Strongsville teachers strike enters third day
Strongsville school officials say they are getting a better handle on classrooms as a teachers’ strike enters day three.  Picketers were out at all 11 of the district’s schools on Tuesday, with police directing traffic. Superintendent John Krupinski tells the Plain Dealer the district had close to 180 substitute teachers in schools Tuesday, up from 140 on Monday. It’s still far less than 385 teachers, nurses, psychologists and counselors on strike. There no new negotiations planned. The teachers and the school board have said they are waiting for the federal mediator handling the case to call a new session after talks broke down over the weekend.

Catholic priest excommunicated after starting breakaway parish
A Catholic priest who started a breakaway church in Downtown Cleveland has been excommunicated. The Plain Dealer reports Cleveland Catholic Diocese Bishop Richard Lennon excommunicated the Rev. Robert Marrone after violating a leave of absence and refusing to abandon the Community of St. Peter. Marrone and his congregation broke away after the diocese closed St. Peter’s and dozens of others in a downsizing plan. The excommunication does not mean that Marrone is kicked out of the church…rather the diocese says it’s a way to let a person know that they’ve done something that harms the church and their relationship with God. St. Peter’s was among about a dozen churches that reopened last year after appealing to the Vatican, but Marrone was not placed back at the helm.

Ohio continues to ask for flexibility on Medicaid expansion
Ohio officials say they are continuing to press the federal government for flexibility on how to implement Medicaid expansion under President Barack Obama's health care law. Greg Moody, director of the governor's Office of Health Transformation, says he's encouraged by the discussions with the Obama administration but it's too soon to say the state has worked out what he would call a "final agreement." One of the ideas Republican Gov. John Kasich has discussed is whether those Ohioans newly eligible for Medicaid under the expansion could instead get private coverage subsidized by Washington. Those low-income individuals would then purchase insurance in the new health insurance market known as the exchange. Kasich announced his plans to expand Medicaid coverage in his state budget proposal, which still needs legislative approval.

Sweepstakes café owners, employees fighting proposed regulations
Ohio Internet cafe owners and employees are fighting legislation they say would effectively put the operations out of business. Supporters packed a Statehouse hearing room Tuesday to register opposition to a proposal to impose new regulations on more than 820 storefront sweepstakes operations doing business in Ohio. A Columbus Dispatch investigation found most Internet cafes filed incomplete state paperwork and most operators who can be identified have spotty financial backgrounds or criminal histories. Ralph Rosenberger, the operator of three cafes near Cleveland, said his stores are safe and lawful.

Execution set for man who killed adult bookstore owner
Ohio prison officials are preparing to execute a man who fatally shot a Northeast Ohio adult bookstore security guard during a crime rampage in 1994. Frederick Treesh has never denied the shooting, although he claimed the gun went off in a struggle and blamed a cocaine addiction for his crimes. Treesh was sentenced to die for the shooting death of Henry Dupree during a robbery at Vine Street News in Eastlake. The state parole board voted against sparing Treesh, and Gov. John Kasich denied his request for mercy. His execution is scheduled for 10 a.m..

Former City of Cleveland employee indicted for bribery
A federal grand jury has indicted a former city of Cleveland employee on bribery charges. 29-year-old LeJon Woods is accused of attempting to extort $7,000 in bribes from three companies facing fines for not complying with city minority-hiring contract requirements. Woods, a contract compliance officer, resigned Friday. A spokeswoman for Mayor Frank Jackson said Cleveland police became aware of possible criminal activity in June 2010 and notified the FBI.

Cuyahoga County handing out heroin antidote kits
Cuyahoga County is so concerned about a recent spate of heroin overdoses that it's taking steps to get free antidote kits into the hands of users. The Plain Dealer reports the number of heroin-related deaths in the county rose by more than 50 percent last year and five people died last weekend. Now users can go to the Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland on Fridays and receive a free kit that contains a nasal inhalant that reverses an overdose. It's part of a project announced Tuesday by the county and MetroHealth Medical Center.

Attorney removed from JobsOhio suit wants to argue case by herself
An attorney stripped of her leading role in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Kasich's private job-creation agency is asking Ohio's high court to let her argue the case against JobsOhio by herself. ProgressOhio's attorney, Victoria Ullmann, tells the Ohio Supreme Court that the liberal think tank formed a suspicious alliance with another group possibly designed to undermine the lawsuit's chances. Ullmann argues the libertarian 1851 Center for Constitutional Law has nothing in common with ProgressOhio, yet it is assigned to argue the case in her place. ProgressOhio's director says he asked the center to argue the case to emphasize it isn't partisan.