This report reflects the latest happenings in government relations, in and around the Ohio statehouse. You’ll notice that it’s broad in nature and on an array of topics, from A-Z. This will be updated on a weekly basis.
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ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE
OneOhio Recovery Foundation named its first grant recipients Wednesday after two and a half years of deliberations and operational challenges, awarding more than $2.1 million to organizations in Summit and Montgomery counties and all of northwest Ohio except Lucas County. The list of 18 entities follows anonymous grants to the same regions in August and September and launches OneOhio's "Grant Award Wednesdays."
AGING
When the Social Security Act turns 90 next year, more Americans will receive benefits from some aspect of the program than the entire population of the United States when it was signed into law. While the Center for Community Solutions' (CCS) former director and state legislator John Begala notes that not only is the anniversary "an opportunity to celebrate and renew commitment to a landmark of American government and culture, he adds it is also an opportunity to initiate top-to-bottom reform of an inordinately complex and financially troubled tangle of domestic programs that are exasperating to beneficiaries and incomprehensible to the general public -- and most policymakers." The 150 million Americans receiving benefits through the Social Security Act today include the following:
67 million receive Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) payments.
65 million receive health care benefits from Medicare.
7.4 million receive Supplemental Security Income payments.
4.5 million receive Unemployment Insurance payments.
2 million receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments.
88.5 million receive health care benefits from Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Residents of long-term care facilities have a variety of rights protected by law, including but not limited to the right to make independent choices, the right to respect and the right to present grievances. A recent proclamation from Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted named October as Residents' Rights Month. This recognition continues the state's efforts to promote the dignity, respect and value of those receiving long-term care and services statewide. The month's theme, "The Power of My Voice," underscores the significance of residents' rights to self-determination and their ability to make choices about their care.
AGRICULTURE
The DeWine administration recently announced that the fourth round of the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program will see a total of $14 million invested in meat harvesting and processing facilities, supporting 51 companies across 33 counties. The funds support upgrades to existing facilities and construction of new ones. Eligible costs under the program include new and upgraded machinery, other equipment and technology products, and plant construction or expansion for confinement, processing, and refrigeration. The grant program was created in 2022 and is administered by the Ohio Department of Development (DOD) in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODAg). The four rounds have seen a total of 179 grants and nearly $42 million in funding for meat processors in 62 counties.
Seventy acres have been added to the Farmland Preservation Program, according to ODAg. The Lang family farm in Licking County is the 14th Ohio farm to join the program this year, ODAg said. "Agricultural land is a key part of Ohio's landscape. Preserving this land is essential," ODAg explained. An agricultural easement in the Farmland Preservation Program is a voluntary agreement between the landowner and ODAg, where the landowner agrees to perpetually maintain the land predominantly in agricultural use. In exchange, the landowner is either compensated or may be entitled to a tax deduction.
ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) approved more than $693,000 in grants during its meeting this week, including nearly $138,000 in Artist Opportunities Grants. Artist Opportunities Grants are awarded to individual artists, and are intended to help with professional development, according to OAC's website.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says his new Electronic Fraud Investigations Unit in the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) scored its first win in the recovery of $130,000 from a cryptocurrency scam in the capital area. Starting in July, shortly after the unit was created, Worthington police requested help from BCII to investigate the cryptocurrency complaint of a 75-year-old woman. She had received a pop-up computer warning that she was the victim of fraud, called the provided phone number and was told her husband's bank account had experienced "fraudulent activity." Scammers first told her to withdraw $1,000 from her accounts and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM machine. They then sought additional deposits, personal information, and access to her accounts and a cryptocurrency wallet. She ultimately lost $230,000.00. "Criminals are hitting cryptocurrency scams hard, which can have lasting impact to your bank account and your credit history," Yost said in a statement Tuesday. "Recovering lost electronic funds can be a sophisticated goose chase, but our agents and analysts are getting ahead of the curve to help victims recoup their money."
