• Health officials are concerned about the spike in Whooping cough cases in Franklin County and again are advising residents to get booster shots in an effort to stop the spread. Whooping cough or pertussis can last weeks or months, and can be especially dangerous for babies.
  
  
• If you get bothered by bad air, The Mid Ohio Regional Planning commission is urging you to limit your time outside today and tomorrow because smog levels will be at unhealthy levels.
  
  
• Ohio State’s opening football game is just 3 weeks away, and campus police say they are set to keep everyone safe. Police say you can help by reporting anything that just might not look right to you. While they never discuss details of security, campus police say they use some of the best tactics out there today. Go Bucks!

• Big storms caused power outages and damage around Central Ohio yesterday afternoon. In Reynoldsburg Toll Gate Elementary school caught fire thanks to a lightning strike. The storms and high demand for power put up to 70 percent of Fairfield County in the dark for the afternoon. A shelter was opened for those that needed air conditioning.
  
  
• A majority of Americans do not have a positive outlook on the economy according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. About 2-thirds of us believe things will get a little tougher before they get better and 60 percent of those asked said the country is headed in the wrong direction. The bright spot is more Americans are showing an interest in participating in our elections.
  
  
• One of Columbus’s first set of Sextuplets got to go home yesterday. 2 month old Olivia McGhee got to leave the OSU Medical Center with her parents. Her 5 brothers and sisters are expected to join her over the next several days. Doctors say they have make remarkable progress.

• There are now 6 State Parks that are warning of toxic water thanks to Algae. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says you should stay away from the water at Lake Hope State Park in Vinton County, Dillon State Park’s Lake in Muskingum County and a golf course pond at Shawnee State park in Scioto County. These parks join 3 others already tagged for having potentially toxic algae growing.
  
  
• You may remember Rifqa Bary , the teenager who left her family because she feared their reaction to her conversion to Christianity. The young woman turned 18 yesterday and has been released from state custody. She is now free to do as she chooses, but is fighting an immigration issue now.
  
  
• Attendance was down slightly for this year’s Ohio State fair, but officials are pleased anyway. They say last year was a record year with nicer weather, so the results are still very good. Fair officials say even with budget cuts, the fair was cleaner, and family friendlier, and more people who hadn’t visited in a while attended.
  
  
• Experts say baby boomers heading toward retirement age are rethinking leaving the workforce. With more boomers staying healthy and living longer than ever, working later may become a necessity but jobs for that age group may become scarce. Planning for retirement is even more important now.

• Bob Evans Farms is immediately closing down their food production plant in Illinois. The 70 workers affected will either get severance pay or an opportunity to work somewhere else within the company. The Columbus based Company says they are reacting to tough market conditions.
  
  
• The New Vehicle registration law is now in effect in Ohio. Your home address will no longer be included on the form, keeping more of your personal information out of the hands of others.
  
  
• Parents you will want to be careful to keep the kids away from your pet’s food. A new study shows that while adults are contracting salmonella from touching a pet’s food, children seem to be more at risk. Those children that got sick didn’t eat the pet food, but had touched it or a bowl and then put their fingers in their mouths.
  
  
• A Memorial Service will be held this Thursday from 6-8 pm for Faith Pruden, a little girl from Westerville who earned her Angel Wings over the weekend. The service will be held at Vineyard church of Columbus. Continue to remember Faith’s family in your prayers.

• This year’s Sale of Champions at The Ohio State Fair turned out to be a record setting payday for a couple of young people. 6 of the 8 Youth exhibitors at this year’s Sale of Champions set auction price records, and a whopping $272,500 was made overall, the most ever in the 42-year event.
  
  
• 7-year-old Faith Pruden earned her angel wings on Saturday afternoon. Many of you had been praying for Faith, the little girl from Westerville whose website Faithswishlist.com helped her mom allow Faith to do some of the things she always wanted in the short time she had to do them. Prayers for her family.
  
  
• Worldwide the number of people taking to the skies dropped nearly 2 percent last year, but here in The U.S. it was an even bigger drop. We took 5.2 percent fewer trips on planes last year. The economy, fuller flights and higher prices are responsible for the lower numbers.

