Ohio
Money from fracking Ohio’s largest state park is funding a $9.6M makeover: Capitol Letter
Rotunda Rumblings
Sprucing up: The biggest state park in Ohio is getting a $9.6 million makeover, funded by leases for fracking underneath it. As Jake Zuckerman reports, the Ohio Controlling Board released the funds Monday for improvements at Salt Fork State Park, some of the first purchases from the new practice of allowing for oil and gas extraction in parks and wildlife areas.
College cash: Gov. Mike DeWine wants lawmakers to allocate $100 million to the state’s public colleges and universities based on graduates’ employment success. Laura Hancock reports that this amount is only about 5% of the state’s main funding stream to schools. Critics are concerned the proposal would be a beginning of undermining the liberal arts.
Dignity of Work: Former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Monday announced that he is launching a new non-partisan, non-profit organization to promote the “Dignity of Work” policies he pursued in Congress and touted on the campaign trail, Sabrina Eaton reports. Brown, who has not ruled out seeking public office again, says his new Columbus-based Dignity of Work Institute will be dedicated to the people who make the country work, to creating an economy and a society where Americans’ work is valued, and where everyone can afford a decent standard of living.
Details, please: State lawmakers, as promised, have drawn up a budget amendment spelling out how they would grant the Cleveland Browns’ request for $600 million in state-backed bonds to help build a new stadium in suburban Brook Park. Jeremy Pelzer has the details of the proposed amendment, which – among other things — would relax state limits on stadium funding to allow for the bonds but also require the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to conclude that new tax revenues from the stadium and surrounding area would exceed the cost of paying off the bonds.
Stand, by he: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has a book coming out. The 2026 Republican candidate for governor listed on Amazon (a $28 hardcover) his book, “Stand: An Ohio Life,” set to release May 6. In something of a troll, he quotes praise from his gubernatorial political rival, Vivek Ramaswamy on its cover: “Dave Yost fought against the woke and for the Constitution in court—and won.” A Ramaswamy spokesperson didn’t return an inquiry about the book blurb.
New phone who dis: Vice President JD Vance was part of a group chat of top presidential officials to discuss operational details of missile strikes in Yemen, including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others. But in an apparent accident, Waltz added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, who reported on the contents of the chat in detail, including an apparent philosophical split between Vance and the president.
Goodwill visit? On Thursday, Second Lady Usha Vance will travel to Greenland with her son and a United States delegation to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race, the office of Vice President JD Vance announced over the weekend. Greenland’s prime minister told local publications that the U.S. delegation visit is “highly aggressive,” plunging relations to a new low after President Donald Trump vowed to annex the autonomous Danish territory, CNN reports.
Art of the deal: The Vances sold their Washington, DC-area residence, pocketing a cool $172,025 over its asking price, property records obtained by The New York Post show. The deal for the Alexandria, Virginia, abode closed on March 14, with the final sale price clocking in at $1.86 million.
Playing catchup: We missed ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s comments on MSNBC host Jen Psaki’s podcast early this month about potentially running for Ohio governor or U.S. Senate next year. The 2022 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, who now lives in suburban Columbus and does work for natural gas and cryptocurrency groups, told Psaki he’s “entertaining everything now,” but he indicated that, between governor and Senate, he would prefer being governor so he wouldn’t have to spend so much time away from his family in Washington, D.C. On the other hand, Ryan said, he wouldn’t run for governor if Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel enters and wins the GOP gubernatorial primary race, saying the ex-football coach has been a “mentor” since he recruited Ryan to play quarterback at Youngtown State University.
Cleaning up the books: U.S. Sen. Jon Husted plans to introduce legislation this week called the “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Streamline the Code of Federal Regulations Act of 2025.” the Columbus-area Republican wrote in The Wall Street Journal. Citing Ohio efforts he oversaw in Ohio that used AI to spot “dead weight” in Ohio’s legislative code, Husted said his bill “would apply a similar approach federally—annually referring old, repetitive language to the agency that promulgated it so that people within the agency can decide what to cut and what to keep. This way, the federal code won’t shift with the political winds.”
What we’re watching this week
It’s still budget season, and the Ohio General Assembly is in session.
- The House and Senate are in for floor sessions this week
- A House committee scheduled a possible vote Wednesday on its version of an energy overhaul the Senate passed last week
- Two Republicans are introducing a bill Tuesday that would create a new criminal penalty for “harassing” a police officer
- The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission is set to announce any winning bids for fracking beneath Leesville Wildlife Area on Friday. (The ranking Senate Democrat, for her part, is set to introduce legislation to prohibit fracking on state lands)
- Other noteworthy bill hearings this week include: cryptocurrency and state pensions; a constitutional convention; intoxicating hemp; banning ranked choice voting; banning diversity, equity and inclusion in schools; banning local bans on AirBnBs; and the designation of Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Day
On the Move
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for Ohio governor in 2026, has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Westlake Republican.
