Columbus
The Center Square
Trump picks Ohio's J.D. Vance for vice president
(The Center Square) – Former President Donald Trump picked U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, to serve as his vice president should Trump beat President Joe Biden this November for another term in the White House. Trump revealed his choice on Truth Social in a statement. "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position...
Report finds decrease in number of victims of commercial sexual exploitation
(The Center Square) — A new report from the Florida Legislature’s research arm found a significant decrease in the number of child victims of commercial sexual exploitation in the Sunshine State, but some services still sorely need improvement. The Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability published its annual report on the sexual exploitation of minors in Florida and the data shows there has been an 11% decrease overall since 2020 in child victims of exploitation. ...
Saine resigning from state House, may enter health care industry
(The Center Square) – State Rep. Jason Saine, stalwart leader from Lincoln County in North Carolina’s Republican Party, is tendering his resignation from the House of Representatives effective Aug. 12. In an email to The Center Square on Monday, Saine wrote, “The remainder of the year I plan to look at what opportunities are available to me and continue my talks with a mental health provider that is looking at me to head up their multistate efforts in marketing as well as consider potential public...
Michigan politicians respond to Trump assassination attempt
(The Center Square) – Michigan politicians from both sides of the aisle took to social media this weekend to show support for former President Donald Trump following an attempted assassination at a campaign rally. Trump’s upper ear was pierced by a rifle’s bullet during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, narrowly missing his forehead. Since then, many voices have come forward to condemn the murder attempt, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan GOP Chairman Pete Hoekstra. ...
Chicago homeless camp closes before Democratic convention
(The Center Square) – Chicago officials have shut down a homeless encampment ahead of the Democratic National Convention. The tents are gone from the site off the Dan Ryan Expressway south of Roosevelt Road. The people who lived there have been offered housing until Aug. 31 in a former hotel on the Near North Side. Patricia Nix-Hodes, of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, said it is critical that the...
$311M in family leave pay sent to 62,000 Colorado workers in first six months
(The Center Square) – Approximately $311 million was distributed to 62,000 workers who filed claims under Colorado’s new Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program since payments started in January. Colorado became the first state to establish a partial paid-leave program when voters passed Proposition 118 in November 2020. The initiative allows all Colorado workers to obtain up to 12 weeks of paid leave to take care of themselves or their families during circumstances keeping them from working. Those experiencing pregnancy or childbirth complications can receive...
Trump limits field ahead of afternoon vice president announcement
(The Center Square) – It won't be North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum or U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, but former President Donald Trump's pick for vice president could be announced this afternoon. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., were told they were not selected, according to multiple media reports. That puts a lot of attention on Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, ahead of the announcement, but no...
Illinois trucking companies push back against Biden’s EPA standards
(The Center Square) – The owner of an Illinois-based trucking company says the latest EPA emissions standards for trucks are implausible. The new rules state that 30% of heavy-duty vocational trucks would need to be zero-emission by 2032. The EPA calculated that new electrified trucks would save operators a total of $3.5 billion in fuel and other costs from 2027 to 2032, paying for themselves in two to four years,...
Illinois tries to expand automatic voter registration as SAVE Act passes U.S. House
(The Center Square) – Illinois voter integrity groups warn non-citizens that registering to vote in federal elections is a felony. The warning comes after U.S. House Republicans passed the SAVE Act to increase protections. President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the measure if it passes the Senate and reaches his desk. House Republicans passed the SAVE act, which seeks to require proof of citizenship when a voter casts a ballot in a federal election. Currently it is illegal for a non-citizen to vote in...
WA officials propose focus on America's shortcomings for its upcoming 250th birthday
(The Center Square) – Planners of Washington state's participation in a national celebration of the 250th anniversary of America's founding want to put heavy emphasis on some of the country's darker history, including underrepresented voices. Members of Washington's America250 committee met to get an update on plans for the semiquincentennial celebration of the founding of the country to take place July 4, 2026, commemorating and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. ...
