Ohio stands to make big gains under a $255 billion highway funding bill the U.S. Senate plans to take up next week.

The six-year proposal, unveiled recently by Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and James Jeffords, I-Vt., would increase Ohio's share to $8 billion, up from the $5.8 billion it received the past six years.

Ohio has the fourth-largest interstate network, which carries the fourth-largest amount of truck traffic.

The proposed House bill is $375 billion and would boost Ohio's share to $9.3 billion.

Ky. House approves cancer requirement

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky House passed a bill Monday to require health benefit plans to cover colon cancer screenings.

The mandated coverage could increase the cost of health insurance coverage, said Rep. Tom Burch, the bill's sponsor.

Burch, a Louisville Democrat, said he had heard no objections from insurance companies. He said only a handful of small insurers in Kentucky fail to cover colon cancer screenings.

Proposal would ban open beer containers

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Senate approved several bills Monday, including one proposal that would ban open containers of alcohol in cars.

Indiana's current law allows passengers to have open containers of alcohol as long as the driver has a blood-alcohol level of 0.04 percent or lower - half the state's legal limit to drive.

The bill would ban open containers in vehicles, including parked cars, even if the driver was sober. Alcohol could be placed in trunks and glove compartments, and limousines and buses would be exempt.