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BWC Board Approves Major Expansion of Employer Safety Program
The Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) announced a major expansion of its Safety Grants program Friday with an additional $30 million in FY20-21. Board directors approved the request, saying heavy employer demand will require dollars just to finish out the current fiscal year. Read more in Friday's Hannah Report.
Brunner Calls State to Mutual 'Respect, Diversity' in Supreme Court Bid
Former Ohio Secretary of State and sitting 10th District Judge Jennifer Brunner is launching a grassroots arts campaign as part of her Ohio Supreme Court bid that calls Ohioans to the goal of "respecting one another amidst our great diversity." Read more in Friday's Hannah Report.
Supreme Court Gets Last Word in Ballot Dispute over HB6 Energy Subsidies
The legal and political battle over energy subsidy bill HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) came to an official end Friday as the Ohio Supreme Court granted Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts (OACB) and Secretary of State Frank LaRose's joint motion to dismiss five certified questions from the U.S. District Court on referendum activities during the 90 days between a bill's signing and effective date. Read more in Friday's Hannah Report.
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Monday, Feb. 10, 2020
Experts Predict Increasing Disinformation Before Election
Online disinformation related to the 2020 election is expected to increase, experts told the Columbus Dispatch, and some has already been seen regarding the Iowa caucuses. In the runup to the 2016 election, false information circulated that ballots for Hillary Clinton were stockpiled in a Columbus warehouse. That claim drew responses from the Franklin County Board of Elections and then-Secretary of State Jon Husted.
Ohio Unions Gave Equally to Democrats, Republicans in 2019
Organized labor groups gave relatively similar campaign contribution totals to Democratic and Republican candidates in Ohio during 2019, the Cincinnati Enquirer found, even as national labor donations are around 90 percent to Democrats. This has been due to a pragmatic outlook by unions, the appeal of Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and the HB6 issue as union members sought to keep two nuclear plants open and preserve 1,400 jobs.
Negotiations to combine over 100 lawsuits by local governments and the state of Ohio into a single opioid damages settlement with pharmaceutical groups are progressing, the Columbus Dispatch reported, citing an anonymous source close to the talks. Issues to be resolved included how the settlement, potentially in excess of $1 billion, will be divided up and what portion will go to outside lawyers.
Ideastream Issues School Voucher Q&A as Lawmakers Debate Possible Fix
Ideastream of Ohio provides an overview of the 14-year-old EdChoice Scholarship Program and its pending expansion as members of the House and Senate attempt to work out differences over private school vouchers' impact on local school districts and communities.
Lehner's Dyslexia Interventions Bill Spurs Pushback from Superintendents
Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Peggy Lehner's (R-Kettering) bill to require dyslexia screening and special programs for children under six is spurring pushback from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), which says SB102 (Brenner-Lehner) as written constitutes an unfunded mandate, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Medical Pot Posed for Bengals, Browns Fans 'To Help You Get through It'
"Could it be considered a medical condition? Sure." That is Cincinnati resident and long-suffering Bengals fan Vincent Morano's advice to the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, which is considering his proposal to qualify Cleveland Browns and Bengals faithful for medicinal pot, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Farmers Could See Increased Exports under New U.S., China Trade Deal
The new "Phase One" U.S., China trade agreement signed Wednesday by both countries could have big implications for Ohio farmers, given China's promise to spend $200 billion more than it did in 2017 on U.S. exports, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Products that could see the greatest benefits include soybeans, pork, dairy and steel, all of which were previously hit hard by tariffs.
Ohio Supreme Court Continues Push for Bail Reforms
The Ohio Supreme Court submitted 46 pages of amendments to court rules and procedures to the General Assembly Wednesday, including a rule that would affect non-violent felony suspects being held in county jails because they can't afford to post pre-trial bonds, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The proposed rule states bonds "shall be in an amount and type which are least costly to the defendant."
Lawmakers Push for Delay of Medicaid Work Requirements
Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Thomas West (D-Canton) wrote in a letter to Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran that outstanding errors in the Ohio Benefits system provide reason to delay implementation of Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied individuals under 50 set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) is one of eight Republican members of Congress selected by the White House to defend President Donald Trump during the U.S. Senate's impeachment trial, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Increasing Jail Inspections after Deaths, Lawsuits
Following inmate deaths in Dayton, Cleveland and elsewhere, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) has tripled its jail inspection team and will soon begin surprise visits to the state's 313 jails and temporary holding facilities, the Dayton Daily News reports. DRC will also conduct more thorough inspections than in the past, the newspaper says.
Drop in ER Opioid Prescriptions Draws Mixed Reviews
While some health care industry representatives say the significant decrease in emergency room (ER) opioid prescriptions will keep patients safer from addiction, some doctors are saying patients are now being under-treated for pain and are needlessly suffering, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Nine Ohio Democrats, all women, endorsed the presidential candidacy of Joe Biden. He holds the most endorsements among the Democratic field, Cleveland.com notes, as it summarizes the various endorsements the candidates have secured so far.
The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) is asking the Ohio Legislature to eliminate the 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022 and 2023, reducing the pension system's $24 billion unfunded liability by $3.44 billion, the Columbus Dispatch reports -- a tough ask in an election year. And this is a separate issue from the cut in health benefits OPERS is expected to implement.
Bill Proposes to Make 'Texting while Driving' Primary Driving Offense
Following up on statements from Gov. Mike DeWine that Ohio should make texting while driving a primary offense -- meaning police could pull drivers over without first witnessing another traffic violation -- a Columbus Democrat introduced a bill doing just that, the Dayton Daily News reports. That bill, from Rep. Mary Lightbody (D-Westerville), would reference "handheld electronic devices."
The Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee has scheduled a special meeting Thursday night to reconsider its endorsement of 65th House District candidate Joe Dills, who admitted to having an account on a dating website that helps people cheat on their spouses. While Dills said he created the Ashley Madison account in 2013 when he was single, Ohio GOP leaders received information linking Dills to another account in 2015, after he was married, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
A total of 717,740 children -- 2,400 more than last school year -- are receiving publicly-funded free or reduced price school lunches during the 2019-2020 school year, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The statistics, considered a particularly reliable indicator of the economy's health, represent the first uptick in National School Lunch Program participation after three years of declines, according to the newspaper.
Both Ohio Senators Write NYT Pieces on Impeachment
While U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) explained in his New York Times op-ed why he voted to acquit President Donald Trump despite his "improper" effort to withhold military aid to Ukraine until the foreign country opened an investigation into Trump's political rivals, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote in a separate op-ed that many of his Republican colleagues privately admit Trump is "reckless and unfit" for office but chose to vote "not guilty" out of fear of dealing with new nicknames, mean tweets and Trump-backed primary opponents.
JobsOhio Works to Attract New Air Service to State
President J.P. Nauseef told the City Club of Cleveland that JobsOhio, the economic development arm of state government, is looking to help Ohio's airports attract new flights to the state, including transatlantic service, by setting aside $4 million that can be used to waive fees or provide marketing support to the airlines. Better air service is seen as key to attracting businesses and people, Cleveland.com reports.
Administration Releases Report on Children Services Transformation Initial Findings
Gov. Mike DeWine Wednesday released a preliminary report summarizing the state's efforts around foster care reform since he took office. It includes an overview of the feedback from the 10 community forums on foster care held across the state. To learn more, see Wednesday's Hannah Report.
LaRose Reports on Security Efforts by Local Boards of Elections
Giving an update on county boards of elections' efforts to meet his election security directive Wednesday, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said 80 of 88 counties are 100 percent compliant and seven more have a plan to become complaint within the next 13 days before early voting starts. However, he said because it has not come up with a plan to become compliant, his office is putting the Van Wert County Board of Elections under administrative oversight. Read more in Wednesday's
Hannah Report.
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Monday, Feb. 3, 2020
Enquirer Looks into Ouster of Firearms Group Lobbyist/Board President
Displeasure by Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford) over a Buckeye Firearms Association posting on its website opposing HB354 (Plummer-Swearingen), an alternative to Gov. Mike DeWine's gun proposal, caused a frenzy in the group and led to the ouster of the group's long-time president and lobbyist Jim Irvine, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. He still has not been replaced.
Rep. John Becker (R-Cincinnati) said in his recent newsletter that he had been offered a $50,000 bribe by a "high ranking Clermont County Republican Party official" in exchange for an endorsement in 2019. He said he reported it to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee at the time, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
More than a dozen families joined with Citizens for Community Values and others to sue the state today over the delay of the EdChoice scholarship application window. Read more in Monday's Hannah Report.
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Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020
Poll: Trump Trails Generic Dem in OH, MI, PA, WI
A new Great Lakes Poll from Baldwin Wallace University (BW) shows that a to-be-determined Democratic candidate is leading President Donald Trump in Ohio (44.3 percent to 39.4 percent), Pennsylvania (47.1 to 37.3), Michigan (46.8 to 33.9) and Wisconsin (47.5 to 34.1), Cleveland.com reports. However, the large number of undecided voters in each state means Trump has an opportunity to increase his support, BW Community Research Institute Associate Director Lauren Copeland told the website.
Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts (OACB), an organization seeking to overturn energy subsidy bill HB6 (Callender-Wilkin), has filed a motion in federal court to dismiss its appeal to obtain more time to gather signatures to place HB6 on the ballot, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The group also plans to drop its case in the Ohio Supreme Court, OACB spokesperson Gene Pierce told the newspaper.
Supreme Court Rejects Top Recommendation of Bail Task Force
The Ohio Supreme Court voted 5-2 against a proposal requiring judges to have access to "risk assessment tools" to measure whether an offender should be released, the top recommendation of the Task Force to Examine the Ohio Bail System, the Associated Press reports.
Starbucks Nook Serves as Dealmaking Den for Cap Square Politicos
A semi-secluded nook at the back of a Starbucks in the Sheraton hotel across the street from the Ohio Statehouse is a popular place for Capitol Square politicians, lobbyists and others involved in politics and government to hold intimate and often productive meetings, Cleveland.com reports.
Alice DeWine Gets $104K from Federal PAC in Local Race
The Protecting Ohio Action Fund, a federal super PAC that incurred debts of $104,000 in 2019 for polling and digital advertising for Alice DeWine's Republican primary campaign for Greene County prosecutor, is legally withholding the names of its donors of more than $200 until after that race is decided, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Alice DeWine is the daughter of Gov. Mike DeWine, who started his career as an elected official in the office she is now seeking.
RNC Mails 'Census' Document Seeking Donations, Personal Info
People in Northeast Ohio recently received a "2020 Congressional District Census" from the Republican National Committee (RNC), a document encouraging recipients to send money and provide personal information such as political affiliation, age, level of support for President Donald Trump and social media habits, Cleveland.com reports. "When they call something a 'census' during a census year, there is no reason to do that unless you want to be confusing," Common Cause Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer said in the article.
Statues of real women are relatively rare on the grounds of statehouses, the Associated Press reports. Ohio could join the ranks of those who do, with the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission proposing a memorial honoring Ohio's role in the suffrage movement.
Gun Rights Group Asks for Repeal of 'Second Amendment Sanctuaries'
As local governments around the country pass resolutions declaring themselves "Second Amendment sanctuaries," the Cincinnati Enquirer reports similar efforts in Ohio have found an unlikely opponent - gun rights groups who fear such resolutions could lead to tougher gun laws and "anti-gun sanctuaries."
One Year in, Ohio's Medical Marijuana Program Has Growing Pains
It has been a year since the first four medical marijuana dispensaries opened in Ohio. The Plain Dealer reports that the program has been slow to develop, with high costs of marijuana and some areas of the state left without any dispensaries.
Two Miami University Students Being Checked for Coronavirus
Health officials are investigating the state's first possible cases of the corornavirus in two Miami University students, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Nationwide, the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is tracking 110 possible cases.
House, Senate Continue Negotiations on School Voucher Bill
Faced with a Saturday deadline, House and Senate leaders continue to negotiate what they might do to address a major expansion of Ohio's voucher program. Changes are expected to be rolled into HB9 (Jones-Sweeney), which is currently in the Senate Higher Education Committee. A conference committee on HB9 already has been set for Wednesday, Jan. 29. Early Tuesday, the Columbus Dispatch reported on the proposals and their potential stumbling blocks.
Dayton Three-Way Senate Primary Shaping Up to Be Contentious, Hard Fought
The race for the Republican nomination in the 6th Senate District pits not only three candidates -- Rep. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg), Rachel Selby and Greg Robinson -- against each other but also state and local GOP leaders who are split in their support as they seek a candidate to replace the term-limited Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), reports the Dayton Daily News.
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Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020
ODH Develops Overdose Database for State, Counties
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has a new interactive database updated each month to provide information on the number of suspected overdoses in each county, along with state- and county-level trend and demographic data, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Gov. Mike DeWine said the effort will provide more timely information on emergency department treatment of suspected overdoses.
JobsOhio executed a $20 million revitalization grant for further site work as part of the state's efforts to land a proposed $5 billion ethane cracker plant in Belmont County, Columbus Business First reports. PTT Global Chemical America is expected to make a decision in the first half of the year, and the project would provide thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of full-time positions.
Trump Campaign Tells Ackison to Remove Photos of Her with Trump
President Donald Trump's re-election campaign has demanded Ohio Senate candidate Melissa Ackison remove photos of her with Trump from campaign materials as they suggest an endorsement, the Toledo Blade reports, but Ackison said she has no plans to do so. She is running for the 26th Senate seat against current Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin).
LaRose: Voter Registration System 'Unacceptably Messy'
Ohio's current county-by-county voter registration system, under which a significant number of voters have been wrongfully purged from the rolls, is "unacceptably messy" and should be handled by the state, Secretary of State Frank LaRose told the Columbus Dispatch and USA Today. "If I'm going to be held accountable for this, I want to make sure that it's operating at the level of accuracy and efficiency I would expect. It's not currently doing that, and we need to make a change," he told the newspapers.
Wexner Trims Political Donations, Gives to Both Parties
After leaving the Republican Party over his disgust with President Donald Trump, L Brands CEO Les Wexner -- formerly a lavish GOP donor -- has sharply reduced his political contributions and now gives money to both Democrats and Republicans, Columbus Business First reports.
DOJ Files Brief Supporting Down Syndrome Abortion Ban
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an amicus brief in support of Ohio's law banning doctors from performing abortions based on Down syndrome diagnoses, with Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband writing, "The federal government has an interest in the equal dignity of those who live with disabilities," the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio GOP Urges Endorsed Candidate to Quit over Ashley Madison Account
Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken is calling on Joe Dills to drop out of the 65th House District race after the candidate admitted to signing up for an account with Ashley Madison, a dating website designed to help people cheat on their spouses or significant others, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The Ohio GOP recently endorsed Dills over House Speaker Larry Householder's (R-Glenford) preferred candidate for the seat, former U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt.
DRC Seeks Upgrades for Prisons with Violent Inmates
Saying its current facilities for violent prisoners are "functionally obsolete," the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) is asking Gov. Mike DeWine to approve a two-year design study of its options to improve its high-security sites as part of the capital budget, the Associated Press reports.
French Escalates Fundraising Efforts in Supreme Court Race
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Judith French (R), who is defending her seat in 2020 against former Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D), told the Lima News that she's had to step up her campaign fundraising efforts to compete this year as Democrats seek to win back the majority on the state's highest court, which Republicans currently control 5-2.
Cancer Lobby Pushes GA to Triple Tobacco Prevention Funding
The American Cancer Society and Health Policy Institute of Ohio are pushing the state Legislature to triple the tobacco prevention funding level over FY19 following the outbreak of illnesses related to vaping, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), as co-founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, had earlier questioned the Trump administration's delay of congressional aid to the country and had condemned Trump's July 25 call with Ukraine's president. As early as this week, Portman will help decide whether to subpoena witnesses in the president's Senate impeachment trial, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Columbus Schools Await Findings of District-Wide Curriculum Audit
Ohio's largest school system awaits the results of its first curriculum audit in two decades after more than 800 classroom visits and admissions by its chief academic officer that district lesson plans are not "centralized." A primary goal of the audit is to ensure equal opportunities for students citywide, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
As the House and Senate moved toward setting up a conference committee on school voucher legislation, House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) indicated a fair amount of work remains to bridge their differences. Householder said his chamber is eyeing changes that would result in fewer than 200 schools on the EdChoice eligibility list, versus the 400-plus slated under the Senate-passed plan. Read more in Wednesday's Hannah Report.
Protesters Oppose Passage of SB33
Dozens of people are protesting committee passage of critical infrastructure bill SB33 (Hoagland) Wednesday in the south wing of the Statehouse. "Whose House? Our House!" opponents are yelling outside Hearing Room 116. "Halt the harm, not the people of the Ohio!" Read more in Wednesday's Hannah Report.
Wexner Reportedly Looking to Step Away from L Brands, Sell Victoria's Secret
Les Wexner, after nearly 60 years, is reportedly looking to step away from L Brands and possibly sell Victoria's Secret, according to Columbus Business First. Based on a Wall Street Journal article, discussions are ongoing. According to analysts, the companies face some challenges including criticisms of product comfort, brand image and Wexner's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) now holds a seat that was previously represented by both her mother and father. The Columbus Dispatch reports, however, that as minority leader, Sykes has plowed her own path, getting Democratic priorities passed despite having only 38 seats in the Ohio House.
Ohio Sees First Decrease in Drug Overdoses in Decade
More than 10 Ohioans died a day from unintentional drug overdoses in 2018, according to the Ohio Department of Health. The Plain Dealer reports that the 3,764 who died from an overdose was a decline of 22.7 percent from the previous year and is the first decrease since 2009.
Community Health Centers Say PBMs Siphoning Money from Drug Program
Health advocates and community health centers tell the Columbus Dispatch that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have been diverting savings from a federal drug pricing program that allows qualified health care providers to buy medicines from drugmakers at reduced prices back to themselves rather than paying for patient care.
The Toledo Blade reports that, even though the campaign finance deadline has passed, Ohioans have little idea what groups funded both sides of the HB6 debate. The group opposed to the ballot measure on HB6, Ohio Clean Energy Jobs Alliance, reported receiving $90,000 from a group that is not required to report where the money came from. The group seeking the statewide referendum on HB6, Ohioans Against Corporate Bailouts, has yet to file a report.
Gov. Mike DeWine and his staff continue to evaluate his departments' capital appropriations requests, with the Columbus Dispatch reporting that some directors "have big eyes." DeWine declined to predict when the proposals would surface in bill form for the General Assembly's consideration.
Becoming Clearer: Coronavirus Outbreak Effect on Ohio
Businesses throughout the state are beginning to see fallout from China's coronavirus outbreak, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Some companies are temporarily closing facilities abroad and stopping travel. Others are beginning to see disruptions to their supply chains.
New Group Encourages Senators to Support DeWine Gun Proposal
A new 501(c)(4), Standing By Ohio, is running Facebook ads calling on Ohioans to encourage a number of senators to support Gov. Mike DeWine's gun proposal. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the nonprofit has ties to groups backing DeWine and his daughter Alice DeWine's campaign for Greene County prosecutor, but little other information is available about it.
DeWine, Yost Back Proposed Opioid Settlement Distribution Plan
Cleveland.com reports that Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost support a proposed plan on how to divide up settlement money Ohio may receive in opioid-related lawsuits against drug companies, but that plan does not yet have enough support among local government leaders. The proposal has been worked on in a series of meetings, including the latest held Tuesday.
Gas Tax Information Being Added to Fuel Pumps around Ohio
After a delay, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has sent out labels with information on the state's gas tax increase that will be placed on gas pumps by county and city officials around the state. The Columbus Dispatch reports the labels were required as a transparency measure; they list how much customers pay in state and federal taxes and how that money is distributed.
Corcoran Says Ohio Won't Seek Federal Medicaid Block Grant
Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran told the Columbus Dispatch the state does not plan to pursue a Trump administration offer for greater flexibility in Medicaid spending in exchange for limits on how much the federal government contributes. She said the proposal, criticized by Democrats, is directed more toward states that have not expanded Medicaid programs.
LaRose Calls 'Stealing an Election' Rhetoric 'Unfortunate' after Ohio GOP Email
Asked about an email sent under Ohio Republican Party (ORP) Chairman Jane Timken's name that said Democrats were working "to steal the 2020 election," Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he did not want to get involved in fights between parties but such language is "unfortunate." The ORP responded that he should take his own advice and not get involved in fights between parties, Cleveland.com reports.
Lordstown Area Battery Plant Construction Delayed until July
Construction on an electric vehicle battery-cell plant in the Lordstown area, part of a joint venture between General Motors and South Korean company LG Chem, Ltd., has been delayed from April to July, the Youngstown Vindicator reports. The delay is due to timing issues with state and federal environmental permits, as well as work on gas wells at the site. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Niles) said he remains "1,000 percent" in support of the project.
Opioid Settlement Proposal Details Split of Undetermined Amount
While the exact settlement amount was not specified, the Dayton Daily News reports a proposed resolution to lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies would include 11 percent for attorney's fees, while the remainder would be divided with 30 percent for local governments, 55 percent to a new foundation and 15 percent to the attorney general's office. The foundation would spend its share to address the opioid epidemic, and the 25 board members would be appointed by state, legislative and local leaders.
O'Connor Convenes Task Force on Reducing Wrongful Convictions
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor has formed the Task Force on Conviction Integrity and Postconviction Review, Cleveland.com reports, in an effort to examine ways to reduce wrongful convictions. Task force members have not been announced yet but will begin meeting in the coming weeks and issue recommendations at the end of the year.
Cincinnati Mayor Cranley Announces Gubernatorial Campaign
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley told the Cincinnati Enquirer's Politics Extra columnist Friday that he is exploring a run for governor in 2022. Cranley, term-limited at the end of 2021, has been touring Ohio recently and said Cincinnati's "comeback" represents an example of "a better way forward" for the state as the middle class "has been shrinking under the weight of the state's failed policies" for years.
OPERS Considers Cuts to Health Benefits for Retirees
The Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) could vote as early as this week to reduce health care benefits for retirees as the pension's health care fund faces exhaustion by 2030, the Dayton Daily News reports. Changes could include reducing the monthly allowance provided by OPERS to offset health care costs.
While the state's transportation budget that included an increase in the gasoline tax took effect last July, the state has yet to produce fuel pump stickers that explain the increase, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The Ohio Department of Agriculture expects the labels to be produced within the next two to three weeks.
Trump Administration Food Stamp Changes Could Affect 20,000 Ohioans
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Monday released an estimate of Ohio adults who could lose their food stamp benefits as part of changes being implemented by the Trump administration to require stricter work requirements, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Conservative Group 'Concerned' about Executions Forming Tuesday
As the state's execution backlog grows, the Columbus Dispatch reports a conservative group "concerned" about the death penalty will officially form Tuesday and includes former Gov. Bob Taft. Gov. Mike DeWine has been "tight-lipped" on the subject, while House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has raised questions and Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) opposes repealing the death penalty, citing examples such as serial killers.
Trump's Budget Proposal Wouldn't Fund Projects on Asian Carp
While he referenced protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp and other fish at a recent campaign event in Michigan, President Donald Trump's proposed budget does not include needed funding for two projects to help keep the invasive species from entering the Great Lakes, the Columbus Dispatch reports. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) said she is working to correct that.
The Associated Press reports Annie Glenn, widow of astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn and an advocate on communication disorders, turned 100 years old Monday. While she is doing well, a spokesman for the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University said, she has continued to remain largely out of the public eye since John's death at 95 in 2016.
DeWine Continues to Dodge Questions about His Position on Death Penalty
Gov. Mike DeWine continues to refuse to publicly say whether he personally supports the death penalty even as he froze all Ohio executions a year ago, Cleveland.com reports.
The EdChoice debate underway in the General Assembly hinges, in part, on the use of state report cards to grade schools. However, the Plain Dealer finds that Ohio doesn't issue report cards for any of the private schools receiving about $400 million in tax-funded tuition aid, adding there is no data to reliably determine if the "voucher" schools offer a better quality education.
A new series of articles from Cleveland.com, Building from Strength, looks at the economy of the Cleveland area and of the state, noting that Ohio needs to view Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati jointly as an economic force as they account for 40 percent of Ohio's gross domestic product (GDP). Cuyahoga's GDP of $87.7 billion is the largest in Ohio, ahead of Franklin County's $86.5 billion.
The Kent State University committee planning the 50th anniversary event commemorating the May 4 shootings does not appear likely to back down on its plans to hire Jan Fonda as a speaker, despite criticism from Secretary of State Frank LaRose and others about her actions during the Vietnam War, the Record-Courier reports.
