Pot growers: Tight timeline could delay 1st crop

COLUMBUS — Officials in Ohio say they don’t expect to issue the state’s first medical marijuana cultivator licenses until around November, at least a month later than growers expected.

The Ohio Department of Commerce announced the timetable Thursday.

It drew immediate concern from the National Cannabis Industry Association of Ohio. The association had anticipated growers having about a year before the September 2018 deadline to ramp up their operations and produce their first crop.

Association President Thomas Rosenberger said it will be difficult for growers to get the necessary local zoning approvals on such a tight time frame.

The state received 185 applications in June for 24 cultivator licenses. Ohio Medical Marijuana Control officials say they never estimated a date for scoring submissions and awarding licenses, and winners may know sooner.

Judge issues gag order in case of buried newborn

LEBANON — Attorneys and others involved in the case of an 18-year-old woman charged with aggravated murder in her newborn infant’s death have been ordered not to comment publicly outside the courtroom.

A Warren County judge issued the gag order Thursday in the case of Brooke Skylar Richardson. She has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges in the May death of the infant whose remains were found buried outside her home.

The remains were found July 14 in Carlisle, about 40 miles north of Cincinnati.

The prosecutor has alleged that Richardson “purposely caused” the death, then burned and buried the baby. Richardson’s attorney has said she “didn’t kill her baby.”

The judge says the gag order is intended to help ensure a fair trial.

Veterans conference to offer job, education info

COLUMBUS — Women veterans from around the state will get information on jobs, education and other topics at the biennial Ohio Women Veterans Conference.

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services says as many as 750 of the state’s 67,000 women veterans, representing all branches of military service, are expected to attend Saturday’s conference in Columbus.

The Ohio director for the Military Women Across the Nation organization tells The Columbus Dispatch that it is often difficult for women veterans to “come forward for the benefits they deserve.” Jennifer Baun says the conference helps create a sense of belonging among the veterans.

The conference will also address topics including how to manage finances and find volunteer opportunities.

It will be held at the Ohio Union on the campus of Ohio State University.

Trash cans chained after Niagara Falls tourist hurt

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — City crews in Niagara Falls are chaining down city trash cans after a tourist was struck and injured by a plastic can dropped from a parking ramp.

Local media report an Ohio woman suffered a broken clavicle when she was hit by the 50-gallon can while walking with her family to their hotel at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

No arrests have been made.

The woman was treated at a hospital and released.