COLUMBUS, Ohio--A federal judge on Tuesday denied a request to stop the state of Ohio from raiding $1.7 billion from its unclaimed property fund to help build a new Cleveland Browns stadium, among other projects.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., is a blow to opponents of the plan, who had hoped the judge would block the state’s plans to withdraw the money from the fund on Jan. 1.

However, Sargus’ ruling also leaves open the possibility that their overall legal challenge could end up succeeding.

Last summer, Ohio lawmakers passed language via the new state budget to take an initial $1.7 billion from the $4.8 billion fund, which contains privately owned assets such as inactive bank accounts, old safe deposit box holdings and uncashed checks and insura

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