Yesterday, Roldo mentioned that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland may be a one term Governor. It appears many voters in the state feel the same way. A new poll has been released shows a dramatic decrease in Buckeye State residents approving of the way Strickland is running the state.

In May, Strickland was judged favorably by 57% of people surveyed. Fast forward just two months later and only 46% of respondents said that they approve of how the Govenor is handling his job.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library System was named the top library system in the United States for a population of 500,000+, according to the 2009 Hennen American Public Library Ratings (HAPLR). A total of 9,080 libraries were included in the study.

In 2008, CCPL was named the second best library system in the country, topped only by another Ohio library system - Columbus Metropolitan Library. This year, however, the two systems swapped places, with CCPL rising to the top, and CML falling into second place.

CCPL has hit new circulation records in each of the last four years, and is on pace to set yet another record in 2009. Through June 2009, the system's circulation has already surpassed 9.4 million items, which constitutes a 7 percent increase over the first six months of last year.

The Cuyahoga County Public Library consists of 28 branches located throughout Cuyahoga County and the system's Administrative Offices.

A 40-year-old man from Hamilton, Ohio in Butler County has died from the H1N1 "Swine Flu" virus. The Ohio Department of Health says that it is the first death in the state related to this particular strain of flu.

The patient died on June 29, and the ODH says he had underlying health problems that may have contributed to his death. His infection was confirmed on Thursday in a ODH laboratory.

ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, MD said:

“This is a sad, and not entirely unexpected, event as influenza and its complications cause some 3,000 deaths annually in Ohio, ranking it among the top 10 causes of death. We continue to urge Ohioans to take proper precautions and will monitor the situation closely.”

Governor Disappointment should get off his ass and start working for the people who put him in the State House.

Gov. Ted Strickland apparently feels that if he proposes a tax that everyone with even a half mind knows is necessary for Ohio he’ll get voted out of office.

That isn’t the worse thing in the world.

That’s the only reason I can come up with to explain his reluctance to stop all the nonsense in Columbus – from cutting libraries, to say nothing of people’s dire needs - to proposing slots. My God man, don’t you have any real values?

Even losing office would be a cheap price to pay for getting Ohio moving. And it’s more likely that people will recognize political courage when they see it and reward it.

I quote from Zach Schiller’s fine piece in the Plain Dealer:

“Four years ago, the Ohio General Assembly approved the biggest overhaul of Ohio’ tax system in a generation. The income tax and business taxes were slashed in overall tax cuts worth more than $2 billion a year. The idea was to spur investment and jobs. (Me: Ha). As legislators meet in Columbus to decide how to balance the state budget, it’s a good time to ask: Has reform worked?

Just moments ago Ohio Governor Ted Strickland held a press conference with updates on the state budget. Currently the budget is at a statement with each branch of Governement offering different ideas on how to balance the 2 year budget that was suppose to be in place at the beginning of the month. Here is what Strickland had to say regarding the process:

Smile, your on dashcam. Perry Township police chief Tim Escola resigned after video surfaced of him making out with patrolwoman Janine England. The Canton Repository (who obtained the video below) quotes Escola as saying:

“Timothy Escola, former Perry Township chief of police, regrets and apologizes to his family and to the citizens of Perry Township for engaging in inappropriate behavior; and, he accepts full responsibility and accountability for his actions, along with the attendant consequences.

“Indeed, to minimize any adverse impact upon the Perry Township Police Department, Mr. Escola has voluntarily opted to retire and has tendered his notice of retirement to the trustees, who have accepted same.”

England will remain on the police force and will not be penalized for her romantic endeavor with her superior.

Here is the full video:

Looking to catch a traditional fireworks display on our nation's birthday this year? Check out this 2009 guide to fireworks in Northeast Ohio, organized alphabetically by city.

If you have any additions to the list, please let us know in the comments.

Cleveland:
July 4th at 9:45pm - The Flats, Waterfront

Akron:
July 4th at 9:45pm - Lock 3 Rib, White & Blue Festival

Alliance:
July 4th at dusk - Silver Park

Ashtabula:
July 11th at 10 p.m - Walnut Beach

Avon:
July 4th at dusk - The stadium (on State Route 611 and Miller Road)

Bainbridge Township:
July 5th at dusk - Independence Day Celebration

Barberton:
July 4th starting at 6pm - Wolf Creek (6 different shows around the Barberton reservoir)

Bay Village:
July 4th at dusk - Cahoon Park

Berea:
July 4th at dusk - Coe Lake

Bratenahl:
July 3th at dusk - Bratenahl Village Park

Brook Park:
July 12th at dusk - City Hall

Conneaut:
July 5th at 10pm - Conneaut Lakeview Park

Eastlake:
July 4th at 10pm - Classic Park Stadium

East Sparta:
July 2nd 10pm - East Sparta Homecoming Festival

Garfield Heights:
July 4th at dusk - Across from City View Center

Independence:
July 3rd at dusk - Elmwood Park (rain date July 5th)

Kent:
July 4th at dusk - Downtown Kent

Lakewood:
July 4th 9:45pm - Lakewood Park

There had been rumblings for months that Cleveland area business man Tom Ganley, who has made a fortune with a number of auto lots around the area, would throw his hat in the ring to become a United States Senator. Ganley made the formal announcement that he is running early today declaring:

"I am a businessman, not someone who ever thought about being a professional politician," adding. "But maybe that's what's needed in Washington now -- someone who understands financial responsibility and what it takes for a business and a country to be competitive. Someone who has built a business from scratch. Someone who knows how to create jobs. Someone who has met a payroll and knows his employees are dependent on him."

Ganley is running as a Republican and will be facing Congressman Rob Portman in the primary. George Voinovich is currently occupying the seat which has also attracted a bid by Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher who is a Democrat.

Here is a clip from today's press conference held in Brecksville:

Having announced his plans to retire from acting in 2012, actor Alec Baldwin was recently approached by a local Ohio law firm that is keen to support a bid to make him the state's next Governor. While it seems completely out of left field, Baldwin has frequently spoken about his political aspirations.

Speaking with Playboy magazine, Baldwin said:

"A law firm in a liberal Democratic bastion in Ohio state politics sent me a binder with a cover letter that read: "Mr. Baldwin, here's who we represent, the kinds of cases we handle, our credentials in Ohio state politics. We want you to move to Ohio and run for Governor. We will launch your career.'"

As crazy at it might sound, it may actually not be a bad idea.

On Tuesday, June 30, the House approved a seven-day interim budget 94-2 and then sent it on to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, who is expected to sign it before Wednesday, the start of the new fiscal year. The Senate had approved the interim budget 32-0 on Monday.

The temporary budget will keep the state government in operation while while negotiations continue and lawmakers attempt to finalize the biennium budget. Currently, Strickland and Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) are deadlocked on the issue of allowing slot machines at Ohio's seven existing racetracks.

The budget passed by state legislators will only be in effect until July 7, and will fund most state agencies at 70 percent of current spending levels. There are, however, no cuts to debt service and other big budget items like K-12 education, higher education, and Medicaid.

In anticipation of the possibility that both sides may not reach an agreed upon budget by the end of the seven days, a bill was introduced on Tuesday to authorize a second, seven-day budget. House Speaker Armond Budish said that legislators were "just being prepared". This bill would also require approval of both the House and Senate, and would continue funding state government operations through July 14.