Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The Ohio Addiction Treatment Providers Association (OATPA) announced this week its formation and launch as an organization advocating for small- and medium-sized addiction treatment providers and engaging with policymakers on issues affecting the behavioral health sector. The association said it has retained Kyle Petty of 43 Consulting, the previous managing director of policy for the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and a veteran of legislative and executive branch roles, to lead its government relations and lobbying efforts.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General Andy Wilson announced the availability of $300,000 in grant money for officers from around the state or their employing agencies to cover at no cost impaired driving enforcement and traffic safety courses approved by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) and offered by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA). "Advanced training equips law enforcement with the best tools and skills to keep Ohioans safe at home, at work and on our roadways," Wilson said.

The Ohio Attorney General's "Shine a Light on Dumpers" campaign has eclipsed the $4 million mark with a new round of awards to combat illegal dumping in all regions of the state. The latest grants of more than $1 million will support clean-up and prevention of illegal dump sites in two dozen jurisdictions including communities in Franklin, Cuyahoga and Hamilton counties and many others in urban, suburban and rural areas of Ohio. "Illegal dumping of solid waste and demolition debris not only creates eyesores in Ohio's neighborhoods but also threatens the environment and puts an unfair burden on taxpayers, who are left to foot the bill for cleanup," Attorney General Andy Wilson said. "This money helps municipalities get rid of a problem they didn't create."

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) detailed the work of the state's APEX Accelerator Program in helping businesses around the state with government contracting processes. DOD hosts the Ohio Accelerator Program in partnership with four community-based organizations, and it has 11 physical offices around the state.

EDUCATION

The 10th District Court of Appeals upheld Thursday a trial court ruling that found EdChoice scholarships violate the Ohio Constitution's requirement for the General Assembly to provide a "common" school system. Like the trial court, the appellate judges stayed their own ruling in recognition of expected further review by the Ohio Supreme Court. A coalition of public school districts and resident families sued the state beginning in 2022 to challenge the constitutionality of EdChoice. The state was joined in defending the program by a collection of families whose children attend schools using vouchers. In the summer of 2025, just as lawmakers were wrapping up the state budget, Judge Jaiza Page of Franklin County Common Pleas Court ruled that the voucher program violates the Ohio Constitution. Page granted summary judgment to the plaintiffs on three of five counts, finding that EdChoice creates a second, uncommon school system at the expense of common schools and violates the prohibition on giving control of education funding to religious groups. Judge David Leland wrote the 10th District opinion, joined by Judges Kristin Boggs and Shawn Dingus. The full ruling is available HERE.

The State Board of Education (SBOE) Tuesday heard presentations from Pearson officials covering the Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) annual review and two Educator Standards Board (ESB) recommended cut scores for the OAE biology and earth and space science assessments. Clyde Reese and Eric Steinhauer of Pearson's Evaluation Systems Group, joined by SBOE Director of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness Yenetta Harper, detailed the two-year development and design process of Pearson assessments, a process involving framework creation, item development and standard setting with Ohio educators. Reese emphasized the high frequency of educator engagement throughout the development process. In other business, Superintendent of Public Instruction Philip Wagner's report addressed the board's FY28 and FY29 budget submission. P. Wagner said the submission focuses on the RAPBACK system and a legislative change working to streamline the territory transfer process. P. Wagner assured members the legislative change would not require the board to give up authority. The superintendent's report also highlighted the ELEVATE Ohio grant, an $8.4 million award supporting educator pipelines across the state and congratulated SBOE President Paul LaRue for receiving the "Social Studies Leader of the Year" award from the Ohio Council for the Social Studies.

