Statewide News

A new report says Ohio leads the nation in insurance claims for metal thefts.

A National Insurance Crime Bureau report released Wednesday showed Ohio filed 3,228 claims from 2010 through 2012. That's 23 percent more than second-place Texas.

The numbers don't necessarily mean there are more metal thefts in Ohio, only that businesses and homeowners file more claims in the state. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Ohio insurance officials say they're not sure why more claims are filed in the state.

An Ohio Senate panel has approved a bill to immediately halt the expansion of Internet cafes.

The measure that cleared the Senate's government oversight committee on Tuesday would extend a current moratorium on the opening of new sweepstakes gambling operations until June 2014. It would require operators of current facilities to file more thorough affidavits with the state, or they could face a fine.

A full Senate vote could come Wednesday.

Most violent crimes in Ohio are committed by people who have at least two felony convictions. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports on a bill coming this week that seeks to cut down on gun-related crimes by locking up those people.