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Redistricting Commission: Leave unconstitutional maps for 2022 election
The Ohio Redistricting Commission is asking the state supreme court to rule on a legislative plan previously deemed unconstitutional only after it has been used for the 2022 general election. Those that agreed to resubmit a February version of the legislative redistricting plan treated the new/old plan as a “stop-gap” measure in arguments against objections […]
Lawyers, abortion advocates prepare for ‘sea change’ from Roe v. Wade decision
The leak of a draft opinion appearing to spell drastic changes to abortion legalization in the country has caused many Ohio abortion advocates to accept what they’d been expecting for months. Roe v. Wade may be overturned this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court, and rather than deny what they’ve anticipated since the court took […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission members maintain innocence on contempt
Current and former members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission have defended themselves against allegations of contempt of the Ohio Supreme Court, despite saying the claims are moot now that the commission has adopted a map before the deadline. Court challengers had asked the Ohio Supreme Court to revisit contempt allegations in legislative redistricting cases. The […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission resubmits maps already rejected as illegal by supreme court
The Ohio Redistricting Commission Thursday voted to resubmit maps to the Ohio Supreme Court that the court has already rejected as illegal and unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering. The commission once again passed its third map 4-3 along party lines, with the exception of Republican Auditor Keith Faber, who said he voted no for the same reasons […]
Redistricting commission meets with new staff, still no action
Some of the players on the Ohio Redistricting Commission changed for their Wednesday meeting, but the amount of action did not. The commission met to start the process of redrawing legislative maps, two days before the Friday morning deadline set by the Ohio Supreme Court. This is the fifth attempt at legislative district lines for […]
Tim Ryan takes Dem ticket in ‘marquee’ U.S. Senate race
Basing his campaign on hopes to reign in China and reduce partisanship in the U.S. Senate, Congressman Tim Ryan won his race against Morgan Harper and Traci Johnson for the Democratic nomination in unofficial results Tuesday night. Ryan easily slid past Harper with 70% of the vote, according to unofficial counts by the Ohio Secretary […]
Senate President appoints own replacement to Ohio Redistricting Commission
The Ohio Redistricting Commission has a new member after seven months of work, with Senate President Matt Huffman appointing his own replacement. The announcement, which came from Huffman’s office, was released the day before the ORC is set to meet to discuss legislative redistricting for the fifth time in this redistricting cycle. Huffman appointed state […]
Ohio ranks low in child spending, national study shows
A study comparing early childhood education in the nation showed reduced pre-school enrollment and stalled spending by the state to help educate young children. The COVID-19 pandemic is still causing issues in education of pre-schoolers, but many of the problems existed before the pandemic exacerbated them, according to the National Institution for Early Education Research. […]
ACLU, Equitas Health sue Ohio over ‘medical conscience’ clause
Challenging a clause in Ohio’s last budget bill, the ACLU and a health care system that focuses on LGBTQ+ care sued the state and Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday over a provision that allows doctors to deny health care based on a matter of “conscience.” ACLU of Ohio and Equitas Health announced the lawsuit on […]
Ohio Redistricting Commission will talk legislative maps May 4
The Ohio Redistricting Commission will reconvene next week for the first time since the state supreme court rejected their fourth attempt at legislative maps April 14. In a letter to his fellow ORC co-chair state Sen. Vernon Sykes, House Speaker Bob Cupp said it is “unwise” and “not feasible” for the commission to meet before […]
Court challengers push contempt charges against redistricting commission
Anti-gerrymandering groups are again asking the Ohio Supreme Court to determine if the Ohio Redistricting Commission should be held in contempt, and to force the commission to meet by the end of the week to redraw legislative maps. The ACLU, on behalf of several groups including the League of Women Voters of Ohio and the […]
No Ohio redistricting meetings in sight, despite Dem demands
Members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission have not publicly announced any plans to meet and discuss legislative redistricting, despite requests by Democratic members, and a mandate by the Ohio Supreme Court. Commission co-chair, state Sen. Vernon Sykes, D-Akron, and House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, met with reporters Monday outside the committee room that […]