AMISH ATTACKS
Imprisoned Ohio Amish complain about schooling
CLEVELAND (AP) - Some of the Amish sentenced in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio are upset with federal prison education requirements.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has required some to study for high school equivalency certificates. The Amish claim that violates their First Amendment rights.
Defense attorney Edward Bryan, who represented the leader of the group, tells The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer that he intends to write a letter of protest to prison officials.
He cited a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that found Amish children may not be forced to attend school past eighth grade.
In response, prison system spokesman Chris Burke cited prison rules calling high-school equivalency classes a first step toward returning to society.
Bryan says the Amish deserve a religious exemption.
WATER PARK REOPENING
SW Ohio water park reopens under new ownership
MASON, Ohio (AP) - The Beach water park in southwest Ohio has reopened under new ownership and plans to honor season passes from last year, when the attraction was closed.
The water park near Kings Island amusement park north of Cincinnati was closed for the 2012 season after managers decided they couldn't justify further investment. It reopened Saturday.
The Florida-based company that took over The Beach has made about $5 million in renovations for the new season. It renovated the wave pool, added an interactive children's play area and re-coated the water slides to provide faster, smoother rides.
General manager Ralph Vilardo says admission prices are lower compared with the costs two years ago.
INSURANCE GIANT VS WOMEN'S HOME
Women sad, angry over sale of nonprofit Ohio home
CINCINNATI (AP) - For more than 100 years, the Anna Louise Inn in downtown Cincinnati has been a safe and serene home for thousands of women.
But the women recently lost a 2-year fight with a Fortune 500 company determined to buy their 104-year-old property and turn it into a boutique hotel.
Now the women will have to leave.
While most of the 60 women living at the Anna Louise are relieved that the fight with Western & Southern Insurance Group appears over, they also feel sad and angry.
The women say Western & Southern acted with greed and violated their rights.
Company CEO John Barrett has said the Anna Louise Inn no longer belongs in the beautiful downtown neighborhood they share, and that a hotel in its place will be an economic boon for the city.
CLEVELAND MARATHON
Cleveland Marathon events to have extra security
CLEVELAND (AP) - Thousands of runners will take to the streets for the Cleveland Marathon as officers from local, state and national law enforcement agencies provide stepped-up security in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Organizers in Cleveland said about 22,000 people registered for this weekend's events, which include Sunday's marathon and half-marathon and shorter affiliated races on Saturday. They draw tens of thousands of spectators.
Executive director Jack Staph has promised there will be security officers along the 26.2-mile marathon route and increased security for other races. He said there are typically around 400 officers, but this time there will be even more along with more bomb-sniffing dogs.
1 MILLION JEEPS
1 millionth Jeep Wrangler built at Toledo plant
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Auto workers in Toledo celebrated a milestone this past week.
The 1 millionth Jeep Wrangler rolled off the assembly line at Chrysler's assembly plant that opened in 2006.
Chrysler marked the occasion Friday with a ceremony at the production line.
Plant Manager Zach Leroux tells the Blade newspaper in Toledo that sales of the Wrangler continue to be strong.
KENYON-BLOOMBERG
NYC mayor addressing grads at Kenyon College in OH
GAMBIER, Ohio (AP) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was selected to speak to graduating seniors Saturday morning at Kenyon College in Gambier in central Ohio.
The three-term mayor was elected just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
He's an alumnus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, working his way through school with loans and a job as a parking lot attendant.
Before his election as mayor, Bloomberg worked on Wall Street and founded the Bloomberg financial news and information service.
PEOPLE-ED O'NEILL
Actor Ed O'Neill to be honored in Ohio hometown
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) - It's a big day in northeast Ohio for a hometown guy who made it big in Hollywood.
Actor Ed O'Neill of TV's "Modern Family" will receive an honorary Doctor of Arts degree at Saturday's spring commencement at Youngstown State University.
O'Neill, a Youngstown native, attended Ursuline High School, Ohio University and Youngstown State.
He broke into acting after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then was cut in training camp. He taught at Youngstown's Hayes Middle School.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and Toledo News Now, a Raycom Media Station. 
