For more than 200 years, Chillicothe has been home to a paper plant that now employs nearly 1000 residents. But last week, after the company that owns the plant announced it would close, the future of that plant appeared as murky as the steam that comes out of its signature red and white chimney. But state leaders brought locals some good news on Good Friday. The paper plant would stay open,at least until the end of the year. Host Jo Ingles has the details about the plant's future. Later, Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler join Jo to talk about other stories making the news last week, including an effort to repeal a controversial new law and a court decision that put another Ohio law on hold.

The Ohio House passed its version of the two-year operating budget last week. It is a partisan budget to be sure. All of the Democrats and five Republicans voted against it. In this episode of The Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles explains what makes this budget different than the one Gov. Mike DeWine proposed. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler join Jo to talk about the details of it and where it goes from here.

The GOP-dominated Ohio House unveiled its two-year operating budget plans last week, which are very different from the ones Republican Gov. Mike DeWine put forward earlier this year. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains some of the big changes. Later, Ohio Public Media Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss their takes on what the House wants to do....and the challenges that lie ahead for its plans.

The Columbus Metropolitan Club hosted a conversation with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine last week. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles got an opportunity to ask him questions about his State of the State speech, his budget, and issues affecting Ohioans. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to talk about major happenings on Capitol Square.

Ohio's income tax could be wiped out. What does that mean for Ohioans?

Ohio farmers have a lot to think about these days. The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's Ty Higgins joins Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles to discuss the challenges farmers face as they head into planting season. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler as they discuss the latest on marijuana changes, uncertainties for the CHIPS Act and its effect on the Intel project, possible Medicaid changes and more.

In this week's episode of The Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks to Ohio Office of Budget and Management Director Kimberly Murnieks about the unusual parts of the process. Later, Jo is joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson as they talk about the transportation budget that passed the Ohio House last week, an Ohio Senate-passed bill that changes the state's legal marijuana law and more.

Richard Cordray was Ohio's Treasurer and Attorney General before he served as the first director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Cordray, who also unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2018, talks to Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles about the current federal effort to gut the agency and shut it down. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss the progress of major legislation affecting marijuana and K-12 education. And they chat about how the race for governor will soon be more crowded.

Jim Tressel, one of the most well-known Ohioans, has been tapped to serve the next two years as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's lieutenant governor. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles has details on his announcement and confirmation. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about Tressel's new job as well as other things that happened at the Ohio Statehouse last week, including the Senate passage of a controversial bill to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DEI) programs at Ohio's state universities and an extension of state funding for the state's non-profit, job creation company, JobsOhio. Jo also tells us about the latest court ruling that has blocked one of Ohio's abortion laws. Catch all of that and more in this week's episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop.