Cleveland argues in the lawsuit that the state law usurps the city's authority to establish local laws and regulations.

CLEVELAND (AP) - Cleveland has sued the state of Ohio to stop a new law from taking effect and prohibiting cities from requiring contractors to hire local people for publicly funded construction projects.

City attorneys filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County Common Pleas Court. The state law goes into effect Aug. 31.

Cleveland argues in the lawsuit that the state law usurps the city's authority to establish local laws and regulations. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and other city officials have argued that local hiring preferences are needed to combat poverty and unemployment.

Some state lawmakers pushed for the law by saying that hiring preferences block people who live outside cities from getting construction jobs on publicly funded projects.

The Ohio Contractors Association supported the law banning local hiring preferences.

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