ELECTIONS

The Ohio Election Integrity Commission Wednesday approved a settlement between the secretary of state's office and the campaign of former Rep. Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati) to address campaign finance violations related to incomplete reports. The alleged violations date back to 2021, Ohio Election Integrity Commission Administrator Lisa Taylor told the commission. The secretary of state's office had referred Brinkman and his treasurer, Cathy Brinkman, to the Ohio Elections Commission for several alleged campaign finance violations, including failure to provide the requested information needed to complete or correct multiple campaign finance reports, receipt of campaign contributions exceeding the statutory limit, failure to provide verification for certain expenditures over $25, and alleged conversion of campaign funds for the personal benefit of Tom Brinkman. Under the settlement of the case, Brinkman's campaign agreed to pay $11,200 divided into two payments, with the first due on Oct. 1 and the second on Nov. 1. Taylor said Brinkman has made the first payment. It did not address the issue of conversion of funds.

ELECTIONS 2026

Nearly a week after early voting began in Ohio, 170,594 voters have cast ballots ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election, according to numbers posted by the secretary of state's office. So far, 812,385 absentee ballots have been requested, and 626,788 have been sent to voters by mail. Of those, 10,336 have been returned. Another 160,258 ballots were requested and cast early-in person. By this point in 2022, the last gubernatorial election, Ohio voters had requested 921,409 absentee ballots, and 50,368 had cast a ballot. In 2018, 910,982 ballots had been requested, and 42,470 had been cast.

More than $3.3 million has been spent on advertising in General Assembly races since the May primary, according to AdImpact, which tracks political advertising. By far the most spending has come from the campaign arm of the Ohio Senate Republican Caucus, which is nearing $1.2 million in advertising spending in support of Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Chagrin Falls), the Republican nominee for the 27th Senate District seat currently held by the term-limited Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson). Democratic advertising spending for the highly competitive seat pales in comparison, with Democratic nominee and former Aurora Schools Superintendent Mike Roberto showing only $2,667 in advertising spending so far.

In total, nearly $2.9 million has been spent on Ohio Senate races, with the majority coming from the Republican Senate Campaign Committee. Other races the caucus has put advertising money towards include $723,600 in the 13th Senate District, where Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) is seeking a return to the upper chamber but faces Rep. Joe Miller (D-Amherst); $535,047 in the 3rd Senate District, with Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) seeking re-election and facing Reynoldsburg Councilman Stacie Baker; $286,166 in the 29th Senate District, where Sen. Jane Timken (R-Canton) is looking to hold her seat against former Democratic Rep. Thomas West; and $29,748 in the 33rd Senate District, where Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) faces former Democratic congressional candidate Michael Kripchak.

To help voters make informed choices in those races, the Ohio Bar announced that www.judicialvotescount.org is now available for the Nov. 3, 2026 general election, providing Ohioans with one place to learn about the judicial candidates appearing on their ballots and the courts they are seeking to serve. "Judicial elections matter because the people we elect as judges make consequential decisions that touch nearly every aspect of our lives," said Ohio Bar CEO Mary Amos Augsburger. "But voters often know far less about judicial candidates than candidates for other offices. 'Judicial Votes Count' gives Ohioans a nonpartisan resource to learn about the candidates, understand the role of our courts and make an informed choice when they cast their ballots." Judicial candidates in all 88 Ohio counties were invited to complete profiles providing voters with information about their professional backgrounds, qualifications and endorsements.

The Ohio Supreme Court late Friday rejected challenges to the candidacies of former state senator and now Judge Nathan Manning, as well as the ballot replacement for former Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), who recently resigned to take a job with the U.S. Department of Justice. In the 89th District, where Swearingen had dropped out of the race before the deadline to replace him passed, the Ohio Supreme Court rejected the challenge to Caleb Stidham, the Erie County treasurer and nominee of Republicans in the district to replace Swearingen on the ballot. The Court also rejected the challenge to Manning's candidacy for the Fourth District Court of Appeals after Manning was appointed to the court in July by Gov. Mike DeWine. Manning, who won a May primary for the Ohio House of Representatives, had withdrawn from that race after the appointment. Summit County Democratic Party Chair Mark Derrig filed a lawsuit challenging Manning's placement on the ballot to retain the judicial seat after Manning's appointment, arguing that since Manning had won a primary election, he is ineligible to be nominated to run for a different seat in November.

