Thursday, July 3, 2025

AMERICA 250-OHIO

As celebrations are planned throughout the state for Ohio's celebration of America's semiquincentennial celebration next year, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and Scouting America are inviting scouts from around the state to celebrate the history of conservation during the Heart of It All Jamboree at Salt Fork State Park in May 2026. The Heart of It All Jamboree will allow older scouts (Webelos and up) to tent camp at Salt Fork State Park from Friday, May 1, 2026 through Sunday, May 3, 2026, while Bear scouts and lower are invited to attend via a day pass on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The city of Cleveland will once again be home to a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team. Cleveland is one of three cities that will get an expansion team in the near future, the WNBA announced Monday. "The WNBA's return to Cleveland marks a pivotal moment for women's sports. Years from now, we will reflect on this day as a truly monumental point in Cleveland sports history," Rock Entertainment Group Chair Dan Gilbert said. Gilbert also owns the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.

FY26-27 BUDGET

Attorney General Dave Yost late Friday sent a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine urging him to veto the provisions in the FY26-27 operating budget, HB96 (Stewart), regarding the use of "taxpayers' unclaimed funds for the Browns' Brook Park Stadium project." Yost writes, "I don't have a vote or a veto in the legislative process, but like every citizen, I have a voice. I oppose not only this funding mechanism but also its intent: billionaires should finance their own stadiums -- full stop. Ohio taxpayers cannot be left on the sidelines while the wealthiest score with public money."

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the FY26-27 biennial budget bill, HB96 (Stewart), late Monday and struck out language on 67 topics with line-item vetoes, the most of his governorship. Key policies surviving the veto process were the phase-in of a flat-rate income tax over the coming biennium, and the use of unclaimed funds money to finance a new Cleveland Browns stadium and seed a new funding pool for future stadium projects.

Among the most notable of his vetoes were those deleting property tax relief policies, including a carryover balance cap for school districts, authority for county budget commissions to reduce levy rates, abolition of certain levy types and inclusion of additional levies in calculation of the 20-mill floor for school funding. DeWine at a Tuesday news conference said lawmakers had developed “thoughtful” property tax proposals but ultimately the collective effect of them would have been too much for schools to withstand all at once. He pledged to establish a working group to address property tax concerns in the coming weeks.

DeWine expressed his support Tuesday for a policy to ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for sugar-sweetened beverages, notwithstanding his veto of related language in the new operating budget. In addition to signing HB96 late Monday, DeWine also signed an executive order setting up a workgroup on the topic and specifying the timeline for seeking a federal waiver to implement the ban. DeWine said Tuesday that budget language requiring pursuit of the waiver added "complexity" that might ultimately have delayed implementation. The workgroup includes cabinet officials, health and nutrition providers, retailers and beverage producers.

IT’S IN THE FY26-27 BUDGET

Medicaid, utility regulators and the justice system are in for some special scrutiny this biennium after the General Assembly outlined a few specific areas in which it wants Auditor Keith Faber to conduct performance audits. Included in HB96 (Stewart) are a combination performance and fiscal audit of Medicaid’s Next Generation managed care system; an audit of Medicaid aged, blind and disabled (ABD) enrollment similar to that proposed in HB356 (Dovilla); a combination performance and fiscal audit of the Ohio Judicial Conference; a performance audit of the indigent defense system; and a performance audit of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, including the Ohio Power Siting Board.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) recently celebrated the graduation of 21 detainees at Luther E. Ball High School in Cuyahoga County with 100 family members, friends and well-wishers. Credentials included 11 diplomas and 10 GEDs. The ceremony highlighted graduates, educational staff, faculty and keynote speaker Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland). DYS Director Amy Ast encouraged graduates not to forget the strength of their character.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) recently revamped how its main telephone line directs callers to the service or office they need. Effective Monday, June 23, DCY updated operations of 844-234-KIDS (5437) to "clearly direct callers to Early Care and Education, Family Support, Community Engagement and other key divisions," a memo from the department states.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is looking for feedback on the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program through their public comment survey HERE. The federal Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant Program is authorized under Title V of the Social Security Act to ensure the health and well-being of women, mothers, infants, children, including children with special health care needs, adolescents, and their families. ODH is the authorized Title V agency in Ohio. Title V initiatives play a leading role in improving maternal and child health, such as reducing infant mortality, increasing access to care, and improving coordinated care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN).

