The morning newsletter of the Ohio Capital Journal
Reporting for the People
Make a tax-deductible donation supporting our work.
By David DeWitt | Editor in Chief
Good morning Ohio!
Both candidates for Ohio attorney general are calling for more transparency from a controversial economic-development agency. The comments come after one filed an ethics complaint against the lobbyist who also chairs the board of the agency, JobsOhio.
The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. (Photo by David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal.)
By Marty Schladen
The chairman of JobsOhio, Josh Rubin, is also CEO of CJR Group, which counts American Electric Power among its clients. In his role with JobsOhio, he could be in a position to steer millions in what used to be public dollars to the massive utility, the complaint says.
By Nick Evans
The Ohio Supreme Court upheld a decision that, according to its challengers, allowed utilities to overcharge customers to the tune of roughly $115 million. It brings an end to a narrow dispute that started in 2021 but has its roots in the Ohio House Bill 6 scandal.
By Megan Henry
An Ohio state senator recently introduced a bill that would give the five Ohio “civics centers” created last year by Republican lawmakers more autonomy at their various universities.
By Morgan Trau, WEWS
The U.S. Supreme Court’s latest major decisions involve topics that Ohio politicians know well: transgender athletes participating in sports, birthright citizenship and campaign finance laws.
COMMENTARY
Hundreds of people gathered at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield to call for an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians on Feb 2, 2026. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal).
By Marilou Johanek
Ohio native Geoff Pipoly represented Haitian TPS holders before the Supreme Court. The court ruled to allow the Trump administration to strip them of legal status for mass deportation. “Thousands of people are now going to die violent deaths,” Pipoly said.
STATELINE
The big challenges and policy issues that cross state lines.
By Shalina Chatlani
State Medicaid agencies are concerned that many sick and disabled enrollees will lose their coverage because the Trump administration is narrowing the definition of who is “medically frail” enough to get an exemption from new work requirements.
By Amanda Watford
More states this year have looked beyond traditional counseling and medication to help first responders cope with post-traumatic stress.
THE RUNDOWN
News from other states
By Christine Conlon, Maryland Matters
The nation’s largest electricity grid PJM — which includes Ohio — received a green light from the Trump administration to require data centers and other large customers to turn on back-up generators during this week’s heatwave.
NATIONAL NEWS
By Jennifer Shutt
White House budget director Russ Vought testified before a U.S. House panel Tuesday that his agency needs lawmakers to increase its annual budget, even though he hasn’t spent much of the $100 million Republicans approved in their “big, beautiful” law.
By Amelia Twyman
Members of a U.S. House Education and Workforce subcommittee found rare common ground scrutinizing private equity’s stake in youth sports at a Tuesday hearing.
By Sam Gauntt
The Great American State Fair on the National Mall has all the trappings of a classic state fair: food vendors, merchandise, a Ferris wheel, activities. But days before the nation’s 250th anniversary, one thing was notably absent: The crowds.
HISTORY THURSDAY
On this day, July 2, in 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, perhaps the most important U.S. law on civil rights since Reconstruction (1865–77) and a hallmark of the American civil rights movement. Learn more
CATCHING OUR EYE
Holding up affordable housing. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Sarah Donaldson reports, “Trump holds up the housing bill most Ohio members of Congress backed.”
Congress has now officially sent President Donald Trump a major housing affordability bill, which just one member of Ohio’s delegation voted against.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cleared both chambers of Congress last Monday and Tuesday by overwhelmingly bipartisan votes…
Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-8), a Republican, was the only Ohio official — Democrat or Republican — to vote "no."The cost of Trumpism. Cleveland.com reports, “Trump policies have cost Ohio households thousands since January 2025, report finds.”
Ohio families have paid approximately $2,175 more for gas, utilities and groceries and thousands of dollars more in health insurance premiums for those on the ACA marketplace since January 2025 due to federal policies enacted during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a report released Wednesday by the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
The analysis places Ohio 13th among all states for increases in total household costs, with the higher end of the range applying to families who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.Moreno wants to end birthright citizenship. The Columbus Dispatch’s Haley BeMiller reports, “After SCOTUS ruling, Sen. Bernie Moreno pushes to end birthright citizenship.”
Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno plans to introduce legislation to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents.
Moreno's proposal follows a Supreme Court ruling that blocked a similar effort by President Donald Trump.
The Supreme Court affirmed that the 14th Amendment applies to all children born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' immigration status.Humanities. The Ohio Newsroom’s Erin Gottsacker reports, “A year after federal cuts, Ohio humanities organizations are moving forward.”
Last year, the Trump administration cancelled millions of dollars in federal grants intended for arts and cultural institutions nationwide. The move left organizations like Ohio Humanities in a tough spot, without previously promised money to fund projects like documentary films and museum exhibits.
“It's not just the loss of a single set of funds, it's the rolling impact of that to us and to our community partners,” described Jason Crabill, executive director of the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster, at the time. “It has a real detrimental effect on what we can do for the community.”
Now, over a year later, Ohio Humanities has announced an organizational shift. It’s moving forward as Ohio Humanities Alliance.Vinton County. WOUB’s David Forster reports, “Sixteen children were rescued from a “horrific scene” following the search of a Vinton County home.”
Four people were arrested and charged with multiple counts of felony child endangerment following the execution of a search warrant early Tuesday afternoon at a home in Vinton County.
“The scene is horrific and these are horrific allegations,” Sheriff Ryan Cain said at a news conference Tuesday evening.
Sixteen children ranging in age from one and a half to 18 years were rescued from the home and taken to hospitals for treatment. Several of the children were in serious condition, and two of them were care flighted to level one trauma centers, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said at the news conference.Kroger, Giant Eagle. WVXU’s Tana Weingartner reports, “Kroger to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65B.”
Cincinnati-based Kroger has entered a deal to buy supermarket chain Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion. The companies announced the agreement Wednesday, July 1…
Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, Inc. operates more than 200 supermarkets and standalone pharmacies across western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. Its annual sales are estimated at around $9 billion.
THE POD
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, FOLKS.
Mahalo!
Thanks for reading The Eye-Opener. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.