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Ohio Capital Journal
Survivors rejoice as Ohio lawmakers vote to make it illegal to drug, rape spouse
Ohio lawmakers have finally voted to make it illegal to drug and rape your spouse, closing a loophole that female legislators have been trying to fix for years. A woman who suffered for a decade because the law didn’t see her abuse as rape cried with joy as she talked with us, reacting to the […] The post Survivors rejoice as Ohio lawmakers vote to make it illegal to drug, rape spouse appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Marital rape loophole closed by Ohio General Assembly, bill moves to governor’s desk
After several years of attempts through multiple general assemblies, the Ohio legislature closed a loophole on Wednesday that kept spouses from being prosecuted for rape and other sex offenses. In a unanimous Wednesday floor vote, the Ohio Senate passed House Bill 161, which eliminates exemptions for married couples, who previously were protected from prosecution unless […] The post Marital rape loophole closed by Ohio General Assembly, bill moves to governor’s desk appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
LGBTQ advocates speak out against forced-outing bill during Ohio Senate education committee
Parents and LGBTQ advocates spoke out this week at the Ohio Statehouse against a bill that would force educators to out a student’s sexuality to their parents and notify parents on “sexuality” content. “Forcing schools to out kids, regardless of their home situation, will lead to unconscionable cruelty against LGBTQ kids,” Maria Bruno, Equality Ohio’s […] The post LGBTQ advocates speak out against forced-outing bill during Ohio Senate education committee appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Businessman Jack Daniels appointed to take over disgraced state Rep. Bob Young’s House seat
After a section of the Akron-Canton area hasn’t had representation in the Ohio Statehouse for months due to former Republican lawmaker Bob Young being arrested thrice and convicted of domestic violence, business owner Jack Daniels has been appointed to his seat. Daniels, a New Franklin councilmember, won the GOP primary in March for Young’s seat […] The post Businessman Jack Daniels appointed to take over disgraced state Rep. Bob Young’s House seat appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
How Citizens United cleared the way for the biggest political bribery scandal in Ohio history
Next to gerrymandering, the biggest institutional driver of dangerous and destructive political misrepresentation in Ohio and across America is the U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous 2010 Citizens United ruling allowing unbridled, dark money, pay-to-play corruption, which has now led to the biggest political bribery scandal in state history. The central feature of that criminal racketeering scheme […] The post How Citizens United cleared the way for the biggest political bribery scandal in Ohio history appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Millions of salaried workers to become eligible for overtime under new Biden rule
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor Tuesday announced a final rule that means millions of salaried workers who are employed in the executive, administrative or professional industries will become eligible for overtime pay. The rule will affect roughly 4 million workers in the first year of implementation and will be broken into two checkpoints. […] The post Millions of salaried workers to become eligible for overtime under new Biden rule appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Biden signs $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan into law
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan emergency spending law Wednesday to provide an additional $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, ending months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and public pleas for Congress to approve the funding. The package also included a measure requiring the popular app TikTok be sold by its Chinese […] The post Biden signs $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan into law appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies
U.S. Supreme Court justices spent two hours Wednesday morning debating whether a federal law about emergency treatment encompasses abortion care even in states with strict abortion bans, with no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule. A decision could come as soon as the end of June whether Idaho’s near-total abortion ban means doctors […] The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion?
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about a group of Wisconsin residents trying to come up with policies to address abortion and its root causes that could be applied nationwide. MADISON, Wis. — Thomas Lang, 61, is white, deeply Catholic and opposes abortion. “Each one of us has a beginning, and that […] The post Can 14 strangers from Wisconsin help America find common ground on abortion? appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
The “radical feminist” group helping push Ohio’s trans bathroom ban
A “radical feminist” group called the Women’s Liberation Front, that has helped shape anti-trans laws nationwide, has also played a role in a proposed Ohio law that would ban transgender people in schools and on college campuses from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity and appearance, emails obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal […] The post The “radical feminist” group helping push Ohio’s trans bathroom ban appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio Democrat wants to ensure utilities’ political spending doesn’t wind up on consumers’ bills
In the nearly four years since former Ohio House speaker Larry Householder was indicted, a cascade of stories have come to light illustrating the influence public utilities have in state politics. In just the last week, Ohioans have learned FirstEnergy funneled money to dark money groups backing Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and […] The post Ohio Democrat wants to ensure utilities’ political spending doesn’t wind up on consumers’ bills appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Bill to close spousal rape loophole passes Ohio Senate committee
An Ohio Senate committee approved a bill to close a loophole in state law that keeps spouses from being charged in certain sex offenses. The senate’s Judiciary Committee sent House Bill 161 for a full vote from the chamber after its third hearing in the committee. The bill, which has bipartisan sponsors, seeks to eliminate […] The post Bill to close spousal rape loophole passes Ohio Senate committee appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost files emergency motion with Ohio Supreme Court on House Bill 68
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed an emergency motion with the Ohio Supreme Court Monday in an attempt to stop a temporary restraining order against Ohio’s gender-affirming care ban for trans youth. Yost argued that Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook “acted beyond the scope of his powers” last week when he […] The post Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost files emergency motion with Ohio Supreme Court on House Bill 68 appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
For whom the bellwether tolls: Is Ohio an omen?
Ohio a few years ago was stripped by political scientists of the title “bellwether state.” That was a perilous mistake. It assumes that elections and politics are what matter — not Ohio. There is something darker at play: Ohio remains the bellwether for America’s mood, the mood is anxiety, and left unchecked anxiety can abandon […] The post For whom the bellwether tolls: Is Ohio an omen? appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case
WASHINGTON — A majority of U.S Supreme Court justices Monday seemed inclined to side with an Oregon town’s law that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, in a case that could have broad implications for local ordinances related to homelessness across the country. During oral arguments in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, conservative justices said […] The post U.S. Supreme Court appears to lean toward Oregon city in complex homelessness case appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Foreign aid bill advances in U.S. Senate as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’
WASHINGTON — An additional $95 billion in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan is on a glide path to passage in the U.S. Senate after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted Tuesday to limit debate on the package. The 80-19 procedural vote sets up a final passage vote as soon as Tuesday […] The post Foreign aid bill advances in U.S. Senate as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’ appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
NY judge spars with Trump lawyers over gag order in criminal trial
The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s criminal case in New York appeared to strongly disagree Tuesday with the former president’s lawyers’ explanation for why he should be considered in compliance with a gag order in the case. In a Tuesday morning hearing to determine whether to fine Trump for violating the order, Judge Juan Merchan warned […] The post NY judge spars with Trump lawyers over gag order in criminal trial appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Trump’s claims of presidential immunity to be probed at U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday over former President Donald Trump’s pursuit of absolute immunity from criminal charges alleging that he schemed and knowingly fed lies to subvert the 2020 presidential election, eventually leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In the final argument of this term, the justices […] The post Trump’s claims of presidential immunity to be probed at U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. Supreme Court urged to protect emergency room abortion care ahead of arguments
A doctor in Idaho recently saw a pregnant patient whose water broke at 15 weeks of pregnancy — something that normally happens at 38 weeks or later. It was about eight weeks before the fetus could be delivered and survive, even with medical intervention. Amniotic fluid, released when the water breaks, is critical to fetal […] The post U.S. Supreme Court urged to protect emergency room abortion care ahead of arguments 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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