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Article Index:

  • Amusement rides injure 4,000 kids each year, study finds
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 2, 2013) — As summer draws near, children will soon be freed from classrooms and will flock to amusement parks, festivals and fairs. But what they and their parents might not know is that more than 4,000 children nationwide visit emergency rooms each year because of injuries on amusement rides, according to a study released yesterday by researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

  • Ex-legislator Carey named state’s higher-ed chancellor
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 25, 2013) — Gov. John Kasich named a former state representative to lead Ohio’s higher-education system yesterday, saying his “job-creation mindset” will further the governor’s plans for the state’s economy.

  • Hamilton Co. magnet for out-of-county workers
  • By Lance Lambert (llambert@enquirer.com)
    The Cincinnati Enquirer

  • (April 22, 2013) — Every working day, more than 110,000 commuters from outside Hamiton County head into the county than people leave the county for work elsewhere.

  • And you think your commute is bad
  • By Lance Lambert (llambert@enquirer.com)
    The Cincinnati Enquirer

  • (April 22, 2013) — Hamilton County’s economy draw is so strong that more than 3 of every 100 commuters to the county live outside the region, Census estimates released last month show.

  • City workers moving into renovated police headquarters
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 17, 2013) — About 250 city of Columbus employees have begun moving into the former police headquarters after almost $38 million in repairs and renovations modernized the 1929 building.

  • Lawmakers Review Adjunct Faculty Legislation
  • By Lance Lambert
    The News Record

  • (April 17, 2013) — The Ohio House and Senate are considering legislation to grant adjunct faculty and employed graduate students collective bargaining rights.
    In March, Rep. Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) and Sen. Nina Turner (D-Cleveland) introduced HB 96 and SB 65, identical bills that would give more rights to part-time teaching employees at public higher education institutions.

  • Medicaid Expansion Budget Halted
  • By Lance Lambert
    The News Record

  • (April 14, 2013) — The Republican-controlled Ohio House of Representatives removed Medicaid expansion from its budget; meaning low-income Ohioans might be without healthcare in the near future.

  • Same-sex marriage debated at OSU
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 12, 2013) — Last night’s town-hall debate on same-sex marriage began with a question from an audience member, who held up a copy of the Constitution and asked the panelists to explain how marriage equality wasn’t already protected.

  • Pension-board member’s Hawaii trip takes more heat despite testimony
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 10, 2013) — To no avail, the Ohio Retirement Council again has urged board members of one of Ohio’s public-pension funds to reconsider travel to Hawaii as well as update its travel policy.
    Barbra Phillips, one of two School Employees Retirement System of Ohio board members headed to Hawaii in May for a conference, stood before state lawmakers yesterday for the first time since they called for the trip to be canceled.

  • Bill seeks more details on bond issuances on ballot
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 10, 2013) — Ohio’s local governments soon might be required to give voters more information about their bond issuances in an effort to improve transparency, officials said.

  • Republicans want bond issues more transparent on ballot
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (April 10, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Republican-backed bill would require governments and schools in Ohio to disclose more information about their debt when asking voters to approve bond issues.

  • DeWine panel suggests foster-care changes
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 9, 2013) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is asking for changes in the state’s foster-care system to make life “more normal” for the children in the system and easier on the families that bring them home.

  • Ono Appointed to Advisory Board
  • By Lance Lambert
    The News Record

  • (April 7, 2013) — University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono now has influence over funding for innovation and job growth in Ohio, following his new appointment from the governor.

  • Women’s group objects to religious exemption on covering contraceptives
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 3, 2013) — Carole DePaola doesn’t remember when or where she contracted the sexually transmitted disease HPV, but she can easily recall the Pap smear showing that the virus had caused cancerous cells to grow in her uterus.

  • Critics say DeWine’s contraception letter dangerous for women
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (April 2, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus and other groups have blasted Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine for his support of exempting private employers, if they object on religious grounds, from providing contraceptive coverage to employees.

  • Tainted park cleaned for summer campers
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 2, 2013) — Columbus officials hope to clean up a site contaminated with mercury before the city’s popular summer camps open this year.

  • Interest Rates On Stafford Loans Could Increase
  • By Lance Lambert
    The News Record

  • (March 31, 2013) —
    Incoming University of Cincinnati students will pay a higher college-loan interest rate, unless Congress makes a deal to prevent mandatory cuts.

  • Illegal residents can get licenses
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 30, 2013) — Illegal immigrants with the necessary documents finally will be able to obtain a driver’s license from any Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles deputy registrar they choose.

  • Ohio, 12 other states call for contraceptive exemption to Obamacare
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (March 29, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, along with 12 other attorneys general, has urged the federal government to broaden religious exemptions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, claiming the policy violates religious freedoms.

  • Ohio, 12 other states call for contraceptive exemption to Obamacare
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (March 29, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, along with 12 other attorneys general, has urged the federal government to broaden religious exemptions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, claiming the policy violates religious freedoms.

  • Teachers pack heat at gun school
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 28, 2013) — A shooter is loose in the school. Vulnerable staff members cry for help as the gunman stands close and shoots them all.

  • Waterways hurting in U.S.; less so in Ohio
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 27, 2013) — Fifty-five percent of U.S. rivers and streams were in poor condition for aquatic life four years ago, largely because of fertilizer runoff, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said yesterday.

  • Website scores low for openness
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 27, 2013) — Ohio earned a D+, identifying it as one of seven “lagging states” missing large portions of spending data on their transparency websites, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

  • 2 state workers named in probe at Job and Family Services
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 26, 2013) — The two technology workers from the Department of Job and Family Services who are being investigated by the FBI and Ohio inspector general’s office for “suspicious activity” have been identified, but details of the case haven’t been released.

  • Investigation at state agency is a mystery
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 23, 2013) — One technology professional with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services was let go and another put on leave yesterday after they were linked to “suspicious activity” in the department’s information technology office.

  • School workers’ pension-fund board goes ahead with Hawaii trip
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 22, 2013) — The state pension board that approved sending three members to a conference in Hawaii spent about an hour yesterday debating whether public pressure to cancel the trip should sway them.

  • Children’s advocates push for increase in funding
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 22, 2013) — The Public Children Services Association of Ohio is seeking a new fund to be added to Gov. John Kasich’s budget that would allocate more money to county children service programs — if they can provide proof of local support.

  • Ex-justice Sandra Day O’Connor pushes for civics in Ohio classrooms
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 21, 2013) — Speaking from what she called “perhaps the most beautiful” courtroom in America, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor told Ohio’s students they need to learn more about the country’s justice system.

  • IT contract expected to save state $150 million in five years
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 21, 2013) — The state of Ohio’s IT mainframe currently takes up four floors and 350,000 square feet of space, and worse, it’s inefficient. So the Department of Administrative Services expects a $267 million contract with IBM will save taxpayers millions in return.

  • Columbus residents embrace recycling
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 19, 2013) — Columbus residents have responded to the city’s curbside recycling program with praise and overflowing blue bins.

  • Bill would allow school safety levies
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 19, 2013) — A bill that allows school districts to levy a property tax to support school safety is making its way to the Senate floor.

  • Crowds enjoy Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 17, 2013) — Thousands of people decked in green lined the streets of Dublin as floats, marching bands and, of course, leprechauns passed by in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade this morning.

  • Leprechauns help make Dublin parade grand
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 17, 2013) — Cap Clegg knew all eyes would be on him yesterday. After all, he is the city of Dublin’s very own leprechaun.

