Week in Review February 3, 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.

AGING

A recent report by personal finance site WalletHub placed Ohio fifth nationally for states with the best protections against elder abuse, putting it first among neighbor states. Kentucky was second at eighth nationally, followed by West Virginia, ninth; Michigan, 13th; Pennsylvania, 27th; and Indiana, 31st. The top four states in the nation were Wisconsin, Virginia, Vermont and Massachusetts. The five ranked lowest were Delaware, Tennessee, California, South Carolina and South Dakota. States were grouped into three subrankings as well. Ohio was fourth nationally and first among neighbors in protection, 15th nationally and first among neighbors in resources, and 32nd nationally and last among neighbors in prevalence of elder abuse.

AGRICULTURE

The Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds announced it has started event booking in its two new buildings slated for completion in July 2026. The buildings will add more than 230,000 square feet of event space to the property and is part of the $460 million in improvements made at the fairgrounds. The Ohio Agriculture Center, the first of the two new buildings, is "designed to accommodate a variety of events," featuring more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space and 10 break out meeting rooms, according to the expo center. The new Ohio Showcase Building includes a food hall, three private event spaces and a dining court. It also features a permanent exhibit telling Ohio's story in tandem with the Ohio History Connection.

ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

When hundreds of the United States' best winter sports athletes convene around Milan, Italy next month to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics, athletes either from Ohio or with Ohio ties will be very well represented. From 15-year-old free-skier Abby Winterberger from California to 54-year-old curler Rich Ruohonen from Minnesota, the U.S. Olympic delegation will total 117 men and 117 women. Ohio ranks among the states sending the most athletes to represent the U.S. with seven Ohio natives to compete.

AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

The National Packard Museum has said it plans to expand its facilities to store historic vehicles they cannot display in their gallery due to limited space. The project is also set to include an auto-repair shop where volunteer mechanics can fix historic cars, according to the museum's executive director, Mary Ann Porinchak. The museum, located in Warren, OH, houses a rotating display of original and restored Packard automobiles along with original documents, photographs and artifacts telling the history of the Packard family, Packard Motor Car Company and Packard Electric Company.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) announced Nichole Moore as CEO of Summit Behavioral Healthcare (SBH). She had been serving as the acting CEO of the hospital since September. DBH said Moore is "an accomplished behavioral health executive committed to expanding access, equity, and innovation in mental health care. With more than 15 years of leadership experience, she is recognized for driving transformation, fostering collaboration, and improving patient outcomes. Her background includes executive roles in hospital administration and human resources, where she has led organizations through growth, compliance, and quality initiatives."

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

Ohio ranked 32nd in the nation among the best states to start a business, according to a recent report by personal finance website WalletHub, placing it fourth among neighbor states. Indiana led at eighth nationally, followed by Kentucky, 19th; Michigan, 30th; West Virginia, 44th; and Pennsylvania, 45th. The top five states were Florida, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Idaho. The five lowest were New Jersey, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland and Rhode Island. States were also ranked on three subcategories with Ohio placing 19th nationally and fifth among neighbors in business costs; 33rd nationally and second among neighbors in business environment; and 36th nationally and fifth among neighbors in access to resources.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

The Ohio Department of Development announced Tuesday that applications are now being accepted for the New Markets Tax Credit Program, which helps Community Development Entities (CDEs) incentivize and attract private investment in economically distressed communities. This is the 15th round of the program, and up to $10 million in tax credits are available. Applications must be received by 4 p.m. on Monday, March 9, and awards will be announced in April. Eligibility is open to CDEs serving Ohio that can prove their award or anticipated award of a federal new market tax credit. Investors will provide cash to a CDE in exchange for a tax credit -- 39 percent of their investment, claimed over seven years -- and CDEs will invest that money into projects helping low-income communities. For more information on the program, email OhioNewMarkets@development.ohio.gov.

