Ohio State News

Top takeaways from The Lantern’s sit-down with Ted Carter

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:55:15 +0000

University president Ted Carter Jr. speaks to The Lantern Tuesday. Credit: Sandra Fu | Managing Photo Editor

On Tuesday, The Lantern sat down with Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. to discuss this upcoming school year.

Here were the top takeaways.

Senate Bill 1

By June 27, Ohio State had to comply with Senate Bill 1, Carter said. The majority of the work that needed to be changed was finished after Spring commencement, where most students leave campus.

The new law, commonly referred to as SB 1, bans diversity, equity and inclusion programming as well as faculty striking, per prior Lantern reporting. The bill also limits the teaching of controversial subjects and for course syllabi to be published online.

“I just want to make a statement that, you know, academic freedom in the classroom really is our bedrock of how this institution was founded, it’s still there,” Carter said. “What I mean by that is faculty members are not being restricted on the courses that they teach, or the material that they teach in that particular coursework or the discussion that could be had in the classroom.”

Carter went on to explain that faculty has to comply with the law, which is telling them that they can’t force an opinion on a student or tell them what to think. Carter said that he strongly supports everything he has said about academic freedom.

“I’ll stand behind my background, wearing [a] uniform for 38 years and understanding what freedom of speech means and how we try to make sure that we continue to support that here,” Carter said.

He discussed how they “sunsetted” the Center for Belonging and Social Change into the Buckeye Commons and explained misconceptions with the university’s SB 1 compliance.

“No students lost any employment,” Carter said. “Scholarships were sunsetted because they might have been associated with something that might have been thought of as being diversity, equity, inclusion. No student scholarships have been affected at all.”

Carter also emphasized that all 1,400 clubs and activities at the university, specifically the student run ones, are still intact. He said that while there are going to be some changes and students and faculty will feel that, the university administration is continuing to work on SB 1 compliance.

“There’s some elements of it that we have a little bit more time before they do become implemented, such as the forward-facing syllabi online, there’s a period of about a year to implement that,” Carter said. “There’s some other pieces as to how we’re doing faculty reviews. We’ve already had that process in place before, so that’s not new, but administratively, it will be a little bit different.”

The AI Fluency Initiative

On June 4, Ohio State announced beginning with the class of 2029, the university will integrate an AI Fluency program meant to help students responsibly use AI as a tool for innovation and learning, per prior Lantern reporting.

Carter said he hopes by the time students graduate, they will be prepared to use AI in their jobs.

“When they go into the workforce, they’re already fluent in AI in whatever discipline they’re in,” Carter said.

Carter said Ohio State is at the forefront of incorporating AI into its curriculum while still complying with national and local government changes.

“Nobody else in the nation has done this yet, and this is what I mean when we say we’re playing offense as well as having to deal with some of the defensive things that are coming out of the federal and state government,” Carter said.

In addition, Carter said he wants the university’s faculty to understand AI to better integrate into their classes. The university is adding 100 more AI experts to research how best to implement the tool into classrooms, he said.

Ohio State hired Rob Lowden to oversee the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation (OTDI) department for his experience in adapting to changing technologies, per prior Lantern reporting.

When asked why Lowden was hired, Carter said Lowden was interested in working with a university “on a higher trajectory” to help improve the universities IT networks, digital tools, software packages, network safety and using AI.

As the university is implementing AI programs, Carter said academic misconduct from using the tool will be determined based on what the faculty decides. For tests, Carter said some professors may decide to administer blue books for students to hand-write their answers, but others may choose open-book style tests where ChatGPT, an AI chat program, could be allowed.

Carter said it allows for students and faculty to agree on the correct use and time for AI tools.

“It takes a little bit of the mystery out here,” Carter said.

Some critics may believe Ohio State is “going to dumb down our students” by implementing AI fluency, but Carter said they will actually be better off.

“We’re going to actually embrace this, get smarter as how to use it, and now be able to be honest with each other when to use it, when

E. Gordon Gee

Carter also discussed what made E. Gordon Gee — a former two-time Ohio State president — a top candidate for a part-time consulting role, Carter said that “nobody in the United States in modern history has had more experience being a university president” than Gee.

Gee has also served as president to Vanderbilt University, Brown University, the University of Colorado and most recently at West Virginia University, Carter said.

“He’s been all over the country for 30-plus years as a university president,” Carter said. “So that type of experience and maturity in almost every different environment, from blue states to red states, makes him valuable to me.”

Gee was also a mentor to Carter when he was president of the University of Nebraska. Carter said he communicated with Gee regularly.

Carter said that the university has a “big strategy” rolling out — speaking of Education for Citizenship 2035 — and that Gordon will have a helpful perspective due to fitting in three different classroom spaces, the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the Moritz College of Law.

“He had choices at many other schools, to include that school up North for the exact same offer, and I know how loyal he is to the Ohio State University,” Carter said. “It was an easy choice for Gordon, and we’re excited to get him on campus.

When Carter was asked about Gee’s past controversial statements and financial disclosures, he said, “First of all, he won’t be doing any public speaking.”

In past statements, Gee once insulted Catholics in relation to Notre Dame University. He was also criticized for lavish spending while Ohio State president, per prior Lantern reporting.

Carter went on to emphasize that Gee is going to be his specific wingman, and said that with Gee’s experience, he has been through tough times.

“Let’s face it, if you’ve been a university president in as many places as he has been, he’s lived through some really good times and some really bad times,” Carter said.

The Lantern specifically brought up Gee’s vote of no-confidence from his recent presidency at West Virginia University after faculty was disappointed with the administration’s cuts and layoffs, per prior Lantern reporting.

Carter said that this experience was similar to one he experienced when he was president of the University of Nebraska, where population growth stagnated.

“They were really troubled with student enrollment, and that’s what caused a lot of their deficits, and they had to go through some tough decisions,” Carter said. “And when tough decisions are made, a lot of times, faculty just don’t like those hard decisions. I think Gordon was probably at a point in his career where he knew some hard decisions had to be made and he was willing to make them.”

Carter went on to explain that he believes Gee did not leave the university with a damaged reputation and said that “he won’t have to be going through any of those decisions here.”

Carter also confirmed that Gee’s one-year, part-time consulting contract is not a special contract made specifically for Gee, but rather one that they’ve done before.

“We actually do this,” Carter said. “We just don’t do it with people as of note as E. Gordon Gee.”

On-campus housing

New this year, Ohio State has signed a master lease agreement for the properties of Statehouse Lane — 150 W. Lane Ave. — and Statehouse Norwich — 250 W. Norwich Ave. — to accommodate the growing underclassmen population, Dave Isaacs, university spokesperson, said in an email back in April.

As the university continues to grow, The Lantern asked what the long-term plans are for dorms on campus.

Carter said that the university is actively looking into that. He acknowledged that some dorms are aging, specifically those that still don’t have air conditioning.

“I want the student experience here to be the very best that we can offer,” Carter said.

Eventually, Carter said the university will need to decide the outcomes for Morrill and Lincoln Towers over the next five to 10 years, due to their age. Both towers were built in 1967.

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio opens 2025-26 season with Buckeye-stacked musical “Alice by Heart” September 4

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:33:32 +0000

Alice Spencer (Elise Parks) and Dr. Butridge (Trent Rowland) rehearse for “Alice by Heart,” which opens in Studio One at the Riffe Center September 4. Credit: Courtesy of Meredith Liepelt

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio will kick off its 2025-26 season with “Alice by Heart,” which opens in Studio One at the Riffe Center September 4 and runs on select dates through September 21.

“Alice by Heart” is a musical inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic tale “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” It takes place in a London Tube station during the Blitz bombings in World War II, where lead characters Alice Spencer and her best friend Alfred Hallam — who is sick with tuberculosis — seek refuge and escape reality, drifting into Wonderland.

“I was just so enthralled by this idea of retelling ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in the context of a group of people trying to deal with a really chaotic world around them,” Leda Hoffman, artistic director at the Contemporary and director of “Alice by Heart,” said. “I just think it’s a really beautiful framing device to look at the importance of storytelling and the fun it can bring us, the hope it can bring us when times are really hard.”

Behind-the-scenes, the performance is stacked with Buckeyes — eight out of 13 members of the creative team are Ohio State alumni, as well as two current undergraduate students who work on the show as lighting interns.

Leah Pfefferle, a first-year in computer science and information systems and theatre, is one of the show’s undergraduate lighting interns. She said she’s been involved with the Contemporary in the past, mostly acting or doing photoshoots, but this time she’ll be working with one of the followspots.

“When I heard that the Contemporary was doing Alice by Heart, I knew that I wanted to help with the lights,” Pfefferle said in an email. “The Alice in Wonderland theming lends itself to psychedelic LED use, and I’m an enormous fan of the musical, so I contacted [Hoffman] about helping out.”

To Pfefferle’s surprise, Hoffman had been coordinating with Maranda DeBusk, an assistant professor in the department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts, to offer a course credit internship for Ohio State students.

“I am beyond ecstatic to be working with a professional theatre so early in my lighting technology education,” Pfefferle said. “I’ve heard many designers say that the best way to learn is to get hands-on experience and work with professionals on actual productions, so I can’t wait to have my first professional technical experience!”

Trent Rowland, who plays Dr. Butridge and the King of Hearts, graduated from Ohio State’s theater department in 2015. After briefly pursuing acting in Los Angeles, Rowland has since moved back to Columbus and will make his return to performing with “Alice by Heart.”

“I hadn’t done a show in a long time, and I knew that the Contemporary was one of the stronger theaters in the area. I wanted to give it a shot, auditioning for them,” Rowland said. “I actually auditioned for their season last season, but was not cast in the show. However, this time around, I tried again, and they graciously gave me the opportunity to be in ‘Alice by Heart’ and I’m excited about it — very, very excited.”

Aside from Alice, every actor plays more than just one character. Rowland said he’ll open the show as Dr. Butridge, a doctor assisting victims of the bombings, before transforming into several different Wonderland characters — the King of Hearts, a Mock Turtle and the Jabberwock.

“The show is quite cool, because everyone in the ensemble does really have a spot to shine, at least at some point in the show,” Rowland said. “Everyone plays many parts to kind of glue the thing together, and there’s a good sense of camaraderie.”

The show contains some heavy subject matter and follows themes of grief and loss. However, the musical is also light-hearted and magical, according to the Contemporary’s website.

The cast of “Alice by Heart,” the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio’s first show of their 2025-26 season. Credit: Courtesy of Meredith Liepelt

Hoffman said the production elements of the musical will immerse viewers into the world of Alice in Wonderland, regardless of their familiarity with the original story.

“The singing and the music is incredible … the scenery, the costumes, the lighting and the choreography are really going to show you Alice in Wonderland in a way you haven’t seen before,” Hoffman said. “So if you’re a big Alice in Wonderland fan, you’re obviously going to have a great time at this show. And I think for people who maybe haven’t revisited that story in a while, the gorgeous visuals and the music in this show are gonna draw them right in.”

Pfefferle said it’s important for other students to know that there are opportunities for them to get involved and secure internships.

“These kinds of opportunities exist all over Columbus,” Pfefferle said. “I took the COTA bus down High St to get to my internship and it was barely a 20 minute bus ride … you don’t have to travel far to get an internship like this when we’re so central in this amazing city.”

More information on “Alice by Heart” can be found on the Contemporary’s website. Tickets are $68.55, inclusive of fees, and can be purchased on CAPA’s website. Hoffman said students with a valid ID can purchase tickets for $20 at the box office up to two hours ahead of the show.

Ted Carter, Ryan Day speak at 2025 Convocation ceremony on challenging yourself and achieving success at Ohio State

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:33:07 +0000

Ryan Day showed up to the Convocation ceremony Monday, where incoming freshman gather to celebrate the start of the school year. Credit: Ally Wolfe | Campus Senior Writer

An unexpected guest welcomed the class of 2028 to campus at Convocation Monday.

A roar of applause filled the Schottenstein Center after President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. announced Head Football Coach, Ryan Day, would kick off the speeches for the annual ceremony for incoming freshmen.

Beginning with “OH-” and “-IO” chants, Day told the incoming freshman class to picture what they want their next four years to look like, since “now is the time to think about those things.”

Day said for students to remember their high school career – their accomplishments and pitfalls – and how students can learn from those opportunities.

Day continued by saying these students are starting fresh at Ohio State, so they should take advantage of what Columbus has to offer. He told the class “there is nothing they can’t accomplish” at the university.

“Take this opportunity and do special things,” Day said. “Leave it better than the way you found it.”

Day concluded his speech by rallying the students to show their support for the football team on Saturday against Texas so everyone, even the players, can reach their goals.

“We need you guys to be loud. We need you guys to show up and we got to make sure everybody understands that we’re defending the Shoe Saturday at noon,” Day said.

The crowd erupted into applause as Day continued to talk about how he needs the students to represent the university and make it hard for the southern team.

“If you’re not in the game, bring the juice, bring the energy,” Day said. “Whether you’re in the tailgate, whether you’re at home cheering, we need everybody. Let’s go beat Texas. Go Bucks!”

Carter then returned, welcoming the incoming Buckeye class again, specifically calling all students living in Drackett Tower, specifically those living on the second floor, to cheer, as he visited the dorm during move-in day.

“All right, there’s some pretty cool kids that I got to meet on move-in,” Carter said. “I thought I’d give them a quick shout out.”

He continued his speech by congratulating the incoming freshman class for choosing Ohio State, and for “making one of the best decisions you could have ever made” in their lives. Carter continued and said commencement is his favorite event in academia — but his second favorite is right here, Convocation.

“Everything you will do for the rest of your life will start or be shaped by what’s happening right here today,” Carter said. “Classes start[ed Tuesday], the friends that you make that will change your life forever.”

Carter then told the students to take out their phones and put their flashlights on.

“I’d like you to just take a moment to look around you, contemplate all of the brilliance represented by the lights and the lives in this room, this stadium today,” Carter said. “As you progress through your academic journey, your light is bleeding that eternal flame on top of the lamp of knowledge.”

Carter then looked forward to their commencement eve candlelight ceremony tradition, where incoming graduates gather to light “that eternal flame” before they become alumni.

Carter then handed over the microphone to the Senior Vice President for Student Life, Melissa Shivers, for her to teach the incoming class Carmen Ohio, the university’s alma mater.

“It reminds us that the joy and privilege of being here to learn and grow as a member of this community endures no matter what happens around us,” Shivers said.

Shivers said Carmen Ohio was first sung to the public in 1903 at a Convocation ceremony. The Men’s Glee Club then performed a rendition of the alma mater, stopping after each line so students could learn the history and traditions behind each lyric.

Finally, Shivers introduced Ravi V. Bellamkonda, the provost and executive vice president at the university.

“You’re now part of one of the most important and finest land grant institutions in the nation,” Bellamkonda said. “Congratulations.”

He encouraged the students to challenge themselves academically and contribute to a growing Ohio State society. Bellamkonda then directed all students to open an envelope given by the university

Inside, there was a tassel for a future graduation cap.

“You’re given this tassel today as a symbol to remind you of that goal and the journey between now and then, when you grow as a person, make friends, enjoy great moments of victory in football and in your personal life and you grow as a scholar and become a part of the community of scholars that is Ohio State,” Bellamkonda said.

Football: UpDAYtes ahead of Ohio State’s opener against No. 1 Texas

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:32:48 +0000

Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day speaks to the media Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Credit: Sandra Fu | Managing Photo Editor

The wait is almost over.

In just four days, the Buckeyes will try to become back-to-back national champions for the first time in school history.

Head coach Ryan Day described the impact of being able to kick off Ohio State’s season with a highly anticipated clash.

“I think it’s great for college football playing a game like this (on) opening weekend,” Day said. “It’s going to give us a great barometer coming out of the first game.”

Here are three of the biggest takeaways and a special teams position update from Day’s press conference on Tuesday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

No starting right tackle has been named yet

The last piece of the starting offensive lineman puzzle has yet to be announced.

“We’re going to kind of leave that towards the end of the week, and we’ll let the week play out, let these guys compete,” Day said.

Despite the uncertainty at the position, Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels will get the most reps throughout the week. Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa, who is the other tackle battling for the starting position, will also rotate in.

“Certainly (Daniels) will play a lot, whether we rotate or not, we’ll decide,” Day said. “But he’s had a really good preseason and he’s ready to play.”

The Buckeyes’ offensive line play could play a huge factor against AP preseason All-American sophomore defensive lineman Colin Simmons, who accounted for nine sacks last season.

Expectations of QB1: Just win

Redshirt-freshman quarterback Julian Sayin’s first start proves to be a heavy challenge. Taking on the top-ranked team in the country is no easy task, let alone in a first start under center.

But Day is not putting any expectation on what Sayin needs to do on the field, other than starting the season 1-0.

“What you can’t do in week one is have these crazy expectations other than winning,” Day said. “Take care of the ball, win the game. You need to throw it away? Throw it away.”

Day looks for Sayin to rely on his playmakers around him to help ease the nerves of a first start.

“We’ve got a good group of guys around him. He needs to lean into those players and find a way to win the game.”

Have balance in the air and on the ground

In the Buckeyes’ first matchup, Day stressed the importance of having a steady offense.

“Ultimately, we have to have a balance,” Day said. “If you have a balance, you get a chance to attack teams.”

Ohio State plans to adopt neither an air raid passing attack nor a smashmouth rushing offense; instead, it aims to find a happy medium.

“To say we’re going to play it close to the vest, no we’re not going to do that,” Day said. “To say we’re going to be wide open, chucking it 60 times, no we’re not going to do that.”

“It’ll be somewhere in between, based on what we’re seeing, the success we’re having and then where we are in the game in terms of score.”

Kicker and punter update:

Returning starters kicker Jayden Fielding and punter Joey McGuire will be the starters in their respective positions this season.

Ted Carter discusses chalking ban, AI fluency program in pre-Convocation press conference

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:31:00 +0000

Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. speaking at a press conference that happened this past Monday. Credit: Ally Wolfe | Campus Senior Writer

Convocation is an opportunity for incoming freshmen to get to know Ohio State and it’s traditions but Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. opened up on a variety of topics, including Senate Bill 1 compliance, the size of the incoming freshman class and international student trends, in a pre-ceremony media conference.

Before addressing any of those, he shared his excitement for the Texas v. Ohio State matchup this Saturday.

“It’s going to be a great game,” Carter said. “The weather looks even better. I anticipate it’s going to be a crazy atmosphere.”

Carter said the university intentionally set the enrollment rates for this current and past year. The Class of 2028 — last year’s incoming freshmen — was larger than others, per prior Lantern reporting. The university has a lower enrollment rate for the current freshmen.

According to Carter, the university should expect 8,200 undergraduates enrolled this year with more specific numbers coming at a later date.

“Last year’s increase in numbers was also intentional because we’ve underperformed for a couple of years,” Carter said. “We’re still going to be somewhere around 66-67,000 ballpark-ish for students.”

Carter mentioned the high retention rate from last year’s freshman class — almost 9,000 students.

“Out of the 9,530 students that came in as a freshman class last year, 94 percent returned,” Carter said. “It’s an exceptionally high retention rate.”

Carter also acknowledged that the university is anticipating a drop in international student enrollment, which he said he is concerned about.

“I really embrace having international students on our campus,” Carter said. “I sailed all over the world, 38 years in the Navy. I visited 100 countries myself. I know the value of having that international relationship at a campus like Ohio State, so we’re hoping that continues to spread.”

This follows the travel bans from the federal government on over a dozen countries, as well as students having their visas revoked, per prior Lantern reporting. International students made up around 8 percent of the Columbus campus, according to the university’s 2024 enrollment report.

Carter went on to talk about the recent chalking ban, prohibiting all messages and images drawn on campus sidewalks, and said that the amount of complaints received by the university about reported incidents took up a lot of time and resources from his team.

