After months in the GOP gubernatorial primary fight, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost suspended his campaign for governor Friday. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles has details about that. She also explains the game plan being used by backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler joins Jo to talk about other stories making news in the political arena last week. And we have details about a new bill to require OSU Football games to be played at night, under the lights. Networks would face penalties for scheduling big games during the day.
Ohio farmers have a lot to think about these days. The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's Ty Higgins joins Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles to discuss the challenges farmers face as they head into planting season. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler as they discuss the latest on marijuana changes, uncertainties for the CHIPS Act and its effect on the Intel project, possible Medicaid changes and more.
In this week's episode of The Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks to Ohio Office of Budget and Management Director Kimberly Murnieks about the unusual parts of the process. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson as they talk about the transportation budget that passed the Ohio House last week, an Ohio Senate-passed bill that changes the state's legal marijuana law and more.
Richard Cordray was Ohio's Treasurer and Attorney General before he served as the first director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Cordray, who also unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018, talks to Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles about the current federal effort to gut the agency and shut it down. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss the progress of major legislation affecting marijuana and K-12 education. And they chat about how the race for governor will soon be more crowded.
Jim Tressel, one of the most well-known Ohioans, has been tapped to serve the next two years as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's lieutenant governor. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles has details on his announcement and confirmation. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about Tressel's new job as well as other things that happened at the Ohio Statehouse last week, including the Senate passage of a controversial bill to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DEI) programs at Ohio's state universities and an extension of state funding for the state's non-profit, job creation company, JobsOhio. Jo also tells us about the latest court ruling that has blocked one of Ohio's abortion laws. Catch all of that and more in this week's episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has unveiled his two-year state operating budget and it includes many things that were expected but he wants to pay for a lot of them with "sin" taxes. Will the legislature go along with that? Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains what the governor wants to do and how. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson weigh-in to talk about the governor's plans and the reactions of Ohio lawmakers. Hundreds of Ohioans protested President Donald Trump and his policies at the Statehouse as part of the national "50501 movement." We have details on that. And there's an unusual bill at the Statehouse that's gaining attention. The "Conception before an Erection" bill would regulate the reproductive health of men and call attention to what its sponsors believe is hypocrisy among the majority Republican lawmakers who have passed a bevy of bills in the past that regulate the reproductive rights of women.
Former Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan tells Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler how he views the future of the Democratic party in Ohio. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports the first committee hearing for a controversial bill banning diversity, equity, and inclusiveness programs in the state's public colleges. She's joined by Kasler and Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson to talk about how lawmakers want to change the law that legalizes marijuana in Ohio, a new candidate for Ohio Attorney General, and what we can expect in Governor DeWine's new two-year budget. And we remember legendary Statehouse journalist Lee Leonard. We talk about all of this in this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop.
On this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks to former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown about his first days out of that office and his plans for the future. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Ingles to talk about Dr. Amy Acton, former Ohio Health Department director, throwing her hat in the ring for a gubernatorial run in 2026. And they talk about dozens of new bills recently signed into law. And we remember former Ohio Senator and Columbus leader, Ben Espy, and his accomplishments during his long political career.
Happy 2025! Ohio begins this year with some new laws. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains some of those changes. She talked with Chris Davey, a spokesman for the failed redistricting reform effort in November, about where the group plans to go with its quest to change the process Ohio uses to draw congressional and legislative districts in the future. Ingles is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler to discuss how future citizen-led efforts might play out because of changes made during the past year.
Ohio's income tax could be wiped out. What does that mean for Ohioans?
A bill that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Ohio's public colleges died in the 135th General Assembly but as Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains....it's back and it is as controversial as ever. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Ingles to talk about the bill, the latest in the 2026 election, and other legislation that's getting some traction in the legislature. Ingles also takes a look at how President Donald Trump's orders on immigration might affect Ohio. She talks with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost about immigration. And to get a sense of the gravity of the immigration situation in Ohio, she talks to Steven Hubbard, a data analyst with the American Immigration Council.
