Cincinnati teen crowned Miss Ohio during annual pageant

MANSFIELD, Ohio (AP) — An 18-year-old Cincinnati woman has been crowned Miss Ohio.

The Mansfield News Journal reports Alice Magoto wore her prom dress during the competition Saturday in Mansfield against 19 other women. She told reporters afterward that she was excited to represent Ohio in the Miss America contest. In addition to the Miss Ohio title, Magoto won a $10,000 scholarship.

Magoto says she plans to major in political science in college after a high school career in which she participated in a variety of performing arts.

First runner-up in this year’s Miss Ohio pageant is Hannah Zimmerman of Circleville. Second runner-up is Clayland Ulasevich of North Royalton and third runner-up is Hayley Hesselschwardt of Hicksville.

Ohio gun shop owner fatally shot by concealed carry student

AMELIA, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say the owner of an Ohio gun shop teaching a concealed carry class was fatally shot in the neck by a student who accidentally fired a weapon.

The (Cincinnati) Enquirer reports 64-year-old James Baker was shot Saturday while students practiced weapon malfunction drills. The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office said there were about 10 people taking the class at KayJay Gun Shop in Monroe Township, about 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

Baker died at the scene. The student who fatally shot him hasn’t been identified.

According to the gun shop’s website, the concealed carry class consisted of basic pistol safety, shooting range sessions and a review of Ohio’s gun laws.

The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting.

Ohio city eliminates age limit for new police officers

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio city has lifted the age limit to become a police officer.

The Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News reports proponents hope the move will increase the Hamilton police force’s diversity and experience and expand its pool of eligible applicants.

Before the ordinance was approved last month, applicants older than 35 couldn’t be hired. The ordinance removed that limit.

Police Chief Craig Bucheit pushed for the change and says he’s not concerned with an applicant’s age. He says he cares about their desire to serve and how well they can perform their duties as a police officer.

The local president of the NAACP says he’s in favor of the change and is impressed with the chief’s move.

It’s not clear how many people previously were rejected because of their age.

Police program allows addicts to seek help, offers amnesty

NEWARK, Ohio (AP) — Newark police have launched a new initiative that is aimed at pushing more of central Ohio’s drug addicts onto the path of treatment and rehabilitation rather than prison.

The Columbus Dispatch reports addicts who come to the Newark police station seeking help can surrender unused drugs and related paraphernalia with no penalty under the newly implemented Newark Addiction Recovery Initiative.

The initiative won’t be available to sex offenders, addicts under 18 unless they have parental consent and those in medical distress not related to addiction.

Police Chief Barry Connell says the program is modeled after one started last year by police in Gloucester, Massachusetts. That initiative, called the Angel Program, and several others like it don’t offer amnesty to addicts like Newark’s does.

Buckeye Boys State moving to Miami U from Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (AP) — Organizers of the Buckeye Boys State program have decided to move the annual summertime gathering to a new home.

The American Legion sponsors the program that brings in more than 1,000 Ohio high school juniors to learn about how government works.

The event has been at Bowling Green State University since 1978.

The group’s board of trustees voted Thursday to move the event to Miami University in Oxford.

Boys State trustee David Ridenour told The Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green there seemed to be a consensus that it was time for a change after so long in one place.

Ridenour also said facilities are closer together at Miami and there’s room for more boys in the future.