Politics

After arrest, Michael Avenatti denies LA domestic violence

by MICHAEL BALSAMO, ANDREW DALTON, Associated Press

Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels, has denied allegations of domestic violence after his arrest near his ritzy Los Angeles skyscraper apartment. "I have never struck a woman, I never will strike a woman," Avenatti told reporters Wednesday after being booked and posting $50,000 bail. Avenatti said he has been an advocate for women's rights his entire career and is confident...

The Latest: China's premier urges reassurances for markets

The Associated Press

The Latest on the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which ends Thursday in Singapore (all times local): 2:35 p.m. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (LEE KUH'-chiang) has told fellow Asian leaders the region needs to send a strong positive message to markets about sticking to trade rules and open markets. Li spoke Thursday at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian nations. He also...

DHS replacement will face same border challenges

by COLLEEN LONG, JILL COLVIN, Associated Press

President Donald Trump and Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen never quite clicked personally as the president chafed at her explanations of complicated immigration issues and her inability to bring about massive changes at the U.S.-Mexico border. With Nielsen's departure now considered inevitable, her eventual replacement will find there's no getting around the immigration laws and court challenges...

Seeking a 2020 comeback, House GOP elects McCarthy as leader

AP Congressional Correspondent

Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy easily won an internal party election to take over the shrunken House GOP caucus, handing the seven-term Californian a familiar role of building the party back to a majority as well as protecting President Donald Trump's agenda. With Speaker Paul Ryan retiring and the House majority gone, the race for minority leader was McCarthy's to lose Wednesday. But rarely has a...

Mattis compares border mission to one against Pancho Villa

AP National Security Writer

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis defended the use of active duty troops on the U.S.-Mexican border, saying that in some ways it provides good training for war. He argued that it's analogous to a 1916 deployment to counter the Mexican revolutionary Gen. Francisco "Pancho" Villa. Speaking to reporters Wednesday on his way to visit U.S. troops along the border in south Texas, Mattis declined to...

Justice Department and CNN spar over Acosta's press pass

Associated Press

President Donald Trump's administration is trying to fend off a legal challenge from CNN and other outlets over the revocation of journalist Jim Acosta's White House "hard pass." U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments Wednesday afternoon from lawyers representing CNN and the Justice Department. The news network is seeking an immediate restraining order that would force the...

GOP senator should explain 'hanging' remark, challenger says

Associated Press

A white Republican U.S. senator from Mississippi needs to fully explain her comment about a "public hanging," her black Democratic challenger says. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith made the remark in a video that surfaced Sunday. She praised a cattle rancher at a Nov. 2 campaign event in Tupelo by saying: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." Mississippi...

Gov's race: Dems doubt Kemp's claim of 'insurmountable lead

by KATE BRUMBACK, BILL BARROW, Associated Press

As Democrats ratcheted up their attacks on Georgia Republican Brian Kemp, he claimed Wednesday that results certified by county election officials confirm he has an "insurmountable lead" in the governor's race. At a news conference, Georgia Democrats cast doubt on the legitimacy of any election count that ends with the former secretary of state being certified as the winner of a fiercely...

US, China see rival visions for entwined Asia-Pacific region

The Associated Press

The U.S. and China offered rival visions for the Asia-Pacific region Thursday at a summit of Southeast Asian nations whose economies and strategic interests are deeply entwined with both powers, with Vice President Mike Pence saying there was no room for "empire or aggression" in the region. Pence stressed the "steadfast and enduring" American commitment to the Indo-Pacific region...

Challenger: Mississippi senator's 'hanging' comment harmful

Associated Press

A white Republican U.S. senator from Mississippi needs to fully explain her comment about a "public hanging," her black Democratic challenger said Wednesday. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith made the remark in a video that surfaced Sunday. She praised a cattle rancher at a Nov. 2 campaign event in Tupelo by saying: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."...

The Latest: Avenatti released after domestic violence charge

The Associated Press

The Latest on Michael Avenatti (all times local): 8:50 p.m. Michael Avenatti has been released from police custody following his arrest on a felony domestic violence charge in Los Angeles. As he walked out of the police station Wednesday, Avenatti told reporters he "has never struck a woman." He says he has been an advocate for women's rights and would never disrespect his children by "...

Popular in News

Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from first lady

Associated Press

Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after first lady Melania Trump's office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first lady's staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially...

2 local congressmen may compete to be top Republican on Judiciary Committee

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Warren County-area Rep. Steve Chabot is one of two remaining Republicans in the House of Representatives who brought the case for impeachment against then–President Bill Clinton 20 years ago. Now, he’s arguing that experience could help him and other Republican fight off Democrats if they move forward on impeaching President Donald Trump. Chabot of Cincinnati, who just won a 12th term...