  • Eye in sky: How much can it spy?
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 17, 2013) — As the federal government eases more drones into national airspace, some question whether these devices are flying without laws protecting the privacy of citizens on the ground.

  • Ohio has more beekeepers, but fewer inspectors
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 16, 2013) — Ohio’s growing ranks of beekeepers are adding bees, which pollinate more than 70 crops in the state, but fewer counties are paying for inspectors to make sure the hives are healthy.

  • Statehouse Holocaust memorial might tap public funds
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 13, 2013) — The $2 million in private funds that have been set aside to construct the Ohio Statehouse’s new Holocaust Memorial might not cover all of the project’s costs. An unknown amount of public money might be needed to pay for preliminary construction.

  • TV’s Murphy joins school funding pleas in Columbus
  • By Lance Lambert
    The Times-Reporter

  • (March 13, 2013) — COLUMBUS — Local superintendents joined school representatives from the Appalachian region to speak against Gov. John Kasich’s two-year budget Tuesday at the Ohio Statehouse.

  • Internet cafe bill passes in Ohio House
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (March 13, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio House passed legislation Wednesday that would all but eliminate Internet sweepstakes cafes.

  • Internet cafe bill clears Ohio House panel
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (March 12, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio House committee today approved legislation that would essentially outlaw Internet cafes in Ohio. The bill’s next stop is the Ohio House floor before the measure is sent to the Senate.

  • Travel out of whack at school workers’ pension fund
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 11, 2013) — The Ohio retirement system that is planning to send three board members to Hawaii in May spent more on travel last year than the other four state pension funds combined.

  • Oversight panel rips pension board’s Hawaii conference
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 6, 2013) — It’s usually about 85 degrees in Honolulu in May, so when the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio’s board of trustees decided to send three members to Hawaii for a conference, they probably were expecting high temperatures.

  • Bill allows driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants who came as children
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 5, 2013) — Two Democrats in the Ohio Senate said yesterday that they will introduce a bill to make plain what the Bureau of Motor Vehicles hasn’t determined: Immigrants brought into the country illegally when they were children should be eligible for driver’s licenses.

  • Public funds pay for Hawaii trip
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com) and Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 2, 2013) — Three board members of the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio are budgeted to spend more than $11,000 of public funds to attend a five-day conference at the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel.

  • House OKs Turnpike bill that affects I-70/71
  • By Ryan Clark (rclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 1, 2013) — A plan that could advance rebuilding the I-70/71 corridor Downtown by six years is halfway home in the legislature.

  • Direct Energy gives $100,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 28, 2013) — To help students with their 1-2-3s, Direct Energy is adding another number with slightly more zeroes to the equation.

  • Bill would shield social-media passwords from prying bosses
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 28, 2013) — You might think you’ve outsmarted your boss or future boss by controlling what they can see on your Facebook page, but that doesn’t stop them from asking you to give them your password, allowing them to see everything.

  • Ohio bill aims to nullify any new gun rules
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 28, 2013) — Legislation introduced this month would allow state law-enforcement agents to disregard federal law relating to gun regulations and make it a first-degree felony if officers in Ohio enforced a federal ban on assault weapons.

  • Senators to fix Ohio law protecting children from enticement
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (February 28, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several Ohio senators have banded together to revise Ohio’s child-enticement law after an appeals court ruled the statute unconstitutional last week.

  • Sequestration Could Impact Students
  • By Lance Lambert
    The News Record

  • (February 27, 2013) — Low-income students at the University of Cincinnati might have fewer work-study jobs if politicians in Washington, D.C., do not prevent mandatory spending cuts before Friday.

  • More witnesses say Internet cafes harbor organized crime, hurt charities
  • By Rex Santus (rstantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (February 26, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — A lack of regulation allows Internet cafes to engage in criminal activity like consumer fraud, money-laundering, racketeering and sex-trafficking, the president of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police told an Ohio House committee Tuesday.

  • College Students In Danger of Credit Debt
  • By Lance Lambert (lambert.lance@ymail.com)
    The News Record

  • (February 25, 2013) —
    College students trying to build credit by using a credit card have reason to think twice after a study showed they might carry any debt with them to the grave.

  • Kasich Calls for Medicaid Expansion
  • By Lance Lambert (lambert.lance@ymail.com)
    The News Record

  • (February 25, 2013) — Hundreds of thousands of low-income Ohioans will receive healthcare coverage following Gov. John Kasich’s decision to expand Medicaid.

  • Teenagers, caffeine don’t mix, doctors say
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 24, 2013) — A few years ago, Dr. Ebo Kwabena Blankson noticed that more of his teenage patients were complaining of anxiety and sleep problems.

  • Kasich again tackles faculty load
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 23, 2013) — Gov. John Kasich’s office has renewed a 2011 attempt to make Ohio’s public-college professors teach more classes. Critics say it’s a one-size-fits-all solution to a multifaceted issue.

  • Medical costs rose 9.3% here in 2012, U.S. says
  • By Lance Lambert (lambert.lance@ymail.com)
    The Cincinnai Enquirer

  • (February 22, 2013) — Medical costs in Greater Cincinnati grew at a nearly double-digit pace in 2012, outpacing 26 of 27 U.S. metropolitan areas.

  • Bill alters how inspector general is chosen
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 21, 2013) — Democratic Reps. Connie Pillich and Chris Redfern want to end the “political inclinations and lack of competence” that they say have prevented Inspector General Randy Meyer from investigating wrongful acts in state government.

  • State of the State, Kasich Outlines Budget Proposal
  • By Lance Lambert (lambert.lance@ymail.com)
    The News Record

  • (February 20, 2013) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich made the case for his proposed changes in Medicaid, taxes and education funding during the State of the State address in Lima, Ohio Tuesday.

  • Don’t be in big rush to file state tax return
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 16, 2013) — For those considering filing state income-tax returns within the next week, the state Department of Taxation says that to do so could be a disservice to your pocketbook.

  • Dublin pain-clinic doctor’s license revoked
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 14, 2013) — The State Medical Board permanently revoked a Dublin doctor’s license yesterday for overprescribing pain medication.

  • Food at risk?
  • By Lydia Coutré
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 10, 2013) — About 43 percent of food-borne illness outbreaks can be traced to food prepared at restaurants, according to the latest available U.S. data, making ordering from a menu the single-largest source for unsafe food.

  • Inspections: ‘Critical’ violations not common
  • By Lydia Coutré
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 10, 2013) — When Garrett A. Guillozet enters a restaurant for a routine inspection, he is armed with test strips, a flashlight and a thermometer.

  • Dancing ‘lion’ helps Chinese greet new year
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 10, 2013) — Two men in traditional Chinese lion costumes danced through Sunflower Chinese Restaurant under large, ornate heads complete with fluttering eyelids and flapping mouths.

  • Governor tosses out license plate replacement plan
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (February 7, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – A plan that would require Ohioans to replace their license plates every seven years has been scrapped.

  • OSU process gets ‘clean coal’ energy
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 7, 2013) — Ohio State University researchers say they have created a process to draw energy from coal without burning the fossil fuel, reducing 99 percent of the pollution tied to climate change.

  • Consumers unsure about broader sales tax
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com) and Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 6, 2013) — Sitting in a salon chair with her hair over her face, Sylvia Stevens wondered if Ohio consumers would win or lose should Gov. John Kasich get the tax overhaul he wants.

