Tom Zawistowski, president of the We the People Convention, is not confident that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine will appoint a MAGA Republican to Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance’s seat once he is sworn in as U.S. Vice President on January 20, 2025.
Read the full storyCategory: The Midwest
‘They Are Afraid’: Locals Say Haitians Are Hoofing It Out of Springfield After Trump Win
Haitians living in Springfield, Ohio appear to be fleeing the city in droves after President-elect Donald Trump was declared the winner of the election, according to reports from locals.
The national spotlight shined on Springfield, a city of roughly 60,000 residents nestled in central Ohio, for weeks following unverified viral online claims that Haitians migrants had been spotted butchering a pet for consumption. The subsequent uproar about Springfield sparked further media debate about mass migration and its consequences, as Springfield has been dealing with an influx of Haitian migrants in a relatively short amount of time.
Read the full storyOhio Law Schools Stop Race-Based Scholarships, Programs
Pressure from a Columbus-based policy group has forced five university-based Ohio law schools to stop race-based scholarship or internship programs.
The Buckeye Institute announced law schools at Cleveland State, Ohio State, Akron, Cincinnati and Toledo stopped the programs after it announced an investigation.
Read the full storyBusiness Groups in Four States Want CHIPS Act Money Released
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce and nearly 20 business groups from four states want the Biden administration to start handing out money from the CHIPS Act immediately.
In a letter, the groups from Ohio, New York, Oregon and New Mexico want the money distributed now. Intel has said the money is critical to its plan for the ongoing development of its massive manufacturing facility in central Ohio that could lead to 3,000 direct jobs and thousands of other related jobs.
Read the full storyOhio Small Businesses Continue to Struggle with Labor
With thoughts focused on the holiday season, small business owners in Ohio continue to struggle with finding employees.
But that’s not the only issue.
Read the full storyOhio Plans to Spend Nearly $20 Million to Get People to Work
Ohio plans to spend $17.5 million in taxpayer funds to get people to and from work.
The state announced a series of grants Friday to fund workforce transportation efforts in both rural and urban areas across the state as part of the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program.
Read the full storyOhio Democrats Pick Up Seats in State House, Republicans Maintain Super-Majority
While Democrats picked up seats in the Ohio House and Senate, Republicans keep their veto-proof super majority in both the House and Senate following Tuesday’s election.
Read the full storyOhio Voters Reject Attempt to Change Redistricting
Ohioans on Tuesday rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have replaced the current seven-member redistricting commission with a 15-member, nonpolitical commission to draw the state’s legislative districts.
Multiple news organizations reported that voters rejected Issue 1 54.5%-45.5%, with nearly 70% of the vote reported, following a months-long, expensive battle that saw Republicans pushing to keep the current system and Democrats arguing for change.
Read the full storyJack Windsor on Tuesday’s Race: ‘Anticipatory Energy in Ohio Is Different Than It Was Four Years Ago’
Jack Windsor, president and editor-in-chief at The Ohio Press Network, said the “anticipatory energy” in Ohio for Tuesday’s general election is “different than it was four years ago.”
Read the full storyOhio Gears Up for Election Day
For Ohio, Monday is the calm before the Election Day storm.
Early in-person voting ended Sunday, leaving Tuesday as the final day to cast a ballot. Polls open across the state at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
Read the full storyPolls Show Sherrod Brown Has Slight Lead in Ohio Senate Race
Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown holds a slim lead while outspending his Republican opponent, Bernie Moreno, nearly four-to-one in one of the most expensive Senate races this cycle.
Ohio’s Senate race is currently the most expensive in the country, totaling $425,802,726 including outside spending, according to OpenSecrets data. Brown is currently leading by 1 percentage point at 47.4% to Moreno’s 46.4%, according to polling averages by RealClear Polling.