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 49 other attorneys general announced a $52 million settlement Wednesday with Marriott International Inc. stemming from their investigation into a multiyear data breach involving its guest-reservation system. The breach exposed personal information -- contact details, reservation data and, in some cases, unencrypted passport numbers and payment card information -- of 131.5 million hotel guests. The compromised data originated with Marriott's acquisition of Starwood Hotels in 2016, but intruders had made their way into the system as early as July 2014 and went undetected until September 2018.
BALLOT ISSUES
The League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWV), a proponent of redistricting amendment Issue 1, released a research study Tuesday titled "Ohio's Congressional Districts: Disparities, Divisions & Disadvantages," which it said explores "the effects of gerrymandering on various communities in Ohio." The study, authored by former Marion County Judge Jim Slagle and David Niven, a University of Cincinnati political science professor, argues that the current congressional map does not reflect communities of interest. Niven stated that the districts are subject to unnecessary divisions that split small towns, neighborhood schools, and even a graveyard. The study can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yhnjtjw2.
FY24-25 BUDGET
Ohio's Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Monday called the $500+ million overage in tax revenue for the month of September "likely due to an overprediction of the revenue loss from the first-ever expanded sales tax holiday held from July 30-Aug. 8." OBM went on to say that, "This overage will be temporary because the future transfer in to the GRF [General Revenue Fund] from the Sales Tax Holiday Fund will be less than anticipated." Specifically, the state finished September with $2.1 billion, $547.1 million or 36 percent over the updated estimate for the month. The estimated revenue for September had been $1.5 billion.
BUSINESS/CORPORATE
A recently released Forbes list of the 400 richest people in the U.S. includes three Ohioans, with Les Wexner and his family the highest at 146th overall. Wexner, age 87, founded global retail giant L Brands which has included Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Ohio advocates of victims of domestic violence Wednesday thanked Ohio lawmakers for providing more funding for domestic violence programs around the state in the most recent budget bill, but said even with the extra funding there is an unmet need. Tia Payne, the board chair-elect of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), said during an event at the Statehouse Wednesday that demand for services increased in 2023 from 2022. The 76 ODVN member programs in 2023 answered 121,420 calls for help, an average of 333 per day or more than 14 per hour, which she said is an increase of 34 percent over 2022. ODVN members provided services to 98,143 survivors of domestic violence, an increase of 35 percent, and sheltered 9,707 survivors, including 3,742 children.
The DeWine administration is targeting gun violence in Ohio with $7.6 million in federally funded grants announced Wednesday by the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). Ten mobile crisis response teams lead all recipients, followed by specialized court dockets and community treatment programs. The Biden administration is funding a total of 26 Ohio programs in 31 counties through the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) with appropriations from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022.
DISASTERS
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday afternoon that he was activating 40 members of an Ohio Air National Guard civil engineer unit to assist Florida authorities in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. "As Florida recovers from one hurricane and braces for another, Ohio is answering the call to help Gov. [Ron] DeSantis and the entire state," DeWine said. A total of 40 members of the 200th REDHORSE Squadron headed to Florida in advance of Hurricane Milton. REDHORSE, an acronym for "Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer,” will perform assessments of needed support, clean up storm debris on private property and provide other recovery and relief operations. In addition, Ohio Task Force 1 (OH-TF1) posted on social media Tuesday that it had completed work in North Carolina and was being assigned to Florida.
ECONOMY
Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Thursday. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January. Over the last decade the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6 percent, the SSA noted. The COLA was 3.2 percent in 2024.
EDUCATION
The Ohio Supreme Court declined Monday to order Columbus City Schools to provide transportation to families who've requested mediation over the district's withdrawal of busing services for some school choice students, rejecting Attorney General Dave Yost's emergency motion. Yost recently sued the district over its decision to deem large numbers of charter and private school students "impractical" to transport. More recently, he filed the emergency motion for families in mediation, arguing the law clearly obligates the district to provide transportation during the mediation process.
