News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Organizers say an Ohio charity bike ride for cancer research has had its most successful year yet, raising nearly $8.7 million over the weekend.

The three-year-old Pelotonia tour had collected a total of about $12.3 million in its first two years to support cancer work at Ohio State University.

Cyclists raised or committed money to ride one of several routes during the two-day event. The longest was a 180-mile round trip from Columbus to Athens.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Telecommunications companies in Ohio and 15 other states are sharing more than 103 million dollars in federal funding to help expand broadband Internet access to rural America.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's top elections chief is banning county officials from sending voters unsolicited absentee ballot applications ahead of Election Day.

The move by Secretary of State Jon Husted Monday comes after several county boards of elections recently had tied votes on whether to send out applications.

A spokesman for the Republican says he wanted to provide clear guidance to boards, and issued the directive to the state's 88 counties in order to have uniformity.

ST. MARYS, Ohio - A Cleveland company has received a 1 million dollar federal grant to help create a facility that would turn animal waste into energy near Grand Lake St Marys.

 U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown announced today (Monday) that Quasar Energy Group will use the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for a methane digester. The 2.2 million dollar facility would turn manure into methane that can be used for heating and converted into alternative vehicle fuel.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's largest small business association is throwing its support behind a campaign that is defending the state's contentious new collective bargaining law against a repeal effort on the November ballot.

The law signed by Gov. John Kasich in March bans public employee strikes and restricts collective bargaining abilities for public workers.

The National Federation of Independent Business in Ohio said Monday its membership overwhelmingly supports upholding the law.