the Mahoning County Board of Elections decided the former congressman and convicted felon has enough valid ballot signatures to run again for Congress. Werner Lange is a volunteer with the Traficant campaign. He says after a hard fight to get Traficant on the ballot, his supporters expect a sweet victory in November. And Lange says he’s not looking for political allies.

Traficant, who was released from federal prison a year ago, was unavailable for comment. He is running for the 17^th Congressional district which covers all and parts of Summit, Portage, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties.

With Manny Ramirez standing in the on-deck circle ready to pinch-hit, A.J. Pierzynski hit a three-run homer off Frank Herrmann in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. Ramirez, who arrived earlier in the day to help Chicago's playoff push, was poised to make his White Sox debut before Pierzynski came through.