The Ohio Statehouse Scoop

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.

Ohioans dealt with a big snowstorm last week but it was actions by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) that had many hot under the collar, prompting a new wave of protest music in Ohio and elsewhere. In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles has the latest on how state lawmakers are dealing with immigration. Gubernatorial candidates weigh in on healthcare issues. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about what's happening this week in Ohio. And three of Ohio's best protest songwriters (Bill Cohen, T.C. Brown, and Eric Gnezda) talk about the role protest music is playing right now as political unrest prompts regular demonstrations at the Ohio Statehouse and elsewhere.

You can watch/hear more from Brown, Cohen, and Gnezda about protest music at: https://youtu.be/JJXvORxYdtA?si=PjI5s_D1csHF8jQb

Ohioans are dealing with winter weather, but that's not all. In this episode of The Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles reports that Ohioans are also struggling to afford health care coverage, pay their taxes, and make ends meet. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler join Jo to talk about what's happening with political campaigns and what's likely to happen soon in the state legislature.

Childcares that accept government money for their services have been under a lot of scrutiny lately since news of childcare fraud in Minnesota starting making headlines about a month ago. Now, as Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports, there are two bills in the state legislature to make it easier to detect and prevent fraud in the system. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about other stories making news last week.

Happy 2026! The Ohio Statehouse Scoop is back after a holiday hiatus. Ohio's Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton named their choices for lieutenant governor last week. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports on why GOP Senate President Rob McColley and former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper were chosen to be on the ticket. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson discuss the dynamics behind those decisions. We will also have the scoop on what Ohio will be doing this year to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday, and you'll hear a little bit of the song written and performed by 90-year-old retired teacher, Sylvia Miller, to celebrate the kickoff.