Former President Barack Obama will rally in support of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton later this month, according to Brown's campaign. Obama will appear with Brown and Acton in Cleveland on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Sherrod Brown's campaign announced Thursday that he has raised over $28.2 million in the third quarter of this year. The total includes $23.1 million to the Friends of Sherrod Brown campaign committee and $5.1 million to affiliated fundraising committees.

Vivek Ramaswamy discussed issues ranging from property taxes to data centers to university enrollment struggles to alternative revenue sources Wednesday at a Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) forum and in conversation with reporters afterward. Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler questioned the GOP gubernatorial candidate at the forum Wednesday. Ramaswamy set a benchmark for himself on two front-burner issues for voters recently -- property taxes and data center development -- saying he expects them to recede after his first several months in office if elected. "If we're talking about property tax or data centers then, that would mean that I failed," he said. Asked how he could balance property tax rollbacks with the revenue needs of local governments and schools, Ramaswamy said he'd look at increasing the state components of school funding to address how the system relies too heavily on local property tax. But he pushed back on the idea that tax cuts would mean equivalent revenue loss, saying that "zero-sum fallacy" is disproven by over-estimate state income tax collections in the wake of another round of rate cuts and bracket consolidations. After the forum, Ramaswamy told reporters he would be looking for additional revenue sources, including those more likely to be paid by out-of-state residents. He made the statement in response to a question about his position on gambling expansion and taxation.

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) and Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) joined Chairwoman Jenifer French of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Tuesday for a roundtable discussion on federal permitting reform and the proposed insertion of Husted's Ratepayer Protection Act into S5653 (Capito). The Ohio freshman and Barrasso, member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources which is hearing S5653 after Sen. Shelley Moore Capito's (R-WY) introduced it two weeks ago, convened near Capitol Square with French, PUCO Federal Energy Advocate Sarah Parrot, assorted state lawmakers, and industry leaders from energy, manufacturing and other sectors to vet S5653.

With Ohio voters choosing a new governor, lieutenant governor, and General Assembly in November, Greater Ohio Policy Center (COPC) has released questions it is encouraging supporters and advocates to ask candidates about revitalization of the state. The questions are based on the recent release of GOPC's 2027-28 policy agenda, "Revitalizing Ohio: A Blueprint for Stronger Communities." Among the questions GOPC said candidates should have answers and plans for is whether they support renewing the Brownfield Remediation Program at $200 million per year over the next two years in the state operating budget."

Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) Monday announced it is launching a $5.2 million media campaign that will include a mix of digital, television, and radio advertising across Ohio. AFP Action said the buy will bring its total investment for the election cycle to $18 million, alongside its grassroots effort that it said has knocked on more than 750,000 doors to date.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) may actually agree on the larger scope of advanced transmission technology (ATT) metrics needed to judge the effectiveness of state-of-the-art grid upgrades in lieu of new transmission towers -- including unregulated "supplemental" projects -- under energy reset HB15 (Klopfenstein). Commissioners have provisionally adopted PUCO staff recommendations for evaluating ATTs' ability to (1) "safely, reliably, efficiently and cost-effectively" meet electric demand and to (2) weigh those findings against grid congestion points, calling it the "next step" in the broader discussion of major infrastructure investments required to power Ohio's growing manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI) industries. Joined by the Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) Energy Group, Google, Northwest Ohio Aggregation Coalition (NOAC) and Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC), OCC says commissioners' recent order should go further by explicitly addressing ATT's effectiveness in meeting "transparent and standardized net-benefit calculations" over the long term -- including proposed utility investments in transmission towers -- versus the five-year window supported by American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio.

ENVIRONMENT

Ongoing efforts to improve water quality along Lake Erie and throughout Ohio reached a major milestone this month as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially removed the "Beach Closings (Recreational Use)" impairment from Northwest Ohio's Maumee Area of Concern (AOC). The beach closings impairment is the fifth of 10 beneficial use impairments (BUIs) originally identified by the Maumee AOC Advisory Committee to address significant habitat alteration, industrial impacts, uncontrolled sewage overflows and struggling wildlife in the greater Toledo and outlying areas, including watersheds for the lower Maumee River, Ottawa River, Swan Creek, Toussaint River, Crane Creek and numerous smaller rivers and tributaries.

