Statewide News

Ohio's unemployment rate has dropped again, following the biggest one-month decline in almost 30 years.

The state Department of Job and Family Services reported Friday that the state had joblessness of 8.1 percent in December, down from 8.5 percent in November.  The November rate had been down a full half-point from October's even 9 percent.

Ohio's relatively low rates for property insurance are expected to rise in 2012 due to the damaging storms of recent years.

An insurance agent in Middletown in southwest Ohio says Mother Nature has had her way with the state. Gary Grimes of Insurance Associates tells the (Hamilton) JournalNews he expects homeowner rates to go up 10 percent this year.

Insurers can't raise rates to make up for past storms, but the history can be used to predict future losses to help set prices.

Ohio officials say the state is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for a ruling that Ohio's protocol for carrying out lethal injections is constitutional.

Gov. John Kasich and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a statement yesterday that the state will ask the high court to reverse a federal appeals court decision delaying the Wednesday execution of Charles Lorraine.

     Six universities in Ohio are part of a new national push to boost training and research on military veterans' brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.

     First lady Michelle Obama talked about the initiative Wednesday before a gathering of military members and veterans in Virginia. She said 105 U.S. medical schools and 25 schools of osteopathic medicine are bolstering their efforts to train students in treating brain injuries, PTSD and other mental-health issues affecting service members.