Ohio

Senate candidate Bernie Moreno pans Ohio abortion vote as issue dominates 2024 elections

Published

1 year ago

September 4, 2024

Press Room

Senate candidate Bernie Moreno pans Ohio abortion vote as issue dominates 2024 elections

Bernie Moreno doesn’t want to talk about abortion.

During a campaign stop in Washington Court House last month, the Republican Ohio Senate candidate accused news media of using abortion to “gaslight Democrat voters.” Ohio voters have spoken, he argued − it’s time to move forward and “stop picking at wounds that are 52 years old.”

But abortion has emerged as a top issue in Moreno’s race against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who’s seeking a fourth term in one of the country’s most competitive Senate campaigns that could decide which party controls the chamber. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, states including Ohio voted to protect reproductive rights and block abortion bans pushed by the GOP.

The outcome of the 2023 ballot issue put Republicans in a bind, while Brown and other Democrats have cast their opponents as out of touch. Even now, Moreno appears to harbor frustration about the decision to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution.

“Look, we lost Issue 1 last year because only 52% of evangelical Christians bothered to show up at the ballot box,” Moreno said during a July campaign event, according to audio obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. “What did we get in exchange? We have abortion right until birth. We have no parental consent for minors getting an abortion because we didn’t show up to vote. Can’t do that. They can only cheat so much.”

Abortion is legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions beyond that to preserve the patient’s life and health. The state’s parental consent law remains on the books and has yet to be challenged in the wake of the amendment’s passage.

When asked about Moreno’s comments, spokesperson Reagan McCarthy said he was “referring to low turnout and encouraging voters to be engaged in this election, rather than sit on the sidelines.”

Where do Bernie Moreno, Sherrod Brown stand on abortion?

Since Ohio’s election, Republicans nationwide have pivoted on abortion and said they’re focused on policies to support families. Former President Donald Trump came out against federal abortion restrictions after waffling on whether he would support a 15-week ban.

Trump’s stance guided a policy platform at the Republican National Convention that painted abortion as a states’ issue, frustrating social conservatives who wanted to see a stronger rebuke of the procedure.

“We will oppose late term abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance prenatal care, access to birth control, and IVF (fertility treatments),” the platform stated.

Moreno’s position has also evolved. He told a Cincinnati radio host in 2022 that he was “absolute pro-life, no exceptions.” During his Senate primary campaign, Moreno advocated for a 15-week ban with “commonsense restrictions,” including exceptions for rape, incest and to save the pregnant person’s life.

Citing the RNC platform, Moreno told reporters in Washington Court House that Republicans don’t support abortion bans − even though GOP officials and anti-abortion activists worked for years to curtail access and overturn Roe v. Wade. Moreno also said adoptions should be more available and called for women to have better access to health care and contraception.

“I don’t think most Ohioans think that a 35-week-old baby that’s healthy with a healthy mom should be killed,” Moreno said. “Most people don’t think that. Left-wing European countries put restrictions − not bans, restrictions − after 15 weeks, but that’s my personal belief. I support the party platform, which says let’s leave this up to the states.”

Moreno donated $100,000 to a group opposing Ohio’s abortion rights amendment − a stark contrast to Brown, who openly campaigned in favor of it. The three-term senator supported efforts to codify the right to an abortion, protect access to fertility treatments and birth control, and prevent restrictions on out-of-state abortions. He previously said he supports the parameters in Roe, which guaranteed abortion access until fetal viability.

Brown is backed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio. He received an “F” grade from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America − which endorsed Moreno − for opposing legislation to codify the Hyde Amendment and prohibit abortion when there’s a diagnosis of Down syndrome. He also voted against a federal abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Unlike Moreno, Brown has sought to highlight the issue on the campaign trail − even holding a media call with feminist activist Gloria Steinem.

“It’s not just that (Moreno is) wrong on women’s reproductive rights. It’s not just that he disregards women and the rights of half of our society,” Brown said in an interview. “It’s also that he’s flying in the face of what the voters have said we should do. You’re going to go off to Washington fundamentally fighting against something your voters just overwhelmingly passed? This should not be a ticket to office.”

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Source link

Click to comment

Ohio

No. 21 Ohio State women beat Norfolk State 79-45

Published

8 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

No. 21 Ohio State women beat Norfolk State 79-45

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kylee Kitts scored 13 points, Jaloni Cambridge added 11 and No. 21 Ohio State rolled past Norfolk State 79-45 on Thursday night for its eighth straight win.

Dasha Biriuk added 10 points for Ohio State, which is 10-1 overall and 7-0 at home.

Kitts was 6 of 12 from the field, and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with two steals and two blocks. Cambridge was 4-of-8 shooting and had eight rebounds and two steals.

Cambridge scored seven points in the first quarter as the Buckeyes jumped out to a 20-10 lead and built a 43-21 halftime advantage. Kitts and Cambridge each scored nine first-half points.

Ohio State outrebounded Norfolk State 55-32 and scored 21 points off 17 turnovers.

