Editorial: Voice for Cities (Akron Beacon Journal, March 12, 2009) Eric Fingerhut has made many sound choices for higher education. One is not the proposed axing of the Ohio Urban University Program and it should receive the attention of lawmakers.

Unemployed first to get aid (Cincinnati Enquirer, March 15, 2009) The first wave of funding will help extend and expand social service benefits, most notably unemployment insurance and food stamps. Already cash is landing in the wallets of the ever-growing numbers of unemployed workers, who have no other choice than to spend it.

When helping hurts (Youngstown Vindicator, March 13, 2009) "These are hard times in Mahoning County and across the nation," she said. "There are many more people in the lobby than we've had in the past. Here in Mahoning County I think that they've suffered before; this is not a new thing. Mahoning has had some difficult times with job losses in the past, and this is becoming more severe now."

Bad economy could help casino plan (Dayton Daily News, March 14, 2009) The new four-casino plan is being pitched by Penn National Gaming, Inc. of Wyomissing, Pa., which operates the Argosy in Lawrenceburg; and Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and founder of Quicken Loans. The big carrot? Jobs and tax revenue.

General aviation in a stall, jeopardizing thousands of jobs in Ohio (The Plain Dealer, March 14, 2009) Ohio - with deep roots in aviation, studded with more airports than almost anywhere in the country - is being swept into the decline.

Lakemore, Springfield study merging (Akron Beacon Journal, March 15, 2009) Lakemore police might soon disappear. Village officials are considering a proposal to contract with Springfield Township for police service beginning as early as May.  The move is an effort to save the village between $300,000 and $400,000 a year, Mayor Mike Kolomichuk said.

Ohio communities cinch up financial belts (Newark Advocate, March 15, 2009) A city court won't accept new cases because it's out of paper and has no money to reorder. Elsewhere, more firefighters are accepting wage decreases to save their jobs, and administrators at another state university are freezing their pay. Public entities around Ohio are hoping gestures like these will protect them from bigger problems caused by the recession.

Huron County worst-off in state with 1 in 6 unemployed (The Plain Dealer, March 16, 2009) Nowhere in Ohio is the jobless rate worse than in Huron County: a staggering 18.3 percent in January. That translates to 5,600 people and is more than double the state average of 8.8 percent.

Lucas County facing funding dip with drop in property values (Toledo Blade, March 15, 2009) The auditor's office is analyzing housing sales prices for Lucas County to develop new values, and will send letters to property owners in May, June, and July.

Editorial: NE Ohio leaders are embracing regionalism (The Plain Dealer, March 15, 2009) As we all closely follow the consequences of the global economic downturn, I am reassured by an underlying belief: This time things will be different as we come out of this recession! Yes, we are hurting now and we have been hurt before, but this time Northeast Ohio will be ready to take advantage of this economic crisis. This time will be different because there are Northeast Ohio leaders who refuse to sit back and do nothing during this time of economic crisis.

Mayor hold firm on Marina District plan for East Toledo (Toledo Blade, March 16, 2009) Despite Toledo's mounting deficit and skyrocketing jobless rate, plus the declining retail market nationwide, city leaders refuse to give up on their most heralded and longest-awaited project: a mix of restaurant, retail, and residential development at the planned Marina District on the east side.

U of Dayton says tourney means $5 million to area (Forbes.com, March 16, 2009) The University of Dayton estimates that playing host to the NCAA basketball tournament will pump $5 million into the Dayton-area economy.

Foreclosure crisis hurts local market (Mansfield News-Journal, March 16, 2009) Home sales continued their downward trend in Ohio and across the nation last month, as worries about job losses amid the recession kept potential buyers out of the market.

Bucking the trend (Columbus Dispatch, March 16, 2009) Developer doesn't shy away from putting up more condos, townhomes  When most condominium buyers have quickly fled to the sidelines, developer Jeff Edwards is pondering an important question. Should I build more townhomes or one-bedroom condos next? Edwards Cos.' Neighborhood Launch project, which covers several city blocks east of the intersection of 4th and Gay streets, is one of the exceptions to the recent condo downturn. The neighborhood aspect of the project -- Downtown condos you don't need an elevator to reach -- is a major selling point.

Gee says Ohio at turning point in history (The Daily Record, March 13, 2009) The only thing missing was the O-H-I-O chant as Gee motivated business, government and community leaders to seize the opportunities before them made possible through the collaboration of the private and public sectors and scientists and entrepreneurs.