Ohio legislative leaders are considering the new two-year state budget in a conference committee right now. Those discussions are going on behind closed doors so reporters and the public are not privy to the debates themselves. But we are getting a glimpse of where those talks stand. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports on what we know right now. And Ohio Public Media Statehouse Bureau Chief Karen Kasler updates listeners on where legislative leaders stand as they go through the budgeting process. Under Ohio law, the new budget must be balanced and in place by June 30.

Ohio's Democratic Party has a new leader. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks with Kathleen Clyde about how she plans to win back voters who used to be Democrats. The Republican-dominated Ohio Senate has passed its version of the budget. Ohio Public Media's Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss the plan passed by senators. Plus, while President Donald Trump celebrated his birthday with a U.S. Army military parade in Washington, D.C., Ohioans protested in many cities throughout Ohio.

Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) has announced she'll step down at the end of this month. And this week, the Ohio Democratic Party will vote on who will serve as its chair after Liz Walters resigned last month. In this episode of the Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles reports on all of the changes ahead for Democrats. And she talks about the changes majority Republicans in the Ohio Senate have been making in the proposed two-year state budget. Listen for this and more in this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

The Ohio Senate is set to unveil its budget amendments this week. Many have been pushing for a last-minute change to provisions in the House-passed plan. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles looks at the changes being requested. Also, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services leader, Jon Honeck, talks about what will happen at local agencies if work requirements for Medicaid are implemented.

Many Ohioans are fed up with property taxes. State lawmakers are proposing plans to reduce property taxes, at least for some taxpayers. And there's a citizens' effort underway to put a ballot measure before voters that, if passed, would eliminate property taxes altogether. In this episode of The Ohio Statehouse Scoop, Host Jo Ingles talks with Howard Fleeter, an economist and property tax analyst about the impact the elimination or reduction of property taxes might have on citizens in the Buckeye State.

After months in the GOP gubernatorial primary fight, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost suspended his campaign for governor Friday. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles has details about that. She also explains the game plan being used by backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler joins Jo to talk about other stories making news in the political arena last week. And we have details about a new bill to require OSU Football games to be played at night, under the lights. Networks would face penalties for scheduling big games during the day.

The Ohio Democratic Party will have a new leader soon after its current leader stepped down last week. Host Jo Ingles explores who might be the new party chair and the work ahead for them. She also has the latest on key endorsements two key Republican candidates received last week. Later, Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler join Jo to talk about the latest news at the Ohio Statehouse. And we leave you with a wild story from last week involving a pet raccoon.

About 1,500 teachers and school librarians from around the state converged on Capitol Square last week, ready to educate lawmakers on the need for more money for public schools in the upcoming state budget. But many of the legislators had been dismissed as state employees at the Statehouse, and many surrounding businesses were sent home early in the afternoon. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks with the protestors about their concerns. Later, Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler join Jo to discuss a new energy bill that's headed for Governor DeWine's desk, a new effort to put a ballot measure before voters, and, of course, funding for a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns. Later, we say goodbye as one of Ohio Public Media's team members, Ron Corby, retires and hangs up his headphones for the last time.

This week is the last full week before the May primary in Ohio and at this point, less than 80,000 of Ohio's eight million registered voters have returned an early ballot. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Jo Ingles has details of what's on the statewide ballot. Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about the latest on the state budget process, the effort underway to repeal Ohio's new law that bans diversity, equity and inclusion at the state's universities, and the latest news about Intel, the company that's supposed to build huge chip manufacturing facilities in Ohio. Plus, Governor Mike DeWine talks about the legacy of Pope Francis, who was laid to rest this past weekend.

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.