Warren revokes massage parlor licenses
The Warren Health Department has revoked the licenses of eight massage parlors raided last week on suspicion of prostitution.  The Youngstown Vindicator reports a judge is also expected to declare the so-called spa parlors nuisances, which should be enough to shut them down for good. Agents raided the parlors Wednesday and found physical evidence of prostitution. Charges have not yet been filed.

Pension bill holdup costing millions
Inaction on reforms to Ohio’s state pension funds is costing the funds around $2 million per day. The Toledo Blade reports the State Senate passed a reform plan two weeks ago, but the House won’t debate the bill until it sees the results of a financial study of the funds. That won’t come until next month at the earliest. Then House members would have to come back during their summer break. The Senate bill gives pension boards more freedom to adjust employee contribution rates.  In some cases the rate would be as high as 14 percent. The system will have to cut a billion dollars of discretionary health-care coverage to meet its obligations if no bill is passed. 

ODOT exploring privatization of road maintenance
ODOT is considering using private contractors to maintain some interstates in Central and Southern Ohio to save money. The Columbus Dispatch reports maintenance would be privatized for I-270 around Columbus and a stretch of I-71 between Columbus and Cincinnati. ODOT says it needs $1.6 billion to stay on schedule with construction and $10 billion more to pay for planned projects. Deputy Director Jim Riley says he recently began studying privatization.

Former congressman takes command at Youngstown Air Reserve Station
Former Northeast Ohio Congressman John Boccieri is the new commander of the 773rd Airlift Squad at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Colonel Boccieri assumed command in a ceremony held Saturday. He tells the Warren Tribune-Chronicle he’ll guide the base through military budget cuts that cost it 130 workers in March.  Boccieri, a Democrat,  lost re-election to Congressman Jim Renacci in 2010 after serving one term. He’s completed four tours in the Middle East. 

Local troops come home
The area has welcomed home nearly 200 Ohio National Guard troops. The members of the 14-84^th Transportation Company returned from the Middle East on Saturday…There was a big celebration at the James A. Rhodes Area at the University of Akron.  The 1484th deployed to Afghanistan last June. 

New charges against Ohio soldier
The Army has added new charges against an Ohio soldier accused of a March shooting rampage in Afghanistan. The new charges against Staff Sergeant Robert Bales include assault and steroid use. Bales now faces 16 counts of premeditated murder among other charges. One count of murder was dropped after the Army learned it counted one of the victims twice. Bales’ lawyer says there’s nothing surprising in the new charges. Bales is accused of walking off a base in Southern Afghanistan with two weapons and into two villages where he killed the villagers and burned their bodies.

Summit County fast-tracking land bank program
The idea has been in the discussion phase for years, but the Beacon Journal reports the county plans to move forward now that Attorney General Mike DeWine has announced that he will hand out $75 million from a national mortgage settlement for demolition grants, and the deadline to apply is June 30.  Summit is eligible for up to $3.78 million. Cuyahoga County established its Land Bank in 2008 --- the idea is to combat blight by using funds to demolish, rehab vacant homes and often expand green spaces. 

Ohio GOP Convention delegation backs Romney
Ohio's delegation to the Republican National Convention has passed a unity resolution in support of Mitt Romney for president.  The State GOP says some two-thirds of the 66 delegates voted unanimously for the unity resolution and to elect Gov. John Kasich as their chairman for the Tampa convention that begins Aug. 27. Ohio party chairman Bob Bennett says the state's delegates are committed to putting differences from the primary campaign behind them to help the former Massachusetts governor in the general election campaign to unseat President Barack Obama.

Ohio colleges could go smoke-free
Ohio’s public colleges and universities may be forced to be entirely smoke free.  The Plain Dealer reports the Ohio Board of Regents heard a plea from Cleveland Clinic Chief Executive Dr. Toby Cosgrove at its meeting last month. Miami University is currently the only public university that outlaws smoking. Officials say no discussions about banning smoking have taken place at Kent State, the University of Akron, or Cleveland State. Regent Vinny Gupta says some college presidents are hesitant to ban smoking on their own because they would lose enrollment to other colleges. The resolution will be introduced at the Regents’ meeting this month.

Toledo to residents: Mow your lawn, or else
Ohio's fourth-largest city plans to issue a citywide warning to residents: mow your lawn or we'll do it for you for a price. Toledo officials say they want to put a notice in newspapers telling residents with out-of-control yards that they must mow their lawns within five days. Those who don't comply may find city crews mowing their grass…They would face at least a $75 fine and have to pay the city back for the mowing costs.