  • Replacing car plates would be required under budget proposal
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 30, 2013) — Ohioans might have to pay $10 every seven years to replace their license plates, starting with cars still running around with gold plates or bicentennial plates — which the state would recall beginning in December.

  • Brown wants more pediatric-research funding
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 29, 2013) — When Madison Reed was 7 months old, doctors told her parents she wouldn’t live past 2.

  • Welfare agency’s merger plan stirs push to keep Athens County office
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 29, 2013) — State Sen. Lou Gentile is adding his voice to calls for Gov. John Kasich and his administration to consider alternatives to closing 13 regional offices of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

  • Mayfield Heights Mayor Gregory Costabile pleads guilty to ethics violations
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (January 29, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mayfield Heights Mayor Gregory Costabile pleaded guilty Tuesday to two misdemeanor ethics violations for failing to disclose income he received from two companies that have done business with the city.

  • Eat while learning? No objection
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 27, 2013) — There used to be something unacceptable — although the Ohio Supreme Court can’t quite put its finger on what — about lawyers eating and learning at the same time.

  • Roadway projects get panel’s approval
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 26, 2013) — Nearly 40 major road projects across the state that had been repeatedly shuffled and rescheduled last year have been prioritized, finalized and recommended to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

  • Scourge of flu remains strong
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 26, 2013) — Flu remains widespread in Ohio, and cases are elevated across the country, according to numbers released yesterday by state and federal health officials.

  • Gahanna may raise income tax to 2.5%
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 24, 2013) — Gahanna’s leaders are considering increasing the city’s income tax to 2.5 percent from 1.5 percent to make up for an $8 million budget gap.

  • 3 bogus hunting guides sentenced
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 23, 2013) — Three New Albany men received prison time, fines and hunting-license suspensions last week for operating an illegal hunting-guide service on property they didn’t own in the Columbus suburb.

  • Hoaxed player dragged into Citizens United fight
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 22, 2013) — Manti Te’o’s hoax girlfriend is the butt of Internet gags and numerous jokes, so why not make it the point of a group pushing for campaign-finance reform.

  • Last group of Columbus recyclers starts Feb. 1
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 19, 2013) — The last phase of Columbus’ curbside recycling program is to begin on Feb. 1, after the city rolled out the remaining bins to residents this week.

  • Doctors praise new eggless flu vaccine
  • By Sara Jerde (sjerde@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 18, 2013) — Amid a national flu epidemic, and at a time when health officials are urging everyone to get a shot, doctors are praising a promising new vaccine.

  • Ohio’s nursing homes get favorable ratings again
  • By Joshua Jamerson (jjamerson@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 17, 2013) — Families of nursing-home residents across the state reported overall satisfaction with the care being provided to their loved ones in 2012, according to results of a state study released yesterday.

  • State fines Cleveland casino for unapproved software
  • By Ryan Clark (ryanclark@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 17, 2013) — Ohio casino regulators issued the first fine for one of the state’s casinos today after the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland used unapproved software for almost four months.

  • Ohio liquor sales break another record
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (January 16, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohioans have broken the state record for liquor sales — for at least the sixth straight year.

  • Ohio Senate Democrats lay out their legislative priorities
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (January 15, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — A possible assault-weapons bill, the expansion of early voting hours and school funding changes are among this year’s legislative priorities for Democrats in the Ohio Senate.

  • Storm-damaged Edgewater Marina will get repairs
  • By Rex Santus (rsantus@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (January 14, 2013) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than two months after superstorm Sandy hurled through Cleveland, the Ohio Controlling Board approved $1.6 million Monday for emergency repairs to Edgewater Marina on the city’s West Side.

  • Ohio’s youngest inmates have become its most dangerous
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (December 30, 2012) — The most violent prisons in Ohio aren’t the maximum-security facilities or those housing Death Row inmates.They’re those holding teenager.

  • Ohio prison reform slower than expected
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (December 13, 2012) — Decrease the number of inmates in Ohio’s prisons and save taxpayers money. That was the idea behind a sentencing reform law backed by state legislators on both sides of the aisle. It took effect last September, but more than a year later, WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports the legislation hasn’t worked as quickly as some had hoped.

  • Ohio schools face new grading system under proposed legislation
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (December 7, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — The House’s passage of the latest Republican-backed education bill that implements a more demanding evaluation system for schools, along with other significant changes, will put Democrats and teachers on the defensive as the bill moves into the Senate next week.

  • Ohio House OKs regulations to help guide businesses on Obamacare insurance exchanges
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (December 6, 2012) — Columbus — Ohio lawmakers are moving a bill through the General Assembly providing the state with regulatory authority over so-called healthcare navigators, who will guide both individuals and small businesses through the healthcare exchanges mandated under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the bill established the healthcare navigators).

  • Divorce cases could be easier in Ohio with new legislation
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (December 5, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Divorce proceedings should become less time-consuming, less expensive and easier on both couples and children following the passage of legislation Tuesday.

  • East Side robber could get more than 73 years
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 27, 2012) — An East Side man who pleaded guilty yesterday to robbing six people in four incidents last year could be sentenced to more than 73 years in prison.

  • High St. parking meters going live today
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 19, 2012) — Columbus is taking a step toward a more walkable Downtown with 30 new parking meters going into service today at 9 a.m.

  • Former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich talks fiscal cliff
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (November 16, 2012) — George Voinovich is talking about the so-called fiscal cliff, a package of tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect if Congress doesn’t act.

  • Young hunters get first crack at deer gun season
  • By Michael Locklear
    Ohio Public Radio

  • (November 16, 2012) — The number of deer taken during the archery season is up 23 percent in Ohio. That’s in the first month and a half of the season compared to the same period last year. This weekend, hunters under the age of 18 can start using guns. For Ohio Public Radio, Michael Locklear reports. [Listen to report]

  • Planned Parenthood bill gets panel’s OK
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 15, 2012) — Hours of testimony from those who oppose a bill that would cut funding for Planned Parenthood didn’t sway most House of Representatives committee members who voted on it.

  • Tuition going up at Columbus State in 2013
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 15, 2012) — Full-time students at Columbus State Community College will pay an extra $199 a year for tuition starting next summer.

  • Ohio bill would strengthen laws banning synthetic drugs
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (November 14, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers have sought to ban synthetic drugs such as bath salts and incense, which can cause paranoid and violent reactions in their abusers.

  • Puppy mill bill passes house committee
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (November 14, 2012) — The so-called “puppy mill bill” is one step closer to becoming law. The Ohio House voted to pass its version of the legislation by a vote of 91-5, but it was late Tuesday afternoon that members passed the crackdown on high-volume dog breeders out of committee. WOUB’s Michael Locklear was there and reports some discussion but little outright opposition.

  • 2.2% water-sewer rate hike sought
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 13, 2012) — Columbus City Council introduced legislation yesterday to increase water rates by 4 percent and sewer rates by 1 percent next year. Council members are expected to approve the measure on Monday.

  • Proposed water-, sewer-rate hikes would raise Columbus bills 2.2%
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 12, 2012) — The Columbus City Council introduced legislation today to increase water rates by 4 percent and sewer rates by 1 percent next year. Council members are expected to approve the measure next Monday.

  • Option for 2013: BikeShare rides
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 9, 2012) — Many restaurants, shops and attractions sit just out of reach for Downtown workers and residents: too far to walk, but not far enough to make driving and parking worth it.

  • Voters swayed by names, parties say
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 8, 2012) — Neither Democrats nor Republicans lost a spot on the state’s highest court, but the parties still voiced frustration with how the election turned out.

