Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

ABORTION/REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Appellate judges agreed with state arguments that, while the core restriction in Ohio's heartbeat abortion ban now violates the Ohio Constitution, other elements of the law might be able to stand. The First District Court of Appeals sent the case back to Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins for further consideration of the other elements of 133-SB23 (Roegner). Jenkins ruled in October 2024 that these other provisions cannot be enforced under the abortion rights amendment to the Ohio Constitution approved by voters in 2023. The state quickly appealed. The First District heard oral arguments in September of 2025. Judge Candace Crouse of the First District, writing for a panel that included Judges Ginger Bock and Jennifer Kinsley, agreed with arguments from Attorney General Dave Yost's office that the trial court erred when analyzing whether the provisions were severable from the core restriction of the law.

ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The OneOhio Recovery Foundation launched Grant Cycle II with $45.8 million available to its 19 regions, matching first-round funding. With 17,000 served in Grant Cycle I and overdose deaths down a third in the Ohio Department of Health's (ODH) latest report, OneOhio Director Alisha Nelson told the agency's board, "It's no time to take our foot off the gas with behavioral health funding." Nelson's staff told board members the round-two application process got off to a strong start Wednesday morning.

AGING

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday he is seeking an order from the Stark County Common Pleas Court to close down the House of Loreto nursing home in Canton and transfer its residents, following an Ohio Department of Health (ODH) inspection that found widespread failures in care at the facility were putting them in "real and present danger." An ODH report issued on Jan. 2 said House of Loreto had failed to provide fundamental care, monitor residents' medical conditions and properly manage their medication, placing 12 of the 29 residents at serious risk and causing actual harm to six already. The attorney general's office said that as of Thursday, Jan. 8, the House of Loreto had submitted an "inadequate" plan to address the problems and remained out of compliance with state law. That led them to seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunction to close the nursing home and relocate residents to safer facilities. According to ODH, there is sufficient capacity at other area nursing homes to accommodate the residents quickly and safely.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General Dave Yost says Mercedes-Benz USA and its German parent misled consumers and violated air quality standards by claiming 211,000 cars and vans sold in the U.S. between 2008 and 2016 were "environmentally friendly" and "compliant with emission laws." As many as 7,600 were purchased in Ohio. A coalition of 50 attorneys general found Mercedes-Benz had hidden software in diesel vehicles to cheat emissions tests, later turning off the "defeat devices" and releasing far more pollution than legal during normal driving. The software also improved performance and fuel efficiency while skirting the law. Ohio will receive more than $2.1 million of the $120 million-plus settlement.

"Distributed" or customer-cited generation may not deliver promised benefits to the ratepayer and the electric grid, at least in the case of solar rooftop contracts, Attorney General Yost said Monday. He is suing GS Solar of Lindon, UT over expensive solar installations many residential consumers say fall woefully short of vendor claims, including kilowatts produced, bill savings, monthly loan installments and payback periods, and the ability to sell energy to the electric distribution utility (EDU) grid via "net metering." Identifying Ohio as an industry "target," GS Solar has marketed, sold and installed alternative energy products, including rooftop solar, through door-to-door sales and direct solicitation. Customer bills "do not decrease," in fact, because GS Solar panels have failed to generate promised kilowatts, Yost says.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

After delaying implementation of Biden-era child care rules that would have switched to payments based on enrollment rather than attendance, the Trump administration this week announced it is formally rescinding the rules in question. The switch to enrollment-based payments was teed up in 2024 rules adopted by the Biden administration, and Ohio had been preparing to make the switch but had not yet done so. Gov. Mike DeWine said the state believed attendance-based payments were superior. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the change this week. The changes are subject to a 30-day comment period. ACF said this week's changes also remove requirements for upfront payments and preferences for contracts versus parent-directed vouchers.

The attorney general's office would have broader prosecution powers and the Department of Children and Youth (DCY) more money for data analytics when it comes to pursuing misspending in the publicly funded child care program, under HB647 which was introduced Wednesday by House Republicans with the support of DCY Director Kara Wente. Reps. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) and Tom Young (R-Washington Township) said they want to show both the federal government and taxpayers they're serious about fraud concerns, while also saying some claims circulating on social media have been blown out of proportion.

