Category: Ohio

Governor Signs Election Integrity and Voter ID Requirements into Law as Left Cries Foul

Hannah Poling

The state of Ohio is facing a lawsuit over a recent law that requires voters to show picture identification at the polls and shorten the time allotted for mail-in ballots.

House Bill (HB) 458 is a piece of legislation that Governor Mike DeWine signed on Friday that will drastically alter the state’s election laws, including the requirement for a photo ID. Additionally, the legislation limits the number of ballot drop boxes that voters can use and substitutes a four-day deadline for the previous law’s 10-day deadline for mail-in ballot delivery.

Read the full story

Civil Rights Lawsuit Details Ohio School Official’s Alleged Strip Search of Middle School Girl Over a Vape Pen

Hannah Poling

The mother of an 8th grader has filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of Ohio Federal Court against the Willoughby-Eastlake School district claiming a violation of her daughter’s constitutional rights, failure to train school employees, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

On September 27th, a nurse’s aide allegedly strip-searched an unnamed middle schooler in search of a purported vape pen.

Read the full story

Newly Signed Ohio Bill Expands Afterschool Enrichment Accounts

Bradley Vasoli

A $6 billion spending bill that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) signed on Friday expands a program assisting parents and guardians with supplemental education purchases.

The ACE Educational Savings Account program previously bestowed a $500 credit on families seeking to purchase enrichment materials or services to help their children get past the learning setbacks caused by the COVID-19 school shutdowns. The new legislation raises the credit to $1,000. 

Read the full story

Ohio Republican Party Censures GOP Lawmakers Who Backed New House Speaker

Hannah Poling

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Republicans censured 22 lawmakers on Friday for voting with Democrats to choose the new Speaker of the Ohio House, saying they had disregarded their obligations to the party and the public.

Earlier this week, a number of Republican lawmakers joined forces with Democrats to choose State Representative Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) as speaker. The choice comes despite the Republican Caucus‘ previous selection in November of State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Moncolva) as the new speaker.

Read the full story

Ohio Sports Betting Companies Fined $150K After ‘Repeated Violations’

Hannah Poling

Mere days after Governor Mike DeWine cited concerns with Ohio’s new sports betting setup, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) issued three more warnings for infractions on Thursday.

According to the OCCC, BetMGM, LLC (BetMGM); American Wagering, Inc. (Caesars), and Crown OH Gaming, LLC (DraftKings) violated state law and administrative rules regarding advertising.

Read the full story

Ohio Governor Vetoes Flavored Tobacco Ban Bill, Leaving Local Governments in Charge

Hannah Poling

Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill on Thursday, that would prohibit local governments in Ohio from enacting any laws regarding tobacco or vaping products that are more strict than state law.

DeWine scheduled a press conference with health authorities to discuss the legislation rather than just vetoing it, calling youth smoking an “epidemic” made worse by commercially available flavored tobacco products.

Read the full story

Parents of Akron Public School Students Speak Out About Potential Teacher Strike

Hannah Poling

Parents are speaking out about the potential teachers’ strike and what is being done on both sides to resolve it as tensions between Akron Public Schools (APS) and its teachers intensify.

After many allegations of campus violence, APS teachers declared last week that they would strike mere days after kids are expected to return from winter break. According to a news release, safety was one of their primary concerns.

Read the full story

East Cleveland City Council in Dispute over Council President and Ward 3 Seat

Hannah Poling

Members of the East Cleveland City Council dissolved into an argument over the position of council president and who legally qualifies for the Ward 3 position.

Last month, Councilmembers Korean Stevenson and Pat Blochowiak filed a lawsuit against Council President Nathaniel Martin and Clerk of Council Tracy Udrija-Peters due to allegedly illegal actions without the council’s support.

Read the full story

Blystone to Surrender $105,000, Admit Violations, Not Run Again for Five Years

Admin
Joe Blystone

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Election Commission had a full hearing scheduled for today and tomorrow to investigate multiple election law violation complaints filed by three separate parties against former gubernatorial candidate Joe Blystone. Instead of a hearing, the session turned into a settlement conference that resulted in an agreement.

That agreement orders Blystone to surrender his campaign cash of approximately $105,000 and shut down his campaign fund.  The funds are to be distributed by paying $75,000 to an escrow account for a case Blystone started in Delaware County against his former campaign co-manager; turning over the remaining balance to the Ohio Election Commission in the form of a fine.  Additionally, Blystone stipulates that the allegations made in the complaints are fact and commits to not seek office for five years.

