Archive for July 24th, 2008
Feds say Utah mine operator courted danger
PRICE, Utah (AP) — The operator of a collapsed Utah mine violated safety protocols by cutting coal pillars that should have been left standing to prevent cave-ins, federal regulators said Thursday. A subsidiary of Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp. undermined other pillars by excavating coal from tunnel floors, a federal report said. The disaster [...]
Creators of Scrabble knockoff on Facebook sued
NEW YORK (AP) — T-R-O-U-B-L-E could loom for a Scrabble knockoff that has become one of the most popular activities on Facebook. Hasbro Inc., the company that owns the word game’s North American rights, sued the creators of the Scrabulous program on Thursday, less than two weeks after the release of an authorized version of [...]
National City posts $1.8 billion loss for 2nd quarter
NEW YORK (AP) — Regional bank National City Corp. on Thursday reported a $1.76 billion loss for the second quarter, as mortgage loans soured and it took a big charge related to previous acquisitions. Over the past year, mortgages have increasingly defaulted, forcing banks to set aside more cash to cover current and future losses. [...]
Ohio furniture maker says bank forced shutdown
NORWALK, Ohio (AP) — A furniture maker that suspended operations this week at plants in Ohio and Tennessee says it was forced to make the move after the bank called its loan. Norwalk Furniture spokesman Joe Mosbrook says the company got the call from Comerica bank on Friday. The bank told the company it was [...]
Feds to release report on Utah mine disaster
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Even before the release of a federal report into what went wrong at a deadly Utah mine cave-in last summer, critics were already finding fault. The Mine Safety and Health Administration began a private briefing for families Thursday morning and were to hold a news conference afterward to release [...]
Alligator found roaming on Ohio street
ATHENS, Ohio (AP) — Arrangements are being made so a young ‘gator found wandering in Bobcat country can be sent to more hospitable Florida. Police say an alligator a little over 2 feet long was found early Wednesday on a street in Athens — home to the Ohio University Bobcats. The director of the Hocking [...]
Prison for 2 linked to disgraced NBA ref
NEW YORK (AP) — Two former classmates of disgraced referee Tim Donaghy will spend over a year in prison for their roles in the betting scandal that rocked the NBA. James Battista, a professional gambler, was sentenced in New York on Thursday to 15 months in prison for making bets based on inside tips. His [...]
Prison says it foiled Ohio breakout plan
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say they foiled a plot to help a killer escape from a maximum-security Ohio prison where he is serving a life sentence. FBI and state agents took 53-year-old Derrick Hancock into custody on a suspected parole violation last week at his home in Cleveland. No charges have [...]
Browns fans, players excited as camp begins because they believe season’s great expectations are justified
BEREA — The fans, decked out in their best orange, brown and white jerseys, hurried down the quiet suburban street more than an hour before practice. Andra Davis went through linebackers drills. General manager Phil Savage hugged owner Randy Lerner, then watched the action from between the practice fields. The routine may have been the [...]
Brian Dulik: Browns have two good quarterbacks, but Anderson is clearly the main man
Exactly 12 months ago, Derek Anderson was fighting for his professional life on a Browns team going nowhere fast. The former Oregon State standout was not only an afterthought in the quarterback derby between Charlie Frye and Brady Quinn, he was in competition with Ken Dorsey for the final spot on the roster. Worse yet, [...]
Browns notes: Stallworth misses first day of camp with sore hamstring
Scott Petrak and Brian Dulik The Chronicle-Telegram BEREA — Donte Stallworth, the team’s top offensive acquisition in the offseason, spent his first Browns training camp practice without a helmet. The receiver, scheduled to start opposite Braylon Edwards, injured his hamstring working out on his own in preparation for camp and didn’t practice Wednesday. No timetable [...]
Slammed again: Indians pitching gives up league-leading 10th grand slam as Angels win slugfest, 14-11
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels came up with just enough offense to overcome one of John Lackey’s worst outings of the season and a subpar outing by their bullpen. Jeff Mathis had four hits with a career-high six RBIs for the Angels on Wednesday, including his first grand slam in the majors, and [...]
U.S. Men’s Olympic basketball: Sprained ankle likely to keep LeBron James out of Friday’s exhibition game
LAS VEGAS — U.S. forward LeBron James likely will miss Friday’s exhibition against Canada as he recovers from a mild right ankle sprain. James shot baskets on the sidelines but was held out of a scrimmage at Valley High School on Wednesday. “If the gold medal game was tomorrow, he’d play,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said. [...]
