Ohio gov., education secretary push for changes (Dayton Daily News, May 8, 2009) Gov. Ted Strickland enlisted the help of the nation's top education official in his continued push to overhaul Ohio's public education curriculum and funding system in a rally at Ohio State University on Friday.

Poll: Ohioans reject more taxes for education (Springfield Sun News, May 5, 2009) An overwhelming majority of Ohioans - 88 percent - believe it's important to "even out" education funding between school districts, but 55 percent are not willing to pay more in taxes to make funding equal, according to a poll released recently.

Ohioans predict gloomy futures (Akron Beacon Journal, May 6, 2009) The deepening recession is undermining Ohioans' faith in the heart of the American Dream - the belief that each generation climbs higher on the economic ladder.

United Way agencies up in arms over Strickland's amendment (Akron Beacon Journal, May 7, 2009) United Way of Summit County and others are not happy with Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to create nonprofit entities within state government, formed and run by taxpayer-paid employees, to solicit contributions from companies and individuals.

Editorial: Planned Baard Project will energize our economy (Salem News, May 6, 2009) Being in the northernmost part of Columbiana County and straddling Mahoning County, it's almost human nature for many of us in Salem and immediate areas to overlook anything going on in the southern reaches of our county. We usually don't have a reason to pay much attention to what is going on down there.

Many people and agencies studying alternative energy in Ohio (Galion Inquirer, May 8, 2009) Who is involved in alternative energy in Ohio? Actually, the state's Department of Development, the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, and the Farm Bureau are working together to promote alternative energy development across Ohio.

Turbine talk much more than hot air (Ashtabula Star Beacon, May 8, 2009) Last year's hot development topic in Conneaut - wind turbines - is starting to stir again, officials said

In Toledo, downturn empties offices (Washington Post, May 9, 2009) In this corner of Ohio, the workforce is contracting at an alarming speed, with unemployment climbing to rates more typical of counties in Appalachia. In March, unemployment in Toledo reached 12.6 percent, an increase of more than 50 percent over March 2008.

Editorial: A wish-it-weren't-so list for Ohio (The Plain Dealer, May 10, 2009) Six months early, here's an Ohio taxpayer's letter-in-reverse to Santa -- things Ohio doesn't need, and should change.

Editorial: Slavic Village is battling back against the foreclosure crisis (The Plain Dealer, May 10, 2009) Cleveland and other cities can't control the national and international forces that wreak havoc and create financial crises, any more than they can control hurricanes or tornadoes. But we can manage the effects. As we have done in the foreclosure crisis, we can join a swift crisis response with short-term solutions and visionary tactics that chart a sound course for the future.

Business survey spotlight criticisms of city (Middletown Journal, May 10, 2009) Comments from a number of questions in a survey that was recently conducted of businesses in the city of Middletown were neutral overall, but some included criticisms of the community.

Editorial: Taxing a growing energy industry does not make sense (Newark Advocate, May 11, 2009) One principle of public policy is the less you tax something, the more you have of it. For example, if government were to want an industry to invest, innovate and grow, it typically would lower taxes for those activities carried about by those industries.

Choose Ohio First scholarship program lags a bit (Columbus Dispatch, May 11, 2009) Ohio colleges have attracted fewer than half of the new science and technology students that they had hoped for under a $100 million state scholarship program because of funding delays and marketing challenges.

5 hopefuls for every 1 Cincinnati job opening (Cincinnati Business Courier, May 11, 2009) The numbers show that job seekers outnumber online help-wanted postings by a nearly 5-to-1 ratio as of March. The disparity is larger in Cincinnati than in Columbus and Cleveland. It's higher than the national average.

Vadalia competing for possible 830 jobs (Dayton Daily News, May 11, 2009) The city remains in competition to attract two companies, an operator of a distribution center that could employ 700 people and an aerospace company that could employ 130 people.