Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones called on state lawmakers to pass legislation focused on curbing terrorism threats posed by illegal immigration and insufficient cybersecurity based on information he learned at last month’s National Sheriff’s Association’s annual winter conference in Washington D.C.
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Feds Tease East Palestine Toxic Train Derailment Findings
The federal agency responsible for determining the cause of the 2023 Norfolk Southern toxic train derailment said they’ll hold investigatory hearings in June to complete their findings.
The National Safety Transportation Board announced Wednesday that it will hold back-to-back hearings on June 22-23 at the East Palestine High School in the Ohio-Pennsylvania border town where the derailment occurred just over a year ago.
Read the full storyOhio Attorney General Dave Yost Spearheading Effort Urging Congress to Stabilize Funding for the Federal Crime Victims Fund
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost led a bipartisan coalition of 41 other state attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leaders urging the authorization of bridge funding for the federal Crime Victims Fund, also known as the VOCA Fund.
Created by Congress in 1984, the VOCA Fund provides federal support to state and local programs that assist victims of crime.
Read the full storyVance: ‘Ukraine-First’ Border Package ‘Being Shoved Down the Throat of the U.S. Senate’
U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) said today that his fellow Republicans “have to” defeat the “Ukraine-first” border package being “shoved down” their throats.
“There’s an Ukraine first package being shoved down the throat of the US Senate,” Vance posted on X. “It doesn’t secure our border, gives away all leverage to achieve real border security, and no one has had time to read through the details. Let’s defeat this package. We have to.”
Read the full storyReport: Poverty Impacts Learning Loss Recovery in Ohio
Poor students in Ohio struggle more to recover from COVID-19 era learning loss than wealthy ones, according to a new report.
The Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford, shows students improved between 2022 and 2023, but poorer districts struggled.
Read the full storyOhio AG Dave Yost Sees No Need to Expedite Voter Rights Lawsuit
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost does not believe a lawsuit challenging how he ruled on a potential ballot issue that would expand voting rights deserves an expedited trial.
Yost’s recent filing related to the suit dealt only with the time element and not about any legal challenges after he rejected a proposed constitutional amendment for an Ohio Voters Bill of Rights.
Read the full storyNCAA President Asks for College ‘Proposition Bets’ Ban in Ohio
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the NCAA want to stop gamblers from placing bets on individual performances in college games – called “proposition bets” (prop bets) – hoping it will stop online threats and harassment.
In a letter to the Ohio Casino Control Commission, NCAA President Charlie Baker asked for collegiate prop bets to be removed from the legal bets that can be placed in the state. That move triggered a public comment period for operators to comment on rule changes before a change can occur.
Read the full storyOhio U.S. Senator JD Vance Calls on the Biden Administration to Fund Health Screening Program for Residents of East Palestine
Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) traveled to East Palestine on Friday to meet with residents and survey the status of the environmental cleanup of the area nearly one year after a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed.
In remarks to the media, Vance called on the Biden administration to fund a long-term health screening program for residents despite revealing the administration’s refusal to provide the funding that has “already been appropriated” for such screenings.
Read the full storyOhio Attorney General Still Wants Answers Year After East Palestine Derailment
A year after a toxic train derailment left East Palestine, Ohio, reeling, a lawsuit aimed at helping the city and state recover is still ongoing.
Attorney General Dave Yost continued to wait for answers.
Read the full storyRed Tape Closes Pennsylvania Power Plants Before Replacements Ready
Despite the key positions states like Ohio and Pennsylvania hold to solve future energy problems, shifting the power grid from coal and natural gas to wind and solar isn’t as easy as flipping a switch.
A cadre of Pennsylvania legislators trekked to Columbus for a joint meeting of three House and Senate committees from the two states to be advised by energy officials on PJM, the regional power grid to which both belong.
Read the full storyOhio Senator Sherrod Brown Losing Ground Against Republican Challengers: Poll
Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown’s lead over his three Republican challengers has narrowed since November anywhere from 2 to 8 points, according to a Thursday poll.
Brown was leading businessman Bernie Moreno by 10 points, Secretary of State Frank LaRose by 5 points and state Sen. Matt Dolan by 3 points in Emerson College’s last poll on the Ohio Senate race. The senator is now ahead of Dolan by only 1 point and has a 2-point advantage over both Moreno and LaRose for potential head-to-head general election matchups, according to Emerson College’s January survey.
Read the full storyBiden Vague About East Palestine Visit One Year After Train Derailment
As the one-year anniversary approaches of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, President Joe Biden says he will soon visit the area to meet with locals and assess the recovery efforts.
The White House has not confirmed when, but said that a trip to the site near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border would be made in February. The derailment of the Norfolk Southern train, just east of the town center, led to a conflagration when officials decided to burn off vinyl chloride, exposing residents and nature to chemical smoke and fumes.
Read the full storyOhio Attorney General, Lawmakers Call for Executions to Continue
In the wake of Alabama carrying out a death sentence with the use of nitrogen gas, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and some lawmakers want to kick start the state’s death penalty that has been stalled since 2019.
