Toledo public schools launched a new program Monday to shrink students' bottom lines. TPS has teamed up with the YMCA, the JCC and TARTA for its Strong Teens program to fight youth obesity. The program gives seventh graders at Byrnedale, DeVeaux, East Broadway, Jones, Leverette, McTigue and Robinson middle schools free access to YMCA after school. Six YMCAs will participate; including Eastern, South Y at the Morse Center, Wayman Palmer, West, Summit and Wolf Creek. TARTA will provide free transportation from the schools to the Y's.
A Lucas County group held a Poppy Potluck Monday to help honor veterans. Each May American Legion members hand out veteran handmade poppies to honor service members. The funds help veterans and their families in Toledo and Lucas County. At Monday's potluck in Whitehouse, the American Legion recognized the women who create poppy arrangements. This year Poppy Day is on May 28.
A state news agency says a former doctor armed with knives killed eight children at an elementary school in eastern China. Officials say five other students were also injured in the attack before the school was closed and the kids were sent home. City officials say the suspect has a history of mental problems.
Another candidate is throwing his hat into the ring for Lucas County commissioner. Dr. Earl Murry is holding a news conference at 11:00 this morning at One Government Center to announce his candidacy.
If you have a teen that loves being around animals, they have a chance to volunteer at the Toledo Zoo. Zooteen is a program at the zoo for anyone age 13 to 17 with an interest nature, animals and conservation. Teens have a chance to get hands-on experience. To apply, just log onto the zoo's website at toledozoo.org. Applications are being accepted through April 9th.
Today, the Toledo city council is taking up the issue of giving the three city golf courses to new management. The city is considering giving Master Golf the contract to manage and run Ottawa Park, Detwiler and Collins Park golf courses. Master Golf has promised to raise $246,000 in revenue for the coming season. The courses are set to be opened by April 1st.
We're learning more about the planned demolition of the old United Way building downtown. We told you last month the United Way of Greater Toledo wants to tear down its old and empty building to save money. The group moved into its new building on Jackson last October. But Monday we learned Fred Kutz, a member of Toledo's 20/20 land use committee, has filed an appeal regarding the demolition. City council now needs to hear the appeal.
It's trial day for a Toledo woman accused of punching a McDonald's worker over Chicken McNuggets. Police say on New Year's Day, Melodi Dushane punched a drive-thru clerk and smashed the window all because McDonald's wouldn't serve McNuggets at 6:00 a.m. Dushane has entered a not guilty plea.
Get ready for a tuition hike at Monroe County Community College. The college's Board of Trustees approved a tuition increase for the upcoming fall semester last night. Students, who are Monroe County residents, will pay $72 per credit hour, up from $67. Students living in Michigan, but outside Monroe County, will pay $124 per credit hour, up $9. Out of state students will pay $138, up $10.
The city orders a final "closing time" for a downtown Toledo bar. Caesar's just had a management and name change in January. The bar was in the news in December when a Findlay man died after police say he was beaten outside Caesar's. Also last fall, the building's roof cornice collapsed. In 2005, a TARTA bus slammed into the building. Now city inspectors found Caesar's violated codes including blocked exits and dangerous electrical installations. So the city marked it "unsafe" and ordered it closed.
Things seem to be moving along for Toledo's casino. The site on Miami Street is now fenced in. Penn National estimates Toledo's Hollywood casino to be complete and open sometime in the fall of 2012. Officials are hoping to break ground by the end of the year.