“We had so many complaints about things, just changing a lot of people’s minds, a lot of rhetoric out there,” Carter said. “We had to erase most of what was on there, that’s a huge administrative burden for the university to have to go through all that to remove things that were not supposed to be on the sidewalk. So all this does is really free up my team to remove anything that gets put on the sidewalk.”

Carter said that the ban was “not trying to prevent anybody’s free speech.”

Carter also talked about the Center for Belonging and Social Change transforming into Buckeye Commons to comply with Senate Bill 1 policies to remove diversity, equity and inclusion programming. He said all students can go to find success and get support for just about anything that they could possibly want.

“We have not had impacts to any scholarships, to any students nor to any employment of any of our students,” Carter said.

Carter added that Ohio State’s strategy is to “take care of all walks of life.”

When asked about the Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and friend to Jeffery Epstein, tapes from the Department of Justice that claim close ties between Epstein and Les Wexner — who supplied a $100 million donation to the Wexner Medical Center, which is named after him — Carter said that he has not seen anything that has made him reconsider changing the name of the medical center and other facilities.

Carter took time to acknowledge the return of former Ohio State President, Gordon Gee, to campus working part-time as a consultant.

“I’ve known Gordon for a long time. I’m excited that he was willing to come and help support our future strategy that we’re working with,” Carter said.

Carter acknowledged that the regional campuses are also doing “very good” in enrollment and that he is “optimistic” about how the branch schools are operating.

Carter expressed excitement for the implementation of AI in classes across campus.

“We’re financially stable and stronger than most campuses that I know,” Carter said. “Our Ph.D. programs are alive as well, and one of the big initiatives that we are opening with Education for Citizenship 2035, is this thing called AI Fluency.”

Per prior Lantern reporting, the AI Fluency program will help students learn AI skills in their general education launch seminar and GenAI workshops.

Carter took time to talk about what else he is looking forward to for the upcoming year, including events like move-in weekend.

“It instills your faith in this generation that we’re going to be great going into the future,” Carter said. “I’m really excited about that, having everybody back on campus.”

When asked about his concerns for the upcoming year, Carter said he does not have anything he is really worried about but it will be a lot of work executing their plans for the upcoming school year.

“Obviously athletics is a complex field right now, so making sure we are navigating that well takes a lot of attention with Ross Bjork, our athletic director, but I’m excited about it all and wouldn’t be here doing this if I didn’t feel good.”

When asked about his score prediction for the game this Saturday, Carter answered, “My only prediction is victory. How’s that?”

Sending money on an app? Here are some best practices

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:50:22 +0000

Money-transfer apps and services like Zelle have revolutionized the way we send and receive money. Also known as peer-to-peer payments (P2P), P2P payments are almost ubiquitous among college students.

Whether you’re using P2P payments to buy items or services, split a food bill with a friend, or complete larger transactions like paying rent or receiving funds from friends or family, here are some best practices:

Be aware of fees
Some transactions may come with added fees, particularly if you want immediate access to your funds. Most P2P apps hold onto your funds until you choose to move them to your linked bank account. If you want the money sent immediately so you have instant access to the funds at your bank, most apps charge an instant transfer fee that is typically a small percentage of the overall amount, and some apps have a maximum instant transfer fee, like $25. If you’re willing to wait 1-2 days for your money to be deposited to your linked bank account, you can avoid the instant transfer fee so you’ll get the full amount.

If you know you’ll need your money quickly, try to use an app with the lowest transfer fee or the fastest transfer time without fees, or use a P2P service like Zelle which is offered right in the banking apps of participating financial institutions, and does not charge an additional fee to get immediate access to your money. Zelle moves money directly between the sender and recipient’s bank accounts; there’s no separate app holding your funds.

While paying instant transfer fees occasionally won’t make a significant financial impact, be careful of making it a habit, especially for larger sums. Those fees add up over time and you could find yourself losing money using the apps in the long run.

Stay vigilant about scams
Like any method of payment, there’s a risk of scams. Scammers like to use methods of payment such as P2P payments because it’s like cash – they get the money right away and you typically cannot cancel or reverse it once sent. These payment methods also may not provide certain purchase protections when buying items. Zelle warns its users to only pay others they know and trust.

Check payment details
Sending money to the wrong person because you entered incorrect or outdated information could mean it’s lost forever, as you’re relying on someone else’s sense of honesty to return the money. Your bank may be able to request that your unintended recipient’s bank return the money, but it typically isn’t required that they do so.

When entering payment information, slow down and make sure all details (email, phone number, account handle, etc.) are accurate so the money reaches its intended recipient.

Protect your personal info
You may want to avoid sending money while using public Wi-Fi. A safe network—like your home’s internet—may offer more protection.

The apps do encrypt your data and most offer two-factor authentication for additional security, but it can’t hurt to wait until you get to a secure network to complete your transaction.

The bottom line
Using P2P payments might be the most popular way for college students to complete financial transactions. The speed and simplicity of the payments make it easy for students to send and receive money immediately, cutting out trips to the ATM and other in-between steps that used to be required.

Always be aware of potential scams – never send money solicited through a text message or to a recipient you don’t know. Even when you know your recipient, make sure you have their correct payment information so the funds go to the right person. And if you’re using a P2P app that holds your funds, be careful about racking up instant transfer fees when moving money to your bank account.

These best practices can help you avoid hidden money traps and help keep your transactions safe.

For more financial health tips, visit chase.com/financialgoals.

Dorm floor decoration limited to Ohio State spirit themes, partially due to Senate Bill 1

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:52:07 +0000

A resident advisor room sits at the end of a hallway in Park-Stradley. Credit: Carly Damon | Lantern File Photo

When students walk onto their dorm floor for the first time, the walls could be covered in pop culture references like Spongebob or favorite dogs that the resident advisor believes incoming students would enjoy. Now, that is all changing.

Ohio State has advised all RA’s to keep their welcome programming, as well as their dorm floor decor, Ohio State-themed. This means that students this year will have floor decorations that showcase Ohio State through the university’s scarlet and gray colors, Block O and Brutus.

This change is partially due to SB1 compliance, according to University Spokesperson Dave Isaacs.

SB1 bans diversity, equity and inclusion programming, as well as faculty striking, per prior Lantern reporting. The bill also limits the teaching of controversial subjects and for course syllabi to be published online.

“SB1 was certainly a factor, but our goal is to create an open and welcoming environment for all students,” Isaacs said.

RA’s were told this news during their orientation in their position, Isaacs confirmed.

The concept of Ohio State spirit themes was also expanded to move-in activities hosted in the dorms, Isaacs said.

“This concept is also being carried out through a number of activities planned for our residence halls as Move-In continues, including buckeye necklace-making and mug decorating,” Isaacs said.

On Reddit, anonymous student accounts have posted complaining about this change, from some users saying that it is an overreaction on housing’s part.

On the original Reddit post, it has over 400 upvotes and 43 comments.

One user was a former RA and said in a comment, “I remember staying up until 5 AM before students moved in putting up everything to make my hall feel a little bit more inviting. It felt like Christmas morning to me.”

That user went on to say that “SB1 and university leadership has sucked the life out of literally everything.” That comment has almost 150 upvotes.

Students have posted that they are upset with the university’s reaction.

“There is nothing that required OSU to ban chalk on campus or have dorm themes,” one user commented. “Although they may not be entirely responsible, institutions such as OSU hold a tremendous amount of power and resources and it’s shameful to see how they have rolled over for this administration and it’s fair for people to be critical of that.”

There were no comments supporting Ohio State’s decision. However, one user called on students to protest the state and national government over these decisions, rather than Ohio State’s administration.

The university has also banned window signage in dorms in the past, according to prior reporting by The Lantern. In 2017, the university put a flat ban on window art moving forward, with Isaacs saying that the decision “reflects the approach other universities take to similar situations.”

This ban included more than just post-it notes on the window, but also prohibited students from hanging any signage, lighting or other materials in dorm or university windows, according to prior Lantern reporting.

Students were also upset with this ban, with one student saying, “Why limit it? If it is not inappropriate and is just funny I don’t see a problem with it.”

The Lantern had 3,500 views on a Reddit post asking for a comment on the dorm floor decorations, but no student would go on the record to discuss their opinions on this change. The Lantern is still reaching out to students for comments.

Former Ohio State president Gordon Gee to return to the university

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:51:43 +0000

Former OSU President E. Gordon Gee during an interview with The Lantern Oct. 21, 2013. He will return to the university in a consulting role. Credit: Shelby Lum | Lantern File Photo

Controversy and expenses have not held E. Gordon Gee away from Ohio State for long. Despite retiring as university president in 2013, President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. offered Gee an opportunity to return to the university in a consulting role.

Gee will report directly to Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda, according to the press release. In his role, he will be “a resource for university leaders” by helping them advance their strategic priorities.

The position is a one-year consulting role, said university spokesperson Ben Johnson.

“Ohio State will always be home for President Emeritus Gee, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to campus,” Bellamkonda said in the press release. “We are working on bold endeavors to accelerate student success, attract and support a world-class faculty, and strengthen academic programs that are recognized for their impact on society.”

Bellamkonda also said that Gee brings “invaluable perspective” from his years of working in academia, according to the press release.

Gee will also hold residencies with the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the Moritz College of Law and the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society, according to the press release.

“We have an exciting vision for Ohio State to define the future of higher education, and we can only benefit from having experienced leadership voices around the table,” Carter said in the press release. “Gordon knows Ohio State well and will bring valuable insights to our conversations. I am pleased to welcome him to campus.”

Gee was previously Ohio State’s president from 1990-98 and 2007-13.

In a previous Lantern interview with Gee, he said that Ohio State is his home. During his presidency, Gee supported the proposed $9 million Columbus City Schools levy despite opposition. The levy would have supported school construction efforts, a new property tax levy and fund childhood education, per prior Lantern reporting.

The levy failed at the polls despite Gee’s support.

He announced that he was retiring from his role as university president on June 4, 2013, but wanted to spend his retirement “focused, but relaxed.”

He most recently served as West Virginia University’s president, but left after an 11-year term, according to the press release.

Gee’s time as president of West Virginia ended with a symbolic vote of no confidence from the faculty in September, 2023 due to a budget shortage, according to the Associated Press. Gee stepped down from the position after his contract expired in June 2025.

University Spokesperson, Ben Johnson, said that Gee’s consulting agreement will not exceed $150,000.

Gee stirred controversy last time he was president of Ohio State due to his financial disclosure statements and comments against Catholics and other universities.

According to an article published by Sports Illustrated back in 2013, Gee criticized Notre Dame in an Ohio State Athletic Council meeting the previous December. In his remarks, he said that Ohio State had never invited Notre Dame to join the Big Ten since “they’re not really good partners.”

“I negotiated with them during my first term and the fathers are holy on Sunday and they’re holy hell on the rest of the week,” Gee said in the meeting. “You just can’t trust those damn Catholics on a Thursday or Friday.”

Gee also criticized the Southeastern Conference by saying that the SEC should “learn to read and write” and then they can figure out what they are doing, according to the Sports Illustrated article.

In August 2023, hundreds of West Virginia University students protested the administration cutting 9 percent of majors because the university budget was short $45 million. They removed one-third of the education department faculty and the entire world language department, according to the Associated Press.

Two Decades Later, Buckeyes and Longhorns Rekindle a Rivalry for the Ages

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:51:13 +0000

Ohio State cornerback Ashton Youboty (26) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Texas receiver Ramonce Taylor (11) in the first quarter. Texas faced Ohio State at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, September 10, 2005. Credit: Louis DeLuca/Dallas Morning News via TNS

Bobby Carpenter still remembers looking out the window of the Blackwell Inn on the afternoon of Sept. 10, 2005.

The Horseshoe was just down the street, but what caught his eye was everything outside it — thousands of people crowding Lane Avenue, tens of thousands more filling up parking lots and sidewalks. The type of atmosphere that only comes with a marquee matchup.

“It was like the State Fair effect,” Carpenter said. “You had 100,000 people going to the game, and another 100,000 who just wanted to be there. That’s when you knew it wasn’t just another Saturday.”

That night, No. 4 Ohio State and No. 2 Texas collided in one of the most anticipated nonconference games of the BCS era. On Saturday, the two programs will meet again with similar stakes. Both teams are ranked within the top five and have championship or bust expectations.

The Buckeyes will look to win back-to-back games against the Longhorns, following their 28-14 victory in the 2025 Cotton Bowl, which ended Texas’ season and springboarded the Buckeyes to the national championship, which they went on to win.

But rewind 20 years, and the buildup wasn’t all that different.

The Buckeyes’ defense — Carpenter, A.J. Hawk, Donte Whitner, and a front seven full of NFL talent — faced a Texas team on the rise, led by quarterback Vince Young.

Carpenter said the Buckeyes spent all offseason preparing for Texas — and for Young in particular. Then Young walked on the field.

“He’s all of 6-5, 240 pounds,” Carpenter said. “You look at him and think, holy crap — this dude looks like a defensive end. And then he’s running, and he’s such a long strider that he outruns your angles. You don’t realize how much ground he’s covering until it’s too late.”

What followed was a bruising, back-and-forth contest that still lives in the memory of everyone who played in it. Texas escaped with a 25-22 win, riding Young’s late touchdown pass to Limas Sweed. The Longhorns would go on to have an undefeated season that ended in a national championship. The Buckeyes would end the season 10-2.

For Carpenter, the game remains unforgettable. He remembers how the energy fed into the game itself — especially on defense.

“If you want the crowd to be in it, you’ve got to give them something to cheer about,” he said. “You make plays, they’ll feed off you. And then you feed off them. It becomes symbiotic. That’s when the ‘Shoe is at its absolute best.”

Despite the buildup and the chaos of the night, Carpenter said head coach Jim Tressel kept his team grounded.

“People always ask about his big pregame speeches,” Carpenter said. “But that wasn’t his deal. He was the same guy every week. That’s what we respected about him.”

Looking back, Carpenter said games like that reveal more than just the score.

“One team was going to win, one team was going to lose. That’s football,” he said. “But what a game like that reveals is who you are and what you need to improve. And then you’ve got three months to get better. That’s the beauty of it.”

Now, 20 years later, the stage is set again.

No. 3 Ohio State will host No. 1 Texas at Ohio Stadium, and once again, the college football world will have its sights set on Columbus.

It will be the first time the Buckeyes have played a No. 1 team at home since 1985, when Ohio State defeated No. 1 Iowa 22-13, and it’s a matchup that could shape the College Football Playoff picture before the calendar even flips to September.

This time, it’s Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes’ loaded offense against a Texas defense that many believe is the best in the country. It’s Arch Manning, making his first trip to Columbus as the Longhorns’ starter, carrying the weight of sky-high expectations. And it’s Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian trying to prove their programs belong at the very top of the sport.

“These are two of the most talented teams in college football,” Carpenter said. “Both have young quarterbacks. Both have first-time starters figuring things out. And games like this — early, high stakes — they show you what you’re really made of.”

Carpenter will be in the stands Saturday, still chasing the adrenaline he felt as a player that night in 2005.

“You ride the wave with them, good or bad,” he said. “The hard part is, as a former player, you can’t impact it anymore. You want to. But you can’t. So you just sit there and feel it.

James Laurinaitis, then a freshman and now Ohio State’s linebackers coach, said the legacy of that game is exactly why this weekend’s matchup matters so much.

“The pageantry around it is why college football is so beautiful,” Laurinaitis said. “Like amidst everything — it’s Texas, it’s Ohio State, it’s the history, it’s the burnt orange, it’s the scarlet and gray — and you’re like, what else do you want?”

Sonic and Knuckles: Peoples and Donaldson set to carry the torch in 2025

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:50:19 +0000

Freshman running back James Peoples (20) smiles during the singing of “Carmen Ohio,” after the game against Purdue. The Buckeyes defeated the Boilermakers 45-0 Nov. 9, 2024. Credit: Carly Damon | Lantern File Photo

For the first time since 1975, when Archie Griffin and Pete Johnson did it, Ohio State had two running backs go for 1,000 yards in the same season. TreyVeon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins revolutionized the Buckeyes’ offense, rushing for a combined 2,119 yards and 21 touchdowns, leading Ohio State to their ninth championship trophy.

Now both are off to the NFL, and the torch has been passed. Replacing that kind of production is a tall task – but sophomore James Peoples and senior transfer CJ Donaldson aren’t shying away from the spotlight. In fact, they’ve already given their tandem a nickname.

“I think it’s going to be Sonic and Knuckles,” Peoples said, referring to the iconic video game duo. “We both run hard. He’s, what, 6-2, 230? I’m excited to see what he’s going to bring and how we’re going to be able to feed off each other.”

Peoples embodies the Sonic name, while Donaldson, a senior who spent three seasons at West Virginia, is perfectly fine wearing the Knuckles name tag.

“I gotta do the dirty work,” Donaldson said. “I’m definitely cool with doing the dirty work. [Peoples] is more of the personality guy. Bad cop, good cop.” Peoples spent his first season preparing for a leading role in the backfield.

While sitting behind Judkins and Henderson, the freshman rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns, and while it was a great learning experience, Peoples said he is ready to take the jump.

“I’m totally different,” Peoples said. “Through training and the guys I sat behind, just learning from them, and what I’ve seen. I’ve gotten faster, stronger, quicker. Everything has just taken another level up.”

Donaldson delivered nearly identical stat lines with the Mountaineers in 2023 and 2024, tallying between 700 and 800 rushing yards, 4.5–4.7 yards per carry and 11 touchdowns. But his version of leveling up came through trimming down.

“It definitely helps a lot,” Donaldson said. “I can accelerate a lot faster right now. I think I weighed in today at like 227. It feels great not having all that body fat on me. It allows me to play more downs and be more explosive.”

That wasn’t the only thing he was shedding. On Aug. 6, Donaldson’s black stripe was removed, signaling the newcomer has earned the right to play as a Buckeye.

Donaldson’s rise wasn’t easy under running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who drives home the idea to his players that everything they want, they’re going to have to earn.

“He told me he was going to challenge me,” Donaldson said. “He’s going to bring a different personality and a different animal out of me, which I’m like, ‘I need that challenge.’ It’s important to be challenged.”

For Peoples, the coaching style has been different this season as well, with Locklyn being more critical and pushing him harder in practice. That hasn’t bothered Peoples, who said he trusts Locklyn’s coaching style.

“He preaches all the time there’s a method to the madness,” Peoples said. “The one thing he really stresses is that we play as one in the running back room.”

Even with a national championship under his belt, Peoples is focused on the present.

“That team last year is a whole other team,” Peoples said. “A lot of those guys moved onto their NFL careers. I was there, of course I want to be in it now.”

Locklyn shares the same outlook. He was quick to say that “last year is last year” and that Peoples and Donaldson are carving out their own identity, separate from Henderson and Judkins.

“Those kids are not Q and Tre,” Locklyn said. “They’re themselves. I don’t want them to be nobody else but themselves.”

And he doesn’t sugarcoat the work required to step into the spotlight.

“They’ve got to fill their own shoes,” Locklyn said. “Those things will settle themselves. We’re competing out there every day. If you think you have arrived in that room, you’re going to get your feelings hurt. Because I’m going to make sure I hurt them. You got to come to work every day. If you don’t humble yourself, I will.”

For Peoples, making those shoes fit is a weighty responsibility—but one he’s ready to shoulder.

“That is something I hold upon my shoulders to constantly uphold the standard that those guys before me left,” Peoples said.

Donaldson, meanwhile, has found his footing as a leader in the backfield.

“In the spring, I definitely had those times when I was like ‘Man, am I in the right spot or am I saying the right thing?’ But now it’s like I know what I’m here for and I know the player that I need to be to help this team out.”

That growth comes with a clear vision for the running back group heading into the season opener against Texas. Reflecting on the identity he wants the backfield to carry, Donaldson emphasized cohesion.

