Sarah Donaldson

1 week ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Ohio legislators are again considering near-identical bills banning “foreign adversaries” from buying real property in wide swaths of protected areas, which has drawn ire from Asian-American communities throughout the state. Under House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88, both businesses and certain non-citizens—such as lawful permanent residents—hailing from countries defined as adversarial would be subject to the proposed ban.

2 weeks ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Suicide is a public health crisis. If you or anyone you know is in crisis, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988. More information can be found here. From the Buckeyes and the Bearcats to Dolly Parton, Ohio has more than 300 license plates collecting money for various causes. The state is adding another to that lengthy list. Some specialized plates sell by the hundreds and others by the tens of thousands, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

2 weeks ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Ohio House lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday 71-24 that would create stricter penalties for a person charged with a crime who already has a history of firearms offenses. House Bill 5, also called the Repeat Offender Act, hikes the mandatory prison terms for a slew of gun convictions, such as using an illegal gun or modification, or improperly discharging the gun out of a car.

2 weeks ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Democratic state lawmakers said Wednesday they will roll out three bills targeting bribes and other forms of political corruption post-House Bill 6, the law tied to a nuclear power bailout scandal that resulted in numerous federal convictions and indictments. The 2019 law, which prosecutors have said was part of a broader racketeering scheme, landed Republican former House speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party chair Matt Borges in federal prison. Rep.

3 weeks ago | ideastream.org | Sarah Donaldson

(Note: This story includes detailed reference to allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct. The Statehouse News Bureau does not identify sexual misconduct victims.)A GOP Ohio House lawmaker was removed from committee assignments and asked to resign Monday, based on allegations of his sexual misconduct with a minor relative, which come from Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) documents. The minor—who the Statehouse News Bureau is not identifying further—accused Rep.