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Justice DeWine defends redistricting recusal decision despite murky track record
Since taking his seat on the Ohio Supreme Court bench, Justice Pat DeWine has recused himself from 37 cases. Perhaps most colorfully, he’s bowed out of eight tied to a doctor accused of performing medically unnecessary spinal surgeries, who then fled to his native Pakistan to avoid prosecution. In court filings, DeWine explained he was […]
Cuyahoga grand jury declines to charge officer in January shooting
East Cleveland police officer Larry McDonald will not face charges in the January shooting that left Vincent Belmonte dead. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the Cuyahoga County grand jury’s decision Friday. The incident stems from a traffic stop on the morning of Jan. 5, this year. McDonald was on traffic patrol, training fellow officer […]
Ohio representatives file new anti-trans bill, targeting health care providers
Ohio House lawmakers are running back a fight over trans youth in the state. But this time, instead of focusing on school sports, the proposal would prohibit offering minors any kind of gender affirming treatment — from hormones to surgery. The measure, H.B. 454, puts the onus on health care providers by defining that treatment […]
County officials pushing for more tax abatement reporting
State lawmakers are considering legislation that would collect statewide information about property tax exemptions, and add that data to the list of tax breaks reviewed by state officials every other year. The information itself already exists — county auditors deliver it to the Ohio Department of Taxation regularly. But backers believe the move could shine […]
Dayton incident with paraplegic man shines light on state, local police reform efforts
During a traffic stop, late last month, Dayton police officers pulled Clifford Owensby from his car by the hair. Owensby, who is paraplegic, repeatedly told the officers he could not get out of the car, that he wanted them to call a supervisor, that they could hurt him by pulling him from the vehicle. They […]
Delaware County Commission working on local solar, wind restrictions
This week the Delaware County Commission got the ball rolling on local provisions for regulating commercial solar and wind facilities. That authority stems from Senate Bill 52, which took effect Monday. The measure gives county commissions the opportunity to insert themselves in the state regulatory process by barring development of solar and wind projects on […]
Ohio lawmaker calls on Congress to investigate opioid consultant
Management consulting firm McKinsey and Company has already been forced into nearly $600 million in settlements over its role in fueling the opioid crisis that’s taken the lives of more than 450,000 Americans the last two decades, but an Ohio state representative wants Congress to investigate the firm further. Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, pointed to […]