Statewide News

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio is ending its ties with trade offices overseas as a new semiprivate nonprofit entity prepares to take over the job creation duties of the state's Department of Development.

A spokesman for Gov. John Kasich confirmed the change Sunday.

The state says improvements in communications technology and faster travel options have decreased the need to have foreign offices.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A report says Ohio is worse than half of other states when it comes to hunger, with more than one in four families lacking the means to buy food in the past 12 months.

The Columbus Dispatch reports Ohio is 20th for food hardship in the analysis released Thursday by the anti-hunger group Food Research and Action Center. The state has seven of the 100 most troubled metropolitan areas, worse than all but one state.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio will pay cash to tens of thousands of state workers this month to make up for personal days they gave up over the past two years to help balance the state budget.

The Associated Press has learned that each full-time employee is receiving the equivalent of four days' wages plus four sick days. That's in exchange for eight personal days conceded under the union contract negotiated under former Gov. Ted Strickland.

Swapping sick for personal days is beneficial for the state. Sick time - unlike personal time - is only partially reimbursed when unused.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio is to receive $16 million in a federal grant to help clean up communities ravaged by spring storms.

The grant will create 1,144 temporary jobs for dislocated workers to help raze demolished buildings, repair structures and clear streets of debris.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says the money will help make Ohio whole and show them that their government stands with them as they try to repair their communities.