WKSU News: Noon headlines, April 20, 2012: Ohio unemployment drops; Durham motion denied; Schlichter sentencing re-scheduled

Friday, April 20, 2012 Noon headlines, April 20, 2012: Ohio unemployment drops; Durham motion denied; Schlichter sentencing re-scheduled Ohio unemployment drops; Durham motion denied; Schlichter sentencing re-scheduled

A self-portrait commissioned by Indianapolis businessman Tim Durham, who's accused of bilking investors of more than $200 million.

Courtesy of WKSU

In The Region:

Ohio unemployment drops

Durham motion denied

Schlichter sentencing re-scheduled

Ohio unemployment drops
The Nation’s unemployment rate declined a bit in March, from 8.3 percent in February to 8.2 percent in March. Ohio’s unemployment rate followed suit.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reports the state’s unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in March, down from 7.6 percent in February. That’s about five thousand fewer people in the unemployment lines. And it’s lower than the March 2011 unemployment rate at 8.8 percent.
But the agency’s Ben Johnson says Ohio lost more than 9500 jobs in March. He says those jobs were mainly in construction, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services. Johnson cautions the numbers come from two different surveys. He says the best way to gauge the unemployment picture is to look at the numbers over several months. Johnson says Ohio’s unemployment rate is three points lower than it was in late 2009.

Durham motion denied
A federal judge has denied former Indiana businessman Tim Durham's motion to dismiss fraud charges against him over claims the FBI had illegally wiretapped his cell phone before obtaining a court order.
Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson on Thursday rejected as unfounded Durham's claim that the FBI had violated federal wiretap law by testing an eavesdropping device before a court had authorized a wiretap. She said federal law allows investigators to tap their own calls and the FBI initiated the test call.
Durham's attorney didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Durham and another Indianapolis businessman were indicted last year on charges they looted Akron, Ohio-based Fair Finance Co. and used a Ponzi scheme to defraud investors of more than $200 million.

Schlichter sentencing re-scheduled
A federal judge has rescheduled the sentencing for former Ohio State and NFL quarterback Art Schlichter in a fraud case stemming from a million-dollar ticket-selling scheme.
The 52-year-old Schlichter has been in jail after authorities said he violated the conditions of his bond in January by testing positive for cocaine use while free on house arrest.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson on Thursday set a May 4 sentencing date for the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback. He faces 10 years in prison in the sports ticket fraud scheme.
The judge postponed Schlichter's sentencing earlier this year and agreed to give him more time to have his mental health assessed after a follow-up appointment was canceled when Schlichter was arrested for the alleged cocaine use.

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