CLEVELAND - A slip of paper is creating a debate in the state over electronic voting machines. The debate concerns whether voters should be allowed to see a printout receipt of their ballot before it is cast.

The receipt - called a voter-verified audit trail - would then be placed in a locked ballot box that could be physically counted if results are in dispute.

David Dill, professor of computer science at Stanford University, said receipts are the key to fair elections in the electronic age.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, and a fellow Toledo Democrat, state Sen. Teresa Fedor, are backing a bill to mandate a verified paper trail in Ohio.

Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has not taken a position on paper receipts, spokesman Carlo LoParo said.

Windows shot out, possibly by BB gun

COLUMBUS - At least 100 windows were reported shot out of vehicle windows Sunday night and early Monday in Columbus and suburban Whitehall, police said. No one was hurt and authorities say there is no link to a series of shootings along the southern stretch of Interstate 270 that are being investigated.

The damage is consistent with a BB gun or perhaps a slingshot flinging ball bearings, Whitehall police Sgt. Mark Newcomb said. There are no suspects.

Deputy was harboring woman, police say

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Kentucky State Police arrested a Scott County deputy sheriff Sunday and charged him with hindering apprehension, a misdemeanor.

State police said deputy sheriff Hobert Wayne Humphrey, 54, was harboring a woman wanted on a Fayette County warrant. Troopers found the woman, Amanda Pergram, hiding behind a tree in the back yard of Humphrey's residence, and she confirmed Humphrey's involvement in hindering her apprehension.

The Scott County Sheriff's Department has placed Humphrey on administrative leave.

Ball State officer not charged in shooting

MUNCIE, Ind. - A Ball State University police officer will not be criminally charged in the fatal shooting of an unarmed student outside a near-campus home, the university said Monday.

A Delaware County grand jury cleared Officer Robert Duplain of any criminal wrongdoing in the Nov. 8 shooting, the university said in a statement. However, the 24-year-old rookie officer will be assigned to a non-patrol position.

Duplain shot Michael McKinney, 21, of Bedford, four times after responding to a call about 3:30 a.m. of a stranger pounding on the door of a near-campus house.