Report Finds Disparate Effect on Diverse Students from Tuition Debt Collection Law
The Dayton Daily News reports on research from think tank Policy Matters Ohio on the effects of a state law requiring unpaid college tuition bills to be sent to the attorney general's office for collection, finding high fees and interest rates and a disproportionate effect on students of color.
Distant Fundraiser Overlaps with EdChoice Deliberations
Scheduling conflicts added another wrinkle to negotiations on the EdChoice saga, as the top two Senate leaders left the state for a fundraiser in Florida. A Senate spokesman told Cleveland.com the House didn't consult the other chamber before setting a conference committee schedule that overlapped with the fundraising trip.
DeWine Continues to Dodge Questions about His Position on Death Penalty
Gov. Mike DeWine continues to refuse to publicly say whether he personally supports the death penalty even as he froze all Ohio executions a year ago, Cleveland.com reports.
A new series of articles from Cleveland.com, Building from Strength, looks at the economy of the Cleveland area and of the state, noting that Ohio needs to view Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati jointly as an economic force as they account for 40 percent of Ohio's gross domestic product (GDP). Cuyahoga's GDP of $87.7 billion is the largest in Ohio, ahead of Franklin County's $86.5 billion.
The EdChoice debate underway in the General Assembly hinges, in part, on the use of state report cards to grade schools. However, the Plain Dealer finds that Ohio doesn't issue report cards for any of the private schools receiving about $400 million in tax-funded tuition aid, adding there is no data to reliably determine if the "voucher" schools offer a better quality education.
FirstEnergy Fires CEO, Two Others, amid Federal Investigation of Nuclear Bailout Bill
FirstEnergy Corp. announced Thursday evening it fired its CEO, Chuck Jones, effective immediately along with two other senior executives amid multiple federal investigations related to an Ohio nuclear bailout law passed last year and on the heels of the plea bargain reached by two individuals indicted in the scandal. The company said the three executives were fired after an internal review committee determined they “violated certain FirstEnergy policies and its code of conduct,” Cleveland.com reports.
First Guilty Pleas in HB6 Case Lack Cooperation Agreements with Prosecutors
Jeffrey Longstreth and Juan Cespedes admitted that they took part in a massive pay-to-play scandal involving HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) and the billion-dollar bailout of two nuclear plants Thursday, but their plea agreements did not spell out whether they would cooperate with federal investigators. Cleveland.com reports cooperation could shave years off their sentences while helping authorities to accelerate investigations.
DeWine Says Ohio is Prepared for Possible Violence at Polls on Election Day
Gov. Mike DeWine said the state is taking some actions to ensure tensions on Election Day don't translate to violence at polling places, the Statehouse News Bureau reports. The governor said he's been in talks with the highway patrol, Ohio National Guard and others. “We basically have a war room and if we need to do things, we will do them …," DeWine said.
Polls suggesting a tight race in Ohio were ultimately disproven Tuesday night when President Donald Trump won Ohio by a similar margin to his commanding 2016 victory. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Trump's dominance in Eastern Ohio, previously dark blue territory, Democrat Joe Biden's inability to pick up enough votes in suburbs, and other factors all led to a win for the president.
Despite Indictment, Householder Wins Reelection, Though Write-Ins Await Final Totals
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has apparently won reelection in the 72nd Ohio House District despite being indicted in July on racketeering charges. Householder received 30,546 votes in the three-county district, but vote totals for his four write-in opponents were not yet available on the secretary of state's website, the Newark Advocate reports.
Ohio Republicans Expand Majority in Races Dominated by Urban, Rural Divide
Ohio Republicans overcame the state's largest political bribery scandal to expand their majorities in the state House and potentially the Senate. The Columbus Dispatch reports the wins and losses of Tuesday night represent an increasing divide between urban and rural areas in Ohio. While Democrats held on to three and flipped one seat in the suburbs, they lost three seats to the GOP in more rural areas.
National Unemployment Rate Reaches Historic Levels
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate reached 14.7 percent for April -- "the highest rate and the largest over-the-month increase" since the data began being sent out in 1948. "Employment fell sharply in all major industry sectors, with particularly heavy job losses in leisure and hospitality." Read more in Friday''s Hannah Report.
Acton''s Popularity Means GOP May See Her As Political Threat
As Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton has become the focus of increased criticism from some Republican state lawmakers, Cincinnati Enquirer''s political columnist Jason Williams writes that Acton may be a tempting political recruit for the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) because of her popularity in the state, particularly with suburban women. Williams said one Republican suggested Acton could challenge U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) in his reelection bid and reported Acton is a Democrat with some political engagement. Acton''s spokeswoman, meanwhile, says Acton has "no aspirations to run for public office."
Coronavirus death data indicates that large shares of the state''s deaths have been from Northeast Ohio, nursing homes statewide, and the oldest Ohioans. According to a report from Cleveland.com, the 13 counties from Lorain to the Pennsylvania border and south to Canton account for 51 percent of the deaths reported to date, despite having just 33 percent of the state''s population. Additionally, 41 percent of the known deaths statewide were of patients at long-term care facilities, and just over half of all deaths have been of people age 80 and over.
DeWine Launches Crime Scene Matching with GPS Locations of Ex-Felons
Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Monday to implement a series of changes to state monitoring of former inmates recommended by the Governor''s Working Group on Post-Release Control, including real-time crime scene matching with the GPS locations of ex-felons tracked by a central database. Read more in Monday''s Hannah Report.
Statewide Officials Use Tax-Funded Cars for Personal Tasks
Four of Ohio''s statewide elected officials -- Treasurer of State Robert Sprague, Attorney General Dave Yost, Auditor of State Keith Faber and Secretary of State Frank LaRose -- have utilized taxpayer-funded vehicles for personal and political purposes despite ethics laws that generally prohibit public employees from using state vehicles for non-state business, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Midwestern Agriculture Communities Face Suicide Crisis
Farmers, mental health professionals and other experts across the Midwest say the high suicide rate among agricultural workers needs to be addressed immediately, noting people in rural areas are experiencing worsening economic and environmental problems while having poor access to mental health treatment, USA Today reports.
https://tinyurl.com/wk7bxl3
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020
House GOP Re-elects Cupp, Announces Leadership Team for 134th GA
House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) was unanimously re-elected to serve as speaker for the 134th General Assembly (GA), the House Republican Caucus announced Wednesday. The caucus also announced that Rep. Tim Ginter (R-Salem) will serve as speaker pro tempore; Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) will serve as majority floor leader; Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Westerville) will serve as assistant majority floor leader; Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) will serve as majority whip; and Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) will serve as assistant majority whip. Read more in Wednesday’s Hannah Report.
Franklin County Board of Elections Certifies Win for Kunze; Automatic Recount on Horizon
The Franklin County Board of Elections Wednesday certified its election results, showing Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) winning re-election over Democratic challenger Crystal Lett by 116 votes. That result, however, is within the margin requiring an automatic recount under Ohio law. Read more in Wednesday''s Hannah Report.
DeWine Sticking by PUCO Charmin after FBI Search
Gov. Mike DeWine stuck by his appointed chairman of the state''s utilities regulatory panel, the Toledo Blade reports. Federal agents were seen carrying boxes out of the home of Sam Randazzo, chairman of the powerful Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Monday morning. However, DeWine said Tuesday there is "no indication he''s under investigation or a target of an investigation … We''ll wait until we find additional facts …."
Governor Was Warned of Former PUCO Chair''s Ties to Utility
Gov. Mike DeWine disregarded warnings in early 2019 that his choice to lead the powerful Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), Sam Randazzo, had deep business ties with the state’s largest electric utility and had long been hostile to the development of wind and solar power. Randazzo, whose home was searched by FBI agents last month, is now under scrutiny as a wide-ranging bribery and corruption investigation continues in Ohio, the Associated Press reports.
Unemployment Overpayments Create New Headaches for Ohioans
Ohio made about $48 million in unemployment overpayments during the first six months of the COVID-19 outbreak and has recouped about half that amount. Those overpayments are still causing problems for Ohioans who have struggled to contact the state and follow unemployment guidelines, the Associated Press reports. Unemployment claims are now on the rise again, jumping 31 percent for the week ending Nov. 28.
Will Ohio Lawmakers Override DeWine''s Veto on Bill Limiting ODH Powers?
Some lawmakers are pushing to quickly override the governor''s veto of SB311 (McColley-Roegner), which would limit the Ohio Department of Health''s (ODH) power to quarantine or isolate people. However, that override didn''t happen during Wednesday''s Senate session, and the Cincinnati Enquirer reports lawmakers may choose instead to use the override as leverage to negotiate for other policies they want.
Medical Experts Weren''t in Charge of Setting Ohio''s Reopening Guidelines
Business leaders drove the panels that established guidelines for reopening Ohio''s economy while doctors and disease experts took a secondary role, the Columbus Dispatch reports. For example, the 22-member restaurant advisory group has 16 industry officials and four medical experts. Infectious-disease experts who reviewed the guidelines mostly supported what panels came up with but industry officials and medical experts differed on one key facet of the reopening: masks.
Ohio cities, including Columbus, have based their economic growth strategy on offering tax and development incentives to businesses in return for new jobs to generate more city income taxes, but that model is being threatened by a growing work-from-home (WFH) model rushed into place as a result of COVID-19. The potential for lost revenue is large: about 80 percent of Ohio businesses are located in a municipality and upsetting the revenue stream could threaten the financial sustainability of those communities, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
DeWine May Begin to Impose COVID-19 Restrictions on County-by-County Basis
As the number of reported coronavirus cases in Ohio continues to climb, Gov. Mike DeWine said he''s looking into imposing restrictions on a county-by-county basis, an approach he had previously dismissed as a "disaster." During the stay-at-home order, several rural GOP state lawmakers asked DeWine to ease restrictions in their areas because there had been only a fraction of the cases and deaths compared to urban areas, but back then DeWine resisted the pressure, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Some Ohio Stay-at-Home Protesters Carrying Anti-Semitic Imagery
At Saturday''s protest of the stay-at-home order around the Statehouse, a pair of men were photographed carrying an anti-Semitic sign. As protests gain more attention in Ohio and across the country, Cleveland.com reports on the backgrounds of the groups organizing these events.
With 1,950 out of about 2,500 prisoners and about a third of the prison''s workforce having tested positive for coronavirus, Marion Correctional Institution is now the nation''s top hot spot for the virus, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The rise in cases comes as advocates for inmates and corrections officers say the state is not doing enough protect either group.
Columbus Public Health to Study How Race Plays into Pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic amplifies racial disparities in Ohio and across the U.S., Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and other city officials announced Monday the creation of a Center for Public Health Innovation in the city health department to study racial health disparities and recommend improvements, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Primary Delay Leaves Local Candidates, Ballot Issues in Limbo
As the General Assembly moves to extend the deadline for absentee ballots, Cleveland.com reports on the local candidates and ballot issues left with an uncertain path forward as a result of the delayed primary, including an operating levy for Brunswick City Schools and the race for Medina County commissioner.
Ohioans Left Abroad as Global Pandemic Sweeps U.S.
As the number of coronavirus cases increases daily in the U.S. and Ohio, The Blade reports on the Ohioans stranded abroad, who often left the country before the virus had become a serious global threat and are now unable to return.
Pandemic Reveals Gaps in Schools'' Ability to Cope with Crisis
The Columbus Dispatch reports that while all 610 school districts are required to develop and adopt school safety plans, a pandemic response plan is not required, and as students, educators and administrators strive to work within the confines of virtual learning, some students are being left behind.
Statehouse Damaged in Protests over Death of George Floyd
An initially peaceful protest in Columbus over the death of George Floyd turned violent Thursday night, with some protestors breaking windows of the Ohio Statehouse and entering the building, while others overturned trash cans and threw objects at police, according to Cleveland.com. Floyd died in a Minneapolis hospital after a police officer held his knee on the back of Floyd''s neck while he was handcuffed.
DeWine''s Daily Coronavirus Briefings Becoming Less Frequent
Cleveland.com compares Gov. Mike DeWine''s daily coronavirus briefings to "the Ohio coronavirus version of President Franklin Roosevelt''s Great Depression-era fireside chats," but those briefings are becoming less frequent, with only two being held this week. DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor has committed to do "at least two" per week.
A Wednesday night show from Columbus-based cover band Popgun at Natalie''s Music Hall & Kitchen in Grandview marked one of the first in-person live music performances in the state since the coronavirus shutdown, with the band performing for about 50 people, according to Columbus Alive. Natalie''s co-owner Charlie Jackson brought the issue of live music to Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who said there was never a prohibition on live music, but "erroneous" Ohio Department of Health guidance said otherwise. Guidance has since been updated to allow for live music with social distancing.
Householder, Husted Criticize Protesters for Red Paint Handprints on Statehouse
A small band of protesters put red paint handprints on the western wall and pillars of the Statehouse building late Thursday, triggering social media criticism from House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. One of the protestors said the red paint was supposed to be symbolic of how minorities have been victims of police brutality and that the paint was acryllic and washable and the intent was to make a statement -- not to deface, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
DeWine Talks Police Reform, Managing COVID-19 As State Reopens
In an appearance on PBS NewsHour Thursday evening, Gov. Mike DeWine commented on police reform proposals, saying reforms have been tried before, but "this is the opportunity. This is the time. If we cannot get these things done now, I don''t know when will ever get them done." He also said reopening the economy even as the state sees sharp increases in COVID-19 cases in some regions is about managing a balance and the economy will only move forward if people feel safe.
State to Start Ending Unemployment for Those Who Don''t Meet COVID-19 Exceptions
New guidance signed by DeWine earlier this week details what is considered a "good cause" to remain on unemployment even if an employer asks a person to return to the office. Benefits could continue if someone is 65 years or older, has proof he or she is at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and can''t work from home, and several other reasons. Not among the exceptions -- a lack of child care, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Trump Says Cleveland to See Surge in Federal Agents to Combat Crime
President Donald Trump said Cleveland is among the cities that will see a surge of federal law enforcement agents in the coming weeks in an aim to "restore safety and peace in U.S. cities" as part of "Operation LeGend," meant to address high crime communities. Cleveland.com reported local officials contacted Wednesday said they were not aware of the anticipated surge.
DeWine''s Top Lobbyist Once Led Dark Money Group Accused of Wiring Contributions in Bribery Scheme
Gov. Mike DeWine''s legislative director, Dan McCarthy, was previously president of the 501(c)(4) Partners for Progress Inc. which was accused of funneling money from FirstEnergy Corp. to Speaker Larry Householder''s (R-Glenford) efforts to gain control of the House, according to a Cincinnati Enquirer investigation.
Article Examines Role of ''Dark Money'' in Passage of HB6
An article based on the work of a collaboration of investigative reporters and published earlier this year on the Energy News Network examines the passage of HB6, the nuclear plant subsidy legislation at the heart of the federal case against Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford). It looks at the many players and provides a schematic of their interconnections written before the revelations of this week.
Greenspan Identified as Unnamed Representative Who Spoke with FBI about HB6
Newly released public records show Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) is the unnamed Ohio lawmaker reported to have met with agents in the FBI''s public-corruption unit while he was being pressured by former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) to vote for the energy bailout bill HB6 (Callender-Wilkin), Cleveland.com reports.
Before Limiting Ballot Drop Boxes, Top Election Official Consulted Advocate of Debunked Voting Fraud Fears
After Black union workers petitioned for multiple secure ballot drop boxes, the deputy to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Grant Shaffer, contacted the Heritage Foundation''s Hans von Spakovsky, a leading advocate for the discredited argument that American elections are tainted by widespread voting fraud, ProPublica reports.
Cleveland Moves to Avoid Costs of Presidential Debate
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson signed legislation to allow the city to provide security and essential services for the first presidential debate, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m., but also to collect reimbursement for its costs from the organizers of the debate. Cleveland.com reports the cost for the debate is likely to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Federal Judge Orders Ohio to Accept Electronic Signatures for Ballot Initiatives
A federal judge has ruled Ohio must allow groups proposing local marijuana initiatives and minimum wage and voting rights measures to collect signatures electronically because of the pandemic. Officials also must extend the deadline to file signatures for the two statewide measures from July 1 to July 31, per the judge''s order. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose plans to appeal the ruling, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Models Show COVID-19 Cases Likely to Rise as State Reopens
Even if Ohio maintains strict social-distancing measures, there could be a 200 to 350 percent increase in person-to-person moving contact as the state reopens, according to projections from MetroHealth. The increase in person-to-person contact will likely result in an increase in coronavirus infections. Public health experts say the trick is to keep that increase manageable, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Prisons Again Accepting Inmates as COVID-19 Death Toll Continues to Rise
After freezing the admission of male inmates in April, Ohio''s prisons have begun accepting new inmates again, even as prison deaths from coronavirus continue to rise. Cleveland.com reports the decision was needed because courts around Ohio are reopening and again sentencing people to prison time. But some civil liberties groups are criticizing the decision, saying it will inevitably result in more people dying from the virus.
Lawmakers Threaten Subpoena to Get Answers on Medicaid Spending Report
Sen. Dave Burke (R-Marysville), Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee chairman, said he will seek to subpoena officials if needed for access to undisclosed data from an analysis of the Medicaid program, the Columbus Dispatch reports. "I don''t know what else to do at this point other than have a [hearing] on the issue and potentially solicit the Senate president and speaker of the House for my authority as JMOC chairman to issue a subpoena," he said.
With Time Extension Stalled, Census Speeds Up Count Schedule
The U.S. Census Bureau has sped up the timetable for crunching 2020 Census numbers after a request for an extension stalled in the Senate, the Associated Press reports. Census experts and civil rights activists worry the sped-up deadline could affect the thoroughness of the count, which determines how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed and how many congressional districts each state gets.
New Electoral Map Ratings Show Biden over 270, Ohio One of Few Toss-Up States
In the race to 270 electoral votes, a new analysis by NPR shows former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of President Donald Trump 297 to 170. Additionally, the analysis classifies Ohio as one of five toss-up states.
Signs Show Ohio May Be in Play for November Election
Two recent polls showed the presidential race in Ohio to be in a statistical tie -- a tantalizing opportunity for former Vice President Joe Biden, the New York Times reports. Turnout in the Ohio primary elections was higher for Democrats than Republicans, evidence of enthusiasm in the Democratic base. And the Trump campaign recently booked $18.4 million in fall TV ads in Ohio, more than in any state besides Florida -- a sign that Trump is on the defensive in a state that once seemed locked down for Republicans.
DNC Chair Thought Ohio Democrats Would Return Their PPP Loan
The chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) praised Florida''s Democratic Party for returning a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan it accepted and told reporters he thought the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) planned to return its $333,867 loan. However, ODP spokeswoman Kirstin Alvanitakis said the party had not changed its mind about returning the money, Cleveland.com reports.
Anti-Trump Republican Groups Targeting Ohio with New Ads
The Lincoln Project super-PAC is aligning with Republican Voters Against Trump in an effort dubbed "Operation Grant." The effort will kick off with an ad attacking President Donald Trump''s response to COVID-19 which will air Friday through Monday in Columbus, Cleveland, Akron and Canton. Lincoln Project co-founder and former political adviser to Gov. John Kasich, John Weaver said the groups have 20,000 volunteers in Ohio and are planning a town hall meeting next week, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio National Guard to Help Nursing Homes with Coronavirus Testing
State leaders say the Ohio National Guard will be helping with COVID-19 test collection and temporary staffing at long-term care facilities. Early data indicates 70 percent of Ohioans who have died from COVID-19 were nursing home and assisted living residents. The Ohio National Guard has already provided medical support to a few nursing homes throughout the state. The details of how this will be paid for was still not clear as of Thursday afternoon, the Dayton Daily News reports.
Most Householder-Backed Candidates Win in Republican Primary Elections
Four of the five Ohio House candidates in Republican primaries backed by the Growth and Opportunity PAC, which helped House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) win his primary in 2018, won their elections. The political action committee spent nearly $800,000 to help Householder win in 2018 and dropped another $1 million on the five primary races in Ohio in 2020, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Elkton Prison Looks to U.S. Supreme Court to Delay Inmate Releases
Federal prison officials are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to delay a judge''s order to begin the process of releasing medically-vulnerable inmates from the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution, the Canton Repository reports. Earlier this week, a U.S. District Court judge ordered prison officials to begin steps to release the about 837 eligible inmates -- those at risk due to COVID-19 -- into home confinement or another prison.
Ohio''s Republican Statewide Officeholders Scarce at RNC
While the Republican National Convention (RNC) has drawn appearances from GOP governors and U.S. senators from other states, Ohio''s statewide officeholders, despite all being Republicans, have been scarce at the RNC and even at events around Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recorded videos to be played at convention watch parties, but they do not plan to attend, while U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) is not even holding a media call this week.
House Democrats to Return Campaign Cash after Corruption Case
At least six Ohio House Democrats have announced plans to return political donations from FirstEnergy -- commonly accepted to be "Company A" in the federal indictment -- after it secretly sent money to former House Speaker Larry Householder and four associates in a bribery scheme, the Associated Press reports. Senate Democrats who received money from FirstEnergy have not yet commented on whether they will return the funds.
After Illness, Maharath Seeks to Criminalize Knowingly Spreading COVID
After she and several of her family members contracted COVID-19, Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) said she plans to introduce a bill to criminalize knowingly spreading COVID-19 to others, including coughing in someone''s face or going to a party while infected with the disease, WBNS reports.
A special committee charged with considering plans to repeal and replace HB6 (Callender-Wilkin), the controversial energy law at the center of an alleged $60 million bribery scandal, has suspended its meetings until further notice. Gov. Mike DeWine said he now hopes the "tainted" bill is repealed after the Nov. 3 election, the Dayton Daily News reports.
Statehouse Lobbyist Writing ''Tell-All'' Book Featuring HB6 Scandal
Neil Clark, a fixture at the Ohio Statehouse since 1980, recently told a reporter from the Columbus Dispatch he is finishing a "tell-all" book on several Statehouse scandals, including HB6. “It’s everything I participated in from the time I walked in the Senate. … It tells everything. There is not a stone that goes unturned. There is not a (significant) Republican member that goes untouched,” Clark said.
Former Homeland Security Administrator Calls Ohio ‘Epicenter’ for Home Grown Terrorism
Home grown terrorism groups like the one charged with plotting to kidnapMichigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are in Ohio and their prevalence is growing, according to former chief of staff with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Miles Taylor, the Statehouse News Bureau reports. “Ohio is definitely at the epicenter of this. It’s important the administration focus on the problem …," Taylor said recently.
Ohio Lawmakers Had Long ''To-Do'' List - Then Vouchers Came Along
At the beginning of 2020, Ohio lawmakers hoped to address Ohio gun laws, lower certain drug possession felonies to misdemeanors, legalize sports betting, revamp school funding and pass a capital budget. That was before solving an impending voucher explosion landed on their laps, the Columbus Dispatch reports, complicating priorities even more.
In analyzing the Super Tuesday primary results, the Toledo Blade reports Democratic candidates Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg invested heavily in Ohio and Michigan before taking big losses on Tuesday. Bloomberg ended his campaign for president Wednesday, and Warren did not hold any events as she evaluates her next move.
While Democrats made big gains in state legislative races among Ohio suburbs and continue to look at those areas as their key to defeating President Donald Trump, Republicans tell the Columbus Dispatch that they will continue to campaign door-to-door to win suburban voters, even if some Republican candidates may have to separate themselves from Trump first.
DeWine Appoints Working Groups to Advise on Reopening of Certain Industries
Gov. Mike DeWine has created at least 11 working groups to advise the him about how to reopen certain industries including restaurants, hair salons, libraries, travel and tourism, outdoor recreation, amateur sports, professional sports, gyms, theater and arts, child care, and adult day cares. The groups will consist of business people and experts from the industry. DeWine said some groups will act "fairly quickly" and noted the restaurant group already met on Friday, Cleveland.com reports.
Demonstrators Protest COVID-19 Restrictions Outside Acton''s Homes
On Saturday, a group of about 25 protestors gathered outside the home of Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton to air their grievances with the state''s stay-at-home order and other restrictions put in place due to the pandemic. Cleveland.com reports that protestors remained on the sidewalk outside Acton''s home and did not step on her lawn. While some held signs, the group did not shout. For the past couple weeks, groups have been protesting outside the Statehouse, some carrying rifles. The protests have been peppered with signs professing support for President Donald Trump, the anti-vaccination movement, and a "conspiratorial, prejudiced distrust" of Jewish people. Acton is Jewish.
