COLUMBUS — Supporters of a proposed ballot issue that aims to fix Ohio’s unconstitutional school funding system are getting mixed reactions from the state’s 614 public districts. A coalition of teachers unions and other education groups pushing the measure took some heat at a recent presentation to school board officials in Worthington, a wealthier suburb [...]

COLUMBUS — School and law enforcement officials are sounding an alarm for teachers and parents that a pink, strawberry-flavored variety of crystal methamphetamine could wind up in area schools. That version of the highly addictive drug has not been seen in central Ohio yet, but law enforcement experts say the fact it could be confused [...]

CLEVELAND — The city school superintendent is running into neighborhood opposition to a proposal to create several all-boy and all-girl schools. The proposal by schools Chief Executive Eugene Sanders was welcomed in February, but the details, including which schools might be affected, have generated opposition from some parents. Sanders wants to set up all-boy and [...]

Steven R. Hurst and Qassim Abdul-Zahra Associated Press Writers BAGHDAD — The United States and Iran broke a 27-year diplomatic freeze Monday with a four-hour meeting about Iraqi security. The American envoy said there was broad policy agreement but that Iran must stop arming and financing militants who are attacking U.S. and Iraqi forces. Iranian [...]

Enforcers of Ohio’s new smoking ban have heard about 200 complaints a day accusing business of allowing people to light up or leaving out ashtrays. The complaints, which have been mostly against bars, have been coming into the Ohio Department of Health’s toll-free hot line since May 3, when the ban started against smoking a [...]

Nancy Dye presides over last Oberlin commencement OBERLIN — As hundreds of graduating seniors received diplomas and bid a fond farewell to Oberlin College, outgoing President Nancy Schrom Dye did the same. Monday’s ceremony held on the lush green grasses of Tappan Square — an ideal setting for the college’s first officially “eco-friendly” commencement — [...]