Ohio democrats outline priorities for job creation (Akron Beacon Journal, February 10, 2009) Democrats who control the Ohio House said Monday they want to create jobs by requiring that public buildings meet energy-efficiency standards. They also want to address distressed mortgages by forcing lenders to give homeowners more notice before they foreclose.

Governor Ted Strickland see devastation if aid evaporates (Toledo Blade, February 10, 2009) With a revised federal economic stimulus package threatening to create a nearly $1 billion hole in his proposed budget, Gov. Ted Strickland warned Monday that he could be forced to close two adult prisons and juvenile facilities and cut off mental health treatment and other services to tens of thousands of Ohioans.

Editorial: The devil's in the details: Part II (Chillicothe Gazette, February 11, 2009) The school funding printout that lists the impact of the governor's budget proposal on all of Ohio's school districts indicates that of the 37 school districts in the 17th Senate District, 18 districts would have their state funding cut, and three others would receive no increase.

Youngstown business incubator a bright spot in the region (WCPN.org, February 13, 2009) Would you believe that there's a block in Youngstown, Ohio that's beginning to look a lot like a tiny Silicon Valley? It's the result of the Youngstown Business Incubator, which is helping grow tech companies in an unlikely place.

Superintendents optimistic about funding plan (Mansfield News-Journal, February 13, 2009) According to the plan, which has not been finalized, state funding levels for Mansfield, Madison, Shelby, Ontario and Plymouth-Shiloh schools would see an average 10 percent increase during the next two years.

Editorial: Balking at chickens bad move by suburb (Columbus Dispatch, February 13, 2009)  Worthington began as an example of sustainability; its pioneer residents lived off the land. Now, most of us would die of starvation without Kroger and all the rest. The nationwide movement has spread because the principles appear pragmatic as we peer into a future of likely shortages of fuel and, possibly, food.

Statehouse next place for stimulus fight (Cincinnati Enquirer, February 13, 2009) The bill, a compromise between measures passed by the House and Senate, is expected to create or save 3.5 million jobs nationwide, including 133,000 in Ohio and 48,000 in Kentucky, according to administration estimates.

Editorial School reform:Cost isn't biggest issue (Canton Repository, February 16, 2009) Getting state legislators, and the Ohioans they represent, to stop focusing on money long enough to look at the bigger picture and the most basic question. That question is: Will these reforms benefit students?

Editorial: Education Transformation (The Suburbanite, February 16, 2009) Could Ohio be on the verge of a transformation of its entire public education system?

Web site attempts to retain graduates(Akron Beacon Journal, February 16, 2009) Today, Cleveland Plus Marketing Alliance launches PlusCollege.com aimed at 180,000 students attending 25 institutions.

They're at it again (Dayton Daily News, February 15, 2009) After naming Dayton one of America's fastest dying cities last year, Forbes.com has included Dayton on its list of the five emptiest cities in the country.

City works to lessen pain from job losses (Youngstown Vindicator, February 16, 2009) Hit by massive job losses, residents hope to soften the blow of hard economic times by buying from local stores, weatherizing their homes and growing their own tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables.

Study says Great Lakes don't have enough water to satisfy growing North American thirst (The Plain Dealer, February 16, 2009) A review of one-page study in Science, provided to The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com by Ohio researcher Craig E. Williamson, says that "although they make up a small percentage of Earth's surface, lakes and reservoirs act as sentinels by providing signals that reflect the influence of climate change" on a broader scale.

Strickland's budget faces $600 million shortfall (Dayton Daily News, February 16, 2009) Gov. Ted Strickland's proposed $54.7 billion state operating budget may be $600 million in the hole even before the spending plan is formally introduced.