Compiled from staff and wire reports
Man's death linked to West Nile virus
COLUMBUS - The death of a suburban Columbus man on Monday has been determined to be Ohio's first death this year related to the West Nile virus, public health officials said Friday.
State and Franklin County health officials declined to release any details of the 77-year-old man's death. The man became ill this month, said Susan Tilgner, commissioner of the Franklin County Health Department.
The testing of a blood sample from the victim led to the conclusion that he died of complications related to the West Nile virus, said Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health. The disease is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.
In 2002, Ohio reported 441 probable and confirmed cases of West Nile virus and 31 deaths related to the disease. The state's population is approximately 11.4 million.
The death of the suburban Columbus man and the illness of a 33-year-old Lorain County woman increased the total of West Nile cases in Ohio this year to nine, state health officials said.
Taft signs education bill affecting testing
COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft on Friday signed an education bill affecting how thousands of Ohio schoolchildren are tested and what options they have for leaving low-performing schools.
Taft's signature assures the state will receive $400 million in U.S. Department of Education aid.
The federal law, a cornerstone of President Bush's 2000 campaign, requires states to adopt plans to increase school testing and improve teaching.
The federal government wanted the Ohio bill passed by the start of the school year to comply with the federal law.
Lawmakers failed to approve the bill in June before recessing for the summer, then ironed out disagreements over the summer.
Man, 20, indicted in fatal shooting
A Hamilton County grand jury indicted a 20-year-old man Friday on a felony murder charge that carries a penalty of up to life in prison.
Kendall Perkins, of Over-the-Rhine, is accused of fatally shooting Gillespie McPherson, 22, of Walnut Hills, in front of Tucker's Restaurant in Over-the-Rhine in front of a crowd of people on March 8.
Perkins was arrested Aug. 6 after a brief afternoon standoff with police on Milton Street in Mount Auburn. He is being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center on $1 million bond.
Dayton Air Games at museum canceled
DAYTON - The Dayton Air Games, scheduled to take place at the U. S. Air Force Museum Aug. 22-24, have been canceled.
White coat ceremony for med students held
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine welcomed its newest class of students Friday during the eighth annual white coat ceremony in Kresge Auditorium.
