Andrew Tobias
@AndrewJTobias
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#CLE fan. Lifelong Ohioan. Politics reporter. UFO believer. Lowkey exerciser. Slow runner. Daddy x2. “Total soy boy." Average man. [email protected]
Joined February 2010
Vivek Ramaswamy revives merit pay teacher debate in Ohio; Tim Ryan and Jim Tressel’s Youngstown connection. Check out this week's State Signals newsletter.
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Southeast Ohio Republican Party leader resigns over Trump-Putin meeting
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The Ohio Turnpike Commission has announced winners for their name a snowplow contest. They are:. Ctrl-Salt-Delete .Plow Chicka Plow Wow .You’re Killin’ Me Squalls .The Big LePlowski. (cont'd).
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Inbox: Dave Matthews, of Dave Mathews Band fame, is playing a free concert as a GOTV event for Tim Ryan in Columbus on Monday, Oct. 24. He joins Paul Simon and Dropkick Murphys as among the musical acts who have performed at Ryan events in recent weeks.
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Something that strikes me about today's news: So much of what prosecutors call a corrupt scheme played out in public. Not that it was easy to connect the dots, but Ohio reporters (including my co-workers) did the dogged work of connecting them. Some examples:.
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Frank Bellamy, of Niles, says Donald Trump shows the American Dream is still alive. With his 11 year-old daughter.
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State Rep. Jennifer Gross has asked legislative researchers to draft the "Issue 1 Implementation Act." . It would give the Ohio General Assembly "exclusive authority over implementing" Issue 1, and make it an impeachable offense for any judge to rule on or attempt to enforce it.
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Allison Russo, the leader of the Ohio House Democrats, says she thinks Issue 1 failed "100% because of the ballot language.". “I think if voters had accurate information going into the ballot box, it would have passed overwhelmingly.".
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An interesting development in the OH-11 special election. Rep. James Clyburn is backing Shontel Brown in the race.
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The TV stations moderating Monday's Republican U.S. Senate debate gave Sherrod Brown the chance to tee off on each of his potential opponents. Of Matt Dolan, he said:. "I wish he’d spend the money he’s spending in this race on a power-hitting right fielder for Cleveland.".
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Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor has ordered the Ohio Redistricting Commission to say before Thursday why they shouldn't be held in contempt of court. By my count, this is the third time this has happened.
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DeWine is not exactly a firebrand, so when he issues a statement like this you know he really means it.
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BREAKING: Ohio Supreme Court again rejects Republicans’ state legislative maps.
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Ohio Democrats collect more than 100,000 signatures for abortion-rights measure.
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The Ohio Supreme Court has dismissed Attorney General Dave Yost's appeal of the heartbeat bill lawsuit. This almost certainly means Ohio's six-week abortion ban will be struck down as soon as a Hamilton County judge gets around to it.
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Sherrod Brown says he plans to remain in the political arena. On possibly running for JD Vance’s seat in 2026: “I’ve ruled nothing out.”.
“That’s my future in this party, is to focus on helping the Democratic Party and my colleagues understand how important that is, that we talk to workers and we make decisions with workers at the table,” @SherrodBrown tells @POLITICO.
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Buckeye Chuck predicts six more weeks of redistricting :(.
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I can’t emphasize enough how crazy this is! I never would have expected to write a story like this when this all started.
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Some personal news - I am stepping into the role of chief political reporter for and The Plain Dealer. Not much will change short term, but per the legacy of @SethARichardson , I will be growing shoulder length hair and buying some tie-dye tracksuits ASAP.
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Although there are still outstanding absentee ballots to be counted, the final pre-Aug. 8 election early vote numbers are in. 695,561 Ohioans have voted early. That's around 8.7% of overall voter turnout and more than the 638,708 that voted overall (8% turnout) in August 2022.
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Ohio’s minimum wage might still be $5.15 an hour, casino gambling still would be illegal, and recent economic development and conservation programs would have failed, had a 60% approval threshold been in effect in previous decades.
