Unrepentent Lane curses families
The now 18-year-old who shot three students to death in the Chardon High School cafeteria will spend the rest of his life in prison.

T.J. Lane wore a white T-shirt with the word “killer” scrawled across it into court, and gave a short , largely unintelligible statement that included cursing the victims’ families and lifting his middle finger to them.

Geauga County Judge David Fuhry noted Lane’s lack of remorse in sentencing to him to life in prison without a chance for parole. He also noted the planning that went into the shooting, including stealing the guns Lane used to open fire on Feb. 27, 2012.

“He intentionally dressed the part in the shirt with the killer label prominently printed across the chest. Loaded the gun the night before the shooting, took it together with a spare fully loaded magazine and a knife for backup.  … These juveniles were ambushed. This was not an impulsive course of conduct. It was the studied effort of somebody bent on killing.”

Lane killed 16-year-olds Daniel Parmertor and Demetrius Hewlin and 17-year-old Russell King Jr. He also wounded three other students, paralyzing one of them, Nick Walczak. Against the advice of his lawyers, Lane pleaded guilty to all the charges last month.

JobsOhio reluctantly turns over financial records
JobsOhio’s has agreed to comply with the state auditor’s subpoena for all of the agency’s financial records. But neither the public-private entity -- nor Gov. Kasich, who created it -- are happy about that. The governor’s office maintains that some of the records are private, and therefore not subject to the auditor’s subpoena. JobsOhio was created with a boost from public money and private donations, and will operate through a complicated deal funded by state liquor profits.

Cordray nomination inches ahead
On a 12-10 party-line vote, Richard Cordray has won the support of the Senate Banking Committee for his nomination as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But Ohio’s former attorney general still faces a challenge in the full Senate. Last year, Republicans blocked Cordray’s nomination because they question how the agency is structured, and they’re expected to try to do that again.

Thistledown prepares to reopen
Rock Ohio Caesars plans to open the retrofitted ThistleDown Racino on April 9 – if state regulators give their OK. The 90-year-old racetrack has undergone an $88 million renovation, including the installation of video slot machines. It’s now jointly owned by Rock Gaming and Ceasars Entertainment.  Rock Ohio also owns the casino that opened last year in downtown Cleveland.