“We all dress the same, we look the same, we’re gonna talk the same language and we all go as play as one.”

Sonic and Knuckles might have started as a video game duo, but in Columbus this fall, it’s the backfield tandem Ohio State hopes will power the Buckeyes to another level.

Wexner Center for the Arts to host percussive dance company “SOLE Defined” as part of new series beginning September 4

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:35:18 +0000

Ryan Johnson’s “ZAZ” will be performed at The Wex on September 4 at 7 p.m. Credit: Courtesy of Becca Marcela Oviatt

The Wexner Center for the Arts is bringing live performances, film screenings, art workshops and more to the Ohio State community at a higher caliber this fall.

“First Thursday,” as the Wex has named it, is a new series this fall beginning September 4. On the first Thursday of every month, the center will host a multitude of events for free or at an affordable price, said Emily Haidet, curator of academic and public programs at the Wex.

“‘First Thursdays’ are an initiative by the Wex to invite folks from across campus and our communities into the Wexner Center for the Arts to experience all we have to offer,” Haidet said. “There are going to be multiple events that are either free or low cost. On the first Thursday of each month, we have lineups of events that include artist talks, film screenings, performances, but also opportunities for folks to get something at our Heirloom Café at a discounted rate, check out our current exhibitions and also learn some new skills in our art making workshop.”

Haidet said the goal of the new series is to give the community an easy opportunity to see the different events that the Wex hosts.

“We were really trying to think about ways to more consistently engage with our communities,” Haidet said. “We thought, if we can provide a little bit of consistency and dependability for our communities, like, ‘Okay, we always know there’s going to be something to do at the Wex the first Thursday of the month,’ regardless of what it is, it’ll be an interesting, cool, fun time and an opportunity to gather your community, bring your friends and have a social moment.”

September’s “First Thursday” will consist of an author talk with Jim Daichendt, a campus community studio at Heirloom Café, a drop-in gallery exhibit, a film screening of “Sabbath Queen” and a percussive dance performance called “ZAZ” from the dance company “SOLE Defined,” according to the Wex’s website.

“ZAZ” is “an immersive sensory performance that shifts traditional viewing practices beyond just sight and sound. The performers embody the oral histories and recorded experiences of survivors of Hurricane Katrina,” according to its page on the Wex’s website.

“‘ZAZ’ is a fictional place about real people who experienced something real, Hurricane Katrina,” Ryan Johnson, playwright and director of “ZAZ,” said. “I have goose bumps thinking about what ‘ZAZ’ is, because it’s so many things. It’s a performative archive, so it’s holding these oral stories, these histories of people who experienced Hurricane Katrina firsthand. Some of them will actually be coming to Columbus to see the show, which is exciting.”

Johnson said he was inspired to create “ZAZ” after he took a break from touring as a dancer to work in New Orleans for a summer.

“I wanted to better understand the world in a different way,” Johnson said. “I think when you’re young and you’re in entertainment, you start to see the world very differently. So, moving to New Orleans and becoming a bus boy and street performing to make ends meet for a summer was probably one of the most impactful moments.”

Johnson said he met someone while working a restaurant job that summer that made him want to share the stories of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“[My friend] was like, ‘Dude, why don’t you write a show? Nobody’s paying attention [to the aftermath of the hurricane].’ I just fell in love with [New Orleans]. When I didn’t know where home was, I knew that when I went to New Orleans, there was a group of people that were going to care for me in a way that I needed to be cared for. So, this is just hopefully my way of honoring them.”

Jodeci Millhouse, associate director and performer in the show, said the story not only explores the stories of those who experienced Hurricane Katrina, but it also dives into Johnson’s personal relationship with New Orleans.

“It’s where we get to see Ryan [Johnson] explore what New Orleans means to him as an artist, and how the culture affected Ryan, which is also a big part of the show,” Millhouse said. “It is about Hurricane Katrina and how it affected the people and the culture there. But a big part of it is also Ryan [Johnson] narrating how New Orleans affected him as an artist and a person, so I think that’s important too.”

As far as what the show entails, Johnson said the show combines the five senses to really immerse the audience into the performance.

“It is the intersection of movement and technology and using these physical practices with technologies to create an almost 4D experience,” Johnson said. “You know, what do you feel? What do you see? What do you taste? What do you hear? It’s how that creates an atmosphere for you to go on a journey for 70 minutes.”

Millhouse said the show provides an experience that has never been done before.

“People can expect to learn a lot, to feel a lot,” Millhouse said. “When you come, it’s really a roller coaster. I think Ryan’s idea of it being this immersive experience is the biggest thing that people can expect, like you’re gonna be in it, from the way that the seating is in the space to the way that you experience the art and the story. I think it’s unprecedented. There’s no kind of percussive dance, at least that is like this, with a meaningful message and storytelling as well.”

For people planning to see the show, Johnson said he hopes viewers are reminded by the show to have empathy and look at the bigger picture.

“I really just hope that people remember what humanity is and understand and remember what it means to care about something larger than themselves, because we are all trying to figure it out,” Johnson said. “The people of New Orleans are still navigating the psychological, financial and emotional effects of Hurricane Katrina and the government’s poor response to it.”

Johnson said he’s excited to premiere his work to the public.

“I’m over the moon,” Johnson said. “I’m ready for people to see it and I’m ready for the world to see my creative approach to dance in theater and the fusion of dance theater and technology.”

Millhouse said she’s looking forward to people experiencing the show, down to its smallest details.

“I think this has been living in Ryan’s mind for a long time and we’ve had different iterations, but it’s never been alive like this before,” Millhouse said. “So, I think I’m really excited for people to really experience every tiny detail that so much thought has gone into. It’s going to be really fulfilling.”

Along with the “First Thursday” performance at 7 p.m., “ZAZ” will also be performed on September 5 at 7 p.m. and September 7 at 3 p.m. at the Wex. Tickets for the “ZAZ” performances can be purchased for $12 on their event page. For more information on the other events, as well as to reserve and purchase tickets, visit the Wex’s website.

University District market “Gateway Groove” to feature local businesses and live music Friday

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:32:16 +0000

The view of Eupouria and its patio at the June Gateway Groove event. Credit: Courtesy of Victor van Buchem and Jordan Popovsky

A night of commemoration and celebration is right around the corner.

The Gateway – University District plaza and Eupouria bar are collaborating to host their third Gateway Groove market Friday. The event will host local vendors, bands and food from 4 to 8 p.m.

The 1970s-themed community event was founded by Jordan Popovsky, a fifth-year in vocal performance and animal science.

In addition to live music, Gateway Groove will feature six booths consisting of local vendors and informational stands from Ohio State organizations, some of which include Chaotically Stitched Crochet, Retro Reese Vintage Streetwear and the OSU Community Music School, Popovsky said in an email.

“I hope that people can see the OSU community on a little more of a deeper level,” Popovsky said. “It’s this big community of amazing musicians, amazing artists and hardworking entrepreneurs … there are so many great people in this town.”

Popovsky said she worked closely with Christiana Moffa, general manager of the Gateway – University District plaza, and Emilee Morgan, owner of Eupouria bar, to organize and set up Gateway Groove.

Moffa said the process of curating the event with Popovsky has been an inventive one.

“I get to enjoy it and see it and watch our customers and visitors be happy, and it’s just so exciting and a collaborative process,” Moffa said. “I think we’re going to be doing a lot more going forward with students.”

Popovsky is a member of BuckeyeFunk Band — a Columbus-based cover band with an eclectic ‘70s sound. Her band will be one of three musical acts performing Friday, with the others being the indie-rock Snow Day Band and contemporary solo artist Max Rubin, Popovsky said in an email.

Popovsky’s BuckeyeFunk Band performed at Gateway Groove in June. Credit: Courtesy of Victor van Buchem and Jordan Popovsky

“I like the idea of having a celebratory event for the University District community as a whole, where not only are there vendors and shopping, but live music, drinking, food and dancing,” Popovsky said.

Popovsky said her journey toward becoming an entrepreneur began when she founded her jewelry business — BeadznWirez — during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was just something fun to do,” Popovsky said. “But running a business throughout college has been really freeing, in a way. It’s a good way to learn a lot about myself and the things that I’m capable of doing.”

Upon arriving at Ohio State, Popovsky said she quickly became familiar with its vibrant small business scene.

“I started doing a bunch of pop-up markets around Columbus for my jewelry business, and that was really fun because you get to meet a bunch of people,” Popovsky said. “You get to feel immersed, not only in the OSU community, but in the Columbus community.”

Moffa said the layout of the event is intended to balance both the vendor market as well as the live entertainment.

“I leave it to [Popovsky] to put the vendors wherever she thinks they should be to help with the flow of the event, and then the bands themselves are just inside Eupouria, right near the patio where there are garage doors,” Moffa said. “It’s a focused event with the bands being the center and the vendors lending that character.”

Moffa said Gateway – University District is singularly focused on the Ohio State community.

“Everyone is here because they want to interact with the community — the students that bring energy, enthusiasm and multiculturalism — you know, there’s something distinct about the vibration that you feel across the area when the students start returning [to campus],” Moffa said.

Moffa said she is open to hearing out any and all creative ideas that students have to offer when it comes to event planning.

“We’re happy to give [students] a platform and try something out,” Moffa said.

Gateway Groove is actively seeking student small business owners and vendors for their upcoming markets on September 26 and October 31. For more information and to get involved, visit their Instagram page.

Ohio State students win best prototype in NASA Human Lander Challenge

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:30:28 +0000

The Ohio State Team presenting at the Human Lander Forum in June. Credit: Courtesy of Preston Harmon.

What began as an idea sketched out by Ohio State students has now become an award-winning prototype that could one day help astronauts refuel their way to the moon.

The students’ work was named best prototype on June 26, in NASA’s Human Lander Challenge, which was held near the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

In the Human Lander Challenge, participants were tasked with developing in-space solutions for storing and transferring cryogenic liquids to support future long-term exploration, according to prior Lantern reporting. Used as propellants in spaceflight, gases hydrogen and oxygen must stay extremely cold to stay in a liquid state.

John Horack, project advisor and the Neil Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy at Ohio State, said that the fuel in space is drastically different than on Earth.

“The cryogenic fuel is basically supercooled hydrogen oxygen,” Horack said in an interview. “You take those gases and cool them down, almost, in the case of hydrogen, to about 20 Kelvin, just above absolute zero. In this case, then you have to try to figure out how to hook it up.”

Max Heil, the team project manager and graduate aerospace engineering student, said that since cryogenic liquids only last several hours in space, experts must find a solution to make the gases last several weeks or even years.

While other teams focused on categories like thermal methods to reduce boil off or refueling on the moon, Ohio State’s team chose to work on autonomous refueling to build an innovative solution in a key aspect of NASA’s missions to the moon, Heil said.

“It was really just any way you could think of to reduce that amount of thermal loss or increase the longevity of cryogenics,” Heil said.

Autonomous refueling can speed up the process of transferring fuel from a tanker to a spacecraft, Heil said.

Their prototype, Autonomous Magnetized Cryo-Couplers with Active Alignment Control (AMCC-AAC), was modeled after a Stewart Platform, which is a six-legged motion table that the International Space Station uses to dock spaceships, said Heil.

The team wanted to replicate the platform and apply it in space for the cryogenic system, where the table can be used to latch the two spacecrafts together to refuel through the port, said Heil.

The AMCC-AAC uses a computer vision system that identifies “AprilTags,” similar to how QR codes work, located on the other side of the spacecraft to make the exact movements it needs to make to connect and start refueling, Heil said.

Their functional prototype wasn’t the team’s initial idea for how they wanted to represent and build their concept.

“When we were initially thinking about the prototype, we were thinking, ‘Okay, let’s just 3D print a model or for our equipment,’ which is great to do, but a lot of other teams were going to do that, and we kind of knew that,” Heil said. “So to set us apart, I had the idea that we should kind of expand upon this whole thing, and our paper emphasizes the whole movement system, and while it’s not really a novel idea, it’s unique in space.”

Despite a large team with varying schedules, Heil said they were able to build the prototype in four months.

“I think we were all just really good at communicating, Heil said, “and when everybody communicates in that way, it makes the project move faster.”

Horack said his role as the team’s advisor was consultative rather than very directive; his job was to help them stay on track and use his resources to support them in the best way he could.

Horack also said he was pleased with the success of his students with their prototype. While their team did not place first overall, they still built something worth celebrating, according to Horack.

“For me, they didn’t win first or second or third place, but they got the best prototype,” Horack said. “I’m thinking, well, isn’t that what engineering is all about? Building something.”

Heil said that Horack supporting graduating engineers like himself can help open doors and connect with other industry experts.

“I think his support went beyond just technical,” Heil said. “It was definitely relationship building and pretty instrumental in how students can connect with the industry.”

The team will continue the project with other partners or advance related projects relevant to the space industry, Heil said. At Ohio State, there has been a lack of emphasis on the space side of aerospace, and the team is hoping to change that.

“I think this competition really boosts our awareness and the notoriety that we have in space at Ohio State and it shows that we are working on projects that are space related,” Heil said. “So it’s huge for the university. It really is huge.”

Football: Meeting QB1 Julian Sayin

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:27:09 +0000

Ohio State freshman quarterback Julian Sayin (10) catches the ball during warmups before the spring game at the ‘Shoe April 12, 2025. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor

On Aug. 18, Ryan Day announced that Julian Sayin is no longer just a promising 5-star talent on the depth chart for Ohio State. He’s now QB1.

With a bright future ahead as a Buckeye, the redshirt freshman from Carlsbad, California, is worth getting to know.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound quarterback graduated from Carlsbad High School, and in 2023, was named Elite 11 Finals MVP – one of the highest honors for high school quarterbacks – with past winners like C.J. Stroud and Justin Fields.

The quarterback’s journey to Columbus, however, was far from linear.

After enrolling early at Alabama, he transferred following head coach Nick Saban’s retirement and the arrival of a new coaching staff. The Buckeyes saw this as a clear opportunity.

Once ranked as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 recruiting class, his transfer to Ohio State added immediate interest to an already competitive quarterback pool.

“I definitely made the right decision coming up here,” Sayin said. “It came down to a lot of factors, but I really wanted to be at a school with great tradition and great quarterback history.”

Sayin appeared in four games playing for Ohio State during the 2024 season, logging 27 snaps and completing 5 of 12 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. In the race to uphold the spot as starting quarterback for the Buckeyes, his main competition was junior Lincoln Kienholz, who has not played since the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri.

Sayin’s recent surge set him over the top.

“He’s done a good job about being consistent and taking care of the football,” offensive coordinator Brian Hartline said. “He’s done a good job with giving the guys an opportunity to make plays, and I just think it’s the body of work.”

The body of work, especially Sayin’s poise and ability to lead the offense, is ultimately what led to Day naming the redshirt freshman the starter amid the monster week one matchup against Texas.

“He’s smart, poised, has good composure,” Day “[Sayin] has good timing, and has really built command and confidence as time has gone on.”

But as always, when there is a first-time starter, there is a shadow of the unknown around Sayin. However, Day and the team have full confidence that the young quarterback is the guy to lead the Buckeyes to their first back-to-back championship.

“He knows that the team and the coaches have confidence in him,” Day said. “We’ve worked them hard in practice. It’s our job to make sure when they’re out there, it’s as game-like as possible. When he gets in the game, we told him–let it rip. Go get it, man. Play with confidence because that’s what all the preparation rewards you with.”

What’s Up: More Welcome Week activities to continue throughout the week

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:54:51 +0000

Credit: Zachary Rilley | Lantern File Photo

Welcome Week at Ohio State hosts a variety of events for all kinds of students — offering plenty of opportunities to make friends, enjoy free food, games, activities and more.

Welcome Week for the ‘25-‘26 academic year began Sunday and events will continue to take place through next Sunday. While Welcome Week starts off with notable events such as Convocation and the Student Involvement Fair, the rest of the week is stocked full of events catered to students’ individual interests. Read on to learn more about what this year’s Welcome Week events have to offer. Click on any event title for more information.

Tuesday, August 26:

International Student Welcome Party

This year’s International Student Welcome Party will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Archie Griffin Ballroom — located on the second floor of the Ohio Union. The event is hosted by International Friends Inc., a registered Ohio State student organization that intends to help international students adjust to life in the United States. The welcome party offers a safe and welcoming space for international students to find and make lasting connections with other international students.

Wednesday, August 27:

OUABlock Party

The Ohio Union Activities Board will host their OUABlock Party from 6 to 9 p.m. on the South Oval. The event is sponsored by Google Gemini, according to the Welcome Week website. Dave Isaacs, a university spokesperson, said the event will give students the opportunity to mingle with others, take part in interactive activities and enjoy free food and music.

Esports Open House

The Esports Arena — located on the second floor of Lincoln Tower — will host an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. According to the esports website, the event will offer free food, party games and access to several video games among different platforms — including Mario Kart and Quiplash, as well as Just Dance and the virtual reality game Beat Saber.

Friday, August 29:

Green Buckeyes & Goodwill Columbus Dump-n-Run Sale

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the west plaza of the Ohio Union will be littered with discounted clothing, cheap furniture and decor — all of which was donated by Ohio State students, according to their event page. The sale is hard to miss; students can stop and shop or briefly browse on their way to and from class.

Graduate and Professional Involvement Fair and Picnic

Sponsored by Google Gemini, the Graduate and Professional Involvement Fair and Picnic will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Ohio Union in the Archie Griffin Ballroom. The free event will allow graduate and professional students to student organizations, as well as network with other students. Food, drinks and carnival games will also be offered at the event.

Off-Campus Community BLOC Party

Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement will host their Buckeyes Living Off Campus — or BLOC — party from 4 to 6 p.m. at University Square, which is located at the corner of 15th Avenue and North High Street.

The event will offer on campus, off campus and commuter students the opportunity to meet other students in the area and give them the chance to introduce themselves to their neighbors. The BLOC party intends to maintain a laidback and casual environment, complete with free food, drinks and activities, according to their website.

From Cheapest to Most Expensive: Breaking Down Ohio State–Texas Ticket Prices

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:39:59 +0000

Ohio State football helmet lays on the field prior to No. 3 Ohio State’s 20-13 win over No. 4 Penn State University at Beaver Stadium on Nov 2. Credit: Carly Damon | Lantern Photo Vault

All eyes will be on Columbus on Saturday. The Buckeyes will take on Texas at noon at Ohio Stadium in a rematch of the 2025 Cotton Bowl.

The Longhorns, who are the No. 1-ranked team in the country, are the first top-rated team since 1985 to walk into Ohio Stadium, and with the Buckeyes fresh off a national championship, the hype for this game is felt throughout the country.

With hype comes demand, and a ticket to the showdown is the hottest commodity in town. So how much will it cost you to get into the game?

The cheapest tickets we found as of the time of publishing on Monday were from Ticketmaster, offering a single ticket for $327.25 after fees in section 38B, Row 35.

Here are the cheapest we found on every site.

Ticketcity – $395.15

Stubhub – $367

Ticketmaster – $327.25

Gametime – $357

Tickpick – $376

Ticketnetwork – $460

If you’re looking for a ticket in the lower bowl (section AA or A), those tickets range from nearly $400 to as much as $1,949.22, with section A tickets behind the end zones being the cheaper options and section AA tickets being the most expensive.

Crew Fall To New England Revolution, 2-1

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 23:57:49 +0000

Wessam Abou Ali(9) makes his Columbus Crew debut on Saturday night’s game against the New England Revolution. Wessam was substituted into the game late, but still totaled 34 minutes played. Credit: Liam Ahern | Sports Photo Editor

The Crew came away with a loss Saturday night after failing to make shots at the goal and defensive errors.

The Columbus Crew was defeated 2-1 by the New England Revolution at Lower.com Field, and put only six of their 23 shots on target.