At a news conference Tuesday, Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, said nitrogen has been made available following the Alabama execution and plans to introduce legislation to make it available in Ohio.
Read the full storyACLU of Ohio to File Lawsuit Challenging House Bill 68’s Ban of Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio announced Monday it will file a lawsuit challenging the Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act, which is included in House Bill 68.
Read the full storyOhio Democrats Continue to Push Anti-Corruption Legislation
Nearly five years after House Bill 6 became law and six months after former House Speaker Larry Householder was sent to prison, Ohio Democrats plan to introduce legislation again to stop corruption at the Statehouse.
State Reps. Daniel Troy (pictured above), D-Willowick, and Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati, plan a news conference Tuesday to announce the Ohio Anti-Corruption Act requiring dark money groups to identify contributors and disclose spending.
Read the full storyOhio Voter Rights Expansion Proposal Rejected Again
A second attempt to significantly overhaul Ohio’s voter laws by putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot failed.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost again called the proposed amendment to expand early voting and voter registration and stop required voter roll purges misleading.
Read the full storyOhio to Expand Driver’s Ed with $4.5M in Taxpayer Funds
More and more Ohio teenagers wait until their 18th birthday to get their driver’s license, and the state plans to spend $4.5 million in taxpayer funds to try and change that.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced 34 grants through the Creating Opportunities for Driver Education program to increase driver training capacity at nearly 100 locations around the state.
Read the full storyOhio Senator JD Vance Introduces Bill to Codify Border States’ Rights to Defend Own Territory from Illegal Migrants
Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) introduced a bill on Wednesday that would “codify the right of every state along the U.S.-Mexico border to defend its own territory.”
Vance’s State Border Security Act would prevent federal agents from dismantling barbed wire or other fencing erected by state governments within 25 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Read the full storyActivists, Lawmakers Applaud Ohio Senate’s Veto Override of House Bill 68
The Ohio Senate voted to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68 on Wednesday, sparking an array of applause from activists and GOP lawmakers.
House Bill 68, which will become law in 90 days, combines two bills: the Saving Ohio Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act and the Save Women’s Sports Act.
Read the full storyChinese Man Illegally in the U.S. Indicted on 309 Felony Charges in Ohio for Role in Gift Card Counterfeiting Scheme
A Chinese man who entered the U.S. illegally has been indicted by a Coshocton County grand jury on 309 felony charges related to a gift card counterfeiting scheme, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
Ming Xue, 32, of Hunan, Fujian – a province on the southeastern coast of China – faces 308 counts of counterfeiting and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, according to Yost’s office.
Read the full storyVivek Ramaswamy Endorses Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate
Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy endorsed Ohio businessman Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate this week.
Read the full storyOhio to Spend $20M to Study Depression, Suicide, Overdoses
Ohio plans to spend $20 million in taxpayer funds over the next 10 years to study the causes of depression, suicide and drug overdoses.
The research initiative, conducted with Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine, along with several stat universities, is expected to study the role of biological, psychological, and social factors that underlie what officials call an epidemic.
Read the full storyOhio-Based ‘We the People Convention’ Endorses Donald Trump for President
We the People Convention (WTPC), an Ohio-based nonprofit that advocates for limited constitutional governance, endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election this week.
Read the full storyOhio Schools Set to Share Nearly $7 Million for School Safety
Ohio public and private schools can share nearly $7 million in taxpayer funds to increase classroom safety.
The $6.7 million appropriated by the General Assembly in this year’s budget goes through Attorney General Dave Yost and can be used for safety planning, training and classroom programs.
Read the full storyOhio Business Optimism Rises, Concerns Remain Real
Ohio businesses were more optimistic in December but still well below normal, citing inflation as their biggest concern, according to a new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business.
The most recent study showed the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.3 points in December to 91.9 but is still well below the 50-year average of 98. It’s the 24th consecutive month the index failed to meet the long-term benchmark.
Read the full storyDOJ, Three More States Join Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Lawsuit Against the NCAA
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Thursday the Department of Justice (DOJ), three states, and the District of Columbia all joined his antitrust lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Transfer Eligibility Rule this week.
Read the full storyAnother Petition to Rewrite State’s Election Rules Submitted to Attorney General Yost’s Office
A proposed constitutional amendment that would amend Ohio’s constitution by rewriting election rules was filed with Attorney General Dave Yost’s Office on Tuesday.
Read the full storyOhio Recreational Marijuana Regulation Bill Awaits House Consideration
A bill heavily amended in the Ohio Senate in response to the passage of Issue 2 is awaiting action by the Ohio House of Representatives.
Read the full storySenator John Barrasso Endorses Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate
Wyoming U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) endorsed Ohio businessman Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Read the full storySenator JD Vance Congratulates Donald Trump on Iowa Win, Declares the Primary Is ‘Over’
Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance congratulated former President Donald Trump on his historic win in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucus on Monday night.
Read the full storyMore Than 100 Law Enforcement Agencies Across Ohio Awarded Grant Funds for Body Cam Programs
A total of 108 law enforcement agencies across Ohio have been awarded grant funds to cover costs associated with body cam programs, according to Governor Mike DeWine’s office.