Medical Workers Gather at Statehouse in Support of Acton
On Sunday, about 35 doctors and other medical workers wearing masks and white coats stood quietly outside the Statehouse to show their support for Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton. The demonstration was organized by Physicians Action Network. Individuals stood six feet apart and passed around hand sanitizer as well as held signs praising Acton. The demonstration comes as Acton faces growing criticism and attention from protestors unhappy with the state''s COVID-19 restrictions, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
DeWine, Once Hailed for Virus Action, Faces New Pressure
Gov. Mike DeWine, whose early actions to combat the coronavirus pandemic drew widespread praise, has since backtracked away from a statewide mask mandate, delivered mixed messages on large gatherings, faced a mutiny within his party over business closures and juggled listening to both health experts and those who doubt them. Now as the virus is surging again in Ohio, DeWine is encountering criticism from all sides: those who think that his edicts have gone too far and those who believe he''s backed down from protecting the public, the Associated Press reports.
Congressman Steve Chabot Won''t Attend Republican Convention
U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati) won''t be attending the Republican National Convention next month in Jacksonville because "he''s hyper-focused on delivering positive results for Ohio families and the small businesses that employ them," Chabot''s campaign spokesperson said. Chabot -- who is not a voting delegate but is an honorary chair for President Donald Trump''s Ohio reelection campaign --attended both the 2016 Republican convention in Cleveland and the one in 2012, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ohio''s Liquor Laws Shaped by Prohibition, Great Depression
Attorney General Dave Yost''s crackdown on out-of-state liquor and wine sellers has cast a light on Ohio''s stringent regulation of alcohol sales, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Laws regulating the sale of spirits in the state are the legacy of Prohibition, which ended in 1933, and the Great Depression, when tax revenue was down and Ohio decided to use the alcohol business as a way to raise money for the state.
Former ODH Director Amy Acton Gives First Major Interview Since Leaving Post
Former Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton broke her silence for the first time since leaving the post in June. In an interview with The New Yorker, she discusses the state''s early response to COVID-19, the politics of the pandemic, and the need for dignity and humanity in a moment of deep division.
Voters Experience Delays at Polls As Franklin County Switches to Paper Pollbooks
The Franklin County Board of Elections shifted to paper pollbooks this morning, which could make the voting process slower in Ohio''s largest county. The county normally uses electronic pollbooks, which allow poll workers to quickly check in voters at their precinct, but due to technical problems poll workers will now have to manually search through paper records to check identification as voters present it, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Top 10 Ohio Legislative Races to Watch on Election Night
The major fights for Ohio legislative seats are taking place in the suburbs this year, and while Republicans are all but certain to maintain control in the House and Senate, Democrats have a shot at netting enough seats to break the GOP supermajority that allows them to override gubernatorial vetoes and put measures on the statewide ballot without Democratic votes. Cleveland.com reports on the 10 races to watch this election night.
Weekly Unemployment Claims Set Record for Second Time in Row
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported Thursday that initial unemployment claims for the week ending Saturday, March 28 reached 272,117, the second weekly record in a row. Claims for the past two weeks totaling more than 468,000 compare to 364,000 filed in all of 2019. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Study Shows Ohio''s Emergency Preparedness Funding Lags behind Other States
An analysis by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio shows that health departments in the state receive less funding for emergency preparedness than nearly every other state and Washington, D.C. Only three states -- Arizona, Nevada, and Missouri -- spend less on public health per resident than Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Hobby Lobby Closes Again after Yost Sends Cease-and-Desist Letter
Hobby Lobby has once again closed its Ohio stores after reopening them Monday. The craft store was sent a cease-and-desist letter by Attorney General Dave Yost who also reacted to the issue via Twitter on Wednesday. Yost questioned why Hobby Lobby would open stores when neither the stay-at-home order nor the health crisis had changed, Cleveland.com reports.
Convicted Coin Dealer Tom Noe May See Release amid COVID-19
Tom Noe, the former Toledo-area coin dealer convicted of stealing $50 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers'' Compensation, may see release as the governor attempts to reduce crowding in state prisons. Noe is one of 26 nonviolent inmates over the age of 60 with a clean record and a chronic health condition, The Blade reports. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/Coronavirus/2020/04/07/former-toledo-coin-dealer-tom-noe-on-list-to-be-released-from-prison/stories/20200407094
Ohio Hospital Releases Guidelines to Allocate Limited Medical Supplies
As the growing pandemic places more strains on already limited medical supplies, the Ohio Hospital Association released a 54-page document this week with suggestions on how hospitals can implement a Resource Planning and Allocation Team (RTAP), which would include a triage committee -- a group to determine who should receive resources when they are not available for every patient, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
After experiencing multiple layoffs, staff at The Plain Dealer faced news that the paper will end its coverage of stories in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and Summit County and anything that might be deemed a "statewide" issue, Cleveland Scene reports. Those content areas will now fall under the editorial jurisdiction of Cleveland.com, The Plan Dealer''s non-union sister newsroom.
Cleveland Hospitals to Begin Testing Patients for COVID-19
Once their tests are validated, the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals will be able to start testing patients for the coronavirus in-house, which could significantly reduce the time it takes to obtain results, the Plain Dealer reports.
Universities Starting to Discuss Financial Effects of Coronavirus
While most Ohio institutions of higher education haven''t addressed whether they will refund student charges related to room and board, tuition and other fees, "All of these issues are part of the discussion that''s happening on university campuses," Inter-University Council of Ohio President Bruce Johnson told the Columbus Dispatch as part of the newspaper''s story on how colleges and universities are moving forward after suspending in-person classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
''MeToo Jordan Knew'' Latest Stunt in Wild Senate Primary
Melissa Ackison, the Marysville businesswoman taking on Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) in the Republican primary for the open Ohio 26th Senate District seat, was recently kicked out of a Marion County GOP event where U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) was the featured speaker because she brought former Ohio State wrestlers who say Jordan knew about sexual abuse by Richard Strauss but did nothing, Cleveland.com reports. The incident was the latest dramatic storyline in "one of the most memorable state-level elections in recent years," according to the website.
Federal Lawsuit Seeks to Allow Summer Music Festivals
A federal lawsuit was filed Thursday against former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton and two local health departments to allow two music festivals in Ohio to go on as planned in August, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Under Increased Scrutiny, Public Health Officials Resigning, Pushed Out
As the nation has fought the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials who usually work behind the scenes have found themselves front and center, according to the Associated Press. As the pressure and scrutiny rise, many more have chosen to leave or been pushed out of their jobs.
Acton to Appear with Sesame Street Characters in Town Hall
Former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton will appear with characters from "Sesame Street" to educate children and parents about coronavirus safety during a CNN town hall on Saturday, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio''s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose told the New York Times that there were no serious irregularities in this year''s presidential election in an article where the Times sought comment from top state elections officials across the nation on whether they know of fraud in their state''s elections. LaRose said there may be "tens or dozens" of people who voted improperly, but he has not uncovered evidence of systemic voter fraud.
FBI Agents Posed as Hotel Developers to Hook Bribery Suspects
Details have emerged on how suspects in two apparently unconnected bribery cases were caught by FBI agents who were posing as hotel developers for Monarch Development Inc., according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati Councilman Jeff Pastor, arrested Tuesday, and lobbyist Neil Clark, a key player in the $60 million FirstEnergy bribery scandal, both interacted with the undercover agents.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has complicated annual plans to honor veterans, especially older veterans, the Dayton Daily News reports. One event in Fairborn, OH honoring the town''s oldest veteran, 101-year old Herman Holt, with a 21-gun salute will go on, but not without special considerations for Holt''s health, including social distancing measures.
Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent Hasn''t Been to Statehouse in More Than One year
Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent (D-Columbus) hasn''t attended committee meetings, voted on legislation or set foot in her Riffe Center office since she alleged two members of the House Democrats'' staff blocked her from entering a room in May 2019. Kent says she has spent the past 14 months working from home on issues affecting her constituents, but other members of her party are wondering what the lawmaker has been doing to earn the more than $70,000 that Ohio has paid her during those months, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
DeWine''s First Veto May Be Bill Limiting Power of Public Health Orders
Gov. Mike DeWine says he''ll veto a bill passed last month that hits at the power and reach of public health orders issued during the pandemic. SB55 (Gavarone) started out as a measure to increase penalties for drug trafficking near rehab facilities, but lawmakers tacked on a provision reducing fines and prohibiting jail and criminal convictions for violating state or local health departments'' orders. This bill is just one of the proposals aimed at countering DeWine''s COVID-19 response and orders, the Statehouse News Bureau reports.
A federal Paycheck Protection Program loan accepted by the Ohio Democratic Party for $333,867 is drawing criticism from Republicans who argue a partisan political organization shouldn''t receive tax dollars intended to help small businesses. Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken said it was hypocritical for ODP to take the loan while questioning if the loans were reaching small businesses. She said they should fully repay the loan. Meanwhile, ODP says it followed proper procedures in getting the loan and was transparent about it, Cleveland.com reports.
Local Boards of Elections Voice Concerns on Mail-in Ballot Deadline
Ohioans legally have until Oct. 31 to request an absentee ballot, but local boards of elections have told the Dayton Daily News that might be too late for a ballot to be mailed, returned and counted. Jan Kelly, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, recommended voters submit their ballot requests by Oct. 27, and said, "If people request their ballot on the current deadline, they''re not going to be able to get their ballot and vote."
Sen. Kristina Roegner''s (R-Hudson) SB352 would reverse a tax change made in coronavirus omnibus HB197 (Powell-Merrin) to specify that individuals who are now working from home, but previously commuted to a city office, would pay taxes in the municipality where they live rather than in the city where they previously worked. "The intention is to make sure that the tax revenue goes to the municipalities that are providing the services to the people," Roegner told Cleveland.com.
Differences Emerge in City, Rural Back-to-School Plans
Many schools in or near Ohio''s big cities will start the 2020-21 school year with either all-online or blended learning, while most rural schools plan to return to the classroom five days a week, according to data from the governor''s office, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
DeWine Would Veto Legislation Limiting Health Director''s Power
Gov. Mike DeWine''s office said the governor will veto legislation limiting the authority of the Ohio Department of Health Director (ODH) Amy Acton. The Republican-led bill, SB1 (McColley-Roegner), which would limit any stay-at-home order issued by ODH to 14 days, passed the House Wednesday. DeWine criticized the move in a statement, saying "creating more uncertainty" is the "last thing" the state needs now, WBNS-10TV reported.
Child Care Centers Face Uncertain Future As State Reopens
As Ohio begins to reopen its economy, child care centers face the difficult task of following safety precautions and providing education to young children, all while staying financially viable. Jorge Perez, president and CEO or the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, said child care is costing organizations two to three times more than normal. And some changes, such as mask-wearing, can inhibit a toddler''s sight of caregivers'' facial expressions, which defies best practices for social development. Additionally, a recent survey shows many centers that closed due to COVID-19 are questioning whether they can reopen at all, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Gov. Mike DeWine''s office has not released reports of recommendations by the 11 working groups he formed to advise on the reopening of different industries. Cleveland.com reports requesting the records Tuesday, shortly after DeWine said they would be available "within the next day." Ohio''s public records laws require that any public record be "promptly prepared and made available" upon request. On Monday, DeWine said the groups were near completing their work, and experts say the reports are being created for a public purpose.
Anti-Vaccine Sentiment Runs Deep among Ohio Lawmakers
Several state legislators have expressed anti-vaccine attitudes and the trend seems to be increasing. Both Rep. Scott Lipps (R-Franklin), chairman of the House Health Committee, and Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Butler (R-Dayton) have met with Health Freedom Ohio, a prominent anti-vaccine political group, and expressed a desire to move the group''s work forward, Ohio Capital Journal Reports.
Kasich''s Biden Endorsement Doesn''t Mean Ohio Will Go Blue
Former Republican governor of Ohio John Kasich spoke at the Democratic National Convention, urging people to vote for Democratic nominee Joe Biden, but strategists say Kasich''s endorsement doesn''t mean Ohio will. Ohio is no longer a swing state but one expected to vote for Republicans in presidential contests, although the race has tightened according to recent polls, the Washington Post reports.
Coingate Figure Noe Gets License to Marry Former Prison Guard
Tom Noe, the Coingate figure recently released from prison due to the spread of the coronavirus, is preparing to wed a former guard who worked at the southern Ohio state prison where he was once incarcerated, The Blade reports.
FirstEnergy Filing Alleges Potential Financial Harm from Householder Investigation
FirstEnergy Corp. has revised its second quarter earnings report to account for the potential of financial losses due to the federal bribery and racketeering investigation brought against former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and several others, the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Ohio Republicans Rail Against ''Universal'' Mail-in Voting But That''s Not Ohio''s System
Ohio Republicans, including Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville), are criticizing Democrats for promoting universal vote-by-mail as they it is a system ripe for voter fraud. However, The Blade points out Ohio isn''t among the states with universal mail voting, in which registered voters don''t need to request a ballot to receive one in the mail.
Democrats Eyeing Statewide Runs in 2022 Look for New Ways to Network amid Virtual Convention
Without an in-person Democratic National Convention (DNC) this year, Democrats eyeing a statewide run have few of the same networking opportunities as in past years. Local officeholders rumored to be considering 2022 runs including Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley have had to move to virtual luncheons, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
With a month left for lawmakers to send bills to Gov. Mike DeWine''s desk, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports bills limiting the governor''s power (which he has promised to veto), repealing HB6 (Callender-Wilkin), expanding "stand your ground" laws, as well as dealing with the capital budget and school funding, among other issues, are all expected to be debated through the lame duck session.
After Contracting COVID, Ohio Prisons Director Strives to Protect Inmates, Staff
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith tested positive for COVID-19 in July, but the surge in cases now has her concerned about a likely uptick in virus cases in Ohio''s prison. The director said cases in prisons usually trail those in the community, though the department is taking measures to prevent spread like testing wastewater samples for signs of the virus before infections are otherwise evident, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Possible 2022 Challengers to DeWine Already Shaping Up
Potential Republican challengers to Gov. Mike DeWine in 2022 are already shaping up with political insiders noting former Congressman Jim Renacci of Wadsworth as a potential candidate to face off against DeWine in the Republican primary. The Columbus Dispatch reports Reps. Warren Davidson (R-Troy) and Jim Jordan (R-Mansfield), both of whom have been extremely critical of DeWine, may also be potential challengers.
Ohio Mental Health Director Tests Positive for COVID-19
Lori Criss, director of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Criss has been featured at several of Gov. Mike DeWine''s coronavirus news briefings to urge Ohioans to look after their mental and emotional health during the pandemic. DeWine has not had recent contact with Criss or her staff, a spokesman said.
Licking County GOP: Trump Should Concede; No Widespread Voter Fraud
Few GOP officials have publicly acknowledged Democrat Joe Biden''s presidential win, but local Republican officials in Licking County, such as Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) and Rep. Mark Fraizer (R-Newark), say it''s time for President Trump to concede and that there is no evidence of widespread fraud in the election, the Newark Advocate reports.
President Trump won Ohio by over eight points for the second time this year, but Democrats are still hopeful they can unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman in 2022. Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Warren) are among the names being floated to challenge Portman, who won his seat by large margins in 2010 and 2016. However, some experts wonder if Republican turnout will fall without Trump on the ballot, Spectrum 1 News reports.
Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor, Associate Arrested on Federal Bribery Charge
FBI agents have arrested Republican Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Pastor on federal bribery charges related to the potential development of the former Convention Place Mall in downtown Cincinnati as well as tangential ties to the charges against former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and lobbyist Neil Clark, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Where Ohio''s GOP Leaders Stand on Election Outcome
Some, but not all, Ohio Republican officials have appeared to distance themselves from President Donald Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the election was stolen from him, the Ohio Capital Journal reports. Gov. Mike DeWine has congratulated now President-Elect Joe Biden and Secretary of State Frank LaRose has affirmed Biden''s win, but others, like U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, remain unclear on their stance.
Ohio Congressional Map to Be Redrawn after Decade of Gerrymandering
Ohio''s congressional map is set to be redrawn following the 2020 U.S. Census results. Much attention is expected to be paid to the redistricting process as the effort comes after a federal court ruled in 2019 that the now-retired map was drawn “to disadvantage Democratic voters and entrench Republican representatives in power,” the Ohio Capital Journal reports.
Reineke Campaign Misquotes Blade Article on Primary Challenger
A mailer paid for by Friends of Bill Reineke targeting Melissa Ackison, the representative''s primary opponent in his 2020 Senate race, quoted the Toledo Blade as writing that "Ackison defies Trump, lies to Ohio voters," but the Blade article does not contain those words. The campaign has agreed to stop using the mailer, according to the paper.
Casinos Build ''Outdoor'' Patios to Allow for Smoking While Gambling
Ohio casinos are building "outdoor" patios enclosed by screens and equipped with heating lamps and exhaust fans to allow customers to smoke while gambling, according to the Dayton Daily News. Health advocates have voiced concerns, but Dayton Raceway general manager Dan Kennedy told the paper, "You''re right, there is smoke out here. The state law is on indoor smoking. This is an outdoor patio."
Wrongful Convictions Sent 83 to Prison over Past 30 Years
A total of 83 Ohioans have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned over the past 30 years, representing a cumulative loss of 888 years of their lives for an average of 10.6 years each, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O''Connor has announced she will establish a Task Force on Conviction Integrity and Postconviction Review in an effort to end wrongful convictions.
Some House Democrats to Miss Part of Lame-Duck Session over COVID Concerns
House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) and two other Democratic representatives plan to miss this week''s lame-duck session due to possible exposure to COVID-19, Cleveland.com reports. House Democratic spokeswoman Amber Epling also suspects other Democrats will stay home for the entire lame-duck session because of concerns that their Republican colleagues refuse to wear masks or follow COVID-19 safety protocols.
Ex-Ohio GOP Leader Matt Borges Rebuts Bribery Charges
Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges spoke with the Cincinnati Enquirer to say he never bribed anyone or broke the law, and his role in the nuclear bailout scandal has been dramatically overstated. Borges and four others were arrested July 21 and later indicted on racketeering charges in connection with an alleged conspiracy to pass a law to subsidize nuclear plants in northern Ohio.
DeWine Considering New COVID Curfew on Many Ohio Businesses
Gov. Mike DeWine was exploring a 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew on many businesses in a bid to slow the COVID-19 pandemic. DeWine has been discussing the move with Ohio business groups, but has received pushback on late-night closings, multiple sources with knowledge of the talks told the Columbus Dispatch. DeWine''s office would not comment ahead of his 2 p.m. briefing Tuesday.
Cincinnati Enquirer Fact Checks Ohio Shoutouts in First Presidential Debate
From Big Ten football to the auto industry, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden argued over several issues central to Ohio in the first presidential debate held in Cleveland on Tuesday. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports on the legitimacy of both candidates'' claims.
Appeals Court Reverses Decision on Emailed Absentee Ballot Applications
The 10th District Court of Appeals Tuesday reversed a Franklin County judge''s order that required Ohio boards of elections to accept absentee ballot requests by email and fax, though the judges said Secretary of State Frank LaRose would have the power under state law to do so if he chose at a later date. Read more in Wednesday''s Hannah Report.
Poll Worker Numbers Surge, But Worries Remain
While most counties in Ohio have met minimum staffing goals for the election despite the pandemic, most have not met the higher staffing standard put in place by Secretary of State Frank LaRose to guarantee there will be enough workers in the event some precinct officials fail to show up on Nov. 3. Election officials are now striving to find and train 55,000 workers -- or 18,000 more than usual, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Ohio Dairy Farmers Dumping Milk as Stores Set Purchase Limits
As some stores have set purchase limits on the amount of milk consumers could buy after increases in stockpiling occurred at the beginning of the pandemic, Cincinnati Business Courier reports some farmers have begun dumping milk because their supply is becoming too large for processors to handle.
Ohio Cities'' Reliance on Income Taxes May Have Disastrous Economic Outcomes
Four of the five most income-tax dependent large cities nationally are in Ohio, with Columbus topping the list as having the highest percentage of its revenue derived from income taxes of 139 cities. As Ohio cities are overwhelmingly dependent on municipal income taxes to fund their operations, they may be particularly vulnerable to the financial consequences of the coronavirus, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
As the economic impact of Ohio''s COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt in increased unemployment and reduced business activity, the state''s many safety net programs are also seeing the strain. The Columbus Dispatch reports on the effects of the virus on Ohio''s foodbank programs, Medicaid systems and unemployment assistance programs.
Feds Block States from Using Medicaid to Address Coronavirus
The Trump Administration has not allowed states additional flexibility in spending Medicaid funds to address the coronavirus crisis, the LA Times reports. Past administrations Republican and Democrat have loosened Medicaid rules to address emergencies, such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the H1N1 flu outbreak and Hurricane Katrina.
CDC to Award $15.6M to State for Coronavirus Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will grant $15,620,977 to Ohio to support the state''s coronavirus response efforts, the Cambridge Daily Jeffersonian reports. The funds can be used broadly, and may be directed toward "preparedness and response," as well as developing tools and strategies, providing technical assistance and program support, and ensuring ongoing communication among public health agencies and partners.
Elections Boards Scramble to Find Poll Workers amid Crisis
With Ohio''s presidential primary election set for March 17, state boards of elections are scrambling to find workers who will brave the polls amid the coronavirus crisis, the
Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Many planned poll workers have cancelled, with Hamilton County Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland saying she is looking for "younger" poll workers to fill vacancies.
First Data on COVID in Schools to Be Released Next Week
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) said the first state data on COVID-19 cases in schools will be released Thursday, Sept. 17, the Dayton Daily News reports. The announcement comes after an order from ODH Interim Director Lance Himes that states the department "shall publish aggregate weekly and cumulative case data by school ... or school district, including a breakdown by students and staff, every Thursday."
Yost Files Brief Supporting Armed School Employees in Supreme Court Case
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost supported a Butler County school district''s policy to allow non-security school employees to carry firearms on school grounds, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. The case is currently pending before the Supreme Court of Ohio after parents sued to prevent the school from implementing such a policy.
Cleveland.com Launches Reporting Series on Election Processes, Security
Cleveland.com has launched a new reporting series called "Election Truth" aiming to assure voters of the security of the upcoming November election amid the coronavirus pandemic and claims of election fraud. The series will feature interviews with local elections officials and step-by-step voter guides.
Columbus, Cincinnati Sue to Block Nuclear Bailout Fees
Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein filed a lawsuit alleging a fee on Ohioans'' monthly residential electric bills to subsidize two northern Ohio nuclear plants is an "unconstitutional tax" because it''s based on a fraud. Without legal or legislative action, the 85-cent fee will hit Ohioans'' electric bills on Jan. 1, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Republican Lawmakers Who Declared Victory over Virus in June Now Seeing Spikes in Their Districts
In June, 19 Republican lawmakers joined together in a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine to claim victory over COVID-19 and maintaining original projections overestimated the toll of the virus. Now, of the 30 counties represented by letter signers, 12 are labeled as having "very high exposure and spread" on the Ohio Department of Health’s coronavirus advisory system. The other 18 also have "increased exposure and spread,” the Ohio CapitalJournal reports.
Bloomberg Funds Last-Minute Advertising for Biden in Ohio, Texas
Billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is funding about $15 million of television advertising in Ohio and Texas in an effort to bolster Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the final days of campaigning. The New York Times reports Bloomberg''s private polling found President Donald Trump vulnerable in two of the country’s largest red states.
BWC Approves $1.6 Billion in Payments to Employers in Emergency Meeting
Ohio Bureau of Workers'' Compensation (BWC) directors approved Gov. Mike DeWine''s $1.6 billion proposed dividend payment to employers in an emergency meeting Friday morning to soften the economic damage of COVID-19. Following a hastily assembled Audit Committee vote and rule change, Chairman Chan Cochran acknowledged the board''s fiduciary duty to perform risk assessments. "I don''t think any of us envisioned a risk as great as the one before us now," Cochran said during the teleconference. Read more in Friday''s Hannah Report.
Early Intervention Pays Off in Ohio
Though some said Gov. Mike DeWine''s early actions to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Ohio were extreme, those decisions are now paying dividends as the state has fewer than a third the number of people with the coronavirus than in three comparably sized states -- Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois. And Ohio has just a small fraction of the deaths reported in those states, the Washington Post reports.
Ohio''s Amish Community Makes Medical Gear in Fight against COVID-19
As the coronavirus spreads not only in cities but in rural communities, Ohio''s traditionally isolated Amish community has become increasingly involved in the fight against the disease. The New York Times reports that when the Cleveland Clinic needed thousands of face masks and protective gear, the Amish community of Central Ohio mobilized to meet that need.
DeWine Unsure State Can Match Federal Unemployment Funds under Trump Plan
After President Trump signed an executive memo extending a $400 per week bonus to unemployment benefits with states covering 25 percent of that cost, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told CNN''s Dana Bash he was unsure the state could afford to cover the $100 per week under Trump''s plan, citing other costs related to the coronavirus such as expanding testing, according to the Dayton Daily News.
