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As we look toward the future of our state and the values that should guide our representatives, we must hold every political figure to the highest standard of decency and respect. Recently, comments made by Ohio Republican Vivek Ramaswamy have surfaced, drawing widespread condemnation for their blatantly racist undertones.
In a statement captured on video and circulated on social media, Mr. Ramaswamy claimed that “a Black baby is probably safer in the inner streets of Chicago than in the womb of his own Black mother.” For anyone concerned with the moral compass of our leadership, this is not just an "outrageous" comment; it is a direct assault on the dignity of Black women and families. By suggesting that Black mothers are inherently a threat to their own children, Mr. Ramaswamy is leaning into dangerous, historical tropes that have long been used to dehumanize our community and justify systemic injustice.
On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, for another time, Pataskala area residents showed up to object to a data center.
The proposed data permit is sought by the Aligned company utilizing Bloom Energy gas conversion fuel cells, importing 15 thousand decatherms of natural gas to the site on 80+ acres.
According to Forbes and CNBC Aligned Data was purchased by a consortium with UAE, Nvidia, Microsoft, BlackRock
and Elon Musk’s xAI.
Neighbors near and far participated in online comments and in-person comments.
Drilling down into Pataskala's Zoning documents can be challenging but it can be done.
On May 28, Freepoint Eco-Systems notified the Ohio EPA and Freepoint employees that it would be shutting down its Central Ohio plastic incineration facility, located outside of Hebron in Licking County. According to Oil and Gas Watch’s database, Freepoint Eco-Systems was one of only seven operating plastic pyrolysis facilities in the entire United States.
The Hebron facility’s troubled record dates back to the fall of 2024, shortly after the facility first began processing plastic. Since then, employee complaints of exposure to fine plastic dust and community concerns about constant black plumes of smoke prompted multiple Ohio EPA and OSHA investigations into the pyrolysis facility.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: The current process for citizen-led ballot initiatives in Ohio is broken. It creates a "gatekeeper" system that allows the state to silence voices before they are ever heard.
Recently, we’ve seen yet another example of the Attorney General’s office using its power to block a proposed constitutional amendment by claiming the summary wasn't "fair and truthful."
Why does this matter to us? Because our committee, Protecting Ohioans’ Constitutional Rights, is currently fighting this exact issue in federal court. We believe the "fair and truthful" requirement is an unconstitutional barrier that violates the First Amendment. It doesn't matter what the political topic of a petition is—when the state is given the power to decide which ideas are "fair" enough to reach the voters, democracy suffers.
This article first appeared here
Ohio legislators want to make Governor Mike DeWine’s pause on new data center tax exemptions permanent.
House Bill 957, introduced May 27 by Rep. Tristan Rader, D-Lakewood, would amend state law to prohibit the Ohio Tax Credit Authority from entering into any new data center tax exemption agreements after October 1, 2026. DeWine ordered the pause just days earlier, directing the Tax Credit Authority to stop accepting new exemption requests while a legislative committee studies the growth of data centers in Ohio. The bill would take that administrative pause and write it into law.
We have officially moved into our new home, and now we need help bringing the space to life.
After an incredible first round of volunteer support, we’re inviting our community back to help us unpack, organize, and decorate before reopening for LGBTQ+ youth.
June 2, 3:00PM–6:00PM
Every poster hung, every supply unpacked, and every room organized helps create a space where queer youth can feel welcomed, affirmed, and connected
Sign up
Questions? Email info@kycohio.org
Urgent action item from Ohio Nuclear Free Network: To have Ohio included in the pending U.S. RECA legislation for 2026, calls and emails are needed by June 10!
Please call US Rep. Dave Taylor next week – Ask him to reach out to Rep. Moylan to promote Ohio being included in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act! Taylor’s DC office number is (202) 225-3164.
RECA proponents have been working with him, and he and his aide Josh Millard are taking note. Pressure is needed now! After making the call, please email Rep. Taylor’s office: Josh Millard: josh.mlllard@mail.house.gov.
Talking points for call and email:
Dear Josh,
This article first appeared here
The most blatantly evil thing happening in Ohio right now is flying almost completely under the radar.
If you’re lucky enough to avoid far-right social media, you’ve probably missed it entirely. But it’s about to become incredibly important, so we need to discuss it.
Earlier this month, far-right blog the Daily Wire announced they had “uncovered” massive amounts of Medicaid “fraud” in Ohio, committed almost entirely by the Somali community and immigrants throughout the state (convenient, right?).
ACTION ALERT! Here's a chance to speak out about data centers in Ohio (but it's a short window, so please take action today and tomorrow morning)!
House Select Committee on Data Centers, Mon., June 1, 12 p.m., Senate Finance Hearing Room. Agenda: General public testimony will be heard!
All testimony - proponent/opponent/interested party – is welcome. Submit testimony and witness information by Sun., May 31 at 12 p.m. through the committee’s website: https://www.ohiohouse.gov/committees/select-committee-on-data-centers/meetings/cmte_h_data_centers_1_2026-06-01-1200_1349. Indicate on the witness information form whether you will be providing in-person or written-only testimony.
Select Committee co-chairs:
Adam Holmes, co-chair - 614-644-6014; rep97@ohiohouse.gov