Evening News Headlines from 13abc Action News - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Evening News Headlines from 13abc Action News

EVENING NEWS DIGEST - JUNE 1, 2012

NEW LOCAL NEWS

1. PROMEDICA LIGHT CONTROVERSY

Some residents in Sylvania are upset with Promedica Flower Hospital after new lights were installed on the buildings. Neighbors along Harroun Road have signs in their yards that read "Turn off the Vegas Lights" because they believe they are too bright. A spokesperson for Promedica says it's met with neighbors several times and recently agreed to dim the lights by 50%. Still, some plan to take the issue to Sylvania city council Monday to demand the lights come down.

2. NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY AREA

Toledo will unveil a new play area for kids. On Tuesday, Mayor Mike Bell and students from Spring Elementary will dedicate "The Kid Spot." It's the new playground at George E. Bush Park at Stickney and Ashwood. As part of the dedication, two ice cream trucks will provide kids with a cool treat. The trucks honor the park's namesake. Mr. Bush owned a drug store and to encourage kids to do well in school, he'd give Spring School students free ice cream as a reward for having acceptable grade cards.

NEW STATE NEWS

3. TEXTING BAN

(AP) - In 90 days it will be illegal to text while driving in Ohio. Governor John Kasich has signed a ban Friday on writing, reading and sending texts from behind the wheel. Minors will be banned from using cell phones, iPads or other electronics while driving.

4. HORSE TRACK SLOTS

(AP) - A central Ohio horse racing track is the first such facility in the state to debut new slots-like gambling machines. Ohio is expanding the use of video lottery terminals at several horse tracks. Scioto Downs outside Columbus was the first to be granted a permanent license to operate the terminals.

5. GM PENSIONS

(AP) - General Motors is changing the way it pays monthly benefits to white-collar retirees, and cutting its U.S. pension obligation by $26 billion. the company says it will offer 42,000 retirees a lump-sum of cash to stop taking monthly benefits. The company will buy a group annuity for the rest of the salaried retirees, who will get their payments from Prudential Insurance Co. starting in 2013. The changes will affect a total of 118,000 white-collar retirees.

NEW NATIONAL NEWS

6. WORRISOME ECONOMY

(AP) - The American economy appears to be in trouble again. Only 69,000 jobs were created last month and the unemployment rate rose for the first time since last June. It stands at 8.2 percent. May was the third month in a row of weak job growth. The news worried investors already concerned about Europe's debt crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 275 points.

7. ROMNEY WEALTH

(AP) - A new financial report from GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney shows that his wealth remains near $250 million, about the same as last year. According to his campaign, Romney's assets ranged between $190 million and $250 million. The new report shows that Romney still made millions of dollars over the past year in lucrative bank notes and investment funds, including nearly 40 different funds associated with his former company, Bain Capital.