ECONOMY

Calling 2025 "interesting," economist Mason Pierce said 2026 is expected to see robust growth in the economy led by consumers, while Ohio Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Kimberly Murnieks said the state is in great shape to weather any potential storms on the horizon. Speaking at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's annual economic forecast event, Pierce, the head of economics at Owens Corning, said 2025 had stronger growth than had been anticipated, and 2026 is expected to continue that growth -- putting his prediction in the 2 to 2.5 percent range and adding he expected it to be on the higher end. "Not too hot, not too cold," he added.

Ohio's unemployment rate held steady in December 2025 from the month before, coming in at 4.5 percent in both months, according to data reported Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Nonagricultural wages and employment ticked up 3,500 in December from November, leaving the state's revised total of jobs for December at 5,708,900. The number of unemployed workers in Ohio in December was 265,000. That figure is down from 270,000 the month prior, and ODJFS reports the number of unemployed has remained unchanged in the past 12 months. Ohio's total came in slightly above the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.4 percent in December.

EDUCATION

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has withdrawn its appeal of a Maryland U.S. District Court ruling that blocked enforcement of administration policies against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in schools. In February 2025, USDOE's Office of Civil Rights issued a "Dear Colleague" Letter to educational institutions receiving federal funds to notify them of its interpretation of how federal law treats programs and policies that consider race in hiring, admissions, training and other areas. The coalition argued in court filings that the USDOE letter "radically upends and re-writes well-established law." In August 2025, the Maryland court ruled that the federal government failed to follow proper procedures in attempting to institute its policies. Last week, the parties signed a joint dismissal of the appeal of the Maryland ruling to the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

With many Ohio school districts cancelling classes this week amid the major snowfall and severe cold temperatures, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) issued a reminder about the rules on how much missed class time schools can supplant with online instruction. Starting with the 2024-2025 academic year, schools were required to file an online makeup hours plan with DEW by Aug. 1 of each year. The plans allow schools to make up class hours equivalent to no more than three school days through online instructional delivery when school closings happen for reasons like weather, disease, public safety emergencies, bus breakdowns, power outages or building safety.

Interest by private schools in securing a state charter -- a prerequisite to accepting EdChoice scholarships -- remains at the higher level seen since expansion of the voucher program, according to data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). DEW opens an application window in November and December every year for private schools interested in getting a state charter. In the recently concluded 2025 application window, 71 schools submitted applications compared to 78 schools that submitted applications in 2024. In 2023, 60 schools applied.

ELECTIONS 2026

Former Rep. Christina Hagan, who served in the House from 2011-2018, has pulled petitions to run for the 48th House District, according to the Stark County Board of Elections. The seat is currently held by term-limited Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton). Hagan most recently served as the chair of the Ohio Elections Commission before lawmakers abolished the panel and replaced it with a new Ohio Election Integrity Commission housed within the Ohio Secretary of State's office. She also previously had unsuccessful runs for Congress in 2018 and 2020.

Former U.S. Rep. and state legislator John Boccieri said he will run for the 58th House District this year, an open seat after Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) decided to run for Mahoning County commissioner rather than re-election. Boccieri told the Youngstown Vindicator that events in Minneapolis over the weekend that led to the death of Alex Pretti, led to his decision to run. He had previously decided he would not run for the seat. Boccieri was elected to the Ohio House in 2000, serving three terms before running and winning an Ohio Senate seat in 2006. He was elected to Congress in 2008 but lost re-election in 2010. He returned to the Ohio House in 2015, but lost a bid for the Ohio Senate in 2018.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Tim Grady announced his Ohio agricultural proposal Wednesday, saying it comes under the assumption that electric vehicles will soon eliminate the ethanol industry and wipe out a third of U.S. corn demand. He said his plan has three primary approaches: agricultural diversification, alternative land use, and state-backed reforestation.

The following endorsements were made over the week:

• The campaign of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) announced the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers.

• Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio (ABC of Ohio) endorsed Wezlynn Davis for Ohio House District 86.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

Ohio's 13-state electric grid monitor warns that even lower temperatures and record energy demands heading into the weekend will force emergency deployment of backup generation cleared this week by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to avoid deadly blackouts that left nearly 250 dead and millions without heat and power in Texas and neighboring regions in a 2021 cold snap. PJM Interconnection says its Western Region encompassing Ohio and parts of neighboring states is especially vulnerable due to sub-zero temperatures forecast through Saturday. Jan. 31. They are expected to hit double-digit lows of -10 degrees in the overnight hours tonight, driving power consumption to a projected weekly high around 145,000 megawatts (MW) Friday morning as homes warm and Ohioans prepare for work and school.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a letter to the regional transmission organizations (RTO) including PJM that he would order backup coal generators to run this week "to save American lives and avoid billions of dollars in economic devastation."

The Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) had used the occasion of the storm and the cold weather alert issued by regional transmission organization PJM to emphasize the importance of reliability in electric grid operations, saying predictable stresses like the weekend storm should be part of grid planning. "Cold weather is not a surprise. Winter happens every year," said Ryan Augsburger, president of OMA. "If reliability is the justification for higher costs, that promise must hold when conditions are toughest. Anything less is a failure of performance and accountability."

Interviews for the current expiring seat on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) by the PUCO Nominating Council shed a 10-time applicant Wednesday and advanced current Republican Commissioner Dennis Deters' as top vote-getter among four names submitted to the governor. Others include former state Sen. Sandra Williams, former Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown -- both Democrats -- and former corporate vice president and Darke County Commissioner Lawrence Holmes, a Republican. On receipt of the nominations, the governor has 30 days either to appoint a commissioner from the list or to request a new group of four names from the Nominating Council. His final selection requires Ohio Senate confirmation. The PUCO term commences Saturday, April 11.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

The Ohio Senate Monday cancelled scheduled committee hearings for the week and its voting session set for Wednesday after the weekend snowstorm, as below-freezing temperatures continued through the week. The House's committee hearings are not slated to resume until the week of Feb. 2. In addition, the Ohio Statehouse and Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center closed Monday and Ohio State University (OSU) cancelled Monday and Tuesday in-person classes at its Columbus campus.

An ethics complaint filed recently with the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (JLEC) by a coalition of environmental groups in Southeastern Ohio claims that Sen. Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) used the influence of his office to seek personal benefit via state contracts to plug orphan wells in the area. The complaint centers on Chavez's role in the legislative process of SB219 (Landis), which changes state law governing oil and gas wells. Chavez co-sponsored the bill and currently serves as chair of the Senate Energy Committee through which the bill initially progressed. Asked for comment on the complaint, John Fortney, spokesperson for the Senate Republican Caucus, told Hannah News, "This is nothing more than a fabricated publicity stunt backed by out-of-state special interests that want to kill the oil and gas industry in Ohio. Their work of fiction used the words ignorant and dishonest; they should look in the mirror." The full text of the complaint the coalition filed with JLEC can be seen HERE.

The Capitol Square Foundation (CSF) will welcome CBS Sunday Morning's Jane Pauley to speak as part of its "Capitol Conversation" series, an annual lecture with a "prominent national speaker" aiming to foster public awareness regarding the "critical role our citizenry plays in our government." This "Conversation with Jane Pauley," will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. Individual tickets for the dinner run $150/person. To purchase tickets for the Pauley event, go HERE.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Ohio is among the top five states for decreased enrollment in the individual health insurance marketplace, according to KFF data that compared the 2025 and 2026 open enrollment periods. Ohio is fourth-highest for total decrease, at 105,818, and second-highest by percentage with an 18.6 percent decrease. Ohio's total figures dropped from 568,904 in the 2025 period to 463,086 for this year. It had the highest total and percentage decreases for neighbor states. The U.S. as a whole decreased by 3.53 percent, representing a decline of 833,810 enrollees. It went from 23.61 million individuals in 2025 to 22.77 million in 2026.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Wittenberg University (WU) recently announced Michael DeWees, senior director of finance and business services and interim chief financial officer at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), as the university's new vice president for finance and administration, effective Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. DeWees steps into the role following the university's accreditation status change to "on probation" this past year due to ongoing financial concerns cited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) unveiled its new police substation located on 11th Avenue east of High Street. According to Ohio State, the space will work as a hub for both OSUPD and the Columbus Division of Police (CPD) officers working in the university district neighborhood as part of OSU's joint patrol program.

