Ohio
Federal judge blocks Ohio’s ban on foreign political donations
![Federal judge blocks Ohio’s ban on foreign political donations Federal judge blocks Ohio’s ban on foreign political donations](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3accd18/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x525+0+18/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F14%2Ff7b306e24c28ab955921c612efb4%2Fdownload-84.png)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge blocked Ohio’s new law limiting who can participate in the political process just hours before it was set to go into effect. The controversial legislation would have prevented lawful permanent residents, known as green card holders, from contributing to campaigns.
House Bill 1, passed during Ohio’s special session in May, was meant to stop foreign donations to state and local ballot-issue campaigns. This could be by directly donating from outside the country or by donating to an entity, like a political action committee (PAC).
But it did much more than that.
It would have prohibited lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or green card holders from making contributions or expenditures regarding ballot issues or candidates. It would also prevent campaigns from accepting donations from them.
“These are people who pay taxes, these are people who work here and contribute to society,” state Rep. Michele Grim (D-Toledo) told me Monday. “[The law] is really undermining the voice of Ohio voters and telling them that their voice doesn’t matter.”
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson, a Republican appointed by former President George W. Bush, has temporarily stopped this major provision — thus effectively blocking the entirety of the law.
“I think the judge did make the correct ruling in this decision,” state Rep. Michele Grim (D-Toledo) said. “Green card holders can participate in the political process.”
Ohio Republicans are being accused of, once again, attempting to make it harder for citizens to have their voices heard. The GOP denies this, as they did the previous three times. This story is from May 29, the day before the final proposal was unveiled, which didn’t include some of the provisions the House said were unconstitutional.
Ohio GOP again attempts to go around voters, this time on redistricting and minimum wage
Ohio GOP again attempts to go around voters, this time on redistricting and minimum wage
Grim fought against it during the committee process but was glad when the fight continued in court.
“Defendants ask this Court to hold that individual LPRs—who the Federal Government allows to fight and die in the U.S. Armed Forces—present such a high risk of ‘foreign influence’ on Ohio’s political processes that Ohio may prohibit them from speaking on Ohio politics,” Watson wrote in a rare Saturday opinion. “The Court declines to do so.”
The judge said the law was “likely unconstitutional” since federal law allows permanent residents to use their First Amendment rights to political speech.
Many Statehouse Republicans have argued that this legislation is about more than just green card holders and would help protect the state.
“Most Ohioans would agree that we shouldn’t have foreign dollars affecting our ballot initiatives,” Senate President Matt Huffman said back during special session.
In early March, Republican senators passed S.B. 215, which is similar to H.B. 1.
This bill is stemmed from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a dark money group that contributes to progressive causes, state Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) explained.
Ohio Senate passes bill to stop foreign donations on ballot campaigns
Ohio Senate passes bill to stop foreign donations on ballot campaigns
Data from the state’s campaign finance disclosure portal shows the 501(c)(4) spent about $11.5 million on the groups advocating for abortion access and keeping majority rule on ballot issues in elections. Ohioans United for Reproductive Rights and the organization’s prior name, Ohioans For Reproductive Freedom, received about $6.4 million. One Person One Vote got around $5.1 million.
The fund, although it doesn’t have to disclose its donors, has received over $200 million from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss since 2016, according to the Associated Press.
Foreign money in elections is already illegal federally. But Huffman explained that H.B. 1 would have given a way for Ohio officials to enforce criminal penalties, including felony charges and prison time.
“The local actors who are taking that money and knowing that it’s against the law, if there’s no recompense from them, if there’s no penalty for doing anything — then it will continue,” the president continued.
According to Ohio law and numerous nonpartisan prosecutors we reached out to, Attorney General Dave Yost could petition a court to freeze a campaign account in order to conduct his investigation into “foreign interference.”
Democrats say that the Republicans who introduced this measure are just mad about their losses.
“They are sore losers from last year and they’re trying to make it more difficult again,” state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said.
Supporters of Ohio abortion rights amendment far outraising opponents
All three ballot proposals that passed in 2023 were started because voters weren’t happy with the state legislature, and didn’t feel like their voices were being heard. The August special election was proposed by lawmakers because they didn’t want abortion to become legal — a direct result of the angry voices of citizens.
This alleged “foreign money” ban is directly to stop the anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendment from passing, Grim said.
“It was really about undermining the voice of voters last year,” she said. “And now the Citizens Not Politicians ballot initiative.”
Who is funding Ohio’s redistricting amendment?
Warnings
This ruling isn’t a complete shock. A dozen House and one Senate Republican tried to prevent this aspect of the law.
House Majority Floor Leader and attorney state Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) predicted this would happen. The H.B. 1 that he had worked on didn’t have this provision in it. Seitz said this was a last-minute floor amendment.
