CELINA - A protest filed against the candidacy of a St. Marys transgender woman running for Ohio's 84th House District seat is invalid but elections officials will nevertheless meet to decide whether to revisit the certification of her petition.

CELINA - Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation's report of its investigation into a Celina police-involved shooting is now in the hands of a special prosecutor.

CELINA - Mercer County commissioners on Tuesday awarded a $953,129 contract to Braun Excavating of Celina to reconstruct sections St. Peter, Township Line, St. Anthony and Mud Pike roads.

  WAPAKONETA - A new method of disease monitoring might come from an unexpected place - wastewater.

Wastewater disease monitoring rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Natalie Hicks, Auglaize County Health Department's emergency response coordinator and epidemiologist. [More]

WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County commissioners recently signed off on the 2024 budget totaling $84.97 million, a slight increase from last year's appropriations of $81.76 million.

CELINA - A Columbus man appeared in Mercer County Common Pleas Court on rape charges last week.

Johnathon H. Grove, 43, appeared on one count of first-degree felony rape on Friday.

COLDWATER - Board of Education members on Tuesday moved forward with the final step to add an income tax replacement levy to the March primary ballot.

Members approved the recommended tax levy rates and values as presented by Mercer County Auditor Randall Grapner.

CELINA - In a game marked by turnovers, fouls and transition layups, it was a stretch of clutch shooting late in the half that put Minster in control. [More]

ST. MARYS - Some clutch 3-point shooting sparked St. Marys to a 49-42 victory over Spencerville Tuesday night at Grand Lake Heath Systems Court.

After struggling early, the Riders heated up behind the arc, turning a seven point first-quarter deficit into a four-point lead at halftime.

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry and Tom Haines

Marion Local overcame an 11-0 deficit, but Botkins took a late lead and the Flyers missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a 49-46 boys basketball loss on the road on Tuesday.