Ohio awaits Medicaid expansion decision
Ohio Gov. John Kasich is just days away from announcing whether he wants to make Medicaid benefits available to more lower-income Ohioans. he choice is a key element of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.  Kasich isn't saying which way he's leaning, but plenty of others are making it clear where they stand.  Organizations that represent a wide number of Ohio's doctors, hospitals and health providers are strongly in favor of expanding Medicaid.  The Ohio Hospital Association says doing so will increase preventive care and reduce costly emergency room visits.  The most vocal opponents of Medicaid expansion are ones concerned about adding to the national debt.  Tea party groups are warning that the costs to Ohio will be greater than predicted.

Is Ohio's 'rainy day' fund overflowing?
Governor Kasich is hinting Ohio’s rainy day fund is filling up, but he’s tight-lipped on details. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the governor will announce a $1 Billion dollar surplus on Monday when he lays out his new two-year state spending plan. The account registered 89 cents when Kasich took office two years ago. The governor has said that he wants to save any surplus for a rainy day and does not want legislators from either party eyeing it for projects.  Democrats in Columbus say they want some of the money to go to schools, local governments and infrastructure projects to make up for “devastating” cuts in state funding in Kasich’s previous budget. 

State of the State speech landing in Lima
The Ohio House votes today on whether to move the 2013 State of the State speech out of the capital for the second year in a row.  Gov. Kasich has asked to give this year's speech in Lima on Feb. 19 at the Veterans Memorial Civic Center.  Kasich became the first governor in modern memory to take the year's big policy speech outside of Columbus when last year he spoke in the Ohio River city of Steubenville.  Some state officials weren't able to attend and others complained of added costs.   Some Democrats complain that extending the practice flouts a longstanding tradition of Statehouse addresses they are bound to uphold.

 
USFL backer buys Akron Rubber Bowl
A Canton investor has purchased the Akron Rubber bowl from the University of Akron.  The announcement was made this morning at the board of Trustees meeting. Sean Mason of Team1 Marketing in Canton plans to use the 72 year-old, 35,000 seat stadium to house an United States Football League team.  The Rubber Bowl has been vacant  since the University of Akron moved games to the on campus InfoCision stadium after the 2008 season.

Fires closes Cleveland's West Side Market 
The cause of the early morning fire at Cleveland’s West Side Market has still not been determined.   The Market is closed today after a small fire last night caused significant smoke damage. Firefighters were on the scene around 2 a.m. and quickly contained the fire that broke out at Sebastian’s Meat.  The Plain Dealer reports the Market could be closed more than a week.

Natural gas prices continue to fall
Customers who buy natural gas from two Ohio providers will pay less in February thanks to high production from shale gas wells and other factors.  The Plain Dealer reports that rates will be lower for customers who buy natural gas through Dominion East Ohio and Columbia Gas of Ohio's standard choice offer.  Beginning today, Columbia's price falls 2.5 percent . On Feb. 13, Dominion's price will fall 3 percent.  The monthly variable rates are linked to the price of natural gas contracts traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.