Starting September 1, 2013, the Ohio Sales Tax rate will increase while state withholding taxes will decrease. The changes are part of Ohio’s two-year budget that was approved earlier this summer. The Ohio Department of Taxation analyzed how both an income tax rate decrease at 8.5 percent and the sales tax increase would affect Ohio […]
State Using Driver License Photos to ID Crime Suspects
August 27, 2013 by
For the last two and one-half months, law enforcement officers across Ohio have been able to use facial recognition software made available by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office to electronically compare pictures of people with ID shots from the state’s driver license database. Since the system was turned on June 6, police around the […]
Ohio Residents Encouraged to Check Trees for Signs of Invasive Pests
August 15, 2013 by
In an effort to protect the trees of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is encouraging Ohio citizens to check their trees for signs of the Walnut Twig Beetle and Asian Longhorned Beetle. Both of these tree pests have been detected in southwest Ohio and threaten the health and viability of the state’s hardwood […]
State MLK Commission Seeks Nominations for Awards
August 6, 2013 by
Nominations are being sought for awards honoring Ohioans who carry on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards honoring such individuals and organizations will be given at the 2014 Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration being held Jan. 16 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus. Nominations are due to the commission by […]
Study says Ohio Economic Recovers is Years Away
July 31, 2013 by
Ohio’s economic recovery is inching along so slowly that, given the current rate of job creation, the state remains nearly five years away from regaining all of the jobs vanquished in the Great Recession. The news is grimmer for the state’s most populous and productive county. Cuyahoga County, which lost 120,000 jobs last decade, is […]
Ohio’s Rainy Day Fund Hits All-Time High
July 12, 2013 by
Ohio’s rainy day fund has hit an all-time high. Gov. John Kasich on Thursday filled the account with a deposit of nearly $996 million, bringing the total to $1.48 billion. The deposit, made possible by a nearly $2 billion surplus in Ohio’s General Revenue Fund, marks the first time in more than a decade that […]
Governor Signs Budget, Leaves New Abortion Rules
July 1, 2013 by
Ohio’s next two-year budget is a done deal. Gov. John Kasich on Sunday evening signed controversial House Bill 59, a nearly $62 billion plan that attempts to spur economic growth while restricting reproductive rights. The Republican governor used his line-item veto to ditch a provision that would bar the state from expanding Medicaid, but held […]
BMV Announces Reduction in Fee for Late Registrations
July 1, 2013 by
Effective July 1, 2013, the current fee for late renewal of motor vehicle registration will be reduced from $20 to $10. In addition, the previous 7-day grace period associated with the fee has been extended to 30 days. The BMV asks drivers to keep in mind that it is still illegal to operate a motor […]
Governor Kasich Approval Rating Hits High, Possible Challenger Still Largely Unknown
June 26, 2013 by
Ohio Gov. John Kasich scored record-high poll numbers Tuesday — a milestone that comes as a state budget substantially different than he imagined nears the finish line. In a survey this month of 941 registered voters, Quinnipiac University of Hamden, Conn., measured Kasich’s job-approval rating at 54 percent, up 2 percentage points from April and […]
New 70 MPH Speed Zones Unveiled, Changes Start July 1
May 22, 2013 by
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) has unveiled a map identifying interstate highway locations where motorists will be legally permitted to drive 70 miles per hour beginning this summer. The new designations follow recently passed legislation permitting speeds to increase from 65 to 70 mph on certain sections of interstate highways. H.B. 51 – the […]
