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HIV positive inmate to Ohio Supreme Court: people will die here in a pandemic
Derek Lichtenwalter is serving 30 months for leading police on a lengthy chase, but he says the pandemic has turned 2.5 years into a death sentence. Lichtenwalter says his HIV diagnosis coupled with a worsening COVID-19 pandemic has turned the stretch into an extremely dangerous situation. Citing an overcrowded prison system that makes social distancing […]
‘Critical lack’ of resources and capacity for COVID-19 at homeless shelters, report says
If a person at a homeless shelter tested positive for COVID-19, about half of the organizations that oversee shelters wouldn’t know how to respond. Less than half of them have received any training or education on COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. These and other findings appeared in a recent report, “Double […]
Obama stimulus watchdog: ‘Bad guys’ will make play for COVID-19 relief cash
WASHINGTON — Earl Devaney is feeling déjà vu. Devaney, a former longtime federal watchdog, was hired in 2009 to police the distribution of $840 billion in federal stimulus spending for the Obama administration. He had previously worked for the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. EPA’s environmental enforcement division and as the Interior Department’s inspector general. Now happily […]
Householder announces recovery task force; others propose ideas to mitigate economic hardships
Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder announced Thursday he will create a bipartisan task force to prepare for Ohio to return to work. “We don’t know yet when the COVID-19 situation will improve to the point that Ohio businesses can reopen and people can get back to work, but we need to prepare now for the […]
Ohio Primary FAQ: Everything you need to know to cast your ballot
Note: This story includes the best available information drawn from the newly-passed legislation, the Ohio Secretary of State’s website and contact with county boards of election offices. We will update and add to this Q&A as necessary. If you have further questions, reach out to the Ohio Capital Journal on Twitter/Facebook or email the reporter […]
Pandemic spurs U.S. Senate to pass historic aid package
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate late Wednesday night approved a $2 trillion spending bill that aims to provide economic relief for workers and businesses and to aid hospitals and states reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. The chamber voted 96-0 to pass the bill in an unusual display of bipartisanship. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who tested […]
EdChoice frozen in Ohio omnibus coronavirus bill
The fight over private school vouchers is yet again on hold, this time to clear the way for the state’s coronavirus response. As part of the omnibus bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday morning and the House that afternoon, the expansion of the EdChoice scholarship program will be frozen while the coronavirus causes the […]
Ohio legislature addresses economy, health care workforce, and taxes in coronavirus bill
In the hundreds of pages of the Ohio legislature’s omnibus bill to address coronavirus, state representatives and senators attempted to address many of the state’s concerns, from the economy to the health care sector. The bill was passed by both houses on Wednesday, on its way to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for signature. With an […]
Visitors flock to national parks after Trump waives fees. Is that safe?
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is urging Americans to head to national parks as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. Many people are heading outdoors to seek a reprieve from being cooped up at home. But in Ohio and elsewhere, some fear that the sudden influx of visitors to national parks could put those parks […]
Ohio primary election voting officially extended through April 28
Voting for the Ohio Primary Election has been extended through April 28 and will be conducted through mailed-in absentee ballots. On Wednesday, the Ohio legislature approved a process that will extend voting following a postponement of the March 17 primary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was approved as part of a larger bill addressing […]
Lawmakers announce $2 trillion coronavirus response deal
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate leaders announced a compromise with the White House on a massive $2 trillion spending package that would send checks to Americans and provide aid to small businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The deal was announced early Wednesday morning after days of heated negotiations on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch […]
Of 564 COVID-19 cases in Ohio, a quarter required hospitalization
About 25% of Ohioans with confirmed COVID-19 cases have been hospitalized in the two weeks since officials detected the disease in the state, a concerning sign as health experts warn of an overload on the state’s hospitals. Data released Tuesday afternoon show 145 people have been hospitalized due to the new coronavirus, or about 26% […]