Man retires after decades in Ohio natural resources agency

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A naturalist who worked in Ohio’s natural resource department for more than three decades has retired.

The Columbus Dispatch reports Jim McCormac served as a botanist and a public outreach specialist for the Department of Natural Resources. He was the first president of the state’s Ornithological Society and helped create a yearly festival dedicated to moths.

McCormac has written six books and given numerous talks and tours on natural scenery.

McCormac, who writes a biweekly nature column for the newspaper and has a blog about Ohio’s plants and animals, says his retirement doesn’t mean he’s leaving his careers behind.

He has several more books he wants to write and wants to begin his blog posts during the day instead of at night.

Cleveland asks Ohio lawmakers to block minimum wage hike

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland city leaders want Ohio lawmakers to block a ballot initiative that would allow a phase-in of a $15-an-hour minimum wage only in Cleveland.

The proposal to phase in a higher minimum wage in Cleveland is slated to be on the ballot in May.

Cleveland officials say such a move would hurt the city’s economic recovery.

Ohio Senate President Keith Faber says he doesn’t think state lawmakers will need to take up the issue.

Cleveland.com reports that Faber expects that an advisory opinion from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will take care of the issue.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger says there have been talks about addressing Cleveland’s minimum wage concerns before the end of the year.

University to offer class on Trump, victory in 2016 election

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Donald Trump is a businessman, celebrity, the next president of America— and now the topic of a new class being offered at a northeast Ohio university.

Professor Matthew Akers, director of government relations at the University of Akron, has created a course called “Trump’s Triumph.”

The university says it’ll focus on the Republican president-elect and his success in the 2016 election.

Akers says the course will delve into how Trump garnered support. It will also examine his policies and why pollsters got the election wrong.

The course will be offered in the spring semester. It will be open to graduate and undergraduate students in any major.

Kent State University is offering a course on Trump’s Democratic opponent, titled “Hillary Clinton Case Study: Perspectives on Gender and Power.”