Region to see economic forums (LimaOhio.com, July 18, 2009) Economists and communications professionals are looking to the public for answers about how Northwest and West Central Ohio will emerge from nearly two years of recession.

Editorial: Rx for NE Ohio economy; Follow scripts from Pa (Youngstown Vindicator, July 17, 2009) A recent analysis of economic malaise in the United States finds Northeastern Ohio's economy lagging noticeably behind that of Western Pennsylvania. In its analysis of economic stress - a factor derived from unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosure data - counties in Western Pennsylvania scored significantly better than those in the Mahoning Valley and throughout northeastern Ohio.

Editorial: Ohioans should embrace the promise of Piketon (Youngstown Vindicator, July 15, 2009) The planned development of the nation's largest nuclear reactor in decades in southern Ohio must not be allowed to languish. But long before the $10 billion Piketon nuclear plant would open, the U.S. must ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

Wind energy developers meet with public in Ada (Ada Herald, July 18, 2009) Ever since the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 221 in May of 2008, which requires all utility companies to purchase a portion of their energy from renewable sources, Ohio has been opened up as a new market for wind energy developers.

Ohio job seekers down, but not out (Columbus Dispatch, July 18, 2009) The state of the economy was written all over the faces of the people in the Near East Side jobs agency -- weary yet determined.  Their ranks grew by 33,000 last month as Ohio's unemployment rate climbed to 11.1 percent from 10.8 percent the month earlier.

Editorial: Lawmakers killed funding for the Ohio Urban University Program but the spirit should live on -- Saving its spirit (The Plain Dealer, July 18, 2009)  When lawmakers crafted the state's $51 billion budget, they foolishly cut the funding for a critical research lifeline based at Cleveland State University whose good works ripple throughout the state. Luckily, Dean Ned Hill vows the spirit of the 30-year-old program will live on at CSU's Levin College of Urban Affairs.

School funding mixed in Portage (Revenna Record Courier, July 19, 2009)  City school districts in Portage County come out ahead under a new funding plan included in the state budget. The sprawling Crestwood school district is one of only five districts in Ohio to lose funding, losing an estimated 0.2 percent. 

City's unemployment rate pressures suburban taxpayers (Newark Advocate, July 19, 2009) Fewer than half of Columbus' income taxpayers live outside the city. But those same workers generate more than half of Columbus' income tax revenue.

Ohio can still cash in on slots, experts say (Akron Beacon Journal, July 19, 2009) despite 37 other states having some form of casino gambling, it's not too late for Ohio to reap major financial rewards from the newly approved video slot machines at the state's horse racetracks, gambling experts say.

Ohio legislators seeks ways to support automakers (Toledo Blade, July 20, 2009) Before leaving town for the summer, the Ohio House and Senate established a joint task force to study an industry that directly or indirectly represents about 16 percent of the state's manufacturing activity.

Editorial: Put streetcare project on hold(Cincinnati Enquirer, July 19, 2009) Let's just come out and say it: This is not the time for Cincinnati to be pouring its energy, resources and political capital into a streetcar project. The economy's still a wreck. Unemployment is at double digits in our area - 11.1 percent in Ohio, 10.9 percent in Kentucky - and rising.

Stark State get $1 million to upgrade 'clean room' (Canton Repository, July 20, 2009) The Fuel Cell Prototyping Center at Stark State College of Technology will get $1 million to upgrade its "clean room."

Entrepreneur Norm Johnston wants Ohio to build solar fields to generate jobs(The Plain Dealer, July 20, 2009)  Solar entrepreneur Norm Johnston thinks one of the cures for Ohio's economic malaise is sitting in a grassy field at the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing.

Editorial: Painful Ohio budget leaves few happy (Forbes.com, July 20, 2009) passage of the latest two-year budget - complete with a divisive racetrack slot machine plan, deep cuts to social programs, painful hospital and nursing home fee increases, and heavy use of one-time federal stimulus money - left hardly anyone jumping for joy.