COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A new poll finds that Gov. John Kasich's job approval rating is its highest since taking office two years ago.
It's also the first time his approval rating has been above 50%.
The poll released Thursday by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut shows 53% of Ohioans give Kasich a passing grade while 32% disapprove of his performance.
Just a year ago, his approval rating with was under 40%.
The poll taken over the last week also finds that several Democrats mentioned as possible challengers to Kasich in 2014 have fairly weak name recognition around the state.
The survey of 1,011 voters in Ohio has a margin of error of 3%age points.
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Sunday, May 19 2013 8:52 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:52:38 GMT
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) - Police in a northeast Ohio community report a number of black bear sightings. Police in Liberty Township near Youngstown say they have received several calls regarding bears in
Police in Liberty Township near Youngstown say they have received several calls regarding bears in the area in recent days.
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:04 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:04:44 GMT
COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Authorities in southeastern Michigan ay a man stole a car with a 74-year-old disabled woman in the passenger seat, took her money and then fled on foot. The Oakland County
Authorities in southeastern Michigan say a man stole a car with a 74-year-old disabled woman in the passenger seat, took her money and then fled on foot.
Sunday, May 19 2013 4:11 PM EDT2013-05-19 20:11:36 GMT
Police are on the lookout for a man accused of hitting and seriously injuring a Sheriff's deputy with his car.Police say Josh Baldridge hit a Knox County, Ohio deputy early this morning.Baldridge is driving
Police are on the lookout for a man accused of hitting and seriously injuring a Sheriff's deputy with his car.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:50 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:50:15 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The state of Ohio has received a $2.1 million federal grant to improve criminal background checks for those home health care workers who directly serve the disabled and elderly. The
The state of Ohio has received a $2.1 million federal grant to improve criminal background checks for those home health care workers who directly serve the disabled and elderly.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:41 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:41:11 GMT
CLEVELAND (AP) - Police made regular crime runs to the Cleveland street where three women were held captive in a house over a decade before escaping.Since the 2002 abduction of the first victim, Michelle
Police made regular crime runs to the Cleveland street where three women were held captive in a house over a decade before escaping.
Sunday, May 19 2013 9:22 PM EDT2013-05-20 01:22:19 GMT
EDMOND, Okla. (AP) - A powerful storm system rumbled through the Plains and upper Midwest on Sunday, spawning tornadoes that damaged homes and buildings near Oklahoma City and put the Tulsa area on high-alert. There
A powerful storm system rumbled through the Plains and upper Midwest on Sunday, spawning tornadoes that damaged homes and buildings near Oklahoma City and put the Tulsa area on high-alert.
Sunday, May 19 2013 5:19 PM EDT2013-05-19 21:19:25 GMT
Police are still searching for the suspects that shot and killed James "Jimmy" Safadi in his Waterville home early Saturday morning. About 6 a.m. Saturday, detectives say the three suspects described as
Police are still searching for the suspects that shot and killed James "Jimmy" Safadi in his Waterville home early Saturday morning.
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:56 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:56:32 GMT
DAMASCUS, Va. (AP) - Authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally,
Authorities believe the driver who plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Virginia mountain town parade suffered from a medical condition and did not cause the crash intentionally.
Sunday, May 19 2013 8:52 PM EDT2013-05-20 00:52:38 GMT
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) - Police in a northeast Ohio community report a number of black bear sightings. Police in Liberty Township near Youngstown say they have received several calls regarding bears in
Police in Liberty Township near Youngstown say they have received several calls regarding bears in the area in recent days.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:42:35 GMT
On Monday, we'll likely climb to 88 degrees. If we reach 88 on Monday, it would become our warmest day since August 31st, when we reached 93 degrees. Monday's record high is 92 degrees, from May 20th of 1962.
On Monday, we'll likely climb to 88 degrees. If we reach 88 on Monday, it would become our warmest day since August 31st, when we reached 93 degrees. Monday's record high is 92 degrees, from May 20th of 1962.
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:45:43 GMT
A group of Coast Guard members are traveling across the country to visit veterans, and they've doing it all by golf cart.Sunday, they rode into Toledo and the local Coast guard held a barbecue for the
A group of Coast Guard members are traveling across the country to visit veterans, and they've doing it all by golf cart.
Sunday, May 19 2013 6:04 PM EDT2013-05-19 22:04:44 GMT
COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Authorities in southeastern Michigan ay a man stole a car with a 74-year-old disabled woman in the passenger seat, took her money and then fled on foot. The Oakland County
Authorities in southeastern Michigan say a man stole a car with a 74-year-old disabled woman in the passenger seat, took her money and then fled on foot.
Sunday, May 19 2013 5:01 PM EDT2013-05-19 21:01:49 GMT
Before any boating trip comes the preparation. Sunday's warm up gave some a chance to get their boats ready. "We just really enjoy boating," said Ron Roop who's been boating for thirty years. "This is
The U.S. Coast Guard urges boaters to take extra time to make sure they have all of the safety equipment required before taking their boats onto the water.
Sunday, May 19 2013 7:05 PM EDT2013-05-19 23:05:59 GMT
Owens Community College graduated more than 50 students Sunday who earned their GEDs.The students celebrated receiving their high school equivalence diplomas.Several students served as keynote speakers.
Owens Community College graduated more than 50 students Sunday who earned their GEDs.