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
The DeWine administration is taking a multidisciplinary approach to Ohio's drug problem with $5.5 million in new awards from the Ohio Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS). The federal grants address criminal justice, rehabilitation, diversion, and prison reentry across 11 counties in all parts of the state except Southeast Ohio. "Funding from the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) will provide resources supporting the development, expansion or enhancement of substance use deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs in diverse Ohio communities that are disproportionately challenged by high fatal and nonfatal overdose rates," OCJS said.
AGING
The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) inducted five into the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Thursday during a ceremony in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. Inductees have significant accomplishments in their respective professions, vocations and communities. "The five older Ohioans we are inducting this year are fantastic representatives of their communities, working to build a better Ohio in their own unique ways," ODA Director McElroy said. This year's inductees include the following: George D. Beelen, 88, of Canfield; Chaplain Minister Marcia L. Harmon-Walker, 71, of Girard; Ronald E. Kear, 83, of Avon; Beatrice C. Lampkin, 90, of Cincinnati; and Pastor Anthony L. Small, 68, of Cleveland.
AGRICULTURE
Another week of sparse rains around the Buckeye State has put more than half of Ohio into a "severe" drought status, and nearly 10 percent of the state is now in "exceptional" drought conditions, according to the "U.S. Drought Monitor." The monitor is produced jointly by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is updated weekly. Last week, less than half the state was under "severe" conditions, but the latest numbers released Thursday show nearly 60 percent of the state is considered at least in "severe" drought. That includes 30.05 percent that is considered "extreme" drought, and 9.52 percent that is considered "exceptional" drought. Areas with the worst conditions continue to be in the south and eastern parts of the state, but are expanding westward to include Champaign, Clark and Greene counties. There are an estimated 8.3 million Ohioans who are living in drought areas of the state.
The State Fire Marshal's Office announced Friday that a state ban on open burning had been updated, extended and expanded to include additional counties and now includes Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Licking, Madison, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Tuscarawas, Vinton and Washington.
While the vast majority of Ohio farmers say their mental health is generally good, about half of those who needed services in the last year didn't receive mental health care, according to a survey released by the Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance (OAMHA). About 77 percent of respondents said their mental wellbeing is either "good," "very good" or "excellent," while 23 percent had more negative perceptions of their mental health.
Approximately 44 percent of respondents said there was a time in the past 12 months when they felt they needed mental or emotional health care or counseling services. Of those, nearly 50 percent stated that they did not get the services they needed, and nearly one quarter stated they received some services, but felt they needed more or different services. The most common reason given for not receiving necessary mental health services was not having enough time in their schedule.
Ohio farmers should take advantage of the programs and services available to them as they experience the worst drought since the "Dust Bowl,” U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said Wednesday. "It's particularly bad in Southeast Ohio, but Ohioans all over our state are feeling its effects. It's devastating for farmers, who put food on the table for families across the country," Brown said during a press conference call. "Ohio farmers are resourceful and resilient," Brown continued. "I'm working to connect Ohio farmers with resources and make sure they have what they need to weather the worst Ohio drought in 100 years and come out strong." Brown said he is hopeful that Congress will pass a new Farm Bill soon, but emphasized that drought relief programs will remain available and that farmers should apply for them. Brown was joined on the call by former Rep. John Patterson, who now serves as state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ohio Farm Service Agency (FSA).
BALLOT ISSUES
The Team Up North features prominently in the first television advertisement from the group behind redistricting amendment Issue 1. Citizens Not Politicians began running the new 30-second spot statewide on streaming services and digital ad networks, including platforms that carry football. It features former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, now the coach of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers, and says that when "coaches don't play by the rules, we call it cheating. When politicians do it, it's called gerrymandering - and it's just as bad. Ohio is one of the 10 most gerrymandered states in the nation, and the politicians have drawn unconstitutional maps seven times," Citizens Not Politicians spokesman Chris Davey said. "Every Buckeye who hates cheating will vote yes on Issue 1."
CHILDREN/FAMILIES
Should courts have to consider whether a same-sex couple would have been married but for Ohio's now-unconstitutional ban on same-sex marriage when determining parental rights of children conceived through artificial insemination? That is the question currently before the Ohio Supreme Court in In re: L.E.S., E.S. & N.S., a case involving two women who were in a romantic relationship before the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that required states to license and recognize same-sex marriages. Priya Shahani, the biological mother of the three children involved in the case, is arguing that she is the sole legal parent because she and Carmen Edmonds were never married. Edmonds is arguing they would have been married if Ohio had recognized same-sex marriages at the time of their relationship and subsequent decision to have children together, so she should be recognized as a parent under Ohio law. The juvenile court found that Edmonds could not be recognized as a legal parent under Ohio law, but did find that Shahani relinquished sole custody of the children in favor of shared custody with Edmonds. The decision was appealed to the First District Court of Appeals, with that court finding the court should have first determined whether the parties would have been married if not for Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage.