Michael Avenatti arrested in LA on domestic violence charge

Associated Press

Michael Avenatti, who skyrocketed to fame as a critic of President Donald Trump and the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was arrested Wednesday and booked on a felony domestic violence charge, Los Angeles police said. The alleged victim in the case had visible injuries, according to Officer Tony Im, a police spokesman. But Avenatti slammed the allegation as "completely bogus" and...

After midterms, Democratic hopefuls eye early-voting states

Associated Press

Democrats pondering 2020 presidential bids in the aftermath of the midterm elections are pivoting from campaigning for other candidates across the country to refocusing on their own efforts, including moves in early-voting states like South Carolina. On Friday, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is set to deliver a keynote address at an Urban League fundraiser in Charleston. It's the latest visit...

Draft EPA study finds newer nonstick compound may be harmful

by ELLEN KNICKMEYER, JONATHAN DREW, Associated Press

Long-term exposure to a chemical compound currently used for making nonstick coatings appears to be dangerous, even in minute amounts, according to draft findings released Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. It was the first time EPA weighed in on newer, supposedly safer versions of an increasingly scrutinized family of stick- and stain-resistant compounds. Older versions of the compound...

US believes missing American journalist is alive in Syria

The Associated Press

A senior State Department official says American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive more than six years after he was abducted while covering the war in Syria. U.S. envoy to Syria James Jeffrey told reporters Wednesday that Tice is being held hostage there. He didn't say why officials believe this or who might be holding him. Tice is a Houston native who disappeared shortly after...

Judge, ballot counters racing to election finale in Maine

by MARINA VILLENEUVE, PATRICK WHITTLE, Associated Press

A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday aimed at stopping Maine's unusual ranked-balloting system, even as election staffers scanned votes to determine the winner of last week's congressional race. Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin and three activists sued Tuesday to overturn Maine's new voting system. U.S. District Judge Lance Walker heard arguments Wednesday about whether to halt the vote-counting...

Utah Republican behind in tight race sues to halt vote count

Associated Press

Republican U.S. Rep. Mia Love sued Wednesday to halt vote counting in the Utah race where she is trailing her Democratic challenger by a razor-thin margin, saying her campaign must be allowed to issue challenges if they dispute the validity of mail-in ballots. In a contest where "every single vote is crucial," the Love campaign claimed poll-watchers have seen a few cases where voter signatures...

Newcomer Andy Kim beats GOP Rep. MacArthur in New Jersey

The Associated Press

Democrat Andy Kim, a political newcomer and former national security aide in the Obama administration, defeated Republican Rep. Tom MacArthur in a tight race in which the incumbent's vote to roll back the Affordable Care Act was a hot issue. Kim upset MacArthur in the hotly contested southern New Jersey district, widening the Democrats' edge in the House. He declared victory last week, but MacArthur...

US government: 3 SKorean firms to pay $236M in bid-rig plot

The Associated Press

The Justice Department says three South Korean companies have agreed to pay $236 million to settle allegations they were part of a bid-rigging scheme that overcharged the U.S. military for fuel at bases in South Korea. Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim announced the settlement of the criminal and civil charges on Wednesday. The three companies, SK Energy Co. Ltd., GS Caltex Corporation, and...

Mattis defends use of military on US-Mexico border

AP National Security Writer

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday defended the use of active duty troops on the U.S.-Mexican border, saying that in some ways it provides good training for war. He argued that it's analogous to a 1916 deployment to counter the Mexican revolutionary Gen. Francisco "Pancho" Villa. Speaking to reporters on his way to visit U.S. troops along the border in south Texas, Mattis declined...

Pelosi unfazed as unhappy Dems claim votes to block her rise

Associated Press

As a steadfast Rep. Nancy Pelosi all but dared potential rivals for the gavel to come forward, a group of restive House Democrats vowed Wednesday to produce enough votes to block her from becoming the House's new speaker. For two days now, disgruntled Democrats have claimed they have 17 names on a letter opposing Pelosi's leadership, promising to air the document soon. They say those signing on are...

Whitaker's failed renovation missed affordable housing goal

The Associated Press

A failed apartment-rehabilitation project by acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was a missed opportunity to preserve affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying Des Moines neighborhood, a city official said Wednesday. Whitaker abandoned the project in 2016 after 3 ½ years of cost overruns, delays and other problems, said Chris Johansen, the city's community development director. The developer...

