Gas prices down, families still struggle

Dec. 26, 2009, Port Clinton News Herald

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News Herald

Natural gas prices are down, which means it will cost less for households to keep warm this winter.

With the bad economy and record-high unemployment rate, however, people are struggling to pay their utility bills. There are a number of options out there for aid.

Ken Stammen, spokesman for Columbia Gas of Ohio, said because of the price decrease, the company has had fewer requests for help this year.

Ohio channels safe from Time Warner-Fox dispute

Dec. 24, 2009, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

No one in Ohio is at risk of losing out on “24,” “American Idol,” “Glee” or the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland Browns come January.

Time Warner Cable is embroiled in a highly publicized battle with Fox Broadcasting Co. Fox, Time Warner said, is demanding massive price increases for its programming.

Time Warner refuses to pay, claiming it will need to hike its rates for customers, company spokeswoman Judy Barbao said.

A year and millions of dollars haven’t curbed foreclosures

Dec. 21, 2009, Mansfield News Journal

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

GALION — Merne Bodman can no longer drive past the house her parents built. She gets too emotional when she does.

She inherited the Shelby home in 1999 when her dad died. She bought her brothers out of their shares by getting an adjustable rate mortgage. Then payments increased from $535 to more than $700. Her husband, Jerry, went on disability, and medical bills cut into their income.

They lost that house in 2006. They moved into their old house in Galion, which they started renting when they moved to Shelby. They had a second mortgage on the home. Renters destroyed the place, and they fell behind on that mortgage. Now that house is in foreclosure.

This season, it’s OK to buy used

Dec. 10, 2009, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Tucked in between ads for scrap metal and old, bulky furniture on Craigslist’s free section are calls for help.

“We are trying to find a free or extremely CHEAP live tree for christmas. We had a bad rough year as many others have and we were really wanting to get a live tree for the first time for our little boy hes 13 months old,” one Newark woman wrote.

There are also answers.

Hooked in the womb

Dec. 6, 2009, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Dr. Jonathan Wispe has treated nearly two dozen patients addicted to opiates this year.

As if that weren’t tragic enough, they’re newborns.

They tend to be agitated, have high-pitched, irritable screams, sweat profusely and not feed well. Their addictions are seldom fatal, although the children can suffer lasting effects.

Fewer Ohioans lighting up than in past

Nov. 20, 2009, Port Clinton News Herald

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News Herald

Confronted with a public smoking ban, higher sin taxes and more anti-smoking efforts, fewer Ohioans are lighting up.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 20.2 percent of Ohioans smoked in 2008, a 7.5 percent decline from 2001, when Ohio ranked fourth in the country for smokers. The CDC data goes back to 1998, when the smoking rate was 26.2.

Ohio now has the 17th-highest rate of smokers, according to the study. The CDC reports that 21.5 percent of men in Ohio smoked and 19 percent of women.

Stimulus-tracking Web site includes made-up districts

Nov. 19, 2009, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — There are 18 congressional districts in Ohio.

According to Recovery.gov, however, $1.2 million in stimulus funds was spent in the 21^st Congressional District, $660,000 was spent in the 99th District and $400,000 was spent in the 69^th District.

Recovery.gov is the federal government’s site detailing where stimulus money is spent.