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 eye. We call this feature Catching Our Eye and have published it here.
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Catching our eyes
• Toledo. Alice Momany of the Toledo Blade reports: “The mayor says Toledo needs to rethink major events following the shooting at the Old West End Festival.“
No mayor runs for office expecting to facilitate with a mass shooting, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. However, this is an unfortunate reality for many cities across the country, and now Toledo.
“No one wants this to happen,” Kapszukiewicz said hours after multiple people were shot at the Old West End Festival on Saturday night. “But when I say it’s unexpected, unfortunately I don’t know if in America we can say these events are unexpected anymore,” he added.
• Family care. Karen Kasler of the Statehouse News Bureau reports: “A ban on Medicaid payments to family caregivers would be devastating, say Ohioans with disabilities“
State lawmakers are considering ending Medicaid payments to people who facilitate family members with personal activities such as prescribing medications, preparing meals and taking showers. It’s part of a Republican-backed anti-fraud bill targeting home health care providers. But Ohioans and paid caregivers with disabilities say it could be devastating.
Georgie Elson of Fairborn had nine different personal caregivers last year. Her brother is now one of the people who, in addition to his regular job, is paid to facilitate with basic tasks three days a week. However, if he can no longer receive payment, he risks losing his assistance.
• School bus. Ideastream’s Conor Morris reports: “According to the task force, Ohio’s school transportation system does not operate in either public or private schools“
A statewide group of elected officials and school principals is grappling with the thorny issues of the school bus driver shortage and how much aid public rather than private schools should receive to get students to school.
The working group, which includes lawmakers and representatives from public, private and charter schools, was established last year as part of the state’s two-year budget bill to examine school transportation issues. The working draft is currently available for member comment.
• More on school buses. WVXU’s Zack Carreon reports: “Ohio schools educate thousands of out-of-district students. Is the cost too much?“
Since the passage of the Fair Bus Bill in 1965, public school districts in Ohio have been required to provide bus transportation or cover transportation costs for elementary and secondary school students living in their districts, even if they are not enrolled in the public school system.
As districts scale back operations due to financial strain, some are wondering whether public schools should continue to shoulder that responsibility. Others believe school districts may not be doing enough to meet their legal obligations.
• Sorry? Sabrina Eaton of Cleveland.com reports: “Trump pardons former Indiana congressman convicted of insider trading at the urging of Boehner, Tiberi and others from Ohio“
President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to former Indiana Republican Steve Buyer, granting requests from former House Speaker John Boehner, former U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi of Ohio and dozens of other former lawmakers who argued that his insider trading conviction was politically motivated.
• Fighting. Jamie Dupree of the Dayton Daily News reports: “Trump attacks Davidson and others call for votes to stop the war in Iran.“
President Donald Trump doesn’t like it when GOP lawmakers in Congress come out against him. It was no different this week when a group of four Republicans – including U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy – voted in favor of a resolution ordering an end to military actions against Iran.
Without mentioning Davidson by name, Trump on Thursday sharply criticized the GOP foursome in a post on his Truth Social website after the House, by a 215-208 majority, reprimanded Trump on Iran.
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