Ohio placed 19th nationally in a report issued late last year measuring the "best states for college students" released by tech company SmileHub, putting it second among neighboring states. Pennsylvania ranked ninth overall, followed by Michigan, 23rd; Indiana, 24th; Kentucky, 39th; and West Virginia, 50th. The top five states were Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Rhode Island and California. The five lowest were Mississippi, Arkansas, Alaska, Montana and West Virginia. States were also ranked by three subcategories, with Ohio 13th nationally and first among neighbors for economic environment; 18th nationally and second to Pennsylvania in education quality and support; and 30th nationally and third behind Pennsylvania and Michigan in "social life" ranking.

Monica Posey, president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC), has announced her plans to retire, effective Aug. 31, 2026. Her departure will conclude a 34-year career with the institution, with the last 10 of those as the college's president. In a statement, the college commended Posey's leadership, noting her influence on the school's growing enrollment and her resilience in leading the college through the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to serving as the college's sixth president, Posey served as the school's assistant dean, director of institutional research and provost.

Wright State University (WSU) has settled a lawsuit against its former research affiliate Wright State Applied Research Corporation (WSARC) after a several years-long legal battle. The WSU Office of General Counsel released an official statement on Jan. 13, saying the university would be receiving a $3 million payment from Parallax Advanced Research Corporation, formerly known as WSARC, resulting from a negotiated settlement recently approved by the Ohio Court of Claims bringing an end to the civil lawsuit filed by WSU in 2020. The university filed the lawsuit in response to an "independent decision" allegedly made by Parallax to split from the university, ultimately leading to a broader legal dispute, according to the statement.

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) released on Tuesday the first draft of the rubric it will use to grade and grant state tax credits to new low-income housing districts throughout the state in FY27. Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) are a state supplement to federal LIHTCs designed to create additional housing units that would not have otherwise been created with other financing between FY24-FY27. Ohio LIHTC allows owners of qualifying affordable rental projects to claim tax credits against certain state taxable liabilities over a 10-year credit period, and those credits are then exchanged by investors and syndicators for equity to help develop affordable rental housing throughout the state. OHFA's first draft of Ohio LIHTC FY27 guidelines can be seen HERE.

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) recently announced it was providing $21.6 million in funds to 29 communities, supporting projects that will improve housing and provide homeownership and rental assistance for low- and moderate-income families under the Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) program. The CHIP program grants are funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Programs.

IMMIGRATION

Reaction to the shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti during an altercation in Minneapolis on Saturday brought swift reaction from a number of Ohio officials. Among those issuing statements were former Gov. John Kasich, House and Senate minority leaders Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), U.S. Sen. Jon Husted and Auditor of State Keith Faber, among others.

JUDICIAL

The Ohio Supreme Court is marking National Stalking Awareness Month by directing members of the bar to a new educational series on stalking, strangulation and domestic violence at OhioCourtEDU. Updated courses including "Misuse of Technology in Domestic Violence and Stalking," "Non-fatal Strangulation/Suffocation: What Every Judge Should Know" and "The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Children & Families," among others, seek to equip judges, magistrates and other court professionals with online tools to address such cases. Stalking in Ohio, prepared by the Ohio Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), is available HERE. "Understanding Domestic Violence Firearms Prohibitions" can be found HERE.

