Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent in December, down from 6.8 percent in November, according to
new numbers
from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. In comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was at 7.8 percent in December. The amount of unemployed dropped from 391,000 to 388,000. Unfortunately, the amount of employed also dropped, indicating that some people are leaving the labor force.
The Republican State Leadership Committee admitted the only reason Republicans kept a House majority was
politicized redistricting
. The admission from a memo titled “How a Strategy of Targeting State Legislative Races in 2010 Led to a Republican U.S. House Majority in 2013.” The report even singled out Ohio as a state that benefited Republicans due to redistricting.
CityBeat previously covered the issue in-depth
here
.
Cincinnati is among three finalists in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Earth Hour City Challenge. The contest judges efforts to combat global warming. Cincinnati, Chicago and San Francisco were chosen by WWF and g
lobal management consultancy Accenture for preparing their cities for a “climate-friendly future,” according to a statement from WWF.
At this point, it’s looking like Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposals will
take months
for legislators to sort through. The proposals include major changes to taxes, the Ohio Turnpike, education and Medicaid.
Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky signed a landmark water agreement to
leverage Greater Cincinnati’s water technologies
. The agreement seeks to spur legislation, according to the
Business Courier .
The Cincinnati Zoo may need a levy to
stay afloat
.
$3.1 billion
in free health care in 2010, up from $2.9 billion in 2009, according to an Ohio Hospital Association report.
On the bright side, overall crime is down in Cincinnati
.
Bad news, everyone. Chipotle is likely to
raise prices this year
.
To avoid Obamacare’s health care requirements for businesses, some businesses
may begin cutting jobs
.
Some in the scientific community want to
establish national parks on Mars
.
This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2013.