“The General Assembly, whenever they try to push the envelope too hard and try to go swing for the fences, go for broke, hit the home run — whenever that happens, it generally blows up in our faces,” Seitz said during his floor speech, attempting to convince his colleagues to table the amendment.
Both Seitz and state Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) urged their caucus to drop it, taking jabs at amendment proposer state Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) and original bill sponsor McColley.
Seitz, talking to me on Monday, explained his frustration that the GOP didn’t listen to him — although noting that it is always nice to say “‘I told you so.’”
“I worried that it was going to poison the bill, and that’s exactly what Judge Watson found,” he said.
Although Watson didn’t completely strike down the entirety of the bill, he might as well have, Seitz said, adding that it was effectively unenforceable.
“He went beyond invalidating it as to green card holders, finding that certain other parts of the bill were, so shall we say, infected by the green card holder amendment, that they too had to be enjoined,” the representative said.
Despite his pleas, he was only joined in throwing out the amendment by 11 others — including House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), who noted concerns about legality.
Something the Republicans should have paid attention to was the fact that all the Democrats voted to keep the amendment in, Seitz said.
“They wanted this to be put into the bill, thereby rendering it constitutionally suspect,” he said. “At the point where the motion to table failed so dismally, the proponents of the amendment should have realized that they were riding into a trap.”
I reached out to Stewart for comment but didn’t hear back. That being said, Monday was Labor Day, a holiday that lawmakers have off.
In the other chamber, Antani struggled to even get lawmakers to listen to him. After this story aired, I spoke with Antani. He slammed Senate GOP leadership, with whom he has a contentious relationship already.
“I think that the competence of leadership is really under question here,” Antani said, insulting McColley at length. “It’s really just unfathomable incompetence.”
McColley, the Senate majority floor leader, is expected to be the next Senate president, which Antani has a problem with.
“[He] can’t understand simple constitutional concepts — that is certainly a problem,” Antani said.
Ignoring Antani’s insults, McColley sent a response about the legal steps moving forward.
“Our multi-tiered judicial system is built on the premise that reasonable minds can differ on a legal conclusion. Accordingly, parties can exercise their right to appeal a lower court decision. I am confident in the extensive legal analysis that went into the crafting of House Bill 1. I expect the decision of the trial court to be appealed shortly. The appeal will remain focused on the principle that non-citizens who are barred to voting are also barred from directly influencing elections through monetary contributions,” McColley told me.
Seitz believes that the lawmakers need to try again next General Assembly.
“Our Democratic friends played it like a Stradivarius violin,” Seitz said.
Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.
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Ohio
Ohio State Buckeyes’ Ryan Day Speaks Out About Chip Kelly’s Debut
![Ohio State Buckeyes’ Ryan Day Speaks Out About Chip Kelly’s Debut Ohio State Buckeyes’ Ryan Day Speaks Out About Chip Kelly’s Debut](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4800,h_2700,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/buckeyes_now/01j6ss2zd77yxy53myxb.jpg)
The Ohio State Buckeyes took care of business in their season opener against the Akron Zips. After a slow start to the game, the Buckeyes ended up dominating and winning by a final score of 52-6.
Fans kept a very close eye on the offensive side of the football. With so many new faces, as well as a new offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly, no one knew quite what to expect.
Thankfully, things looked very strong on the offensive side of the football.
Will Howard completed 17 of his 28 pass attempts for 228 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. TreVeyon Henderson racked up 65 yards on eight carries, while Quinshon Judkins had 55 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.
At the wide receiver position, star freshman wideout Jeremiah Smith lived up to the hype with six catches for 92 yards and two scores. Carnell Tate came through with a strong performance, racking up 58 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. Emeka Egbuka had four catches for 51 yards.
Everything looked exactly as it should have to begin the year.
Head coach Ryan Day spoke out about Kelly’s debut as the team’s offensive coordinator. He was pleased with what he saw.
“I thought Chip did a nice job, continually pushing the run. You could see that start to take its effect in the second half. I thought Chip called a good game. I really do. He knows what he wants to get done with this team. He wants to establish this run and that means maybe that’s not scoring 70 or whatever, but we need to establish the run late in the season.”
Clearly, there is still work to be done offensively. Ohio State will not be able to start that slow against the better teams they face.
However, it was Week 1 and a slow start is usually expected. A live game is much different than practice at the end of the day.
All of that being said, there are a lot of reasons for optimism. The offense looks to have huge potential and Kelly’s system came on strong later in the game. Day was pleased and Buckeyes fans should be as well.
Up next will be a matchup at home once again against Western Michigan. The Broncos are fresh off of giving the Wisconsin Badgers a run for their money and should give Ohio State more competition.
