Week in Review April 6, 2026

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This report reflects the latest happenings in government relations, in and around the Ohio statehouse. You’ll notice that it’s broad in nature and on an array of topics, from A-Z. This will be updated on a weekly basis.

Please feel free to share it with anyone else you believe may find it of interest, as well. Also, please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions, concerns or if we can be of any assistance.

BALLOT ISSUES

The Ohio Ballot Board Thursday unanimously approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban large data centers in Ohio as one amendment, clearing the way for supporters to begin collecting signatures. Petitioners who brought the proposal and attended the hearing told reporters that they hope to get the issue before voters in November, though Ballot Board member Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) raised doubts they would succeed.

FY27-28 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS

The departing head of state prisons says buildings dating from 21 years to over 150 years old will require a $1.8 billion cash infusion through 2032 to ensure the continued rehabilitation of inmates and safety of guards, administrative staff and residents at 26 correctional institutions now 22 percent overcapacity. Director Annette Chambers-Smith of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), who officially began her new role as special advisor to the governor on Sunday, March 29, lodged a 387-page capital budget request with the DeWine administration that offers a thorough breakdown of the construction, condition, accommodations, services and head count at minimum- to maximum-security prisons statewide, including Death Row facilities dating to the early 1900s.

Among FY27-28 capital requests from the state's public universities and community colleges, the University of Akron (UA), University of Toledo (UToledo) and University of Cincinnati all requested funds to invest in campus infrastructure improvements because of changes in enrollment, according to their request letters to the Office of Budget and Management.

DEATH PENALTY

Attorney General Dave Yost is accusing Gov. Mike DeWine of creating a "desert of justice" for families and loved ones of capital murder victims due to the governor's ongoing moratorium on Ohio executions. Yost's eighth and final annual Capital Crimes report slams the administration for ignoring state death penalty law enacted by the General Assembly and upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court, resulting in no executions during DeWine's first or second term.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) is currently accepting applications for a total of $125 million in Mixed-Use Development Tax Credits, with individual applicants eligible to receive up to $20 million in tax credits against their expenditures. The application window opened Monday, March 23 and will close at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22. The program is meant to encourage construction and building improvements in underdeveloped areas around the state. Development properties eligible for the tax credit must include a combination of retail, office, residential, recreation, or hotel and hospitality uses in one mixed-use development.

The DeWine administration and digital infrastructure company Vertiv announced Monday the company is investing approximately $50 million to expand its Westerville headquarters campus and a manufacturing facility in Ironton, with expectations that will generate 520 new jobs between the two sites and help retain 238. The project was one of seven that received state tax credit support Monday. The seven projects expected to create 1,328 new jobs and retain 905 jobs statewide. During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought by JobsOhio and its regional partners. The projects are expected to collectively result in more than $83.5 million in new payroll and spur more than $123.4 million in investments across Ohio.

The JobsOhio Board of Directors met Thursday at the Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dayton airport facility, with Chairman Josh Rubin noting the site had a ribbon cutting for two additional hangar facilities there on Wednesday. He added his hope that this is still in the beginning stages of a "long and prosperous relationship" with more expansion and new jobs to come. Rubin said board members went to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Wednesday as well and attended a celebration of the F-22 Raptor's 20th anniversary, as well as watching a livestream of the Artemis II launch.

Recent rankings by Site Selection Magazine shows Ohio remained third in the nation for the Governor's Cup, which the magazine uses to recognize states with the most qualifying new and expanded corporate facilities.

EDUCATION

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) is seeking feedback on draft materials for the state's integrated model curriculum, an academic framework blending English language arts, social studies, civics, technology and life skills in elementary and middle school classrooms. The feedback will strengthen the curriculum ahead of its release in summer 2026, DEW said.

