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“Noncitizen” will now be listed on Ohio IDs. Advocates worry that will endanger immigrants
In a little-noticed measure, whether a person is a “noncitizen” will now be printed on driver’s licenses and state IDs under a controversial law that was just signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Critics worry that the requirement addresses a nonexistent problem while making it more difficult for documented immigrants to get IDs they need […]
In a state with 1M license suspensions, Ohio voter ID law could depress turnout
When Gov. Mike DeWine last week signed what’s been called the nation’s strictest voter ID law, it raised fears that it would disenfranchise large numbers of voters in poor communities where people are less likely to meet the new requirements. Those fears seem to be supported by a September report that estimates 1 million Ohioans […]
Huge mental health investment coming to Ohio
After making mental health a priority since taking office in early 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine has signed $175 million in mental health expenditures into law. The expenditures are divided into two tranches, according to documents provided by the Office of Budget and Management. “This additional $175 million investment in mental health infrastructure expansion and workforce […]
Teachers’ pension system touts clean audit. Retirees unimpressed
Correction: The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio manages about $90 billion in assets. An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect amount. It has been updated. The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio has been flagging the results of a special audit conducted in response to complaints from some teachers and retirees. But […]
Secretary LaRose says voter ID is popular, but won’t say if it’s needed
Ohio’s top elections official last month continued to make seemingly contradictory statements about election security in the Buckeye state. Secretary of State Frank LaRose has repeatedly said that fraud is extremely rare in Ohio elections and then made statements claiming that it’s a problem. Most recently, LaRose tweeted an opinion article from the Washington Examiner […]
Economists: Mental health, social spending will pay for itself
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed package of expanded mental health services has drawn the near-unanimous approval of a panel of Ohio economists, according to a survey released this week. But one questioned how likely it is to actually happen. DeWine in November renewed an earlier proposal to use $85 million in unexpended federal coronavirus aid […]
Farm-immigration measure dropped from fed spending bill
As Congress feverishly worked to finalize a $1.7 trillion spending bill, Dreamers, migrant farmworkers, farmers and advocates are disappointed that immigration reforms were dropped. At least one group is blaming Republicans for wanting to complain about immigration without doing anything to fix it. The U.S. Senate on Thursday completed work on the spending bill as […]
Consumer, environmental groups slam proposed utility increase
Several environmental and consumer groups called a press conference Wednesday in front of Columbia Gas’s Columbus headquarters to give the company a lump of coal for Christmas. Their issue? Columbia Gas and some other stakeholders have agreed to allow Columbia to increase its fixed charges by more than 50% — up to $57 a month […]
Health care giant pays Iowa $44M to settle fraud claims with Iowa
The nation’s largest Medicaid managed-care company last week agreed to pay Iowa $44.4 million to settle claims that it defrauded the state’s Medicaid system. That makes it the latest state to settle claims that were originally raised in Ohio in 2021. St. Louis-based Centene agreed to pay the money over claims that its subsidiary, Iowa […]
Climate, pandemic conspire against hungry Ohioans
In addition to overseas wars and continuing supply-chain disruptions, diseases and climate-driven storms are making it hard to feed the hungriest Ohioans, Ohio’s top food bank official said Friday. And that’s even as continuing inflation is creating ever more of them, she said. “We’re just not seeing a return to normal at all,” said Lisa […]
GOP law-and-order pitch didn’t win many converts, expert says
Republicans nationwide went big on claims that crime was rampant in our cities and that it was crucial to elect hard-nosed conservatives to stop it. The November midterms showed that those appeals failed to win over many voters who weren’t already part of the GOP’s rural and exurban base, the executive director of the Death […]
Farm labor bill down to the wire, with Ohio farmers playing significant role in getting it passed
This story has been updated with comments from Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Legislation that farmers say is necessary to ensure they have workers they need and to help bring down food costs appears to be coming down to a Christmas deadline. And, a prominent advocate said Wednesday, Ohio farmers are playing a major role in […]