Associated Press

The Ohio Department of Transportation has revealed which sections of rural interstate highway will have a higher speed limit of 70 mph instead of 65 mph starting July 1.

The department said Tuesday that the limit will increase on more than 570 miles of interstate highway. The increase applies to parts of Interstates 70, 71, 75, 76, 77 and 90 but doesn't include sections of those roads in major metropolitan areas and a few smaller cities along the way.

More than 300 signs will be made to alert drivers about the new limits.

A proposal in the Ohio Senate prompting concern from some public officials would make more meetings among government officials public and provide more details on government talks behind closed doors.

The proposal would expand the types of discussions subject to the law and require more information stated publicly in motions to hold closed-door sessions under Ohio's Open Meetings Act. It also would expand fees and expenses that may be recovered for violations of the act.

Tea party activists want to show their unhappiness over extra IRS scrutiny with protest rallies.

Members of the Cincinnati tea party will gather at noon today in the city, then march to the nearby federal building. The building houses Internal Revenue Service offices that handled group applications for tax-exempt status. IRS officials have acknowledged that some conservative groups received inappropriate attention and questioning.

Other tea party groups also want activists in other cities to protest Tuesday at their local IRS offices.

A Democratic state lawmaker is announcing plans to challenge Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel in 2014.

Third-term state Rep. Connie Pillich, of suburban Cincinnati, said Monday she'll focus her campaign on fighting for working families, fellow small business owners and senior citizens.

Pillich has been a lawyer, businesswoman and captain in the U.S. Air Force.

Without using his name, she criticized Mandel for absenteeism from his state position during a failed run for the U.S. Senate last year and for not wanting the job.

The state of Ohio has received a $2.1 million federal grant to improve criminal background checks for those home health care workers who directly serve the disabled and elderly.

The money means more thorough reviews for more than 100,000 workers who provide direct care to patients in Medicaid- and Medicare-funded settings.

Gov. John Kasich's administration says Ohio also will provide $700,000 in state funds to bolster background checks.