• If you are unemployed and your benefits ran out, your check is on the way. Ohioans who lost up to 8 weeks of benefits before congress passed an extension should have all their back payments by the end of this week. More than 60 million in checks goes out today.
  
  
• The Pre-season media poll has the Buckeyes sitting at number one in the Big Ten, and Quarterback Terrelle Pryor Pre-season offensive player of the year. This is Head Coach Jim Tressel’s 10th season and he welcomes back 16 starters.
  
  
• It’s been a well-attended Ohio State Fair so far this year and The Ohio Highway Patrol is hoping for a safe one as well. Extra Highway Patrol covering the grounds this year has meant lower than normal crime reports. The patrol warns you that theft is a concern, and not to leave any valuables in plain sight when you leave your car.
  
  
• The Cadillac Escalade remains the number one most-stolen vehicle. The Chevy Corvette and the Ford F-250 Crew Cab also topped the list.

• Teenagers are still driving distracted according to a new poll by Seventeen Magazine and Triple A. While most young people say they know that texting or talking on their cell phone is a distraction and is dangerous, most admit they still do it from time to time. The new texting bans don’t appear to be making a difference either.
  
  
• With millions of homes on the verge of foreclosure, the rate of home ownership could fall to its lowest levels in 50 years soon. New projections say the percentage of Americans who own a home could fall to 62 percent by 2012, the lowest since 1960.
  
  
• OSU’s oldest alumni passed away over the weekend. Zheng Li was 111 years old, and graduated from OSU in 1931 with a master’s degree in biochemistry.
  
  
• The Ohio State Fair continues today with Jeremy Camp in Concert tonight at The Celeste Center.

• A Columbus Mother will spend 3 years in prison for driving under the influence and causing a crash that took the life of her 2 year old daughter. Jessica McKinley told the judge she wished every day that she could trade places with her daughter.
  
  
• If you are on Facebook, how concerned should you be that a security expert collected the names and profiles of over 171 million users? Well most experts agree that it is a good reminder that your public information is readily available on the internet, but the good news is that no private information was taken, and the file of information out there is already available to every Facebook user anyway.
  
  
• It was a banner year for freshman applications at Ohio State. The university says this was a record breaking year with a 25 percent increase in high school grads trying to get in. About 60 percent of the applications were accepted. Fall classes start September 22nd.
  
  
• The Cheesecake Factory wants you to enjoy National Cheesecake Day today so they are offering guests any slice of cheesecake at half price. They will also debut its newest flavor – Reese’s® Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake.
  
  
• Ellen Degeneres is leaving American Idol after one season.
  

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• Just hours before it was to take effect, a Federal Judge blocked a major portion of that Arizona Illegal Immigration Law. This would leave out the part where police officers could check a person’s immigration status during routing traffic stops if there was reasonable suspicion they are in the country illegally. Supporters say they will fight the ruling.
  
  
• It’s no surprise that airfares are up, but maybe you didn’t know by how much. The Government just released numbers for the first quarter of the year, where airfares had jumped 5 percent, not counting all the new fees and taxes. They have only gone up from there so the numbers are actually higher.
  
  
• Those Court-ordered GPS bracelets do their job. A man accused of breaking into a home in Fairfield County has been arrested after one of those bracelets tracked his movements to the home. Charlie Horn denied being a part of the burglary until the device was checked, and it showed where he had been.
  

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• Beaches along the Gulf Coast are much quieter these days thanks to the massive oil spill. But most of the beaches don’t have any oil or tar balls , vacationers just got scared off by the threat of dirty beaches and have stayed away, according to hotels in the area.
  
  
• Former OSU Defender and longtime Oakland Rader Jack Tatum passed away yesterday. The 3 time pro-bowler was 61 years old.
  
  
• If you are hiking and encounter a mama bear and her 2 yearlings, who better to have your back than Jack Hanna? Two groups of hikers startled by the bears in Montana’s Glacier National park were relieved to see the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and his wife round the corner. Hanna used pepper spray to fend off an aggressive bear after moving everyone to a safer spot.
  
