Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
New Ohio voter ID law also excludes state veterans’ IDs
Franklin County Recorder Daniel O’Connor is blasting Ohio’s Republican leaders for excluding county-issued veterans’ identification from the list of IDs one can use to vote under the state’s controversial new law. Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 458 earlier this month after it was rushed through a lame-duck session by the heavily gerrymandered legislature in […]
While in effect, Ohio’s abortion ban led to chaos, suffering, and worse health care, doctor says
By June 24, David Burkons had spent as much time as a doctor could in the post-Roe world. The Cleveland native graduated the University of Michigan Medical School in 1973, the same year the landmark decision ensuring the right to an abortion was handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Everything changed for the obstetrician […]
Map drawers tell high court why they shouldn’t be held in contempt
(This story has been updated.) Seven of Ohio’s top public officials on Wednesday explained to the Ohio Supreme Court why they shouldn’t be held in contempt for not meeting a deadline last Thursday to submit another set of proposed state legislative maps. Some said they tried to do what the court ordered. Others said the […]
Big questions remain in huge Medicaid procurement
A Franklin County judge earlier this month dismissed a lawsuit over the largest public procurement in Ohio history. But important questions remain about potential corruption and conflicts of interest among key players who had a say in how the contracts were awarded. It’s unclear whether those questions will be answered. In April, the Ohio Department […]
Coronavirus cases in Ohio, neighboring states might be inching back up
After a disastrous January, coronavirus cases in Ohio steadily marched downward. Then in recent weeks, they hit a plateau. Now, even as greater numbers of Ohioans get vaccinated, case numbers might be inching back up. Ohio might be part of a disturbing national trend. The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center published a set of […]
State to send vaccination criteria to schools, teachers union has concerns about rollout
Gov. Mike DeWine explained more of the planned roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations for schools on Thursday, and a state teachers union said the criteria involved has members concerned. DeWine said the plan as of now is to start vaccinating school personnel in the first week of February, with a goal for schools who receive vaccinations […]
Investigation of $460M in FirstEnergy charges back on, but why was it stopped in the first place?
The Public Utility Commission of Ohio has restarted an audit of $465 million that Akron-based FirstEnergy collected from ratepayers in 2017 and 2018, supposedly to modernize the utility grid. The state’s official watchdog, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, wants to know whether any of the money was used in a $61 million bribery […]
60% of Ohio nursing home workers refuse vaccine
As the coronavirus vaccine dribbles out far more slowly than promised, many of the people who can get it are refusing to do so. Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday said that a whopping 60% of nursing home workers who have been offered the vaccine have refused it. The news comes amid disappointing vaccination numbers across […]
Amid questions, Medicaid director has governor’s confidence
The performance of Ohio Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, but she retains the confidence of Gov. Mike Dewine. The governor appointed Corcoran to lead the $27 billion-a-year agency in January 2019, after it had experienced a series of controversies involving the pricing and acquisition of prescription drugs. They included […]
COVID-19 cases in children rise, educators still begging for financial back-to-school help
As data shows rising numbers of children contracting COVID-19, school districts are still begging for funding to keep students and staff safe. One of the state’s teacher’s unions said school districts can’t be expected to live up to the standard needed to prevent COVID-19 spread in schools if they don’t have the proper resources. “All […]
DeWine lays out K-12 reopening plans
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine laid out reopening guidelines for state K-12 schools on Thursday, including a mask requirement for teachers, but no such mandate for students. DeWine said it is “the state’s strong recommendation” that children from the third grade on wear face masks, but maintained that local control for school districts will be in […]