The Crew controlled the pace of play early on, using their pass-heavy style to break down New England’s defense. Despite successfully creating multiple scoring chances, Columbus struggled to put the ball in the back of the net.

New England quickly swung things into their favor with a counter-attack on Columbus’ defense.

In the 25th minute, Revolution striker Leo Campana found himself behind the Crew’s line of defense and scored from the center of the box to take a 1-0 lead for New England.

Crew defender Sean Zawadzki acknowledged his team’s mistake leading up to the goal.

“It’s a moment of a mental lapse for us,” Zawadzki said. “Obviously, we never want to switch off in the game, and they kind of took advantage of that.”

With a 1-o lead, New England —a team that sits near the bottom of the MLS standings— appeared the more confident club on either side of the pitch.

Columbus quickly tried to find an answer and recorded three shots in five minutes but once again was met with struggle.

New England completely drained the fans at Lower.com Field of any excitement as it continued to expose cracks in the Columbus defense.

Revolution right wingback Mamadou Fofana directed a long pass from midfield in stride to left midfielder Ignatius Ganago, who swiftly extended the New England lead to 2-0 in the 39th minute.

After 45 minutes of play, Columbus totaled nine shots with just one on target.

Down two goals, the Crew desperately needed to find a rhythm offensively in the second half.

The Revolution opted to take a more defensive approach and protected their lead, their first shot of the half recorded 25 minutes in.

With time winding down, Columbus still had a heartbeat.

A series of quick passes from the Crew set up midfielder Daniel Gazdag, who blasted the ball to the bottom right corner of the net and cut the deficit to 2-1. Defender Malte Amundsen was credited with the assist.

In search of a point to add to the standings, Columbus did what it could but was still met by Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner who rose to the occasion and made two clutch saves in the 87th and 89th minutes.

Following the game, Gazdag said the Crew let crucial points slip away.

“Obviously it’s annoying, because these are games that we should win,” Gazdag said. “We know that we are capable of winning these games, so I feel like we’re wasting too many points now.”

The Crew (12-6-9) will return to action next week when they travel to Sports Illustrated Stadium to face the New York Red Bulls (11-10-6). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Album Review: Conan Gray’s “Wishbone” might just be the heartbreak album of the summer

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:13:35 +0000

Conan Gray performing at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. Credit: Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group via TNS

Conan Gray, a pop singer known for his songs about young love, heartbreak and all the entanglements that come with relationships, released his fourth album, “Wishbone,” Friday.

Gray rose to fame with his single “Heather,” a staple on TikTok during the COVID-19 lock down. He continued to produce standout hits like “Maniac,” “The Cut That Always Bleeds” and “Memories.”

Gray’s signature sound is easy to point out in his work: playing into guitars in the background, electric backings and hints of percussion paired with gut-wrenching lyrics about previous partners. His upbeat songs already hit hard enough — they cut even deeper with the slower tracks in his discography.

“Wishbone” ties heavily back to the sounds of “Kid Krow” (2020) and “Superache” (2022), steering away from the ‘80s techno album “Found Heaven” (2024). These instrumentals feel the most authentic for Gray and the stories he’s telling in his music, which is already a great setup for the album.

The album opens with “Actor,” a track that opens softly with simple acoustic guitar. Gray’s vocals build into the first chorus with the energy only going up from there. This is a great song to use as the opening to the album, especially since it’s so reminiscent of Gray’s familiar style and strong storytelling.

“But the church bells won’t stop ringing / For an undead wedding day / And you’ve spent the summer drinking / While I spent it being erased … Let’s pretend nothing happened, I agree / But you’re a much better actor than me.”

“This Song” and “Vodka Cranberry,” tracks two and three, were released as singles leading up to the album and quickly made a strong impression on listeners. Their music videos have accumulated 4.2 million and 2.8 million views, respectively, and are working their way into Gray’s top songs on music streaming platforms.

The two songs go hand in hand and tell an in-depth story, especially seeing how Gray used the same actor, Corey Fogelmanis, known best for his role as Farkle in the Disney show “Girl Meets World,” in both music videos.

“This Song” portrays the relationship in a positive light, with the chorus consisting of “I wrote this song about you / Something I wish you knew / Something I’ve tried to say / But now I’ll say it straight / I wrote this song about you.”

The music behind the lyrics focuses on softer percussion, pulling away from the guitars used in the previous tracks.

However, the vibe takes a major turn in “Vodka Cranberry,” turning back to guitars and strong vocals screaming “Speak up, I know you hate me / Looked at your picture and cried like a baby … Got way too drunk off a vodka cranberry / Called you up in the middle of the night / Wailing like an imbecile / If you won’t end things, then I will.”

Anything after the duo seems to be the thoughts after a breakup, or at least the middle road when you’re stuck in some sort of situationship.

“Romeo” and “My World” are very similar to “Actor,” with both songs having passive aggressive, upset adolescent lyrics with pop-infused instrumentals. The match up works well and makes the listener less emotional about their ex since the music itself is actively trying to make a breakup seem lighter.

“Class Clown,” the sixth track, is the first slower turn of the album but isn’t quite the ballad of the record. With lyrics like “Everything comes back around / I still feel like the class clown” and “Trying to grow on earth that writhes / And do it all with the biggest smile / Half my friends barely know who I am,” the song gets deeper leading into the sadder and slower songs on the album.

“Nauseous” is its own little world, with the verses being slowed vocals and calm acoustic guitars. The chorus builds into something in the same sphere as “Actor” and “Class Clown.” The lyrics are by far the most deep-cutting of the album thus far, with the bridge being the climax of the emotions.

“Maybe I’m here waiting for someone / To get through my years of trying to trust them / I know that it’s in me to really love someone / But that’s not a thing that I learned from my loved ones.”

“Caramel” is an upbeat break from the back-to-back lyrical assault from earlier, but it doesn’t last long with “Connell” as the following track.

“But deep in my bones I know pain is what I earned / And you remind me of how good it feels to hurt / Yeah, you remind me of how little I deserve.”

If that doesn’t take the ballad spot on the tracklist, then we’re in trouble.

“Sunset Tower” lifts the mood a bit, as does “Eleven Eleven.” Though the latter is on the slower side, the track is not as depressing as its predecessors. “There’s wishbones and clovers and numbers from heaven / Shapes in the stars to invent our connection / As much as I act like I want to forget it / I still wish for you at 11:11.”

“Eleven Eleven” feels very nostalgic, reminiscent of the craze around posting the time with public wishes on your Snapchat story in middle school. The song is also a great beginning to the end of the album.

Thankfully, “Care” is an upbeat end track, with guitars and percussion found throughout the entire song.

“Wishbone” is a comprehensive and cohesive album, telling a complete story that flows seamlessly. It’s also enjoyable to see Gray return to his signature styles and sounds after his breakaway album “Found Heaven” in 2024. It might not be the most peppy end to the summer, but it’s a great segway into early fall days.

Rating: 4/5

Man pleads guilty to 2023 hate crime that took place at Ohio State

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 23:58:11 +0000

Timur Mamatov pleaded guilty to violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act after he assaulted two Jewish students on campus based on their religion. Credit: Zachary Rilley | Lantern Photo File

A man pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court this past Friday for a hate crime that happened on North High Street on Ohio State’s campus in 2023.

Timur Mamatov admitted to violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act after his physical assault of two Jewish students on campus based on their religion.

University Spokesperson, Chris Booker, said in an email that the university condemns hate crimes.

“Antisemitism is despicable and has no place in our community,” Booker said. “Ohio State immediately responded through law enforcement and other support and we appreciate the work of the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as that of federal, state, and local law enforcement, in supporting students at Ohio State.”

In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said “violence against people of faith is illegal and unacceptable.”

U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said no one should feel unsafe due to their faith.

“Mamatov admitted in court today that he assaulted victims because they were Jewish,” Gerace said in a statement. “No Americans should fear being violently attacked based on their religious beliefs.”

According to the court documents, on Nov. 10, 2023, Mamatov and a friend had an altercation with five students outside of a bar on North High Street. One of the students was wearing a “Chai” pendant, a well-known Jewish symbol represented by the Hebrew character of 18. Mamatov asked the students if they were Jewish, to which they replied yes.

Mamtov then punched one of the victims, fracturing his jaw, and a second victim was injured, suffering from a fractured nose. Mamatov was charged with a bill of information on July 3.

Mamtov was not a student at Ohio State nor affiliated with the university.

A federal district judge will decide his sentence at a later date.

Campus art clubs to host Charity 2D Art Sale Monday

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 23:57:14 +0000

Ainsley Vogel (left) and Cindy An (right) hosted the 2D Charity Art Sale on Tuesday. Credit: Courtesy of Cindy An

The arts community on campus is rallying to support aspiring artists for charitable causes.

CTRL+Paint, the Animation Club and the Digital Art Club are collaborating to feature the work of student artists at their first annual Charity 2D Art Sale, which began August 19 and runs on select dates through September 6.

The art sale will be set up outside of Hopkins Hall on Monday, Saturday and the following Saturday, September 6, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cindy An, president of CTRL+Paint and founder of the Charity 2D Art Sale, said the event has been more than a year in the making.

“Our vision is all about art and community,” An said. “We have so many artists and so many things we could do, so we might as well get our artists out there and also help a good cause.”

Fifteen students across the three organizations will have their own artwork up for sale.

“We have seven artists from CTRL+Paint, three from Animation Club and five from Digital Art Club,” An said.

“Members [and] students could submit any art pieces they wanted to contribute to the event,” Ricky Minniti, vice president of the Animation Club, said in an email. “We felt it was important to give any student artist a chance to showcase any work that they were proud of.”

Emily Kocur, head of marketing for the Digital Art Club, contributed her art to sell in the form of stickers.

“It’s exciting for club members to be able to sell their art, which tends to take a lot of work and money if done alone,” Kocur said in an email. “People who submitted art didn’t have to pay any expenses to sell.”

Apart from stickers, An said the art sale will also have various prints and pins available for purchase.

“To keep costs low, we make them by hand,” An said. “Large prints are 11×17 [inches] and they’re $15. Small prints are 8.5×11 [inches] and they’re $10. Then we have stickers which are $3 and they’re around 2 inches, and then the pins are 3 inches and they’re $5.”

An said 80 percent of all proceeds will go towards three charities that were selected by each club. The remaining 20 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the artists that made the products.

“If you buy from one of the artists, it will go to the charity that the club represents,” An said.

An said CTRL+Paint is representing the P.E.E.R. Center — a local Columbus recovery center that aids those recovering from addiction, mental illness, trauma, incarceration and homelessness.

“Art is not only a medium of entertainment, but also a method of activism and advocacy … We’ve started this service opportunity where we go to the P.E.E.R. Center and do art related events,” An said. “We personally feel that our funds going towards their mission is the best use of our resources. I just really love the way they implement art within their trajectory of healing.”

Kocur said the Digital Art Club selected Free Arts — an organization based in Arizona that aids children in processing difficult emotions and circumstances through art.

“This event is a good opportunity to support charities while also supporting local artists,” Kocur said.

Minniti said the Animation Club chose to sponsor the California Community Foundation — an organization with the goal of improving the quality of life in Los Angeles, which is the heart of the animation industry.

“California holds many major animation studios with lots of hard-working individuals in the animation industry, and we wanted to help aid those who had been affected by the wildfires at the beginning of 2025,” Minniti said. “This is a very special charity event, not just for our artists who volunteered their work, but for those in need who are represented by each club’s respective charity.”

An said the art sale’s first day was a success and a testament to their dedication.

“[Tuesday] was a showcase of what we are capable of through collaboration. We’re so grateful to have such a wonderful community who really showed up to support the sale,” An said in an email. “[We’re] looking forward to enjoying art with many more people at the upcoming sales!”

An said she is excited to see the arts community on campus continue to come together at the upcoming events.

“What it means to be a member of the art community at OSU is having infinite resources,” An said. “It’s a wonderful place to just meet other artists and bond.”

Minniti said to be a member of the arts community is to be open to growth.

“To learn new skills from classes and fellow students you meet; to constantly keep trying to improve your art and recognizing that it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Minniti said. “Learning and improving one’s art is a process that takes time … there’s always room for growth.”

Julian Sayin named Ohio State's starting quarterback for season opener against Texas

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:32:30 +0000

Julian Sayin will be Ohio State's starting quarterback when the No. 3 Buckeyes open the season against top-ranked Texas on Aug. 30, coach Ryan Day announced Monday.

Day, who is in his seventh year leading the Buckeyes, said Sayin was more consistent in the competition with Lincoln Kienholz but there was some separation over the past week.

"It was a close competition. I think both guys we all feel confident can win a game for us. I feel like our guys are confident with both quarterbacks, I feel like we are going to need both quarterbacks, Day said. Lincoln did a lot of great things, but we're going to name Julian the starter, give him the majority of the reps with the ones and go prepare to beat Texas.

Sayin is listed as a sophomore but has four years of eligibility remaining. He originally committed to Alabama as the top-rated quarterback in the Class of 2024 and was taking classes when Nick Saban retired. Sayin then entered the transfer portal last spring and came to Ohio State. He played in four games last season, including the College Football Playoff first-round game against Tennessee, and he was 5 for 12 for 84 yards and one touchdown while taking 27 snaps.

I think earning trust is just all about consistency, who are you day in and day out, and are you making the routine plays routinely. Are you someone who the offense can count on and who your teammates can count on consistently? Sayin said on Aug. 5 about his approach.

Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline also pointed out Sayin's consistency, along with limited turnovers and emergence as a leader, in his body of work.

The command and earning the respect of your peers. Ultimately, the locker room always knows, Hartline said.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian tried to recruit Sayin and said after Mondays announcement that he had a ton of respect for him.

We recruited him hard here. He was a very gifted passer, really good player. Came to camp with us, I think, two years in a row. So we got a lot of familiarity with him," Sarkisian said. "Very good player, elite passer, very good arm talent, very quick release, really accurate guy. Obviously, hes got great weapons around him, so hes the type of guy that can utilize those weapons in a good system. So, it poses a heck of a challenge.

Sayin won't be the most-hyped quarterback in the opener. That goes to Texas' Arch Manning, who is considered an early Heisman Trophy contender.

Dem strategist expects Brown's Senate campaign to focus on Ohio workers

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 20:56:45 +0000

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown is back, finally announcing his long-anticipated campaign to reclaim a seat in Congress. Ohio Republicans are ready to fight.

"I didnt plan to run for office again, but when I see whats going on, I know I can do something about it for Ohio," Brown said in his announcement. "Thats why Im running for Senate. Because even in these challenging times, I still believe if you stand up for workers, treat people with respect and always fight for Ohio, you can actually make a difference."

Brown, who lost his seat in 2024 to Sen. Bernie Moreno, is returning to the political spotlight, and the stakes are high.

"Ohio could very well be the tipping point state for the entire Senate," said Ohio Democratic strategist David Pepper.

Ohio Democratic Party members, including Pepper, say that the senator's history of supporting workers will be key to his campaign.

"I think Sherrods message, which really gets sort of the wherewithal of every Ohio family in a time where people are really struggling and stressed, I think it's gonna really hit home," Pepper said.

He will face off against Sen. Jon Husted, whom President Donald Trump and the rest of the Ohio GOP, like party leader Tony Schroeder, are backing.

"Senator Husted's devotion to the conservative values that we just got done voting for, for President Trump last November, are going to wind up carrying the day," Schroeder said.

Husted was appointed to his role by Gov. Mike DeWine this January and has already raised $4 million.

"We just got done telling Senator Brown that we didn't want him to represent us in D.C. anymore, and we're about to do it again," Schroeder said. "He's carried every bit of the woke agenda in D.C. the open border was a huge issue in Ohio, absolutely huge, and he voted for all of it."

Browns campaign has already begun targeting Husted for his votes to make massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Husteds team sent us this statement from spokesperson Tyson Shepard:

"Sherrod Browns recent announcement means Ohioans will face a clear choice in 2026. For 30 years, he has imposed Washingtons problems on Ohio, pushing radical liberal policies that have left a lasting burden on the next generation. Jon Husted offers the opposite approach, applying Ohios values and solutions to fix a broken Washington. The challenges our nation faces are the same ones Husted has helped our state confront and overcome, championing the values he learned growing up in northwest Ohio: hard work, personal responsibility, family, faith, freedom and patriotism."

Even though Brown over-performed Democrats all over the country, including Kamala Harris by eight points in Ohio, he lost by four points to Moreno.

"Do you think that was Trump-related? Do you think that was Moreno-related? Do you think that was talking points related? How does he fix that for this election?" I asked Pepper.

"I mean it's a combination of things," Pepper said. "if you ever lose, you don't say, 'Well, we should do everything the same.' Of course, the Trump turnout mattered. We clearly have to do better in our cities."

Ohio congressional redistricting process begins on heels of Texas battleFollow

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

100 years of AP All-America football teams: Here's who we think are the best of the best

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:40:47 +0000

Ohio State and Pittsburgh each placed three players on The Associated Press All-Time All-America team announced Thursday as part of the news organizations celebration of the 100th anniversary of the storied honor for the top players in college football.

Since 1925, nearly 2,000 men have been named AP first-team All-Americans, one of the most prestigious honors in the sport.

The Big Ten led all conferences with seven selections, two more than the Southeastern Conference.

Of the 25 players on the first team, five won the Heisman Trophy and 21 are in the College Football Hall of Fame, two are nominated for induction in 2026 and two are not eligible because they are not yet 10 years removed from their college careers.

A panel of 12 AP sports writers who cover college football selected the all-time team. It won't be, and shouldn't be, considered definitive. There have been far more great players over the last century than spots available.

For a player to qualify, he must have been an AP first-team All-American at least once. His professional career, if any, was not to be considered. Also, a member of the all-time team could only be listed on the side of the ball where he was named first-team All-America. All-purpose players could come from any position.

Voters were cautioned against recency bias, but it is notable that only three of the first-team selections played before 1970. Of the 12 players who were three-time All-Americans, only four made the two all-time teams picked by AP.

Florida's Tim Tebow edged Texas' Vince Young (2005) for all-time first-team quarterback. Tebow won the Heisman and made the AP All-America team as a sophomore in 2007, his first year as the starter.

He led the Gators to their second national championship in three years in 2008 and narrowly missed a chance at another when the 2009 team started 13-0 but lost to Alabama in the SEC championship game. He remains the SEC career leader in rushing touchdowns and touchdowns responsible for.

Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders (1988) and Georgia's Herschel Walker (1980-81-82), both Heisman winners, are the running backs. Marshall's Randy Moss (1997) and Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald (2003) are the wide receivers.

The offensive line is made up of Ohio State's Orlando Pace (1995-96) and Pitt's Bill Fralic (1982-83-84) at tackle, Alabama's John Hannah (1972) and Ohio State's Jim Parker (1956) at guard and Penn's Chuck Bednarik (1947-48) at center. The tight end is Georgia's Brock Bowers (2023).

The all-purpose player is Heisman winner Johnny Rodgers of Nebraska (1972).

On defense, Pitt's Hugh Green (1978-79-80) and Maryland's Randy White (1974) are the ends and Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh (2009) and Minnesota's Bronko Nagurski (1929) are the tackles. The linebackers are Illinois' Dick Butkus (1964), Alabama's Derrick Thomas (1988) and Ohio State's Chris Spielman (1986-87).

The secondary is made up of Heisman winner Charles Woodson of Michigan (1996-97) and Florida State's Deion Sanders (1987-88) at cornerback and Southern California's Ronnie Lott (1980) and Miami's Ed Reed (2000-01) at safety.

The specialists are Florida State kicker Sebastian Janikowski (1998-99) and Iowa punter Tory Taylor (2023).

Many fans might say Anthony Munoz and Ray Guy, among others, are glaring omissions.