Read the full storyFaculty at JD Vance’s Alma Mater Ohio State University Donate 100 Times More to Democrats than Republicans
Nearly all of explicitly partisan donations from faculty at the Ohio State University appear to have gone to Democratic candidates or aligned causes, according to an analysis by The College Fix.
Professors at Ohio’s largest university gave $302,982.90 to Democratic candidates or groups that primarily support Democrats between January 1, 2023 and October 19, 2024, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Read the full storyMicrosoft Plans Three New Data Centers in Ohio
Microsoft plans to spend $1 billion to build three data centers in Central Ohio, and the state is kicking in tax breaks for the project.
Eventually, according to Microsoft, the entire project could create hundreds of full-time jobs at the campuses in Heath, Hebron and New Albany. The Heath and Hebron facilities still need local approval.
Read the full storyOhio School District Adopts Controversial ‘Grading for Equity’ Policies
A school district outside Cleveland, Ohio, will have staff read Joe Feldman’s controversial book “Grading for Equity.”
According to a Lakewood City Schools presentation to the school board from earlier this month, the book will be required for teachers in all grade levels. Critics say the book promotes practices that lower students’ standards, while its proponents say it is more fair to students.
Read the full storyPrior to Ban, Ohio Ranked Among Top States for Minor Gender Reassignment Procedures
Before a ban on gender reassignment procedures on minors, Ohio was ranked among the top states in the nation for total procedures as well as the number of procedures performed per residents, according to newly released data from a nonprofit.
Earlier this year, the Ohio legislature enacted House Bill 68, which banned the prescription of hormone blockers and hormone replacement therapy, along with gender reassignment surgeries on youth such as mastectomies. The law was first vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine – which was overridden – and then later upheld in court following a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Read the full storyOhio Judge Strikes Down State’s Six-Week Abortion Ban
A county judge in Ohio ruled Thursday that the state’s six-week abortion ban is unconstitutional, permanently blocking the law from taking effect.
Judge Christian Jenkins blocked Ohio’s “Heartbeat Act,” signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019, arguing last year’s abortion ballot initiative that amended the state constitution should be able to take full effect.
Read the full storyOhio Attorney General Sues Boeing on Behalf of Teachers, Employees
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says Boeing has safety issues costing Ohioans.
Yost sued the aerospace giant on behalf of two Ohio pension funds, claiming a pattern of safety and compliance failures have hurt the companies and its investors.
Read the full storyOhio Indicts Noncitizens for Voter Fraud
Six of the nearly 140 people referred to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost by Secretary of State Frank LaRose for illegal voting have been indicted.
Yost announced Tuesday seven cases were presented to grand juries last week, resulting in six indictments for illegal voting. A grand jury refused to indict the seventh.
Read the full storyOhio Unemployment Remains Steady for Second Straight Month
by J.D. Davidson Ohio’s September labor statistics continued to lag the rest of the nation, but analysts see positive signs. According to figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5% for the second consecutive month. However, the labor force participation rate rose slightly to 62.4% from 62.3%. Both of those numbers were below the national average. The national unemployment rate continues to fall, finishing September at 4.1%, while the labor force participation rate closed at 62.7%. “September’s report contained good news, with 9,500 new private-sector jobs erasing August’s job loss,” said Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute. “Although private-sector job growth has continued throughout 2024, growth remains slow, with some down months slowing the overall upward trend.” The job growth has other analysts optimistic about the labor market’s concerns. “Strong job gains in September mirror national employment trends, which exceeded expectations last month,” said Molly Bryden, researcher with Policy Matters Ohio. “Recent growth alleviates broad concerns around a weakening labor market, and as the Fed continues to lower interest rates, Ohioans can remain hopeful…
Read the full storyCleveland Browns Will Move to Brook Park, Mayor Says
The Cleveland Browns plan to move to a new $2.4 billion stadium in Brook Park, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in a news conference Thursday.