Then on Thursday, Rep. Josh Williams (R-Oregon) discussed his and Rep. DJ Swearingen’s (R-Huron) as yet introduced bill which would require child care centers to install cameras that could be used for attendance verification. In addition, state regulators would be required to bring in the state auditor if they substantiate allegations of fraud. The bill also drew backing from Attorney General Dave Yost.

Williams said at a press conference that the recent tip referrals and follow-up from the administration in the wake of public attention on child care issues demonstrates that the existing integrity system isn't sufficient. Williams said his bill is distinct from Plummer and Young's HB647, saying he supports some elements of their proposal but questions others. He specifically criticized HB647's redirection of $5 million from the Child Care Cred program to DCY analytics enhancements, saying he'd rather have DCY provide more solid estimates of technology costs compared to savings to be derived from the technology before providing any additional money to the agency.

CIVIL RIGHTS

Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Thursday announced the winners of the annual Ohio MLK Awards to honor the service and achievements of Ohio residents and organizations. They include the following:

Individual Award honors those who made significant contributions toward building a sense of unity. Toni Bell of Columbus is the CEO of Phoenix Consulting Company, and founder of the Civil Rights Heritage and Better Together Tours.

Organization Award recognizes organizations that have contributed toward building a sense of unity. Save Our Youth Kings & Queens of Cincinnati is the winner of this award.

Youth Award honors those who exemplify leadership, nonviolence, commitment to excellence, and interracial cooperation. Delina Sium of Gahanna and a native of Eritrea with experiences as a refugee in Ethiopia before relocating to the United States, is the winner of this award. A student at Ohio State University, she is pursuing a career in medicine as an opportunity to improve people's lives.

Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Governor's Humanitarian Award honors "quiet soldiers who promote the welfare of humanity and the elimination of pain and suffering through their own selfless service." Robert L. Smith of Toledo, the winner of this award, is the founder of and executive director of the African American Legacy Project (AALP) of Northwest Ohio.

Lifetime Service Award. Rev. Dr. Joel L. King, Jr. of Gahanna is the winner of this award, which honors his service as a member of the commission.

DISABILITIES

The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC) announced Monday it had selected Policy Analyst Paul Jarvis to be the organization's next executive director, in light of his 20 years of experience working at ODDC on public policy grants and state and federal advocacy efforts. Before he started working at ODDC in 2005, Jarvis was an Ohio House legislative aide. He has a B.S. in journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.

ECONOMY

The nation added 50,000 jobs in the month of December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the federal unemployment rate dropped to 4.4 percent. Overall, BLS said the nation added 584,000 jobs in 2025, with an average monthly gain of 49,000 jobs, less than the increase of 2 million jobs in 2024, when there was an average monthly gain of 168,000 jobs. The latest numbers included a downward revision of 68,000 jobs in October, going from 105,000 fewer jobs to 173,000 fewer jobs. The November numbers were revised down by 8,000 jobs, from a gain of 64,000 jobs to a gain of 56,000 jobs.

EDUCATION

State Board of Education (SBOE) Superintendent Paul Craft announced his plans to resign, effective July 2026, during the group's meeting Monday. While his resignation is set to take effect July 31, 2026, Craft told the board the exact date depends on the board's ability to find a replacement or other "emergent circumstances." Craft told Hannah News that after getting through the budget and operational challenges of the board's separation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW), he thinks the agency is in a good place for a leadership handoff. He added he has no firm plans for his next role but expressed hope it might involve working with kids again. Craft previously served as a local superintendent for Buckeye Valley Local Schools.

The DEW Student Transportation Workgroup achieved its goal to engage in "spicy" conversation, as noted by group facilitator Susan Bodary, Thursday during its meeting. While several members of the workgroup were absent due to weather conditions and illness, those in attendance continued to debate the recommendations to improve and streamline transportation procedures for local school districts across the state. Workgroup participants present included Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma); Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware); Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati); Director of Transportation for Olentangy Local Schools Lori Carter-Evans; Robert Hlasko, superintendent of Medina County Educational Service Center; Jonathan Davis, superintendent for Pickaway-Ross Career and Technology Center; Andy Boy, founder and CEO of United Schools Network; Tom Rhatican, associate director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio; and Todd Silverthorn, executive director for Kettering City Schools. Similar to the group's meeting in October, members generally reached consensus on the fact that there would likely be no "one size fits all" solution to transportation issues across district types. However, Brenner left the meeting in frustration after suggesting increasing enforcement measures against superintendents and school boards for failing to meet transportation requirements.