The daughter of the late Ohio Supreme Court Justice James P. Celebrezze will serve one year of a two-year bar suspension for flouting state and local judicial rules and doling out financial perks to her boyfriend. Former Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze now faces an FBI investigation and separate felony record-tampering charges after resigning from the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court in December. The Supreme Court says Celebrezze, who served two six-year terms and five years of a third term on the bench, personally assigned or reassigned cases to herself as administrative judge rather than randomly assigning them to other jurists on the domestic relations court in compliance with the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio and county court rules.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

New legislation would streamline the process for large townships in Ohio to incorporate into cities or municipalities rather than be forced to be annexed into a neighboring city. Reps. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) said their HB592 addresses the challenges faced by large townships that have grown to function similarly to cities but lack the ability to incorporate due to restrictions currently in place. The bill decreases the population threshold related to the incorporation of unincorporated territory from 25,000 to 5,000, and eliminates the requirement for an area that is petitioning to incorporate as a municipal corporation to obtain approval from all existing cities and villages within three miles.

MARIJUANA/HEMP

Municipalities throughout Ohio that allowed recreational marijuana dispensaries within their localities following passage of Issue 2 in 2023 are now starting to see tax revenue from those dispensaries returned to local governments. On Jan. 7, 2026, the Ohio Department of Taxation (DOT) began distributing a total of nearly $36 million to local governments reflecting the adult use cannabis (AUC) excise taxes collected by dispensaries since they were allowed to open in 2024 following Issue 2's passage. More than 100 local governments in Ohio are now due AUC excise tax distributions, as the number of localities where dispensaries are located has increased since the first dispensaries opened in July 2024. The full list of localities that are due AUC tax revenue from Q1 FY25-Q2 FY26 can be found HERE.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reminds Ohioans to make safety their top priority when enjoying seasonal outdoor activities, especially around ice. From ice fishing and snowmobiling to hiking and winter boating, preparation and awareness can mean the difference between a memorable outing and a dangerous situation. "Ohio's winters create beautiful opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, but they also demand extra caution," said ODNR Director Mary Mertz. "Dressing properly, knowing the conditions and taking simple safety precautions can save lives."

More than 36 million fish were stocked by the ODNR Division of Wildlife in Ohio's public lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in 2025. Eleven different species of fish were stocked at 233 locations statewide. Annual fish stockings play a role in providing fishing for Ohio's 827,000 licensed anglers. The Division of Wildlife operates six state fish hatcheries that raise sport fish for stocking in Ohio waters, expanding fishing opportunities for anglers. Ohio's hatcheries raise saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, rainbow trout, steelhead trout, brown trout, muskellunge, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish and bluegill.

Nearly 700 acres of recreational land in Southeast Ohio are now permanently protected as part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) after the district finalized its acquisition of the Broughton Nature and Wildlife Area near Marietta. MWCD partnered with the Broughton family, who previously owned the Washington County land, and the Marietta Community Foundation to complete the purchase in December 2025 after it had originally been announced in the fall. The Broughton Nature and Wildlife Area was established in 1991 by the Broughton family and now features miles of multi-use trails, disc golf courses, picnic shelters and secluded habitats for wildlife.

While the statewide cold snap may have frozen over the rivers and lakes that normally draw Ohio's bald eagles, hundreds of citizen reports of bald eagle sightings in January continue to mark the eagle's dramatic comeback in the state. The ODNR Division of Wildlife tallied 391 separate reports from public reports of bald eagle sightings from Jan. 7-21, 2026, via the Wildlife Reporting System. January and February are prime months to view bald eagles in Ohio. That is the time of year when bald eagles begin to construct their nests in trees before courtship and egg laying, and those nests are more easily viewable in leafless winter trees. A Division of Wildlife nest count in 2025 found 964 active bald eagle nests spread among 87 of 88 Ohio counties. However, as bald eagles take to the air to survey their chosen nesting areas, the eagles can be spotted in every county in the state.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Advocates for Ohio's Future (AOF) recently announced its 2026 steering committee and leadership, with newly elected Co-Chair Danielle DeLeon Spires joining Co-Chair Charlotte Rudolph, who is returning as co-chair. Spires currently serves as policy advocate with the Ohio Poverty Law Center, while Rudolph is executive director of the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN-Ohio). AOF Executive Committee members include Teresa Lampl of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers as AOF Communications Committee chair; Darold Johnson of the Ohio Federation of Teachers as AOF Public Policy Committee chair; Joree Novotny of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks as AOF Finance and Development Committee chair; Nick Bates, Hunger Network in Ohio, as AOF Outreach Committee chair; Gina Wilt of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio; and Tara Britton of the Center for Community Solutions.

