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Education bills very active during Ohio Statehouse lame duck session
Both the Ohio Senate’s and House’s proposed overhaul of the state’s public education system are speeding through committees. Both the House and Senate heard hours of testimony on companion bills meant to spell out the changes that would be made to the school funding formula, one that has been deemed unconstitutional multiple times over the […]
Cleveland Heights teachers file notice of strike
After months of bargaining unit sessions, the teachers union for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District filed a ten-day notice to strike beginning Dec. 2, according to a release from the union. Teachers union president Karen Rego said the union knows the resources exist for the district to give them a fair contract, but […]
Doctors: Telehealth medicine becoming the norm, needs to be law
The dramatic increase in the demand and use of telemedicine will continue through the pandemic, but should also be maintained as an option afterward, according to medical professionals. Physicians and medical groups support an Ohio bill which would expand regulation of telemedicine and even the prices health benefit plans charge for telehealth visits and in-person […]
Pastors, religious groups speak to Ohio Fairness Act
Religious leaders across the state had their turn to speak on the Ohio Fairness Act, though many spoke on issues that were taken out of the bill as soon as the committee hearing began. The sponsors of House Bill 369, a bill that originally expanded state civil rights law to prohibit discrimination based on sexual […]
Bill allowing arming of teachers passes Ohio Senate
The Ohio Senate pushed forward a bill that will allow school personnel such as teachers to be armed while in school, if authorized by a local school board. In a 21 to 10 vote, Senate Bill 317 passed along party lines, with sponsor Sen. Bill Coley, R-Liberty Township, praising the work of the bill which […]
EdChoice reappears, expansion approved in the Ohio Senate
Update 11/20 – The Ohio House passed the conference report in their Thursday session with a vote of 51 to 36 vote along partisan lines, with 12 members not voting because of absence. State Rep. Don Jones presented the report in the House. He said the bill “pivots from solely using a flawed report card measuring […]
Ohio Fairness Act back in committee, supporters and opposition ready to continue fight
With supporters and opponents ready to jump in, a bill regarding LGBTQ discrimination is once again in front of an Ohio House committee, but the passage of the bill is still unclear. The Ohio Fairness Act will be heard by the House Civil Justice Committee exactly one year since it was introduced in the committee. […]
School cases grow in Ohio counties
The state has ballooned with COVID-19 cases, and schools have reported their own increases in student cases, some hitting triple digits. Delaware County’s Olentangy Local Schools has seen the most total cases as of the most recent state schools report, released on Thursday, with 125 reported COVID-19 cases since reporting began. Franklin County had several […]
Ohio Supreme Court, legislation address victims rights bills
The Ohio Supreme Court said a city is not considered a victim under a law that would give restitution to crime victims. The city of Centerville tried to recoup $1,375 in payroll losses after a false active shooter report was filed by a resident in 2018. Michael Knab reported a shooter to Centerville Police Department, […]
Telehealth expansion bill introduced in Ohio Senate
A bill to expand telehealth amid a pandemic that continues to grow in Ohio has entered a state Senate committee for consideration. House Bill 679 passed the Ohio House in June, and seeks to expand telemedicine provisions already present in law regarding fields such as psychology, speech pathology, therapy and professional counseling, independent social workers […]
State school funding overhaul begins trek through Ohio House
Public school financial leaders stood behind the state funding overhaul that was once again brought before the Ohio House Finance Committee on Tuesday. In its seventh hearing in the House, House Bill 305 was supported by chief financial officers from Akron Public Schools, Trimble Local Schools in Athens County, Chardon Local Schools in Geauga County, […]
UC police records of sex offender not protected under student privacy law, court says
The University of Cincinnati didn’t have the right to keep records of a student who was a convicted sex offender out of public view, according to the Ohio Court of Claims. After student William Houston was awarded an honor given to student who have had to overcome adversity, the university was criticized for the award, […]