News

HB 194 is an omnibus election reform bill introduced by Reps. Mecklenborg and Blessing.  The bill has some controversial aspects to it, and is the subject of much debate.  Below is a link to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission analysis of the bill.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio is ready to start making payments on a $2.6 billion federal loan taken out during the recession to replenish a fund that pays unemployment benefits.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the state this month plans to pay $370 million, representing $70 million in interest and $300 million to pay down the principle.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio is the latest state where opponents are pushing a ban on a form of drilling that injects chemicals into shale to release natural gas.

Democratic state Sen. Michael Skindell of suburban Cleveland introduced a bill Tuesday calling for a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to await results of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study of potential environmental hazards.

COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) - The anti-abortion group Ohio Right to Life is throwing its support behind a ballot issue that seeks to keep the government from requiring people to buy health insurance.

The organization said Tuesday it was endorsing what's called the Health Care Freedom Amendment. The proposed amendment to the state's constitution would prohibit any law from forcing Ohioans to participate in a health care system.

Voters will decide the issue on Nov. 8.

Authorities say preliminary numbers show 10 people died in fatal traffic crashes in Ohio over the Labor Day weekend, the fewest number in five years.

The state Department of Public Safety says the number is one fewer than in 2010 and 14 fewer than 2007, when fatalities had reached a five-year high. The data measures traffic crashes over the four-day holiday period ending Monday night.

Data also shows that the number of fatalities that were alcohol-related - three of the 10 - is the fewest in five years.