Statewide News

The state says Ohio's unemployment rate rose in July, the second straight monthly increase following a two-year decline.  The Department of Job and Family Services says Ohio's jobless rate increased to 9.0 percent last month, from 8.8 percent in June.

The state says the number of workers unemployed in Ohio in July was 529,000, up from 517,000 in June.  The U.S. unemployment rate for July was 9.1 percent, down slightly from 9.2 percent in June.

TOLEDO, Ohio - A trade group reports Toledo showed the most improvement among the state's six biggest housing markets during July.

The National Association of Realtors says Toledo had a higher increase in home prices, a bigger drop in homes on the market and a shorter average sale time than Akron, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton.

Toledo Board of Realtors President Ed Sitter tells The Blade the report confirms "positive signs," including agents saying some homes are drawing multiple offers.

DAYTON, Ohio - Health officials and pest controllers say Ohio weather patterns have caused an increase in mosquito populations this year, including more carrying West Nile virus.

Ohio Department of Health spokeswoman Shannon Libby says 248 pools of mosquitoes collected from traps have tested positive for the virus so far. That's up from 78 by this time in 2010.

Libby tells The Dayton Daily News that there have been no reports of human cases of West Nile in Ohio, which can lead to coma, paralysis and death.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Cleveland crackdown on flash mobs won't be enacted now that the city council has upheld the mayor's veto.

A measure that would have made it a crime to use social media or cell phones to pull together a crowd was approved unanimously by council members last month and then shot down by Mayor Frank Jackson. The Plain Dealer reports the council voted 14-2 on Wednesday not to override Jackson's first veto since he took office in 2006.