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

Gov. Mike DeWine's administration announced Monday the approval of assistance for a manufacturing project in Coshocton expected to create 89 new jobs and retain four jobs. It was the only economic development project reviewed by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) during its monthly meeting. Fox Tank Company expects to generate nearly $7.4 million in new annual payroll and retain $416,000 in existing payroll as a result of the company's new location in Coshocton. The company is a manufacturer of steel storage tanks and ASME certified pressure vessels for the oil and gas industry. Fox Tank is acquiring assets from a recently closed company and relocating its manufacturing operations closer to the region's shale, expanding Fox Tank's presence and capabilities in the industry. TCA approved a 1.48 percent, eight-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project, with an estimated value of $760,000.

Ohio's Ice Cream Trail is back for 2025, with TourismOhio expanding the selections to include 150 stops across the state just in time for National Ice Cream Month in July. Launched by the state's tourism arm in 2018 with 15 shops, the trail has become a statewide summer tradition. The Ohio Ice Cream Trail highlights family-owned shops, beloved local favorites, and nationally recognized Ohio chains.

JobsOhio Monday released its 2024 annual report, which included a strategic plan discussed by President and CEO J.P. Nauseef at a board meeting in May. The report noted a range of economic development projects secured during the year as well, including Anduril Industries.

Representatives from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and local partner organizations broke ground Tuesday in Glouster on a community development program intended to serve the 1,600 residents of the village and mitigate the socio-economic impact of the decline of the region's coal mining industry. The project will transform the Knights of Pythias building into a small business startup space, a remote work center and community coworking space. The building will also house a venue for food-based entrepreneurs in a shared kitchen environment that can house six businesses. The goal of the latter is to bring fresh produce and local food options to the community. The program will also see upgrades to Glouster Memorial Park, including a new information office with extended storage space, grading and turf improvements to the park's existing baseball fields and new playground equipment.

EDUCATION

National Life Group, a financial services company, is taking applications for supply grant awards for K-12 educators. Ten applicants will be selected for $500 grants for school supplies. Applicants can also be entered into the Lifechanger of the Year program, which provides additional recognition for educators and the chance to win prizes of up to $20,000 to share with their schools. The deadline to apply is Friday, Aug. 15. More information is HERE.

ELECTIONS 2026

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel routinely declined to talk about his political future in the past few months, saying his focus was squarely on the state budget. With HB96 (Stewart) signed by Gov. Mike DeWine late Monday, Tressel was asked his plans for 2026, but he again demurred. "Well, you're not going to get a headline from me here today. This is about the budget," Tressel said.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton announced Tuesday the hiring of Phil Stein as campaign manager. Stein most recently served as a senior advisor to Virgina State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi during her successful campaign for the Democratic nomination for that state's lieutenant governor. He has also worked on various winning campaigns, including U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids' win in a historically red district, and Abby Finkenauer's congressional win in 2018.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy announced Tuesday that his campaign has raised $9.7 million in the first four months of his bid. The campaign said the record-breaking sum was further bolstered by a late-June fundraising surge "that exceeded expectations." Non-judicial statewide and legislative campaigns must report fundraising and spending totals for the first six months of this year by Thursday, July 31, as part of required semiannual filings.

Republican Ohio Senate candidate and former state Rep. Craig Riedel announced Tuesday that his campaign has raised more than $250,000 in the first three months of his campaign. Riedel's announcement came ahead of the Thursday, July 31, semiannual campaign finance filings required of non-judicial statewide and legislative campaigns. Riedel, who is seeking the nomination for term-limited Senate President Rob McColley's (R-Napoleon) seat, said the $250,000 total does not include any self-funding.

Ben Weber, a constitutional attorney, announced Tuesday that he will seek the Republican nomination for the 86th House District, a seat currently held by Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), who is term-limited. Weber said he is running "to restore common sense, defend Ohio families, and fight radical left-wing policies." He dubbed himself as a "strong original supporter of President Donald Trump and the America-First, Ohio-First movement."

EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT

A trial judge was right to order Gov. Mike DeWine to reverse course and seek funding for unemployment compensation benefits under a pandemic-era program that he withdrew the state from early, the 10th District Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

One of two final witnesses in FirstEnergy's 133-HB6 (Callender-Wilkins) bribery hearings has reignited questions about fired company CEO Chuck Jones' now-infamous text on the "burning" or quashing of the utility's final distribution modernization rider (DMR) report by late Chairman Sam Randazzo of the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO). The illegal charge produced a half-billion-dollar windfall the utility has never refunded. Managing Director Paul Corey of independent accounting company Oxford Advisors testified during PUCO hearings last Friday that commission staff who had met with Randazzo instructed him in 2020 to purge proposed consumer protections from the interim audit report and, by definition, from the final DMR report, which has never been filed.

