Ohio House Republicans re-elect Rosenberger as speaker

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Republican speaker of the Ohio House will keep the top post next year.

The House GOP caucus says it re-elected Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, of Clarksville, to the position for the next General Assembly.

The legislature’s session is set to wrap up in a few weeks. State lawmakers return to Columbus for voting sessions next week.

Other members of the House Republican’s leadership team include Reps. Kirk Schuring of Canton, Sarah LaTourette of Chesterland and Rob McColley of Napoleon.

One Republican state senator also will join the leadership ranks in the House after Tuesday’s elections. Tom Patton of Strongsville will serve as majority whip.

Rosenberger has tapped veteran lawmaker Bill Seitz of Cincinnati to serve as policy chair.

The leaders and members will be sworn in during ceremonies in January.

Longtime SW Ohio sheriff dies 2 days after successor elected

TROY, Ohio (AP) — Officials say a longtime sheriff in southwest Ohio who had been in failing health died two days after his chief deputy was elected as his successor.

Charles Cox had been the Miami County sheriff since 1988. The 71-year-old died Thursday at a hospice facility in Dayton.

Cox had decided not to seek re-election to an eighth term this year, and he’d already turned over some duties to Chief Deputy Dave Duchak. Duchak ran as a Republican and won Tuesday’s election for a term beginning in January.

Miami County commissioners told the Dayton Daily News they’re in discussions with legal counsel about any action that might need to be taken in the meantime.

Ohio ex-cop sentenced for impersonating officer, stalking

CLEVELAND (AP) — A former Cleveland-area policeman has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison on charges related to stalking a woman and impersonating a police officer.

A Cuyahoga County judge sentenced 56-year-old Jeffery Martin to 33 months in prison on Thursday.

Martin pleaded guilty last month to menacing by stalking, impersonation of a police officer, unauthorized use of a computer and aggravated trespassing. Rape and sexual battery charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.

Martin resigned as a Pepper Pike police officer in August 2014.

Prosecutors say Martin stalked an ex-girlfriend and impersonated an officer to get information about her over 10 months last year.

An attorney says Martin looks forward to finishing his sentence and moving on with his life.

Cops: Driver tries to sexually assault woman near university

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Police say a woman told them she was on her way to a university in northeast Ohio when a truck driver offered to give her a ride and then tried to force her into sexual contact.

Police say the woman reported she was walking to the University of Akron early Sunday when a man pulled up and offered her a ride.

Police say she agreed, but that the man then tried to coerce her to engage in sexual contact. She got out of the truck and flagged down a bystander.

Officials say the woman was treated for minor injuries and was released.

WJW-TV reports the university sent out an alert on Thursday.

Police say the truck had a ladder rack and a broken passenger-side window covered in clear plastic.

About 2,500 gather in Columbus to protest Trump election

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Roughly 2,500 people have gathered at a rally in Columbus to protest the presidential election of Republican Donald Trump.

Protesters gathered Thursday evening outside the Statehouse. They marched on North High Street and performed a brief sit-in.

The Columbus Dispatch reports participants chanted “No fascist USA, no Trump, no KKK,” and “Climate change is real,” among others.

Police say the demonstration was peaceful. Participants remained contained to sidewalks.

Many protesters said the demonstration represented solidarity and was a way to promote religious freedom, racial equality and women’s and immigrants’ rights.

Thousands have gathered in cities across the nation to voice opposition to Trump’s election.

Trump tweeted Thursday evening “Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!”

31-year-old gorilla dies at Columbus Zoo

POWELL, Ohio (AP) — A 31-year-old western lowland gorilla has died at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Zoo officials say Anakka died Thursday after failing to recover from anesthesia administered for a routine medical procedure.

Anakka came to the Columbus zoo in 1993 after being born eight years earlier at a zoo in Philadelphia. He fathered four offspring in Columbus.

The median life expectancy for gorillas in North American zoos is just under 32 years.

Zoo officials said Anakka had a stroke. The official cause of death will be determined from a necropsy.

Assistant zoo curator Audra Meinelt says Anakka was smart, charismatic and special to the zoo.

Seventeen gorillas remain at the Columbus zoo.