Judge Jaiza Page has too many pages of summary judgment motions to weigh for a November trial date to remain feasible, she wrote in a memo to parties in Ohio's voucher litigation explaining why she delayed the proceedings. She said she intends to address those motions before year's end. Vouchers Hurt Ohio, the school district coalition suing over the constitutionality of vouchers, last week announced Page's verbal decision to delay that she made during a pre-trial video conference involving districts, the state and two groups of families who use EdChoice vouchers and have intervened to act as defendants alongside the state.
ELECTIONS
Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. are barred from contributing to Ohio issue campaigns after the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion from the state to stay a lower court ruling that found provisions of special session HB1 (Seitz) violated the U.S. Constitution. In a 2-1 decision in OAPWL v. Yost, the appeals court called U.S. District Court Judge Michael Watson's decision blocking provisions of HB1 "flawed" as it pertains to lawful permanent residents (LPRs), also known as green card holders, who were included in the law's definition of "foreign national."
ELECTIONS 2024
Early voting began Tuesday via mail or in-person at county boards of elections. The early, in-person voting schedule is as follows:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 8-11 and Oct. 14-18
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-25
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 2
1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 3
7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
Saying the "wheels are in motion" for absentee voting in the General Election to begin, Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office argued in a filing with the Ohio Supreme Court Friday that the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) waited too long to challenge his directive that required anyone utilizing a dropbox to return an absentee ballot for someone other than themselves to sign an attestation form. LaRose issued Directive 2024-21 on Aug. 31 after a federal court ruled that a provision of omnibus elections bill 134-HB458 (Hall) criminalizing knowingly returning another's absentee ballot unless authorized to do so violates Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which gives disabled voters the right to have assistance from "a person of the voter's choice." The Ohio Democratic Party, along with two voters, filed the lawsuit last month challenging the directive, saying that it comes without "any basis in statute."
Then this week, pushing back on LaRose's argument that the lawsuit challenging his dropbox directive came too late, the Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) argued in a new filing that the secretary of state is "trying to convince this Court to ignore the directive's clear violation of state law because of the timing" of the lawsuit.
Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) Friday pressed Secretary of State Frank LaRose to answer her questions about the process he used to cancel voter registrations of individuals his office identified as noncitizens and how it may have affected new U.S. citizens. Her press conference came a day after the ACLU, the League of Women Voters of Ohio, and Common Cause sent a letter to LaRose on a separate voter removal issue involving challenges by third parties, which they said may be a violation of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). Abdullahi said she is interested in how LaRose came to the conclusions his office did when verifying voter files while still protecting the rights of citizens, particularly new Americans.
The Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) Monday said it will be putting an additional $375,000 into the campaigns of its Ohio Supreme Court candidates as it seeks to hold on to two seats and pick up another. ODP said it has given $125,000 contributions to the campaigns of each of Justice Michael Donnelly, Justice Melody Stewart, and Appeals Court Judge Lisa Forbes.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) re-election campaign announced the launch of "Republicans and Independents for Sherrod." The campaign said there are more than 200 Republicans and independent voters who have joined the coalition. It is co-chaired by former Ohio Rep. Rocky Saxbe and Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, who has appeared in pro-Brown ads.
More than two-thirds of surveyed Ohio voters told Baldwin Wallace University's (BW) "Pulse Poll" that they "strongly" or "somewhat" oppose the manipulation of electoral boundaries to give one political party an advantage over another. The pollster surveyed 877 registered voters across Ohio from Monday, Sept. 30 to Tuesday, Oct. 1, on a variety of topics, finding frustration with political leadership and a surprising alignment with some policies often seen as progressive as the state's politics have lurched rightward.
A new poll released Thursday by the Washington Post shows U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) virtually tied with challenger Republican Bernie Moreno with less than a month to go before the Tuesday, Nov. 5, General Election. The poll surveyed 1,002 voters in the state from Thursday, Oct. 3, through Monday, Oct. 7, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
The following endorsements were made over the week:
Cleveland.com endorsed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown for re-election and Dennis Kucinich for Congress.
The U.S. Senate campaign of Republican nominee Bernie Moreno announced the endorsement of the National Border Patrol Council.
EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday the nation added 254,000 jobs in September though the unemployment rate was again little changed at 4.1 percent. The August unemployment rate was 4.2 percent. BLS said the number of unemployed people also showed little change at 6.8 million in September. That measure and the unemployment rate are both higher than they were a year ago when the unemployment rate was 3.8 percent and there were 6.3 million unemployed people.
ENERGY/UTILITIES
The Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) says the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) first five-year rule review since the 133-HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) bribery scandal involving FirstEnergy is the perfect opportunity to reform its Nominating Council for greater transparency in its membership and in candidates it screens for appointment by the governor. The consumers' counsel filed 10 pages of public comment Friday on overhauling PUCO nominations and attached previous letters to the council chair and OCC Governing Board resolutions calling for "fair, nonpartisan and judicious" appointments -- the latter dating to 1982.
FEDERAL
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Columbus-area leaders Tuesday to discuss the issue of large investor companies buying up homes, as well as how legislation could address that through removal of tax breaks they receive. The "Stop Predatory Investing Act" was introduced by Brown and other Senate Democrats in July 2023 and would prohibit investors that acquire 50 or more single-family rental homes from deducting interest or depreciation on those properties. Brown said housing is "far too expensive" in Columbus and Ohio, particularly given the demands of rising population growth. He is working to bring prices down, both for housing as well as groceries and insulin. The bill focuses on "predatory" investors who are buying up homes to rent them out and making it harder for families to purchase their own. That is driving up rent prices as well and leading to homes which don't receive needed repairs, Brown continued. In the second quarter of 2024, he added, investors of all sizes made up over 14 percent of home purchases in Columbus.
GAMING/GAMBLING
Ohio's casinos and sportsbooks brought in more money in August 2024 than they did in August 2023, according to data provided by the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC). The state's four casinos made $85.7 million in August 2024, up from $82.4 million in August 2023. Ohio's sportsbooks made $48.8 million in August 2024, up from $40.8 million in August 2023.
The cost of Mega Millions tickets will increase from $2 to $5 per ticket in April 2025, the Ohio Lottery has announced. "This is only the game's second price adjustment since the first ticket was sold more than 20 years ago, and the first change since the current game matrix was adopted in 2017," the Ohio Lottery said in a news release.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said Monday he foresees a quick Senate concurrence vote post-election on legislation requiring single-sex bathrooms that the House approved shortly before the summer break. Speaking to reporters outside the symposium for public university trustees, Huffman said he's confident the Senate has the votes to concur with House amendments to SB104 (Cirino), which originally focused on the College Credit Plus program but was amended to include language of HB183 (Bird-Lear). That latter bill prohibits public and private K-12 schools from allowing a "member of the female biological sex to use a student restroom, locker room, changing room or shower room that has been designated by the school for the exclusive use of the male biological sex." Likewise, it bans a "member of the male biological sex" from using such facilities "designated by the school for the exclusive use of the female biological sex." "We'll probably take that up in the Senate fairly quickly, probably before Thanksgiving," he said. Huffman said some of his priorities are awaiting action in the House, including SB83 (Cirino), an overhaul of higher education policy. He also said he'd like to see lawmakers pass marijuana law changes, saying he's talked to industry representatives about their needs.
The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) received 18 applications from those interested in succeeding retiring Laura Battocletti as executive director. Among those who submitted applications are Stephen Friday, CSRAB's assistant deputy director of security and safety; former CSRAB communications director Luke Stedke; Ohio Senate Strategic Initiatives Director Averel Meden; former state Rep. Scott Ryan; and Megan Wycuff, executive director at the Ohio Channel. According to CSRAB, other applicants include Adam Maxwell, Casey McCarty, James Eisinger, Eli Faes, Eric Bell, George Hinkle, Douglas Hammon, Lisa Peterson, Marvis McGowan, Monica Crimmins, Prashant Gokhale, Ronald Lodwick, and Shawn Kenney.
