Ohio

CINCINNATI -- A 7-foot alligator found in an Ohio man's basement is malnourished, has bone disease from a lack of sun for 15 years and was being taunted by teenagers on a regular basis, authorities said Tuesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University President Gordon Gee announced his retirement Tuesday after he came under fire for jokingly referring to "those damn Catholics" at Notre Dame and poking fun at the academic quality of other schools.

By his own admission, Gordon Gee is an unlikely university president.

Born during World War II in Vernal, Utah, Gee took an unfamiliar path to be head of one of the nation’s most prestigious schools — Ohio State University.

Now, the intelligent, quick-witted rural Utah boy finds himself embroiled in a controversy of his own making, which may be due in part to his roots.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The president of Ohio State University said Notre Dame was never invited to join the Big Ten conference because the university’s priests are not good partners, joking that “those damn Catholics” can’t be trusted, according to a recording of a meeting he attended late last year.

Gordon Gee also took shots at schools in the Southeastern Conference and the University of Louisville, according to the recording of the December meeting of the school’s Athletic Council that The Associated Press obtained under a public records request.

The university called the statements inappropriate and said Gee is undergoing a “remediation plan” because of the remarks.

CINCINNATI — Every time running back Rex Burkhead takes a handoff during Cincinnati Bengals rookie minicamp and tucks the ball under his right arm, that red “Team Jack” wristband stands out.

The thin band reminds everyone of a 7-year-old cancer patient back in Nebraska who has changed Burkhead’s life in a lot of ways. Jack Hoffman is on his wrist and in his thoughts as he moves on to the NFL.

“It’s very humbling,” Burkhead said. “I think I’ve gotten more from the relationship than he has, honestly. It’s helped me look at many things in my life in a new perspective. It’s made me not get down on things.

CLEVELAND — An Ohio prosecutor said Thursday he may seek the death penalty against Ariel Castro as investigators charged that he impregnated one of his captives at least five times and then starved her and punched her in the belly until she miscarried.