Flake vows to oppose judges unless Mueller bill gets a vote

Associated Press

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday that he won't vote to confirm judicial nominees unless GOP leaders hold a vote on legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired. Flake of Arizona and Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware went to the Senate floor on Wednesday and tried to bring the legislation up for a vote. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell objected. McConnell...

White House claims right to exclude 'grandstanding' Acosta

The Associated Press

Trump backs 1st major rewrite of sentencing laws in decades

by ZEKE MILLER, LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced his support for the first major rewrite of the nation's criminal justice sentencing laws in a generation, but it remains to be seen whether the proposal can pass Congress. Trump said the bill "will make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at life after they have served their time." Trump hailed the deal as proof that...

Are Ohio’s 4 Democratic members of Congress supporting Pelosi for speaker?

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

For those counting, two Ohio Democrats are now backing Nancy Pelosi for House speaker and two are opposed. Rep. Marcy Kaptur Wednesday announced she will back Pelosi for speaker, joining Rep. Joyce Beatty, D–Jefferson Township, who was one of the first House Democrats to announce her support for Pelosi after Democrats won the House majority last Tuesday. Beatty has been whipping up support...

Local Rep. Jim Jordan loses bid to lead House Republicans

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy easily fended off a challenge from Rep. Jim Jordan Wednesday, becoming House Republicans’ choice to become the incoming House minority leader in January. Jordan, an Urbana Republican who leads the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, received 43 votes to McCarthy’s 159 in a closed–door meeting of House Republicans. While Jordan is viewed...

Postal Service's red ink for 12th year as letter mail drops

Associated Press

The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday reported a financial loss for the 12th straight year, citing declines in mail volume and the costs of its pension and health care obligations, as the agency braces for an upcoming report ordered by President Donald Trump to address its "unsustainable financial path." Postal officials said they expected next year's finances to be helped by a strong holiday...

Justice legal opinion backs Whitaker's naming as acting AG

Associated Press

The Justice Department on Wednesday released an internal legal opinion supporting the legality of Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general as Democrats press the case that President Donald Trump violated the law and Constitution by making Whitaker the country's chief law enforcement officer. The 20-page opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides advice to executive branch...

Lawyers seek 'Apprentice' tapes in Trump immigration suit

Associated Press

Lawyers suing President Donald Trump over his decision to end special protections shielding certain immigrants from deportation are seeking unaired footage from his reality TV show "The Apprentice" to try to bolster their case alleging the move was racially motivated, the attorneys said Wednesday. Lawyers for Civil Rights, which sued Trump in February , has issued subpoenas to MGM Holdings...

US panel warns against government purchase of Chinese tech

Associated Press

A congressional advisory panel says the purchase of internet-linked devices manufactured in China leaves the United States vulnerable to security breaches that could put critical infrastructure at risk. In its annual report on Wednesday, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission warns of dangers to the U.S. government and private sector from a reliance on global supply chains linked to...

Florida recount 2018: What has changed since 2000? Old equipment, old laws add to problems

by Christopher Heath, WFTV.com

Old equipment and old laws are adding to the problems with Florida’s vote recount, even after the 2000 recount that delayed the outcome of the presidential election for more than a month. It's been almost two decades since the last recount finally ended with the U.S. Supreme Court stepping in, ultimately handing Florida’s electoral votes – and the election – to George...

The Latest: Bloomberg: Leader's GOP women claim misleading

The Associated Press

The Latest on congressional Republicans' leadership elections (all times local): 6:45 p.m. Michael Bloomberg's team says it's misleading for Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to claim that the billionaire is responsible for reducing the number of GOP women in Congress. Bloomberg spokeswoman Rachel Nagler says the former New York City mayor spent $110 million on Democrats by targeting 24 House races...

The Latest: Gov. Scott to step down from elections board

The Associated Press

The Latest on Florida's election recount (all times local): 11:10 a.m. Florida Gov. Rick Scott will step down from the state panel responsible for certifying the results in the state's highly contested elections. Daniel Nordby, a lawyer for the Republican governor, told a federal judge Wednesday that Scott will recuse himself from the state's canvassing commission. The commission is a three-member...

Georgia officials reject white supremacist rally at Stone Mountain

by Chris Joyner, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

White supremacists had planned on capitalizing on the international attention drawn to Atlanta during Super Bowl LIII to stage a rally at Stone Mountain next February, but the Georgia body that oversees the park said no. In a Nov. 7 letter, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association denied a permit to “Rock Stone Mountain II” organizers Greg Calhoun and John Estes citing a “clear...