Twenty-three state agencies are achieving their regulatory reduction goals under 134-SB9 (McColley-Roegner) and four are failing to do so, according to the co-chairs and executive director of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). This is the second of three regulatory reduction reports required by regulatory reduction measure SB9. The first set of reports was due in September 2023. JCARR Executive Director Ian Dollenmayer told Hannah News that the four agencies that are failing to meet their 20 percent reduction are the Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio Lottery Commission and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The original sponsors of Ohio's longstanding bond program for local infrastructure projects are back nearly 40 years later to ask voters to reauthorize borrowing for the program for another decade. Speaker Pro Tem Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) and Rep. Dan Troy (D-Willowick) want Ohioans to vote in May to renew bonding authority for the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP), which is administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC). They're proposing a resolution that would ask voters to amend the Ohio Constitution to increase annual bonding authority from $200 million to $250 million per year, for a total or $2.5 billion over a decade.
GOVERNOR
Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted recognized Friday, Oct. 4 as "Manufacturing Day" in acknowledgement of recent progress for the industry and as a way of highlighting the career opportunities it offers. Ohio is ranked third nationally with over 687,000 manufacturing jobs and it produces over $134 billion in manufactured goods each year, according to the DeWine administration. The Buckeye State is first in the nation for glass, plastics, and rubber product manufacturing employment and second in manufacturing jobs related to paper; primary metals; machinery; and electrical equipment, appliances, and components.
A judicial appointment made during the week includes the following:
Gov. Mike DeWine Tuesday announced the appointment of Gerald Anderson ll to the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, General Division. Anderson, of Zanesville, will assume office on Monday, Oct. 21, and will be taking the seat formerly held by Judge Mark Fleegle, who retired. He will serve the remainder of the unfinished term and will need to run for election in November 2026 to retain the seat.
HANNAH NEWS RACES TO WATCH
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is hoping to win a fourth term in office this fall as he takes on Republican challenger Bernie Moreno. The race is being watched closely across the country, as the outcome very well could decide which party controls the U.S. Senate in the next Congress. Brown first joined in the U.S. Senate in 2006, defeating then-U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine by a vote of 56.2 percent to 43.8 percent. In 2012, Brown beat then-Treasurer of State Josh Mandel 50.7 percent to 44.7 percent. In 2018, Brown won against then-U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci 53.4 percent to 46.6 percent. Brown has also served as a state representative, Ohio secretary of state and as a member of the U.S. House during his political career. Moreno has never held an elected office before, and defeated Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) and Secretary of State Frank LaRose in the Republican primary for the opportunity to face Brown. Moreno briefly ran for U.S. Senate in 2022, but dropped out after meeting with former President Donald Trump. Trump eventually endorsed JD Vance, who won the U.S. Senate seat and is now Trump's running mate in the 2024 election. Trump endorsed Moreno ahead of the 2024 Republican primary.
Ohioans will decide whether Republicans or Democrats will hold the majority on the Ohio Supreme Court this fall. Republicans currently hold a 4-3 advantage on the Court, and they are hoping to expand their majority after the general election. Democrats had been chipping away at the Republicans' majority in recent elections, winning two seats in 2018 and another one in 2020. However, Democrats lost all three Ohio Supreme Court races in 2022 following the enactment of 134- SB80 (Gavarone-Cirino), which requires Ohio Supreme Court candidates to appear on the ballot with a party designation. The following races will be decided this fall:
Justice Joe Deters (R) vs. Justice Melody Stewart (D)
Justice Michael Donnelly (D) vs. Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan (R)
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Dan Hawkins (R) vs. Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes (D)
The fall's House District 52 contest features a veteran representative with a family name familiar to local voters and a challenger with experience in hunger relief and home finance. Voting patterns show the district to be competitive. Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) is seeking a fourth term in the Ohio House. She previously served two Senate terms, including time as majority whip. Serving as a lawmaker is a family affair for Manning. Her late husband, Jeff Manning, served in the General Assembly. Her son, Nathan Manning, joined the House and then switched seats with his mother when she faced term limits in the Senate. Before serving in the General Assembly, Manning had a career as an elementary school teacher. Democratic challenger Genevieve Flieger is a project specialist with the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio. She previously worked as a senior loan processor for United Trust Bank.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
With a North Carolina plant operated by Baxter International suffering the effects of Hurricane Helene, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy (OBP) said Wednesday it has approved a resolution easing regulations on the purchase of IV and dialysis solutions to ward off shortages. The resolution allows the sale and shipment of the solutions and related, non-controlled dangerous drugs by unlicensed, out-of-state facilities.
