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Ohio Capital Journal
Meet the candidates for Ohio’s Tuesday special congressional election
A special election for Ohio’s sixth congressional district is being held Tuesday — so we spoke with both candidates to learn their views on topics ranging from inflation to immigration to abortion to former President Donald Trump’s trial. This election is due to former United States Representative Bill Johnson resigning from his seat in January […] The post Meet the candidates for Ohio’s Tuesday special congressional election appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
As MAGA pursues an agenda of gaslighting and cruelty, timid responses won’t cut it in 2024
Timidity won’t cut it in 2024. Neither will playing it safe. When the inmates have taken over the asylum the response cannot be measured and meek. The MAGA Republicans who have made a dysfunctional mess out of state government in Ohio, with petty power grabs and industry-written policies, steamroller through opposition that is measured and […] The post As MAGA pursues an agenda of gaslighting and cruelty, timid responses won’t cut it in 2024 appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum
EL PASO, Texas — Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her three-month-old daughter as they waited in a migrant shelter before a Friday night bus ride to Chicago. “I want my daughter to have everything that I didn’t have,” Parababire, who traveled up the extremely dangerous route of the Darien Gap while pregnant, said in Spanish. The Venezuelan, […] The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Biden’s order limiting asylum appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe
Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isn’t doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of […] The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isn’t enough to keep them safe appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump said Monday that if reelected he plans to work “side by side” with a newly formed religious organization that says abortion is the “greatest atrocity facing” the United States and should be “eradicated entirely.” During two-minute recorded remarks played at The Danbury Institute’s inaugural Life & Liberty Forum in […] The post Trump says he’ll work ‘side by side’ with group that wants abortion ‘eradicated’ appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
71% of Ohio eighth graders not proficient in math, according to a new report
Almost three-fourths of Ohio eighth graders were not proficient in math and nearly two-thirds of Ohio fourth graders were not proficient in reading in 2022, according to a new study. Seventy-one percent of Ohio eighth graders were not proficient in math — a number that has only gotten worse over time, according to the latest […] The post 71% of Ohio eighth graders not proficient in math, according to a new report appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown holds field hearing on protecting public workers’ Social Security benefits
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH, has spent several years trying to repeal two federal provisions that reduce retirement income for many public servants. Friday, he held a Congressional subcommittee field hearing in Columbus to discuss the issue. The audience of mostly union members hoisted signs and supplied a steady chorus of ‘yeah’s, ‘mm-hmm’s and ‘that’s […] The post U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown holds field hearing on protecting public workers’ Social Security benefits appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Applications open for Ohio recreational marijuana dispensaries
Applications are now open to secure a recreational marijuana dispensary license, marking a huge step forward in Ohio’s cannabis industry. Sales could begin in the next couple of weeks. Friday was worth the wait for Verilife, a medical marijuana cultivator and distributor across Ohio — and probably also for the around 130 other medical marijuana […] The post Applications open for Ohio recreational marijuana dispensaries appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Trump’s rhetoric post conviction is designed to ease the way for an anti-democratic strongman
By Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University After a jury convicted Donald Trump of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a politically damaging relationship, he responded by warning viewers of his post-verdict news conference: “If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone.” That statement simultaneously invokes […] The post Trump’s rhetoric post conviction is designed to ease the way for an anti-democratic strongman appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Easing federal marijuana rules: There’s still a long way to go
Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drug’s status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient […] The post Easing federal marijuana rules: There’s still a long way to go appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids’ use of social media
WASHINGTON — Attempts to get kids off of their phones are ramping up in Congress, despite intense lobbying by social media giants and pushback by those worried about violations of First Amendment speech rights. Lawmakers are seeking to set a minimum age to access social media and put more of the onus on social media […] The post Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids’ use of social media appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Bernie Moreno claims Blockland conference convinced AT&T to bring 5G to Cleveland
In December of 2018, Cleveland hosted the first of two conferences aimed at promoting blockchain technology and establishing itself as a destination for blockchain companies. The idea’s biggest booster was Bernie Moreno, who is now the Republican nominee in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race. And Moreno’s plans didn’t stop at the Blockland conference. He launched his […] The post Bernie Moreno claims Blockland conference convinced AT&T to bring 5G to Cleveland appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohioan who serves as US League of Women Voters co-CEO says voting is the baseline for democracy
Twenty years ago, Kelly McFarland Stratman was among the Ohioans working on reform to the state’s redistricting process as a member of the League of Women Voters. Now she’s the co-CEO of the national group. In a way, things haven’t changed for her. Since leaving her kindergarten teaching job, McFarland Stratman has stood as executive […] The post Ohioan who serves as US League of Women Voters co-CEO says voting is the baseline for democracy appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio’s proposed “drag ban” could easily be abused to become a vehicle of anti-trans harassment
Let me first preface this by stating that I am a transgender individual, who is seeking to provide education to all regarding the LGBTQ+ community. When I first became aware of Ohio House Bill 245, I became extremely upset and worried that we once again will be doomed to repeat the mistakes of our past. […] The post Ohio’s proposed “drag ban” could easily be abused to become a vehicle of anti-trans harassment appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes
In the coming years, climate change could force Americans from their homes, not just by raising sea levels, worsening wildfires and causing floods — but also by putting insurance coverage out of reach. In places including California, Florida and Louisiana, some homeowners are finding it nearly impossible to find an insurance company that will cover […] The post States beg insurers not to drop climate-threatened homes appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
On 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion, Biden and Macron honor WWII veterans at Normandy
WASHINGTON — “They were brave, they were resolute, they were ready,” President Joe Biden said Thursday at the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, one of five along France’s northern coast where Allied troops invaded in 1944 and turned the tide in World War II. Biden and dozens of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Normandy to […] The post On 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion, Biden and Macron honor WWII veterans at Normandy appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Four proponents testify in support of Ohio drag ban bill — including a member of a hate group
A member of an anti-LGBTQ hate group spoke in favor of a bill that would prevent drag performers from performing in places that aren’t a designated adult entertainment facility during Wednesday’s Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee meeting. About 50 people submitted proponent testimony and four people publicly testified in support of House Bill 245. State […] The post Four proponents testify in support of Ohio drag ban bill — including a member of a hate group appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Family of teen victim applauds Ohio lawmakers’ effort to make sextortion a crime
Parents who lost their teenage son to suicide after he was sexually extorted are applauding Ohio lawmakers for introducing a bill to make sextortion a crime. Tamia and Tim Woods’ only son, James Woods, died of suicide in 2022. He was a Streetsboro High School senior, a stand-out athlete and a happy kid. It’s been […] The post Family of teen victim applauds Ohio lawmakers’ effort to make sextortion a crime appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio economists divided on the best way to measure the state’s economy
Harry Truman is supposed to have said he needed a one-armed economist because every time he asked a question of the ones he had, they responded by saying, “Well on the one hand…” Whether the tale is apocryphal or not, economists have long been known for carefully hedging statements about the world of commerce, money […] The post Ohio economists divided on the best way to measure the state’s economy appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
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The Ohio Capital Journal is a hard-hitting, independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to connecting Ohioans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Journal combines Ohio state government coverage with relentless investigative journalism, deep dives into the consequences of policy, political insight, and principled, progressive commentary. All those cheesy journalism aphorisms about reporters being the eyes and ears of the people in the halls of power? We believe them, deeply. We also deeply believe in sharing the stories of people outside the halls of power, connecting the actions of state leaders to their impacts on Ohioans. The Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Ohio Capital Journal retains editorial independence.
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