An Ohio court has rejected the appeal of a southeastern Ohio man who was convicted of killing his daughter-in-law, who was found strangled at the bottom of a septic tank in 2011.

YOUNGSTOWN — A northeastern Ohio couple was found guilty yesterday of enslaving a mentally disabled woman for two years through intimidation, abuse and threats that they would harm her young child.

CINCINNATI (AP) — A southwestern Ohio lawmaker charged with fraud and theft for allegedly misleading investors about a company’s financial status and using their money for personal gain won’t go on trial next month.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will remain overnight at The Christ Hospital for observation after becoming ill prior to a speaking engagement in Cincinnati earlier today.

In good news for Gov. John Kasich, a Libertarian gubernatorial candidate was ruled off the ballot today.

It’s back to three meals a day — except on weekends — for 20,000 inmates in Ohio jails. That was one of just three changes, including continuing to allow inmates to shower daily, made to dozens of revised rules for operation of Ohio’s 349 jails. Overall, the new standards would greatly improve treatment of mentally ill inmates while dramatically reduce mandatory training for jail employees. The changes are designed to allow sheriffs to better fend off potential prisoner lawsuits.

Two people in Ohio, have been found guilty of enslaving a mentally disabled woman for two years with her young child. Jurors in a Youngstown federal court handed down guilty verdicts today on charges including forced labor conspiracy against 27-year-old Jordie Callahan and 32-year-old Jessica Hunt.

WOOSTER, Ohio — On Tuesday, two weeks and a day after speaking broadly about his policy agenda for 2014 in his State of the State speech, Gov. John Kasich will begin to talk details with legislators as his proposals are formally introduced.

NEWARK, Ohio — The lawyer for a Newark band director indicted yesterday on 13 counts stemming from sexual relationships with three students said he hopes to quickly work out a plea deal for his client.

YOUNGSTOWN — A man and his girlfriend used threats, intimidation and physical abuse to keep a mentally disabled woman enslaved for two years along with her young daughter, a prosecutor told jurors who began considering the charges yesterday.

The Columbus Fire Division will introduce potential fire recruits to the job of fighting fires and responding to medical emergencies beginning this weekend.

Akron police reported yesterday that a Barberton man broke into Akron’s STEM middle school at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, stole equipment and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old female student.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, a potential GOP presidential candidate in 2016, has been announced as keynote speaker for the annual Lincoln-Reagan fundraiser dinner of the Hamilton County Republican Party.

WASHINGTON — Despite opposition from Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, the Senate yesterday confirmed Rose Gottemoeller — a 1971 graduate of Upper Arlington High School — as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner vowed today to support President Barack Obama in this “very difficult situation” against Russian President Vladimir Putin just hours before the House approved financial support for the new Ukraine government.

In a ruling in a Columbus case, the Ohio Supreme Court declared yesterday that the state’s child-enticement law is unconstitutional because its provisions prohibit “a significant amount of constitutionally protected activity.”

State agencies have been warned to ensure their file-sharing Web pages are secure after two pornography videos were posted to an unprotected Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.

When it comes to checking signatures on candidates’ petitions, the mantra of the Franklin County Board of Elections is “look for ways to accept them,” board member Gregory Haas said.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Among the tasks ahead for the new leader of a large and growing Islamic Center in southwestern Ohio is increasing understanding of Muslims.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The leader of Ohio’s largest county has submitted a proposal to the county council to assert its home-rule powers by mailing unsolicited absentee-ballot applications to registered voters there.

Fewer Ohio teenagers are abusing prescription pain medications, but nearly half of them text while driving, according to a new survey. Those statistics, from the Ohio Department of Health’s annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey, demonstrate a shift away from one high-risk behavior but others remain substantial, officials say. The 2013 survey found that 30 percent of high school students drank alcohol and 15 percent smoked cigarettes, while only 26 percent get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

With its famous gorillas, cute baby elephant and twin polar bears, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has plenty to endear itself to Franklin County voters. But is that enough to win passage of a permanent levy that would cost taxpayers twice what they’re now paying?

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A 17-year-old southwestern Ohio boy accused of tying his parents’ bedroom doors shut while they were inside and setting the house on fire has been found competent to stand trial.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati police say a $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to two teenagers suspected of shooting a man who was sitting on his porch and refused their demands to hand over his backpack.

CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati woman was ordered to spend 30 days in jail because a police officer said he overheard her making an insulting comment after her brother’s sentencing for assaulting and robbing a developmentally disabled woman.