Pence says Myanmar's handling of Rohingya 'without excuse'

The Associated Press

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi rebuffed criticism from U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and other leaders Wednesday over her government's treatment of its ethnic Rohingya Muslims. In a meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit in Singapore, Pence told Suu Kyi that he was anxious to hear about progress in resolving the crisis, which stems from a violent military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state...

Amazon's NYC home in 'opportunity zone' for Trump tax break

by BERNARD CONDON, STEPHEN BRAUN, Associated Press

Much of the New York City neighborhood selected by Amazon for one of its new headquarters is in a federal "opportunity zone," a designation created by President Donald Trump's tax overhaul that offers developers potentially millions of dollars in capital gains tax breaks to invest in high-poverty, low-income areas. Critics question whether Long Island City, the fast-gentrifying Queens neighborhood...

Bitter Florida recount: Lawsuits pile up, machines overheat

by TERRY SPENCER, GARY FINEOUT, Associated Press

With time running out in Florida's high-stakes election recount, lawsuits piled up Wednesday amid a maelstrom of courtroom arguments, outdated ballot-scanning machines overheated and President Donald Trump leveled his latest unfounded allegation, that people had been voting in disguise. Many counties have wrapped up their machine recount ahead of a Thursday deadline to complete reviews of the U.S...

Next generation of biotech food heading for grocery stores

AP Medical Writer

The next generation of biotech food is headed for the grocery aisles, and first up may be salad dressings or granola bars made with soybean oil genetically tweaked to be good for your heart. By early next year, the first foods from plants or animals that had their DNA "edited" are expected to begin selling. It's a different technology than today's controversial "genetically modified"...

Georgia's Kemp claims 'insurmountable lead;' Dems cast doubt

by KATE BRUMBACK, BILL BARROW, Associated Press

Trump ally McCarthy to lead House GOP, work to win majority

AP Congressional Correspondent

Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy easily won an internal party election Wednesday to take over the shrunken House GOP caucus, handing the seven-term Californian a familiar role of building the party back to a majority as well as protecting President Donald Trump's agenda. With current speaker Paul Ryan retiring and the House majority gone, the race for minority leader was McCarthy's to lose. But rarely...

AP sources: President Trump mulling a wide-ranging shake-up

by COLLEEN LONG, ZEKE MILLER, CATHERINE LUCEY, Associated Press

President Donald Trump is weighing an administration-wide shake-up as he looks to prepare his White House for divided government, but it is unclear who is going and who is staying. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was thought to be out as soon as this week, according to two people with knowledge of the issue, but she is now likely to remain in the post for a longer period because there...

Bloomberg likely to decide on 2020 bid by early next year

Associated Press

Having spent a fortune to help elect Democrats this fall, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared lifetime allegiance to the Democratic Party and outlined an aggressive timeline for deciding whether to run for president. "I think January, February would be about as late as you can do it and as early as you can gather enough information," Bloomberg told The Associated Press...

CIA considered using 'truth serum' on post-9/11 detainees

Associated Press

Shortly after 9/11, the CIA considered using a drug it thought might work like a truth serum and force terror suspects to give up information about potential attacks. After months of research, the agency decided that a drug called Versed, a sedative often prescribed to reduce anxiety, was "possibly worth a try." But in the end, the CIA decided not to ask government lawyers to approve its...

Republican who lost US House race seeks to impound ballots

Associated Press

A New Mexico Republican who lost her bid for a U.S. House seat is seeking to impound absentee ballots in a key county that decided the race for the Democrat, according to court documents filed late Tuesday. In court documents filed in the 3rd Judicial District Court in southern New Mexico, Yvette Herrell asked a Dona Ana County judge to impound the absentee ballots so her campaign could inspect them...

Expensive APEC summit sows division in host Papua New Guinea

by STEPHEN WRIGHT, JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press

After three decades of promoting free trade as a panacea to poverty, the APEC grouping of nations that includes the U.S. and China is holding its lavish annual leaders' meeting in the country that can least afford it. Barely penetrated by roads and scarred by violence, Papua New Guinea hopes the parade of world leaders will lift the mountainous Pacific nation of hundreds of tribal groups out of obscurity...

Democrat Harder upsets California GOP US Rep. Denham

The Associated Press

First-time candidate Josh Harder defeated four-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham Tuesday in California's farm belt, giving Democrats their fourth pickup of a GOP House seat in California. Harder, 32, a venture capitalist, had anchored his campaign to Denham's vote against the Affordable Care Act, while arguing that he would push for universal health care in Congress. He also argued that Denham...

