Property value appeals hit record in Summit (Akron Beacon Journal, March 21, 2009)More than 1,100 property owners have appealed their values to the board, which hears formal complaints, then determines whether the value should go up, down or stay the same.

Editorial: Cushion the blow (Akron Beacon Journal, March 19, 2009) The governor's school-funding plan asks much of poorer districts. Why not do more to help them weather the early transition?

County raising its voice in regional development (Springfield News Sun, March 22, 2009) Local leaders advocate for funding of major Clark County projects as the County is slowly finding its voice within a regional process that recommends area projects for congressional appropriations.

Ohio passenger rail chugs ahead (Cincinnati Enquirer, March 19, 2009) Proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland and previously approved by the Ohio House, the state wants to renovate freight routes among Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland so that they can be used by passenger trains for the first time since 1971.

Ohio 8 Coalition backs Strickland's plan to reform education (Canton Repository, March 22, 2009) The Ohio 8 Coalition, an alliance of superintendents and teacher union presidents from Ohio's eight big-city school districts, announced support for Governor Ted Strickland's education reform and funding plan.

Editorial: Regulatory reform key to economic future (Chillicothe Gazette, March 19, 2009) One of the biggest criticisms of Ohio is its regulatory climate. Many businesses are forced to pay exorbitant and unnecessary fees, report difficulty getting information from state agencies and describe time-consuming and bureaucratic steps they must take in order to operate in the state.

Lawmakers stress need to stay positive (Ashtabula Star Beacon, March 22, 2009) The economy is on the mind of the nation and area legislators who are grappling with ways to turn an ailing economy around.

Redistricting proposals abound in Ohio (The Plain Dealer, March 23, 2009) Ambitious politicians offer ideas. Politicians with an eye on higher office are energizing the debate over how the state draws legislative boundaries, long manipulated by the party that controls Columbus.

Entrepreneurial fund considers future (Akron Beacon Journal, March 22, 2009) The Fund for Our Economic Future has spent the past five years affecting the path of Northeast Ohio's economy, laying a trail of money for groups willing to follow specific directives. But this year, members of the fund are also busy contemplating their own future, and wondering how much financial incentive they'll have to spread around next year.

Small shops slump, soar in region's downtowns (Columbus Dispatch, March 23, 2009) Turnover, not uncommon on small-town Main Streets across Ohio, always increases when the economy slows, said Jeff Siegler, director of revitalization for Heritage Ohio, a preservation group.

Editorial: The time is ripe for rail in Ohio (The Plain Dealer, March 23, 2009) When it comes to passenger rail, the partisans have been able to put aside sizable philosophical differences over whether taxpayer subsidies should be used at all to allow the state to go after $250 million in no-match-required federal stimulus money.

Economic slump hurting family life (Dayton Daily News, March 23, 2009) Local counselors say they're seeing more families and couples under stress during the current economic slump, many of whom are seeking help for the first time.

Calculation of jobless rate for Toledo area masks scope of crisis (Toledo Blade, March 22, 2009) If all those who can't find jobs or are underemployed were counted, the latest jobless rate for Lucas County could be 24 percent and for Toledo 26 percent, instead of the 13.3 percent and 14.3 percent figures for January reported by state officials.

Editorial: Economic woes not new to Youngstown (Youngstown Vindicator, March 20, 2009) When discussing the troubled economy and its impact on government operations, Williams said Youngstown is used to dealing with money problems.

Area jobless rate at 25-year peak (Mansfield News Journal, March 23, 2009) Ohio's labor market continues to weaken as unemployment reached a 25-year high, according to data released from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The pain is especially being felt in north central Ohio. In January, Crawford County was 10th in the state for unemployment, at 15 percent.

Region sees upswing in unemployment (Columbus Dispatch, March 21, 2009) There once was a time when central Ohio seemed immune from rising unemployment rates, which hit a nearly 25-year high in the state last month.  Those days are over, according to new state jobless statistics, which indicate that more and more central Ohio workers are feeling the pinch of the ongoing recession.