Category: Ohio

Republican Matt Huffman Unanimously Re-Elected as Ohio Senate President

Hannah Poling

Ohio Senator Matt Huffman, (R-Lima) will once again serve as President of the Ohio Senate for the 135th General Assembly after a unanimous vote Tuesday, as reported by a release from the Senate.

Huffman was first elected to the Ohio Senate in 2016. He was re-elected to a second term in 2020 when he previously served as Senate President during the 134th General Assembly and prior to that as Majority Floor Leader. This follows his serving four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives building up to his election as Speaker Pro Tempore.

Read the full story

Ohio Senator Brown Asks Postal Service to Address Armed Robberies

Bradley Vasoli

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on Thursday announced he sent the United States Postal Service (USPS) the second of two letters asking for stronger measures against postal robberies. 

Brown originally wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Inspector General Whitcomb Hull a month ago asking them to redeploy Postal Police Officers to patrol along mail-carrier routes and at USPS collection sites. He said he received no response and therefore wrote to the USPS Board of Governors this week urging them to reinstitute the patrols. 

Read the full story

Ohio Right to Life Files Complaint to State Medical Board

Hannah Poling

A complaint has been filed with the State Medical Board of Ohio over a patient who was reportedly denied proper health care while experiencing a miscarriage.

Medical professionals at an Ohio hospital had reportedly cited the state’s abortion laws for delaying health care. However, Ohio law does not prevent doctors from taking action when a patient’s life or health is at risk.

Read the full story

Ohio Senate Passes Bill Expanding College-Savings Deduction

Bradley Vasoli

The Ohio state Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed legislation to permit more families to take advantage of an income-tax deduction that incentivizes saving for college. 

The measure sponsored by Senators Jay Hottinger (R-OH-Newark) and Andrew Brenner (R-OH-Delaware) applies the deduction to all savings programs nationwide established under Section 529 of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Current law allows Ohioans to take the deduction only for contributions to Ohio’s own 529 program.

Read the full story

Ohio Lawmakers Move to Strip State’s Education Board of Power

Admin

Ohio Republican lawmakers are pushing to take away some of the State Board of Education’s powers and give them to the governor, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

The state senate heard Senate Bill 178 on Tuesday which would take power over K-12 curriculum standards and textbooks from the state’s board of education and give it to members of the governor’s executive workforce board, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The board would be left with control over the state superintendent and teacher licensing.

Read the full story

Ohio GOP Bill Seeks Overhaul of State Education System and Board of Education

Hannah Poling

A new bill introduced by Ohio Senate Republicans aims to “restructure” Ohio’s State Department of Education, create a new administrative division under the governor’s office, and reduce the duties of the state Board of Education.

Senate Bill (SB) 178, sponsored by Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) was introduced in the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee on Tuesday. The bill seeks to “improve the academic achievement and workforce skills of our students, to drive better outcomes in their education, and to prepare for more effective career readiness,” Reineke told the committee.

Read the full story

Ohio Secretary of State Looks to Identify Areas for Improvement in Ohio Elections

Hannah Poling

One week after another successful statewide election, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is taking action to keep Ohio ahead of the curve.

Beginning immediately, The Secretary of State’s Office will work in conjunction with Ohio’s 88 county boards of elections to conduct an After-Action Review (AAR) of the statewide 2022 midterm election to evaluate overall performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Read the full story

Governor DeWine Announces New Outdoor Recreation Projects Across 62 Counties

Hannah Poling

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.

Read the full story

New Legislation to Help Victims of Human Trafficking Scheduled for Hearing

Hannah Poling

A pair of bills to aid human trafficking victims are scheduled for hearings at the Ohio Statehouse this week, with support to be given by numerous groups of human rights activists.

“Human trafficking victims often are compelled by their traffickers into prostitution, soliciting, and a wide range of other offenses through no fault of their own. Convictions for these offenses prevent human trafficking victims from getting housing, jobs, or professional accreditation,” the Director of Abolition Ohio and Director of advocacy at the University of Dayton Human Rights Center Tony Talbott said.

Read the full story

Ohio Attorney General Announces Preliminary Agreement with Walmart on Opioid Addiction Liability

Bradley Vasoli

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) announced on Tuesday that he and 15 other state attorneys general have negotiated a preliminary deal with the multinational retailer Walmart, from which Ohio would get $114 million for opioid recovery programs.

The $3.1 billion national agreement comes after Yost and other prosecutors sought accountability for what they characterize as the superstore’s failure to safely and securely dispense high-strength prescription pain relievers through its more than 5,100 pharmacies across America. Other state prosecutor’s offices who worked alongside him include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee and Texas.
The agreement comes after Yost and other prosecutors sought accountability for what they characterize as the superstore’s failure to safely and securely dispense high-strength prescription pain relievers through its more than 5,100 pharmacies across America. Other state prosecutor’s offices who worked alongside him include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee and Texas.

