Statewide News

The leader of the Ohio Senate says a bill to repeal the state's disputed election law will be introduced in the coming weeks, and his fellow Republican lawmakers are looking at rules to replace the contentious measure.

Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus told reporters Wednesday that it's too early to tell whether any replacement legislation could be passed before November's general election.

The Ohio House has voted to give the state's top law enforcer beefed-up powers to go after online scammers who use sites such as eBay and Craigslist to rip people off.

The bill approved 83-10 yesterday allows the state's attorney general to seek records on phone and Internet activity by suspected cyber fraudsters. Online payment information also could be requested.

The measure passed the state Senate in November. It now returns to the Senate for a final vote.

Pit bulls in Ohio would no longer be labeled as "vicious" dogs under a bill that has cleared the Ohio Senate.

State law currently defines a vicious dog as one that has seriously hurt or killed a person, killed another dog or is among those commonly known as pit bulls. The Senate voted 27-5 Tuesday to change that definition by removing the reference to pit bulls. The change would require evidence to prove pit bulls are actually vicious.

A state legislative panel has signed off contracts related to empowering the state's new private job-creation partnership, JobsOhio.

Last week, Gov. John Kasich announced an agreement between the state budget and commerce departments to transfer the state liquor business to JobsOhio for the next 25 years. The deal is worth $1.4 billion.

As part of the plan, the state Controlling Board on Monday approved a contract to allow the state Commerce Department to continue to distribute and sell liquor in Ohio.

Catholic leaders in Ohio are joining the chorus of church officials urging parishioners to protest and pray about the federal government's decision to require many church-affiliated institutions to cover free birth control for
employees.

Bishops in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo shared their opposition in letters distributed or read to parishioners this weekend, saying the decision runs counter to their beliefs.