Commentary
The case against the death penalty, and why Ohio should end it
Ohio continues to be unable to execute people because the pharmaceutical industry refuses to supply the necessary drugs. In fact, those companies have said they will stop selling all drugs to Ohio if any of their drugs are used in executions. On Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine delayed another execution — from February 2020 to March […]
Bail reform needs to be more than words on paper
The Supreme Court of Ohio is still in the process of amending Criminal Rule 46, the rule that governs bail-setting practices for all state courts in Ohio. This is a big deal, because through these changes, the Supreme Court of Ohio could choose to implement bail reform. Or, it could dodge the responsibility and allow the […]
How local governments can create high-paying jobs for residents
How do local governments create living wage and high-paying jobs for residents of neighborhoods of concentrated poverty? One tool we have are business incentives, or, as leading national business incentive economist Timothy Bartik describes them, “tax breaks, cash grants/loans, or services that are (1) targeted at an individual firm, or some industry or group of […]
The power of a platform: Joe Burrow, the Heisman and food insecurity in Ohio
Athens native Joe Burrow won the 2019 Heisman trophy Saturday and used his national platform to highlight poverty and food insecurity in Southeast Ohio: “Coming from Southeast Ohio, it’s a very, very impoverished area. The poverty rate is almost two times the national average,” Burrow said. “There are so many people there that don’t have […]
Ohio has a caregiving crisis — let’s talk about it
What do you think of when you hear paid family leave? Much of this week’s news coverage has highlighted policies that help new parents take leave to welcome a new baby. It makes sense. The U.S. remains the only industrialized country not to guarantee new parents paid leave, and, in fact, one in four new […]
Trump Administration’s food stamp rule change will make many Ohioans go hungry
No one should have to choose between food, paying their rent or going to the doctor. In Ohio, over 1.69 million people struggle with hunger and uncertainty about where their next meal is coming from. More than half a million of them are children. Last week, the Trump Administration finalized a new rule that will […]
Struggling public schools and districts need our investment, not F’s
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signaled recently that he is open to changing the A-F report card system for public schools and districts in our state. With state Reps. John Patterson, D-Jefferson, and Robert Cupp, R-Lima, continuing to work toward a constitutional funding model for Ohio’s public schools, now is a good time to reevaluate the […]
How gerrymandering brings about extreme Ohio laws that don’t reflect majority opinion
Recent gun and abortion bills the latest examples For decades, Ohio has been the quintessential battleground state. But in the last 10 years, Ohio has steadily taken a turn to the right — but not because its voters have suddenly become more conservative. Sure, Republicans enjoy supermajority control of both state legislative chambers and hold […]
Why is autism excluded from medical cannabis treatments in Ohio when conditions associated with it are not?
My name is Tiffany Carwile, and I am the founder and director of advocacy for the Autism Alliance of Ohio. At the end of last year, I submitted a 500-page petition to the State Medical Board of Ohio in support of listing autism as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis treatment. Rife with scientific evidence, […]
Ohio’s coming minimum wage increase still falls far below 1968 state and national peak
Everyone who works full time deserves to make enough money to cover the basics. In Ohio, too many people work hard — sometimes in more than one job — but still live in poverty. Because Ohio voters took action, at least those earning the minimum wage won’t get a pay cut from inflation in 2020. […]
Welcome to the Ohio Capital Journal, reporting for the people
We live in a world of uncertainty. Some of that uncertainty stems from the human condition, the nature of existence and the nature of civilization. Some of it is intentionally manufactured by those acting in bad faith to further personal and professional ambitions, or to cover up corruption and wrongdoing. The role and responsibility of […]