Parma Heights Mayor Martin Zanotti offers plan to change county government (The Plain Dealer, February 24, 2009) The latest plan, advanced on Monday by Parma Heights Mayor Martin Zanotti, would replace the three commissioners who run the county with an elected executive and a seven-member elected council. The change could be in place by 2011.

Editorial: Ohio sitting on a huge source of new energy (Canton Repository, February 27, 2009) If you believe the increased use of natural gas can play a pivotal role in ensuring both energy reliability and cleaner air in America - and I do - then you'll be interested to know that Ohio rests on the edge of a revolution in energy production.

Government to help with abandoned homes (Ashtabula Star Beacon, February 26, 2009) More than $2 million in federal money to help Geauga and Ashtabula county communities clean up residential eyesores soon could be on its way to the Ashtabula County commissioners.

Editorial: Mallory's street car push (Cincinnati Enquirer, February 27, 2009) If there were any doubts that 2009 is the Year of the Streetcar in Cincinnati politics, Mayor Mark Mallory dispelled them in his State of the City speech Wednesday night at Duke Energy Center.

Toledo job losses translate into $15 million in lost income tax (Toledo Blade, February 28, 2009) Increasing unemployment in Toledo hammered the city's 2008 income tax collections by more than $15 million, which widened the year-end deficit the city was already unable to balance, officials said Friday.

Editorial: Tax deal would hurt Toledo (Toledo Blade, February 27, 2009) As a Toledo resident who works in the city of Oregon, I am very concerned about Mayor Finkbeiner's proposal to eliminate 50 percent of the income tax credit with other cities, not only for my own personal reasons but for what I fear would be the longer term impact of this additional tax burden on Toledo's ability to attract and retain residents, particularly higher-income residents.

Business development, housing density key topics for Granville planners (The Newark Advocate, February 27, 2009) The steering committee crafting a new Granville comprehensive plan discussed revisions Thursday that one member said will bring it more in line with the community's values and the spirit of the current plan.

Editorial: Ohio has to conquer foreclosure epidemic (Dayton Daily News, February 27, 2009) Whether because the number of foreclosures just keeps growing, or because more people are frightened, change is coming with regard to mortgage lending and the foreclosure process.

BGSU backs second center of excellence (Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune, February 28, 2009) Centers of Excellence proposals for Developing Effective Business and Organizations and for 2lst Century Educator Preparation were showcased for Bowling Green State University Trustees Friday morning.
Later Friday BGSU Trustees approved a Center of Excellence for Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan that was presented in December.

How Clevelanders would spend $500 million to improve our region (The Plain Dealer, March 1, 2009) Ideas grand and modest are falling like manna in this time of recession and stimulus. Meanwhile, a local treasure chest is filling. The commissioners boosted the sales tax a smidgen to pay for their medical mart project, whose price has been climbing toward $500 million. They never got around to asking what you might do with that kind of money.

Editorial: Attack of the anomalies (Akron Beacon Journal, March 1, 2009) Surely, the governor and his aides understood that critics would focus on belittling details to challenge the whole. Yet they've appeared ill-prepared on key fronts, jeopardizing the one thing that Ted Strickland must not lose in this debate: his credibility.

Lt. Gov. Fisher could soon get chance to keep pledge (Youngstown Vindicator, March 1, 2009) When Ohio's lieutenant governor, Lee I. Fisher, came to Youngstown earlier this month and pledged that he and Gov. Ted Strickland would do everything in their power to ensure the Mahoning Valley gets its fair share of federal dollars to rehabilitate neighborhoods, we wonder if he knew the administration may soon be put to the test.

Northeast Ohio farms on decline (The Plain Dealer, February 28, 2009) The region ringing Cleveland lost nearly 100,000 acres of farmland between 2002 and 2007, according to the federal government's latest Census of Agriculture. One out of every five acres dedicated to farming slipped into another use between those years.

Ohio budget keeps growing even in bad times (Toledo Blade, March 2, 2009) Dire economic warnings and dramatic midyear budget slashing have become a way of life in Columbus. But through it all, spending continues to go up.

Editorial: Huron looks into good idea for everyone (Sandusky Register, March 1, 2009) The city of Huron faces the same choice every other community across the region faces: How to do more with less. And a study of the city's fire and police departments ordered last year shows ample opportunities to enhance services and reduce costs to taxpayers.

Ohio educators questioning governor's school funding (Newark Advocate, March 1, 2009) Some Ohio educators and lawmakers say Gov. Ted Strickland's new school funding formula could fall far short by underestimating the cost of paying teachers.

Timken Co. to cut up to 400 salaried jobs (Canton Repository, March 2, 2009) The company said it is realigning its organization to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Editorial: Mandate minus money (Akron Beacon Journal, March, 2, 2009) The mayor faces the prospect of covering the cost of $400 million in additional work on the Akron system. There is no assurance of federal money, from the economic stimulus package or anywhere else in the federal budget.

Editorial: Appalachia in focus (Columbus Dispatch, March 2, 2009) The 2005 estimated poverty rate among Ohio's 29 Appalachian counties ranges between 13.3 percent in Washington County and 31.5 percent in Athens County, with most hovering around 20 percent. Ohio's overall poverty rate is 13 percent.