Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff

COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations are down across the Buckeye state, but health officials are eyeing new variants popping up in Europe and China and encouraging the public to get vaccinated and boosted.

The COVID-19 vaccines for Ohio’s youngest children are expected to be approved in coming days, and Ohio’s Department of Health says that they are well supplied and well organized to provide the shots.

High winds and heavy rains led to scattered outages across Northeast Ohio leaving thousands without power; Mayors Justin Bibb and Dan Horrigan demand state and federal gun reforms on the same day Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill loosening training requirements for armed teachers; and more stories.

The Ohio Department of Health is working with the United States Department of Agriculture to get waivers for families enrolled in WIC so people have more formula options during the national shortage.

Ohio Department of Health has applied for federal waivers to remove some WIC restrictions so low-income families have increased choices in infant formula; Nan Whaley is criticizing Gov. Mike DeWine's slow response to the ongoing shortage; Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp has delayed voting on a constitutional amendment to reform bail-setting laws; and more stories.

New COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Ohio are at their lowest levels since July but the Ohio Department of Health is keeping an eye on a new omicron variant; the Ohio Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments over whether Gov. Mike DeWine had the legal ability to end the state's participation in a federal pandemic unemployment aid program ahead of a government deadline stopping the payments; the Ohio primary is just six weeks away but candidates still don't know whether the contest will happen on that date; and more stories.

Ohio’s political map-making panel has voted to approve legislative maps while being ordered to appear at a Supreme Court hearing; the Ohio Supreme Court is considering whether a Northeast Ohio company that suffered financial losses as a result of a COVID-driven business shutdown can be compensated for those losses by its insurance company; Ohio's health leader warns against complacency as COVID situation improves ; and more stories.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says masks and vaccinations are still important tools to fight COVID-19.

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says there's good news and bad news when you look at the current COVID situation in Ohio.

It’s welcome news for residents concerned about infection and for health care workers stretched thin by the omicron surge. And there are some additional hopeful signs.