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Ohio Redistricting Commission spends Jewish high holy day in doubleheader public meetings
In a region representing a major majority of Jewish communities in the state, the Ohio Redistricting Commission spent the holiest day of the religion’s calendar talking Statehouse maps. The ORC met at Punderson Manor Lodge & Conference Center in Newbury on Monday for a morning and evening public hearing. Democrats said they requested an additional […]
Ohio dental program, data showcases the need for in-school care, advocates say
Dental disease impacts the ability to eat, the ability to carry on with everyday activities and overall quality of life for Ohioans. For children, it can be the difference between a productive school day and a day full of worries about eating at lunch and distractions in the classroom. Those living in poor communities and […]
GOP remains undecided on co-chair, Ohio Statehouse redistricting on hold again
With a week to go before Secretary of State Frank LaRose says legislative districts need to be set for the November election, uncertainty continues to mire the redistricting process in chaos. Republican legislative leaders still can’t come to an agreement on who should be their representative as co-chair on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, creating a […]
Ohio Statehouse redistricting stalls as commission can’t come up with co-chairs
In a move that was somehow both shocking and unsurprising to many, the Ohio Redistricting Commission wasn’t quite organized enough yet to hold an organizational meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was supposed to be fairly simple: a swearing-in of members, a roll call of attendees, and the presentation of co-chairs to take over the commission’s […]
Ohio GOP effort introduced to make all state board of education positions elected and partisan
An Ohio Republican bill that would eventually make all members of the State Board of Education in Ohio elected officials with party labels was introduced Tuesday. But House Bill 235’s sponsor, state Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, R-Ashtabula, told the Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee that the bill also addresses what she claimed is […]
As Ohio Statehouse redistricting begins again, mixed opinions on whether things will change
The Ohio Redistricting Commission will meet on Wednesday for the first time since May 2022 to discuss Ohio Statehouse voting districts. After well over a year of inaction, and five different Ohio Supreme Court rejections, the commission comes back to work with heavy criticism of previous maps, and a mixed amount of optimism among anti-gerrymandering […]
Abortion rights groups ask Ohio Supreme Court to order full amendment text for November ballots
In the fight against Ohio Ballot Board language that reproductive rights groups say is deceptive, an attorney has asked the Ohio Supreme Court to order the full text of the proposed amendment to be used on November ballots. The Ohio Ballot Board approved language last month for voters to see on their ballots that took […]
Challengers ask Ohio Supreme Court to dismiss congressional redistricting case
The court challengers in a case against Ohio’s U.S. Congressional district map seem to be backing down from the current legal fight. Attorney Don McTigue represents anti-gerrymandering groups fighting against the congressional map approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which was rejected as unconstitutionally gerrymandered in a 2022 decision by a bipartisan majority on the […]
Report: Columbus crisis pregnancy centers, funded by the state, show ‘gross inadequacies’
A study commissioned by the Columbus City Council and conducted by a pro-choice group showed crisis pregnancy centers greatly outnumber abortion and reproductive health clinics in the city, but don’t offer the same health services. The study was a follow-up to research done by Pro-Choice Ohio in 2013, but this time the investigation was contracted […]
Ohio Secretary of State says redistricting urgent after year of inaction
It’s been more than a year since the Ohio Redistricting Commission met to adopt a Statehouse redistricting map. But on Aug. 30, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the work urgently needs to be finished by the end of September. In a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine and other members of the Ohio Redistricting […]
Analysis of new federal rule says it could help with child care costs in Ohio
An Ohio think tank is urging state support for a proposed federal rule could lower child care costs and benefit providers as well. The importance of access to high-quality child care is not lost on the country (or Ohio), but despite that, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said, “Most families struggle to find […]
Ohio redistricting up in the air as attorney general says governor must reconstitute commission
Update 8/30 4:45 p.m. – Governor Mike DeWine’s office announced Wednesday that the governor will reconvene the Ohio Redistricting Commission on Sept. 13 at 10 a.m., which was the same day the commission had previously scheduled to start work. The meeting will be held in the Rhodes State Office Tower’s lobby hearing room. According to the […]