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Rite Aid closing more pharmacies in Ohio, Michigan
More pharmacies are closing in Ohio and Michigan small towns amid complaints about middleman reimbursements and a difficult retail environment. Philadelphia-based Rite Aid is closing an additional 27 stores in the two states, according to a bankruptcy filing reported on Monday by WTOL in Toledo. The stores are among 200 of the company’s 2,000 stores […] The post Rite Aid closing more pharmacies in Ohio, Michigan appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Juneteenth offers new ways to teach about slavery, Black perseverance and American history
Whenever I tell high school students in classes I visit that I appreciated learning about slavery as a child growing up in the Caribbean, they often look confused. Why, they ask, did I like learning about slavery given that it was so horrible and harsh? How could I value being taught about something that caused […] The post Juneteenth offers new ways to teach about slavery, Black perseverance and American history appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. House ethics panel adds allegations to Matt Gaetz investigation
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Ethics Committee released a statement Tuesday saying it has “identified additional allegations that merit review” based on its investigation of prior allegations that Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz had inappropriate sexual relationships and violated rules by accepting gifts. The committee is investigating allegations that Gaetz may have “engaged in […] The post U.S. House ethics panel adds allegations to Matt Gaetz investigation appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Biden to unveil protections for some undocumented spouses, easier DACA work visas
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration Tuesday announced deportation protections for long-term undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens, along with quicker approval of work permits for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. President Joe Biden will formally make the announcement during an afternoon White House event to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the […] The post Biden to unveil protections for some undocumented spouses, easier DACA work visas appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Gov. DeWine deflects questions about texts between him and indicted FirstEnergy executive
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine deflected questions Monday about his relationship with former FirstEnergy executives after text messages revealed he asked for money ahead of his first gubernatorial campaign. He also seemed frustrated with our questions about him allegedly being informed about half a million dollars that the now-indicted CEO put into a dark money PAC […] The post Gov. DeWine deflects questions about texts between him and indicted FirstEnergy executive appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Gun rights groups notch big court wins as Ohio legislative priority bill sits in limbo
Last week, federal courts gave gun rights activists two significant wins, both at the expense of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The U.S. Supreme Court tossed a rule banning bump stocks, and a district court in Texas decided a different rule reclassifying pistol braces had to go, too. A bump stock uses the […] The post Gun rights groups notch big court wins as Ohio legislative priority bill sits in limbo appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
‘There was a mistake’: Ohio overpays public schools, voucher program by millions
The state of Ohio accidentally overpaid schools $30 million due to a funding formula error. The state’s largest education union is looking at the pros and cons of what some may call a “happy accident.” Ohio finally has a constitutional funding formula for the state’s public education system after nearly 30 years, but many schools are […] The post ‘There was a mistake’: Ohio overpays public schools, voucher program by millions appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
US judge in Kentucky blocks Biden Title IX rules, says ‘sex,’ ‘gender identity’ not the same thing
A federal judge has blocked new Title IX rules, including those aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination in K-12 schools, and sided with Republican attorneys general in several states — including Ohio. Chief Judge Danny Reeves of the U.S. District Court in Eastern Kentucky on Monday issued a ruling siding with Republican Attorney General […] The post US judge in Kentucky blocks Biden Title IX rules, says ‘sex,’ ‘gender identity’ not the same thing appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Ohio GOP politicians refuse to accept accountability for voucher boondoggle, extremist agenda
My way or the highway may be your boss’s motto and your cross to bear. But if that is the mantra of publicly elected officials in a representative government — as it sure seems to be in Ohio — all of us have a problem. A big one. The political bosses in Ohio conduct the […] The post Ohio GOP politicians refuse to accept accountability for voucher boondoggle, extremist agenda appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure
WASHINGTON — The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects. Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election […] The post States struggle with unreliable federal funding for making sure elections are secure appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on bump stocks used in Las Vegas mass shooting
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down a rule enacted following a 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that defined a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock attachment as a machine gun, which is generally prohibited under federal law. The opinion, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, reduces the executive branch’s already-limited […] The post U.S. Supreme Court overturns ban on bump stocks used in Las Vegas mass shooting appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
A white mob in Ohio denied land to hundreds of former slaves, a lawmaker wants to right that wrong
During the height of summer in 1846, a mob of white Mercer County residents surrounded a group of nearly 400 Freedpeople who’d just taken a boat up the Miami Canal to New Bremen. The former slaves had been traveling for more than a month, making a nearly 300-mile trek across Virginia and the Allegheny mountains […] The post A white mob in Ohio denied land to hundreds of former slaves, a lawmaker wants to right that wrong appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
A new federal program will give eligible students $120 to buy groceries this summer
Summer can be the hungriest time of the year for students who rely on free or reduced school meals and a new federal program is trying to help those families. Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT) — also known as SUN Bucks — is a new grocery benefit program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture that […] The post A new federal program will give eligible students $120 to buy groceries this summer appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Measure to prevent violence in hospitals picks up amendment, new interest
This story references suicide. If you need help, you can call 988 to speak with a trained listener, or visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services and more information. A measure directing Ohio hospitals to develop safety plans as well as protocols for reporting violent incidents is drawing support. But a recent amendment doesn’t address some […] The post Measure to prevent violence in hospitals picks up amendment, new interest appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Industry, clean power groups breath a sigh of relief as Senate approves energy regulators
Three nominees by President Joe Biden to serve on the nation’s top energy regulatory panel, which had risked losing a quorum, were approved last week by the U.S. Senate. The vote to approve the new members — two Democrats and a Republican — for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was cheered by industry, renewable power […] The post Industry, clean power groups breath a sigh of relief as Senate approves energy regulators appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Court’s mifepristone ruling won’t deter them
In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling last week to maintain current access to the abortion medication mifepristone, abortion-rights advocates and opponents vowed to continue their respective battles over the drug. Mifepristone is one of two drugs used to treat miscarriages and terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and is the […] The post Anti-abortion groups say Supreme Court’s mifepristone ruling won’t deter them appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Trump claims ‘great unity’ after talks with congressional GOP
WASHINGTON — In his first visit to Capitol Hill since leaving office in January 2021, former President Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, mapped campaign strategy with GOP lawmakers and projected party unity ahead of the November elections. Trump said the meetings brought “great unity.” Surrounded by Republican senators who were smiling and applauding him […] The post Trump claims ‘great unity’ after talks with congressional GOP appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
The case for state funding for the Ohio State Board of Education
The Ohio State Board of Education (SBOE) faces a financial crisis that threatens the future of public education in Ohio. To sustain its mandated operations and avoid detrimental impacts on teacher retention and recruitment, the SBOE urgently needs additional state funding. Without this support, Ohio’s classrooms risk severe teacher shortages, negatively affecting student learning and […] The post The case for state funding for the Ohio State Board of Education appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Harsh penalties and gag orders: Lawmakers discuss plans for long-shot constitutional convention
This week state lawmakers introduced a measure setting the guidelines for a hypothetical future constitutional convention. The obscure process laid out in Article V of the U.S. Constitution has been embraced in recent years by activists to impose congressional term limits, balanced budget requirements or place new limits on money in politics. But there are […] The post Harsh penalties and gag orders: Lawmakers discuss plans for long-shot constitutional convention appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
SCOTUS ruling on abortion pill could have ripple effect on Ohio
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the abortion pill mifepristone will remain available, but reproductive rights advocates — and opponents — aren’t stopping. This ruling could cause a ripple effect in Ohio. Abortion rights advocates have had a successful year in the state. “There is this much bigger fight to fully restore federal […] The post SCOTUS ruling on abortion pill could have ripple effect on Ohio 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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