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State Briefing

End of days for zombie Nativity

CINCINNATI — A ghoulish holiday tradition outside of Cincinnati will soon come to a close after an Ohio man said he won’t put up his “zombie Nativity” scene after this year. Sycamore Township’s Jasen Dixon said he originally wasn’t planning to install the display this Christmas season. “But I get hundreds of emails from people, local fans,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s almost like a cult following.” Dixon installed the display complete with zombie Mary and zombie baby Jesus in early December. He said he’ll put it in storage or sell it after it’s taken down sometime after Christmas. When it debuted four years ago, the nativity scene made news worldwide and was met with both scorn and celebration. Sycamore Township in previous years took Dixon to court for alleged zoning violations because of the structure built over the display but eventually dropped the case. Dixon’s attorney argued the township was trying to suppress his freedoms. The township didn’t issue any fines against Dixon last December and apparently won’t go after him this year. Township zoning administrator Harry Holbert Jr. said it’s not worth employee time and effort to fight the display.

Cleveland pays $375K to settle

CLEVELAND — Cleveland has agreed to pay $375,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed a white Cleveland police officer shot and wounded an unarmed black man who was trying to surrender while lying face down in a garage. Court documents show that a settlement was reached Thursday in the federal lawsuit filed by 29-year-old Kipp Holloway after the May 2014 shooting. According to the lawsuit and Holloway’s attorney, Terry Gilbert, Holloway had gotten a ride from two men he knew when he discovered the men were being chased by a security guard after breaking into a business. The driver of the car crashed after a high-speed pursuit on city streets and Holloway ran to a dilapidated garage where he hid behind a motorcycle, the lawsuit said. Holloway was lying on his stomach on the garage floor when heard a police radio and an officer approaching, prompting Holloway to call out that he was black, not armed and that he had his hands up, the lawsuit said. That’s when Sgt. Timothy Patton fired a shot “without provocation,” the lawsuit said. The shot went through Holloway’s left forearm and ricocheted off the floor into his chest. Patton then “yanked” Holloway to his knees and placed the barrel of a gun into his mouth while asking where his “boys” were, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit said Patton officers provided no first aid despite the fact Holloway was bleeding “profusely,” handcuffed him and forced him to walk to an ambulance.

Dance set for economic summit

COLUMBUS — An Ohio choreographer has composed a piece that dancers will perform at the opening of next month’s annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Edwaard Liang is the artistic director of BalletMet in Columbus and a former dancer with the New York City Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater in Holland. Liang has composed dance pieces for the Bolshoi Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Singapore Dance Theatre and many other companies. Liang, a native of Taiwan who grew up in California, was appointed BalletMet artistic director in 2013. Liang’s piece, tentatively titled “Four Seasons,” will be performed by the principal dancers of La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy.

$1M for entrepreneurship lab

CLEVELAND — Cleveland State University has received $1 million to create a collaborative, interdisciplinary learning laboratory to foster creative thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship. The gift from industrial property developer Weston Inc. will be used to create the Weston Ideation Lab within the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the university. Officials said in a release Thursday it will help students explore entrepreneurship through coursework, workshops, a speaker series and other learning opportunities. It also will provide potential entrepreneurs with more access to business mentors, legal and patent advice and business plan development. CSU President Ronald Berkman says the lab will help “fuse” fields like computer science, design, engineering and business to develop new products and services. Weston CEO James Asher says CSU’s location and experiential learning philosophy make it an ideal location.

Senior Hall of Famers sought

COLUMBUS — The state’s Department of Aging is seeking nominations for the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Officials say the Hall of Fame annually honors residents 60 and older who have made and continue to make a lasting impact on their professions, vocations or communities. Nominees must have been born in Ohio or have been residents of the state for at least 10 years. Those selected for induction in May 2018 will join more than 450 older Ohioans inducted since its inception in 1978. State officials say nominations are accepted year-round, but nominations for this year’s induction ceremony must be received by Jan. 31, 2018. Past inductees have included business leaders, volunteers, educators, scientists, health care professionals, athletes and entertainers among others. Posthumous nominations are accepted

Toy drive held in girl’s honor

HAMILTON — A toy drive for abused and neglected children is being held to honor the short life of an Ohio toddler who was fatally beaten by her mother’s boyfriend two years ago. An organizer who is friends with Kinsley Kinner’s father tells the Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News that toys donated in memory of the 2-year-old will be distributed to hospitals and groups that help children during the holidays. It’s a sort of continuation of a toy collection that was held in conjunction with Kinsley’s funeral. Her mother’s boyfriend, Bradley Young, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with possible parole. The girl’s mother, Rebekah Kinner, pleaded guilty to charges including involuntary manslaughter and got 11 years in prison.

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