Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers set to expire • Ohio Capital Journal A controversial rule enacted last year that denies federal Medicaid funding to abortion providers is likely to expire this summer, despite anti-abortion pressure on Republicans to renew it.

Medicaid rule targeting abortion providers set to expire ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/04/21/r...

Ohio lawmakers attempt to extend time to file lawsuits in sex offense cases • Ohio Capital Journal Ohio lawmakers have again introduced a bipartisan effort to make changes to a statute of limitations regarding sex offenses.

Ohio lawmakers have again introduced a bipartisan effort to make changes to a statute of limitations regarding sex offenses.

Ohio school officials ask to keep power local in sale of school buildings in opposition to new bill • Ohio Capital Journal A new Ohio bill that would make changes to how and to whom school districts can use or sell school facilities received some criticism in a Senate committee this week, and major education unions asked ...

A new Ohio bill that would make changes to how and to whom school districts can use or sell school facilities received some criticism in a Senate committee this week, and major education unions asked for changes to the overall bill.

With GOP defections, US House passes bill extending legal status for 350,000 Haitians • Ohio Capital Journal The U.S. House on Thursday passed a measure that would extend Temporary Protected Status for Haiti for three years, in a rare rebuke by the GOP-led Congress to President Donald Trump’s mass deportatio...

Ten Republicans defected and voted for the extension, including Ohio Republican U.S. Reps. Mike Turner and Mike Carey.

Ohio sits atop U.S. in library usage, federal funding lawsuits resolve in favor of libraries • Ohio Capital Journal The State Library of Ohio is moving (literally) in a positive direction, as court battles over funding for U.S. libraries end, and the state gets recognized as the top state in library circulation.

The State Library of Ohio is moving in a positive direction, as court battles over funding for U.S. libraries end, and the state gets recognized as the top state in library circulation.

As summer approaches, national researchers say that participation in summer food programs for children has increased in Ohio and across the country, but federal budget cuts could mean more food insecurity for children and their families.

In primary contests for Ohio Secretary of State, debate features gerrymandering, election integrity • Ohio Capital Journal The May primary will be important for voters looking at the Ohio Secretary of State’s race, as both the Republicans and Democrats have competitive races to run before the November general election.

The May 5 primary will be important for Ohio voters who care about the administration of elections. In the race for the next Ohio Secretary of State, both Republican and Democratic voters have competitive primaries to decide to pick their candidates for the November general election.

Ohio attorney general candidates push for non-partisan leader in office • Ohio Capital Journal The candidates running for Ohio Attorney General are focusing their early campaigns on their legal experience as two Democrats head toward a May primary, and the sole Republican candidate looks to the...

The candidates running for Ohio Attorney General are focusing their early campaigns on their legal experience as two Democrats head toward a May primary, and the sole Republican candidate looks to the November general election.

FirstEnergy corruption trial jury still without verdict • Ohio Capital Journal Jurors in the FirstEnergy corruption trial have spent five days wrestling over whether top executives participated in the largest bribery scheme in state history, with their questions signaling a…

Jurors in the FirstEnergy corruption trial have spent a week wrestling over whether top executives participated in the largest bribery scheme in state history, with their questions signaling a possible hung jury and mistrial ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/03/26/f...

Ohio House once again passes 24-hour waiting period bill for abortion care • Ohio Capital Journal The Ohio House passed a bill Wednesday along party lines that would effectively return the 24-hour waiting period to abortion care.

Ohio House Republicans passed a bill Wednesday that would effectively bring back the state’s 24-hour waiting period for abortion care, despite a previous 24-hour law being blocked for violating the constitutional amendment passed by Ohio voters in 2023.

Candidates begin race for Ohio Treasurer, with unclaimed funds as hot topic • Ohio Capital Journal The race to become the newest state treasurer comes down to financial experience, and growing the state’s coffers through smart investments, according to the candidates in the race.

The race to become the newest state treasurer for Ohio comes down to financial experience, and growing the state’s coffers through smart investments, according to the candidates in the race.

Abortion bans led to higher preterm birth rates among Black women, study finds • Ohio Capital Journal Black women living in states with abortion bans were more likely to have preterm babies, compared with what would be expected in the absence of those bans, according to a study published in this month...

Black women living in states with abortion bans were more likely to have preterm babies, compared with what would be expected in the absence of those bans, according to a study published in this month’s issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Ohio advocates, lawmakers say governor's address missed key child welfare points • Ohio Capital Journal The reactions to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s final State of the State address have been as varied as the topics he touched on in the speech. In the area of child care and education, however, legislators a...

Care and education advocates said a lack of messaging on child care spoke volumes, and legislators said his praise for success in the realm of infant mortality was overstated.

Trump is coming to Ohio to tout his drug program. Is there anything new about it? • Ohio Capital Journal President Trump will visit Cincinnati Wednesday to pitch his prescription drug plan. But his rhetoric and reality don't match.

President Trump visited Cincinnati Wednesday to talk up his new prescription drug plan. An Ohio expert said there isn't much novel about it and about half of the 43 drugs covered under TrumpRx have generic alternatives far cheaper. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/03/11/t...

Ohioans are getting fed up with data centers, state lawmakers are starting to notice • Ohio Capital Journal In Ohio cities and townships, proposed data centers are roiling otherwise sleepy public hearings and raising difficult questions about electricity, water, and noise. State lawmakers have noticed, and…

In Ohio cities and townships, proposed data centers are roiling otherwise sleepy public hearings and raising difficult questions about electricity, water, and noise. State lawmakers have noticed, and are starting to make proposals. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/03/12/o...