Read the full story

Ohio Lawmakers Prepare for the First Week of Lame-Duck Session

Hannah Poling

After taking a break over the summer and part of the fall for the general election, lawmakers are returning to the Ohio Statehouse to consider many different bills before the two-year session of this general assembly ends in December.

The committees and floor votes which occur after an election, known as a lame duck session, work to conclude urgent or unfinished bills that lawmakers have introduced. Once the session ends, lawmakers will either overlook or reject the bills and legislators, returning incumbents, and newly-elected officials will have to reintroduce the pieces of legislation and restart the committee process.

Read the full story

Marijuana Decriminalization Ballot Measures Approved in Five Ohio Cities

Hannah Poling

Activists in the state have been working to enact local cannabis reform over recent election cycles. While decriminalization did not qualify for every municipal ballot that advocates targeted for 2022, six Ohio cities voted on policy changes.

Five of the six Ohio cities approved local marijuana decriminalization ballot initiatives during the midterm election.

Read the full story

Ohio Board of Education Votes in Favor of Resolution to Reject LGBTQ Additions to Title IX

Hannah Poling

The Ohio Board of Education’s executive committee voted in favor Monday to move forward with a resolution that could reject proposed changes to broaden the definition of sex-based harassment and discrimination to include gender identity and sexual orientation for LGBTQ students.

The committee voted 5-2 to move ahead with the amendment. With the executive committee’s vote, the entire Ohio Board of Education will debate and potentially voted on the resolution on Tuesday.

Read the full story

Death-Penalty Opponents Want Abolition Bills Passed Before Ohio Session Ends

Bradley Vasoli

Death-penalty abolitionists in Ohio this week are organizing a campaign to persuade lawmakers to end capital punishment in their State. 

The nonprofit No Death Penalty Ohio is hosting letter-writing parties in various cities throughout the week in support of a state House bill and an identical state Senate bill to ban executions. While Republicans often support capital punishment and control both legislative chambers, the bills have some GOP support. State Senator Stephen Huffman (R-Dayton) is cosponsoring the Senate measure alongside Senator Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) while Representative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) is spearheading the House legislation with Representative Adam Miller (D-Columbus). 

Read the full story

Ohio Mother’s Group Against Legislation to Regulate Non-Licensed Community Midwives

Hannah Poling

A group of mothers and home-birth activists are speaking out in opposition to a bill in the Ohio legislature that would regulate non-licensed community midwives.

A group of 1,200 Ohioans, who call themselves Dayton Natural Parenting say they are watching House Bill (HB) 496 closely and are working with many Ohio midwives to spread awareness to their clients about the potential repercussions if this bill passes in the state.

Read the full story

Ohio Think Tank Asks Court to Kill EPA’s Electric Vehicle Mandate

Bradley Vasoli

Joining an effort to kill a new Biden-administration regulation to advance the manufacture of electric vehicles, the Columbus-based Buckeye Institute filed a brief against the rule in federal court last week. 

In so doing, the pro-free-market think tank joined the state of Texas and other petitioners in asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to throw out tightened greenhouse-gas emission standards. The Environmental Protection Agency designed the new standards last year to further President Joe Biden’s objective to make all newly manufactured vehicles in the U.S. electric-powered by 2030. 

Read the full story

Ohio Republican Party Chair Bob Paduchik Won’t Seek Re-Election

Hannah Poling

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.

Read the full story

ADAMHS Board to Install Narcan Vending Machines in Northeast Ohio

Hannah Poling

In order to help prevent fentanyl overdoses and lower the death toll in Northeast Ohio the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) board are to install narcan vending machines throughout Cuyahoga County in the upcoming week.

In the next week, the board is rolling out five narcan vending machines across Cleveland and is also working on putting more than 400 weather-resistant narcan cabinets in public parks in the near future.

Read the full story

Newly Elected Ohio State Representative Beth Lear to Champion Protecting Ohio Families and Economic Concerns

Hannah Poling

A new electee in the Ohio statehouse, Republican Beth Lear, says she will advocate for Ohio families, protect constitutional rights, address economic concerns, and restore integrity in education upon assuming office.

Lear, secured the position of State Representative for District 61 during the midterm election with 59% of the vote.

Read the full story

Both Sides in Abortion Debate Plan Legislative Pushes in Ohio

Bradley Vasoli

Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate see Ohio’s elections earlier this week as reason to seek change. 

In 2019, Republican Governor Mike DeWine signed the Heartbeat Act to protect unborn life in cases when doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat. The act’s fate is now tied up in the courts but pro-lifers have reason for optimism that the law will be upheld as Republicans maintained control of the Ohio Supreme Court by sweeping the judicial elections this year. 