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is calling for public support to help protect Medicare beneficiaries from hospice fraud. According to CMS, criminals are targeting older Americans by stealing their Medicare numbers and personal health information. CMS has created a Hospice Fraud Prevention Toolkit at https://tinyurl.com/yaycwe2n with resources to raise awareness and prevent fraud.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) echoed Sen. Jerry Cirino's (R-Kirtland) call for intellectual diversity on campuses at Monday's second annual Trustee Symposium for public universities but told attendees he thinks cost is a larger challenge. Cirino, who chairs the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee and who has advocated for substantial higher education policy changes via SB83, welcomed dozens of trustees to the Statehouse Atrium for the symposium. Huffman, Cirino and Sen. Robert McColley (R-Napoleon), who is widely expected to become the next Senate president, all emphasized the importance of trustees' role in higher education governance in their speeches to the symposium. "You are the boards of directors of your companies, if you will, and you need to be involved in setting the tone and the strategy for the university, to make sure that we're delivering the goods to our students and our taxpayers," Cirino said.
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Task Force on Higher Education Thursday released a report on state strategies for enhancing the value of degrees, reflecting two years of work by legislators and legislative staff from 32 states. The announcement included a livestreamed press event. NCSL Federal Affairs Advisor Austin Reid said the report had three elements of trends on affordability and student outcomes as well as a history and present developments in state and federal policy; proper roles for state and federal policymakers in higher education; and the task force's "signature message" on a state strategy to enhance the value of degrees.
HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS
The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) recently awarded $6 million to help three nonprofit organizations support more than 500 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in their communities. Funding comes from the HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) Non-Congregate Shelter program, which provides a safe and private living environment for people experiencing homelessness by supporting the creation and expansion of non-congregate shelters across Ohio. The funding will be distributed to the following nonprofit agencies:
The Community Shelter Board (Franklin County) will receive $2 million to acquire a 42-unit, 56-bed facility serving single men, women, and youth under the age of 25.
Emerald Development and Economic Network (EDEN) (Cuyahoga County) will receive $2 million to rehabilitate a 62-unit facility, with 14 non-congregate units and 14 beds serving single women and youth.
Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Partnership (HAPCAP) will receive $2 million to create a 20-unit, 38-bed facility serving single adults and households with children in Meigs, Gallia, Vinton, Jackson, Hocking, Athens, and Perry counties.
JUDICIAL
The Supreme Court of Ohio has opened a 45-day period for public comment on proposed amendments to the Rules of Superintendence in Ohio Courts regarding standard probate forms. The proposed amendments address a variety of topics including adoption, decedent's estates, disinterment of remains, guardianships, and involuntary treatment for alcohol and other drug abuse. A copy of the proposed changes can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/yc6jtz9b. Comments on the proposed amendments should be submitted in writing before Monday, Nov. 18, to Keely McWhorter, Legal Counsel, Supreme Court of Ohio, 65 S. Front St., 7th Fl., Columbus, OH 43215 or to RuleAmendments@sc.ohio.gov.
Former state senator, past attorney general candidate and sitting Geauga County Probate Judge Tim Grendell is headed to the Ohio Supreme Court under threat of a 12-month license suspension without pay after the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct sustained all charges heard against him since disciplinary proceedings commenced in February. The full board upheld a three-member panel's finding that Judge Grendell is a "mean-spirited," "intemperate bully" who abuses the prestige of his office and judicial due process due to a "decided ignorance of the law at best and an intentional disregard of the law at worst," warranting an 18-month suspension of his law license, with six months stayed under certain conditions.
