Latest Ohio state government News

Judge temporarily blocks Republican-backed overhaul of Ohio's education system following lawsuit

Sep. 21, 2023 17:34 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A county judge put a massive Republican-backed overhaul of Ohio’s K-12 education system on hold after issuing a temporary restraining order Thursday, blocking its implementation. The order comes just days after seven Ohio State Board of Education members filed a lawsuit...

Ohio redistricting panel adopts GOP-drawn Statehouse maps for public discussion, as Democrats object

Sep. 20, 2023 18:02 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Redistricting Commission tentatively adopted a new set of Republican-drawn Statehouse maps over Democrats' objections Wednesday, a plan that again would deliver large legislative majorities to the GOP. A series of public meetings is expected over the...

Overhaul of Ohio's K-12 education system is unconstitutional, new lawsuit says

Sep. 19, 2023 17:18 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Seven Ohio school board members are alleging that a Republican-backed overhaul of how the state oversees K-12 education — including decisions on academic standards and school curricula — violates the state's constitution, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. ...

Editorial Roundup: Ohio

Sep. 18, 2023 07:13 AM EDT

Cleveland Plain Dealer. September 13, 2023. Editorial: Disputed public comments urging fracking under Ohio parks should lead to probes, reforms - and prosecution, if merited The First Amendment rightly covers all sorts of speech -- including, in today’s world, the...

Ohio attorney general rejects language for political mapmaking reform amendment for a second time

Sep. 14, 2023 18:54 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Attorney General’s Office again rejected petition language Thursday for a constitutional amendment aimed at remaking the state's troubled system for drawing political maps, frustrating the effort's backers. In his rejection letter, Republican Dave...

GOP legislative leaders' co-chair flap has brought the Ohio Redistricting Commission to a standstill

Sep. 13, 2023 17:40 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's latest attempt to draw fair political maps crumbled amid Republican infighting Wednesday, begging the question of whether a commission unable even to appoint its co-chairs will be able to negotiate a bipartisan redistricting solution within the few short weeks it's...

Editorial Roundup: Ohio

Sep. 11, 2023 13:06 PM EDT

Cleveland Plain Dealer. September 10, 2023. Editorial: Redistricting Commission’s choice: Restore some public confidence with fairly drawn districts or fuel rancor over blatant bipartisanship The calendar and Ohio’s constitution will give seven officeholders an...

Ohio state Rep. Bob Young says he'll resign following arrests in domestic violence case

Sep. 08, 2023 17:18 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A state lawmaker in Ohio announced Friday that he will step down next month following a pair of arrests in less than two months in an ongoing domestic violence case. Republican Rep. Bob Young notified GOP House Speaker Jason Stephens that his resignation would...

Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh predicts 'concrete steps soon' to address ethics concerns

Sep. 07, 2023 16:23 PM EDT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh told a judicial conference on Thursday he hopes there will be “concrete steps soon” to address recent ethics concerns surrounding the court, but he stopped short of addressing calls for justices to institute an official code of conduct. ...

Ohio will keep GOP-drawn congressional maps in 2024 elections, ending court challenge

Sep. 07, 2023 12:51 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Congressional district maps previously deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court will be used in 2024 after the high court dismissed legal challenges against the Republican-drawn districts on Thursday. The Ohio voting-rights groups that brought forward...