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Ohio lawmaker seeks to protect voter education programs with new bill
A Cleveland lawmaker is hoping to protect voter outreach programs that may be in danger of being outlawed in future Ohio elections. The state budget approved earlier this summer includes a number of provisions that voting rights advocates have characterized as anti-democratic. Among them is a prohibition on election officials collaborating with any nongovernmental entity […]
Ohio Democrats focusing HB 6 scandal attention on Gov. DeWine
In the year after the House Bill 6 scandal first broke in July 2020, much of the focus was on state Rep. Larry Householder. Householder has since been booted from the legislature and awaits trial. Attention is shifting further toward Gov. Mike DeWine as the investigation continues to develop. The governor has not been accused […]
History Thursday: The Ohio Statehouse squirrels’ 150-year legacy
When people thought of the Ohio Statehouse, a reporter wrote in the early 1960s, one defining image came to mind: Not the important policy debates inside or the many famous figures that have traversed its halls. No, the reporter wrote. People thought of the squirrels. Since its completion in 1861, the Ohio Statehouse grounds have […]
Poll: Most Ohioans support a bipartisan infrastructure package. Will it get done?
A majority of Ohioans support a bipartisan infrastructure package being considered in Washington, D.C., according to a new poll commissioned and touted by a state environmental group. Around half of the 800 Ohioans polled offered support for the infrastructure bill, with approval rising to 64% after hearing some of the specific proposals in it, such […]
Rep. Kelly to campaign for Hamilton County auditor
A Cincinnati lawmaker has announced her candidacy for Hamilton County auditor . State Rep. Brigid Kelly, a Democrat, said she is vying for the auditor in 2022 after having spent the past five years fighting “for what matters most at the Statehouse.” “The auditor is supposed to be our local consumer watchdog, and that is […]
Lawmakers propose $1,000 bonuses to Ohio National Guard members
A pair of state lawmakers want to give a financial bonus to all members of the Ohio National Guard as thanks for their service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Each member deserves $1,000 as a “small way to show our appreciation for their valiant efforts,” state Reps. Richard Brown of Canal Winchester and Bride Rose Sweeney […]
Householder alleged to have promoted FirstEnergy interests during Trump roundtable
Facing serious financial trouble and pushing for a federal bailout, the FirstEnergy Corporation saw opportunity in August 2018 when President Donald Trump announced a trip to Ohio. The Akron-based company wanted someone to make the case to Trump in person, so it turned to a reliable political ally: Larry Householder. The Perry County Republican’s alleged […]
Latest increase in cases, hospitalizations has Ohio health officials pushing vaccines
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff acknowledges that as the public face of the Ohio Department of Health he is repeating himself a lot these days. But the message is important enough to continue repeating in simple terms, ODH’s chief medical officer said Wednesday. “It really comes down to, are you vaccinated and safe or are you unvaccinated […]
Ohio crash data points to need for traffic safety improvements
Ohio is on pace for another high year for traffic fatalities in 2021, though the state is seeing some improvement in the number of crashes caused by distracted driving. State lawmakers are considering a number of traffic safety improvements meant to cut down on the number of crashes and deaths on Ohio roadways. Among them […]
Those who voted, registered illegally could face prosecution
More than 100 non-citizens could face penalties for having cast ballots or being illegally registered to vote during the 2020 election cycle, but it may take years to fully investigate and prosecute them. Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently announced plans to refer 104 cases of non-citizens being illegally registered to vote and 13 other […]
With school vaccine mandates banned, lawmaker wants mask requirements outlawed, too
Ohio schools will soon be barred from mandating that students be vaccinated against COVID-19. A Republican state lawmaker wants to also prohibit schools from mandating students and others wear face masks. Senate Bill 209, introduced by state Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Powell, is unlikely to impact school districts’ decisions for the fall, as lawmakers are on […]
Some voter education programs may be in jeopardy due to new Ohio law
With Ohio searching for more poll workers during the pandemic last year, Secretary of State Frank LaRose had to get creative. Ohioans needed their hair cut after being indoors for months. And, perhaps just as much, they wanted to go out again for drinks. So LaRose announced two new programs meant to spur voter registration […]