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Associated Press Friday Ohio Headlines - 3/12/2010
Latest Ohio news, sports, business and entertainment:
FLOODING-PREPARATIONS-OHIO
Ohio River towns brace for flooding in Ohio
BRILLIANT, Ohio (AP) - Eastern Ohio communities along the Ohio River are preparing for the worst because of possible heavy rain, with the river already rising from melting snow.
Matthews Chevrolet owner Joe Matthews says his business in Brilliant has relocated nonessential items to higher ground and is getting ready to move the cars.
The city about 45 miles southwest of Pittsburgh is no stranger to flooding from the Ohio. Fire Chief Don Hutchison says the Brilliant firehouse has flooded 35 times.
Flood watches are in effect for dozens of Ohio counties, including those along the Ohio River. A few counties scattered around the state are under a more serious flood warning because of minor flooding already occurring along creeks and streams.
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Information from: WTOV-TV, http://www.wtov9.com
OHIO STATE-SHOOTINGS
Funeral Sunday for Ohio State shooting victim
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A weekend funeral is planned for the Ohio State University maintenance supervisor killed this week by a soon-to-be-fired employee, who also shot himself to death.
The service for 48-year-old Larry Wallington is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at a Columbus church, following visitation and a wake.
Authorities say Wallington was shot early Tuesday by 50-year-old Nathaniel Brown. Police say Brown recently received a bad job review, was upset he was about to be dismissed and came to a campus maintenance shop armed with two handguns and more than 50 rounds of ammunition.
Another supervisor was wounded before Brown took his own life.
About 150 Ohio State students, administrators and others prayed for peace on campus at a candlelight vigil last evening.
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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com
OBAMA-OHIO
Obama to appear in Strongsville, Ohio, Monday
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (AP) - President Barack Obama's third event on health care in a week will bring him to the Cleveland suburb of Strongsville on Monday.
It's not far from Medina (meh-DY'-nuh), the hometown of an uninsured cancer patient named Natoma Canfield, whom the president has made a symbol of the need for reform. The self-employed cleaning worker wrote Obama recently about her health insurance premium, which rose to nearly $8,500 a year and led her to drop her coverage.
Obama pitched his health care plan this week in both Pennsylvania and Missouri.
The Strongsville event is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center. It's free and open to the public, but tickets are needed. They'll be available at the center Sunday at 2 p.m.
WAL-MART-KIDS STRUCK
Police: Man hit children at Wal-Mart for thrill
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Police in Ohio say a man accused of striking children in the head with his fist and keys at a Wal-Mart store told them he did it for the thrill.
Sixty-eight-year-old Ralph Conone (kuh-NOH'-nee) was arrested at a Columbus Wal-Mart Wednesday on two counts of assault. Police say a mother had store employees call police after the woman's 6-year-old son told her Conone hit him.
The boy was treated for a minor cut on the back of his head. Police say his 7-year-old brother also had been struck.
Sgt. John Hurst says Conone told investigators it was exciting to hit children with their parents nearby.
Police say they're trying to find two more children seen getting struck on store surveillance video.
Court records do not show an attorney for Conone.
REID FAMILY ACCIDENT
Reid's wife hospitalized after traffic accident
WASHINGTON (AP) - Authorities in northern Virginia have charged a truck driver from Ohio in an accident that injured the wife and daughter of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Fifty-nine-year-old Alan Snader has been charged with reckless driving. He was not injured in yesterday's crash. His Ohio hometown was not immediately available.
Reid's 69-year-old wife Landra remains hospitalized with a broken back and neck, but her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The Reids' 49-year-old daughter Lana Barringer was released from a hospital last night.
Police say Snader's tractor-trailer rear-ended the minivan Senator Reid's family members were riding in.
AMERICAN IDOL
'American Idol' pares down to 12 finalists
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ohio will be represented in the top 12 this season on "American Idol."
Twenty-four-year-old Toledo mother Crystal Bowersox has made it to the finals after surviving the elimination of four semifinalists on last night's show.
Lilly Scott, Alex Lambert, Todrick Hall and Katelyn Epperly all got the ax.
Scott was dropped despite earning praise for her rendition of "I Fall to Pieces." She had been warned by judge Simon Cowell that her version of the country standard might be risky. The 20-year-old singer from Littleton, Colorado, appeared stunned when her name was announced.
TEEN SLAYINGS
Closings ahead in Ohio teen killings trial
CINCINNATI (AP) - Jurors are expected to begin deliberations after closing arguments in the trial of an Ohio man charged with killing two teenage girls and burning their bodies.
Jurors in Cincinnati may hear one more witness today before the prosecution gives its closing and deliberations begin in the trial of 41-year-old Anthony Kirkland.
Kirkland's attorneys have said their client admitted killing the teens, and they didn't plan to call witnesses in the guilt-or-innocence phase of the trial.
A second phase will be necessary if Kirkland is convicted. Jurors would have to determine whether he should be executed.
Kirkland pleaded guilty last week to murdering two women and burning their bodies. He was to have been tried in all four killings.
COUNCILWOMAN-STATE JOB
Cincinnati councilwoman gets new state job
CINCINNATI (AP) - A Democratic Cincinnati councilwoman is getting an Ohio state job and pay boost after withdrawing from a House primary.
Laketa (luh-KEE'-tuh) Cole will become chief of the Reliability and Service Analysis division at the Public Utilities Commission.
That will pay her a salary of more than $78,000. She earns nearly $61,000 on council.
Thirty-six-year-old Cole last week bowed out of a state House race against Alicia (uh-LEE'-shuh) Reece. Reece is a former Cincinnati vice mayor appointed this month to finish the term of a Democrat who took a municipal judgeship.
Democratic officials had wanted to avoid a primary in Reece's bid to keep the seat.
Cole will start her new job in June.
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Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com
BROWNS-WATSON
Browns sign TE Ben Watson to multiyear deal
CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent tight end Ben Watson to a multiyear contract.
Watson spent the past six seasons with the New England Patriots. He has worked in the past with Browns coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
Last season, the 29-year-old started all 16 games and caught 29 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns.
Watson should improve a position that has been thin for the Browns since they traded Kellen Winslow before last season. Steve Heiden missed the final nine games after going on injured reserve. Robert Royal caught just 11 passes and had numerous drops. Evan Moore was a late-season find but lacks experience.
Watson visited the Browns yesterday along with quarterback Jake Delhomme and running back Justin Fargas.
PERFECT GAME
Lawrie's throws perfect game for Washington
(Washington 3, Miami, Ohio 0.)
SEATTLE (AP) - Danielle Lawrie threw her second perfect game of the season and Washington-record third overall, striking out 14 in Washington's 3-0 victory over Miami of Ohio yesterday in the first home night game in Husky softball history.
The reigning national player of the year, Lawrie (13-0) passed the 1,500-strikeout mark for her career for the top-ranked Huskies (18-1).
She struck out the side in the second and sixth, and fanned at least two in five of the seven innings. She threw just 62 pitches in the game that lasted 1 hour, 36 minutes.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-03-12-10 0909EST
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