Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has launched an investigation into the teacher’s pension fund after allegations that a “hostile takeover” is putting educators’ money in jeopardy. The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) is a $90 billion pension fund — and has been involved in controversy for years. The Reformers Educators have had it hard the past few years. “I’m burnt out,” Parma schools teacher Terry Caskey said. But the hardest thing about Caskey’s job doesn’t actually take place at work. “I’m about five to six years away from retirement,” she said. “I’m worried about STRS.” STR ..read more

COLUMBUS, Ohio — JUNE 07: State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, speaks during the Ohio Senate session, June 7, 2023, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal) Ohio lawmakers signed off on changes to the military seal for high school diplomas on Wednesday. But the bill’s most notable provision was a last minute amendment regarding cellphones in K-12 schools that caught a ride on the non-controversial measure. Recently, Gov. Mike DeWine urged lawmakers to address cellphones in classrooms during his state of the state address. Now, about a month late ..read more

The Kroger Co. corporate headquarters is seen in downtown Cincinnati. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) The Federal Trade Commission in March released a report saying that the three largest grocers “accelerated and distorted” food costs amid supply disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It also said that prices — and profits — remain high for Kroger, Walmart and Amazon even after the supply kinks have straightened themselves out. But the country’s trade watchdog didn’t say in its report what might be done about it. The agency this week might have given a hint. The commiss ..read more

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) The U.S. House passed, 216-195, a bill Wednesday that would loosen a restriction on mining operations, reversing a vote last week to return the bill to committee. The bill, written by Nevada Republican Mark Amodei, would clarify that mining companies can conduct mining support operations on federal lands, even without first documenting a known mineral deposit. It responds to a 2022 federal appeals court ruling restricting mining companies from using federal lands without a documented min ..read more

FORT COLLINS, CO - APRIL 19: A portion of marijuana is seen under a magifying glass at "Abundant Healing" store April 19, 2010 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Abundent Healing is one of Colorado's many legal marijuana dispensaries, which sells marijuana to customers with a state-issued medical marijuana card. Colorado, one of 14 states to allow use of medical marijuana, has experienced an explosion in marijuana dispensaries, trade shows and related businesses in the last year as marijuana use becomes more mainstream here. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland ..read more

Stock photo from Getty Images. WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans passed a bill Wednesday to add a citizenship question to the census and exclude noncitizens from the official headcount when determining population for representation in Congress and electoral votes. The legislation, which passed on a 206-202 party-line vote, is part of a trend of House GOP bills relating to immigration as the November elections approach. Republicans and their presumptive presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump, have centered their campaigns on immigration. The Trump administration tried to add a citizenship q ..read more

A ballot counter machine. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) Ohio’s gerrymandered maps take voting power away from Black communities, fair map advocates said this week on a media call.  The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU’s law school found that about 77% of Ohio (about 9.1 million people) lives in “districts where elections for state representatives are not in serious dispute,” according to their recent study. “This report validates what happens when the redistricting process and those in charge of it draw districts that al ..read more

COLUMBUS, OH — MAY 08: Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, talks with the press after the Ohio House session, May 8, 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal) In a surprise move, the Ohio House decided not to take up legislation to ensure President Joe Biden appears on the November ballot in Ohio. But elected leaders from both parties insist Biden will appear on voters’ ballots. They have said so many times. But the thing is, they’re not exactly sure how, and an obscure provision in state law gives them a deadline they may not be able to me ..read more

The entrance to the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System headquarters in Columbus. Photo by Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal. After years of complaints about gold-plated salaries, billions in investment fees and lackluster returns, things seem poised to hit the fan at Ohio’s State Teachers Retirement System. Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday issued a press release saying that he was alarmed at the news that a consultant for the $90 billion retirement plan, Aon, was severing its contract. “This is a huge red flag, calling into question how STRS is operating and providing oversight,” the press ..read more

A ballot counter machine. (Photo by Graham Stokes for the Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) Ohio’s gerrymandered maps take voting power away from Black communities, fair map advocates said this week on a media call.  The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU’s law school found that about 77% of Ohio (about 9.1 million people) lives in “districts where elections for state representatives are not in serious dispute,” according to their recent study. “This report validates what happens when the redistricting process and those in charge of it draw districts that al ..read more