Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 12:43AM EDT by NWS Wilmington OH (details ...)
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory for the entire state of Ohio as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to adversely impact air quality.
Pollutants across the state are expected to range from the 'Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups' category in the southwest part of the state to the 'Unhealthy' category in the rest of the state. Hourly concentrations at times may reach the 'Very Unhealthy' to 'Hazardous' categories.
It is recommended, when possible, to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in the nose, throat, and eyes.
For additional information, please visit the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's website at epa.ohio.gov.
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Saturday, April 21st, 2012
Photo by Shelley Grieshop/The Daily Standard

Ohio Department of Transportation recently turned down a request for a stop light at the intersection of U.S. 127 and state Route 119, due to an insufficient volume of traffic. A fatal crash occurred at the site in October. ODOT recommended intersection warning signs on U.S. 127 and "cross traffic does not stop" signs on state Route 119, which were recently installed. Six people have died this year in accidents on U.S. 127 between Clover Four and state Route 119 - a four-mile stretch.

Related online story:
A recent series of fatal crashes along U.S. 127 in Mercer County raises questions about the highway's safety and an increase in distracted driving. [More]
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