AKRONRace breaks recordAKRON: More than 3,500 runners and walkers — more than ever before — participated in the 20th annual Home Run for the Homeless on Thursday to raise money for Gennesaret’s Family Nutritional Center, said Bob Dirgo, president of the organization.“Every year it just keeps getting bigger,” Dirgo said. “It’s unbelievable.”The event raised $30,000 last year, and this year’s race will top that total, Dirgo said.Racers had great weather and got into the holiday spirit with several dressing as turkeys and Indians. One racer, who formerly lived in Akron, flew in from Japan to participate, while another group drove nine hours from Duke University, Dirgo said.Olympic Gold Medalist Butch Reynolds and Mayor Don Plusquellic helped kick off the event.The race benefits the nutritional center, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing to families and serves hot meals to an average of 600 people a week.NORTH CANTONJob restructuringNORTH CANTON: The City Council plans to hear a first reading Monday of legislation creating a new position titled director of administrative services.The position would be part of an administration request to restructure its staff. The proposal includes elimination of the director of economic development position and reclassifying the director of permits’ responsibilities to include economic development.The director of administrative services would report to the city administrator and would be responsible for heading up special projects, including Zimber Ditch flooding, sewer-related problems, the community master plan and securing grants.The proposed annual salary is $60,000. The restructuring would be expense neutral, Council President Jon Snyder said.SUMMIT COUNTYMeeting on crimeAKRON: Summit County Councilman Frank Comunale will host a district meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Square branch of Akron-Summit County Public Library, 807 W. Market St.Following up on a previous crime prevention meeting in the Highland Square area, Akron police Lt. Cynthia Christman will talk about Block Watch, holiday safety tips and other crime prevention strategies. Comunale, who represents parts of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, will be available to answer questions and hear concerns from constituents. For more information, call 330-643-2725.AROUND OHIOWrestler convictedCINCINNATI: A Cincinnati jury convicted a former professional wrestler of charges he had sex with women without telling them he had tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS.Hamilton County jurors returned the verdict Wednesday on 14 felonious assault counts against Andre Davis, who wrestled using stage names including Gangsta of Love and Sweet Sexy Sensation.Prosecutors say the 29-year-old Davis didn’t tell a dozen sex partners about his HIV status or lied to them.The women testified they had unprotected sex with Davis. The judge prohibited attorneys from bringing up whether any of the women was infected.Defense attorneys challenged whether it was proved Davis was HIV-positive and suggested the women were promiscuous.World Wrestling Entertainment told Davis in 2009 it wouldn’t hire him because he failed a physical by testing positive for HIV.New license plateCOLUMBUS: Ohioans will see a new, simpler red-and-white license plate next year.The Columbus Dispatch reports that Gov. John Kasich will unveil the design at a Monday news conference at the Columbus College of Art & Design — the school where the plate was created.The new, simple design features a small red triangle at the top of the plate and a white background. Ohioans will choose state slogans over the coming months to adorn the background.The plate will replace or supplement the “Beautiful Ohio” plate based on a design by former Ohio first lady Frances Strickland. The colorful, year-old plates feature a barn, a city skyline and a Wright brothers biplane. A redesigned driver’s license is also expected to be unveiled Monday.Welfare forgivenessCOLUMBUS: Ohio has decided to kill a much-derided plan to collect accidental welfare overpayments going back to at least 1985, a top official said Thursday.Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services Director Michael Colbert said the state is returning to its previous policy of collecting debts up to 10 years old. However, he said, the state would only go after overpayments resulting from fraud not from a mistake on the state’s part.“It’s not the time now to go back 20 years, unless it’s a fraudulent situation,” he said. “If it’s not fraud, we don’t need to go back to very vulnerable people who might be trying to make a transition. Logistically, it is very hard to track.”The decision was made in late 2010 to extend the collection period for state welfare overpayments indefinitely to mirror a change made by the federal government.Cell phone abuseDAYTON: A newspaper investigation has found that tens of thousands of Ohioans are abusing a federal program that gives free cell phones to low-income households.The Dayton Daily News reports that cell phone companies are promoting it heavily and it is so commonly abused that 26,500 Ohioans in November have been notified they are violating the rules. Companies get up to $10 each month for each person who signs up.The 26,500 who were notified represent 5 percent of all users. They are suspected of signing up for more than one line.They have 35 days to pick one provider to stick with. The program had 280,000 Ohioans enrolled in 2008, but that has grown to almost 600,000 this year. The 2010 cost in Ohio was $58.9 million.Precaution for wellYOUNGSTOWN: Though Ohio rejected a possible link between brine disposal and earthquakes in northern Ohio, the state may require the injection well be plugged as a precaution.The Vindicator newspaper reports the Ohio Natural Resource department is relatively sure that the well that injects old water used for drilling natural gas wells isn’t responsible for six earthquakes this year, but may require the well be plugged if tests find that it penetrates too deep.Documents show a spike in the pressure of the water being injected into the well before some of the quakes. The well owner says the pressures are regulated and are safe.