Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney courted Northeast Ohio Republicans last night in his bid to win the nomination. 

Romney addressed about 1,200 GOP supporters at the the Cuyahoga County Republicans’ Lincoln Day dinner in Mayfield Heights. 

His visit comes just a day ahead of the current frontrunners’ visit. 

A recent Quinnipiac University poll show former PA Senator Rick Santorum leading Romney in Ohio 36 percent to 29 percent. 

A new Rasmussen Poll shows Santorum with an 18-point lead over Romney. 

Santorum begins a four-city swing through southern Ohio today. 

Ohio and nine other states hold nominating contests on March 6 - Super Tuesday. 

Sixty-six delegates are up for grabs here. 

Early voting is already underway.
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A judge has handed down eight-year prison terms for the parents of an 8-year-old Ohio boy who died from Hodgkin lymphoma after suffering for months from undiagnosed swollen glands. 

The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge handed down the maximum sentences Thursday for 37-year-old Monica Hussing and 40-year-old William Robinson Sr. of Cleveland.

Last month, they pleaded guilty to attempted involuntary manslaughter. 

Their son Willie Robinson collapsed at his home in March 2008. 

Prosecutors say he had begged his parents to take him to see a doctor but was rejected. Hodgkin lymphoma is a highly treatable cancer. 

The parents had financial problems and tried to get checkups for their children but say they couldn't afford it. 

Both plan to appeal the sentence.

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A judge's decision paves the way for Northeast Ohio officials to begin a $38 million stormwater management program to reduce flooding and to charge a fee to pay for it.

A county judge in Cleveland ruled Wednesday that the district has the power to charge residential and commercial property owners based on their size of impermeable parking lots.

Judge Thomas Pokorny also determined that the fee was not an "unlawful imposition of a tax," as some of the district's opponents had contended.

It's expected to total about $57 a year for the average homeowner and more for businesses with bigger properties. 

The judge sided with some property owners in ordering several changes to the program, including an increase in how much money the sewer district returns to communities for projects. 

Officials say the program is set to begin in January.

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A private management company that operates a group of publicly funded charter schools will appeal an Ohio judge's order that it turn over its financial records. 

The records are requested by the schools' governing boards as part of a lawsuit. 

The ruling set a deadline of March 6 for Akron-based White Hat Management LLC. 

Attorneys for White Hat want the decision put on hold while they appeal it.

They say the ruling would force them to release trade secrets and other confidential information. 

The dispute is part of a lawsuit by privately operated schools in Akron and Cleveland. 

An attorney for the schools says they want the accounting information to help guide decisions about the schools and check that taxpayer money was spent appropriately.

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A 17-year-old suspected in a deadly Craigslist robbery scheme in Ohio will face a three-day hearing on whether he will be tried as an adult. 

Attorneys for both sides met Thursday in Akron with a juvenile court judge who scheduled the hearing to begin April 17 for Brogan Rafferty. 

Rafferty pleaded not guilty to juvenile of aggravated murder, attempted murder and other charges. 

52 year-old  Beasley of Akron, a self-styled chaplain suspected in the alleged plot, has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder and kidnapping.

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The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority isn't entitled to legal immunity in a case where the agency had an employee arrested in front of the entire staff. 

While government subdivisions are usually protected from civil lawsuits involving injuries to third parties, justices ruled 7-0 yesterday Darrell Sampson's case fits the exception to that rule.

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LeBron James says he wouldn't rule out playing again for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Back in the city where he began his NBA career, Miami's All-Star forward says he could see himself playing in Cleveland, and if he decided to return he hopes "the fans would accept me." 

James played seven seasons for the Cavs before leaving as a free agent in July of 2010.