Ohio

Judge blocks Ohio ban on foreign nationals, green card holders contributing to ballot campaigns

Published

2 hours ago

September 1, 2024

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Judge blocks Ohio ban on foreign nationals, green card holders contributing to ballot campaigns

A judge ruled Saturday that the Ohio law, which was set to take effect Sunday, violated the First Amendment rights of non-U.S. citizens living here legally

A federal judge blocked Ohio’s ban on foreign nationals and green card holders contributing to ballot campaigns.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson ruled Saturday that the Ohio law, which was set to take effect Sunday, violated the First Amendment rights of non-U.S. citizens living here legally, often known as green card holders.

Watson concluded that Ohio lawmakers have a legitimate interest in protecting ballot issues from foreign influence, but this law missed the mark.

For example, the law doesn’t limit foreign companies from contributing to ballot measures. Instead, it likely violates the rights of lawful permanent residents, who live in the United States indefinitely and can serve in the military.

“If the U.S. Federal Government trusts LPRs [lawful permanent residents] to put U.S. interests first in the military (of all places), how could this Court hold that it does not trust them to promote U.S. interests in their political spending? It cannot,” wrote Watson, who was appointed to the court by former President George W. Bush.

Ohio lawmakers added a ban on foreign contributions to ballot campaigns to a bill changing the deadline for presidential nominees to make the Ohio ballot. Democrats scheduled their national convention this year after Ohio’s initial deadline, necessitating the change.

There already was a ban in Ohio on candidate donations.

The penalty for these contributions is a fine of at least $10,000 or three times the amount contributed and a first-degree misdemeanor for the first offense or a fifth-degree felony for repeat offenses. The Ohio attorney general is tasked with investigating and prosecuting these crimes.

When the bill was moving through the Legislature, Republican lawmakers like Rep. Bill Seitz, of Green Township, and Sen. Niraj Antani, of Miamisburg, warned that a judge could decide that they had overstepped.

“Green card holders absolutely have the right to freedom of speech,” Antani said before the vote. “And absolutely, donating to campaigns and candidates is free speech. This is going to get mucked up in the courts.”

Antani’s words proved prescient on Saturday.

Watson wrote: “Not only does the First Amendment protect lawful resident foreign nationals as speakers, but it also protects U.S. citizens’ right to hear those foreign nationals’ political speech.”

The lawsuit challenging Ohio’s ban on foreign spending was filed by OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, a German citizen and her husband who live in northeast Ohio and a Canadian citizen who lives in Silver Lake by the Elias Law Group and Cooper Elliott.

Read the decision:

Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA 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

Photos from Ohio State's 52-6 Victory over Akron

Published

13 hours ago

September 1, 2024

Press Room

Photos from Ohio State's 52-6 Victory over Akron

It wasn’t always pretty, but Ohio State eventually cruised to a 52-6 season-opening win against Akron on Saturday.

Freshman Jeremiah Smith dazzled in his Ohio State debut, catching six passes for 92 yards with two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Will Howard completed 17 of 28 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns in his first start as a Buckeye.

The defense created all kinds of havoc, scoring two defensive touchdowns and recording five sacks and two interceptions.

Eleven Warriors was on hand to capture the action and you can view more than 130 photos in our photo gallery at the top of the page.

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Ohio State Buckeyes Paying Akron This Massive Amount For Season Opener

Published

22 hours ago

August 31, 2024

Press Room

Ohio State Buckeyes Paying Akron This Massive Amount For Season Opener

The Ohio State Buckeyes are hosting the Akron Zips in their season opener on Saturday, and they paid Akron a handsome sum in order to make it happen.

According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, Ohio State has given Akron $1.8 million to visit Columbus in Week 1 of the 2024 college football campaign.

That is tied for the third-highest amount that a school is paying a visiting team this year. The Buckeyes are also handing Western Michigan $1.8 million to make the trip to Ohio Stadium next weekend.

The matchup against Akron will (hopefully) just be a tune up for an Ohio State squad that is aiming to win its first national championship in a decade.

The Buckeyes are entering the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the country behind the Georgia Bulldogs and are viewed by many as the most talented club in the nation.

