By: Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio officials have been drawing tight the state’s budgetary belt as they see revenue plummet due to coronavirus shutdowns. But hidden in the carnage is a pot of money they’ll have to use as they plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Earlier this month, with April tax revenues far below what was budgeted, Gov. Mike DeWine announced $775 million in spending cuts for the remaining months of the fiscal year — $465 million to education, $210 million to Medicaid, and the remaining $100 million in cuts to be spread across other state agencies. More…
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Dr. Amy Acton, MD, MPH, today provided the following updates on Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BAR/RESTAURANT SAFETY CHECKS:
Governor DeWine announced today that he is assembling an enforcement team to ensure that bars and restaurants are operating safely under the Responsible RestartOhio plan.
Bars and restaurants reopened to patrons for outdoor dining on Friday. Dine-in service is scheduled to resume on May 21. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
At its meeting on May 11, the State of Ohio Controlling Board approved a change of intent request from the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department relating to taxiway improvements at Mansfield Lahm Airport.
The overall project at Lahm is designed to improve the facility to enhance its viability for use by the 179th Airlift Wing and to eliminate two of the six permanent airfield waivers required for that use. More…
by: Jess Hardin, Mahoning Matters
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday his plan to reopen more Ohio businesses.
Hair and nail salons and day spas may open May 15; bars and restaurants in Ohio can open for outside dining May 15 and inside dining May 21.
Restaurants will be required to seat groups of 10 or less in compliance with social distancing guidelines. Customers will be asked to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
It was a sobering news briefing in Columbus on Tuesday from an economic point of view.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine laid out steps his office is taking to address a burgeoning hit to state tax revenue over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April, the Governor shared, those receipts are $776.9 below budget estimates for the year. Based on the surplus going into this period, this represents a turnaround of approximately one billion dollars.
To address this shortfall, the Governor has decided to tackle the budget first, and only then pull money from the state’s so-called “ rainy day fund.” More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
While the number of infections continues to rise, Governor Mike DeWine is increasingly emphasizing two additional paths forward as the State of Ohio moves toward the beginning of “reopening” on May 1.
In specific, at Friday’s news briefing DeWine talked about a breakthrough that will allow for increased levels of COVID-19 testing, and also a move toward mobilizing local health departments to assist with aggressive infection tracing. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
Those anticipating the release of details on Governor Mike DeWine’s phased plan to “reopen Ohio” are going to have a bit longer.
At Thursday’s regular press conference, the Governor stated that details of the plan will be shared during on Monday, April 27.
The plan is expected to include specific ways in which any businesses which will be allowed to re-open to protect not only the public, but also their own employees. This could involve additional requirements that have not been previously implemented under the stay-at-home order, standards that could be interpreted as “strict,” Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted stated. More…
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton, MD, MPH, provided the following updates on Tuesday related to Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
FDA REAGENT APPROVAL
Governor DeWine announced today that a new testing reagent, which is a compound used to determine if COVID-19 is present in a sample, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). More…
By: Staff, MahoningMatters
State Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) sent a letter to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine this week asking that businesses in the state’s less densely populated areas be allowed to reopen. Ohio currently has a statewide stay-at-home order that has closed all businesses except those deemed “essential” — such as grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies – until at least May 1.
DeWine’s spokesman told Cleveland.com his office received the letter but they don’t have comment at this time. More…
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Dr. Amy Acton, MD, MPH, provided the following updates on Thursday afternoon about Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PPE PROCUREMENT AND MANUFACTURING:
Governor DeWine announced that through the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance, 19 manufacturers have partnered with three hospital groups to begin large scale production of face shields. Over the next five weeks, 750,000 to 1 million face shields will be added to the Ohio Department of Health stockpile. More…
Ohioans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will soon receive additional support to help them during the pandemic, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced on Tuesday.
Those who did not receive the maximum monthly allotment for their household size in March will be issued an additional payment beginning this week. In addition, Ohio requested and obtained federal approval to run a Disaster Household Distribution Program, which will allow the state to waive administrative verifications normally required at food banks, to streamline the process and limit person-to-person contact. More…
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced at Tuesday’s regular coronavirus news conference that a state agency has made a change which will assist restaurants that hold liquor permits.
Based on a ruling based on an emergency basis by the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, those establishments can now sell and have delivered two prepackaged alcoholic drinks with each meal ordered. More…
by: Julie Westfall, Mahoning Matters
Gov. Mike DeWine on Saturday made several appeals as the coronavirus crisis continues in the state and across the country.
He appealed to the federal Food and Drug Administration to approve a process designed by an Ohio lab that will allow it to sterilize a potential hundreds of thousands of medical masks a day.
“We’ve been on the phone with the FDA and this is a public appeal. Please do this. It really is truly a matter of life and death. We need to protect our people who are risking their lives every single day,” he said. More…
Ohio’s driver licenses and state ID cards have changed and there are several things you need to be aware of, especially the looming October 1 deadline for those who will need the ID for air travel or access to federal facilities.
There are two kinds of cards to choose from: a standard card and a compliant card. The standard card is similar to previous license and ID cards. To get one, you must show your Deputy Registrar license agency proof of your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, address, and in some cases, your legal right to be in the United States. More…
