Hamilton Journal News
AP finds patterns of abuse by ICE employees, contractors
Investigators said one immigration enforcement official got away with physically assaulting his girlfriend for years. Another admitted he repeatedly sexually abused a woman in his custody. A third is charged with taking bribes to remove detention...
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Fewer local entities the aim of some lawmakers
School and governmental entities in six southwest Ohio counties filed 40 different tax issues last week to be voted on in the May primary. And that’s one of several reason state lawmakers are building legislation to rein in local spending. “Ohio has...
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DeWine, lawmakers expect more legislative focus on data centers
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and state lawmakers from both parties anticipate an increased focus on legislating resource-guzzling data centers, which have proliferated throughout much of the state in recent years as demand for computing power surges. DeWine...
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Trump appeals block to end of Haitian TPS
The Trump administration has appealed a federal district court’s decision that stopped the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from canceling Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. A judge in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia ruled last...
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MAY PRIMARIES WILL HAVE BROAD IMPACT
Ohio’s May 5 primary election will decide issues that could impact your property and income taxes and set the stage for a November election with national, statewide and local repercussions. Voters will elect new faces to every statewide executive...
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Trump strips job protections from federal workers
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration finalized a new policy Thursday that would strip job protections from up to 50,000 federal workers, a move that would make it easier for President Donald Trump to remove or discipline them, in his latest effort to...
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GOP, Dems offer 15 bills at state level
The Ohio House returned from a winter break this week amid a fiery national conversation on federal immigration enforcement, with proposals from both sides of the aisle aimed at impacting enforcement in Ohio. Democrats took the break to brainstorm...
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House Dems want rules for ICE
Ohio House Democrats are backing a package of bills that they say would reaffirm the rights of American citizens and immigrant populations, informed by a calamitous federal immigration enforcement campaign that has unfurled in Minneapolis. Most of the...
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Locally owned Ohio Kings to play two games here
The opportunity to showcase their professional basketball team at the renovated Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr. Community Center was too much for two Middletown natives to ignore. Team owners Kevin S. Aldridge and his cousin, Kevin L. Aldridge, both...
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Speaker faces tough choices on shutdown, ICE
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson faces tough days ahead trying to muscle a federal funding package to passage and prevent a prolonged partial government shutdown as debate intensifies over the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration...
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Iran’s supreme leader warns U.S. attack would spark war
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s supreme leader warned Sunday that any attack by the United States would spark a “regional war” in the Mideast, further escalating tensions as President Donald Trump has threatened to militarily strike the Islamic...
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‘I WANT TO BE PART OF THE CHANGE’
Hamilton School Board President Shaquila ‘Pastor Shaq’ Mathews recently earned an associate degree in criminal justice to better understand the legal system. Inspired by her brother’s unsolved homicide, the former Citizen of the Year remains dedicated...
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Senate passes funding deal despite GOP backlash
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Friday to fund most of the government through the end of September after President Donald Trump made a deal with Democrats to carve out Homeland Security funding and allow Congress to debate new restrictions on federal...
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Snowstorm broke 2 area records but was far less severe than ‘78 blizzard
The snowstorm that dropped a thick blanket of snow across the region this week broke records and disrupted lives, but depended on multiple factors before and during the event to reach its high snow totals. National Weather Service Meteorologist Andy...
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Springfield warned of possible targeted 30-day ICE surge
A message sent to Springfield City School District staff obtained by the Springfield News-Sun says school officials are expecting a federal immigration enforcement operation lasting at least 30 days may begin in Springfield sometime after Tuesday, the...
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Backlash for latest killing prompts White House turnabout
Prominent Republicans and gun rights advocates helped elicit a White House turnabout this week after bristling over the administration’s characterization of Alex Pretti, the second person killed this month by a federal officer in Minneapolis, as...
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Driver in triple-fatal crash still hospitalized
A man who was behind the wheel of a vehicle that killed a family of three last month near the intersection of River Road and Hooven Avenue in Hamilton’s Lindenwald neighborhood remains in the hospital a month after the crash. “They haven’t proceeded...
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Deep freeze grips most of United States as winter storm’s fury spreads
Snow, sleet and blistering cold descended across much of the eastern half of the country Saturday as a severe winter storm took hold and officials warned of days of frigid and treacherous conditions to come. Moving east from the Rockies, freezing...
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PROJECT’S GOALS: VALUE, STABILITY, OPPORTUNITY
For the first time in about 50 years, new homes are rising in Hamilton’s Jefferson neighborhood as part of the city’s Build Back the Block initiative. More construction is set for the coming spring. Despite initial challenges such as debris during...
