Toledo Blade

toledoblade.com — COLUMBUS - Ohio's strict ban on smoking in indoor public places is constitutional and enforceable, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled unanimously today. The high court called the voter-passed law "a valid exercise of the state's police power" and rejected the argument of a Columbus tavern cited 10 times and fined $33,000 that it amounts to a regulatory taking of its business.

toledoblade.com — Seniors on the University of Toledo baseball team occupied the back of the bus April 7 -- as they do for all road trips -- when a visitor approached them. It was their coach, Cory Mee.

toledoblade.com — Excitement was in the air at the Toledo Area Humane Society on Tuesday morning as the staff geared up to adopt out the ''Suitcase 6'' puppies and their mother. One of the puppies was adopted Monday afternoon by his foster mom, Tanya Nikolakos of Holland, who had nicknamed him Johnny "The Mouth of the South" Hart, after the pro wrestler by that name.

toledoblade.com — Large campaign contributions from a Northern Ohio businessman and his employees to U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel have prompted a federal investigation, the campaigns confirmed Monday. The probe is centered around more than $200,000 in campaign contributions from employees at the Suarez Corporation, a Canton-based direct marketing firm owned by Benjamin Suarez, a frequent financial supporter of Republican causes.

toledoblade.com — In order to win the Menards 200, Chris Buescher knew he had to take advantage of the long runs instead of focusing on short driving bursts. In a race interrupted 10 times by caution flags, the 19-year-old driver aimed for consistency when it came to a continuous series of laps.

toledoblade.com — Milka Duno wasn't fazed by the fact that she was the only woman in the 35-driver field at Sunday's Menards 200. Instead, she welcomed another opportunity to drive. "In racing, I think like a driver," said Duno, who finished 24th in Sunday's race, completing 191 laps.

toledoblade.com — COLUMBUS - Andrew Sweat called home with startling news one day last December after sitting through a finance lecture at Ohio State. "Dad, I don't remember being in class," he told his father, Gary. Sweat took pride in his no-excuses toughness as a standout linebacker for the Buckeyes.

toledoblade.com — Obama touts alternative energy in Ohio visit With spiking gas prices potentially endangering a tenuous economic recovery as well as his own re-election chances, President Barack Obama Thursday lashed out at his Republican critics and challenged the notion that more drilling is the answer.