Munoz, who played at Southern California from 1976-79, is considered one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time, college or pro. He's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Alas, he was never a first-team AP All-American.

Guy, who played at Southern Mississippi from 1970-72, he remains the only punter selected in the first round of an NFL draft. But punters were not included on AP All-America teams until 1981.

First team offense

Wide receivers Randy Moss, Marshall, 1997; Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, 2003.

Tackles Orlando Pace, Ohio State, 1995-96; Bill Fralic, Pittsburgh, 1982-83-84.

Guards John Hannah, Alabama, 1972; Jim Parker, Ohio State, 1956.

Center Chuck Bednarik, Penn, 1947-48.

Tight end Brock Bowers, Georgia, 2023.

QB Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007.

Running backs Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State, 1988; Herschel Walker, Georgia, 1980-81-82.

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State, 1998-99.

All-purpose Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, 1972.

First team defense

Ends Hugh Green, Pittsburgh, 1978-79-80; Randy White, Maryland, 1974.

Tackles Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska, 2009; Bronko Nagurski, Minnesota, 1929.

Linebackers Dick Butkus, Illinois, 1964; Derrick Thomas, Alabama, 1988; Chris Spielman, Ohio State, 1986-87.

Cornerbacks Charles Woodson, Michigan, 1996-97; Deion Sanders, Florida State, 1987-88.

Safeties Ronnie Lott, Southern California, 1980; Ed Reed, Miami, 2000-01.

Punter Tory Taylor, Iowa, 2023.

Second team offense

Wide receivers DeVonta Smith, Alabama, 2020; Desmond Howard, Michigan, 1991.

Tackles Jonathan Ogden, UCLA, 1995; Bryant McKinnie, Miami, 2001.

Guards Brad Budde, Southern California, 1979; John Smith, Notre Dame, 1927.

Center Dave Rimington, Nebraska, 1981-82.

Tight end Keith Jackson, Oklahoma, 1986-87.

QB Vince Young, Texas, 2005.

Running backs Archie Griffin, Ohio State, 1974-75; Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh, 1976.

Kicker Martin Gramatica, Kansas State, 1997.

All-purpose Tim Brown, Notre Dame, 1986-87.

Second team defense

Ends Bubba Smith, Michigan State, 1966; Bruce Smith, Virginia Tech, 1984.

Tackles Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma, 1975; Warren Sapp, Miami, 1994.

Linebackers Jerry Robinson, UCLA, 1976-77-78; Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma, 1985-86; Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina, 1980.

Cornerbacks Champ Bailey, Georgia, 1998; Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, 2011.

Safeties Bennie Blades, Miami, 1986-87; Al Brosky, Illinois, 1951.

Punter Reggie Roby, Iowa, 1981.

First team by conference

Big Ten 7

SEC 5

Independent 4

ACC 2

Big East 2

Big Eight 2

Big 12 1

MAC 1

Pac-10 1

Ohio Republican lawmakers moove to legalize sale of raw milk

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:41:17 +0000

A pair of Ohio Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize the sale of unpasteurized milk. Doctors warn that raw milk causes foodborne illnesses, and the product is banned for a reason.

The Everson Jersey Dairy Farm gets visitors from a hundred miles away for their milk.

"Its gone up probably 110% in people coming here," Owner Jamie Everson said. "We have families that come every week, an hour and a half away, to come get milk."

Everson has 40 milk cows on her Northeast Ohio farm, where she gets her products tested every few days and sends them to large dairy companies. However, she says visitors really want one thing.

"There are always people calling and looking for raw milk," she said.

Selling raw, unpasturized milk is illegal in Ohio, which Dr. Anita Somani, a Democratic state representative from Columbus, said is for good reason.

"In the simple case of food poisoning, you may end up with diarrhea, dehydration, nausea and vomiting," Somani said. "But if you're a young kid, if you're an elderly person, if you're immunocompromised, those bacteria can be life-threatening."

An OB-GYN, Somani warns her patients about the risks that E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria can have during a pregnancy, which includes stillbirths. The Ohio Department of Health and the CDC back her warnings.

"Listeria is one that for pregnant women can be very, very, very damaging to the fetus," the doctor said.

But there is a loophole.

Everson is able to provide raw milk with her herdshare program. Through an agreement, consumers can purchase a share of the cow, allowing them to obtain the raw product.

"You're gonna purchase part of a cow in the herd, which is 14% of one of our cows, [it] makes a gallon a week," Everson said. "So you purchase the cow for so much money and then you pay a monthly boarding fee."

Another legal way to sell raw milk is if the retailer says it is for pets.

"If you do it the proper way, you can't really get in a whole lot of trouble," Everson said.

But state Rep. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) said this process could be improved, and wants to legalize raw milk for farm-to-consumer.

WATCH: Learn more about House Bill 406

Ohio Republican lawmakers moove to legalize sale of raw milk

"We're just trying to help regulate the folks that are already doing it and actually make it healthier, not unhealthier," Deeter said.

She and state Rep. Levi Dean (R-Xenia) introduced House Bill 406, which requires liability waivers for raw milk sales and establishes guidelines for monthly testing of food-borne bacteria and diseases, such as listeria.

"If you test milk today, does that mean that a week from now that bacteria hasn't grown?" Somani asked rhetorically. "The point of pasteurizing and sterilizing milk is to prevent bacteria from growing."

Florida health officials report a recent E. coli outbreak stemming from raw milk has made about two dozen sick, including six children, and seven of the 21 ill are hospitalized. Somani said this is why pasteurization is so important.

"I don't think there's anything that's foolproof, now, but it would certainly be better than the way it's currently being done without regulation," Deeter said.

Deeter said she is communicating with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Dairy Association ones who "weren't excited," she said to create a safer environment for the growing raw milk market.

She credited MAHA, Make America Healthy Again movement, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to an increase in awareness of the unpasteurized product. RFK Jr., who leads the U.S. Health and Human Services Department is not a doctor and is criticized by Somani for being anti-vaccine.

"We have legalized marijuana in the state of Ohio, so I don't think it's unreasonable to legalize raw milk for the consumer in a very narrow lane in a regulated fashion where it is actually safer for folks than I think that it might be currently unregulated," Deeter said.

Everson said that some people aren't as stringent as her on the rules, and this could give consumers more choices.

"People wouldn't be so nervous about even asking," Everson said.

Somani said that science moves humanity forward, and she doesn't want to move backward.

"From a purely evidence-based decision-making process, I think it's a mistake to try to legitimize raw milk," the doctor said.

The bill will be heard in the coming months.

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

No. 2 Penn State primed to make run at first Big Ten title since 2016; Ohio St, Oregon in hunt again

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:32:50 +0000

The stage is set for Penn State, and now the question is whether the second-ranked Nittany Lions will capitalize.

While defending national champion Ohio State, defending Big Ten champ Oregon and heavyweight Michigan are breaking in new quarterbacks, Penn State goes into the season with a three-year starter in Drew Allar, a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and a top-10 defense with first-year coordinator Jim Knowles.

I think when you look at all of our personnel, not just the players, but the staff and players, its the best combination that weve had in my 12 years here, coach James Franklin said. The depth, the experience, the talent is impressive.

The Nittany Lions have won at least 10 games three straight years, and last season they made the College Football Playoff for the first time and beat overmatched opponents SMU and Boise State before a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the semifinal at the Orange Bowl.

The knock against Franklin and the Lions is that they win the games they are supposed to but not the ones when the lights are the brightest.

We were a drive away from playing for the national championship last year, and 99% of the programs in the country would be jacked about that season and how it went, and I dont know if that was necessarily the case here, right? Franklin said.

Except for a Sept. 27 home game against No. 7 Oregon, the Nittany Lions probably won't be tested until the back end of their schedule. They'll be trying for their first conference championship since 2016 and the automatic CFP bid that goes with it.

If not Penn State, who?

No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Oregon are poised to return to the playoff if their new quarterbacks keep the offenses on the rails.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day is still deciding between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. Ohio State is going for its first Big Ten title since 2020 along with a repeat national championship. With so many elite players spread across the field, both are possible.

Former UCLA five-star QB Dante Moore takes over for Dillon Gabriel at Oregon, which went 13-0 with a win over Penn State in the conference championship game to earn the CFP top seed before losing to Ohio State in the quarterfinals. Much is expected of Dakorien Moore, the top-rated receiver in the 2025 recruiting class.

No. 14 Michigan landed the nation's No. 1 recruit in quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines didn't win the Big Ten last year, but they did beat Ohio State a fourth straight time. Underwood and a new group of receivers should improve the Big Ten's worst passing game.

Team on the rise

There's chatter about No. 12 Illinois being a CFP contender. It's not crazy talk. The Illini bring back QB Luke Altmyer and 15 other starters from their 10-win team, and the schedule is manageable. The Illini last season knocked off a program record-tying four Top 25 opponents, and their six Big Ten wins were their most since 2007.

And the rest

No. 20 Indiana was the nation's surprise team last season. Can Curt Cignetti keep it going? Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza, who threw for over 3,000 yards, is the new QB. ... Iowa's hopes ride the arm of Mark Gronowski, who put up monster numbers at South Dakota State and could have just as easily entered the NFL draft. ... Minnesota needs to get its offense going. Four of the Gophers' five losses a year ago were one-score games. ... Rutgers went to the portal to improve a defense that tied for second-most touchdowns allowed in the Big Ten.

Jayden Maiava enters his first full season as starting QB for Southern California, whose five one-score losses tied for the most in the FBS. ... Washington's defense will be coordinated by Ryan Walters, an ace DC at Illinois before a failed run as Purdue's head coach. ... Michigan State needs more from QB Aidan Chiles, who has yet to find his rhythm. ... Matt Rhule's teams at Temple and Baylor made big jumps in Year 3. The same should happen at Nebraska with QB Dylan Raiola back and a manageable schedule.

UCLA can build on a strong finish with Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava. ... Wisconsin, in its first eight games, faces three top-10 opponents and another in the top 15. ... SMU transfer QB Preston Stone is next in line to spark a Northwestern offense that has struggled for going on seven years. ... Freshman QB Malik Washington is a bright spot for a Maryland team that incurred huge losses in the portal. ... Barry Odom takes over a Purdue team whose only win was against FCS member Indiana State.

Mark your calendars

No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State, Aug. 30; No. 14 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma, Sept. 6; No. 7 Oregon at No. 2 Penn State, Sept. 27; No. 3 Ohio State at No. 12 Illinois, Oct. 11; No. 2 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State, Nov. 1; No. 20 Indiana at No. 2 Penn State, Nov. 8; Nebraska at No. 2 Penn State, Nov. 22; No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Michigan, Nov. 29.

Ohio marriage equality, LGBTQ+ equal rights amendments 1 step closer to being put on ballot

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 10:44:52 +0000

Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates have been approved to start collecting signatures to put marriage equality and equal rights protections on the ballot.

On Friday, Attorney General Dave Yost certified two separate constitutional amendment proposals: one would remove a provision from the state Constitution that prohibits same-sex marriage, and the other would prohibit discrimination by state and local governments because of race, sex, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, disability or other attributes.

Ohio Equal Rights, which is running both amendment campaigns, was required to put forward two proposals instead of one that focused on all LGBTQ+ rights. Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board said that same-sex marriage was fundamentally different than transgender rights.

Ohio follows federal law regarding marriage equality. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry.

But the state constitution has never been updated to reflect that. This citizen-led proposal would repeal the provision saying that "only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions."

In 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas said that the Supreme Court of the United States should reconsider landmark cases such as Obergefell. This helped push forward this amendment, organizers told me in July.

Because they already met with the ballot board in July, they were given the go-ahead by politicians that they wouldn't need to return if it was split up as the board recommended, one of the Ohio Equal Rights team members told us Friday.

The team did not say which ballot they are aiming for, but they will need to collect about 415,000 signatures for each amendment, they said.

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

Ohio's Intel plant has been stalled for years, now Trump, Moreno, Husted are getting involved; here's why

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:27:34 +0000

Ohio's U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno has joined President Donald Trump in asking for tech giant Intel's CEO to resign due to his reported ties to the Chinese government. Moreno has also asked for a fraud investigation into Intel's continued delays on the state's long-awaited semiconductor manufacturing plant.

Ohio's multi-billion-dollar semiconductor manufacturing plant has faced delay after delay after delay. Weve been reporting for years on Intels massive semiconductor manufacturing facility one that was supposed to be operational by now and its financial hardships.

"It was an unrealistic expectation that they would be producing chips in the summer of 2025," Dorsey Hager with the Columbus/Central Ohio Building Trades Council said Thursday.

Thats thousands of construction jobs stalled, ones that Hager said Intel promised when they broke ground at the central Ohio construction site in 2022.

"They talked about ramping up to close to 8,000 construction workers at the peak," Dorsey said. "We have close to 1,200 people out there right now."

Thats also hundreds of millions of Ohio taxpayer dollars that state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) says are being unused by Intel.

"We're never getting the jobs we were promised, we're never getting the economic development we were promised," DeMora said. "All that's happened is we spent a lot of state money on infrastructure, drove up property rates for all the people that live there, and now we've got a boondoggle."

After years of the companys stock plummeting, plus repeated layoffs, the company moved its expected completion date from 2025 to the 2030s.

Will the Ohio Intel plant ever be built?

Still, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel said he believes Intel will stay true to its original promise of the multi-billion-dollar investment.

"Nothing's easy, especially in a changing industry like the one they're in, but they've already made a lot of investment and they're still working on it," Tressel said Thursday.

"What does it say to the Ohiaons who are waiting for this taxpayer dollars have gone to something that does not exist yet?" I asked Tressel.

"I think that's fair and frustrating for sure... We have contractual things that have to be met, I don't think those are for a couple more years, but I understand the frustration," he responded. "Big things are hard; sometimes the progress doesn't happen like you'd like it to."

But another issue is causing concern among other Republicans.

Both Senators Jon Husted and Moreno have raised red flags about the new Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. This year, Tan invested hundreds of millions in Chinese companies that have ties to their government, according to a report by Reuters.

President Donald Trump and Moreno have asked for Tan to resign, and Moreno said that the project needs to be completed, and a fraud investigation should be initiated.

Husted, who has been the face of Intel in Ohio since he helped bring it to the state when he was lieutenant governor, took a softer approach.

"Obviously, if someone's a part of the CCP, it's a problem in my mind, but I think you have to be fair until facts come out," Tressel said.

Gov. Mike DeWine, to reporters in Dayton, echoed his second-in-command's thoughts.

"We are always very careful who the state deals with. Anybody who is associated with the Communist Party in China that's a problem. We don't trust them, we don't like them, they're not good," DeWine said. "I think we have to wait, though, in this case to see what the facts are."

DeWine referenced how "we" have not heard from Intel about this matter, he said.

"I'm sure that Intel does not, would not want to be associated with someone, and we wouldn't want them associated with someone who would be close to the Communist Party in China, but we don't know that for a fact at this point, so I'm going to reserve judgment on that," he said.

We reached out to Intel, but it didn't respond directly to us. The company released the following statement to the public later in the day:

"Intel, the Board of Directors, and Lip-Bu Tan are deeply committed to advancing U.S. national and economic security interests and are making significant investments aligned with the President's America First agenda. Intel has been manufacturing in America for 56 years. We are continuing to invest billions of dollars in domestic semiconductor R&D and manufacturing, including our new fab in Arizona that will run the most advanced manufacturing process technology in the country, and are the only company investing in leading logic process node development in the U.S. We look forward to our continued engagement with the Administration."

However, its spokesperson has told us for years that their commitment to Ohio remains strong. Hager is keeping with that optimism, but DeMora doesnt believe it's happening.

"So really, you think Intel is dead?" I asked the lawmaker.

"Intel is dead," he said. "We're never going to see Intel."

DeWine said the state wont be able to claw back money from the state's investment in the Intel project until at least 2029.

"On January 1, 2029 is the time when we look back and we see 'did they produce the jobs when they said they were going to do or not,' but up until then, the contract does not provide any remedy for the state," the governor said Thursday. "I remain confident that Intel is going to be making chips in Ohio."

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

CPD Chief: Ohio's gun laws have made policing tougher, more dangerous

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 19:09:06 +0000

Current Ohio gun laws are making policing tougher and more dangerous for law enforcement officers in the state, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge told city council during a special council meeting on Wednesday.

The special meeting was called to discuss whether to more aggressively enforce the city's curfew on youth amid increases in violent and non-violent crimes committed by Cincinnati's juveniles, but the nearly three-hour-long meeting covered a multitude of topics.

Mayor Aftab Pureval said during the meeting that it seemed as if there are more guns on the streets and in people's possession now more than ever before specifically, since Ohio eliminated it's concealed-carry licensing, voted to allow teachers to have guns in schools with just 24 hours of training and expanded stand-your-ground laws.

Those laws have all been enacted in Ohio in just the past four years.

Theetge told city council on Wednesday those laws have made working as a police officer tougher since they were passed.

"I support the people's right to bear arms," said Theetge. "However, when you have parameters around that, the advantage of having those parameters is ensuring the officer's safety when they're dealing with somebody with a firearm, when they are carrying it legally."

Theetge said one of the impacts felt by Cincinnati officers has been a result of Ohio's elimination of concealed-carry permits.

"When we had the permit carry, part of that requirement was an individual had to go through training to be able to get a permit. There was requirements where if they encountered an officer, say at a traffic stop, they had to tell an officer that they were a permitted firearm possessor," said Theetge. "And those things have now been taken away. So now we have people even, sometimes legally, carrying firearms with no training and now they do not have to tell an officer that they are carrying a firearm."

Hear this exchange between Theetge and council members below:

Cincinnati's police chief says Ohio gun laws make it tougher to safely police people

She said that's added uncertainty to policing in Ohio, creating a gray area where officers no longer know whether they're dealing with a legally armed person or an illegally armed person when police are called to an incident.

"So now the officer's mindset shifts from being on the offense quite often before they know what they're dealing with," said Theetge.

The lack of training requirements creates uncertainty for officers who may be dealing with someone who is armed even legally. Theetge said CPD officers have to undergo consistent firearm training that ensures if and when they have to use their weapon, they hit their targets.

"What we're seeing now, because nobody has to go through training, even in a self-defense type of a situation, they do not have training on using that firearm," said Theetge. "I do not have confidence that leads any citizen to hit their target if they are put in a position where they feel like they have to defend their life and discharge their weapon. So, while a lot of those things may seem like minor nuances to the law, it does create an environment where it makes policing much more difficult for our officers."

Pureval and other council members pointed out a lack of support from the state legislature in Cincinnati's efforts to pass gun reform measures in recent years.

What we do know at the administration level is that there are things that we need for our police officers to be able to navigate this world safely, said City Manager Sheryl Long. There are common-sense gun laws that should be on the book for us to be able to enforce, to be able to do our job more effectively, and there are certain people that shouldnt have guns.

Cincinnati joined other Ohio cities in a lawsuit in 2019, after Ohio passed a law that allowed the state to preempt gun regulations passed at the local level that could conflict with state laws already in place. Since that law was passed, the state has struck down most of Cincinnati's attempts to curb gun violence through passing gun reform laws.

"Unfortunately every time we try to enact meaningful and reasonable in my view gun reform, the state legislature has preempted us and the Supreme Court has backed up the state legislature," said Pureval. "So, it's a very challenging political landscape for getting sensible gun reform passed at the state level, which is what is sorely needed."

In 2023, Cincinnati attempted to tackle issues of gun violence in Cincinnati which spiked in 2021 by passing multiple ordinances. One ordinance would have required the safe storage of guns in a safe, lock box, or with another device that prevents them from being accessed or used particularly by children. Another ordinance passed would have made possessing a gun illegal for anyone convicted of domestic violence or subject to a court order restraining them from harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner.

Both of those laws would have been misdemeanor offenses for any violations. Both were barred from going into effect by the Ohio Supreme Court.