Read the full story

State Representative Merrin Loses Ohio Speakership to Moderate Stephens

Hannah Poling

As the 135th General Assembly gets underway, lawmakers elected moderate Republican Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) as the new Speaker of the Ohio House on Tuesday to succeed State Representative Bob Cupp (R-Lima).

The choice comes despite the Republican Caucus’ previous selection in November of State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Moncolva) as the new Speaker.

Read the full story

Ohio Attorney General Ties Nonprofit Grant Money to Completion of Charitable University

Hannah Poling

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Wednesday, the completion of Charitable University, also known as CharitableU, is now mandatory for nonprofits who want to seek grant money from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to promote organizations to be fraud-free this year.

According to Yost, CharitableU is a new training and accountability tool for Ohio charity organizations. The program ensures that they run their companies properly and prevent the squandering of crucial donations due to incompetence, carelessness, or fraud.

Read the full story

Governor DeWine Says Sports Betting Operations Have Already Crossed the Line in Ohio

Hannah Poling

A mere two days since the legalization of sports betting in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine is already questioning the legality of some companies’ practices.

In his first remarks on the matter since the state’s legalized sports betting on Sunday, DeWine said he had taken a personal interest in upholding state laws governing gambling organizations’ advertising.

Read the full story

Ohio Enacts Universal Occupational License Recognition

Bradley Vasoli

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) on Sunday signed legislation allowing Ohioans who acquired occupational licenses in other states to utilize their credentials in the Buckeye State.

Eighteen states, including neighboring Pennsylvania, already recognize occupational licenses that their residents received elsewhere. For years, a coalition of free-market organizations, including the Columbus-based Buckeye Institute, have urged Ohio lawmakers to adopt the same policy to ease burdens on workers and make the state more economically competitive. 

Read the full story

Ohio Governor Appoints Rhonda Burggraf to Marion County Family Court

Hannah Poling

Governor Mike DeWine appointed Republican Magistrate Rhonda Burggraf as judge of Marion County Family Court.

Burggraf, of LaRue, Ohio, is replacing Judge Robert Fragale, who retired from the court last month, ending his 40-year career in the legal profession, 30 of which he served as a Marion County judge. Burggraf will assume office on January 9th alongside fellow family court Judge Larry N. Heiser. Burggraf must run for election in 2024 to retain the seat.

Read the full story

Ohio Governor DeWine Indicates Four Priorities for New Term Including Expanding Job-Training Programs

Hannah Poling

Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine has occupied political office for the better part of 50 years starting his political career as a county prosecutor and moving up to become an Ohio state legislator, congressman, lieutenant governor, senator, and now state governor.

DeWine prepares to be sworn in for his second and final four-year term as governor of Ohio on January 9th.

Read the full story

Seven New Ohio State Senators Sworn in for New Legislative Session

Hannah Poling

In the 2022 general election, 17 of the Ohio State Senate’s 33 seats were up for grabs. As of January 2023, seven of those seats are held by members of the Democratic Party, and 26 are held by members of the Republican Party.

Four new Democratic state senators and three new Republican state senators have been sworn in to represent their constituents in the new legislative session.

Read the full story

Drug Interdiction Task Force Confiscates Millions in Narcotics During 2022

Hannah Poling

In 2022 alone, the law enforcement task forces established under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) seized illicit substances worth more than $64 million. Attorney General Dave Yost claims that eliminating Ohio’s drug trafficking industry will inevitably save lives.

Outside of narcotics, Ohio task forces also seized 437 firearms and $7.7 million in currency last year. With the 2022 figures, the total amount of contraband seized by the task force during Yost’s first term is $239.9 million in drugs, 1,374 guns, and $56 million in cash.

Read the full story

American Catholic Leaders Celebrate Life of Pope Benedict, ‘Defender of Truth’ Who Taught Above All Else ‘God Is Love’

Susan Berry, PhD

American Catholic leaders are acclaiming the life and work of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose scholarly writings emphasized the unity of faith and reason and, most fundamentally, the primary truth of the Catholic faith, which teaches God is Love.

Benedict, who was born Joseph Ratzinger, died Saturday at the age of 95. He became pope in April 2005, following the death of Pope John Paul II, and served until his resignation in February 2013.

Read the full story

Ohio Governor Appoints Joan Synenberg to Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas

Hannah Poling

After Ohio Governor Mike DeWine chose her on Thursday to fill another open seat on the same court, long-serving Republican Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Joan Synenberg will stay on the bench for at least another two years.

