Ohio

Ohio bill would cut funding to school districts suing over vouchers: Capitol Letter

Published

3 weeks ago

February 4, 2026

Ohio bill would cut funding to school districts suing over vouchers: Capitol Letter

Rotunda Rumblings

Not vouching for that: A new Ohio House bill would withhold all state funding to local school districts suing over the state’s education funding formula, including the 100-plus districts suing the state over private school vouchers, Laura Hancock reports. Last year, the average amount of a school district’s funding that came from the state was 37%. The school districts mostly won their case against vouchers, but it’s now in a state appellate court.

Power check: A federal judge blocked the end of protections for Haitians, citing sharp concerns about how the government made its decision. While much of the attention focused on conditions in Haiti, the case may hinge on whether federal agencies must explain their actions. Anna Staver reports the outcome could shape how much power courts have to review major government decisions.

Harsh words: The judge’s decision Monday that blocked the Trump administration from ending protections for Haitians in the U.S. was a sharply worded departure from the long history federal judges have of using even tones to explain the opinions. Here’s some of her more pointed remarks.

Who’s call? A new Ohio House bill would reverse a recent Ohio High School Athletic Association policy that allows middle and high school athletes to enter into sponsorships and other agreements to make money off their name, image and likeness. The OHSAA had long banned NIL agreements for middle and high school students. But the organization passed a policy permitting them in November, when it lost a round in court a month before, Hancock reports. The bill sponsors say allowing corporations into interscholastic athletics ruins the benefits of sports, and that young preteens, especially, cannot handle a contract with a business. It’s the third time in recent years that the legislature has sounded off on OHSAA policies and protocols.

Green light: Attorney General Dave Yost on Tuesday certified a referendum petition seeking to block portions of Ohio’s marijuana and hemp regulations from taking effect, Mary Frances McGowan reports. The certification allows Ohioans for Cannabis Choice to begin gathering the nearly 250,000 signatures necessary to place the measure on the November ballot. The proposed referendum seeks to repeal much of Senate Bill 56, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed in December. The petition would repeal provisions related to the regulation, criminalization, and taxation of cannabis products.

No exceptions: New bipartisan legislation pending in the Ohio Senate would prohibit anyone under age 18 from marrying in Ohio, eliminating current exceptions that allow 17-year-olds to wed, McGowan reports. Ohio law allows 17-year-olds to marry with juvenile court consent if they prove to a judge that they have received marriage counseling, underwent a 14-day waiting period and that the age difference is no more than four years. Senate Bill 341, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Bill DeMora and Republican Sen. Louis Blessing, would make the state’s minimum marriage age 18 an absolute requirement with no exceptions.

Opening salvos: Two former FirstEnergy executives’ obsession with hiking stock prices and fattening their wallets led them to bribe a top state regulator who was supposed to protect customers, prosecutors said Tuesday during opening statements in a key bribery trial, Adam Ferrise reports.

Flattery drive: U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno joined President Donald Trump and industry leaders in the Oval Office on Monday for an event to announce development of a strategic critical minerals reserve, where the Westlake Republican effusively praised Trump and tied the initiative to the auto industry where he made his fortune, Sabrina Eaton writes. “You know not to be hyperbolic, but if you hadn’t been elected the auto industry in America would be over,” said Moreno. “The country would be over,” Trump added.

Money talks: Republican Vivek Ramaswamy far outpaced Democrat Amy Acton in fundraising last year, raising an eye-watering $19.5 million to Acton’s $4.4 million. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, both are records: Ramaswamy for any Ohio governor candidate the year before the election, and Acton for any Democratic gubernatorial hopeful during that time. Ramaswamy’s campaign filings show he spent $513,000 in 2025 on the Columbus-area billionaire’s private jet, plus another $312,000 on charter flights. Ex-Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper and his family, meanwhile, gave $32,500 to Acton’s campaign after she picked him as her running mate.

