NEW!1,710sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A trade association representing purveyors of pinball machines, arcade games, jukeboxes, pool tables and other coin-operated amusements is suing Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration over its coronavirus restrictions that ban Ohioans from using the machines in bars, restaurants and other venues.A accuses Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton and other state officials of exceeding their legal authority under a state emergency health order law.Even as DeWine has started allowing bars and restaurants to re-open, require them to block access to the...…NEW!1,710sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A trade association representing purveyors of pinball machines, arcade games, jukeboxes, pool tables and other coin-operated amusements is suing Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration over its coronavirus restrictions that ban Ohioans from using the machines in bars, restaurants and other venues.A accuses Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton and other state officials of exceeding their legal authority under a state emergency health order law.Even as DeWine has started allowing bars and restaurants to re-open, require them to block access to the...WW…

NEW!667sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers dramatically overhauled an elections bill on Wednesday, stripping controversial language that would have rolled back early voting for the November election.The House State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday voted 8-4 to advance an amended version of , referring it to the full House for approval. Republicans on the committee voted ‘yes,’ Democrats voted ‘no.'Committee members removed language that to every registered voter in Ohio for the upcoming election, something that’s been done for every presidential and gubernatorial election since...…NEW!667sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers dramatically overhauled an elections bill on Wednesday, stripping controversial language that would have rolled back early voting for the November election.The House State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday voted 8-4 to advance an amended version of , referring it to the full House for approval. Republicans on the committee voted ‘yes,’ Democrats voted ‘no.'Committee members removed language that to every registered voter in Ohio for the upcoming election, something that’s been done for every presidential and gubernatorial election since...WW…

NEW!6,890sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine used a national TV interview on Sunday to ask for federal help increasing Ohio’s coronavirus testing capacity, including making a direct appeal to anyone at the U.S. Food and Health Administration who may have been watching.DeWine, appearing alongside Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said Ohio needs additional supplies used to perform tests for COVID-19.DeWine, a Republican, referenced back to an episode three weeks ago in which he in granting approving a mask-cleaning technology developed by an Ohio...…NEW!6,890sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine used a national TV interview on Sunday to ask for federal help increasing Ohio’s coronavirus testing capacity, including making a direct appeal to anyone at the U.S. Food and Health Administration who may have been watching.DeWine, appearing alongside Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said Ohio needs additional supplies used to perform tests for COVID-19.DeWine, a Republican, referenced back to an episode three weeks ago in which he in granting approving a mask-cleaning technology developed by an Ohio...WW…

NEW!1,837sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Republican Party has pulled an ad that falsely attacked state Rep. Phil Robinson for being sued over an unpaid debt from 1999 after Robinson pointed out the lawsuit actually involved a different person with the same name.The ad launched on Facebook on Friday, . Along with a picture of Robinson, a Democrat from Solon elected in 2018, it read “Phil Robinson can’t manage his own finances… Can we trust him with ours?”It included a link to a website that’s since been taken down. But the site showed information about a 1999 case filed in Cleveland...…NEW!1,837sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Republican Party has pulled an ad that falsely attacked state Rep. Phil Robinson for being sued over an unpaid debt from 1999 after Robinson pointed out the lawsuit actually involved a different person with the same name.The ad launched on Facebook on Friday, . Along with a picture of Robinson, a Democrat from Solon elected in 2018, it read “Phil Robinson can’t manage his own finances… Can we trust him with ours?”It included a link to a website that’s since been taken down. But the site showed information about a 1999 case filed in Cleveland...WW…

NEW!257sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Voters in Ohio’s most populous county have reported getting the wrong ballots mailed to them in what local elections officials are attributing to a software error.Elections officials in Franklin County, which includes Columbus, said they are working with a third-party vendor to determine how many voters the issue affected. But Aaron Sellers, a Franklin County Board of Elections spokesman, said the problem had to do with a high-speed scanner that’s used to monitor accuracy not working properly. Franklin County Elections Director Ed Leonard told the Columbus...…NEW!257sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Voters in Ohio’s most populous county have reported getting the wrong ballots mailed to them in what local elections officials are attributing to a software error.Elections officials in Franklin County, which includes Columbus, said they are working with a third-party vendor to determine how many voters the issue affected. But Aaron Sellers, a Franklin County Board of Elections spokesman, said the problem had to do with a high-speed scanner that’s used to monitor accuracy not working properly. Franklin County Elections Director Ed Leonard told the Columbus...WW…