Synenberg will assume the term of Democratic Judge Deborah Turner and will start her new term on January 14th. In order to retain the seat she must win the general election in November 2024. Turner resigned from her position on the bench to run for another one, which allowed Turner to continue serving as a judge for an additional four years.

Read the full story

Ohio Secretary of State Reports 630 Cases of Potential Voter Fraud During His Administration So Far

Bradley Vasoli

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) reported on Friday that his office discovered 630 cases of possible criminal voter fraud since he took office four years ago.

Incidents include 510 cases of potential voting by noncitizens, 97 instances of people possibly voting in more than one state and 23 allegations of election fraudsters using dead persons’ registrations. The department referred all of these cases to law enforcement, according to LaRose’s Year in Review 2022 newsletter.

Read the full story

State Supreme Court Rules Cleveland Not Required to Refund Millions in Traffic-Camera Tickets

Hannah Poling

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the city of Cleveland is not required to repay $4.1 million to drivers who improperly paid traffic-camera tickets between 2005 and 2009 due to the motorists paying the fines without contesting them.

A number of drivers who got traffic-camera tickets but did not own the cars they were driving filed a class-action suit in 2009, alleging that the city of Cleveland had unfairly retained the fine money from persons who drove leased, rented, or utilized a vehicle that belonged to their employers. The claimants requested refunds of $4,121,185.89 and an additional $1,842,563.51 in interest.

Read the full story

Akron Schoolteachers Prepare to Strike over Violent Student Behavior

Hannah Poling

After many allegations of campus violence, Akron Public School teachers declared they would strike mere days after kids are expected to return from winter break. According to a Thursday news release, safety was one of their primary concerns.

The union scheduled the strike to begin on January 9th, 2023, while students return to classrooms on January 6th, 2023. Following incidents of aggressive behavior by kids, Akron Educational Association (AEA) union members asserted that school safety was one of their main concerns. The AEA represents around 2,800 licensed teachers and staff members, with about 20,000 students in the district.

Read the full story

Ohio Self-Serve Betting Machines to Be First in Nation

Hannah Poling

Beginning on January 1st, 2023, sports betting will be legal in Ohio. Betting will be legal to take place through smartphone applications, at casinos, racinos, sports stadiums, and other retail sportsbook facilities. However, Ohio will also be the first state in the nation to offer over 1,000 self-service betting machines in bars, restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores around the state.

Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 29, which legalized sports betting in Ohio, authorizing the move and giving oversight to the Casino Control Commission.

Read the full story

As Ohio Legalizes Sports Betting, Cuyahoga County Courts Offering Gambling Addiction Counseling

Hannah Poling

As Ohio prepares for the legalization of sports betting in January, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas is launching its first-of-its-kind gambling addiction counseling for individuals who are convicted of a crime related to gambling. This is one of the first such court programs in the state and the largest in the country.

According to Judge Brendan Sheehan, the court moved quickly to get its Problem Gambling Addiction Program operative prior to the state’s new sports betting laws going into effect on January 1st.

Read the full story

Hudson Councilwoman Kowalski Files Civil Suit over Council Censure

Hannah Poling

Hudson City Councilwoman Nicole Kowalski filed a civil suit against the city council’s recent decision to censure her over her expenditure of money that required legislative approval without the council’s knowledge or consent.

According to Hudson City Council President Chris Foster, Kowalski launched an investigation of a citizen’s complaint about an alleged campaign finance violation without the knowledge or consent of the council. Foster said that Kowalski also spent money that required legislative approval without informing the rest of the council.

Read the full story

Ohio GOP Vice Chairman Announces Candidacy to Lead Party

Hannah Poling

Summit County Republican Party Chairman and statewide party Vice-Chair Bryan Williams officially announced his candidacy for chairman of the Ohio Republican Party on Wednesday in a letter to state central committee (SCC) members.

The Ohio Republican Party’s central committee is meeting on January 6th to consider selecting a replacement for current Chairman Bob Paduchik who announced after the November 8th general election that he would not be seeking another term.

Read the full story

Ohio Governor Dispatches ODOT to Aid New York in Deadly Weather Disaster

Hannah Poling

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Thursday that he dispatched support from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to aid in emergency snow removal efforts in the state of New York following an “epic, once-in-a-lifetime” weather disaster responsible for killing over two dozen people.