GOVERNOR

The governor signed the following bills, which all become effective in 90 days except for the ones noted:

- HB80 INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION BUDGET (STEWART) To make appropriations for the Industrial Commission for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of Commission programs. Eff. 7/1/25

- HB81 BWC BUDGET (STEWART) To make appropriations for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of the Bureau's programs, and to make changes to the Workers' Compensation Law. Eff. 7/1/25

- HB96 OPERATING BUDGET (STEWART) To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs. Eff. 7/1/25

- HB50 ROAD DESIGNATION-PFC JOHN WAYNE RICHARD (KING) To designate a portion of State Route 47 in Darke County as the "PFC John Wayne Richard Memorial Highway."

- HB64 HUNTING, FISHING LICENSE AGE DISCOUNTS (D. THOMAS-DEETER) To allow Ohio residents who are 65 and up, instead of 66 and up, to qualify for discounted hunting and fishing licenses and permits.

- HB65 DAY, WEEK DESIGNATIONS-AGRICULTURE (KLOPFENSTEIN-PETERSON) To make specified day and week designations relating to agriculture and to name this act the Agriculture Appreciation Act.

- SB6 MAKE CHANGES-BUILDING INSPECTIONS (ROEGNER) To make changes to the law relating to building inspections.

- SB27 DESIGNATE AMELOBLASTOMA AWARENESS DAY (JOHNSON) To designate March 20 as "Ameloblastoma Awareness Day."

- SB39 REGARDING DISPLAY-VETERANS' BENEFITS (JOHNSON-CRAIG) Regarding the creation and display of a poster containing information on benefits and services for veterans.

- SB100 EXCLUDE AGRICULTURAL NONPROFITS-INSURANCE REGULATIONS (MANCHESTER) To exclude nonprofit agricultural membership organizations from insurance regulations.

- SB114 PROHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT QUOTAS (PATTON) To prohibit law enforcement agencies from using quotas for arrests and citations.

- SB138 MODIFY ADAMH SERVICES LAWS (JOHNSON) To modify various laws regarding boards of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services and to impose penalties for not registering recovery housing residences.

- SB147 LAW CHANGES-WASTE MANAGEMENT (REINEKE) To make changes to the laws governing the transfer and disposal of solid waste and construction and demolition debris and to provide for new procedures governing a county's withdrawal from a joint solid waste management district

Appointments made over the week include the following:

- Deborah L. Cook of Akron (Summit County) to the University of Akron Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 2, 2025, and ending July 1, 2031 and Jordyn C. Miklinski of Akron (Summit County) as a student member of the Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 2, 2025, and ending July 1, 2027.

- Megan M. Lashutka of Upper Arlington (Franklin County) to the Ohio University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 13, 2034 and Mark C. Arnold of Columbus (Franklin County) as a trustee for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 13, 2027.

- Larry A. Sheakley of Cincinnati (Hamilton County) to the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 20, 2025, and ending Jan. 1, 2034 and Riya J. Patel of West Chester (Butler County) as a student member of the Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 13, 2027.

- Mark E. Remeis of Bowling Green (Wood County) to the Bowling Green State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 16, 2034 and Magnolia J. McMillan of Columbus (Franklin County) as a student member of the Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 16, 2027.

- Ervan D. Rodgers II of Westerville (Franklin County) to the Central State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2031.

- Elizabeth J. Ferris of Springboro (Warren County) reappointed to the Wright State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2031 and Ella Vaught of Xenia (Greene County) has been appointed as a student member of the Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

- Markee L. Dennis of Columbus (Franklin County) reappointed to the Shawnee State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2031 and Chloe M. Wilbur of Wellston (Jackson County) as a student member of the Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

- Michael A. Peterson of Massillon (Stark County) reappointed to the Youngstown State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 1, 2034 and Nadia C. Zarbaugh of Poland (Mahoning County) as a student member of the Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 1, 2027.

- Shawn M. Riley of Gates Mills (Cuyahoga County) reappointed to the Kent State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 16, 2034.

- Patrick C. Arp of Mason (Warren County) as a student member to the Ohio State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 13, 2027.

- Abigail L. Blackburn of North Canton (Stark County) as a student member to the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 1, 2027.

- Guido Shero of Medina (Medina County) as a student member to the Northeast Ohio Medical University Board of Trustees for a term beginning June 30, 2025, and ending June 29, 2027.

- Ashton Widenhoefer of Toledo (Lucas County) as a student member to the University of Toledo Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 2, 2025, and ending July 1, 2027.