Ohio
Hellbenders are real, large and live in Ohio, and they showed up on a sold-out ODNR T-shirt
![Hellbenders are real, large and live in Ohio, and they showed up on a sold-out ODNR T-shirt Hellbenders are real, large and live in Ohio, and they showed up on a sold-out ODNR T-shirt](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/10/02/PSPR/02fb0872-78b9-4791-9d1c-1fcd5ba5e810-Hell5.jpg?auto=webp&crop=4255,2394,x0,y213&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Hellbender are big salamanders that are losing population and their habitat
Hellbenders are aquatic species and found in cool, highly oxygenated streams. They often use large flat rocks to nest and hide under.
Cecelia Hanley, Springfield News-Leader
Found lurking in Ohio’s rivers and streams, this salamander can grow to nearly two feet long. But despite its name and size, this endangered species is harmless.
Yes, hellbenders are real. And now the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has immortalized them on a T-shirt.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources uses hellbenders on 75th anniversary T-shirts in homage to Hell is Real sign
In an homage to the infamous Hell is Real sign on Interstate 71 between Cincinnati and Columbus, ODNR is using the slogan “Hellbenders are Real” (complete with an H that’s a different color from the rest of the letters, just like the sign) on one of its five 75th anniversary T-shirts. Other T-shirts read “Take a Hike,” “Let it Grow,” “Wild for Wildflowers” and “Ohio’s for the Birds.”
Sadly, the hellbenders T-shirt is currently out of stock. ODNR spokesperson Karina Cheung says they’ve sold out twice so far, first at the Ohio State Fair in late July and early August, and then shortly after they went live for online sales last week. However, ODNR has put in another order.
All about the hellbender salamander, an endangered species
The largest amphibian in Ohio, the eastern hellbender can grow to a length of 27 inches, according to ODNR, but they are usually 11.5 to 20 inches in length. They have functional lungs, along with a single gill slit on each side of the neck.
Found mostly in southern and eastern Ohio, hellbenders prefer large, swift streams where they hide under rocks during the day. They feed on crayfish, snails, minnows, insects and worms. Because hellbenders need clean, oxygen-rich water, they can be a good indicator of water quality and overall health of the stream, according to the Ohio State University Extension.
They breed in late August or September, according to ODNR. The female lays up to 500 eggs in a nest under a large rock dug by the male. Sometimes, several females use the same nest. That nest is then guarded by the male until the young hellbenders hatch in two to three months. They keep their gills until they’re about a year and a half old.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium helping to repopulate the hellbender
Sept. 20, 2023, was a red-letter day for Greg Lipps, amphibian and reptile conservation coordinator for The Ohio State University. That was the day he and his team discovered a hellbender raised at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and released in 2016, guarding a nest of eggs, Lipps wrote for the zoo.
“This was, of course, exactly what we had always hoped to see: an animal born and raised at a zoo, released back into the wild, going on to reproduce and help reverse the decline of this iconic species,” Lipps writes.
The hellbender in question, a male, was found two weeks earlier — on Sept. 6 — having taken up residence in a “hellbender hut,” an artificial concrete habitat in streams used by hellbenders to nest. The male was collected as an egg in 2013, raised at the zoo and released into the wild as a 3-year-old, Lipps wrote.
More on the hellbender: Zoos, other officials work to keep hellbender salamander happy and healthy in Ohio
“This is the first evidence of a released hellbender reproducing in the wild,” John Navarro, program administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Aquatic Stewardship program, told Farm and Dairy.
Hellbender eggs, collected each year, are sent to the Columbus and Toledo zoos as well as the animal husbandry program at the Penta Career Center in Perrysburg, Ohio, where they are raised until age three, Farm and Dairy reports.
More than 1,900 hellbenders raised at these facilities have been released into Ohio waterways in the past 10 years, Navarro said.
Ohio
Ohio trooper rescues injured kitten from busy highway, now awaiting adoption
![Ohio trooper rescues injured kitten from busy highway, now awaiting adoption Ohio trooper rescues injured kitten from busy highway, now awaiting adoption](https://images.foxtv.com/static.livenowfox.com/www.livenowfox.com/content/uploads/2024/09/1280/720/akitten.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Ohio state trooper rescues injured kitten from busy highway
A state trooper in Canton, Ohio, was able to safely remove an injured kitten lying on a busy highway on Wednesday. (Credit: @OSHP_NEOhio via Storyful)
CANTON, Ohio – Heartwarming video shows an Ohio state trooper stopping to safely remove an injured kitten that was found lying on a busy highway Wednesday.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol released footage that showed the officer leaving his vehicle on Interstate 77 in Canton to approach the black and white kitten.
The trooper then scoops up the kitten, using a jacket, and places the cat in the back of his vehicle.
The kitten was brought to the Stark County Humane Society where it’s waiting for a forever home, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
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