Today’s News
Facing Trump’s tariffs, some companies move, change or wait
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some are moving factories out of China. Others are strategically redesigning products. Some are seeking loopholes in trade law or even mislabeling where their goods originate — all with the goal of evading President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on goods from China. But most of the companies that stand to be hurt by Trump’s tariffs are hunkering down and waiting — waiting because they don’t know when, whether or how his yearlong [...]
‘Operation Blue Light’ results in hundreds of arrests around the state
The Ohio Drug Task Force Commanders Association, the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas and the Ohio Department of Public Safety announced results of a recent statewide drug enforcement effort that resulted in hundreds of arrests. The focus of “Operation Blue Light” was to conduct high-volume traffic stops around identified, heavily drug-trafficked areas throughout Ohio. Using marked patrol cars, in conjunction with local drug task forces, this effort was intended to reduce traffic crashes and deter criminal [...]
Trump voters cringe and shrug at tweets while Democrats rage
HELENVILLE, Wis. — Bill Brasch greeted President Donald Trump’s latest tweet controversy with a shrug. He doesn’t believe Trump was being racist for telling four congresswomen, all women of color, to “go back” to the countries they came from. It doesn’t matter much that all four of the women are American citizens, Brasch said the uproar over Trump’s tweet is a distraction and his detractors are “just playing politics.” “I look at what he’s accomplished [...]
Columbus woman has carved out successful career operating a virtual assistant company
Beth Menduni is a storyteller. The owner of MKG Dept helps clients in central Ohio tell their stories through video on different platforms, such as social media and email campaigns. She utilizes several contractors, from troubleshooters to editors, to complete her projects. But among them include her own virtual assistant. Menduni utilizes the services of Virtual Works, which pairs business owners with virtual assistants. Menduni’s assistant, who is based in Georgia, helps her manage her [...]
Bitcoin craze hits Iran as American sanctions put squeeze on weak economy and lead to raids
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranians feeling the squeeze from U.S. sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic’s ailing economy are increasingly turning to such digital currencies as Bitcoin to make money, prompting alarm in and out of the country. In Iran, some government officials worry that the energy-hungry process of “mining” Bitcoin is abusing Iran’s system of subsidized electricity; in the United States, some observers have warned that cryptocurrencies could be used to bypass the Trump administration’s sanctions [...]
Supreme Court of Ohio: Ambiguous medical report insufficient in deciding disability claims
The Ohio Supreme Court last week held that an ambiguous medical report is insufficient evidence for the Industrial Commission of Ohio to either grant or deny disability compensation to an injured worker. The decision upheld a Franklin County appeals court holding that found the Industrial Commission abused its discretion by relying on a report by a licensed psychologist to deny the request of injured Geauga County maintenance worker Joshua Pilarczyk for permanent- total-disability compensation on [...]
Toys R Us makes a small comeback with 2 stores
NEW YORK — The first two new Toys R Us stores will open in November as part of a small comeback of the defunct iconic toy chain in the U.S. Richard Barry, a former Toys R Us executive and now CEO of the new company called Tru Kids Brands, says an online experience will follow. He says brand partners and more details will be announced in coming weeks. Plans are to open a store in [...]
Home improvement spending has skyrocketed; up 17.5 percent last year
Consumer spending on home services was robust in 2018, according to HomeAdivsor’s report. Consumers spent an average of $9,081 on home improvement, maintenance and emergencies, according to the digital company’s State of Home Spending Report. "The spending patterns that characterize how we service and customize our homes represent a distinct and valuable area of the economy," said Mischa Fisher, HomeAdvisor's chief economist and report author, in a statement. "Our homes are typically our biggest purchases, our [...]
Rural Jackson County shows the impact of opioid influx
JACKSON (AP) — The numbers are staggering: An average yearly total of 107 opioid pills per resident were distributed over a seven-year period in this rural county deep in Appalachia. The newly released federal data is shocking even to people who live here in Jackson County, where nearly everyone seems to have known someone who died from drug-related causes. Five children in one elementary school class were said to have lost a parent to an [...]
Understanding the latest offering in your 401(k): the Roth 401(k)
If you are saving for retirement, you probably know about the 401(k) and the Roth IRA too. But are you familiar with a Roth 401(k)? It’s a bit of a mashup — a Roth product available through your traditional 401(k). It allows people to save after-tax money through their workplace plan that can then be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. Although it has been around for years, its availability has picked up steam of late. There’s [...]
Legal News
Nonopioid directive sought for patients in Ohio
A legislative measure resurrected from the previous session of the Ohio Legislature’s General Assembly would require state Health officials to develop a nonopioid directive for [...]
High court to settle postrelease control conflict
The Ohio public defender’s office was successful in getting its appeal of a 10th District Court of Appeal decision that conflicted with a ruling by [...]
Ambiguous language about moral character may be replaced
With about one in five Ohioans requiring a state-issued occupational license in order to work, a Springfield legislator believes it’s time to make more clear [...]
Business News
Columbus firm refurbishes roofs on historical, government buildings
Over the course of its 30-plus history, the Columbus-based Durable Group has worked on more 10,000 plain house roofs and has done multimillion-dollar historical restorations, [...]
Several local companies rank high for women workers
Seven companies based in central Ohio are among the top employers for women, according to Forbes magazine. The publication ranked 300 businesses for its America’s [...]
Auto workers union, Detroit 3 at odds as contract talks open
DETROIT (AP) — In recent years, Detroit automakers have been at relative peace with the United Auto Workers union because times have been good and [...]
Real Estate
BIA Foundation awards grant to Franklinton nonprofit
The Building Industry Association Foundation is awarding a grant to a nonprofit company focused on mentoring and training in the building trades. Franklinton Rising will [...]
Central Ohio home sales up slightly in May
Home sales in central Ohio have ticked up slightly this year despite increasingly higher prices and a stubbornly low number of homes for sale. Homes [...]
Columbus renters leasing in September pay more
Renters in central Ohio may want avoid signing a new lease in September, according to a recent study. “The rental market in Columbus doesn’t peak [...]
Politics
Anxious immigrants wait to learn effect of new asylum policy
Dozens of immigrants lined up Tuesday at a major Mexico border crossing, waiting to learn how the Trump administration’s plans to end most asylum protections [...]
House Democrats who tangled with leader not backing down
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Days after tensions with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi boiled over publicly, several House Democrats sent a message to Washington: We’re not backing [...]
Cabinet of curiosities: 15,000 ink samples at Secret Service
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a cabinet inside a modest laboratory in downtown Washington are rows and rows of ink samples in plastic squeeze bottles and [...]