Report: U.S. military at risk of losing war to Russia, China

by Max Filby, Staff Writer

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base may be the difference between victory and defeat if war eventually breaks out between the United States and Russia or China, a defense expert said about a new report out Wednesday. The U.S. is at risk of losing a war to either country, states a report released Wednesday by a bipartisan commission that Congress created to evaluate the Trump administration’s defense...

Ohio Libertarians say they may sue to keep ballot access

by Associated Press, Staff Writer

The Libertarian Party of Ohio says it may sue the state to force continued recognition of the minor political party. Secretary of State Jon Husted says the Libertarians and Ohio Green Party lost ballot access because their respective candidates did not get 3 percent of the vote needed to remain a recognized party. Cleveland.com reports the Libertarian Party of Ohio regained state recognition...

Against odds, local Congressman Jim Jordan seeking GOP leadership post

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

After years of bucking Republican Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan on everything from health care to approving spending bills to keep the federal government open, local Congressman Jim Jordan has launched a bid to become leader of the House Republicans. On Wednesday, in a private meeting of House Republicans, Jordan will face Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the current House majority leader...

Opinion: Ohio isn’t now becoming red — it always was

by Thomas Suddes

Donald Trump energizes Ohio’s Republican grassroots. And for at least two generations Ohioans have known the name Mike DeWine and, roughly, what DeWine stands for. Those two facts – in a state that prefers any changes to be gradual – are why voters made DeWine Ohio’s next governor. As barstool analysts are first to say, elections have consequences. A winning candidate for governor...

Ohio Democrat to oppose Nancy Pelosi for speaker

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

As Nancy Pelosi digs into her campaign for House Speaker, two Ohio Democrats have taken polar opposite positions on her bid. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan confirmed through a spokesman he will vote against Pelosi’s bid for speaker, and said earlier this week he has been talking privately to incoming new Democrats who vowed not to vote for her. Ryan, a Niles Democrat who ran against Pelosi for House Minority...

Ohioan named to commission that will study military plane crashes

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Joe Hagin, a longtime friend of Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and former White House deputy chief of staff to President Donald Trump, has been named by Trump to a new commission trying to determine the cause in the alarming rise of military jet accidents. Hagin, who is from Cincinnati, was one of four officials named by the White House to the panel. The panel, known as the National Commission on Military...

Will Sessions firing impact Mueller probe?

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown said Wednesday the firing of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions should not impact Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether aides to President Donald Trump colluded with Russian intelligence during the 2016 presidential campaign. Brown, D-Ohio, who opposed Sessions’ confirmation, said “our justice system is bigger than any one...

DeWine proposes cabinet post to focus on military issues, Wright-Patt

by Laura A. Bischoff , Thomas Gnau , Columbus Bureau

Mike DeWine said Wednesday that as governor he will appoint a cabinet-level official to concentrate on military installations across Ohio, specifically mentioning Wright-Patterson as a key reason for the new position. “As you know, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a very complex place,” he said at a Wednesday press conference after winning the race for governor against Democrat Richard...

Mike DeWine to be first Dayton-area governor since James Cox

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Mike DeWine will be the first Miami Valley man to serve as Ohio governor since Democrat James M. Cox held the post in 1913-15 and 1917-21. Here is a quick look at what they had in common. 1. Farms. Cox and DeWine both started out life on local farms. Cox, the youngest of seven children, was raised on Old Home Farm, his family homestead in Butler County. DeWine grew up in the Yellow Springs area and...

Local Congressman Jim Jordan announces run for House minority leader

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Rep. Jim Jordan announced Wednesday that he will run for minority leader, hours after winning a seventh term representing his western Ohio congressional district and hours after Republicans lost the House majority. Jordan, an Urbana Republican, announced his decision on Hill.TV Wednesday morning, though he’s broadly indicated his plans to seek a leadership role ever since House Speaker Paul...

Morning After Update: 7 major election updates you need to know now

by News Staff, Staff Writer

While the Democrats seized control of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republicans retained the Senate majority. Here are seven local and national updates that you need to know this morning: 1. Republicans hold the Senate, Democrats take the HouseThe Associated Press has joined other outlets in reporting that Democrats have secured at least 218 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, winning...

Warren Davidson, Jim Jordan will return to Congress

by Will Garbe, Michael D. Pitman , Staff Writer

Congressmen Warren Davidson and Jim Jordan will return to the U.S. House in January, according to unofficial results of Tuesday’s election. Davidson, R-Troy, represents Springfield in the 4th District and won his election over Vanessa Enoch. The Republican was re-elected to his his second full term to the congressional seat. Jordan, R-Urbana, won re-election in the 8th District over Janet Garrett...

