Romney in Painsville, Obama finalizes Columbus visit
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will speak in Painsville around 3 o’clock this afternoon. The rally at Lake Erie College canceled classes today. Romeny will be in Kirtland Hills outside Cleveland tonight for a private fundraiser organized by business leaders. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has finalized plans for his Monday’s visit to Ohio. He will campaign in Columbus at German Village’s Schillar Park.  Mr. Obama also will be in Cincinnati on Monday. The Romney campaign has confirmed that vice-presidential hopeful Paul Ryan will be in Columbus on Sept. 29 for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s 16th annual “Save Our Heritage” rally.

Ohio corporation wants deeper AEP rate discounts
A large Ohio aluminum manufacturer says it needs even deeper discounts from American Electric Power to avoid layoffs. Ormet Corp., located near Hannibal in eastern Ohio, has benefited from a unique electric-rate subsidy that has reduced its costs by more than $150 million since 2009. It's paid for by all Columbus-based American Electric Power customers. But The Columbus Dispatch reports that the largest employer in the region wants a bigger break from the power company or all 1,000 or so workers could lose their jobs. The company says the plant is suffering because of low aluminum prices and a series of rate increases by the power company. American Electric Power wouldn't address the situation with Ormet beyond a statement saying it would continue to support the company.

Schools no longer required to record BMI
Ohio schools no longer have to gather body-mass index measurements, just two years after a state law required the screenings. The Columbus Dispatch reports that state lawmakers in June decided to make BMI screenings optional. Only some districts complied with the law, and some of those have decided to drop the practice. State Sen. Tim Schaffer, a Lancaster Republican who proposed the change, said the screenings had started to draw educational resources from the schools. The aim of the 2010 law was better health monitoring. It required districts to gather the BMIs of students in kindergarten and first, third, fifth and ninth grades. The screenings were used to let parents know whether their children fell in the underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese range.

Former Cleveland officials: Modell rejected stadium offer
Two former Cleveland politicians say ex-Browns owner Art Modell turned down the city's offer to build a new stadium before he took his team to Baltimore. Former Cleveland City Council President George Forbes tells The Plain Dealer that Modell was offered a new stadium when a taxpayer-supported ballpark was being built for the Indians and an arena was being developed for the NBA's Cavaliers. Forbes and former county commissioner Tim Hagan both say Modell rejected the idea. Modell's longtime spokesman tells The Plain Dealer that public leaders only said they would take care of him later. Modell, who died last week, remains vilified by many Cleveland fans for moving his team to Baltimore after the 1995 season. He said he left because the city wouldn't build a stadium.