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
- Ohioans with disabilities. Karen Kasler of the Statehouse News Bureau reports: “Ohioans with disabilities are sounding the alarm over big, sudden changes to Medicaid home health care providers.” A up-to-date version of the anti-fraud bill would prohibit family members from being paid by Medicaid to provide personal care services to disabled Ohioans. Dozens of people with disabilities and their advocates gathered at a House committee hearing overdue Wednesday to share their frustrations and concerns about dramatic changes to Medicaid and home health care. House Bill 795, known as the Protecting the Integrity of Health Care through Electronic Location Data or SHIELD Act, has already been amended once. Republicans on the Ohio House of Representatives’ Medicaid Committee have approved a substitute bill that would prohibit family members from paying through Medicaid for personal care and raise mandatory penalties for Medicaid fraud from $1,000 to $15,000. The bill would still require electronic visit verification, or EVV, and would impose up-to-date restrictions on home health care providers and suspend payments to questionable providers. The draft replacement bill does not contain provisions regarding child care financed from public funds, which were included in the earlier version of the bill.
- Ohio State. WOSU’s George Shillcock reports: “The state of Ohio says almost all of Strauss’ remaining survivors have agreed to a $100 million settlement.” Ohio State University says almost all remaining victims of sexual abuse by former team doctor Richard Strauss have reached a $100 million settlement. The Board of Supervisors voted to approve the settlement at Wednesday’s meeting, stating that 279 of the 280 remaining survivors had agreed to the settlement. Hundreds of other people have already agreed to settlements with Ohio State in the past, and the university has paid out more than $60 million to more than 300 other people.
- SNAP. Cleveland.com’s Alison Hartzell reports: “The Ohio House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at combating SNAP benefit fraud.” A bipartisan bill aimed at preventing food stamp benefit fraud passed the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday. House Bill 163 would begin producing EBT cards with a chip that allow access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP benefits are often stolen using skimming devices, which are illegal additions to card readers that steal card information. More than $17 million in SNAP benefits was stolen between 2023 and 2025, according to filings.
- ICE in schools. The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Dan Horn reports: “Supreme Court to hear arguments on Forest Hills schools’ ICE plan.” A legal battle over the Forest Hills School District’s secret plan to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement action is pending before the Ohio Supreme Court. Court judges on Wednesday rejected a motion by the school board to dismiss the lawsuit, which seeks details about a response plan the board approved in closed executive session earlier this year.
- Public legal fight. Stephanie Warsmith of the Akron Beacon Journal reports: “Miller and Moreno’s marriage ends with molestation allegations and nasty custody battle.” U.S. Rep. Max Miller is involved in a nasty custody battle against his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno. Moreno accused Miller of harassment and sued her for defamation. The ugly dispute could have political ramifications for Miller, who faces competition in his re-election bid in November.
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