Ohio's work to make sure more children have health coverage has earned the state $21 million in federal bonus funding.

U.S. health officials say Ohio is receiving bonus money for a second straight year. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says in a statement that more of Ohio's children now have the advantages health coverage provides.

Only 22 other states qualified for bonuses.

To receive the funding, states must surpass a Medicaid enrollment target and improve access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP.

The government says Ohio has been streamlining the enrollment process for children. For example, families are not required to appear for a face-to-face interview, which can be tough for working parents.

It is New Year's week, and before January begins, I always take an inventory of what is happening around the yard and in my life.

Triangular, purple kite-like contraptions placed in trees nationwide are helping agriculture officials learn
more about a beetle that's threatening forests.

The 61,500 traps installed in 48 states are part of a survey of the emerald ash borer. The invasive pest has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the United States and Canada, including in Ohio.

The 2011 survey shows the tiny, green beetle hasn't been detected outside of the 15 states where it's already known to exist, but it has been found in more counties in those states than last year.

Officials say the traps help them figure out how the beetle migrates and also helps raise public awareness about the bug.

Poor Will's Almanack for the Third Week of Early Winter.

The daughter of a friend of mine came to see me the other day, enquiring about how one might go about studying the natural world.

The Dayton VA Medical Center has a new director.  The Center that serves some A southwest Ohio medical center that serves some 37,000 veterans says Glenn Costie took over today.

The Dayton VA Medical center, which was rocked by dental clinic hygiene problems, says he is committed to delivering high quality and safe care to veterans.

Costie was the director at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, MO, the last two-plus years. He spent much of his 27-year VA career at Cleveland's VA Medical Center.