The school district coalition suing over the constitutionality of EdChoice vouchers and the state and private school attorneys defending the program will have double the usual time to make their case in person when the legal dispute comes to oral arguments. The 10th District Court of Appeals recently granted a motion jointly filed by all parties requesting 30 minutes per side of oral arguments, rather than the typical 15 minutes. The litigants argued in a motion that the monumental nature of the dispute merited extended oral argument time, as did the breadth of parties involved. Arguments are scheduled for May.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen Dackin announced schools have the option to use an America 250 design on the diplomas of students who earn Ohio's Citizenship Seal at no additional cost. The commemorative seal comes as part of the America 250-Ohio initiative, the organization charged with honoring the state's role in the nation's semiquincentennial this year.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Student Transportation Workgroup will continue to meet for at least another month before presenting its finalized draft policy priorities and recommendations to Gov. Mike DeWine and DEW Director Stephen Dackin, Susan Bodary, director of Battelle Education and the group's facilitator, told Hannah News during a break in its meeting Thursday. While the original plan was to get finalized materials before DeWine and Dackin by May, Bodary said some of the legislators participating in the group suggested the materials needed more detail and informed data before deliberations could come to a close. She did not specify which legislators had advised the group's time frame be extended.

Despite a ruling in U.S. District Court this week that found President Donald Trump's executive order to defund National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) to be unenforceable, Ohio's public broadcasters will not see previous funding restored after substantial funding cuts from both federal and state sources in the past year. "It's hard to come back from," said Kitty Lensman, chair of Ohio Educational Television Stations at Thursday's meeting of the Broadcast Educational Media Commission (BEMC).

ELECTIONS 2026

Democratic congressional candidate Don Leonard was arrested Saturday during a "No Kings" protest in Grove City, he confirmed on social media. Leonard, who is running for the 15th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Mike Carey (R-Columbus), posted, "Yesterday I was arrested while exercising my First Amendment rights at a No Kings Rally in Grove City, OH. Halfway through my speech, officers arrived and informed me that I had violated a city noise ordinance by using a bullhorn. After willingly surrendering my bullhorn and relocating to a safe location, an officer told me to relocate down the street to an isolated spot away from witnesses."

Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) launched the first advertisement of her state treasurer's campaign. The 30-second ad, titled "Patriot," highlights Roegner's background, values, and commitment to protecting Ohio taxpayers.

Richard Stoff, former Ohio Business Roundtable CEO and a senior advisor to the Leadership Now Project, a national organization of more than 400 business leaders, penned an op-ed backing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. The opinion, appearing in Gannett papers, argues that these are the most turbulent times of his lifetime, and noted that the numbers do not paint an encouraging picture for Ohio's economic and job growth and business competitiveness.

The following endorsements were made over the week:

• The gubernatorial campaign of Democrat Amy Acton announced the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

• The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee endorsed Cheryl Perez, Elizabeth Maier, Jill Cole, Jack Daniels, Vik Sanhu, Mark Campbell, Sue Grabowski, Matt Kishman, Kellie Deeter, Jesse Styles, Andrew Brenner, Brian Lampton, Larry Kidd, and Mark Hiner for Ohio House and Zac Haines for Ohio Senate.

• The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee endorsed for the upcoming Tuesday, May 5 primary the following candidates in contested primaries: Michael Cole, Eugene Miller, Mike Kahoe, Ed Schimmel, John Boccieri, Brian Lorenz, Jean Schmidt, Sean Hutson, Patti Rockey, Ben Weber, Gary Click, and Frank Hoagland for the Ohio House, and Beth Lear, Kent Smith, and Bill DeMora for the Ohio Senate.

• The Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio endorsed Larry Kidd for Ohio House District 93.

• The state representative campaign of Democrat Michaela Burris announced the endorsement of the Franklin County Public Defender Collective.

• The U.S. Senate campaign of Democrat Sherrod Brown announced the endorsement of the Greater Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades.

