Ohio lawmakers gave final approval Thursday, on a Republican-backed bill that aims to cut down on unemployment fraud by revising and updating the state’s unemployment compensation system.
Senate Bill (SB) 302, sponsored by State Senators Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) and Bob Hackett (R-London), looks to tighten the rules for verifying the identity of applicants for unemployment benefits in the state.
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The Columbus City Council unanimously voted on Monday to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products within city limits. Under 48 hours later, the Ohio Senate approved a bill that would make Columbus City Council’s ban illegal.
House Bill (HB) 513, sponsored by state Representatives Jon Cross (R-Kenton ) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield), passed in the Ohio Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 23-8. The legislation includes an amendment known as a “preemption law, prohibiting local governments in Ohio from enacting any laws regarding tobacco or vaping products that are more strict than state law.”
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A bipartisan bill in the Ohio House aims to classify the crime of animal cruelty as an act of violence and increase the penalties in animal abuse cases.
Senate Bill (SB) 164, sponsored by State Senators Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) and Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights), would enhance Goddard’s Law that was passed in 2016, classifying serious physical harm of a pet as a fifth-degree felony.
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Governor Mike DeWine announced Monday that the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) has finished setting the required training known as the Armed School Staff Essential Training (ASSET) Curriculum.
The OSSC developed the curriculum to meet the requirements of House Bill (HB) 99 sponsored by state Representative Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.) which gives Ohio school boards and governing bodies the option to arm staff members.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine plans to fill the seat on the Ohio Supreme Court by announcing his appointment by the end of the year.
DeWine said it’s critical for the new justice to be named by the end of the year so that they can start right away.
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Ohioans may soon get protections from fertility fraud after the Senate passed a major criminal justice reform bill.
A 27-2 bipartisan vote sent Senate Bill (SB) 288 sponsored by State Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) to the House where lawmakers will consider it further prior to sending it to Governor Mike DeWine for final approval.
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Within 24 hours of presenting the idea, Ohio Senate Republicans passed legislation on Wednesday that aims to expand the ability to drill for oil and gas on state-owned lands.
A 2011 state law gave state agencies the power, if they choose, to lease out state lands for oil and gas exploration and production. However, the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission has been slow to approve any projects. Former Governor John Kasich signed that bill into law but didn’t appoint anyone to the commission for years. Under Governor Mike DeWine, the commission has met more often but has not approved leases.
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Ohio lawmakers amended a bill Tuesday that stops biological men and boys from high school and middle school from participating in women and girls’ sports. The amendment removed a provision that could have required students to undergo “internal and external” exams to verify their sex.
Instead, House Bill (HB) 151, The Save Women’s Sports Act, sponsored by State Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) (pictured above), now would require an athlete whose biological gender is disputed to present a birth certificate under the amendment adopted by the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee.
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Republicans in the Ohio House passed a bill Thursday, on a 55 to 22 vote, that will prevent state and local governments from closing gun stores, stopping processing background checks, or confiscating firearms without cause during declared states of emergency.
Senate Bill (SB) 185, sponsored by State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), aims to prevent state and local governments and elected or appointed officials from infringing on Second Amendments rights during declared emergencies. This would include required gun registrations, seizing weapons, banning the sale of ammunition, limiting the operating hours at shooting ranges, or prohibiting otherwise lawful hunting.
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Hamilton County Republican Party Chairman, Alex Triantafilou, officially announced his candidacy for Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party following the announcement that current Chairman, Bob Paduchik will not be seeking another term.
“Our party faces a huge challenge in 2024. Defeating Sherrod Brown and Joe Biden will require a unified and organized state party. I look forward to traveling throughout Ohio to share my vision for our party with Republican leaders in every corner of Ohio,” Triantafilou said on social media.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Tuesday that rape crisis centers and sexual assault survivor programs in Ohio will receive $4.8 million in grant funding.
Twenty-five rape crisis centers and survivor service providers from 24 Ohio counties received grant funding.
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In a display of support of passenger rail service in Ohio, a bi-partisan alliance of Ohio mayors in partnership with several of Ohio’s regional planning agencies, have formally requested the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to include a list of Ohio rail lines in its Corridor Identification Program (CAP).
According to FRA, the CAP, established earlier this year, institutes a pipeline of projects ready for funding, allowing them to be implemented faster and with greater coordination. The Corridor ID Program is anticipated to help expand intercity passenger rail service beyond the Northeast Corridor.
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Governor Mike DeWine announced that 24 local law enforcement agencies will receive a total of $11.7 million to help prevent and investigate incidents of violent crime including domestic violence, gun violence, and human trafficking.
The grants represent the 10th round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. Since the initiation of the program last year, Governor DeWine has awarded close to $70 million to 146 Ohio law enforcement agencies. Approximately $100 million will be awarded to local law enforcement agencies as part of the grant program in total.
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With the holiday season, fast approaching members of local law enforcement are cautioning Ohioans about increased holiday theft and how to keep themselves and their property safe while shopping in stores or online.
