Ohio
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.”
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio health leaders are urging people to take extra precautions when handling produce as cases of a parasitic illness causing “explosive diarrhea” are rising in the state.
There are nearly 200 cases of cyclosporiasis in Ohio, with more than 20 in Franklin County. The state sits only behind Michigan, where cases have topped a thousand.
Franklin County Medical Director Miller Sullivan said cases typically rise each summer because the parasite thrives in heat.
“If the water becomes contaminated with this organism, that’s how it gets into the food supply,” Sullivan said.
Officials have not identified the exact source of this outbreak, which is hitting states nationwide, but said the parasite is most commonly found in produce. They said simple steps when handling food can help prevent getting sick.
To help prevent the illness, Ohio Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables under running water and wash your hands with soap before and after preparing food.
“Prepare your food properly,” Vanderhoff said. “If you do that, you’re going to dramatically reduce the likelihood that you might acquire this infection.”
Health officials don’t think it’s necessary to avoid fresh produce.
“Go ahead and buy them,” Sullivan said. “Especially if you buy them from a store or a local farmer’s market. It should be fine, but wash them well.”
The disease is typically not life-threatening but can cause watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea. If left untreated, symptoms could return multiple times.
“You may begin to feel better, but then start getting sick again,” Vanderhoff said. “That’s really characteristic of this particular infection.”
Experts said to see a doctor as soon as you think you may be experiencing symptoms. It can be treated with antibiotics, which helps shorten the length of the illness, but added that prevention is the best way to stay healthy.
Where do bed bugs come from? How they get could get into your home
Does the thought of bed bugs keep you up at night? Here’s what to know.
Columbus remains one of the nation’s top cities for bed bug treatments, according to Orkin’s latest annual rankings, while Ohio continues to dominate the list more than any other state.
Orkin ranked Columbus eighth on its 2026 list of U.S. cities with the most bed bug treatments, the same position the city held last year. Cleveland ranked even higher at No. 4. Cincinnati came in at No. 15.
Overall, six Ohio cities made the Top 50, more than any other state: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Dayton and Toledo. The rankings are based on residential and commercial bed bug treatments Orkin performed between May 2025 and May 2026.
Chicago claimed the top spot for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Los Angeles, Detroit, Cleveland and Indianapolis.
Ohio continues to rank high for bed bugs
Ohio’s strong showing on the list comes as the state has repeatedly appeared near the top of national pest rankings.
A recent USA TODAY report, citing an analysis by Casino.ca, estimated Ohio has the second-highest bed bug risk for travelers in the country, behind only Michigan.
The Orkin rankings do not measure the total number of bed bugs in a city. Instead, they reflect where the company performed the greatest number of residential and commercial treatments over the past year.
Columbus has dealt with bed bug sightings before
The rankings also follow several high-profile bed bug incidents in downtown Columbus government offices.
Last fall, The Dispatch reported a bed bug was discovered inside the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s downtown office, prompting treatment of the affected area.
The Dispatch also reported that employees at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation had reported bed bug sightings, leading to inspections and pest-control efforts.
Those incidents highlighted the challenges large office buildings face when dealing with pests that can hitch rides on clothing, backpacks and luggage rather than originating inside the buildings themselves.
It’s not just bed bugs
Bed bugs aren’t the only pests putting Columbus on Orkin’s radar.
In October 2025, Orkin ranked Columbus No. 21 on its annual “Rattiest Cities” list, a slight improvement from previous years but still among the nation’s leading metro areas for rodent treatments.
Taken together, the rankings suggest central Ohio remains a busy market for pest-control companies as the city holds steady on this year’s bed bug list.
Which Ohio cities made Orkin’s 2026 list?
Among Ohio cities, the rankings were:
- Cleveland– No. 4
- Columbus– No. 8
- Cincinnati– No. 15
- Youngstown– No. 32
- Dayton– No. 38
- Toledo– No. 42
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
After years of unchecked dominance from the SEC, the Big Ten Conference cemented its place as the best in college football in the 2025-2026 season.
The Indiana Hoosiers completed a remarkable 16-0 season by winning a National Championship, beating Ohio State in the conference championship game, dominating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, then blowing out Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
That completed a Big Ten trifecta, with the Michigan Wolverines winning a championship in 2024, then the Buckeyes following it up by beating Notre Dame to win the title in 2025. While the SEC might have better depth overall, it’s no question that the top of the Big Ten is as good or better than anyone.
SEC, BIG TEN ARE DOMINATING COLLEGE FOOTBALL THANKS TO MASSIVE ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CONFERENCES
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti after defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Jan. 19, 2026. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
And a new program might be ready to take their turn at the top of the Big Ten: those same Oregon Ducks.
One of the most predictive measures of a team’s strength from year to year is how much production they return from the previous season. It makes sense; the more key players that stay with the team, the better it is for continuity and development.
The Big Ten, oddly enough, has several teams that return much of their production on both sides of the ball. ESPN’s Bill Connelly ran the numbers, finding that teams like Maryland, Nebraska, Minnesota and UCLA all ranked in the top 10 nationally in returning value. Though given how these teams played in 2025, that’s less important. Number 12, though? The Oregon Ducks.
And that carryover production is coming from a team that lost just two games all season, both to Indiana. They handled a very good USC team, 42-27, overcame miserable conditions to outlast the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, beat the rival Washington Huskies, and most impressively, shut out an elite Texas Tech team 23-0 in the College Football Playoff. And they bring back the players responsible for 66% of their overall production, including star quarterback Dante Moore.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) warms up prior to the 2025 Orange Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sam Navarro / Imagn Images)
Just behind them at 65%? USC, heading into a pivotal season under Lincoln Riley.
Here’s where Oregon has the advantage, however. They bring that percentage back from a team that was significantly better than USC. It’s no surprise then, that per Connelly’s SP+ projections, Oregon is expected to be the No. 2 team in the country, by efficiency on offense, defense and special teams.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BIG 12 WINNER NOT NAMED TEXAS TECH OR BYU, CONSIDER THE HOUSTON COUGARS
What about the other Big Ten schools, though?
USC is the biggest wildcard. They sit at No. 13 in the SP+ projections, thanks to an elite offense and a defense that’s expected to be solid, if unspectacular. But their special teams projections are all the way down at No. 100 in the country, thanks to a series of disastrous mistakes in 2025. Special teams, though, should be the easiest area to improve upon. So if the Trojans can make some adjustments, they could exceed the eight game win expectancy.
Ohio State and Indiana, the two most recent champions, have a bit of a tougher hill to climb, though their roster composition is far from disastrous. The Buckeyes bring back 60% of their production, while Indiana is at 56%, even with several huge departures. That ranks at No. 31 and No. 52, respectively. Important, but not enough to push either team out of the top 5 in the national projections. And Ohio State sits at No. 1, thanks to consistently elite recruiting and key players like Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith returning.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning attends Oregon Pro Day on March 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon. (Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
But if there is an upset brewing at the top of the conference, Oregon might be the place to look. The question then becomes, can they put it all together against a difficult schedule? The Ducks play USC on the road, host Nebraska, travel to Illinois, play Ohio State on the road, host Michigan and have their rivalry game against Washington at Autzen.
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It won’t be easy, but don’t be surprised if at the end of the season, Dan Lanning and the Ducks are right back in the mix.
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