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Hello from Columbus. Im here covering a rally for Sherrod Brown at a local carpenters union training center. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America General President Douglas McCarron is in town to speak.
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The fact that the new Ohio license plate will get more reader feedback than all my redistricting stories combined? I've made my peace with it.
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The greatest trick Bud Light ever pulled was getting thousands of people excited to drink their terrible beer.
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Sen. Sherrod Brown is giving his farewell speech from the Senate floor. He tears up when he describes the work his staff to has done to help each other find new jobs.
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Not that facts matter _at all_ for stuff like this but:. 1. Ohio elections are run locally. 2. LaRose fired a GOP elections leader in the county where this happened for incompetence. 3. The Ohio Supreme Court overruled him. 4. Kari Lake endorsed that GOP leader for Ohio GOP chair.
Sound familiar?? Looks like they took a page out of the Maricopa County “selections” playbook. Today is Election Day in Ohio and the machines don’t work. The swampy never-Trumper Ohio Secretary of State was too busy running for another office to do his job making sure Election.
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Some Personal News (TM). Today is my last day at and The Plain Dealer after almost exactly 11 years. That's a really long time! I never thought I would write for what I consider my hometown paper much less spend more than a decade doing so.
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Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor writes she agrees fully with the Democratic justices' opinion, but adds a description of an action she says voters can take to reduce partisanship of redistricting process. I've never seen something like this in a legal opinion.
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Ohio redistricting amendment campaign will turn in 750,000-plus signatures on Monday, group says.
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The Blizzard of Oz.Ohio Thaw Enforcement.Clearopathtra.
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Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose missed a deadline yesterday to file a personal financial disclosure with the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee. He previously requested a 90-day extension on Aug. 16.
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Dear angry progressives: I am not Andrew Tobias, the treasurer of the DNC. Have a great day.
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Some personal news (TM). We have expanded our family through adoption once again — hooray! — and I am taking a couple months off for parental leave as we welcome her to the world. I will return in early May, and hopefully will have gotten some sleep by then.
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Rep. Jim Jordan was asked on NewsMax if he'd run for Portman's Senate seat. "I mean, we'll see. I'm focused on my work on the Judiciary Committee. And frankly, what I'm focused on is this crazy impeachment trial." h/t @sabrinaeaton .
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Cuyahoga County elections officials are wrapping up verification of signatures the abortion-rights amendment today. They told me signature verification rate is around 65%, which is quite high and suggests that the issue will qualify overall.
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Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has been booked at the Butler County jail, records there show.
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Greetings from the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which just met and is planning to recess. House Speaker Bob Cupp: "Any objections to a. 30 minute recess?". Gov. Mike DeWine, audibly: "Oh my God.".
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Sabrina Warner, who ousted former Attorney General Betty Montgomery from her seat on the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee in 2022, has resigned her seat. She cited the passage of Issue 1.
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The USA Today Suffolk poll has Ohio State Issue 1 down 57-26 among likely voters. Via @haleybemiller
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Fired up about Republicans’ plan to make it harder to change the Ohio constitution? Here’s how to vote in August.
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Turnout in Cuyahoga County is just under 63%, compared to 69.5% in 2016. That includes just 48% turnout in Cleveland, around 10 points behind. I'm hearing concern from Ohio Democrats that it's not high enough, especially if there ends up being increased turnout around the state.
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Word has gotten out a bit, but I started this week with Signal, a nonprofit newsroom that's opening a state bureau in Columbus. Here's my first story: What voters need to know about the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision on Issue 1 ballot language.
Some Personal News (TM). Today is my last day at and The Plain Dealer after almost exactly 11 years. That's a really long time! I never thought I would write for what I consider my hometown paper much less spend more than a decade doing so.
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Ohio Republican Party endorses Donald Trump in 2024 election.
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Some interesting quotes from former Ohio Supreme Court chief justice Maureen O'Connor here. “It’s misleading. It’s deceptive. And if it weren’t so serious, it would be laughable.”.
