The Ohio Statehouse Scoop

Happy 2026! The Ohio Statehouse Scoop is back after a holiday hiatus. Ohio's Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton named their choices for lieutenant governor last week. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports on why GOP Senate President Rob McColley and former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper were chosen to be on the ticket. Later,...

As 2025 comes to a close, Ohio's political leaders reflect on their accomplishments this year. In this Ohio Statehouse Scoop, the last one of 2025, Host Jo Ingles reports what lawmakers have or haven't done, especially when it comes to making property taxes more affordable for Ohioans. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk a...

In this special edition of The Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks with the leaders of the Ohio Democratic and Republican parties. Ohio Democratic Party Chair Kathleen Clyde explains progress on efforts to rebuild the party. At the same time, Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou discusses how he is positioning his candidates for success next year. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehou...

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says multi-agency crime fighting task forces have been effective in cracking down on violent crime in some areas of the state. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles wanted to find out how those task forces operate, so she, along with Ohio Statehouse News Bureau Multiple Media Journalist Dan Konik, rode along with crime fighters in action in Cincinnati to discover the uniqu...

Ohio's high school students have been given the green light to get money from Name, Image, and Likeness deals. In this episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles explains the vote by the Ohio High School Athletic Association to allow student athletes in grades 9-12 to take part in those deals, and how there's already a bill being proposed at the Statehouse to change that situation. Later...

After months of consideration, former Congressman Tim Ryan has announced he won't run in the Democratic primary for governor. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles spoke with Amy Acton, the Democrat already in that race. Jo reports on what lies ahead. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about all of the things that happened...

In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles reports on what's happening in Ohio since the federal shutdown, the longest in the nation's history, is finally over. Later, she is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to talk about other things that are happening on Capitol Square in Columbus. It's all this week on The Ohio Statehou...

As the federal shutdown enters its seventh week, many Ohioans are wondering where they'll get their next meal and whether they'll still have a job in the near future. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports on the issue at the center of the debate - healthcare. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about the recent elec...

The Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted a bipartisan congressional map last week, but some who voted for it are clear they consider it the best of bad options. In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles reports on the fight behind Ohio's new map and how it is energizing another call for change in the redistricting process. Later, Ohio Public Media's Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sara...

  The Ohio Redistricting Commission met last week. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports there was disagreement over the parliamentary process to use for the meeting. And there still wasn’t a public map that the Republican supermajority could support. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join the discussion to talk about the future...

The Ohio Redistricting Commission is set to meet Tuesday, October 21. But Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports, at this point, there's not a Republican congressional map to debate. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to talk about redistricting, legislative and court battles over hemp products and NIL deals in high...

You may have seen some big sales in recent days on some hemp products you can buy at gas stations, smoke shops, and holistic stores. That's because Gov. Mike DeWine is temporarily banning sales of those products this week. In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles tells you what's happening with the governor's executive order on certain types of hemp. Reporter Sarah Donaldson joins Jo t...

Ohio's congressional redistricting process involves three attempts, with the first two aimed at creating a bipartisan map. But as Ohio Statehouse Scoop Jo Ingles reports, the first part of the process has now come and gone without agreement and without a map from Republicans who hold a super majority in the legislature. Later, the Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau's Sarah Donaldson and Bure...

In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles reports on how state lawmakers are handling the redistricting process. And she speaks to those who were instrumental in getting voters to pass it to see what they think. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson weigh in on redistricting, new jobs in Ohio, and discuss a new report on property...

This harvest is going to be tough for many Ohio farmers. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks to some of them about their thoughts on weather woes, tariffs, and politics. In this week's roundtable, Ohio Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about the upcoming redistricting committee meetings and more. And it's game off for former Ohio State Un...

Democrats in the Ohio Legislature rolled out a map for new Congressional districts. Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), and Map-maker Jerid Kurtz explain it. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) isn't buying it. Democratic Rep. Phil Robinson (D-Solon) and U.S. Senator Bernie M...

Affordable housing is hard to come by in Ohio these days. On this episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks with Amy Riegel from the Ohio Coalition on Housing and Homelessness about the problem. Then Jo checks in with state lawmakers to hear what they’re actually doing about it. And later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter/producer Sarah Dona...

This week on the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks to Rep. Beth Lear (R-Galena), a Republican state lawmaker who is considering what,if anything, to do to change mail-in ballots in Ohio. Later, she talks with Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) about a bipartisan bill he's sponsoring that would allow student teachers to get paid for their work. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Kare...

Former U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has been sitting on the sidelines since being defeated in his re-election bid last year. He tells Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles why he wants to return and his plans to win his seat back in 2026. Ohio State University Political Science Professor Emeritus Paul Beck explains how Brown's plans affect the state's political landscape. And former Ohio House Min...

Did you ever see a sign along Ohio's roads and wonder about the reason behind its message? Do you know the state's current motto is a return to one from the 70's? In this Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks with Matt Bruning, Press Secretary for the Ohio Department of Transportation, and Sarah Wickham, Director of the Ohio Department of Tourism, about road signs, mottos, and slogans. Later...

The Ohio Statehouse is closed for a few days while major mechanical improvements are made to the building. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks to Ohio Capitol Square and Advisory Board Executive Director Megan Wycuff about the projects now underway. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to chat about the redistricting battle...

Most medically fragile kids in Ohio cannot attend childcare, but a bill in the legislature could change that. In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles takes a look at a bill that would create childcare centers for kids with serious chronic illnesses, much like the ones currently in operation in Kentucky. Later, Ohio Public Media Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson jo...

Members of the Ohio House rearranged their vacation plans, surgeries, and weddings to return to the Ohio Statehouse last week for a veto showdown. But the show didn't turn out to be as dramatic as originally thought. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports that instead of dealing with three veto overrides, the House only voted on one. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Kare...

On Monday July 21, the very day this podcast drops, the Ohio House is scheduled to be back in session to override some of Gov. Mike DeWine's vetoes in the new two-year state budget. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles takes a look at the process to persuade that's going on behind closed doors. She's joined by Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler to talk about the specifics of po...

Members of the Ohio House are returning to the Statehouse next week to override some of Gov. Mike DeWine's vetoes in the new two-year state budget. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks with Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson about which of the 67 vetoes lawmakers plan to override. Also, Jo tells what happened when backers of a comprehensi...