  • Ohio Supreme Court: 2 incumbent justices sent packing by voters
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 7, 2012) — Two sitting Ohio Supreme Court justices, one Republican and one Democrat, were unseated in yesterday’s election, marking the first time in recent history that two incumbents were removed from the state’s top court.

  • Townships’ study calls them most efficient
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 5, 2012) — Smaller, local governments are more responsive and cost-efficient than their larger counterparts, according to a study commissioned by the Ohio Township Association, which is pushing back against budget-fueled calls for consolidation.

  • Libertarian Gary Johnson challenges what’s a wasted ballot
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 3, 2012) — STREETSBORO, Ohio — Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, on the ballot in Ohio, doesn’t expect to win Tuesday’s election. All he’s asking for is 5 percent of the vote.

  • Partisan dating sites lure politically minded
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)

  • (November 1, 2012) — For some people, the scenario would be nightmarish: going on a great first date, only to learn later that the seemingly perfect match leans toward the opposite end of the political spectrum or doesn’t even care about politics.

  • Council studies Internet cafes
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 31, 2012) — About 40 percent of people seeking help for problem gambling from Maryhaven say Internet sweepstakes cafes provide their game of choice.

  • Employers need those hired to be ‘work-ready’
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@kent.edu)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 26, 2012) — Companies that are developing business in Columbus are placing a higher premium on the talent of the work force.

  • Group of lawmakers pushes for autism mandate
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 26, 2012) — Ohio lawmakers are again trying to require insurance coverage for autism. They’ve failed in the past but now have support from both parties.

  • Ohio teachers seek a voice in state legislature by running for office
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (October 25, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Remember last year’s Senate Bill 5? The legislation that cut public employees’ power to collectively bargain, which was met with some support, a lot of outrage and ultimately a ballot measure that struck it down?

  • Volunteers toeing the line
  • By Lydia Coutre (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 25, 2012) — Steve Scheel stood behind a yellow line facing the Franklin County early voting center, his arms folded over his Romney/ Ryan T-shirt. His shadow crossed the line, but his feet could not.

  • Ohio consumer group calls for stricter food safety laws
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 24, 2012) — An Ohio consumer group says the implementation of stricter federal food safety laws has fallen short. The Ohio Public Interest Research Group released a report Wednesday on the progress in reducing food recalls in the state and across the country. Tabitha Woodruff says since the beginning of 2011, 27 Ohioans have gotten sick after eating food directly linked to recalls.

  • Issue 2 group launches website
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 23, 2012) — The group behind Issue 2 has launched another website to promote the redistricting proposal that would change the way congressional and legislative districts are drawn. Brian Rothenberg says it features an interactive map with Voters First’s take on each of Ohio’s 16 congressional districts.

  • Pro-Issue 2 group releases first TV ad
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 22, 2012) — With just two weeks until Election Day, the group behind Issue 2 has released its first television ad. Voters First says it’s a “substantial” statewide buy in support of a constitutional amendment that would change the way congressional and legislative districts are formed.

  • Delaware health director leaving
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 20, 2012) — The Delaware Board of Health is looking for a new health commissioner as Frances Veverka leaves the position after 31 years.

  • President Obama visits Ohio University
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 18, 2012) — Fourteen thousand people showed up for a glimpse of the president Wednesday night. Barack Obama addressed the crowd on Ohio University’s College Green. WOUB’s Michael Locklear takes a look at the message to voters.

  • Ohio University students line up for Obama tickets
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 15, 2012) — Folks in Athens are lining up to get their tickets to see the president. On Friday, we learned Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in town this week.

  • Illegal signs litter the campaign trail
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 12, 2012) — What has become an accepted campaign-season tradition — planting candidate signs along highway medians, freeway exits and on street corners — is, in fact, illegal.

  • Chance to register for Nov. 6 passes
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 10, 2012) — The deadline for registering to vote in the fall election in Ohio passed yesterday, and some Columbus residents were taking extra steps to make sure they can cast a ballot on Nov. 6.

  • Avoid the crush; keep stink bugs outside
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 10, 2012) — Stink bugs invade our homes when the weather turns cold and make their presence known when we try to shoo them away.

  • State lawmaker indicted on 49 counts
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 10, 2012) — A state representative has been indicted on dozens of counts, including theft in office. WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports from the Statehouse where the lawmaker was serving his fourth term.

  • Avoid the crush; keep stink bugs outside
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 10, 2012) — Stink bugs invade our homes when the weather turns cold and make their presence known when we try to shoo them away.

  • Potency of political ads fleeting at best
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 7, 2012) — The more you try to dodge the political ads bombarding Ohio, the harder they’ll try to find you.

  • OSU team creates high-tech salad bar for future NASA missions
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 7, 2012) — When astronauts fly to Mars and other far-flung destinations across the galaxy, they won’t have to rely solely on freeze-dried meat and powdered meals for sustenance.

  • At East High, parade tradition marches on
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 6, 2012) — Dozens of spectators followed a procession of cheerleaders, dancers and band members decked out in orange and black uniforms as they made their way down Greenway Avenue last night.

  • Funding limits restrict help for youth offenders
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 4, 2012) — An alternative to locking up juvenile offenders is working, a study says, but Ohio needs to find a better way to pay for it. The program, started in 1993, encourages counties to commit fewer juveniles to state youth prisons. Instead, low- and moderate-risk youths are treated in community-based programs.

  • Sheriff candidate would reject his salary
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 2, 2012) — The Republican candidate for Franklin County sheriff promised yesterday to turn down the office’s salary if he is elected but said he will continue to collect his pension.

  • Ohio conducts survey on pre-casino problem gambling
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 2, 2012) — The state put out the results of a survey on problem gambling Monday. WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports from the Statehouse where officials announced the findings.

  • Fairfield County folks turn out to vote early
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (October 2, 2012) — Tuesday was the first official day you could cast your ballot in the Buckeye State. WOUB’s Michael Locklear talked to folks in Fairfield County who voted early.

  • New early-voting site is bigger, better
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 29, 2012) — In-person absentee voters shouldn’t have to battle long lines and stand outside in cold weather this year thanks to a change in venue for the early-voting location, elections officials say.

  • Ideas to benefit city suggested as part of Design Week
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 28, 2012) — Imagine a city where bison roam on the Statehouse lawn and packs of wolverines discourage Michigan fans from setting foot on the Ohio State University Oval.

  • Deer crashes in Ohio down for third year
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 27, 2012) — We’re approaching deer mating season, and that’s the time when more cars and deer collide on the road. But those crashes are actually down in Ohio again.

  • Poll: Obama ahead by 10 points In Ohio
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 26, 2012) — The latest Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times poll gives the president a double-digit lead in Ohio.

  • Issue 2 group grades Husted
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 25, 2012) — Ohio’s chief elections official got an informal “performance review” Monday from a group that has butted heads with the Republican over the redistricting proposal on the ballot. WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports.

  • Sewage control long slog
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 24, 2012) — A rainy 2011 caused sewage overflows into Columbus waterways to more than double compared with 2010.

  • Ohio Constitution to get a thorough review
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (September 24, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — While the presidential election is getting most of the attention on this November’s ballot, Ohioans will also decide whether it’s time to tinker with some of the guiding principles of this state — Ohio’s constitution.

  • Sewage control long slog
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 24, 2012) — A rainy 2011 caused sewage overflows into Columbus waterways to more than double compared with 2010.