By COLUMBUS, Ohio — Public officials in Ohio convicted of federal corruption charges would lose the taxpayer-financed share of their state pension, under legislation introduced by two Northeast Ohio representatives.Under current law, public officials convicted on state bribery or racketeering charges can have their state pension revoked. would add the equivalent crimes under federal law, as well as a litany of other federal charges including theft, extortion and fraud.The bill is sponsored by Republican state Reps. Gayle Manning, of Lorain County and Dave Greenspan, of...…By COLUMBUS, Ohio — Public officials in Ohio convicted of federal corruption charges would lose the taxpayer-financed share of their state pension, under legislation introduced by two Northeast Ohio representatives.Under current law, public officials convicted on state bribery or racketeering charges can have their state pension revoked. would add the equivalent crimes under federal law, as well as a litany of other federal charges including theft, extortion and fraud.The bill is sponsored by Republican state Reps. Gayle Manning, of Lorain County and Dave Greenspan, of...WW…

NEW!1,004sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A down-and-out state lawmaker who needed money to bankroll a political comeback. Powerful Columbus lobbyists. And a utility company with “Monopoly money” to spend on a plan to push through a bailout for two failing nuclear power plants.Federal charging documents unsealed Tuesday describe how the company, FirstEnergy, spent $60 million to get House Speaker Larry Householder and his favored candidates elected, securing in return a $1.3 billion bailout, paid for by Ohio ratepayers. The morning arrest of Householder, an aide and three lobbyists who helped him...…NEW!1,004sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A down-and-out state lawmaker who needed money to bankroll a political comeback. Powerful Columbus lobbyists. And a utility company with “Monopoly money” to spend on a plan to push through a bailout for two failing nuclear power plants.Federal charging documents unsealed Tuesday describe how the company, FirstEnergy, spent $60 million to get House Speaker Larry Householder and his favored candidates elected, securing in return a $1.3 billion bailout, paid for by Ohio ratepayers. The morning arrest of Householder, an aide and three lobbyists who helped him...WW…

NEW!401sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in Ohio remains elevated, with 1,277 new cases reported Wednesday by the Ohio Department of Health.Health officials also reported 890 people currently are hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 851 day the day before, as well as one additional death.Wednesday’s totals keep Ohio above its seven-day moving average of 1,016 new cases, a record high. With the new numbers, that average is now 1,045.Gov. Mike DeWine has said the higher number of cases Ohio has seen recently reflects a mix of higher testing levels and greater...…NEW!401sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in Ohio remains elevated, with 1,277 new cases reported Wednesday by the Ohio Department of Health.Health officials also reported 890 people currently are hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 851 day the day before, as well as one additional death.Wednesday’s totals keep Ohio above its seven-day moving average of 1,016 new cases, a record high. With the new numbers, that average is now 1,045.Gov. Mike DeWine has said the higher number of cases Ohio has seen recently reflects a mix of higher testing levels and greater...WW…

NEW!398sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expects to eventually spend down the state’s entire $2.7 billion rainy-day fund to offset revenue losses suffered during the coronavirus crisis, he said Tuesday.“We’re certainly going to use a lot of the rainy-day fund,” DeWine said during his daily coronavirus briefing. “By the time we get completely through this, I’m sure we’ll use all the rainy-day fund. And I’m thankful we have it.”DeWine inherited the rainy-day fund from former Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who filled the fund to its maximum level during his tenure, which occurred...…NEW!398sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expects to eventually spend down the state’s entire $2.7 billion rainy-day fund to offset revenue losses suffered during the coronavirus crisis, he said Tuesday.“We’re certainly going to use a lot of the rainy-day fund,” DeWine said during his daily coronavirus briefing. “By the time we get completely through this, I’m sure we’ll use all the rainy-day fund. And I’m thankful we have it.”DeWine inherited the rainy-day fund from former Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who filled the fund to its maximum level during his tenure, which occurred...WW…

NEW!13,805sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio House elections bill, lined up for a swift series of committee hearings since it was introduced last week, would make this year’s presidential election the first one since 2008 in which the state wouldn’t mail an unsolicited absentee ballot application to all registered voters. also would eliminate in-person early voting on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before the election, something that’s been offered since 2015 .The proposal runs counter to , who has sought to expand early voting for the November election, in part due to the coronavirus...…NEW!13,805sharesCOLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio House elections bill, lined up for a swift series of committee hearings since it was introduced last week, would make this year’s presidential election the first one since 2008 in which the state wouldn’t mail an unsolicited absentee ballot application to all registered voters. also would eliminate in-person early voting on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before the election, something that’s been offered since 2015 .The proposal runs counter to , who has sought to expand early voting for the November election, in part due to the coronavirus...WW…