Aside from its regular slate of improvement projects of various scopes for school districts around the state, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) Thursday approved a new administrative rule to allow districts to evaluate potential contractors' qualifications then pricing within the same step of the planning process. OFCC legislative officer AJ Thomas explained the rule, called Best Value Selection (BVS), was included in operating budget HB96 (Stewart). It will allow contractors to submit their qualifications and project pricing to a district at the same time for projects under $4 million. Thomas said BVS will maintain project integrity while allowing the planning process to move along, saving districts potentially up to two weeks.

ELECTIONS

The new Ohio Election Integrity Commission officially started its work Friday, Jan. 9 after members were sworn in by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who called the commission a "fresh start" that will seek to avoid the pitfalls of its predecessor -- the former Ohio Elections Commission. Much of the commission's work during its nearly three-hour first hearing involved refining and adopting new rules for the commission's operation that will be submitted to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) for approval at JCARR's next meeting, allowing the commission to begin to hear cases as early as March. LaRose, whose office now houses the operations of the commission, addressed the members -- including Chair Terrence O'Donnell and members Karl Kerschner, Sandy McNair, Matt Brown, and John Lyall. O'Donnell said the next commission meeting is aimed tentatively for Wednesday, March 4.

ELECTIONS 2026

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown's campaign announced Wednesday that he raised a total of $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. Saturday, Jan. 31 is the deadline for federal candidates to report fourth quarter campaign finance activity. Brown's campaign said his fourth quarter total fundraising includes over $7.3 million to the Friends of Sherrod Brown campaign committee and nearly $1.5 million to affiliated fundraising committees.

Madison D. Sheahan, the former deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), became the latest Republican to enter the race to unseat U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) in Ohio's 9th Congressional District. The district was redrawn last year to be more Republican friendly, making Kaptur, the longest serving woman in Congress, one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2026 cycle. On her campaign website, Sheahan highlights her work as the number two official at ICE, saying she managed the hiring of 12,000 new ICE agents within 120 days. She is also the former secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and served in various positions under U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem when Noem served as South Dakota's governor. Sheahan has served as ICE's deputy director since March 2025, leaving the agency this week to launch her congressional bid.

Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell confirmed her entry into the race for state auditor Tuesday, making her the first and potentially only Democrat on the ballot for the office. On social media, Blackwell said she is running "to fight the corruption plaguing our state government, safeguard our tax dollars, and partner with local communities and government to make Ohio a safe and affordable place to live again." She said that when she was elected mayor of Maple Heights, the city was in a financial crisis, but has now been awarded multiple clean audit awards. Secretary of State Frank LaRose is the only announced Republican state auditor candidate currently.

Sylvania Councilman Patrick Richardson Monday announced he is running for the Republican nomination for the 44th Ohio House District. The seat is currently held by Rep. Josh Williams (R-Oregon), who is running for Congress. Richardson said he will "fight to make Ohio the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. As a lifelong resident of Northwest Ohio, I will always put the interests of our community first. I promise to work every day to bring costs down, reduce taxes, and support our police to keep our communities safe." Williams backed Richadson's candidacy, calling Richadson a "staunch conservative and the absolute best person to fight for Northwest Ohio in Columbus."

The following endorsements were made over the week:

- The campaign of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) announced the endorsement of Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague and of U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Amelia).

- The U.S. Senate campaign of Democrat Sherrod Brown announced the endorsements of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals 8, 212, and 648.