  • Ex-officials tout importance of U.S. foreign assistance
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 22, 2012) — The world economy — $60 trillion right now — is expected to blossom to $200 trillion in the next 25 to 30 years, said former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

  • City fakes disaster for real practice
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 21, 2012) — Columbus first responders and government agencies must be prepared for anything — including a radioactive plane crash in the middle of a soccer tournament.

  • Leader of troubled youth prison is resigning
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 20, 2012) — The head of a youth prison in Delaware County that has had a significant increase in inmate violence is resigning effective Oct. 5, eight months after she accepted the job.

  • Gene Harris to retire
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 20, 2012) — The Chair of the Ohio University Board of Trustees is retiring from her full-time position.

  • Groups fear phone companies could cut landlines
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 19, 2012) — Controversy is brewing in Ohio over what cell phones are fast replacing: landlines. WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports from the Statehouse.

  • Third person dies of West Nile virus in Ohio
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 18, 2012) — An 80-year-old Hamilton County man has become the third person to die in Ohio of West Nile disease.

  • Former Gov. Ted Strickland reacts to Romney video
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 18, 2012) — Former Gov. Ted Strickland is sounding off on the secret recording of Mitt Romney. The Democrat held a press conference at his party’s Ohio headquarters Tuesday.

  • Special court docket serves veterans
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 17, 2012) — On a medic run in 2006, first responder Zachary Bickenheuser saved the life of a childhood friend from a heroin overdose.

  • Getting drunks off road is goal
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 15, 2012) — In 1999, Erin Smith was with two friends on motorcycles riding Downtown to attend Red, White & Boom.

  • Federal expert: Future depends on fiscal morality
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 14, 2012) — Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker asked a crowd of roughly 100 people yesterday: “Does anybody believe we don’t have a problem? Please raise your hand high.”

  • Ohio truckers helping state patrol nab criminals in new ‘Truck Shield’ program
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (September 14, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Trucker Chad Brinker noticed a glow, like that of a cigarette tip, appear in a car beside him as he drove north on Interstate 71 in late July. But it didn’t look quite right, and when the car’s driver handed something to the passenger, he realized it was a marijuana pipe. He reported the incident.

  • Ohio lawmakers give final OK to public pension reforms
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (September 13, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Beginning in January, many Ohio public workers will face increased pension contribution rates and higher retirement-age requirements — changes included in a package of public pension reforms Ohio lawmakers approved Wednesday with bipartisan support.

  • Ohio task force charged with overhauling higher ed funding
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 12, 2012) — A new task force could determine how higher education is funded in the state. WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports Ohio University’s top administrator will have a seat at the table.

  • Kasich pays 9/11 tribute
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 11, 2012) — Gov. John Kasich paid his respects to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks Tuesday morning.

  • Food insecurity on the rise
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 11, 2012) — A new report shows more than 15 percent of Ohio households aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from.

  • Students don’t cheat; they ‘collaborate’
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 10, 2012) — Some students who grow up with a wealth of information at their fingertips — on smartphones, tablets and laptops — call working together on a test collaborating.

  • VP Biden’s speech in Athens centers on fiscal policies
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 9, 2012) — Just days after the Democratic National Convention wrapped up, the Vice President visited three southeast Ohio cities. WOUB’s Michael Locklear takes a look at Joe Biden’s message to voters in Athens.

  • Activists push local control of ‘fracking’
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 8, 2012) — Hoping that the state will relinquish some control over hydraulic fracturing, environmental activist groups across Ohio are encouraging local governments to pass resolutions decrying the controversial practice.

  • Ohio’s West Nile cases jump to 60
  • By Pam Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 7, 2012) — This season’s West Nile virus scare continues, as state health officials say Ohio’s confirmed number of human cases has increased to 60. That’s more than double the number documented three weeks ago.

  • State might delay planned letter grades for schools
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 7, 2012) — Plans to create a new rating system for Ohio schools should be delayed until the investigation into whether districts altered attendance data produces answers, top state legislators are saying.

  • Volunteers plant flags on Statehouse lawn as 9/11 memorial
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 7, 2012) — The eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is just days away, and thousands of flags now fill the Statehouse lawn as a memorial. WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports.

  • Franklinton residents, police express frustration
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 6, 2012) — Tensions between Franklinton residents and Columbus police came to a head last night during a town meeting designed to open up communication between the two.

  • Ohio exotic animal law now in effect
  • By Michael Locklear
    WOUB News

  • (September 5, 2012) — Ohio’s exotic animal law takes effect today. A Licking Co. cougar owner says she’s had little success getting answers from the Ohio Department of Agriculture on what she needs to do to comply with the law.

  • Racism confronted by OSU students
  • By Michael Locklear
    Ohio Public Radio

  • (September 4, 2012) — More than a hundred Ohio State University students showed up at a town hall meeting tonight. The topic? Racism.

  • Violence called a product of society
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (August 31, 2012) — Advocates fighting against domestic and sexual violence face many challenges in today’s society — including society itself.

  • Two Athens County Democrats prepare for Democratic National Convention
  • By Michael Locklear (michael@michaellocklear.com)
    WOUB News

  • (August 31, 2012) — The Republicans wrapped up their national convention last night. Now, the Democrats are packing suitcases for their national convention, which starts Tuesday. That’s where they will officially nominate President Barack Obama for re-election.

  • Exotic animal law goes into effect next week
  • By Michael Locklear (michael@michaellocklear.com)
    WOUB News

  • (August 31, 2012) — The exotic animals bill, which restricts ownership of bears, tigers and other animals, goes into effect next week. A holding facility for the confiscated creatures is in the works.

  • Ohio Attorney General plans to appeal early voting decision
  • By Michael Locklear (cl198609@ohio.edu)
    WOUB News

  • (August 31, 2012) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says the state will appeal today’s decision by a federal judge. The ruling allows early, in-person voting the three days before the election.

  • Violence called a product of society
  • By Lydia Coutré (lcoutre@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (August 31, 2012) — Advocates fighting against domestic and sexual violence face many challenges in today’s society — including society itself.

  • Texting while driving ban aims to save lives
  • By Michael Locklear (michael@michaellocklear.com)
    WOUB News

  • (August 30, 2012) — Ohio’s ban on texting while driving takes effect tomorrow (Friday). WOUB’s Michael Locklear reports the law is stricter on younger drivers. The goal is to save lives.

  • Ohio reduces length of unemployment benefit time
  • By Michael Locklear (michael@michaellocklear.com)
    WOUB News

  • (August 30, 2012) — Good economic news in Ohio means bad news for those without work. The feds are cutting the number of weeks folks in the Buckeye State can get unemployment benefits by two and a half months.

  • Market-rate houses to give boost to Weinland Park
  • By Pamela Engel (pengel@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (August 30, 2012) — By early 2013, six new homes are to stand on a lot in Weinland Park that once was the site of two vacant, crime-ridden apartment buildings.

  • Ohio texting-while-driving ban takes effect Friday
  • By Kate Irby (kirby@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (August 29, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Texting while driving becomes illegal throughout Ohio Friday. But you can’t be penalized for it until March 1.

  • Ohio’s mayor’s courts, big business
  • By Justin Conley and Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (July 22, 2012) — The rap sheet against Ohio’s mayor’s courts says that some spend public funds on holiday parties and flower arrangements, fail to properly account for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and use traffic fines to prop up village budgets. Mayor’s courts have long drawn fire from opponents who say it’s time to throw the book at the state’s small-town “speed traps.”

