Ohio

Is Ohio law banning gender-affirming care constitutional? Trial began Monday

Published

1 year ago

July 16, 2024

Is Ohio law banning gender-affirming care constitutional? Trial began Monday

Ohio’s transgender youth could get some clarity on their healthcare after this week.

The trial on the constitutionality of an Ohio law banning gender-affirming care began Monday. The trial is expected to last five days.

House Bill 68 was set to take effect in April after House and Senate Republicans voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto. The law would prevent doctors from prescribing hormones, puberty blockers or gender reassignment surgery before patients turn 18.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that puberty blockers for children who identify as transgender “generally leads to improved psychological functioning in adolescence and young adulthood,” but noted puberty blockers are not without risks.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed a lawsuit on behalf of two transgender girls and their families claiming the law violates the Ohio Constitution which gives residents the right to choose their health care.

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook temporarily blocked the law in April, agreeing with the plaintiffs that “puberty does not arrive by appointment.”

Lawyers outline disagreement over treatment for gender dysphoria

Freda Levenson, a lawyer with the ACLU of Ohio, said she plans to call five witnesses: two parents of two transgender children and three experts, including Dr. Jack Turban, a child psychiatrist who researches gender dysphoria and mental health among transgender youth.

“These witnesses will demonstrate that puberty blockers and former therapy are safe and effective medical treatment for gender dysphoria in adolescents,” Levenson said.

Amanda Narog with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office argued that what the judge will hear will be the same information the Ohio Legislature considered before passing the bill.

She said the state plans to call seven witnesses. including Dr. James Cantor, a neuroscientist who researches human sexuality and pedophilia, and a parent whose child originally said they were transgender before changing their mind and deciding not to transition.

Narog said the state’s witnesses will testify that gender dysphoria is a mental health diagnosis best addressed “by mental health interventions that pose no risk of physical harm to patients.”

Mother’s voice breaks as she recounts House Bill 68 discussion with her daughter

The first witness was Gina Goe who spoke about her 12-year-old transgender daughter Grace. Both Gina and Grace Goe are pseudonyms meant to protect Grace from harassment.

She said Grace’s sex assigned at birth was male but she behaved differently from her three brothers early on.

Goe said Grace expressed an interest in wearing dresses as a toddler and around kindergarten, she started to cry and ask God to make her a girl. The family’s pediatrician referred Grace to the THRIVE program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital which specializes in sexual and gender development.

Grace was diagnosed with gender dysphoria around the second half of her kindergarten year. Gender dysphoria refers to the distress a person feels when their gender identity does not match their assigned sex. Grace started using a female name around 2018, before starting first grade, Goe said.

Goe said Grace now lives as a girl and does not want people to know she’s transgender.

Goe’s voice broke when she described discussing HB 68 with her daughter

“I remember we were sitting on my bed together and I shared with her on an appropriate level what’s happening and she laid down and wept in my bed and I held her and since then, she has told me that she just carried this looming worry and anxiety and just this deep sadness surrounding it all,” Goe said.

Haley BeMiller contributed reporting.

Erin Glynn is a reporter for the UA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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Ohio

Ohio Department of Health finds ‘significant issues’ at Insight Trumbull

Published

3 days ago

September 24, 2025

Press Room

Ohio Department of Health finds ‘significant issues’ at Insight Trumbull

“The Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) inspection of Insight Hospital and Medical Center Trumbull on Tuesday found several significant issues that need to be addressed before the hospital can re-open, to ensure the health and safety of patients. Insight will need to contact ODH once these issues have been addressed. At that point, we will conduct another inspection to verify the standards have been met,” the statement reads.

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Ohio

More rain on the way in NE Ohio: See when you’ll need an umbrella

Published

4 days ago

September 23, 2025

Press Room

More rain on the way in NE Ohio: See when you’ll need an umbrella

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Northeast Ohio finally picked up some much-needed rain to start the week, and more is on the way.

After a soggy Monday and start to Tuesday, conditions will improve through the afternoon. Clouds will linger, but most spots should stay dry with just a slight chance of a stray shower.

This should come as welcome news for the Guardians, who open a three-games series Tuesday night against the Tigers with first place in the AL Central and a possible trip to the postseason at stake.

The lull in precipitation will be short-lived as a new storm system lifts across the Great Lakes Wednesday and brings another round of widespread rain. Showers will spread back into the region during the morning and become steady through the afternoon, with a few thunderstorms possible, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Cleveland.

Rainfall totals from this midweek system could reach three-quarters of an inch to more than an inch across parts of Northeast Ohio, according to early projections. Localized higher amounts are possible where thunderstorms develop.

There’s a marginal risk for severe weather in the southern half of Ohio on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Any thunderstorms that do develop in Northeast Ohio could still result in heavy rainfall in spots.Courtesy Storm Prediction Center

While they could bring higher rainfall totals, any storms that do develop aren’t expected to be severe, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The strongest risk for severe weather will stay well to the south.

Temperatures Wednesday will be limited to the low and mid 70s because of the cloud cover and rainfall. Lingering showers may hang on into Thursday, with highs again in the 70s.

By Friday and Friday night, high pressure will attempt to build in from the Upper Midwest. That should dry out most of Northeast Ohio, though an isolated shower can’t be ruled out.

Drier this weekend

Weather graphic showing five-day weather forecast for Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 23-27 — The five-day weather forecast for Cleveland, Ohio, covering Sept. 23 through Sept. 27, 2025.cleveland.com

Fortunately, the rain from the week won’t linger into the weekend for most of Northeast Ohio.

A cold front is expected to sweep across the state on Saturday, which could bring some showers to Lake and Ashtabula counties overnight.

By Sunday, the entire region is expected to be dry, though temperatures will turn a bit cooler. Highs on Saturday will reach the mid 70s to near 80 before highs fall back into the low to mid 70s on Sunday and Monday.

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Ohio State leads, Texas A&M surges in US LBM Coaches Poll ranking after Week 3

Published

2 weeks ago

September 14, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State leads, Texas A&M surges in US LBM Coaches Poll ranking after Week 3

Another week of wild finishes and a few surprises shuffled the US LBM Coaches Poll. But once again, the changes didn’t reach the top.

The teams ranked No. 1 through No. 7 hold their positions, though some had an easier time this week than others. Ohio State remains in the top spot, receiving 62 of 67 first-place votes this week. Penn State stays at No. 2 with three No.-1 nods. No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 LSU claim a first-place vote each. Oregon, Miami (Fla.) and Texas also hold steady.

Illinois climbs a notch to No. 8, a season-high ranking for the Fighting Illini on the eve of a key Big Ten clash with No. 17 Indiana. Florida State vaults three places to No. 9. Texas A&M makes the week’s biggest move, climbing seven positions to No. 10 on the heels of its last-minute victory at Notre Dame.

TOP 25: Complete US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 3

The Fighting Irish, meanwhile, tumble from No. 8 to No. 21 as last season’s playoff runners-up are still seeking their first win of the campaign.

It was a rough weekend for the Palmetto State, as both Clemson and South Carolina went down to defeat. The Gamecocks, at least, stay in the poll at No. 24 after losing at home to Vanderbilt. The Commodores, thanks to that victory, make their season poll debut at No. 23.

Clemson falls out of the rankings after being handed its second loss of the young season by Georgia Tech, which also moves into the poll at No. 19. Also joining the rankings are No. 22 Missouri, after lurking just outside the Top 25 last week, and No. 25 Auburn, which edges out Brigham Young by just two poll points. South Florida and Arizona State also drop out.

(This story was updated to change a video.)

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