Ohio Issue 1 for redistricting reform closes in on victory

While gerrymandering disputes from other states have landed in the U.S. Supreme Court, Ohio voters apparently took the historic step Tuesday of passing a bipartisan proposal aimed at creating fairer and more logical congressional districts. Results reported by 10 p.m. showed Issue 1 leading 73 percent to 27 percent.

Smith pursuing House Speaker role amid changes at statehouse – 1:55 am updated:

On Thursday, it was announced Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger was stepping down immediately, moving up a resignation he announced early last week amid talk of an FBI investigation into his activities. Brad Miller, a spokesman for House Republicans, said Thursday that Rosenberger's decision to resign now came at the request of Rep. Kirk Schuring.

Stalled civil rights and payday lending reform await word from Ohio…

State Rep. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat, has said that support from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce has given new momentum to her Ohio House Bill 160 that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender idenity in Ohio. The U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell decision protected a person's right to enter into a same-sex marriage.

No deal between Ohio legislature, medical marijuana group to drop ballot initiative

Backers of a constitutional amendment that would have legalized medical marijuana said they were not pressured by state lawmakers to abandon efforts to put their measure on the November ballot. Legislators may have been attempting to head off the amendment, but Saturday's announcement came as a surprise.