Groundwork Ohio released a report Thursday reviewing a decade's worth of infant mortality reduction efforts and convened a virtual panel of key players in pursuing those policies and putting them into action. Among the speakers Thursday was Kara Wente, inaugural director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), which Gov. Mike DeWine proposed as a way to improve coordination on the myriad programs and policies affecting babies and young children, including efforts related to infant mortality. As part of her work, Wente said she tries to make the department's work understandable to the public. When her team told her getting Ohio from near the bottom to the top 10 for infant mortality rates would require improving from 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births to 4.4 per 1,000, "I said, make it relatable. They came back to me and said, we have to save 330 more babies per year," Wente said.
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Ohioans are at increased risk of affinity fraud, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Securities. "Affinity fraud scams exploit the trust and friendship that exist within groups of people who share common interests in order to exploit vulnerable investors," DOC explained. "Oftentimes, affinity fraud victims are targeted through their religious affiliation, and fraudsters may even enlist respected leaders within the group to unknowingly promote fraudulent investment opportunities." According to a report from the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), states across the country received 2,761 reports of suspected exploitation of vulnerable investors in 2022, which was nearly a 100 percent increase from the previous year. Victims of these crimes often fail to notify authorities or pursue legal remedies, as they are likely to attempt to resolve the issues within the group, DOC said, noting that can leave victims without any recourse to recoup the money they have lost.
EDUCATION
Ohio's five-star rating scale for state report cards debuted in full Friday for local schools after a more limited rollout last year, with most districts falling into the top half of the rating scale. Charter schools were more clustered in the middle of the rating scale, while career-technical schools had a strong showing with about half of them in the highest rating tier. Lawmakers converted the Kasich-era A-F rating system to a 5-star scale in 2021, but a phased-in rollout and the disruption to education from the COVID-19 pandemic meant the 2023-2024 ratings released Friday were the first in which school districts and buildings got an overall star rating. Schools were rated separately on five of six report card components last year. Report cards for schools and districts, as well as numerous spreadsheets on report card data, are at http://reportcard.education.ohio.gov.
Effective Thursday, Oct. 24, Ohio schools will need to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in their buildings, following enactment of the requirement by lawmakers earlier this year. Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB47 (Bird-Brown) into law in July. The legislation requires AEDs to be placed in all public and chartered private schools, as well as municipal sports and recreation locations, except in townships and villages with populations below 5,000. The new law also updates prior requirements for school employees to be trained in the use of AEDs, mandating it for teachers, principals, administrative employees, coaches, athletic trainers, others who supervise interscholastic athletics and any other employee subject to in-service training requirements under law. Schools also must adopt emergency actions plans for the use of AEDs.
Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) leaders discussed attendance issues and recently released report cards at a bimonthly meeting Thursday, as well as their support for Springfield schools. DEW Director Stephen Dackin said Gov. Mike DeWine has "marshaled" his cabinet to do everything they can for Springfield, with DEW staff in "constant contact" with the school district including whether DEW can leverage remaining Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to help them. He also noted DeWine is continuing to visit the city and said among DEW, the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Public Safety there is an "all hands on deck" effort.
In regard to attendance, Dackin said September is "Attendance Awareness Month" and Chief Integration Officer Chris Woolard followed by saying that while chronic absenteeism dropped from 26.8 percent in the 2022-2023 school year to 25.6 percent in 2023-2024, it remains a challenge. That still means one in four students is chronically absent, which makes them far less likely to read at grade level and more likely to drop out. The most vulnerable students have a higher rate of chronic absenteeism, Woolard added.
ELECTIONS
Days after Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office referred 633 individuals to the attorney general's office for investigation on election law violations while complaining of inaction by local prosecutors, the attorney general's office responded that it lacks authority to investigate a majority of them. LaRose said Tuesday that the alleged violations included voting multiple times in the same state or two different states, election fraud involving deceased individuals, and registration and voting violations by noncitizens, but only 12 have had criminal charges brought against them. Attorney General Dave Yost's chief counsel, Bridget Coontz, responded to the referrals in a letter to Hun Yi, director of investigations for the Ohio Secretary of State's Public Integrity Division, saying the "overwhelming majority" of re-referrals sent to the attorney general's office deal with voting registration violations, and that Ohio law does not give the attorney general authority to do anything with those matters.
