Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken wrote an error-riddled apologetics letter sent by email on Thursday to party members defending Gov. Mike DeWine’s refugee resettlement policy. It is highly unusual for the chairman of a state’s Republican Party to defend the politically unpopular decision of the state’s governor. In…
Read MoreTag: Ohio
Ohio County Releases Dozens of Illegal Aliens, Including Sex Offender, After Ignoring ICE Detainers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed Thursday that the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has released 29 criminal aliens, including a sex offender, after ignoring written detainer requests filed by the federal agency.
Read MoreOhio Refugee Resettlement Up 22 Percent Under Gov. Mike DeWine, Including Hundreds From Countries With ‘High Burdens’ of TB
Refugee resettlement in Ohio is up 22 percent under Gov. Mike DeWine, including hundreds from countries with “high burdens” of tuberculosis.
DeWine is one of more than 30 governors who have agreed to accept more refugees under a plan put forth by President Donald Trump in which a governor has to opt in for resettlement, the Associated Press reported.
Read MoreFormer Kasich Strategist Partners with George Conway to Launch Never-Trump Super PAC
An alumnus of former Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s presidential campaign has joined George Conway in launching a new never-Trump super PAC with the explicit purpose of “defeating President Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box.”
Read MoreJim Jordan Addresses Rumor He May Be Temporarily Added to the House Intel Committee to Push Back on Impeachment
During an interview with Fox & Friends Tuesday morning, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) made big news when he was asked whether he was going to be added to the House Intelligence Committee. Jordan, who is currently on House Oversight, responded, “We’ll see. That’s a call for Leader McCarthy. If Kevin and ranking member Nunes want that to happen, I just want to help our team.”
Read MoreJohnson & Johnson Reaches $20.4 million Settlement with Ohio Counties Over Opioid Deaths
Johnson & Johnson, the medical device company, agreed to a $20.4 million settlement with two Ohio counties in a federal lawsuit over opioid deaths. There are currently more than 100 lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies in the state seeking damages for their role in causing the opioid crisis.
Read MoreICE Arrests 46 Throughout Michigan And Ohio Over 5 Days, Agency Says
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Enforcement arrested 46 individuals over the course of a five-day enforcement action, the agency announced.
Read MoreAmerican Inventor Series: Garrett A. Morgan, a Son of Slaves Who Invented the Traffic Signal
Garrett A. Morgan was born on March 4, 1877 in Claysville on the outskirts of Paris, Kentucky to two former slaves. He was one of eleven children and his family was forced to live in a segregated portion of the city, so Morgan left for Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 14 in search of better opportunities.
Read MoreMore Than 100 Persons Arrested in Massive Ohio Sex Trafficking Sting Including Doctor, Church Leader
Authorities conducted a large scale sting operation, busting a massive Ohio sex trafficking ring involving both a doctor and a church leader.
Read MoreAmerican Inventor Series: The Wright Brothers
How do you tell the story of the brothers who gave mankind the gift of flight? The men who realized ancient man’s distant dream of taking to the sky? It’s a daunting task, but luckily other gifted historians have attempted to tell their story.
Read MoreTwo Ohio Planned Parenthood Clinics Shut Down After Withdrawal From Title X
Two Planned Parenthood clinics in Ohio have shut down following the organization’s withdrawal from the federal family funding program Title X.
Read MoreJim Renacci Commentary: How John Kasich Failed Ohio
Failed leadership in the past has caused Ohio to become one of the ‘most left’ states in America thanks to failing infrastructure, slow job creation and lethargic wage growth. The state simply isn’t competitive in the race to attract and retain businesses, and its showing. Since leaving Congress in January, I have been listening to Ohioans in cities and rural areas alike that feel angry, tired and frustrated. They want to know why our neighbors are winning and why Ohio is missing out on the Trump economy. I tell them all: we can thank John Kasich.
Read MorePolitical Analyst Who Accurately Predicted House Races Thinks Trump Will Lose Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania
The Judy Ford Wason Center for Public Policy, a research institute at Christopher Newport University, accurately predicted that Democrats would pick up more than 40 seats in the U.S. House in the 2018 midterm elections. Now they believe President Donald Trump will lose key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania in 2020.