COVID Cases in Prisons Still Higher than General Public
Ohio prisoners are still more likely to contract COVID-19 and die from the disease, with prisoners presenting a 9 percent rate of infection compared to a 1 percent rate of infection among the general public, the Columbus Dispatch reports. In addition, prisoners comprise 2.5 percent of all of Ohio''s COVID deaths, despite making up only 0.5 percent of the state''s population.
Property Damages from Protests Amount to More than $1.2 Million
Property damage to businesses, nonprofits and a state office total more than $1.2 million following vandalism in late May amid protests around Capitol Square and the Short North in Columbus following the death of Minneapolis man George Floyd at the hands of police, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The Ohio attorney general''s office reported the most damage, at $360,000, while a total of 115 entities reported damages over four days.
FBI Arrest Former Senate Candidate on Corruption Charges
Former Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful and current Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld was arrested by the FBI early Thursday morning on federal charges of accepting bribes in exchange for his vote on development deals, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Sittenfeld ran for the nomination against former Gov. Ted Strickland in 2016.
DeWine Promises Veto of Bill Restricting His Authority
Gov. Mike DeWine will veto HB621 (Cross-Wilkin), which allows businesses to remain open despite a health order if they meet certain safety precautions, if it reaches his desk, the Toledo Blade reports. The bill passed the House on Wednesday.
Gov. Mike DeWine traveled the state Wednesday, urging residents to downsize their Thanksgiving plans and avoid gatherings to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. He told folks the "state is on fire" from the virus as he anticipated the start of his curfew Thursday night, Cleveland.com reported.
Trump Says As Soon As Election Day Ends, ''We''re Going In with Our Lawyers''
Speaking on Sunday in one tightly contested battleground, President Donald Trump made it clear that he is planning to quickly push the presidential contest into the courts, the Washington Post reports. “We’re going to go in the night of, as soon as that election is over, we’re going in with our lawyers,” Trump told reporters in Charlotte, NC.
Long Wait Times As Thousands Cast Ballots at Close of Weekend Early Voting
At least 2.8 million Ohioans already have voted early and thousands more cast ballots Sunday in the final day of weekend early voting -- some standing in line for hours. The Statehouse News Bureau talked with some of those voters in line at the Franklin County Board of Elections about the election and why they''re willing to wait in line for hours to cast their ballot.
Here''s Which Counties Could Indicate How Ohio Will Swing on Election Night
While final results might not be clear until late-arriving absentee ballots or provisional ballots are counted two weeks after Election Day, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that results in some key counties could be a good indication how Ohio will swing. Political scientists say Democrat Joe Biden needs to cut Trump''s margins in eastern Ohio and get upwards of 65 percent of the vote in urban counties to win.
Vote-by-Mail System Garners Low Participation as Deadline Approaches
With the deadline to vote in Ohio''s primary election less than a week away, the Columbus Dispatch reports three out of every four registered voters have not even asked for a primary election ballot. With a new vote-by-mail system underway in the middle of a pandemic and a presidential primary that has already been decided, it is unclear how much interest voters have in the election. Data does show that Democrats continue to dominate the early voting turnout in Franklin County -- Republicans have gained about 40 percent more voters, but Democrats have more than doubled, increasing about 102 percent.
Preliminary data for March released by the Ohio Highway Patrol show that there were half as many accidents during the second half of the month, with fatalities also dropping. During the first 15 days of the month, there were 8,108 accidents, 38 of which involved fatalities, in Ohio. But during the final 16 days of the month -- when coronavirus restrictions came into effect -- there were 4,033 accidents, 25 of which involved fatalities, Cleveland.com reports.
Technical Issues Arise for Ohio Channel with Record Viewing of DeWine''s Briefings
With Gov. Mike DeWine''s daily coronavirus briefings bringing more viewers to the Ohio Channel in a month than they normally see in a year, technical glitches have forced Ohio''s information technology (IT) services to bring in additional servers for the channel and work around other issues as demand swells, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Reports More Than 46,000 New Unemployment Claims
For the week ending May 16, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported 46,062 initial unemployment claims. "The number of initial jobless claims filed in Ohio over the last nine weeks (1,215,756) is more than the combined total of those filed during the last three years," ODJFS said in a release. Read more Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Battelle''s Mask Cleaning Tech Comes under Scrutiny
A new report from NBC News questions the cost and efficacy of Battelle''s system for decontaminating medical face masks. Columbus Business First reports Battelle CEO Lou Von Thaer has continued to praise the technology and said the report "has many factual errors in it." According to nurses at hospitals where the systems are deployed, masks begin to degrade after as few as two cycles instead of the 20 for which they were approved.
Statewide auto traffic has begun to pick up again in recent weeks, according to Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) data, though passenger traffic remains far below last year''s levels, Columbus Business First reports. Passenger traffic dropped 50 percent from 2019 levels for the four weeks from March 22 to April 18. In the three weeks since then, the drop has been less severe. ODOT has said the resultant reduction in motor fuel tax revenues could delay some construction projects. That tax accounts for almost a third of ODOT''s annual revenues and has brought in about $1 billion for the past five fiscal years.
Investigation Finds Utility Giant Funded Dark Money Spending on HB6 Campaign
Empowering Ohio''s Economy Inc., a nonprofit operated solely with funds from American Electric Power (AEP), contributed $350,000 towards campaigns for the passage of HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) and to help ensure Larry Householder (R-Glenford) had the votes to become House Speaker, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
White House Coronavirus Response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx stopped in Columbus over the weekend to meet with Gov. Mike DeWine and state and local health officials to discuss her concern that Columbus and other cities are on their way to becoming the next COVID-19 hot spot, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Crash-Related Fatalities Increase Even with Less Traffic
While fewer drivers on roadways have resulted in a lower crash rate, fatalities are actually up, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Experts say the reason is that people are speeding more with less cars on the road.
Data behind the seven metrics used to determine county ratings under Gov. Mike DeWine''s new four-level public health alert map is not all publicly available, clearly presented or easy to understand reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. And some Ohio counties are questioning just how they made the "red" level.
Both Millennials and Boomers have been "smacked" at a pivotal time in their lives, reports the Associated Press. Boomers see the pandemic as more of a health crisis while young adults worry more about the economic impact as the article talks with a Cincinnati father and son about the differences in generational views of 2020.
DOJ Resumes Executions after SCOTUS Approves Single-Drug Protocol
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) executed its first prisoner in 17 years Tuesday morning, the
Washington Post reports. The execution followed an early morning 5-4 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) which rejected a challenge to the single-drug protocol used by authorities in the lethal injection. A second execution is set for Friday, July 17.
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Former Treasurer Josh Mandel, Wife Divorce; Records Kept Sealed
Two years after dropping out of the U.S. Senate race, former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and wife, Ilana, went to another county to get a divorce and have the records sealed. Cleveland.com reports the news is another surprise in Mandel''s political and personal life. The staunch conservative who regularly featured his family in campaign ads had often been considered a rising star.
Patrick Sweeney, who served as a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1967 to 1997 and was a member of the Ohio Senate in 1997 and 1998, died Monday morning of natural causes. He had just celebrated his 81st birthday Sept. 2, Cleveland.com reports.
Six Percent of Ohioans Who Filed for Unemployment Were Overpaid
Of the nearly 800,000 Ohioans who have been paid regular unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic in March, about six percent have been alerted to being overpaid, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Some of those claimants are being required to repay the funds.
Trump Makes Visits While Biden Runs Ads As Candidates Compete in Buckeye State
As President Donald Trump and Democratic Nominee Joe Biden look for ways to motivate Ohio voters, the candidates are taking different campaign approaches. While Trump''s campaign has made numerous stops throughout Ohio in recent weeks, Biden is dominating Ohio''s TV airwaves. Next week, both candidates will be in Cleveland for the first presidential debate, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Justice Annoyed by Prosecutors'' Refusing to Take Part in Task Force Examining Wrongful Criminal Convictions
The Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association is refusing to participate in a task force convened by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O''Connor to find ways to avoid wrongful convictions. The association''s execute director said he has concerns about the separation-of-powers constitutionality of the task force, while O''Connor says she sees no issue in that regard, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
OSU Becomes Site of Ohio''s Largest COVID-19 Outbreak
Ohio State University''s count of positive COVID-19 tests has now surpassed that of Marion Correctional Institution, making the outbreak at the Columbus campus Ohio''s largest so far. The university is reporting over 2,500 cumulative positive tests although the spread of COVID-19 at the university is trending downward, Spectrum News 1 reports.
SCOTUS Rules Trump Administration Acted Improperly in Attempt to End DACA
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision Thursday that the Trump administration had not followed required procedures in its attempt to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and said the attempt was "arbitrary and capricious." The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, said the issue was remanded to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to be reconsidered. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Ohio Bought Millions of Drug Now Banned by FDA for Treating COVID-19
ODH spent more than $600,000 to purchase 2 million hydroxychloroquine pills and also received a donation of 2 million more in an effort to combat COVID-19, but the FDA no longer allows the drug to be used to treat the virus. The number of pills stockpiled by the state is equivalent to nearly two years-worth of prescriptions the state typically uses in its managed care programs, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Female Public Health Officials Face Harassment over Coronavirus Response
Following Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton''s stepping down after facing long hours, public criticism and harassment, the Lily, a Washington Post publication, reports Acton isn''t the only female health official resigning from office amid the coronavirus. As public health officials have been cast into high-profile positions during the pandemic, they''ve been subject to ill will and personal attacks. While leaders of public health official organizations say the harassment seems evenly distributed between women and men, attacks on women are more personal and tend to be cruder and sexualized.
In a state where Republicans have been preparing to solidify control, the arrest of House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) may throw a shadow over the political future of his party, the Associated Press reports. Democrats have already begun soliciting political donations in support of the GOP''s ouster, saying their candidates could end a "culture of corruption" they blame on one-party rule.
Householder''s Corruption Charge Upends Ohio''s Already Chaotic Political Environment
While the immediate consequences of Speaker of the House Larry Householder''s (R-Glenford) arrest may seem clear as numerous lawmakers and political leaders call for his resignation, the case may have far-reaching implications for both parties given the wide range of people intertwined with Householder and HB6 (Callender-Wilkin), Cleveland.com reports.
At the root of the racketeering case against Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), HB6 had its beginnings in April 2019. The Dayton Daily News spells out a detailed timeline of how the bill worked its way through the Statehouse and beat back a referendum.
Removal of Householder, Election of Cupp Illustrate House GOP Division
Following the removal of former House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) on bribery charges, the election of new House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) was a contentious one that revealed divides among House Republicans, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Cupp sought removal of all Householder-appointed party leaders in the House, but so far only Assistant Majority Whip Rep. Laura Lanese (R-Grove City) has stepped down.
Regulatory Agencies Exercise Broad Powers amid Health Crisis
Agencies including the Ohio Department of Health, the office of Gov. Mike DeWine, and the Ohio Liquor Control Commission have found broad powers in efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, despite protests and legal challenges, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Daniel Skinner, an associate professor of health policy at Ohio University, told the paper that the limits of such agencies'' powers have not been tested in recent history to the extent they are now.
Ohioans on Pandemic Unemployment Insurance May Not Qualify for $300 Federal Bonus
With President Trump''s memorandum providing for an additional $300 per week in bonus federal unemployment insurance benefits, it remains unclear whether that will apply to programs such as Ohio''s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance created for people who don''t qualify for traditional unemployment, or if it will only apply to traditional unemployment benefits, the Dayton Daily News reports.
Cost of Columbus Police Misconduct Investigations Revealed
Columbus taxpayers will shell out about $50,000 for a law firm and $84 an hour for a retired FBI agent to investigate claims of police misconduct during recent protests downtown, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The city hired a retired FBI agent to investigate at least 16 allegations of potential criminal misconduct by officers as well as signed a contract with the law firm BakerHostetler, which has done work for the city for years, to investigate another 40 incidents of potential administrative misconduct. The no-bid contract did not have a process for competition or comparison before BakerHostetler was selected, and campaign finance records show that the firm has donated at least once to the campaign funds of Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and other city officials.
COVID-19, Retirements Cause Worker Shortage at Jeep''s Toledo Plant
Between coronavirus cases and a wave of retirements, Jeep''s Toledo North Assembly plant is facing manpower issues as the automaker tries to rebound from the pandemic. UAW Local 12 President Bruce Baumhower said 31 Jeep employees in Toledo have tested positive for the virus since the plant reopened in May, though that number if unconfirmed by Fiat Chrysler. Baumhower also said senior employees are retiring in mass -- as many as 30 in one day. The shortage has led to employees not being permitted to take off certain days, The Blade reports.
Cases of Serious Heart Condition Double amid Coronavirus, New Research Finds
A new Cleveland Clinic study found the number of cases of "broken heart syndrome," or stress cardiomyopathy, doubled compared to before the pandemic. "It''s been associated with severe emotional stress, but it could be any type of stress like breakups, loss of a loved one, a heated altercation with a family member or severe depression," said Dr. Ankur Kalra, an Akron General cardiologist who led the study. Patients experience the same symptoms as a heart attack, including chest pain and shortness of breath, but usually do not have acutely blocked coronary arteries. In some cases, it can be fatal, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Task Force Aims for Prescription Drug Cost Savings
The Prescription Drug Transparency and Affordability Advisory Council met for the first time Wednesday under chairman Matt Damschroder, who is also director of the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, with the goal of benefiting patients and saving taxpayer dollars, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Damschroder said savings could be realized through making more bulk purchases and improving efficiency of delivery.
Second Consecutive CIIC Director Resigns under Pressure
The Correctional Institution Inspection Committee (CIIC) accepted its second letter of forced resignation from an agency head Thursday. Executive Director Charlie Adams resigned under pressure -- this after former Executive Director Joanna Saul resigned under pressure in 2016. Adams had worked for CIIC for a number of years but occupied the director''s office for only seven months, during which committee members said an "investigation" was opened into undisclosed concerns. Chairman Doug Green (R-Mt Orab) and House Chief Deputy Legal Counsel Paul Disantis would not elaborate after the meeting but said a spokesman would follow up with a statement. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
OSU Head Drake to Retain $892,000 Salary for One Year after Retirement
Ohio State president Michael Drake will step into a post-presidency role starting July 1, 2020 that will last through June 30, 2021, where he will continue to represent the university and the board of trustees, maintaining his current salary of $892,000, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Democratic Surge in Absentee Ballot Requests Might Trigger Election Night Angst
As Ohio Democrats continue to seek absentee ballots in record numbers, the trend has implications for the presidential election. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Democrats'' early voting numbers may give Democratic candidate Joe Biden a quick lead on election night, but it''s unclear if it will last as President Donald Trump is expected to dominate in-person voting.
President Donald Trump won Ohio by eight percentage points in 2016, and Republicans dominated the midterms again in 2018, but heading into the first presidential debate Tuesday, Cleveland.com reports that even by the most conservative estimations, Ohio is once again a toss-up state with the two candidates in a dead heat according to multiple polls.
Biden to End Cleveland Debate with Train Tour of Ohio, Pennsylvania
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden plans to leave the Cleveland presidential debate via train with a tour that will stop in Alliance as well as other Pennsylvania cities. The Washington Post reports the trip is meant to help Biden connect with voters who supported Trump in 2016 as well as highlight the "Scranton vs. Park Avenue" contrast between the two.
Candidates to Replace Householder as Speaker Begin to Emerge
With members of the current House GOP leadership team seen as "tainted" due to their association with House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), potential candidates to become the next speaker include Reps. Bob Cupp (R-Lima), Rick Carfagna (R-Westerville), Scott Lipps (R-Franklin) and Craig Riedel (R-Defiance), Cleveland.com reports.
Columbus political consultant Tyler Fehrman -- identified as "CHS 1" in the FBI''s criminal affidavit detailing a $60 million racketeering conspiracy involving nuclear subsidy law HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) -- wore a wire to help build the case against House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges and others, Cleveland.com reports.
''Final Arguments'' in Landmark Lake Erie Case Occurring Friday
U.S. District Court Judge James Carr of Toledo is scheduled to consider "final arguments" in the total maximum daily load (TMDL) case brought by the Environmental Law & Policy Center, Advocates for a Clean Lake Erie and Lucas County commissioners against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on Friday, the Blade reports. There has never been a TMDL for a body of water as large as Lake Erie in the U.S., the newspaper noted, making the case a significant one across the country.
How Maharath, 33 Family Members Contracted COVID-19
Following an August wake for her brother-in-law, Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) and 33 of her family members contracted COVID-19, two of whom died and five of whom were hospitalized, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. Six weeks after her positive diagnosis, Maharath said she still feels symptoms of the disease, including lung pain and coughing.
Trump Says He May Intervene with Delphi Employees'' Pensions
President Donald Trump told Gov. Mike DeWine and Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) he is considering intervening in a situation where salaried employees of auto parts maker Delphi received drastically reduced pensions amid the company''s bankruptcy and the 2009 auto bailout, the Dayton Daily News reports. Peter Navarro, an assistant to Trump on trade and manufacturing policy, called the issue an "Obama-Biden betrayal."
Nuke Plant Owner Won''t Say If Profitable amid HB6 Repeal Talks
Following a $1.3 billion ratepayer-funded bailout through HB6 (Callender-Wilkin), the company that owns the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants along Lake Erie, Energy Harbor, won''t disclose whether the plants are profitable, according to Cleveland.com. The General Assembly is considering a repeal of HB6 following a federal bribery case against former House Speaker Larry Householder. A spokesman for new House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) said, "The question of need and its determination will be an important consideration."
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Lima) and Ja''Ron Smith, President Trump''s director of urban affairs and revitalization and a Cleveland native, are slated to speak at this week''s Republican National Convention (RNC). Jordan will speak Monday night alongside other members of Congress, and Smith will be featured on the final night of the convention when Trump will accept the nomination, Cleveland.com reports.
How Mid-Level Political Operative Found Himself at Heart of Ohio''s Largest Bribery Scandal
Jeff Longstreth is called former Speaker Larry Householder''s (R-Glenford) "implementer" and "political guy" by federal investigators laying out detailed allegations of a nearly $61 million pay-to-play plan, but Longstreth wasn''t a key player in Ohio politics until Householder needed someone to help him stage a political comeback, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
While Ohio has long been considered out of reach for the Democrats this year, the state is now in play as one Ohio father and stepdaughter illustrate the major political shifts that have take place under Trump. The New York Times reports the campaigns of President Donald Trump and Democratic Nominee Joe Biden have made major investments in television advertising in the state in recent weeks.
Determining the right amount of drugs to consider "possession for personal use," thus making it a misdemeanor, versus amounts for trafficking that is a felony continues to be one of the "bigger sticking points" in the Ohio Senate, Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) told the Columbus Dispatch.
College Towns Face Losses in Population, Jobs, Revenue
College towns that evolved their economies around rural campuses are confronting not only COVID-19 but major losses in population, revenue and jobs, the New York Times reports. Compounding the concern is the 2020 Census. With students off-campus, college towns are reporting significant undercounts. A census without Ohio University students could knock the official population of Athens from 24,000 down to just 6,000 people. Athens Mayor Steve Patterson estimates an undercount could cost his city up to $40 million over the next 10 years "for things like community development block grants, jobs and family services and senior services that rely on a strong census count to get a full funding."
DeWine Faces Mutiny among Local GOP Party Officials
GOP county parties in Mercer, Darke, Shelby, Warren, Williams, Van Wert and Preble counties have expressed strong disdain for Gov. Mike DeWine''s COVID-19 restrictions, saying he might not win in some of the deep red counties if he were running for reelection now, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Householder Garners Write-in Challenges Following Indictment
Following federal charges and a unanimous vote to strip former House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) of his leadership role, a Republican and a Libertarian have submitted write-in petitions vying for the 72nd House District seat. Marine veteran Jay Conrad will run as the write-in Republican, while former Coshocton City Council candidate Robert Leist will run as the write-in Libertarian, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio Democratic Party Converts Federal PPP Loan to Private Loan after Criticism
After the Ohio Democratic Party received criticism for accepting a $333,876 forgivable loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), it announced the loan will be converted to a private loan from its financial institution on Aug. 1, Cleveland.com reports. The decision comes after introduction of a bill from U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) requiring political organizations who accepted PPP loans to return them by Dec. 31.
Rollout of COVID Testing at Pharmacies Stalled; Guidance Needed
Despite the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announcing it would reimburse costs for COVID-19 testing at pharmacies, the Columbus Dispatch reports pharmacies have not received guidance on where to get test kits, where to send them for testing, or how to be reimbursed for costs. Sen. Dave Burke (R-Marysville), himself a pharmacist, commented, "In other states, ''bam,'' it was done in a matter of days and you had testing across the state. I don''t know why Ohio is such a laggard on these policies..."
House Republicans, Democrats Both Release Re-Opening Plans for State
Ahead of Gov. Mike DeWine''s afternoon announcement on plans to start easing pandemic restrictions, a majority of the members of the House Republican Caucus, including Economic Recovery Task Force Chairman Rep. Paul Zeltwanger (R-Mason), released an "Open Ohio Responsibly Framework" Monday morning, which contemplates businesses can re-open "on or before May 1, 2020." The framework is posted at www.hannah.com under "Breaking News." This was followed later in the day with House Democrats'' releasing their reopening recommendations. Read more in Monday''s Hannah Report.
Governor''s Daughter Gets Help from Super PAC in Greene County Prosecutor Race
In a bid to elect Alice DeWine as Greene County prosecutor -- her father''s, Gov. Mike DeWine, first elective office, the federal super PAC Protecting Ohio Action Fund has raised more than $320,000 in support of her campaign. Most of those contributions came from Protecting Ohio Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit group not required to disclose its donors, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch. Her opponent has raised $39,605. With no Democrat in the race, the winner of the primary election will become Greene County prosecutor.
Statewide Polling Shows DeWine More Popular than Trump, Ohioans Leery of Re-Opening
Statewide polling released Monday shows Gov. Mike DeWine is much more popular than President Donald Trump for his handling of the coronavirus. Polling shows the vast majority of Ohioans (85 percent) approve of DeWine''s handling of the pandemic, and almost 90 percent view the COVID-19 information provided by him as accurate, compared to about 50 percent on both for Trump. Polling also shows Trump in dead heat with former Vice President Joe Biden for the presidential election and indicates more than 60 percent of Ohioans are concerned COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted too quickly in the state, Cleveland.com reports.
The answer is murky, writes the Cincinnati Enquirer. Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton and Gov. DeWine ordered businesses not providing essential services closed by March 23, and Attorney General Dave Yost sent a cease and desist letter to Hobby Lobby, but most enforcement happens locally. The paper uncovered 10 Southwest Ohio businesses ordered closed by local police and health departments, but the total number of businesses closed statewide remains unknown.
Shift to Online Education Embraced by Some, Presents Challenges for Others
Keeping Ohio''s kids at home has not stopped teachers from finding ways to connect, but there have been speed bumps amid the quick rollout of an all-online education program, according to Cleveland.com. Some teachers have posted pre-recorded lessons online, while others host "synchronous" lessons that allow student-teacher interaction. However, some parents and districts are still struggling to afford laptops and broadband Internet access for students.
Barberton Judge Officiates Weddings, Serenades Newlyweds with Accordion
True love finds a way. Barberton Judge and ordained minister Todd McKenney has continued to officiate weddings in Summit County despite the coronavirus, and he also provides music for the couples with his accordion, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. "For people who want to get married, they need someone to officiate," McKenney said. "I think there''s an obligation - even in the midst of the crisis - to keep doing the things that are most important."
House Votes to Remove Householder; GOP Caucus May Elect New Speaker
By a unanimous vote, the House Thursday voted to vacate the office of the speaker. Furthermore, the House Republican Caucus was expected to meet later on Thursday to select a new speaker to succeed Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford). The choices are currently between Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Butler (R-Dayton) and Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Lima). The selection is predicated on a candidate''s receiving 51 Republican votes. See The Hannah Report for additional information.
Feds Indict Householder, Four Others
The U.S. Attorney''s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced Thursday morning that a federal grand jury had returned an indictment against House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), his advisor Jeff Longstreth and lobbyists Matt Borges, Juan Cespedes and Neil Clark. The five had previously been arrested and charged by criminal complaint regarding alleged racketeering. "... This investigation continues," U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said in a tweet. See The Hannah Report for additional information.
DeWine Asks Pharmacy to Rethink Ban on Hydroxychloroquine for COVID Treatment
Gov. Mike DeWine Thursday said he was asking the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to halt a new rule prohibiting the selling or dispensing of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for treatment or prevention of COVID-19, saying he agrees with the commissioner of the FDA that the decision should be left between a doctor and patient. He said he is asking the board and the State Medical Board to revisit the issue and open the process for comment and testimony from experts. See The Hannah Report for additional information.
