AGP Executive Report

Election Integrity Fight: The Trump administration has run at least 67 million voter registrations through DHS eligibility checks, with tens of thousands flagged as possible noncitizens or deceased—critics warn it could wrongly purge eligible voters, including in Ohio where advocates are challenging monthly DHS roll checks. GOP Primary Pressure: In Kentucky, Rep. Thomas Massie faces a Trump-backed challenger in a high-spend purge-style primary, with AI-fueled attack ads adding fuel. Ohio Data Center Push: Ohio lawmakers are forming a bipartisan data center committee to hold weekly public testimony starting May 27–28, aiming to share “accurate, relevant” info on economic, environmental, and security impacts. Local Life & Community: Cincinnati is expanding biochar-based tree planting using city wood waste, while Youngstown’s Bike Belmont draws hundreds to boost the Belmont Avenue corridor. Sports: The Cavaliers routed the Pistons in Game 7 to reach the East finals.

Sports—Ohio State & Auburn: Auburn knocked off No. 4 Ohio State 4-1 in the NCAA women’s tennis Final Four, winning the doubles point and cruising to three straight-set singles wins. Sports—Guardians’ power surge: Kyle Manzardo went deep twice and Cleveland launched six homers in a 10-3 rout of the Reds to take the series. Sports—Baseball momentum: The Guardians also kept the Ohio Cup rolling with more late-series baseball action, while other Ohio teams wrapped regular-season slates. Weather: A hot stretch is on tap in the Mid-Ohio Valley, with highs near 91 and rain chances mainly later in the week. Public Safety—Toledo shootings: Toledo police shot an armed man after a weapons call in west Toledo; officers were placed on paid administrative leave. Crash deaths: A Chillicothe woman died after being struck by a vehicle in Ross County, and a Dublin-area driver died after a crash into a pond near Powell. Local spotlight: The Cleveland Marathon weekend drew nearly 13,000 runners, with winners across every distance.

Ohio Politics & Elections: NBC News projects Vivek Ramaswamy won Ohio’s Republican governor primary, while Democrats and Republicans elsewhere keep pushing redistricting fights into the spotlight. Local Governance: South Point’s village council passed a six-month moratorium on AI data centers, adding to a growing Ohio-area pushback. Public Safety: Deputies investigated an apparent crash scene in Bedford Township (Monroe County) involving a motorcycle, ATV, and truck; injuries weren’t confirmed. Courts & Health Policy: Ohio’s Medicaid fraud crackdown continues as lawmakers and officials trade blame over delays and payments. Sports: Ohio teams and athletes keep rolling—Rootstown rallied from an 11-3 deficit to win and clinch its league title hopes, while the Cleveland Monsters evened the North Division Finals with a 3-1 win over Toronto. Community & Culture: A Pioneer, Ohio community is organizing petitions after a mass fire department resignation, while Washington County’s Relay for Life drew survivors and supporters to Civitan Park.

PGA Championship Shockwave: Ohio club pro Ben Kern turned in a 3-under 67 at Aronimink, riding a birdie surge to sit 1-over and safely in the weekend mix after Round 2. Legal Fight in Sports: AG Dave Yost is pushing to dismiss 77 claims in the Richard Strauss Ohio State abuse case, arguing older allegations fall outside a key federal window. Public Safety: First responders are on scene in Belpre after an apparent house fire/explosion; no injuries reported so far. Health & Community: Columbus’ Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure drew 7,500+ runners and raised $800,000 and counting, though weather forced course cuts and evacuations. Local Spotlight: Grandview Heights’ Chloe McKnight was named OSU Wexner Medical Center Girls Athlete of the Week after a big week at the plate and in the circle. Everyday Costs: Union County reported just one station with the cheapest E15 at $4.14/gallon for the week ending May 9.

Election Trail: Georgia GOP Senate candidate Derek Dooley hit Griffin with Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, arguing “outsiders” can beat Democrats who vote with Joe Biden in Washington. Northern Lights Watch: NOAA says a G1 geomagnetic storm could spark auroras Saturday night into Sunday, with Ohio only in the “if it escalates” zone. Climate Activism: The Great Ohio Climate March starts Saturday in Athens, then runs May 16–28 with a 100+ mile push to the Statehouse. Sports—Ohio Cup: Cincinnati’s Matt McLain drove in three and the Reds held off a wild late surge to beat the Guardians 7-6 in the first Ohio matchup of the year. Local Schools & Community: Austintown Intermediate’s Ability Awareness Week spotlighted disabilities and inclusion, while Cameron’s counselor Kelly Pettit earned a statewide education honor. Business/Industry: PRO-TEC Coating Company president Richard Veitch will retire June 1, with Joseph Hunter named successor.

