statehouse
Ohio judge helped write a bailout that led to arrests; now he’s blocking outside probes
A judge who oversees utility cases was involved in writing a coal and nuclear bailout now at the center of what prosecutors have described as the largest public corruption case in Ohio history, subpoenaed documents show. That same judge, Greg Price, is presiding over multiple regulatory cases in which a government watchdog agency is trying […]
State regulators made ‘utility-friendly’ edits to audit of coal plant bailout, emails show
Documents show state utility regulators sought edits to draft versions of an audit they commissioned, prompting the removal of declarations that a ratepayer-funded bailout of two uneconomic coal plants was a bad deal for Ohio electric customers. Staff at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which sets customers’ water and electric rates, asked an auditor […]
GOP Ohio senator fought to repeal corrupt law; party leaders drew him out of his district
New lines drawn by state GOP leaders ousted Sen. Mark Romanchuk, a Republican from Richland County, from the district that elected him to his seat in 2020. Since the indictment of the former speaker of the House last summer and subsequent guilty pleas from four alleged co-conspirators, Romanchuk has led the charge among Ohio Republicans […]
FirstEnergy said it bribed a regulator for $4.3 million. Here’s how it worked.
FirstEnergy admitted in court documents last week it paid the state’s top utility regulator $4.3 million to use his perch to save the company hundreds of millions via friendly administrative rulings. The company’s allegation against Sam Randazzo, former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, came in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. […]
DeWine says he didn’t know about alleged $4.3m bribe of utility regulator he appointed
Gov. Mike DeWine distanced himself Monday from a utility regulator he appointed who was accused last week of accepting millions in bribes from FirstEnergy Corp. FirstEnergy said in a court filing last week that it paid Sam Randazzo $22 million in consulting fees in the decade leading up to his appointment as chairman of the […]
FirstEnergy paid $4.3 mil to top energy regulator and reaped the benefits, court docs state
An energy lobbyist who Gov. Mike DeWine appointed as the state’s top regulator of public utilities received $22 million from FirstEnergy Corp. in the decade before his appointment — including $4.3 million paid just before assuming the post and specifically to execute official duties to benefit the Akron-based utility — court documents revealed Thursday. Sam […]
Ohio lobbyists get keycard access to Capitol, state buildings
State policy grants lobbyists greater access to government buildings than the general public, according to government officials. Members of the Ohio Lobbying Association, which represents Ohio lobbyists, can obtain access cards to the Statehouse and state office buildings nearby. The cards are also available to lawmakers, their staff, some state employees and certain journalists. They […]
Non-violent, heavily armed demonstration forms at Statehouse
A cohort of armed men stood at the Statehouse steps calling for unity. A conspiracy theorist with a megaphone yelled about dangerous vaccines, 9/11 and the 2020 election. A Black Lives Matter activist simply waved a flag in celebration of the looming inauguration of a new president. The entire Sunday crowd of roughly 100 stood, […]
Cleanings, empty desks, and a 4th case suggest COVID-19 outbreak at the Statehouse
A state Senator said Thursday that another staffer at the Ohio Statehouse has tested positive for COVID-19, the fourth known case to hit the building in two weeks. Managers for the House office buildings have been called in seven times in the last two weeks for special disinfection of “multiple offices and common spaces.” Staffers […]
‘Enter at your own risk:’ COVID-19 cases at statehouse spark Dems’ concern
Two administrative staffers entered Thomas Horan’s office at the Statehouse on Tuesday with a simple message: Go home, you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 at work. On Wednesday, they told him to come back. Turns out they had the wrong Thomas. The case of mistaken identity, shared by Horan and the state lawmaker he works for, […]