Cleveland mayor, teachers agree on plan
A month-long standoff between the Cleveland Teachers Union and Mayor Frank Jackson is finally over. The two parties have reached a deal on the mayor's Cleveland schools overhaul. And the agreement removes one of the most controversial parts of the plan, the so-called “fresh start” provision that would have made union contracts obsolete once they expired. Mayor Jackson says he gave up the fresh start provision because he got concessions on other parts of the plan. The plan bases layoffs on teacher performance and uses seniority as a tie-breaker. It also gives the district more control over low-performing schools and embraces local charter schools.

Convicted firefighter collected $100,000 in shift-trading scandal
A retired Cleveland firefighter who pleaded guilty this week in a shift-trading scandal collected more than $100,000 in pay and benefits over two years. The Plain Dealer reports Timothy Debarr paid coworkers a total of $35,000 in cash to cover shifts for him, while he collected $64,000 in salary before taxes, along with $50,000 in benefits. In a plea deal, Debarr will spend two months in jail and will pay a $1,000 fine. He will not have to pay restitution. A recent audit  reported 35 firefighters had each failed to repay at least 1,000 hours taken by co-workers during a four-year period.

Kent State credit hour fee highest in state
Kent State’s new surcharge for taking too many credit hours will be the highest in the state. The Beacon Journal reports no other state-run university charges more than the $440 per credit hour Kent State students will pay for each hour over 17 starting this fall and over 16 beginning in the Fall of 2013. Cleveland State has the highest surcharge at $373. University officials tells student newspaper The Daily Kent Stater the surcharge is a way to keep high quality facilities

Case alumni alerted to security breach
About 600 Case Western Reserve University alumi have been notified about a security breach that affects their social security numbers. Case officials say two laptop computers were stolen two months ago that had the names and social security numbers of alumni dating back to 1987. The Plain Dealer reports software that allows the school to remove the data remotely had not been activated on the computers.

Cleveland transit workers have contract agreement
After two and a half years of negotiations, Cleveland’s transit workers have a contact agreement. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority says the contact calls for up to 3-percent raises and one time payments of $1,000 for most of the 1,700 member union of drivers, mechanics and others. The union has agreed to the deal, and RTA’s board will vote next week. RTA has had budget problems since 2009 that resulted pay cuts and layoffs. 

Ohio GOP ready to settle scuff
Ohio Republican are preparing to put an end to an intraparty feud as they head into presidential election season. State GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine announced last week he would step down at today’s central committee meeting to avoid a "party-splitting dispute." DeWine plans to submit his resignation at the gathering and preside over the likely election of former long-time state Chairman Bob Bennett as his replacement. Bennett chaired the party from 1988 to 2009. Allies of Gov. John Kasich had recruited a slate of challengers to the committee that they believed would vote out DeWine.

Solon man awarded $2 million from former company
A Solon broker won a rare judgment against his former employer after he alleged he was fired and defamed. An arbitrator ordered Lincoln Financial Advisors to pay Jeffrey Concepcion $2 million. Concepcion tried to negotiate deals with independent financial advisors to use some Lincoln services but Lincoln killed the deals, fired Concepcion, and told other Lincoln employees he was fired for cause. A lawyer who represents securities firms told the Plain Dealer that the decision was “horrendously written” and unusual in the financial industry.

Report: Ohio not tracking benefits of tax breaks
Ohio isn’t doing a good enough job of tracking the benefits of tax breaks given to businesses, according to a new report. The Pew Center on the States didn’t give Ohio a failing grade, but said the state didn’t ask questions about the effectiveness of incentives. Ohio development department officials say that Pew’s research was based on a 2009 report that did not track the return on investment. Eleven other states joined Ohio in the “mixed results” category.

Akron close to deal on old Firestone complex
The century-old Firestone factory and technical center in Akron could become a hub for oil and gas research. An agreement between the city of Akron and real estate company Amerimar is expected to be signed as early as today. The deal gives Amerimar the option to purchase the property for $5 million. Firestone parent company Bridgestone officially opened a new research facility in Akron earlier this week.

Escaped inmate captured in Stark County
Federal authorities say an inmate who escaped from an Alabama prison where he was serving a life sentence on a murder conviction has been captured in northeast Ohio. The U.S. marshal for the northern district of Ohio says Timothy Richards was arrested Wednesday at a home in Alliance in Stark County. Richards was taken to the Stark County jail to await extradition to Alabama.