  • Ohio’s local justice
  • By Rebecca McKinsey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (July 22, 2012) — Worthington’s mayor’s court is an imposing one, as mayor’s courts go. It has a judge’s bench, a podium at which defendants stand and a large projector screen to replay videos of traffic violations.

  • Ohio schools prepare for another budget hit
  • By Kelly Gifford (kgifford@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (June 11, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Therese Konrad, who has taught in the Rocky River School District for 24 years, says her students always rise to the challenges she presents them.

  • Ohio Gov. Kasich signs ban on texting while driving
  • By Kelly Gifford (kgifford@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (June 1, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – A statewide texting while driving ban received its seal of approval from Gov. John Kasich Friday after four years of deliberation by Ohio lawmakers.

  • Kasich won’t stop execution of murderer
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 31, 2012) — The execution of a Cleveland man will go forward as planned next week after Gov. John Kasich denied a request for executive clemency yesterday.

  • Ohio to play a major role in the 2012 election
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WOUB News

  • (May 29, 2012) — The November election is now less than six months away and the attention turns to Ohio. The Buckeye state is known for being a key battleground for presidential hopefuls.

  • Exotic-animals bill awaits Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s signature
  • By Kelly Gifford (kgifford@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (May 22, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – A bill that would regulate the ownership of dangerous animals is awaiting Gov. John Kasich’s signature after quickly passing through the Ohio House and Senate Tuesday.

  • Ohio House panel approves anti-cancer bill
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 17, 2012) — A bill to generate money for screening and treatment of breast and cervical cancers should soon reach the Ohio House floor.

  • Bill would help reduce scrap metal theft in Ohio
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WOUB News

  • (May 16, 2012) — People looking to sell scrap metal to dealers in Ohio may be seeing some changes to the process. Senate Bill 193 aims to crack down on stolen scrap metals by requiring sellers to present photo identification.

  • Controversial pension-overhaul bills go forward
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 16, 2012) — Despite misgivings about new powers granted to boards of the state retirement systems, at least four of five bills making sweeping changes in public-employee pensions are expected to reach the Ohio Senate floor today.

  • Commissioners provide jobs for teens
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WBNS News

  • (May 14, 2012) — Federal funds are providing 16-hundred PAID summer jobs and internships for Franklin County teens, and that number may grow.

  • Wild horses pulled woman to auction
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 12, 2012) — SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Shelly Sessa stood just outside an iron pen, sunlight glinting off her rhinestone belt and dust swirling lightly around her tan cowboy boots.

  • Casto’s development on Northeast Side gets backing for rezoning
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 10, 2012) — After months of negotiations with nearby homeowners, Casto Development is a step closer to building offices, homes and apartments near N. Hamilton and Dublin-Granville roads on the Northeast Side.

  • More than 1,000 public officials late filing financial reports
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 10, 2012) — Nearly 1 in 10 public officials in Ohio failed to meet the deadline for filing annual financial reports aimed at giving the public an idea of their earnings and gifts they receive.

  • Bill to update Ohio gambling laws passes Ohio Senate
  • By Kelly Gifford (kgifford@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (May 9, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio – A bill that would update Ohio gambling laws passed the Ohio Senate Wednesday, leaving out previous language that would have allowed one charity card room in each of the state’s 88 counties.

  • Pension-reform bills put more on workers
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 9, 2012) — Four pension-reform bills with bipartisan backing were introduced in the Ohio Senate yesterday, but union concerns stalled a fifth bill.

  • Ohio Senate Committee Hears Testimony for Nitro’s Law
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WBNS News

  • (May 8, 2012) — Supporters of a bill that would toughen animal cruelty laws had a chance to voice their support for Nitro’s Law today. The law is named after a three-year-old Rottweiler that starved to death at a kennel in Youngstown in 2008.

  • Four new bills push for pension reform
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 8, 2012) — Four bills introduced today in the Ohio Senate with bipartisan backing would ignite reform for four state pension systems, but legislation for the fifth system was stalled because of labor concerns.

  • Ohio Senate passes bill to ban texting while driving
  • By Kelly Gifford (kgifford@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (May 4, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bill that would ban texting behind the wheel passed the Ohio Senate on Thursday after a heated floor debate.

  • Pension reform might take a while
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 3, 2012) — The saying “Measure twice, cut once” is typically attributed to carpenters, but a member of the General Assembly is urging his peers to do the same.

  • JobsOhio bill fixes public-records issue
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (May 2, 2012) — After backlash from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, the state Senate revised a bill yesterday to ensure that JobsOhio doesn’t receive more public-records exceptions than any other agency.

  • Local economy gets global view
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 27, 2012) — This year, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s annual update on central Ohio’s economy extended beyond the region’s 12 counties and touched on dozens of foreign countries.

  • Sheriff to auction seized 2009 BMW
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WBNS 10TV.com

  • (April 26, 2012) — The Athens County Sheriff’s Office will auction several vehicles seized during investigations, 10TV News reported Thursday.

  • Athens residents fear another rock slide
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WBNS 10TV.com

  • (April 26, 2012) — Athens residents near the site of last month’s massive boulder crash are living in fear of another rock slide. Monitoring pins detected a tree’s movement on that same hillside this week.

  • Take it slow
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 20, 2012) — Seventeen crumpled orange-and-white construction barrels were placed in a Columbus State Community College parking lot yesterday, silent memorials to those who died in transportation work zones across Ohio last year.

  • Medical marijuana to be decided by Ohio voters
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WOUB News

  • (April 20, 2012) — The November election may be months away, but Ohioans are already preparing to cast their votes on many issues… including whether or not to legalize a form of medical treatment that’s used in more than a dozen states and Washington DC.

  • City remains leery of storefront gambling
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 19, 2012) — The Columbus City Council extended a moratorium on new storefront-gambling operations within city limits while state legislation to regulate them remains stalled in a committee.

  • Drug Take-Back Day attacks prescription abuse
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 17, 2012) — Ohio is addicted. But even as prescription drug abuse continues to leave the state riddled with desperate junkies and early deaths, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is pushing to find the cure.

  • ‘Prepare to stop’ signs on way out
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 14, 2012) — The state is getting rid of many of its “prepare to stop when flashing” signals that warn drivers that an upcoming traffic light is about to turn red.

  • Kenyon conference tests U.S. nation-building efforts
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 13, 2012) — After a wave of revolution swept the Middle East last year, academics at Kenyon College questioned the U.S. policy of promoting democracy overseas.

  • OSU students prep ‘moon rover’ race entry
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 10, 2012) — This week, high school and college students will get the chance to tool around the moon — sort of.

  • Trees will represent blossoming relations
  • Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 10, 2012) — Ohio will represent a century-long relationship with an unlikely symbol this month — a fragile, pink flower.

  • Company Gets Federal OK To Expand Quarry Near Bald Eagles
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WBNS 10TV News

  • (April 10, 2012) — CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has come to an agreement with the Melvin Stone Company on expansion plans for quarry in western Pickaway County, 10TV News reported Tuesday.

  • Stark ads spur calls to quit lines
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 7, 2012) — A graphic government campaign that offers “tips from former smokers” has caused a surge in calls to tobacco quit lines nationwide, even in states such as Ohio, where funding for cessation services has been cut in recent years.

  • Holocaust memorial gets pushback
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    10TVnews.com

  • (April 6, 2012) — The head of the organization that oversees the statehouse is facing criticism from the Ohio Jewish community for remarks he made earlier this week about a Holocaust memorial at the Statehouse.