A convoy of 28 ODOT workers, 12 tandem dump trucks, two utility mechanic trucks, and four crew cab pick-up trucks departed from Ashtabula Wednesday morning for a six-day deployment. The ODOT crew consists of highway technicians, mechanics, and managers from District 4 (Akron), District 11 (New Philadelphia), and District 12 (Cleveland).

Read the full story

Report: Ohio Ranks in America’s Bottom 20 States for Economic Freedom

Bradley Vasoli

A new report from several free-market think tanks ranks Ohio 35th out of the 50 states in terms of economic freedom. 

The Columbus-based Buckeye Institute issued the Economic Freedom of North America 2022 report in collaboration with the Canadian Fraser Institute, the Puerto Rican Instituto de Libertad Económica and the Mexican Caminos de la Libertad. The study factors in government spending levels, taxation and labor-market flexibility when ranking all states and provinces across the continent. 

Read the full story

Governor DeWine Nominates Anne Vogel for Director of the Ohio EPA

Hannah Poling

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that he is nominating Republican Anne Vogel to become the next director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). If the Ohio Senate confirms the nomination, Vogel will replace current director Laurie Stevenson who announced her retirement at the end of this year.

The Ohio EPA protects the environment and public health by enforcing environmental laws. According to DeWine, Vogel has the right experience for the job, and due to their history working together, she understands his priorities for the state.

Read the full story

Ohio Bar to Remove Mental Health Disclosure Next Year

Hannah Poling

Prospective attorneys in Ohio have to fill out a questionnaire, undergo a background check, and participate in an interview to ascertain if they meet the necessary ethical and moral standards to practice law in the state. After January 17th, 2023, Ohioans will no longer have to list a mental or psychological disorder on the questionnaire.

According to the changes to Rule I of the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, a person’s mental health would only be relevant as part of an application when there is conduct that could be detected during the investigation, such as a criminal offense, substance use issues, or financial irresponsibility.

Read the full story

Hamilton County GOP to Fill Vacant Prosecutor Seat

Hannah Poling

Now that Governor Mike DeWine appointed Republican Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters to fill a vacancy on the Ohio Supreme Court (OSC), his former long-time position as prosecutor will become vacant on January 7th, 2023, when he is sworn into the OSC.

Throughout his tenure, Deters has gained a reputation in a crucial office for being a “tough on crime” prosecutor, believing in strict punishments for violent crime, including the death penalty, bail reform boundaries, and policing in general.

Read the full story

Ohio Lawmakers Approve Over 30 Bills During Culmination of Legislative Session

Hannah Poling

During the legislature’s overnight culminating session, Ohio lawmakers approved over 30 pieces of legislation that now head to Governor Mike DeWine’s desk for approval. If DeWine does nothing the legislation will take effect without his signature. However, he has ten days, with the exception of Sundays, following the acquisition of the bills to approve or veto the legislation if he so chooses.

On December 22nd, DeWine’s office received a raft of 24 bills. The deadline for DeWine to take action on those bills to either sign or veto is January 3rd.

Read the full story

State Senate Passes Legislation Requiring Reporting and Review of Ohioans’ Property Tax Exemptions

Hannah Poling

A Republican-supported bill that would provide more transparency for local property tax exemptions passed in the Ohio Senate.

House Bill (HB) 66 sponsored by state Representative James Hoops (R-Napoleon) would require the Ohio Tax Commissioner’s biennial tax expenditure report to include information on local property tax exemptions and to require the Tax Expenditure Review Committee to periodically review local property tax exemptions.

Read the full story

Ohio Students Closer to Getting Religious Accomodations

The Center Square

Ohio colleges and universities could soon be required to develop a policy that would provide religious accommodations for students following the General Assembly’s passage of bipartisan legislation.

The Testing Your Faith Act, which now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine, also prohibits institutions of higher learning from imposing academic penalties on students due to an absence under the policy.

Read the full story

From an Official State Cookie to a New Ohio License Plate Design for ‘Weirdos:’ The Lighter Side of Legislation in 2022

Hannah Poling

Lawmakers have proposed numerous pieces of important legislation that impact individuals throughout Ohio, such as major criminal justice reform, an overhaul of the state education system, and changes in Ohio’s voting laws; however, for every major policy proposal, is an obscure one that tends to go overlooked.

House Bill (HB) 379 sponsored by state Representative Phillip Robinson Jr. (D-Solon) pitched a new “Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland” license plate which supports an organization that helps cat owners and their feline companions.

