Ohio
Flat income tax, unclaimed funds for Browns stadium make final Ohio budget plan
Video: David Jenkins confident Browns to get $600 million for stadium
At a groundbreaking ceremony for an expanded Browns headquarters campus in Berea, Haslam Sports COO David Jenkins discussed funding for a new stadium.
Ohio Republicans will cut taxes for people who earn six figures and use Ohioans’ abandoned money to help pay for a new Cleveland Browns stadium.
The proposals are part of the GOP-controlled Legislature’s compromise budget plan. The House and Senate passed their own versions of the two-year spending bill, then spent days behind closed doors to hash out differences.
Both chambers are expected to vote on the budget June 25 and send it to Gov. Mike DeWine, who must sign it before July 1. DeWine can also veto individual items he doesn’t support.
Here’s what we know about the budget so far.
Ohio flat income tax
The final budget maintains an income tax cut for Ohioans who earn six figures and taxes everyone making over $26,051 at 2.75%. Currently, the state taxes income over $100,000 at 3.5% and income earned between $26,051 and $100,000 at 2.75%.
People who make less than $26,051 don’t pay income taxes.
“We found a way to give that important new tax relief to Ohioans while also doing a lot of the priorities that we had here in the House,” said Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, the chief budget negotiator for the House.
The flat tax is the culmination of years of work by Republicans to slash Ohio’s income tax. DeWine has expressed concern about further tax cuts but declined to say June 23 whether he would sign a flat tax into law.
Cleveland Browns stadium set to get $600M in Ohio unclaimed funds
Lawmakers opted for the Senate’s plan to help pay for a new Cleveland Browns stadium and entertainment district in Brook Park.
The budget would use $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds to fund sports and cultural projects, with $600 million reserved for the Browns. Unlike past uses of unclaimed funds, this would allow the state to assume ownership of abandoned paychecks and security deposits after 10 years.
Ohio is currently sitting on $4.8 billion in unclaimed property.
The Senate proposal was one of three dramatically different ideas for the Brook Park development. House Republicans proposed a $600 million bond − which would cost $1 billion with interest − and DeWine wanted to double the sports gaming tax to pay for the Browns’ stadium and other projects.
“Like a lot of things, I’m sure that will be tested in court if that’s what the Legislature ends up doing,” DeWine said of the Senate plan. “I’m sure it’ll be tested, but a lot of things get tested in court.”
This story will be updated.
State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@gannett.com or @haleybemiller on X.
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Ohio
Single-digit temps, below-zero wind chills hit central Ohio after snow
Snow hits downtown Columbus
Snow falls outside the Ohio Theatre as downtown Columbus turns into a winter wonderland.
Now comes the cold.
After nearly 5½ inches of snow fell Dec. 13 in some parts of central Ohio, the National Weather Service says bitterly cold temperatures moving into the region will mean highs in just the single digits.
A cold weather advisory is in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15. It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.
Temperatures to the west and south are even colder: 1 degree in Springfield, minus-1 in Dayton and minus-3 in Indianapolis. Those temperatures are not expected in the Columbus area, though. The forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures by evening and highs in the low 20s Dec. 15.
The record cold expected for Dec. 14 — until now, the coldest high temperature in Columbus for this date was 16 degrees in 1917 — follows a day of record snow. The weather service recorded 5.4 inches of snowfall on Dec. 13 at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, topping the prior Dec. 13 record, which was 3.6 inches in 1945.
Level 2 snow emergencies, which means roads are hazardous and people should drive only if they think it’s necessary, remained in effect in Fairfield and Licking counties.
Level 1 snow emergencies are in effect in Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Union and Pickaway counties.
Bob Vitale can be reached at rvitale@dispatch.com.
Ohio
Ohio State men’s basketball fights back in 89-88 double OT win over West Virginia
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio State’s game-winning play over West Virginia in the second overtime period Saturday night was simple: give the ball to Bruce Thornton and get out of his way.
The result was an 89-88 double overtime win in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.
It took so much to get to this moment.
The Buckeyes did all they could in regulation to overcome a 14-point deficit, while awaiting their top player in Thornton to come through.
His teammates did the dirty work to keep them in the game. From their defense creating transition points, matching the Mountaineers’ physical brand of ball.
Once extra time came after the first 40 minutes expired, Thornton took care of the rest in the two overtime periods.
He delivered bucket after another.
None more important than the final one.
A tightly covered Thornton took it down to the top of the key before finding a mismatch and looking to take it to the hole. A defender cut off his path, however, forcing Thornton to operate elsewhere in the paint.
Thornton used his pivot foot wisely before finding an opening for a fadeaway jumper and knocking it down.
Twelve of his 21 points came in the overtime periods.
Ohio State fought to the end and earned a win over a hard-nosed Big 12 opponent.
Center Christoph Tilly did his best to limit the Mountaineers’ big men, while adding 14 points and 11 boards of his own.
Freshman big man Amare Bynum was a pivotal spark off the bench with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Point guard John Mobley Jr. finished with 17 points and delivered the 3-point shot in the final seconds of the second half to give them their first lead since the 9:00 mark of the first half.
This story will be updated.
Ohio
Is Ohio State football playing today? What’s next for Buckeyes in playoff schedule | Sporting News
It’s a college football Saturday, but Dec. 13 is just a little bit different.
Ohio State and all its other College Football Playoff competitors will be on the couch.
The Army-Navy game highlights the day.
There’s also the first bowl game, the LA Bowl between Boise State and Washington.
And the FCS Playoffs roll on, as well.
Is Ohio State playing today?
No, Ohio State isn’t playing on Saturday, Dec. 13.
The CFP isn’t underway, and the Buckeyes have a bye in that even when it gets started.
When is Ohio State’s next game?
Ohio State won’t play again until Dec. 31.
That’ll be the Cotton Bowl.
They don’t know their opponent yet, either. It’ll depend on the CFP opening round matchup between Miami and Texas A&M.
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