- The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton announced the endorsements of Kim Thomas, mayor of Richmond Heights; Matt Burke, mayor of Garfield Heights; Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, president of the Cuyahoga Mayors Association and mayor of Euclid; Dave Light, mayor of Norwalk; Annette Blackwell, mayor of Maple Heights; Ben Holbert, mayor of Woodmere Village; Megan George, mayor of Lakewood; Sandra Morgan, mayor of East Cleveland; Davi Weiss, mayor of Shaker Heights; Erica Nicolic, mayor of Oakwood Village; Ed Kraus, mayor of Solon; and Jim Petras, mayor of Cleveland Heights.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

Critics of horizontal hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction under state parklands and wildlife areas filled an Ohio Department of Public Safety conference room Monday for a public hearing before the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) on the extension of lease terms for energy development on public land as provided for in 135-HB308. That law mandated a change in the standard term for commission leases from three to five years.

OGLMC commissioners then voted unanimously to award to Grenadier Energy III LLC the right to extract oil and gas in parts of Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County. Grenadier's bid was determined to be the "highest and best" among three bids submitted for the 171-acre section of the wildlife area in Carroll County's Orange Township.

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) announced Monday it is providing more than $8.3 million as part of the fourth round of the Advanced Energy Fund, supporting 10 energy efficiency projects around the state. The fund supports businesses, nonprofits, municipalities and educational institutions in projects to reduce energy usage and associated costs. The 10 projects are spread across nine counties. The previous three rounds provided approximately $17 million to 19 organizations in 14 counties. Projects selected to receive funds must show a reduction of at least 15 percent in their utility energy usage.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers comprising most of the House Energy Committee urged Chairwoman Jenifer French of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Wednesday to refuse FirstEnergy's request to weaken electric reliability standards by allowing longer and more frequent brownouts and blackouts. Nineteen committee members led by Ranking Minority Member Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) and Rep. Dave Thomas (R-Jefferson), though not including Chairman Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), Vice Chair Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Reps. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland), Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Mike Odioso (R-Cincinnati), wrote French asking her and PUCO staff to deny FirstEnergy's filing in case No. 24-1112. "Electric service is not a luxury. It is the backbone of Ohio's economy, public safety and quality of life. Households depend on reliable power for heating and cooling, refrigeration, medical equipment and communications. Businesses depend on it to operate, employ workers and remain competitive. Critical infrastructure such as hospitals, water systems and emergency services depends on service without interruption," the letter states. "Any proposal that would allow deterioration in reliability standards therefore carries profound economic, health and public safety implications."

PJM Interconnection is expected to act in the coming weeks on industry proposals for new generation in the 13-state grid encompassing Ohio to correct a December capacity auction shortfall driven by massive data centers serving the region's 67 million people. The 5 percent deficiency in service year 2027-2028 comes with a final agreed price cap following capacity market spikes, meaning reliability costs and electric supplies could rise at the same time in less than two years. While two-year capacity prices beginning summer 2026 will remain relatively stable, PJM says Ohio and the rest of the 13-state grid including the District of Columbia will be 6,623 MW "short of the reliability standard." That means peak demand guarantees fall short of its 20 percent reserve target to handle a one-in-10-year emergency, standing currently at less than 15 percent.

ENVIRONMENT

For nearly half a century, educators and administrators throughout Ohio have taken part in a national program to teach students environmental education, specifically concerning trees and forests. During the recent 45th anniversary celebration of Project Learning Tree (PLT) in December, themed "Learning Is in Our Nature," several of those individuals were honored with awards from PLT for demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental literacy and stewardship. PLT provides primary or supplemental educational materials to educators to connect children to nature and increase young people's awareness and knowledge about their environment.

FEDERAL

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) Tuesday highlighted recent legislation he introduced that he said would help provide a pathway for those with the lowest incomes ease out of poverty and social programs. Husted said it is a topic that has been a passion for him for several years, pointing to his work as Ohio's former lieutenant governor. At the time, he said he noticed OhioMeansJobs would have more jobs posted than people on unemployment, and questioned why there were so many on social assistance when there were so many open jobs. Introduced last week in the U.S. Senate, Husted said the Upward Mobility Act would create a pilot program for five states that will bring a unified funding stream for eight poverty programs, including those for housing, food, and child care, that will allow people to take on more work hours without having to worry about losing all of their benefits.