- J.P. Nauseef of Dayton (Montgomery County) and Lori M. Gillett of Westerville (Franklin County) reappointed to the JobsOhio Board of Directors for terms beginning July 6, 2025, and ending July 5, 2029 and Lillian A. Kuri of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County) appointed for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending July 5, 2027.

- Beth Waldren of Galena (Delaware County) reappointed and Alana M. Tucker of Cincinnati (Hamilton County) and James P. Trakas of Independence (Cuyahoga County) appointed to the Ohio Arts Council for terms beginning July 2, 2025, and ending July 1, 2030.

- Elizabeth A. Henrich of Marysville (Union County) to the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and continuing at the pleasure of the Governor.

- Stephanie L. Meredith of Columbus (Franklin County) to the Advisory Board of the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending May 4, 2026.

- Colleen Shay Murray of Huron (Erie County) reappointed to the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2030.

- Michael S. Hoy of Columbus (Franklin County) to the Small Business Advisory Council for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and continuing at the pleasure of the Governor.

- Kirk M. Herath of Columbus (Franklin County) to the Cybersecurity and Fraud Advisory Board for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and continuing at the pleasure of the Governor.

- Tedd E. Frazier of Jackson (Jackson County) to the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending Sept. 3, 2025 and Jane M. Hanlin of Toronto (Jefferson County) for a term beginning June 27, 2025, and ending Sept. 3, 2027.

- Barbara A. Powers of Columbus (Franklin County) appointed and Timothy G. Anderson of Athens (Athens County) and Paul B. Graham of Worthington (Franklin County) reappointed to the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board for terms beginning June 27, 2025, and ending Jan. 14, 2028.

GREAT LAKES

The Western Basin of Lake Erie will see a mild to moderate harmful algal bloom (HAB) this summer, according to the official forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bloom is expected to measure a 3.0 on the HAB severity index, with a potential range of 2.0 to 4.0, NOAA scientist Rick Stumpf said during a press conference on Thursday. The HAB severity index is based on the bloom's biomass during the peak 30 days of the bloom. Moderate blooms have an index of 3.0 to 5.0, while an index above 5.0 indicates more severe HABs. The largest Lake Erie HABs occurred in 2011 and 2015, with severity indexes of 10 and 10.5, respectively.

HANNAH NEWS’ MEET THE FRESHMEN

Rep. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) says her chosen field has been neglected for over a century and is in sore need of a legislative fix. That's not her election to House District 54 but her primary career as a CRNA and owner of Firelands Anesthesia Associates and Firelands Medispa in Huron County, where she had campaigned for termed-out Rep. Dick Stein before succeeding him in the last general election.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) updated its weekly West Nile virus data Friday, showing 19 pools have been detected as positive in eight counties. That reflected an increase of five new pools compared to the June 20 data of 14 pools in eight counties. No human West Nile cases have been identified.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the appointment Monday of former state legislator and U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi to the Ohio State University (OSU) Board of Trustees. Tiberi has been president and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable since 2018. He previously represented Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001-2018, following four terms in the Ohio House from 1993-2000, during which time he served as House Majority Leader.

IMMIGRATION

A recent poll by Quinnipiac University found 64 percent of respondents preferring to give most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a pathway to legal status, while 31 percent say they prefer deporting most undocumented immigrants. According to the pollster, the latest figure is up from a December Quinnipiac Poll, where 55 percent of respondents said they prefer giving most undocumented immigrants a pathway to legal status, with 36 percent preferring to deport most undocumented immigrants

JUDICIAL

The Ohio Supreme Court Task Force on Juvenile Diversion's final report says early interventions that keep minors out of court are foundational to its final report and key to "produc[ing] productive adults" -- Judge David Hejmanowski's reference point for 10 recommendations as task force chair. Nearly 30 percent of his responding colleagues do not use pre-initial appearance diversion (PIAD), however, and under 20 percent personally rule on alternative interventions that don't require a juvenile court appearance.

MARIJUANA/HEMP

While some results of adult use cannabis legalization were not as bad as they expected, Ohio school principals remain concerned about how the policy is affecting their students, according to a new survey from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law's Drug Enforcement and Policy Center (DEPC).

NATURAL RESOURCES

Because marina owners are in a unique position to take a stand against trash and litter in Ohio waterways, the Ohio Clean Marinas Program recently hosted several of the state's marina operators at a workshop at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve near Huron for an up-close look at innovative cleanup technologies.

