A federal judge says he’s striking down Ohio’s voter-approved ban on same sex marriages.
Judge Timothy Black announced his intentions Friday. His ruling will force the state to recognize gay couples legally wed elsewhere. State attorneys plan to appeal.
Today is the deadline to register to vote, or update voter information.
Also, the Board of Elections Office will be open until 9 tonight, for early voting.
A Norwalk man is in critical condition after a crash on U.S. Route 250 in Avery.
58-year-old Efilas Lopez is at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. Also at V’s: 24 year-old Daniela Lopez of Norwalk. She is in fair condition. The driver, Lorenzo Lopez and a third passenger, Elver Lopez of Norwalk were taken to Fisher-Titus Medical Center. According to reports, they were injured Saturday when the other driver, 16-year-old Trenton Sheldon of Norwalk turned into Lopez’s path, while turning from 250 into the Colonial Inn South. Sheldon was taken into Fisher-Titus. He was later charged with failure to yield.
An 80-year-old Willard man is facing charges of rape, sexual battery and kidnapping.
Howard Zerkle was arrested Saturday by Willard police, on a secret indictment out of Huron County Common Pleas Court. He was taken to the county jail. The victim is an autistic 18-year-old Plymouth woman, and the alleged incident occurred in January.
Sandusky police are investigating a double stabbing, at a home on Shelby Street.
According to reports, a man and woman were taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center last night, both with serious injuries. Police said it appears the two were the only ones involved.
Around Ohio…
Vandals have destroyed dozens of Civil War-era headstones, at a cemetery in Zanesville. Nearly 100 headstones were knocked over or broken last week. Authorities are looking for the person or persons responsible.
A Cleveland television station has issued an apology, after an inaccurate report that said Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had been indicted.
The information was posted Friday, on the station’s website. WEWS Channel 5 officials said an internal investigation is underway, to determine how the erroneous report was posted. Haslam has never been charged, in connection with a fuel rebate scandal at his family’s business, Pilot Flying J.
More Ohio news…
It was a record-setting weekend for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” The film brought in $96.2 million during its first weekend in theaters, a record for April. Much of the movie was shot in northeast Ohio, including Cleveland.
Ohio’s Classic Lotto jackpot is up to $66 million.
The next drawing is tonight. No one has won the jackpot since October of 2011.
The city of Norwalk’s annual limited spring trash pickup will begin one week from today.
Residents may dispose of three large items, or nine extra bags.