Statewide News

New guidelines regulating exotic animals in Ohio will require owners to meet new caging, safety and caretaking standards.

The new rules were reviewed and OK'd Wednesday by the state's legislative rule-setting committee.

The regulations come as the state prepares to begin issuing new permits this fall to owners. Permit holders must obtain the authorization document by 2014 to keep their dangerous wildlife.

Supporters of expanding the Medicaid program to include more low-income people are urging Ohio lawmakers to restore the proposal to the state budget.

The group Advocates for Ohio's Future said Tuesday that it's open to separate legislation that achieves the same goal, as long as it's passed by June 30, the same deadline the budget faces.

The governor's budget proposal called for an expansion of Medicaid under the federal health care law. But the Legislature has largely kept the idea separate from the budget bill. 

Meteorologists are warning that a gigantic line of powerful thunderstorms is likely to threaten one in five Americans.

The storm system packing tree-toppling winds is forecast to rumble Wednesday from Iowa to Maryland.

The continuous line of storms might even spawn an unusual weather event called a derecho. That's a massive storm of strong straight-line winds spanning at least 240 miles. A historic derecho last year killed 13 people and knocked out power to 4 million residents.