  • State seeks help for kids in long-term foster care
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 5, 2012) — Concerned that some children languish in foster care, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is calling together experts to identify solutions.

  • Ohio animal owners oppose bill that would impose new regulations
  • By Kelly Gifford (kgifford@plaind.com)
    The Cleveland Plain Dealer

  • (April 4, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio animal owners are roaring over a bill that would institute strict regulations that could result in many wild animals being taken away from their owners.

  • Utica man sentenced in fatal wreck
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 3, 2012) — NEWARK, Ohio — A Utica man was sentenced today to 100 hours of community service for causing a crash that took the life of his teenage passenger.

  • Man, 18, sentenced in fatal crash
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 3, 2012) — NEWARK, Ohio — Rachel Gattrell stood in the Licking County Juvenile courtroom yesterday, faced the young man whose driving caused the death of her 16-year-old daughter and told him that she had forgiven him.

  • Statehouse official criticizes plan for Holocaust memorial
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WBNS 10TV.com

  • (April 3, 2012) — COLUMBUS, Ohio — The president of the group that oversees the Ohio Statehouse and surrounding area said on Tuesday that he was disappointed by Gov. John Kasich’s decision to build a Holocaust memorial on the Statehouse grounds without consultation.

  • Ohio grapples with Stand Your Ground law
  • By Alyssa Hansen
    WOUB News

  • (April 2, 2012) — In the aftermath of Florida teen Trayvon Martin’s death, the focus turns to whether or not other states will adopt their own versions of the “Stand Your Ground Law” and Ohio is one of them.

  • Quickly addicted
  • By Pat Holmes
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 1, 2012) — Rebecca Bobb was a success story.

  • Death toll drops in drug war
  • By Deanna Pan and Pat Holmes
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (April 1, 2012) — After a decade of shattered lives and early graves, Ohioans finally might be seeing a glimmer of hope in the battle against prescription-drug overdoses.

  • House OKs limiting right to bench trials
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 31, 2012) — The Ohio House either leveled the playing field or stood the constitution on its head this week.

  • Medical-marijuana backers seek funds
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 31, 2012) — The Ohio Medical Cannabis Association has planted the seed for a ballot initiative that would put the question of medical marijuana to Ohio voters this November, and now it is working to ensure those efforts bear fruit.

  • Lawmakers honor Chardon ‘heroes’
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 29, 2012) — Just a month after a high-school shooting in Chardon left three dead and two seriously wounded, Gov. John Kasich and the General Assembly honored law-enforcement, firefighters, school officials and other first responders for their efforts.

  • Orange Township fire levy may be on ballot
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 28, 2012) — The Orange Township Fire Department in Delaware County might ask voters to approve a 7.9-mill property tax in November to replace funds that have been almost completely depleted.

  • Ex-director of humane society pleads guilty to theft
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 28, 2012) — DELAWARE, Ohio — The former Delaware County Humane Society co-director choked up as he apologized yesterday for stealing a pickup truck and tens of thousands of dollars.

  • Report: How ‘right to work’ would benefit Ohio
  • By Justin Conley (jconley@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 28, 2012) — Just eight months before Election Day, a potential “right-to-work” ballot measure is igniting a political debate over how Ohio can create more jobs.

  • Record lottery jackpot lures local players
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 28, 2012) — People are lining up in Columbus, and across the country, for the chance to become the world’s luckiest jackpot winner.

  • Humane society thief pleads guilty
  • By Rebecca McKinsey (rmckinsey@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 27, 2012) — DELAWARE, Ohio –The former Delaware County Humane Society co-director pleaded guilty this afternoon to stealing a pickup truck and tens of thousands of dollars from the nonprofit and its other co-director.

  • Drug-overdose deaths a record in 2010
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (March 9, 2012) — Ohio tallied a record number of accidental drug-overdose deaths in 2010, with Franklin County registering the highest single-county total.

  • Local high-school grads flock to OSU
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 27, 2012) — More students from Dublin Coffman High School applied to Ohio State University than from all but one other school in the nation, with 211 students vying for a spot in the incoming class.

  • Exotic animals on agenda
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 26, 2012) — Talk about exotic animals found its way into a Downtown veterinary conference this weekend amid a barrage of educational sessions and labs.

  • Columbus State job-training program touted by Jill Biden
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 22, 2012) — Because he was struggling to pay child support, Marlon Hairston said, he had to take the first chance at earning an income that came his way.

  • Powerball lures fewer Ohioans but more money at $2 cost
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 21, 2012) — About a month after lottery organizers doubled the price to play Powerball, Ohioans are playing less than before but responding to sizable jackpots just the same.

  • Artifacts at OSU evoke Glenn’s dramatic mission
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 19, 2012) — There’s a grainy, black-and-white photo of John Glenn, reclining on the deck of the USS Noa. It’s Feb. 20, 1962, and Glenn’s wearing a NASA jumpsuit, a subtle grin, aviator sunglasses and black Converse sneakers, propped up against the side of the destroyer.

  • New OSU building tops colleges’ collective budget
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 18, 2012) — A $126 million science building at Ohio State University is the biggest construction project that would be funded through a wish list that public university leaders have presented to the state.

  • County fighting infant deaths
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)

  • (February 15, 2012) — Franklin County commissioners will soon learn whether the first installments of $7 million that the county plans to spend to decrease infant deaths are starting to pay off.

  • Bipartisan support may speed OK of 70 mph limit
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (February 1, 2012) — Contempt for slow drivers — especially those hogging the left lane on Ohio freeways — apparently crosses party lines.

  • Ohio still leaves sexual education to each district
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 30, 2012) — A national group says schools should have specific guidelines for teaching sexual education, such as in which grades children should learn the proper names for genitalia, but Ohio doesn’t plan to follow the recommendations.

  • U.S. policy on Somalia gets mixed reviews
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 28, 2012) — For decades, Somalia has been plagued by myriad problems — famine, violence, piracy and thousands of refugees — and not everyone agrees on how to solve them.

  • U.S. policy on Somalia gets mixed reviews
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 28, 2012) — For decades, Somalia has been plagued by myriad problems — famine, violence, piracy and thousands of refugees — and not everyone agrees on how to solve them.

  • Roe v. Wade marked with rival Statehouse talks
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 25, 2012) — This week’s 39th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion brought both sides of the debate to the Statehouse yesterday — and their deliveries were just as different as their messages.

  • Save manufacturing and watch out for Romney, Strickland tells Obama
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 23, 2012) — Former Gov. Ted Strickland shared some words of advice with President Barack Obama on how to woo Ohio voters in his State of the Union address tomorrow night: Save manufacturing and watch out for Mitt Romney.

  • ‘Occupy’ protesters pounce on Kilroy at rally
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 21, 2012) — Former U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy of Columbus stood yesterday alongside protesters to speak out against corporate influence on politics, criticizing the “ability to really distort the election process.”

  • Drug shortages alter patients’ care
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 20, 2012) — Last year was a record year for drug shortages in the United States, causing hospitals to alter treatments and some patients to suffer painful side effects.

  • Low-rate loans might go to more farmers
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 20, 2012) — State Republicans say that new legislation would give more Ohio farmers an opportunity to receive reduced-interest loans to offset their operating expenses.

  • Ward representatives for City Council urged
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 18, 2012) — A coalition looking to create a “more accountable” Columbus City Council wrapped up its final educational session last night.

