Green groups intensify push for Ohio State University president to exit coal company boardCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Environmentalists are intensifying their calls for Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee (GHEE) to step down from the board of a Richmond, Va.-based coal mining company in advance of the company’s shareholder meeting Tuesday. Obama plans to spend $5 billion to turn around 5,000 failing schoolsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama intends to use $5 billion to prod local officials to close failing schools and reopen them with new teachers and principals. Prep events in Florida, New Mexico join the list of those affected by spread of swine fluThe spread of the swine flu has affected high school sports in two more states, with New Mexico postponing athletic events and Florida granting athletes pulled from a state track championship the chance to compete in a separate meet later. Teachers union says school board memo appears to force support for Chicago’s 2016 Olympics bidCHICAGO — A teachers union says an e-mail from the Chicago school board appears to force principals to support the city’s bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. Religion News in BriefPITTSBURGH — State House officials say they have been inundated with protests about a policy that barred a clergyman from using the word “Jesus” in a prayer that was to open one of the lawmakers’ daily sessions. |