Early voting case heads to trial today
A federal judge in Columbus is hearing arguments today on whether Ohio can forbid county boards of elections from allowing people to vote early on the weekend before the November election. Democrats and civil rights groups say the GOP-passed prohibition is an attempt to limit voting in Democratic and working-class areas. President Obama’s court challenge notes that the law allows overseas and military voters to cast early ballots during that weekend, and maintains the split rules are unconstitutional. He wants early voting extended to all voters until Nov. 5, the day before the election.

This issue is separate from another one in which Republicans on county boards of elections have blocked moves for extended voting hours on other weekends and nights in Democratic areas of the state, but voted for the extended hours in Republican areas. Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted says he’s now considering establishing statewide hours for all counties.
 
Northeast Ohio gets attention from Ryan, Santorum 
Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is holding a rally at his alma mater Miami University in Oxford today and will be in Northeast Ohio tomorrow. Ryan will hold a rally Thursday morning at Walsh University in North Canton starting at 9:30. Meanwhile, Rick Santorum is speaking Wednesday afternoon at The Tangier entertainment complex in Akron. GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney edged the former Pennsylvania senator in Ohio's March 6 Republican primary in what was a crucial showdown in this year's race.

Ashland murder suspect captured
An Ashland man suspected of killing his on-and-off girlfriend during a vacation to North Carolina's Outer Banks is now in custody. The United States Marshals Service says Nathan Summerfield is under arrest after a month-long nationwide manhunt. He was found at a Wadsoworth hotel in Medina County where he checked in under a fake name.Summerfield was wanted on a murder charge in the death of 33-year-old Lynn Jackenheimer of Ashland. She disappeared in early July while vacationing with Summerfield and her children. Her body was found in a vacant lot in Frisco, N.C. Police say Summerfield returned the woman's children to Ashland and drove away. Summerfield's brother has told authorities that Summerfield said he strangled the woman. Investigators say she died from strangulation and stab wounds.