Browns sold to truck stop magnate
The Cleveland Browns have been sold for 1 billion dollars to Tennessee truck-stop magnate Jimmy Haslam the third. Assuming the NFL approves the sale, Haslam will take 70 percent control of the team now, and the remaining 30 percent in four years. The price tag is about double what owner Randy Lerner’s father, Al Lerner, paid for the team in 1998. Haslam currently has a minority stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has promised not to move the team out of Cleveland.

Obama campaign sues Ohio over military voting
Fifteen military groups are opposing a federal lawsuit in Ohio brought by President Barack Obama's campaign because they say it could threaten voter protections afforded to service members. Obama's campaign and Democrats argue the law unfairly ends in-person voting for most Ohioans three days earlier than it does for military and overseas voters. They say such disparate treatment is unconstitutional, and all voters should be able to vote on those days. Organizations including AMVETS asked a judge late Wednesday to dismiss the lawsuit. They say federal and state law recognizes military voters need extra time. They fear a court could find that service members shouldn't be treated differently. Most Ohioans have until Friday evening before Election Day to cast a ballot in person. Military voters have until Monday.

Pro-Romney group launching new ads
An independent group supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says it's launching a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign in Ohio. Americans for Prosperity plans to spend about $25 million on the ads beginning next week and running into early September. The ads will run in Ohio, and 8 other battleground states. Americans for Prosperity was founded by David and Charles Koch, billionaire brothers who have contributed generously to Republican causes and candidates over the years. The group already has spent about $15 million in swing states this year on ads attacking President Barack Obama.

Gas prices on the rise
Gas prices could hit $4 a gallon once again. The Plain Dealer reports problems at oil refineries in Indiana and Illinois led many gas stations to up their prices to $3.89 today. But some industry experts say the high prices shouldn’t last.

Mortgage fraud ringleader sentenced
A Cleveland-area mortgage fraud ringleader was sentenced yesterday to three and a half years in prison. Prosecutors say Dennis Springer paid people to buy homes and get mortgages using bogus information.  In all the ring secured 33 loans and the fraud ring was valued at about $7 million.  Springer received a lighter sentence because he cooperated with prosecutors and helped their investigation after his arrest.  Five of Springer’s co-defendants have already been sentenced to jail time.

Two pigs at State Fair test positive for swine flu
Two pigs were sent home from the Ohio State Fair because they have the swine flu virus. The state veterinarian discovered the sick hogs Thursday. The Ohio State Department of Agriculture has been closely monitoring the fair in Columbus because of a recent swine flu outbreak recently at the Butler County Fair in southwestern Ohio. There was a similar recent outbreak at a fair in Indiana.

Bacon cheeseburgers sold in Ohio recalled
Nearly 19 tons of frozen bacon cheeseburger patties sold under the Sam's Choice label are being recalled in Ohio and six other states because they could contain pieces of gasket material. Federal agriculture officials say there have been no reports of injuries or illnesses so far.

Rare baseball cards found, sold
Century-old baseball cards found in an Ohio attic have been sold at auction for more than $566,000. The sale featured cards depicting Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. Family members cleaning out their grandfather's attic earlier this year in Defiance came across what experts say is one of the most exciting finds in the history of sports card collecting. The cards are from a rare series issued around 1910 that was given out with candy.