Bibb had been pushing for the Browns to stay in Cleveland and revamp the team’s current stadium. But Bibb says he was told Wednesday night by the leaders of the Haslam Sports Group that the team had decided to move to Brook Park, which Bibb said made him “deeply, deeply disappointed.”
Read the full storyOhio Supreme Court Upholds Secretary of State’s Anti-Ballot Harvesting Directive
The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the secretary of state’s directive preventing ballot harvesting, ruling that its challengers filed their suit too late.
In August, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) issued a directive stating that ballot drop boxes outside county boards of elections can only be used by voters dropping off their own ballots, Dayton Daily News reported. Anyone returning a ballot for a family member or disabled voter is required to enter county boards of elections offices and fill out an attestation form stating that they are following the law.
Read the full storyInternal GOP Polls Show Senate Rust Belt Seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio in Play
Certain Senate seats in swing states are in play for Republicans as the election gets closer, according to internal polling numbers from the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
An NRSC memo exclusively obtained by Politico, shows that Senate contests in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan are competitive for the GOP. Republican Senate candidates are trailing in Maryland, Arizona, and Nevada. Montana leans towards the GOP. In order to obtain a majority in the Senate, Republicans must flip two seats.
Read the full storyA.G. Yost Announces More than 130 Arrested in Statewide Sex Sting, Calls Operation an Attack on Human Trafficking
More than 100 people were charged for trying to buy sex in a statewide human-trafficking operation conducted last week in Ohio.
Read the full storyOhio Voters Likely Will Get to Decide on Continuing Infrastructure Program
Ohio voters could be asked to renew for the fourth time a state bond program that grants taxpayer funds to local communities for infrastructure projects.
Reps. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick, and Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, plan to introduce legislation to continue funding what they call vital public works projects.
Read the full storyOhio Labor Crisis Easing for Small Businesses
Despite slight easing, finding employees continues to be a major issue for small businesses in Ohio.
The National Federation of Independent Business showed in its September jobs report that 34% of small business owners nationally continue to report job openings they can’t fill.
That’s a better number than in previous months, but NFIB Ohio State Director Chris Ferruso thinks business owners are still working to end the year strong.
Read the full storyReport: Ohio Mortgage Rates Increasing More than Other States
Ohio’s average mortgage rate is the 12th highest in the nation, according to a new report.
Personal finance website WalletHub, a for-profit business, also says a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September will have little impact on rates in the coming months because markets had previously accounted for it.
Read the full storyAppeals Court Rules Ohio Can Ban Foreign Nationals from Donating to Ballot Campaigns
A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled that Ohio could ban foreign nationals and green card holders from donating to ballot campaigns in a 2-1 decision.
Ohio enacted a law earlier this year that banned foreign nationals from donating to state ballot issue campaigns, including before the measures secured their place on the ballot.
Read the full storyTom Zawistowski: GOP U.S. Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno Continues to Lead Incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in Ohio
Tom Zawistowski, president of the We the People Convention, said Bernie Moreno, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Ohio, continues to lead incumbent U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) leading up to the November 5 general election as a “huge” effort is underway on the ground in the Buckeye State to get out the vote for Republicans.
Zawistowski said Moreno is up by 3 percentage points over Brown. Both candidates have launched a combined $260 million in television ads to persuade voters before Election Day.
Read the full storyPoll: Brown Leads Moreno as Election Nears
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown continues to hold a slim lead over Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, according to a new poll.
The Bowling Green State University and Public Policy Research Network poll of 1,000 likely voters shows Brown leads Moreno 49%-45%. Brown has won each of his last six campaigns by at least 6 points.
Read the full storyGOP Sen Rails Against Biden-Harris Admin for ‘Catastrophic’ Middle East Policy One Year After October 7 Hamas Attack
Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst told President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday that their Middle East policy has been “catastrophic,” one year after the October 7, 2023, invasion of Israel and the subsequent war that broke out in the region.
Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 last year, killing roughly 1,200 people, sparking a broader regional war and dragging in other bad actors such as the Houthis, Hezbollah and Iran. Ernst told Biden and Harris that their response to the conflict — including criticizing Israel’s actions in the conflict, delisting the Houthis as a terrorist organization and appeasing Iran — has only contributed to the ongoing chaos in the region and gave their policy an “F” grade, according to a letter obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Read the full storyEarly Voting Begins Tuesday in Ohio
Tuesday, October 8 is the first day of early in-person voting and absentee voting by mail for the November 5 general election in Ohio.
Read the full storyPoll: Strong Majority Favors Issue 1 in Ohio
A substantial majority of Ohio voters want to change the way the state draws political districts based on a new poll.
The Bowling Green State University and Public Policy Research Network poll of 1,000 likely voters shows 60 percent favor Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment that would remove the redistricting process from political leaders and replace them with a 15-member independent commission.
Read the full storyColumbus Schools Will Resume Busing for Some Ohio Students
Ohio’s largest school district will resume busing more than 100 charter and private school students next week as a lawsuit continues over its transportation changes.
Columbus City Schools sent a letter to those parents who rejected payment instead of busing and requested mediation, saying new routes will be added and transportation will resume while the mediation process is ongoing.
Read the full storyReport: Ohio Taxpayers Hold a $1,600 Individual Burden
Ohio would need $1,600 from every taxpayer in the state to pay off all of its bills, a figure worse than a year ago, according to a new report released Thursday.
Ohio ranked 28th and was given a “C” grade with a $1,600 burden per taxpayer in Truth in Accounting’s Financial State of the States report.
Read the full storyProperty Tax Reduction Plans Stalled at Ohio Statehouse
by J.D. Davidson Three of four bills targeting rising property taxes in Ohio have been sitting in committees for more than a year without a vote or public opposition. And Ohio lawmakers have no plans to return to work until mid-November. That has Democratic leaders at the Statehouse pushing for immediate action. “House Democrats and local leaders have been fighting to lower property taxes and create a fairer system that doesn’t constantly rely on property owners to pick up the tab,” said House Minority Leader Allison Russo (pictured above), D-Upper Arlington. “We can lower our property taxes, reduce costs, and still support essential services by ensuring the state pays its fair share and returns more of our tax dollars to our community. It’s time for the state legislature to take action; Ohioans need help now.” Three of the four bills have bipartisan sponsorship, including the most recent – House Bill 645 that would give a $1,000 property tax rebate and $1 billion in tax relief to more than 1.3 million homeowners and renters after their tax payments exceed 5% of their income. That bill was recently introduced and has not been assigned to a committee. Three others, however, have…
Read the full storySpringfield, Other Ohio Schools, Get Money for Haitian Migrants
More federal taxpayer dollars are being funneled through the state of Ohio to help Springfield schools deal with a growing number of Haitian immigrants.
Two other western Ohio communities will receive money to help with similar issues.
Read the full storySuit Challenges Ohio’s New Rules for Ballot Drop Boxes
A directive that limits who can use ballot drop boxes in Ohio is under fire.
Two voters filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Frank LaRose, saying the new rule sent to boards of election last month that bars family members of disabled voters from utilizing a drop box violates Ohio law.
Read the full storyOhio Launches 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline
Ohio launched the first-ever statewide human trafficking hotline on Monday, marking the first statewide hotline to exist in the U.S. aside from the national human trafficking hotline.
Read the full storyOhio’s Prohibition of Foreign Money for Ballot Initiatives Can Proceed, Court Decides
Ohio’s prohibition on foreign money supporting statewide issue campaigns is back after being put on hold in a nearly month-long delay.
Read the full storyOhio Unemployment Remains Steady in August
Ohio continues to buck a national trend of job gains after the latest numbers from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services showed the state lost jobs in August.
According to figures released from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged from July to August at 4.5%. The labor force participation rate was also steady at 62.3%.