Capitol Hill Harassment Push: Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes and Florida Rep. Kat Cammack say the next push to curb sexual harassment can’t be “just a women’s issue,” promising a bipartisan overhaul and tougher repercussions for abusers. Courts & Insurance: An Ohio appeals court blocked crash victims from collecting underinsured motorist benefits after they settled with the at-fault driver without their insurer’s permission—another reminder that paperwork can decide outcomes. Local Ohio Impact: Lorain is getting nearly $1M to clean up the former Lorain Pellet Terminal, clearing the way for major redevelopment. Safety Watch: Ohio State Highway Patrol plans more OVI checkpoints Friday night in Hancock and Sandusky counties. Education & Careers: Ohio University is expanding short, hands-on automation and mechatronics certificates to its Chillicothe campus starting fall 2026. Sports & Culture: Luke Bryan adds fall Farm Tour stops in Ohio, and the NCAA softball regionals begin Friday with the bracket set.

Animal Cruelty Case: A Lisbon judge amended bond conditions for Heather J. Birkmire, accused in the deaths of five horses, adding a ban on contact with livestock while the case moves forward. Flooding Pressure: In Winona, more than 60 residents are petitioning county officials to clear a clogged creek at Glenn Bennett World War II Memorial Park after repeated flooding threatens homes and utilities. Election Update: The Columbiana County Board of Elections will certify May 5 primary results Tuesday after adding 28 eligible provisional ballots. Local Government Fixes: Liverpool Township trustees received corrected rental pricing for road sweeping equipment after earlier numbers didn’t add up. Brownfield Money: Ohio announced $61 million in brownfield remediation grants statewide, including $300,000 for an environmental assessment tied to the former Patriot Special Metals site in Stark County. Health & Safety: The Jefferson County General Health District is pushing bicycle helmet use this weekend with free helmets and safety education at the Saturday Market.

Columbus Police Leadership: Chief Elaine Bryant just agreed to a five-year contract extension, with Mayor Andrew Ginther pointing to major drops in homicides since she took over. Public Safety Lawsuit: A Columbus woman injured in a crash with a police cruiser is suing, with her family saying she’ll need lifelong care. Justice in Lancaster: A Lancaster man was sentenced to life in prison for the 2025 murder of an 81-year-old. Community Tensions: A Black law enforcement group is demanding an apology from FOP president Brian Steel over a “poverty pimp” comment tied to a high-profile case. Arts & Entertainment: CAPA broke ground on a renamed music hall project as construction nears; and Twenty One Pilots officially announced its Oct. 17 Ohio Stadium return with Death Cab for Cutie. Business/Tech: reAlpha says it regained Nasdaq compliance after meeting the $1 bid requirement. Tragedy & Investigations: Akron police confirmed two deaths after a plane crash into a home.

Ohio Courts: The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Marion attorney Jack VanBibber for two years, citing neglect and lying about a client’s case plus online sexual propositioning. Public Safety & Health: Gov. DeWine announced $3.4 million in violent-crime reduction grants for 44 agencies, while Ohio health officials urged residents to cut chronic-disease risk with small diet and activity changes and reminded everyone to recognize stroke signs with “BE FAST.” Local Government: Vermilion Township trustees reported fire/EMS updates and equipment repairs, and Washington County’s library levy failed by 328 votes—setting up another attempt in November. Community & Culture: Appalachian Ohio’s Appalachian Leadership Institute is now accepting no-cost applications, and the Center for Peace and Reconciliation is hosting a free Native American cultural event this Saturday. Sports: Fort Jennings swept Lima Central Catholic in a tight doubleheader, and UNOH men’s golf is headed back to the NAIA national championship.

