ODOT to Offer Online Road Conditions
Officials at the Ohio Department of Transportation say by the end of the month, drivers will be able to check road conditions in all of Ohio's 88 counties before they even head out the door. Information about snow and ice, as well as major delays, will be available on the department's Web site. The department is in the final stages of installing pavement sensors that will give conditions of roadways, and a weather station in each county will relay pertinent information as well.

Governor Taft Outlines Goals, Expects 'Challenge'
Gov. Taft is promising a year of "challenge" as he enters a second term in office. Taft acknowledged the budget quandary in his inaugural address Monday, but called on Ohioans to increase productivity. The governor said it was the state's "duty" to work toward a balanced budget while funding education, employment, and basic human services. He promised to establish the Governor's Commission on Higher Education and the Economy in the coming weeks. Taft also expressed the goal of reforming the tax code for "greater simplicity and fairness." The governor takes up his new challenge in Ohio's Bicentennial year, one likely to be known for sacrifice rather than overabundance.

Death Penalty Sought for Accused Priest Murderer
Despite opposition by the Catholic church, prosecutors are looking for the death sentence for the man accused of killing the Rev. William Gulas. Investigators say that Daniel Montgomery confessed to shooting the St. Stanislaus pastor to death on Dec. 7, and then attempting to cover his crime by setting fire to the church rectory. Montgomery was indicted Monday by a Cleveland grand jury on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson. Catholic leaders say they want justice for Gulas, but they are against the death penalty.

Child Missing Since Monday Found OK
The city of Akron is breathing a sigh of relief after a 9-year-old missing boy was found Thursday. Nathan Bagent had not been seen since he left school on Monday, setting off a citywide search. He was finally discovered wandering outside the Iona Avenue home of a former Akron police officer. Nathan told police he survived by sleeping in a doghouse and foraging through garbage cans for food. He said he ran away because his teacher sent a note to his parents.

Cleveland Man Dies From Postgame Hit-And-Run
A suburban Cleveland man has died from injuries he sustained in a hit and run accident after the Steelers-Browns playoff game this past Sunday. Twenty-five-year-old Matthew Scott died Thursday at Allegheny General Hospital from severe head injuries he received in the incident. Scott reportedly was struck by one vehicle while walking across General Robinson Street and knocked onto another. Police are still looking for the driver of the first car.

Compromise Reached in School Newspaper Suit
Four Wooster High School students learned a valuable lesson outside the classroom Thursday. They sued the school district in federal court and won. School administrators confiscated 4,500 hundred copies of the Dec. 20 edition of the "Wooster Blade," the school's newspaper, because of a controversial story regarding the district's treatment of student athletes caught drinking at a party. Four student editors then sued the district for the right to distribute the papers. In an agreement reached in court Thursday, the editors agreed to delete portions of the original story, and the school district will allow distribution of the paper by Monday.