Akron
Store robbed
AKRON: The owner of an Ellet convenience store was pistol-whipped in a robbery around noon Sunday.
Akron detectives said three masked males robbed the G&M Mini Mart, 3105 Mogadore Road, of an undetermined amount of money and struck the owner in the head. The robbers fled.
Detectives identified the owner as Suryaknt Patel. They said he suffered head injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The extent of his injuries was unknown.

STATE NEWS
Banks expanding
COLUMBUS: Ohio saw banks adding branches while most of the rest of the nation saw them decline.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that banks added more brick-and-mortar branches in Ohio than any other state except California in the 15 months ending Sept. 28.
Huntington Bancshares and JPMorgan Chase & Co. opened the most branches across the country.
The newspaper cites data from financial news service SNL Financial indicating that banks nationwide have been steadily adding branches from 1970 until 2009 when there were more than 100,000.
Ohio has about 4,400 bank offices with about 700 in the Cleveland area and 600 in the Columbus area.

Projects could stall
COLUMBUS: A proposed Ohio construction budget would probably favor repair work over new projects in hopes of avoiding borrowing.
The Columbus Dispatch reports the state can borrow up to $2.75 billion to pay for projects that usually cost about $1.5 billion over a two-year period.
A memo to state agencies from Ohio Budget Director Tim Keen says the construction budget should focus on necessary repairs, and high thresholds would have to be met for new construction.
Those priorities would likely mean less or no funding for community projects.
Proponents of increased funding for those projects say they will help stimulate the economy and put Ohioans to work.