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Today, the House Energy and Power Subcommittee held a hearing on Congressman Bill Johnson’s (R-Marietta) Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act (BRICK Act). The legislation will officially be introduced this week.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, requested information from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) about foreclosure-prevention options available to homeowners through the Distressed Asset Stabilization Program

The City of Geneva will install a new metering system for residential and commercial water meters while making use of a low-interest loan from Ohio EPA. Geneva will replace obsolete city-owned water meters with a new automated meter reading system. The improvements will assure accurate billing and provide reliable water delivery.

Niles will rehabilitate, expand and upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to increase wet weather storage and treatment capacity using a loan from Ohio EPA. The project will improve water quality in the Mahoning River.

Extensive water samples taken by Ohio EPA Sunday evening at three local schools near Sebring show that 121 of the 123 samples are below the federal allowable level, and those that were above the federal allowable level are contained to drinking water fountains, not the incoming water supply to the building.

Ohio EPA is accepting nominations to finance drinking water infrastructure improvements through the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA). Ohio EPA will continue to offer up to $50 million in no interest loans for public drinking water systems (that use surface water as a source) for projects to treat cyanotoxins associated with Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB)

As the village of Sebring makes changes to its water chemistry to reduce corrosion in homeowners’ piping, new water sampling results show progress as 25 of the 28 homes where water samples were taken are below the federal guidelines. In addition, 15 water samples were taken at three local schools and all but one sample was lower than the allowable level

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced that the Senate will consider hisEnergy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) next week. ESIC has received widespread support from both Democrats and Republicans as well as industry leaders, energy-efficiency advocates and environmental stakeholders because it reduces pollution, saves consumers money and creates jobs. Portman introduced this legislation with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

Regarding today’s announcement that FFP New Hydro LLC can move forward with four hydropower projects on the Muskingum River, including the Malta Lock & Dam Water Power Project and the Rokeby Lock & Dam Water Power Project, all of the following may be attributed to Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH)

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) today voted in support of S.J.Res.22, providing for congressional disapproval of the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule submitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The WOTUS rule, which was finalized in June 2015, significantly expands the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act over virtually all waters and wet areas in the country.

The opportunity for this generation to buy a first home has been thwarted by sluggish income growth in the job market often made worse by the overcharge of student loan debt. That debt has put homeownership out of reach for millions of creditworthy borrowers.

The Justice Department announced today that Kent State University (KSU) has agreed to pay $145,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit alleging that the university had maintained a policy of not allowing students with psychological disabilities to keep emotional support animals in university-operated student housing.  Under the settlement agreement, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, KSU will

Area teachers will be able to learn about and expose their students to a beaver lodge exhibit thanks to work being done by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) at its Grand River Conservation Campus, Morgan Swamp Preserve. With financial assistance from Ohio EPA, TNC will design and build a beaver lodge exhibit in an existing building at the Morgan Swamp Preserve site

Ohio EPA has issued the final 2016 Program Management Plan and Project Priority List for the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). The fund provides financial and technical assistance for a variety of projects, addressing the quality of Ohio's rivers, streams, lakes and other water bodies.

Bellville will construct baffles within clarifiers, and add a mixing system to an existing aerobic digester used at the treatment plant. Funding will also allow for the replacement of the Greenbriar Lift Station, which has been used far beyond its design life. The improvements will alleviate water quality impacts in Clear Fork, a tributary to the Mohican River.

Central Ohio inventory continues to remain at a record low – lower than any year since 2000. The total inventory of homes for sale during the month of November in central Ohio was 6,976, a decrease of 9.3 percent from the previous month and 16.3 percent lower than November 2014, according to the Columbus REALTORS Multiple Listing Service.

The city will separate storm sewer flows from the sanitary sewer system by installing new sanitary sewers, a major underground storage basin, a new pump station and force main, and a back-up power generator. Currently, the combined sewer allows untreated wastewater to escape from the sewer system. This project is part of Norwalk’s combined sewer overflow long-term control plan

The Northwestern Water and Sewer District will conduct an audit of its public water system to determine the extent of water loss and lost revenue due to leaks, meter problems, billing issues and unmetered usage. A low-interest loan from Ohio EPA is assisting in the financing of the project.

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill being considered in the Senate includes funding for new opportunities to help Ohio, Michigan, and other states impacted by the housing crisis revitalize their neighborhoods. It does this by giving Treasury the flexibility to transfer as much as $2 billion to the Hardest Hit Fund, which focuses on demolishing vacant and blighted structures which pose a growing threat to the public safety and economic well-being of our communities

Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor is urging Ohioans to conduct an insurance review with their agent before severe winter weather arrives. Taylor also advises that people prepare their properties and vehicles to reduce the risk of damage.