METRO DIGEST || Shielding addresses for domestic violence victims
Shielding addresses for domestic violence
COLUMBUS
Victims of domestic violence could shield their home addresses on certain public documents, under legislation approved by the Ohio House on Wednesday.
House Bill 359 passed on a unanimous vote of 93-0 and heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
The legislation would create an address confidentiality program within the secretary of state’s office, providing a place for victims’ government-related mail to be collected without revealing their home addresses.
The latter currently are readily available through voting registrations and other public documents and could be used by their attackers.
Students to visit MCCTC for annual career day
CANFIELD
More than 1,000 sophomores throughout Mahoning County will visit the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, on Friday for their annual Orientation and Career Exploration Day.
Local schools will be attending the event in two sessions. The morning session begins at 9 a.m., and the afternoon session begins at noon.
With more than 23 programs, visiting students will have the opportunity to experience a few of them more thoroughly. Sophomores also will tour the facility, hear from current MCCTC students about their experiences and meet with instructors to learn about the programs and the career opportunities available.
Man faces charge in impaired-driving case
BOARDMAN
A township man faces an impaired-driving charge after he purportedly drove into the front yard of a Brookfield Avenue residence.
Brian Zidian, 44, of Ewing Road, is charged with operating a vehicle while impaired. The charge recently was filed for the Jan. 16 incident, for which police allege that Zidian backed into someone’s yard, side-swiped a tree, then backed into the front of the house while drunk.
When police arrived at the scene, according to a report, they found his truck stuck in mud and Zidian “staggering” onto the front porch. He reportedly insisted to officers multiple times that he was at his own Ewing Road home.
Zidian previously was convicted of an impaired-driving offense in 2002.
Legislation targets issues facing townships
COLUMBUS
Townships would be allowed to pay for life insurance for part-time employees and meet in closed session to consider the sale of property, under legislation being considered in the Ohio House.
House Bill 413 addresses a number of issues facing townships around the state.
Among other provisions, HB 413 would allow township trustees to have executive sessions to discuss the sale or other disposition of “unneeded, obsolete or unfit-for-use property,” according to an analysis by the state’s legislative service commission. Such deliberations now are required to occur in open board meetings.
The bill also would decrease the minimum population for townships to adopt limited home-rule governments to 2,500 residents from 3,500.
Faith group: Delay action on legislation
COLUMBUS
A faith group has urged lawmakers to postpone action on legislation that would allow eligible residents to register to vote online.
The Ohio Christian Alliance opposes the move, saying a presidential election season is not the time to launch the initiative.
Senate Bill 63 would allow eligible Ohioans to register to vote online in addition to the current paper registrations and allow elections officials to electronically cross-check information submitted by residents with bureau of motor vehicles records to verify citizenship and eligibility.
The legislation passed the Ohio Senate in June on a near-unanimous vote and is supported by Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted and many Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
HB 92 hearings start on school sex bill
COLUMBUS
The Ohio Senate began hearings Wednesday on legislation allowing criminal penalties against certain school employees who have sex with students.
House Bill 92, sponsored by Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Alliance, focuses on cafeteria workers, janitors and others who fall outside of existing state law prohibitions on relations with students 16 years and older.
Hagan introduced HB 92 in response to a 2011 incident in Stark County in which a high-school cafeteria worker had relations with a half-dozen high-school students.
Probing cause of fire
WEST FARMINGTON
The cause of a fire Tuesday that destroyed a sawmill in the 7100 block of Girdle Road in Farmington Township and damaged its contents, including machinery and equipment, is under investigation.
Joining the Farmington Township Volunteer Fire Department in fighting the fire, which was reported about 7:30 p.m., were firefighters from Middlefield, Southington, Mesopotamia, Champion, Bristol and Bloomfield, reported 21-WFMJ TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.