Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Ohio State Wire

Ohio Democrats say taxpayers shouldering costs of false Springfield claims

Tue, 15 Oct 2024
Ohio Democrats say taxpayers shouldering costs of false Springfield claims

(The Center Square) – Ohio Democrats believe false statements about Haiti immigrants in Springfield created millions of dollars in economic damage and significantly cost taxpayers.

In a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine, three state representatives blame former President Donald... Read more


Ohio Supreme Court upholds new ballot drop box rules

Tue, 15 Oct 2024
Ohio Supreme Court upholds new ballot drop box rules

(The Center Square) – The Ohio Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Secretary of State Frank LaRose and upheld new directives for ballot drop boxes across the state.

In a 4-3 ruling, the court upheld LaRose’s recent rule that... Read more


Yost calls statewide sex sting attack on human trafficking

Mon, 14 Oct 2024
Yost calls statewide sex sting attack on human trafficking

(The Center Square) – More than 100 people were charged for trying to buy sex in a statewide human-trafficking operation conducted last week in Ohio.

Attorney General Dave Yost said Monday some of those sex exchanges involved minors, and... Read more


Ex-zoo CEO sentenced to 7 years in prison

Mon, 14 Oct 2024
Ex-zoo CEO sentenced to 7 years in prison

(The Center Square) – A Delaware County judge sentenced the former CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to seven years in Ohio prison Monday for his role in more than $2 million fraud scheme.

Tom Stalf pleaded guilty... Read more


Ohio voters likely will get to decide on continuing infrastructure program

Fri, 11 Oct 2024
Ohio voters likely will get to decide on continuing infrastructure program

(The Center Square) – Ohio voters could be asked to renew for the fourth time a state bond program that grants taxpayer funds to local communities for infrastructure projects.

Reps. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick, and Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, plan... Read more


Ohio economists split on impact of minimum wage hike

Fri, 11 Oct 2024
Ohio economists split on impact of minimum wage hike

(The Center Square) – A group of Ohio economists is split on whether a rise in the state’s minimum wage would also lead to a rise in unemployment.

While an effort to put a minimum wage increase measure on... Read more


Ohio schools, cities, counties have growing losses from abatements

Thu, 10 Oct 2024
Ohio schools, cities, counties have growing losses from abatements

(The Center Square) – Ohio’s largest school district has had money losses from tax abatements grow more than any other district in the state over the past six years, according to a new report.

The Columbus City Schools –... Read more


Labor crisis easing for small businesses

Wed, 09 Oct 2024
Labor crisis easing for small businesses

(The Center Square) – Despite slight easing, finding employees continues to be a major issue for small businesses in Ohio.

The National Federation of Independent Business showed in its September jobs report that 34% of small business owners nationally... Read more


Ohio agencies continue to cut regulations

Wed, 09 Oct 2024
Ohio agencies continue to cut regulations

(The Center Square) – All but four Ohio government agencies hit a goal of reducing regulations by 20% in the ongoing effort to cut red tape.

Three years ago, Ohio lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine passed a requirement that... Read more


Report: Ohio mortgage rates increasing more than other states

Tue, 08 Oct 2024
Report: Ohio mortgage rates increasing more than other states

(The Center Square) – Ohio’s average mortgage rate is the 12th highest in the nation, according to a new report.

Personal finance website WalletHub, a for-profit business, also says a Federal Reserve interest rate cut in September will have... Read more


Yost pressing ahead with busing lawsuit against Columbus schools

Tue, 08 Oct 2024
Yost pressing ahead with busing lawsuit against Columbus schools

(The Center Square) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says a lawsuit aimed at forcing the state’s largest school system to provide transportation for charter- and private-school students is not over.

Yost’s response this week comes after Columbus City... Read more


Database: More than 13,000 gender reassignment procedures on minors between 2019-23

Tue, 08 Oct 2024
Database: More than 13,000 gender reassignment procedures on minors between 2019-23

(The Center Square) – Sex reassignment procedures and surgeries on children have gained national prominence in recent years, and half of U.S. states now have laws passed either restricting or banning them.

Newly released data provided by the nonprofit... Read more


Ohio troops mobilized to help as another hurricane nears Florida

Mon, 07 Oct 2024
Ohio troops mobilized to help as another hurricane nears Florida

(The Center Square) – With troops, equipment and other state personnel in North Carolina dealing with the aftermath of one hurricane, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday afternoon more National Guard troops have been activated to help with Hurricane Milton in Florida.

... Read more

LaRose’s removal of voters questioned

Mon, 07 Oct 2024
LaRose’s removal of voters questioned

(The Center Square) – An Ohio state representative continues to wait for answers from Secretary of State Frank LaRose about recent voter purges, including those he said were noncitizens.

LaRose announced in August more than 200,000 voters had been... Read more


Poll: Brown leads Moreno as election nears

Mon, 07 Oct 2024
Poll: Brown leads Moreno as election nears

(The Center Square) – Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown continues to hold a slim lead over Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, according to a new poll.

The Bowling Green State University and Public Policy Research Network poll of 1,000... Read more


Report: Stadium, arena subsidies not worth it for taxpayers

Mon, 07 Oct 2024
Report: Stadium, arena subsidies not worth it for taxpayers

(The Center Square) – Professional sports teams and government officials promise tax revenue benefits when taxpayer subsidies are used to build new or renovation stadiums and arenas.

But those benefits consistently do not come to fruition, according to a... Read more


Columbus schools will resume busing for some students

Fri, 04 Oct 2024
Columbus schools will resume busing for some students

(The Center Square) – Ohio’s largest school district will resume busing more than 100 charter and private school students next week as a lawsuit continues over its transportation changes.

Columbus City Schools sent a letter to those parents who... Read more


Poll: Strong majority favors Issue 1 in Ohio

Fri, 04 Oct 2024
Poll: Strong majority favors Issue 1 in Ohio

(The Center Square) – A substantial majority of Ohio voters want to change the way the state draws political districts based on a new poll.

The Bowling Green State University and Public Policy Research Network poll of 1,000 likely... Read more


Report: Ohio taxpayers hold a $1,600 individual burden

Thu, 03 Oct 2024
Report: Ohio taxpayers hold a $1,600 individual burden

(The Center Square) – Ohio would need $1,600 from every taxpayer in the state to pay off all of its bills, a figure worse than a year ago, according to a new report released Thursday.

Ohio ranked 28th and... Read more


Four Ohio counties under state of emergency following storm

Thu, 03 Oct 2024
Four Ohio counties under state of emergency following storm

(The Center Square) – Four southern Ohio counties are now under a state of emergency following flooding and storm damage related to Hurricane Helene.

High winds and heavy rains caused flooding, power outages and downed trees in Lawrence, Jackson,... Read more