Metro digest || Strickland reschedules address to avoid conflict

Strickland reschedules address to avoid conflict

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland has rescheduled his State of the State address, after President Barack Obama scheduled his State of the Union speech for the same day.

Strickland announced he would give the annual speech at noon Tuesday instead of Wednesday as originally scheduled.

“The governor wanted to be deferential to President Obama, so moving the speech to Tuesday ensures that Ohioans have every opportunity to hear about the critical issues facing Ohio and the nation,” said Strickland spokeswoman Allison Kolodziej.

The focus of the speech, however, will not change. Strickland will outline his priorities for the coming year, with a focus on creating jobs, Kolodziej said.

2 Valley men indicted on federal gun charges

CLEVELAND — Two Mahoning Valley men are among eight individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on firearms offenses.

Donald Miner, 53, of Warren, and Demitirus Morris, 25, of Youngstown, are each charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The other individuals are from Akron, Cleveland and Warrensville Heights.

The indictments result from investigations conducted by the Akron, Boardman, Cleveland and Cleveland RTA police departments, the TAG Law Enforcement Task Force and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The cases were presented for indictment by Assistant U. S. Attorney Nancy L. Kelley, Northern District of Ohio.

The sentence for those convicted will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

Attempted break-in

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are looking for the individual who tried to break into a South Side home while the residents were inside.

According to police, a 44-year-old Vermont Street man heard a knock at his door at 1 p.m. Wednesday. As he approached the door, the glass in the door shattered. The homeowner screamed, and a man at the door ran off.

Family outdoor program

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Join McKeever Environmental Learning Center at 11 a.m. Saturday for a special type of walk through the woods.

Participants will experience the natural world using their senses in a way each may never have tried before.

This family-oriented program will be outside, so dress for the weather. This program will meet outside the dining hall. To confirm the status and location of the program based on weather and road conditions, call (724) 376-1022 or go to the Web site www.mckeever.org.

McKeever Environmental Learning Center is administered by Slippery Rock University.

Ohio Legal Assistance chief moves to part time

COLUMBUS — After 15 years, the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation’s founder and executive director, Robert M. Clyde, has retired from full-time status and assumed the part-time role of senior counsel and director of government relations.

Clyde’s part-time status began Tuesday and will continue through the end of the year. Jerry Lawson will serve as interim executive director.

With 12 years’ experience as the director of the Youngstown-based Northeast Ohio Legal Services and five years as a staff attorney and the assistant director, Clyde has devoted his entire professional career, more than 37 years, to the delivery of legal services to low-income Ohioans.

In partnership with OLAF, the Ohio Supreme Court promotes efforts to address the civil legal needs of poor people in Ohio.