Monday, Dec. 7, 2020
DeWine''s Gun Reforms Not among Firearm Bills Being Considered by Lawmakers
Republican legislators plan to pass several gun-related bills, including ones to allow school employees to carry firearms on school property and to expand situations in which someone could use a gun in self-defense without a legal duty to first try to retreat. However, the Toledo Blade reports lawmakers have little appetite for the gun reforms proposed by Gov. Mike DeWine following the 2019 mass shooting in Dayton.
Should Voters Know More about Source of Undisclosed Political Money?
A $60 million bribery scandal at the Statehouse has put a spotlight on how nonprofit groups that don’t have to disclose where they get their money could corrupt politics. These groups can have a major effect on state and local elections, often paying for the same kinds of political activity done by campaigns or political parties which have to report who gives them money, the Dayton Daily News reports.
Election Results Put Dent in Democratic Gerrymandering Argument
A closer look at official election results may have a put a dent in a Democratic argument about the unfairness of the state''s GOP-drawn legislative and congressional districts. In legislative races this year, disparities between the percent of votes won by Republicans and the number of seats they hold decreased and the trend continued in Washington, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
City Officials Excluded from Effort to Bring First Presidential Debate to Cleveland
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson''s administration said they were not involved in the effort or planning process for bringing the first presidential debate to the city. It''s unclear what the debate, to be hosted by Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic, will cost residents and what health concerns it brings in the midst of a pandemic, Cleveland.com reports.
Criminal Charges against Householder Echo Past Pay-to-Play Allegations
This isn''t the first time Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has been investigated by the FBI. Cleveland.com recounts the allegations of corrupt behavior that have long followed the legislator''s career beginning inMarch 2004 when an anonymous nine-page memo alleging overpayments to some vendors who made kickbacks to Householder sparked an FBI investigation.
OSU Restricts Stadium Capacity, Tailgating for Football Games
Ohio State University (OSU) announced attendance at home football games will be limited to 20 percent capacity of the "Shoe," if games are played. Fans will also be required to wear masks and tailgating will be prohibited as well, Sports Illustrated reports.
Four Supreme Court Candidates Square Off in Virtual Forum
Justice Sharon Kennedy and challenger Democratic Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John O''Donnell and Justice Judi French and her challenger 10th District Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Brunner, former Democratic secretary of state, recently discussed their views in a virtual forum organized by the Ohio Debate Commission, the Statehouse News Bureau reports.
Amid a flurry of conflicting court rulings and directives from the Ohio Secretary of State''s office, the Associated Press summarizes the timeline for the various rulings and describes where the issue currently stands three weeks out from Election Day.
Lucas County Experiencing Issues with Mailing of Absentee Ballots
A small percentage of Lucas County''s 68,000 absentee ballots have been mailed so far with the status of the approximately 60,000+ ballots remaining unclear, according to the Toledo Blade. County commissioners said they have been trying to get more information from the vendor, Midwest Direct of Cleveland, about what is going on.
Nearly Half of All States Allow Voters to Request Ballots Online
Ohio''s neighbor Kentucky just began allowing voters to request ballots online, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. It''s not a controversial move with both blue and red states allowing it. Plus there is little evidence it helps one party or the other. But because of a combination of politics, COVID-19, the Ohio House upheaval and fear of changes in an election year, Ohio has seen no movement on a proposal from the secretary of state.
HB6 Repeal Talks Worry Two Communities with Nuclear Plants
Subsidies to nuclear plants in Lake County and Ottawa County that would have come from HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) might not be delivered after calls for the bill''s repeal amid a $61million bribery scheme that resulted in the ousting of former House Speaker Larry Householder, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Residents worry about the 1,400 jobs that might be lost near Lake Erie.
FirstEnergy Pressured Lawmakers with Money, Negative Campaign Ads
The central company in a recent Statehouse bribery scheme rewarded lawmakers'' support with political donations and met opposition with negative campaign ads and support of primary election challengers, according to Cleveland.com. Recently retired legislator Steve Arndt said of FirstEnergy, "They wield a very heavy hand. ... They''ll do whatever they have to to get the job done."
Ohio National Guard Returning from D.C., Still Posted in Some Cities
The Ohio National Guard is returning to the state after being sent to Washington, D.C. to secure demonstrations. Members of the guard will also still be posted in Columbus and Cleveland, as protesters continue to demonstrate against the deaths of George Floyd and other black people killed by police. The Statehouse News Bureau reports Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard John Harris says members are specifically trained for crowd control and to assist local law enforcement.
Ride Inspector Layoffs May Cause Trouble for Amusement Parks Looking to Reopen
Four members of the state''s ride inspection team of 12 were furloughed last month as part of $4.8 million in budget cuts by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. This may be a potential problem for amusement parks across the state, including Cedar Point (89 rides) and Kings Island (65 rides) that have announced plans to open early next month but will require inspections to operate.
Ohio''s Republican Legislature Could Declare Racism Public Health Crisis
Ohio lawmakers Sens. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) and Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) are asking for a declaration that acknowledges racism is a public health crisis, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The senators proposed a resolution (SCR14) that would ask Gov. Mike DeWine to establish a working group to promote racial equity. The resolution had its first hearing Tuesday, and three Republican senators have signed on to support the legislation.
Why It''s So Hard to Find Ohio''s Next ODH Director
Gov. Mike DeWine''s latest pick for the next director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Dr. Joan Duwve, decided not to take the job over concerns she would face the same type of "harassment" as former ODH Director Dr. Amy Acton. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports finding an experienced and willing health director who is acceptable to Ohio''s GOP-controlled Senate has been no easy feat for DeWine.
DeWine Waiting to Act on Resolving COVID-19 Wrecked State Budget
State officials have yet to take any significant steps to resolve a projected $2 billion shortfall in the state budget. The Columbus Dispatch reports DeWine has signaled the state''s $2.7 billion Rainy Day Fund could largely be drained to offset the need for large cuts to schools and other essential services, but he has yet to ask lawmakers to authorize tapping the state savings account or ordered any sizable budget cuts.
How to Decide When Elections Are Actually ''Rigged''
The upcoming presidential election may prove to be the most contentious in U.S. history as both nominees have suggested that if they lose, it will be because of wrongdoing on the other side. But Edward Foley, director of the Election Law program at Ohio State University''s Moritz College of Law, explains for Politico how voters can know when election results are valid, and when they are not.
Confusion over In-Person Voting Leads to Light Turnout
With more than 500,000 outstanding ballots on Monday, many Ohio voters were left uncertain how to proceed in the primary election process after never receiving mail-in ballots. Ohioans who did not receive their ballot in time had to decide whether to travel to their boards of elections to cast provisional ballots, and the Columbus Dispatch reports that as of 3:25 p.m. Tuesday, just 615 provisional voters and 110 disabled voters cast ballots in person. About 17,000 voted ballots came in from the post office on Tuesday morning.
Experts Say Ohio Lacks Sufficient Testing to Reopen
As Ohio moves forward with reopening its economy, studies from Harvard University indicate Ohio and neighboring Kentucky are among the worst in the nation for testing, based on the number of tests performed and the states'' population. Ohio currently tests a total of 2,000 to 4,000 people per day. To meet the level recommended by the Harvard study, the state would need to increase the number of tests to roughly 17,800 per day, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
With the growing national prominence of Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Dr. Director Amy Acton, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum recently announced bobblehead dolls of the two state leaders are now available for presale. The museum said $5 from every Acton and DeWine bobblehead sold will be donated to the "Protect the Heroes" fund in support of the "100 Million Mask Challenge." The museum has raised $175,000 for the challenge through the sale of bobbleheads featuring Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx, and four other governors, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
For the week ending May 30, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported 34,575 initial unemployment claims. "The number of initial jobless claims filed in Ohio over the last 11 weeks (1,292,413) is more than the combined total of those filed during the last three years," ODJFS said in a news release. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Ohio among U.S. Legislatures Slow to Pass Laws Limiting Use of Force by Police
After a wave of police killings of young black men in 2014, many states still have not passed laws addressing use of force. In Ohio, the shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice contributed to Gov. John Kasich creating a police advisory board to adopt standards limiting use of deadly force by police. The GOP-led Legislature chose not to make those recommendations law, leaving police agencies to comply voluntarily. But this week, House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes (D-Akron), criticized Republican lawmakers for failing to enact those recommendations, saying their actions "show us time and time again that black lives do not matter," the Associated Press reports.
Increased COVID-19 Testing Not Finding Higher Rates of Positive Cases
Increased testing for the coronavirus in Ohio is not finding a higher rate of people infected with COVID-19. The Columbus Dispatch reports that 94 percent of people have tested negative in the past 40 days, and data provided by the Ohio Department of Health shows that as of Memorial Day, 340,000 tests had been administered since recordkeeping began March 4. That''s three percent of the state''s population. Ninety percent of the tests were negative.
Delayed Primary Election Leaves Many Confused about Next Steps
The last-minute decision to delay the primary election may have left many Ohioans confused about when and how they can expect to vote. The Columbus Dispatch answers the most pressing questions about what the primary changes mean for them.
Potential for Long School Closures Leaves Many Parents, Teachers Feeling Uncertain
Tuesday, Kansas became the first state to close schools for the rest of the academic year, and as longer school closures seem more likely for Ohio and the rest of country, many parents and teachers are wondering how to fill the gaps of children''s education. The Columbus Dispatch reports on the options being considered -- from repeating this school year, to summer school, to continuing with all online education.
Pandemic Leads to Operational Changes for Funeral Homes
The Akron Beacon Journal reports on the measures local funeral homes are taking to combat the spread of the coronavirus. As the severity of the public health crisis increases, smaller gatherings and increased sanitation are necessary for public safety.
No Comment from DeWine on President''s Push for Crackdown on Protests
Gov. Mike DeWine wouldn''t comment on statements President Donald Trump made during a Monday call with governors demanding a more aggressive response from police and the National Guard to protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, Cleveland.com reports. During the call, audio of which was released by multiple news outlets, Trump said the governors were "weak" and needed to "dominate the protests," which descended into looting and vandalism across multiple U.S. cities.
Lawmakers Prepare Plans to Help State''s Unemployment Benefits System
As Ohio''s unemployment insurance program nears insolvency, state lawmakers, including Reps. Craig Riedel (R-Defiance) and George Lang (R-West Chester), are preparing legislation allowing the state to sell employer-backed bonds to help stabilize the system, Cleveland.com reports. The legislation, which lawmakers expect to introduce in the next week or two, would be the first major change in years to shore up the state''s unemployment insurance program, which was underfunded even before the pandemic.
Trump Spends Thousands Advertising in Ohio amid Fears COVID-19 Response Will Hurt Campaign
The Trump campaign is spending more than $600,000 on TV commercials in Ohio and a similar amount in Iowa. Both are states the president won easily in 2016, and they stand out from his other unsurprising ad buys in states widely seen as up for grabs like Michigan and Pennsylvania. The LA Times reports that at a time when Trump could be expanding the battleground map to states that Clinton narrowly won, he is instead shoring up support in states that should be part of his base -- potentially over fears his pandemic response could hurt his reelection chances.
Data Show Hamilton County''s COVID-19 Surge Not Caused by Protests
Public health officials worried weeks of street protests would result in a spike of COVID-19 cases, but early findings from the Cincinnati and Hamilton county health departments show most of the new infections are connected to large gatherings at bars, restaurants and private events. The Cincinnati Health Department found only 2 percent of newly infected people who said they''d attended a large gathering had a known connection to the protests. The rest encountered crowds at bars and parties, often without masks or observing social distancing guidelines, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Franklin County Reports One-Year Spike in Fatal Drug Overdoses
Overdose deaths in Franklin County jumped significantly the first three months of the year compared to last year, the Associated Press reports. Overdoses driven by fentanyl jumped 55 percent during that time. Demographically, most victims were white men who were either divorced or never married. Methamphetamine- and alcohol-related deaths were also up. This year''s increase in overdose deaths preceded the COVID-19 pandemic.
How Dollar Stores Became Magnets for Crime, Killing
The number of Dollar General and Family Dollar stores continues to swell across the country even as conventional brick and motor stores are forced to consolidate. ProPublica reports their growth is driven in part by widening income inequality and economic distress, which growing evidence suggests they have a hand in creating. The stores, often located in high-crimes neighborhoods, are the routine targets of robberies that sometimes end in killings. This has been a particular problem in Dayton, where Mayor Nan Whaley said she now believes the stores "prey" on the poor.
Trump Cancels Ads in Ohio As Biden Gains Fundraising Advantage
President Donald Trump''s reelection campaign is cutting millions in spending on TV ads in Ohio and other Midwestern states that carried him to victory in 2016. Recent polls show Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden essentially tied in Ohio, and Buzzfeed News reports the funding cut may indicate some "unpleasant financial realities" as Democrats outraised the GOP by $150 million in August.
Householder Accused of Using HB6 Money to Defame Former House Candidate
Bobby Mitchell, a Columbus-area pastor who lost his House Republican primary bid to a Team Householder candidate, is suing former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), FirstEnergy and other parties tied to the HB6 (Callender, Wilkin) scandal for spreading "false and malicious smear campaigns" against him, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Voting-Rights Advocates Ask Federal Judge to Reconsider Dismissal of Ballot Drop Box Case
Voting-rights advocates asked a federal judge to re-open a case seeking to expand ballot drop boxes in Ohio, citing precedents that allow a judge to do so in the event of “a substantive mistake of law or fact in the final judgment or order,” Cleveland.com reports. A motion filed Wednesday says the court''s earlier ruling relied on the belief that Secretary of State Frank LaRose was taking actions to address voters'' issues in Cuyahoga County, but that he hasn''t done so.
Summit County Dumps Vendor Contract amid Ballot Delays
Summit County''s Board of Elections ended their contract with Midwest Direct, a Cleveland-based firm hired to handle the initial surge of absentee ballot requests, after the firm took too long to get the ballots out to the 95,000 voters requesting them, Akron Beacon Journal reports. Midwest Direct has contracts with 19 other Ohio counties, including Lucas, which is also experiencing absentee ballot delays.
Democrats Urge Early Voting As Trump Stokes Fears of Contested Election
Democratic leaders are urging supporters of Joe Biden to vote early and show up in huge numbers amid concerns nothing short of a decisive win will prevent President Donald Trump from contesting the election, Reuters reports. In Ohio, where 2.4 million mail-in ballots have been requested, the state Democratic Party is emphasizing the power voters hold to send Trump packing if they act early.
Voters Might Not Know Who Won Ohio on Election Day
With election day just weeks away, the Ohio Capital Journal reports voters may not know who won Ohio on Nov. 3. That''s because while mail-in ballots that have been received and processed will be counted along with ballots cast in-person on election night, Ohio law allows for ballots to arrive up to 10 days after election, and allows voters to correct any issues with their ballot up to seven days after the election.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich is expected to speak at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Joe Biden''s behalf next month. Kasich is among a handful of high-profile Republicans likely to become more active in supporting Biden this fall, the Associated Press reports.
Hundreds of maskless people gathered at the Statehouse over the weekend to protest what they said was an overreach by Gov. Mike DeWine and other officials trying to stop the spread of the COVID-19. Various other groups also gathered including militia members, supporters of President Donald Trump, prayer proponents and those championing Black Lives Matter, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Republican and Democratic representatives have gathered ideas about police reform this summer, but still seem at odds with each other. Both parties agree on reforms like creating a statewide database that tracks police misconduct, but disagree on criminalizing the use of chokeholds, prohibiting the purchase of surplus military equipment and banning the use of tear gas, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Republican Lawmakers to Meet to Determine Householder''s Fate
GOP representatives plan to meet Tuesday for the first time since Larry Householder''s (R-Glenford) arrest to discuss whether to remove the disgraced speaker. The Associated Press reports Attorney General Dave Yost and Jane Timken, chair of the Ohio Republican Party, are also among those invited to the meeting, where a secret ballot on whether Householder should be removed will be taken.
State Board Member Went to FBI over Householder''s Involvement in His House Primary
Nick Owens, a State Board of Education member and former Republican candidate for Ohio''s 66th House District, went to the FBI last spring over concerns that Householder was coordinating with dark money groups to influence the campaign, Local12 reports.
Mail Delays Continue as Postal Service Grapples with Financial Crisis
Earlier this month, local letter carriers were told to delay delivering mail in order to save money for the U.S. Postal Service as the institution finds itself in a "financially unsustainable position." This is especially problematic for people with limited Internet access who rely on the mail to pay bills and vote, The Blade reports.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton''s daily briefings on the coronavirus have led to the hashtags #winewithDeWine and #snackinwithActon as well as a sharp rating increase for Ohio''s broadcast stations, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Viewership of some local channels during DeWine''s briefings has more than doubled this month compared to the same time slot a year ago.
First COVID-19 Case Found in Ohio Prisons as DeWine Pushes Back Against Inmate Releases
Sunday night a staff member at Marion Correctional Institution tested positive for coronavirus amid growing safety concerns for inmates during the pandemic. Just 20 prisoners have been tested so far in Ohio''s prison systems, which houses nearly 50,000 inmates, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The announcement came soon after DeWine said inmates may be safer in prisons than outside of them.
As winter finally comes to a close, data shows average temperatures in Ohio from December 2019 to February 2020 reached 34.8 degrees -- six degrees above normal and the fifth warmest on record. Ohio wasn''t alone as warmer than normal temperatures were felt around the globe, USA Today reports.
Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder headlined a virtual fundraiser for Democratic Ohio Supreme Court candidate Jennifer Brunner Tuesday. Holder is chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which is focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures where, like in Ohio, legislative districts will be redrawn next year. The Toledo Blade reports this is yet another sign redistricting is at the front-and-center of this year''s Supreme Court race.
Party politics have changed in Ohio over the last decade, as have demographics, and the result is Democrats have lost ground in rural areas, while Republicans have a hard time winning in urban areas. But many voters are frustrated with the division and say national politics don''t reflect their cities and small towns, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports
Ohio''s Drop-Box Dispute Underscores Voting Rights Advocates, Democrats'' Fears of Trump Influence
Ohio''s legal battle over the number of ballot drop boxes per county became one of the most bitter and revealing legal fights of this election year, the Washington Post reports, and it shows how Democrats and voting rights advocates fear that the influence of President Donald Trump''s false claims about voting fraud could have a negative effect on voters'' ability to cast a ballot.
Former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) still can''t find a permanent lawyer to defend him against a charge related to the $60 million bribery scheme. His current lawyer, Dave Thomas, filed a new motion requesting more time to find one, the Associated Press reports. Householder had already been allowed to delay an Aug. 6 court appearance to find a new attorney after Thomas said he has a conflict of interest and must drop off the case.
In 2018, the state diverted nearly $250 million from districts to private school tuition through two voucher programs, but an analysis by the Cincinnati Enquirer found those same private schools mostly failed to meet the academic caliber set by their neighboring public school districts.
Top Advisor to Biden Thinks Ohio Is Winnable for Democrats
Greg Schultz, who ran Democratic nominee Joe Biden''s presidential campaign until May, thinks Biden can squeeze a win from Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Higher Black turnout, peeling off some blue-collar workers who went for President Donald Trump, and stoking an advantage in suburbs that are increasingly turning blue could put Ohio in Biden''s win column, Schultz said.
Oscar-Winning Film on Dayton Factory Sparks Federal Probe
Possible illegal treatment of employees depicted in Netflix documentary "American Factory" has sparked federal and state probes aimed at Chinese-owned Fuyao Glass, the company that owns the Dayton-based factory that was the subject of the film, the Dayton Daily News reports. The film shows Chinese officials discussing potentially firing workers for trying to unionize.
State Must Grant Driver''s Licenses to Refugees, Teens with Undocumented Parents
U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr. ruled that a BMV policy stating that minors in the state must have parents co-sign for their driver''s licenses and their parents had to have legal status in the country violates the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Existing Marijuana Businesses Might Sell Recreational Pot if Legalized
With news of another effort to legalize recreational marijuana through a constitutional amendment breaking earlier this week, Cleveland.com asks, what would happen to existing medical marijuana businesses if recreational pot is legalized? An early draft of the ballot initiative provides that existing medical marijuana businesses would be allowed sell recreation marijuana if legalized, providing them early entry to the market.
As the Democratic Party looks toward the November presidential election, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) tells Rolling Stone what he thinks the Democrats need to do to win the presidency as well as reflects on his own career from state representative to U.S. Senator.
DeWine Pushes Back on Trump''s Vote-By-Mail Comments
After President Donald Trump called mail-in-voting "horrible" and "corrupt" in recent comments during a press briefing and on Twitter, Ohio officials say the state''s vote-by-mail system is safe and not corrupt. Gov. Mike DeWine reiterated that the system is safe and asks people to vote-by-mail, the Statehouse News Bureau reports.
Republican Lawmakers Pressure DeWine to Ease Coronavirus Restrictions
Some state lawmakers within Gov. Mike DeWine''s own party are growing impatient and skeptical of the administration''s measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus, Cleveland.com reports. Even as DeWine says his administration is looking toward steps to reopen the economy, some lawmakers question whether Ohio''s case numbers justify the economic shutdown.
Sen. Steve Huffman Questions Why COVID-19 Affects ''Colored Population''
During Tuesday''s hearing on SCR14 (Williams-Craig), which would declare racism a public health crisis, Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) asked Ohio Commission on Minority Health Executive Director Angela Dawson about the higher incidence of COVID-19 among African Americans, saying, "Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups," the Washington Post reports. He later apologized for the question, saying it was "unintentionally awkward."
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose voiced his support for SB191 (Gavarone) at a meeting of his "Ready for November" Task Force, a bill that would give LaRose the authority to develop an online system for voters to request absentee ballots, according to the Columbus Dispatch. LaRose said as many as 50 percent of ballots could be cast by mail in November.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported Thursday an additional 35,430 initial jobless claims over the past week, bringing Ohio''s total to 1,327,843 individuals who have filed for unemployment compensation over the last 12 weeks. A total of $3.8 billion in UC payments have been distributed. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
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Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Sorry, No Changing Votes if Your Presidential Candidate Drops Out
Were you so excited to vote for your preferred presidential candidate that you voted early, only to see that candidate drop out of the race before Election Day? According to the Toledo Blade, it doesn''t matter if your candidate is no longer in the race. But in other states, absentee voters can pull their original ballot and cast a new one up until the day before the primary election.
Super Tuesday Could Make Race Clearer for Ohio Voters
Voters in 14 states and one U.S. territory are heading to the polls on Tuesday as Democratic presidential candidates vie for 1,357 delegates. The Cincinnati Enquirer says the results could give Ohio Democrats a better picture of the presidential race before the Buckeye State holds its primary two weeks later.
Opponents: Transgender Bill Makes Youth Vulnerable to Discrimination
Sponsors of HB513 (Hood-Dean) say their bill barring certain treatments for transgender youth will protect children and prevent sterilization procedures they call irreversible, but opponents tell Spectrum News the legislation lumps together widely approved treatments with those which responsible medical professionals would never recommend to a minor.
LaRose Announces Curbside Voting, Extended Absentee Deadline for Hospitalized
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a directive Sunday extending the deadline to request absentee ballots for voters who are "unforeseeably confined or hospitalized" until 3 p.m. on March 17. Ohio will also offer curbside voting for those concerned about entering their polling place as the state''s COVID-19 cases continue to grow, the Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.
Yost Announces Intent to Reexamine Ohio''s Sunshine Laws
Attorney General Dave Yost says that the time has come to modernize the state''s sunshine laws, which include the public''s right to attend meetings of governmental bodies. Sunday was the start of Sunshine Week, a national observance of the importance of government transparency, and Ohio''s public-records laws have not been revisited since 1963, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Though Democrats have set record turnouts in earlier states like New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Virginia, Ohio''s voter turnout looks uncertain as the state faces ever growing coronavirus fears and a more settled Democratic race, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
DeWine Exempts Trump Campaign from Mask Mandates, Crowd Size Limitations
Gov. Mike DeWine has given the green light to President Donald Trump on holding political rallies without adhering to COVID-19 safety restrictions. The governor''s administration has said it would not enforce social distancing, crowd size limitations or the state''s mask mandate if Trump comes to Ohio for a rally, the Sandusky Register reports.
O''Connor''s Criticism of State GOP Makes National News
The Washington Post reported on Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O''Connor rebuke of Ohio''s Republican Party for their accusations of political bias against a Democratic judge. The story examines the state''s ongoing legal battles surrounding ballot drop boxes as the November election approaches.
