Ohio GOP

The GOP congressman from Rocky River said "obstructionists" are "playing God" with the military and federal workers who could lose paychecks.

Supplies are running out rapidly and food banks but Gov. Mike DeWine's office says it is still reviewing a request for $50 million in additional COVID relief funds; Columbus students are starting the year online today due to the ongoing strike by teachers demanding better pay, improved building conditions and more staff; plus more stories.

Two Republican state lawmakers have introduced a bill that is similar to Florida’s new law that critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law; the committee charged with finding a place to build a new Cuyahoga County jail delayed a vote on a proposed site after hearing from citizens who are against the plan; retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman says he will vote against the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson; and more stories.

Ohio House Democrats on failed to block amendment that shortens the required amount of time an overseas or military voter has access to a ballot and extends the return date; College students rallied against a so-called “divisive concepts” bill; a former Westlake financial adviser has been convicted for running a Ponzi scheme; and more stories.

Republicans are expected to unveil a new map today for congressional redistricting; Ohio election officials say they have “grave concerns” about being able to carry out a successful primary election on May 3; Akron Public Schools superintendent is going to have to try again to win over the school board when it comes to getting more administrative help; and more stories.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is leading an effort to get a federal judge to dismiss suits filed by hundreds of local governments including Cleveland and Cuyahoga County against a consulting firm that helped boost the sales of opioids; the Ohio House has approved legislation targeting protesters with a provision normally used against terrorist activity; Sen. Rob Portman has endorsed Jane Timken in the crowded GOP field vying to succeed him this year; and more stories.

The snow is tapering off, but it’s going to take crews and plows some time to clear roads and parking lots; Bernie Moreno has dropped out of the Ohio U.S. Senate race; the Summit Metro Parks is permanently closing the swim areas at Munroe Falls and Silver Creek Metro Parks; and more stories.

The remaining members of The Devil Strip’s board shed more light on its financial troubles during a meeting for co-op members Wednesday night; a Cleveland-area roller derby team that has called itself the Guardians since 2013 is suing Cleveland's newly renamed Major League Baseball team; Akron residents can take part in two public information sessions about the city’s federal COVID relief funds; and more stories.

The National Weather Service on Thursday issued 11 tornado warnings throughout Northeast Ohio yesterday, the most during a single event since 2005; Ohio’s coronavirus case rate is at 420 case per 100,000 residents; a newly surfaced text exchange between then-FirstEnergy executives give a new peek into the favors the company got from Ohio’s top utility regulator; and more stories.

The Republican speaker of the Ohio House Bob Cupp has once again put the brakes on a GOP bill restricting employers' ability to require that workers receive the coronavirus vaccine; the Ohio Republican Party is calling on Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, to recuse herself from a trio of lawsuits challenging new state legislative maps; Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's plan for spending $26 million in stimulus funding has passed through City Council's Safety Committee; and more stories.