Ohio law enforcement agencies state that they see an uptick in theft reports towards the end of the year.
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With Thanksgiving now over and winter rapidly approaching, Ohio is full of vibrant holiday villages, Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, and activities for the whole family to participate in.
Whether enveloped in snow, aglow with hundreds of lights, or deliciously decorated Ohio is a wonderland of magical holiday traditions no matter what area of the state you are visiting. Outside of classic Christmas tree lighting’s, sleigh rides, and gingerbread houses Ohio is full of unique activities to make the season memorable.
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The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a case on if Governor Mike DeWine had the authority to cut off an extra $300 per week in federal unemployment benefits.
Justices dismissed the case as “moot.” Without a court order requiring the federal government to keep these additional unemployment benefits, it was unclear if the money still existed.
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Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said after feedback from medical professionals, Republicans in the Ohio Senate are working to clarify language on the six-week limits on abortion.
According to Huffman, they are working to clarify definitions regarding the health and life of the mother. The new limit known as the “heartbeat bill,” prohibits most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is at about six weeks of pregnancy.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) director Mary Mertz have awarded $1.7 million in grants to help support dozens of new outdoor recreation projects in local communities throughout the state.
“We are excited to help communities all over Ohio create fun, safe, and inclusive outdoor recreation opportunities. These grants help local parks improve and upgrade their outdoor spaces for citizens of Ohio,” Governor DeWine said.
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Ohio Republican Party (ORP) Chairman Bob Paduchik announced that he won’t seek reelection as state party chairman following a GOP sweep of statewide offices.
“I will not run for reelection for the chairmanship of the Ohio Republican Party. It is time for a new leader to take leadership of the party and I look forward to the January election of ORP officers,” Paduchik wrote in a letter to members of the Ohio Republican Party’s governing body.
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Ohio Governor MikeDewine and The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) director Dr. Jack Marchbanks announced details on 50 new traffic projects which they say will increase safety in Ohio.
The 50 projects will equate to $121 million dollars and will address safety concerns in 32 counties across the state.
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An Ohio lawmaker introduced a bill that would prohibit a public or private school from discriminating against an individual based on COVID-19 vaccination status.
Republican Representative Scott Lipps (R-OH-62) put forward House Bill (HB) 739 earlier this month. Although the state does not mandate COVID-19 vaccines in schools, Lipps said HB 739 is a preemptive measure for future law changes.
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After a long campaign season for the Ohio midterm election, voting numbers from county boards of elections are pouring in and being added to the unofficial results on the Ohio Secretary of State’s Website.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State, results are unofficial until they have been reviewed and certified once the official canvass has been completed by November 29th.
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Ohio are set to choose their next governor, U.S. senator, and three seats for the state supreme court this election cycle.
The big-ticket race in Ohio is to fill the U.S. Senate seat left open by retiring Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Republican nominee J.D. Vance was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and he is currently in a tight race with Democratic Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13).
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Both Ohio Senate candidates Democrat Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) and Republican J.D. Vance are making stops in central Ohio as the two vie for votes in the closing hours of Election Day
Both candidates projected confidence as they canvassed the state in the final days of Ohio’s U.S. Senate race. The candidates spent their weekend urging supporters to get out and vote.
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Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) now says he is planning to vote “yes” for State Issues 1 and 2 making him the fourth and last leading statewide Ohio candidate to do so.
When asked previously about the state issues Ryan stated he had not “read them” and intends to “dig into them before I make a decision.” Vance has endorsed both state issues, calling them “common sense.” Republican Governor Mike DeWine and his Democratic contender Nan Whaley have also said they will vote for both ballot initiatives.
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Ohio’s journey to develop maps for the legislative and congressional voting districts has put many voters in new Ohio House, Senate, and Congressional districts for the upcoming election.
When voters go to the polls next week they may notice that they have different lawmakers representing them at the Statehouse and in Washington.
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With the midterm election less than a week away Ohio voters are going to decide who they want in Congress, the governor’s mansion, and the Ohio Supreme Court and will vote on two major ballot issues.
With the large ballot at hand here is a breakdown of who is running for election and what position they are running for.
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The Ohio Republican Party released a new ad, which targets Democrat gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley’s record on crime as mayor of Dayton.
According to the organization, residents of the city became less safe during her first six years as mayor: violent crime increased 23 percent, homicides jumped 70 percent, and aggravated assaults spiked by 97 percent.
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Various Ohio law enforcement agencies are donating roughly 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to forces in Ukraine.
According to a release from Governor Mike DeWine, more than two dozen state and local law enforcement agencies supplied donations to the effort.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted opted to skip a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump on Saturday in Delaware County.
Trump used the event to boost candidates he has endorsed for office, including J.D. Vance for U.S. Senate, Mike Carey for Congress, and Frank LaRose for Secretary of State, ahead of the May 3 GOP primary.
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Two Ohio-based conservative groups, the Greater Toledo Right to Life and The Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition, opted to endorse Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci and Lieutenant Governor candidate Joe Knopp.
