Ohio GOP holds Toledo fund-raiser

The Ohio Republican Party raised money in Lucas County Thursday evening with a fund- raiser at the Inverness Club attended by national Republican Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel and Ohio Republican Chairman Jane Timken. The private event at the exclusive West Toledo club drew some 120 people at ticket prices ranging from $250 to $10,000.

Ohio political commentators sue over online harassment ban

A group of liberal and conservative online political commentators in Ohio has filed a constitutional challenge to the state's recently enacted law against internet harassment. A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland alleges a prohibition against knowingly posting text or audio statements or images on a website "for the purpose of abusing... or harassing another person" violates the commentators' constitutional rights to free speech and expression.

Contenders crowd potential 2018 political field in Ohio

For Republicans, that means working to avert a collision in 2018 among three high-profile gubernatorial hopefuls. For out-of-power Democrats, the challenge is to find any available candidate with the political clout and statewide name recognition to win the governor's race.

Kasich backs DeVos without mention of $5.3M PAC debt to Ohio

Gov. John Kasich is urging confirmation of President Donald Trump's education secretary nominee without mentioning the significant unpaid fine owed to Ohio by a now-defunct political action committee she controlled. The Republican governor and 2016 presidential contender didn't support Trump, but he praised Betsy DeVos for her character, experience and philosophy of limited government in a Jan. 24 letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander, who chairs the committee that handled her confirmation.

At the Statehouse

There were more rumblings about the coming state budget, lawmakers made a brief appearance in their respective Statehouse chambers and another statewide office-holder made his 2018 election intentions known. Things are getting busy again in capital city, as Gov. John Kasich and the state legislature gear up for biennial budget deliberations and potential statewide candidates begin jockeying for position.

BC-OH-Ohio AP Legislative-Political Preview,ADVISORY, OH

EDITORS:NEWS DIRECTORS: THIS IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Feb. 1, when we will host the Ohio Associated Press 2017 Legislative and Political Preview Session.The meeting is designed to give AP member journalists, particularly those who do not work in Columbus, access to the state's key leaders during the ... (more)

W.Va. AG, Ohio AG DeWine Lead 13 States in Challenging Abusive Federal Mining Rule

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine led a group of 13 states in challenging the federal government's so-called Stream Protection Rule as drastically and illegally limiting coal mining in disregard of state regulatory authority. The states filed suit in federal court, and many also asked Congress to revoke the last-minute Obama Administration regulation.

8 family slayings still unsolved as Ohio sheriff is sworn in

The appointed southern Ohio sheriff investigating the slayings of eight people from one family has been sworn in for a four-year term after winning election. Democratic Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader was sworn in Wednesday by Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine, whose office is working with Reader's on the massive investigation into the April slayings.

Ohio Adopts Preemption Legislation, Blocking Local Minimum Wage Hikes …

On Monday, December 19, 2016, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed Senate Bill 331 , which prohibits municipalities and other political subdivisions from raising the minimum wage beyond Ohio's state minimum wage rate, currently set at $8.10 an hour . The bill appears to be a direct reaction to two separate labor union-backed local initiatives: Cleveland's "Fight for 15" movement, which was a failed effort to aggressively increase Cleveland's minimum wage to $15 an hour; and Youngstown's "Part-Time Bill of Rights" proposal, which was a separate attempt to provide part-time workers with certain employment benefits, including paid time off and advanced notice of work schedules.

Ohio voters ought to pay closer attention to judges close to home: Thomas Suddes

More Ohio voters ought to pay attention to the state Supreme Court as these young Ohioans are doing during a tour of the Ohio Supreme Court building. Here's what's supposed to be the capstone argument of Donald Trump's ever-shrinking cult: "It's the Supreme Court, stupid."

Democrat to talk infrastructure in Ohio Senate race

The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio plans to highlight an Ohio River bridge as an example of national infrastructure needs. Former Gov. Ted Strickland will be near the Brent Spence Bridge that connects Cincinnati and northern Kentucky on Monday to discuss his plan to invest in such infrastructure.

Public viewing to be held for former Ohio governor

A public viewing will be held in the rotunda of Cleveland City Hall on Thursday for George Voinovich, the former U.S. senator, Ohio governor and Cleveland mayor. The viewing will be from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Thursday followed by a brief program to honor the well-respected Republican who held various elected offices for more than 40 years.

Attorney General Dewine on Obama a Guidancea letter for school bathrooms

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a statement regarding the recent Obama Administration "guidance" letter on the issue of school facilities and issues of gender identity. "This threat made by federal bureaucrats to nationalize and politicize the way schools address gender identity issues down to the level of school locker rooms and bathrooms is astonishing.