Ohio News Roundup

Selected top news stories around the state:

Kaptur to Lead Fight Against Renewing 'Fast Track' Trade Authority - The Toledo Blade reports that Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) will lead the fight against Bush's request for Congressional renewal of his "fast track authority" to negotiate international trade agreements. Kaptur noted that the U.S. trade deficit has more than doubled (to $800 billion) since Bush took office. "Fast track has facilitated the failed trade policies of the Bush administration," Kaptur said. "In Ohio and heartland states, we know well what fast track means for our constituents: it means lost jobs and lost industries. It means unemployment and a lower standard of living." If the Bush administration were doing a good job negotiating trade agreements, "the United States would not be hemorrhaging jobs and racking up larger and larger trade deficits each succeeding year."

Ney Paid Wife 'Campaign Salary' After Dropping Out - Jonathon Riskind reports in the Columbus Dispatch that Elizabeth Ney, wife of the convicted former Congressman, received her salary from his re-election campaign at least through the end of the year, despite the fact that Ney dropped out of the race on August 7th. She collected about $6,800 during that time.

Hoover Sale Now Official - Jim Mackinnon reports in the Akron Beacon Journal that the sale of North Canton-based Hoover Co. is official as of today. The future of 1,000 jobs in North Canton remains "unresolved" until Hong Kong-based buyer Techtronic finishes evaluating all Hoover facilities.

Foltin Busted - Jennifer Bracken reports in the Lorain Morning Journal that Mayor Craig Foltin (R) got stopped yesterday doing 43 mph in a 25 mph zone on Broadway near 13th Street. "I do a lot of driving around Lorain, I'm on the go, sometimes my energy gets the best of me," said the former Congressional candidate. He'll pay a fine of $140. I can't wait to read the reaction to this news in the excellent Lorain-based Word of Mouth Blog.

Hobson Calls For Diplomacy and Transition Planning for Iraq - Just returned from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and other Democrats, Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) says in an interview with Bob Dart of the Dayton Daily News today that Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki should be held to his statement that Iraqi troops could begin to relieve U.S. combat troops within six months, and U.S. troops should be redeployed on that timetable. "The United States has done its part and is continuing to do its part to bring stability to this region," Hobson said. "Now it's time for other countries in the region, the Iraqi people and NATO countries to step up and fulfill their responsibilities." He also says the trip "convinced him that the United States is lagging in its diplomatic outreach in the region and that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria and Iran need to be engaged in efforts to stabilize Iraq."

Race to Construct Ethanol Plants Underway - John Jarvis reports in the Marion Star that three companies are competing to establish ethanol plants in Marion County. The story is fascinating because it details the planning, tax credits, and government approvals that precede actual construction. It's a high stakes race because the county probably can't produce enough corn to operate all three plants. The project that appears to be ahead of the others will use an estimated 34 million bushels of corn to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol and 300,000 tons of a by-product called "distiller corn" (used for livestock feed) per year. It will also emit about 260,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Chabot and Gillmor Call for Registration of Online Identity of Sex Offenders - Malia Rulon reports in the Cincinnati Enquirer that Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) and Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Dublin) have joined with Democratic lawmakers to co-sponsor a bill that would add online identity (email addresses, IM names, etc.) to other information that sexual predators are required to register with the government. The information would be made available social networking sites like My Space so it can be compared with user profiles.