The morning newsletter of the Ohio Capital Journal
Reporting for the People
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By Susan Tebben | Reporter
Good morning Ohio!
Ohio Democratic candidate for governor Dr. Amy Acton and Ohio Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur have faced backlash from comments they have made about transgender people during the lead up to Election Day.
Ohio Democratic candidates Amy Acton and Marcy Kaptur make ‘anti-transgender remarks,’ face backlash
(Stock Photo by Vladimir Vladimirov/Getty Images)
By Megan Henry
Acton said she agreed with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling saying its constitutional for states to ban transgender women and girls from playing women’s and girl’s sports. Kaptur has come under fire for an ad she recently put out touting her vote for legislation that would require schools to out transgender students.
By Morgan Trau, WEWS
In an attack ad against U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, a woman accuses the Democrat of pushing transgender surgeries on minors "like her." As it turns out, she isn't from Ohio and didn't have surgery until she was an adult.
By Susan Tebben
As studies show improvements in access to abortion care in Ohio, abortion opponents both in and outside of the state legislature are attempting to bring more regulations against it.
COMMENTARY
A boy plays with a wooden numbers puzzle. (Getty Images)
By Eli Baumwell
Politicians have blamed schools, teachers and parents for poor educational outcomes, when the true cause is in black and white on the balance sheets.
The big challenges and policy issues that cross state lines.
STATELINE
By Amanda Watford
For years, the psychoactive compound kratom has been sold across much of the United States as an herbal supplement, available in powders, capsules and extracts with few of the restrictions applied to controlled substances.
THE RUNDOWN
News from other states
By Christine Zhu
Suspending state gas taxes in North Carolina could lead to delays in roadwork, according to a leading economist.
NATIONAL NEWS
By Jonathan Shorman
President Donald Trump wants to sharply curtail mail ballots. He’s called them “inherently corrupt” and baselessly condemned them as a major source of fraud. But with Republicans falling behind in the polls, the president is now urging his supporters to vote in the midterm elections any way they can, including by mail.
By Jennifer Shutt
Democrats expect they’ll gain a majority of seats in the U.S. House following November’s midterm elections, giving the party a platform to serve as a check on the president’s power.
CATCHING OUR EYE
Healthcare in Ohio. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Karen Kasler is reporting, “$2.2B Bayer plant will be Ohio's largest-ever international healthcare project.”
A historic $2.2 billion investment is coming to central Ohio from the German pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Bayer.The processing and manufacturing plant will make drugs to treat cancer, heart disease and other conditions. It’s the state’s largest ever international healthcare project and the largest German direct investment in Ohio history, said Gov. Mike DeWine.
“This was a big investment by New Albany, but also JobsOhio. I think JobsOhio has put $30 million in this, and you're going to see people trained right here and there will come out and go right into Bayer," DeWine told reporters at the company's announcement.
Bayer is also expected to get an incentive from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority at a later date.
Trump and data centers. The Associated Press’ Seung Min Kim is reporting, “Trump defends data centers in Ohio as he rallies to boost Jon Husted in a tight Senate race.”
President Donald Trump on Saturday defended data centers that power artificial intelligence projects but have become a contentious campaign issue nationwide, as he took his midterm tour to Ohio to insist his party will keep its majorities in Congress despite steep political headwinds.
Trump took several minutes during his campaign rally in southwestern Ohio to promote his administration’s action on data centers, saying he was seeking to ensure they “benefit local communities” and praising Republican Sen. Jon Husted for an ill-fated attempt to push forward legislation on the issue.
“Look, there’s so much money to be made for Ohio. You can’t just turn them off. They’ll go to China,” Trump said, repeating his defense of data centers that he had made before. The crowd, which had reacted enthusiastically as the president talked about other policies, was far more muted during the data centers remark.Education. Ideastream’s Conor Morris is reporting, “How Ohio's educational service centers can help schools navigate tough budget times.”
With more schools dealing with financial challenges in Ohio due to rising costs, school leaders are facing a conundrum: how to provide the same, or better, education services with fewer resources.Despite the tough times, leaders with Ohio's Educational Service Centers, or ESCs, say they are here to help. But what is an ESC, and what is their role in Ohio education?
ESCs are regional public education agencies that are spread out across Ohio. There are 51 in total. Their main goal is to provide support services to schools.
THE POD
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, FOLKS.
Mahalo!
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