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.
72° 72° chance Sat 88° Sat 88° chance 66° 66° Sun 80° Sun 80°
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Tuesday, March 24th, 2015

Mercer County no longer has lowest jobless rate in state

By Daily Standard Staff
Mercer County in February for the first time in more than three years does not hold the lowest unemployment rate in Ohio.
The county's jobless rate fell from 4.2 percent in January to 3.7 percent in February but was bumped from the bottom spot by Delaware County at 3.6 percent, according to data released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
Mercer County's unemployment rate had risen in January - along with most other Ohio counties - from a low of 2.6 percent in December.
Auglaize County's unemployment rate also dropped in February to 4.1 percent, keeping it at the fifth-lowest ranking in the state. The county's January rate was 4.7 percent and its December rate was 3.1 percent.
Jobless rates in neighboring counties for February were 4.6 percent in Van Wert, 5.1 percent in Darke, 4.9 percent in Shelby and 5.4 percent in Allen.
Ohio's revised unemployment rate for February was 5.1 percent - the same as in January and December. The state posted a 6.2 percent jobless rate one year ago.
The U.S. revised unemployment rate for February was 5.5 percent, down from 5.7 percent in January and 6.7 percent one year ago.
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Archive of March 24th, 2015
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