Medicaid Fraud Clash: Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman hit back at Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration over Medicaid fraud, after DeWine rolled out new anti-fraud moves including a six-month moratorium on new home-health providers. Youth Care Scrutiny: Disability Rights Ohio says abuse, neglect, restraints, and bullying are “serious and systemic” in youth residential treatment homes, urging statewide reforms after visits to facilities. Public Safety: Ohio State Highway Patrol announced statewide OVI checkpoints for Thursday evening, and troopers are using a seized tractor-trailer to crack down on speeding in Turnpike work zones. Local Government: Greer City Council approved $440,598 for a pavement preservation program, aiming to stretch asphalt life instead of repaving. Ohio Courts & Crime: A Bath Township party shooting victim’s lawsuit targets Airbnb and others, while an Ashland County man received a maximum prison term for rape. Education & Tech: Ohio University named John McCarthy interim provost and provost Don Leo’s exit starts June 1; meanwhile, OHIO warned students about a Canvas cybersecurity incident.

Ohio State & Texas primetime buzz: The Buckeyes’ 2026 matchup with Texas is locked in as a headline night, with College GameDay set for Austin—fans are already debating what it means for the season’s biggest moments. Ohio politics shake-up: Gov. DeWine’s appointment of Andy Wilson as Ohio Attorney General is driving fresh attention to statewide legal and policy priorities. Courts and schools: A major constitutional fight over Ohio’s EdChoice vouchers heads to the 10th District Court of Appeals, with public districts arguing the program drains funding meant for “common schools.” Local public safety: A Saturday two-vehicle crash in Royalton Township left up to four people potentially injured, with multiple transports reported. Business & jobs: PersonalHour is planning a new Ohio Pilates manufacturing expansion after a reported $4 million investment offer. Weather: Cool, breezy conditions with lake-effect rain and possible storms are in the forecast.

State Politics: Gov. Mike DeWine named Andy Wilson as Ohio’s new attorney general, picking the public safety director to finish Dave Yost’s term after Yost announced an early June exit. Legal Fight: A 10th District Court of Appeals panel heard arguments over whether Ohio’s $1B private school voucher program violates the state constitution—setting up a likely path to the Ohio Supreme Court. Immigration: The 6th Circuit ruled immigrants in Ohio and Kentucky must be able to seek bond hearings, pushing back against mandatory detention. Public Safety: In Wayne County, a suspect was taken into custody after stabbing the sheriff and a deputy during a standoff; both were later released from hospital. Tech/Services: Spectrum users in Greater Akron faced a widespread outage, disrupting service for the Akron Zoo. Education & Campus: Ohio University announced a leadership transition with John McCarthy named interim EVP and provost, while TRIO Student Support Services continues no-cost advising and career help for eligible Athens students. Sports: Big Ten men’s basketball schedules for 2026–27 are out, and Ohio high school baseball/softball Super 25 rankings were released.

Attorney General Shake-Up: Gov. Mike DeWine has named Andy Wilson—Ohio’s public safety director and a former prosecutor—as interim attorney general, replacing Dave Yost effective June 7, with Wilson set to serve the final seven months of Yost’s term. Education Politics: Ohio’s governor race is sharpening over school funding: Democratic candidate Amy Acton argues for fully funding public education, while Vivek Ramaswamy pushes for outcomes first—right as more than 300 districts are back in court challenging EdChoice vouchers. Local Governance: Weirton, with state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, unveiled new West Virginia-shaped steel monuments at a veterans park—another Ohio River-area push to mark community history. Public Health & Safety: Ohio is launching a statewide marijuana risk education campaign, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol is preparing statewide OVI checkpoints May 15. Sports: Marion Harding’s boys tennis team grabbed a MOAC regular-season title, while Buckeye Local won its softball sectional.

Attorney General Shakeup: Gov. Mike DeWine named Andy Wilson as Ohio’s new, temporary attorney general, stepping in after Dave Yost resigned to join a legal nonprofit; Wilson will serve out the rest of Yost’s term, with November candidates Keith Faber and John Kulewicz still on the ballot. NCAA Spotlight: Mount Union’s baseball and softball teams both earned at-large NCAA Division III bids—softball hosts a regional starting May 14, while baseball heads to Salisbury, Maryland, opening May 15. Higher Ed Moves: Ohio University named John McCarthy interim executive vice president and provost, and is expanding short-term automation and mechatronics certificates to the Chillicothe campus starting fall 2026. Public Safety: Federal agents arrested an uncle and nephew in a cocaine trafficking case tied to the Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force, with more than 80 kilograms of suspected cocaine seized. Local Watch: A serious Sugarcreek crash left one driver critically injured after a rear-end collision during utility maintenance.

