State News

Ohio high court to consider cas on city gun laws COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to weigh the constitutionality of a 2006 state law that lifted most local gun restrictions. Cleveland was among Ohio cities with an assault-weapons bans lifted by the state law. The city challenged the state on the grounds that the law intruded on the constitutionally guaranteed right to home rule. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray has asked the high court to decide the case. In a statement Wednes-day, Cordray says lawmakers have determined that Ohio should have one comprehensive state law defining gun owner rights. The 2006 law was passed in a dramatic showdown between Republican Gov. Bob Taft and the GOP-controlled Legislature, which overrode his veto. Oral arguments will take place at the high court in the fall.

TUESDAY MARCH 9, 2010

Doctor gets 20-to-life in wife's poison death CLEVELAND (AP) — Relatives of the victim sobbed and held each other as a judge handed down a life prison term Tuesday for a doctor convicted of killing his wife by lacing her calcium supplement with cyanide so he could be with his mistress. Yazeed Essa, 41, won’t be eligible for parole for at least 20 years. Essa, who didn’t testify at his trial, softly said “yes” when Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Deena Calabrese asked if he wanted to pass up a chance to comment at his sentencing. But relatives of the victims spoke up, staring him down in an emotionally charged courtroom and challenging him to own up to the slaying. “Are you a man,” asked the victim’s brother, Dominic DiPuccio. “It’s your last chance to save your soul, right here, right now.” Essa was convicted last week of lacing his wife’s calcium supplement with cyanide in 2005. Rosemarie Essa collapsed while driving and crashed her car into another vehicle near the couple’s suburban Cleveland home.

Man shot on playground COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a man has been shot on the playground of a Columbus elementary school while classes were in session. Police say no children were on the playground and none were injured in the Monday shooting at Linden Elementary. The school was on a lockdown for about an hour shortly after 1:30 p.m., when police say at least four shots were fired. Columbus police Sgt. James Branam says a group of men was on a playground basketball court when one of the men was grazed by a bullet in the back of the head. Branam says the injured man was taken to a local hospital and the others fled down an alley. Police say the shooting is not school related.

MONDAY MARCH 8, 2010

Ohio dad jailed after young sons killed in fire GREENFIELD, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say a father has been jailed after a house fire killed his two young sons in southern Ohio. Highland County Jail records show 42-year-old Wesley Coonrod was arrested Sunday on two counts of child endangerment. He was being held without bond Monday pending a court appearance. The fire was reported about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in Greenfield, about 50 miles southwest of Columbus. Police said the boys were ages 3 and 4. No other details about the family were released immediately. Shane Cartmill, a spokesman for the State Fire Marshal's office, said it was unclear who else might have been inside the home, which he described as a single-story duplex. (Refer to page 2 of today's Kenton Times)

Inmate to be executed found unconscious COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Prison officials in Ohio say an inmate scheduled to be executed Tuesday has been found unconscious in prison. Prisons spokeswoman Julie Walburn says Lawrence Reynolds Jr. was found unconscious about 11:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown. Walburn says it appears Reynolds injured himself and that authorities are investigating a possible attempted overdose of pills. She did not know what kind. Reynolds is hospitalized in serious condition. Walburn says the state has a constitutional duty to care for Reynolds. It was unclear Monday whether his execution would go forward. He was sentenced to die for the 1994 killing of a 67-year-old neighbor woman. A message for comment was left with the Ohio Public Defender's office. (Refer to page 2 of today's Kenton Times)

FRIDAY MARCH 5, 2010

Ohio one of finalists for education reform grant MIAMI (AP) - The U.S. Department of Education named 16 finalists Thursday in the first round of its "Race to the Top" competition, which will deliver $4.35 billion in school reform grants. Selected from a pool of 41 applicants are: Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee. The winners will be chosen in April, and a second round of applications accepted in June. "These states are an example for the country of what is possible when adults come together to do the right thing for children," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. The grants are designed to reward states that have adopted and will continue implementing innovative reforms to improve student performance. The money is part of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus law, which provided an unprecedented $100 billion for schools. Much of that has gone toward preventing teacher layoffs and addressing other budget concerns. The $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" fund is targeted specifically for education reform. (Refer to page 2 of today's Kenton Times)

Ohio man charged in four killings pleads guilty to two By LISA CORNWELL Associated Press Writer CINCINNATI (AP) - An Ohio registered sex offender who admitted to killing two women before his trial began Thursday for the slayings of two teenage girls is "a vicious serial killer," a prosecutor told the jury in opening statements. But Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters may not have to work too hard for a conviction in the trial of Anthony Kirkland, whose attorney told jurors that the defense will not contest much of what is said in the guilt-or-innocence phase of the trial. Up front, defense attorney Norm Aubin acknowledged to jurors that Kirkland, 41, of Cincinnati admitted killing all four females. Kirkland's attorneys have said they expect the trial to go to the sentencing phase, when Kirkland could face the death penalty. In his opening statements, Aubin apparently was preparing jurors for that stage. Aubin told jurors the evidence would be hard to listen to, and said that while some may already feel angry toward Kirkland, they must put aside their emotions and make a fair and impartial decision. "You may feel that way, but you can't let it affect you," Aubin said. (Refer to page 2 of today's Kenton Times)

THURSDAY MARCH 4, 2010

Fired workers' comp panel staff cries foul By JULIE CARR SMYTH AP Statehouse Correspondent COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - After a sweeping scandal nearly five years ago that cost the state's insurance fund for injured workers $300 million because of investments in Beanie Babies, rare coins and other risky assets, Ohio beefed up oversight and created a panel to help lawmakers look out for the health of the fund. Now, three years after lawmakers created the Ohio Workers' Compensation Council to advise them on bills involving workers comp issues, the council finds itself entangled in chaos with a director accused of firing the entire staff amid allegations that she pushed her religion on employees. The three fired workers each sent letters to council members Tuesday accusing Director Virginia McInerney of wrongful discharge, religious discrimination and harassment, age discrimination and retaliation. They allege that McInerney, active in an evangelical megachurch northeast of Columbus and an occasional guest on "The 700 Club," led the staff regularly in prayer, provided them with copies of "God at Work" CDs to listen to, and encouraged one to read a book she wrote titled "Single not Separate: How to Make the Church a Family." "It became increasingly clear that the Director was judging employees not on professional performance but on the quality of their faith, according to her beliefs," former staff attorney Kim Finley alleges in her letter. McInerney fired the employees Feb. 16 after tensions rose in the office. According to the letters, the three began to air their grievances toward her and she offered them a severance agreement to sign releasing her from any legal claims. All three refused to sign.