Columbus
Ohio Capital Journal
Federal rulings out of Kansas, Missouri put Biden student-loan forgiveness on hold
Federal judges in Kansas and Missouri on Monday blocked the full implementation of a student-loan forgiveness program proposed by the Biden administration that was set to launch July 1. The SAVE Plan, an acronym for Saving on a Valuable Education, has been partially rolled out. The provisions already in effect may remain, United States District […] The post Federal rulings out of Kansas, Missouri put Biden student-loan forgiveness on hold appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
To make progress on climate, Democrats must partner renewables with natural gas
Tim Ryan served ten terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2023. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future Leadership Council. As a lifelong Democrat and a Co-Chair for Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, I am eager to quickly develop a secure and […] The post To make progress on climate, Democrats must partner renewables with natural gas appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will get a crucial opportunity to reach undecided voters and set the terms for the 2024 presidential campaign at Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Partisans on either side have already made up their minds about which candidate they’ll support. And with this year’s race serving as a […] The post Undecided voters are the prize for both Biden and Trump in Thursday presidential debate appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
From Roe to Dobbs and Beyond: Diane Derzis’ lifetime in abortion care
Monday was the 2nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which ended federal abortion rights protections in the United States. This is the first in the Alabama Reflector’s four-part profile of Diane Derzis, the owner of the clinic at the center of the decision, and her lifetime […] The post From Roe to Dobbs and Beyond: Diane Derzis’ lifetime in abortion care appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio had 2 mass shootings in 1 weekend; GOP lawmakers say gun safety regulations won’t fix issue
Two of Ohio’s major cities had mass shootings in one weekend. The cities of Columbus and Dayton want better gun safety regulations, but the Republican supermajority at the statehouse won’t allow them, saying it won’t fix the issue. Columbus police are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that can lead to the […] The post Ohio had 2 mass shootings in 1 weekend; GOP lawmakers say gun safety regulations won’t fix issue appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio bill would require colleges adopt racial, religious, ethnic harassment and intimidation policy
Lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill in response to the recent rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses last school year after the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Reps. Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto County, and Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, recently put forth House Bill 606 — also known as the Enact Campus Act — which would require public […] The post Ohio bill would require colleges adopt racial, religious, ethnic harassment and intimidation policy appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
On Dobbs Anniversary, Ohio Democrats warn reproductive rights remains a major issue
It’s been two years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision sent the question of abortion rights back to the states, and despite new constitutional protections in Ohio, Democrats believe it remains a potent political issue. The party is trying to portray this November’s U.S. Senate race as a choice between maintaining reproductive rights or […] The post On Dobbs Anniversary, Ohio Democrats warn reproductive rights remains a major issue appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Many Ohio dispensaries move one step closer to being able to sell recreational marijuana
Ohioans will likely be able to legally purchase recreational marijuana sooner than initially expected. The state Division of Cannabis Control recently awarded about 60 dual-use provisional licenses to various medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivators, laboratories and processors, according to the state’s online database. Thirty-one dispensaries, 15 cultivators, 11 processors and five laboratories received licenses. However, a […] The post Many Ohio dispensaries move one step closer to being able to sell recreational marijuana appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt.