Read MoreDeWine Takes State Plane to Visit Minnesota State Fair
Gov. Mike DeWine traveled on a state plane to Minnesota Friday morning to meet with Gov. Tim Walz at the Minnesota State Fair.
Read MoreJim Renacci: ‘If You Ran a Business Like Congress, You’d Be Fired’
Jim Renacci, a former congressman from Ohio and chairman of Ohio’s Future Foundation, was a guest of Stuart Varney’s on Fox Business Thursday where the two discussed the ongoing “dysfunction” in Washington.
Read MoreThe Battleground State Report: Are Trump Rallies Enough to Motivate ‘Undecided’ Voters to Show Up and Vote?
On Friday’s Battleground State Report with Steve Gill, Michael Patrick Leahy and Doug Kellett – a one hour radio show from Star News Digital Media in the early stages of a national weekend syndication roll out – Gill and Leahy talked about the success of the Trump rallies which continue to mobilize his base yet were concerned whether or not these rallies could help move undecided voters to the voting booths.
Read MoreOhio Gunman’s Alleged Pot-Smoking Friend Who Bought Him Gun Parts Charged with Federal Crimes, Feds Say
Federal authorities announced Monday they made an arrest in the investigation into the Aug. 4 mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio.
Authorities arrested Ethan Kollie, a friend of gunman Connor Betts, Friday and charged him with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance and making a false statement regarding firearms, authorities announced Monday in a press conference.
Read MoreMinneapolis’ Frey and St. Paul’s Carter Among the 235 Mayors Demanding U.S. Senate Return to Washington to Enact Gun Control
More than 200 mayors from across the country sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), urging them to immediately call the Senate back to Washington, D.C. to take action on gun control legislation.
Read MoreGannett Sells Out to Competitor GateHouse Media
Gannett, the newspaper chain known for buying local newspapers and cutting back on operations, including news, is now on the receiving end of an acquisition — by the owners of GateHouse Media.
Read MoreAfter Shootings, President Trump Calls for Background Checks, Denounces White Supremacy
In the wake of two weekend shootings that left 31 dead in Texas and Ohio, President Donald Trump called Monday for bipartisan action that includes increased background checks to catch “red flags” of potential shooters.
Read MoreCommentary: The Opioid Epidemic from a Rural Prosecutor’s Perspective
I was at the end of a meeting with a mother whose child is a victim of the country’s opioid epidemic. “So, I’m trying to write about how the opioid epidemic is affecting us,” I informed her. She responded immediately: “It touches everyone, it’s everywhere. I mean, how did it get to this?”
“Where do I even start?”
Read MoreWith Budget Deadline Approaching, Ohio Senate GOP Expects a Compromise Vote
by Tyler Arnold Ohio Senate Republicans expect a budget bill compromise to be reached for a vote by Wednesday’s deadline, according to spokesperson John Fortney. “We are very close, and we expect the budget to be ready for a vote before the interim period ends,” Fortney told The Center…
Read MoreRep. Jim Jordan Slams Democrats for Handling of Border Crisis: ‘Fabricating Stories of Cruelty’
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) slammed Democrats for their handling of the crisis at the southern border during a recent hearing before the House Oversight Committee. “What we’re going to hear from Democrats this morning is astonishing. It will be truly astonishing. For months they’ve declared there wasn’t even a…
Read MoreOhio Bill Allowing Students to Transfer Credits Unanimously Passes in the State House
by Todd DeFeo A bill aimed at allowing students to transfer general education course credits from one public university in Ohio to another could bring with it potentially higher costs for schools, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill. The state House unanimously passed House Bill 9, which…
Read MoreHouse Democrats Want Answers on Change of Date for Ohio’s 2020 Presidential Primary
by Todd DeFeo Democratic lawmakers from Cuyahoga County are seeking information about a “possibly reckless change” that moved the 2020 presidential primary to St. Patrick’s Day. Nine lawmakers from the Cleveland area sent a letter to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose regarding the change of date from March…
Read MoreOhio Considering Plan to Eliminate Concealed Weapons Licenses
by Todd DeFeo State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow Ohioans to carry firearms without the need to obtain a concealed weapons license. House Bill 178 would extend to Ohio residents who are at least 21 years old and federal law does not prohibit them from having…
