LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Year: 2024

  • FirstEnergy gave heavily to Trump and Trump worked for a federal bailout, report says

    FirstEnergy gave heavily to Trump and Trump worked for a federal bailout, report says

    The Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

    By:  – Ohio Capital Journal

    As it sought a massive, corrupt bailout in Ohio, Akron-based FirstEnergy also spent lavishly on Trump-aligned dark money groups and at hotels and golf courses owned by the former president, a new report said this week.

    Trump and his aides wanted to provide a federal bailout for the company’s coal and nuclear plants, but they hit a brick wall — first in the form of a regulator, and then by public opposition to corporate bailouts, the report said.

    Done by the Energy and Policy Institute, the report is a deep dive into otherwise-secret records that have been pried out as a result of prosecutions and litigation around the Ohio bailout scandal. Called one of the biggest bribery scandals in Ohio history, FirstEnergy funneled $61 million through dark money groups to pass a $1.3 billion ratepayer bailout through the state’s gerrymandered legislature and then protect it from popular opposition.

    Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence as a consequence of his involvement, former state Republican Party Chair Matt Borges is serving five years and two others have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Two others were charged and then died by suicide.

    Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and Vice President Michael Dowling face state felony charges related to their involvement in the scandal. Testimony during last year’s federal trial in Cincinnati showed that the pair were desperate for a bailout anywhere they could get one.

    FirstEnergy was heavily invested in coal and nuclear generation when the natural gas boom and the advent of cheap renewables made them uncompetitive. In other words, FirstEnergy’s millionaire leaders had made poor business decisions, and they wanted to escape the consequences.

    So by 2016, the executives were seeking bailouts to prop up the plants so they could spin them — and their environmental liabilities — off.

    Starting in 2015, FirstEnergy had already contributed $1.25 million to the Cleveland Host Committee to support the 2016 Republican National Convention in that city.

    Then, nine days after Trump became the party’s nominee, FirstEnergy CEO Jones met on July 28, 2016 with Trump at Trump Tower. The two discussed electricity generation and how Trump could deliver on his “promise to save coal jobs,” according to a letter the Energy and Policy Institute obtained.

    Some time after, Jones met Trump at a Canton fundraiser where Jones “did explain to Mr. Trump that while I was working behind the scenes to help his campaign, because of a (regulatory proceeding) in Ohio I could not be out front and he completely understood that,” Jones said in an email detailed in the report.

    Trump’s campaign didn’t respond to questions for this story.

    By late 2016, Jones and Dowling were courting Householder at World Series games in Cleveland. And after Trump’s election, they flew the now-imprisoned former speaker to Washington, D.C. aboard FirstEnergy’s corporate jet for Trump’s January 2017 inauguration.

    By April 2017, FirstEnergy had engaged Avenue Strategies — a lobbying firm founded by former Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski — to help it get “federal relief for nuclear and coal-fired plants,” the Energy and Policy Institute report said. The following month, Lewandowski stepped away from the firm amid accusations that he was violating federal lobbying laws by not registering, Politico reported.

    Lewandowski, who is again working for Trump, later denied that he lobbied on FirstEnergy’s behalf.

    On May 1, 2017, FirstEnergy started really putting money into its efforts, paying $5 million to America First Policies, a 501(c)(4) dark money group founded and run by supporters of Trump. The company financed its bribes in Ohio by pumping tens of millions through such groups, which don’t have to disclose their donors.

    As Jones undertook his charm offensive, he used FirstEnergy money to enrich Trump personally. His expense reports show that on a July 2017 trip to Washington, D.C., Jones spent $1,400 on drinks, another $5,400 for dinner and $900 for a room at the Trump International Hotel, as well as $400 on caddie fees at the Trump National Golf Club.

    And as he spread around the FirstEnergy largesse, Jones had broad interactions with Trump officials. They include Vice President Mike Pence, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Chief of Staff Rick Dearborn, Chief Strategist Steven Bannon, White House Counsel Don McGahn, Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor Mike Catanzaro, and National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn and Deputy Director Jeremy Katz, according to documents assembled by the Energy and Policy Institute.

