The Ohio Redistricting Commission has approved new maps for the state’s legislative districts. The maps would preserve the Republican Party’s super-majority in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate.
The vote for the maps went along party lines with the commission’s five Republicans voting for them and the two Democrats voting against the maps.
The lack of bipartisan support means the maps will only be in place for four years.
This is the first time the redistricting process has taken place under reforms approved by voters to make the process more bipartisan and lead to less gerrymandered districts.
Ohio’s top doctor says the current wave of COVID-19 cases is putting a “dangerous strain” on the state’s hospitals.
Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, The Director of the Ohio Department of Health, held a news briefing yesterday. He says that some hospital systems in Ohio are at full capacity while others have had to reschedule elective procedures or divert patients to other hospitals.
It is a message that Vanderhoff and hospital executives have been repeating for weeks. Earlier this week, administrators from several of the state’s pediatric hospitals had a similar message regarding the impact COVID-19 is having on children.
Those administrators are asking school districts to implement mask mandates to slow the spread of COVID-19 as well as the RSV virus that is also making kids sick.
Governor Mike DeWine this week put the blame for the lack of a state mask mandate on fellow Republicans, who he says would immediately repeal any measure put in place.
Without a state mandate, cities and other communities are putting their own measures in place. Columbus has a mask mandate. This week, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish issued a mask advisory that strongly encouraged people to wear masks inside in public places, regardless of vaccination status. There are no fines or penalties for not wearing masks.
Kent State University’s Board of Trustees voted this week to approve an agreement that hands over operations of its public radio station, WKSU to Ideastream Public Media.
Under the agreement, Ideastream will take over the management of WKSU beginning on October 1, although on-air programming will not change just yet. The agreement will expand Ideastream's reach from 2.4 million to 3.6 million people, reaching 22 Northeast Ohio counties.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the merger and sign up to receive email updates.
Anna Huntsman, Health Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
Andrew Meyer, News Director, WSKU
Andy Chow, Reporter, Statehouse News Bureau
