COLUMBUS, OHIO - Maybe, what Ohio needs is David Copperfield, the master of illusion. With a wave of a wand last week, House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, declared school funding fixed and constitutional. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled four times that the funding method was unconstitutional, primarily because of the over-reliance on property taxes. Then the court washed its hands of the long-running case called DeRolph I, II, III and IV in 2003 and left ... [full story]

A 39-year old woman escaped with only minor injuries in a single-vehicle rollover crash northwest of Prineville Monday morning, authorities reported.  Linda Lee Hunt lost control of her 1992 Subaru Legacy about 9:10 a.m. February 19, on NW Grimes Road and east of Highway 26, said detective Sergeant Travis Jurgens of the Crook County Sheriff’s Office.  Her vehicle left the road and rolled down an embankment. Hunt was transported by ambulance to Pioneer Memorial Hospital in Prineville ... [full story]

US Supreme Court overturns case against Philip Morris USA that awarded $79.5 million in punitive damages to deceased smoker’s wife The U.S. Supreme Court today reversed and vacated a $79.5 million punitive damage award returned by a 1999 Oregon jury in a case known as Williams-Branch. The case will now return to the Oregon courts for proceedings consistent with Philip Morris USA’s due process rights.  In a 5 to 4 decision authored by Justice Stephen ... [full story]

In cooperation with the National Seatbelt Enforcement Blitz held February 11-17, Prineville Police announced today the success of their local agency’s program.  During the week, seatbelt compliance increased six percent, from 92 to 98 percent.  A total of 33 seatbelt citations were issued during 60 traffic stops, said Chief Eric Bush, with verbal warnings issued for a number of other violations. During the Blitz, Bush said the department found “good” compliance with child-safety seat and ... [full story]