The Ohio Supreme Court has given Judge Tim Grendell of the Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, a former member of the Ohio House and Senate, until Tuesday, Oct. 29 to explain why he should not be suspended from the state bar for 18 months and from the bench without pay, with six months stayed on certain conditions. The Supreme Court issued the order Wednesday after the Board of Professional Conduct recommended the Republican's suspension from office without pay in an 88-page report upholding three separate complaints against the two-term judge appointed by former Gov. John Kasich. The board released the report last Friday after nine days of disciplinary hearings earlier this year and filed it with the Court the same day.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will join the national celebration of Earth Science Week from Sunday, Oct. 13 to Saturday, Oct 19 with a series of special programming held across the state. Under the theme, "Earth Science Everywhere," Earth Science Week 2024 will emphasize the ways geoscience influences STEM disciplines and the humanities. Information about Earth Science Week nationally can be found at https://tinyurl.com/mryef7se. Complete information about ODNR's celebration of Earth Science Week can be found at https://tinyurl.com/4rsxm64r. The "Explore Further" menu on the website lists activities for educators, students or members of the public who are unable to make the in-person events.
Great news for leaf peepers: The best of Ohio's vibrant reds, yellows and oranges that come with the changing of seasons will be upon the state in the coming weeks. "We are still seeing a lot of green out there but also seeing more colorful splashes of fall color throughout the state," said Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Fall Color Forester David Parrott. "Cooler temperatures will really help the color transformation continue. We should be seeing the best fall color in the next few weeks."
One of Ohio's most notable wildlife success stories continued in 2024 as the state's wild turkey poult index came in above its 10-year average for the fourth straight year. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) relies on public reports of wild turkeys and their young (poults) to estimate nest success and poult survival each year to calculate the state's wild turkey poult index. The ODNR Division of Wildlife count from July and August 2024 found the state's average to be 2.9 poults per hen, slightly above the 10-year average.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Commerce Friday warned Ohioans who want to donate to help support storm relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene's destruction throughout the Southeastern United States to be careful and make sure that the organizations they support with financial donations are legitimately helping victims of the storm. Donations are critical for recovery and relief efforts following natural disaster. Individuals who are interested in making a donation to support storm cleanup and recovery efforts are encouraged to do so through state or regional chapters of reputable national organizations such as the American Red Cross, United Way, and Salvation Army, DeWine's office said. Organizations such as these offer various avenues for donations that will go toward recovery efforts.
PENSIONS
Investment expert Jim Voytko reiterated Thursday his assessment that Ohio's public pension funds are well managed and often perform better than their peers across the U.S., but he dug deeper into their portfolios to highlight the significant difference in their approaches to asset allocation. Voytko, president emeritus of consulting firm RVK, gave his periodic update to the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC), which contracts with Voytko to review the investment performance of the Ohio systems. "The Ohio funds are very professionally managed, their results say so. They perform well versus other public pension plans," he said, using U.S. public pension funds with assets over $1 billion as the peer group for comparison.
PEOPLE
Former U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, a Republican who served in Congress for 18 years, died on Sunday at the age of 87, according to his family. Hobson was first elected to Congress in 1990, filling a vacant seat that was held by now Gov. Mike DeWine after DeWine was elected lieutenant governor. Prior to his election to Congress, Hobson served in the Ohio Senate for eight years, having also succeeded DeWine in the seat after DeWine was elected to Congress. "To us, he was a husband and a dad, but he played countless other roles of which we've been reminded: a leader, a problem solver, a counselor, a business partner, a friend -- the list goes on. Even in our sadness we have laughed hearing old stories, and it has reminded us all over again why so many people loved him. We miss him desperately but are also grateful that he's at peace," his family said in a statement sent to Ohio media sources.
Monday marked one year since Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel set off a greater conflict in the region, with a number of Ohio officials taking a moment to observe the anniversary. The members of the Ohio House Jewish Caucus, which include Reps. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson), Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna), released a statement recognizing the day's significance. "It has been one year since the massacres of Oct. 7, and today we are remembering and mourning the more than 1,200 innocent lives that were taken on the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. We will also never stop working for the safe return of the hostages to their families. They belong at home.”
