The good and less good about the Toledo area

... based upon these Sep 18, 2014 Toledo Blade stories.

GM powertrain plant gets award

A large pollution-prevention organization has recognized General Motors Co.’s Toledo Powertrain Plant for its efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

Toledo Port honored at freight conference

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has been honored again for increasing the amount of cargo it receives or sends out through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Lucas County grapples with obesity

According to the 2013/​2014 Lucas County Health Status Report, 70 percent of all Lucas County adults are either obese or overweight based on body mass index.

Pizza Hut is testing a lower-calorie pizza at a number of stores in the Toledo area

Poverty rate rises in Toledo

In 2009, Toledo's poverty rate was 23.8 percent. In 2012, it was 30.1 percent. In 2013, it was 28.2 percent.

Per capita income has dropped in the city since 2009, from $19,349 to $18,800.

... the poverty rate of single mothers with children age 5 rose from 42.9 percent in 2009 to 71 percent [in 2013].

About 100,000 people receive some sort of support by the food bank each month. There’s been a 76 percent increase in need over the last three years.

The civilian labor force in the city has fallen from 161,392 in 2009 to 135,374 last year.

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