ELECTIONS 2024
Military and overseas voters will be able to start casting their ballots next week ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 presidential election. County boards of elections began sending ballots to absentee voters eligible under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) on Friday, Sept. 20. Other important dates leading up to the General Election include the following:
The deadline to register or update registration is Monday, Oct. 7. County boards of elections will be open until 9 p.m.
Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting begins Tuesday, Oct. 8. Early, in-person voting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 8-11 and Oct. 14-18; from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-25; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 2; from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27 and Sunday, Nov. 3; and from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from Oct. 28- Nov. 1.
Absentee ballot applications must be received by boards of elections by 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 4. If not returned by mail, absentee ballots must be received by county boards of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Polls on General Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The last day for boards of elections to receive non-UOCAVA absentee ballots that have been postmarked on or before Monday, Nov. 4, is Saturday, Nov. 9. UOCAVA absentee ballots must be received by mail by the board of elections by Saturday, Nov. 9, to be counted.
Voters must present a photo identification to cast a ballot. According to the secretary of state's office, acceptable forms of identification include an Ohio driver's license; State of Ohio ID card; interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV; a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; U.S. military ID card; Ohio National Guard ID card; or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card. All photo IDs must have an expiration date that has not passed; a photograph of the voter; the voter's name, which must substantially conform to the voter's name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book. An unexpired Ohio driver's license, state ID card, or interim documentation with a former address is an acceptable form of ID when the current address is in the pollbook. Ohio law prohibits acceptance of the following forms of ID: driver's license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio; Social Security card; birth certificate; insurance card; utility bill; bank statement; government check; paycheck; other government document; or any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections.
The following endorsements were made over the week:
Americans for Prosperity Ohio endorsed Charlotte McGuire and Jerry Cirino for Ohio Senate; and Jason Allevato, Brian Garvine, Tony Hocevar, Curt Hartman, Bill Roemer, Steve Demetriou, Josh Williams, Tex Fischer, Brian Lorenz and Nick Santucci for Ohio House.
Ohio Value Voters endorsed a "No" vote on Issue 1; Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate; Joe Deters, Dan Hawkins and Megan Shanahan for Ohio Supreme Court; Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Max Miller, and Warren Davidson for Congress; Susan Manchester, Jerry Cirino, Tim Schaffer, Mark Romanchuk, Tom Patton, and Sandra O'Brien for the Ohio Senate; and Brian Stewart, Aaron Borowski, Mike Dovilla, Tony Hocevar, Jim Berns, Jenn Giroux, Josiah Leinbach, Josh Williams, Jennifer Gross, Diane Mullins, Jodi Salvo, Kellie Deeter, Michele Teska, Adam Mathews, Brian Lorenz, Beth Lear, Adam Bird, Melanie Miller, Thad Claggett, Levi Dean, Heidi Workman, Mike Tussey, Marilyn John, Meredith Craig, Matt Huffman, Johnathan Newman, Roy Klopfenstein, Ty Mathews, Angie King, Tim Barhorst, Tracy Richardson, Gary Click, D.J. Swearingen, Kevin Ritter, Mark Hiner, and Sarah Fowler Arthur for Ohio House.
ENERGY/UTILITIES
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed fraud charges against FirstEnergy and former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones in connection with the 133-HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) nuclear bailout scandal. FirstEnergy agreed to settle the charges, paying a civil penalty of $100 million, the SEC and FirstEnergy said in separate releases. "We are pleased to have reached a resolution with the SEC as we continue to turn a new chapter," FirstEnergy President and CEO Brian Tierney said. According to the SEC's complaint, from 2017 to 2020, with Jones' active participation, FirstEnergy engaged in a corrupt scheme to directly and indirectly pay former House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) about $60 million with the intent to incentivize Householder to support legislation for the benefit of FirstEnergy. The complaint alleges that FirstEnergy secretly funneled payments to Householder via tax exempt 501(c)(4) organizations.
With FY26-27 funding requests due by year's end, Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) Maureen Willis says she anticipates exceeding the Office of Budget and Management's (OBM) 5 percent cap on current biennial appropriations to restore at least part of the millions in agency dollars slashed by the Kasich administration. Willis advised her Governing Board Tuesday that she is still weighing how much to request of OBM, which wants OCC's budget proposal by Friday, Dec. 27.