    To save FirstEnergy’s power-generating subsidiary from bankruptcy, then-Energy Secretary Rick Perry in September 2017 proposed to allow special subsidies for coal and nuclear plants.

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected the proposal in early 2018, saying allowing it would upend wholesale markets for electricity generation. In other words, the regulator said it would give unfair special treatment to FirstEnergy and other companies that missed the boat on fracking and renewables.

    In June 2018, Trump ordered Perry to use a provision in the Defense Production Act to prop up coal and nuclear energy — a step that could cost as much as $11 billion a year. That effort also collapsed as the (correct) public perception grew that both measures proposed by the Trump administration were corporate bailouts, the Energy and Policy Institute report said.

    In 2018, Perry called on the states to bail out their own coal and nuclear plants.

    Ohio did just that with the corrupt House Bill 6. Householder shepherded it through Ohio’s gerrymandered legislature and Gov. Mike DeWine signed it immediately.

    Prosecutors haven’t accused them of wrongdoing, but DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Attorney General Dave Yost and Secretary of State Frank LaRose all played roles in the passage and protection of the billion-dollar bailout that they haven’t fully explained.

    For its part, FirstEnergy entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, admitted wrongdoing and paid a $230 million fine. It fired Jones and Dowling and now says it has new ethical standards.

    However, a group of institutional investors suing the utility accuse it of trying to limit accountability to the two former top executives, Jones and Dowling.

    FirstEnergy spokeswoman Jennifer Young was asked whether FirstEnergy thought it was proper to enrich Trump-aligned groups and Trump personally as it sought taxpayer bailouts from his administration. She was also asked whether it was proper for a regulated utility to — as Jones claimed — play political kingmaker for the ratepayers the utility serves.

    “While we’re unable to respond to your specific questions due to ongoing litigation, it’s important to note that in early 2022, FirstEnergy Corp. adopted a new Political & Public Engagement Policy and Practice grounded in integrity and transparency to ensure principled political and public policy engagement by its Board of Directors, officers, employees, and those acting on the company’s behalf,” Young said in an email. “Positions we take will align with the company’s core values and responsibilities to shareholders and other stakeholders.”

    She added, “Led by a reconstituted Board of Directors and executive team, FirstEnergy has taken significant steps to move the company forward and put past issues behind us. Today, FirstEnergy is a different, stronger company with a sound strategy, a highly effective compliance program and a companywide culture of ethics, integrity and accountability.”

    Marty Schladen
    Marty Schladen

    Marty Schladen has been a reporter for decades, working in Indiana, Texas and other places before returning to his native Ohio to work at The Columbus Dispatch in 2017. He’s won state and national journalism awards for investigations into utility regulation, public corruption, the environment, prescription drug spending and other matters.

    Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

    MORE FROM AUTHOR

  • State Fire Marshal Lifts Ban on Open Burning

    State Fire Marshal Lifts Ban on Open Burning

    Columbus, Ohio – Working in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon has issued an order lifting a Ban on Open Burning that was initially ordered on Sept. 6, 2024, in response to extremely dry conditions in much of the state.

    While drought conditions persist in parts of the state, the onset of moderate fall temperatures and atmospheric conditions and recent sustained rains that have fallen across the state have provided enough moisture to create a significant and sustained reduction in wildfire fuel loads during the first part of October. Most importantly, those reduced wildfire fuel loads are not projected to increase back to the dangerous levels observed in September for the foreseeable future. Specifically, broad areas of the state that received measurable amounts of rain have seen grass return to green, and heavier wildland fuels like larger sticks and logs have had the opportunity to soak up moisture, substantially lessening the risks of uncontainable wildfires.

    The Ban on Open Burning that was in place for the past month relied heavily on the US Drought Monitor, which focused on overall long-term drought conditions. An additional and proven index to examine regarding drought-related wildfire risks is the Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI), which links precipitation effects to wildfire fuel availability and is founded in the concept that fuels with less moisture burn more actively and fuels with more moisture burn with less intensity, or potentially not at all.

