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Ohio trans candidates spur Dem bill to protect them and GOP bill they say unfairly targets them
After the candidacy of three transgender women in Ohio was debated due to them only including their legal name and not their “dead name” on petitions, Ohio Democrats introduced legislation to fix the little-known law so that LGBTQ+ individuals don’t face barriers to run. But the candidates’ Republican opponents introduced their own bill that would […] The post Ohio trans candidates spur Dem bill to protect them and GOP bill they say unfairly targets them appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility every day with allyship
Sunday, March 31, 2023 was a holy day for Chrisitanity, as it was the celebration of the resurrection of the Savior Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. While this is a holy time, spent with a morning in church followed typically with a family meal; March 31st is also incredibly important in the […] The post Celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility every day with allyship appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
An 1873 law banned the mailing of boxing photos. Could it block abortion pills too?
WASHINGTON — An anti-obscenity law enacted in 1873 that hasn’t been enforced in decades shot to the forefront of the nation’s abortion debate in the past week thanks to two U.S. Supreme Court justices, amid expectations a future Republican president would use the law to order a nationwide ban on medication abortion. The Comstock Act, […] The post An 1873 law banned the mailing of boxing photos. Could it block abortion pills too? appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
After a long slog, climate change lawsuits will finally put Big Oil on trial
After years of legal appeals and delays, some oil companies are set to stand trial in lawsuits brought by state and local governments over the damages caused by climate change. Meanwhile, dozens more governments large and small have brought new claims against the fossil fuel industry as those initial cases, filed up to a half-dozen […] The post After a long slog, climate change lawsuits will finally put Big Oil on trial appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Further questions about DeWine administration’s involvement in Ohio bribery scandal
As Gov. Mike DeWine in 2019 nominated Sam Randazzo to be Ohio’s top utility regulator, Randazzo went to great lengths to hide a decade-long relationship with FirstEnergy that had paid him more than $10 million. Those payments included $4.3 million just as DeWine was picking Randazzo, according to court documents filed last week. Yet DeWine […] The post Further questions about DeWine administration’s involvement in Ohio bribery scandal appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio AG Yost continues to back capital punishment despite system’s shortcomings
“Damning.” That’s how Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost describes his own report on the state of Ohio’s capital punishment system. Yost paints a picture of a death penalty system that is “broken,” “enormously expensive,” and so sluggish inmates are “more likely to die of suicide or natural causes than execution.” But Yost argues the death […] The post Ohio AG Yost continues to back capital punishment despite system’s shortcomings appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Democrats’ quest to hang on to U.S. Senate majority centers on Arizona, Montana and Ohio
WASHINGTON — Political consultants and Beltway pollsters are setting up camp in purple states to join a towering battle for control of a narrowly split U.S. Senate, but come November, only the voters will make that choice. The road to the majority in the upper chamber of Congress mostly runs through Arizona, Montana and Ohio, […] The post Democrats’ quest to hang on to U.S. Senate majority centers on Arizona, Montana and Ohio appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
I don’t love term limits, but expanding them for Ohio’s gerrymandered Statehouse would be foolish
Term-limits sap legislative expertise and they artificially limit voter options. They may even cause an over-reliance by lawmakers on lobbyists. I don’t love any of that about them. But further entrenching Ohio Statehouse lawmakers without ending gerrymandering and enacting strict ethics and campaign finance reform would only further reward misrepresentation, corruption and extremism, which would […] The post I don’t love term limits, but expanding them for Ohio’s gerrymandered Statehouse would be foolish appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Swing states see newcomers as Americans move from blue to red counties
In recent years, millions of people across the United States have moved from Democratic cities to Republican suburbs, complicating the politics of swing states in a pivotal election year, according to a Stateline analysis. Republican suburban counties in four swing states — Georgia in the South and Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in the Midwest — […] The post Swing states see newcomers as Americans move from blue to red counties appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states
With polls showing unauthorized immigration as Republicans’ best issue for the fall, the GOP is looking to raise the alarm about voting by non-citizens and the undocumented, even though this kind of voter fraud is extraordinarily rare. The multi-pronged effort has been advanced in congressional legislation, public statements by top election officials and U.S. senators, […] The post GOP, Trump build on immigration fears to push voting restrictions in states appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Voting rights organization highlights increase in Ohio provisional ballots rejected over ID
