Romney campaigning in Mansfield today
Republican Mitt Romney will be campaigning today in northern Ohio. Romney plans to meet with factory workers at a plant in Mansfield. Vice President Joe Biden spent the weekend in the southern part of the state stumping for votes for President Barack Obama.

Mansfield to vote on injection well ban
Voters in Mansfield will have another decision on the fall ballot beyond who will sit in the White House. Mansfield is using the home-rule provision in the Ohio constitution to place the ban on wastewater injection wells the November ballot. The wells store fluid used in the process of fracking. The state approved the construction of two injection wells owned by a Texas company in the city of Mansfield. It’s the latest instance of not-in-my-backyard sentiment against injection wells in Ohio.  Cincinnati, Yellow Springs, and Niles have already banned the wells and Broadview Heights is looking to follow suit.

State voting on funding for exotic animal “zoo”
A state panel is set to vote on funding construction of a facility that would temporarily house exotic animals confiscated under a new Ohio law. State officials want to spend $3.5 million to build the facility that could hold dozens of animals near the state Agriculture Department's headquarters just east of Columbus.

Columbus to use casino revenues to pay down arena
Columbus officials plan to use their share of casino profits to offset state budget cuts and pay for the purchase of a downtown arena. The Columbus Dispatch reports the city isn't sure how much money it will get. Officials estimate that it will be between $15 and $18 million each year starting in 2013.

Browns downed by Eagles
The Browns opened their 2012 season yesterday with a loss for the 13^th time since returning to Cleveland in 1999. After blowing a six point lead Cleveland fell 17-16 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden threw four interceptions.The Browns head to Cincinnati to play the Bengals this Sunday.

Gas prices down
Ohio motorists are paying about a dime less for a gallon of regular gas this week. The average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.76 in Monday's AAA survey

Occupy Columbus evicted from near Statehouse
Occupy protesters are no longer occupying  their spot in front of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus after getting an eviction notice from the city. A new city ordinance called for protesters to vacate their spot by midnight Sunday. Local television stations reported that protesters were gone Monday morning, with only a few signs remaining. The city ordinance requires citizens wishing to occupy any street, sidewalk, alley or public right-of-way to obtain a permit for $100 and pay a deposit of at least $500. Protesters say a civil lawsuit is in the works that will challenge the city ordinance. It's been nearly a year since Occupy Columbus set up a tent and began protesting what they called corporate greed and demanding changes from lawmakers.

New tick species invading Ohio
A Lyme-disease-carrying species of tick rarely encountered in Ohio before 2010 is increasingly making itself at home here. The Columbus Dispatch reports that populations of the black-legged tick are thought to be migrating from the east. So far, they've shown up in at least 26 Ohio counties. Ohio has recorded 36 cases of Lyme disease so far this year, and more might crop up this fall as hunters stomp through the woods in search of turkey and deer. There were 53 Lyme disease cases in the state last year. But experts say the invasion of black-legged ticks — also known as the deer tick — could produce higher numbers of cases in coming years.