Some of Today's State News Headlines
Today is Monday March 31, 2008
Cuyahoga County refuses to join foster care system
COLUMBUS (AP) - Cuyahoga County is refusing to join a new statewide computer system for tracking abused and neglected foster children because of continued technical problems, officials said.
The state has ordered the county to sign onto the program by June 23.
In a letter to Gov. Ted Strickland drafted last week, county commissioners in the state's largest county said they believe the program could place children at risk. The letter obtained by The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer outlines 13 problems "so dire that we can neither perform nor manage basic child protection-related activities."
The $92 million Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System, implemented in more than half of Ohio counties, is designed to collect data on child abuse and neglect cases, making it easier for child welfare agencies to track abusers and victims. Without the system, agencies would have to rely on independent county-by-county databases.
(Refer to page 10 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
State's Republican auditor keeps her head down
COLUMBUS (AP) - State Auditor Mary Taylor has largely stayed out of the limelight during her first year in office.
Though it may seem strange behavior for a politician, Taylor is representing a party that is trying to regain its reputation as responsible after being toppled by scandal.
The only nonjudicial statewide Republican elected official other than U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Taylor has kept a relatively unknown, unheralded position just that.
She has touted an improved internal audit system and bringing more efficiency to the delivery of Medicaid services - hardly items that Democrats would jump on. She is the first certified public accountant to hold the state's top accounting job.
The state Republican Party now finds itself the underdog after years of dominating the top political positions in the state capital. Taylor holds a seat on the state's Apportionment Board, the crucial target for both political parties because of its authority to draw state legislative districts in 2011 to the controlling party's advantage. She intends to seek a second term in 2010.
(Refer to page 10 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Antioch University calls for buyers for Antioch College
YELLOW SPRINGS (AP) - Antioch University is offering its flagship Antioch College for sale to any buyer that can provide the full payment up front, after negotiations with an alumni group failed, a university spokeswoman said Sunday.
The university and an alumni group attempting to take over Antioch College's operations called off negotiations Friday after school officials declined the group's "best and final" offer to pay half of the $12.2 million price over five years. The school wants the full payment at closing of the deal.
Antioch now says it is open to negotiations with any potential buyer - including the group of wealthy alumni and former trustees that make up the Antioch College Continuation Corporation - that can provide all of the money at closing.
If the trustees feel "they can work out the financing on $12.2 million, the rest is definitely workable," Antioch University spokeswoman Lynda Sirk said.
The alumni group has been negotiating with the university since December.
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
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