Read MoreOhio Cities That Use Traffic Cameras for Tickets Will Be Financially Punished Starting This Month
by Tyler Arnold Starting this month, any local government that uses traffic cameras to issue tickets will be financially punished by the state. To discourage localities from using these cameras as a means to generate revenue, state government will remove all financial incentives for using them. The state will…
Read MorePro-Abortion Group Will Invest $20 Million in State Legislative Races in Minnesota, Ohio and More
A national pro-abortion group recently announced that it plans to spend $20 million during the 2020 election cycle to help pro-choice state legislative candidates. EMILY’s List, the self-described “largest resource for women in politics,” said it will specifically target races in 10 different states, including Minnesota and Ohio. The…
Read MoreIlhan Omar Pushes Back on Use of Terrorist Watchlist with Support of CAIR
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) recently issued a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting information about the “dissemination of data” from the country’s Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), commonly referred to as the terrorist watchlist. Omar was joined by ten of her congressional colleagues in crafting the letter, including…
Read MoreOhio Giving an Estimated $23.4 Million in Tax Credits to 10 Companies
by Todd DeFeo Ohio is giving tax credits that could reach an estimated $23.4 million to 10 companies planning to expand their businesses in the state. The companies plan to create a total of 1,559 new jobs and retain 1,788 jobs statewide, according to development officials. The projects are…
Read MoreSupreme Court Rules Judges Can’t Block Partisan Gerrymandering
by Tyler Arnold A narrowly divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that federal judges have no authority to block politically gerrymandered maps. The 5-4 decision fell along ideological lines with the five conservative judges signing onto the decision and the liberal judges dissenting. “We conclude that partisan gerrymandering claims present…
Read More9/11 Gaffe, Technical Difficulties, Spanish Responses: Highlights from ‘BORING’ First Debate
Ten Democratic presidential candidates took to the debate stage in Miami, Florida Wednesday night for the first of a two-night event. President Donald Trump weighed in on the debate with just one word: “BORING!” BORING! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019 He later criticized NBC News after…
Read MoreBoth Parties Seek to Delay Abortion Lawsuit in Ohio
by Tyler Arnold In a joint filing, both sides of the Ohio abortion lawsuit have requested that the U.S. district court delay information gathering until after a similar case in Kentucky is settled. Both Kentucky and Ohio passed legislation to prohibit abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected,…
Read MoreReport: 44 Percent of Twin Cities Residents Considered ‘Post-Christian’
A new study released this month found that the Northeast region of America is the most “post-Christian” area of the country. The study, conducted by Barna research, is part of an ongoing survey of Americans based on a random sample of 21,378 adults conducted over a ten-year period. To…
Read MoreOhio Governor Requests That Michigan Governor Keep Pipeline Open
by Tyler Arnold Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine sent a letter to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asking her to reconsider her plan to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline. The pipeline is under the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan with Lake Huron. Shutting down the pipeline could…
Read MoreTim Ryan Wants Social-Emotional Learning in Every Public School Nationwide
2020 hopeful Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) wants to introduce social-emotional learning standards to every public school in the country. The Ohio Star’s Beth Lear recently did a deep dive on the Ohio State Board of Education’s efforts to bring social-emotional learning to the state. “This is part of a…
Read MoreOhio Lt. Gov. Husted Urges Congress to Act on Trade Agreement
by Todd DeFeo The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will benefit Ohio’s economy, and Congress should proceed with ratifying the deal, the state’s lieutenant governor said in a letter to federal officials urging them to act. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted sent a letter to members of Ohio’s congressional delegation expressing…
Read MoreSt. Paul Public Library Hosting ‘Drag Story Hour’ for Preschoolers
St. Paul Public Library is scheduled to host three “Drag Story Hours” throughout the summer that will “bring together a traditional library storytime with the performance art of drag.” “Participants can expect to sing children’s songs, listen to stories about kindness and inclusion, make crafts, and join in a…