PEOPLE

The Wilds recently named Joe Greathouse, who previously served as director of wildlife ecology at the safari park and conservation center from 2012-2015, as its vice president, effective Monday, Jan. 26. The Wilds said Greathouse in his new role will help shape its "long-term direction, strengthening conservation outcomes and supporting experiences that inspire guests to connect with and protect wildlife, while advancing the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife."

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) announced Joel Lodge has joined the agency as assistant chief legal counsel and Irena Zorinets as a bond accountant. Prior to joining OHFA, Lodge worked at the Ohio Department of Medicaid for 13 years as a deputy legal counsel. He also has experience working as an attorney with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Zorinets, who joins OHFA's Office of Finance, has more than 28 years of experience in accounting. She has a bachelor's degree in finance and an economist qualification from Kyiv National University in Ukraine.

The Ohio Chemistry Technology Council (OCTC) announced that Andy Swaim has been appointed as president of the organization effective immediately. Swaim succeeds Jenn Klein, who left the post earlier this month to take the helm at the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA). He joined OCTC in 2020 as director of government and external affairs and was promoted to vice president in 2025.

POLITICS

Giving states authority to hold illegal immigrants accountable for traffic violations committed across state lines, prohibiting political subdivisions from using public funds to hire lobbyists, and establishing offenses of sexual extortion are among the model policies from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) states have adopted. ALEC said states have recently adopted 70 of its model policies, which it said were developed through collaboration between state legislators and policy experts and are designed to provide, practical, state-based solutions that reflect the organization's commitment to limited government, free markets and federalism.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Gov. Mike DeWine, ahead of Ohio’s week of record-setting snowfall and frigid temperatures, joined emergency management, public safety and transportation officials Friday afternoon to hammer a consistent message for what Ohioans should do this weekend while the state is buffeted by major snowfall and extreme cold: stay at home. He later urged Ohioans to "avoid unnecessary travel."

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reported that troopers have responded to over 2,700 incidents involving crashes, stranded motorists and other calls since Winter Storm Fern entered the state Saturday. "Although the statewide threat for heavy falling snow has passed, many roads are still slick," DeWine said. "If you need to travel, I encourage you to follow the advice of OSHP and bring a winter travel kit with you."

The DeWine administration encouraged Ohioans who wish to ride motorcycles "safely and responsibly" to begin registration Monday, Jan. 26 for operator training courses. The Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) says courses at 51 training sites in 36 counties begin as early as March and run through mid-November. Enrollment for Motorcycle Ohio classes is $75, with three levels of safety courses based on aspiring riders' skills and objectives: Basic Rider Skills (BRS); Returning Riders (BRS-RR); and Basic Rider Skills 2 (BRS-2).

The OSHP announced Thursday that it had interdicted nearly a 10th of all cocaine seized by troopers last year during a Jan. 23 traffic stop in Madison County. Troopers had pulled over an Arizona-registered 16-wheeler driven by a Mexican national for a commercial vehicle inspection on I-70 when drug-sniffing dogs alerted to the trailer. Inside they discovered 154 pounds of cocaine worth $6.3 million concealed in wooden cabinet cargo. The driver, Omar Gonzalez-Flores, 46, Ecatepec, Mexico, is now incarcerated at the Tri-County Regional Jail in Mechanicsburg and charged with major drug possession, a first-degree felony. In 2025, OSHP interdicted 1,607 pounds of cocaine on Ohio roads.