It’s been about a year since Ohio’s photo voter ID law took effect, and the organization All Voting Is Local wanted to see how its requirements have impacted provisional voting. What it found was a sharp increase in rejections due to lack of ID. Compared to recent years, the share rejected over identification more than […] The post Voting rights organization highlights increase in Ohio provisional ballots rejected over ID appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio brings school board president background to Ohio Statehouse
The newest member of the Ohio House of Representatives is no stranger to the Statehouse. Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, D-Gahanna, would often testify on various education bills in her role as Gahanna-Jefferson School Board President. “There was so much happening and I started to feel like if I wanted to be where these conversations were […] The post Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio brings school board president background to Ohio Statehouse appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio Gov. DeWine requests FEMA aid, seeking state funds to assist Indian Lake tornado aftermath
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants to use state funds to help people affected by the EF-3 tornado that tore through Indian Lake in Logan County on March 14 — leaving three people dead and many homes destroyed. He has recently been talking to lawmakers in the House and the Senate about using funds to help those […] The post Ohio Gov. DeWine requests FEMA aid, seeking state funds to assist Indian Lake tornado aftermath appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
A chance to turn the tide against the fossil fuel shutdown of solar farms in Ohio
A momentous victory for our children’s future and the green energy transition of Ohio was won on March 21 when the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) approved the Oak Run solar farm in Madison County just west of Columbus. When completed, it will be the largest-scale demonstration of “dual use/ agrivoltaics” in the country. This […] The post A chance to turn the tide against the fossil fuel shutdown of solar farms in Ohio appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Turning pain into purpose: Tennessee House candidate talks to voters about her abortion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Candidates for political office often have personal reasons motivating them to run, even if those reasons don’t always end up as part of a stump speech or a talking point of the campaign platform. But when Allie Phillips knocks on the doors of strangers in Tennessee, she is leading with the story […] The post Turning pain into purpose: Tennessee House candidate talks to voters about her abortion appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio’s House and Senate leaders both express interest in changing term limits. Others skeptical
Last year, Ohio Republicans focused their political efforts on getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would make future amendments harder to pass. It was bumpy road to a sharp cliff. Despite that defeat, Ohio’s House and Senate leaders appear interested in putting an amendment before voters again. “Term limits have essentially reduced the […] The post Ohio’s House and Senate leaders both express interest in changing term limits. Others skeptical appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
More Black babies die in Ohio before their first birthday when compared white babies
Fewer Black babies live to see their first birthday in Ohio when compared to white babies, the Ohio Department of Health’s most recent report shows. Ohio’s overall infant mortality rate was 7.0 in 2021, according to the report. Breaking it down by race, the infant mortality rate was 14.2 for Black babies and 5.4 for […] The post More Black babies die in Ohio before their first birthday when compared white babies appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
As drag shows go ‘mainstream,’ some red states look to restrict them
Drag performances used to be found mostly in the confines of nightlife venues such as clubs and bars. But drag has stepped into the daylight, with elaborately costumed and made-up performers appearing at library readings and kid-friendly brunches, and a newfound visibility for gender-bending entertainment and self-expression. “Drag now versus 15 years ago is like […] The post As drag shows go ‘mainstream,’ some red states look to restrict them appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio lawmakers are giving more than $1 billion to private schools while public schools suffer
If your local school district had a levy on the ballot last month, chances are it lost. Most did. That means losing districts may cut courses, counseling services, staff, busing, building. It means increasing budget deficits. It also means increasing class sizes, pay-to-participate fees, and public school students making do with less. Imagine what a […] The post Ohio lawmakers are giving more than $1 billion to private schools while public schools suffer appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why.
Americans are still worried about their financial stability even as their recession fears lessen. High prices at the grocery store and consumers’ memories of their pre-pandemic budgets may be playing a role. Here’s what financial and economic experts have to say about what this week’s economic indicators tell us about people’s perception of the economy. […] The post Experts say the economy is getting better, but consumers don’t feel that way. Here’s why. 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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