GAMING/GAMBLING

The Ohio Lottery Commission met Wednesday in Cleveland, voting to retain its current leadership of Chair Matthew Blair Jr., Vice Chair James Brady and Audit Committee members Angela Mingo, Martin Sweeney and Matthew Szollosi. Operating transfers to the Lottery Profits Education Fund (LPEF) for December 2025 totaled $148.3 million, which was $13 million more than the amount generated in December 2024. Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) revenues in December 2025 were $116.5 million, with $77.1 million distributed to racinos as commissions earned and $39 million in revenue for the Ohio Lottery. The VLT revenue increased by $25.1 million or 3.7 percent compared to the first six months of 2025. Sports gaming gross revenue was $62,664 in November, with the Ohio Lottery share equaling $6,266.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

The Ohio Legislative Behavioral Health Caucus is the new name for the former Ohio Legislative Mental Health Caucus, effective with the start of the new year, members announced Tuesday. The change mirrors one adopted in the biennial budget for the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, previously the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The change "better represents the broad spectrum of behavioral health issues addressed by lawmakers," the announcement stated. Meetings for 2026 are tentatively scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, Monday, May 11 and Monday, Nov. 9, all from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Zoom. Co-chairs of the caucus are Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and Reps. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) and Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus).

GOVERNOR

Gov. Mike DeWine issued the following statement Thursday after the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, David Metcalf, announced the indictment of 20 individuals in a college basketball points-shaving scheme involving 39 players and 17 schools, all falling outside Ohio: "There is news today out of Philadelphia of another troubling case involving collegiate prop betting. This is why Ohio and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) worked to ban collegiate prop bets in Ohio almost two years ago in February 2024. While I applaud law enforcement and prosecutors for taking today's action, this disturbing news reinforces that states across the country need to follow Ohio's lead and heed NCAA President Charlie Baker's call to ban collegiate prop bets in their states as well."

GREAT LAKES

Toledo's National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) announced an extended weekend of free admission during its annual Community Appreciation Days, Saturday, Jan. 17 through Monday, Jan. 19. In a spirit of "community, service and reflection" inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NMGL said the weekend will offer visitors the opportunity to explore the museum's exhibitions telling the stories of Great Lakes history at no cost. While pre-registration is not required, NMGL said visitors can reserve tickets in advance through the museum's website HERE.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

As a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, including Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), continue negotiating an extension for recently lapsed ACA subsidies, the loss of those subsidies is already affecting the number of Ohioans enrolling in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the number of Ohioans who enrolled in a Healthcare.gov plan during the 2026 open enrollment period through Jan. 4 was 463,086, compared to 568,904 Ohioans who enrolled during the same period in 2025. Open enrollment in most states, including Ohio, ended Thursday, Jan. 15. KFF also estimates that ACA premiums could more than double nationwide, increasing by an average of 114 percent, in 2026 if tax credits are not extended. "What I think Ohioans need and deserve is to have gotten this deal and this bill passed last year before they saw these premium increases hit. So right now, I think the most urgent thing, the most critical thing for our leaders to do is to get something passed," said Policy Matters Ohio (PMO) Executive Director Hannah Halbert on Wednesday at a demonstration in Columbus urging Moreno and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) to vote for extending ACA enhanced premium tax credits.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Xavier University has become the official university of the Cincinnati Reds. The deal marks the beginning of a 10-year partnership working to foster academic and practical learning opportunities connected to the sports team for Xavier students, according to a statement released by the university. As the team's official partner, Xavier said students will be given internship and mentorship opportunities within the Reds organization, allowing them to work alongside front office leaders in communications and marketing, promotions, business analytics, fan engagement and sales.

IMMIGRATION

U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, condemning the recent surge of ICE activity and raids in Central Ohio. In her letter, Beatty demands information from ICE and DHS seeking the names, detention facility, and exact location of every individual detained from her district currently in ICE custody; the legal justification for their detention, including charges, proceedings, and case status; whether the detainee has a criminal record; a detailed account of compliance with current law and procedures regarding the conditions in which individuals are being held, including access to medical care, mental health services, food, and legal counsel; and a full report on whether any complaints have been filed or internal reviews conducted related to racial profiling or discriminatory targeting during recent enforcement operations.