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Non-union county employees receive less in raises
The Butler County commissioners have awarded $444,994 in performance pay to non-union employees under their direct control, which is 31.5% less than the raises awarded last year. The commissioners recently approved performance pay raises for 150...
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$15M pledged to ‘reignite’ downtown Middletown
Downtown Middletown development could see a new spark with the infusion of $15 million from three local entities. The city of Middletown, Butler County commissioners and the Middletown Community Foundation will each chip in $5 million to a shared...
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Trump won’t use force to attain region
DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump insisted he wants to “get Greenland, including right, title and ownership,” but said he wouldn’t employ force to achieve that — using his speech Wednesday at the World Economic Forum to repeatedly deride...
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U.S. citizen says ICE removed him from his home
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Federal immigration agents forced open a door and detained a U.S. citizen in his Minnesota home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him out onto the streets in his underwear in subfreezing conditions, according to his family and...
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Source says Congress targeting Fuyao in bill
The U.S. House and Senate sent the White House a package of government funding bills that include a call for the Trump administration to detail investigative steps involving labor practices by Chinese automotive glass producers operating in the United...
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Health care subsidy talks stalled
For weeks, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio has been the relentlessly positive voice in bipartisan talks to help over 20 million Americans avoid dramatic health insurance price increases this year, as lawmakers look for ways to extend extra health...
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$31M project transforms business park into school
High school students from around Butler County are learning in a former corporate headquarters as part of a unique $31 million business-to-school transformation. For the first time, classes for Butler Tech students in advance manufacturing recently...
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Area doctors decry vaccine schedule changes
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last week cut the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — a move that is concerning to local public health experts who worry this will create confusion for parents or lead to fewer children getting...
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Ex-husband charged in killings of Columbus couple waives right to extradition hearing
COLUMBUS — The ex-husband of an Ohio woman charged this weekend in the killings of her and her husband waived his right to an extradition hearing Monday in Illinois. Michael David McKee, 39, a doctor from Chicago, has been charged with premeditated...
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‘Super flu’ worsens influenza season, says ODH director
A new strain of influenza is causing Ohio flu cases and related hospitalizations, according to the Ohio Department of Health. “We’ve heard a lot about this new strain of the flu that many have dubbed the ‘super flu,’” ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff...
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Twin cities on edge after fatal ICE shooting
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis was on edge Thursday following the fatal shooting of a woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer taking part in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown, with the governor calling for people to...
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DeWine: Child care program can last 8 weeks amid freeze
Ohio has enough money to continue its subsidized child care program for at least another eight weeks without further financial support from the federal government, according to Gov. Mike DeWine. That window may be tested following the decision of...
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Rubio, Trump send mixed messages about who’s running Venezuela
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Sunday that the United States would not govern Venezuela day-to-day other than enforcing an existing “oil quarantine” on the country, even as President Donald Trump again insisted that the U.S....
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Hospital stays for flu quickly rising in Ohio
Hospitalizations due to flu in the region and nationally are climbing rapidly and in some cases doubling or tripling historical averages, according to the Ohio Department of Health. For the week ending Dec. 27, 1,465 Ohioans were hospitalized due to...
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YWCA: MORE SHELTERS, SUPPORT NEEDED
The number of domestic violence fatalities in Ohio has community leaders calling for more emergency housing and increased state funding. ‘We’re having a hard time finding safe, affordable housing for survivor families to go into,’ said Wendy...
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Millions face skyrocketing costs as health subsidies expire
NEW YORK — Enhanced tax credits that have helped reduce the cost of health insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired overnight, cementing higher health costs for millions of Americans at the start of the new...
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SMALL STEPS CAN LEAD TO BIG SUCCESS
Most New Year’s resolutions fail quickly because people lack a concrete plan to sustain their motivation. Experts suggest setting realistic, incremental goals and creating actionable plans that can be adjusted. But what’s more important than the how is...
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In a tumultuous year, health policy dramatically reshaped under RFK Jr.
WASHINGTON — In the whirlwind first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, some of the most polarizing changes have taken place within the Department of Health and Human Services, where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has openly rebuffed the medical...
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LG Energy to sell plant to Honda
LG Energy Solution will sell its joint venture EV battery production site near Jeffersonville to Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, according to a Korean regulatory filing Wednesday. The joint venture EV battery plant, built with LG...