    The hot, dry summer and early fall conditions led to extreme and exceptional drought conditions as noted in the US Drought Monitor, as well as very high KBDI values, meaning wildfire fuels were exceptionally dry. This created many problems related to wildfire dangers: grass was withering and dry and very receptive to ignition; large logs were very dry and ready to burn with extreme intensity; and organic materials on and in the ground had very little moisture.

    The early October rain provided enough moisture across many parts of the state to allow the KBDI and wildfire moisture levels to recover to a more average range for this time of year. Additionally, the cooler, fall-like weather that has moved into the state has a less dramatic drying influence on fuels and has also helped fuels recover from the extreme drought conditions.

    “Factors we look at are the burnability, or how easy it is to ignite those fuels that are on the ground,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “When those fuels are drier, they will obviously ignite faster. When there is more moisture, that changes their ignitability quite a bit. There’s a lot that goes into this, but it simply boils down to how easy is it to start a fire on the ground.”

    While the Fire Marshal’s Ban on Open Burning has been lifted, if drought conditions worsen and KBDI values return to concerning levels, the ban could be reinstated in areas of concern.

    For those who want to burn during unrestricted hours, the Division of State Fire Marshal encourages them to do so cautiously and to have a source of water and tools on hand in case they are needed. Fires should never be left unattended.

    “Think about the ground conditions where you’re at, if the ground is very dry, any fire you have could spread quickly and easily,” Reardon said. “We ask all Ohioans to be careful, think before starting a fire, and to be fire safe.”

    “Ohio law dictates that most outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during October and November,” said ODNR Division of Forestry Fire Prevention Manager Aaron Kloss. “In addition, make sure you are aware of any other open burning restrictions that might be in place, including Ohio EPA or any local fire department regulations, and be sure to never burn on dry and windy days, even during an unrestricted time.”

    The Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s normal annual burning restriction is found in the ORC 1503.18c and prohibits most open burning between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in unincorporated areas in Ohio. This restriction is in place every fall from October 1 to November 30, and every spring from March 1 to May 31.

    Any local burn bans put into place by local jurisdictions will remain in effect unless lifted by that jurisdiction.

  • Joe Burrow Is Having a MVP Season – The Bengals Cannot Let It Go to Waste

    Joe Burrow Is Having a MVP Season – The Bengals Cannot Let It Go to Waste

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Bengals fans have had to watch in agony as two of Joe Burrow’s seasons came to terrible ends due to injuries. In 2020 it was several torn knee ligaments against Washington in week 11. Last year it was yet another week 11 injury, this time a season-ending ligament tear in his wrist. But if there is one thing that the Bengals quarterback knows how to do, it is battle back to be even better.

    Burrow returned in 2021 to throw for over 4600 yards and guide the team to their first Super Bowl in decades, which they were one play away from winning. He led the NFL in completion percentage (70.4%) and yards per attempt (8.9). Cincinnati was 10-6 that year and Burrow won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

    But his comeback tour in 2024 is even more awe-inspiring. He leads the league in touchdown passes (12) and quarterback rating (113.6) and he’s second in completion percentage (72.3). Burrow is also excelling at throwing the ball downfield as he also is front of the pack when it comes to passes of over 40 yards.

    It’s a testament to how well both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are playing in that Burrow is also the highest graded quarterback on passes over 10 yards. He boasts a 94.9 rating on such throws:

    There’s little doubt that Burrow is seeing the field better than at any point in his career. But there are other components to it. He has the best-performing offensive line that Cincinnati has seen in recent memory. He has fully healthy weapons on the outside in Chase and Higgins. The Bengals’ running game is more consistent and explosive than in prior years.

    Take all of that and you get a Bengals team that is 7th in total offense and 6th in yards per play. The one thing that Joe Burrow does not have, to all of our sorrow, is a serviceable defense. As you can see from the chart below, the Bengals are near the top of the league in offensive expected points added. On the other hand, their defense is near the bottom in that same metric.

    Cincinnati is 26th in yards per game allowed (365.4), 18th in passing allowed (214.0) and 30th in rushing allowed (151.4). They are fourth worst in the NFL in scoring percentage, in that their opponents score points on almost 50 percent of their drives. By contrast, in 2022 the Bengals had the 7th best defense in yards per game, on route to 12 regular season wins.

