Today’s News
Trump administration to rescind rule that blocks logging on national forest lands
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Trump administration plans to rescind a nearly quarter-century-old rule that blocks logging on national forest lands, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced earlier this week. The roadless rule adopted in the last days of Bill Clinton’s presidency in 2001 long has been criticized by Republican lawmakers, especially in the West where national forests sprawl across vast, mountainous terrain and the logging industry has waned. The rule impeded road construction and [...]
Compass sues Zillow over home listings policy
Real estate brokerage company Compass has filed a lawsuit against Zillow, claiming the real estate website is refusing to accept home listings for properties that have been initially advertised for sale elsewhere. In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Compass claims that “Zillow has sought to rely on anticompetitive tactics to protect its monopoly and revenues in violation of the antitrust laws.” Compass says that Zillow has [...]
Republican Merrin launches bid for rematch against Kaptur
COLUMBUS (AP) — A potential rematch for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, could be in the works for 2026. That’s after Republican Derek Merrin, a former four-term Republican state representative, announced this week he plans to try again to defeat Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in Congress. Merrin, 39, launched his latest campaign on X, vowing that “this time, we’re going to FINISH THE MISSION.” He won the 2024 Republican primary with the [...]
Ohio is 5th lowest in U.S. for workers’ comp rates
Workers’ compensation rates in Ohio remain among the lowest in the country, according to a new study by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The biennial study ranks all 50 states and Washington, D.C., based on premium rates that were in effect as of Jan. 1, 2024, a news release detailed. Ohio ranked fifth lowest in premium rates in the latest analysis, the same ranking as the 2022 study. The state’s premium index [...]
Ford recalls 200K Mustang Mach E SUVs
Ford Motor Co. is recalling nearly 200,000 electric Mustangs because the door latches could falter, potentially trapping passengers in the back seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford is recalling 197,432 Mustang Mach E midsize SUVs, model years 2021-2025. The government agency that regulates automobile safety said that the electronic door latches may remain locked after a driver or front seat passenger exits the vehicle and shuts the door, potentially trapping [...]
Trump wants producers to pump more crude oil
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump this week called for the United States and other oil-producing economies to pump more oil as crude prices remain volatile after the U.S. struck key Iranian nuclear facilities with a barrage of 30,000-pound bunker busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles. Trump urged stepped-up production as the White House sharpened its warnings to Iran against closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping lane, in retaliation for the [...]
Bill would integrate character curriculum into Ohio schools
Lawmakers in the House Education Committee are mulling a bill that would integrate character curriculum into the education of Ohio school students in grades 7 through 12. The model curriculum must include the value of finishing high school, working full time and getting married before having children, among other subjects, testimony of House Bill 269 provided. “The Greek philosopher Plato said education is about the ‘acquisition of wisdom and virtue,’” said one of the bill’s [...]
Powell: Fed standing pat on rate hike
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve will continue to wait and see how the economy evolves before deciding whether to reduce its key interest rate, Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday. “For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance,” Powell said in prepared remarks for the House Financial Services Committee. Powell was scheduled to face two [...]
Legal News
Purdue Pharma’s $7B opioid settlement set for votes from victims, municipalities
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s $7 billion-plus plan to settle thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids will be sent to local governments, people who [...]
Google hits setback in bid to overturn EU antitrust fine
LONDON (AP) — Google faced a setback last week in its attempt to overturn a multibillion-dollar European Union antitrust penalty involving Android after a top [...]
NTSB urges quick fix on Boeing 737 Max plane engines
Safety analysts last week recommended that the engines on Boeing’s troubled 737 Max airplanes be modified quickly to prevent smoke from filling the cockpit or [...]
Business News
Study: Global luxury sales to slip in 2025
MILAN (AP) — Global sales of personal luxury goods are “slowing down but not collapsing,” according to a Bain & Co. consultancy study. Personal luxury [...]
Government to open fly-breeding factory as part of fight against flesh-eating parasite
The U.S. government plans to open what amounts to a fly factory by the end of the year, announcing its intent to breed millions of [...]
Aflac detects intrusion on U.S. network
Aflac says it has identified suspicious activity on its network in the United States that may impact Social Security numbers and other personal information, calling [...]
Real Estate
Conservation group makes $60M land deal
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A conservation group said it has reached a $60 million deal to buy land outside the Okefenokee Swamp from a mining [...]
Central Ohio home sales down 1.8 percent so far this year
The number of homes sold in central Ohio is down 1.8 percent so far this year compared to the first five months of 2024, according [...]
Long-term mortgage rate ticks down to 6.84 percent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell modestly for the second straight week, but home borrowing costs remain elevated. The long-term [...]
Politics
Crash dummies modeled after men despite risks for women
While women are more likely to be injured in a frontal automobile crash, according to Consumer Reports, the crash test dummy used in vehicle tests [...]
Measure requires iron made in U.S. to be used in some state infrastructure projects
A bipartisan duo in the Ohio House of Representatives is championing a bill intended to promote the U.S. iron industry. House Bill 284 requires the [...]
U.S. resumes visas for foreign students but demands access to social media accounts
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. State Department said it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now [...]