Associated Press

Democratic state lawmakers are questioning a review by local county election boards into instances of voter suppression in Ohio during the 2012 presidential election.

Sen. Nina Turner and Rep. Kathleen Clyde said Wednesday that votes were suppressed when thousands of absentee and provisional ballots were rejected. They contend reports of long lines also discouraged voters.

A group seeking to overturn Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage says it's aiming to put the issue before voters in 2014.

Leaders of FreedomOhio say they decided not to try for this year's ballot and to continue discussing the idea with voters and raising resources for their campaign.

They've also met with the Human Rights Campaign and other organizations to discuss the effort. Some of those groups say they haven't agreed to particular timing for a ballot effort.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed a bill requiring Ohio courts to report certain mental health information for inclusion in a law enforcement database.

The bill signed Tuesday is named after a Clark County sheriff's deputy who was fatally shot two years ago. State Representatives Chris Widener from Springfield and Bill Beagle from Tipp city joined the governor for the signing of the Deputy Suzanne Hopper Act.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is awarding $7.2 million for projects to help children safely walk or bike to school.

The grants announced this week in the Safe Routes to School Program go to 58 projects. The money will help with constructing or improving crosswalks and sidewalks and will support efforts to educate children about being safe on the way to school.

Ohio first lady Karen Kasich says the projects encourage walking or biking to school and can help cut pollution and traffic.

Opponents of a multimillion dollar wind project that would build at least 52 wind turbines in southwest Ohio are challenging a state board's approval of the project's next phase.

The Ohio Power Siting Board voted this week to allow the second phase of the Buckeye Wind Project. The Springfield News-Sun reports that opponents living near the proposed project want that decision reviewed.