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COLUMBUS — Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Insurance Director Mary Taylor has issued a consumer alert after reports have surfaced that telephone con artists are using the confusion surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to attempt to steal Ohioans’ personal information. The scammers are claiming to be representatives of a health insurance exchange, Medicare or a “government program.”

The following is a weekly report concerning construction and maintenance work on state highways within the Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, which includes the counties of Allen, Defiance, Hancock, Hardin, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert and Wyandot.

Interstate 75 Reconstruction Project

For the most recent information concerning the Interstate 75 reconstruction project through Lima and Allen County and the safety upgrade of Ohio 117/309 on Lima’s east side, please visit: www.odotlima75.org

Interstate 75 between Fourth Street and Ohio 81 in Lima will have occasional nighttime lane restrictions during reconstruction of the existing lanes of pavement, replacement of mainline bridges and reconstruction of the interchanges. Work began in March 2013 and will continue through fall of 2015. Traffic is maintained two lanes in each direction the majority of the time. Lane restrictions generally occur from 7 p.m. until 10 a.m. the following morning. All ramp entrance and exits are currently available.

Ohio 117/309 is one lane in each direction in the eastbound lanes from just west of the Interchange with Interstate 75 to Belmont Avenue (Kmart) during a safety upgrade project which will reconstruct areas of the pavement and install a raised curb median in the center of the roadway. A two-way, left-turn lane begins at Saratoga Avenue. Traffic will remain in this pattern until mid to late summer to allow for work at the interchange at Interstate 75 and on the north side of Ohio 117/309.

Ohio 81 from just west of Stewart Road to just west of Neubrecht Road east of Lima is one lane in each direction in the existing eastbound lanes for pavement reconstruction. All ramp movements are currently maintained at the interchange with Interstate 75.

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Ohio 309 (Elida Road) between Eastown Road and Robb Avenue will be restricted to one lane through the work zone during nighttime hours only for work to extend sections of an existing concrete median curb and to lengthen a turn lane. Work will generally take place between the hours of 9 p.m. until 6:30 a.m. the following day.

The existing median curb in both the eastbound and westbound directions will be extended at the intersections of American Avenue, Hartzler Road, Veterans Way and Arthur Avenue, and in the eastbound direction only at Robb Avenue. The project will also extend the eastbound left-turn lane at the west entrance to the Lima Mall at Hartzler Road. The project also includes curb work at the north end of the eastern Lima Mall entrance. The project is expected to be completed in approximately one month.

Allen County

U.S. 30 will be restricted to one lane throughout the work zone at various locations for joint sealing.

Putnam County

Ohio 613 will be restricted to one lane throughout the work zones at various locations for catch basin maintenance.

Ohio 189 over Sugar Creek in Vaughnsville closed until June 15 for a bridge deck replacement. Traffic detoured onto Ohio 190, U.S. 224 and Ohio 115 back to Ohio 189.

Ohio 12 will be restricted to one lane throughout the work zones at various locations for catch basin maintenance.

Ohio 12 in Columbus Grove closed March 15 for 90 days for a sewer replacement. Traffic detoured onto Ohio 65 and Sycamore Street back to Ohio 12.

Van Wert County

U.S. 30 between Van Wert and the Indiana state line will be restricted to one lane throughout the work zone for pavement repair.

Associated Press

COLUMBUS — Majority Republicans in the Ohio Senate proposed an education funding plan on Thursday that they said spreads more money to more school districts, as they look to leave their mark on the spending blueprint.

The Senate plan would increase state spending on K-12 education in the two-year budget by more than $717 million compared to the current budget, which ends June 30.

Schools would see an additional $141.6 million in direct state aid under the GOP-controlled Senate plan, compared to the funding formula the House passed in its version of the budget bill.

Senate President Keith Faber told reporters the money stems from expected adjustments to state revenue and Medicaid caseload projections.

“It is a significant investment across the spectrum,” said Faber, a Celina Republican.

Faber cautioned that the education proposal is still a work in progress. Additional changes could come Tuesday in the Senate Finance Committee. A full Senate vote on the budget is planned for June 6.

Senators also added $54 million to help schools meet a state mandate that students must know how to read before leaving third grade. Early childhood education would also see an additional $30 million over the budget period.

State aid school districts get for each student would see a boost compared to Gov. John Kasich’s proposed figures — up from Kasich’s $5,000 per student to $5,745 in the first year and $5,800 in the second year of the budget.

The Senate is also considering whether to set aside another $50 million for the governor’s proposed Straight A fund, which will deliver grants to districts for innovation and efficiency measures.

The chairman of the Senate finance panel’s education subcommittee said senators planned to continue to evaluate changes to the Straight A fund over the weekend.

“We believe we can add to that in a meaningful way to provide real opportunities for change and innovation in our local public schools,” said Sen. Randy Gardner, a Bowling Green Republican.

Under the House version of the budget, district funding increases would be capped to 6 percent each year. But the Senate’s plan would change that cap to 6.25 percent in the first year of the budget, and a 10.5 percent in the second year.

State Sen. Chris Widener, a Springfield Republican, said senators found that by using higher caps, they could equalize even more dollars to all districts.

Staff reports

DELPHOS — The Delphos portion of the Miami and Erie Canal may see much-needed improvements.