Ohio attorney general rejects proposal to legalize recreational marijuana

Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a petition Thursday proposing legalizing marijuana in the state of Ohio to anyone 21 years and older. This amendment will add a new Section 24 to Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution to endow the Ridghts of persons in Ohio age 21 years and older to possess, produce, process, use, transport, sell, purchase, and share marijuana in Ohio The attorney general's office said the petition, titled "Marijuana Rights and Regulations Amendment," was rejected for several reasons, including: The summary language giving the General Assembly authority to regulate "marijuana commerce" does not accurately reflect the actual amendment language.

TV warfare: New DeWine ad calls Taylor a ‘phony conservative’

The campaign of Mike DeWine calls out Mary Taylor as a "phony conservative" in a new TV commercial underlining a $1 million media buy ahead of the Republican gubernatorial primary on May 8. The 30-second DeWine spot, which will air statewide on broadcast TV, cable TV and radio buy, paints the lieutenant governor as a "career politician" who refused to endorse President Donald Trump, supported Medicaid expansion as part of Obamacare - "then lied about it" - and claims "she used used your tax dollars to benefit her family business." The commercial concludes: "Lt.

Dennis Kucinich in the Democratic primary for Ohio governor: endorsement editorial

For Democrats in this year's race for Ohio governor, the choice should come down to passion, vision and an ability to grasp the bully pulpit to inspire Ohioans about the need for change. Ohio's next governor must be a fighter -- a fighter for greater equity, justice and common sense; a fighter for the state's urban centers; and a fighter against the moribund thinking on education, diversity, economic opportunity and home-rule rights that's held Ohio back for too long.

Judge blocks Ohio ban on abortions due to Down syndrome

A state law that prohibits doctors from performing abortions based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome was placed on hold by a federal judge on Wednesday. Judge Timothy Black said the law's opponents are "highly likely" to succeed in arguing the law is unconstitutional because "federal law is crystal clear" that a state can't limit a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy before viability.

Ohio attorney general will appeal ruling in Down syndrome abortion ban

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Thursday his office will appeal a federal judge's order blocking the state's Down syndrome abortion ban from taking effect. On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black issued a preliminary injunction putting House Bill 214 on hold while abortion providers challenged the law's constitutionality.

Justice Pat DeWine seeks dismissal of ethics charge

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Patrick DeWine is seeking the dismissal of a judicial ethics charge alleging his improperly used the influence of his office in asking a county prosecutor to hire his son for a summer job. DeWine is not required to respond to another charge - that he has improperly failed to recuse himself from hearing cases involving the office of his father, Attorney General Mike DeWine - until his motion to dismiss receives a ruling from a three-judge panel.

Justice Department hasn’t decided whether to participate in opioid litigation

As U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions promised, the Justice Department on Thursday evening filed a "statement of interest" in the swath of lawsuits being heard in Cleveland that accuse drug manufacturers and distributors of heavily contributing to the nation's opioid epidemic. But instead of a display of force and support for the local and state governments that allege the drug companies caused the addiction problems, the Justice Department asked U.S. District Judge Dan Polster for 30 days to decide whether it wants to intervene.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions says feds will take action in Cleveland opioid lawsuits

The U.S. Department of Justice will get involved with a federal case in Cleveland that consolidates hundreds of government lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Tuesday. Sessions said the Justice Department will file a "statement of interest" in the case, currently being heard by a federal judge in Cleveland , filed by local governments, including Cincinnati and Cuyahoga County.

Source: Pillich to leave governora s race, back Cordray

Ohio Democrats' lone female gubernatorial candidate will leave the race Wednesday to back rival Richard Cordray, as the former federal consumer watchdog positions for his hoped-for bid against Republican Mike DeWine, a source said. A Democrat close to Cordray's campaign told The Associated Press that former state Rep. Connie Pillich will drop out and endorse Cordray at an event the campaign announced Tuesday.

Justices issue legal blows to 2 Ohio abortion clinics

In a 5-2 ruling, the high court upheld a state order shuttering Capital Care of Toledo, the northwest Ohio city's last abortion clinic, in a decision the facility is expected to appeal. Justices found that the Ohio Department of Health acted within its rights in 2014 when it decided to shut down Capital Care of Toledo.

Justices issue legal blows to two Ohio abortion clinics

The Ohio Supreme Court agreed with the state's decision to close the last abortion clinic in Toledo and end litigation initiated by a clinic in Cleveland challenging the constitutionality of abortion-related restrictions by the state. A pair of abortion clinics claiming hardships related to Ohio's escalating restrictions on the procedure lost separate fights in the state's high court on Tuesday.

PAC endorses Connie Pillich for Ohio governor

A political action committee dedicated to electing Democratic women on Tuesday endorsed Connie Pillich, the lone female remaining in the Democratic May primary for governor. Backing from EMILY's List could help boost Pillich, a former Air Force captain and ex-state lawmaker, in a five-way primary that includes former federal consumer watchdog Richard Cordray and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Bill O’Neill on run for governor: Cordray doesn’t worry me, Kucinich does

With his five years on the Ohio Supreme Court at an end, Bill O'Neill says the time has come to talk of many things. Of long-illegal school funding, solar panels and his tenure as the only Democrat amid six Republicans on the Ohio Supreme Court.

Dennis Kucinich would be agitator-in-chief in Ohio gubernatorial run: Thomas Suddes

Dennis Kucinich, former congressman, state senator, and mayor of Cleveland, speaks at Cleveland State University's Maxine Levin Goodman College of Urban Affairs last April. Kucinich said in an email to supporters this week that he plans to announce formally for Ohio governor next Wednesday.