In December 2023, city council passed legislation instead that requires gun owners to immediately report a lost or stolen firearm. Then-council member Liz Keating the only Republican serving on Cincinnati's city council at the time championed the law. Keating said many times gun owners share their guns with family members and friends and that it is only once the firearms are confiscated by police or turn up at a crime scene that the gun owners claim it was stolen and ask to have it returned.

Lawsuit filed over taking unclaimed funds to help build Browns' Brook Park stadium

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:55:19 +0000

Three Northeast Ohioans with unclaimed funds filed a lawsuit on Monday afternoon against state officials, calling Ohio's plan to take legal ownership of people's missing money to help pay for a new Browns' stadium in Brook Park an "unconstitutional and unlawful misappropriation of private property."

The lawsuit was filed by DannLaw, a firm based in Lakewood. The plaintiffs are seeking class-action status on behalf of thousands of Ohioans and are asking a judge to prohibit the state from using their cash while the legal fight plays out.

The complaint, in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, alleges that taking money from unclaimed funds for a stadium violates the state's role as a custodian and runs afoul of both the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions.

Read the full lawsuit:

"The State now intends to confiscate the private property held in the (unclaimed funds account) for the purpose of funding a private development, depriving the rightful owners of their property," the lawsuit states. "The State intends to do so even though it has been long settled that funds held by the State of Ohio in its 'Unclaimed Funds' account are private property."

The lawsuit goes on to say "the (unclaimed funds account) is not property of the State of Ohio to use as it deems fit. Moreover, unclaimed funds are not properly described as 'operating revenue' or a component of the States 'general fund' to be appropriated as part of the States budget."

The lawsuit seeks an injunction a move to block the use of the unclaimed funds and asks a judge to require the state to notify every person who has money at risk.

The court filing isn't a surprise. Late last month, after Republican members of the Ohio Senate pivoted to unclaimed funds as a way to provide a $600 million grant for a new Browns stadium, lawyers said they were preparing to challenge the proposal.

The attorneys behind the lawsuit are former state representative Jeff Crossman and former Ohio attorney general Marc Dann both Democrats. On behalf of their clients, they sued the head of the Ohio Department of Commerce, the head of the state's division of unclaimed funds, the state treasurer and the executive director of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.

They publicized those plans to reporters:

Lawyers plan to sue if state takes unclaimed funds for Browns

What are unclaimed funds?

Ohio has approximately $4.8 billion being held in safekeeping for its residents, with the funds coming from old bank accounts, uncashed checks, life insurance payouts and other sources.

Language tucked into Ohio's newly approved two-year operating budget changes the way Ohio safeguards those unclaimed funds.

Until now, the state held that missing money in perpetuity, while using some of it to plug budget holes and give short-term loans to affordable-housing developers in the same way banks use your deposits to make loans, while keeping a certain amount of cash on hand.

Going forward, people will have only a decade to file claims. After that, the unclaimed funds, along with interest earned on them, will become the state's property.

Lawmakers directed the commerce department to pull money out of the unclaimed funds pool twice a year, starting on Jan. 1, 2026, and to put that money into a new fund for sports and cultural facility grants. The first deposit into that fund will be $1 billion, including the $600 million earmarked for the Browns.

The budget, approved by Republican lawmakers and signed by Gov. Mike DeWine late last month, creates a grace period for people whose money gets taken by the state. They'll still be able to file claims through Jan. 1, 2036.

Lawmakers also earmarked $1 million a year to the commerce department for advertising and outreach about unclaimed funds.

In their lawsuit, Dann and Crossman argue the state isn't doing anywhere near enough to reunite people with their money. They also assert that Ohio is preparing to use the public's misplaced cash for what is fundamentally a private purpose to benefit an NFL team.

"The state's plan involves taking private property for the purpose of benefiting a private business and, in particular, one person (Jimmy Haslam) who is more than financially capable of funding the construction of his own privately operated football stadium," the lawsuit says, alluding to the chairman of Haslam Sports Group and co-owner of the Browns.

Haslam Sports Group has said the new stadium, with a $2.4 billion price tag, will probably be owned by a quasi-governmental entity called a new community authority. They are still pulling together a mix of public and private money to pay for the project, with hopes of starting construction in Brook Park next year.

Litigation over the state's share of the tab could complicate that process.

News 5 has reached out to Gov. DeWine's office to get his reaction to the lawsuit.

Last month, before he received and signed the budget bill, DeWine told reporters that he wouldn't be surprised to see litigation over the unclaimed funds proposal.

Im sure that will be tested in court, if thats what we end up doing if thats what the legislature ends up doing, he said at the time. So Im sure that will be tested. But thats nothing. A lot of things get tested in court.

News 5 also contacted Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office about the lawsuit and is waiting for a response. Crossman and Dann cite a recent letter from Yost in their complaint to bolster their argument that taking unclaimed funds will hurt Ohioans.

On June 27, Yost sent a letter urging DeWine to veto the budget language that would allow the state to stake its claim to missing money through a process called permanent escheatment.

Yost echoed the concerns of national unclaimed-property experts who say that taking ownership of unclaimed funds after a decade will make Ohio a national outlier and be bad public policy.

But Yost focused on the principles. He didn't weigh in on the legal issues at play.

"Billionaires should finance their own stadiums - full stop," he wrote to the governor. "The $600 million handout for a single professional sports facility raises serious concerns about fiscal sustainability and fairness. While public-private partnerships can sometimes support community development, this provision risks prioritizing one private entity over more urgent statewide needs."

Concerns for Medicaid remain as Ohio elected leaders play key role in Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' victory

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 03:04:09 +0000

Ohio leaders played a key role in President Donald Trump securing a major legislative victory when the U.S. Senate approved his sweeping tax and budget bill on Tuesday.

Both of Ohio's senators voted for the legislation, dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill," with Middletown native Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.

The bill extends Trump's expiring 2017 income tax cuts and includes new tax cuts like "no tax on tips" and "no tax on overtime." It also includes additional funding for the Pentagon and immigration enforcement.

However, the nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts used to partially offset the bill's spending has raised concerns among health care advocates.

Learn more about the bill and the concern it's caused regarding Medicaid in the video below:

Ohio leaders play key role in 'Big Beautiful Bill' win amid Medicaid concerns

"Medicaid is very important to Ohio," said John Corlett with the Center for Community Solutions.

Corlett is worried about the bill's impact on health care coverage for vulnerable Ohioans. While supporters maintain the legislation only targets fraud and waste in the Medicaid program, Corlett believes new requirements could create barriers to care.

"These added administrative hurdles will push people off coverage. Not because they're not working, because the paperwork deadlines are complex or they can't navigate the reporting system," Corlett said.

More than a quarter of Ohio's population receives health coverage through Medicaid.

In just three of Ohio's 88 counties, Medicaid provides health coverage to more than 362,135 people. When you look at Hamilton, Butler and Clermont counties, that's 27.4% of Hamilton County residents, 24.6% percent in Butler County and about 18.9% in Clermont County.

When asked if states could increase their Medicaid spending to offset federal cuts, Corlett expressed doubt.

"I don't think that it's a reality. There maybe could be some things around the margins. And unlike the federal government, states can't do that. We can't run deficits. We have to balance our budget," Corlett said.

Here's what DeWine vetoed from the budget, and what he kept in

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:51:47 +0000

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the state's massive operating budget, including dozens of vetoes axing provisions that would restrict books in libraries, take money away from public school savings and make significant expansions to the private school voucher system.

At 11:15 p.m. on Monday, DeWine announced he approved the $60 billion Republican spending bill.

At 2:15 a.m., he sent out his 67 line-item vetoes.

At 10 a.m., he held a press conference to explain his decisions:

"Everybody has a turn to make a move," DeWine said at the presser. "I made my move ... I'm calling balls and strikes."

What stayed in the budget

Stadium funding

DeWine approved sports stadium funding, giving the Cleveland Browns $600 million in unclaimed funds for their new dome.

More about the Browns here.

Flat tax

He also approved the GOP's 2.75% flat income tax, meaning the highest earners in the state, those making more than $100,000 a year, will no longer have to pay 3.5% in income tax, making them equal to the lower tax bracket.

State data reveals that this could result in a loss of more than $1.1 billion in the general revenue fund. This was made up by cutting social services and some tax exemptions.

I asked DeWine why he signed the flat tax, since it would come at the expense of services that mainly benefit lower-income Ohioans.

"I can count," DeWine said.

"Meaning?" I asked.

"I can count votes in the General Assembly," he replied, seemingly referencing a veto override.

Medicaid cuts

He signed on to the expansive cuts to Medicaid. One provision will trigger language based on the federal government, saying Ohio would discontinue coverage of the Group VIII Medicaid expansion enrollees if the federal match falls below 90%.

I asked the governor: "The federal government seems poised to make major slashes to Medicaid. You signed a provision that could immediately take about 800,000 Ohioans out of their health insurance. What does this say to those people?"

He said that he chose Sen. Jon Husted for Congress because he understands Medicaid, also adding that he has been working on the federal bill.

"You want to be able to continue coverage," he said. "We hope we can continue coverage, but until we see a final bill, we don't know exactly where we are. But Medicaid coverage is vitally important it's vitally important to children."

"But then why cut it?" I asked him. He didn't answer and moved on to another reporter's question.

Around the same time as the governor's press conference, Husted voted to cut and restrict Medicaid.

Ohio lawmakers set to remove majority of educators from retired teachers' pension fund board

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 04:52:25 +0000

Ohio active and retired educators will have less of a voice on the state's retired teachers' pension fund board under the proposed final budget. Amid legislators' concerns of an alleged corruption scheme threatening the fund, they have decided to reduce the number of elected positions and add more political appointments.

In the nearly 600 amendments to the 5,500-page operating budget bill, the conference committee led by House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) and Senate Finance Chair Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) included changes to the State Teachers Retirement System. The amendment was included and announced at about 1 a.m.

A provision in the bill would change the makeup of the board from seven elected teachersfive contributing and two retiredto three elected after seats are phased out over several years. Two of the educator seats will be for actives and only one retiree seat.

Each elected member will be able to finish their term, but once they term out, four of the seven seats will not be refilled.

Retiree Rudy Fichtenbaum and actives Michael Harkness and Chad Smith the most recently elected members would be the remaining seats as members term off.

Those four removed educator seats will be filled with newly appointed members. Right now, the governor gets to appoint one investment expert. The Speaker of the House and the Senate President jointly appoint an expert. The treasurer gets an appointee, and so does the director of the Department of Education and Workforce.

Under this legislation, the treasurer would get two appointees, the legislative leaders get one each and one combined equalling three, the chancellor of the Department of Higher Education gets one, and the governor and DEW get one each.

This provision was proposed by state Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond), the chair of the Ohio Retirement Study Council. For months now, he has been evaluating the board makeup due to the controversy inside the fund.

"The state legislature established these pension systems and has an ongoing responsibility to ensure the long-term health of the fund for retired and active teachers," Bird exclusively told me. "The ongoing turmoil has clarified the need for the General Assembly to rebalance the Board composition."

How we got here

In summary, there has been constant fighting, two board resignations, and allegations of both a public corruption scheme and mishandling of funds. There has been a senior staff dismissal and at least two senior staff resignations.

A 14-page whistleblower memo given to Gov. Mike DeWine in May alleged a massive public corruption scandal brewing and moving quickly within STRS.

Attorney General Dave Yost soon after filed a lawsuit to remove former member Wade Steen and current Chair Fichtenbaum from the board, stating they were participating in a contract-steering "scheme" that could directly benefit them.

The lawsuit accuses the pair of "colluding" with investment startup QED Technologies, run by former Ohio Deputy Treasurer Seth Metcalf and Jonathan (JD) Tremmel, to secure a contract giving them 70% of the STRS assets about $65 billion at the time. The memo accuses QED of helping to elect board members who may be more sympathetic to their proposal.

We have continued investigating the alleged scheme throughout the past year, resulting in an exclusive one-on-one interview with DeWine. He expressed his deep concerns following our April 2025 report, in which we revealed hundreds of text messages of the relationship between Steen and members of QED.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stunned by teachers' pension fund behavior with firm accused of corruption

Steen and Fichtenbaum have continued to defend their innocence, arguing that Yost and DeWine are part of a "political scheme" to prevent educators who want more transparency and to change the investment structure. The men are seen as the leaders of the "reform movement." This fight began from a debate on how STRS should invest money, through the current system of actively managed funds versus an index fund. Active funds try to outperform the stock market, have more advisors, and typically cost more. Index funds perform with the stock market, are seen as more passive, and typically cost less.

In short, "reformers" want to switch to index funding, while "status quo" individuals want to keep actively managing the funds. Recent elections have allowed the "reform-minded" members to have a majority of the board.

Steen and Metcalf, the men with the relationship at the center of the conversation, also spoke with me in response to the governors comments in their own Q&A that can be found here.

Removal

The removal of the board members has been debated for months now.

"The Ohio Retirement Study Council has a duty to inform and advise the state legislature, and we have done that regarding our view of the STRS Board composition," Bird continued. "Many of my fellow colleagues in the legislature are supportive of this change, which we believe will bring stability to STRS. I believe that the Governor will support this update to the STRS Board composition, as it provides greater accountability to the appointing authorities on the Board preventing conflicts of interest and ensuring the future health of the fund."

Educators we have spoken to have argued that the removal of elected members of the board is anti-democratic.

Members on teachers' pension fund board could lose voting power

Retired educator Mary Binegar, who doesnt trust the reform faction of the board, still says that removing the teachers voices is a bad move.

"Whether we like the board members are there or not, we do have the opportunity to vote for them," Binegar said in March. "I think it's important for educators to have that sense that there are other educators watching out for them."

OH lawmakers may remove teachers' pension board voting powers as chaos continues

Each of the dozens of educators we spoke to said that removing their perspective from the board will hurt the fund and cause teachers to feel isolated and unheard.

Teachers have brought up the fact that when Democrats took control of the Ohio Board of Education three years ago, the GOP lawmakers swiftly took away the vast majority of their power.

However, the Republican leaders had been debating taking away their power for years, even when the GOP controlled them, since the board either took too long to implement new laws or just ignored lawmakers, according to then-Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima). The board also, instead of looking for a superintendent, debated culture war issues that they had no jurisdiction over.

Next steps

The legislation heads to each chamber for a vote. The budget deadline is at the end of June.

We will continue breaking down the massive budget bill in the coming days.

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

Ohio lawmakers' new 'Larry Henderson Act' seeks to harshen penalty for killing police, first responders

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 17:03:40 +0000

Ohio Representatives have introduced a new bill bearing the name of Larry Henderson, a Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy who was hit and killed while directing traffic during the University of Cincinnati's spring commencement earlier this year.

The "Larry Henderson Act" was introduced by Representatives Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton).

According to a press release from the lawmakers, the act would increase penalties for convictions of aggravated murder in Ohio, when the victim was a law enforcement officer, prosecutor, first responder or military member.

It would mandate either the death penalty or life in prison without parole for any adults convicted of killing someone in those roles, the announcement says.

The bill would eliminate any possibility of parole under those circumstances.

"Our first responders should be able to do their jobs without fear of violent retaliation," said Abrams in the press release. "And the families of deceased first responders shouldn't have to go through the stress and grief of wondering whether or not the parole board will keep their loved ones' murderer behind bars."

The bill has not yet been assigned a number and awaits House committee assignment.

It's the second bill drafted by lawmakers bearing Henderson's name and seeking to increase punishments for those convicted of harming a police officer.

Moreno, Ohio's senior senator, also introduced a federal version of a "Larry Henderson Act."

The two proposed pieces of legislation are a bit different from one another.

The act drafted by Abrams and Plummer would operate at the state level if it passes, and specifically focuses on the murder of a police officer.

Moreno's proposed legislation is at the federal level, and looks to change the mandatory minimum sentences to 20 years for those convicted of assaulting federal officers where bodily harm or bodily injury is inflicted.

The current federal statute outlines penalties for assaulting a federal officer that range from one to eight years in prison, depending on the severity of the crime.

"Enough is enough," Moreno said in a statement. "Anyone who assaults one of our men or women in blue needs to face severe consequences, period. Deputy Larry Henderson should be alive today, and that's why I'm introducing legislation in his honor to protect our law enforcement officers."

Henderson served for 33 years at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. He began as a corrections officer and then became a patrol officer. He served as a dive team member and on the HCSO bomb unit.

He also worked part-time at Mercy Health Anderson Hospital and spent nearly 20 years volunteering to work security detail for the UC football team.

Rodney Hinton Jr. is accused of intentionally crashing his car into Henderson on May 2, just hours after officials said he watched body camera footage showing his son, 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, being shot to death by a still-unnamed Cincinnati police officer the day before, on May 1.

Rodney Hinton Jr. currently faces two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder and two counts of felonious assault. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said the aggravated murder charges he faces both carry the possibility of the death penalty if he's convicted.

'You belong here' | UC President announces how the university will comply with law banning DEI

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:56:38 +0000

University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto sent a letter to UC students and staff detailing how the university plans to comply with a new Ohio law that goes into effect on June 27.

SB-1, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on March 28, bans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in state colleges and universities.

Pinto wrote the changes at UC to comply with the new law will begin June 25.

"In support of these commitments and in response to recently enacted state legislation, we are making new investments to meet the needs of our students," wrote Pinto. "Specifically, Student Affairs is building out new programming, hiring additional staff and opening new spaces to strengthen connection and engagement for all Bearcats."

The letter says the following changes will be made on campus:

UC's central Equity & Inclusion office will close

According to the letter, Dr. Bleuzette Marshall will lead a new unit focused on ethics, compliance and community impact. The Office of the University Ombuds will report to her.

"I have full confidence that she will provide equally impactful leadership in her new role," Pinto wrote.

All four of UC's identity centers will close

Pinto says those spaces will be re-purposed "to support the success of all students."

Employees who work at those centers have been given an opportunity to transition into new roles within Student Affairs, Pinto wrote.

The Center for Student Involvement will relocate to the space currently occupied by Ethnic Programs & Services, the LGBTQ Center and the Women's Center

According to Pinto's letter, "this expanded space will allow students to connect to our vibrant campus community in new and meaningful ways that support their personal growth, experiential learning and community building."

Pinto wrote the space will also provide a collaborative environment for student organization leaders.

The African American Cultural & Resource Center building will be renamed

It will instead be called "The Cultural Center," according to Pinto.

Moving forward, the space will function as a general connection space with new programming for all students and student organizations.

Pinto went on to write that the changes being made at UC are shaped by insight gathered over months of dialogue with the university's most impacted communities, including representatives from student government, graduate student government, faculty senate, staff senate, student leaders from all four identity centers and alumni and community leaders.

"I recognize that unwinding deeply rooted efforts around inclusion will undoubtedly challenge core feelings of belonging for many in our community," Pinto wrote. "My message to you is unequivocal: You belong here. I encourage you to use the new facilities and programs to remain connected and find the support you need."

Pinto also said the university will strive to make sure every student, faculty and staff member is able to find their place on campus with the support they need to be successful.

UC students and staff members have protested the rollback of DEI initiatives at UC multiple times this year, while SB-1 made its way through the Ohio legislature.

On Tuesday, one day before Pinto's announced changes will go into effect at UC, staff and faculty hosted a "Funeral for Academic Freedom" in protest of the new law.

"Our cornerstones of diversity, equity, and inclusion, we mourn this loss today. These groups not only provide support but are a beacon of light," said an educator at the demonstration.The "Funeral for Academic Freedom" was led by songs, speakers, and a full ceremony dedicated to informing the public of what's at stake. Protesters are concerned the new law will turn out the light produced by DEI.

