Associated Press

ST. MARYS, Ohio (AP) - Toxic algae plaguing Ohio's largest inland lake has created a negative public image that organizations and residents in the area are determined to change.

They're working to draw tourists back to western Ohio's Grand Lake St. Marys and using television, newspapers and social media to spread the word that the lake is improving. Meanwhile, state, federal and local agencies continue efforts to control the algae and improve water quality.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A liberal policy group has until Friday to decide whether to challenge petitions supporting a fall ballot measure offering Ohioans a chance to opt out of portions of the national health care overhaul.

ProgressOhio launched an independent review of more than 546,000 signatures collected by Ohioans for Healthcare Freedom.  ProgressOhio Executive Director Brian Rothenberg claims initial findings suggested as many as 20 percent of petitions were flawed.

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.