Poor approach shot on 17 costs Porter in Women’s State Amateur; Jandel on track for third straight title
ELYRIA — A golfer has a lot of decisions to make during a round and it was one of those choices that Elyria’s Alexa Porter believes may have cost her Wednesday in the Ohio Women’s Amateur tournament at Elyria Country Club. “I was a little bit indecisive on that last hole,” Porter said of her [...]
Police lose evidence in murder
ELYRIA — Police can’t find the evidence that an Elyria man serving time for his wife’s 1991 murder believes will clear him. Elyria police Lt. Andy Eichenlaub said officers are searching the department for either the rape kit collected during the autopsy of Helen Weaver or paperwork that explains what happened to it. So far, [...]
No pre-wedding jitters – when among friends
It was a big, fat Greek wedding-to-be. More than 100 people waved paper napkins and raised shots of ouzo in a toast to Amherst’s famous bachelor, Jesse Csincsak, and his beautiful Greek bachelorette, DeAnna Pappas, at a welcome home party Wednesday night in Lorain. “We’re all excited to go through this dream with Jesse and [...]
Grace won`t seek tax increase
ELYRIA — Mayor Bill Grace said he will recommend that city officials go only for the 0.5 percent income tax renewal in November. Grace said he is ditching the idea of asking for a tax increase as a sign to residents that the pinch they are feeling in their wallets isn’t going unnoticed by city [...]
Mexicans arrested in restaurant raid
OBERLIN — Immigration officials descended on Oberlin on Wednesday and arrested five employees of Casa Fiesta restaurant as part of a raid of eight restaurants in northern Ohio. “I’m in shock about what happened,” said Jose Mendez, 42, the manager of the restaurant. “I know the people who worked here — they were good people.” [...]
Roundup: July 24, 2008
Vermilion chooses new finance director VERMILION — A new finance director is expected to tap her experience in larger cities and guide Vermilion through growing pains, Mayor Jean Anderson said. Michelle L. Bowens was hired July 7 to take over for departing Director of Finance Wayne Hamilton, who retired due to health issues after three [...]
NASCAR tells Toyota to ‘hold your horses,’ says cars have unfair power advantage in Nationwide Series
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR tried to even out the competition in the Nationwide Series on Wednesday by ordering all teams using Toyota motors to squeeze down their horsepower before this weekend’s race in Indianapolis. Toyota has won 14 of 21 races this season in the Nationwide Series, and all but one came in a Camry [...]
Skirmish shines negative spotlight on WNBA
The WNBA always seems to crave more attention. Mission accomplished, albeit it without a dunk or fantastic play. The Detroit Shock — and assistant coach Rick Mahorn — were involved in a skirmish with the Los Angeles Sparks, making the WNBA a hot topic on TV, sports-talk radio and blogs. “A lot of people are [...]
Minimum wage going up, little help as costs soar
WASHINGTON — About 2 million Americans get a raise today as the federal minimum wage rises 70 cents. The bad news: Higher gas and food prices are swallowing it up, and some small businesses will pass the cost of the wage hike to consumers. The increase, from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour, is the second [...]
Teachers issue strike warning
VERMILION — The union representing Vermilion Schools’ 155 teachers has issued a 10-day strike notice — saying the teachers will walk Sept. 1 if a pact with the district isn’t reached. Among the issues that have stalled an agreement are wages and benefits. Teachers are nearing the end of a one-year contract that expires Aug. [...]
Petitions turned in to fight Lorain tax credit reduction
LORAIN — More than 3,500 signatures were turned in Wednesday in hopes of giving voters a say about the city’s plan to reduce the income tax credit. A group of petitioners led by Republican Andy Winemiller, who briefly served as Lorain safety service director, and Republican Mike Scherach, a former two-term law director for the [...]
Sheffield Lake mayor confident another grocer fill Giant Eagle`s void
SHEFFIELD LAKE — The Giant Eagle grocery store on Ivanhoe Road will close Nov. 1, but Mayor John Piskura is confident another grocer will take its place. The supermarket notified employees earlier this month that the store would close permanently, citing underperformance. The news came as a shock to the store’s 60 employees and to [...]