    What it all seems to add up to is a giant missed opportunity. The 2024 Cincinnati Bengals have a bevy of offensive weapons. They are young, they are healthy, they are talented, and they are absolutely motivated. The effort, focus, and execution is present at every level: blocking, running, tackling, and receiving.

    But without a defense to back them up, Cincinnati’s offense can only do so much to win shootout after shootout. When a game comes down to who has the ball last, sometimes you just don’t have enough firepower to get the job done. It was what we all saw on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Joe Burrow was amazing, Ja’Marr Chase was electric, and Tee Higgins hauled in first down catch after first down catch.

    Burrow has talked previously about how he has to be “perfect” in order to win games. While that’s a near impossible task for any NFL player, especially at the quarterback position, it’s unfortunate to say that he’s not far off in his messaging. With a defense as porous as Cincinnati has at the moment, nearly flawless games (like the one we saw against the Ravens) aren’t even good enough to come away with a victory, as patently unfair as that is.

    In the NFL, where windows of success can slam shut so quickly, it is absolutely criminal to waste a MVP year from Joe Burrow simply because a defense fails to show up game in and game out.

    That being said, there is a chance for the defense to play better and gain confidence. Before the Bengals head to Baltimore in week 10 for a rematch against the Ravens, they face the Giants (20th in yards per game), Browns (dead last at 32nd), and Raiders (24th). They also square off against the Eagles who have the 8th rated offense, but who are reeling at the moment. Those are legitimate chances to turn the defense around and find success, which Lou Anarumo can hopefully build upon before facing Baltimore again. The season is not over yet, and Trey Hendrickson, Cam Taylor-Britt, and the rest of the Bengals’ defense can make that very clear by making a statement, starting with Sunday Night Football against Daniel Jones and the New York Giants.

    If Joe Burrow can come back from prior struggles to set the league on fire, why can’t the Bengals’ defense?

    ———————-

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    New Episode: The Queen City Sports Podcast by Chris Ball & Mark Raines

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – What role did Zac Taylor’s play calling have in the Bengals’ heartbreaking loss this past week against the Baltimore Ravens? Chris and Mark discuss how the Bengals abandoning Joe Burrow and their passing attack at the most crucial moment of the game impacted its end. The guys also discuss what the Bearcats can expect when they take on UCF this weekend, and how Michigan’s quarterback woes may be improving, but their play at the position is far from adequate. The Bearcats basketball squad is also in the top 15, at least by the evaluation of one key prognosticator. Finally, Chris and Mark talk about the Reds’ recent hiring of veteran manager Terry Francona and the impact it will have on the 2025 season.

     

    Have a listen and don’t forget to leave your comments and feedback!

    _______________________

    Hey readers… have an opinion about sports? How about a topic you’d like to see written about in Loveland Magazine or a thought about one of our articles?

    Just need to vent and get out your frustration about the Reds, Bengals, or any other sports issues?

    Feel free to share with an email to lovelandmagazinesports@gmail.com!

    We would love to hear from our readers, and we thank you for your support and engagement.

    Also, don’t forget to follow us at The Loveland Sports Desk at the below links:

    For Facebook, click here.

    For X, click here.

    For Instagram, click here. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • Ohio Department of Commerce Issues Consumer Alert Following MoneyGram Data Breach

    Ohio Department of Commerce Issues Consumer Alert Following MoneyGram Data Breach

    The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions (DFI) has issued a Consumer Alert to Ohio residents who have used services provided by MoneyGram following a recent cyber-attack. The money transmitter, who is licensed with DFI, currently operates in over 200 cities across Ohio.

    The breach occurred between Sept. 20-22, 2024 and involved an unauthorized third party to access and acquire sensitive personal information from certain MoneyGram customers.

    According to a statement from MoneyGram, the compromised data includes names, contact information, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, government-issued identification documents, bank account numbers, transaction information and, for some individuals, criminal investigation information.

    The company says immediate steps have been taken to contain the breach, and an investigation is currently underway with the assistance of cybersecurity experts and law enforcement.

