Dover Chemical spill closes I-77 in Tusc. Co
A portion of I-77 in Tuscarawas County is closed in both directions as crews are on the site of a spill at Dover Chemical Corporation. Police in the Dover-Strasburg area are telling residents to stay indoors and close their windows and they are describing the situation as "serious." The plant is located along I-77 and the highway is closed from Strasburg to New Philadelphia. WEWS reports one person has been hospitalized.  There have been four incidents within the past three years at the plant, the most recent in February when a worker suffered chemical burns. We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

Eaton Corp. makes $12 billion merger
Cleveland-based Eaton Corporation is announcing a nearly $12 billion merger with Cooper Industries. Cooper is an Ireland-based supplier of electrical components and tools. The Plain Dealer reports Eaton would move its incorporation from Ohio to Ireland, but keep its headquarters in Northeast Ohio. The company is in the process of building a new headquarters in Beachwood. There’s a conference call scheduled for later today and we’ll have more information about the deal this afternoon during All Things Considered.

Bill on fracking regulations gets legislative hearing
Environmental advocates are among dozens of witnesses lining up to testify on a bill laying out Ohio's new regulations for horizontal shale drilling and the use of renewable energy. The House Public Utilities Committee is slated to debate rules today. They are part of a wide-ranging energy bill that passed the Ohio Senate with support of Republicans and some Democrats. Concern remains among environmental groups. The bill requires that well operators disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Environmentalists say details will be scant and reporting will come only after wells have been drilled. The Natural Resources Defense Council also has criticized the bill for removing the public's ability to appeal state-issued drilling permits. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the rules are among the toughest in the nation.

I-277 reopens
After about a month, The Ohio Department of Transportation has reopened eastbound I-277 between I-76 and I-77 in Akron. The stretch of road was closed for resurfacing. The project is expected to last until August 2013. It includes resurfacing both east and westbound lanes along with repairs to 18 bridges.