Author
First four projects of $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program announced
By: Megan Henry - March 21, 2023
The first four development projects of Ohio’s $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program were announced Monday. The projects, which in total will receive a total of $50 million in development grants, will benefit Athens, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Mahoning, Meigs, and Perry counties, said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “New doors are opening […]
Higher education bill would prohibit Ohio staff and employees from striking
By: Megan Henry - March 20, 2023
A massive higher education bill that would prohibit university staff and employees from striking was introduced last week and is already drawing harsh criticism from labor unions. State Senator Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, introduced Senate Bill 83 which would have wide-ranging effects on colleges and universities around the state. “I would describe the bill as a […]
Anti-abortion group Protect Women Ohio is spending $5 million on new ad campaign
By: Megan Henry - March 16, 2023
An anti-abortion group is spending $5 million on a new ad campaign as abortion supporters are trying to get signatures for a proposed amendment on the ballot that would put abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution. Protect Women Ohio, a dark money 501(c)(4) organization founded in February, was created to fight the abortion ballot campaign. […]
Advocates call on lawmakers to expand employment, housing protections for victims of violent crimes
By: Megan Henry - March 16, 2023
Landress Luckey held up two photos Wednesday morning in the Ohio Statehouse atrium — one was of her daughter Laura Luckey and the other was Laura’s friend. Both young women had died from violence. Luckey was standing alongside six other women clutching tea light candles in front of a couple hundred people as part of […]
Sponsors of ‘backpack bill’ for per pupil Ohio school vouchers push back on $1 billion price tag
By: Megan Henry - March 15, 2023
A new proposal in the Ohio House of Representatives, dubbed the “backpack bill,” would cost more than a billion dollars if all eligible students would take advantage of the scholarship. But the lawmakers proposing House Bill 11 — Rep. Marilyn John, R-Richland County, and Rep. Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky — don’t anticipate the actual cost […]
How will an expansion of school vouchers impact Ohio public school funding? Answer is ‘speculative’
By: Megan Henry - March 15, 2023
As Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants to expand the state’s school voucher program, the future of fair funding for Ohio’s public schools has become a weighty topic. State Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville and chair of the subcommittee on primary and secondary education committee, asked about that very thing Tuesday morning — how the proposed expansion […]