• The secretary of state campaign of Democrat Allison Russo announced the endorsement of numerous local and state elected women, including Reps. Anita Somani (D-Dublin), Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna), Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland), Christine Cockley (D-Columbus), Crystal Lett (D-Columbus), Desiree Tims (D-Dayton), Erika White (D-Toledo), Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus), Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus), Michele Grim (D-Toledo), Meredith Lawson-Rowe (D-Reynoldsburg) and Veronica Sims (D-Akron) and Sen. Beth Liston (D-Dublin).

• The Buckeye Firearms Association endorsed Jon Husted for U.S. Senate; Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Warren Davidson, Josh Williams, Troy Balderson, and Mike Carey for Congress; Keith Faber for attorney general; Robert Sprague for secretary of state; Kristina Roegner for state treasurer; Frank LaRose for state auditor; Jim Hoops, Michele Reynolds, Phil Plummer, Shane Wilkin, Beth Lear, Steve Demetriou, Jane Timken, Al Landis, and Al Cutrona for Ohio Senate; Brian Stewart, Mike Dovilla, Tom Young, Thomas Hall, Christina Hagan, Matthew Kishman, Jodi Salvo, Nathan Manning, Kellie Deeter, Michelle Teska, Adam Mathews, Tex Fischer, Brian Lorenz, Andrew Brenner, Jean Schmidt, Adam Bird, Nick Santucci, David Thoms, Thad Claggett, Kevin Miller, Brian Lampton, Levi Dean, Heidi Workman, Bernard Willis, Haraz Ghanbari, Marilyn John, Meredith Craig, Matt Huffman, Monica Robb Blasdel, Patti Rockey, Roy Klopfenstein, Ty Mathews, Angie King, Tim Barhorst, Gary Click, DJ Swearingen, Bob Peterson, Mark Johnson, Jason Stephens, Kevin Ritter, Frank Hoagland, Adam Holmes, Mark Hiner, and Sarah Fowler Arthur for Ohio House of Representatives; and Andrew King and Dan Hawkins for Ohio Supreme Court.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

The Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) has lodged a protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) against American Electric Power (AEP) and FirstEnergy's new plan to build $1.1 billion in Ohio transmission infrastructure and shift as much as 60 percent of the cost to "all Ohio consumers" -- load growth driven primarily by projected data centers and artificial intelligence (AI), states OCC.

Acknowledging there has been a hung jury in the Summit County trial of former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and Senior Vice President of External Affairs Michael Dowling, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Tuesday the state "can and will" retry the two and "justice needs to be done."

The Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) and American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio parted ways Wednesday over whether the company's 33 percent, $320 million-plus increase in operating revenues is actually a rate hike or a rate decrease when separating out hundreds of millions of dollars in former billing "riders" added to customer distribution charges in a new rate plan approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

The DeWine administration is proposing a $300 million buildout of transmission infrastructure in Ohio to maintain electric reliability for all customers while serving the state's growing artificial intelligence (AI) and heavy manufacturing industries. State regulators are asking the Trump administration for half of that, or $150 million, to "quickly and affordably" adopt advanced transmission technologies (ATT) supported by companies including LineVision, Smart Wires and TS Conductor. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has currently authorized $1.9 billion for the program entitled SPARK, or "Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades," for grid innovation and resilience "while reducing costs for American households and businesses," according to the department's Office of Electricity.

ENVIRONMENT

While previous research has shown that bird populations are declining across North America, a new study is the first to show that the pace of loss has picked up speed since the mid-1980s in three regions: the Midwest, California and MidAtlantic states. After these hotspots of accelerated bird decline were revealed, researchers looked for factors that could explain the difference in the rates of decline including climate measures and human activity-related data. A top predictor of where the accelerated loss occurred became clear according to the report: overlapping with locations of agriculture intensity as indicated by the extent of cropland and the use of fertilizer and pesticides.

The Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) recently approved $10.2 Million in low interest loans for 10 projects across the state to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. On Thursday, March 26, projects received OWDA Board approval for funding through the Fresh Water Loan Fund Program to improve or replace aging infrastructure and treatment systems.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Following criticism after Gov. Mike DeWine's "State of the State" address that the state of Ohio and its Legislature have not done enough in the past 20 years to ease affordability issues for Ohioans, House Democrats on Monday unveiled a slate of bills addressing those issues on topics including health care, housing, child care, consumer goods and energy. Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna) said Ohio ranks unfavorably among U.S. states for affordability and issues related to affordability with the state's relatively high poverty rate and 500,000 children going hungry each day due to Republican trifecta control of state government doubling down both on bills to benefit those at the top economically and on culture war issues.

Legislators from both parties and both chambers of the General Assembly joined advocates at the Statehouse on Wednesday to mark April as Second Chance Month, a time to raise awareness of the obstacles faced by those with a criminal record and how to unlock the opportunities for those individuals to succeed, and to discuss the ways lawmakers are working towards those ends. Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC) CEO Gabe Davis said second chances are not just about fairness, but they're also about who we are as Ohioans. Davis said Ohio has been a leader in offering second chances to people who have paid their debt to society, but too many Ohioans are still locked out of jobs and opportunities to tend to their families and help build safer communities.

GOVERNOR

The governor signed the following bills:

• HB229 (Deeter), regarding licensure for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)

• HB730 (Stewart), the capital reappropriations bill

• SB244 (Roegner-Timken), designating Aug. 26 as “Abbey Gate Remembrance Day”

HANNAH NEWS RACES TO WATCH

Candidates Ryan Rivers and Rep. Beth Lear (R-Galena), currently serving Ohio's 61st House District, are vying in the 19th Senate District Republican primary for the seat held by term-limited Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware). The district, which includes all of Delaware, Knox, Holmes and Coshocton counties, leans Republican, with a 62 percent Republican political index, and a 37.2 percent Democrat political index, according to recent demographic data compiled by Dave's Redistricting App.

Candidates Edward Schimmel and John W. Rozic are running in the Republican primary for the 44th House District seat being vacated by Rep. Josh Williams (R-Oregon), who is running in the Republican primary for the 9th Congressional District. The district is located mostly in Lucas County and parts of Ottawa County and includes the following: Waterville, Whitehouse, Sylvania, Monclova Township, Waterville Township, Northwood, Rossford, Genoa and Curtice.

A long-time Columbus attorney and author will take on a former lawmaker who has made prosecuting President Donald Trump a part of his campaign platform in the Democratic primary for attorney general as the party seeks to break a 16-year Republican hold on the office. John Kulewicz, an attorney who spent 44 years with Columbus-based law firm Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, comes into the primary with endorsements including the Ohio Democratic Party's Executive Committee and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. He takes on Elliot Forhan, an outspoken former Ohio lawmaker who spent one term in the Ohio House of Representatives before losing in a primary for re-election.

With term-limited Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) running for the Ohio Senate in 2026, the 39th House District's next representative will either be an ambitious young Democrat who already has experience around the Statehouse or one of two experienced local leaders from the district. Democrat Daquan Neal is only two years removed from his graduation from Central State University, but he has already served in the Statehouse as an intern for Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House. Neal currently works with a program that certifies teen technicians in car repair, and he has worked with separate programs on anti-bullying and multicultural education. Facing Neal in the district's Democratic primary, Mike Stevens recently finished two terms as Clayton mayor, as he didn't seek re-election in 2025. Prior to serving as mayor, Stevens was on Clayton City Council, where he served as vice chair of the city's planning commission. Running unopposed in the 39th District's Republican primary is Mark Campbell, who has served on Huber Heights City Council since 1988.

Candidates Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, Michaela Burriss and Zach Rossfeld are in the Democratic primary, running to secure the 7th House District seat currently held by Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), who is running for secretary of state. The district is located in Franklin County and encompasses Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights with parts of Clintonville and Columbus. The district leans heavily Democratic with a Democratic political index of 69 percent and a Republican political index of 30 percent according to 2022 demographic data compiled by Dave's Redistricting App.