Politicians Reported to Have Received Donations from FirstEnergy PAC Say They Didn''t Get Funds
FirstEnergy''s political action committee (PAC) reported donating $158,000 to 65 Ohio politicians in mid-July, but the Cincinnati Enquirer now says several of those Republicans and Democrats report their campaigns never received the money although candidates don''t have to report contributions received in July until Thursday, Oct. 22.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported more than 226,000 initial unemployment claims for the week that ended Saturday, April 4, compared to more than 272,000 the week prior. Total claims from the last three weeks reached more than 696,000, versus 364,000-plus filed in the entirety of 2019. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Mixed Messages on Masks Leave Some Uncertain How to Proceed
After state and national leaders reversed their guidance on wearing face masks, the Columbus Dispatch reports many residents are not yet wearing them, do not know where to find or how to make them, and are uncertain about the real expectations of wearing masks in public.
With the number of COVID-19 cases triple the statewide average, Mahoning County is the hardest hit area in Ohio from the pandemic. The Ohio Department of Health reported Wednesday 28 deaths in the county -- up from 19 on Tuesday, Cleveland.com reports.
Faber to Review COVID Test Numbers, Gather Public Feedback on Testing
Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced a review of the state''s testing numbers for COVID-19, and he is also seeking feedback from members of the public on their experiences with being tested for the disease, Cleveland.com reports. The review will be part of a larger project with four other states -- Delaware, Florida, Mississippi and Pennsylvania -- with the goal of creating a uniform COVID-19 data reporting system.
Kasich Confirms Speech at Democratic National Convention
Former Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich has confirmed that he will speak at the Democratic National Convention next week, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Kasich wrote in a Tweet, "I will be speaking at the #DNC Convention because I believe that America needs to go in a different direction. I''ve searched my conscience and I believe the best way forward is for change -- to bring unity where there has been division. And to bring about a healing in America."
Survey Shows Teacher Concerns of COVID-19 Spread in Schools
Teachers responding to a recent survey from the Ohio Federation of Teachers voiced concerns with the spread of COVID-19 in schools, with only 8 percent of teachers stating that the "most comfortable" option for school in fall would be an in-person, five-day school week, the Ohio Capital Journal reports. Two-thirds of respondents said they would prefer to continue distance learning.
Group that Won Unconstitutional School Funding Suit Now Challenging Vouchers
The same group that successfully challenged Ohio''s school funding formula as unconstitutional four times before the Ohio Supreme Court is now going after the state''s EdChoice voucher program, which allows students in low-performing districts to use public education tax dollars toward purchasing private educations, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Education groups including the Ohio Federation of Teachers and the Ohio Education Association support the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding in its plans for a suit, while Senate President Larry Obhof and voucher supporters have criticized it.
Ohio''s capital budget is still in the works, but the extent of what will be funded has been thrown into question by the coronavirus crisis, which has sapped tax revenue from the state, according to Cleveland.com. The capital budget is typically enacted every two years to fund billions of dollars of construction projects, renovations and equipment purchases around the state.
Ohio Prisons to Accept New Prisoners Again after One-Month Freeze
While most Ohio prisons remain on lockdown because staff and inmates tested positive for COVID-19, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction announced Thursday that prisons will resume receiving prisoners from county jails on Monday, May 18, according to the Marion Star. The paper reports that prisoners will be tested for COVID-19 at intake. More than 4,300 Ohio prisoners and more than 500 corrections staff have tested positive for the virus.
Dem Senators Voice Concerns over Staffer with Positive COVID Test
Sens. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) told the Ohio Capital Journal of concerns that Republican leadership suppressed information regarding a legislative staffer who tested positive for COVID-19. Fedor said she won''t return to the Statehouse until there''s protocol to handle infections, while Maharath commented, "If you want to risk your life over that, go ahead..." Senate GOP spokesman John Fortney did not offer comment, citing employee privacy concerns.
Toledo Eyes Subpoena Power for Civilian Police Review Board
Members of Toledo City Council voiced support for giving the city''s Civilian Police Review Board subpoena power, and debate on the subject focused on how quickly to give the board that power, according to the Toledo Blade. Members of the Toledo Police Department said the structure of the board should be finalized before subpoena power is given, while other city council members characterized the measure as a simple matter with little to debate.
Obergefell Continues Advocacy after Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
Five years after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that required all states to grant same-sex marriages, plaintiff and Cincinnati native Jim Obergefell has continued working with LGBTQ advocacy groups, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. In the five years since his case, an estimated 300,000 same-sex couples have been married nationwide.
House Keeps Documents on HB6 Secret from Federal Investigators
Correspondence between Ohio House attorneys and the bill sponsors of HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) are among documents the House chose to keep secret from federal investigators in their public corruption probe of the bill, with the House citing attorney-client privilege, Cleveland.com writes.
A July 29 decision that was later reversed by the Ohio pharmacy board to ban prescriptions of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 received thousands of public comments upset with the decision, many citing interference with patient-doctor relationships, others accusing the board of playing politics, according to the Associated Press.
Householder Remains on Legislative Ethics Panel, despite Corruption Indictment
Despite being removed from his post as speaker of the House after being charged in a federal racketeering case, Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford) remains on the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee, which governs ethics and lobbying matters for the Ohio General Assembly, the Dayton Daily News reports.
As protests erupt across Ohio and the country, News5Cleveland reports the details of how one peaceful assembly in Cleveland turned violent in just a few minutes as a result of a hand full of individuals.
National Guard Faces Increased Misinformation about Role in State
As the Ohio National Guard''s role in combating the coronavirus continues to expand, misinformation continues to plague its members. The Associated Press reports martial law rumors lit up Twitter and Facebook when guard members headed to Marion Correctional Institution to assist with staffing. Similar rumors have followed the guard over the last few months -- their spread made easier with the use of social media.
Small Ohio County May Decide If State Swings Red Or Blue in November
Wood County, part of a cluster of northwest Ohio "pivot counties," where voters swung from Democrat to Republican in 2016, is looking like an extra swingy area to political observers who say the county is a good barometer for how Ohio will vote in 2020, The Blade reports.
Pro-Gun Groups Target Ohio for Anti-Quarantine Protests
A group "of far-right, pro-gun provocateurs" appears to be behind anti-quarantine demonstrations in Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New York, the Washington Post reports. The Facebook groups appear to be the work of Ben Dorr, the political director of Minnesota Gun Rights, and two of his brothers who have criticized the National Rifle Association (NRA) for being "too compromising" on gun issues. As of Sunday, their groups had about 200,000 members. The paper reports that the online activity instigated by the Dorrs creates the impression that opposition to the restrictions is more widespread than polling suggests. Nearly 70 percent of Republicans said they supported a national stay-at-home order, and 95 percent of Democrats said the same in a recent survey.
DeWine Discusses How He Plans to Lead Ohio in Wake of Coronavirus
As Gov. Mike DeWine''s early actions to stop the spread of the coronavirus seem to have headed off the worst-case scenarios playing out in other parts of the country, DeWine spoke with Time Magazine about how he made those hard decisions such as cancelling the Arnold Classic and moving to remote learning for schools at a time when hardly any other states were taking similar actions, as well as about how he is managing the crisis in Ohio now.
Majority of Marion Correctional Institution Population Tests Positive for COVID-19
As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in Ohio''s prison system, the majority of those cases are at the Marion Correctional Institution (MCI), where 1,828 inmates -- 73 percent of the total -- have tested positive for coronavirus, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The remaining 667 prisoners now are in quarantine. No deaths have been reported among inmates there. MCI''s staff has had 109 positive tests and one death reported. The Ohio National Guard, already providing medical support at Pickaway Correctional Institution, will soon be sent to Marion Correctional.
The Ohio Supreme Court agreed Friday to a request from Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections to expedite the lawsuit challenging the Ohio Ballot Board''s decision to split the campaign group''s proposed constitutional amendment into four initiatives. Justices set a schedule for all briefing to be finished by Thursday, March 19. Read more in Friday''s Hannah Report.
Unemployment Flat in January
Ohio''s unemployment rate stayed at 4.1 percent in January as the state lost 6,300 jobs, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services said Friday. Read more in Friday''s Hannah Report.
Montgomery County Denies Rally Permit for KKK-Affiliated Group
Citing the cost and threats to public safety, Montgomery County Friday denied a permit for a Ku Klux Klan-affiliated group that sought to hold a rally at Courthouse Square the Saturday before Labor Day, according to the Dayton Daily News.
DeWine Further Distances Himself from Death Penalty
Gov. Mike DeWine corrected a reporter Tuesday who described him as a supporter of the death penalty. The Columbus Dispatch reports DeWine objected to the "premise" of a question: "I didn''t say that. I said I am following the law in Ohio" that permits executions, he said. DeWine has presided over no executions on his watch and does not expect any to occur next year either.
Portman Acknowledges Biden Victory after Electoral College Vote
After the Electoral College affirmed President-Elect Joe Biden''s victory, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) acknowledged Biden''s win over President Donald Trump and argued he did not wait too long to do so. Portman, along with most Republicans in Congress, had declined to call Biden the president-elect for weeks following the election, the Toledo Blade reports.
DeWine, GOP Lawmakers Have Different Priorities As Lame-Duck Nears End
Gov. Mike DeWine''s priorities for the end of lame-duck session appear very different from those of his fellow Republicans in the Legislature. While DeWine wants to see action on police reform and gun laws, GOP lawmakers are advancing measures expanding use of force laws, requiring the burial or cremation of aborted fetuses, and reining in DeWine’s coronavirus powers, Cleveland.com reports.
OCC Wants to Make Sure Customers Didn''t Pay for $61M Nuclear Bailout Scheme
The Ohio Consumers'' Counsel (OCC) has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to audit FirstEnergy, the company believed to be behind the $61 million bailout scheme for two northern Ohio nuclear plants. The ratepayer watchdog wants to make sure utility customers didn''t foot the bill, Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Obhof ''Frustrated'' by State''s Shifting COVID-19 Goals
Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) said he is "frustrated" by Gov. Mike DeWine''s shifting goals on the COVID-19. "I think the administration has now shifted to trying to get to zero infections across the state, which is unattainable. I believe that the trade-off economically, and frankly, with our freedoms no longer makes sense ...," he told Richland County commissioners, who share his sentiment, Richland Source reports
Yost Thinks OSU Can Sue Big Ten over Football Cancellation
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost may recommend that Ohio State University file a lawsuit seeking monetary damages from the Big Ten and member schools that voted against playing football this fall, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Yost has not yet discussed the potential state-court action against the Big Ten with Ohio State officials as conference talks continue on when and if to play football this season.
House Staffers Sent Home after Aide Tests Positive for Coronavirus
An untold number of Ohio House staff have been placed on administrative leave, after a legislative aide tested positive this week for COVID-19. The aide, assigned to a House Republican, has been sent home, as has anyone determined to have been within six feet of the aide for more than 15 minutes. This is the second case of an aide testing positive for the virus. Last month, a staffer assigned to a state Senate Democrat tested positive. And this week, state Rep. Stephanie Howse, (D-Cleveland), announced she had tested positive, Cleveland.com reports.
Rep. Vitale Encourages Residents to ''Stop Getting Tested!'' for COVID
Rep. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) took to Facebook earlier this week to write: "Are you tired of living in a dictatorship yet? This is what happens when people go crazy and get tested. STOP GETTING TESTED!" Vitale''s post was in apparent response to Gov. Mike DeWine requiring masks in certain high-risk counties. Vitale also wrote that mass testing would give "the government an excuse to claim something is happening that is not happening at the magnitude they say it is happening." His comments mirror President Donald Trump''s from an Oklahoma rally where he suggested slowing down COVID-19 testing, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Across the country, statues of Christopher Columbus have been taken down by protestors and city officials, including the one in front of Columbus'' city hall. The Washington Post reports some activists are even confident they can make a change to the city''s name, but Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said he is not considering changing the name as the city''s charter nor its laws provide a process for changing it. State law says a person can petition the court for a hearing on the matter if they show three-quarters of the city''s residents desire the name change.
Holiday Travel Likely to Be at Lowest Levels in Years, AAA Finds
Most Ohioans do not expect to travel any great distance during the upcoming holiday weekend, and many are citing the pandemic as their reason for staying home, according to a survey from the American Automobile Association (AAA). The auto club said the number of holiday travelers is expected to be at its lowest level in years, the Toledo Blade reports.
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich Says GOP Is ''Afraid'' of Trump
Few high-profile Republicans have denounced President Donald Trump’s false allegations of widespread voter fraud or acknowledged Joe Biden''s presidential win. In an interview with NPR, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich says it''s because Republicans are afraid of the president. "They''re afraid that they''ll be primaried or they''re afraid they''ll be severely criticized," he said. "And it''s a pretty remarkable situation."
With Democrats'' poor performance on Election Day, Ohio seems to have lost its bellwether title. Now Democrats in the state are saying the party needs to work on shoring up the Democratic base of Black, Latino, and Asian American voters, as well as focus on messaging and money. Some are also wondering if Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper is still the right leader for Ohio Democrats, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
OSU among Over 40 U.S. Colleges Suspending In-Person Classes
Ohio State University (OSU) President Michael Drake has announced the school is suspending face-to-face instruction in lectures, discussion sections, seminars and other similar classroom settings and moving to virtual instruction effective immediately and continuing through at least Monday, March 30. OSU is one of more than 40 institutions of higher education that have cancelled in-person classes due to the coronavirus, according to WOSU.
Tim Warsinskey, who has been editor of Cleveland''s Plain Dealer for just over a week, on Monday night announced that 22 newsroom employees will be laid off, taking the number of journalists employed by the newspaper and sister company Cleveland.com down to 77. He said they will continue "covering stories that matter to Northeast Ohio readers" with "reporters based in Akron, Columbus and Washington, D.C."
State''s Highest Paid Employee Made More than $600K
While inflation has increased 53 percent from 1999 to 2019, the earnings of the state of Ohio''s highest-paid employee has jumped by 160 percent -- from $233,000 to about $605,000, the
Columbus Dispatch reports. Of the $605,000 made by mental health psychiatrist Florence Kimbo, about $368,000 represented overtime, according to the newspaper.
Reps. John Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson) both said in interviews they’ve been hospitalized with COVID-19. Both attended a Dec. 2 House Finance Committee meeting in which at least two other lawmakers who attended have since tested positive for the virus, the Ohio Capital Journal reports.
DeWine Offers to Decriminalize Health Order Violations to Hold Off Veto Override
Gov. Mike DeWine is offering a deal to substitute civil fines for the current criminal penalty for violating his administration''s health orders in a bid to stave off a potential override of his veto of SB311 (McColley-Roegner), a measure to limit the Ohio Department of Health''s authority to order people into quarantine or isolation, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Incoming Senate President Says School Funding Priority for 2021
Incoming Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told the Lima News he expects the next Legislature to address school funding reforms in the first six months of the new year. Huffman said HB305 (Cupp-Patterson) has prepped a wider discussion around school funding, but he would like to reconsider the extra $2 billion in additional education funding the bill, as written, currently provides.
Ohio Could See Recreational Marijuana on 2020 Ballot
Language of a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults over 21 has been obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer. According to the paper, attorney Tom Haren, who has represented Ohio marijuana businesses, and Republican consultant Mike Hartley will work with supporters, who will file petitions with the attorney general this week.
Cincinnati Councilwoman Arrested for Bribery, Extortion, Wire Fraud
Federal charges of bribery, extortion and wire fraud have led to the arrest of Cincinnati City Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. A concerned citizen told law enforcement that Dennard requested between $10,000 and $15,000 in exchange for votes on an upcoming issue to be heard by city council.
Strauss Victims Ask for Return to Suits after Long Mediation
Attorneys suing Ohio State University on behalf of victims of sexual abuse by deceased physician Richard Strauss sought a return to litigation in a filing Monday night, writing that, "OSU has not participated in the mediation process in good faith," according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio Approaches One Million Unemployment Claims amid Pandemic
Ohio tallied 109,369 initial unemployment claims for the week ending Saturday, April 18, bringing the five-week total of claims to 964,566, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. For comparison, the state logged 715,512 claims in all of 2018 and 2019 combined. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Comments Comparing Acton''s Statement with Nazi Mandates Draw Criticism
State Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Powell) responded to a Facebook post made by his wife which compared a statement of Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, who is Jewish, to orders made by the Nazi regime in Germany by saying, "We will never allow that to happen in Ohio," the Columbus Dispatch reports. The comments garnered widespread criticism from Gov. Mike DeWine and other Republican leaders. Brenner later said he had been misquoted.
Pickaway Prison Now Number Two Hotspot for COVID-19, Just behind Marion Prison
Pickaway Correctional Institute is now the second ranked hotspot for COVID-19, just behind Marion Correctional Institute, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch. With Ohio now home to the top two coronavirus hotspots in the nation, officials say the demographics and mass testing of inmates and employers at the facilities are the reason behind the surge in cases.
DeWine Pivots on Face-Mask Mandates, Leading to Confusion
After Gov. Mike DeWine announced he would mandate face masks for customers in retail settings, he reversed course the next day, instead saying they would be recommended. He further announced that masks would be required for employees, with some exceptions. Cleveland.com reports that given DeWine''s previous comments that to not require face coverings would be "negligent" and a "mistake," his actions now indicate he has uncharacteristically caved under political pressure from within his own party.
State Reports Ohio Nursing Homes with Coronavirus Cases
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in long-term care facilities, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported 2,095 nursing home patients and staff currently have the virus, up from 1,477 last week. With varying testing in counties and facilities, Cleveland.com gives a detailed look at the Ohio facilities currently reporting cases as well as their cumulative case totals.
GOP Leaders Split on November Election Plans following Confusing Primary
As Ohio''s vote-by-mail primary led to confusion for many Ohioans, House Speakers Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has joined Democrats and voting rights advocates in saying the state needs to prepare now for the potential that the health crisis will derail in-person voting again in November. Meanwhile, his Republican colleagues, Gov. Mike DeWine and Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina), say it is too early to plan for alternatives. Secretary of State Frank LaRose has begun working on contingency plans which he will offer to state leaders, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Amid Spike in School-Related Cases, Online School Recommended
With an increasing trend of COVID-19 cases being reported in schools statewide, Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County has continued to recommend school takes place in an online format, the Dayton Daily News reports. Ohio Department of Health data showed 1,776 COVID-19 cases among students and school staff the week of Oct. 26 through Nov. 1.
All HB6 ‘Yes’ Votes Reelected; Some ‘No’ Votes Lost Reelection
Despite the controversy surrounding nuclear bailout bill HB6 and the related federal bribery charges against former House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford), "voters didn''t seem to care," according to the Ohio Capital Journal. All Ohio House members who voted "yes" on HB6 won reelection -- including Householder -- while some legislators who voted "no" lost their seats.
Security Contractor Improperly Sent Armed Guards to Poll Sites
The Franklin County Board of Elections hired unarmed guards to escort poll workers and election materials on Tuesday, but one company hired subcontractors who sent armed guards to poll sites, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Franklin County Board of Elections Director Ed Leonard told the paper, "Once that came to our attention, the sheriff''s office told security firms to leave. They were supposed to be unarmed security."
With Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton''s "stay-at-home" order coming into effect Monday at 11:59 p.m. and lasting at least through Monday, April 6, the Cincinnati Enquirer breaks down how the order will affect the day-to-day lives of Ohio citizens and businesses.
Scams Likely to Increase in Ohio as Pandemic Continues
As the coronavirus continues to spread across Ohio and the country, Attorney General Dave Yost and the Better Business Bureau warn residents scams such as fake telephone calls and emails are likely to target vulnerable Ohioans. The Lima News reports on the precautions that the public can take to protect themselves from these scams.
Ohio Pension Funds Brace for Effects of the Coronavirus
As the long-term effects of the coronavirus remain unknown, Ohio''s public pensions are moving to reassure Ohioans that benefits will go on as scheduled as well as ready themselves for an uncertain economic future, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
UW''s Optimistic Model for COVID-19 in Ohio Proved Most Accurate
Two weeks ago, the University of Washington''s (UW) Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) offered a more positive projection for the spread of coronavirus in Ohio with models that suggested the state had enough intensive care unit (ICU) beds and ventilators to effectively manage the crisis. These projections came as other models offered dire predictions for the future and Gov. Mike DeWine and Department of Health Director Amy Acton warned the outbreak could overwhelm hospitals. Now, with projections for case totals drastically reduced from what they were just a few weeks ago, Cleveland.com reports on why IHME got it right.
After President Donald Trump made comments calling vote-by-mail systems "corrupt" and that they would lead Republicans to lose elections, Ohio''s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose pushed back on those ideas saying voting through the mail is safe and not a disadvantage to Republicans. Furthermore, he rejected the notion that high voter turnout is bad for the Republican Party, pointing to the 2016 election Trump won, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
As the coronavirus pandemic exposes the lack of resources and funding of many local public health departments, the Cincinnati Enquirer analyzed the budgets of area health departments over the past decade, finding cuts and confusion for many in the area.
The food stamp program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), already was serving more than 1.3 million Ohioans each month before the pandemic, Cleveland.com reports. However, as unemployment claims near 1 million, food stamp rolls are expected to grow with more than 92,000 Ohioans having applied for benefits since mid-March. Even so, some hunger relief and policy groups say the program needs expanding and they worry people who are eligible are not applying.
With the deadline to vote in the Ohio primary election just days away, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the slower than expected mail delivery of the ballots means some Ohioans who have requested a ballot may not receive it in time, the Columbus Dispatch reports. First-class mail that normally takes one to three days for delivery now is taking as many as seven to nine days. LaRose said voters affected by the mail delay can go to their county board of elections Tuesday, April 28 and cast a provisional ballot.
Researchers at Cleveland Clinic and Ohio State University (OSU) are among those around the world working to create a vaccine for the coronavirus, even as social distancing and hiring freezes hamper researchers'' ability to work. Vaccines can take years to develop, and researchers are in the early phases, although a "herd immunity" or a treatment that would subdue the virus could happen sooner, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio Supreme Court Rules Distress Commissions Not in Violation of State''s Constitution
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the General Assembly did not violate the Ohio Constitution with passage of the 2015 law creating academic distress commissions with the power to take control of local school districts. Read more in Wednesday''s Hannah Report.
Ohio Reconsiders Ending Unemployment Benefits for Employees Not Returning to Work
Ohio is re-evaluating whether to end unemployment benefits for employees not returning to work during the pandemic. State Officials made the announcement after a hacker developed code to muck up a section of the unemployment system in which employers were to report workers who didn''t return to work during the pandemic. The code allowed fake information to be submitted, making it harder for the state to weed out legitimate submissions and deny benefits, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Medicaid Enrollment Jumps after Years of Decline
Ohio Medicaid enrollment has increased by 140,000 from the end of March until the end of April. Enrollments had been declining for the last several years. Medicaid rolls hit a low of just over 2.7 million in November 2019 and now stand at 3 million. The increase comes as Ohio Medicaid is being cut by $210 million as part of $775 million being cut from state government budgets, Cleveland.com reports.
Former Ohio Republican Chair Founder of Group Supporting Biden
Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party and alum of the George W. Bush administration, is a founder of a group called "Right Side PAC" formed to help turn out disaffected GOP voters for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The group will focus on targeting "that group of Republicans who feels that Donald Trump is an existential threat to the country and this party" in battleground states like Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, CNN reports.
BLM Protesters in Bethel Overrun by Counterprotesters
A Black Lives Matter demonstration in the small town of Bethel -- population roughly 2,800 -- this week was overrun by counterprotesters, the Washington Post reports. The 80 or so expected demonstrators were dwarfed by about 700 others -- members of motorcycle gangs, "back the blue" groups and proponents of the Second Amendment, village officials said. Some carried rifles, while others brought baseball bats and clubs. Police also say they are investigating about 10 incidents, including one in which a demonstrator was punched in the head.
Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday the fifth employee of Ohio''s prison system has died of coronavirus. Terry Loomis, 62, was a corrections officer at the privately-run Lake Erie Correctional Institution. He had been hospitalized since May 24, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Obhof''s Last Minute Change to Controlling Board Guaranteed Denial of Absentee Ballot Postage
Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) made a last-minute switch to the state Controlling Board panel that ensured the board''s denial of a request to pay the postage of absentee ballots. The Columbus Dispatch reports Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark), who favored the plan to pay for postage, was replaced by Sen. Bill Coley (R-West Chester) who has led past legislative battles against such payments.
Parents Sue Interim Health Director over School Mask Mandate
More than two dozen parents have sued Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Interim Director Lance Himes over the state''s mask mandate for children in schools. The complaint, filed in Putnam County Common Pleas Court, argues the mask requirement infringes on parents'' religious beliefs and ability to rear their children as they wish, Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
With the presidential election quickly approaching, Dayton Daily News answers readers'' questions about how to vote this November.
