WOMAN INJURED IN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING:

A woman was accidentally shot in the stomach with birdshot Wednesday when a gun went off as two New Matamoras residents fought over a loose dog, according to police.

John J. Peterson Jr., 42, of 517 Front St., New Matamoras, was charged with felonious assault and assault. He is being held in the Washington County Jail on $26,000 bond. Also incarcerated is William J. Hesson, 47, of 106 Main St., New Matamoras, on charges of aggravated trespassing and assault and a $1,000 bond.

Washington County sheriff's Capt. John Coppernoll said Peterson went outside of his home around 10 p.m. Wednesday to look for a dog his 12- and 9-year-old children said was growling and barking at them. He told police he took with him a nine-shot, .22-caliber pistol loaded with birdshot.

Peterson claims Hesson, the dog's owner, crossed onto his property, began shouting at him and then tackled him to the ground.

During the scuffle, the gun went off and apparently struck Tracy Newlen, 35, of 310 Main St., New Matamoras, in the abdomen. Newlen, who had been standing nearby, was treated and released from Marietta Memorial Hospital.

STRICKLAND TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT IN MARIETTA:

Gov. Ted Strickland will be in Marietta Friday to make an announcement about stimulus funds for several Ohio communities.

Strickland will be joined by U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-Ohio, and Ohio Department of Development Interim Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel in the 10:45 a.m. announcement at the Buckeye Hills-Hocking Valley Regional Development District offices at 1400 Pike St.

Strickland will make the announcement after addressing the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development annual conference at the Comfort Inn.

Later in the day, Strickland will participate in a roundtable discussion on preparedness and awareness of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, in Cincinnati with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

LAWSUIT CHALLENGES OHIO SMOKING BAN:

COLUMBUS (AP) - The state's draconian enforcement of a two-year-old smoking ban is requiring bars to exercise near total control over the actions of customers or risk fines during an already punishing economic climate, a conservative policy organization argues in a lawsuit.

The outcome of the lawsuit, now before a state appeals court, could have ramifications for bars across the state, which have received more than 44,000 complaints from individuals, 3,100 warning letters and 1,800 fines since enforcement began in May 2007.

Last week, Attorney General Richard Cordray ratcheted up enforcement to a new level, filing lawsuits for the first time against two bars he said have repeatedly flouted the law.

Cordray's view of the law is simple: Smoking isn't permitted in bars, and it's their responsibility to stop it.

In the lawsuit, the Pour House of Toledo argues that a local health department inspector improperly cited the bar after witnessing a lit cigarette sitting in a mints can within a minute of entering. The bar's attorney, Maurice Thompson of the conservative Buckeye Institute, said the bar and the bartender did everything within their power to keep a customer from smoking.