News

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A judge in Ohio has ruled that a private management company that operates a group of publicly funded charter schools must turn over financial records requested by the schools' governing boards.

The Wednesday ruling in Columbus comes in a lawsuit in which the boards of Hope Academies and Life Skills Centers in Cleveland and Akron asked to break their contracts with Akron-based White Hat Management LLC.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Federal prosecutors are wrapping up their case against 11 men charged with cultivating thousands of marijuana plants in what the state's former top cop called evidence of cartel-sponsored operations taking root in Ohio.

All 11 have pleaded guilty and seven have received sentences ranging from a year to 18 months in prison.  U.S. District Judge Thomas Rose was scheduled to sentence three more defendants Friday in Dayton, with a final sentencing Aug. 17.

TOLEDO, Ohio - A panel dominated by Republicans will begin the task of redrawing congressional district lines for the next 10 years.

What's known as the Ohio Apportionment Board meets for the first time Thursday. The board members are the governor, state auditor and secretary of state - who are all members of the GOP - plus one lawmaker from each party.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The state is warning Ohioans not to fall victim to scam emails telling people they have millions of dollars in unclaimed money being held for them overseas.

Ohio Commerce Department Director David Goodman says in a news release that it's merely a ruse for tricking the message recipients into revealing personal financial information.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - An environmental coalition has awarded $115,000 in grants to nine groups for Great Lakes restoration projects.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition grants announced this week will help organizations participate in a federal program designed to improve the region's environment by cleaning up toxic pollution, preventing species invasions and rebuilding habitat and wetlands.