GOP’s DeWine takes campaign for Ohio governor on the road
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican Mike DeWine is embarking on a statewide campaign tour a day after announcing a bid for Ohio governor.
The 70-year-old state attorney general and former U.S senator is one of Ohio’s longest-serving and best-known politicians, but he faces a competitive and widening GOP field. Secretary of State Jon Husted and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, of Wadsworth, already are running. Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor is weighing a bid to succeed Republican Gov. John Kasich, who’s term-limited.
DeWine released a biographical web ad before the tour laying out an optimistic, law-and-order vision for Ohio.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Betty Sutton, a former congresswoman, questioned DeWine’s record. She says he’s failed to protect Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens by opposing the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion and defending anti-abortion laws.
Ohio restores websites hacked with pro-Islamic State rant
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio officials say they’ve restored 11 government websites that were hacked with a message purporting to be supportive of the Islamic State terrorist group.
A spokesman for the Department of Administrative Services says affected websites were restored by Monday morning. That department is working with public safety officials to investigate how sites were hacked Sunday with a message that ended with: “I love the Islamic state.”
It affected websites for the governor and his wife, the lieutenant governor and the inspector general, as well as Ohio’s Medicaid and prisons agencies. The list also included sites for Ohio’s casino and facilities commissions, the offices of Health Transformation and Workforce Transformation, and the government streamlining effort LeanOhio.
The same message infiltrated government websites in Brookhaven, New York, and Howard County, Maryland.
2 young adults dead in northern Ohio home; no suspect sought
MARION, Ohio (AP) — Investigators say the bodies of two young adults were found in a northern Ohio home where officers had been asked to check on the residents’ welfare.
Marion police didn’t immediately release details about what caused the deaths but said they aren’t looking for a suspect.
Police say the two individuals in their early 20s were found dead on Saturday night in Marion, about 45 miles north of Columbus. Their identities weren’t immediately released.
Authorities say family members had requested the welfare check.
Cincinnati considers allowing medical marijuana businesses
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati officials this week will consider whether the city should join those allowing medical marijuana cultivation as the state begins to permit it.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that members of a city council committee on Tuesday will review a proposal to allow growing and processing medical marijuana in manufacturing districts.
Some Ohio municipalities have opened their arms to the medical marijuana industry as supporters tout new jobs and tax revenue. Other areas have instituted local bans, including the southwest Ohio communities of Blue Ash and Fairfield.
The state plans to issue a dozen licenses for smaller cultivation sites and another dozen for larger operations. It’s accepting applications for the large-scale cultivators until Friday.
Ohio legalized medical marijuana last year. It is expected to become available next year.
Ohio gas prices rise but stay lower than national average
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gas prices around Ohio have risen a bit but remain lower than the national average.
Ohio’s average for regular fuel was $2.17 per gallon in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s up from $2.12 a week ago but down from $2.35 at this time last year.
The national average was $2.26 on Monday, down three pennies from last week. It’s a nickel cheaper than a year ago.
AAA says consumers have been benefiting from low prices at the pump because of strong oil production and low demand for gas.
Ohio police stop driverless Amish buggy with energetic horse
WOOSTER, Ohio (AP) — Ohio police had to make an unusual stop after finding a driverless Amish buggy going down the road.
In a Facebook post, the Wooster Police Department says the horse apparently decided to take a morning run Sunday without its owners.
Officers found the buggy heading down State Route 250, and one sergeant jumped inside and managed to get the horse to stop.
Police say the horse was very excited and tired, but otherwise unhurt. Police were able to track down its owners and return the horse and buggy.
The department says in the post, “every new day brings with it new challenges.”
Naked, bloody man in custody after hammer assault
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Police say they have taken a man into custody after he was reported naked and bloody at an Ohio wastewater treatment facility.
The employees at the facility in Jefferson Township were evacuated, and the man was taken into custody without incident.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office says the man is the suspect in an earlier assault with a hammer Sunday evening. The victim has been hospitalized, and their condition is unknown.
The names of the suspect and the victim have not been released.
Police say the assault is still under investigation.
