Ohio

OpenAI, Nvidia, and Japanese investors are set to spend $500bn on a large artificial intelligence datacenter in Piketon, southern Ohio. The project aims to build 8GW worth of AI computing power and promises thousands of jobs, though environmental groups have voiced concern. Energy secretary Chris Wright and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick were among the dignitaries who broke ground on the site last March.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding state bans on trans athletes competing in women’s and girls’ sports, both Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Dr. Amy Acton publicly stated support for enforcing such bans in Ohio. The article points out that two candidates from different parties adopted similar language regarding the ban, which has been criticized as misgendering transgender athletes.

Ohio candidates for governor are addressing major public corruption scandals, citing schemes involving FirstEnergy and institutions like STRS. Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton proposes creating an anti-corruption task force to audit waste and abuse and advocating for a comprehensive review of JobsOhio. She also plans to push for greater transparency in state campaign finance laws.

During Border Report Live, an immigrant advocacy group from Ohio urged communities to prevent the use of surveillance technology. The organization specifically called for preventing the deployment of Flock cameras and automatic license plate readers.

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested by a human trafficking task force at Wheat Hill Mobile Home Community trailer park in East Palestine, Ohio. According to a nonprofit group, York alleges he was unfairly "catfished" by undercover investigators regarding "consensual private behavior."

In a tense interview, Abdul El-Sayed faced challenges from Jesse Watters regarding billionaires and Sharia law. News also covered controversy around an Smithsonian-linked museum’s response to 9/11, while Canada prepared for retribution after Trump tariffs were placed on goods. Other headlines included a 49ers owner's arrest in Ohio prostitution sting.

At least 37 states, including Ohio, are projected to face billions in reduced federal payments for hospital services due to Medicaid funding changes from the Congressional budget reconciliation bill. The research group KFF estimates that current federal spending could see a reduction of $60 billion, potentially having devastating effects on rural hospitals and leading states like Ohio to account for significant funding gaps.

The U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding state bans on trans athletes in women’s sports created a flashpoint in Ohio’s governor’s race. Both Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Dr. Amy Acton publicly took similar stances, pledging to enforce an Ohio law banning trans athletes in school-age sports. This situation has highlighted the internal debates within the Democratic party regarding how to respond to anti-trans attacks.

Kroger faces bipartisan criticism in Congress regarding its surveillance pricing program, which allegedly uses customer data, such as income levels, to maximize charges. Critics state that Kroger sells collected customer data for profit and that shoppers have been overcharged due to issues like expired tags. Lawmakers warn that these practices represent a misuse of personal information that also coincided with worker reports of job cuts.

President Donald Trump has escalated a trade dispute with Canada by raising tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian imports, leading to potential economic turmoil as the countries approach their own tariff announcements. This ongoing conflict creates political pressure for Republicans representing border states like Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Alaska.

Amy Acton unveiled an anti-corruption agenda for Ohio, proposing several executive actions to combat corruption among state officials. Her plan includes establishing a task force to review state government, eliminating the revolving door between regulators and overseen industries, and requiring a three-year cooling off period for appointees. Furthermore, she aims to limit dark money influence by requiring disclosure of donors and ownership for state contractors and bidding companies.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles eliminated the Declaration of Gender Change form required to update gender markers on state identification cards. Advocates criticized this move as sudden and a potential attempt at voter suppression, while BMV spokespersons stated that the form was discontinued because it is not compatible with current state law. Under the new policy, the BMV will record an individual's sex based solely on what appears on their birth certificate or passport.

High school students in Ohio face growing financial barriers because many public districts now charge fees for sports participation, with costs reaching up to $500 per sport. The article notes that there are no applicable state laws limiting what these school districts can charge student athletes. This unregulated approach means access to sports is often determined by a family's zip code and ability to pay.

Signs of discontent are appearing among voters across Ohio, suggesting the state may once again turn purple. This political climate means that Ohio could potentially become a highly contested area during the 2026 midterms.

In Millersport, Ohio, a hearing was held in a school cafeteria regarding a proposed power plant. This facility is intended to provide energy for a $2.1 billion data center project that is being built nearby in the farmland.

Gas station giant Buc-ee’s has drawn an outcry and sparked a backlash in Ohio. This controversy involves the company launching a lawsuit over a mini mart’s beaver logo, which relates to its history of frequent trademark infringement legal actions.

Buc-ee’s launched a trademark infringement lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart in Ohio, alleging that the mini mart's beaver logo resembles Buc-ee's branded beaver logo. The move has triggered backlash and boycotts from local supporters, prompting the city of Beavercreek to make the beaver an official part of its history. John Oliver also addressed Buc-ee’s aggressive history of targeting woodland creature logos in his program.

The convenience store chain Buc-ee’s is facing a backlash in Ohio for filing a trademark infringement lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart, citing similarity in their respective beaver logos. Supporters of the mini mart have reacted by boycoting Buc-ee's and promoting awareness of the legal dispute. The dispute highlights a wider pattern of aggressive trademark lawsuits used by Buc-ee's.

A mosque in Ohio was attacked for the third time amid Islamophobic blowback against Arab and Muslim Americans running for office. Assailants used wire cutters to break into the Westwood Islamic Community Center, where a board member and member named Nashid Shakir stated they broke into an office and created total disarray.

Jonas Julien arrived at the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio. He reported to ICE, after which he was fitted with an ankle monitor.