Editor’s note: This is the fifth installment of an occasional States Newsroom series called When and Where: Abortion Access in America, profiling individuals who have needed abortion care in the U.S. before and after Dobbs. The first installment can be found here, the second installment is here, the third is here, and the fourth is […] The post After an abortion for fetal anomalies, she hoped IVF would build her family. Now that’s in doubt. appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation
In Arizona, the state’s highest court upheld a Civil War-era abortion ban. Florida and South Carolina moved to restrict abortion to six weeks — before many people know they are pregnant. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “children,” temporarily throwing fertility treatments, such as IVF, into uncertainty and igniting a national debate. […] The post The Dobbs effect today: Abortion ballot initiatives, expected higher mortality, more litigation appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November
WASHINGTON — Exactly two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the battles rage among both advocates and lawmakers over the future of reproductive rights at the state and federal levels. Anti-abortion groups that have achieved considerable success in deep-red parts of the country are working to sway voters […] The post For both sides, abortion policy two years after Dobbs decision hinges on November appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Amid U.S. Supreme Court controversy, state judicial races could give voters their voice
Bracing for a boatload of backward-looking, precedent-ignoring, legally-ludicrous ideological rulings from controlling extremists on the U.S. Supreme Court is unnerving, to say the least. Compounding the dread of what’s to come are the ethical scandals and conflicts of interest swirling around some of the more dogmatic decision-makers on the bench. In 2024, the highest court […] The post Amid U.S. Supreme Court controversy, state judicial races could give voters their voice appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
New texts allegedly show Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted leading FirstEnergy’s push for House Bill 6
Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted allegedly led the charge with now-indicted FirstEnergy executives to pass legislation that was the result of the largest corruption scheme in state history, according to newly released text messages. Husted denies knowing House Bill 6 was the result of bribery. FirstEnergy spent $61 million dollars in exchange for H.B. 6, […] The post New texts allegedly show Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted leading FirstEnergy’s push for House Bill 6 appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio bill would make it easier to seal non-violent criminal records, but advocates want it expanded
A pair of Ohio Republican lawmakers are trying to make it easier to get non-violent criminal records sealed to help formerly incarcerated Ohioans get hired, but advocates say that’s not enough. Reps. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, and Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, introduced the Getting Rehabilitated Ohioans Working (GROW) Act earlier this year. House Bill 460 would set […] The post Ohio bill would make it easier to seal non-violent criminal records, but advocates want it expanded appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Potential ballot-initiative wants to put equal rights amendment in Ohio Constitution
A new committee is trying to get an equal rights amendment enshrined in the Ohio Constitution. Ohio Equal Rights is in the early stages of trying to create a citizen-led ballot initiative that would constitutionally protect Ohioans from discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion, pregnancy status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, […] The post Potential ballot-initiative wants to put equal rights amendment in Ohio Constitution appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Federal climate funds to help Ohio cities slash emissions from wastewater operations
Biogas projects at wastewater plants serving Columbus and Cincinnati will offset roughly 50,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas annually, according to city officials. The Columbus Department of Public Utilities estimates biogas cogeneration projects for its Southerly and Jackson Pike plants will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 34,000 and 13,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide […] The post Federal climate funds to help Ohio cities slash emissions from wastewater operations appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
GOP threats to affordable health care must be taken seriously
Despite being the constant target of political demonization and sabotage from Republicans for nearly a decade and a half, the Affordable Care Act has been a success. Now, new numbers from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a leading health care nonprofit that focuses on policy research, show more people than ever are purchasing quality, affordable health […] The post GOP threats to affordable health care must be taken seriously appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
For child care workers, state aid for their own kids’ care is ‘life-changing’
SMITHFIELD, R.I. — Child care worker Marci Then, 32, looked over at two 4-year-olds in her care who were tussling over a toy plate in a model kitchen set. “Are we sharing?” she gently asked them. They both let go. Then works at Little Learners Academy child care center near Providence, Rhode Island. Her daughter, […] The post For child care workers, state aid for their own kids’ care is ‘life-changing’ appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court
TikTok and its parent company argued Thursday in a federal court in the District of Columbia that the recently enacted law forcing a nationwide ban or sale of the popular platform violates the First Amendment. TikTok Inc., which operates the video-sharing service in the United States, and its parent company, ByteDance Ltd., which was founded […] The post Congress silenced free speech in TikTok law, platform tells federal court appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday upheld a federal law that bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from owning a firearm. In an 8-1 decision on United States v. Rahimi, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that “our Nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others […] The post U.S. Supreme Court upholds law that prevents domestic abusers from owning guns appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio Capital Journal
5K+
Posts
57M+
Views
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.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.