Read the full story

Ohio Representative Johnson Introduces Bill to Expand Emergency Connectivity

Bradley Vasoli

Representatives Bill Johnson (R-OH-6) and Kim Schrier (D-WA-8) last week introduced legislation directing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to guarantee more comprehensive emergency-call connectivity in rural areas. 

Both of the bill’s sponsors represent districts with wide rural expanses containing many communities that don’t have reliable service for remote devices, often leading to public-safety contingencies. Johnson’s district extends from northeast Ohio to the state’s south but is situated well outside of major cities. Schrier represents an area that begins just outside of Seattle and Tacoma but stretches well into her state’s sparsely populated center. 

Read the full story

Ohio Attorney General Says 22,000 Seized Fentanyl Pills Is Proof U.S. Needs a Stronger Southern Border

Hannah Poling

Approximately 22,000 fentanyl pills and nearly 42 pounds of suspected fentanyl seized in a drug bust by the Central Ohio Major Drug Interdiction/HIDTA Task Force is proof we need a stronger southern border according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

The task force, created under the state attorney general’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and led by the Columbus Police division intercepted the smuggling of the illegal drugs this week.

Read the full story

Ohio Supreme Court Rules Tort Damage Caps Unconstitutional in Child Sex Abuse Cases

Hannah Poling

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that a state law capping the number of damages awarded for “pain and suffering” claims in a personal injury lawsuit applied to child sex abuse cases is unconstitutional.

A 4-3 decision from the Supreme Court ruled that youth victims who “suffer traumatic, extensive, and chronic psychological injury as a result of intentional criminal acts and who sue their abusers for civil damages,” should not have caps on “non-economic damages.”

Read the full story

Governor DeWine Signs Executive Order Authorizing the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to Ban the Sale and Use of Tianeptine

Hannah Poling

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2022-17-D on Thursday, to suspend the normal rule making process to allow the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy to classify all products containing tianeptine, as a Schedule I controlled substance.

According to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) tianeptine is an antidepressant drug that is not approved by the United States for medical use. The FDA has warned that many companies are illegally marketing and selling products containing tianeptine to the public with unproven beneficial claims (i.e., dietary supplement, treatment for anxiety, depression, or opioid disorder). Effective December 22, 2022, no one may sell or pocess any product containing tianeptine in the state of Ohio.

Read the full story

Gov. DeWine Appoints Hamilton County Prosecutor to Ohio Supreme Court

Hannah Poling

Governor Mike DeWine has appointed Republican Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters to fill a vacancy on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Deters will fill the seat that Justice Sharon Kennedy is vacating at the end of the year to replace Maureen O’Connor as Chief Justice. O’Connor is stepping down at the end of the year due to Ohio’s age limit for judges. One may not run for a seat on any Ohio court if one is more than 70 years of age. This limit often forces the retirement of long-time justices.

Read the full story

Ohio Secretary of State Launches Messaging Channel to Combat Election Misinformation

Hannah Poling

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the launch of a new digital outreach initiative with a focus on educating Ohioans about elections and entrepreneurship.

Through the new messaging platform called @VerifyOhio, Ohioans can fact-check myths and answer common questions regarding elections for themselves. According to LaRose, election officials will use the platform throughout the 2023 and 2024 election cycles. LaRose said this would be a “rapid response” resource during the voting period around Election Day, when he said misinformation is typically at its peak.

Read the full story

Prosecutor Requests Clarification from Ohio Attorney General People Can Use Their Preferred Public Restrooms Regardless of Biological Sex

Hannah Poling

A Greene County prosecutor requested an opinion from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on whether Ohio civil rights law requires local governments to permit individuals to use public restrooms according to their stated gender identity rather than their biological sex.

The formal request filed by Greene County Prosecutor David Hayes was filed last week as people who prefer to use their stated gender identity over their biological sex is an area of the law that is receiving increasing attention throughout the United States and in the state of Ohio. Both public and private institutions are up against questions and lawsuits over policies relating to biological males being permitted to use biological females’ public restrooms and changing facilities.

Read the full story

Ohio Senate Passes Legislation to Transport Injured Police Dogs by Ambulance

Hannah Poling

A Republican-backed bill that will authorize emergency medical personnel to transport injured police dogs by ambulance heads to Governor Mike DeWine’s desk for signature.

House Bill (HB) 392 sponsored by state Representatives Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark) expands the ability of a medical professional to allow for life-saving transportation of a K-9 to a veterinarian center for treatment. 

Read the full story