Polls are open for Election Day: What you need to know

by Kaitlin Schroeder , Josh Sweigart , Staff Writer

Local voter turnout is strong so far this election. "We've got a big turnout at all of our polling locations throughout the county," said Jan Kelly, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections, at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. After polls close at 7:30 p.m., results might not be in as quickly as after the primary vote because there are two extra machines at each location...

Election highlights: DeWine wins, some familiar names lose, Dayton OKs marijuana issue and more

by Laura A. Bischoff , Jack Torry, Will Garbe, Jeremy P. Kelley , Cornelius Frolik , Chris Stewart , Lynn Hulsey , Max Filby, Mark Gokavi

Ohio voters picked a new governor, backed the full slate of Republicans to statewide non-judicial offices and killed Issue 1. Local voters backed the Five Rivers MetroParks levy and Dayton voters OK’d effort to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. It also was a night where some familiar faces lost their seats locally and some newcomers won. Here’s a look at some of the...

DeWine beats Cordray for governor, leads big night for Ohio Republicans

by Laura A. Bischoff , Max Filby, Columbus Bureau

Republican Mike DeWine won Ohio’s governor race Tuesday in a big night for the GOP, which swept the down ticket executive offices – attorney general, auditor, secretary of state and treasurer – for the third consecutive statewide election cycle. Around midnight, DeWine and his running mate, Jon Husted, and their families took the stage at the Ohio Republican Party event...

Sen. Brown wins, holds off challenge from Renacci

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Sen. Sherrod Brown won re-election Tuesday over Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth, giving the Ohio Democrat a third six-year term in the U.S. Senate and his fifth statewide victory since 1982. CNN called the race about a half hour after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m. Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth worked to the end of the race, pointing to an internal poll showing 17 percent of voters...

Mike DeWine rallies hometown crowd on Election Eve

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

In the latest installment of his longstanding political tradition, Mike DeWine finished his campaign for Ohio governor where he always ends his races: the dining room of Young’s Jersey Dairy packed with supporters chanting “Go, Mike! Go!” Whether Tuesday’s general election will turn out like it did in 2006, when he lost his U.S. Senate seat to Democrat Sherrod Brown, or like...

Ohio voters overwhelmingly reject Issue 1, which would decriminalize low-level drug offenders

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

Ohio voters defeated State Issue 1 Tuesday 63 percent to 37 percent, according to final, unofficial results. The proposed constitutional amendment would have changed Ohio law to keep low-level drug offenders out of prison with the goal of promoting treatment of drug addiction instead of incarceration. But opponents raised concerns about the impact removing the threat of punishment would have...

Supreme Court won’t decide if Ohio’s death penalty is constitutional

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Rejecting a chance to decide whether Ohio’s death penalty law violates the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for a state court to hold a sentencing hearing for a man convicted of murder and rape in 1993 in Marion County. The justices, without comment, chose not to review an Ohio Supreme Court decision last April that the state’s death penalty is constitutional...

Dems call out GOP over claims on pre-existing conditions

by Jessica Wehrman , Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

When Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, sent out a campaign mailer telling voters he’s working to guarantee private insurance for people with pre-existing conditions, Democratic opponent Theresa Gasper snapped that Turner is “hoping to dupe voters about his record.” In Columbus, Democrat Rick Neal made a similar charge about Republican Rep. Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington. The Democratic...

Local congressional candidate’s campaign manager resigns days before vote

by AP AP

The campaign manager for a Democratic candidate seeking a congressional seat in Warren and Hamilton counties has resigned days after Republicans officials accused one of the candidate’s workers of stealing voter data from his opponent. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Aftab Pureval says Sarah Topy resigned Tuesday based on “new information.” Pureval, a Beavercreek native, is trying...

Ohio must allow ‘purged’ voters to vote, court rules

by Associated Press, Staff Writer

A federal appeals court has ordered Ohio to allow voters who had been purged from the election books for not voting over a six-year period to participate in this year’s election. A divided 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Thursday granted an emergency motion sought by voting-rights groups. The ruling overturned in part an Oct. 10 ruling by a federal judge that said voters hadn&rsquo...

Portman wants bill to protect synogogues following mass shooting

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, is urging Senate leadership to take action on a bill that he says would better protect synagogues and other nonprofit institutions in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., released Tuesday, the Ohio Republican urged the two leaders to pass a bill authorizing...

You can still vote early today until 2 p.m.

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Election Day is tomorrow, but you can still vote early today. Your county board of elections office is open for voters today until 2 p.m. Absentee voting is running higher than in the 2014 midterm elections but voter turnout was just below 41 percent that year and Democrat Ed FitzGerald, who proved to be a flawed candidate, lost in a landslide to Republican incumbent Gov. John Kasich. This year&rsquo...