"We believe that what's been lost mostly is freedom, freedom for university employees to organize and strike, to demand higher wages, freedom for students to choose what student groups they want to affiliate with, and freedom for teachers to follow research where it leads," said Dr. Eric Jenkins, UC Associate Professor of Communication, Film, and Media Studies.State republican lawmakers in support of the new law say it will eliminate institutional discrimination and protect intellectual diversity. However, protesters say it will hurt higher education.

UC faculty and students protest against Senate Bill 1 in "Funeral of Academic Freedom" demonstration:

"UC has gone so far beyond what has been expected of them, it actively hurt and posed a severe threat to especially marginalized students," said Kelly Taylor Osborne, UC Alumna.

Groups sent a

referendum petition to Attorney General Dave Yost's office

in April.The deadline to submit 250,000 signatures from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 Counties was extended until Thursday, June 26. After the Attorney General's Office reviews the signatures. The state will have until July 22 to verify if the law will be suspended and go on the November ballot for a voter appeal.

Ohio Senate GOP moves to give wealthiest Ohioans tax cut

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:12:34 +0000

Ohio Republican senators have proposed a flat income tax for the state's top earners, which would result in a projected $1 billion loss in the general revenue fund.

Bailey Williams is like the average Ohioan earning less than six figures a year. According to census data, the median income in the state is about $68,000. Hes worried about the Senates newly proposed state budget.

"The services that made me who I am today, public education made me who I am today. I worry about those opportunities being there for my younger siblings," Williams said.

He is also a researcher with the nonpartisan organization Policy Matters Ohio and is evaluating a budget provision one that creates a flat income tax of 2.75%.

There are three income tax brackets in Ohio. Those making up to $26,000 do not need to pay state income tax. Ohioans earning between $26,000 and $100,000 pay a tax of 2.75%. Those making more than $100,000 have to pay 3.5%.

Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said that the highest earners in the state will have their income tax payment reduced to 2.75%.

"Every tax cut we do in the future will involve every single person equally, on a percentage basis," McColley said.

State data reveals that this could result in a loss of about $1.1 billion in the General Revenue Fund.

"How will Ohio make up the deficit from this flat tax?" I asked Policy Matters Ohio researcher Williams.

"One of two ways," he said. "We're going to see increases in regressive taxes, most likely the sales tax, or we have to make do with less less government services."

Many cuts for programs that benefit lower-income families have already been proposed in the budget. Funding for schools, Medicaid, libraries, lead abatement, food banks and child care face funding decreases from the current status or from the governor's budget.

Ohio Senate GOP budget increases school funding, gives Browns $600M grant, creates flat tax

"How do you defend the cuts to Medicaid, lead poisoning prevention and child care when you are letting the wealthiest Ohioans pay less in taxes?" I asked McColley.

In his response, he said that the "growth in Medicaid spending has been exponential." According to the Legislative Service Commission, a nonpartisan agency that works with the legislature, the proposed budget would result in a 4% decrease in spending, with billions of dollars in cuts.

He said that there was already an "awful lot" of lead program funding and said that they were keeping child care the same as before. However, the budget cuts the governor's proposal of offering publicly funded childcare to families earning up to 160% of the federal poverty level, keeping it at the current 145% threshold.

"No multimillionaire needs a $10,000 tax cut bankrolled by cutting lead abatement or Medicaid," Williams said.

McColley said that the elimination of 11% of the state's income tax revenue would not actually impact funding because he predicts companies will move to Ohio to take advantage of that lower tax rate.

"A lower tax burden has had a positive economic development and brought more jobs to the state," McColley said. "It's brought more investment in the state."

The budget will continue to be heard, and a final version will need to be agreed upon by the Senate and House by the end of June.

Click here to learn more about the House's passed budget.

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

Ohio State adding $6,000 season tickets in new section at Ohio Stadium

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:20:14 +0000

The 2025 College Football season isn't even here, but Ohio State is already looking forward to the 2026 season. That's when the school will be adding a new section of premium seating at the stadium.

The new 400-seat chairbacks will cost season ticket holders $6,000 for the season.

Each chairback seat purchase includes admission to the 1922 Club, offering all-inclusive food and drinks before, during and after games.

"We're proud to introduce a premium seating area on the field level in the south end zone of Ohio Stadium an investment that reflects our deep commitment to enhancing the fan experience," Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director Ross Bjork said. "This addition is designed for passionate members of Buckeye Nation, bringing greater comfort, improved access to the field level, and a wider range of seating options to better serve even more fans.

"It also marks a small key step in the ongoing modernization of Ohio Stadium ensuring this iconic and wonderful venue continues to evolve while honoring the traditions that makes it so special. We're dedicated to making every visit to the 'Shoe unforgettable, and this enhancement is another meaningful stride toward delivering the best possible game day experience."

In addition to the new seats, the Ohio State Marching Band will relocate to the north end of the stadium, where it was previously situated before renovations in 2001.

He will dot the i for the Ohio State marching band at National Championship

Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, testifies on Ohio's bill to require age verification

Thu, 29 May 2025 13:43:04 +0000

Tech giant Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, testified on an Ohio bill to require age verification to download from app stores.

Millions of kids use social media.

"I'm a parent," Jennifer Hanley said. "I know teens are on so many apps."

Thats why Hanley headed to the Ohio Statehouse to testify in support of House Bill 226, which would require age verification for all app store purchases or downloads for minors.

"The broad support of parents and lawmakers across political and ideological spectrums should not be ignored," she said.

State Rep. Melanie Miller, who introduced the bill, said this would hold companies accountable ones like Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Manufacturers would need to create a way for parents to give consent for kids under 16 to download any application, and then that will be sent to social media apps.

"Im introducing this legislation to protect children from harmful content, reduce mental health risks, enhance data privacy, and encourage responsible technology use," Miller said.

Although House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) likes the bill, she is skeptical of the tech giant.

"All you have to do is look at the opposition that they have waged not only in state legislation in this space, but also federal legislation in this space," Russo said.

Meta has been filing lawsuits against social media age requirements across the country, including in Ohio. The state legislature passed restrictions on media apps for kids under 16 in 2023, but it has now been blocked by a federal judge due to free speech concerns.

This bill is different because it is not just targeting social media apps, but all apps, Hanley testified.

Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit, saying that the company used "manipulative tactics to entice teens and tweens."

Russo agrees, adding that the company could be doing much more to protect kids.

"Do I think that it is going to be as effective as some of the other things we know they have the capacity to do using their own algorithms?" she said rhetorically. "Probably not."

Only in the past year, Meta created a teen program to monitor and restrict what minors can access and who they can talk to.

"We're always learning, we're always building," Hanley said. "Teen accounts are a really great example of that."

The bill will continue being heard in the coming months.

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

An Ohio bill would require cities to give more to police pensions. Some fear it would force services to be cut

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:10:33 +0000

A new Ohio House bill would require cities, towns and villages to contribute more money to police pensions. While the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund sees it as a necessary solution for future funding, the Ohio Municipal League argues that not all cities can afford the increase.

At just 26 years old, former Columbus police officer Mike Weinman was forced into retirement after a shooting left him paralyzed in 1998.

"I wanted to go where the action was. The pension is one of the most important things for us being able to collect a retirement pension. You really can't achieve that with a 401k," Weinman said.

His retirement comes from the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, which currently has 27,000 active members and over 30,000 retirees collecting benefits. Fund leaders are concerned about its sustainability.

House Bill 280 takes action by requiring increased contributions from cities, towns and villages to the pension fund. Currently, police officers contribute 12.25% of their salaries, up from 10% 13 years ago, while employers contribute 19.5%, a rate unchanged since 1986. HB 280 would increase employer contributions to 24%. The bill also grants the board of trustees the authority to set contribution rates based on actuarial evaluations.

Learn more about why some think the bill will do more harm than good in the video below:

Some argue Ohio bill to bolster police pensions would do more harm than good

We reached out to the bill's author, Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), who declined an on-camera interview but provided a statement to WCPO 9:

"This isn't a new concept this general assembly. Good government is proactive, not reactive. We must protect the pensions of our first responders. Without our first responders, nothing else matters."

A spokesperson for the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund released a statement from executive director Mary Beth Foley, saying:

We are very appreciative of Representative Abrams and Hall and are supportive of House Bill 280, especially the actuarial determined employer contribution method proposed in the bill. This funding method has been favorably commented upon by Americans for Prosperity as well as the Reason Foundation. We have found the current General Assembly willing to listen to ideas to ensuring the sustainability of the pension fund for Ohios public safety officers. Our house bill passed in December of last year with the vote of 66-25 and a companion bill had been introduced in the Senate. The pension is a promise for labor already performed and service already given. We are confident the General Assembly will support Ohios municipal public safety officers.

Kent Scarrett, executive director of the Ohio Municipal League, expressed concerns to us.

"This would be the largest unfunded mandate in the history of the legislature coming down on our local governments," he said. "Theres a breaking point."

Scarrett estimates that if HB 280 becomes law, it would cost cities, villages and towns across the state an additional $80 million a year.

"If you do this, we will not be able to continue to support the services at the same level that we do now, that our residents and businesses expect, and we see cuts," Scarrett said.

This comes at a time when the Cincinnati City Council is preparing the city's budget for the next year, addressing a $10.2 million deficit. We reached out to the city regarding their stance on HB 280 and its financial impact, but we are still awaiting a response.

We asked Scarrett about what he would recommend as a solution to fund the state's police and fire pension.

"It shouldn't just be all on the employer, maybe looking at not going to 24% of the increase and having the legislature make up the difference on that, looking at an employee higher contribution rates," said Scarrett. "Having the legislature make up that difference in the revenues financially, they can do it if they had the political will to do that."

Ohio GOP plans to pass marijuana restrictions by end of June

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:23:27 +0000

Ohio Republicans plan to pass recreational marijuana reform by the end of June. Both the House and Senate are working together to create restrictions, which have drawn criticism from legalized marijuana supporters around the state.

I have a running series of answering questions and concerns about legal weed. This story primarily focuses on the lawmakers and what their proposed end result could look like.

Earlier installments have focused on learning the basics of the law and then how to buy it. Then, I answered questions about where to partake and addressed employment concerns. My most recent stories focus on the latest restrictive proposal passed by the Ohio Senate and a fact check that also informed viewers on how to contact their lawmakers.

Fact check: Ohio GOP claims legalizing marijuana increases crime. It doesn't.

First, let's break down the current law. If you are 21 years old or older, you can smoke, vape, and ingest marijuana. Individually, you can grow six plants, but you can grow up to 12 plants per household if you live with others.

What is the latest with marijuana?

Right now, House and Senate leaders are negotiating for multi-chamber-approved cannabis reform.

"Generally, trying to get to a place that more people support," House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said.

The lawmakers are trying to combine two bills: Senate Bill 56 and House Bill 160. Both make dozens of changes to cannabis access, but most notably, S.B. 56 limits THC content and reduces home growing to six plants, while H.B. 160 limits THC and keeps home growing the same.

For details about each proposal, click here for Senate version and here for House version.

When I asked if they had come to an agreement yet, Stewart told me to "stay tuned."

He added that he did like the House's substitute bill one that addressed the "desire in the caucus to have low-dose drinks."

"I think that there are going to be some adjustments on the criminalization side that should hopefully address some of those concerns," Stewart said.

Why did they really move to change the law?

That answer depends on who you ask.

Senate GOP leaders have continued to say that the voters knew they wanted legal weed but didn't know everything they were voting on.

Stewart and House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) echoed those claims. Click here to view our back-and-forth.

"It's obviously a complex issue growing out of the '23 initiative and with the growth of the THC, hemp and artificially created hemp products," he said.

Huffman said he wanted to deal with delta 8, low-level THC products sold in convenience stores with no age limits first, as his "primary goal is regulating the sale of all these products, including getting them out of the stores where they're accessible to minors."

The Democrats and some Republicans disagree with Huffman, saying it's about control.

"We want to make sure that the will of voters is protected," House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. "We want to make sure that the use of that revenue is upheld."

How do I get the lawmakers to stop?

Contact them.

This can be a little tricky, which is why I recorded a video for you:

Reminder: These are your state senators and state representatives, not the ones in D.C.

To find your district's legislators, click here. You will see a page where you can put in your address. From there, two people should pop up on the screen. If you click the lawmaker's icon, you will be directed to their page. From there, you will see a banner with different options. Click the one that says Contact. Depending on your browser, you may need to click a "More" option before "Contact."

If you are still struggling, I am happy to help you find out who your legislators are.

Have questions? Let me know, and I'll answer them. I have continued to cover any and all changes to marijuana policy that lawmakers are trying to make. I also have a series answering your questions about cannabis in Ohio. Please email me written questions or a video of you asking a question to be featured in our next addition. Send questions to <a href="mailto:Morgan.Trau@wews.com" target="_blank" link-data="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000166-2150-db7f-a1fe-f374bce30000","_type":"ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20"},"cms.content.publishDate":1741284040312,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000167-a304-d8da-a77f-f717004f0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"cms.content.updateDate":1741284040312,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000167-a304-d8da-a77f-f717004f0000","_type":"6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc"},"link":{"target":"NEW","attributes":[],"url":"mailto:Morgan.Trau@wews.com","_id":"00000195-6c9d-d4c7-a3df-ec9d44c10000","_type":"ff658216-e70f-39d0-b660-bdfe57a5599a"},"linkText":"Morgan.Trau@wews.com","_id":"00000195-6c9d-d4c7-a3df-ec9d44b50000","_type":"809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288"}">Morgan.Trau@wews.com</a> with the subject line "Marijuana questions."Follow

WEWS

statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on

Twitter

and

Facebook

Education advocates want voters to decide on DEI ban in Ohio colleges, universities

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:49:07 +0000

Education advocates were out in the Cincinnati streets Monday trying to push back against Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), which would ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in state colleges and universities.

"It is a way to erode public higher education in Ohio. So the bill is designed to eliminate programs and services that are based on identity groups," said Kate Durso, the southwest regional captain advocating against SB 1.

SB 1, or the "Ohio Higher Education Act," was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on March 28. The law goes into effect on June 27.

The law bans DEI from trainings, orientations, offices, positions or new institutional scholarships at state colleges or universities. Other policies in the Ohio Higher Education Act include a required American civics literacy course, prohibiting full-time university faculty from striking and automatically eliminating any university degree program that awards fewer than five degrees per year on a three-year rolling average.

SB 1's text states that the law is meant to support "intellectual diversity" at state colleges and universities.

In February, WCPO 9 reported on SB 1 after the state's Senate passed the legislation. One Republican senator explained why supporters are cracking down on DEI on college campuses.

Rather than fostering equality, DEI enforces racial divisions, prioritizes group identity over individual merit and creates (the) very discrimination it claims to be fighting, said state Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-District 19).

Watch to learn more about how advocates are challenging SB 1 and what it means for Ohio's higher education landscape:

Volunteers look for support to fight Ohio's ban on DEI at state colleges

An excerpt from SB 1 describes how teachers are expected to enable free thought and discussion under this legislation:

"Affirm and declare that faculty and staff shall allow and encourage students to reach their own conclusions about all controversial beliefs or policies and shall not seek to indoctrinate any social, political, or religious point of view;"

I met with Kate Durso and her team of volunteers, who disagree with the lawmakers behind SB 1.

I would say that this bill, in fact, does not promote more inclusive conversation. It actually creates boundaries and barriers against civil discourse," Durso said.

A member of Durso's volunteer team told me that SB 1 is pushing her away from her home state.

Yeah, I graduated from UC, University of Cincinnati, in 2023, and I'm pursuing law school now. And this bill, SB 1, was one of the reasons that Im not staying in my hometown of Cincinnati for law school; it just scares me too much," Erin Tedtman said.

Now, she is one of the local advocates in an initiative to move the law to a ballot issue this fall.

Advocates sent a referendum petition to Attorney General Dave Yost's office in April. That process required 1,000 signatures. Once the AG's office approved the first part of the referendum, the volunteers' efforts expanded. The volunteers have to collect 250,000 signatures across at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, as Durso explained. Their deadline is June 25.

"We need to hit a certain percentage within each of those counties based on the 2022 gubernatorial election," Durso said.

The volunteer captain said that her team and others across Ohio are trying for as many signatures as possible, because some may be marked invalid, which could occur even with a slight mistake.

"If someone accidentally writes their first and last name in the same box instead of following the directions on the form or includes the wrong address," Durso said.

As a lifelong educator, Durso told me this is her way of advocating for students and staff she works with.

Ohio Attorney General accepts petition aimed at eliminating real property taxes

Mon, 12 May 2025 15:38:39 +0000

The Ohio Attorney General's Office has taken a significant step toward addressing historically high property tax bills, according to a press release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office.

On Friday, the office announced that it had accepted the title and summary of a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at adding a new Section 14 to Article XII of the state constitution. This proposed amendment seeks to abolish taxes on real property and prohibit any future taxes on real property.

The Attorney General's Office received the petition on May 1, and their role in the process is to determine whether the submitted language "fairly and truthfully" summarizes the constitutional amendment or proposed statute.

Having carefully examined this submission, I conclude that the title and summary are fair and truthful statements of the proposed constitutional amendment, stated a response letter sent to the petitioners.

Homeowners in Butler County and Hamilton County have been vocal about the need to abolish taxes on real property.

In March, Butler County residents urged Ohio legislators to amend state tax rules to provide relief from skyrocketing property taxes. Data released by the Hamilton County Auditors Office in 2024 revealed that the average property tax bill increased by 10%, while property values surged by 34%.

The next step in the process is for the Ohio Ballot Board to certify the proposal. Following this, petitioners will need to gather signatures from registered voters equal to at least 10% of the votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. Signatures must come from voters in at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, with each of those counties requiring at least 5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election.

If the Ohio Secretary of State's Office verifies the signatures at least 65 days before the election, the proposed amendment will be placed on the ballot for the next regular or general election that occurs 125 days after the petition was filed.

Pittsburgh Steelers select Buckeye QB star Will Howard at No. 185 overall pick at 2025 NFL Draft

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 20:49:40 +0000

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Ohio State Buckeye QB star Will Howard as their No. 185 overall pick at the 2025 NFL Draft.

Howard started his collegiate football career at Kansas State University, but transferred to Ohio State in his senior year.

The Downingtown, PA native led the Buckeyes to a 14-2 season with a national championship to end off.

Howard set a single-season completion percentage record of 71.4% during his senior year.

He threw the 3rd most passing yards in OSU history with 4,208 passing yards last year.

Steelers select DE Jack Sawyer with No. 123 pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 17:59:14 +0000

The 2025 NFL Draft just wrapped up its fourth round, and the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer with the No. 123 pick overall.

Sawyer, a Pickerington, Ohio native, played for the Buckeyes from 2021 to this past season making the 2022 Rose Bowl, 2022 Peach Bowl, 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic 2024 College Football Playoff First Round, 2025 Rose Bowl, 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic where he won Defensive MVP, and in January, the 2025 CFP National Championship.

While at The Ohio State University, he played in all 55 games over the past four seasons, recording 144 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss totaling 162 yards, 23 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 15 quarterback hurries, 11 pass breakups, and a fourth-quarter interception in the red zone against Michigan.

Buckeye RB TreVeyon Henderson heads to Patriots as No. 37 pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 23:55:55 +0000

The New England Patriots selected OSU superstar TreVeyon Henderson as the No. 37 overall pick at the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday.

The Hopewell, VA native was a starter for the Buckeyes with a total of 3,761 rushing yards in his college career the fifth-most in OSU history.

Henderson finished his senior season at Ohio State with 1,016 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 7.06 yards per rush, which was the second among power conference players.

He helped the Buckeyes win their ninth national title.

Ohio State wins 1st national title since 2014, outlasting Notre Dame 34-23 in CFP championship game

Kansas City Chiefs select Ohio State Buckeyes OT Josh Simmons at No. 32 overall pick

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 04:11:06 +0000

Ohio State Buckeye Offensive Tackle Josh Simmons gets to keep wearing red this time with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Josh Simmons as the No. 32 pick overall at the 2025 NFL Draft.

