Back in August of 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the state law prohibiting trains from blocking intersections for more than five minutes. Due to federal regulations, local government officials are no longer able to control the movement or the standstill of trains passing through our area.

Governor Mike DeWine has made his choice on the next Justice for the Ohio Supreme Court. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters has been appointed to fill the unexpired term of Sharon Kennedy, because she was elected to be Chief Justice of the court.   Deters has not served as judge at any level of court but is the longest serving prosecutor for Hamilton County.   He was also Ohio's Treasurer in the late 90's and early 2000's.  DeWine says Deters has the right combination of legal knowledge, experience, passion for public service.  He will be sworn in on January 7th, and must run for election in 2024. 

We talked to the Republican and Democratic candidates for Ohio governor about the two state issues that are on the November 8th ballot and got their opinions on both of them. 

While the races for judges don't get the attention as other races on the statewide ballot, like U.S. Senate or governor, Justice Kennedy says it is just as important, especially when you want Ohio's highest court to uphold the laws on the books. Kennedy, DeWine, and Fischer will be facing off against Jennifer Brunner, Marilyn Zayas, and Terri Jamison respectively in the November 2022 general election.

The November 8th election is coming up, and one of the candidates on the ballot was in Lima Monday evening. Justice Jennifer Brunner was at the UAW Local 1219 Hall on Bible Road campaigning for her run for Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court.

Ohio's top Republican lawmakers are taking their case to the U.S. Supreme Court on how the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on the drawing of the congressional districts in the state.  Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, Ohio Speaker of the House Bob Cupp and two other ranking Republican members of the state legislature filed an appeal with the nation's highest court about the rejection of the congressional map.  The lawmakers said in a statement that, "The 4-3 decision of the Ohio Supreme Court encroached on this legislative authority in multiple ways and that action deserves to be tested in the U.S. Supreme Court."  The Ohio Supreme Court twice rejected the Congressional map saying that the drawing of the 15 Congressional districts favored the Republican party in both cases.   The map that is being used for the November General Election was one state lawmakers approved in March.   The Ohio Supreme Court also rejected the drawing of the Ohio house and senate maps five times with the same ruling.  The U.S. Supreme Court will have to choose to hear the case for it to move forward. 

Sharon Kennedy is connecting with police departments and court systems in order to continue to promote the veteran's response program -- which aims to help veterans who are struggling with PTSD and other issues after serving their country. The program also enlists the help of veterans themselves in order to give a personal connection to those who are struggling.