The Ohio Statehouse Scoop

Ohioans had been signing petitions since last year to get a $15 an hour minimum wage proposal on Ohio's ballot this November. So why aren't voters going to vote on it? Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talked with Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Reporter Sarah Donaldson about what she discovered when trying to figure out what went wrong. OPM Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler tells us...

It appears likely Ohioans will be able to vote on a constitutional amendment this November that could oust politicians from the process of drawing lines for legislative and congressional districts. Petitions from more than 730,000 registered voters were submitted last week to put the measure on the ballot. And Libertarian candidates might be able to, once again, have their party affiliation listed...

Ohio lawmakers passed more than 50 bills last week before heading out the door for summer break. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles, Ohio Public Media Bureau Chief Karen Kasler, and Ohio Public Media Reporter Sarah Donaldson explain what the legislators did and what they left undone. Plus Jo talks to an organizer of "Citizens, Not Politicians," a group that is filing to put a proposed constituti...

This is the last scheduled week for the Ohio General Assembly to meet before going on a long summer break. The big ticket item on this week's agenda is a $4 billion capital bill. It's believed to be the largest in state history. Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles talks to her Ohio Public Media Statehouse Bureau colleagues, Karen Kasler and Sarah Donaldson, about the big spending bill and other l...

Home valuations are up in Ohio. And in some parts of the state, valuations have spiked more than 30%. Since property taxes are based on valuations, some homeowners are likely to get a big shock when they open their next tax bill. Lawmakers say their voters are worried about it. So what is the legislature doing about it? Lawmakers have introduced more than a dozen bills, have a committee looking in...

There are bills that are introduced in the Ohio Legislature that seem to have popular support yet they never seem to be passed. In this episode, Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles identifies some of those bills. She talks with Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler about why those bills often are not passed by Ohio's General Assemblies.

The Ohio Legislature held a special session last week after Gov. Mike DeWine took the rare step of ordering lawmakers to come back on their week off to do a couple of things. DeWine said he wanted lawmakers to ensure President Biden would be on the November ballot. And he wanted lawmakers to pass a provision that would make it harder for outside groups to wage campaigns. They did both but not with...

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine took an unusual step and ordered the Ohio Legislature to come back into session the week beginning with Memorial Day. Many lawmakers had planned vacations for that week. But DeWine said it's important the legislature come back to deal with putting Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on the November ballot. As it stands now, Biden won't be certified by his party in tim...

A state rule-making agency is allowing existing medical marijuana suppliers to start the process for selling recreational marijuana next month, provided they meet certain criteria. Also, Ohio is going to have plenty of orange barrels on the highways this summer as road repairs and upgrades are made. Join host Jo Ingles, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Ohio Public Me...

President Biden won't be officially nominated as the nominee for the Democratic party until the Democratic National Convention this summer. But that will happen after the deadline for certifying Biden for the Ohio ballot in November. State lawmakers could pass a legislative fix for the problem like they have in the past for presidential candidates in both parties. But they didn't. And a legislativ...

For 112 years, Ohio has had Home Rule protections in its Constitution that give communities the right to determine their own policies on important issues involving governing. But during the past couple of decades, cities and towns throughout Ohio have seen some of their power erode as the state has increasingly taken control over key policies. In this episode, Ohio historian Tom Suddes talks about...

Advocates for children say Ohio is among the states that spend the least on childcare. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce says there's a crisis in Ohio right now because employers need workers but workers need affordable and, often unavailable, childcare. In this episode, we look at what needs to be done to deal with the problem. Statehouse journalists weigh in on the likelihood that Ohio lawmakers will...

In this episode, we introduce you to the creative team that brings you The Ohio Statehouse Scoop every week. Ohio Public Media Reporter and podcast host Jo Ingles is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Reporter/Producer Sarah Donaldson, Ohio Public Media Statehouse Videographer/content creator Dan Konik, Ohiochannel Operations En...

Ohio experienced the big, solar eclipse last week. Many parts of the state were in totality. Our Statehouse News Bureau team talked about their experiences in the path of totality. And Ohio Governor Mike DeWine laid out his plans for the future of Ohio in his annual State of the State speech. And he is focusing on the needs of kids. But do his fellow GOP lawmakers, who dominate both chambers of th...

If you've been to an Election Night watch party for a candidate or an issue lately, you may have been a little dismayed by how little there is to watch. That's because while the returns you can watch online through the Ohio Secretary of State's office (and sometimes at local boards of elections) trickle in, national news networks are using data, polling, and other resources of their own to project...

The eclipse of 2024 is making its path through Ohio. Many parts of the state are in the "path of totality" where people can see the full eclipse in all its glory. This podcast will tell you what you want to know about this historic event and you'll learn things you didn't want to know about the upcoming eclipse.

The award-winning team of the Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau talks about the 2024 U.S. Senate primary race between State Senator Matt Dolan, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and the winner, Northeast Ohio businessman Bernie Moreno.