Censorship in Europe: The House Judiciary Committee chaired by Ohio’s Jim Jordan on Tuesday released a 160-page interim report that accuses European Union regulators of conducting a decade-long campaign to censor political speech worldwide, including content posted by Americans in the United States, Eaton writes. “For more than a year, the Committee has been warning that European censorship laws threaten U.S. free speech online,” said a social media statement from the Champaign County Republican. “Now, we have proof: Big Tech is censoring Americans’ speech in the U.S., including true information, to comply with Europe’s far-reaching Digital Services Act.”

Show of support: Ohio lawmakers heard sobering testimony on Tuesday from advocates backing House Bill 524, which is aimed at protecting vulnerable Ohioans from artificial intelligence chatbots that encourage self-harm or harm to others, McGowan writes. Tony Coder, CEO of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, told the Ohio House Innovation and Technology Committee that he has heard from at least four Ohio parents who lost children to suicide whose children had their suicide letters written by artificial intelligence.

Lobbying Lineup

Five organizations that were registered to lobby on House Bill 561 through December, which would require public and most private school to notify parents of the exemptions in the law to vaccination requirements. The bill has its first hearing scheduled for Wednesday morning in the Ohio House Health Committee.

Akron Children’s Hospital
Ohio Department of Children and Youth
American Academy of Pediatrics, Ohio Chapter
Pfizer Inc.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)

On The Move

Orlando Sonza, a Cincinnati Republican who ran against U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman in 2026, is one of the attorneys prosecuting independent journalist Don Lemon for entering a church in Minnesota.

The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association has named Kate Huffman as its vice president. She has over a decade of experience in legislative and executive lobbying. She previously worked for the Ohio Hospital Association and the office of the Ohio Speaker of the House.

Birthdays

State Sen. Michele Reynolds William Wohrle, legislative aide to state Rep. DJ Swearingen

Straight from the Source

“The past (few) Sundays I have been preaching on Genesis Chapter 1 where God is able to bring structure to the chaos and I encouraged my congregants to keep heart and keep praying because the same God who says that let there be light and there was light, it’s the same God today … and he speaks especially when there is this type of trouble.”

 Vilès Dorsainvil, local pastor and Haitian leader said the federal judge’s ruling blocking the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from ending Temporary Protected Status for Haitians said the decision “will lower the pressure quite a bit and ease the fear that has been in the community.”

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. 

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Ohio

Ohio State stud Carnell Tate might be the ideal ‘game-changer’ that Giants need

Published

3 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State stud Carnell Tate might be the ideal ‘game-changer’ that Giants need

INDIANAPOLIS — There are so many questions an NFL team can pose to a top prospect and so many of them have to do with how he will handle the step up to the next level.

And how will he deal with waiting his turn?

These questions do not really apply to Carnell Tate.

Not after the gauntlet he had to pass through in college, trying to find his way and making incremental rises on a depth chart overflowing with talent at his position.

“The competition there, we’re all pushing to be the best receiver on the field that day and that practice,’’ Tate said Friday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine, “and typically, when you’re the best receiver at Ohio State, you’re the best receiver in the country.’’

True, that.

Tate figures to be in play for the Giants with the No. 5 pick in the NFL Draft.

He is widely considered the top receiver in this class — there are certainly Jordyn Tyson supporters out there — and where the Giants prioritize aiding their offense with bolstering their defense will go a long way in determining if they select a wide receiver with their top pick for the second time in three years.

Where they are situated, one or both Ohio State studs, safety Caleb Downs or linebacker Sonny Styles, should be on the board — another Ohio State defender, edge rusher Arvell Reese, could go to the Jets at No. 2.

The Giants unquestionably need another prime target for Jaxson Dart but, when healthy, they already have a No. 1 receiver in Malik Nabers, who was the No. 6 overall pick in 2024.

Investing so much draft equity in another one might not be the most balanced way to build the team in John Harbaugh’s first year as the head coach.

Or, it might be just the ticket to launch the offense.

