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!
In two recent media appearances, Ohio Auditor Keith Faber made statements that sounded supportive of ending at least some parts of Ohio Medicaid. Faber is currently running as the 2026 Ohio Republican nominee for attorney general.
Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber. Official photo.
By Marty Schladen
Faber’s campaign did not clarify his comments when asked about them, only saying that Faber supports the lawful use of Medicaid dollars and doesn't support the unlawful use of them.
By Megan Henry
The number of Ohio unclaimed funds paid out nearly tripled during the 2026 fiscal year, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce. This comes after Ohio lawmakers and the governor decided to tap that money to fund sports stadiums.
By Morgan Trau, WEWS
As Republican Ohio state Sen. Nathan Manning becomes a judge, he leaves behind a competitive Ohio House race. Democrats are confident his departure allows for a smoother way to eliminate the Republican supermajority.
COMMENTARY
An Ohio voter shows identification to an election judge. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Faith leaders are right to call on Ohio elected officials to protect voter rights and fair elections
By Marilou Johanek
A coalition of worried Ohio faith leaders called on Gov. Mike DeWine to reassure their unsettled congregants that the state will protect and secure their right to vote. With a hyperpartisan, hysterical political hack as secretary of state, they are right to do so.
STATELINE
The big challenges and policy issues that cross state lines.
By Kevin Hardy
Consumers are unlikely to see any relief in gas and electric bills as utilities proposed more than $18 billion in rate hikes across the country over the first half of the year.
By Tim Henderson
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a July 2 panel decision requiring bond hearings for immigrants held under Trump’s mandatory detention policy, which means many immigration prisoners can still be held indefinitely without bond.
By Amanda Watford
This year, more than half a dozen states have passed new laws reshaping their juvenile legal systems. While some have adopted measures designed to divert more young people from incarceration, others have sought to impose stiffer penalties.
By Anna Claire Vollers
As state and federal officials work to identify the source of the recent outbreak of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, Michigan health officials have identified lettuces or salad greens as one potential culprit.
THE RUNDOWN
News from other states
By Kyle Davidson, Michigan Advance
Michigan leads the nation in reported cases of cyclosporiasis, which are continuing to grow, with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reporting 2,640 cases, compared with 1,562 cases recorded on Friday.
NATIONAL NEWS
By Ashley Murray
President Donald Trump “acted in bad faith” when he swiftly dropped his tax return lawsuit and directed his Cabinet members to establish a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, a federal judge in Florida ruled Monday.
By Ariana Figueroa
The Department of Homeland Security Tuesday ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to cease vehicle-related enforcement stops, following the deadly shootings of two men in their vehicles, according to multiple media reports.
By Amelia Twyman
President Donald Trump enlisted star IndyCar racers, a simulated pit stop and a pair of high-powered sports cars Monday as he sought to rev up excitement for a race around the nation’s capital next month.
WEDNESDAY WISDOM
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
-Percy Bysshe Shelley
CATCHING OUR EYE
Ohio traffic stops. The Dayton Daily News’ Avery Kreemer reports, “New Ohio law requires drivers, passengers to disclose name, address and DOB during traffic stops.”
Starting in early October, everyone in a pulled over vehicle will have to disclose certain identifying information, like their name, date of birth and address, if the officer “reasonably suspects” the person may have violated Ohio motor laws.
This new criminal offense, carrying a charge of a fourth-degree misdemeanor, comes as part of House Bill 492. The bill was recently signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine after being carried through the legislature predominantly by Republican support and law enforcement advocacy.
H.B. 492 is also set to make it a second-degree misdemeanor to interfere with an officer in the process of arresting someone for a motor vehicle violation.School transportation. Ideastream’s Conor Morris reports, “‘Under the hood’ of Ohio’s school transportation challenges.”
As a bus driver shortage continues to affect the country, Ohio is considering changes to its school transportation system.
A state working group recently sent recommendations for change to the state legislature. Not everybody's happy about their report.Flock cameras. WOSU’s Katie Geniusz reports, “Activists renew calls for stronger policy and more transparency with Flock cameras.”
Activists are renewing their calls for stronger policy and more transparency around police surveillance after the release of the audit of Flock surveillance cameras on Friday afternoon by the Columbus Division of Police.
The division’s summary analysis of the audit said the Columbus police network was searched for possible immigration-related reasons up to 15,577 times, which prompted Mayor Andrew Ginther to order Columbus police to stop statewide sharing for Flock cameras, which are automated license plate readers often mounted on poles.Hubba hubba hubba who do you trust, who do you trust. In a Cleveland.com opinion column, Thomas Suddes writes, “Gubernatorial candidates’ ‘trust me’ is far from reassuring.”
Thanks to bobbing, weaving and straight-out ducking, Ohioans are being expected to elect a new governor without knowing much of anything besides the names of the mayor-party candidates.
One is Dr. Amy Acton, M.D., a Bexley Democrat who is a Youngstown native and was, for a time, state Health director in Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s Cabinet.
The other is Vivek Ramaswamy, an Upper Arlington Republican who is a Cincinnati native and, businesswise, a fabulously successful high-technology entrepreneur.Putting the Ohio Gang to shame. The Washington Post reports, “Trump’s sons invest heavily in defense tech as father’s administration pours money in.”
President Donald Trump’s sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have amassed a portfolio of defense technology start-ups that are benefiting from new Pentagon priorities and spending, further entangling the United States’ interests and the Trump family’s financial fortunes in an area with immense stakes for national security.
As the current administration has made modernizing the tools of warfighting a centerpiece of its national security agenda, funds linked to the Trump brothers have invested in more than a dozen defense tech companies and other firms seeking businesses from the Pentagon and federal agencies, a Washington Post analysis finds, based on public federal contracting databases and news releases as well as data from PitchBook, a venture capital research database.
Most of the investments have taken place since Trump was elected president for a second time. The companies have collectively generated at least $3.2 billion in direct government business since the sons invested and an additional $3.1 billion in future contract options. Some have gained coveted spots on shortlists of preapproved contractors that can bid exclusively on up to nearly $200 billion in future work.
THE POD
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, FOLKS.
Mahalo!
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