The early absentee voting period for the May primary is underway, and in this podcast, Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles tells you what's on the ballot. Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to talk about everything voters need to know before they cast ballots. Also, we remember Helen Rankin, the first African American woman to serve in the Ohio House. She was laid to rest last week.

A group that wants to give Ohio voters a chance to ban large data centers is one step closer to that goal after getting the green light from the Ohio Ballot Board. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains. Later, she's joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler to talk about the latest news coming from the state legislature and statewide politics. It's all this week in the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

Democrats in the Ohio House have introduced bills that they think will lower energy costs for Ohioans. In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks about the ideas Democrats are floating....and whether majority Republicans in the Ohio Legislature will sink them. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to talk about bills passed last week, including some controversial ones limiting abortion and drag shows. And the Ohio Statehouse will soon have its first monument dedicated to women. We'll tell you more about that and have a conversation with the Executive Director of the Ohio League of Women Voters, Jen Miller, about where women in the Buckeye State stand on equal rights. You'll find it all this week in the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

It's that time of year when the deadliest tornadoes have happened in Ohio. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles takes a look at what's being done to protect Ohioans, including those who are the most at risk. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about the latest news coming from the Ohio Statehouse last week.

Gov. Mike DeWine will leave office at the end of this year, and last week he made one final pitch for his policies in his “State of the State” speech. Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles explains. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about DeWine’s speech and other big news from the Ohio Statehouse last week.

Also, did you know there’s a strong link between fast food and Ohio’s economy? Jeff Chamness of McDonald’s explains the economic impact the fast-food giant has on the state’s bottom line. You’ll find all of this and more on this week’s Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

This week on the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks to Reps Gayle Manning (R-Avon) and Mike Odioso (R-Green Township), as well as Policy Matters Ohio's Ali Smith, about a bill that would provide basic data about K-12 schools that accept publicly-funded vouchers. Jo also has the latest data from the 2025 Ohio Abortion Report. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson weigh in on other legislation at the Ohio Statehouse, including a debate over money assessed to data centers in Ohio. Plus we have details about that bill new that could provide Ohioans with discounts to their favorite statewide attractions. Find all of this and more in this episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled some tariffs that have been illegally collected during the past year, what happens to that money? In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles tackles that question. U.S. Sen Jon Husted says businesses that paid those tariffs should get that money, but the man who wants to replace him, former U.S. Sen Sherrod Brown, says those dollars should go back to Ohioans in the form of $1300 rebates. Later in the podcast, Ohio Public Media Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about what is making headlines at the Statehouse. Finally, Jo talks with State Sen. Bill Blessing about his bill that could pave the way for human composting in Ohio. It's all this week in the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

One of Ohio's wealthiest men found himself amid a firestorm last week after the release of FBI files on the case against the late accused child trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles explains how Ohio lawmakers are reacting to the news that billionaire Les Wexner was named as a co-conspirator in the Epstein files. She also talks with Ohio State University Political Scientist Emeritus Paul Beck about how this controversy could play out politically. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson talk about how state leaders are responding to the Wexner situation at the Ohio Statehouse. It's all this week on the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

Ohio is taking a unique action to make it safer for work crews on the state's highways. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks with Matt Bruning at the Ohio Department of Transportation about a new pilot project involving crash trucks that are designed to protect work crews from errant drivers. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss the latest in political campaigns and legislation under consideration at the Statehouse, including an update on the effort to halt a new state law that goes into effect and regulates intoxicating hemp and THC products.

This week on the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, we take a look at artificial intelligence. Host Jo Ingles runs down some legislation affecting A.I. that's being considered at the Ohio Statehouse. Two political strategists (Scott Schweitzer of the Strategy Group and Dennis Williard with Precision New Media) join Jo to talk about the role A.I. is playing in political campaigns. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson talk about how reporters are using A.I. It's all this week in the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.