Kasich says Medicaid expansion must be maintained
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich is reiterating his plea that Medicaid expansion be maintained as President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers take on a health care overhaul.
The Republican Kasich, speaking on NBC’s “Meet The Press” Sunday, says Medicaid serves many people in Ohio suffering from drug addiction, mental illness and chronic diseases.
Kasich says it’s important that Democrats join Republicans to change the law known as Obamacare without cutting off people that need the health insurance protection it provides.
Kasich says it’s crucial to have members of each political party involved after Democrats passed the health care law without Republican votes.
Kasich says no plan is sustainable without bipartisan support.
Ohio state lawmaker charged with driving under influence
HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A sheriff says an Ohio state lawmaker has been arrested on charges of driving under the influence and improper handling of a gun in a car.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office says state Rep. Wes Retherford was arrested early Sunday after police responded to a report of a man passed out behind the wheel at a McDonald’s restaurant.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones says deputies found a loaded handgun in a car seat while investigating.
Retherford, a Republican from Hamilton in southwestern Ohio, just began his third two-year term. Phone and email messages were left with Retherford seeking comment on the arrest.
Earlier this year Retherford reintroduced legislation aimed at curbing the abuse of senior citizens after the bill failed to pass last session.
Nation’s newest fighter aircraft to fly at Dayton air show
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Organizers say the newest fighter aircraft for the U.S. Air Force will fly in formation with a WWII fighter plane during the Vectren Dayton Air Show in Ohio this summer.
It’s a pairing known as a Heritage Flight. Organizers say the F-35 was part of the event last year, too, but only as an exhibit on the ground.
This time it will travel to Dayton from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and take to the skies under the guidance of a specially trained Air Force pilot.
The Air Force Thunderbirds are slated to headline the event, which is scheduled for June 24-25.
Report: Ohio State donor criticized museum attack response
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A newspaper’s open records investigation says billionaire Les Wexner criticized Ohio State University for not being more open about what happened when an ex-security guard damaged dozens of works of art at a campus museum.
The Columbus Dispatch reports Sunday Wexner told the university that being secretive encourages suspicion and damages the trust of patrons, donors and the public.
Wexner is founder and chairman of L Brands and a former Ohio State trustee. The Wexner Center for the Arts was named for Wexner’s father, Harry Wexner.
The former guard shot himself after damaging more than 30 pieces of art in 2015.
The Dispatch says Ohio State has a track record of shielding sensitive public records.
The university says it evaluates each records request on its own merits.
Police learn de-escalation techniques after holiday incident
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio (AP) — Police officers are learning de-escalation techniques in an Ohio village where questions have been raised about police tactics at a New Year’s Eve celebration.
The Dayton Daily News reports that every Yellow Springs officer took part in mandatory training earlier this month. Interim Chief Brian Carlson says the eight-hour de-escalation training is an important first step in putting the holiday incident behind the department.
Residents have complained about the use of a police cruiser to disperse the crowd and police handling of stun guns at the southwestern village’s New Year’s Eve ball drop celebration.
Comedian Dave Chappelle, a Yellow Springs native, recently spoke at a meeting where he urged the village council to become a leader in progressive law enforcement.
Carlson says another training session is planned.
Toledo will allow golf carts on streets downtown
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Toledo is going to allow golf carts and other low-speed vehicles on city streets in its downtown and two other residential neighborhoods.
City council approved the idea this past week.
Starting in April, drivers who are at least 16 and hold a valid license will be able to take golf carts onto Toledo’s streets.
A few cities and several resort-type communities around Ohio already allow golf carts on city streets.
Under Ohio law, golf carts may be legal within specific parameters and with safety features added. They must be titled, licensed and insured like any other vehicle.
Ohio authorities say couple forged checks by dissolving ink
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Ohio police say a couple arrested on theft charges used a chemical to dissolve ink on stolen checks and then made the checks out to themselves.
Perrysburg Township Police Detective Sgt. Todd Curtis tells The Blade that law enforcement agencies in 25 states along with the U.S. Postal Service were looking for the couple.
Curtis says Jason Majercik and Christine Turcoliveri were arrested Friday after someone saw them going through letters placed in mailboxes for delivery.
The couple faces multiple preliminary charges of theft, receiving stolen property, and possession of criminal tools.
They’re scheduled for an initial appearance in Perrysburg Municipal Court Monday. They were being housed at the Wood County Justice Center. It wasn’t clear if they had attorneys yet.
Grand jury indicts Ohio man accused of fatally shooting 3
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — A grand jury has indicted an Ohio man accused of fatally shooting three people including his former girlfriend.
Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck says the charges against 61-year-old Muhammad S. Ali carry the possibility of a death sentence if Ali is convicted.
Authorities say Ali took a gun to a Dayton home in August 2016 and killed his former girlfriend 53-year-old Tammy Cox; her son, 25-year-old Michael Cox; and 74-year-old Jasper Taylor, who was in the house at the time.
Records show Ali had been hearing voices when he was at a behavioral health care facility the day of the shootings.
The charges against Ali include aggravated murder, felonious assault, aggravated burglary and kidnapping. A message seeking comment was left with his lawyer.
Ali is scheduled for arraignment Tuesday morning.
Ohio police investigate killings including teen at party
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Columbus police say three teens were shot, one fatally, during a large fight at a “Sweet 16” birthday party.
Investigators say 18-year-old Tyquan Lackey died at Grant Hospital following the Saturday night shooting. Two juvenile were being treated at Ohio State University’s main hospital.
Police say the shooting appears to have been gang related with dozens of gang members attending the party.
The shooting came a day after an unrelated shooting that left two brothers dead on the city’s north side.
Police say the victims, 27-year-old Je’Vohn Hill and 26-year-old Jeronn Hill, were found inside a house and pronounced dead at the scene.
Cincinnati police officer wounded in overnight shooting
CINCINNATI (AP) — Police say a Cincinnati officer responding to a report of domestic violence was injured in an early morning shooting.
Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac says the officer was shot just after midnight on Sunday.
Police say a male suspect was also shot when officers exchanged fire in an apartment house courtyard.
The suspect was shot several times. The officer’s injuries weren’t considered life threatening. Police didn’t release the names of the suspect or officers involved in the shooting.
The officer and suspect were being treated at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
AG: Ohio charity ordered to close due to misuse of funds
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A former Toledo charity that encouraged youths to go door to door and collect money will shut down due to the founder’s misuse of donor funds, state officials said.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office announced a court settlement earlier this month filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court that closes Teens With Dreams, a Columbus nonprofit.
Founder Darnell Robinson, 35, agreed to cease the organization and not found another Ohio nonprofit, The Blade reported.
The group’s mission claimed to find activities for teens and assist senior citizens. Authorities said the youths, ages 11 to 16, would give the donations to Robinson and keep a portion themselves. An investigation determined “much of the money” went to Robinson.
Teens With Dreams incorporated in August 2014 in Toledo. It incorporated in Columbus by the summer of 2016, said Kate Hanson, a spokeswoman for the attorney general.
State investigators determined the nonprofit failed to obtain certification as a as 501(c)(3) group, fully account for its charitable money and properly register with the state attorney general, the newspaper reported.
It’s unclear how many children took part in the organization and the amount of money Teens With Dreams may have funneled, Hanson said. The charity reported collecting $9,936 for the final four months of 2014, $27,341 in 2015 and no data for 2016, she said.
Records from Toledo Municipal Court and Lucas County Common Pleas Court show no criminal charges filed in the case.
Court records don’t list an attorney for Robinson or the charity. He couldn’t be reached for comment.