  
• Parents or grandparents, did you get something in the mail this summer you haven’t seen in a while? Many summer camps have brought back the tradition of writing a letter home, while banning email. Perhaps they will bring back a lost art.
  
  
• 3 Pickerington girls who call themselves Children’s Hospital Helpers got some tough news this week; some of the money they have been raising all summer to give to the Hospital was stolen. Carlie Howard and Brynn and Maddy Schmidt were holding their final fundraiser of the summer, a bake sale on Monday, when their cash drawer was stolen. The girls plan to continue their efforts for the Hospital
  

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• BP has named American Robert Dudley, former Managing Director, as CEO of the British energy giant. Dudley replaces Tony Hayward, and becomes the first American to ever run the company. Dudley grew up near the oil spill and has been working to clean it up.
  
  
• Some of the new Census data coming in shows more Americans than ever saying they had to move because they were evicted or had to financially downgrade. That means record numbers of people have moved to smaller homes and apartments and are living with more people in that home.
  
  
• If you pay taxes to the City of Columbus you had a hand in paying for the new Main Street Bridge, which has just been completed. You also paid a little extra for it. The 20 million dollar project ended up costing 60 Million.
  
  
• Former OSU Football player Maurice Clarett is a student again. Clarett started classes yesterday after The University allowed him to reenter. Clarett will attend classes for the second half of OSU's summer quarter.
  

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• The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search last night for a Dublin man who has been missing in the waters of Lake Erie since Saturday afternoon. 64 year old Gregory Shaw was about a mile off Port Clinton when he jumped into the water to untangle a line that got caught in his sailboat’s propeller. He had been sailing with 2 others.
  
  
• There is word that BP is removing their CEO Tony Hayward and that the likely choice to replace him is an American. If Managing Director Bob Dudley does get the job, he would be the first American to run the Company since it was founded. So far BP has denied reports of Hayward’s ouster.
  
  
• Meanwhile the cleanup effort is back in business after Tropical Storm Bonnie moved in at the end of last week, stalling the process.
  
  
• Who spends the most on travel every year? Not Ohioans. According to a poll by a travel website, residents in Arlington, Virginia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. shell out the most, while those who make their home in Garland, Texas spend the least to leave.
  

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• For the first time in three months, there is no oil gushing from that busted well in the Gulf of Mexico. BP closed the valves yesterday and testing is underway. They still don’t know for sure the cap will hold.
  
  
• The first of three readings was held on an ordinance in Fayette County which would make it illegal to smoke in your car if there are children under the age of 18 inside. A group of High School Students introduced the ordinance which will come to a vote sometime in August.
  
  
• A new piece of equipment could help cut down on high speed chases. Columbus Police are looking at Mobile Spike, which allows an officer to deploy spikes from inside the car. A suspect's tire could be deflated in 10 to 30 seconds.
  
  
• If you’ve uttered the words “it’s hotter this year than I can remember” you would be right. 2010 is now in the books at the hottest year ever thanks to record temperatures set around the world in March, April, May and June.
  

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• If you cannot avoid walking along busy streets and freeways in Columbus, then use extreme caution. 2 pedestrians were involved in separate incidents late last night, and both were critically injured. If you need to walk, be sure you have reflective clothing or gear on.
  
  
• A Cincinnati area daycare worker is heading to jail after putting melatonin into candy so that the children would sleep better at nap time. 56 year old Pamela Hartley has been ordered by a judge to not work as a child care provider again.
  
  
• We are back to cautious optimism in The Gulf of Mexico. BP has begun testing the new cap they placed over that leaking oil well. The government had put the testing on hold till they felt confident this wouldn’t somehow make the situation worse.
  
  
• The way your family interacts can affect how your kids do, according to a study in today’s Child Development. Over 3 years they found children from emotionally warm families did better in school with less behavioral problems than those whose families were in cold or controlling relationships. The study also says that a child’s personality can go a long way in overcoming such issues.
  

