Jury recommends death penalty in slaying of ex-girlfriend
LEBANON, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio jury has recommended that a man be put to death for abducting his estranged girlfriend from Kentucky and killing her along an Ohio interstate.
A jury in southwest Ohio’s Warren County deliberated several hours Thursday before making the death penalty recommendation for 43-year-old Terry Froman, of Brookport, Illinois. The same jury found Froman guilty of aggravated murder and kidnapping Tuesday in the September 2014 slaying of 34-year-old Kimberly Thomas.
A judge will decide whether to impose the death penalty or a prison sentence.
Froman’s attorney declined to comment Friday.
Prosecutors said Froman became vengeful when Thomas ordered him out of her Mayfield, Kentucky, home. Prosecutors say Froman abducted Thomas from Kentucky after fatally shooting Thomas’ 17-year-old son, Eli Mohney.
Froman faces charges in Kentucky for Mohney’s death.
Ohio school worker on Facebook urges violence against gays
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police are investigating a Facebook message urging violence against gays and expressing hope that an LGBTQ festival in Ohio’s capital city “turns out like the Boston Marathon” that was bombed several years ago.
WCMH-TV reports that a Columbus City Schools employee posted the message to a page for this weekend’s pride event in Columbus and suggested gays should be killed or relocated. WCMH says it contacted the commenter and he wouldn’t explain the message.
The school district says it’s working with authorities to address inappropriate comments posted from a personal account. The district says it values diversity and has hundreds of teachers, students and supporters participating in the parade.
Police anticipate a crowd of about 500,000 people.
Organizers have encouraged participants to ignore any protesters.
Ohio’s unemployment rate sees slight decrease in May
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State officials say Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in May from the previous month but remains higher than the national rate.
The state unemployment rate decreased from 5 percent in April to 4.9 percent last month. Ohio’s unemployment rate in May 2016 also was 4.9 percent.
The national rate decreased from 4.4 percent in April to 4.3 percent last month. That’s lower than it was in May 2016.
The state Department of Job and Family Services says Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased by 6,300 in May.
Job gains in sectors that include professional and business services; educational and health services; other services; and financial activities exceeded losses in the leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation and utilities; and information categories.
Ohio prison system overpays food contractor by $57,000
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A new report shows the Ohio state prison system overpaid $57,193 to its food service contractor.
The report released Thursday by the Inspector General’s office shows the state also improperly agreed to cover meal expenses, including tips for pizza delivery.
The Columbus Dispatch reports food service contractor Aramark was overpaid due to an inflated inmate count at the London Correctional Institution.
Aramark repaid the money to the state in March. The state contract has been amended to show an updated agreement on extra costs.
Prison spokeswoman JoEllen Smith says the state has “rectified the issues” found in the report. Smith says the state will address other areas of concern.
The state pays more than $60 million a year to Aramark for the food preparation of more than 50,000 inmates.