Ohio State is looking to erase the memory of what have been several disappointing seasons in a row. Last year, the Buckeyes made it to the Cotton Bowl, where they lost to the Missouri Tigers. They also fell to the archrival Michigan Wolverines for the third straight year.

Along with winning a national title, beating Michigan is the No. 1 goal for Ohio State every season, so the fact that the Buckeyes have come up short in that department for three consecutive campaigns is certainly weighing heavily on the minds of the Columbus faithful.

We’ll see if Ohio State can start with a bang in 2024 by hammering Akron.

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#2 Ohio State vs. Akron FREE STREAM: How to watch today

Published

1 day ago

August 31, 2024

Press Room

#2 Ohio State vs. Akron FREE STREAM: How to watch today

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2 Ohio State opens up their college football season with a matchup against the Akron Zips today – Saturday, Aug. 31 – at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. This game is available on multiple streaming services for free.

This game will broadcast live on CBS at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Fans without cable can catch the game at no cost via FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer free trials. Another option is SlingTV, which has promotional offers for new customers.

Want to see the Buckeyes live? Buy tickets for this game or every Ohio State football game this season.

This game will also stream on Paramount Plus, which offers a free trial. If you want to stick with it, the service offers the essential package for $5.99 a month and the premium package for $11.99 a month.

The Buckeyes are coming off a familiar scene of a powerful campaign that fell short of stratospheric expectations. Eleven wins is not good enough in scarlet and gray country. Ohio State suffered a third straight loss to Michigan and looked hamstrung against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

They turn the page once again after an offseason unlike any other with massive changes, a roster overhaul and monstrous additions in the Big Ten.

The most intriguing piece is the addition of newly-minted starter Will Howard. The former Kansas State Wildcat is coming off a career-year and ready to etch his name in OSU quarterback lore. That journey begins today.

After the shocking decision by running backs coach Tony Alford to leave OSU for rival Michigan, the running back room was also bolstered after former back Dallan Hayden left for Colorado. Already with bruiser TreVeyon Henderson in tow, Ryan Day grabbed former Ole Miss stud Quinshon Judkins, giving OSU arguably the best 1-2 backfield punch in college football.

In 2023, Judkins compiled 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns while Henderson hammered out 926 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The receivers are reloaded with sensational freshman Jeremiah Smith expected to grab the nation’s attention early. Emeka Egbuka also figures to turn some heads. Keep an eye on Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss, who will get plenty of run in a game like this.

It will be the first look at offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s offense. Will it be pass heavy, run heavy, or the perfect blend of firepower?

With nine returning starters from a group that was second in points allowed (11.23) and third in yards allowed per game, the defense looks nastier than ever in Jim Knowles’ third year. The group is spearheaded by the menacing line presence of J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Don’t forget about former Alabama All-American safety transfer Caleb Downs. The group is simply saturated with talent at every angle.

The Buckeyes have won 24 consecutive season-openers. It’s only the 10th time the teams have played each other. The Zips do have one win over Ohio State to their credit. You’ll have to trek back to 1894.

Watch Ohio State vs. Akron on FuboTV for free

The Zips are coming off a disastrous 2-10 showing from last year. The defense allowed 28 points per game and were 123rd in turnovers forced (11).

Akron lost their top rusher and top two wide receivers. Quarterback Ben Finley, A Cal transfer, has Zips fans expecting brighter days ahead, though they might not be this week.

Running back Charles Kellom and receiver Adrian Norton are the biggest threats on offense while Antavious Fish and Bryan McCoy headline the defense. The duo combined for 189 tackles last season. CJ Nunnally IV is also back after racking up seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2023.

Watch Ohio State vs. Akron for free on DirecTV Stream

Who is announcing Ohio State vs. Akron?

Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Gary Danielson (analyst) will be the announcers while Jenny Dell reports from the sidelines.

What is Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus is a subscription video on-demand streaming service. It includes programs from CBS, BET an, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV and others. You can watch Buckeyes games on CBS for free on Paramount Plus, which offers a free trial for first-time subscribers. After the free trial is up, the streaming service offers the essential package for $5.99 a month and the premium package for $11.99 a month.