LaTourette retiring from Congress
Nine-term Republican lawmaker Steven LaTourette has decided not to seek re-election. Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett says that LaTourette has told him that he won't be a candidate in November. Bennett wouldn't comment on LaTourette's reasons for retiring. LaTourette has scheduled a news conference this morning at his district office in Painesville. The Washington Post reports that LaTourette decided to retire over a dispute with leadership on committee assignments. LaTourette was elected to Congress during the GOP wave in 1994 when the party seized control of the House after decades in the minority. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Dimora Sentencing hearing continues today
Prosecutors have asked for more than 22 years in prison for ex-Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora. Attorneys for the 57-year-old Dimora, a former Democratic Party chairman in Cleveland, have asked for leniency because of his poor health and similar corruption cases that brought sentences of just a few years. The hearing went all day yesterday for Dimora, who was convicted of racketeering, bribery and other counts. His trial capped an investigation that led to more than 50 convictions involving county officials, employees and contractors who traded bribes for government jobs and contracts. The investigation helped fuel a referendum that replaced the three-commissioner county government in Cleveland with a county executive and elected council.

Kent State threat suspect barred from campus
A Kent State sophomore has been ordered to stay away from the university and its president. The order from a Portage county judge came after the school says 19 year-old William Koberna posted a message on Twitter saying he would be "shooting up" the campus. University officials noticed the profanity-laced July 25 tweet and contacted police. It is no longer available. They say it also identified Kent State University President Lester Lefton.

Liberals, Libertarians team up against JobsOhio
A liberal policy group fighting Governor John Kasich's new private job-creation board, JobsOhio, is getting the backing of an unusual ally. The libertarian 1851 Center for Constitutional Law filed a supporting brief yesterday in the lawsuit brought by liberal ProgressOhio and two Democratic state lawmakers. The suit challenges the constitutionality of turning public money over to a private entity. Earlier this month, the 10th District Court of Appeals in Columbus upheld a judge's decision to dismiss the challenge on grounds opponents didn't have legal standing. ProgressOhio on Friday appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court. The law center's Maurice Thompson denying taxpayers the standing to sue government is dangerous and increasingly common. The high court establishing standing would allow the case to go forward.

Gun purchases trending up
Ohioans didn't need news of the latest gun-related tragedy in Colorado to decide to buy a gun or get a concealed weapons permit. The Columbus Dispatch reports that gun purchases in Ohio have been trending up for years, despite the decrease in violent and property crime. FBI background checks for gun purchases in Ohio increased by 19 percent last year over 2010. Ohio ranks seventh in the US in the number of gun related FBI background checks.

Expert: Nearly $100 billion needed to fix roads
The United States needs to spend nearly $100 billion to bring its roads up to standard, according to a prominent engineering group. The Plain Dealer reports the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Ohio’s roads and public transit system a grade of “D” in 2010. That’s slightly better than the D-minus average for roads across the country and a D for national transit. The engineering society told a group of community leaders Monday in Cleveland that money needs to be spent to improve infrastructure to avoid drops in standard of living and business productivity.

Lawmakers opposing Taylor’s health exchange plan
This summer’s Supreme Court decision upholding the affordable healthcare act has prompted some states to set up health exchanges as part of the law.  Ohio is not one of them. And two more state legislature candidates added their names those who oppose Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor’s plan to not set up a state-run health care exchange. Incumbent Republican Cheryl Grossman of Grove City and her Democratic challenger Traci Johnson both told the Columbus Dispatch that a state-run exchange would be preferable to using a federal exchange. But Taylor says the federal exchange would be cheaper.   The Governor estimates that an exchange would cost around 40 million dollars. Grossman and Johnson join Democratic Rep. John Patrick Carney of Clintonville and his opponent in opposing Taylor’s plan.

Youngstown Army sergeant cleared of homicide charges
A military jury in North Carolina has found an Army sergeant from Youngstown not guilty of negligent homicide in the suicide death of a comrade in Afghanistan. Adam Holcomb was the first of eight soldiers to be court-martialed for the alleged racial hazing of Danny Chen, who killed himself last October.

Olympic Update
Westlake rower Margot Shumway qualified for the finals in the Women’s Double Sculls competition this morning. She and her partner Sarah Trowbridge finished second in a last-chance qualifying race to get the last spot in the medal round. They’ll row for gold Friday. Akron’s LeBron James and Team USA Basketball take on Tunisia today. Cavs center Anderson Varejao and Brazil play Great Britain this morning.