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DeWine Ready To Sign Nuclear Subsidies Bill, Awaits House Vote

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Gov. Mike DeWine says the proposed law that creates subsidies for nuclear, coal, and solar energy hits his main energy priorities. The sweeping energy bill, HB6, is stuck in limbo until August 1. House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) said his chamber was one vote short of passing it this week, but several members who he considered “yes”… Read More

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Senate Plan Offsets Nuclear Subsidies by Ending Energy Efficiency Requirements

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A new version of the comprehensive energy bill, HB6, was introduced in the Ohio Senate on Monday that would charge residential ratepayers $0.85 a month on their electric bills to bail out the state’s two nuclear power plants. That fee, along with charges to commercial and industrial users, would generate $170 million. Of that money,… Read More

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Group Urges People To Avoid “Backyard Fireworks”

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A coalition of health and safety organizations is urging people to stop shooting off fireworks and to leave the festivities to the professionals. It’s legal to buy fireworks in Ohio, but it’s illegal to set them off here. And Sherry Williams, with Prevent Blindness, says it’s also dangerous. She notes a report saying more than 9,000 people went… Read More

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School Funding Formula Proposal Releases Estimates For Each School District

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School administrators are looking through the latest estimates from a new school funding formula proposal. While many lawmakers and some larger education groups, such as the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, have come out in support of the plan, there are individual school districts that are still not on board. The Cupp-Patterson school funding formula, HB305, proposes… Read More

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Lawmakers Missed Deadline To Subsidize Nuclear: Now What?

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FirstEnergy Solutions says it will continue its plans to deactivate and decommission Ohio’s two nuclear power plants since lawmakers were not able to pass a bail out measure before the June 30 deadline. However, the energy company says there’s still time to reverse course. FirstEnergy Solutions filed for bankruptcy last year and laid out a… Read More

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Sherrod Brown Pushes Trump Administration On Overtime Pay

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U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is proposing a bill that would require overtime pay for any salaried worker making less than $51,064, a more than $15,000 increase to the Trump Administration’s proposed threshold. The current overtime salary threshold is set at $23,660, Brown says his plan would make overtime pay available for more than 4.6 million… Read More

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Senate Budget Keeps Tax Credits While Cutting Income Taxes

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Ohio Senate Republicans made sweeping changes to the House version of the state budget, including larger tax cuts and restored tax breaks. The Senate budget revives the small business income tax deduction on the first $250,000 earned. The House lowered that to the first $100,000. It also brings back the film tax credit and diverts $125 million from school wraparound services to school choice vouchers. When rolling out his budget… Read More

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Potential Ballot Issue Expands Background Checks For Gun Sales

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The group Ohioans for Gun Safety is rolling out a new campaign that would expand background checks for gun sales, closing the so-called “Gun Show Loophole.” The petition is part of an initiated statute that calls on requiring the sale and transfer of guns to be conducted by a federally-licensed firearms dealer. The petition language… Read More

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Concealed Carry Debate: Do Weak Permit Laws Lead To Increased Gun Violence?

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Lawmakers and dozens of opponents to a pro-gun bill squared off in an Ohio House committee over so-called “Constitutional Carry,” HB178, which allows people to carry a concealed weapon without the need for a permit or training. Amy Whitson is a trauma surgeon who teaches advanced trauma life support in Columbus. She says she’s seen first-hand the serious and fatal… Read More

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DeWine Touts Long-Term Significance To Kids Trauma Support Program

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A collection of case workers and mentors who work with kids experiencing trauma gathered in Columbus to discuss how their programs can better address growing needs. Gov. Mike DeWine says the Ohio START program can help end the cycle of substance use. More than 30 counties are part of the Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment, and… Read More