Mayor from Ohio. (Getty image file photo.)
Each morning in the Ohio Capital Journal’s free newsletter, The Eye-Opener, we round up the news and commentary from across Ohio, the country and the world that catches our attention. We call this feature Catching Our Eye and have published it here.
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Catching our eyes
• Maintaining affordable housing. Sarah Donaldson of the Statehouse News Bureau reports: “Trump is upholding a housing bill that most Ohio members of Congress supported“
Congress officially sent President Donald Trump a major housing affordability bill, with only one member of Ohio’s delegation voting against it.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed both houses of Congress last Monday and Tuesday with overwhelming bipartisan votes…
Republican Warren Davidson (OH-8) was the only Ohio official – Democrat or Republican – to vote “no.”
• The cost of Trumpism. Cleveland.com reports: “The report shows that since January 2025, Trump’s policies have cost Ohio households thousands of dollars“
A report released Wednesday by the Center for American Progress Action Fund found that Ohio families paid about $2,175 more for gas, utilities and groceries and thousands of dollars more in health insurance premiums for people enrolled in the ACA marketplace since January 2025 due to federal policies put in place during President Donald Trump’s second term.
The analysis ranks Ohio 13th among all states in rising total home costs, with the higher end of the range for families who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act platform.
• Moreno wants to end birthright citizenship. Haley BeMiller of the Columbus Dispatch reports: “After SCOTUS Ruling, Senator Bernie Moreno Urges to End Birthright Citizenship“
Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno plans to introduce legislation that would eliminate birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents.
Moreno’s proposal follows a Supreme Court ruling that blocked similar efforts by President Donald Trump.
The Supreme Court confirmed that the 14th Amendment applies to all children born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
• Humanities. Ohio Newsroom’s Erin Gottsacker reports: “A year after federal cuts, humanities organizations in Ohio are moving forward“
Last year, the Trump administration canceled millions of dollars in federal grants intended for arts and cultural institutions across the country. The move left organizations like Ohio Humanities in a arduous position, without previously promised funding to fund projects like documentaries and museum exhibitions.
“It’s not just about the loss of a single set of funds, but the ongoing impact of that loss on us and our community partners,” Jason Crabill, executive director of Decor Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster, described at the time. “It has a really detrimental impact on what we can do for the community.”
Now, more than a year later, Ohio Humanities has announced an organizational change. It is moving forward as the Ohio Humanities Alliance.
• Vinton County. WOUB’s David Forster reports: “Sixteen children were rescued from a “horrifying scene” after a search at a Vinton County home.“
Four people were arrested and charged with multiple counts of child endangerment following the execution of a search warrant at a Vinton County home early Tuesday afternoon.
“The scene is horrific and these are horrific allegations,” Sheriff Ryan Cain said at a news conference Tuesday night.
Sixteen children aged one and a half to 18 years were rescued from the house and taken to hospitals for treatment. Several children were in sedate condition, and two of them were taken to Level 1 trauma centers, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said at a news conference.
• Kroger, Big Eagle. WVXU’s Tana Weingartner reports: “Kroger will buy Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion“
Cincinnati-based Kroger has struck a deal to buy the Giant Eagle supermarket chain for $1.65 billion. The companies announced the agreement on Wednesday, July 1…
Giant Eagle, Inc. based in Pittsburgh, it operates more than 200 supermarkets and independent pharmacies in western Pennsylvania, north-central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. Its annual sales are estimated at approximately $9 billion.