Read the full storySpringfield Has Cut Police Radio Access as City Descends into ‘Absolute Turmoil,’ Says Police Chief of Nearby Town
An Ohio police chief says his access to Springfield’s police radio frequency was cut off after the beleaguered city became a political lightening rod over its Haitian immigrant crisis.
Tremont City Police Chief Chad Duncan told Blaze News’ Julio Rosas that Springfield has fallen into “absolute turmoil” since being inundated with up to 20,000 Haitian nationals, and said the lawlessness is spreading to nearby towns, including his own. Tremont City is located approximately eight miles north of Springfield.
Read the full storyJack Windsor: Biden-Harris Immigration Policy Encouraging U.S. Companies to Hire Migrants for Cheap Labor over Americans
Jack Windsor, president and editor-in-chief at The Ohio Press Network, said the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policy is allowing American companies to turn to hiring migrant workers for cheaper labor over hiring Americans or moving production out of the U.S., which is how cities like Springfield, Ohio has led to being flooded with Haitians.
Read the full storyCourt Approves $600 Million East Palestine Settlement
Nearly 20 months after a Norfolk Southern train derailment pushed the small eastern Ohio community of East Palestine into the national spotlight, a federal judge approved a $600 million settlement.
The settlement covers residents, property owners and businesses within 20 miles of the derailment site and subsequent chemical release that happened Feb. 3, 2023.
Read the full storyOhio GOP Rep. Warren Davidson Calls for GOP to Unite Behind a Plan Following Election
Congressman Warren Davidson, R-Ohio., says the House GOP needs to unite behind a plan if they keep a majority in the House after the election.
Read the full storyCriminal Charges Sought Against Trump, Vance in Springfield
Criminal charges are being sought against former President Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate and Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance in a nonprofit’s court filing.
The two have made comments about Haitian immigrants in Springfield. The Haitian Bridge Alliance made the filing with a supporting affidavit that asks local officials to charge Trump and Vance, according to the Springfield News-Sun.
Read the full storyKamala Harris Silent as Law She Helped Pass Could Land 33 Million Small Business Owners in Prison over Financial Form
Vice President Kamala Harris and her presidential campaign did not respond to The Tennessee Star when asked whether she regrets her role in passing the Corporate Transparency Act of 2021, which could result in severe fines or imprisonment for 33 million small business owners in the United States next year.
Harris was one of the 86 senators who voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2021 in December of 2020, which included the Corporate Transparency Act after Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) successfully included the bill that failed to pass as standalone legislation in 2019.
Read the full storyTom Zawistowski Says GOP’s Bernie Moreno Will Win Ohio U.S. Senate Race
Tom Zawistowski, president of the We the People Convention, said he believes Bernie Moreno, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Ohio, will emerge victorious over incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in the November 5 general election.
While Brown has consistently led Moreno in previous polling taken over the last several months, a poll released Wednesday by the Napolitan News Service shows Moreno leading Brown by two percentage points (48 percent – 46 percent) among likely voters.
Read the full storyFormer President Donald Trump Urges Ohioans to Vote No on Issue 1
Former President Donald Trump has come out against a proposed constitutional amendment in Ohio that would change the state’s redistricting process set to be presented to voters on the November 5 general election ballot as Issue 1.
Read the full storyDemocrats Propose Changes to Ohio Ballot Board
After final, controversial ballot language was approved for Issue 1 this week, Ohio Democrats want a legislative change.
Two lawmakers, including one member of the Ballot Board, plan to introduce what they call a legislative overhaul of the board, saying voters are tired of the board’s lies, mismanagement and leadership failures.
Read the full storyHelp Available for Ohio Farmers Impacted by Drought
As some of the worst drought conditions in more than a generation continue to spread across Ohio, state and federal governments have offered help to struggling farmers.
Earlier this week, the Ohio Department of Agriculture announced its developing an Ohio Hay Directory to help farmers struggling to feed livestock.
Read the full story