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Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law
WASHINGTON — Doctors from throughout the country posted a public letter last week, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure health care professionals can perform abortions in every state when that procedure is essential “stabilizing treatment” under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. Thousands of doctors, organized by the advocacy group The Committee […] The post Doctors urge U.S. Supreme Court to include abortion as stabilizing care under federal law appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Forced sterilizations for people with disabilities decried by members of Congress
WASHINGTON — Three members of Congress introduced a resolution last week intended to bring attention to the experiences and challenges people with disabilities face when it comes to reproductive rights, pointing to a 1927 forced sterilization ruling that still stands. Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley announced the resolution during a press conference with advocates just […] The post Forced sterilizations for people with disabilities decried by members of Congress appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Farm bill advances from U.S. House panel but faces a tough row to hoe
WASHINGTON — Republicans moved their long-awaited new farm bill through the U.S. House Agriculture Committee last week, despite opposition from most Democrats about cuts in SNAP payments and nutritional benefits that could stall further advancement. The massive $1.5 trillion legislation would set policy and funding levels for key food, agriculture and conservation programs for the […] The post Farm bill advances from U.S. House panel but faces a tough row to hoe appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula
As the summer travel season approaches, new parents may be navigating airports with their babies — and the complexities of keeping them fed. Despite federal guidelines for airport agents laying out how to treat nursing moms, stories about problem encounters with security sometimes go viral. In 2023, actress and singer Keke Palmer said she was at Houston […] The post A bipartisan push to make air travel easier for new parents packing breast milk and formula appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
The forgotten history of Memorial Day
By Richard Gardiner, Columbus State University In the years following the bitter Civil War, a former Union general took a holiday originated by former Confederates and helped spread it across the entire country. The holiday was Memorial Day, an annual commemoration was born in the former Confederate States in 1866 and adopted by the United […] The post The forgotten history of Memorial Day appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients
WASHINGTON — When a Purple Heart recipient named Pat reached out to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November to inform her that he couldn’t transfer his GI bill benefits to his children, he wasn’t expecting congressional action to solve the problem. He simply just wanted to let the Washington state Democrat know, he told States […] The post As Memorial Day arrives, bill unveiled in Congress to assist Purple Heart recipients appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio HB 6 Updates: FirstEnergy riders approved, with changes
This monthly newsletter, published by the Energy News Network, provides updates on Ohio’s ongoing utility corruption scandal. Click here to subscribe. Regulators cut most of FirstEnergy’s energy efficiency proposal when they modified and approved the company’s latest rider plan on May 15. The plan would have been the first time FirstEnergy offered energy efficiency programs to most […] The post Ohio HB 6 Updates: FirstEnergy riders approved, with changes appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio GOP lawmaker defends bill charging teachers with felonies for ‘pandering obscenity’
An Ohio Republican lawmaker is defending his controversial bill that would charge teachers and school district librarians with felonies for “pandering” so-called “obscene” material. Bridget Rueter’s kids love reading, which has inspired her mission to stop book bans across the state. The Cincinnati mom is a part of Red, Wine & Blue — an organization […] The post Ohio GOP lawmaker defends bill charging teachers with felonies for ‘pandering obscenity’ appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
More than $310M settlement reached with Norfolk Southern after East Palestine train derailment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice reached a more than $310 million with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for last year’s East Palestine, Ohio train derailment. If the settlement is approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Norfolk Southern would have to improve rail safety, pay for health […] The post More than $310M settlement reached with Norfolk Southern after East Palestine train derailment appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
GOP brings bill to partner child care and employers
Republicans in the House and Senate recognized the “crisis” in Ohio involving child care costs and access, committing in a new bill to partner employers and the state, in the effort to stem the problem. State Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, and state Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Chillicothe, announced companion bills in their legislative chambers that […] The post GOP brings bill to partner child care and employers appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio servers and bartenders oppose potential ballot measure to raise minimum wage, survey says
A new survey shows 93% of Ohio servers and bartenders want to keep the current tipping system with a base wage and tips. The Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance released the results of the survey earlier this week, which received 990 responses from tipped employees working at full-service restaurants across Ohio. The online survey was […] The post Ohio servers and bartenders oppose potential ballot measure to raise minimum wage, survey says appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio’s democratic decline is bad for business
In 2012, I had just graduated from college and I was looking for my first job after finishing up my Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Denison University. I had spent one summer in college studying redistricting, trying to estimate the impact of redistricting on representation. Gerrymandering always struck me as fundamentally unfair, a violation […] The post Ohio’s democratic decline is bad for business appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year
WASHINGTON — Senators from both political parties at a Wednesday hearing appeared to be on the same page about limiting presidential emergency powers, striking a bipartisan agreement that Congress should take steps this year to rework a decades-old law. The National Emergencies Act, approved during the 94th Congress, provides the president with powers they wouldn’t […] The post Wide scope of presidential emergency powers could be reined in by Congress this year appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
USDA chief voices ‘deep concerns’ over U.S. House GOP farm bill’s nutrition cuts
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on a call with reporters Wednesday strongly criticized a farm bill draft written by U.S. House Republicans, saying it would damage the coalition that traditionally has united behind farm bills and “raises the real possibility of being unable to get a farm bill through the process.” The massive five-year […] The post USDA chief voices ‘deep concerns’ over U.S. House GOP farm bill’s nutrition cuts appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts’ sunset
WASHINGTON — The race to harness the tax code is in full swing as economists and advocates across the political spectrum view the expiring Trump-era tax law as an opportunity to advance their economic priorities. Democratic Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said Wednesday that reworking the tax code will be “a reflection of what your […] The post Experts eye tax changes ahead of Trump-era cuts’ sunset appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Administration Committee voted along party lines Thursday to advance two election-related bills to the House floor. The Republican-led committee approved H.R. 8281, a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections, something that is rare and already illegal, and H.R. 8399, which would restrict the contributions of foreign nationals in political […] The post U.S. House panel votes to advance election bills targeting noncitizens, foreign money appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate failed Thursday to advance a border security bill as both parties seek to hone their messages on immigration policy in the runup to November’s elections. The Senate bill failed to advance on a 43-50 procedural vote. The chamber already rejected the measure as part of a broader foreign aid package […] The post Bipartisan border bill loses support, fails procedural vote in U.S. Senate appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Congress, campaigns engage in tug-of-war over gas prices as summer travel begins
WASHINGTON — As Democrats continue to ramp up their push against the oil industry, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others on Thursday called out big oil companies and their executives for high gas prices heading into the heavily traveled Memorial Day weekend. Republicans in turn have blamed President Joe Biden’s energy policies for high […] The post Congress, campaigns engage in tug-of-war over gas prices as summer travel begins appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calls lawmakers into special session to fix Biden ballot debacle
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called the lawmakers into a special session to pass legislation to ensure President Joe Biden will be on the November ballot. This comes after a month of controversy surrounding the debacle. In a surprise press conference on Thursday evening, DeWine condemned the General Assembly for their lack of action to […] The post Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calls lawmakers into special session to fix Biden ballot debacle appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Spokesman: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine not opposed to indexing for teachers’ investment strategy
The ongoing fight over the way Ohio teachers’ $90 billion pension fund is being handled has to do with huge bonuses, big fees and a proposal to divert two-thirds of it to an untested company. But a spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine last week said the governor did not object to the strategy many teachers […] The post Spokesman: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine not opposed to indexing for teachers’ investment strategy 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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