HIGHER EDUCATION

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched a civil rights compliance investigation into the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine's admissions policy, according to a letter sent last week to the university by DOJ. The letter, dated Wednesday, March 25 and signed by Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, states the investigation "will focus on possible race discrimination in medical school admissions."

Amid ongoing negotiations to annex Central State University (CSU), the city of Xenia agreed during its council meeting last week to extend water services to the university through the end of its academic year, given the city's previous temporary agreement with the university was set to expire the first week of April, according to media reports.

JUDICIAL

In its next "Off-Site" docket, the Supreme Court of Ohio will travel to Carroll County to hold oral arguments on Wednesday, April 15. The visit from the seven justices is part of the Supreme Court's traveling civic education program for high school students. The Court session will be held at Carrollton High School before students from four high schools. More than 900 students are expected to attend.

"Talk therapy" techniques aimed at helping a person to change their sexual orientation or gender identity cannot be prohibited under a state conversion therapy ban like one in Colorado, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. Ohio does not have a statewide conversion therapy ban, although legislators have introduced proposals to institute one, and some local governments have adopted bans.

"[J]ust as the General Assembly passes bills that reflect the will of Ohioans, the Columbus City Council passes ordinances that reflect the will of Columbus citizens." Quoting the Ohio Constitution, a 5-2 majority of the Ohio Supreme Court added Wednesday that "[a]ll political power is inherent in the people," a sovereignty exercised through duly elected legislators at both the state and local level. For that reason, writes Justice Daniel Hawkins, a Delaware County Common Pleas judge's 2023 preliminary injunction against Columbus' gun magazine and safe storage ordinances is a final, appealable order, which the Fifth Appellate District is obligated to hear.

In a blow to the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel and Board of Professional Conduct, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down Rule 4.1(A)(3) of the Code of Judicial Conduct as a First Amendment violation Thursday and held former Judge John W. Rudduck, a 39-year member of the Clinton County Common Pleas Court, had not breached Rule 1.2 for the same reason or Rule 1.3 by endorsing his son's past run for municipal court on Facebook, dismissing the ethics complaint.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) voted Friday to approve all but one of the items on its agenda, as nomination item 26-DOT-0001 had not received approval required from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHA) due to its proximity to I-70. EOG Resources, Inc. was the sole bidder for nomination items 24-DNR-0010, covering 3.644 acres at Valley Run Wildlife Area in Harrison Twp. (Carroll County); and 24-DOT-0013, covering 0.699 acres in Monroe Twp. (Harrison County) with a possible right-of-way along SR 151.

A proposed change to the name of an Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) property to Trump Wildlife Preserve will not result in any changes to the area's signage or references within the department. The proposed change submitted by ODNR to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) would change the name of the Charles O. Trump Wildlife Area in Pickaway County to Trump Wildlife Preserve on ODNR's list of areas in the state that are owned, administered or controlled by the Division of Wildlife as a public hunting area.

The ranks of Ohio's outdoor professionals were boosted recently as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently commissioned nine new natural resources officers (NROs) upon their graduation from the 10th NRO Training Academy. In addition, the department's law enforcement unit became the first in the country to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Officers graduating from the NRO Training Academy protect Ohio's state parks, forests and nature preserves as commissioned peace officers trained to respond to emergencies, including search and rescue operations, natural disasters and flooding events. Officers also educate visitors about conservation and boating safety.

OHIO HISTORY

The America-250 Ohio celebration will take a closer look at the state's place in early American history with two separate events at the Statehouse in April. Visitors and history enthusiasts are invited to an American Revolutionary War encampment on the West Plaza and North grounds of the Ohio Statehouse from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 for an opportunity to step back in time and experience the sights, sounds and tastes of a late 18th century military camp through music, historical reenactors and authentic demonstrations.

