DeWine focuses on mental health during inaugural address: Capitol Letter

Psychological well being: Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday mentioned he needs Ohio to be “the most effective state within the nation” for mental-health therapy, analysis, and prevention efforts. Jeremy Pelzer studies that DeWine’s feedback throughout his inaugural deal with on the Ohio Statehouse come after he beforehand has mentioned the two-year state finances plan he’ll suggest within the coming weeks might be heavy on mental-health priorities, together with increasing companies, analysis and job growth.

‘Massive deal’: The governor additionally presaged the chance that Ohio will get its first UNESCO World Heritage Website. Pelzer studies that DeWine mentioned Ohio’s 2,000-year-old Hopewell ceremonial earthworks, constructed round Ohio by the Hopewell Tradition, are anticipated to get the nod from United Nations officers this summer time.

TikTok cease: One in every of DeWine’s first actions of his second time period was to ban state employees from utilizing TikTok or different Chinese language-owned apps on state telephones. Pelzer studies that DeWine instituted the ban through govt order shortly after he was sworn in for his second time period, becoming a member of President Joe Biden, who banned the app from federal telephones.

Swimsuit your self: As anticipated, a coalition of left-leaning teams have sued Ohio over the brand new voter picture ID legislation Gov. Mike DeWine signed on Friday with backing from a significant nationwide Democratic legislation agency. Per Andrew Tobias, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, the Ohio Federation of Academics, the Ohio Alliance for Retired People and the Union Veterans Council filed the lawsuit in federal court docket on Friday, minutes after DeWine introduced he had signed the invoice. The coalition is being represented by the Elias Group, which was one of many key events concerned in final yr’s redistricting litigation.

Let it burn: Getting old hazardous waste incineration crops in Ohio which were barred from growth for 3 a long time might begin rising once more beneath a brand new coverage Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into legislation final week. Jake Zuckerman studies the authorized change got here through a late-night modification and regardless of well being and air pollution dangers from emissions.

Gravy practice: DeWine is “strongly contemplating” making use of for a federal grant that might result in expanded passenger rail service between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. In the meantime, as Susan Glaser studies, officers in Cleveland are undoubtedly pursuing establishing Cleveland as an Amtrak mini-hub, with extra frequent service to Chicago, New York Metropolis, Washington, D.C. and different cities. The deadline to use for the funding, supplied by means of final yr’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, is March 1.

Oh child! Gov. Mike DeWine additionally issued an govt order that expands state authorities antidiscrimination protections to nursing moms. State businesses should present nursing staff time and a personal area that’s not a toilet to pump or attend to different breastfeeding wants. 4 years in the past, when first inaugurated, DeWine added nondiscrimination protections for employees who’re pregnant and foster mother and father, and that is an growth on that, mentioned Dan Tierney, DeWine’s spokesman. “A part of the explanation we do that is the state is usually a mannequin employer,” Tierney continued. “Individuals can look to what’s the state of Ohio doing and these requirements, and mannequin their very own non-public firm practices after this stuff.”

Tech improve: Legal professional Normal Dave Yost mentioned Monday his workplace has supplied new cameras to all 88 county sheriffs, plus new computer systems to a different 59 counties as a part of an improve to the state’s community of intercourse offender registries. The upgrades value $384,283 in all, Yost’s workplace mentioned in a Monday information launched, cash that got here from a federal grant from the U.S. Justice Division.

Act informal: Employees within the Ohio Home of Representatives might be allowed to put on denims on Friday, beneath a brand new coverage introduced Monday by new Home Speaker Jason Stephens. An inner memo to Home workers on Monday mentioned they may put on denims on Friday, beginning this Friday, except they’ve “deliberate enterprise conferences” or if the consultant that supervises them might be within the workplace. As not too long ago as 2019, Home costume code said that solely enterprise informal was acceptable throughout slower occasions within the workplace.

5 issues we discovered from the March 2, 2022 monetary disclosure of Rachel Baker, a Cincinnati Democrat who represents Ohio’s twenty seventh Home District after defeating Republican Jennifer Giroux within the November election:

1. Baker, a pediatric nurse, disclosed 4 employers: TriHealth, the College of Cincinnati, Mount St. Joseph College and Xavier College.

2. She labored for TriHealth as a nurse researcher and an adjunct teacher for the three colleges.

3. She disclosed 25 investments, a wide range of change traded funds and mutual funds, value at the very least $1,000 every.

4. She holds an lively registered nurse license.

5. She disclosed a single debt of at the very least $1,000, which she owed to Fifth Third Financial institution.

Elisabeth St. Onge is now press secretary for U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown. Her predecessor, Ashley Gowens, accepted a job in company communications.

Ben Weiner is now press secretary for U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce. His predecessor, Katherine Sears, has joined the workplace of newly-seated U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia as Deputy Chief of Employees.

Gov. Mike DeWine reappointed Robert Hankins of Canton and Jon D. Holt of Dayton to the Ohio Arts Council, with phrases ending July 1, 2027. Kristie Dukes Davis of Cincinnati and Peter Lawson Jones of Shaker Heights have been newly appointed to the council, with phrases ending July 1, 2026.

DeWine mentioned throughout his inaugural deal with on Monday that he had appointed Doug Preisse, a Republican Franklin County Board of Elections member, and Michael Coleman, the previous Democratic mayor of Columbus, as co-chairs of the Ohio Fee for the U.S. Semiquincentennial.

Jonathan Fausey is the brand new director of state authorities relations for CareSource. He beforehand served as a majority coverage adviser to the Ohio Home Republican majority caucus.

Torey Hollingsworth, director of the workplace of the Dayton Metropolis Fee; ex-state Sen. Charleta Tavares

“What you’re telling me is I’m a Republican that voted for a Republican speaker and the state Republican Social gathering is censuring me? Sounds just like the dips—s are working the insane asylum.”

State Rep Jon. Cross, of Kenton, to the Columbus Dispatch after he was among the many Republican lawmakers censured by the Ohio Republican Social gathering on Friday for voting with the chamber’s Democrats to make Jason Stephens speaker of the Ohio Home.

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