The state recently said one in eight Ohioans works in manufacturing, ranking Ohio third in the nation in those jobs. But Ohio lost more manufacturing jobs in the last few decades than nearly every other state. And while there’s been a recovery, the state is still feeling the loss of those well-paying, stable jobs – especially in small towns that are still struggling to climb out of the void created by the exodus of steel mills and other manufacturers. Earlier this summer, Statehouse correspondent Jo Ingles took a look at one of those.
Now that the weather has turned colder, people with natural allergies to outdoor irritants such as dust and pollen are getting some relief. But there’s also a slew of other, unnatural particles that can also make it harder to breathe. Statehouse correspondent Andy Chow has been looking into the connection between health and home.
The Ohio Supreme Court this summer sided with cities and struck down state requirements that a police officer be posted with each traffic camera and that cities conduct traffic studies and awareness campaigns before turning on cameras. And some communities such as Linndale and Newburgh Heights near Cleveland, Brice near Columbus and New Miami near Cincinnati have restarted their camera programs, and so have larger cities such as Youngstown and Dayton. But there are at least five bills pending in the House dealing with red light and speed cameras - four are from Republican Rep. Tom Patton of Strongsville. They would ban any municipality from getting more than 30% of its revenue from traffic camera tickets, would limit tickets to no more than two per resident, and outlaw cameras in towns with fewer than 200 people. Another bill from Democratic Rep. Hearcel Craig of Columbus would cap fines that can be levied in communities without mayors’ courts. In May they talked about them.