The Ohio Supreme Court moved 6-0 Friday to dismiss the OCC appeal of state utility regulators' order rejecting OCC as a party to American Electric Power's (AEP) battle with Nationwide Energy Partners (NEP) over sub-metered utilities in multi-family dwellings. The consumers' counsel had sought to intervene in AEP Ohio's submetering case at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), which last September ordered sub-meterers including NEP to adopt certain consumer protections, led by a local-utility price match and customer disconnect standards, but denied landlord-dependent Ohioans full state protections. OCC turned to the Court in January after it was denied intervention but did not appeal PUCO's final order rejecting AEP's argument that state regulators were trying to have it both ways on regulation versus non-regulation of sub-meterers. In February, AEP followed with its own appeal of the commission ruling to the Court.
ENVIRONMENT
Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) Tuesday shared his personal experience having been poisoned by lead as a child in discussing his HB534, "Ohio's Lead Line Replacement Act." Jarrells was joined by three environmental advocates at the Statehouse in the first of four events around the state discussing the bill’s provisions. If passed, he said the bill would eliminate lead water service lines within 15 years. It also includes support for workforce development efforts and measures ensuring low- and moderate-income customers are not burdened by the cost of replacement. While Jarrells was affected by lead paint rather than lead lines, he said that required "countless" hospital visits and speech pathology classes from kindergarten through the fifth grade. The issue is not only an economic one but a "moral" matter, he said, as "where you live should not determine whether you live." Ohio currently has over 745,000 lead service lines, or 8.1 percent of the U.S. total, despite having only 3.6 percent of the national population.
GAMING/GAMBLING
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) on Thursday announced a partnership with "Change the Game Ohio" -- an initiative that includes Ohio for Responsible Gambling, Ohio Lottery Commission, Ohio Casino Control Commission, Ohio State Racing Commission and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. "This partnership will bring Change the Game Ohio to OHSAA events to provide education and resources to students, parents and educators to prevent youth gambling and reduce gambling disorders later in life," OHSAA said. The partnership will highlight the warning signs on youth gambling and allow access to resources for parents, educators and professionals to learn about youth gambling.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) officially started soliciting applications for candidates to succeed Laura Battocletti when she retires as executive director later this year. "The executive director must have a deep appreciation for the Ohio Statehouse's rich heritage and history and be dedicated to welcoming citizens to participate in state government," said Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), CSRAB chair and House speaker pro tem. Resumes and cover letters are due by 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 to director_opening@ohiostatehouse.org or by mail to Chairman Scott Oelslager, CSRAB, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus OH 43215. The position description and more information is at https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/announcements.
Someone emailed a bomb threat to the Ohio Statehouse Monday morning but law enforcement determined it was not credible and declared the building safe. According to Lt. Ray Santiago of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Public Affairs Unit, officials were notified of a bomb threat at 8:46 a.m. Monday and contacted the patrol, which worked with other agencies and explosive-detecting dogs to search the Statehouse to determine it was safe. Santiago said the contents and origin of the email are part of an ongoing investigation, so the patrol will not release additional information.
Former Rep. Barbara Pringle passed away on Monday, Sept. 16. She was 85. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10 a.m., with entombment at Brooklyn Heights Cemetery to follow. "In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in Barbara's name to the Cleveland Animal Protective League, https://clevelandapl.org/general-donations/," the obituary says. According to the Ohio Statehouse website, Pringle was first elected to the House in 1982 and served eight consecutive two-year terms.
GREAT LAKES
Scott Dommin of Vermilion won first place in the Ohio Lake Erie Commission's (OLEC) 32nd "Life on Lake Erie Photo Contest," the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) announced Thursday. "When is Lake Erie's magnificent shoreline even more spectacular? When the Northern Lights show up and show off!" Ohio EPA said, noting Dommin's photo "features the aurora borealis dancing over the lake." The contest encourages photographers to capture moments, scenes, wildlife, and events that reflect the beauty and essence of Lake Erie. Each submission showcases the unique perspective of what "life on Lake Erie" means to each photographer.
HANNAH NEWS RACES TO WATCH
A recently redrawn district and an incumbent who did not seek reelection after a run for Congress leaves Montgomery County's Senate District 6 as one of the seats Senate Democrats are most hopeful to flip in November's General Election. The race features current Rep. Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton) looking to switch chambers against former State Board of Education (SBOE) President and current board member Charlotte McGuire. The seat is currently held by Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg), who declined to run for reelection, instead running unsuccessfully for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District during this spring's primary. While the 6th District had been reliably Republican in recent years, its boundaries were redrawn during the 2023 redistricting to include most of the metro Dayton area. Dave's Redistricting now gives the 6th District a 53.3-45.8 percent Democratic lean, and the Ohio Redistricting Commission in 2023 gave the district a 54.1-45.9 percent Democratic lean. Both candidates stress the importance of acting as a true representative of the Dayton area.
Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Chagrin Falls) looks to defend his seat in the significantly reconfigured 35th House District against Democratic candidate Mark Curtis. The 35th House District currently represented by Demetriou includes parts of Southern and Eastern Geauga County, parts of Southern and Eastern Portage County and parts of Eastern Summit County outside Akron. The district Demetriou and Curtis are hoping to represent in the next General Assembly includes parts of Southeast Geauga County, parts of Northwest Portage County and parts of Southeast Cuyahoga County. The current district had a political Republican index of 58.06 percent in 2022, according to the Ohio Manufacturers' Association's (OMA) election guide from that year. OMA's 2024 election guide says the new district has a 51.52 percent Republican index. Demetriou, first elected in 2022, told Hannah News that the makeup of the new district is evidence that the current redistricting process can work well. Despite being drawn into a more competitive district, Demetriou said he's not changing his campaign tactics. Curtis is an education professional with experience in both K-12 schools and higher education; he is currently the director of data and technology at the Maple Heights City School District. He also recently served eight years on the Twinsburg City School District Board of Education. In an interview with Hannah News, Curtis said he's excited about the opportunity to flip the 35th House District and make a difference in the Statehouse.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Registration is now open for the Health Policy Institute of Ohio's (HPIO) inaugural statewide Health Policy Summit, themed "Partnering to improve health well-being and economic vitality." HPIO says the summit will provide opportunities to learn about data-driven policy solutions to address Ohio's greatest health challenges and support the development of new evidence through innovation. Keynote and plenary sessions will include "Healing Our Riffs: A Vision of Health Justice," led by Dave A. Chokshi of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health, and "Structural Drivers of Health," led by Sheri Johnson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. The summit is set for Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus. A full event schedule and registration information is available at https://tinyurl.com/y4ubevfp. Other events HPIO has hosted in 2024 can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/ys2n8wsr.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The University of Toledo (UT) announced it will receive up to $15 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory in support of a team of physicists exploring new ways to harvest solar energy in outer space. Randall Ellingson is leading the project that builds on decades of research into thin-film solar technology at UT, which established its Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization in 2007. It also builds on a long-standing relationship between UT's Wright Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory, which have been collaborating on the development of thin-film solar technology for the challenging environment of space since 2006, the university said. The new project looks to develop new materials to absorb and convert electromagnetic radiation from the sun, efficiently generating electricity for critical power needs.
INTEL
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger late Monday announced plans to shift "Intel Foundry" operations, including its Ohio plant, to an independent subsidiary inside of Intel, saying a key priority for that is to increase capital efficiency. He added that Intel remains committed to its U.S. manufacturing investments and is moving forward with its projects in Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico and Oregon. Projects in Poland and Germany will be paused for around two years. Gelsinger said Intel has made manufacturing investments in North America, Europe and Asia that laid the foundation for "a world-class foundry for the [artificial intelligence (AI)] era" and now must move to "a more normalized cadence of node development and a more flexible and efficient capital plan. A subsidiary structure will unlock important benefits. It provides our external foundry customers and suppliers with clearer separation and independence from the rest of Intel. Importantly, it also gives us future flexibility to evaluate independent sources of funding and optimize the capital structure of each business to maximize growth and shareholder value creation," Gelsinger added. The Intel Foundry leadership team will not change and will continue to report to him, though it will have a new operating board with independent directors to govern the subsidiary company.
JUDICIAL
Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy delivered her "State of the Judiciary" address Thursday before more than 400 attendees of the Ohio Judicial Conference, emphasizing the importance of innovation within the judiciary and focusing on initiatives designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Ohio's judicial system. She also spent some time examining the role of civility to do just that, declaring that "civility is not just about decorum. It serves as the North Star for optimizing court operations, bolstering public trust by ensuring justice is administered impartially, fairly and timely. As Socrates aptly said, four things belong to a judge: 'To listen courteously, answer wisely, consider soberly and decide impartially.'" She went on to say that effective court management is the cornerstone of a "fair and just legal system," observing that it shapes public trust and ensures that justice is delivered efficiently and with transparency.