Simmons had a season-ending injury in his senior year during the sixth game of the 2024 season against Oregon.

Despite playing only six games, he was named an honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference.

The San Diego, California, native played 31 consecutive games, 19 starts at left tackle and 13 at right tackle, including the 2022 season at San Diego State.

Detroit Lions draft Ohio State Buckeyes DT Tyleik Williams at No. 28 overall pick

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 03:47:37 +0000

The Detroit Lions selected Ohio State Buckeyes Defensive Tackle Tyleik Williams as the No. 28 overall pick.

Williams, a four-time Varsity O letterman, played in 51 games for Ohio State and started 25 times.

He earned all-Big Ten Conference recognition all four years with the Buckeyes.

Over his career at OSU, Williams notched 136 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, 10 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Manassas, Virginia, native was also a part of the Buckeyes' national championship team in January.

Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka has been selected by Buccaneers with No. 19 overall pick in 2025 NFL Draft

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 02:36:15 +0000

Ohio State Buckeyes Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka has been selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Egbuka was part of the champion team that won OSU its ninth national title in January.

Ohio State wins 1st national title since 2014, outlasting Notre Dame 34-23 in CFP championship game

The wide receiver had 1,011 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns and 81 receptions during his 2024 season.

The Steilacoom, Washington native spent four seasons as a Buckeye, playing 50 games and starting 38 of them.

He finished with 205 receptions the most in Ohio State history.

Vance fumbles national championship trophy during Ohio State football team's White House visit

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 21:17:34 +0000

During the ceremony to honor Ohio State's College Football National Championship, Vice President JD Vance fumbled the team's trophy.

WATCH:

Vance tried to lift the gold NCAA Championship Trophy, which looked like it was one piece. But as he lifted it, the base fell off, and both pieces of the trophy fell.

The trophy was caught by OSU running back TreVeyon Henderson, and Vance picked up the base, all while the Marine Corps Band continued to play, We Are the Champions."

Each year, the winning team is invited to the White House to celebrate the victory, but this team in particular hits close to home for the vice president, who is from Southwest Ohio.

President Donald Trump welcomed the winning team to the White House and remarked on the team's efforts in the championship game that took place in late January.

This team showed the world that the road to greatness is paved by hard work, sweat and often a great deal of adversity, Trump said.

Surrounded by dozens of big players, the president quipped that he would invite them into the Oval Office but, I dont know if the floor can withstand it.

On January 20, Ohio State beat Notre Dame for the school's sixth national championship title and first since 2014.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine stunned by teachers' pension fund behavior with firm accused of corruption

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:50:49 +0000

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is deeply concerned following a recent WEWS report in which we revealed hundreds of text messages of the relationship between a public official and an investment firm seeking to get access to tens of billions of dollars from the state. In an exclusive one-on-one interview, the governor finally addressed the alleged corruption scheme plaguing the retired teachers pension fund.

You're still on this story, huh? the governor said to me as we were getting started with our 30-minute interview. While others have lost attention you stayed on it.

For the past year, we have dug into and exposed the controversy swirling inside the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), a roughly $100 billion pension fund for the more than 500,000 active and retired public educators in Ohio.

In summary, there has been constant fighting, two board resignations, and allegations of both a public corruption scheme and the mishandling of funds. There has been a senior staff dismissal and at least two senior staff resignations.

The scandal centers around former board member Wade Steen, board chair Rudy Fichtenbaum, and their relationship with investment firm QED Technologies, run by former Ohio Deputy Treasurer Seth Metcalf and Jonathan (JD) Tremmel.

This piece will be formatted as a Q&A, featuring moments from the half-hour interview. It has been lightly edited only for clarity and length, as well as to get to the crux of the comment.

Wade Steen and Seth Metcalf, the men with the relationship at the center of the conversation, also spoke with me in response to the governors comments in their own Q&A that can be found here.

How we got here

In May of 2024, the governor received a 14-page anonymous whistleblower memo alleging a massive public corruption scheme brewing and moving quickly within STRS. In 2020, Metcalf and Tremmel set their eyes on STRS, according to the document.

The documents claim that they despite having no clients and no track record tried to convince STRS members to partner with them.

They couldnt impress the board members, mainly because of their lack of experience and also because QED was not registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser. The men also didn't own the technology to "facilitate the strategy," the documents say.

So what exactly are Steen and Fichtenbaum trying to change, and what would QED allegedly attempt to do? Revise the investment structure. The men are seen as the leaders of the "reform movement." This fight began from a debate on how STRS should invest money through the current system of actively managed funds versus an index fund. Active funds try to outperform the stock market, have more advisors, and typically cost more. Index funds perform with the stock market, are seen as more passive, and typically cost less.

The STRS memo claims QED and ORTA, the Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association, had worked together, specifically when it comes to elections, to get a more sympathetic or willing board.

Steen and Fichtenbaum had allegedly been bidding continuously, pitching QED's direct documents to board members and proclaiming the company's talking points to other staff.

Soon after, Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit to remove Steen and Fichtenbaum from the board, stating they were participating in a contract steering "scheme" that could benefit them. Yost started the investigation after the memo, now known as being prepared by STRS employees, alleged that Steen and Fichtenbaum had been bidding on QED.

The AG states that the pair should be removed because they broke their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and trust when "colluding" with QED.

In late August, Yost filed several subpoenas against QED and others allegedly involved in this scheme. The same month, QED spoke out to us for the first time, and so did the AG.

As we have continued the dozens of reports on the topic, our investigation in September revealed that STRS was, once again, moving to hire a firm that allegedly lacked experience and personal ties to the board leaders, according to senior staff.

After our report, the board chose not to move forward with the firm that has been the subject of my investigations.

Communications obtained via a records request of a court filing reveal that QED associates consistently told then-board member Steen what questions to ask, gave him documents to propose, and pushed him to follow its plan.

Texts between Steen, Metcalf and Tremmel show that the pair consistently worked together. There are hundreds of text messages.

Texts show a group chat between Steen, Metcalf and Tremmel. The pair constantly texted Steen during board meetings with advice, including numerous messages of "Vote!" and "Force the vote" when it came to policy and following QED.

"Thanks for the support today!" Steen said.

"Wade - you are a champion! We moved the ball down the field today and have time to recoup and refresh during the holiday!" Metcalf texted the group.

To read what the texts said, click here.

Our reporting stunned the governor, he said, so after more than a year of requesting an interview with him, he agreed to a date in April 2025.

The governor responds

Why are we here? For the teachers to have money when they retire, DeWine said.

Morgan Trau: "What is the importance of a healthy pension fund?"

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine: "It's very important we have state systems, and this is the teachers' retirement fund, and we certainly want that to be a sound fund. That's always, always something that's a concern, and retired teachers have been concerned about not getting cost of living allowances in the past. The stability of a retirement fund, I think, is very important. It's not just the stability from an economic point, this is an area where stability and less drama is good."

Trau: "Clearly, if we look at the past two years, drama encapsulates what has been happening at STRS. What is going on from your perspective?"

DeWine: "Well, I think things have calmed down. I'm looking at it from afar, but it seems that the board is working, and working in a productive way. I think we've, at least for a while now, we've come over from that problem that we've had in the past."

The problems worsened in 2023. Initially appointed by former Gov. John Kasich, Steen has become somewhat of a martyr, many reformers told me. He was reappointed by DeWine when the governor started his administration, but the governor asked him to resign in 2023. Steen refused, so DeWine removed him. DeWine initially cited Steens alleged poor attendance at board meetings as reasoning.

However, a court ruled that DeWine did not have the legal authority to remove Steen based on Ohio law, and thus, Steen was put back on the board in the spring 2024.

I asked the governor during our interview why he had removed Steen, to which he reiterated that his attendance was satisfactory. Steen disagreed.

Trau: "When I talked with your team in May of 2024, they told me that there was also a concern about his close relationship with the investment firm QED and that led you to have doubt in his fiduciary duty."

DeWine: "Well, there certainly was some information going around in regard to that, of course. Then when we got the document, it was an anonymous document, but it seemed to be well informed and I felt I wanted to, frankly, get that document over to elected officials who might have an interest in investigating or might have an obligation to investigate it."

Trau: "When it comes to the pension fund and the allegations that are against former board members, the current board chair what kind of outcome could happen if these allegations are all true?

DeWine: "Well, I don't really know. I've not followed the attorney general's suit that closely, but when you look at what you have been able to uncover, the things that have been filed in court... I would just call it a concerning set of facts. Its very concerning that you have that close a relationship, going back and forth between a member of the board and the company that wants a job, basically. They want to be hired and clearly, you see [Seth] Metcalf, for example, going back and forth. It just seems to me that that's very, very disconcerting. It's very upsetting, and it raises a lot of questions. Now, we'll see where the lawsuit goes and we'll see what the final verdict is. I'm not going to prejudge that at all, but based upon what you are reporting yeah, it doesn't look very good."

Pulling out some of the text messages I obtained, I passed the documents to the governor to look through.

Hundreds of texts show Metcalf gave Steen questions to ask during board meetings, documents to propose, and pushed him to follow QED's plan.

"I think we can win this but I need to nuisance it," Steen texted in 2020, as he was pitching QED's proposal.

"I think you've got the votes! Make the motion! Announce that you have a solution," Metcalf responded.

Metcalf continually texted talking points, themes and direct quotes for Steen to follow while he was in the board meetings.

Steen followed his lead.

Trau: "What do you think about the fact that they were giving directions during board meetings and they were giving quotes to say and those quotes were then said out loud?"

DeWine: "It would be highly, highly, highly unusual for that to happen. A member of the board has a fiduciary obligation to all the people he or she represents. They have an obligation to the retired teachers. They have an obligation to people who are currently putting their money into that current teachers. So, for that person to have that close of relationship with a person who is basically coming to the board and saying Hire us, we know what we're doing, yeah, it's not a normal situation, let's put it that way. Again, I can't judge it. All I can tell you is what you have seen and what you've pulled from the court documents."

Evaluating the text message threads with numerous legal and pension industry experts, each indicated suspicion, with Case Western Reserve University law professor, joined by others, adding that this could be used to argue there was a level of coordination.

Trau: "You are an attorney, and when you look at this, does this look like coordination to you?"

DeWine: "Well, I'm not gonna draw any legal conclusions, but just knowing what each role these players are supposed to be playing they're not playing their normal roles. That's not what we would normally expect... The member of the board is supposed to be impartial and supposed to be making a judgment call based upon what is in the best interest of STRS, in this case, and ultimately in the retired teachers."

I referenced how familiar Metcalf and Steen spoke to each other.

Trau: "Should we be paying attention to the language that this investment firm is using when talking to a board member?

DeWine: "Well, it's unusual language let's just put it that way."

Trau: "Obviously, there are people who back Wade Steen extensively. There has been a legal fund with thousands of dollars given to him to fight the removal and to fight this current lawsuit against Attorney General Dave Yost. Some of these people, even with these text messages, say that this is political interference. How do you gain back the trust of these pensioners that believe that you and AG Dave Yost are wrong?

DeWine: "Well, the only concern I've always had is for the board to function well and to make good judgments, do the best that they could for the retired teachers. I see retired teachers all the time. They've worked very, very hard. Teachers are the people that educate our kids. Everybody can remember a teacher, more than one teacher, who literally changed their life. These are important people and we need to do the best we can for them.

I don't want to be a member of the board. I'm not looking over everybody's shoulder. We just have to have a functioning board, that makes decisions based upon what is in the best interest of these teachers. When they pick the investment advisors, you would think that they would be picking people who are experienced and people who have a good track record. You're not always going to be successful with every investment, but what you have to look at is the totality of the investments."

Trau: "Do you feel vindicated by the texts coming out?"

DeWine: "Well, I dont know if vindicated. Look, we're simply after what's best for the retired teachers."

I noted how DeWine removed Steen during a critical election when the reformers took control of the board and then released the 14-page memo during another pivotal election when the reformers took a supermajority of the board. With this dominance, they would be able to start shifting the investment structure, something that reformers claim DeWine wants to prevent.

Trau: "Some argue that that timing is suspicious. Could you see why they would say that?"

DeWine: "Well, it's not true. We were trying to get the information out, for example, in regard to the memo we got. We, very quickly, got it over to six different officials, public officials, who we thought and believe they do have investigative authority, or have the ability to act, upon that memo. I really did not have the ability to act upon that memo... When you see very serious allegations like that, we have to get that document over to the people who have an obligation to take action."

I referenced the reformers' goal of switching the investment structure.

Trau: "Do you think that that would yield better results than right now? And should they have had the opportunity, if the majority on the board wants to do that, should they be able to do that?"

DeWine: "Well, if the majority wants to do that they certainly can do that. For the average citizen, I think investing in the stock market, following investment in funds that allow you basically to get the return or lack of return that the whole stock market is getting, that makes some sense... Pension funds take a more conservative point of view. They have to be paying out so much money every single month, they have to be paying out every single year, and they don't want to have a great risk, so they will be much more diversified even than that... And what Metcalf was selling was something that would be very, very unusual for a pension fund."

I noted Metcalf's history, asking why the governor thinks someone may be entered in giving 70% of a pension fund to a startup without the technology to pull off the plan. DeWine emphasized how Metcalf was not qualified.

There are real, valid concerns from educators DeWine acknowledged but as we have reported, STRS is doing better than most of the other state pension funds.

"I do hear from teachers about how much the advisors were getting paid," the governor said. "I think you have some people who are just looking at this and saying, Look, these people are paid too much money, and look, those are legitimate discussions that people can have and they can believe they're getting too much or you can argue they're not getting too much. But those are, I think, some of the reasons that people were getting upset."

The investment staff get paid by salary and performance-based incentives (PBIs). Losing these bonuses could slash up to half of their salary, former STRS chief actuary Brian Grinnell told me in July.

The average yearly "salary" for STRS investment staff members was roughly $230,300, that number including PBIs, as they have typically been approved for $10 million in bonuses per year. The board voted to eliminate the PBIs to make the reformers happy, resulting in their major compensation advisor quitting and their fiduciary counsel telling them they were violating the law. They reinstated them soon after.

But it's been a tough few years financially, and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I noted this, the current look at the stock market, inflation, and the fiscal hits people faced from COVID. COLA could help retired teachers. The Retirement Study Council said they are on track to restore it in a decade fully.

Trau: "People are suffering with this and they are very upset. They are, many of them, blaming you for this oversight of the board. Is that fair?"

DeWine: "Well, I get one person on the board, so I only have one person on the board that I appoint. I guess you can blame the governor for anything, but my concern has been the same and my goal has been the same and that is to have board members who are going to focus every single day on the best interest of the retired teachers."

Referencing how DeWine had said the board had calmed down, I mentioned their attempt to hire a consultant firm without relevant experience with ties to the board members. Our investigation disqualified them due to their staff contacting the board members during a blackout period, when the interview process is underway and communicating isnt allowed.

Trau: "Are we not looking at it seriously by saying that it's calming down?"

DeWine: "Well, everything is relative. It certainly calmed down some. If I was a member of the board, I think I would remember my fiduciary obligation to the retired teachers and every decision I made doesn't mean every decision will be right, but what I would have in my mind every single day, every time I went to the committee meeting, every time I attended the meeting, every time I thought about this, What's in the best interest of the teachers and what should these investments be and who should be advising us."

Trau: "Some lawmakers have suggested that due to the controversy that is happening right now with the board, some of the voting power should be taken away from the educators making them members of the board but just not voting members or taking down how many people. The teachers say that that would be undemocratic. Where do you stand?"

DeWine: "Well, I'm not advocating any kind of change. The board members are not experts, their job is to hire experts... Their job is to pick the right people who have a track record of investment and continue to have that oversight that the board should

Ohio bill would block schools from using trans students’ preferred names, pronouns without parent consent

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:14:02 +0000

A new Ohio House bill would require parental permission before public schools could begin addressing students by any name or pronouns that dont correspond to their birth certificate or biological sex.

The proposed House Bill 190 is jointly-sponsored by Rep. Johnathan Newman, a Republican pastor from Troy who told our news partner Journal-News that hes hoping to crack down on schools socially transitioning students.

This bill seeks to say that employees at school cannot use a name other than the childs given name on their birth certificate that aligns with their sex at birth, said Newman, who now has several bills aimed at expanding parental rights. A name like that cant be used unless the parents agree and give permission, written permission, that theyre aware of it and they condone their child transitioning.

The bill goes further than just regulating teachers ability to use a childs preferred name. As proposed, it would also:

Prohibit addressing a student by any name other than their given name or a derivative thereof without parental consent; Prohibit addressing a student by a pronoun or title that is inconsistent with the students biological sex without parental consent; Block faculty or contractors from informing students about their own preferred pronouns or titles if they are inconsistent with the employees or contractors biological sex; Bar faculty or school contractors from asking students for their preferred pronouns or names; Bar faculty or school contractors from penalizing a student for failing to respond to a request for a preferred name or pronoun; Require faculty and school contractors to report any student request to be addressed by a preferred pronoun or name to the school administrator, who is then required to report that request to the students parents.

H.B. 190 would also set up a parental complaint system with the state if they believe school faculty have been using different pronouns or names for their child without their consent. Under the bill, that complaint would prompt an investigation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce into the alleged incident, which Newman said could involve parents, faculty or the students themselves.

When asked if he had reservations about a student potentially being swept into a state investigation, Newman said it was a great concern.

But the greater concern is that this would happen to a student (without parental consent), Newman said.

Under the bill, if the state determines a school or employee violated the law, the state would be required to withhold ten per cent of the schools state foundation aid ... each month until such time that the school is confirmed by the director to be in compliance with this section, H.B. 190 reads.

Were not trying to hurt the schools, were not trying to take funding from the schools, said Newman. But its enough, its a message, that this is a serious matter that parents take seriously.

The bill has not yet had a hearing in the Ohio House Education Committee, but leading public school lobbying organization, the Ohio Education Association, told this outlet that it flatly opposes the bill.

House Bill 190 does nothing to support Ohios public school students or to address any of the real issues facing our schools, OEA President Scott DiMauro said in a statement. The Ohio Education Association urges lawmakers to reject this latest attempt to distract and divide Ohioans, so they can focus on the important work of ensuring our students have the resources and funding they actually need to succeed.

Dara Adkison, who serves as the executive director of an advocacy group called TransOhio, called the bill bad legislation in an interview with the Journal-News.

(H.B.) 190 is going to ask teachers and staff to misgender trans students and if they themselves are transgender, ask them to misgender themselves all at the risk of losing a percentage of state funding, Adkison said.

Adkison denied the notion that schools are socially transitioning students. They argued that H.B. 190 would damage teacher-student relationships, which are based off of trust and acceptance to help garner and foster (a students) ability to receive an education.

Ultimately, Adkison framed H.B. 190 as another legislative attempt to remove transgender Ohioans from public spaces.

That is unabashedly the goal, Adkison said. We have seen our legislatures and public spaces talk about how they would like it if trans people did not exist at all.

When the Journal-News asked Newman if he thought K-12 students were capable of determining if they truly wanted to be called by a different name or different pronouns without their parents consent, he denied that anyone could be transgender and called it a case of confusion.

I dont think there is such a thing as transgender, Newman said. Thats not reality. A boy never, ever becomes a girl. A girl never, ever becomes a boy. Thats not reality. That cannot happen.

Newman told the Journal-News that H.B. 190 would actually help students if it became law.

We want to see children who have confusion like this, we want to see them get the help that they really need to address the confusion, Newman said. I think the message is affirming the confusion is the wrong direction. We want to see them get the help they need to address the confusion.

Newmans views are antithetical to those held by an array of leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association. In 2024, the American Psychological Association published a resolution that criticized states attempts to take away access to gender-affirming care.