Politics & Gov
Riley Gaines testifies in support of Ohio bill blocking trans athletes and gender-affirming care
A former University of Kentucky swimmer who has been very outspoken against competing and sharing a locker room with transgender athlete Lia Thomas testified in support of a bill that would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports. Riley Gaines told the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee how her and Thomas both had […]
’50/50′ custody bill gets big changes in committee as ‘compromise’ with bill critics
After receiving criticism from legal organizations including the Ohio Judicial Conference, a bill to change custody agreements in the state went through some changes in legislative committee this week. House Bill 14, sponsored by Republican state Reps. Rodney Creech and Marilyn John, originally set out to establish a 50/50 parental custody agreement as the standard […]
U.S. Senate panel advances former Maryland governor’s nomination to lead Social Security
WASHINGTON — Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley moved one step closer Tuesday to becoming the next Social Security commissioner, a role that would become increasingly difficult as the program inches closer to insolvency during the next decade. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee voted 17-10 to send O’Malley’s nomination to the floor, though it’s not clear […]
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted subpoenaed in civil suit over bailout scandal
Plaintiffs in a civil suit related to a massive bribery and money-laundering scandal have subpoenaed documents from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and they’re scheduling a sworn deposition with Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. There have been four criminal convictions so far in the scandal and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker has said the investigation is continuing. […]
Ohio Supreme Court dismisses redistricting challenge, leaving Statehouse maps in place
In a drastic change from previous rulings, a partisan majority on the Ohio Supreme Court chose to leave Statehouse redistricting maps in place for 2024 and beyond, denying a challenge to the constitutionality of the newest maps. In a 4-3 ruling released Monday evening, right-wing justices on the court pointed to the bipartisan support of […]
Checking in on Ohio firearms bills as the year ends
With a new year looming, Ohio lawmakers are trying to spur firearm legislation forward. State senators are holding hearings on a measure banning gun store specific merchant codes, despite credit card companies halting the idea the months ago. Meanwhile in the House, lawmakers want to bring a controversial proposal to the floor restricting local agencies’ […]
Some states act to protect residents from extreme heat — with a new focus on young people
After two years of record-breaking heat that brought a surge of deaths and health emergencies, several states have enacted or are considering measures designed to protect residents — with a new focus on younger people whose vulnerability is rising with the temperatures. Nationally, heat-related deaths rose from about 1,000 in 2018 to 1,722 in 2022 […]
Ohio Catholic bishops spent big on failed effort to defeat abortion-rights amendment
Ohio’s Catholic bishops spent $1.7 million in an attempt to defeat an abortion-rights measure that passed easily on Nov. 7, according to an analysis by a group of Catholics that urges the church to change its stance on the issue. The expenditure mostly comes from donations by a laity most of whom disagree with the […]
Analysis: Tax credit reform would benefit Ohio families
New research by an Ohio think tank found that a bill sitting in the Ohio legislature could benefit more than a million children in the state. House Bill 290, combined with reforms in the federal refundable tax credit system, could bring financial relief to low and moderate-income families, according to Policy Matters Ohio researchers Bailey […]
‘Send me reinforcements’: U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance urges central Ohio Republicans to back Bernie Moreno
Ahead of Thanksgiving, Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance swung through New Albany to stump for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno. Vance endorsed the Cleveland-area entrepreneur months ago, at least in part, to stave off the kind of protracted primary Vance had to navigate in 2022. But while the Republican field in 2024 is […]
How U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson helped derail a fight against election lies
Back in July, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. A federal court had recently granted a temporary injunction, in Missouri v. Biden, finding that the Biden administration had violated the First Amendment by coercing social media companies to remove content, related both to elections and the COVID-19 vaccine, that it […]
More signs that criminal investigation into Ohio utility bailout continues
Five have been charged and four have been convicted in a massive bribery and money-laundering scandal, but there were more signs this week that the federal criminal investigation is continuing. In court documents filed in a separate case on Monday, a special master said that a major player in the conspiracy — Akron-based FirstEnergy — […]