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Former Ohio state Rep. Bob Young found guilty in domestic violence trial
Former Ohio state Rep. Bob Young was found guilty of domestic violence in court Thursday. Visiting retired Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Edward O’Farrell found Young guilty of intentionally harming his wife, Tina. This is a first-degree misdemeanor. However, the North Canton Republican was acquitted of the assault charge against his brother Michael. The verdict […]
Ohio bill allowing guns in some government buildings may have significant loophole
A bill loosening gun laws in Ohio by allowing firearms in some government buildings may have a significant loophole that hurts domestic violence survivors, a WEWS/OCJ analysis discovered. Year after year, Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation to expand gun rights. State Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) is the latest. “Our constituents are enthused on us standing […]
Former state Rep. Bob Young’s domestic violence trial begins
Former state Rep. Bob Young was in court Tuesday facing the domestic violence charges that led to his resignation from the Ohio Statehouse. Young, a former Republican representing the Green area in the Ohio House, has been arrested three times in recent months. His charges include domestic violence, assault, violating a protection order and menacing […]
Ohio lawmakers attempt — again — to make it illegal to drug and rape spouse
In some cases, raping your spouse is still legal in Ohio. However, a bipartisan bill to eliminate the spousal rape exception, one without opponents but stalls each and every time it is proposed, is finally moving forward. It’s the tenth year that Emily Gemar with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence has been working […]
Airtag stalking would become illegal under proposed Ohio bill
A bipartisan bill passed by the Ohio Senate would make it a crime to electronically track someone without their consent. This comes as domestic violence groups are seeing an increase in Airtag stalking. After Heidi Moon was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2022, an investigator found a tracking device in her car. Smaller than your palm, an […]
As election workers face threats, Ohio lawmakers introduce bill to protect them
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Ohio has come together to support their election officials, aiming to help shield them from increasing threats. Getting involved in working elections means being a part of the democratic process. But it’s definitely different times than a few years ago, said Cuyahoga County Board of Elections Director Tony Perlatti. […]
What is Ohio Issue 1? We explain the proposed abortion rights amendment
For advocates on each side of the abortion debate, this November is likely the most important Ohio election in state history. We break down what you need to know about Issue 1 — the reproductive rights amendment. “The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety” would allow every person to have the […]
Sick of insurance providers dropping coverage of your meds? This Ohio bill would stop that
A new bipartisan bill in the Ohio House would stop insurance providers from dropping coverage of medications in the middle of a patient’s yearly plan. Right now, that’s totally legal — and causing problems for many people across the state. Weeks after getting locked into her health insurance plan, Natalie Hastings was surprised to learn […]
Ohio prisons could become even more crowded under proposed bill
A proposed bill in the Ohio House would send more people to the state’s already overcrowded and understaffed prisons. The criminals this legislation targets should be there anyway, bill sponsors say. “Ohio’s prisons are meant to hold roughly 38,500 people — we are about 6,000 people above that mark right now,” Gary Daniels with the […]
Ohio Republican infighting drama continues as lawsuit filed against House speaker
The ongoing saga of Republican infighting in the Ohio House has led to the Speaker being sued by his rivals. Republican State Reps. Ron Ferguson (Wintersville), Derek Merrin (Monclova), Phil Plummer (Dayton) and the Ohio House Republican Alliance (OHRA) have filed a lawsuit against Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), state Rep. Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp.), […]
Drag queens grateful after Ohio Supreme Court removes performance ban from ballot
Ohio drag queens are thanking the Ohio Supreme Court for removing a proposal from city of Bellefontaine ballots that would ban public performances. Drag is more than just performance art for Cleveland drag queen Veranda L’Ni — it’s also community. “It’s the most creative art form in the world — we get to change our […]
Today is the deadline to register in time to vote on abortion, marijuana ballot questions
The voter registration deadline to choose if Ohioans should have access to abortion and if marijuana should be legalized is today, Tuesday, Oct. 10. “The last thing you want to do is to go to cast your ballot in November and discover that they don’t have you on the rolls,” Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) […]