Ryan in Westlake today
Congressman Paul Ryan is quickly becoming a regular visitor back to the state where he attended college. The Romney/Ryan campaign says the Republican running mate will lead a rally this morning at the Westlake Recreation Center. He then will go to Iowa to campaign. The Wisconsin congressman attended Miami University in Oxford.  In a little more than three weeks since he was announced as Romney's choice, he has campaigned in Ohio about five times. Democratic Vice President Joe Biden is expected back in Ohio this weekend after the Democratic National Convention. He rallied GM workers in Lordstown last Friday.

Star power at Ohio DNC breakfast
A breakfast meeting for the Ohio delegation to the Democratic National Convention includes speeches from U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and actress Ashley Judd. Sebelius, daughter of former Ohio governor John Gilligan, and Judd are among the speakers listed for the Ohio delegation's breakfast meeting this morning. The convention in Charlotte, N.C., gets under way tonight with former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland scheduled as a primetime speaker.

Absentee ballot applications on the way
Registered Ohio voters should start receiving absentee ballots in the mail this week for the November election. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted says more than six million applications were mailed on Friday. For the first time voters in all 88 counties will receive an application to vote by mail. There will be a second mailing in early October to voters who registered or updated their information after August 6.

“Pay to play” fees on the rise
For an increasing number of Ohio families, playing sports also means paying for sports. A recent survey found about half of the state's high schools charge fees sports, and samplings also show that fees are getting higher and family discounts are being eliminated. Participation fees that can run into hundreds of dollars for each child have become a fact of life in many Ohio schools battling budget problems.

Progressive Field turbines exceed expectations
The corkscrew-like wind turbines that sit atop Progressive Field are exceeding expectations. Cleveland State University designed and installed the four mounted turbines with a $1.1 million department of energy grant awarded in 2009…The Plain Dealer reports the turbines are generating more than 4 and a half times as much energy than if they were standing alone. The turbine is expected to generate about 40,000 kilowatt-hours per year, the amount of energy needed to power four homes.

Gas prices shoot up
A sharp rise in gas prices last week has Ohio motorists paying more as a new work week begins. The average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.85 in today’s survey. That's about 11 cents more than a week ago. Ohio drivers have seen continuously rising prices this summer, and Hurricane Isaac's swamping of the nation's oil and gas hub along the Gulf Coast last week gave prices another bump.

Eastern Ohio military mom introducing Michelle Obama tonight
An eastern Ohio military mom will introduce First Lady Michelle Obama at tonight’s convention in Charlotte. The Plain Dealer reports 57-year old science teacher Elaine Brye of Columbiana County wrote to Mrs. Obama on a whim last winter, thanking her for an initiative that helps veterans find jobs. Brye was then invited to a state dinner in March, and then was asked to introduce the first lady at tonight’s convention.