COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A newspaper investigation of Ohio Internet cafes and their owners has found most of the businesses provided incomplete information to the state and most of the operators identified had spotty financial backgrounds or criminal histories.
The Columbus Dispatch report comes as state lawmakers debate how to regulate the operations.
The newspaper found more than half the 780 businesses registered with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine provided only a street address. Almost 100 aren't on file with the Ohio Secretary of State.
Of 221 individual operators who registered, only 122 provided sufficient information to be identified. Six in 10 of those identified had spotty financial histories including tax liens and bankruptcies. A dozen had criminal backgrounds.
DeWine called it "the Wild, Wild West" and urged lawmakers to take control.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:47:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
The bill to ban Internet cafes will head to the Ohio Senate floor today. Yesterday a Senate Committee overwhelmingly approved the plans. Two separate proposals would ban operations statewide and block new cafes until the ban takes effect. There are about 800 Internet cafes in Ohio.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:32:46 GMT
LOGAN, Ohio (AP) - State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural
State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says signs warning hikers not to leave marked trails are being enhanced. Rangers also have increased trail patrols and are issuing more citations to people who stray from them
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:26 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:26:32 GMT
CLEVELAND (AP) - The three women held captive in a Cleveland house for about a decade say they are doing fine. That was the message in a letter released by their attorneys Tuesday that also noted a charity
The three women held captive in a Cleveland house for about a decade say they are doing fine. That was the message in a letter released by their attorneys Tuesday that also noted a charity fund to help the women has now raised more than 650 thousand dollars.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:27:16 GMT
General Motors and Michigan are continuing the economic road to recovery. The company announced today it will invest more than 40 million dollars in a Cadillac factory in Lansing. The Lansing
General Motors and Michigan are continuing the economic road to recovery. The company announced today it will invest more than 40 million dollars in a Cadillac factory in Lansing. The Lansing
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:27 GMT
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit the families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit victims' families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:14 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:14:38 GMT
NB I-75 shut down north of Cygnet due to accident involving school bus
Around two dozen people were injured Tuesday night in a bus crash on I-75. It happened around 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-75, just north of the Cygnet exit
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban openly gay boys belonging to the scouting movement.
The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban openly gay boys belonging to the scouting movement.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:47 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:47:17 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio state lawmakers moved boldly Tuesday against storefront sweepstakes parlors they have come to view as illegal gambling operations, advancing separate bills effectively banning
The bill to ban Internet cafes will head to the Ohio Senate floor today. Yesterday a Senate Committee overwhelmingly approved the plans. Two separate proposals would ban operations statewide and block new cafes until the ban takes effect. There are about 800 Internet cafes in Ohio.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:32:46 GMT
LOGAN, Ohio (AP) - State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural
State officials say safety improvements are planned after a third fatal fall from a cliff recently in the Hocking's Hills region of southeastern Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says signs warning hikers not to leave marked trails are being enhanced. Rangers also have increased trail patrols and are issuing more citations to people who stray from them
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:26 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:26:32 GMT
CLEVELAND (AP) - The three women held captive in a Cleveland house for about a decade say they are doing fine. That was the message in a letter released by their attorneys Tuesday that also noted a charity
The three women held captive in a Cleveland house for about a decade say they are doing fine. That was the message in a letter released by their attorneys Tuesday that also noted a charity fund to help the women has now raised more than 650 thousand dollars.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:11 PM EDT2013-05-22 03:11:02 GMT
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Imagine picking up the phone to hear your grandchild is in trouble. You're told not to tell any other family members, and send cash right away. Chances are, it's a crook trying to pull the 'Grandma Scam'.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:22 PM EDT2013-05-22 00:22:27 GMT
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit the families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Relatives of three teenagers killed in an Ohio school shooting are suing a charity that maintains a fund set up to benefit victims' families and support the well-being of students and others in the affected community.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:08:56 GMT
A Toledo family who moved to Moore less than a year ago only had minutes to take cover. "Its devastation buildings are ripped down families lost their homes houses are flattened." It's been a difficult
A local woman who moved to Moore Oklahoma almost a year ago survives a deadly tornado. 21 year old Kristina Legree says the twister touched down a mile for her home.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:18 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:18:53 GMT
A suspended TPS teacher charged with receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to receiving child porn on his home computer. Bruce Omlor, 49, was suspended from Riverside
A suspended TPS teacher charged with receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography has pleaded guilty to receiving child porn on his home computer. Bruce Omlor, 49, was suspended from Riverside Elementary earlier this year.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:11:44 GMT
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday. Deputy Paul Little was charged with filing false reports, unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and intimidation of a witness. Little
A Lucas County sheriff's deputy was arrested Tuesday. Deputy Paul Little was charged with filing false reports, unlawful transfer of a firearm to a convicted felon, and intimidation of a witness.
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