Statewide News

CINCINNATI - New U.S. Census numbers show Ohio households led by same-sex couples grew by more than 50 percent between 2000 and 2010.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports last year's census identified more than 28 thousand same-sex partner households, an increase of nearly 10,000 from 10 years earlier.

Executive director Ed Mullen of gay rights group Equality Ohio tells the newspaper the increase reflects that more gay and lesbian couples are living together and are comfortable declaring themselves a couple.

COLUMBUS, OH - An abandoned item at the Ohio State Fair led authorities to close the Skyway ride and a section of the fair on its opening day.

Multiple media outlets report that the Columbus fire department bomb squad was called Wednesday afternoon to detonate the item, a soft-sided cooler. The contents were found to be water bottles and food bars.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers pushed crowds back while firefighters used a device called a disrupter to detonate the cooler.

COLUMBUS, OH - Governor John Kasich has declared the Ohio State Fair "the best darned fair" in the country as he opened its 12-day run with a ribbon-cutting. The Columbus Dispatch reports Kasich said the fair's agricultural displays offer a chance to show that bread doesn't just appear in a grocery store.