News

Opponents of Ohio's elections overhaul have been cleared to move forward with their effort to ask voters to repeal the law.

Among other changes, the law shortens the state's early voting period and bans in-person early voting on Sundays.

The state's top elections official said Thursday that the Fair Elections Ohio group has the 1,000 valid signatures needed to continue with its effort. Attorney General Mike DeWine has also approved the group's summary language of the legislation, which will be used on future petitions.

A proposal to let voters decide whether to use a ticket tax to pay for operations at riverfront stadiums used by the Cincinnati Bengals and Reds may miss the fall ballot. 

Backers say the sales tax approved by voters to build the stadiums hasn't generated enough money to cover costs.

The Cincinnati Enquirer says Friday that no signatures supporting a vote on the tax have been turned into the county board of elections.

The deadline to put a charter amendment on the November ballot is Sept. 9.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Officials in two counties in north-central Ohio say they're widening a possible arson investigation after finding evidence of at least 27 suspicious fires since February.  The fires have hit abandoned homes, barns, outbuildings, fields and ditches in Hardin and Union counties.

The Columbus Dispatch reports Friday that county officials says a meeting this week with the state fire marshal's office revealed more suspicious fires than they were originally aware of.

Wittenberg University announced Wednesday that it has received a $6 million gift. Wittenberg President Mark Erickson said it is the largest cash gift ever received from a living individual to the university. WYSO's Wayne Baker reports.

The state greatly increased the number of taxpayer-paid vouchers available for students in failing schools. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports the final numbers are in from the latest round of applications, and the message isn't clear.