    “While cyberattacks are increasingly common, the impact of those attacks on consumers can be limited if those who are impacted take the appropriate measures, and do so quickly,” DFI Deputy Superintendent Ingrid White said. “By taking steps such as regularly and closely reviewing financial statements and credit reports to identify unauthorized transactions or accounts, individuals can help protect themselves from becoming the victim of identity theft and potentially experiencing significant financial loss.”

    MoneyGram has pledged to provide affected U.S. consumers with two years of complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services. Their systems have since resumed normal operations.

    Meanwhile, Ohioans who have used MoneyGram’s services may consider taking the following steps:

    Review Financial Statements and Credit Reports 

    Stay alert to any unauthorized transactions by regularly checking all financial statements. Free weekly credit reports can be obtained through www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

    Consider Freezing Your Credit

    A security freeze prevents prospective creditors from accessing your credit file, hindering identity thieves from opening new accounts under your name. For additional assistance with freezing your credit, individuals may consider contacting the three major credit reporting bureaus for assistance:

    • Equifax: (800) 685-1111
    • Experian: (888) 397-3742
    • TransUnion: (888) 909-8872

    For Identify Theft Victims

    If you believe you’re the victim of identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) website at www.IdentityTheft.gov to access resources and step-by-step instructions on how to recover from identity theft. For individuals affected by data breaches, specific guidance from the FTC is available here.

  • Ohio voters face critical choices in 2024. No one is coming to the rescue. It’s up to us.

    Ohio voters face critical choices in 2024. No one is coming to the rescue. It’s up to us.

    Getty Image

    Commentary

    Verify that you are a registered voter in Ohio before you go to the polls on Vote.gov.

    by Marilou Johanek – Ohio Capital Journal

    And so, it begins. In-person early voting and absentee voting by mail — from Tuesday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Nov. 3 — is now officially underway in Ohio. Even before closing arguments are made in the 2024 election, registered Ohio voters (roughly 8 million) can start casting their ballots at their county board of elections before Election Day. Check location and times for your county board of elections.

    If you haven’t voted since the last presidential election in 2020, you could be in for a rude awakening when you get to the polls. Many Ohioans (not obsessively preoccupied with politics, like yours truly) are unaware that Republican lawmakers in Columbus enacted one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country in 2023 — despite no evidence of significant voter fraud, by impersonation or otherwise.

    Voting restrictions (in GOP-controlled legislatures) to address nonexistent problems of pervasive voting fraud were turbocharged in the wake of Donald Trump’s fraudulent efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. (This is usually when I have to breathe deeply). Since then, some 28 states, including Ohio, have passed new laws making it harder to vote in order to “combat concerns” generated by false Republican claims about widespread voting scams.

    Ohio Republicans dove into more voter suppression at the front-end last year with legislated hurdles to ballot access that caught surprised voters off guard. Thousands who had voted uneventfully for years with previously acceptable IDs (i.e., utility bills, bank statements) were suddenly prevented from voting under new, stringent rules rolled out right before the May 2023 primary.

    Those who showed up without the proper, government-issued photo ID could fill out a provisional ballot and double-back to their board of elections with the right credentials in a fast clip (four days, reduced from 10) to hopefully have their vote counted. Tough luck if voters lacked the resources or transportation to obtain the newly prescribed documentation in time.

    The number of provisional ballots thrown out for failure to produce the right paperwork rose tenfold after the Republican law went into effect, according to one report that raised the specter of historic levels of rejected ballots in Ohio’s 2024 presidential election. The Madison Township Republican who sponsored the bill that erected the additional obstacles to voting, state Rep. Thomas Hall, told cleveland.com (ludicrously) that disenfranchising so many voters, particularly the Democratic-leaning kind, was never his intention.

    He could have followed up with, “If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.” Don’t hold your breath waiting for any ubiquitous outreach by state Republicans to broadly educate the voting public on all the legal changes and requirements (impediments?) that could affect how and whether Ohioans have a voice in the upcoming election. So, do your homework. Share what you know with other would-be voters in your life.