Mike DeWine has maintained a political career spanning over forty-nine years, marked by resilience and reelection to seven different offices. As Ohio Gov., he has shaped the state's political landscape while emphasizing data-driven leadership and public service.

Vivek Ramaswamy has reportedly spent nearly $700,000 leasing private jets for campaign events since the start of his campaign. Campaign finance records show he leased a significant amount from V Leasing LLC and another portion from TVPX Aircraft Solutions. Opponents criticized this spending, arguing that it treats Ohio like a "flyover state."

A leaked memo reveals that national Republican leaders are concerned about Ohio's U.S. Senate race, which has seen data centers take center stage. Campaign ads from Sherrod Brown target Jon Husted, claiming he led to the arrival of massive energy-sucking facilities in Ohio. The memo stated that if voters' perceptions of data centers are not fixed quickly, political opposition will expand far beyond Ohio.

Ohio voters are facing coordinated efforts to sow doubt about nonpartisan organizations that assist with voter registration. These efforts include FBI raids on groups like the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and warnings from state officials, such as Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Dedicated civic groups maintain they provide accurate information, noting that helping eligible voters register is not a partisan act.

Vice President JD Vance is returning to his hometown on Friday. He plans to campaign for Republican candidates at a steel plant located in Ohio that was once a workplace for his grandfather.

JD Vance will campaign at the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works facility, a site where his grandfather worked for nearly 40 years. During the visit, he plans to promote economic policies related to expanding U.S. manufacturing and highlight his Rust Belt roots ahead of midterm elections. The event occurs amid heightened political competition in Ohio.

A crash occurred on Interstate 670 in Ohio after a truck stopped in the middle of the highway near an exit ramp. The stop caused traffic to back up, leading another vehicle behind it to run into a work truck that had already halted. Officials advised drivers who are lost or confused not to stop in a travel lane but instead to pull over safely or maintain traffic flow while exiting.

A crash occurred on Interstate 670 in Ohio after a truck stopped in the middle of a busy highway near an exit ramp. The resulting holdup caused traffic to slow down, leading to a subsequent collision when a car failed to stop properly. Following the incident, officials advised that drivers should never stop in a travel lane if confused or lost.

A crash occurred on Interstate 670 in Ohio after a truck stopped in the right lane near an exit ramp, causing traffic to standstill. During the incident, a vehicle failed to stop in time and struck a work truck positioned two cars behind. Officials from the Ohio DOT warned that drivers should not stop in a travel lane if lost or confused, instead advising them to safely pull over or maintain traffic flow.

Governor Mike DeWine urged his successor to continue literacy programs, stating that money invested in early childhood education is money best spent. He noted that Ohio schools are required to teach the Science of Reading and referenced giving out over 27 million free books through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Additionally, Vivek Ramaswamy proposed reinstating a policy requiring normal students to be literate by the end of 3rd grade.

Ohio's economic growth is fueled by investments in semiconductor manufacturing and utility infrastructure, relying heavily on skilled tradespeople to maintain electrical systems. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) plays a critical role in modernizing the grid for energy resources and facilities like the Intel campus. This growth, however, faces a challenge as 92 percent of construction firms report difficulties finding qualified workers.

A 13-year-old boy from Detroit was charged after allegedly shooting his father and fleeing with a vehicle and family dog. The teen, who has been given an adult designation, is currently being held in Miami County, Ohio, while officials work to extradite him back to Michigan.

According to a report by the Vote Mama Foundation, about 9% of Ohio’s state lawmakers are moms of children under 18, noting this gives them insight into family issues. Nationally, 8.3% of state legislators are mothers of minors, representing an increase from previous reports. To achieve proportional representation in Ohio, the report states that 13 total moms of minors would be needed.

Governor Mike DeWine celebrated what he views as economic successes in Ohio, citing historical job growth and low unemployment rates after CNBC rated the state a Top State for Business. In contrast, Vivek Ramaswamy proposed achieving an economic revival by implementing a phase-out of the state income tax. DeWine rejected this policy change, arguing that current businesses are more concerned with factors like workforce availability and infrastructure than the local income tax rate.

An industrial recycling business, Brent Industries, experienced two explosions early Tuesday morning in Toledo, Ohio, which sparked a large fire. The incident drew multiple emergency responders and led authorities to urge the public to remain away from the area while crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

An industrial recycling business in Ohio was affected by explosions and a subsequent large fire. Emergency responders were drawn to the scene following the incidents.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine urged his successor to leave the state’s income tax alone, stating businesses do not consider taxes when discussing the workforce. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy plans to completely eliminate the state income tax over a 10-year period. Meanwhile, David Pepper's team advocated for relief that benefits working families and seniors, pointing out research that millionaires tend to benefit most from eliminating the income tax.

With recovery housing in Ohio having grown nearly 400% since 2022, concerns have been raised regarding unsanitary conditions and overcrowding at many facilities. In response to these issues, Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order giving the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health power to create a statewide certification program for operators. This effort aims to strengthen oversight and ensure better protection for individuals depending on recovery services.

The Ohio Power Siting Board is scheduled to make a final decision on the Oak Run Solar Project after an appeal filed by Madison County and three townships. The Supreme Court of the State of Ohio weighed in, directing regulators to thoroughly address the project’s visual impacts using photo simulations or artist’s sketches. Staff recommendation suggests confirming the permit for long-term economic investment.

Nvidia is reducing its financial backstop for OpenAI's Ohio data center to under $120 billion. The chipmaker revised this plan after investors voiced concerns regarding its risk exposure tied to large financing commitments.