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Ohio lawmakers plan to go over House Speaker’s head to repeal coal plant subsidies in corruption-linked HB 6

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Ohio lawmakers plan to go over House Speaker’s head to repeal coal plant subsidies in corruption-linked HB 6


COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers plan to go over the House speaker’s head to repeal the scandal-ridden bill that forces ratepayers to spend millions funding “dirty” coal plants.

While former House Speaker Larry Householder awaits his sentencing in the largest corruption scandal in state history, a third of the Ohio House is considering repealing the remaining parts of the bill that helped make him and his coconspirators rich.

Fast Facts

A jury found that Householder and former GOP leader Matt Borges, beyond a reasonable doubt, participated in the largest public corruption case in state history, a racketeering scheme that left four men guilty and another dead by suicide.

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Householder passed a nearly $61 million scheme to pass a billion-dollar bailout, House Bill 6, at the expense of taxpayers and at the benefit of his pockets.

H.B. 6 mainly benefited FirstEnergy’s struggling nuclear power plants, which provisions were later repealed. There are remaining aspects of the bill still in place, though.

The Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC) also got a handout from the scandal. It expanded a bailout of the OVEC plants and required Ohioans to pay for them. The main beneficiaries from this were American Electric Power Company (AEP), Duke Energy and AES Ohio.

Lead Householder juror explains why trial ‘left sour taste’ in his mouth

Householder and Borges will be sentenced at 1 p.m. on June 29 and 11 a.m. on June 30, respectively, according to court documents.

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The legislation

House Bill 120 would eliminate subsidies for two 1950s-era OVEC coal plants. It would also require full repayments of revenues collected under the H.B. 6 OVEC subsidy.

“It killed off our renewable energy standard and our energy efficiency standards and left us with two old coal plants that are non-competitive that we’ve been bailing out ever since the bill passed,” said state Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson). “Ohioans are propping up these dirty, old, uncompetitive coal plants.”

Weinstein, along with 32 other representatives, have put forward H.B. 120 to stop ratepayers from funding the coal plant in Southern Ohio and the other that is in Indiana, a coal plant that atlases confirm is not even in this state.

“It is an absolute shame and embarrassment to me that we have not completely wiped off these illegal acts from the books,” Weinstein added. “And unfortunately, Ohioans are paying for it still.”

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Ratepayers have already paid about $400 million for the plants, according to the Ohio Consumers Counsel. That’s more than $130,000 a day, and it is expected to reach $850 million by 2030.

Despite bipartisan support to repeal the subsidies, this bill and others from the last General Assembly have failed to go anywhere.

“These two coal plants are… operating pursuant to a federal program and losing money,” Senate President Matt Huffman (R) said in March.

Huffman isn’t in favor of repealing all of H.B. 6, because he opposes returning to the prior clean energy standards. But he would be willing to consider getting rid of the coal subsidies if the plants don’t actually need the money.

“Are they still operating at a loss?” Huffman asked. “They’re not, then, yeah, we should repeal the subsidies.”

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There would have to be research done on the plants’ profits, he added.

Republicans in favor of H.B. 120 say the House is the real problem, not the Senate.

Road to nowhere

Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) has one of the coal plants in his district and has shown no signs of wanting to repeal the bailouts.

“The ratepayers have been taken advantage of in Ohio by these utility companies for far too long,” state Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) said.

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Merrin, who is at odds with Stephens on this issue, accuses the speaker of being influenced by utility companies.

“A lot of the utility lobbyists that support the subsidies were behind Jason Stephens’ speaker campaign, just like they were behind Larry Householder,” Merrin said. “I think it’s the special interests of the utility companies that effectively have control of the speaker.”

There are numerous members of House leadership and high-up staffers who have a history of working with Householder, including ones who were made to testify during the corruption trial.

Difficult to escape Larry Householder’s influence at Ohio Statehouse, even ahead of corruption trial

Stephens and his team did not respond to News 5, but told Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer that the OVEC plan was “very beneficial” to his district and “very beneficial to the state of Ohio and [regional power grid] from the standpoint of baseload power.”

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“Based on Speaker Stephens’s prior comments… it’s unlikely that this bill will be taken up by the House of Representatives,” a representative for AEP told News 5 when asked about their thoughts on H.B. 120.

OVEC also did not respond to comment.

For additional context, both Stephens and Merrin voted against expelling Householder. Merrin voted in favor of H.B. 6. Stephens was chosen by Householder once former speaker Ryan Smith was ousted by the now-convicted felon and came after the H.B. 6 vote.

Road to somewhere

Merrin and his team are in talks with Democrats to discharge the bill from the committee, the Republican said. Meaning, with enough signatures, the legislation would move immediately to a full House vote, superseding the speaker.

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“That’s probably where we’re headed,” Merrin said. “I’m confident that there are 50 votes to repeal.”

If all 32 Democrats vote for the repeal, which is likely, only 18 Republicans are needed. Merrin’s faction of the GOP has more than 18 people.