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How did Musk’s DOGE disrupt so much while saving so little?
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency said it made more than 29,000 cuts to the federal government — slashing billion-dollar contracts, canceling thousands of grants and pushing out civil servants. But the group did not do what...
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Data centers, development, Vance among year’s top stories
What a year: In 2025, the headlines included news on data centers, cyberattacks, immigration, local development and a native Middletonian who became the 50th Vice President of the United States. Here are the Journal-News’ top stories of the year...
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Group sues HHS for cutting funds for kids’ health programs
The American Academy of Pediatrics sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, seeking to block nearly $12 million in cuts to the group. Earlier this month, the federal government “abruptly terminated” grants to the group, the...
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Pastor joins hospital chorus for annual caroling
Pastor Scott Davidson understands the power of community. As a founding member of the Dayton congregation of Soul Winners for Jesus Christ, a non-denominational evangelistic association that focuses on prayer and hands-on ministry, he is often...
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Hemp drink retail sites limited
THC-infused beverages will be lumped in with other intoxicating hemp products, with sales limited to licensed dispensaries, following a lineitem veto from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. DeWine signed Senate Bill 56 — which came about in large part due to his...
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Most U.S. adults aren’t making year-end charitable contributions
NEW YORK — Most Americans aren’t making end-of-year charitable giving plans, according to the results of a new AP-NORC poll, despite the many fundraising appeals made by nonprofits that rely on donation surges in the calendar’s final month to reach...
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Files go missing on DOJ Epstein website
NEW YORK — At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from...
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New flu variant expected to spread more than previous versions
The flu constantly morphs and mutates. Often, it surprises researchers a little. This year, the virus is surprising them a lot. They are bracing for a brutal season, driven by a new and alarming variant that is expected to circulate widely. The main...
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Trump announces $1,776 military ‘warrior dividend’
President Donald Trump looked to reassure Americans concerned about the rising cost of living by announcing plans to award a special holiday payment to military service members and roll out new housing reforms in the new year. Trump announced the...
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Jobless rate doesn’t give whole picture
Ohio’s unemployment rate fell in September, but the economic indicator doesn’t paint the complete picture of what is seen as a lackluster job market here, economists told this newspaper. While Ohio’s unemployment rate fell from 5 to 4.8%, the...
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Community frustrated with official response to shooting at Brown U.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The ongoing effort to find a man who walked onto Brown University’s campus during a busy exam season and shot nearly a dozen students in a crowded lecture hall has raised questions about the school’s security systems and the urgency...
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Tariffs having an uneven effect on holiday prices
NEW YORK — The Ah Louis Store in San Luis Obispo, California, turns into a winter wonderland every holiday season. Green garlands, giant nutcrackers, baubles and bows go up in early November on the historic downtown building that houses the gift shop....
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Gov. DeWine withholding Ramaswamy endorsement
Gov. Mike DeWine held firm Thursday that he will eventually endorse the GOP’s official nominee to replace him as governor, but the term-limited Republican was still cagey about his overall thoughts on party-endorsed candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. DeWine’s...
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States raking in billions from slot machines on your phone
Most casinos in Las Vegas take sports bets, but that’s not where the real money is. The bulk of their profit comes from games such as slot machines and blackjack. Many states have legalized online sports betting in recent years, but a handful have...
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Trump wants to keep farmers happy with cash
RANDOLPH, Minn. — When Donald Trump promised new tariffs while running for president, Gene Stehly worried that trade disputes would jeopardize his international sales of corn, soybeans and wheat. A little more than a year later, Stehly said his fears...
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Can Moreno secure bipartisan ACA extension?
As Congress wrestles over what to do about expiring subsidies for Americans who buy insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno is trying this week to push his party to embrace a middle ground deal — and find a way to...
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Hamilton could see more downtown housing
IRG Realty Advisors, the owner of Third + Dayton in downtown, wants to turn a vacant, paved lot into an another apartment complex. Proposed is a 120-unit mixed use planned development on 2.75 acres that corners MLK Jr. Boulevard at Butler and Dayton...
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Hamilton officer suspended for use of force violation
A Hamilton police officer was suspended for almost a month in October after an altercation that knocked out a 62-year-old arrestee, according to newly obtained police records. On Sept. 24 Officer Stephen Heffernan tossed Michael Yordy into the...
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Officials play up pipe bomb suspect’s arrest
WASHINGTON — After the arrest of a man charged with placing two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties on Jan. 5, 2021, the warning from the Trump administration was clear: If you come to the nation’s...
