Ohio Capital Journal

Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter is running in Ohio's 7th Congressional District against incumbent U.S. Rep. Max Miller. The election initially saw allegations of domestic violence concerning Miller, prompting national attention and support for Poindexter. While the race was initially deemed “Likely Republican,” supporters have cited Poindexter’s biography and a recent endorsement to help him improve his chances.

Les Wexner is stepping down as chair of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Board amid continued scrutiny over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. While he will remain on the board as chair emeritus and a non-voting member, Robert Schottenstein is expected to replace him as chair. The move follows investigations into Wexner's association with Epstein.

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.

The expiration of enhanced federal subsidies allowed Mississippians to lose subsidized Affordable Care Act coverage, leaving over 200,000 people without regular medical care. Derrick Clark, a diabetes patient in Mississippi, has lost his health insurance, leading to rising numbers of uninsured individuals. State data reveals that enrollment in ACA plans has dropped by nearly two-thirds in just eight months.

A Stateline analysis found that states with strict non-cooperation policies, such as Oregon and New York, have lower rates of immigration arrests in jails compared to states that limit or bar sanctuary policies like Wyoming and Alabama. The data suggests making it difficult for local law enforcement to hand over detainees to federal authorities has an effect on arrest rates.

A Louisiana teacher has filed a constitutional challenge asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a state law that mandates Ten Commandments displays in all K-12 and college classrooms accepting state money. The requirement was set by an earlier court ruling and is currently being followed by officials like Attorney General Liz Murrill. This measure has since spread, with similar laws adopted in other states including Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

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.

A newly proposed bipartisan bill (Ohio House Bill 984) aims to create a cap on reimbursement rates for foster care placements in Ohio, ensuring financial predictability for counties. Lawmakers argue that rising placement costs—with expenditure increasing by 68% since 2020—require the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to set these necessary reimbursement rates. This legislation seeks to stabilize the system while addressing local county financial challenges.

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.

Across the U.S., extreme heat days are becoming more frequent and intense, leading to spikes in heat-related illnesses in states like Colorado and New Jersey. In agricultural regions such as North Dakota and Wyoming, farmers struggle with crops due to withering drought. Policymakers are planning for these growing risks which could affect public health, infrastructure budgets, and agricultural economies.

Food banks across Pennsylvania are struggling due to a combination of economic challenges, including inflation, rising gas prices, tariffs, and energy costs. Leaders cite changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), specifically new rules passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as a major factor contributing to increased client demand. This has led to significant increases in new clients at local food bank facilities.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun targeting and detaining Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, following actions related to President Donald Trump revoking their legal status. As of last Friday, at least 29 Haitian people were detained by ICE. The city mayor acknowledged that federal immigration enforcement activity is occurring within the community.

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.

Donald Trump cited a Census Bureau analysis claiming 24,000 noncitizens voted in the 2020 election. However, experts questioned the study's methodology and validity because the report failed to detail its authors or data reliability. Experts also noted that even if the number were accurate, it would represent less than 0.019% of the voters and was insufficient to change the election’s outcome.

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.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that Idaho cannot regulate abortion when a pregnancy threatens a person’s physical or mental health. This ruling, based on the 14th Amendment, provides a narrow right for pregnant patients and is noted as the first such decision since Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health in 2022. The federal court ruling has potential nationwide implications and could eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Despite reaching a record low national number of 32,495 veterans experiencing homelessness in 2025, half of the states recorded increases from the 2024 count. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development noted that since 2010, veteran homelessness has fallen by more than 56%, reaching an all-time low. This long-term decline is attributed to sustained federal investments in housing and mental health services and increased state involvement.

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."