jim butler

Mailbag: DeWine impeachment, legalized cannabis and local news coverage

BY: - August 27, 2020

The first clue came last Sunday evening. “Big News OHIO,” State Rep. Nino Vitale posted to his Facebook page. “9 am Tomorrow Right Here.” His large social media following got excited. Some thought Vitale was announcing a run for governor. Others presumed it had something to do with Gov. Mike DeWine; Vitale has been on […]

House lawmakers leave racism resolution on the table

BY: - June 16, 2020

A resolution declaring racism a public health crisis did not receive a hearing before the Ohio House of Representatives left for their summer break.  The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus announced the measure at the beginning of the month, and it was referred to the House’s State and Local Government Committee on June 3. The bill […]

Many Ohio lawmakers use campaign $$ to subscribe to hometown papers

BY: - February 7, 2020

Dozens of Ohio legislators are choosing to spend their donors’ money in the interest of local journalism. In total, 35 state representatives and senators paid for news subscriptions using campaign funds in 2019, a review from the Ohio Capital Journal has found.  And though the president bemoans the alleged problem of “fake news,” it is […]