COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Some state lawmakers want to bring back cursive handwriting as a requirement in Ohio’s elementary schools.

Republican Reps. Andrew Brenner and Marilyn Slaby have proposed legislation that would again make cursive instruction mandatory between kindergarten and fifth grade. Thirteen representatives have signed on as co-sponsors.

The bill would require schools to make sure students can write legibly in standard print by third grade and in cursive by the end of fifth grade.

The state doesn’t currently require that cursive be taught in schools, and it’s not part of the multi-state Common Core standards on which Ohio’s standards are based. However, cursive instruction is included in the state’s “model curriculum” for third and fourth grade.

Ohio GOP lawmaker won’t sponsor payday lending reform bill

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A Republican lawmaker who vowed to push payday lending reform in Ohio has decided not to sponsor such a bill during her final two-year term, marking a setback for those hoping to further crack down on that industry.

Rep. Marlene Anielski tells Cleveland.com it’s an important issue but she feels she can only effectively focus on one topic, and she’s prioritizing suicide prevention. That’s personal for Anielski, whose son killed himself.

Her Democratic co-sponsor plans to proceed with a payday lending reform bill. But he says losing Anielski’s sponsorship is a setback because the proposal won’t pass without support from Republicans. They control the Legislature and have been hesitant to further restrict payday lending.

A research group found such loans are more expensive in Ohio than any other state.

Ohio gas prices dip slightly, remain under national average

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gas prices around Ohio have dipped slightly in the past week.

The state average for a gallon of regular fuel was about $2.09 in Tuesday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s three pennies cheaper than a week ago but significantly higher than the average of $1.70 at this time last year.

The national average was $2.28, the same as a week ago. The national average a year ago was much lower at $1.71.

AAA says there has been a strong supply of crude oil on the market and gas prices have stayed relatively steady in recent weeks.

Ohio State museum asks public to help buy dinosaur skeleton

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A geological museum at Ohio State University wants to buy a new dinosaur skeleton for its collection, and it’s hoping the public will pitch in to make that happen.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the Orton Geological Museum is aiming to raise $80,000 next month for the addition.

Why? As one curator puts it: “Nothing gets kids excited like dinosaurs.”

Toys and other items sold at the museum don’t generate enough income for big purchases or upgrades, and there’s a squeeze on federal funding, so the museum is turning to crowdsourcing to pay for the project.

The hope is to add a cast skeleton of a bus-sized dinosaur dubbed Cryolophosaurus ellioti. It was named after retired Ohio State geology professor David Elliot, who discovered the remains in Antarctica in 1991.