The myth of the broadcasting ban; O’Hair not responsible for the petition that shocked millions

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page A11 Some might say the true legacy of Madalyn Murray O’Hair is her Supreme Court battle that ended mandatory school prayer. But for employees of the Federal Communications Commission, it’s Petition 2493. It’s one of the great urban legends of our time: that Ms. O’Hair was petitioning the […]

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True colors: David Duke returns to his old themes of hate, fear in ugly campaign to represent Louisiana in Congress

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page A1 AMITE, LA. — There’s a gleam in David Duke’s eyes, a glint of pure joy. He’s talking about one of his favorite topics: black people, and the evils he says they do. And he has an audience here at the Amite Fire Hall: 70 working-class white folk […]

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Museum visitors find Honest Abe, Clinton share few qualities

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 4 FORT WAYNE, IND. — The Senate may have let President Clinton off the hook yesterday, but the children at The Lincoln Museum weren’t so kind. “President Clinton, he just lies to our country,” said Kevin Hay, 10, a fifth grader at Brentwood Elementary School here. “President Lincoln, […]

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Historic building fall to drug store chains across U.S.; Toledo fights over Rite-Aid

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page B1 The nation’s largest drugstore chains have been battling each other for several years. But in Toledo, Rite Aid has been mostly alone in its aggressive construction of stand-alone “box” stores. “Rite Aid is just an irresponsible corporate citizen,” Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said at a recent press conference. […]

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Midwest battle site thrives; Tippecanoe and Fallen Timbers too: Parks could be alike

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 6 BATTLE GROUND, IND. — For Toledoans, it’s a familiar story. An army of the young United States clashes with Indians over who will control the Midwest. And while the Battle of Tippecanoe ended the same way the Battle of Fallen Timbers had a few years earlier – […]

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Significant sites in Ohio have become mere history

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 1 Patrick Susmilch works at the birthplace of Rutherford B. Hayes, our nation’s 19th president, in Delaware, O. He sells beef jerky, cheap cigarette lighters, and cassettes of The Best of Conway Twitty. Souvenirs on-site come in Regular, Premium, and Super Unleaded. The Hayes birthplace is now a […]

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Gettysburg fight not over; Tacky tourism, history still are engaged in great civil war

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 7 GETTYSBURG, PA. — It’s become a cliche for journalists to write about “The Second Battle of Gettysburg” everytime there’s some threat to the hallowed battlefield here. If that were true, they’d be up to the 20th or 30th Battle by now, because this sacred ground has, for […]

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My father is not a spy, West Toledo man says

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page A1 Three months before 50-year-old Douglas Groat was arrested for selling government secrets to two foreign governments, he was in Toledo, playing with his grandchildren. When Mr. Groat’s son, Shawn, was at work at a glass shop in Perrysburg, the older man watched the two girls, aged 2 […]

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Clergy face flocks shocked by scandal; Local clerics field questions

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 8A Although facts are still hard to come by, local clergy have begun fielding questions from their congregations about the latest Clinton crisis. “I hear both sides: people who are tired of hearing about the President’s personal life, and people who think, if he’s immoral in this, what […]

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3 groups selected for casinos in Detroit

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 1 DETROIT — For three groups hoping to open casinos in downtown Detroit, yesterday was like hitting the jackpot. Mayor Dennis Archer announced the three applicants – Atwater/Circus Circus, Greektown, and MGM Grand – that will be allowed to apply for the city’s three casino licenses. “These groups […]

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