Read the full storyProposed Law Would Compensate Ohio ‘Kidfluencers’
Ohio Democrats want children working as social media influencers to keep the money they earn, and they hope a celebrity can influence the rest of the General Assembly.
Actor and singer Alyson Stoner recently joined lawmakers to introduce the Kidfluencer Protection Act to ensure proper compensation for child influencers.
Read the full storySteve Bannon, Former GOP Candidate Call on Republicans to ‘Stay in DC and Get Things Done’
Former Ohio gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Representative Jim Renacci has echoed WarRoom host Steve Bannon’s call on Republican lawmakers in Congress to “stop going home” and instead pass a budget instead of another continuing resolution.
Read the full storyOhio Secretary of State Certifies Candidates for 2024 Primary Ballot
The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office recently certified the candidates that will appear on the state’s March 19 primary ballot.
Read the full storyOhio Governor Reacts to House Veto Override of House Bill 68
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a one-sentence statement after the Ohio House of Representatives voted to override his veto of House Bill 68 on Wednesday.
Read the full storyFleets of Electric School Buses Coming to Ohio School Districts
Six school districts across Ohio are set to receive electric school buses as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Read the full storyOhio House of Representatives Votes to Override Governor’s Veto of House Bill 68
The Ohio House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to override Governor Mike DeWine’s veto of House Bill 68.
Read the full storyOhio U.S. Senator JD Vance Demands Answers After SEC X Account ‘Compromised,’ Announces Premature Approval of of Spot-Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds
U.S. Senators JD Vance (R-OH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have sent a letter to Gary Gensler, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), demanding answers after the commission’s X account tweeted false information leading to “drastic swings in the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.”
On Tuesday, the SEC’s X account published a post announcing that it had approved Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to be listed on all registered U.S. securities exchanges.
Read the full storyOhio U.S. Senator JD Vance Demands the Firing of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) is demanding that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin resign after he was admitted to the ICU at Walter Reed Medical Center and failed to notify the White House about his hospitalization.
Read the full storyACLU Calls Ohio Governor’s Ban of Trans Surgeries for Minors ‘Dangerous’
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio has condemned Governor Mike DeWine’s recent signing of Executive Order-01D, which bans gender transition surgeries for minors at any hospital or ambulatory surgical facility in the Buckeye State.
Read the full storyJim Jordan Backs Trump-Endorsed Candidate in Ohio Senate Primary
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan endorsed Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, who is backed by former President Donald Trump, on Monday in the 2024 GOP primary to take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.
Read the full storySix Members of a South Columbus Violent Crime Ring Indicted on 124 Felony Charges
An investigation conducted by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force has resulted in six alleged members of a violent crime ring in south Columbus being indicted on a combined 124 felony charges, according to Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
Read the full storyLawmaker: DeWine’s Transgender Order not Enough
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s executive order banning transgender surgeries for minors in Ohio may not be enough to stop a veto override ride in the General Assembly.
House Bill 68 sponsor State Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, called the order temporary and is no substitute for a law.
Read the full storySocial Media Companies Sue to Block Ohio’s Social Media Parental Notification Act From Taking Effect
The State of Ohio has been sued by a company representing multiple social media platforms in order to block the Social Media Parental Notification Act from taking effect.
Read the full storyJim Renacci Calls Out Lt. Governor Husted’s Stance on House Bill 68
Former Ohio gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Representative Jim Renacci has called out Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted’s stance on House Bill 68 amid the controversy surrounding the legislation.
Read the full storyCritics Slam Ohio Governor for Signing Executive Order Banning Trans Surgeries for Minors Following Veto of House Bill 68
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an Executive Order on Friday banning gender transition surgeries for minors at any hospital or ambulatory surgical facility in Ohio.
Read the full storyOhio Republican Party Urges Voters to Bank Their Vote Ahead of Primary Election
The Ohio Republican Party is urging GOP voters in the Buckeye State to participate in the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) new nationwide campaign focused on maximizing pre-Election Day voting.
The RNC’s Bank Your Vote campaign was created last year to “encourage, educate, and activate Republican voters on when, where, and how to lock in their votes as early as possible, through in-person early voting, absentee voting, and ballot harvesting where legal.”
Read the full storyOhio’s Concealed Carry Law Resulted in Less Gun Crime Last Year, Study Shows
A study published this week by Center for Justice Research, a partnership between the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Bowling Green State University, revealed gun crime decreased in six of Ohio’s eight largest cities following the implementation of the Constitutional Carry law.
Read the full storyOhio U.S. Representative Jim Jordan: ‘Men Shouldn’t Play Women’s Sports in Ohio’
U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) took to social media on Tuesday to offer a comment pertaining to the ongoing debate among state officials and lawmakers regarding House Bill 68.
“Men shouldn’t play women’s sports in Ohio or anywhere,” Jordan wrote on X.
Read the full storyMore Than $63 Million in Illegal Drugs Seized in Ohio Last Year
Drug task forces organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) across the state confiscated more than $63 million in illegal drugs in 2023, according to Attorney General Dave Yost’s office.
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