Further cuts coming to First Energy

The news just keeps getting dimmer for our local electric giant.

An internal release to company employees says that more cuts will be announced next week:

"Severed employees will meet individually with their supervisors on July 28, along with representatives from Human Resources. They also will have the opportunity to talk to representatives from Right Management, the firm helping us with career transition consulting. Severed employees’ last day on the payroll will be August 27."

Don't yet know how any numbers .. or how these cuts will impact the Akron area, but the memo says the reductions come from the combining of its Finance office with its Strategic Planning and Operation folks.

Odds and Ends on a Thursday

Catching up ..

My first day back (Tuesday) ended with Mayor Plusquellic's Press Conference on the budget crisis. I wish I could be a fly on the wall as the five union leaders meet with city hall and with their members to find ways to cut. NO ONE wants layoffs this fall, but serious cuts are looming if enough dollars aren't caught. My jaw about hit the floor when the Mayor was asked how many employees need to take a buyout incentive to meet the goal. He responded with a reference to Summit County's incentive program, which netted about 130 or so .. and then said Akron needed "twice that many."

Mayor Plusquellic has agreed to be my live guest for a FOCUS segment of Channel 3, but we are still coordinating the details for his appearance in an upcoming news broadcast. Stay tuned.

I was amazed traveling west for vacation at how many giant wind turbines are out there. Hundreds and hundreds of windmills generating power in Nebraska, Iowa, etc. Why don't we see more of them here in NE Ohio?

I want to hear more about this racial hate crime involving a group of teens accosting a family in Firestone Park.

I'm looking forward to getting back to NewsNight Akron. Friday's show boasts Ed Esposito, Larry States, and Phil Trexler.

Finally, today's story still has me amazed. If the government can use a proactive virus to search my hard drive without me knowing it, what else can folks find? Check it out:

Back .. and ready to write!

After a three-week hiatus from all things journalism, I'm finally back .. did anything newsworthy happen other than Michael Jackson? Seems that's all I heard about during a camping trip out west with my wife and boys. One of my favorite parts was stopping at Field of Dreams in Dyersville, IA, and playing catch, hitting a few balls, and visiting the ghostly corn in the outfield (see photo).

I can't tell you how many times I came across something during the travels that made me want to write .. or inspired me to comment in some way. As a journalist, it was very, very difficult to not be working the night of the recall election. I mean, that's a BIG news night here in town.

Anyway, after 23 days off, I feel good. It's been a long time since I've felt this refreshed .. and it's a really good thing.

Returning to work at TV3 tomorrow .. and I have lots to catch up on here on the blog. Thanks for sticking with me ...

See ya soon ..

Governor Strickland approves gambling, major cuts to help with budget ..

Governor Strickland's arms are probably pretty tired. I can only imagine how many scenarios he drew up in the last 24 hours before coming up with his plan. Facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit and only two weeks from the new budget taking hold..

If you missed his 4 p.m. press conference, you can watch it here.

The big news is that he's approved extending the lottery program by adding slot machines to Ohio's racetracks .. all in a state that has knocked out casino gambling four times at the polls. He hopes the slots will raise just shy of a billion big ones in the next two years.

You think it's a good idea?

The Gov still needed to cut $2.43 billion .. so here's what he proposing:

• 37% cut to retirement contributions for state employees
• $200 million cut to public library funding
• $1.1 billion cut from Medicare
• cuts to early education, pre-school programs
• close one youth correctional facility

A lot to consider .. a lot on the line .. thoughts?

Brian Williams' ties are haunting me

In the news game, appearance is always, always an issue. The women I work with (no names) face the daunting task of keeping track of their outfits, to ensure they don't wear the same outfit too often .. usually never more than once in a three-week period.

I feel for them .. I really do.

Us guys .. we got it easy .. most male anchors could wear the same coat every other night and the viewers would never know ..

That is .. except for the tie .. (or the "vine" as Dick Russ likes to call it).

The rule of thumb is: the brighter, the better.

Orange, green, lots of "power" reds ... stripes are back in fashion too.

But now .. here comes NBC's Brian Williams .. or "B-dub" as we call him in our newsroom. He loves his ties, and his ties always seem to be just right. Monica and I often comment on his ties since he signs off and then we come up at 7 p.m.

My boss hit me a few weeks back with how strong BW's ties are and suggested I find a few purple ties. So last week, I stopped and got a few .. and have been wearing them this week.

Then this morning .. the Today show got into the act ... and took aim at the whole tie saga and compared B-dub and the other broadcasters.

Between him saying "goodnight" just before I say "good evening" . I'm beginning to feel like I can't get away from B-dub! And now I'm wearing my ties after him too!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Phil Trexler's Tribe book great for Indians fans and Father's Day!

Book review

OK .. our Tribe is running in sand right now .. and even with "Dollar Dog" night, there's only so many beatings at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and others before closing our eyes and wishing Manny Ramirez was back in Right Field, Buddy Bell was at Third, and Rocky Colavito was just in an Indians uniform!

Certainly the Good Old Days of the Tribe aren't all that good ... although some are quite old .. but when the memories and history are looked at in quantity, we certainly have a lovable and unique team.

That's why Phil Trexler's new book Yesterday and Today: Cleveland Indians is such a good read. Phil is a tremendous encyclopedia of Tribe facts and figures already, but the book is put together in snip-its and short stories so that a fan can begin reading on any page and find something entertaining.

There are hundreds of pictures -- literally something on just about every page -- that tell a great history and show us the fun of attending a Tribe game before bobbleheads became all the rage. There's not only photos not-recently (or ever) published, but lots of shots of collectibles (including some from Phil's own collection) that tell a great deal about the dugout fun of being a Tribe player and fan.

I consider myself a knowledgeable Indians fan but far from an expert. I learned a lot from the book, including more about Herb Score's head injury and what Trexler dubbed "The Lost Tribe 1969-1993." Those are the years of my youth, so I can totally empathize. If you're a Bob Feller fan, you'll find a lot of interesting reads. (Feller writes the book's Forward by the way).

I really enjoyed all the side stories that I'd never heard, such as Bill Veeck flying in orchids from Hawaii for the women in the stands, while other fans got live rabbits or ladders. Rabbits? Ladders? Oh this must have been a wild franchise all those years ago.

As a large, colorful hard-cover gem, Yesterday and Today screams coffee table, but it's so much more than that. It's an historical reference when a player or special moment jumps in to your head, and you just need a quick glimpse of it.

My favorite Indian of all-time is still Omar Vizquel. If you've followed the Tribe, then you know how special he was to the team and how entertaining and talented he was at the games. His smile, his diving stops, and his double plays were the things of rock videos. Trexler has a good sequence on Omar titled "Magic Man."

So if you're out and about looking for something for dad .. or just something for a Tribe fan .. this is a no-brainer. Buy the book at Barnes and Noble in Montrose and keep it out in the open where you can grab it for entertainment on the nights when the Indians struggle, which has been a lot lately.

It's a good investment, and one you'll be proud to show off, regardless of where the team falls in the standings.

Enjoy.