Today’s News
Wyoming makes rush for hyped new technology, results are still virtual
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Block Chain Gang LLC, Crypto Cowboy, Something Something Blockchain LLC: Based on the names of dozens of new companies registering to set up shop in Wyoming, the state’s effort to lure the latest tech craze appears to be paying off. Proponents say blockchain — the ledger where transactions of digital currencies, like bitcoin, are recorded — could be the kick in the pants Wyoming needs to attract tech businesses and diversify [...]
Lingering limbo: Businesses uncertain about tax law impact
NEW YORK — Five months after massive federal tax changes became law, many small business owners still don’t know whether they’ll be winners or losers. Mike Kaeding would like to know how his real estate development and management company will be affected by two big changes — the deductibility of business meals, and a 20 percent income deduction for many owners of what are called pass-through businesses. Big corporations already know their tax rates are [...]
Legislation designed to curtail sexting among Ohio teens
A bill meant to generally prohibit sexting by and among Ohio teens cleared committee consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives this week. Filed as House Bill 355, the bill creates the offense of “possession of sexually explicit digital material,” a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by eight hours of community service, unless a judge determines a different sentence or order of disposition is necessary. The legislation specifically bars any person younger than 19 years old from [...]
New Albany artisan ice cream shop focuses on using Ohio ingredients
A New Albany business is gearing up for the summer with its hand-crafted ice cream. Charlotte & Olivia’s Sublime Ice Creams, owned by Jim Cushing, offers artisan ice cream with a modern twist on classic flavors. “Simple ingredients — found down the road or from the exotic corners of the globe,” they wrote. As partners of Ohio Proud, the shop believes in utilizing Ohio ingredients. “We start with milk from Ohio dairies — local matters [...]
Claims on FBI spy play right into agency’s complicated 110-year history
WASHINGTON — Snitches, moles, spies, whistleblowers. Government informants are an age-old investigative tool that’s as much a part of the FBI’s 110 years of history as J. Edgar Hoover or its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. In the case of President Donald Trump, the FBI called on a longtime informant — identified by several news outlets as an American professor living in Britain — to ascertain whether Trump’s campaign aides accepted help from the Russian [...]
‘People’s forest’ marks 100 years as a national forest, seeks new connections
CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire’s most iconic attraction had been decimated by forest fires and logging when President Woodrow Wilson established it as a national forest a century ago. Now, the White Mountain National Forest stretches over 800,000 acres in the northern part of the state and part of Maine. It attracts millions of visitors each year and has become part of the state’s economic engine, contributing to the nearly $9 billion outdoor recreation industry [...]
Digital Life: Cutting back on a constant smartphone habit
NEW YORK — Why are we checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, then Facebook again when we just wanted to check the weather? Turns out, smartphone addiction is by design. Think of the constant stream of notifications, color schemes in apps and all the “likes,” followers and in-game trophies. Our phones and apps are designed to give us short-term, feel-good rewards, so we’ll use them longer — at the expense of reading, enjoying the moment or simply [...]
In the addiction battle, is forced rehab the solution?
QUINCY, Mass. (AP) — The last thing Lizabeth Loud wanted, a month from giving birth, was to be forced into treatment for her heroin and prescription painkiller addiction. But her mother saw no other choice, and sought a judge’s order to have her committed against her will. Three years later, Loud said her month in state prison, where Massachusetts sent civilly committed women until recent reforms, was the wake-up call she needed. “I was really [...]
Columbus has seen big influx of urban wineries
Wine drinkers in central Ohio won’t have to travel far to celebrate National Wine Day today. Although a majority of central Ohio’s land isn’t conducive to growing grapes, the region has a handful of urban wineries, including Via Vecchia Winery on Front Street in downtown, and Signature Wines and Camelot Cellars in Olde Towne East. Janine Aquino became the third owner of Camelot Cellars in 2011. A Bucyrus couple opened the winery at a 2,200-square-foot [...]
Central Ohio unemployment rate down to 3.4 percent
Central Ohio’s unemployment rate decreased slightly by less than half a percentage point last month. The 10-county metropolitan statistical area’s not-seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 3.4 percent last month compared with 3.7 percent in April 2017, according to data the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services released Tuesday. The region’s civilian labor force increased to 1,084,200 people in April from 1,065,900 people of the same month last year. The increase was driven by gains [...]
Legal News
Bond issue proposed to attack toxic algae blooms
A pair of state lawmakers whose districts abut Lake Erie last week proposed a solution to the dangerous algae blooms that take over swaths of [...]
New drug court program receives final certification
A new Franklin County Common Pleas Court drug court program called Treatment Is Essential to Success, or TIES, has earned final certification from the Supreme [...]
Lawmakers mull local self-defense statutes
House lawmakers this week considered further testimony both for and against a bill that would codify an affirmative claim of self defense for Ohioans who [...]
Business News
From airlines to pizza parlors, EU businesses adopt data law
LONDON — Lisa Meyer’s hair salon is a cozy place where her mother serves homemade macaroons, children climb on chairs and customers chat above the [...]
Farmers markets are popular showcases of locally produced bounty
As this year’s strawberry crop nears harvest in central Ohio, fans of fresh produce and all things local must be champing at the bit as [...]
Post-recession, local pool business is booming
Winter weather is finally behind us, a warm May is upon us and pool season is fast approaching. And with the recession now a distant [...]
Real Estate
Report: Columbus’ industrial real estate market is healthy
The central Ohio industrial property sector started the year strong in the first quarter this year, according to a new report. Columbus’ vacancy rate in [...]
Slopes of volcano offer lush, affordable piece of paradise for hardy Hawaiians
PAHOA, Hawaii — As lava crawled down Leilani Road in a hissing, popping mass, Cheryl Griffith stood in its path and placed a plant in [...]
Report: Columbus office market recovering; industrial space in high demand
After about six years of shrinking office space vacancy and positive absorption in the Columbus office market, the past three quarters have seen a reversal [...]
Politics
Teachers who led strikes now turning their focus to midterm elections
PHOENIX (AP) — As they packed up their protest signs and returned to the classroom to finish out the school year, thousands of teachers in [...]
Quick release of gun data called trailblazing and troubling
TRENTON, N.J. — Gun control advocates are hailing New Jersey’s release of near-real-time firearms trafficking data as a trailblazing use of federal information, but Second [...]
Ohio’s new campaign urges consumers to rethink fun and alcohol
Forget Lowenbrau’s iconic beer jingle from 40 years ago: “Here’s to good friends. Tonight is kind of special ...” Enough with Captain Morgan’s swashbuckling antics [...]