Ohio's Lieutenant Governor, Jon Husted, will be heading off to Washington soon after being picked by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill the seat vacated by former U.S. Sen. JD Vance. Vance will serve as the nation's vice president. Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles has details and a preview of the state's upcoming budget process. She's joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to about all things politics, including the announcement of a major defense contractor, Anduril, that has chosen to put a new facility in the Buckeye State. And speaking of Buckeyes, the Ohio State University football team plays in the national championship game in Atlanta Monday night against Notre Dame. Go Bucks!
As we close out 2024, we remember the big stories that made headlines during this inaugural year of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop. Podcast host Jo Ingles and Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler recap the big stories that made news in Ohio this year.
The Ohio Legislature didn't end up voting to give itself a pay raise but it did pass some major changes to education and elections in the final days of the lame duck session. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports on some of those changes in this podcast. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler joined Jo to talk about the Christmas tree bill and other big pieces of legislation passed in the last days of the 135th General Assembly.
As the Lame Duck session in Ohio continues, several big bills are on the table, including HB 8. That's the Ohio Parents Bill of Rights, something opponents refer to as the Buckeye State's version of the "Don't Say Gay" bill. There's a controversial provision attached to it that requires K-12 school districts to adopt policies for Lifewise and other religious-based groups that want to take kids off campus during the school day, with a parent's permission. Lawmakers are also considering a measure that could delay citizens who want to bring statewide issues to the ballot by giving the attorney general more power to determine the titles of petition summaries. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles has more on those provisions. Plus Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson discuss many other bills that could pass the Ohio Legislature this week.
Any doubt that Ohio is a red state was laid to rest in November. Democrats lost in nearly all races and are even more outnumbered. So what went wrong and how do Democrats in Ohio move forward? In this episode, Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles delves into those questions. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler talked with some of the party's key players. And Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson joins the discussion to explore the role Democrats will play in the next couple of years.
There's a bill in the Ohio Legislature to require public school districts to develop a policy on conditions under which release for religious instruction could be allowed. Lifewise, the Christian-based program in operation in many Ohio schools, has been taking elementary students off campus from schools during the day to provide religious education with permission from the student's parents. However, some parents and schools say release time for religious instruction by Lifewise is not a good idea. In this week's podcast, Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks to an opponent and a supporter of the legislation. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join the discussion to provide additional context to the conversation.
Majority Republicans in their caucus have chosen a new leader but Matt Huffman needs no introduction. He's currently serving as the president of the Ohio Senate. When he comes over to the Ohio House in January, he will likely lead that chamber as the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains Huffman will take over the position now held by Speaker Jason Stephens. He dropped out for consideration for re-election last week, paving the way for Huffman. So what does this all mean? To help answer that question, Ohio Statehouse Media Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson joined Jo to talk about that. Plus Jo reports there are questions about where the Republican who ran for a state senate seat recently got his money for his failed campaign. There is bipartisan legislation to raise awareness for perinatal mental health issues. And we prepare to say goodbye to longtime Ohio lawmaker, Kirk Schuring who died last week.
After months of campaigning, the Ohio Legislature returned to the Ohio Statehouse this week. The first thing lawmakers did when they got there was to pass a controversial bill that requires students to use bathrooms that correspond with the gender listed on their birth certificates. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports this week, majority Republicans in the Ohio House and Senate will choose who will guide them in the next General Assembly. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson also join in to talk about legislation that could be coming soon in the Lame Duck session of this legislature. And former Ohio House Speaker, Larry Householder, who is serving 20 years in prison on corruption charges, is asking President-elect Donald Trump to grant him clemency.
The election is over and former President Donald Trump was even more popular with Ohioans than any other time he's been on the ballot. Trump won the Buckeye State by 12 points (according to unofficial numbers). And that red wave washed away long-time U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, the defacto leader of the state's Democrats. So what does this all mean? In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, host Jo Ingles is joined by Brianna Mack, assistant professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University, and Paul Beck, professor emeritus of political science at Ohio State University to talk about the message voters sent. And Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about the effects this election could have on the Ohio Legislature.