A CBS News investigation found a coordinated campaign, heavily funded by a Republican mega-donor, that could make it hard to pass amendments to protect abortion access in places like Ohio. @CHueyBurns' report shows how that effort was also used in other states.
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The founder of the Ohio Business Roundtable penned an op-ed opposing State Issue 1. "Issue 1 sends the wrong message to the nation, will be harmful to our business climate, and will make it far harder to attract and retain the 21st century talent. ".
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Gov. Mike DeWine and other Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission are responding to a request that they be held in contempt of court this morning. You may be surprised to learn they don't think they should be found in contempt of court.
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Ohio’s 9th Congressional District has officially been called in the favor of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), and the race is not within the margin for an automatic recount.
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J.D. Vance For Senate Inc. reports its Q2 fundraising numbers for his Senate campaign:. - $1m raised.- $1m spent.- $628,111 cash on hand.- $882,833 debts owed.
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Inbox: Sherrod Brown's non-management campaign staff have unionized under IBEW Local 1466. Brown issued a statement saying he's "proud" to recognize them. "They are advancing the Dignity of Work in Ohio and across the country every day and I stand in solidarity with them.".
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The fact that O'Connor felt strongly enough about the redistricting commission's failures that she wrote into her opinion how voters can abolish the commission shows that Republican legislative leaders really miscalculated here.
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State Issue 1 ballot language must be rewritten, Ohio Supreme Court rules.
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Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor has given members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission until Monday morning to explain why they should not be held in contempt for the state legislative map they passed on Monday night.
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Thanks to the 15-20 emails I got today on this subject, I learned that some people do actually read to the end of my stories. From today's Plain Dealer:
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Ohio Supreme Court rejects Republicans’ fourth set of state legislative maps.
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Ohio Supreme Court blocks Bellefontaine vote restricting drag shows, rules Secretary of State Frank LaRose ‘abused’ his discretion.
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From the 2022 Republican candidate for Cuyahoga County executive:.
This sign is on my front lawn. Please join me in standing up for Ohio citizens. It’s our Constitution. We need to defend it. VOTE NO ON ISSUE 1.
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Hi, . Great news! I am going to be taking the next six weeks off for paternal leave. I will probably be staying off This Site for the duration, although I can't rule out any sports tweets. Sorry in advance.
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Ohio will use same unconstitutional congressional maps in 2024, as court dismisses legal challenges.
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Here is the official statement from Republicans that seems to argue they would be legally justified to award themselves up to 81% of Ohio’s state legislative seats.
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Ohio Republicans are preparing to offer a state legislative map that would create 57R-42D House districts and 20R-13D Senate districts. That proportion is almost identical to the 58R-41D and 20R-13D map Dems submitted as their final offer in September that Republicans rejected.
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Inbox: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose says that 355,483 people have voted early, by mail and in person, for the Aug. 8 election to decide State Issue 1. That compares to the 288,707 people who voted early overall in the May 2022 primary election.
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I have a new addition to my presidential platform. When elected, I will ban audio commercials at the gas pump. This is my promise.
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.@ninaturner Turner took a lot of political heat here when she backed Sanders over Clinton. Doesn't look terrible now.
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.@nanwhaley tells reporters it's "insane" teachers will have to do 180 hours of training to renew their licenses, but only 24 to carry a gun in school. "For Mike DeWine, safety is just a campaign talking point. He doesn’t give a shit about whether you or your family are safe.”.
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Franklin County judge denies motion to delay tomorrow's primary election. Says it would be a "terrible" precedent.
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Cuyahoga County Republican joins bipartisan opposition to State Issue 1.
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Name of convicted ex-Republican Ohio House leader Larry Householder shows up on Oklahoma federal prison roster
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Clark was fined $500 mostly for briefly not having her last name in her campaign committee name. In contrast, Larry Householder, who spent almost $1 million in campaign money on his criminal legal defense, despite that not being allowed, has not yet and may not be punished.