Paxton named as Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem designee
(The Center Square) - Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, was named the Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem designee after a meeting of the Republican Caucus on Monday. The Senate held a special session to consider a new nominee after Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada, lost in the primary election last month. Current Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. Paxton began his Senate tenure in 2016 and was named...
Bipartisan condemnations come of Trump assassination attempt
(The Center Square) – Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Wisconsin lawmakers and candidates on both sides of the aisle have condemned the violence on social media. Among well-known Democrats, Gov. Tony Evers and Sen. Tammy Baldwin expressed their condolences. “My thoughts are with President Trump and all of the folks attending today’s rally in Pennsylvania. Thank you to the first responders who acted quickly, putting themselves...
California lends RNC law enforcement to aid with crowd control
(The Center Square) – California will add some extra protection at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this week. California deployed 61 law enforcement officers to Wisconsin thanks to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), according to a news release from Gov. Gavin Newsom's office. It's a mutual aid agreement between states that lets them share resources to combat natural and manmade disasters, including terrorism threats. This comes two...
Lawmakers say two recently passed bills save motorists time, enhance convenience
(The Center Square) – The Illinois legislature voted to provide motorists an option at the DMV of a four-year or eight-year driver’s license. They also approved the option of having a digital driver's license. State Sen. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, who supported Senate Bill 275, said the eight-year license is double the cost, but the time savings and convenience will be attractive to many motorists. Similarly, Chesney called House Bill 4592 a "good bill" in a news release. ...
Alameda ends five-year deal with shelter after 'financial misconduct' allegation
(The Center Square) - The City of Alameda will cancel a five-year, $10.7 million contract with a management company that ran a homeless shelter after allegations of “financial misconduct.” The city, Dignity Moves and Five Keys Schools and Programs had received a state grant to operate a 47-unit, 61-bed interim housing program for the homeless. That housing complex was known as Dignity Village. Five Keys had a five-year agreement with...
Op-Ed: Half an inch from a civil crisis
Had former President Donald Trump tilted his head the other way, the bullet that clipped his ear would have killed him. America was half an inch away from a major civil crisis. We don't yet know the full details of this assassination attempt, but it is clear that Donald J. Trump has been demonized by his opponents for years. Of course, in politics, you sometimes say negative things about your...
Report: Local lawmen responsible for building where shots fired
(The Center Square) – As the review of security procedures after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump continues, the blame may fall on local police. According to a “federal law enforcement official familiar with the security plans,” Fox News reported that local law enforcement was responsible for security of the building from which Thomas Matthew Crooks tried to shoot Trump on Saturday in Butler, Pa. “The building Crooks...
Republicans plan to turn Wisconsin red
(The Center Square) – On the first day of the Republican National Convention, Wisconsin Republicans are exuding confidence about their chances in capturing the state. The Republican Party of Wisconsin held an open session of the Wisconsin Delegation’s Breakfast Briefing, followed by a news conference. The Monday event featured Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming and Wisconsin State Treasurer John Leiber. Speakers...
Patrick to CenterPoint: 'A freight train is coming, you better be prepared'
(The Center Square) – Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued a warning to CenterPoint Energy, the largest utility provider in the Houston area. Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate, did so as more than one million people in the Houston area are still without power one week after Hurricane Beryl made landfall. Nearly three million were without power in the immediate aftermath, with power restoration taking nearly a week for most residents. ...
Ohio offers bonus to military, veterans to work in schools
(The Center Square) – Service members, veterans and their spouses can receive a taxpayer-funded bonus to work in Ohio schools for at least a year. The state recently announced the Military Recruit Award, which allows schools to offer a $3,000 hiring bonus to students who join the educational workforce in public school districts, community schools, independent STEM schools and joint vocational school districts. “In Ohio, we are proud to support...
The Center Square
43K+
Posts
617M+
Views
The Center Square reports on state- and local-level government and economic news. A taxpayer sensibility distinguishes our work from other coverage of state and local issues.
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.