On this week’s episode of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., we try to hit the highlights on a mix of national news affection the Buckeye state, and hyper local changes to hiring rules.

First, we look at a major change coming to leadership in the US Senate. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reacts to Mitch McConnell’s progressive retirement.

Then, we look at a new wage rule in Columbus where employers could get fined if they don’t play by the rules. Plus, we get a history lesson on the minimum wage and sub-minimum wage from One Fair Wage and Raise the Wage Ohio’s Mariah Ross, as she explains why she’s managing the campaign for Ohio’s proposed constitutional amendment to increase our state’s minimum wage to $15 across the board. We also hear from all four of Ohio’s Senate candidates on their takes on a minimum wage, and Mike talks with Cleveland.com political reporter Jeremy Pelzer about what he’s noticed from the candidates in that regard.

Jeremy also fills us in on his latest House Bill 6 FirstEnergy bribery scandal coverage, as former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder appeals his 20-year prison sentence for accepting $60 million in bribes from FirstEnergy in order to help pass legislation that would bail out two of its subsidiary’s failing nuclear power plants.

And before we go, we dive into what the Republican Senate primary candidates and current US Senator Sherrod Brown say about the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that declared embryos children even when created during IVF.

It’s a wild one, but we get through it together, leading up to Ohio’s primary election on March 19!

Check out the MIT living wage calculator that Mariah references in her conversation with Stephanie here: https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/39

Watch Ohio Has Issues on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/63ZAZnmqmWA?si=kmm38Z4kgqfhuy6Z