A Democratic state senator says recent police-involved shootings has led her to ask for a change in a key element of the justice system – the grand jury process. But the state’s chief justice says the Ohio Supreme Court is powerless to do anything about it. Tuesday wasn’t very busy at polling places around Ohio, but it was a good primary for most schools and libraries.
Athens County could soon become the fracking waste capital of Ohio. But groups of local business owners and some Democratic state lawmakers have said enough is enough. Bradley Parks from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Statehouse News Bureau has details.
This week a bundle of proposed changes to Ohio’s gun laws came before lawmakers on an Ohio House committee. One bill would potentially allow concealed weapons them in places like places of worship, daycares and colleges and universities. Rep. Ron Maag (R-Lebanon) and Rep. Ron Hood (R-Ashville) are sponsoring two of them. But gun control advocates such as Jennifer Thorne with the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence are horrified.
There were more than 13,000 reports of abuse, exploitation and neglect of Ohioans over the age of 60 in the last fiscal year. But experts say the real numbers of elderly people who are being physically, emotionally, financially or sexually abused could top 100,000 a year. Last week, survivor Ramona Wilson and investigator David Kessler shared their story of discovering and coming back from abuse. While the elderly abuse unit that was once part of his office hasn't been restored, Attorney General Mike DeWine says there are efforts in place to help stop elderly abuse in Ohio.