Lorain/Elyria, OH
'Local and State'
Doctor found guilty of wife’s cyanide death
CLEVELAND - A doctor accused of lacing his wife’s calcium supplement with cyanide so he could be with his mistress was convicted Friday of aggravated murder.
The jury heard weeks of testimony before returning the verdict against Dr. Yazeed Essa, 41. His wife, Rosemarie Essa, collapsed while driving Feb. 24, 2005, and crashed her car into [...]
North Ridgeville police, fire look for raise, contract
NORTH RIDGEVILLE - The city’s police officers and firefighters say they want a new contract and a raise, but their chances of seeing even slightly fatter paychecks hinge on three replacement levies this May.
City officials are beginning to discuss budget requests with police, fire and other departments, but serious contract talks will be on hold [...]
Former prison officer enters plea
ELYRIA - A former Lorain Correctional Institution corrections officer pleaded no contest Friday to theft in office for lying about time off to serve with the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Prosecutors argued in court documents that Marvin Vaughn, 38, was paid by the state for his military leave, but never showed up for military duty on [...]
Businessman gives advice at LCCC luncheon/symposium
ELYRIA - The United States must keep innovating to compete in a world economy, Lorain native Josue “Joe” Robles told a crowd at Lorain County Community College on Friday.
China expects to graduate 600,000 engineers this year and India about 300,000, while America “will be lucky” if we graduate 10,000 engineers, said Robles, [...]
Vermilion school system announces 34 job cuts
VERMILION - Thirty-four employees won’t have jobs with the Vermilion Schools next school year.
The cuts are the first part of the district’s ambitious plan to save an estimated $4 million in each of the next two years to stave off projected deficits. The plan also calls for shrinking the district from four to three buildings [...]
Gubernatorial candidate distancing himself from tax bill
COLUMBUS - Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich praised a western Ohio lawmaker last February who had a plan to repeal Ohio’s income tax over 10 years.
But Kasich has been careful not to embrace the timeline laid out in the tax plan pushed by state Rep. John Adams since he announced his candidacy for governor in [...]
Utility overseer restores electricity discount
AVON LAKE - Owners of all-electric homes - including about 300 Avon Lake homeowners - can breathe a sigh of relief as their old discounted rates have been restored.
For now.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio announced Friday that it would move at its meeting Wednesday to restore the full discount to FirstEnergy customers in all-electric [...]
El Centro less than half a million dollars from goal to move to new HQ
LORAIN - About 100 people trudged through cold and snow to celebrate Latino social service organization El Centro’s announcement Friday that it has raised $1.01 million toward renovating a new building.
“It’s not about a building,” said El Centro Executive Director Victor Leandry. “Because of the programs we offer, we need our building. Because of the [...]
Residents return to apartment damaged by fire
LORAIN - All but four families were allowed to move back into the Westgate Gardens apartments Friday after a fire Thursday left at least 30 people out in the cold, sent three residents to the hospital and caused $350,000 in damage, according to fire officials.
Representatives from PK Management, which runs the building, spent the day [...]
Police officer hurt during struggle
ELYRIA - A police officer was hurt and missed a day of work after struggling with a 32-year-old Elyria man.
Police were called at 1:14 p.m. Wednesday to help a Nord Center clinician get a patient, Hubert Hagler, to EMH Regional Medical Center, according to a police report.
Hagler resisted and attacked Sgt. David Mayne, hitting [...]