Recession will last longest in Midwest, including Ohio, two reports show(The Plain Dealer, June 17, 2009) The recession has hit hardest and will last the longest in manufacturing-heavy areas of the Midwest, including Ohio and Cleveland, two new snapshots of the nation's economy show.

Same ol' rap: Valley economy ranks low on list (Youngstown Vindicator, June 16, 2009) The Mahoning Valley will shrug off any bad vibes that are created by a second consecutive study that ranks its economy as among the worst in the nation, local officials say.

New call center could bring 1,500 jobs to Akron (Akron Beacon Journal, June 17, 2009) As many as 1,500 new jobs could result from the opening of a new call center in the old Firestone Bank building on Akron's South Main Street.

Editorial: Exit Ohio (Akron Beacon Journal, June 17, 2009) In our highly advanced national economy, states vie with each other not only for jobs but also for workers with the talent and skill to drive local economies. The competition is keen to develop and retain a prepared and flexible work force.

City's economic state ranks high (Columbus Dispatch, June 17, 2009) Columbus fared better than any other Ohio city and most others in the Midwest in a ranking based on economic vitality, but the city was still stuck in the middle of the pack nationally.

Editorial: An advertisement for corruption (Cincinnati Enquirer, June 18, 2009) Public officials should have only one set of customers - the public they were elected to serve. But Amended Substitute Ohio House Bill 1, the state budget bill passed by the Senate, would make legislators beholden to a new set of interests, advertisers who buy space on county Web sites.

Ohio's urban areas decline in 2009 (Akron Beacon Journal, June 18, 2009) Four of Ohio's metro areas - including Akron - were among the 20 ''second-weakest'' performers nationwide. Toledo and Youngstown were in the bottom 20.

Bill could help employers go green (Record Herald, June 18, 2009) Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced a bill that would help auto suppliers and other manufacturers "go green" and create more clean energy jobs.

North Royalton looks at wind turbine regulations (Sun News, June 19, 2009) Wind power may be more difficult to calculate and justify than installing residential solar energy systems when it comes to getting state grants

Ohio unemployment rises to 10.8% in May(The Plain Dealer, June 19, 2009) Ohio's unemployment rate was 10.8 percent in May, the second straight month of double-digit jobless rates and the beginning of what experts project is a trend that should last for at least another year.

Residency ruling: Will economy keep workers where they are? (Dayton Daily News, June 20, 2009) I drive slowly through my old Dayton View Triangle neighborhood, checking for any tangible evidence of the End of the Residency Rule.

Editorial: It's short sighted to slash early care, education programs (Toledo Blade, June 20, 2009) As state legislators work in conference committee to hammer out the many differences among the budgets proposed by the governor, House, and Senate, the fate of many of Lucas County's youngest children hangs in the balance.

Strickland drops stand against slots (Toledo Blade, June 20, 2009) Gov. Ted Strickland reversed course and embraced a proposal to bring slot machines to Ohio without a vote of the people in order to prevent even more drastic budget cuts to vital services.

Editorial: Ohio justices' home-rule decision shows that politics really rules (The Plain Dealer, June 21, 2009) Don't waste time searching for high and mighty principles in the court's 5-2 ruling, or listening for customary GOP clichs about the "will of the people" or, "activist judges" and "legislating from the bench." The Republican court has so little respect for Cleveland voters that it overturned a residency rule that Clevelanders voted for.

Editorial: Ohio must convince grads to stay (Dayton Daily News, June 21, 2009) There's been a lot of talk about what industries hold the key to Ohio's future. As traditional manufacturing continues its long painful slide in the state, there are plenty of opinions about where Ohio should cast for its future.

County Port Authority wants to us biomass at Plant C (Ashtabula Star Beacon, June 21, 2009) The authority wants to revive 100 megawatts of the plant's power-generating capability and sell that power to industrial customers at a lower rate than existing utilities offer.