COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio transportation agency is expected to use nearly $7 million in federal money to upgrade technology of rural transit agencies and increase broadband Internet access in areas with insufficient service. More than 30 rural transit service areas will receive upgrades under the Transit Tech Ohio project, The Columbus Dispatch reported (http://bit.ly/1Simju9), including software, broadband access, …

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Patrons at basketball games and other sporting events can soon buy alcoholic beverages throughout an Ohio State University arena. The Columbus Dispatch reports that beer and wine will be available at the Jerome Schottenstein Center to visitors beyond the venue’s club level. Fans will be able to get alcoholic drinks in the entry and terrace levels …

TIFFIN, Ohio (AP) — Police say an Ohio man was drunk when he had his 9-year-old neighbor drive him to a gas station to buy barbecue sauce for their chicken dinner. that the boy drove the man to the gas station Saturday evening, but clerks wouldn’t let the child drive home and reported the situation. Police say the 27-year-old man …

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Republican majority in the Ohio House is taking a serious look at the issue of medical marijuana and discussing potential legislation, the House speaker said Wednesday, a day after voters rejected a broader pot legalization proposal. House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger told reporters that legalizing marijuana for medical use has support within his GOP caucus, and …

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Voters in Ohio have passed more than 85 percent of school levies on ballots across the state. The Ohio School Boards Association says voters approved 94 of the 110 school funding issues on local ballots in the state Tuesday. The association’s legislative director, Damon Asbury, says that’s the highest passage rate in at least 15 years. …

MARION, Ohio (AP) — Police in central Ohio say a K9 officer camping with her police officer handler was accidentally struck and killed by a vehicle. Marion Police Chief Bill Collins says the death of Bella was announced this week with an “end of watch” notice like any other active officer death. Police say the K9 officer unexpectedly took off …

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The future of marijuana in Ohio was uncertain after the resounding defeat of an effort to legalize cannabis for both medical and recreational use in a single vote. The proposal rejected by voters on Tuesday could be followed in 2016 by a more conventional legalization plan, one that doesn’t give exclusive growing rights to private investors. …

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Police are looking for a two-year-old child who was reported to be in a car stolen in a carjacking. Dayton police say the car was reported stolen shortly after 7 a.m Tuesday outside a McDonald’s restaurant. Initial reports said the driver told police that two suspects fled in the vehicle with the two-year-old inside. Dayton police …

ZANESFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Investigators say they can’t determine what caused a fire that destroyed the lodge at Mad River Mountain ski resort in western Ohio. The state fire marshal’s office says investigators couldn’t rule out discarded smoking materials or electrical failure as possible causes. Fire marshal’s spokesman Bill Krugh says the damage to the building was so extensive that …

ZANESFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Fifteen fire departments from four counties fought to contain a fire that destroyed the main building at a ski resort in Logan County on Wednesday night. The director of the Logan County Emergency Management Agency says no injuries were reported in the fire at the Mad River Mountain resort in Zanesfield. Authorities said an unknown number …