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Office of the Ohio Inspector General (OIG) announced Thursday it is referring an investigation to both the Ohio Auditor of State and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office after it concluded that a business owner submitted fraudulent documents to the Ohio Department of Development (DOD) to receive two TechCred grants totaling $50,000. The OIG said that in May 2025, DOD referred a complaint to the OIG office involving two companies run by Brittany Digravio. Digravio's companies, Goldenskai Talent Group (GTG) LTD and Pizza Bazaar (PB), both received grants through the Ohio TechCred program for $20,000 and $30,000, respectively. The initial complaint stated that after a review of both companies' wages by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, DOD discovered that both companies' employees were found to have no historical wage data as required by the TechCred program. Additionally, several of the submitted employees' Social Security numbers were for individuals who were dead.

TAXATION

Gov. Mike DeWine's administration announced the approval of assistance for six projects expected to create 348 new jobs and retain 243 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 $29.4 million in new payroll and spur over $56 million in investments across Ohio.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) recently announced a new round of Third Frontier grant funding is available as part of the Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF). The TVSF fund is meant to help innovators and entrepreneurs bring breakthrough technologies to the marketplace. The round will include both Phase 1 awards for Ohio research institutions and Phase 2 for startups and other new companies. Awards are focused on technology and tech-enabled products in fields such as advanced manufacturing, materials, biomedical and life sciences, energy, sensors, and software and information technology. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 and awards are expected to be announced in April. More information is available HERE.

DOD also recently announced awards under a previous TVSF round, providing nearly $1.8 million in total to support research and commercialization of technology in fields that include artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, life sciences, chemistry, and virtual reality training.

The University of Akron (UA) is set to become the location of a new facility supporting the Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC), a regional effort leveraging Akron's position in the industry to support research, product manufacturing and workforce development. The effort stems from Gov. Mike DeWine's Innovation Hub Program (IHP) which created three innovation hubs across the state. Akron's hub was launched in September 2024 and was the third to take off, following ones in Northwest Ohio and Dayton. The Polymer Industry Cluster Pilot Facility will be constructed adjacent to the National Polymer Innovation Center (NPIC) building on UA's campus.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

With a harsher winter combined with supply issues putting a hit in the salt supply of some communities, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission expressed confidence they will have enough for the season. According to media reports, multiple Northeast Ohio communities, including the city of Cleveland, are facing a shortage in their salt supplies. Ahead of last weekend's storms, the city of Cleveland put out a statement blaming its shortage on delayed deliveries from Cargill, the state-contracted supplier for Cuyahoga County. It said it placed salt orders in August, but a portion of that salt had not been delivered. Due to the shortage, the city said salt is being prioritized for main roads, hills, dangerous intersections, and areas near hospitals and schools.

ODOT recently highlighted a study from Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) that suggests Ohio drivers are less distracted when compared to the national average. According to CMT, which analyzed more than 189 million trips in 2025 using data from safe driving programs across Ohio, Ohio drivers tapped on their phones 7.2 percent less than the average U.S. driver. The data showed that during 2025, U.S. drivers averaged 23.6 phone taps per 100 miles, while Ohio drivers averaged 21.9.

WORKFORCE

Two weeks after he announced it, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel returned to Columbus' Grange Insurance building to promote the new WorkOhio initiative that connects job seekers to personalized support from regional experts. He has been discussing the initiative at events around the state given the regional component. The initiative was first announced at a Governor's Executive Workforce Board meeting at the Grange building. "Central Ohio is growing fast, and with that growth comes a tremendous amount of opportunity," Tressel said Thursday. "WorkOhio helps bring those opportunities within reach by connecting job seekers with experts from local organizations who understand the region's unique workforce needs. Our Central Ohio team will make it easier for people to begin a job search, take their next career step, and reach their full potential."

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