Author

OCJ Editor-in-Chief David DeWitt has more than 15 years experience covering Ohio government, politics and policy, including education, health care, crime and courts, poverty, state and local government, business, labor, energy, environment, and social issues. He has worked for the National Journal, The New York Observer, The Athens NEWS, and Plunderbund.com. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and is a board member of the E.W. Scripps Society of Alumni and Friends. He can be found on Twitter @DC_DeWitt.
Bipartisan proposal would cut prescription costs, lawmakers say
By: David DeWitt - January 27, 2020
State Reps. Thomas E. West, D-Canton, and Susan Manchester, R-Waynesfield, unveiled legislation last week they say would cut out-of-pocket prescription costs for patients. Patients with chronic, complex conditions such as multiple sclerosis and hemophilia rely on copay assistance programs through organizations like drug manufacturers, charities, and churches to help cover the costs of their prescription […]
Medicaid losing 272 pharmacies; millions at stake for schools; the fate of the Affordable Care Act
By: David DeWitt - January 22, 2020
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: Pharm out, man. The Columbus Dispatch’s Marty Schladen is reporting, “‘Business negotiations’ result in Ohio’s Medicaid […]
A ‘trial’ unlike any I’ve ever seen as a court reporter
By: David DeWitt - January 22, 2020
For three years I covered crime and courts in Athens County. I was green to covering the courts, and honestly, I wasn’t very excited about being so close to human awfulness. Being steeped in the news of the day as a journalist already gives one plenty of exposure to how terribly human beings treat one […]
Ohio’s exploding vouchers program, a $13 minimum wage and a domestic violence bill
By: David DeWitt - January 21, 2020
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: Vouchers. Ohio Public Radio’s Karen Kasler is reporting, “Change To Exploding Voucher Program Likely Coming, But Time Is […]
Bill would allow Ohio drivers to be pulled over for cell phone use
By: David DeWitt - January 15, 2020
A Democratic Ohio House member introduced legislation Tuesday that would make using cell phones while driving a primary offense, meaning law enforcement would be able to pull over drivers they observe using them. Currently, this is a secondary offense, meaning the driver would have to be pulled over for a separate offense before being dinged […]
World War movies, Ohio Republican Party endorsements, childbirth and the 2020 election
By: David DeWitt - January 14, 2020
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: World War movies. I saw both 1917 and Jojo Rabbit this weekend. 1917 is unlike almost any other […]
Ignorance is not bliss: The dangerous politics of anti-intellectualism
By: David DeWitt - January 14, 2020
Thoughtful, studied consideration does not reign supreme in American politics, and frankly, I can’t think of an era it did. Conversely, I also can’t think of an era like ours where crankery and ignorance are entertained so prominently and with such deference. Author Isaac Asimov may have best characterized the mindless beast of legitimized stupidity […]
‘Loophole’ for failing charter schools blocked by state
By: David DeWitt - January 13, 2020
Failing charters rejected. Cleveland.com’s Patrick O’Donnell is reporting, “The Ohio Department of Education has blocked a ‘loophole’ that would have given millions in tax dollars to charter schools with bad grades by using another. “The department on Friday announced the 63 charter schools that did qualify to share in the $30 million fund that Gov. Mike DeWine and the […]
Medical cannabis for Browns/Bengals fans? Plus, mass incarceration and form letters
By: David DeWitt - January 9, 2020
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: Sweet relief? Cleveland.com’s Andrew Tobias is reporting, “Officials with Ohio’s medical marijuana program on Tuesday revealed 27 […]
History Thursday: Iran, Woodrow Wilson and making the world safe for democracy
By: David DeWitt - January 9, 2020
The recent violence with Iran got me thinking about Woodrow Wilson. More than 100 years of American foreign policy has hinged on a concept Wilson introduced as he went before a joint session of Congress on April 2, 1917 to seek a Declaration of War against Germany. “The world must be made safe for democracy,” […]
Cincinnati’s last abortion clinic faces closure
By: David DeWitt - January 8, 2020
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: Access to abortion. The Columbus Dispatch’s Cathy Candisky is reporting that Cincinnati’s last abortion clinic could close. “Ohio […]
Ohio has seen an increase of nearly 12,000 uninsured children the past two years
By: David DeWitt - January 7, 2020
Each day in our newsletter, we are highlighting stories and commentary from other media big and small throughout Ohio and the nation. If you’d like to get this feature directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. Catching Our Eye: Nearly 12,000 more uninsured children. The Columbus Dispatch’s Cathy Candisky is reporting that, “Thousands more of Ohio’s […]