Gas prices fall again, giving Ohio some of nation’s lowest
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio has some of the lowest gas prices in the country to the start the week.
The state average price for a gallon of regular gas was about $1.98 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s 12 cents cheaper than a week ago and about 8 cents cheaper than at this time last year.
The Ohio number is also notably lower than the national average, which was about $2.17 Monday. That dropped a few cents from last week and is a penny shy of the national average from a year ago.
Average prices for retail fuel on Monday were lower than Ohio’s number in only a handful of states.
Body on fire near Ohio church prompts homicide investigation
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Police say a body found on fire near an Ohio church is believed to be that of a man in his 60s.
The body was found ablaze Saturday night in downtown Zanesville. The Zanesville Times Recorder reports police are investigating the death as a homicide. Police Capt. Doug Merry says some officers thought they recognized the body as being a homeless man from the area.
The Columbus Dispatch reports a passerby spotted the fire, discovered it was a burning body and called police shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Police released no information about whether there were any other injuries to the body other than burns. An autopsy was planned.
Freight trains passing through Middletown at increased speed
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) — Freight trains passing through a southwest Ohio city are now traveling at speeds up to 15 mph faster under new regulations from Norfolk Southern railroad.
Norfolk Southern notified officials in Middletown earlier this month that it was raising speeds on its main line from 25 to 40 mph effective Nov. 8.
Six rail crossings are affected by the increase: Manchester Road, Wildwood Road, Manchester Avenue, Central Avenue, First Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue.
Railroad spokesman David Pidgeon says 18 to 22 trains travel through Middletown daily. The line connects Cincinnati to Dayton and Columbus.
Pidgeon says speed limit increases are based on rail conditions, and tracks throughout the city are rated for 40 mph by trains.
Of the six crossings, five have a history of fatalities or injuries since 1975.
Ministers seek sit-down regarding ex-officer’s mistrial
CINCINNATI (AP) — A new coalition of church ministers representing Cincinnati’s black community is seeking a sit-down with Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters regarding the trial of Ray Tensing.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the group of 40 clergymen hope to meet with Deters Monday morning to discuss the entire process surrounding the trial of Tensing on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges.
A mistrial was declared after jurors deadlocked in the racially charged trial of the former University of Cincinnati Police officer. Tensing, who is white, was charged in the fatal shooting of Sam DuBose during a traffic stop on July 19, 2015.
The ministerial group — which represents several denominations — is looking to discuss what went into determining charges against Tensing, selecting the jury and how the mistrial was reached.
EPA to begin cleanup of Dayton-area park in spring 2017
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — The federal Environmental Protection Agency plans to launch its $3.1 million cleanup of a lead-contaminated park near Dayton next spring.
Tree removal at the park is expected to begin this year and soil remediation won’t get underway at the 7.5-acre site in the spring of 2017.
The park has been closed since last spring after the Ohio EPA detected high levels of lead in its soil. Some tests found nearly 60 times the acceptable amount.
EPA officials say the agency is thinking of starting the removal of more than 6,700 tons of contaminated soil in March or April of next year.
The process will involve roughly 600 heavy-duty trucks at the former home to a shooting range.
The park is jointly owned by Miami Township and Montgomery County.
World Series a grand slam for Cleveland entrepreneurs
CLEVELAND (AP) — This year’s baseball playoffs turned out to be a big hit for Cleveland even though the Indians came up a game short of the World Series title.
Downtown hotels and other businesses were packed during the team’s playoff run and the World Series brought an overflow of Chicago Cubs fans into the city.
While there aren’t any surveys on the economic impact, the head of Cleveland’s visitors bureau says it wouldn’t be surprising if each World Series game resulted in up to $10 million in spending.
David Gilbert says that’s just an estimate but notes a study several years ago showed postseason Indians games generate about $3 million.
The Plain Dealer reports Airbnb says Cleveland-area hosts made about $600,000 over the World Series four games.
Ohio Supreme Court decision spares King Records for now
CINCINNATI (AP) — A decision by the Ohio Supreme Court will at least delay the potential demolition of a Cincinnati building that housed one of the country’s largest record companies in the mid-1900s.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the high court last week declined to hear an appeal the from property owner that sought to pave the way for demolishing the former home of King Records.
Founded by Syd Nathan, the label was the nation’s sixth-largest record company at its peak during the 1940s and 1950s.
King Records’ catalog of legendary artists included the likes of James Brown, Otis Redding and John Lee Hooker.
City council altered the zoning for the property last year to make it more difficult to raze.
Police investigating homicide at accident scene in Toledo
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Police in Toledo are investigating what appears to be the northwest Ohio city’s 27th homicide of this year.
Authorities say 42-year-old Bill Fell was found dead by local officers responding to a traffic accident in the area of Bancroft and Cherry streets just after 2 a.m. Sunday.
Fell was the driver of one of the vehicles involved in the crash. Police say he suffered at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Police are continuing to investigate the accident and shooting.
