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DeWine signs bill to deregulate construction over ephemeral streams
Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation Thursday to roll back regulations surrounding the development of ephemeral streams, which flow only by way of rain and snowmelt. There are more than 36,000 miles of ephemeral streams in Ohio, according to legislative testimony from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. They channel water into larger streams and can filter […]
Judge orders FirstEnergy to turn over records tied to bribery scandal
An administrative judge for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio once again ordered FirstEnergy Corp. to hand over thousands of documents to a watchdog state agency, partially rebuffing the company’s request for a four-month delay. The ruling Wednesday caps off a drawn-out fight over records the company has already given to federal regulators for an […]
Dem gubernatorial interviews: Cranley talks ‘energy dividends,’ guns, health and wealth
For every lump of coal or cubic foot of natural gas taken from Ohio’s underground, John Cranley wants to give some of the wealth back to the people at the surface. A former Cincinnati mayor now running for governor as a Democrat, Cranley proposes raising the severance tax — which is paid in Ohio by […]
Recreational marijuana could mean $375 million per year in Ohio taxes, OSU researchers say
Recreational marijuana in Ohio could mean up to $375 million in annual tax revenue for the state, according to new research from Ohio State University. The study, released just in time for America’s annual, informal marijuana celebration day Wednesday, uses tax estimates from an initiated statute effort to legalize marijuana in the state, possibly via […]
Dem Gov interviews: Nan Whaley on vaccines, guns, dark money, and abortion
If keeping children in school full-time is the goal, it only makes sense to require the COVID-19 vaccine the same way schools require vaccination against polio, measles, and other shots for enrollment, said Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley. “Kids need to stay in school no matter what,” said Whaley, a two-term Dayton mayor who’s quickly […]
He teaches critical race theory. He has problems with GOP efforts to ban it
There’s a certain “slander” at the heart of dueling bills aimed to limit how teachers talk to students about race, sexuality, history, and politics, according to Timothy Messer-Kruse. If you read the legislation, he said, their language presupposes educators are engaged in practices like indoctrinating, guilt-tripping, and forcing their personal politics onto students. As a […]
Netflix, Hulu fight to avoid ‘video service provider’ fees before Ohio Supreme Court
A small Ohio city asked the Supreme Court to declare that streamers like Netflix and Hulu are “video service providers” under state law and therefore must pay a franchise fee to their customers’ localities. As people increasingly sever ties with cable companies and opt for streaming services — be they live television offerings like sports […]
FirstEnergy fights to slow-walk subpoena for records tied to bribery case
Despite public promises of transparency, FirstEnergy Corp. is fighting a legal battle to slow-walk its production of documents subpoenaed by a consumer watchdog agency related to the company’s self-professed bribery operation. FirstEnergy, which owns three electric utilities in Ohio, has already successfully narrowed the scope of the documents it was ordered to turn over related […]
Lawmakers could soon pass bill blocking Ohio cities from outlawing carrying knives
An Ohio House committee passed legislation Thursday that would block cities from passing local laws restricting whether people can carry switchblades and other knives within their borders. The legislation passed the Senate in October in a party line vote with Republicans in support. It can now proceed to the House floor for a final vote […]
Lawmakers send governor bill to deregulate construction over ephemeral streams
The Ohio General Assembly passed legislation Wednesday that relaxes regulations around the development of ephemeral streams, which flow only by way of rain and snowmelt. There are more than 36,000 miles of ephemeral streams in Ohio, according to legislative testimony from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. They channel water into larger streams and can filter […]
GOP Rep: Supreme Court should pay for 2nd primary after overturning redistricting maps
With likelihood growing of state lawmakers establishing a new date for a legislative primary, a freshman Republican proposed requiring the Ohio Supreme Court to fund the roughly $25 million election. State Rep. Ron Ferguson, of Wintersville, unveiled the proposal to reporters on Tuesday. This comes after the Ohio Supreme Court has rejected three sets of […]
Early voting starts today. Here are the basics
Despite drawn out legal battles over district lines for state legislative and U.S. House seats, yes, there’s still a May 3 primary in Ohio. Monday was the final day to register to vote in time to participate in the May 3 primary. Early voting starts Tuesday. Here are some of the basics from there. May’s […]