The Supreme Court of Ohio has wrapped up oral arguments for the year as justices, judges and their challengers move toward Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5. It's now previewing 2025 sessions that will include offsite arguments in Defiance County on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2025 and in Monroe County on Wednesday, April 23. The Court last heard arguments on July 23-24, when justices weighed disputes around self-defense, energy transmission, animal rights and drug trafficking the first day and DNA testing, sovereign immunity, 6th Amendment safeguards and judicial release the second day, demonstrating the range of legal issues decided by the state's top tribunal. Oral arguments were on hiatus in August, as customary, after which the Supreme Court updated its calendar in September.
The Ohio Supreme Court says crime victims who do not understand written English now can seek restitution under Marsy's Law with court forms translated into six other languages, including Arabic, Mandarin, Nepali, Russian, Somali and Spanish. The Ohio Constitution and Ohio Revised Code's "Crime Victims' Bill of Rights" amendment orders crime victim compensation for stolen or damaged property, lost wages, medical costs, counseling and disability accommodations. In response, the Supreme Court developed a standardized form for crime victims to prepare restitution requests. Before a plea, trial or juvenile adjudication, victims inform assigned prosecutors of their desire for restitution. Victims need to gather receipts and other documents to support their request. The Supreme Court Language Services Section selected translated languages from those receiving the most requests for court interpreters. The federal Violence Against Women Act funded the translations. The victim restitution form can be found at https://tinyurl.com/47s3suhf
LOBBYISTS
Pappas & Associates announced Monday that it has named William Schwartz as partner in the firm. "Will's experience and dedication to our clients made him a natural fit to become a partner. We are confident that his leadership will further strengthen our firm and enhance our ability to serve our clients," said Tom Pappas, president of Pappas & Associates.
MARIJUANA/HEMP
The Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) has issued provisional licenses to four 10(B) adult-use dispensaries so far, DOC spokesperson Jamie Crawford told Hannah News on Friday. Those receiving provisional licenses still need to meet further requirements to receive their certificates of operation. A total of 123 dispensaries have received dual-use certificates of operation, allowing them to sell medical and adult-use marijuana.
MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM
Ohio Medicaid's per-member per-month (PMPM) rate is expected to increase by at least 3.7 percent in FY26-27, and could grow by as much as 4.7 percent, actuaries from CBIZ Optumas told the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) on Thursday. CBIZ Optumas' Dan Skinner said some of the drivers of the increased costs are due to recent legislation doing the following:
Increases the minimum wage for workers performing waiver services overseen by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Increases in other waiver services, including those serving the MyCare population and the fee-for-service (FFS) population enrolled in the assisted living, home care or PASSPORT programs.
Increases in nursing home facility per diems.
Minimum wage increases for intermediate care facility (ICF) employees.
Higher utilization rate of certain services.
The availability of new, expensive drugs.
For calendar year 2024, Skinner said, the PMPM cost is expected to be between $909.02 and $913.92. For FY26, the PMPM cost is expected to be between $960.85 and $979.38. For FY27, the PMPM cost is expected to be between $996.08 and $1,024.67.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will host an event this year for the first time at Headlands Beach State Park to watch countless bird species begin their annual flight south to their wintering grounds. The inaugural Headlands Birding Festival will offer an opportunity for visitors to learn about the 352 species of birds documented in Lake County who begin their yearly journey to South America during this season from Friday, Sept. 20 - Sunday, Sept. 22.
PENSIONS
When the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) put its leader on leave to investigate misconduct allegations, the then-chair of the board asked the Finance Department leader, Lynn Hoover, to step into the role on an acting basis. As she approaches a year at the helm, Hoover is leading the system through funding policy updates and discussions of how to restore or improve benefits after 2012 pension reform cuts. She's become the face of the system at regional town hall meetings for beneficiaries. Her predecessor, William Neville, was largely cleared of wrongdoing by outside investigators, but the board has repeatedly extended his leave nonetheless. Hoover sat down with Hannah News at the STRS offices in Columbus for an interview on her perspectives about dynamics and challenges facing the system. "We are working very, very hard on our members' behalf to be able to do sustainable benefit changes and keep making the fund stronger. That's our top priority," she said. Hoover is a 30-year veteran of STRS, and her experience with the pension system stretches farther back than that. STRS was one of a few Ohio systems Hoover did work for in her first job out of college in accounting for Deloitte. Since joining the system, she's worked in accounting and investments and served as controller and chief financial officer, a title she still holds alongside her role as acting executive director.
