Ohio’s minimum wage will bump up to $11.40 in 2027
Minimum wage workers in Ohio are scheduled to get a raise in January to keep up with inflation, but many may still be in poverty.
LATEST NEWS FROM SIGNAL STATEWIDE

Election 2026
‘Just not a good idea,’ Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says about Ramaswamy’s plan for 90-day gas tax pause
The two-term governor cast doubt on the viability of gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s plan, backed by Statehouse Republican leaders, to suspend the gas tax for 90 days as election nears.
‘Big Crypto’ behind critical ads of Sherrod Brown again — without talking crypto
Ohio politics news and insights from the State Signals newsletter. Plus, local Democrats rebuke Marcy Kaptur over her transgender campaign ad.
Lobbyists call on Rob McColley while he campaigns as Vivek Ramaswamy’s running mate
The Senate president – the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor – held meetings and calls with dozens of lobbyists this year, his official calendar shows.
GOVERNMENT
Thousands of refugees in Ohio lose Medicaid Oct. 1. The state can’t say how many
As new GOP-backed Medicaid cuts kick in, the state said only 3,500 Ohioans are confirmed as losing coverage. But five counties contacted by Signal collectively estimated as many as 18,500.
EDUCATION
Ohio colleges enroll fewer international students — again
This fall’s declining numbers could have consequences far beyond campuses, including for Ohio’s workforce.
HEALTH
Bracing for new Medicaid work requirements? Here’s the latest updates
The One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law last year, will require many Ohio residents with Medicaid to prove that they work or volunteer.
STATE SIGNALS NEWSLETTER
Why a doctors’ PAC endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy over Dr. Amy Acton
Ohio politics news and insights from the State Signals newsletter. Plus, Gov. Mike DeWine is promising to address sloppy data around rape examination kits.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Ohio dispensary closes after reports of ‘serious adverse health effects’ from vape
Neither the state nor the dispensary offered details about the health events, but regulators say an investigation is ongoing. Vapen brand products are on what their manufacturer calls a “precautionary hold.”
NEWS FROM NOTUS
DOGE Cut Off Small Town America’s 250th Birthday Money
Ohio Humanities was planning history projects for the 250th when DOGE axed its funding last year. Then Trump redirected federal money for his own beautification projects.
Why Local News
Local news is in crisis. Across the country, including here in Ohio, the commercial news industry has been on the decline, leading to the loss of nearly three-quarters of journalism jobs since 2005, leading to less accountability, more polarization, and more government waste. With the volume of original reporting in Ohio communities reduced to a small fraction of what it once was, nonprofit news offers a path forward