Ramaswamy also unveiled endorsements Monday from 15 Republican Ohio state senators, including Senate President Rob McColley of Northwest Ohio, Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke of Tiffin, Majority Floor Leader Theresa Gavarone of Bowling Green, Majority Whip George Lang of Butler County. Others on the list include state Sens. Michele Reynolds of suburban Columbus, Steve Huffman of Miami County, Susan Manchester of Auglaize County, Terry Johnson of Scioto County, Shane Wilkin of Highland County, Jerry Cirino of Lake County, Andrew Brenner of Delaware County, Jane Timken of Canton, Brian Chavez of Marietta, Sandra O’Brien of Ashtabula County, and Hudson state Sen. Kristina Roegner, who is a 2026 candidate for state treasurer.
Birthdays
Andrew Geisler, assistant legal counsel, Ohio Auditor’s Office
Straight From The Source
“The truth of the matter is, literally, there’s maybe 3,000 people in this state that are paying any attention to the governor’s race right now.”
– Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who’s running for governor in 2026, speaking to conservative commentator Bob Frantz in a talk radio show Friday.
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Aaron Churchill is the Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank based in Columbus.
In November, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed math reforms that would help a generation of struggling students. House lawmakers should send that excellent package known as Senate Bill 19 to the governor’s desk post haste.
Math difficulties start early for many Ohio students. Last year, 45,000 third graders, or 36% statewide, fell short of proficiency on the state math exam. These youngsters had difficulty solving basic arithmetic and measurement problems. Without such skills, big trouble lies ahead for them.
Meanwhile, even larger percentages of high schoolers fare poorly in this subject. On last year’s algebra I state exam, 53,000 students – 41% of test takers – did not achieve proficiency, while a staggering 72,000 students (57%) fell short in geometry.
These failure rates are unacceptable. Students should not be left to struggle with the routine math needed to manage their personal finances, bake a cake or do a home repair. Nor should they lack the critical thinking, data interpretation and problem solving skills that are demanded by today’s employers and essential to career success.
Ohio must help more students gain fluency in math. Senate Bill 19 does this in the following ways.
First, it supports students with math deficiencies. The bill would require schools to provide math interventions to students scoring at the lowest achievement level (known as “limited”) on state tests. Importantly, schools must engage a child’s parents to create an individual improvement plan that outlines the interventions and how progress will be monitored.
Second, the bill promotes strong math curricula. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would be tasked with reviewing math materials and establishing a high-quality list. With dozens of programs and textbooks on the market – some far better than others – this vetting process would aid school districts in finding the best curriculum for their students.
Third, it asks colleges of education to better prepare elementary teachers. Research from the National Council on Teacher Quality shows that teacher training programs often lack serious math content, especially in the elementary grades, leaving teachers ill-prepared for effective instruction. To help address the problem, the bill mandates that prospective educators pass the math section of the state licensure test to teach the subject, something that is not presently required.
Fourth, it gives high-achieving math students a boost. Traditional course placement practices rely on teacher and parent referrals, which tend to overlook economically disadvantaged students who excel in math. Yet, as a recent Fordham Institute study found, access to advanced coursework is critical to high-achieving, low-income students’ college prospects. Through automatic enrollment provisions, Senate Bill 19 would ensure that all high achievers are placed in challenging math courses, including algebra I in eighth grade.
Some may view Senate Bill 19 as burdensome on schools. But the need for significant improvement in math is urgent and the reforms are commonsense. Students struggling in math ought to get help. Schools should use the best-available textbooks and materials. Teachers should know math before they teach it. Schools must push high achievers to reach their full potential.
Math and reading are the academic pillars that support students’ long-term success as well as the state’s economic growth. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Science of Reading initiative is off to a strong start and promises stronger literacy statewide. It’s now time for policymakers to roll up their sleeves and help students get better at math. Their futures – and the state’s – are at stake.
Aaron Churchill is the Ohio research director for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education policy think tank based in Columbus.
Amanda-Clearcreek honors Ohio Air National Guard member Capt. Seth Koval
Amanda-Clearcreek honors Ohio Air National Guard member Capt. Seth Koval
The remains of three Ohio airmen who were killed in the crash of their KC-135 refueling plane in Iraq earlier this month will be returned this weekend, according to a family member of one of the deceased.
The airmen, identified as Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, and Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Stoutsville, will be brought back March 29 to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Columbus, said Charles Simmons, Tyler’s father.
“Tyler will have a hero’s welcome, because he is a hero,” said Charles.
The Columbus Division of Police will be involved in the funeral procession when the airmen’s remains are transferred from the airport to funeral homes, said Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua. That will take place between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 29, said Fuqua.
The airmen’s remains first arrived back in the U.S. on March 18 with a dignified transfer taking place at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Curtis, Angst, and Simmons were members of the 166th Air Refueling Squadron connected to the 121st Air Refueling Wing based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
The airmen, as well as three other servicemembers, died on March 12 when their KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq during a mission in support of Operation Epic Fury in Iran. The cause of the crash, which occurred in friendly airspace, has not been publicly identified. U.S. Central Command has said the incident did not involve hostile or friendly fire, and military experts have theorized the crash may have been the result of a collision with a second KC-135 that sustained heavy damage to its tail fin but landed safely at an airport in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
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