ETHICS

An advisory opinion adopted by the Ohio Ethics Commission this month clarifies that public officials and employees may purchase surplus property from a public agency if certain conditions are met. The opinion, adopted by the commission at its Oct. 5 meeting, states that a public official or employee may purchase surplus property from a public agency if the following conditions are met:

- The official or employee was not involved in any way in matters related to the sale of the items.

- The official or employee did not use his or her public position, authority, or influence to secure the items.

- The official or employee was not privy to confidential information related to the sale or the items being offered.

FEDERAL

The Social Security Administration (SSA) Wednesday announced a 3.6 percent benefit increase for 2027. Social Security benefits include Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by $75 per month, the agency estimates. Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2027. Increased payments to about 7.3 million people receiving SSI will begin on Dec. 31, 2026. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).

GAMING/GAMBLING

The Ohio Lottery Commission's meeting Wednesday included the swearing-in of new member James Mermis, along with the reappointment of Caryn Candisky. Finance Director Ed Slyman reported total traditional ticket sales in September were $335.1 million, down by $55.4 million or 14.2 percent from September 2025. Draw-based games brought in $156.3 million, $45.3 million or 22.5 percent lower than September 2025 while net scratch-off ticket sales were $178.8 million, a decrease of $10.0 million or 5.3 percent. Slyman added video lottery terminal (VLT) revenues were $119.5 million. Racinos received $79.1 million as their commissions, and Ohio Lottery revenue totaled $40.0 million. He added those decreases largely stem from the level of activity in 2025 and current inflationary issues and higher fuel costs. Lotteries in other states face similar issues, Slyman added.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Members of the Ohio General Assembly and other top state officials joined Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine Wednesday morning on the South Plaza of the Statehouse for the unveiling and dedication of the Ohio Women's Monument, the state's first public work of art celebrating the legacy of the women's suffrage movement and inspiring future generations of female leadership. The event, which drew a large crowd of community leaders, supporters and students, commenced in the Ohio Theatre, located just across the street from the monument, where attendees were shown a time-lapsed video inviting viewers into the creative process undertaken by the monument's sculptor, Brenda Councill. She spent over a year in her Zanesville studio designing and crafting the nine bronze female figures, each embodying a different era in women's history, now displayed on the Statehouse grounds. The program also included formal remarks honoring women's contributions to Ohio's history and leadership, with speakers including Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose; House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) joined by Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon); former Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery, the state's first woman to hold the office; and others representing the Ohio Arts Council and Capitol Square Foundation (CSF).

GOVERNOR

Gov. Mike DeWine Tuesday waded into the ongoing issue of college athlete eligibility, signing an executive order that gives Ohio's public and private colleges and universities the option to allow all otherwise eligible student athletes from the high school class of 2022 to compete despite the NCAA's current interpretation of its new eligibility rule. The executive order was later repudiated by NCAA President Charlie Baker who wrote that DeWine "cannot legislate NCAA eligibility rules.” Athletes around Ohio and across the country have sued in various courts, arguing that it's unfair to allow some players five years of eligibility while they are limited to four. On Wednesday, DeWine told reporters, “We have a mess," DeWine told reporters. "We have a ridiculous situation today that we have players who are playing in Ohio, who've had to go outside Ohio to be part of lawsuits brought outside the state of Ohio, some of them live outside the state of Ohio ... It's just, it's a total mess."