Sponsors spar with committee members over Ohio bill to protect parents who reject trans identities • Ohio Capital Journal Republican sponsors of new Ohio legislation that seeks to remove gender identity denials by parents from child welfare investigations or disputes about parental fitness engaged in heated debates with ...

Republican sponsors of a new Ohio bill to protect parents who reject the trans identities of their kids during child welfare investigations and parental fitness disputes engaged in heated debates with Democratic members of an Ohio House committee Wednesday.

Polling shows Ohio public libraries have vast voter support • Ohio Capital Journal New polling shows Ohio voters see library services as “everyday necessities,” among the highest rated services offered at the local level.

New polling shows Ohio voters see library services as “everyday necessities,” among the highest rated services offered at the local level.

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Ohio's child care oversight 'ongoing,' but still strong, state leader tells lawmakers • Ohio Capital Journal The leader of Ohio’s child care oversight agency assured legislators that while the system the state uses to check on facilities is always evolving, its defenses against fraud are firmly in place.

The leader of Ohio’s child care oversight agency assured lawmakers this week that while the system the state uses to check on facilities is always evolving, its defenses against fraud are firmly in place.

Advocacy group says more than 113,000 Ohioans are now going without Affordable Care Act coverage • Ohio Capital Journal An Ohio legislator, a fellow doctor, and a retired Ohioan all said drops in enrollment to the Affordable Care Act because of the loss of federal assistance could cause longterm issues in the state.

According to the health care advocacy group Protect Our Care, more than 113,000 Ohioans are forgoing health care coverage on the federal Marketplace because of a congressional decision requested by the Trump administration to let tax credits expire on Affordable Care Act premiums.

Bill to require liability statement for Ohio abortion providers gets praise in committee hearing • Ohio Capital Journal Supporters of a bill to require physicians to read state-mandated language regarding a drug used for medication abortion told an Ohio Senate committee the bill is not about punishment, but about accou...

Supporters of a bill to require physicians to read state-mandated language regarding a drug used for medication abortion told an Ohio Senate committee the bill is not about punishment, but about accountability.

Ohio GOP lawmakers to formally pledge support for dismantling of U.S. Department of Education • Ohio Capital Journal Republican Ohio lawmakers plan to formally pledge their support for the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education next week.

Republican Ohio lawmakers plan to formally pledge their support for the Trump administration dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education with a resolution this week.

A Dem candidate for Ohio Attorney General faces backlash, stands by comments about Trump • Ohio Capital Journal A Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General is receiving backlash after making comments about killing President Donald Trump through legal conviction and "capital punishment."

A Democratic candidate for Ohio Attorney General is receiving backlash after making comments about killing President Donald Trump through legal conviction and “capital punishment.”
Forhan did not walk back his statements when asked about them on Wednesday.

Youth mental health barriers still prevalent in Ohio, studies show • Ohio Capital Journal The youngest Ohioans are in need of mental health care, studies show, and barriers to care extend to most counties in the state, along with public and private insurance holders alike.

The youngest Ohioans are in need of mental health care, studies show, and barriers to care extend to most counties in the state, along with public and private insurance holders alike.

This News is So Gay (1/28/26): Covering LGBTQ+ ICE Developments & Finally Talking ‘Heated Rivalry’ Featuring: Susan Tebben (The Ohio Capital Journal) and Lauren Chapman (The Sacramento Bee)

NEW PODCAST EPISODE!

This News is So Gay (1/28/26): Covering LGBTQ+ ICE Developments & Finally Talking ‘Heated Rivalry’

Featuring: @susantebben.bsky.social (@ohiocapitaljournal.com) and @laurenechapman.bsky.social (@sacbee.com).

thebuckeyeflame.com/2026/01/28/t...

'The folks are fearful.' Haitians living in Ohio may soon lose temporary protected status • Ohio Capital Journal Thousands of Haitians living in Ohio will lose their temporary protected status next week unless a federal court blocks it.

‘The folks are fearful.’ Haitians living in Ohio may soon lose temporary protected status
@megankhenry.bsky.social

Trump to block foreign aid for transgender care, Vance tells anti-abortion rally WASHINGTON — The Trump administration plans to expand a policy that blocks foreign aid dollars from going to organizations that discuss, refer or perform abortions to also include groups that address ...

Trump to block foreign aid for transgender care, Vance tells anti-abortion rally

The challenges of bringing a ballot initiative to Ohio voters, and why it's harder than ever • Ohio Capital Journal While redistricting reform might not be on the ballot again this election season, the people who bring about initiatives and constitutional amendments aren’t sitting on their hands.

Ballot initiatives serve as an important part of making governmental change, one that many around the state see as one of the only ways, currently, to bring about change on which a Republican supermajority won’t budge, like reproductive rights or marijuana.

Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted speaks against abortion pill during Senate hearing • Ohio Capital Journal Ohio advocates for and against abortion rights watched a recent U.S. Senate hearing closely, because of its discussion of medication abortion drugs, a topic of debate on Capitol Hill and target of leg...

During a recent U.S. Senate committee hearing, Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted spoke against the abortion pill, a target of the Trump administration as well as legislation at the Ohio Statehouse.

Child care sector in Ohio continues push to save, and boost, funding • Ohio Capital Journal The child care sector in Ohio and nationwide is furiously pushing for federal leaders to walk back funding freezes for some states, and boost support in the next congressional budget for every state.

The child care sector in Ohio and nationwide is furiously pushing for federal leaders to walk back funding freezes for some states, and boost support in the next congressional budget for every state.