    Verify that you are a registered voter in Ohio before you go to the polls on Vote.gov. Be sure you have not been wrongly purged by Ohio’s desperately partisan and mistake-prone Secretary of State Frank LaRose — who has notoriously swept eligible voters off the rolls in removal practices deemed among the worst in the nation.

    Make a plan to vote. I know that sounds almost cliché, but when you plan to vote you actually have to think through the how, when and where of getting it done. That’s important. So is the choice you make between now and Nov. 5 to either engage in your most fundamental voting right (upon which all our civil liberties rest) or to live with the consequences of not voting.

    But understand that real decisions are going to be made by the next president, by the next U.S. senator from Ohio, by the next justices who control the state supreme court, by the next state senator and state representative on your 2024 Ohio general election ballot. What do you want next and who do you believe, based on incontrovertible fact, will deliver on that? Are you willing to show up and be a part of making it happen?

    The outcome of this particular election on the state and federal level will profoundly affect whether and to what degree we ultimately endure as a nation “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” It is a referendum on the value we place on freedoms once considered inalienable from the freedom of voting and representational equality to the freedom of women to determine their own destiny and the freedom of all Americans to not live in fear of another mass shooting.

    This election in Ohio and nationwide is a referendum on our republic itself and whether, as Benjamin Franklin mused with prescience, we “can keep it.” What’s it worth to you to navigate the exhausting barriers to participate in self-governance, to exercise your birthright franchise defiantly despite massive voter purges and extreme voting laws?

    Think about it. No one is coming to the rescue. It’s up to us. Always has been.

    Marilou Johanek
    Marilou Johanek

    Marilou Johanek is a veteran Ohio print and broadcast journalist who has covered state and national politics as a longtime newspaper editorial writer and columnist.

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  • How the Ohio Supreme Court races intersect with Issue 1 and redistricting

    How the Ohio Supreme Court races intersect with Issue 1 and redistricting

    Retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor speaks to supporters at the Citizens Not Politicians rally, July 1, 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish only with original story.)

    Even though Ohioans will be voting on Issue 1, which would remove politicians from the redistricting if approved, it’s possible redistricting will go before the state’s high court again.

    By:  – Ohio Capital Journal

    The justices elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 2024 will be the ones deciding on any challenges to new maps if Ohio voters pass the proposed Issue 1 anti-gerrymandering amendment this November.

    Even though Ohioans will be voting on Issue 1, which would remove politicians from redistricting if approved, it’s possible redistricting will go before the state’s high court again.

    “Maps, no matter who draws them, are certainly subject to challenge, and they’re subject to challenge for violating the provisions of the Ohio Constitution,”said University of Cincinnati Political Science Professor David Niven. “So we’re not done no matter what happens with Issue One. … There are still unhappy political actors who will go to the courts in some cases, questioning the process.”

    Redistricting and past Supreme Court rulings

    Redistricting is currently done through the Ohio Redistricting Commission — which includes the governor, the secretary of state, the state auditor and four legislative leaders (two from each party). In 2015, 71% of Ohioans voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to create a bipartisan redistricting commission to draw legislative districts in 2021.

    Six different Statehouse district maps and two congressional maps have gone through the current redistricting process. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled five of the Statehouse maps unconstitutionally gerrymandered and both congressional maps were rejected as unconstitutional.

    A federal court ordered Ohio voters to use the last of the gerrymandered Statehouse maps in 2022 since the commission ran out of time to come up with a constitutionally approved map. State lawmakers are currently occupying those districts.

    Republican former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, who served on the state’s high court from 2003 to 2022, talked about this in an ad for Issue 1.

    “Seven times career politicians have so blatantly gerrymandered our voting district maps that the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the maps unconstitutional. Seven times,” she said in the ad. “Issue One bans politicians from drawing voting maps. It will restore power to where it belongs, with citizens not politicians.”

    Citizens Not Politicians, a nonpartisan coalition, is behind the proposed constitutional amendment. Issue 1 would create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission made up of Republicans, Democratic and independent citizens. It would prohibit current or former politicians, political party officials, lobbyists and large political donors from being on the commission.

