Karen Kasler (Ohio Public Radio)

Critics of the law that will allow state lawmakers to overturn Gov. Mike DeWine’s health orders say that could be costly when it comes to federal funding. Lawmakers overrode DeWine’s veto of that measure this week. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s usual Thursday COVID press conference is now a statewide address at 5:30pm. COVID hospitalizations are trending down, but Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports while it’s unknown what DeWine might say, it seems unlike that he’ll announce Ohio will follow other states’ lead on mask mandates.

New rules on mass gatherings signed yesterday mean indoor sports venues can be up to 25% capacity starting immediately. Last night, Ohio’s major league professional hockey team went back to the ice in front of fans for the first time since last March. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler was there.

More than half of the COVID deaths in Ohio have been in nursing homes. The nursing home death toll jumped by nearly 1,300 in the last week, as the Ohio Department of Health added in 4,000 unaccounted-for deaths to the state’s running total. And many workers in nursing homes and long term care facilities who were moved to the front of the vaccine line are still rejecting their place in it. 

The contest for the Republican nomination for US Senate is now a real race, now that the former chair of the Ohio Republican Party has done as many expected and jumped into the race. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports it’s shaping up to be a battle over which candidate can tie themselves more closely to former president Donald Trump.

Two Republican state representatives are proposing a new way to pay for county jails, modeled after the way the state helps school districts pay for building construction. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

Republicans have their first official candidate for the 2022 US Senate race.  Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports former state treasurer Josh Mandel is launching his third try at that office.

A big development in the upcoming race fo US Senate in 2022, with Republican incumbent Rob Portman saying he's no longer running.  Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports one high profile possible candidate is out.

A new law that sends $650 million in federal CARES Act money to Ohio communities to help with pandemic-related costs also includes a potential overhaul for the process to apply for unemployment benefits. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

A potential showdown is coming between state lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine, over a bill passed last month that hits at the power and reach of public health orders issued during the pandemic. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

Officials say a protest against police brutality held last night in downtown Columbus turned violent just before midnight.  

Gov. Mike DeWine changed his initial mask mandate as a condition of businesses reopening, instead requiring masks for employees but not for customers. But while mask wearing has become something of a partisan symbol, DeWine said it shouldn’t be.

Republicans in the Ohio House have approved a bill that would limit the power and length of public health orders on coronavirus that their fellow Republican, Gov. Mike DeWine, has been issuing through Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports the bill reflects a split in the GOP on how to restart the economy that could carry over into the future.

Ohio’s secretary of state says an election day with in-person voting is still the plan for this fall, but he’s suggesting some changes in case concerns about coronavirus keep voters away.  A key voting rights group agrees, but wants to go further.

Manufacturing, construction and distribution companies can reopen today, with employees wearing masks and observing cleaning and social distancing rules. State lawmakers are also coming back to work this week, and one has proposed a bill to open the state immediately while shutting down the authority of the governor and his health director.

489 inmates and 184 staff in Ohio’s prisons have tested positive for COVID-19. More than 32,000 inmates in 20 of Ohio’s 28 prisons are under full quarantine. And now the head of the union representing those workers is too. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.  

Ohio is asking for permission from the feds to fast-track some rules and exceptions in Medicaid related to the COVID-19 crisis. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports the state is asking for a pair of waivers that many other states are already using.

UPDATE: The state is now listing 836 cases of COVID-19 at 107 nursing homes in 31 counties.

Nine percent of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio are in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living communities – and some residents and staff are among the dead. The state says it will shed light on more information about that, but some data will stay hidden.

The Ohio Supreme Court has sided with a coalition that’s pushing a voting rights amendment for this fall’s ballot. The justices rejected a decision made by majority Republicans on the state ballot board to split the amendment into four parts.

Gov. Mike DeWine has announced a new public health order requiring nursing homes to notify the public about cases of COVID-19 at their facilities.

This month is a special one for people of many faiths, and not being able to gather has been a concern for those who find fellowship to be comforting, and even necessary in tough times. So faith leaders are finding unique ways to reach out to their congregations.

The legislation making changes across a variety of state policies because of coronavirus also settled an issue that lawmakers had been struggling with for months. That’s the question of how many students would qualify next school year for the state’s largest private school voucher program.

The bill that made some changes across state law related to coronavirus also set a new ending for the Ohio primary, after polling places were shut down just hours before election day.

Gov. Mike DeWine says the state is limiting prescriptions of two drugs used for malaria and rheumatoid arthritis, after interest in those drugs spiked when President Trump tweeted out that they could be used to treatment COVID-19. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

The Ohio National Guard is being deployed on Monday to help with the state’s coronavirus response. But the Guard’s leader wants to make it clear what they will not be doing.  Statehouse correspondent Karen Kalser explains.

The attorney general is advising Ohio’s courts that they can suspend jury trials to stop the spread of coronavirus. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports.

A southeast Ohio lawmaker has taken to Twitter to blast the state’s non-profit economic development company for not helping his region enough, and the governor says he’s also concerned.