BC-OH-Ohio News Digest 1:30 pm, OH

Hello! Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up in Ohio. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP Columbus bureau at 614-885-2727 or APColumbus@ap.org.

Attorney General Dewine on Obama a Guidancea letter for school bathrooms

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a statement regarding the recent Obama Administration "guidance" letter on the issue of school facilities and issues of gender identity. "This threat made by federal bureaucrats to nationalize and politicize the way schools address gender identity issues down to the level of school locker rooms and bathrooms is astonishing.

Strickland Pummels Portman On ‘ Economic Fairness, Earned Pay’

The offices of the International Association of Theater and Screen Employees were the opening media event site for Ohio Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ted Strickland's three-day sojourn around Ohio to contrast his agenda with incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman's, especially on issues including economic fairness and getting earned pay for overtime work. Wednesday's media event featuring Ted Strickland speaking to a small group about wealth disparities and pay for work was dubbed the "You Work It, You Earn It" Tour.

Bingo! With 1,237 Delegates, Trump Clinches GOP Nomination. Kasich Finishes With Just 160 Delegate

How many times did we hear Ohio Gov. John Kasich say with absolute certainty that Donald John Trump would not be the Republican nominee for president this year? On Thursday, that absolute certainty crumbled into dust as the New York real estate billionaire announced he now has the 1,237 delegates needed to win the nomination in Cleveland in July on the first all-important ballot. Gov. Kasich finished in fourth place in the delegate count with just 160, behind second place finisher Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida who despite dropping out of the race before Mr. Kasich, finished with more.

Clinton urged to go liberal with vice presidential pick

Picking a liberal running mate would help the Democratic presidential front-runner unify the party, they say, driving young progressives to the polls against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Libertarian Party eyes 2016 as breakthrough year Clinton urged to go liberal with vice presidential pick Sanders takes different position on superdelegates than he did in 2008 MORE "She needs to do something in the coming weeks to show that she's also trying to unify the party," one Clinton surrogate said. "And that would be a clear signal."

Pundits say Trump could lack the money to win — what if they’re wrong?

That's the message the media are sending with a spate of articles about the obstacles facing the Republican nominee. On the surface, it seems apparent that if Trump has trouble raising a billion dollars, does battle with a much smaller staff and has little turnout operation, he's ceding some crucial advantages to Hillary Clinton.

Focus on demolition cost Ohio millions in federal housing funds

Vacant-housing demolition took up 90 percent of Ohio's request, but critics say asking for more mortgage-assistance funds would have ensured the entire application was viewed more favorably by the federal government. As the days passed, Ohio's application for upward of $250 million in federal housing money asked for more of the money to be devoted to vacant-housing demolition and less for mortgage assistance.

‘Tom Perez has guts’: US labor secretary being eyed as Clinton’s running mate

Perez has spent his years at the helm of the labor department fighting for paid leave, overtime pay and visiting workers on the ground - and he's not done yet On Tuesday night, the White House announced that the Obama administration had finalized a new rule that could potentially expand overtime benefits to 4.2 million more Americans. On Wednesday morning, Perez boarded Air Force Two and with Vice-President Joe Biden and flew to Columbus, Ohio, where they made the official public announcement inside Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams .