Ohio military, overseas voters can now cast ballots

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio military and overseas voters can now cast ballots for the November presidential election.

The office of Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says absentee voting for military and overseas voters began Saturday. Those who have not yet registered or requested an absentee ballot can still do so. Voters casting ballots from afar can track the status of their mailed ballots online.

Early voting for other Ohioans begins on Oct. 12, the day after the state’s voter registration deadline.

Residents can vote absentee by mail or in person without having to give a reason.

State appeals in development fight over 18-acre wetlands

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state is appealing a judge’s decision that would allow commercial development of an 18-acre wetlands area surrounded by roads, houses and parking lots in booming suburban Columbus.

The appeal is the latest twist in a tug-of-war for the property the state once hoped to swap for a bigger natural area a few miles away.

That 2012 deal would have allowed the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to give the 18-acre site to a Columbus developer in exchange for forty-three acres along the Olentangy River in central Ohio.

The developer sued the state after it pulled out of the deal because of public opposition.

Franklin County Judge Christopher Brown ruled earlier this month the state had to honor the deal. The state appealed last week.

Holocaust center to move to Cincinnati’s Union Terminal

CINCINNATI (AP) — A center that educates the public about the Holocaust will be moving to Cincinnati’s Union Terminal building, home to the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Officials with the Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education and the Cincinnati Museum Center say the Holocaust organization will move to the converted train station with completion of Union Terminal’s renovation in 2018.

The Center for Holocaust and Humanity Education was formed by Holocaust survivors and their families in 2000 in Cincinnati.

The president and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum Center says adding the Holocaust organization to the museum center is a “good fit” because both organizations recognize the importance of telling history stories and connecting people with survivors, real objects and collections.

The Cincinnati Museum Center includes the Cincinnati History Museum among other attractions.

Ohio gas prices fall; remain below national average

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gas prices in Ohio continue to fall, while the average price in the state also remains below the national average.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Ohio was $2.08 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s down from $2.17 cents a week ago and 13 cents below the current national average.

The average price in Ohio at this time last month was $2.22, while gas prices in the state a year ago averaged $2.21.

The national average price of $2.21 reported Monday remained at the same level it was this time last week and last month. The national average a year ago was $2.29.

University of Dayton police want to increase visibility

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — University of Dayton police officers are working to make themselves more visible around campus.

The department announced several measures to increase its visible presence around campus.

That includes officers working their beats with red and blue lights on top of their cruisers continually lit. They won’t flash unless they’re responding to a call.

Chief Rodney Chatman says the illuminated lights alert students and would-be criminals that officers are nearby. He says he wants students to be able to see the lights.

Police also are setting up a substation in the student housing neighborhood. Chatman says he wants officers to have more interaction with the university community there.

Chatman says the department is increasing training on fair policing and is hiring a diversity and inclusion recruitment officer.