HANNAH NEWS RACES TO WATCH

The race in Ohio's 11th House District features Rep. Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) seeking a second term after her 52 percent to 48 percent victory over then-Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) in 2024. Her opponent in November, public school teacher Shawn Kaeser, described himself as a "moderate" Republican with a union background he said is more characteristic of a Democratic candidate. Both general election candidates ran unopposed in their respective primaries. District 11, in Northwest Franklin County, has current lines favoring Democrats at 53.8 percent to Republicans' 45.2 percent according to 2016-2022 demographic data compiled by Dave's Redistricting App. Asked about her decision to seek re-election, Lett told Hannah News she got work started in her first term but "we're living in really difficult times politically as a nation, as a state, and so to say that there's a lot more work left to be done is probably a deep understatement." Kaeser said he decided to run for state representative as he's spent 32 years as a social studies teacher telling students they should get involved and felt he had a chance to make "a real difference there" as his teaching career nears its end. "I thought I should follow my own advice, and this seemed like the perfect time," he told Hannah News.

The contest to replace term-limited Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) was pegged immediately after this spring's primary election as expected to be one of November's most competitive races, with Dave's Redistricting giving the district a roughly 52-47 Republican advantage, and Roegner's winning the district in 2022 with 51 percent of the vote. Competing for Roegner's seat are Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Chagrin Falls), who is trying to move to the upper chamber after three terms in the House, and Democrat Michael Roberto, who retired in 2025 as superintendent of Aurora City Schools after over three decades as an educator in the district. Neither candidate had a contested primary within their respective party to advance to the general election. Demetriou told Hannah News he and his team have a record of diligent constituent service for the residents of the House district he currently represents. Demetriou also said he wants to return to the Statehouse "to have a bigger voice on continuing to give Ohioans more relief on property taxes." Demetriou put property taxes into the larger category of affordability as one of the top issues he's hearing about from voters he's talking to during the campaign, along with the "general cost of living." Roberto also cited cost of living as the top concern he's hearing from voters, tracing the issue back to the field he's most familiar with. Roberto also cited rising health care costs as a major concern in District 27.

Issue 3, the only statewide issue to appear before Ohio voters during this November's election, asks voters whether or not the Ohio Constitution should be amended to require voters to present photo identification to vote. The ballot language for Issue 3 explains that a "yes" vote for the proposed amendment would do the following:

- Require voters to present an approved form of government-issued photo identification in order to vote.

- Allow state law to provide for an alternative method of verifying identity for a voter who has a sincere religious objection to being photographed and, therefore, does not possess an approved form of government-issued photo identification.

- Require voters who do not vote in person to provide an approved form of government-issued photo identification, unless the law authorizes those persons to vote by providing a signature and at least one other specified unique identifier.

- Define approved forms of government-issued photo identification, including an unexpired Ohio driver's license or state identification card; a United States passport or passport card; or a United States military identification card, Ohio National Guard identification card, or United States Department of Veterans Affairs identification card. 

If the constitutional changes in Issue 3 pass, any future changes would also require a vote by the people rather than the Legislature's being able to modify it.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Shawnee State University (SSU) has named Tony Ward interim dean of the university's College of Health and Human Services. Ward succeeds Christine Raber, who stepped down as the college's dean over the summer, according to her LinkedIn profile. Ward has been with SSU for over two decades, having most recently served as the university's program director of athletic training education and exercise science. Ward earned his doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis in health science from the University of the Cumberlands. He earned his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Marshall University and holds a master's degree in health and physical education.

INSURANCE

A Franklin County magistrate ruled this week that a health insurer under state supervision violated court orders by withdrawing money set aside to pay Ohioans' health claims and proposed a fine of $90,000 if the money is not returned within weeks. The decision of Magistrate Mark Petrucci is subject to objection by the insurer, Thin Blue Line, which could ask Common Pleas Judge Sheryl Munson to overrule him. Thin Blue Line's attorneys filed with the court ahead of a Monday contempt hearing to advise that they would not attend. The court named Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) Director Judith French as conservator over Thin Blue line last year after the filing of a lawsuit alleging the company was operating in the state illegally and had failed to pay claims.