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Monday, Dec. 14, 2020
Cleveland Baseball Team Plans to Drop ''Indians''
The Cleveland baseball team plans to drop the name "Indians" after 105 years, the Washington Post reported over the weekend. This follows years of pressure from Native American groups and others who characterized it as racist and insensitive. There is no clue on what the new name might be.
COVID-19 Becomes Fourth Leading Cause of Death for Ohioans
With Sunday''s tally of 7,492 Ohioans who have died from the coronavirus, COVID-19 moved into fourth place as a leading cause of deaths in the state. And, according to the Ohio Capitol Journal, it could move up to third, depending on what happens over the final three weeks of the month.
Ohio’s Electoral College voters met in the Ohio Senate Chambers Monday and cast the state''s 18 electoral votes for Donald Trump for president and Mike Pence for vice president, with speakers praising the state for its “fair and accurate” election. It was the first time since 1960 that Ohio did not cast its electoral votes for the winner of the presidential election. Read more in Monday’s Hannah Report.
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Thursday, March 5, 2020
State Issues Formal Order Barring Most Arnold Festival Spectators
The Ohio Department of Health Thursday issued a formal order largely prohibiting the Arnold Sports Festival from admitting spectators to the event in light of COVID-19 risks. Gov. Mike DeWine and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said earlier this week the festival had agreed to restrictions, but sent a letter to organizers Wednesday night expressing concern about followup requests to admit people. The order from ODH Director Amy Acton bars spectators except at eight competition finals events on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as an exception for parents who are watching their minor children compete. DeWine has convened a summit on COVID-19 Thursday in Columbus for local health officials. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Dark Money Group Helps Householder-Backed Candidates in House Races
The Growth and Opportunity PAC, a dark-money group that spent $1 million to help House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) retake the speaker''s gavel, is now running ads and sending mailers in support of two Householder-backed candidates in the Cincinnati area, the Plain Dealer reports.
Dem Presidential Campaign Changes Increases Ohio''s Importance
With a number of Democratic presidential candidates dropping out and Joe Biden taking the delegate lead after Super Tuesday, political experts tell the Dayton Daily News that Ohioans are going to play a role in who wins the primary. It also illustrates the pitfalls of early voting.
Two Months Ahead of Election, Ohio Sees Record Ballot Requests
People in many counties are requesting ballots at a rate many times higher than the previous two presidential elections, particularly Ohio Democrats and people who didn''t vote in either primary. In Hamilton County, home to Cincinnati, more than 40 times as many people have requested ballots as had at this time four years ago, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
OSU''s Cancelled Football Season May Have Political Fallout for Trump
A pillar of fall Saturdays will be missing for Ohioans this year, and some voters are blaming President Trump for his handling of COVID-19. College football serves as an autumn religion not just on campus but in the rural areas where Trump''s support runs deepest, the New York Time''s reports. Losing football may be a political stain the president is unable to blame on the Democratic Party or the media.
School Employees Face Benefit Changes As SERS Board Talks ''Pension Sustainability''
As crossing guards, bus drivers and cafeteria workers go back to school, the board of trustees for the School Employees Retirement System (SERS) is considering proposals on how it defines a year of service, how it calculates a final salary and how it pays annual cost-of-living adjustments to retirees, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Biden Makes Ad Push in Rural Ohio amid Start of Early Voting
Democratic Candidate Joe Biden is expanding his ad buys across the state with radio ads in rural Ohio, traditionally Republican areas of the state, and TV ads in Dayton. The Associated Press reports the new spots indicate his campaign’s growing hopes that a state President Donald Trump won easily four years ago may be within the former vice president’s grasp.
Many have wondered about the political ramifications of the president''s COVID-19 diagnosis, but the Toledo Blade spoke with local Trump supporters and those still undecided who say his diagnosis won''t affect their vote.
Anti-Poverty Program Touted by Trump Has Limited Success in Cleveland
Trump has spent months touting his signature anti-poverty program called opportunity zones. The program was created in 2017 to allow investors to avoid certain taxes by reinvesting their profits in high poverty, low income areas. But in Cleveland, home to roughly half of the opportunity zones in Ohio, the projects seem to help the middle class more than the poor, Politico reports.
With a new system spelled out for Ohio''s primary election and with the governor set to sign the legislation Friday, the Columbus Dispatch answers voters'' questions about the next steps they need to take to participate in the vote-by-mail election system with a deadline of Tuesday, April 28.
Non-English Language Speakers Unable to Access Coronavirus Information
As state and national leaders update the public daily on the status of the global pandemic, non-English speaking communities are often left without a way to access this information. While Spanish news media is available, it often lacks local information, The Blade reports.
Some Businesses Remain Open despite DeWine''s Order
Hundreds of workers from Northeast Ohio have reached out to Cleveland.com saying their employers are staying open despite Gov. Mike DeWine''s stay at home order to close all nonessential businesses by last Monday night. Additionally, many report that safety precautions like social distancing and making hand sanitizer available are not being taken.
LaRose Says Trump, Biden ''Need to Stop'' Questioning Election Integrity
Secretary of State Frank LaRose has condemned both presidential candidates'' comments about the integrity of the 2020 election, Ohio Capital Journal reports. "Hundreds of local officials from both parties work every day to assure elections are honest and secure in all of our 88 counties. President Trump and Vice President Biden have both questioned the integrity of our elections recently without citing evidence, and they both need to stop it," he said in statement.
DeWine Won''t Join Pence in Lordstown, Didn''t Ask VP to Wear Mask during Visit
Gov. Mike DeWine said his decision not to join Vice President Mike Pence for the reopening of the closed General Motors facility in Lordstown Thursday shouldn''t be taken as a slight toward the administration. DeWine was initially scheduled to appear at the facility before Pence''s visit had been announced. He said he and his wife have been avoiding crowds. But Cleveland.com reports the move is odd as DeWine is known as a firm GOP backer and President Trump is trying to convince the country he''s handling a slew of crises, including the economy, well in an election year.
Unsealed Documents Reveal Evidence of Strauss Cover-up by OSU
Documents that were unsealed by a federal court Tuesday reveal new evidence of a cover-up of charges of sexual abuse against former Ohio State University (OSU) team doctor Richard Strauss by the university, WCMH reports. Plaintiffs say the unsealed complaint verifies what hundreds of men have said: that OSU "actively concealed Dr. Strauss''s abuse" by taking no action to identify the students who had been victimized. OSU reiterated its admission of past mistakes, noting it is a "fundamentally different university today ...."
Ohio''s Unemployment Claims Near 900,000 over Last Four Weeks
For the week ending April 11, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported 158,678 initial unemployment claims, taking the state''s total over the last four weeks to 855,197. "To put that in perspective, the total for the last four weeks of claims is 139,685 more than the combined total of 715,512 for the last two years," ODJFS said. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Details from Life of First Inmate to Die of COVID-19 in Ohio Prison System
With about 49,000 inmates housed in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction facilities and 21,021 inmates now quarantined as of Wednesday in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, Dayton Daily News reports on the life and death of Charles Viney Jr., the first inmate to die in of coronavirus in a state prison. According to Viney''s family, he suffered from a chronic condition including a collapsed lung and was kept in a dorm setting which could have contributed to his contracting the virus. Viney tested positive for the virus last Friday and died the next day, Saturday.
State Reporting Coronavirus Cases in Nursing Homes, But Not Deaths
At least 700 cases COVID-19 have been reported in Ohio nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, but the state would not release the number of deaths related to the virus when asked for that number Wednesday, the Columbus Dispatch reports. Best estimates indicate about 40 people have died of the coronavirus in Ohio assisted-living facilities with the real number likely being much higher. The Associate Press estimates 4,485 deaths in nursing homes from the virus nationally.
Republicans Say Ohioans Shouldn''t Pay Muni Taxes While Working from Home; Cities Disagree
Ohio allows cities to collect income taxes from people who work within, but don''t live within, their borders. Now, Republican lawmakers are saying it''s unfair that Ohioans continue to pay the municipal income tax while many are working work home. However, Ohio''s major cities are heavily reliant on this tax and say a cut would lead to mass layoffs for police and firefighters, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio, once known as the "the heart of it all" in the 1980s, has officially ceded its bellwether title. Ohio''s presidential election results look more like that of Missouri than Michigan, Brent Larkin, Cleveland.com columnist writes, and the state''s changing demographics mean the Democratic Party doesn''t have much of a future in Ohio.
FirstEnergy Announces Departures of Top Legal, Ethics Officers
FirstEnergy has “separated from” its top in-house lawyer and its chief ethics officer. Robert Reffner, chief legal officer, and Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah, chief ethics officer, both left the company effective Sunday, Nov. 8 without an official reason released. The company has been overhauling its internal compliance and corporate government operations amid an ongoing federal investigation, Cleveland.com reports.
Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for the coronavirus while being screened to greet President Donald Trump in Cleveland on Thursday. DeWine was not experiencing symptoms, and was headed back to Columbus, where he will be tested again and plans to self-isolate for 14 days, the New York Times reports. DeWine is the second governor to have tested positive. Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma received a positive test result last month.
Kanye West Files Petition to Appear on Ohio''s Presidential Ballot with Help of Republicans
Rapper Kanye West has filed petitions to appear on the presidential ballot as an independent in Ohio. The campaign for West, which has expressed support for Republican President Donald Trump, has received help from Republican operatives in multiple swing states hopeful that West may siphon votes from the presumptive Democratic candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, Cleveland.com reports.
''Company C'' CEO Gave Cash to HB6 Dark Money Groups
Wayne Boich, leader of a Columbus-based firm that made its fortune in Ohio coal, provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in efforts to pass HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) and support former Speaker Larry Householder''s (R-Glenford) candidates. Boich is the CEO of "Company C," listed in a federal court criminal complaint against Householder, which states that "Company C has interests aligned with Company A," which is FirstEnergy, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Warmer Weather May Slow Coronavirus, But Experts Warn Not to Get Hopes Up Yet
A number of recent studies have indicated warm weather and humidity may slow the spread of the coronavirus, but experts warn these studies are not peer reviewed and note a virus may decline in the summer only to return in the fall -- as did the 1918 Spanish flu. Additionally, COVID-19 continues to pick up pace in warm weather states like Florida and Louisiana, The Blade reports.
Ohio''s Weekly Unemployment Claims Top Monthly Totals of Past Financial Crises
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported Thursday more than 187,000 claims for unemployment compensation in the week ended Saturday, March 21, compared to just more than 7,000 the week earlier. For comparison, ODJFS notes that weekly total exceeds many of the highest monthly totals of the early 1980s recession. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
Butler County Jail Releases Inmates amid Crowding Concerns
The Butler County Jail inmate population has dropped from 1,033 on March 11 to 873 on Wednesday, the Journal-News reports. Sheriff Richard Jones said the releases are part of an effort to keep inmates and employees safe as the coronavirus pandemic leads to crowding concerns.
Federal Officials Spell Out Charges against Householder, Four Others
At a Tuesday afternoon news conference, officials with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney''s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said that Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and Matt Borges, Neil Clark, Jeff Longstreth and Juan Cespedes have all been charged with conspiring to violate the racketeering statute in regard to passage of HB6 (Callender, Wilkin) CLEAN AIR PROGRAM which sought to bail out two failing nuclear power plants in the state. The feds also accuse the men of working to "corruptly ensure" the ballot issue on the bill was defeated. Read more in Tuesday''s Hannah Report.
Study Shows Ohio among Most Irresponsible States for Limiting Virus Spread
A recent study ranks Ohio as the fourth least responsible state for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 based on testing, government response, staying at home, and wearing masks. The study was published at a time when only 33 percent of Ohio adults were wearing masks, and 21 percent were staying home when possible, Fox19 reports.
Performing Arts Leaders Worry Surge in COVID Cases Will Further Delay Reopening
While Ohio began reopening businesses and activities in May, the performing arts has been left out of those plans. Performing arts organizations presented reopening plans to the governor''s office in April and again in July. But the governor''s office has yet to set a date for reopening, and a spokesman said last week there is no timeline for reopening theaters, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Fourth Inmate Dies of COVID-19 at Elkton Federal Prison
A fourth inmate died of coronavirus Monday at the Federal Correctional Institute in Elkton, Cleveland.com reports. The death of 43-year-old Alvin Turner, who was serving a 15-year sentence after being convicted of cocaine conspiracy charges, comes as many groups raise the alarm about inadequate safety measures in prisons. Three others died at the low-security prison earlier in the month -- April 2. Currently, 1,999 inmates are housed in the main facility with 418 at an adjacent lockup.
Changes to How Ohio Counts COVID-19 Cases Stirs Controversy with State Lawmakers
As Ohio moves forward reporting coronavirus cases in the state using new federal guidelines, some state lawmakers like House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) worry the new reporting criteria will make case numbers appear to escalate and keep the economy closed longer, Cleveland.com reports. Additionally, some neighboring states have developed their own methods for case reporting.
Senate Candidate Charged with Falsely Distributing Campaign Material under GOP''s Name
Ohio State Senate Republican candidate David Uible was charged Tuesday for distributing campaign postcards under the Clermont County Republican Party''s name without the party''s permission, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Uible was charged with two misdemeanors: one count of falsification and one count of obstructing official business. Uible pleaded guilty to tampering with records as Clermont County commissioner in 2018. He is running for Ohio''s 14th District seat.
Facing Loss of National Guard Help, Nursing Homes Fear Outbreaks May Be on Horizon
The Ohio National Guard has been helping with testing in nursing homes, but the federal funds for their pandemic missions runs out Aug. 7. As the state begins allowing visitation at some assisted living centers, the nation''s nursing home lobbying groups warn that without more rapid testing and personal protective equipment there will be more outbreaks. More than three quarters of all of Ohio''s confirmed COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing homes according to the state''s last report on July 8, the Statehouse News Bureau reports.
What Happened to COVID-19 Modeling Ohio Once Relied on?
At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, modeling offered a chilling forecast of how quickly the virus could spread, indicating 6,000, 10,000 -- even 62,000 new cases per day. Modeling showed what the outbreak would look like in Ohio with varying degrees of mitigation, and these numbers guided the state''s early response to the pandemic. But now, the governor and state health department have shifted their focus away from modeling to daily indicators, such as cases per capita, that show which counties are hottest week to week, The Toledo Blade reports.
Ohio House Democrats Want to Unionize Their Employees
Reps. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Jeffrey A. Crossman (D-Parma) plan to introduce a bill that would allow their staffers to unionize. This comes after furor over communication about a staffer''s testing positive for COVID-19. Some Democrats have criticized Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) for not being up front with them about the staffer, saying he put their employees in danger. Householder said, in a tweet, he told the chief of staff for Ohio House Democrats and said it was up to him to alert members of that party, the Statehouse News Bureau reports.
DeWine Says State Will Take Action if Establishments Fail to Restrain Crowds
Gov. Mike DeWine said officials will do "whatever we have to do" to enforce social distancing and other protective measures if bars and restaurants fail to restrain crowds as the state eases coronavirus restrictions. DeWine said he had seen images of a packed Columbus restaurant over the weekend during an appearance on CNN''s "State of the Union." The Ohio Restaurant Association wrote in an email to its members Saturday about concerns over establishments'' not following guidelines, but also said the incidents are likely isolated, the Associated Press reports.
Acton''s COVID-19 Response Inspires Both Admiration, Backlash
Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton has inspired widespread praise for her forceful coronavirus response. However, Acton has also become a target for protesters who have descended on her home, as well as state lawmakers who have voted to strip some of her powers. The Washington Post writes the backlash against Acton reflects a broader rebuke of the medical advisers who are counseling caution as the nation enters its third month since COVID-19 shutdowns began.
DeWine''s First State Budget Included Changes to Ohio Law about Health Emergencies
As Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) tries to trim the power of the state health director, the Columbus Dispatch reports that Gov. Mike DeWine tried to partially scale back the reach of state health orders in his first state budget early last year. However, the House, under Householder, removed the changes.
Civil Rights Act Applies to LGBT Individuals, U.S. Supreme Court Decides
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision. Read more in Monday''s Hannah Report.
Coronavirus Disparities Contributed to Unrest in Ohio Cities, Public Health Experts Say
Coronavirus has disproportionately harmed communities of color in Ohio. About 25 percent of the more than 40,000 who have been infected with the virus in Ohio are black, as are 18 percent of the nearly 2,500 who have died by COVID-19 so far. By comparison, African Americans make up only 12 percent of the state''s population. Experts are saying this disparity likely contributed to unrest in cities throughout the state following the death of George Floyd, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Acton''s COVID-19 Response Started Well, Ended Badly
The outgoing Ohio Department of Health Director (ODH) Amy Acton''s inability to evolve in her decision-making and let up on shutdown orders even as the worst-case medical projections for the coronavirus never materialized ultimately impugned her own credibility, and made it untenable for her to continue in the job, argues the Cincinnati Enquirer''s political columnist Jason Williams.
Householder''s Allies Gave Funds to Boost Son''s County Commissioner Race
Campaign finance records show political friends of former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) helped seed his son''s campaign for Perry County commissioner. Derek Householder raised $42,100 in January, most of which came from donors with ties to Larry Householder''s political team, Cleveland.com reports.
Advocates Concerned Fraud Crackdown Will Hurt Those Needing Jobless Benefits
The Department of Job and Family Services has put on hold 270,000 claims for benefits under a federal pandemic program while they''re being investigated for fraud, but social service advocates say the decision is harming those who legitimately need the money to survive the pandemic, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Could Additional Ballot Drop Boxes Prevent Lines on Election Day?
As voting advocates say they fear consolidation of polling places in November due to COVID-19 will lead to long lines, Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper says increasing the number of drop boxes could provide voters more access and remedy the vote-by-mail issues, the Statehouse News Bureau reports.
DeWine Asks for Sheltering in Place but Says No ''Martial Law''
"Just to put it very bluntly -- stay home," Gov. Mike DeWine said at a news conference where he strongly recommended Ohioans shelter in place but stopped short of mandating everyone stay in their homes, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. When asked about rumors regarding a martial law edict, DeWine said, "None of those are true."
Incorrect Info from LaRose''s Office Added to Election Eve Chaos
Less than 12 hours before Ohio''s primary election was set to begin, a message from the office of Secretary of State Frank LaRose incorrectly stated that Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard Frye granted an order to delay the election, when the judge had actually denied that order, the Columbus Dispatch reports. The message added misinformation to the confusion surrounding Ohio''s on-again, off-again primary election, according to the paper.
Homeless Advocates Work to Reduce Shelter Crowding, Prevent Outbreak
Working to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus among Ohio''s homeless population, advocates for the homeless including the YMCA are seeking to ease crowding in Columbus shelters, according to the Columbus Dispatch. There are about 1,200 adults and children in Columbus homeless shelters, and the YMCA offered up 200 spaces for homeless men in gymnasiums and racquetball courts.
As the nation considers how to move forward with the November presidential election if the health crisis does not ease, Ohio is being closely watched as the first test for an almost completely vote-by-mail election. With the president opposing mail-in votes, the issue has become more partisan, with some Republicans expressing concerns about voter fraud and support surging among Democrats. Meanwhile, some governors have announced they would consider moving to an all-mail voting system come November, the Washington Post reports.
DeWine''s Steady COVID-19 Response Leads to Spike in Popularity, Contrasts with Trump
Gov. Mike DeWine is one of only a few Republican governors who have split with President Donald Trump on their coronavirus response, and unlike other GOP governors such as Larry Hogan of Maryland and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts who lead solidly Democratic states, DeWine has gone his own way in a red-hued state. Even so, DeWine''s popularity and approval of his handling of the pandemic are overwhelming in Ohio and surges past that of the president, the New York Times reports.
Amid calls from within Gov. Mike DeWine''s own party to rapidly scale back COVID-19 restrictions, DeWine instead took a measured approach unlikely to sate the criticism of groups frequently protesting outside the Statehouse and Republican leadership in the General Assembly. Even so, those who have worked with DeWine over the years expect him to maintain a steady response led by data and science, Cleveland.com reports.
Householder Threatens to Take Capital $$ from Columbus over Statehouse Damage
House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) threatened to pay for the repairs to damage done by protestors at Capitol Square with the money normally sent to the city through the Local Government Fund and hold hearings into who allegedly ordered Columbus police to stand down when protesters closed streets around the capitol, the Columbus Dispatch reports. "We have also looked at possible legislation where we would take the authority away from the city prosecutor and give it to the attorney general for prosecution in Downtown Columbus," he said in an interview with the Ohio Christian Alliance.
Thomas Isn''t First to Attempt Removal of Slavery Language from Ohio Constitution
Sen. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) has said he will introduce a joint resolution in the coming weeks to remove the longstanding exception for slavery as a punishment for crimes from the state constitution, but he isn''t the first lawmaker to attempt this. CNN reports that in 2016 former Rep. Alicia Reece, then president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, introduced a bill to remove "archaic" slavery references from the constitution, but the bill fell on deaf ears and nothing was done to move it forward.
Anti-Trump Republican Group Releases Ad for Biden in Ohio
The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump Republican super PAC, released an ad in Ohio and other swing states Thursday morning that takes aim at the president''s ability to lead in moments of national tragedy. A spokesman for the group described the buy as "major" on cable and network television in the Columbus and Cleveland markets, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio Supreme Court Denies Bid to Keep Primary on Tuesday
Early Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court denied a legal challenge to the state''s delaying the primary. The legal action capped a chaotic 12 hours in which it appeared the election was off, back on, and then off again. The decision does not affect a separate court case in which a Franklin County judge ruled Monday night against the state''s attempt to delay the primary. That ruling was appealed, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Restrictions for Unemployment Compensation Eased as Workers Deal with COVID-19 Fallout
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports how Ohioans can find out if they are eligible for unemployment compensation and how to receive those benefits. Gov. Mike DeWine announced over the weekend that the state would ease some restrictions on applying for unemployment compensation because of his decision to close restaurants and bars.
Ohio Lawmakers Look for Ways to Mitigate Effects of Coronavirus
Ohio lawmakers are looking into ways to minimize the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state''s economy, schools, and businesses. The Columbus Dispatch reports legislators are drafting a bill that would waive school testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year, looking into avenues for potential bailouts and finding ways to halt evictions and other late payment penalties.
DeWine Says Wearing Masks Shouldn''t Be Political Issue
On NBC''s "Meet the Press," Gov. Mike DeWine said wearing masks while in public during the coronavirus pandemic should not be a political issue but it is about people acting to protect others. DeWine was reacting to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum''s call for residents to avoid "mask shaming" people. Burgum, a Republican and Trump supporter, said people with masks deserve "support and encouragement" since they may be protecting someone vulnerable to the virus, the Associated Press reports.
Coalition to Address Needs of Appalachian Children as Pandemic Deepens Disparities
Former Ohio Govs. Bob Taft and Ted Strickland are among those joining the new Appalachian Children Coalition which is advocating on behalf of children in Appalachian counties. The region''s health and education systems have long been fragile, but recent events like a deep recession, an opioid and methamphetamine addiction crises, the state''s highest poverty rates and, now, the fallout from a pandemic have made matters worse, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
DeWine''s Gun-Reform Proposals Left by Wayside during Health Crisis
Gov. Mike DeWine said last year that his top priority for 2020 would be passing his STRONG Ohio gun-reform package, which he proposed after a mass shooting in Dayton in August 2019. His proposals attracted only lukewarm support from fellow Republicans, and since the coronavirus crisis arose, the legislation has been pushed even further from a priority, Cleveland.com reports.
Anti-Semitic Sign Carrier at Statehouse Rally Gets Federal Weapons Charge
Matthew Paul Slatzer, 36, of Canton was accused Monday of federal weapons charges, unsealed two months after authorities and publications identified him as carrying an anti-Semitic sign at an Ohio Statehouse rally over coronavirus restrictions. A federal indictment charges Slatzer with possessing a .38-caliber Taurus revolver on Feb. 2. The federal charge stems from Slatzer''s conviction of domestic violence in 2010, Cleveland.com reports, which prohibits the individual''s possessing a weapon. Authorities are seeking to seize all of his guns through forfeiture, the indictment said.
Will DeWine''s Police Reform Proposals Find Support?
Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine outlined law enforcement reform proposals that include minimum standards for use-of-force policies and recruitment, creating standards for responses to mass protests, and hiring more minority and female officers. But the Columbus Dispatch reports the debate still rages over what reforms should look like among state leaders and associations like the Buckeye State Sheriffs'' Association, the NAACP Ohio Conference, and the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio.