“You’re always going to want to add more explosiveness to your offense, guys that score touchdowns, wherever that comes from: running back, receiver, tight ends, whatever it may be,’’ general manager Joe Schoen said. “That will be something we’ll look for.’’

There should not be much, or any, concern that Tate will not be a supportive and obliging running mate for Nabers, who made it into only four games last season before a devastating knee injury — he tore his right ACL and meniscus — left Dart without his only lethal weapon.

Tate is not one of those youngsters accustomed to being the top guy during his college experience.

Tate arrived as a five-star recruit in 2023 but how the heck was he supposed to break into the starting lineup with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka — both future first round picks — ahead of him?

In 2024, Tate was overshadowed by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith.

Tate had to wait for his opportunities and while he did, he concentrated on becoming a better all-around player, developing his ability as a blocker on the perimeter.

In three seasons, Tate totaled 121 receptions for 1,872 yards.

He notched nine of his 14 touchdowns during the 2025 season.

Tate is often likened to Chris Olave, another former Buckeyes wideout.

Olave was a 2022 first-round pick of the Saints and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in three of his four NFL seasons.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) and Garrett Wilson (Jets) are also former Ohio State receivers tearing it up in the NFL.

“It means a lot to me and it’s also a lot on your shoulders,’’ Tate said of the legacy. “Now you got to be the next one to come out there and put on for the school and carry the Receiver U.’’

Tate lining up on one side and Nabers — who is expected to be fully recovered in the spring or by training camp — lining up on the other side would be quite a combination for Dart.

“It would be great,’’ said Tate, who this week had a formal meeting with the Giants. “It would be a great opportunity, especially playing in New York. Big showcase. I’d love to go out there and play in New York.’’

Wan’Dale Robinson, mostly a slot receiver, is an impending free agent.

If he does not return, it would drain the passing game of the 92 receptions for 1,014 yards he contributed in 2025.

Veteran Darius Slayton is coming off a poor seventh year with the Giants.

At 6-foot-3, Tate has ideal height and he is lean at 195 pounds.

He will run the 40-yard dash in Indy but otherwise wait for his Pro Day to work out for NFL executives, coaches and scouts.

Without sounding boastful, Tate does not lack confidence.

“I think my game brings it all to the table,’’ he said. “I got the contested catch, I got the route-running and I also bring it in the run game, a lot of receivers don’t do that. I’m able to impact the game with or without the ball in my hands.

“If you want a game-changer, you got one right here.’’

The best wide receiver in this draft class?

“Me, no question,’’ Tate said.

“Whatever you need to do, I got it.’’

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Ohio

Ohio woman sentenced in $775,000 Medicaid scheme

Published

15 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

COLUMBUS — A Lake County woman was sentenced this morning to jail time and ordered to pay $775,000 in restitution for fraudulently billing Medicaid, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced. “She inflated her earnings through brazen fraud, but her scheme burst wide open when our investigators got the case,” Yost said. “Cheating taxpayers comes with […]

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Ohio

‘Catastrophic’ Ohio farm fire kills 6,000 hogs and pigs, officials say

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

‘Catastrophic’ Ohio farm fire kills 6,000 hogs and pigs, officials say

A wind-swept blaze at an Ohio hog farm complex caused “catastrophic” damage and left thousands of pigs dead, fire officials said, marking another devastating barn inferno contributing to the deaths of millions of animals in recent years.

The massive fire occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Fine Oak Farms in Union Township, Madison County, located west of Ohio’s capital of Columbus, according to the Central Townships Joint Fire District. Fire crews received a report of a barn fire shortly before 12 p.m. local time.

The incident was later upgraded to a commercial structure fire after Chief Brian Bennington observed a “large column of smoke visible from a distance” and requested additional resources. Multiple local fire departments, along with several other emergency agencies, were called to the scene.

“What our crews encountered upon arrival was a very difficult and heartbreaking incident,” Bennington said in a statement on Feb. 26.

