Statewide News

Ohio may have to pay millions in penalties to the federal government because not enough people on welfare are working at a job or trying to get one. The state has been fined for the last three years because less than a quarter of Ohio’s welfare recipients are working, are volunteering as preparation for work or are in job training programs.

The federal government requires half of recipients be enrolled in work participation.

Ben Johnson at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says his agency is confident the situation can be corrected.  

WEIRTON, W.Va. (AP) - Union workers at 12 Kroger Co. grocery stores in West Virginia and eastern Ohio have rejected a three-year contract offer.

Members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 23 also voted to authorize a strike if an agreement isn't reached by Aug. 28.

Union spokesman Richard Granger said Monday that 99 percent of those voting Sunday in Weirton rejected the contract offer, while 97 percent favored the possible strike.

Granger says the offer called for no wage increases and would have shifted health care costs to individual employees.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio officials plan to outline the job-creation duties of a new nonprofit entity during a series of meetings around the state that begin Tuesday.

The semiprivate JobsOhio corporation was created by the Gov. John Kasich earlier this year to lead the state's economic development efforts. As a result, the state Department of Development is to report to the legislature by Thursday what functions should move from the state agency to JobsOhio.

COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) - State officials say Ohioans looking to cash in on the high price of gold should take their jewelry or other gold items to dealers licensed by the state.

The Ohio Department of Commerce also is encouraging people to find out from several businesses what they'd be willing to pay.

Commerce Director David Goodman says in a statement that shopping around helps ensure you'll get a "reasonable price" for your gold.