Buckeye Forum

Columbus Dispatch senior editor Darrel Rowland speaks about campaign contributions in Ohio. During this episode of the Buckeye Forum politics podcast Rowland provides a snapshot of the top 16 donors in the state and give details on each of them. Top 16 donors: #1 $2.31 million Virginia “Ginni” Ragan, Columbus #2 $2.24 million Frances, John and David Pepper, Cincinnati #3 $1.90 million Boich family, Columbus, Miami Beach #4 $1.34 million Ratner family, Cleveland area #5 $913,000 Leslie and Abigail Wexner, New Albany #6 $904,000 Karen Wright and Thomas Rastin, Mount Vernon #7 $869,000 Bill Lager, Columbus #8 $838,000 Geraldine and David Warner, Cincinnati #9 $820,000 Ronald Wilheim, Cincinnati #10 $704,000 Lindner family, Cincinnati #11 $681,000 Donald and Gayle Oeters, Cincinnati #12 $607,000 Richard W. Pogue, Cleveland #13 $529,000 Lee and Patti Schear, Dayton #14 $522,000 Anthony and Becky Alexander, Akron #15 $495,000 David Maltz, Cleveland #16 $441,000 Richard and Katherine Rosenthal, Cincinnati

Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan and Randy Ludlow recap the opening night of the online Democratic National Convention on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum. During this episode we discuss what speakers John Kasich, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders all had to say during Monday night’s digital DNC.

Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan and Anna Staver discuss how things are going to be very different at this year’s Democratic National Convention. During this episode we talk about how this digital DNC will impact Ohio’s Biden delegates as they watch this convention from their homes. Finally, we mention how this virtual convention is now a series of nationally broadcast speeches, Zoom lunches, and conference calls.

Columbus Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan, Randy Ludlow, and Anna Staver discuss the latest in Ohio politics on the newest episode of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we talk about how Dr. Amy Acton has resigned as the state’s health director, what precautions the state has been taken amid the coronavirus pandemic, and where we might see things go from here. Finally, we discuss what the Ohio General Assembly has done so far this year, and mention what we can expect to see when they return from summer recess.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and politics reporter Rick Rouan discuss election security and what this means for voters in Ohio. Next we talk about what election officials are doing regarding the upcoming 2020 election. Finally, we discuss what the terms sockpuppets and catfishing mean, and what’s being done with social media to control the flow of disinformation. Read more: Voters again to face tsunami of online disinformation, experts warnWhat you need to know about the language of disinformation8 Ohio counties fail to meet election security deadlineElections board member LaRose forced to resign over security concerns fires back

Ohio purged more than 460,000 voter registrations in 2019. Reporters from The Columbus Dispatch and USA TODAY Network dug into those registrations that were wrongly targeted for cancellation.

Columbus Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporters Rick Rouan and Anna Staver to recap Lara Trump’s recent visit to Columbus, discusses Donald Trump’s first 2020 campaign visit to Toledo, Ohio last night, and talks about what Ohio’s suburbs might look like for this upcoming presidential election. Read more: Killing of Iranian terrorist leader touted by Donald Trump in Ohio rally, first of 2020Lara Trump stumps for father-in-law in ColumbusFact-checking Trump’s claims about tanks, cars and Ohio’s ‘best’ economic year

Columbus Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and politics reporter Cathy Candisky explain the latest findings in the ongoing Side Effects series. During this episode we talk about why you are paying so much for your prescription drugs, explain what “AWP” means, and talk what are three things currently wrong with the average wholesale pricing model.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporter Anna Staver on the latest edition of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we discuss Ohio’s school voucher system, explain how school are able to obtain a voucher, and talk about what could potentially be changed with these rules. Finally, we discuss how these new voucher rules could impact Ohio’s schools in the future.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporters Randy Ludlow and Anna Staver on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we discuss what Governor Mike DeWine has been up to since he took office, talk about how sports betting in Ohio might be legal soon, and mention whether to put the Ohio Casino Commission or the Ohio Lottery Commission in charge of sports betting. Finally, we talk about DeWine’s gun control plan and what this could mean for the state of Ohio.

Columbus Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporter Rick Rouan on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum podcast. During this episode we talk about what defines a suburb, what has been going on in these Ohio suburbs politically speaking, and look ahead to how these suburbs might be impacted for the upcoming 2020 general election.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with politics reporter Rick Rouan on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum Politics podcast. During this episode we preview the Democratic debate in Westerville, Ohio and tell you what to look out for. Finally, we address topics such as gun control, health care, and how Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders recently had a heart attack.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with reporter Rick Rouan on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum Politics podcast. During this we discuss Ohio’s voter purge process, talk about where things currently stand with this, and what happens to people when they get placed on the purge list. Next we talk about how this list is complicated, the current problems associated with it, and how some voters were incorrectly placed on this list. Finally, we explain what happens when you move within the same county, and discuss what provisional ballots are.

Vice President Mike Pence called out two Magna workers during a groundbreaking ceremony for the company's new manufacturing facility in Lancaster, Ohio. He also spoke of Lancaster native Sgt. Joseph Collette, who died on March 22 during a combat mission in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province from injuries resulting from enemy fire. The Lancaster native joined the Army in November 2010 and was assigned to the 242nd Ordnance Battalion, 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Dispatch public affairs staff Darrel Rowland, Randy Ludlow, Cathy Candisky, and Marty Schladen reflect on reporter Jim Siegel’s life. July 12th, 2019 is exactly one month to the day since Dispatch legislative reporter Jim Siegel passed away. During this podcast we share memories about our time working with Jim, talk about the love and devotion that Jim had for his wife and family, and recognize the talented journalist he was.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland speaks with reporters Jim Siegel and Ben Deeter regarding the topic of abortion. During this we discuss the current laws that Ohio has in place regarding abortion, what the so called “heartbeat bill” entails, and look at what other states are doing nationally on the topic. Finally, we explain how the Ohio Right to Life group is involved in this, discuss what the “Abortion Pill Reversal Information Act” consists of, and speculate if the Supreme Court’s decision of Roe v. Wade could be overturned.

Dispatch public affairs reporter Jim Siegel speaks with state superintendent Paolo DeMaria and Chad Aldis, VP for Ohio policy and advocacy for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute about the latest effort to establish state high school graduation requirements.

Washington D.C. reporter Jessica Wehrman talks about how a community wrestles with what to do about reports that the region outside their middle school is contaminated with radioactive contamination.

Dispatch reporters Marty Schladen and Cathy Candisky discuss the latest findings in the Columbus Dispatch’s Side Effects series. During this we discuss how the efforts in Ohio to reform pharmacy benefit managers have helped this issue to gain national attention. We also talk about a new bill signed by the Arkansas governor which bans spread pricing, other reform laws around the country, and how pharmacy benefit managers are profiting off spread pricing in Michigan.

Dispatch public affairs reporter Jim Siegel talks with Howard Fleeter of the Ohio Education Policy Institute and Julie Wagner Feasel, member of the Olentangy Board of Education regarding Ohio school funding. During this we address issues of why Ohio school funding is still broken, what is wrong with the current school funding formula, and how we got to this point.