Ohio May Require GM to Repay $60 Million in Subsidies
Ohio has put General Motors (GM) on notice that it may be forced to repay more than $60 million in public subsidies as a result of the automaker''s closing its massive assembly plant last year in Lordstown. State officials say the Lordstown shuttering violated the terms of two state economic development agreements that GM signed more than a decade ago in return for tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks. The company had pledged to maintain operations at the Lordstown site until at least 2027, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Lawmakers Debate Provisions of COVID-19 Relief Bill
With lawmakers set to return to the Statehouse Wednesday, disagreements are already unfolding over what the state''s coronavirus relief bill should look like. The Columbus Dispatch reports that making plans for the delayed primary election, extending tax and licensing deadlines, and waiving statewide school testing are all at the forefront of the Legislature''s agenda.
Lawmakers to Consider Changes over Handling of Public Corruption Cases
Cleveland.com reports that Ohio''s coronavirus relief bill may include changes to how public corruption cases are prosecuted -- such as placing the venue and jurisdiction in the county of the residence of the accused, instead of Franklin County where offenses often take place. Additionally, another provision being considered would lower the bar for state issue campaigns attempting to make the ballot.
As voting rights groups call for a national shift to voting by mail, Ohio lawmakers are considering how to move forward with the delayed primary election. The Columbus Dispatch reports that even as Secretary of State Frank LaRose has said the primary election will be rescheduled for June 2, others call for a vote by mail election period.
Elkton Must Move Inmates Following Inaction by U.S. Supreme Court
A split U.S. Supreme Court failed to block an April 22 order by U.S. District Judge James Gwin to move about 840 at-risk inmates out of Elkton Federal Correctional Institution,
Bloomberg News reports. At least nine individuals there have died of COVID-19 thus far.
Video Used to Criticize ODH Director Recorded Months Ago
Knowing it was an old video didn''t stop Rep. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) from criticizing Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton for not wearing a mask, tweeting at Gov. Mike DeWine, "I''m officially asking you to call for @DrAmyActon resignation and appoint a new Ohio health director that will follow their own orders!", Cleveland.com reports.
Last month, Gov. Mike DeWine set a goal to test 22,000 people a day for the coronavirus by May 27. But Ohio is falling far short of that goal -- ranging from 7,100 to nearly 12,800 tests per day as reported over the past two weeks, according to Ohio Department of Health figures. The
Cincinnati Enquirer also reports that Ohio has one of the worst COVID-19 testing rates in the nation: 2,826 tests per 100,000 residents, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
DeWine Talks Leading Ohio During Pandemic, Protests: ''This Is What I Signed Up for''
Gov. Mike DeWine has led Ohioans through a global pandemic and a civil rights movement that has earned him praise and criticism and will form his legacy. In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch, DeWine addresses a variety of issues: whether he is endorsing President Donald Trump for November, if he would kneel with protestors, the emotional toll of the pandemic, and others.
Ohio Wants Vendors to Take Voluntary Cut on Contracts, Services Due to COVID-19
The DeWine administration has asked state vendors, suppliers and landlords to voluntarily cut by 15 percent what they are charging the state, effective July 1. The Columbus Dispatch reports the request went to about 1,400 vendors, and the state is also reaching out to about 180 companies that lease space to the state. In a letter to vendors, Department of Administrative Services Director Matt Damschroder says their response to the request "will be taken into consideration as we make decisions whether to renew or rebid contracts approaching their end date. If you are in current negotiations regarding a contract or an extension, please keep this request in mind, as well."
GOP Legislative Leaders Oppose Removal of Columbus Statue outside Statehouse
House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) and Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) both oppose the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue outside the Ohio Statehouse. Two African American members of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland) and Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), are calling for the statue to come down, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Former Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich is slated to speak at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) happening this week, but Cleveland.com reports strategists, experts and politicos differ on what Kasich will actually bring to the Democrats'' lineup given his mixed reception from Ohioans.
Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde Chosen to Participate in DNC Keynote Speech
Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde, a former state representative, is one of 17 "rising stars" in the Democratic Party chosen to speak Tuesday as a part of the keynote address at the DNC. Presumptive Democratic Nominee Joe Biden appointed Clyde as one of his senior advisors in Ohio in February, Cleveland.com reports.
HB6 Sponsors OK Release of Documents Withheld from Feds
HB6 sponsors Reps. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) and Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) have waived the attorney-client and legislative privilege which kept some documents pertaining to the $60 million federal bribery probe under wraps. Ohio House staff have now sent the records to the U.S Department of Justice, Cleveland.com reports.
DeWine''s Coronavirus Response Gains National Spotlight
The Washington Post reports that Gov. Mike DeWine''s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio
has foreshadowed national trends and that DeWine''s calm leadership style draws sharp contrast to the White House''s chaotic response to the coronavirus.
Pandemic May Lead to Release of Some Low-risk, Nonviolent Jail Inmates
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that a court order will authorize Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil to, at his discretion, release low-risk, nonviolent inmates who are not charged with sex crimes from the jail. The order comes as the coronavirus strains the jail system -- the Justice Center has approximately 850 beds, but its population was about 1,600 on Monday. The directive is expected to reduce the population by about 400.
Delayed Primary Means More Uncertainty for Ohio Schools
The abrupt postponement late Monday night of Tuesday''s primary election, in which 98 school issues were to be decided, means school districts which had hoped to receive an influx of new local funds will have to keep waiting, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio didn''t look like a swing state earlier this year, but the growing pandemic, recession, and civil unrest Ohioans are experiencing seems to have put the state up for grabs, Clevland.com reports. Multiple polls show President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden neck and neck in the state, and with no top-tier statewide race to supplement the contest between Trump and Biden, the focus will be squarely on the White House.
Ohio''s Budget Problems May Be Even Worse This Year
With one painful fiscal year at an end, the new one, which begins Wednesday, may be even worse as ruling Republicans confront a projected $2.1 billion shortfall in the $35 billion General Revenue Fund budget. Solutions may include tapping into the $2.7 billion Rainy Day Fund and reducing state spending that could hurt K-12 schools, higher education, and social services. While seen as a last resort, the depth of the problem could prompt talk of tax or fee increases in the tax-averse GOP-controlled General Assembly, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio Drops Front License Plate Requirement Beginning Wednesday
In the past, police could pull drivers over for the lack of a front plate and they could be charged with a minor misdemeanor and fined up to $100. The two-year state transportation budget approved last year did away with the requirement for most motor vehicles, including passenger vehicles. The change will likely affect many drivers as there were nearly 13.3 million vehicle registrations issued in Ohio last year, Dayton Daily News reports.
Education, Higher Education Likely Targets of Budget Cuts
As some budget watchers estimate the state could be facing a $2.4 billion budget hole this fiscal year, education and higher education are likely targets for deeper cuts, sources close to the budget process tell Cleveland.com.
Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) tells the Cincinnati Enquirer''s "That''s So Cincinnati" podcast that he believes Gov. Mike DeWine is leaning too heavily on the advice of Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Amy Acton when addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and said the Legislature could eventually look at the law that gives the state health director power to close places under a health emergency. (Subscription required.)
Saying they have better safety practices than most industries, restaurant owners tell the Columbus Dispatch the want Gov. Mike DeWine to give them a definitive answer on when they can reopen and rehire the more than 300,000 laid-off Ohio food service workers.
DeWine Garners More Bipartisan Support than Any Other Large-State Governor
Gov. Mike DeWine''s COVID-19 response has attracted more broad, bipartisan support that any other large-state governor. Among his fellow Republicans, he has an 84 percent approval rating and a 90 percent approval rating among Democrats, according to a Washington Post-Ipsos Poll conducted April 27 though May 4. DeWine''s bipartisan popularity is in contrast to President Donald Trump and other Republican governors who have moved quickly to reopen their states, such as in Texas (59 percent) and Georgia (65 percent) where majorities say their government is "lifting restrictions too quickly."
Ohio Prisons Deaths Include Inmate Arguing His Innocence
Ohio inmate Carlos Ridley, who was serving a life sentence for a triple slaying, was awaiting a court ruling he hoped would prove his innocence through DNA testing. However, last Monday, an Ohio appeals court rejected Ridley''s request and the next day, he died of coronavirus. Ridley had previously tested negative for the virus. The Associated Press reports Ohio has the country''s highest per-prisoner COVID-19 case rate and the fifth-highest prisoner death rate.
Court closures and temporary limitations on evictions have slowed the pace of eviction filings during the first few months of the pandemic. A Cincinnati Enquirer analysis of Hamilton County court records found eviction filings in March decreased 30 percent compared to last year, while filings in April dropped 74 percent. However, housing advocates say the recent dip in eviction filings will likely end when many courts reopen in June and moratoriums run out later this year. The effect may be particularly severe for Cincinnati where renters account for 62 percent of all households and a large back long of eviction cases has built up.
Four weeks ahead of Ohio''s March 17 presidential primary election, the Columbus Dispatch calls predicting the Democratic outcome "a fool''s errand" especially given the money Michael Bloomberg is pouring into the state and that 24 other states will vote before Ohio.
Kent State University (KSU) has asked actress and activist Jane Fonda to speak at the 50th commemoration weekend of the May 4, 1970 shootings on the campus ... but not if Secretary of State Frank LaRose has anything to say about it, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Some had far less CBD than advertised. Others had heavy metals or pesticides. That is what the Cincinnati Enquirer found when it had eight CBD products tested, explaining that their findings are in line with what researchers have found in similar checks.
Annie Glenn, Widow of John Glenn, Dies at 100 of COVID-19 Complications
Annie Glenn, the wife of John Glenn, the former astronaut and U.S. senator, died early Tuesday morning at a nursing home in St. Paul, MN of complications from coronavirus. She was 100 years old. A virtual memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 6 at 11 a.m. and can be streamed at http://glenn.osu.edu/. Annie Glenn will be buried later with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery, the Columbus Dispatch reports. "Annie Glenn was certainly our most beloved Ohioan," said Gov. Mike DeWine, who served with her husband in the U.S. Senate. "There wouldn''t have been a John Glenn without Annie Glenn. Theirs is an inspiring love story. She represented all that is good about our country."
OSU Exchanges Supplies, Knowledge with Wuhan University
In late March, a shipment of 10,000 masks arrived at Ohio State University''s (OSU) Wexner Medical Center. Packed among the boxes were signs with messages of encouragement, such as "Stay Strong, Buckeyes!" and "We are together!" The supplies came from Wuhan University, located in the Chinese city that many U.S. residents have come to know as ground zero for the coronavirus outbreak. Since 1979, Ohio and China''s Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, have had a "sister state" relationship, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Low Staffing, Citations for Infection Control Prevalent in Nursing Homes before Outbreak
In the past three years, federal regulators filed 1,127 citations against Ohio''s long-term care facilities for infection control issues, such as aides'' failing to wash their hands after dealing with residents. Ohio also ranks as one of the top states in the Midwest for the citations, and prior to the virus, Ohio''s nursing homes had staffing levels below what advocates have long sought. Cleveland.com reports that these issues foreshadowed the state''s high rate of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, which stands at about 40 percent of all of coronavirus deaths in the state.
Poll Shows DeWine Continues to Earn High Bipartisan Approval
Gov. Mike DeWine continues to garner high approval ratings from Democrats and Republicans. A new Fox News poll conducted between May 30 and June 2 shows his approval with Democrats at 83 percent and 81 percent for Republicans. Polling also shows 51 percent say he is opening up the economy at about the right pace, News5Cleveland reports.
Local Pharmacies Slow to Get Promised Coronavirus Tests
Gov. Mike DeWine declared last week that Ohio pharmacies would be able to offer COVID-19 testing, but many community pharmacists say they are not yet able to provide the testing because the state hasn''t set up a system to pay them for administering the tests, which can cost up to $100 each. Lawmakers passed legislation last year to compensate pharmacists for medical services, but more than a year after the law took effect, the Department of Medicaid has yet to set up provider identification numbers for independent pharmacists to allow for payment, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Kings Island sued Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton on Thursday, saying her order to keep the amusement park closed had unfairly imposed criminal penalties on its business. The same day, DeWine announced certain entertainment options could reopen starting next week, including zoos and museums. A similar lawsuit was filed in Erie County in Northern Ohio to reopen Cedar Point and Kalahari Resorts, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Minimum Wage Group Sues to Get Flexibility in Submitting Ballot Issue for November Election
A group behind a proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the state''s minimum wage to $13 an hour has filed a lawsuit in Franklin County seeking relief to help it get the issue on the November ballot in the wake of the governor''s stay-at-home order. Specifically, the group is asking the court to extend the deadline for submitting signatures; lower the threshold for the number of signatures needed to put an issue on the ballot; allow for continued collection during verification; and allow signatures to be collected online. Read more in Tuesday''s Hannah Report.
Voting Rights Groups Move to Challenge April 28 Election Deadline
A coalition of voting rights groups including the League of Women Voters of Ohio and the A. Philip Randolph Institute filed a lawsuit in federal court Monday evening challenging provisions of HB197 (Merrin-Powell) that extend absentee voting until April 28. The groups argue that the changes create a cumbersome vote-by-mail process and will harm minority voters. Read more in Tuesday''s Hannah Report.
Ohio Will Look for Assistance from Federal Government amid Skyrocketing Unemployment Claims
As unemployment claims surge in Ohio, Cleveland.com reports that Ohio''s unemployment insurance fund has been on the brink of insolvency for the past several years, but the overwhelming number of unemployment claims means Ohio will likely fall back on the federal government for assistance as the state did in the Great Recession of the late 2000s.
Over Half of Black Workers in Ohio Have Lost Income Due to COVID-19
About 53 percent of Black households in Ohio have lost employment income since March 13 as a direct result of the pandemic, new Census data shows. That was the highest share of job-based income loss for any major racial group in the state and about 10 percentage points higher than the share for White Ohioans, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Census data additionally shows Black Ohioans'' access to food, medical care, and ability to make mortgage and rent payments has also been more negatively affected by COVID-19 than other racial groups.
Ill Inmate DeWine Wanted Freed Dies of Coronavirus
Hubert Marcum Jr., 64, was being held at the Franklin Medical Center with a chronic health condition before he died of COVID-19 on June 19. Gov. Mike DeWine had sought April 7 to release some at-risk inmates 60 and older who had completed at least 50 percent of their sentences. But securing a quick Ohio Parole Board hearing required local judges and prosecutors to approve a 60-day notice waiver to allow designated prisoners to be freed -- Marcum''s waiver was signed by a judge but never submitted by the local prosecutor. He died about one month shy of his parole board hearing and less than three months before the end of his prison sentence, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio Deaths by Suicide Increase in Past Decade; Pandemic May Exacerbate Problem
Suicide deaths have risen precipitously in Ohio, increasing by 34 percent from 2009 to 2018. Nearly five people die by suicide every day in Ohio, and men account for almost four out of every five suicide deaths, Cleveland.com reports, and the pandemic may make the issue worse. The Cleveland Clinic reported a concerning drop in suicide-related emergency room visits once the pandemic struck, and health care experts have raised alarms that prolonged periods of isolation and rising unemployment could lead to a long-term mental health crisis.
For the week ending May 9, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) reported 51,125 initial unemployment claims to the U.S. Department of Labor, taking the total number of claims over the last eight weeks to 1,169,694. Read more in Thursday''s Hannah Report.
State Draft Plan for Reopening Schools Includes Masks, Temperature Checks
Guidelines included in a draft plan for reopening Ohio schools in the fall involve daily at-home temperature checks, hand-sanitizing stations, and required face masks for students and teachers, among other safety measures. The plan was written by Ohio Department of Education staff with input from school officials, community groups, and the state health department and governor''s office, Cleveland.com reports.
With Bailout Law in Place, FirstEnergy Successor Moves to Increase Share Buybacks by $300 million
Leaders of a former FirstEnergy subsidiary, which Ohio electricity customers will soon begin paying $150 million annually to subsidize under a nuclear bailout law Ohio passed last year, have moved to spend an extra $300 million on repurchasing the company''s own stock. Less than a year ago, an aggressive lobbying effort by FirstEnergy culminated in state leaders'' approving $1 billion in bailout money funded by surcharges on Ohioans'' electric bills, Cleveland.com reports.
Ohio Lawmaker Refuses Temperature Check at Statehouse Office
Rep. Candice Keller (R-Middletown) refused to have her temperature taken at the Vern Riffe State Office Tower, where House lawmakers have offices, calling the practice an invasion of her privacy. "The reason I''ve had to put up with so much opposition over the last four years as a representative is that NO ONE GETS TO CONTROL ME," Keller wrote on her Facebook page Wednesday. A policy enacted May 4 asks staff, visitors and lawmakers to have their temperatures taken before going upstairs to their offices, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Tourism Industry Grows Inpatient with DeWine''s Lack of Timetable for Reopening Attractions
Ohio''s tourist attractions are growing impatient with the state''s slow pace of reopening the travel economy, fearful that visitors will flock to neighboring states this summer. Indiana and Kentucky have plans to reopen tourist attractions in the coming weeks. Gov. Mike DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor is reviewing recommendations but could not say when a reopening date would be announced as travel and tourism businesses would necessitate some of the most complicated reopening rules, Cleveland.com reports.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completions are down 5.8 percent in Ohio and 3.2 percent nationwide compared with this time last year, with decreases most severe in rural and small-town public schools. Experts say the dip is directly related to COVID-19 and likely a result of students'' losing access to counselors or others who would help them complete the application and technology barriers for students in rural areas, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
That was former Speaker of the Ohio House Cliff Rosenberger''s reply to the Dayton Daily News'' inquiry about recent Instagram postings -- since made private -- about travels to Antarctica, Brazil and Argentina. He also has purchased a home in Warren County, although his last ethics disclosure statement reported no employment.
One Less Congressional Seat + Redistricting Law Changes = ???
What might Ohio''s congressional districts look like for the next decade if the state -- as projected -- loses a seat and the recently approved constitutional changes for drawing the lines go into effect? The Columbus Dispatch explored the ramifications of both, noting Ohio appears to be about 74,000 additional people short of keeping that 16th U.S. House seat.
Newspaper Examines Candidates'' Stands on Gun Laws
In light of the mass shooting in Dayton''s Oregon District in August 2019, the Dayton Daily News examines the views of the candidates in three open seats in the area on key gun issues.
COVID Protesters Gather Outside Senate President''s Home Seeking Veto Override
Protestors gathered outside the home of Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) over the weekend seeking to pressure him to override the governor''s veto of SB311 (McColley-Roegner), legislation to weaken the powers of the health department. The Ohio Capital Journal reports the protestors included anti-vaccine advocates and members of the Proud Boys, a far-right organization.
Democrats See Grim Prospects in Final Election Results despite Biden''s Win
Despite President-Elect Joe Biden''s win, election results show that President Donald Trump shrank Democratic margins in some areas and scored decisive victories for a second time in once Democratic strongholds, like Lordstown, OH. Democrats now worry their gains in the suburbs might fade when Trump leaves office and that their inability to make inroads in rural areas could cost them down the road, the Washington Post reports.
House Won''t Vote on Bill to Divert Drug Possession Offenders to Treatment instead of Prison
A bipartisan Ohio criminal justice bill that would reclassify low-level drug possession felonies as misdemeanors will die without a final vote in the House this week, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) does not plan to bring SB3 (Eklund-O''Brien) up for a final floor vote, saying the bill needs more work considering the opposition from judges and law enforcement.
According to a Senate spokesman, incoming Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) will be taking the oath of office from home during the first session of the 134th General Assembly Monday after he was diagnosed with COVID-19 before the new year. His symptoms are said to be mild and he is doing well. Read more in Monday''s Hannah Report.
Will Republicans Expel Indicted Former Speaker from Ohio House?
After Rep. Larry Householder’s (R-Glenford) arrest and indictment on federal corruption charges last year, lawmakers removed him as House speaker but did not vote to expel him from the General Assembly. With Householder re-elected and set to be sworn in to the 134th General Assembly Monday, it is unclear if lawmakers will move to expel him this time around, the Dayton Daily News reports.
DeWine Faces Monday Deadline for Action on ''Stand Your Ground'' Gun Bill
Monday ends the 10-day clock for Gov. Mike DeWine to take action on the controversial gun bill 133-SB175 (Schaffer), which expands the places Ohioans can use deadly force in defense without a duty to first retreat. DeWine may sign it, veto it or let it go into law without his signature. If he vetoes the measure, it cannot be overridden because a new General Assembly will be sworn in Monday, and the bill passed in the last General Assembly, the Dayton Daily News reports.
At Least Four Ohio GOP Congressman to Object in Presidential Vote Count
At least four Ohio congressmen -- Bill Johnson (R-Marietta), Warren Davidson (R-Troy), Jim Jordan (R-Mansfield), and Bob Gibbs (R-Ashland) -- have announced they will challenge several states’ presidential electoral vote counts Wednesday during a joint session of Congress. Though the effort has little potential to change the outcome of the election, it may result in a lengthy debate, Cleveland.com reports.
As lawmakers begin a new two-year session, they face completing the unfinished business of what to do with the $1 billion bailout of two nuclear plants at the heart of a nearly $61 million bribery scandal involving former Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford). House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) says the issue is still a "high priority" for the new General Assembly, the Toledo Blade reports.
Democrat Nan Whaley said she will not seek re-election for a third term as Dayton mayor this year, the Dayton Daily News reports. Whaley ran in the Democratic primary for governor in 2017, and her announcement has raised speculation that she’ll seek statewide office or run for Congress. Whaley''s current term runs to January 2022.
Ohio Attorney General (AG) Dave Yost contracted coronavirus over the holidays. The Columbus Dispatch reports Yost has remained home and is feeling well. The Republican is the first statewide Ohio officeholder known to have contracted the virus, though several state legislators, including new Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima), have also contracted the virus.
Pro-Trump Protestors Also Gather at Ohio Statehouse
About 200 people gathered at the Statehouse early Wednesday afternoon in support of President Donald Trump and to protest President-elect Joe Biden''s win. This included members of the far-right group the Proud Boys. The Pro-Trump group briefly scuffled with members a smaller counter-protest of about 10 people, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
Several Ohio Congressional Members Object to Election Certification
Several members of Ohio''s delegation voted to object to the certification of Electoral College votes, even after a mob of pro-Trump supporters rampaged through the U.S. Capitol. U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati), Warren Davidson (R-Troy), Bob Gibbs (R-Ashland), Bill Johnson (R-Marietta), and Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) all voted to object to counting at least one state''s electoral vote, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Seitz Drafting Language to Let Energy Harbor Decide If It Needs Bailout Money
Energy Harbor, a former subsidiary of FirstEnergy, is lobbying state lawmakers to allow it to decide whether to accept more than $1 billion in HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) bailout money for its two nuclear power plants because a federal regulatory ruling might otherwise make the subsidies a liability. House Majority Leader Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) is crafting the legislation, Cleveland.com reports.
DeWine Hints at Veto on ''Stand Your Ground'' Bill
Gov. Mike DeWine hinted at a veto for the controversial "stand your ground" bill, SB175 (Schaffer), over the weekend, the Statehouse News Bureau reports. "I made my position very clear that we should not be taking up bills like that when we have bills that have been in front of the Legislature for a year where we have really the opportunity to directly save lives," he told reporters.
DeWine''s Pandemic Escapes: Movies, Walks, Visiting Grandkids through Windows
More than nine months into a pandemic that has killed more than 8,000 Ohioans, Gov. Mike DeWine has been both praised and vilified. With protestors gathering regularly at the governor''s home, the Columbus Dispatch reports on what DeWine and his wife, Fran, do to de-stress.
DeWine Accepts Resignation from Ohio Arts Council Appointee Who Posted Pro-Trump Rant
Gov. Mike DeWine distanced himself Thursday from one of his appointees on the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), Susan Allan Block. Following the riot at the U.S. Capitol, Block posted comments to social media supporting conspiracy theories about election fraud and calling Vice President-elect Kamala Harris a “whore.” Block is also the wife of the owner of the Toledo Blade and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the sister-in-law of the Blade’s publisher and editor-in-chief. Early in the afternoon, she resigned from the OAC board. Read more in Friday''s Hannah Report.
New Model Predicts Ohio COVID Deaths Could Spike by Spring
The latest projections from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation show Ohio could see 15,538 coronavirus deaths by April 1, even assuming Ohio scales up vaccine distribution. The state has recorded 9,462 deaths through Jan. 7. The projected figure could increase or decrease depending on how closely COVID safety precautions are followed, Cleveland.com report.
The Cincinnati Enquirer and Columbus Dispatch are forming a new state news bureau headed by the Enquirer''s Columbus bureau chief Jackie Borchardt. The Enquirer and Dispatch became sister news organizations after their respective parent companies merged in late 2019. The bureau will also provide coverage for the USA TODAY Network''s 19 other news organizations in the state, the Enquirer reports.