Ohio measure defending Wright flight OK’d by committee
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A resolution repudiating Connecticut’s claim that another aviator beat the Wright brothers as first in flight has cleared a committee in the Ohio Senate.
The Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee approved the resolution Wednesday. The measure already cleared the House.
Ohio lawmakers are responding to a 2013 Connecticut law that honored aviator Gustave Whitehead as being two years ahead of Dayton residents Orville and Wilbur Wright’s 1903 flight off Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The Ohio resolution’s sponsor suggests Connecticut is changing history without evidence and Ohio must respond. Backers argue aviation historians have examined and dismissed accounts that Whitehead flew a powered, heavier-than-air machine of his own design on Aug. 14, 1901, “or on any other date.”
Connecticut Sen. Kevin Kelly wonders why Ohio’s leaders “aren’t even intrigued.”
Naked man accused of stabbing woman indicted in Ohio
CINCINNATI (AP) — A prosecutor says a naked man accused of stabbing a woman he didn’t know after she got off a bus in Cincinnati has been indicted on felonious assault charges.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters says 27-year-old Algeria Washington was indicted Tuesday on two counts of felonious assault and one count of criminal damaging or endangering.
Deters’ statement says a naked Washington assaulted the woman the afternoon of Oct. 12 in a Cincinnati neighborhood, yelling obscenities and stabbing her in the face and hands with a large knife. The prosecutor said her injuries required surgeries.
Court records don’t list an attorney for Washington, who authorities say is also known as Michael Washington. His hometown wasn’t immediately available.
Deters’ did not comment on any alleged motive in the stabbing.
Man reunites with stolen car after more than 30 years
NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — A northeastern Ohio man has been reunited with his car after it was reported stolen more than 30 years ago.
The (Canton) Repository reports (http://bit.ly/1NTFTPa ) that 52-year-old Ron Reolfi bought the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro for around $600 when he was 19.
The North Canton man last saw the car on Oct. 24, 1981. He parked it outside a grocery store where he worked, and it was gone 20 minutes later.
Reolfi says he thought he’d never see it again.
He says someone in Maryland sold the car to a person in Delaware. Authorities were then alerted that it had been stolen.
Reolfi’s dad, whose name was on the title, received an email last year with a photo of the vehicle.
Reolfi says recovering the car was “really emotional” for him.
Ohio city settles suit over man’s stun gun injury for $2.25M
PAINESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A man left with permanent brain damage after being shocked by a police stun gun has agreed to settle a federal lawsuit against the northeast Ohio city of Painesville for $2.25 million.
The settlement on behalf of David and Rebecca Nall was announced Tuesday. Court documents say a Painesville police officer responding to a noise complaint in June 2010 caused permanent injuries when he used a stun to shock Nall four times longer than recommended.
Attorneys for the couple say a probate court must approve the settlement amount that will pay for David Nall’s care, accumulated expenses and legal fees. The settlement also requires Painesville to review police training on the use of stun guns.
Ohio motorcyclists can now get breast cancer plates
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Motorcyclists in Ohio will now be able to buy a “Breast Cancer Awareness” license plate for their bikes.
Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) signed a bill into law this week expanding the use of the popular plate that has been available only for automobiles since 2005.
Each purchase of a pink ribbon license plate generates $25 for the Breast Cancer Fund of Ohio, a nonprofit organization that helps breast cancer patients find access to affordable, quality treatment.
The auto “Breast Cancer Awareness” plates have generated nearly $650,000 for community organizations that provide services to both women and men.
The plates are available through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Toledo mayor says Lake Erie algae threat over for the year
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Toledo is ending daily testing for the toxin that contaminated its drinking water just over a year ago.
The mayor in the state’s fourth-largest city says the algae bloom threat on Lake Erie is over for the year. Toledo officials say they will go back to weekly testing for the toxin produced by the algae.
Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson said Tuesday that tests results throughout the summer showed the city’s drinking water remained safe this year.
Toledo spent over $5 million at its drinking water plant to allow it to increase the amount of chemicals needed to get rid of the toxins in the water.
More money went into research and training, too.
Police: Man charged with assaulting girl near amusement park
SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — Police say a Pennsylvania college student has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl near an Ohio amusement park.
Domenico Grace-Iacovetta, of Indiana, Pennsylvania is charged with one first-degree felony count of rape.
Police say the victim told them that Grace-Iacovetta, who was working at Cedar Point in Sandusky over the weekend, forced himself on her in one of the park’s apartments. The girl said she met Grace-Iacovetta while working on Saturday.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Grace-Iacovetta is a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was working part-time to raise money for his fraternity.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police: Man shot 5 times at Cincinnati apartment
CINCINNATI (AP) — Police say man was shot five times in the hallway of a Cincinnati apartment, but is expected to survive.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports (http://cin.ci/1LJXMh2 ) the man was found by police at around 5 p.m. Monday. Police say he was shot three times in the abdomen, once in the leg and once in the back.
He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and police say he is expected to live.
Businessman pleads guilty to trying to bribe councilman
CLEVELAND (AP) — A Cleveland businessman has pleaded guilty to trying to bribe a city councilman in an effort to obtain a beer and wine license.
Northeast Ohio Media Group reports (http://bit.ly/1PFFH5f ) 51-year-old Mukundkumar Patel entered the plea Tuesday and could face a sentence of between 2 and 2 1/2 years in federal prison.
Patel wanted to add a convenience store to his business and needed a license to sell beer and wine. Authorities said he offered a bribe to Council Vice President Thomas Wheeler, who reported the offer to the FBI and assisted agents with an investigation.
Authorities said Patel paid $4,000 to Wheeler at a motel on Oct. 24, 2014. He was charged with bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
Patel is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20.
Buckeye Lake may get boating back under speedy building plan
BUCKEYE LAKE, Ohio (AP) — Officials planning a new dam at central Ohio’s Buckeye Lake say the construction schedule may let boating return next summer, depending on the weather.
A report that the 4.1-mile earthen dam is at risk of failing prompted officials to keep the lake low this year, too shallow for most boating.
Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle says the plan is to build a berm between the existing dam and the water by June. Then, if safety officials approve, opened gates at the lake could be closed as construction continues. How much the water rises would depend on rainfall.
McCorkle says locals on an advisory panel preferred the aggressive schedule, though it might mean 20 hours of construction six days a week, with the noise and hassle that accompanies it.
Clothes discarded by Ohio marathoners sold for charity
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The 19,000 runners who participated in a Columbus marathon last weekend shed 10,000 pounds of clothing during the race that has been donated to charity.
The apparel discarded by athletes in Sunday’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and Half-Marathon was collected by Goodwill and will be sold to benefit people in need.
Goodwill spokeswoman Jane Carroll tells The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1XhJ8By ) that at least $18,000 was raised by selling the new or gently used garments collected after last year’s race. The items were sold for $5 a piece or less, some with the tags still on them, at a pre-race fitness expo Sunday.
The money goes to Goodwill programs that help people with disabilities, families with insecure housing, veterans, people returning to work, unemployed or underemployed youth and others.