Ohio governor candidates: Where they stand on jobs & the skills gap

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

Ohio has a four-way race for governor this year and voters will decide on Nov. 6 who will lead the state for the next four years. The candidates are Democrat Rich Cordray, former director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Republican Mike DeWine, who is Ohio attorney general; Green Party candidate and Columbus attorney, Constance Gadell-Newton and Libertarian Travis M. Irvine, a filmmaker...

Ten LGBTQ candidates are running at state, national level in Ohio

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Ten openly LGBTQ candidates are running for the Statehouse or federal office in Ohio this year, part of a wave that is taking hold across the country, according to Andrew Reynolds, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill who studies the issue. Twenty-one candidates nationally who identify as LGBTQ are running for Congress, while 203 candidates are running for...

Governor race: Mike DeWine runs on his long experience and track record

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Mike DeWine is seemingly everywhere in Ohio. He stands before cameras at press conferences in the Attorney General’s office, he pops up at gruesome crime scenes wearing a BCI jacket, he welcomes supporters to his annual ice cream social at his sprawling farm in Greene County, and he shows up at high school track meets to watch his grandchildren. It’s an image carefully cultivated over...

Governor Race: What you need to know about Richard Cordray, where he stands on issues

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Some politicians try hard to be cool and hip, but none of them are named Richard Cordray. In his run for governor, the Grove City Democrat is fully embracing his nerd image and capitalizing on his five time Jeopardy! champion bragging rights. His campaign rolled out a website, RichKnowsOhio.com, which weaves together Jeopardy! clips from 1987 with modern-day Cordray answering Ohio trivia. He has a...

OPINION: Organizations, people explain why they support State Issue 1

Staff Writer

The ACLU of Ohio urges a “yes” vote on State Issue 1, which will reduce the number of people in state prison and reinvest the savings to drug treatment programs and community services. The ballot measure would amend the state Constitution and require all fourth- and fifth-degree felony offenses for obtaining, possessing, or using drugs or drug paraphernalia to be reclassified as misdemeanors...

OPINION: ACLU of Ohio urges Ohioans to vote yes on State Issue 1

Staff Writer

Election 2018: Congressman Jordan facing Democrat Garrett in rematch

by Ted Beust, Contributing writer

Congressman Jim Jordan, who says he plans to run for speaker of the House if Republicans maintain the majority, is running against Democrat Janet Garrett in his bid for re-election. Garrett, who has run against Jordan before in 2016 and 2014, was a member of the Peace Corps, and served on the Oberlin Ohio Education Executive Association Council. Jordan is a member of the Freedom Caucus and believes...

Gov. Kasich orders flags lowered for synagogue tragedy

by AP AP

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has ordered flags lowered to half-staff following a gunman’s attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people. The governor’s announcement came after Saturday’s shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood that also injured six people, including four police officers. Kasich says “Our hearts are heavy...

Bringing more jobs to the region: Here’s how the Ohio governor candidates plan to do it

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

The economy is booming for some people, but Ohio still has a serious skills gap, wages are stagnant for many workers and there are concerns the state isn’t poised to attract high-tech jobs now and into the future. Each of the candidates for governor is heavily focused on bringing good-paying jobs to Ohio and growing the jobs that are already here, though they differ on how to get there. This...

Outside groups spending millions supporting Sen. Brown this year

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

When Sherrod Brown ran for re-election in 2012, he had a constant refrain: outside groups were out to get him. This year, though,outside groups are either on his side or sitting out the race. Outside groups are organizations that don’t necessarily contribute directly to the campaigns, but instead spend money on TV ads and direct mail backing or opposing candidates. In the current funding cycle...

Watch: Turner, Gasper, Harlow debate issues in congressional race on WHIO-TV

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

In their only event together this election cycle, the three candidates for Ohio’s 10th Congressional District joined News Center 7’s Jim Otte for a forum broadcast during a special Saturday afternoon airing of WHIO Reports. Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Turner, Democrat Theresa Gasper and Libertarian David Harlow participated in the forum. The 10th Congressional District includes all...

What happens to fentanyl cases key dispute in Issue 1 debate

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

One of the most confusing aspects of State Issue 1 is how people caught with large amounts of fentanyl would be handled in the court system. Issue 1 is a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot that would convert some lower-level drug felonies — felony 4 and felony 5 charges —to misdemeanors. The issue also dictates that offenders serve no prison time for the first two offenses....