Read the full story

Bill Likely to Come Up in Lame-Duck Session Could Require Ohio Voters to Have a Photo ID

Hannah Poling

A bill to make changes in Ohio voting laws has potential to be brought up by Republican lawmakers in the upcoming lame-duck legislative session. The bill would require a photo ID for nearly all Ohio voters.

Representative Bill Seitz (R-OH-30) already has a bill, in the Government Oversight Committee, House Bill (HB) 249 to create online ballot requests with two forms of ID, to limit the locations and window of time for ballot dropboxes, and to shorten the period to request early ballots.

Read the full story

Ohio Lawmaker Proposes Bill Prohibiting COVID-19 Vaccination Discrimination in Schools

Hannah Poling

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.

Read the full story

Ohio’s Buckeye Institute Takes Stand Against Vandalism by Unions

Bradley Vasoli

The Columbus-based Buckeye Institute submitted a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of cement manufacturer Glacier Northwest’s argument that workers’ unions cannot claim vandalism their members commit during labor disputes is “protected activity.”

Last December, the Supreme Court of the state of Washington, in which Glacier is based, ruled that employers could not invoke state law to sue labor organizations over some acts of vandalism committed during strikes which the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects. 

Read the full story

Ohio Lawmakers Look to Crack Down on ‘Hooning’

Hannah Poling

Ohio lawmakers proposed a new bill to curb reckless driving in the state.

State Representatives Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark) introduced House Bill (HB) 740, which would prohibit hooning on public roads or private property open to the public. Other things the bill would prohibit are speed racing, performing dangerous 360-degree “donuts,” and allowing passengers to ride outside of open windows.

Read the full story

Vance Wins Ohio Senate Seat

Bradley Vasoli

Ohio Republican J.D. Vance prevailed in his race Tuesday against U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) for the U.S. Senate seat from which Republican Rob Portman is retiring this year. 

With 95 percent of the state’s voting precincts reporting at 11:15 p.m. on Election Night, Vance was beating Ryan 53.63 percent to 46.37 percent and NBC News called the race for the Republican. Vance thus secured a key victory for his party’s effort to retake the Senate majority. The win by the attorney, author and venture capitalist also boosts the wing of the GOP most favorable toward former President Donald Trump who enthusiastically endorsed Vance earlier this year.

With 58.27 percent of the state’s 8,933 voting precincts reporting at 10 p.m. on Election Day, Vance was beating Ryan 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent. The Republican thus appeared to secure a key victory for his party’s effort to retake the Senate majority. The projected win by the attorney, author and venture capitalist also boosts the wing of the GOP most favorable toward former President Donald Trump who enthusiastically endorsed Vance earlier this year.

Read the full story

Ohio Election Day Roundup: Results for National Elected Offices, State Offices, and Statewide Ballot Issues

Hannah Poling

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.

Read the full story

Ohio State Highway Patrol Seizes 220 Pounds of Illegal Cocaine in Central Ohio

Hannah Poling

Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Troopers seized 99,790.3 grams of cocaine at a traffic stop in Central Ohio which is enough to kill 15,352 people. According to The Recovery Village, a lethal dose of cocaine is about 6.5 grams.

Madison County troopers seized the lethal drugs during a traffic stop of a vehicle for a following too-close violation on Interstate 70. The OSHP says that when they stopped the U-Haul truck which had Arizona registration, they observed “criminal indicators” and a drug-sniffing k-9 detected possible contraband which warranted a probable cause search of the vehicle.

Read the full story

Ohio Secretary of State Readies Voters, Officials for Busy Election Day

Hannah Poling

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is making one last push to inform Ohioans of important voter information prior to their final opportunity to cast a ballot.

The Ohio secretary of state’s office indicates that there is only one official source for Ohio election information, which is voteohio.gov. To ensure all voters have the correct information ahead of Election Day, LaRose urges voters to only utilize voteohio.gov as an official resource for vital and accurate election information including finding a polling location, voter ID requirements, sample ballots, absentee ballot tracking, support for voters with disabilities, and election results.

Read the full story

Ohio Election Eve Roundup: Statewide, District, County, and Municipal Races to Watch

Hannah Poling

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).

Read the full story

U.S. Senate Hopefuls Vance and Ryan Tour Central Ohio on Election Day

Hannah Poling

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.

Read the full story

Ryan Portrays Ohio Campaign as a Dead Heat but Major Pollsters See Vance Pulling Away

Bradley Vasoli

With mere hours to go before the 2022 midterm election, polls are showing Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance blow past his Democratic rival Tim Ryan, even as Ryan still claims the race is a “dead heat.” 