JUDICIAL

The Ohio Board of Professional Conduct begins 2026 under new leadership, as Supervising Attorney Teri Daniel of the Lake County Prosecuting Attorney's Appellate Division takes over as chair and Senior Partner Richard Creighton of the Cincinnati firm Keating Muething & Klekamp as vice chair. Their terms commenced Jan. 1. Previously the vice chair, Daniel, of Painesville, first joined the board in 2018 and was recently reappointed to her third full term. She has served on the board's Advisory Opinion Committee and chaired one of two probable cause panels. Daniel frequently practices before the Ohio Supreme Court for Lake County.

The Ohio Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on Children and Families released the updated guide Planning for Parenting Time: Ohio's Guide for Parents Living Apart for divorced and separated families. It helps parents establish a parenting time schedule for when children will be with each parent. Practical tools include sample parenting time schedules adaptable to unique family circumstances and guidance for special situations that can challenge separated families, such as long-distance parenting and potential relocation of a parent.

LOBBYISTS

Business consulting firm Hicks Partners announced Monday it had appointed Taylor Nemeth as director of economic development and grants, supporting the firm's expanding practices in economic development and energy siting as well as managing key client relationships and grant initiatives. They noted Nemeth has "extensive experience" in federal government relations, constituent services and grand administration after working on the staff of U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville) for six years. She was a district representative and managed the grant portfolio for the 12th Congressional District, helping local governments identify and secure federal funding opportunities. Nemeth previously worked for Balderson's office as a staff assistant and constituent service representative, and holds a B.A. in political science from Ohio University.

MARIJUANA/HEMP

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Tuesday rejected the initial petition language submitted by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice (OCC) for a referendum on SB56 (Huffman) provisions intended for the November 2026 statewide ballot. In a letter to the Election Law Group at McTigue & Columbo LLC in Columbus, Yost took issue with a number of specific parts of the referendum's title and summary as submitted by OCC at the end of 2025 including an unclear distinction of two uses of the words "hemp" in the referendum language with respect to the term's definition in SB56. OCC responded as follows: "We're disappointed, but not surprised or deterred. Ohio Attorney General David Yost is just a speed bump in the process. We are going to fix the language, collect an additional 1,000 signatures, and not slow down. Voters this November will have the opportunity to say no to SB56, no to government overreach, no to closing 6,000 businesses and abandoning thousands of Ohio workers, and no to defying the will of Ohioans who overwhelmingly supported legalizing cannabis in 2023.” OCC is still able to submit changes to the language to begin the referendum process anew, though provisions the referendum seeks to prevent would take effect 90 days after DeWine's signature of SB56, on Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026. If new referendum language were certified and adequate signatures collected before that date, those provisions of SB56 would be stayed until decided upon by voters in November.

MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its annual Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Scorecard for 2025, which provides insight on the operation of the Medicaid program across states based on information from dozens of datasets. Data measures provide state-level and national information on factors related to program spending, care quality, eligibility, enrollment and program administration.

NATURAL RESOURCES

While it received eventual approval, Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) raised a series of questions on an Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Controlling Board request regarding Great Council State Park at Monday's meeting. Stewart opened by saying the Legislature is "very much a friend" of ODNR and has funded parks, but he had "skepticism" about the request for $4.4 million toward expanding Great Council State Park in Xenia to include a 48-foot cylindrical observation tower. Stewart characterized the park as a 14-acre "largely open field," a half-acre walking track and museum, asking what would be seen from the observation tower.

ODNR will host a series of open houses throughout the state in February and March in search of the next class of recruits for a role that blends law enforcement and the protection of Ohio's natural resources as an ODNR Natural Resources Officer (NRO). Each open house is designed to provide clear, practical insight into the work of an NRO for those who are just beginning their careers or interested in starting a new career path.