The Governance Committee for the STRS Board of Trustees decided to seek more information from potential governance consulting firms Thursday after follow-up information provided since last month's meeting raised more questions. The board has been searching for a new governance consultant following the abrupt departure of Aon, which quit its contract with STRS, setting off alarm bells elsewhere in state government. Gov. Mike DeWine called it a "huge red flag," and the Ohio Retirement Study Council determined the "unprecedented" development warranted sending a letter about it to state legislative and executive leaders, as well as the Ohio Ethics Commission. In August, the Governance Committee heard presentations from Segal, the Hackett Group and Global Governance Advisors (GGA) about their proposals to serve as the board's new governance consultant. After the presentations, multiple board members spoke positively about the presentation from Hackett Group. But at Thursday's meeting, Stacy Wideman, chief counsel to STRS, said references provided by the Hackett Group either did not respond to her inquiries or related to work more than five years ago, despite the board's request for more up-to-date references.
PEOPLE
William Sundermeyer passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at the age of 82, according to his obituary. During his career, Sundermeyer served as executive director of the Ohio Education Association (OEA) and as an associate director of AARP Ohio. "Bill's commitment to education was paralleled by his political engagement. A lifelong liberal Democrat, he maintained a deep understanding of current affairs, influenced policy, and formed lasting friendships with key political figures, including former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD)," his obituary says. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Carol Skindell, the mother of Rep. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood), passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday, Sept. 15, according to her obituary. "Carol loved spending time with her family and friends, cooking and bowling. She worked as a school bus driver for Brunswick City Schools as well as a store manager for several state liquor stores. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Brunswick VFW Post 9520," her obituary says. The family will welcome guests from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Waite Funeral Home, 3300 Center Rd. in Brunswick. A memorial service will begin at 6 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Valley City. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking people to consider a donation in Carol's name to the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, located at 3 Summit Park Dr. in Independence.
REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT
The Ohio Ballot Board Wednesday approved new amended language for redistricting Issue 1, making only slight changes to address issues raised by the Ohio Supreme Court in two sections of the language. Opening Wednesday's meeting, Ballot Board Chair Secretary of State Frank LaRose noted that there are only 47 days until the election, and on Friday, Sept. 20 military and overseas ballots go out. He said that by adopting the proposed changes drawn up by his office, it will set in motion the ability for county boards to start sending out ballots. The first change, prompted by a Friday 4-3 Supreme Court decision, adds a line to a section about a prohibition on filing lawsuits challenging a redistricting plan in any court to include an exception for "requirements pertaining to an incumbent elected official's residence or the expiration of certain senators' terms" in addition to challenges to the proportionality standard applied by the commission. The second change adds language to a section about limiting the rights of citizens to express opinions to the commission to state "other than through designated meetings, hearings, and an online public portal, and would forbid communication with the commission members and staff outside of those contexts."
Notably Friday’s Supreme Court decision upheld the ballot issue title, largely siding with the Ballot Board, particularly on a section that states that the amendment would require the redistricting panel that it creates to "gerrymander" district lines in favor of the state's two largest political parties, despite language in the amendment that states it would "ban gerrymandering." In an unsigned opinion, the Court majority pointed to the common understanding of the word "gerrymander," using both dictionary definitions and how the U.S. Supreme Court has used the term to find that the language does not mislead, deceive, or defraud voters.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in a statement Wednesday that his office was one of at least 15 election offices around the country that received a suspicious package from an unknown source. The secretary of state's office said the package was believed to contain a powdery substance that investigators in other states have found to be non-hazardous. The Ohio Secretary of State's Public Integrity Division is coordinating with law enforcement on the matter, including agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Postal Service. LaRose also said Gov. Mike DeWine recently approved additional security protection for the secretary of state due to multiple threats against LaRose. Those threats are also under investigation.
SPRINGFIELD
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue issued a proclamation Thursday granting himself "temporary emergency powers to mitigate public safety concerns," according to the Springfield News-Sun. A statement from the city said this includes an expedited procurement process and will enable departments to "respond more efficiently to emerging risks, including civil unrest, cyber threats, and potential acts of violence." It will remain in effect until it is determined that public safety risks have subsided and may be modified in the future. "Ensuring the safety of Springfield's residents is our top priority," Rue said. "We are addressing these threats with the seriousness they warrant and are taking immediate steps to ensure the security of both our community and our employees. Our commitment to preventing harm is unwavering." Threats to schools and colleges have afflicted the city for days and prompted Gov. Mike DeWine to send 36 Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) troopers to provide additional security and to urge parents to send their children back to school after days of threats hampered the district and the city at large over the past week. "We do not believe there is a real threat out there, but we are certainly not going to take any chances," DeWine said, adding that they want students to be able to return to school and be kids.