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• The First Typhoon to hit the Philippines in over a year took 9 lives and left at least 10 people missing.
  
  
• Was that new Oil well cap too good to be true? BP says they need more time before they can even test to see if the cap will hold the gushing oil. No word on how long that might be.
  
  
• New York Yankee’s owner George Steinbrenner passed away yesterday. Steinbrenner was born near Cleveland, did post-grad work at Ohio State, and married an OSU graduate, and of course for many years The Clippers were a Yankee’s minor league affiliate.
  
  
• A new law in San Francisco will require retailers to post radiation emission data for all cell phones. Public health advocates say it’s a great move, while the wireless industry is unhappy.
  

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• Police now say it was frustration over a custody dispute that prompted a tragic day at a New Mexico Fiber optic plant yesterday. The man responsible was a former employee.
  
  
• It looks like BP finally has a bit of a success story in the Gulf. While they haven’t commented on it yet, a new larger and tighter fitting cap was placed on the gushing well last night. If it is working properly, the oil could stop flowing within a few days.
  
  
• Hotels along the Gulf Coast are looking for you. Many hotels are guaranteeing oil-free beaches, easing cancellation policies and offering sweet deals to bring back travelers scared-off by the oil spill. Many hotels are offering a full refund If you are unable to use the beach because of the oil.
  
  
• The CDC has a warning for those of you that enjoy salsa and guacamole; they could very easily be carrying food poisoning. The number of cases is on the rise thanks to tainted vegetables, improper storage temperatures and just the fact that restaurants prepare them in such large quantities.
  

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• BP is feeling optimistic, but not too optimistic, about their latest effort at capping that huge oil leak in the Gulf. They say it is their most effective effort so far, and could completely stop the leaking if all goes well.
  
  
• If you are waiting to book a flight yet this summer hoping to catch a last-minute bargain, you may be out of luck. Airlines say flights are pretty full, so most not only won’t offer a bargain but you might be paying a premium.
  
  
• 3 Separate studies released yesterday give some good clues for keeping your mind sharp as you age. A healthy diet of exercise, tea, and vitamin D seem to hold the key to keeping dementia at bay. All 3 items individually lower your risk for Alzheimer’s by about 40 percent.
  
  
• Colleges are feeling the economic crunch just like everyone else and are finding that outsourcing is one way of cutting costs. Outsourcing the operation of Bookstores, recreation centers, dining halls and even copying centers is helping some colleges stay open.
  
  
• Miley Cyrus has announced that this will be the final season of Hannah Montana.
  
  
• Spain wins the World Cup after a late goal against The Netherlands.
  

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• A Statewide Amber alert issued last night has been cancelled after a 7 year old boy was dropped off at a relative’s home in Troy last night. Zane Bedinger was taken from his home yesterday evening, but was found safe in Indiana. The suspect, who is related to Zane hasn’t been found.
  
  
• Some good news if you will be flying off on vacation this summer; steep fines recently put into place are keeping delays on the tarmac way down. With just 5 flights stranding passengers more than 3 hours, airlines logged their most efficient month since monitoring began in 2008.
  
  
• LeBron James said goodbye to Cleveland and hello to Miami announcing last night that he would be playing for the Miami Heat next season.
  
  
• And I don’t know how you stayed cool in those 94 degree temperatures yesterday, but our animal friends at the Columbus Zoo enjoyed ice blocks with treats frozen inside, fans and misting machines, and plenty of water to play in.
  

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• This should be the last truly oppressive hot day for a while. That Air Quality Alert continues, as well as the offer to seek cool shelter around Columbus at Recreation centers and pools. The city will also open up 4 fire hydrants today to help cool you off. The locations are:
  
  
  • Linden Park in front of 1254 Briarwood
  • Beatty Recreation Center in front of 180 M. North Ohio
  • Lincoln Park Elementary School at East Markinson and Ann
  • Westgate Park at Wicklow and South Hampton

The hydrants will be on from 1:30-4pm and police will be on hand to help direct traffic. If you have any questions about “Operation Cool Down” you can dial 311 for more information.