Gov. Mike DeWine's state parks working group responded Tuesday to suggestions at its previous meeting that destinations managed by ODNR, including South Bass Island State Park, do not have the public safety issues some charge, by reviewing park incidents around Ohio. Presenters discussed funding sources and told members initial calls to parks and other locations can be handled more efficiently by advanced "drones as first responders" (DFR) -- manned or unmanned. The also discussed the bigger question of whether the state's response should be statewide, regional or geared to problem parks. For example, the Bass and Kelleys Island archipelago and adjacent shoreline alone host eight state parks, four nature preserves and a national wildlife refuge.

ODNR is taking proposals through Friday, Feb. 6 for its 8th annual Ohio Student Wildlife Research Symposium, which is part of the Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) annual conference. The symposium takes place Thursday, April 9 at Shawnee State Park Lodge, and the EECO conference continues through Sunday, April 12. Any middle or high school student can present a poster on research related to native Ohio wildlife and their habitats. Paper presentations are selected by a panel to fill a limited number of presentation slots. Paper presentations must be on completed research, while posters can be on either completed or ongoing research. More details about how to submit proposals are HERE.

PARKS/RECREATION

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) recently allocated $2.1 million through Diesel Emission Reduction Act and Diesel Mitigation Trust Fund grants to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR), supporting a project aimed at modernizing two historic locomotives with electric engines. The total cost of the project is $3.5 million, with CVSR allocating the remaining $1.4 million, an Ohio EPA spokesperson said. The funding provided by Ohio EPA came from allocations to the state from a settlement against Volkswagen by U.S. EPA and the state of California over vehicle emissions violating the Clean Air Act, according to Ohio EPA. As a result, the grant program invested $75 million over a 10-year period to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution in Ohio. States were allocated funds based on the number of illegal devices registered in each state, Ohio EPA said further.

POLLS/STUDIES

A new poll by Quinnipiac University finds 53 percent of respondents believe the shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent was not justified, while 35 percent believe it was justified. The poll was conducted among 1,133 self-identified registered voters nationwide from Thursday, Jan. 8 through Monday, Jan. 12, just days after the incident that was captured on video and seen widely. Among respondents, 82 percent said they saw the video. Quinnipiac found opinion on the incident had differences based on political party and gender. More than three-quarters of Republicans (77 percent) think the shooting was justified, while 92 percent of Democrats and 59 percent of independent voters think the shooting was not justified. Men are divided with 42 percent thinking the shooting was justified, while 44 percent of men think the shooting was not justified. Thirty percent of women think the shooting was justified, while 61 percent of women think the shooting was not justified.

In addition, the Quinnipiac Poll found seven out of 10 respondents do not favor the U.S. taking military action against Iran in response to the killing of protestors, while they are more split over action taken to arrest Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Asked if the U.S. should take military action against the Iranian government, 70 percent say the U.S. should not get involved, 18 percent say the military should take action, and 12 percent did not offer an opinion. By party affiliation, 80 percent of independent voters, 79 percent of Democrats, and 53 percent of Republicans say the U.S. should not get involved if protestors are killed in Iran while demonstrating against the Iranian government. Generally, 70 percent of poll respondents said that a president should first receive approval from Congress before taking action against another country, including 95 percent of Democrats, 78 percent of independent voters, and 54 percent of Republicans. On the Trump administration's decision to capture Maduro and his wife and bring them to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges, 47 percent support the decision while 45 percent oppose it. A stark political divide also fell on the question, with 85 percent of Republicans in favor and 79 percent of Democrats opposed, while independent voters split 45 percent in support and 47 percent opposed.

PUBLIC SAFETY

According to Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), Ohio traffic fatalities decreased for the fourth straight year, decreasing by 3 percent in 2025. The administration said 32 fewer people were killed on Ohio highways last year than in 2024. Preliminary data show that 1,125 people were killed in 2025, down from 1,157 killed in 2024; 1,242 killed in 2023; 1,275 killed in 2022; and 1,356 killed in 2021. The patrol said 23 percent of fatal crashes in 2025 were the result of driving off the roadway. In addition, failure to yield the right of way, unsafe speed, driving left of center, following too closely, and running a stop sign were the next top reasons for fatal crashes statewide. Although distracted driving is underreported, it is also believed to be a significant contributing factor to crashes overall, the patrol said.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire and Transportation Services have opened the nomination process for the 25th Annual EMS Star of Life Awards. Honors to be presented in May during EMS Week include awards recognizing the Frank Giampetro Distinguished EMS Educator, EMS Provider of the Year, EMS Agency of the Year, EMS Medical Director of the Year, and Jack B. Liberator Lifetime Achievement. Nominations must relate to incidents occurring in 2025 and must be submitted by Saturday, Jan. 31 to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services, EMS Star of Life Awards, PO Box 182073, Columbus 43218-2073; EMSstaroflife@DPS.Ohio.gov; or 614-466-9461.