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Moreno promised hope for a dying paper mill; then reality set in
CHILLICOTHE — One by one, black cars with tinted windows pulled up to the parking lot in the shadow of the paper mill. The governor of Ohio exited one car. One U.S. senator appeared, then the other. They were joined by the congressional representative...
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Trump targets Somali-Americans with anti-immigrant rhetoric
He said it four times in seven seconds: Somali immigrants in the United States are “garbage.” It was no mistake. In fact, President Donald Trump’s rhetorical attacks on immigrants have been building since he said Mexico was sending “rapists” across...
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How one Arkansas county helps ICE make arrests
ROGERS, Ark. — Northwest Arkansas has emerged as a hot spot in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, the result of one county’s partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and aggressive traffic stops by police. The...
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Area gas prices drop to as low as $2.02 a gallon
Gas stations in the region lowered their prices to nearly $2 a gallon following the holiday weekend, the lowest prices in more than four years. Dayton, Springfield, Hamilton and Middletown on Monday saw prices as low as $2.02, $2.17, $2.35 and $2.45,...
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Mass killings in 2025 hit lowest level since 2006
A shooting last weekend at a children’s birthday party in California that left four dead was the 17th mass killing this year — the lowest number recorded since 2006, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in...
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Luigi Mangione fights to exclude gun, notes
NEW YORK — As the first anniversary of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s killing looms this week, the man charged in his death will be in court fighting to prevent prosecutors from using evidence they say links him to the crime. Luigi Mangione,...
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Petition asks for transparency about cyberattack
An effort for more transparency regarding Middletown’s cybersecurity incident and plans for restoring water billing has reached more than 2,000 signatures on a Change.org petition. Key information about cyberattack, water billing: A “cybersecurity...
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Shoppers’ holiday spending could help keep economy humming
Americans are nervous about the economy. They are troubled by the higher prices from tariffs. They are wary of a fizzling job market. They are poised to shell out during the holiday shopping season anyway. Economists are predicting a healthy dose of...
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Report shows number of local abortions surges fourfold
The number of abortions taking place in Montgomery County were four times as high in October compared to September, according to preliminary figures from the Ohio Department of Health. “It’s heartbreaking,” said Margie Christie, executive director of...
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DeWine regrets signing bill that legalized sports betting in Ohio
COLUMBUS — If Gov. Mike DeWine could turn back time, he would not have signed legislation that legalized sports betting in Ohio. With two Cleveland Guardians pitchers and an Ohio-born guard for the Miami Heat snared in separate betting-related...
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Intoxicating hemp deal awaits vote in Senate
Lawmakers tasked with hammering out a legislative compromise on a regulatory structure for intoxicating hemp products and tweaks to Ohio’s recreational marijuana laws inked a deal just after midnight Thursday, though the agreement needs further...
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Recent air travel woes still fresh this holiday season
The turbulence caused by the longest government shutdown on record may still be fresh on travelers’ minds this Thanksgiving, but experts say preparing for the usual holiday crush of winter weather, heavy traffic and crowded airports can help ease those...
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Changes to agency lead to midterm worries
MINNEAPOLIS — Since it was created in 2018, the federal government’s cybersecurity agency has helped warn state and local election officials about potential threats from foreign governments, showed officials how to protect polling places from attacks...
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Veterans board continues to expand what it offers
The Butler County Veterans Service Commission continues to find new ways to provide services to those who risked their lives in service to their country. While the board is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs — it is an arm of...
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Residents who oppose data center pack meeting
A lot of people showed up to the Trenton council chambers Thursday during a more than four-hour public meeting, speaking against a planned data center. What to know about the data center: Trenton completed a $7.7 million deal in mid-October with real...
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SNAP food aid gets to some states
People in some U.S. states were able to buy groceries with federally funded SNAP benefits over the weekend while those elsewhere are still waiting for November food benefits delayed by a protracted legal battle over the federal government...
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WHO’S PAYING TO INFLUENCE WASHINGTON?
ABOVE: The amount each company pictured has spent on federal lobbying in the first three quarters of 2025. WASHINGTON — With the nation embroiled in interparty warfare and constantly rocked by the Trump administration’s unprecedented political...
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Lawmakers eye quick solution to hemp limbo
Ohio lawmakers are eyeing a quick and permanent legislative fix to the oft-criticized unregulated sale of intoxicating hemp products in the state after a series of shifts have thrown the legality of the merchandise into limbo. Currently, any Ohio...
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