The two organizations selected the GOP challengers over incumbent Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, according to a release from Renacci.
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Ohio will begin collecting personal protective gear from local and state law enforcement agencies around the state to send to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion of the country, according to Governor Mike DeWine.
Previously, DeWine surveyed law enforcement agencies to determine a rough estimate of materials that could be sent to the country. According to his numbers, the state may be able to collect roughly “75 ballistic and riot helmets and 840 pieces of body armor, including vests and plates.”
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An Ohio police officer was killed on Thursday after being struck by a fleeing vehicle that he was attempting to stop.
Officer Dominic Francis of the Bluffton Police Department was trying to place spike strips to stop the driver when he was hit by the vehicle around 3 a.m.
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Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed former congressman and Ohio Republican gubernatorial hopeful James B. Renacci about the March 4 letter to rival candidate Joe Blystone from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s director of the campaign finance office, Brian Katz.
Both Renacci and Blystone are primary challenging Ohio Gov. R. Michael DeWine to keep him from winning a second term.
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Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci, a Republican primary challenger to incumbent Governor Mike DeWine, promised to appoint an administration official to serve as a pro-life advocate, if he were elected.
According to the candidate, the individual, who would be given the title “Unborn Child Advocate,” would play a key role in his administration.
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The Clermont County Republican Party on Monday voted to endorse Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci in his challenge to Governor Mike DeWine.
In total, Renacci won the endorsement with 77 of the possible 106 committee members’ votes. 22 individuals supported Governor DeWine.
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Former Congressman Clarence ‘Bud’ Brown passed away at the age of 94 on Wednesday, according to an obituary posted online at a funeral home in his hometown of Urbana.
The Republican lawmaker represented Ohio’s 7th Congressional District for almost two decades and worked in the Reagan administration, including as Acting Secretary of Commerce.
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Greg Simpson, County Executive and Party Chairman of the Clermont County Republican Party, rescinded his endorsement of Governor Mike DeWine in his re-election bid.
According to a statement obtained by The Ohio Star, Simpson mistakenly offered the endorsement to the incumbent. The Clermont GOP previously passed a resolution asking party leaders to not endorse a specific candidate in the GOP primary.
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Ohio Value Voters, a large statewide conservative organization, on Tuesday endorsed GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci.
The organization selected the former congressman over incumbent Governor Mike DeWine and Joe Blystone, who is also waging a GOP primary attempt against DeWine.
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Former congressman Jim Renacci, who is challenging Governor Mike DeWine in a GOP primary, announced on Wednesday that he will pour $4 million of his own money into the race.
The candidate, who has already spent $1 million on the contest, argued the added funds prove his dedication to defeating the incumbent governor.
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Ohio gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci on Monday slammed the level of government spending over the past year under Governor Mike DeWine.
The former congressman and DeWine’s GOP primary challenger has remained critical of the incumbent governor’s policies.
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The Ohio Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Tuesday, relating to the constitutionality of new congressional maps that were recently signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.
The new map, passed earlier this year by the state legislature, established new boundaries for federal and state representation following new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Thursday signed a spending package to invest billions the state received from federal coronavirus funds.
House Bill 169, sponsored by State Representative Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), invests the funds in law enforcement agencies, education, and the state’s healthcare system.
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Wednesday signed multiple bills that the Ohio State Legislature passed earlier this year, including “Esther’s Law” and a “born alive” abortion bill.
The two laws could bring dramatic changes throughout the state, as supporters of each piece of legislation argue the bills are meant to protect members of vulnerable populations.
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Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci on Friday praised the Ohio Senate for passing “constitutional carry” legislation.
According to Renacci, the measure is a constitutional right for citizens of the state, and he would immediately sign the bill, if he were governor.
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Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci will announce his pick for Lieutenant Governor on Thursday, December 2nd in West Chester Township, according to an emailed press release.
Throughout his campaign, Renacci has portrayed his potential administration as a more conservative alternative to Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted.
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Former congressman and GOP candidate for governor Jim Renacci urged Governor Mike DeWine to stop using taxpayer money to fund “wasteful” vaccine lotteries.
Currently, the state is conducting a lottery-style giveaway called Vax2School, which will distribute $2 million on scholarships to school-aged children who receive the coronavirus vaccine.
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The Republican Governors Association (RGA) on Friday slammed Vice President Kamala Harris and her visit to Ohio to highlight the administration’s “infrastructure” bill.
During her visit, Harris will take a tour of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189, a Columbus union for individuals in the plumbing and mechanical piping industry.
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Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci on Thursday encouraged the Ohio State Legislature and Governor Mike DeWine to take against vaccine mandates.
In the statement, Renacci slammed President Joe Biden’s overreaching vaccine mandate, which would require companies with 100 employees or more to mandate the vaccine for their employees.
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Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci on Tuesday slammed President Joe Biden for considering a shutdown of the Enbridge pipeline.
In the statement, Renacci, if elected, pledged to take more decisive action to defend the energy source than incumbent Governor Mike DeWine.
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