STATE GOVERNMENT

A Franklin County magistrate indefinitely extended a temporary restraining order on the state's transfer of unclaimed funds that had been put in place by a judge last month until she makes a decision on whether to keep the stay in place until a trial. Franklin County Judge Bill Sperlazza had originally granted the temporary restraining order in a lawsuit filed seeking to stop the transfer of unclaimed funds into a new Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund to be used for arts and sports facility projects around the state, including a new Cleveland Browns stadium, saying the move could deprive Ohioans of their property if the funds are deemed abandoned and transferred, originally scheduled to happen Jan. 1 before the temporary restraining order was issued. The case has since been transferred to Magistrate Jennifer Hunt who said the restraining order will continue until she makes her recommendation and Sperlazza either adopts it or overrules it.

TAXATION

Sixteen counties will have their property reappraisals moved back by one year as the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) seeks to implement a recommendation to rebalance the schedule for auditors to determine new property values. Counties reappraise property every six years and update those figures at the three-year midpoint. Counties are split into three groups -- A, B and C -- but are not evenly distributed. At present, Group B accounts for nearly half of Ohio, with 41 counties, while group A has 23 and Group C, 24. Under the new schedule, variation will be reduced, with 29 counties in Group A, 31 in Group B and 28 in Group C. The Property Tax Working Group Gov. Mike DeWine convened to work out compromise proposals following his budget vetoes recommended that this imbalance be corrected.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

Technology giant Meta announced sweeping partnership plans on Friday for producing the power needed for its anticipated growth, and many of those plans start in Ohio. Ohio's Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants will provide electricity for Meta as part of power purchasing agreements (PPAs) announced Friday by Vistra Corp., the company that owns both plants. Through those PPAs, Meta said it will purchase 2,176 MW of nuclear energy and capacity from the Perry and Davis-Besse plants. Additionally, Meta is purchasing 433 MW of incremental nuclear energy and capacity from equipment upgrades to increase generation output at Perry, Davis-Besse and Beaver Valley Power Station in Pennsylvania, which are all owned by Vistra.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

Thirty-nine transportation projects in 27 counties will be sharing $97.2 million in new funding through the state's Highway Safety Improvement Program, according to Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). DeWine and ODOT announced the latest round of funding from the program, which addresses road locations with a history of fatal or injury crashes where other safety improvements have not been effective. ODOT said the safety improvements funded through the latest round of the grant program will include roundabouts, turn lanes, intersection upgrades, more visible signs and pavement markings, and high-visibility crosswalks, sidewalks, and bike lanes. Projects will be funded in state fiscal years 2026 through 2031.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) recently announced it had opened the registration window for the 2026 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 through Friday, March 13 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Thousands of safety and health professionals are expected to attend what BWC called the "largest free safety and health conference in the country." There will be over 150 sessions across seven educational tracks, delivering more than 200 hours of expert content.

WORKFORCE

Speaking at the Governor's Executive Workforce Board meeting Thursday, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel announced the launch of the "WorkOhio" initiative and new workohio.gov website, meant to connect Ohioans seeking in-demand jobs to personalized support on a regional basis. The effort is in line with Gov. Mike DeWine's efforts to ensure all Ohioans meet their full potential and fill business' workforce needs, Tressel explained during the meeting. It stemmed from meetings with leaders in business, education and nonprofit groups around the state and the question of whether Ohioans have enough information on the opportunities available to them. The WorkOhio initiative will address that, with an acknowledgement that regions are unique. When Ohioans request personalized assistance through WorkOhio, it will go to the specific regional job hub for their area under the program.