Ohio

Findlay state representative helps lead new Ohio DOGE Caucus

Published

10 months ago

March 13, 2025

Findlay state representative helps lead new Ohio DOGE Caucus

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A freshman state representative from Findlay is helping to lead a newly-formed group of lawmakers focused on government efficiency.

The Ohio House DOGE Caucus was inspired by efforts at the federal government led by Elon Musk at the Department of Government Efficiency.

One of the group’s vice chairs is Rep. Ty Mathews (R-Findlay). He said its 25 Republican members are looking at ways to make state government work better for Ohioans.

“We are looking at redundancies in government that make it difficult for people to interact with it,” Mathews said. “My hope for the caucus is that we’re making government better for the people, less redundant and more efficient.”

Lawmakers are working through the process of crafting and adopting a new state budget for the next two y ears. Mathews said the caucus is looking at budget line items and seeing if there are requests that can be scaled back or programs that can be condensed.

Mathews, who represents Hancock, Hardin and portions of Logan counties, said he’s a fan of the work Musk is doing at the federal level, but says Ohio’s caucus is different.

It’s not a government entity and the group doesn’t have the power to outright slash funding. But its members hope to advocate for government efficiency and introduce legislation that would streamline programs or agencies.

Other caucuses exist within the legislature or within political parties to exchange ideas or create strategies to accomplish their goals. That’s the initial aim of the House DOGE Caucus, Mathews said.

“I hope to create legislation that would create a committee, maybe with the state auditor, that would look at potential redundancies and agencies to give it a little more teeth,” Mathews said. “The purpose of the caucus right now is to develop ideas. Then we’ll go through the legislative process to see if that is the will of Ohio.”

Mathews said his fellow vice chair is Rep. Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville). The chair of the caucus is Rep. Tex Fischer (R-Boardman). Mathews encouraged Ohioans to contact members of the caucus with suggestions for how government could be streamlined or made more efficient.

“If you have those ideas, please reach out,” Mathews said.

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Growing mystery as police search for Ohio couple’s killer

Published

41 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

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Growing mystery as police search for Ohio couple’s killer

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Ohio State has added a tight end as its first 2026 transfer portal addition

Published

13 hours ago

January 4, 2026

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Ohio State has added a tight end as its first 2026 transfer portal addition

COLUMBUS, Ohio –Ohio State had added the first player to its 2026 transfer portal class.

Mason Williams is a former member of the 2023 recruiting class who spent his first three seasons as an Ohio Bobcat. After redshirting his freshman season, he’s spent the last two as a vital member of the Bobcats’ offense as both a blocker and a receiver.

In 1,133 snaps, Williams caught 48 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns. As a blocker, he can be a reliable end-line tight end who can replace the loss of Will Kacmarek, who is out of eligibility. Kacmarek also came from Ohio in 2024 and spent the last two years as a major contributor, developing into one of the nation’s best blocking tight ends.

Williams will have two years of eligibility remaining in Columbus. His addition helps offset the loss of Kacmarek to graduation and Jelani Thurman to the transfer portal. He’ll join a room expected to feature Bennett Christian, Nate Roberts, Brody Lemon and Maxence LeBlanc. Nick Lautar will also join the room as an incoming freshman.

OSU is also waiting for the decision of Purdue transfer Max Klare, who has the option of declaring for the NFL Draft or returning in 2026.

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Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville

Published

1 day ago

January 4, 2026

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Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville football program, presumably, has their QB1 for the 2026 season.

Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz announced Saturday that he has committed to the Cardinals. He will join Louisville will two years of eligilbility.

Keinholz is Louisville’s second portal commitment of the cycle, joining Kentucky cornerback D.J. Waller. The duo are the first to offset 21 portal defections that UofL has seen so far. The 14-day transfer window officially opened up this past Friday, and is the only opportunity for players to enter following the removal of the spring window.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback was involved in a highly competitive battle for the Buckeyes’ starting gig in the preseason, before ultimately losing out to eventual Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin. He saw action in seven games this past season, going 11-of-14 through the air for 139 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 66 yards and two scores on 11 attempts.

“Just a tremendous athlete,” OSU head coach Ryan Day said of Kienholz at Big Ten Media Days this past summer. “You pick a sport, he can do it. He’s like a four handicap [in golf]. He can hit the [baseball] out of the park. He was a major league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a lot of things.”

The Pierre, S.D. native spent three seasons in Columbus. As a true freshman in 2023, he played in three games, going 10-of-22 for 111 yards, while also rushing for two yards on six attempts. He did not log any stats during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season.

Kienholz was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school, ranking as No. 194 prospect in the Class of 2023. He chose Ohio State over Illinois, Kansas State, Pitt, Washington, Wisconsin and others.

He has the inside track to be Louisville’s starter next season given recent roster movement. Previously, incoming true freshman Briggs Cherry was the lone scholarship quarterback on the roster after Deuce Adams, Brady Allen and Mason Mims all hit the transfer portal.

In their third season under head coach Jeff Brohm, Louisville went 9-4 overall, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play and a 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Cardinals have won at least nine games in all three seasons under Brohm, doing so for the first time since 2012-14.