Ohio’s new political battleground is attracting millions in ad spending
Ohio politics news and insights from the State Signals newsletter. Plus, campaign ads become more provocative and profane.
LATEST NEWS FROM SIGNAL STATEWIDE
Election 2026
‘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.
GOP lawmakers revive plan to cut Ohio gas tax amid rising diesel prices
Republican lawmakers said Wednesday they will take up gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s gas tax holiday proposal next week. Democrats would need to cooperate for the measure to take effect before the November election.
GOVERNMENT
Fracking industry pays $11 million for first leases in Ohio’s only national forest
Five out-of-state gas companies win rights to drill under 2,800 acres of the Wayne National Forest, achieving a long-sought goal for the industry.
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.
Local Newsrooms
Signal Ohio is a nonprofit statewide network of local newsrooms.
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