    Ohio Supreme Court races

    Republicans currently have a 4-3 majority on the Ohio Supreme Court. Depending on the outcome of the election, the Democrats could flip the court or the Republicans could tighten their grip.

    “The makeup of the court makes a tremendous difference,” Executive Director of Common Cause Ohio Catherine Turcer said. “Are these folks that are going to serve on the court going to look at new voting districts with an eye to what’s in the Ohio Constitution and to what is actually good for Ohio voters, or are they going to be swayed by partisan interests?”

    Ohio Republican lawmakers added party labels to the previously nonpartisan Ohio Supreme Court races starting in 2022.

    Incumbent Democratic Justice Michael P. Donnelly is being challenged by Republican Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan.

    Incumbent Democratic Justice Melody Stewart is being challenged by incumbent Republican Justice Joseph Deters, who decided not to run for his current seat and instead chose to go up against Stewart.

    Democratic candidate Lisa Forbes, of the Eighth District Court of Appeals, and Republican candidate Dan Hawkins, of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, are fighting for Deters’ open seat.

    Deters recently talked briefly about redistricting on a right-wing Cleveland radio show.

    “I think it’s kind of humorous to watch when the other side can’t win, they want to change the rules whether it’s hacking the U.S. Supreme Court because they don’t have the justices they like, or getting rid of the Electoral College because they don’t have a clear advantage in the Electoral College like they do, and it’s just a flat popular vote. And now redistricting,” he said on Strictly Speaking with Bob Frantz.

    Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X.

    Megan Henry
    Megan Henry

    Megan Henry is a reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal and has spent the past five years reporting in Ohio on various topics including education, healthcare, business and crime. She previously worked at The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA Today Network.

    Ohio Capital Journal is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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  • [Photo Album by Andrew Sichak] FC Cincinnati drop final regular season home match 3-1

    [Photo Album by Andrew Sichak] FC Cincinnati drop final regular season home match 3-1

    Loveland, Ohio – These photos by Andrew Sichak were taken at FC Cincinnati’s final regular season home match.

    __________________

    Recap provided by FC Cincinnati

    FC Cincinnati dropped a 3-1 result to Orlando City SC Saturday night at TQL Stadium.

    With one game remaining before the start of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Orange and Blue are locked into third place in the Eastern Conference at 17-11-5 (56 points). Orlando are in fourth place at 15-11-7 (52 points).

    Orlando struck first at the 10-minute mark as Ramiro Enrique found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season.

    Luciano Acosta brought the game level in the final moments of the first half with an extraordinary effort from just outside the Orlando box. Cincinnati’s captain tallied his 14th goal of the season and his second in as many matches after his midweek goal at New York City FC. Teenage Hadebe earned his first assist for the Orange and Blue in the process in his first home start.

    Iván Angulo would restore Orlando’s lead in the 66th minute followed by Enrique’s second goal of the evening six minutes later.

    FC Cincinnati close the 2024 MLS Regular Season on Saturday, October 19 at Philadelphia Union. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET for the Decision Day match.

    The Orange and Blue will host Game 1 of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series on a date to-be-determined following Decision Day.

    GAME NOTES
    – Luciano Acosta recorded his fourth-straight game with a goal contribution, the second-longest streak of the season for FC Cincinnati behind Acosta’s club record nine-game streak from April 6 – May 25.
    – There have been seven streaks in club history of four-plus games with a goal contribution … Acosta accounts for six of them.
    – Saturday marked Lucho Acosta’s 250th career MLS Regular Season appearance.
    – Teenage Hadebe recorded his first assist for FC Cincinnati.

    FC Cincinnati ultimately outshot Orlando 17-6 and earned 54 percent possession. But they could not overcome the two second half goals. With the loss, FC Cincinnati finish their home regular season record 7-7-2.

    The Orange and Blue must now wait two weeks before their next match as the FIFA International Window opens with MLS Decision Day to follow on Saturday October 19. FC Cincinnati will travel to Philadelphia Union for the final match of the regular season at Subaru Park before kicking off the MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best of 3 series at TQL Stadium.