JUDICIAL

A federal judge this week dismissed a lawsuit brought by Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner that challenged the state's law requiring appeals court and Supreme Court candidates to appear on the general election ballot with party identification. Brunner had filed the lawsuit in 2023, arguing that provisions of 134-SB80 (Gavarone-Cirino) violate the First, Fifth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. At the time of filing, Brunner's lawsuit pointed to the strict code of judicial conduct in Ohio, which includes significant prohibitions of certain conduct during campaigns for judicial office. Any candidate who violates these rules could be disciplined. Party designation on the Ohio ballot compels partisan speech, while the Judicial Code simultaneously limits her ability to engage in partisan speech regarding her party affiliation, Brunner further argued in her lawsuit.

Lake Erie Correctional Institution wrongly withheld surveillance footage and other public records from an inmate and must pay him $4,000 in damages, the Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled. Lake Erie inmate Devin Howard submitted nine records requests to prison records official Laura Sackett in 2024 and 2025, covering everything from telecommunications contracts to prison system policy definitions to surveillance and body-camera footage of his interactions with correctional officers. In an unsigned opinion, justices ultimately found Howard was wrongly denied records in some but not all instances. Regarding surveillance camera footage, the Supreme Court cited 2018 precedent holding that the prison must explain why a recording constitutes a security record -- the prison's justification for withholding the record in this case -- rather than simply asserting that it is a security record.

MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM

A lack of overarching strategic plans, "interference" with auditors' access to information and inadequate institutional knowledge were among findings in Auditor Keith Faber's new performance audit of the Ohio Department of Medicaid's overhauled managed care program. Lawmakers in budget measure HB96 (Stewart) directed Faber to conduct the performance audit of the Next Generation system, which the administration commenced building at the beginning of Gov. Mike DeWine's term with re-bidding of managed care contracts and reconfiguration of IT systems to meet federal requirements for a more modular design. The new managed care structure launched in early 2023 after delays and litigation.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft has once again been awarded the Compass Award by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) for its work over the past year in establishing a statewide maritime safety program. ODNR and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in January 2026 to establish standardized procedures for how ODOT plans, designs and constructs transportation projects that may affect rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and canals used by recreational boaters. The Ohio Recreational Boating MOU is said to be the first agreement of its kind in the U.S.

ODNR is ready to honor one of the state's favorite fall traditions as the Division of Wildlife (DOW) will release more than 14,000 ring-necked pheasants across 41 public hunting areas in Ohio before hunting seasons begin at the end of October. DOW is currently in the process of populating the hunting areas with the birds at wildlife areas in every region of Ohio, with the full list of locations and quantities of pheasants available HERE. The list also denotes whether an area will be open for public hunting or hunting only with a permit.

PENSIONS

The Highway Patrol Retirement System's (HPRS) board should be able to set a dollar-value cap on cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and dispense with its current approach of automatically awarding a 3 percent COLA to retirees below a certain earnings threshold, the Ohio Retirement Study Council decided this week. Councilmembers balked at a related proposal to allow the patrol pension to pay supplemental benefits.

PEOPLE

First Lady Fran DeWine received an honorary Doctorate of Arts and Letters from the University of Findlay (UF) in recognition of her work promoting early literacy among Ohio's children. "Fran DeWine has honorably served the state of Ohio and its citizens with her passion for making children's lives better," UF President Richard Ludwick said. "Thanks to her leadership, Ohio now has the largest program for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in the nation, as well as a significant statewide Storybook Trails program at our state parks and interstate rest stops. All of these programs develop confident readers and lifelong learners." The degree was conferred upon DeWine during a ceremony at UF's Mazza Museum, the world's first and largest collection of original picture book artwork, housing 23,000 pieces of original artwork.

CapSquare Advisors announced Monday that Andrew Huffman, formerly the vice president of legislative affairs at Ohio REALTORS, has joined the firm as a partner. Huffman brings over 15 years of government relations and lobbying experience at the Ohio Statehouse to CapSquare Advisors, expanding the firm's advocacy capabilities for its clients. While with the realtors, Huffman served as the primary lobbyist on state legislative and regulatory issues and was responsible for overseeing the association's advocacy efforts. Prior to that, Huffman spent nearly 13 years as an independent contract lobbyist, representing a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from statewide associations to Fortune 500 companies across a variety of policy areas.