The fire chief described the facility as a large farm complex used for hog production consisting of five large agricultural buildings, including four that housed about 7,500 hogs. When crews arrived at the scene, they found two of the barns engulfed in flames, Bennington said.

Crews were challenged by windy conditions that significantly impacted fire suppression efforts, according to Bennington. Three barns were destroyed in the fire, and about 6,000 hogs and pigs were killed.

Firefighters saved one barn and about 1,500 hogs, the fire chief added. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Bennington highlighted the assistance of the farming community throughout Madison and Clark counties, as multiple farmers responded with water trucks to help with water supply efforts. “Rural Ohio’s agricultural community is tight-knit, and they truly step up when one of their own is in need,” he said.

The incident remains under investigation, and the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office will determine the fire’s cause and origin. Bennington said there is no suspicion of arson and no ongoing threat to the public at this time.

‘Rapidly changing fire behavior conditions’

Heavy smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, and Bennington said first-arriving units were met with fire conditions coming from the opposite side of the hog farm complex.

The fire chief noted that the incident required extensive water-shuttle operations due to rural water-supply limitations in the area. Crews attempted to cut the fire off by deploying multiple handlines and using an aerial device, but “faced extremely challenging conditions throughout the incident,” according to Bennington.

Sustained winds of about 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph accelerated the fire’s spread, Bennington said. The high winds made it “extremely difficult” to contain forward fire progression and created “rapidly changing fire behavior conditions” across the agricultural complex, he added.

After about four to five hours, the fire was contained by fire personnel from four different counties, according to the fire chief.

“Unfortunately, the fire resulted in catastrophic damage to the business,” Bennington said in an earlier statement on Feb. 25. “A significant portion of the agricultural structures were destroyed.”

Latest major fire to impact an Ohio hog farm

The incident at Fine Oak Farms is the latest major fire to cause significant damage to an Ohio hog farm in recent years.

In August 2024, about 1,100 pigs were killed in Versailles, a village about 50 miles northwest of Dayton, Ohio, according to data from the nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute. In March 2022, about 2,000 hogs died in a barn fire at Kenneth Scholl Hog Farm in Brown Township, just west of Columbus.

Before the fire at Fine Oak Farms, the Animal Welfare Institute reported that other barn fires in Ohio this year killed 162 sheep, horses, cows, chickens, and other animals.

Hundreds of thousands of animals killed in barn fires each year

Data from the Animal Welfare Institute shows that hundreds of thousands of animals are killed in barn fires across the country each year. Since 2013, over 9 million farm animals have been killed in barn fires, according to the organization.

As of Feb. 26, the Animal Welfare Institute reported that 118,738 farm animals have died in U.S. barn fires this year, including the incident at Fine Oak Farms. The majority of farm animals killed were chickens in separate incidents in North Carolina and Georgia in January, and another incident in Missouri earlier this month.

“Most fatal barn fires occurred in colder states, particularly the Upper Midwest and the Northeast. New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois had the highest number of barn fires, respectively,” according to the organization. “The amount of cold weather a state experienced appeared to be a greater factor in the prevalence of barn fires than the intensity of a state’s animal agriculture production.”

In an updated report on farm animal deaths due to barn fires in 2025, the Animal Welfare Institute said more than 2.53 million farm animals were killed in barn fires from 2022 to 2024. The organization noted that the high death toll was “driven primarily” by fires at large operations that housed several thousand to over 1 million farm animals.

The majority of deaths in these incidents during that period, over 98%, were farmed birds, such as chickens and turkeys, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. But in 2023, a massive fire at a west Texas dairy farm became the single deadliest event involving livestock in the state’s history and the deadliest cattle fire in America in at least a decade.

18,000 head of cattle perished in the fire at the South Fork Dairy farm near Dimmitt, Texas. At the time, Roger Malone, who is the former mayor of Dimmitt, called the incident “mind-boggling.”

“I don’t think it’s ever happened before around here. It’s a real tragedy,” Malone said.

Contributing: Rick Jervis, USA TODAY; Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch

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