Whether the Merrin squad is in favor of repealing because they don’t like corporate subsidies, they don’t like H.B. 6 or they just want to mess with Stephens (or a combination of the options), the Democrats seem willing to accept the unlikely allies.

“There is an intransigent group of folks, a lot of whom have taken a lot of money, frankly, from energy interests and who are refusing to move the bill,” Weinstein added. “That’s why we’re looking at potentially doing alternate paths to get this to the floor because I think Ohioans should have their legislators on the record and they deserve a vote on this bill.”

News 5 reached out to Speaker Stephens about possibly being outvoted. He and his team did not respond.

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Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.





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Hoosiers face first real test in Ohio State; ‘Time is ticking’ for 49ers

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Hoosiers face first real test in Ohio State; ‘Time is ticking’ for 49ers


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Two of this weekend’s most-interesting football games will be broadcast over the FOX Sports airwaves. We’ve got you covered.

Up first, No. 2 Ohio State welcomes No. 5 Indiana to The Horseshoe on Saturday. Then on Sunday, Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will guide you through the San Francisco 49ers-Green Bay Packers tilt at Lambeau Field.

You can watch ‘em both on FOX Sports and the FOX Sports app.

A second shameless plug complete.

Seriously, though, the Buckeyes-Hoosiers matchup is extremely polarizing in the betting market. Circa Sports in Las Vegas opened Ohio State -12 this past Sunday and initial money showed for the underdog. Indiana got bet down to +11 before a blitz on the favorite shoved the line out to -13.

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The line climbed as high as Ohio State -13.5 before news broke that OSU’s top offensive lineman, center Seth McLaughlin, tore his Achilles.

“I took Indiana +13.5,” a respected professional bettor told FOX Sports.

“I bet it right when word got out about Ohio State’s center. You know the books are going to move the line, so you bet it. Center is a big position for me. Changing centers this late in the season can cause some issues. And I think Indiana is a good team. I guess we’re going to find out how good.”

My FOX teammate Geoff Schwartz played offensive line at the highest level for six years, and he’s well-aware of the musical chairs in Columbus.

“It’s concerning because offensive line depth is non-existent in this sport,” Schwartz said. “When you lose a starting left tackle and center, there’s not much you can do to replace their production. They already moved the left guard to left tackle, so now you’re moving the backup guard to center. 

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“You hope that scheme and situation will remain favorable to help that group. Running the ball and staying out of high-leverage situations like third and long will be helpful. Indiana’s defensive line has good pieces, but it’s probably not good enough to render Ohio State inoperable for 60 minutes.”

Schwartz likes OSU to pull away late and win 31-14.

Colin & JMac’s Big Ten Bets: Take the over on Indiana-Ohio State, UCLA covers vs. USC

Colin & JMac's Big Ten Bets: Take the over on Indiana-Ohio State, UCLA covers vs. USC

The elephant in the room is that “InDiAnA hAsN’t PlAyEd AnYbOdY” and almost every television pundit believes Ohio State will emerge victorious. 

Come to think of it, the narrative isn’t about the Hoosiers losing, as opposed to how much they will lose by.

“Of course there are concerns about their schedule,” the bettor continued. “But you can only play who’s in front of you. They’ve taken care of business in every game. Great coach, great quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, they could lay a total egg and Ohio State could blow them out. I still took the points.” 

Over to the NFL, the reigning NFC champions have attracted a ton of betting action over the last two days. Green Bay got as high as -2.5 for Sunday’s showdown against San Francisco, then Niners resistance arrived.

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The Niners went from +2.5 to +1.5 by Thursday morning and wise guys will likely keep fighting around the 2. 

There are clearly opinions on both sides.

Can San Francisco 49ers pull off the UPSET vs. Green Bay Packers in NFL Week 12?

Can San Francisco 49ers pull off the UPSET vs. Green Bay Packers in NFL Week 12?

“We like Green Bay at a cheap price,” the bettor said.  “San Francisco has a lot of problems right now and it’s more than just the injuries. 

“This is not the Niners team from last year or the last few years. Nobody’s really lowering their power rating, though, because the pedigree is blinding. There’s always going to be someone who thinks they’ll bounce back. They’re not a top-five team to me.  

“Next week at Buffalo, they make the line [Buffalo -3.5 vs. San Francisco] and Buffalo was only 2.5 on Kansas City. So you’re telling me Kansas City and San Francisco play to almost the same rating? Stop.”

It certainly doesn’t help that Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Brock Purdy and Trent Williams are all dealing with injuries. Perhaps they could all play, but there’s a difference between playing and performing.

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“Time is ticking,” the bettor said. “If the Niners lose these next two games, the season’s over.” 

Sam Panayotovich is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and BetQL Network. He previously worked for WGN Radio, NBC Sports and VSiN. Follow him on Twitter @spshoot.

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Drake Bell unmasked on ‘The Masked Singer,’ his career, Ohio connections

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Drake Bell unmasked on ‘The Masked Singer,’ his career, Ohio connections


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Drake Bell, the former child star turned singer and actor, was featured on the hit singing competition television series “The Masked Singer” and was unmasked as the Ice King.