Jasha Clinton scored 18 points to lead Norfolk State (5-9). Ciara Bailey had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Up next

Norfolk State plays at Elon on Sunday.

Ohio State hosts Western Michigan on Mondahy.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Source link

Ohio

Menards to pay 10 states, including Ohio, $4.25 million in rebate settlement

Published

20 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Menards to pay 10 states, including Ohio, .25 million in rebate settlement

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio is part of a multistate lawsuit settlement against home improvement store Menards.

According to the state Attorney General’s Office, Ohio and nine other states reached the settlement with Menards, a Wisconsin-based home-improvement retail store, over allegations of deceptive rebate advertising.

The 10-state led investigation revealed that Menards would give shoppers the impression that they were getting an immediate discount while shopping through its advertising, when in fact, savings actually came in the form of a rebate or in-store credit.

The investigation raised concerns with Menards’ marketing strategy and sales practices, alleging the following of the company:

Advertised 11% off or 11% off everything that suggested an instant price cut, even though customers received only a rebate on future purchases.
Listed prices already at an 11% discount, reinforcing the idea that shoppers were getting an in-store discount.
Failed to clearly explain the important limits of the rebate program, burying key details in the fine print.
Tell customers that Rebates International was a separate company handling rebates, even though it is operated by Menards itself.

The settlement, announced Thursday, included an agreement by Menards that it would, in part, discontinue ads suggesting immediate discounts, clearly explaining the rules, limits, and conditions of its rebate program, and offer customers an easier path towards claiming rebates, both in person and online, among other changes.

In addition, Menards will pay participating states $4.25 million in fees, of which $365,173.05 will go toward the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Enforcement Fund.

Source link

Ohio

Ohio State dominate latest power ranking as nine Buckeyes rank inside Top 50 players

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State dominate latest power ranking as nine Buckeyes rank inside Top 50 players

The honors continue to roll in for this Ohio State Buckeyes football team.

From young players ready for another College Football Playoff run next season to players hungry for one more run starting December 31 before the NFL Draft, this Ohio State Buckeyes team is loaded with talent headed into their seventh playoffs appearance since the CFP era began in 2014.

Five defensive players and four offensive players headlined a class of extremely talented Buckeyes. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza took the No. 1 spot to go along with his Heisman and Maxwell honors.

An offensive Ohio State Buckeye took the No. 2 spot right behind Mendoza.

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) tackles Michigan Wolverines running back Bryson Kuzdzal (24) during the NCAA football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith takes the No. 2 spot

Jeremiah Smith was ranked behind Mendoza along with his gun-slinging sophomore quarterback. Julian Sayin was the second-highest ranked quarterback on the list at No. 5.

“Smith caught 80 balls for 1,086 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore, but that doesn’t really tell the story…Smith commands double-teams constantly, draws the attention of everyone’s best corner, and has every defensive coordinator he faces scheming to slow him down. And none of it has mattered.”
ESPN’s David Hale

Smith is expected to have one more dominant season with the Buckeyes next season where fans hope to see him paired next to five-star recruit Chris Henry Jr. Senior wide receiver Carnell Tate has been an impressive receiving mate for Smith the past two seasons. Tate caught 48 passes, nine touchdowns, and had 838 yards. He ranked No. 26 in the rankings.

Offensive tackle Austin Siereveld ranked No. 44 as well.

The defense takes over

All five of Ohio State’s defensive players on the list ranked inside the top-22. Junior linebacker Sonny Styles sat at No. 21 to kick things off for the defense. The Buckeyes have had the best defense in college football for the entire season and these are the names that have made it happen. Projected first round NFL Draft Arvell Reese took the No. 16 spot.

“A new set of stars emerged to lead the nation’s No. 1 defense this fall, and Reese was undeniably front and center. He has thrived under new coordinator Matt Patricia, recording 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss from the edge position and finished second on the squad with 62 total tackles…Reese was named Big Ten’s Linebacker of the Year and recorded a sack in six of Ohio State’s first eight games of the season.”
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg
Advertisement

Defensive linemen Kayden McDonald and Caden Curry ranked at No. 13 and No. 11 respectively. Safety Caleb Downs was the highest ranked defensive Buckeye at No. 7. Downs is a simply a lockdown player who can play corner or safety while still being able to tackle at a high level. If he chooses to declare for the NFL Draft after the season is over, he’ll be slated to go within the top 10 in most mock drafts.

Opposing quarterbacks only targeted downs 20 times for the entire season. Only nine passes were caught on his watch as the primary defender.

“The longest completion he gave up was 17 yards. A 14-yard completion in the second quarter of the Big Ten title game was the first one he’d given up in nearly two months. There is not a more lockdown corner in the country than Downs.”
ESPN’s David Hale

The Ohio State Buckeyes are waiting for the winner of the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes against the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies in the first round of the College Football Playoffs this Saturday at 12:00pm Eastern on ABC/ESPN.

Source link