The Ohio Travel Association (OTA) presented its highest award, the Paul Sherlock Legend in Ohio Award, for 2026 to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Marketing, Social Media, and Special Events Manager Jason Fallon at the OTA's annual conference in Wilmington last week. Named for Ohio's first state tourism director, the award is widely recognized as the highest honor in the state's travel industry, awarded annually to one individual whose professional excellence, leadership, creativity and long-term commitment have significantly advanced Ohio's travel economy.

Former Hannah News employee Frank Atkinson, 75, died Friday, Oct. 9. He was a force in the early days of Hannah, serving the company as IT and website guru and reporter, covering various committees at the Statehouse. Frank also volunteered for years at CAPA events and loved to sail. He is survived by his sister, nieces and nephews. There will be no funeral service at his request.

SECRETARY OF STATE

A suspicious package containing a powdery white substance was intercepted by the U.S. Postal Service Wednesday before it reached the secretary of state's office. Secretary of State Frank LaRose confirmed the incident in a statement Wednesday evening, saying his office is working with state and federal law enforcement after confirming his office was the intended recipient of the mailing. "The Federal Bureau of Investigation is handling the matter here in Ohio, and we have informed our county boards of elections to be vigilant in the days ahead," LaRose said. "Election officials should never have to fear for their personal safety while performing their duties, and there is no place in a peaceful democracy for violence, threats or acts of intimidation. We have a duty to the citizens of Ohio to deliver secure and accessible elections, and these kinds of cowardly threats will not deter us from that mission.”

The secretary of state's office has launched a new statewide public service announcement (PSA) featuring Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel that educates voters on their options ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3 General Election. The ads feature Tressel with a simple message for Ohio voters to "Get in the Game!" With early voting underway and Election Day approaching, the new PSA encourages Ohioans to make a voting plan and reminds them that there are three ways to cast their ballot: absentee by mail, early in person, or on Election Day. From finding early voting hours and polling locations to requesting or tracking an absentee ballot, Ohioans can find information to make their voting plan at VoteOhio.gov.

TOBACCO/SMOKING/VAPING

The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) has received $48,500 from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to expand nicotine cessation training for Ohio pharmacists and student pharmacists, specifically looking to address nicotine use during and around pregnancy and vaping among adolescents and young adults. This funding will support an updated certificate program that prepares participants to counsel patients, facilitate access to evidence-based treatment, and provide services consistent with Ohio law and clinical best practices. According to OPA, in 2023, 15 percent of Ohio adults reported currently smoking cigarettes, compared with 11.4 percent nationally. That same year, 18.8 percent of Ohio high school students reported using electronic vapor products, and 6.5 percent of Ohio mothers reported smoking during pregnancy.

VETERANS

Ohio ranked 38th in the nation in a report measuring "best states for disabled veterans" released by technology company SmileHub. That put Ohio last among neighbor states, as Pennsylvania was 11th nationally followed by West Virginia, 21st; Michigan, 31st; Kentucky, 35th; and Indiana, 37th. The five best states were Florida, Virginia, Texas, New Hampshire and Wyoming. The five lowest were Kansas, New Mexico, Delaware, Vermont and Mississippi. SmileHub also ranked states by three subcategories, with Ohio 17th nationally and second among neighbors in health and rehabilitation access; 34th nationally and fifth among neighbors in economic stability and long-term security; and 44th nationally and fifth among neighbors in infrastructure and community support.

WORKFORCE

Two workforce development areas in Southeast Ohio have proposed merging, a change the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) said is designed to strengthen workforce services and better serve the region's job seekers and employers. Workforce Development Areas 14 and 20 -- which collectively serve Athens, Fairfield, Hocking, Meigs, Perry, Pickaway, Ross, and Vinton counties -- have proposed merging into a single local workforce development area. The consolidation reflects the economic development connections along State Routes 23 and 33, according to ODJFS. It is intended to build greater strategic alignment, strengthen service partnerships, and more effectively address rural and Appalachian workforce needs.