State Treasurer candidates lay out plans to protect Ohio’s money

by Staff reports

Republican Robert Sprague and Democrat Rob Richardson are running for state treasurer this fall to replace Treasurer Josh Mandel who is term-limited. We asked both candidates what they would do if elected. Here’s a look at their experience and their answers to our questions: Experience: 9 years on the University of Cincinnati’s Board of Trustees. 10 years as a labor attorney practicing...

Ohio lawmakers react to mail bomb attacks

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Lawmakers from both parties rushed to praise the FBI and law enforcement agencies for quickly arresting a man suspected of mailing explosive devices to Democratic figures although some Democrats suggested President Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric was partly to blame. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the FBI had arrested 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc of Florida and accused him of mailing...

Overtime pay for mid-level workers becoming key issue in governor’s race

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

In May 2016, Vice President Joe Biden dropped into Columbus to tout a federal new rule: overtime pay would be required for salaried workers who make up to $47,476 a year. The change was expected to boost the paychecks of 4.2 million Americans who work as mid-level managers in places such as big box stores, restaurants and the like. In September 2016, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined a lawsuit...

State Issue 1 supporters have big money advantage against opponents

by Laura Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Campaign finance reports filed late today show backers of State Issue 1 are out-raising opponents by a 10 to 1 ratio. Ohioans are also deciding whether to amend the state constitution to reduce criminal penalties for drug use and possession charges. State Issue 1 calls for converting felony 4 and felony 5 drug charges into misdemeanor offenses that generally won’t carry prison time and plow...

Ohio governor candidates on school funding, and helping needy students

by Josh Sweigart

Rich Cordray, Democrat: Offer services like mental health, dental, after-school, and parent support programs at neighborhood schools. Increase state support for hiring education professionals like librarians, nurses, guidance counselors, and social workers. Mike DeWine, Republican: Ensure every school has access to a mental health professional. Implement age-appropriate drug prevention. Modernize...

Ohio lawmakers react to bomb packages sent to Clintons, Obamas, others

by Drew Simon, Staff Writer

Bombs and other suspicious packages targeting Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama and CNN were intercepted Wednesday in a rash of attacks. A similar device was found Monday at the New York compound of liberal billionaire George Soros, a major contributor to Democratic causes. There have been no reports of suspicious packages delivered to Ohio leaders or the statehouse. Here’s what...

Cordray, DeWine both pledge to expand subsidized childcare eligibility

by Josh Sweigart

Rich Cordray, Democrat: Raise the eligibility limit for subsidized childcare from 130 percent of the federal poverty level to 150 percent. Establish an office in state government to ensure high-quality early education programs. Expand Ohio’s home visitation program for new parents. Mike DeWine, Republican: Raise the eligibility limit for subsidized childcare from 130 percent of the federal...

2018 Midterms: Who is Stacey Abrams, candidate for Georgia governor?

by Jeremy Redmon, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“An engine revved behind her, and she could hear the hiss of a power window sliding down its pane of glass. With instinct born of experience, she dodged between two buildings as the pop of a silencer registered its fury. Glass shattered and sprayed the ground, shards tinkling in the quiet morning. A second shot was fired, and she could feel the bullet pierce skin, singe flesh.” That harrowing...

2018 Midterms: Who is Brian Kemp, candidate for Georgia governor?

by Jennifer Brett, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Growing up, Brian Kemp spent days working on a farm outside Athens. Getting trampled by a 750-pound bovine in the cattle chute didn’t faze young Kemp, recalls his friend Mitch Malcolm. And when a pregnant cow died one freezing Christmas Eve, Kemp and Malcolm labored in the sleet for hours to pull the calf. It survived. Kemp has held elected office for roughly 12 of the last 16 years but...

Governor candidates all vow less standardized testing in schools

by Josh Sweigart

Rich Cordray, Democrat: Reduce required testing to federally mandated minimums. Mike DeWine, Republican: Reduce required testing. Refine the state report card system to focus on student progress instead of meeting benchmarks. Constance Gadell-Newton, Green Party: End teaching to the test. Travis Irvine, Libertarian: Evaluate schools based on student advancement...

Ohio lawmaker’s comprehensive approach to addiction crisis: What is it?

by Michael Pitman, Staff Writer

The package of bills being pushed by Ohio Rep. Jim Butler, R-Oakwood, to address an “outside-the-box” approach to the opioid crisis is broken into four areas. Butler, who is up for re-election this fall, says he intends to introduce a series of bills that would touch on various aspects of the crisis that has crippled the state. It could be introduced after the November election. Here&rsquo...

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