Cleveland casino grosses $42 million
Cleveland’s Horseshoe Casino has grossed about $42 million in its first seven weeks, putting it ahead of owners’ annual projections. The figures released by the Ohio Casino Control Commission show gamblers wagered as much as $350 million through June 30^th, most of that in slot machines. The Ohio Department of Taxation says its first quarterly distribution of casino taxes will total nearly $20 million that will go to counties and cities across the state. The city of Cleveland will receive more than $1 million of taxes collected so far; Cuyahoga County's share totals about a half million.

First horse track casino takes in $11 million
The first slots-like gambling machines added to one of Ohio's horse tracks have taken in more than $11 million in revenue during the facility's opening month. According to data released Monday by the Ohio Lottery, the state's share of revenue from the video lottery terminals at Scioto Downs in Columbus is $3.7 million. That's more than the roughly $3 million officials estimated the machines would generate per month for the state. The money will help fund K-12 education programs in Ohio. Revenues are calculated as the money remaining after prizes have been paid out to winners.

Convicted murderer to get new trial in Summit
A Summit County man who has served 17 years of a life prison sentence will get a new trial. A common pleas judge on Monday overturned the felony conviction of 50-year old Dewey Jones. In April, new test results showed that DNA recovered from an Akron murder scene did not come from Jones. He was convicted in 1995 of robbing and killing family friend Neal Rankin. The Innocence Project of Cincinnati tells The Columbus Dispatch it will now seek Jones’ release from prison.  

Timken plant idled
The Canton-based Timken Company has idled its Faircrest plant after a steel furnace broke down last week. About 370 people work at the plant. No one was injured when the furnace malfunctioned and caused molten steel to pour on the floor. Union leaders tell the Canton Repository repairs are underway and the plant is expected to begin production within the next week. The Faircrest plant is undergoing a $225 million expansion.

New plan to combat nursing home pill theft
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is ready to announce a plan to combat the theft of prescription drugs in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The announcement planned today is one of several state initiatives. DeWine will give examples of nursing home employees stealing drugs from residents, talk about ways to prevent such thefts and explain the effects of the illegal activity on sick patients.

Prescription drug drop-off boxes available
The state is making dozens of drop-off boxes available to Ohio counties for the collection of prescription drugs. The state is also providing at least three incinerators for the destruction of the drugs once they're gathered. The pilot program announced Monday makes 75 boxes available to two dozen southern Ohio counties where the state's prescription painkiller epidemic has hit the hardest. State data show two of every three people who received a painkiller prescription in 2010 still had pills left over from previous prescriptions.

High court asked to intervene in internet cafe dispute
The Ohio Supreme Court may be weighing in whether some internet sweepstakes cafes in Cuyahoga County can remain open. County prosecutor Bill Mason wants the high court to overturn Common Pleas Juge Nancy Russo’s ruling last month that allowed four of 51 cafes to reopen. She says they are legal businesses. Mason maintains they conduct illegal gambling.

Cleveland officers back on the job
Two dozen laid off police officers and a handful of firefighters will back on the job in Cleveland this week. A swearing in ceremony was held Monday. In May of 2011, Cleveland laid off more than 300 workers, including about 80 police officers and 50 firefighters due to deep cuts in local government funding from the state. Many officers and firefighters have since returned with the help of federal grants and income tax revenue. 

Priest wants $3.5 million restitution returned
An Akron priest whose bank and tax fraud conviction was overturned last week wants his money back. Reverend Samuel Ciccolini’s lawyers have filed a motion asking for $3.5-million in restitution to be returned with interest. It’s been held at the Federal Clerk of Court’s office in Cleveland since his 2010 conviction on charges that he embezzled more than a million dollars from the Interval Brotherhood Home. A three-judge panel ruled last week that U.S. District Attorney Scott Gwin had no authority to order the restitution because Ciccolini was never charged with stealing from the foundation.

Provisional ballot rules upheld
Ohio’s rules for counting provisional ballots will remain in place. A federal judge on Monday rejected an argument by Ohio's elections chief  to toss out the agreement. At issue are requirements for providing identification when a voter has to cast a provisional ballot, typically a ballot cast in the wrong precinct. Husted had that the agreement is not in line with state law and that he lacks jurisdiction to enforce the it. The judge found there is no conflict between the agreement's requirements and Ohio elections law.