Ohio

Ohio AG to appeal ruling that struck down state’s six-week abortion ban

Published

10 months ago

November 27, 2024

Ohio AG to appeal ruling that struck down state’s six-week abortion ban

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, is appealing a county judge’s ruling temporarily striking down the state’s six-week abortion ban.

On Friday, Yost filed a notice of appeal with the court after Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins ruled Ohio’s so-called heartbeat law was unconstitutional under an amendment that enshrines reproductive rights, which Ohio voters passed last year.

Yost’s office said there are provisions in the 2019 heartbeat law that aren’t addressed in the constitutional amendment, known as Issue 1.

“It is up to the courts to determine how conflicts between those two documents are resolved,” said Yost spokesperson Bethany McCorkle.

The law bans most abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected, hence the heartbeat nickname. Cardiac activity can be detected as early as six weeks into pregnancy, which is before many women even know they’re pregnant, according to Planned Parenthood.

Republican Attorney General Dave Yost of Ohio speaks after winning the attorney general race on November 6, 2018, at the Ohio Republican Party’s election night party at the Sheraton Capitol Square in Columbus, Ohio. Yost…

Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images

What Did Judge Jenkins Say in His Ruling?

Judge Jenkins wrote in his ruling from October, “Despite the adoption of a broad and strongly worded constitutional amendment, in this case and others, the State of Ohio seeks not to uphold the constituional protection of abortion rights, but to diminish and limit it.”

He was referring to Issue 1 which gives every Ohioan “the right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.”

Jenkins said in October that when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022 and left abortion up to the states to decide, “Ohio’s Attorney General evidently didn’t get the memo.”

AG Yost Tries to Keep Part of Heartbeat Law

Yost acknowledged in court documents this spring that Issue 1 made Ohio’s abortion ban unconstitutional but tried to maintain other elements of the law, including certain notification and reporting aspects.

Those elements would have subjected physicians who perform abortions to felony criminal charges, fines, license suspensions or revocations and civil claims of wrongful death. They would have also required patients to make two in-person visits to their healthcare provider, wait 24 hours for an abortion and have that abortion recorded and reported.

Jenkins said in October Yost’s request to leave all but one provision of the law untouched even after the passage of an amendment protecting the right to abortion before the fetus is viable “dispels the myth” that the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling simply gives states power over the issue.

Years-Long Legal Battle

Jenkins’ October ruling was part of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the law firm WilmerHale on behalf of a group of Ohio abortion providers. It is the second round of litigation challenging the abortion ban.

An initial lawsuit was brought in federal court in 2019, where the ban was first blocked under Roe v. Wade. After the 1973 landmark decision was overturned, Ohio’s ban was briefly allowed to go into effect.

Enforcement of the ban was then again paused by the state court system with opponents arguing it violated protections in Ohio’s constitution guaranteeing individual liberty and equal protection. Challengers of the ban also claimed it was unconstitutionally vague.

Newsweek reached out to the ACLU of Ohio via email late Wednesday afternoon for comment on Yost’s recent filing.

When Jenkins handed down his decision, Jessie Hill, cooperating attorney for the ACLU of Ohio, called it “a momentous ruling, showing the power of Ohio’s new Reproductive Freedom Amendment in practice.”

“The six-week ban is blatantly unconstitutional and has no place in our law,” she said in October.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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Ohio

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

Published

1 day 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

3 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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