  • Gee’s apology accepted by Polish-American group
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 14, 2012) — A national Polish-American group accepted an apology from Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee yesterday for what it called a “slanderous analogy.”

  • Ohio colleges to aid vets with PTSD, brain injuries
  • By Pat Holmes (pholmes@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 13, 2012) — Ohio State University and five other Ohio colleges are joining a national effort to combat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries suffered in war.

  • Taylor continues criticisms of health-insurance exchange
  • By Deanna Pan (dpan@dispatch.com)
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (January 11, 2012) — In her latest criticism of the federal health-care law, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor said yesterday she fears the state will have “little control” over mandated health-insurance exchanges, whether they are implemented by the federal government or the Kasich administration.

  • Domestic Silence: The truth about abuse in Ohio
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 27, 2011) — Featured on the IRE website (Jan. 25, 2012), at http://www.ire.org/blog/extra-extra/2012/01/23/severe-flaws-ohios-abuse-laws/

  • Trustees OK pair of OU projects
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 19, 2011) — Ohio University’s proposal to spend $977.5 million on capital improvements over the next six years was one of two plans to win unanimous approval from the school’s trustees yesterday.

  • Protesters fire up Issue 2 rally
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 2, 2011) — HANOVERTON, Ohio — Wide gaps in funding and polling might suggest otherwise, but there is still a fight to be had over Issue 2.

  • Occupy Columbus lunch to put focus on SB 5
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (November 1, 2011) — With a week to go until Election Day, Occupy Columbus is hoping to stir up discussion about the implications of Senate Bill 5.

  • Oval becomes forum for students’ gripes
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 25, 2011) — Droves of Ohio State University students braved cloudy skies today to vent their frustrations and spread the message of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

  • Counties to lose as federal timber funds end
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 24, 2011) — Twelve southeastern Ohio counties could see federal timber-production funds cut as a partnership with the Wayne National Forest heads toward a year-end expiration date.

  • Group challenges personhood issue
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 21, 2011) — A newly formed group filed a legal challenge yesterday to a proposed amendment that would ban abortion from conception.

  • Supreme Court puts on a legal show in Hillsboro
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 20, 2011) — HILLSBORO, Ohio — As justices from the Ohio Supreme Court listened to arguments yesterday in Hillsboro, the already-cramped room was packed tighter than a pack of cigarettes.

  • Woman sues after her prison release
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 20, 2011) — A woman whose 1990 murder conviction was overturned because of improper testimony by a toxicologist is suing several Franklin and Licking county officials.

  • Protesters can’t occupy park
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 18, 2011) — Organizers of the Occupy Columbus movement, denied their request to set up camp Downtown, have found themselves without a permanent base.

  • Protesters urge passage of jobs bill
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 12, 2011) — A second day of Downtown protests brought more than 100 people to the Statehouse yesterday calling for jobs and “economic accountability.”

  • Homeless-housing project a promo for jobs act
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 8, 2011) — Just a shell of wooden 2-by-4s and cement blocks on Norton Avenue, the site of a once-abandoned lumberyard will soon become the fifth development of its kind to provide homes for Columbus’ homeless.

  • Deficit puts Akron in ‘fiscal caution’
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 6, 2011) — Akron has become Ohio’s first city to be stamped with the “fiscal caution” sticker, after results yesterday from a 2010 financial audit showed the city had a deficit exceeding $87.8 million.

  • State board OKs changes to two Senate districts
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 1, 2011) — Despite much confusion over the remapping of two state Senate districts in Cuyahoga County, the state Apportionment Board accepted an amendment in an emergency meeting yesterday — an amendment identical to the one pulled out of the approved redistricting maps on Wednesday.

  • Loaded with confusion
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (October 1, 2011) — Most restaurant and bar patrons sauntering along the streets of central Ohio yesterday were probably blissfully unaware of the new ‘guns in bars’ law, especially because few establishments’ windows brandished additional signs barring said guns from the premises.

  • Guns in bars OK as of today
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 30, 2011) — Few people sitting in a bar, sipping cocktails and chatting with friends think about whether the person next to them is packing heat.

  • Man was dedicated to Upper Arlington
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 30, 2011) — Services will be held next week for Clark P. Pritchett Jr., a former Upper Arlington mayor and community leader, who has died of cancer.

  • Former Upper Arlington mayor dies
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 29, 2011) — Services will be held next week for Clark P. Pritchett Jr., former Upper Arlington mayor and community leader, who has died of cancer.

  • ‘Heartbeat bill’ divides Ohio anti-abortion leaders
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 27, 2011) — Ohio’s once-unified anti-abortion movement has been splintered by the return of a former state leader rallying support for a restrictive bill that the head of Ohio Right to Life says is legally flawed.

  • City wants to hook up 1,000 jobless
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 27, 2011) — Officials in Columbus hope to find jobs for 1,000 people in less than two months.

  • Job fairs seek to fill 1,000 positions
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 26, 2011) — A new jobs initiative has a bold goal: to find jobs for at least 1,000 unemployed people in central Ohio by the end of the year.

  • Jury rejects self-defense in shooting
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 24, 2011) — For the second time, Barnell Edward Ellis stood before a jury this week to say he killed Armond Paul Dunlap Jr. in self-defense.

  • State urged to OK texting-driver ban
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 23, 2011) — “How many more must die?” That’s the question Tina Yanssens has asked every day since her father, David Muslovski, was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by his 19-year-old neighbor on June 17, 2010.

  • ‘Pill mill’ operator sentenced to more than 10 years in prison
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 22, 2011) — The second of three women accused of running a “pill mill” in Columbus will see prison time. Charlene Breedlove-Jones, 53, was sentenced to 10 years, 10 months, in prison and must pay $4,011 in restitution.

  • OSU plan for geothermal wells between a rock and hard place
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 21, 2011) — An Ohio State University plan to drill 450 geothermal wells to help heat and cool several buildings has run aground as soil conditions proved more difficult than expected.

  • ‘Heartbeat bill’ backers push for Senate approval
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 21, 2011) — An “Abortion stops a beating heart” bumper sticker held high above her head, Janet Porter’s voice boomed above the more than 600 supporters of the so-called heartbeat bill at the Statehouse yesterday, calling on them to put an end to “abortion on demand.”

  • Obama woos young voters with plan
  • By Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 14, 2011) — More than 3,200 people erupted in cheers and booming applause as President Barack Obama mounted the stage at Fort Hayes high school in Columbus. Spectators leapt from their seats or stood on their tiptoes to get a glimpse of the leader of the free world.

  • $23,000 far from enough for Mount Sterling police
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 13, 2011) — MOUNT STERLING, Ohio — Residents have donated almost $23,000 to keep the local police force on the streets, but this town’s troubles are far from over.

  • September 11 | 10 Years Later: Cautiously optimistic
  • By Darrel Rowland, Ben Geier and Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 11, 2011) — For the first time since the twin towers tumbled a decade ago today, fewer than 1 in 10 of us is “very worried” that there will be another terrorit attack soon in America, a new poll shows.

  • Bedbug complaints jump in central Ohio
  • By Tristan Navera
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 10, 2011) — Bedbugs have been creeping from American households into hotels and now businesses, too.

  • Hunger in Ohio rises to 6th-worst in U.S.
  • By Catherine Candisky and Alex Stuckey
    The Columbus Dispatch

  • (September 8, 2011) — “ Mommy, I’m hungry,” 3-year-old Keira Beatty blurted as she jumped into her mother’s arms.