Ohio election's chief plans "major announcement" 
Ohio's elections chief is ready to share details of a new initiative he says will simplify the elections process. Secretary of State Jon Husted's office said the initiative will be unveiled today in what it billed as a "major announcement." The office said the effort will change how voters prepare for elections, including the presidential election November 6th.

Bar Association opposes ballot issue
The Ohio State Bar Association is opposing a proposed constitutional amendment to change how legislative and congressional districts are drawn in Ohio. The proposal voters will decide this fall would give map-drawing powers to a 12-person citizen commission instead of elected officials. The Bar Association says it’s concerned about the proposal’s requirement that a panel of appellate court judges would have to approve the commission. The association said there could be a conflict of interest if the commission's proposed plans are challenged in the state's Supreme Court. 

Sigh of relief in search for Asian Carp
A three-day sweep of western Lake Erie has found no trace of invasive Asian Carp. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources spent this week electroshocking fish in Sandusky Bay and north Maumee Bay in Michigan, after species’ DNA turned up in small fraction of samples collected last summer. The Army Corps of Engineers must report by early October on its strategies to hold off the Asian Carp migration toward the Great Lakes that threatens to decimate the Lake Erie fishing industry. 

More downsizing for turnpike
The Ohio Turnpike Commission is looking to save about $2 million a year through additional downsizing. The Plain Dealer reports the turnpike plans to lay off up to 32 custodians and an undetermined number of toll collectors, effective in three months. The state is in the midst of a more than $3 million study that will determine how best to operate the turnpike, including whether to lease the toll road to a private operator.  

PUCO sets AEP rates
Ohio utility regulators have set a new pricing structure for Columbus-based American Electric Power in which customers could see an estimated 6 to 7 percent increase in their bills in the first year. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio says after that, rates will vary, but no customer will see more than a total 12 percent increase over the three-year period. The new rates will go into effect Sept. 1. The initial rate plan was scrapped after the PUCO received more than 1-thousand complaints 

Massillon man now charged with murder in hospital shooting
A Stark County man accused of fatally shooting his wife of 45 years has now been charged with aggravated murder. The charge was upgraded from attempted murder after an autopsy confirmed that John Wise’s Wife, Barbara died from a gunshot wound at Akron General Medical Center over the weekend. Police believe John Wise of Massillon was performing a mercy killing. He did not enter a plea in court on Wednesday and has another hearing later this month.

Brooklyn to pay nearly $1 million in settlements
A Cleveland suburb will pay nearly $1 million to settle two sexual harassment lawsuits against its former mayor. Brooklyn City Council voted Wednesday to pay out $750,000 to a former city hall receptionist and former administrative assistant to Ken Patton. Patton stepped down in 2009 and was sentenced to two years’ probation the following year for assault and other charges against one of the women who sued.