A female black bear in Northeast Ohio was fitted with a GPS collar recently as part of an effort to track the species' expanding range in the state. The GPS collar will remotely transmit location data to help researchers learn about the habitat use and preferences of the individual bear. The same project has been tracking a male bear in Northeast Ohio since July 2024. In addition to tracking the bears' movement and reproduction, the project hopes to estimate Ohio's black bear trajectories, habitat suitability and factors impacting human-bear conflicts.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

The Columbus Metropolitan Club's annual "State of Nonprofits" recent discussion included a look at how the sector faces particular uncertainty around ongoing changes in federal government funding and executive agency activities affecting them. Panelists included Tom Schmid, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; Joe Gottron, president and CEO of Gladden Community House; Denise Robinson, president and CEO of Alvis; and Julie Fletcher, director of community impact at the Crane Group.

PEOPLE

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) announced Tuesday that Akron attorney William G. Chris had begun his term as president for the next two years, saying he has a "strong history of involvement" with the organization including serving on its board of governors as a representative for Summit and Portage counties.

POLLS/STUDIES

A poll released last week by Quinnipiac University finds a majority of respondents opposed U.S. military strikes on nuclear sites inside Iran, and a majority have concerns about the U.S. getting drawn into a war with Iran. The poll, conducted among 979 self-identified registered voters nationwide from Sunday, June 22 through Tuesday, June 24, found 42 percent of respondents supporting the U.S. in joining Israel in military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, while 51 percent oppose it.

With Major League Baseball recently removing a lifetime ban for former Cincinnati Reds star player and manager Pete Rose in the wake of his death last year, a recent poll by Quinnipiac University found 60 percent believe he should be in the Hall of Fame. The all-time hits leader had been banned from the sport for gambling on games while he was a manager of the Reds, but respondents to the Quinnipiac Poll said 60 percent to 27 percent that Rose should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The Ohio State Highway Patrol's (OSHP) 176th class graduated from the OSHP Training Academy on Friday, June 20, the agency announced. The 18 individuals gradated after 28 weeks of "intense training," OSHP said. Rep. Haraz Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg) delivered the commencement address, while Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas Judge David Trimmer issued the oath of office.

The DeWine administration and Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) issued statements Tuesday calling on Ohio drivers to follow posted speed limits during the summer travel season, noting they are "carefully determined" through factors including road design, traffic volume and surrounding environment. "Speed-related crashes are preventable, and slowing down could save your life or the life of a loved one," said Gov. Mike DeWine. "Speed limits are there for everyone's safety, and I encourage all drivers to remain fully attentive to the road and adhere to posted speed limits."

AAA Ohio is estimating 3.45 million Ohioans will travel for the upcoming July 4 holiday, with 3.1 million driving to their destinations. With roads expected to be congested, state and public safety officials are urging Ohioans to take precautions and plan ahead before traveling. Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager for AAA, said that across the country, 72.2 million are expected to travel for the holiday weekend. Of those, 71 million will be driving.

The Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of State Fire Marshal recently issued a reminder for Ohioans to use fireworks safely and responsibly during July 4 celebrations. Ohio Fire Code allows for use of 1.4G consumer-grade fireworks on certain dates including July 3-5 from 4 to 11 p.m. unless prohibited by local laws. However, the State Fire Marshal (SFM) noted, fireworks pose "significant safety risks" if they are used irresponsibly. In 2024, the SFM received reports of 135 fireworks-related incidents, including 32 that led to structure fires and over $760,000 in damages. Nationally, over 9,700 people were treated for injuries related to fireworks in 2023 and eight people died.

Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) Wednesday announced the launch of a new seatbelt campaign as seatbelt usage in Ohio has remained below the national average for more than a decade. The new "Hard Hitter" seatbelt campaign uses football imagery to illustrate the physical impact of an unbuckled vehicle occupant on another passenger during a traffic accident. A crash at speeds of 50 miles per hour has the potential to hurl an unrestrained occupant with eight times the force of a 240-pound linebacker running at full speed.

Ahead of the July 4 weekend, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has joined Operation Dry Water, a national campaign focused on educating boaters about the dangers of boating under the influence (BUI). "Ohio's lakes and rivers are perfect places to enjoy time with friends and family, but safety must always come first," said Cindy Bellar, ODNR boating law administrator. "Boating under the influence puts everyone at risk. That's why we continue to push for smart choices like boating sober, wearing a life jacket, and taking a boater education course. We want every trip on the water to be a safe one."

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) announced Tuesday that it had released project agreements for the most recent annual round of infrastructure funding, totaling $322.6 million. The projects were selected by 19 district integrating committees based on a variety of factors including health and safety, age and condition, and number of users.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The week of Independence Day marks an important date for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) and its 258,000 private employers, who saw a rate cut of 6 percent and an agency launch of the workplace Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (SUPR) program on Tuesday, July 1.