• Law enforcement officials are tapping into our love of technology to get evidence these days. Many departments have found effective ways to use iPhones and other smart phones to gain evidence. Since most people do not know how to remove information from their phones, it’s easy to track, giving a whole new meaning to the term “iwitness.”
  
  
• Will he stay or will he go? In case you somehow haven’t heard, Lebron James will announce tonight on live television whether he is staying with the Cleveland Cavs or going to another team.
  
  
• Here is the information you need to help NBC4 in their Collection of new home fans for seniors: www2.nbc4i.com/news
  
  
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• Today’s big story is the heat, and the bad air. Temperatures here will be in the mid 90’s and the Air quality alert we have been under all week has been extended through tomorrow. Meanwhile other parts of the country are sweating through dangerous record-breaking temperatures.
  
  
• Queen Elizabeth II spent the day in New York, addressing The United Nations for the first time in over 50 years, and laying a wreath at Ground Zero before heading back across the pond.
  
  
• Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman is urging caution in the heat, and is offering relief. The city announced that all residents are invited to visit any of Columbus Recreation and Parks' eight air-conditioned recreation centers, four outdoor pools or its outdoor sprayground pad.
  
  
• After some lengthy discussions about whether or not it is a good idea, Reynoldsburg City Council decided to put the proposed daytime curfew ordinance on hold. The law would make it illegal for kids 6 to 17 to be outside during school hours without a reasonable excuse.
  
  
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• Tar balls arrived on Texas beaches yesterday, the first indication that the huge oil leak in the Gulf has reached all the Gulf States now. Experts are not entirely sure if the oil hitched a ride under a ship or made it on its own.
  
  
• Budget cuts that have left tall grasses and weeds along our nation’s freeways are prompting concerns. Triple A says they have been getting calls from states where budget cuts mean no mowing. In states like Virginia, volunteers are cutting back grasses so motorists are safe.
  
  
• Did you know there is still money left in Ohio’s appliance rebate program? About 250 thousand dollars is still up for grabs to encourage you to turn in your clunker appliances for new energy efficient ones for a nice rebate. More than 51 hundred rebate checks have been written so far.
  
  
• A reminder for you and your kids as they ride their bikes this summer; helmets are a great way to keep them safe. The National highway traffic safety administration says helmets can cut down on the risk of serious injuries by 88 percent!!
  
  
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• Here is a little something to be thankful for as you fill up this weekend; you are paying the lowest gasoline taxes since the early years of the car. It breaks down to about 19 dollars for every thousand miles driven…which, if adjusted for inflation, works out to about half of what people were paying in the 70’s.
  
  
• Ever wonder how some people live to be 100 or more? A new study says it’s all in the genes. Those studied appeared to have some sort of genetic variation from the rest of us that helps them fight off diseases and typical aging. But the study also says clean living doesn’t hurt!
  
  
• People were already staking out their spots in downtown Columbus to watch the one of the largest fireworks displays in the Midwest tonight. Keep in mind there are a lot of road closures around the event, some through Saturday morning.
  
  
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• Hurricane Alex has weakened, but made landfall late yesterday on Mexico’s Gulf coast spawning tornadoes into Texas and sporting winds of 110 miles and hour. The storm has now been downgraded to a category 1 hurricane.
  
  
• Jobless benefits started running out for thousands of Ohioans yesterday after congress passed on renewing them yet again. In the coming weeks, almost 100 thousand Ohioans will have no benefits coming in.
  
  
• A Columbus Grandmother says that something far more important than her purse and money were stolen from her car earlier this week; her 2 bibles. Starlene McKenzie says the thief can keep her purse, but her bibles have been with her for over 20 years and contain family pictures and precious papers. She also uses them to teach Sunday school each week!
  
  
• The Silly Bandz craze isn’t taking the summer off! With Disney and Toys R Us jumping on the bandwagon, look for new products like Silly necklaces and silly bands that change colors in the sun. The creator of the 100 Million dollar a year industry is from Toledo.
  
  
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