Read MoreOhio River Commission Opts to Introduce New Standards, Drawing Ire of National Wildlife Federation
by Steve Bittenbender A multistate organization in charge of improving the quality of one of the country’s most important rivers voted on Thursday to adopt a new plan on how to ensure states meet water pollution standards. By a 19-2 vote, with one abstention, the Ohio River Valley Water…
Read MoreOberlin College Ordered to Pay $11 Million to Bakery it Wrongly Accused of Racism
A jury has ordered Oberlin College to pay $11 million in damages to a family bakery on its campus that was falsely accused of racial profiling and faced months of student protests. The bakery, called Gibson’s Bakery, has operated on campus since 1885 and had a business relationship with…
Read MoreOhio Considering Push to Designate Mexican Drug Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
by Todd DeFeo Ohio lawmakers are weighing a push to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that could send additional resources to help the state fight the influx of drugs. House Concurrent Resolution 10 calls on the federal government to levy the foreign terrorist organization…
Read MoreMichigan Governor Signs Auto Insurance Reform That Will Lower Rates
by Tyler Arnold Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan auto insurance reform into law Thursday that will guarantee lower rates for all drivers in the state with the highest premiums in the country. “By signing this legislation, we are providing relief to millions of drivers across the state and guaranteeing…
Read MoreOhio House Speaker Defends Nuclear Bailout as Key to Saving Jobs, Avoiding Energy Dependency
In the days before it passed in the Ohio House, Speaker Larry Householder argued that state aid for the nuclear industry was appropriate because it produces the bulk of the state’s clean energy. Householder, R-Glenford, appeared on the TV program “The State of Ohio” and went on the attack…
Read MoreOhio House Approves Controversial Nuclear Bailout Bill
by Todd DeFeo The Ohio House approved a controversial bill that proponents say will preserve carbon-free energy production and that opponents say is a bailout of the nuclear industry in the state. If it becomes law, House Bill 6 would create a new Ohio Clean Air Program to subsidize…
Read MoreLegislation Would Require Paper Ballots for Future Elections in Ohio
by Todd DeFoe An Akron lawmaker wants Ohio to start using paper ballots for its future elections. House Bill 204 would prohibit counties from acquiring so-called direct recording electronic (DRE) voting machines or any marking devices or automatic tabulating equipment that does not use a paper ballot. “There are…
Read MoreConsumers Would Pay More Under Ohio Nuclear, Coal Bailout
by Tyler Arnold Legislation that would bail out nuclear and coal power companies passed the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday. To pay for the bailout, consumers would be charged an extra one dollar every month on their utility bills for the next six years. The fee is…
Read MoreSupreme Court Blocks Order Requiring Republicans to Redraw District Lines in Ohio and Michigan
by Kevin Daley The Supreme Court temporarily blocked two decisions Friday requiring Republican-controlled legislatures in Michigan and Ohio to produce new legislative district lines ahead of the 2020 election. There were no noted dissents from the Friday orders. The decision was not surprising, as the justices are currently deciding…
Read MoreOhio Legislation Would Expand Use of Pay-for-Success Contracts
by Todd DeFeo Ohio lawmakers are mulling a proposal to expand a program that allows the state to pay contractors only for successful services. Senate Bill 122 would allow the state treasurer to work with state agencies to enter into pay-for-success contracts with service providers for a range of…
Read MoreKenneth Blackwell Commentary: Bernie and AOC Will Destroy Low-Income Americans with Their New ‘Banking Solutions’
by Kenneth Blackwell If you like unnecessarily long lines, surly clerks, and terrible service, then you’re probably going to love the latest idea to come from the fevered minds of some of the most radical Democrats in Congress. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both of whom identify…
Read MoreLaw Would Prohibit Towing Companies from Employing Spotters in Ohio
Ohio lawmakers are weighing whether to ban towing companies from employing so-called spotters, a measure its sponsor says is necessary to protect Ohioans from excessive towing. A spotter reports illegally parked vehicles that should be towed, removed or impounded. A towing company then impounds the vehicle and charges the…
Read More