🧵 Philip Richter, the Executive Director of the Ohio Elections Commission confirms Democratic Secretary of State candidate Chelsea Clark, who appeared in front of the OEC Thursday, has been found guilty of three state election law violations. @SpectrumNews1OH.
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My fellow reporters: It's probably a good rule of thumb to not do video interviews in the bathroom under any circumstances.
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Former GOP AG calls for independent redistricting after voters smack down State Issue 1 via @jake_zuckerman .
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Cuyahoga County seeing a surprisingly high early voting turnout for Aug. 8 election.
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Democrats claimed there was no "grand deal" with Jason Stephens to get him elected Ohio House speaker last week. Well judge for yourself, here is a major change under the Stephens regime:
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Gov. Mike DeWine says he will make an announcement about the U.S. Senate “later.” Asked to clarify he says: “Not too much later.”
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OH-16 candidate Christina Hagan stands up for Trump at a Fortune magazine "most powerful women" event in California:.
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.@ninaturner Bernie returns the favor, says there very few voices have spoken out for progressive causes with the "force and the decency" as Turner has.
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Jen Miller, president of the Ohio League of Women Voters, says that voters have been turned away at four polling locations in Stark County after they ran out of ballots.
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From yesterday: The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association will give its President's Award to Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor on June 16. O'Connor will attend a ceremony in Cleveland, the group says.
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Opponents file lawsuit to block 60% constitutional amendment proposal, say lawmakers illegally set August election.
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Rep. Max Miller says he’s rescinding his endorsement of Reidel due to this video. “Craig Reidel’s recent comments make clear that he is not committed to the America First agenda.” . I haven’t heard back yet from Reidel’s team about the video itself.
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In his inaugural speech, Gov. Mike DeWine has this to say to people who don't live in Ohio. "Come to Ohio.".
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Former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel threatened with jail in divorce case.
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Much of the increase is due to Cuyahoga County, where voters through last Friday had filed 15,400 requests for absentee ballots, compared to the 1,899 voters had requested at the equivalent time in 2022.
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This is a follow-on to a press release Gross and three other House Republicans issued on Friday. Ohio Value Voters, a hard-right social conservative group issued a longer version of that press release earlier in the day.
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Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens: “I remain steadfastly committed to protecting life, and that commitment is unwavering. The legislature has multiple paths that we will explore to continue to protect innocent life. This is not the end of the conversation.”.
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Scott Sloan, a talk radio host on conservative WLW radio in Cincinnati, has been bashing Issue 1 pretty consistently. He did it again today:
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The Trump campaign is not impressed with Jay Z as a role model. Statement is from Cleveland pastor / Trump surrogate Rev. Darrell Scott.
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With an Ohio Supreme Court-set deadline coming tomorrow to approve a new state legislative map, the Ohio Redistricting Commission has done nothing.
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Frank LaRose’s U.S. Senate campaign gets backing from Illinois billionaire who funded push to make it harder to change constitution.
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Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor says she’ll join anti-gerrymandering effort after leaving office.
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J.D. Vance has announced his first major hires. His chief of staff will be Jacob Reses, who previously worked for Sen. Josh Hawley. And his state director will be Brian Gray, a former Ohio House GOP aide who might be the first person Vance hired when he launched his campaign.
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Federal judge blocks Ohio from using coronavirus health order to restrict abortions.
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Breaking: Rep. Warren Davidson has opted not to run for U.S. Senate in Ohio.
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Inbox: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has certified petition summary language for a constiutional amendment that would end qualified immunity for police. This follows numerous rejections from Yost and losses in state and federal court.
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Frank LaRose's Super PAC has a new biographical ad that features his military service. Fun fact: It uses a stock image of Estonian soldiers to illustrate LaRose's military background.
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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine calls for federal coronavirus testing help in national TV interview.
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In the throes of their lame-duck session, the Ohio House is about to ram through a measure that will designate the sugar cookie as Ohio's official cookie. Unbelievable.
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