The morning newsletter of the Ohio Capital Journal
Reporting for the People
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By David DeWitt | Editor in Chief
Good morning Ohio!
The city of Columbus, Ohio has joined a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy conditioning anti-terrorism funding on changes to local election administration.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with newly sworn in Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during a ceremony in the Oval Office on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
By Nick Evans
The Trump administration wants to impose new proof of citizenship requirements, broader post-election audits, and a shift to hand-marked paper ballots.
By Megan Henry
Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey’s constituents are speaking out against Congress’s cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and education.
By Amanda Becker, The 19th News
Catholic nuns are playing a visible role among religious leaders organizing demonstrations now that ICE is conducting operations in Springfield, Ohio to deport Haitian refugees who’ve had their protected status taken away.
By Morgan Trau, WEWS
Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, whose main focus throughout his administration has been on children and their education, is telling his successor to keep his literacy programs and work intact.
COMMENTARY
Crews work on a construction site. (Photo by Dan Koeck, States Newsroom.)
By Austin Keyser
Ninety-two percent of construction firms report having a hard time finding qualified workers, reinforcing the importance of the continued recruitment, training, and development for the next generation of tradespeople in Ohio.
THE RUNDOWN
News from other states
By Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle
The Trump administration will move ahead with plans to end more than 25 years of sweeping protections for tens of millions of wild, federally managed acres across the U.S.
NATIONAL NEWS
By Ashley Murray
President Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court last Thursday to intervene in a lower court decision that halts his $400 million White House ballroom construction unless he receives authorization from Congress.
By Ashley Murray
Historic preservationists asked the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday to deny President Donald Trump’s appeal to continue construction on his $400 million White House ballroom on the grounds of the demolished East Wing.
By Sam Gauntt
The Democratic National Committee on Saturday approved by voice vote its lineup of six early primaries for the 2028 election cycle, kicking off with South Carolina and Nevada.
HISTORY THURSDAY
On this day, Aug. 20, in 1866, the National Labor Union was founded in Baltimore, Maryland, during a meeting of the Coachmakers, Machinists and Blacksmiths, and Ironmoulders unions.
It was the first national labor organization in the country — its members included farmers, laborers, and reformers, and delegates included representatives from local unions and labor bodies. Read more from Britannica
CATCHING OUR EYE
Springfield. The Dayton Daily News’ Rich Gillette and Jessica Orozco report, “Springfield mayor urges community to ‘treat one another with dignity’ following ICE operations.”
Mayor Rob Rue confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 19, that federal immigration enforcement activity is taking place in Springfield, including arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“ICE has advised city staff that its enforcement and removal operations is conducting field enforcement activity throughout the nation as part of its daily duties, including in Springfield and surrounding areas. ICE has also indicated that targeted enforcement activity will continue throughout Ohio. These are federal immigration enforcement operations. The city does not direct or control ICE enforcement activity,” Rue said.Not concerned. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Sarah Donaldson reports, “Husted, Moreno not worried about Springfield’s economy with TPS gone for Haitian immigrants.”
Thousands of Haitians living in Ohio, including Springfield, lost their legal status in late July. With it, went their ability to work.
Neither of Ohio’s U.S. senators are concerned about the local workforce there, even as the state touts new investments in Springfield, like Electra’s recently announced headquarters and manufacturing facilities. Electra has said it will add about 2,000 jobs.Following the money. WCMH’s Katie Millard reports, “Ohio governor’s race: Where donations are coming from.”
Not including his own donations or Musk’s, Ramaswamy’s records reflect he has raised $14.36 million so far in 2026. Records show 54% of those funds came from Ohio, with $7.75 million from Ohio donors. After Ohio, Ramaswamy received the most support from Florida ($1 million), Texas ($742,299.19) and California ($674,203.67)…
Since the start of 2026, Acton has raised $16.47 million. Records show 72% of the funding has come from Ohio, with Acton raising $11.8 million in-state. After Ohio, she received the most money from California ($796,260.17), New York ($534,135.61) and Washington, D.C. ($306,532.03).Six tornados. WYSO’s Mike Frazier reports, “National Weather Service confirms 6 tornadoes touched down in western and central Ohio.”
The National Weather Service's analysis of the Aug. 11 storms continues, with six confirmed tornado touchdowns in western and central Ohio.One case resolved. Jessie Balmert reports in the Columbus Dispatch, “Ohio Supreme Court dismisses legal challenge to abortion rights amendment.”
The Ohio Supreme Court unanimously dismissed a Trumbull County judge's lawsuit challenging the state's abortion rights amendment.
Trumbull County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Division Court Judge David Engler, a Republican, asked the Ohio Supreme Court to block a portion or all of the reproductive rights language that voters approved 57%-43% in 2023.
Engler contended that the amendment blocked him from weighing in on whether minors can obtain abortions if their parents object to them, a concept called judicial bypass.Making life even more difficult for trans people, part infinity. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Karen Kasler reports, “Form used for 17 years to change gender marker on state-issued IDs no longer accepted in Ohio.”
Transgender Ohioans who want to update the gender indicated on their driver’s licenses or state IDs can no longer do that with a form that’s been used for years. And the state’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group says that’s a sudden and cumbersome change.
Equality Ohio said it found out Tuesday that the declaration of gender change form signed by a medical or mental health provider that's been in use since 2009 will no longer be accepted by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to change a gender marker.The latest in the Afroman saga. The Ohio Newsroom’s Kendall Crawford reports, “Ohio rapper Afroman strikes back at officer who raided his home and sued him.”
Earlier this year, Adams County resident Joseph Foreman – better known to rap fans as Afroman – prevailed in a defamation lawsuit that local law enforcement filed against him. Now, the rapper is turning the tables.
Afroman is suing one of the law enforcement officers who previously sued him, accusing him of malicious prosecution, abuse of process, intentional infliction of emotional distress and tortious interference with contract.
THE POD
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, FOLKS.
Mahalo!
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