In the last 12 hours, Ohio’s political news was dominated by the aftermath of the May primary and the immediate reshaping of fall matchups. Multiple reports focus on Vivek Ramaswamy’s Republican gubernatorial win and the path it sets for November against Democratic nominee Amy Acton. Coverage also included state-level fallout from the primaries, including a narrow GOP state senate result in District 1 (Craig Riedel edging James Hoops) and additional primary outcomes that set up November contests. Separately, an Ohio Supreme Court ruling put a Whitehall recall election on hold, requiring petitioners to gather additional signatures under a stricter interpretation of the city charter.

Beyond politics, the most prominent “local impact” items in the last 12 hours were community and public-policy developments. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb announced a 90-day downtown action plan aimed at stabilizing office vacancies and supporting tenant retention and new businesses. In education, Lorain voters approved an 11-mill school levy after layoffs and budget cuts, while Ohio’s OHSAA released softball division brackets for DIII–DVII. There were also government-and-infrastructure stories: a study commissioned by Lucas County estimated jail repair costs at roughly $63–$73 million, and the Ohio EPA held a public hearing on a proposed data center in Franklin Furnace amid neighbor concerns about wetlands and impacts to local wildlife.

Sports and culture coverage also filled out the day’s news cycle. Several high school athletics stories highlighted championship-level performances, including Bryan softball and baseball shutting out Swanton to claim league titles, plus OHSAA postseason scheduling details. On the college side, Ohio State men’s and women’s tennis advanced in the NCAA tournament and will host a super regional, while Ohio State football recruiting and player-profile coverage emphasized new offensive weapons. Cultural/community items ranged from Ohio State Marion launching a “Marion Futures Lab” to a paranormal convention returning to the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield.

Looking across the broader 7-day window, the coverage shows continuity in two themes: (1) the political calendar locking in November stakes after the primary, and (2) ongoing pressure on Ohio schools and local budgets. Earlier reporting included widespread school levy rejections and uncertainty in multiple districts, which helps contextualize the significance of Lorain’s levy approval in the most recent reporting. The older material also reinforces that the Ramaswamy–Acton governor race and the Senate contest are being treated as major midterm battlegrounds, with party leadership and election takeaways repeatedly framed around affordability and control of key offices.

In the past 12 hours, Ohio’s political and public-safety headlines were dominated by the aftermath of the May 5 primaries and by a cluster of local incidents. Politically, multiple reports describe Vivek Ramaswamy winning the GOP nomination for Ohio governor and setting up a November matchup with Democrat Amy Acton. In the same election cycle, coverage also points to the U.S. Senate race as a major November focus, with Democrats selecting Sherrod Brown to face Republican Jon Husted. Separately, several community-level stories drew attention: a person of interest was arrested in connection with a fatal Athens County fire, and in Morrow County, Brian Wilson pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and related counts in the fatal shooting of deputy Daniel Sherrer, with sentencing scheduled for May 26.

Public safety and crime coverage also included multiple ongoing investigations and court developments. A jury began deliberations in the murder retrial of former Ohio deputy Jason Meade, charged in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Casey Goodson Jr. Meanwhile, newly released bodycam footage in the Monroe County case involving Jonathan Schmidt shows deputies arresting him in the killing of his mother-in-law, Marcia VanDruten, with investigators describing escalating concerns prior to the death. Other reports included an Ohio man charged with sexually exploiting multiple girls online, and a “sealed room” case in which an Ohio woman was charged after a teen’s body was found taped inside a bedroom.

Beyond politics and crime, the last 12 hours included a mix of education, health, and business updates. Swanton High School was evacuated after reports of a chemical odor from a classroom drain, with hazmat crews investigating and the campus entrance closed. In schools more broadly, coverage highlighted a new study on school phone bans, reporting that while phone use in class dropped sharply, evidence of quick improvements in grades or behavior was limited. On the business side, Target announced renovations for nine Ohio stores (including several in the Greater Akron area), and Meijer opened a new supercenter in Bainbridge Township at the former Geauga Lake site.

Looking across the wider 7-day window, the coverage shows continuity in several themes rather than a single sweeping development. The primaries coverage is extensive, repeatedly framing Ohio’s governor and Senate races as consequential for November control of the chamber and for the broader midterm environment. There’s also sustained attention to local governance and community institutions—ranging from school funding and levy outcomes (including Tallmadge City Schools planning reductions after a levy failed) to local leadership changes such as an Adams County district hiring a new superintendent. Finally, the week includes ongoing civic and economic activity, from Ohio University hosting a major information systems conference focused on AI and the future of work to retail and community projects like Meijer’s new store and other regional initiatives.