PENSIONS

The Ohio Public Pension Coalition, a group of Ohio labor groups and affiliate of the National Public Pension Coalition, announced that three additional unions have joined the six original unions in the group. The Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors (Ohio AAUP), SEIU District 1199 and the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (OPBA) are now part of the coalition. They join the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), Ohio Education Association (OEA), Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio (FOP), AFSCME Ohio Council 8, Ohio Association of Public School Employees, as well as the Ohio AFL-CIO and the national coalition.

PEOPLE

The funeral for former state Rep. Helen Rankin, the first African American woman to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives, will be held on Friday, April 10, at 12 p.m. at the New Vision United Methodist Church in Cincinnati. Rankin died on Sunday, March 22, at 89 years old. Visitation hours will be on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The funeral for former state Sen. Larry Mumper will be held Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Marion. Mumper died on Saturday, March 21 at the age of 88. Visitation hours will be held on Friday, April 10, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church.

POLITICS

The Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) announced on March 30 that it has brought on Cade Leebron as executive director ahead of the general elections, Marisa Nahem as communications director to lead communication efforts and Jeremy Blake as political director to lead the political department.

POLLS/STUDIES

Poll results released Monday by Quinnipiac University (QU) found Americans have substantial concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including how it will affect education and the workforce as well as its use by businesses and the level of government regulation. Nearly two-thirds of respondents were opposed to construction of an AI data center in their community, while 24 percent said they would support that. Asked why they opposed it, 72 percent cited electricity costs; 64 percent, water use; and 41 percent, noise. Among supporters, 77 percent said they favored new construction for job creation; 53 percent, increasing tax revenue; and 47 percent, the potential to become a tech hub.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Gov. Mike DeWine, joined by Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Supt. Col. Charles Jones, expressed hope the Legislature would move forward with making seat belt violations a primary offense in Ohio while speaking with reporters Friday following the fourth annual "State of the Patrol" address at the OSHP Academy. DeWine didn't comment on a specific legislative strategy behind the effort but said with confidence the state would "save more lives" if a primary seat belt law were to be enacted -- an outcome he said would be like that seen of Ohio's distracted driving law.

Cuyahoga County is again the big winner in the DeWine administration's latest drug mitigation awards, drawing more than a half million dollars from the governor's Ohio Drug Law Enforcement and RecoveryOhio Law Enforcement funds. The administration has announced nearly $5 million in grants for drug prevention, recovery and interdiction in various counties.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

The Columbus Metropolitan Club's forum Wednesday featured Angus Fletcher, professor in Ohio State University's Department of English and Story Science and author of "Primal Intelligence," discussing the ways human intelligence is responding to technology developments including artificial intelligence (AI). The forum was moderated by RTRX Managing Director Suraj Hinduja. In opening comments, Columbus Metropolitan Club President and CEO Sophia Fifner questioned what makes people "irreplaceably human" in a world "dominated by algorithms and automation" and said Fletcher found that reflects imagination, intuition and emotional resilience.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Tuesday launched the 2026 construction season, which will include 977 new projects valued at a record-breaking $3.4 billion. ODOT said 739 bridges and approximately 4,562 miles of roadway, equivalent to driving from Columbus to San Diego, CA, and back, are set to be improved. There are 36 major projects with a value of over $10 million. Eighty cents of every dollar invested this year will go directly to preservation of existing roads and bridges, the agency said.

VETERANS

The Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) hosted a forum Wednesday with journalist Wil Haygood, author of The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home, focused on that theme. It was moderated by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Algenon Marbley and dedicated to honoring all Vietnam War veterans. Opening the forum at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, CMC President and CEO Sophia Fifner said it was meant to "unpack the untold stories of Black Americans who fought for freedom abroad while demanding equality at home during the Vietnam War."

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors announced Friday that Congress is weighing the state's employer insurance system as a possible model for federal workers' compensation reforms. BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud delivered invited testimony to the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce's Workforce Protection Subcommittee last week as part of a panel of four who addressed the topic, "Strengthening Federal Workers' Compensation Programs: Ensuring Integrity, Efficiency and Access."

[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2026 Hannah News Service, Inc.]