A state Supreme Court decision that allows a vote on a slots proposal could derail plans by Harrah’s Operating Co. to purchase a horse track in northeast Ohio.

A deadline for Ohio’s seven race tracks to make an initial payment on a license to set up video slot machines came and went Tuesday, with only two of the seven tracks making the $13 million payment.

The Ohio Lottery Commission has made concessions to the state’s horse racing track owners to increase the likelihood they will meet a key deadline for getting video slot machines running by May 2010. 

The state says it plans to create a new type of fourth-grade test by merging the writing test, dropped because of budget cuts, with the surviving reading exam. 

Unions that represent police officers and mid-level city managers in Cincinnati are going to court to try to prevent layoffs. 

Social Networking sites could be keeping criminals at bay.

Governor Ted Strickland held strong in early fundraising for his re-election bid, but financial reports filed Friday signaled several other statewide seats may be vulnerable to a party switch. 

Ohio’s latest budget seeks to make solar power more affordable for residents who want to go green.

Laid-off deputies working for free are helping an Ohio sheriff’s office keep running despite budget cuts.  Retired police officers are also volunteering, often for more than 40 hours a week. 

The state budget provided little help to the agency that runs Ohio’s parks and wildlife programs, currently facing a half-billion-dollar maintenance backlog. 

A new statewide poll shows some Ohioans are losing faith in Governor Ted Strickland and growing frustrated with his leadership.

State Auditor Mary Taylor says Gov. Ted Strickland has handed over Ohio’s financial statements, which had become a source of political conflict.

A small group of Democratic lawmakers is splitting from Gov. Ted Strickland and calling for a tax hike to help plug Ohio’s budget deficit.

The budget projections used by Governor Ted Strickland’s adminstration in the proposal to expand gambling rely on Ohio’s seven race tracks acting quickly to offer electronic slot machines to customers.

On Friday, Governor Strickland announced his support of a plan that would allow slot machines at Ohio’s seven racetracks.