The Ohio Association of Broadcasters (OAB) announced the appointment of Chad Budreau as its new president, effective Monday, Dec. 9. Budreau will succeed Christine Merritt, who announced earlier in the year that she will step down after 22 years as OAB president.
Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC), a regional council of governments that works on innovative and sustainable energy solutions, announced the hiring of Stephen Harris as director of government relations and regional director for Central Ohio, and of Jessica Armold as regional director for Southeast Ohio.
POVERTY
Ohioans on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who lost food after power outages resulting from late September storms have more time to apply for replacement benefits, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced. "We have secured a federal waiver that increases the window for seeking reimbursement of food benefits from 10 to 30 days, for those who lost power in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene," said ODJFS Director Matt Damschroder in a statement. "SNAP recipients who lost food due to a power outage of at least four hours can apply for replacement benefits through Oct. 27, 2024." Households that lose food purchased with SNAP benefits because of power outages lasting at least four hours can apply for replacement benefits, so long as it does not exceed their monthly allotment. They should complete JFS Form 07222 and submit it to their county department of job and family services. The form is at https://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/num/JFS07222/pdf.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of State Fire Marshal (SFM) has partnered with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to highlight "Fire Prevention Week," which began Sunday and runs until Saturday, Oct. 12. The theme this year is focused on the importance of working smoke alarms. According to NFPA, smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by 54 percent. People without working alarms are more likely to be injured in a fire as well.
The SFM's Ohio Fire Academy recently announced 27 individuals had completed its six-week, 166-hour training program for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), enabling them to become firefighters and EMTs. The group includes 24 Ohioans and three Indiana residents.
SPRINGFIELD
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Friday released an update on its efforts in Springfield, including work through the recently opened mobile health clinic. ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said 98 patients have already received services there, exceeding the expectations of the Clark County Combined Health District (CCCHD). The health clinic is located at CCCHD and offers seasonal vaccinations; vaccines for COVID, flu and RSV; and blood pressure screenings.
STATE GOVERNMENT
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved Gov. Mike DeWine's request to provide federal support for businesses affected by an explosion in Youngstown earlier in 2024, DeWine's office announced Wednesday. The approval comes two days after DeWine sent a letter to SBA requesting the activation of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for those businesses. In May, there was an explosion at the Realty Building on East Federal Street.
The Ohio Department of Commerce's (DOC) Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) Wednesday issued a consumer alert for Ohio residents who have used MoneyGram services due to a cyber-attack and data breach between Sept. 20 and Sept. 22, resulting in an unauthorized third party accessing and acquiring sensitive personal information for some customers.
TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE
The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) and Smart Columbus are both promoting efforts to expand broadband access as part of "Digital Inclusion Week (DIW)," which ends Friday, Oct. 11. DOD and its BroadbandOhio office promoted DIW with a theme of "Stronger Together: Mobilizing Toward Sustainability" to recognize also the work by groups such as the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) to close the digital divide. "Ohio is committed to expanding reliable, high-speed Internet access throughout the state because it's not just about convenience, it's about having access to education, health care and economic opportunity," said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. "As someone who grew up in rural Ohio, I know how significant technology access can be, and we want every Ohioan to have access to these important resources."
TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE
Companies offering to train employees for their commercial driver's licenses (CDL) can now apply for an additional round of tax credits aimed at reducing their costs to do so. Any employer registered to do business in Ohio and employing Ohio resident W-2 employees are eligible to apply for the tax credit. Credits cover up to half of approved training costs, up to $25,000. Eligible training can be conducted by internal qualified training instructors or external training providers on the Ohio-approved CDL course provider list, which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yh8ustr5. More information on the CDL Training Program and an online application can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ykf3unkr. Applications are currently being accepted until Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. Tax credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) will recoup more than $120,000 in restitution and over $40,000 in investigative costs from a Geauga County man who was running a business while collecting temporary total disability benefits from the state. Shawn Thompson, 51, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree felony theft following a probe by BWC's Special Investigations Department (SID) and was sentenced to two years of non-residential community control, with mandatory reporting, and 100 hours of community service.
[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2024 Hannah News Service, Inc.]
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