  • LHS teacher Lisa Brinkman selected for the 2025 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship

    LHS teacher Lisa Brinkman selected for the 2025 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland High School Spanish Teacher Lisa Brinkman has been selected for the 2025 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship. The Fellowship is a year-long opportunity for her to learn and grow as an educator and bring her learning back for the benefit of our students.

    Lisa has been teaching Spanish at LHS for 20 years, is the chairperson of the World Language Department, and her two children attend Loveland Schools.

    Outside of the school day, Lisa will dedicate time to webinars, online coursework, a two-day conference, and an international field study.

    She is one of only 48 educators from across the country to be chosen for this prestigious opportunity.

    More about NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship

    Through the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship, public school educators develop the knowledge and skills to integrate global competency into their daily classroom instruction, advocate for global competency in their schools and districts, and help students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected world. Fellows transform their classrooms to give students a global perspective.

    Over the course of a year, NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellows immerse themselves in:

    • Ongoing workshops and webinars with global competency and education

    • Fellows’ independent study followed by group reflection and discussion

    • Group mentoring

    • A two-day in-person conference

    • Completion of a capstone project incorporating one or more of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals into classroom instructions

    • A 10-day international field study to examine another country’s education system, culture, and historical context

    Described by many fellows as “transformative,” the international field study experience guides fellows through thoughtful investigation of the historical and cultural contexts of the country visited while they also learn about its education system.

    Fellows meet with policymakers, community and nonprofit leaders, educators, students, and school administrators. The NEA Foundation carefully selects field study destinations where fellows can forge fruitful relationships while deeply immersing themselves in a new environment. Previous field study destinations include Peru, China, Brazil, South Africa, and Costa Rica.

    Fellows emerge from the Global Learning Fellowship with a deeper appreciation for cultural differences, stronger perspective taking skills, and firsthand experience of another culture’s approach to education. Their experiences throughout the fellowship reinforce the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in meeting the needs of students and communities.

    Fellows also develop an informed understanding of what global competency looks like in the classroom, why it’s critical to incorporate it into their teaching practices, and how they can be advocates for global competency at their schools and districts. They establish meaningful relationships with fellows across the country, many maintained throughout their careers and lifetimes.

    Since its inception in 2011, more than 500 public school educators have participated in the Global Learning Fellowship. Fellows have come from all 50 states, teaching every subject, at every grade level, and at all stages of their teaching careers. For many past fellows, participating in the field study was their first time traveling abroad. The Global Learning Fellowship has expanded the horizons of fellows, their students, and their communities.

  • OOD Recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month with Hiring Events and Webinar

    OOD Recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month with Hiring Events and Webinar

    National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is observed every October to celebrate the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities and promote inclusive employment practices. This year’s theme, “Access to Good Jobs for All,” underscores the importance of ensuring workers with disabilities have access to quality employment opportunities throughout the year. Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) is spearheading the state’s efforts to highlight the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities and facilitating meaningful employment connections.

    “Ohio is the heart of opportunity and the heart of prosperity, and that includes individuals with disabilities. Every Ohioan should have access to a good job and a path toward economic success,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a reminder of the diverse talents and contributions people with disabilities bring to our workforce. This year, I challenge more businesses to participate in OOD’s upcoming hiring events and webinars and learn how they can be a part of creating opportunities for all Ohioans to reach their full potential.”

    Kevin L. Miller, OOD Director, emphasized the agency’s commitment to this goal: “Our mission goes beyond a single month; we are dedicated to creating lasting employment opportunities for Ohioans with disabilities year-round, fostering workplaces where everyone can thrive and contribute meaningfully.”

    Throughout October, OOD will host hiring events across Ohio, providing individuals with disabilities unique opportunities to connect directly with employers seeking to build inclusive workforces. These events aim to foster relationships that lead to long-term, quality employment.

    Additionally, OOD will offer a free webinar for employers titled “Building an Inclusive Apprenticeship Program” on October 16 at 10 a.m. This session will explore the benefits of inclusive apprenticeships, discuss reasonable accommodations, and highlight resources supporting these initiatives. More information, including the link to join, can be found on OOD’s webinar webpage.