All this followed comments from former President Donald Trump and other politicians attacking the Biden administration for the rapid growth in the Springfield area's Haitian immigrant population, including spreading rumors about the Haitian population that local authorities say are unsubstantiated.
According to media reports, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump plans to visit Springfield in the next two weeks. In an interview before that announcement, Mayor Rue had said a presidential candidate's visit to the city would be "an extreme strain on our resources."
DeWine visited Springfield again Thursday, announcing that the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is working with the Clark County Combined Health District to open a mobile health clinic during the week of Sept. 23 and will collaborate on setting up a permanent location in the future. DeWine said the goal is to reduce wait times and provide the necessary health care services for everyone, noting that Springfield has dealt with "significant stress" to its health care system in recent years after an influx of thousands of Haitian migrants, resulting in longer appointment wait times for patients of all backgrounds. Clark County Combined Health District will operate it with active support from ODH.
STATE GOVERNMENT
The Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing (REPL) recently announced it has developed a new guide on how consumers can navigate the process of filing a real estate complaint. The division said it received 480 real estate complaints in 2023, which included allegations of violations related to advertising, unauthorized access, and property management. The guide offers step-by-step instructions to help ensure Ohioans are able to submit complaints efficiently so they can be addressed promptly. The guide can be found at http://com.ohio.gov/RealEstateComplaintGuide.
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) Thursday approved a new master plan for Madison Plains Local School District and heard a presentation on the new Central Ohio Behavioral Health Center. The school district requested the new plan, which was renewed at the commission's December 2022 meeting. The nearly $45 million lapsed project is part of OFCC's Exceptional Needs Program (ENP) and intends to build a new K-12 facility.
TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced Tuesday that 524 employers were approved for funding through the July round of TechCred, which will enable Ohioans to earn 6,747 tech-focused credentials. One of the leading industries awarded during this round was artificial intelligence (AI) at 1,061 credentials awarded.
TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE
Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced that $15 million in grants will go to several cities and townships around Ohio to support roadway safety improvements and improved road signage. The funding is part of ODOT's Small City Grant Program and Township Sign Grant Program. ODOT said $14,324,280 is being awarded through the Small City Grant Program to nine projects in nine communities. Projects will convert intersections to roundabouts, improve or reconstruct roadways, and upgrade traffic signals. The program funds projects in cities with populations from 5,000 to 24,999 that are outside the boundaries of a metropolitan planning organization. ODOT is also awarding $845,040 to support 38 roadway signage projects in local townships in 30 counties as part of the Township Sign Grant Program. The program provides funding for signs, posts, and hardware for signs along township maintained roadways. Funding for the Township Sign Grant Program is awarded as part of ODOT's Highway Safety Improvement Program. A list of grant recipients can be found at https://tinyurl.com/bdhk8y3h.
The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission received an update on ongoing customer service issues that arose from the rollout of its new toll collection system, with Executive Director Ferzan Ahmed telling commissioners Monday that while call volumes have improved, there can still be some long wait times during peak hours. The commission has received an increased call load after the implementation of its new open tolling system earlier this year. Customers raised concerns about their billing for unpaid tolls, which has been compounded by an ongoing text scam involving unpaid tolls. The commission announced late last month that it was suspending late fees, collections, and Ohio BMV registration holds over unpaid toll invoices. During Monday's meeting, Ahmed said that the average wait time for customers has dropped to five minutes and 41 seconds, while at its peak the average was as high as 12 minutes. He said unfortunately the wait time can still be long during peak hours, with some waits exceeding more than an hour and a half.
The Ohio Rail Development Commission Thursday approved $11 million more in grants for four projects through a program created in biennial budget bill HB33 (Edwards) aimed at eliminating dangerous railroad crossings. The budget bill provided $100 million in FY24 for the Ohio Grade Crossing Elimination Program (OGCEP), with the first funds going out earlier this year.
WORKFORCE
A Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) forum Wednesday focused on the efforts of the recently created Central Ohio Workforce Development Network and what can be done to address workforce issues overall, as well as discussing the benefits immigrant communities can provide. Network director Scott Johnson explained that the 13 organizations provide quality workforce development services in the community and are trying to identify ways they can scale and do better. The network helps employers from having to maintain a relationship with each member organization in order to connect with "great talent very, very quickly." When the network formed in April it surveyed member organizations and found that collectively the 13 entities have over 500 years of experience and almost 2,500 employees. Around 100,000 people seek their services annually.
[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2024 Hannah News Service, Inc.]
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