WKSU News: Noon news headlines for January 25, 2013

Friday, January 25, 2013 Noon news headlines for January 25, 2013 Mayfield Heights Mayor facing charges; Flu hospitalizations down; Former state rep's mileage reimbursements on hold

Mayfield Heights Mayor facing charges

Flu hospitalizations down

Former state rep's mileage reimbursements on hold

Mayfield Heights Mayor facing charges
Mayfield Heights Mayor Greg Costabile is facing charges today in Franklin County court that he made false statements to the Ohio Ethics Commission.

The news comes after Costabile abruptly resigned last week to spend more time with his family, on the heels of a 2-year ethics investigation.

Mayfield Heights Law Director Leonard Carr says the investigation was tied to the signing bonus from a drilling deal with Seagull Development, which does business with the city.
Another issue was a reported $100,000 deal with a real estate developer.

Carr said the deals themselves were not the problem, just what Costabile did or did not report on his ethics disclosure form.

Costabile served as mayor and safety director for seven years, and will be replaced by Council President Anthony DiCicco.

Flu hospitalizations down
The number of Ohioans being hospitalized due to influenza has leveled off over the past week. That’s the word from the state health department. Spokeswoman Tess Pollock says in week number three of THIS winter's flu season, Ohio has 117 times as many hospitalizations as the same week LAST winter.
While this respiratory form of the flu is hitting Ohio hard this winter, there’s also a different virus attacking people’s digestive tracts.

Former state rep's mileage reimbursements on hold
A former Ohio state lawmaker sought $1,490 in mileage reimbursement from the state while under criminal investigation and not making use of his assigned parking pass in Columbus.
Four-term Dayton Democrat Clayton Luckie was sentenced this week to three years in prison for falsified campaign reports and misspending.
The Dayton Daily News reports that Ohio House officials are withholding mileage payments Luckie requested since July 1 as they determine whether he actually the made associated trips.
The newspaper reported Luckie's assigned parking pass hasn't been used since at least July 1, although he could have parked elsewhere.
Luckie stopped attending legislative sessions in June. He attended one committee meeting in July.

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