The Columbus Dispatch

NEWARK, Ohio (AP) -- The eBay bidding topped out at more than $1,000 for a motorized bar stool that a Licking County man rode right into an arrest for drunken driving. Full Story »

The State Highway Patrol should have a new boss by the end of the year. Full Story »

Fears about the future of the Pataskala police department are now being felt outside the city. Full Story »

Even as authorities work to shut down computer-based Sweepstakes gambling machines in Ohio, a Florida company is trying to sell Ohio retailers on the concept of scratch-off phone cards that operate on the same principle. Full Story »

The small-business loans were intended to create jobs and spark the Columbus economy. And more than 340 likely did. Full Story »

Columbus schools are moving to prohibit discrimination against any student or employee based on sexual orientation, according to a policy change that will get a first reading at a Board of Education meeting today. Full Story »

Gov. Ted Strickland said yesterday that he sees no choice but to slash funding to primary and secondary schools if an $851 million budget hole is not filled by Dec. 31. Full Story »

AP videos require Macromedia Flash Player 7 and Windows Media Player 10. Full Story »

A snowplow that can do the job of two. Full Story »

State authorities are investigating the hanging death of a prisoner in the Fairfield County jail in Lancaster. Full Story »

South-Western schools extended Treasurer Hugh Garside's contract for five years at last night's board meeting. Full Story »

Is there a problem in your neighborhood? Tell The Watch. Each Tuesday, The Dispatch features a problem from Columbus, its suburbs and surrounding counties and explains how officials are working -- or not working -- to fix it. Then we'll keep watch to make sure they keep their word. Call The Watch hot line at 614-461-8731 or send an e-mail to thewatch@dispatch.com. Full Story »

The Dublin Scioto High School community was shocked by reports of another death in less than three weeks yesterday. Full Story »

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio -- A man seen on surveillance footage at Walnut Creek Elementary School turned out to be a parent, not a suspect in a peeping incident in the girls bathroom. Full Story »

A week after his early-morning arrest outside the Orange Township Hall, township Fiscal Officer Joel Spitzer pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of obstructing official business. Full Story »

NEWARK, Ohio -- Reynoldsburg will supply water and sewer services to new schools being built in Licking County, after a judge ruled yesterday against a water district that had claimed the right to provide the utilities. Full Story »

Right-to-life group against plan for electing justices Ohio Right to Life became the first prominent group yesterday to oppose a plan by Ohio's top jurist and the League of Women Voters to change how justices are elected to the Ohio Supreme Court. Full Story »

Heartland Petroleum officials say they're working on plans to prevent another toxic gas leak such as the one that caused the evacuation of 4,000 people from the refinery's East Side neighborhood yesterday morning. Full Story »

A man died yesterday afternoon in a one-vehicle crash in Obetz, at Groveport and Bixby roads. Full Story »

MANSFIELD, Ohio (AP) -- At least one Molotov cocktail, or something similar, was thrown into City Hall yesterday, starting a small fire. Authorities were looking for the man they think is responsible. Full Story »

A West Side drug trafficker with a stash of weapons told a Franklin County jury that he knew three of his guns were used in a triple homicide and robbery last year but he wasn't the one who pulled the triggers. Full Story »

LANCASTER, Ohio - The City Council last night approved a $25.4 million general fund budget for next year, a plan that totals less than this year's spending. Full Story »

DuyThanh Tran shuffled his papers nervously and addressed via video the diplomats and scientists at the United Nations' climate-change conference. Tran, of Upper Arlington, a sophomore at the Metro Early College High School, talked at his school about waste reduction and global cooperation for about five minutes before he was stopped by the Danish moderator of the event tied to the international ... Full Story »

Columbus schools are moving to prohibit discrimination of any student or employee based on sexual orientation, according to a policy change that will get a first reading at a Board of Education meeting Tuesday. Full Story »

Lancaster City Council tonight approved a $25.4 million general fund budget for next year, a plan that totals less than this year's spending. Full Story »