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Bell took the stage on “The Masked Singer” after opening up about his traumatic experiences as a child star in the documentary series “Quiet on Set.” 

What connections does Drake Bell have to Ohio? Here’s what to know.

Drake Bell performed as the Ice King on ‘The Masked Singer’

On the Nov. 20 episode, Bell competed as the Ice King on the singing competition show “The Masked Singer” for Miley Cyrus Night, according to People.

Bell had a “freeing experience” while performing on the show after opening up about the abuse he endured as a child star. Bell shared his experience of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Brian Peck in the docuseries, “Quiet on Set.”

The series also features many former Nickelodeon staff members. They spoke out against former producer Dan Schneider, who was accused of engaging in unprofessional and inappropriate behaviors in the Nickelodeon workplace.

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Drake Bell had legal trouble in Ohio years before going on ‘The Masked Singer’

Before competing on “The Masked Singer,” Drake Bell was charged with disseminating harmful matter to juveniles and attempted child endangerment after being accused of sexual contact and grooming an underage fan in June 2021. He pleaded guilty to attempted child endangerment, the Dispatch reported.

At the time in court, the victim, who was a fan of Bell, claimed the exchanges began when she was 12. She said Bell exchanged explicit photos online and engaged in sexual conduct with her on several occasions, including at a 2017 concert venue in Cleveland and at a hotel.

Furthermore, the victim contacted Toronto police in October 2018, and they forwarded its findings to Cleveland police, prompting an investigation.

Bell claimed he was “unaware” of her age and communicated with her only through text and no physical contact, and also admitted that his interactions with the fan were “reckless and irresponsible.”

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Bell found fame on Nickelodeon, which has Ohio roots

The “Drake and Josh” actor began his career at Nickelodeon, a kids’ channel that was developed in 1977 with the help of a Columbus, Ohio-based company, Qube, the first two-way interactive cable system/remote control by Warner Cable.

Before Nickelodeon was Pinwheel, a Qube channel that aired commercial-free, kid-friendly content 12 hours a day. Pinwheel later became Nickelodeon once Qube went under in 1984.

What shows has Drake Bell performed on?

Bell began his singing and acting career as a child. He acted on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show” and later “Drake & Josh,” according to IDMb.

Bell also starred in many movies, including “Yours, Mine & Ours,” “Superhero Movie,” and two “Drake & Josh” movies. 

Grace Tucker and Jenna Ryu contributed to this report.

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How can Ohio State football beat Indiana? 3 keys for top-five matchup against Hoosiers

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How can Ohio State football beat Indiana? 3 keys for top-five matchup against Hoosiers


Here are three keys for No. 2 Ohio State against No. 5 Indiana on Saturday:

Start fast

The Buckeyes have played in big games, having been in two top-five matchups over the past month and a half. The matchup is a much steeper ramp up in competition for the Hoosiers, who have not faced a ranked opponent and only one in the top half of the Big Ten standings this year. The gap in experience adds incentive for Ohio State to build an early lead and energize the crowd at the Horseshoe. It would put Indiana in an unfamiliar position, having to come from behind in a rabid environment. The Hoosiers had not even trailed in a game until this month.

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Get pressure

Kurtis Rourke, the sixth-year starting quarterback who transferred to Indiana from Ohio, is one of the most efficient passers in the Football Bowl Subdivision, especially when he is well protected. Among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 dropbacks, only three have a higher NFL passer rating from a clean pocket, according to Pro Football Focus. It’s why the Buckeyes must find ways to disrupt him. When Michigan gave the Hoosiers a scare earlier this month, it did so by sacking Rourke four times, including three during a second half in which the Wolverines held them to 18 total yards.

Account for Mikail Kamara

Between Marshall’s Mike Green and Penn State’s Abdul Carter, the Buckeyes have seen some of the best edge rushers in the sport. Kamara fits into that group as well. One of the James Madison transfers who followed Curt Cignetti to Indiana last offseason, Kamara leads the FBS with 53 total pressures, including nine sacks, per PFF. It’s the biggest test for the Buckeyes’ reshuffled offensive line since facing Carter earlier this month. While Carter had two sacks, twice getting around left tackle Donovan Jackson, the line held up and kept quarterback Will Howard from facing too much pressure. It will need to do so again.

Key matchup

Ohio State secondary vs. Indiana receivers

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The defensive backs were a liability for the Buckeyes in their loss at Oregon last month as the Ducks’ receivers got behind them in coverage, and they have not fully quelled concerns in the following weeks. While the Hoosiers lack a burner like Tez Johnson, they have a deep collection of pass catchers. Five receivers have caught multiple touchdowns, led by Elijah Sarratt’s six scores. Rourke and Sarratt execute a high volume of back-shoulder throws that could challenge cornerbacks Denzel Burke or Davison Igbinosun who will need to keep the James Madison transfer from pulling in his share of 50-50 balls on the perimeter. The receiving corps is as good as the Buckeyes will see outside of Oregon and one of the biggest factors in Indiana’s upset bid.   

Key stat

13: Total points allowed by Indiana in the first quarter over a span of 10 games.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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