In a late Sunday night Twitter post, Ryan cites a survey result showing both candidates with 46 percent support among voters. 

Read the full story

Court Ruling Allows Ohio Cities to Make Own Gun Laws

The Center Square

Ohio cities can return to creating gun safety ordinances more than three years after the city of Columbus filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a bill passed by the General Assembly in 2018.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Friday the state will appeal a Franklin County judge’s ruling that temporarily blocked part of the state law that stops cities from creating local gun restrictions.

Read the full story

Poll Finds Inflation and Abortion Among the Top Issues for Ohioans

Hannah Poling

According to a Marist Ohio Poll conducted October 17 through October 20, 46 percent of Ohio adults say inflation is the issue that is top of mind this election season. Following that concern is preserving democracy at 20 percent, abortion at 18 percent, health care at 6 percent, crime at 4 percent, and immigration at 4 percent.

The poll found that inflation is the key voting issue for Republicans at 62 percent and independents at 53 percent. Among Democrats, abortion at 34 percent is at the top of the list with only 22 percent of Democrats most concerned about inflation.

Read the full story

County Election Officials Test Voting Machines for Accuracy Ahead of Election Day

Hannah Poling

Ohio counties such as Butler and Cuyahoga have been making sure every single voting machine in their districts has been checked. Election officials perform mock votes before using the machines to make sure the information is populating correctly.

Logic and accuracy (L&A) testing on every voting machine and system component ensures that ballots are accurate and that the votes cast will tabulate properly. This includes voting machines used at polling locations on Election Day and those used for scanning absentee ballots.

Read the full story

Ohio Democratic Senatorial Candidate Changes Stance on Confronting Inflation

Hannah Poling

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) has shown support for regulations that would prevent inflation while simultaneously favoring larger spending bills.

This year Ryan voted against preventing regulations that would cause inflation and a gas tax hike.

However, in late 2021 he favored a larger spending bill (“Build Back Better”) over a slimmed-down plan favored by moderate Democratic senators. Ryan said that Democrats should not minimize the extent of inflation but rather emphasize “Build Back Better” as a way to address it.

Read the full story

Ohio County Democratic Auditor Comes Out Against U.S. Senate Candidacy of Tim Ryan

Bradley Vasoli

A Cincinnati-area Democratic public official is urging Ohioans to vote against his party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

Supporters of Republican Senate nominee J.D. Vance and critics of Democratic hopeful Tim Ryan are enthusiastically sharing an opinion piece Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes (D) penned for The Cincinnati Enquirer on Friday. In the guest column, Rhodes calls Ryan “a fraud who must be defeated” and who “does not deserve your vote” irrespective of one’s party affiliation. 

Read the full story

Vance Leaps Ahead in Ohio Senate Race in Final Pre-Eection Poll

Just the News

Ohio Republican senatorial hopeful J.D. Vance has leaped to an impressive 8-point lead in Emerson College’s final pre-election survey.

Vance led his Democratic rival, Rep. Tim Ryan by a 51%-43% margin, a significant jump from the previous month’s survey which showed Vance with 46% support to Ryan’s 45%, per The Hill. Just 4% of respondents were undecided in the November survey, and Vance’s lead increased to 9% when the survey asked them to choose.

Read the full story

Democrat Tim Ryan Now Says He’s in Favor of Ohio State Issues 1 and 2

Hannah Poling

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.

Read the full story

Ohio Approves Tax Incentives for Honda, LG EV Project

The Center Square

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority officially approved Monday tax credits for a new electric vehicle battery plant in southwest Ohio, even as critics call the deal crony capitalism and believe the money could be better spent.

The incentives were part of three economic development deals given the green light by OTC for projects the state says will create more than 3,000 new jobs and retain more than 8,000 others.

Read the full story

Ohio Law Enforcement Seizes Enough Fentanyl to Kill 190,000 People

Hannah Poling

Law enforcement officials seized 570 grams of fentanyl on Monday in southwest Ohio which the Butler County Sheriff’s Office says is enough to kill 190,000 people, which is roughly half the population of Butler County.

Law enforcement seized the lethal drugs as part of an operation by the Butler County Undercover Regional Narcotics (BURN) Task Force with the assistance of the Hamilton Police Department’s Vice and Neighborhood Police Section.

Read the full story

Study: Ohio Outside of Capital Area Is Losing Population

Bradley Vasoli

A new study released this week by a Columbus-based nonprofit observed that, with the exception of Ohio’s capital city and its surrounding suburbs, the Buckeye State is losing population.

The paper by the Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC), titled “Ohio + Columbus: A Tale of Two States,” posits that “much of Ohio functions like a legacy state rather than a rapidly growing place.” In other words, many places in the state experienced manufacturing booms a century ago but have seen industrial activity quickly decline in recent decades. 

Read the full story