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Monday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Public Safety
Director Andy Wilson, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent
Colonel Charles Jones, and Ohio Department of Transportation
Director Jack Marchbanks unveiled a new statewide public awareness
campaign to draw attention to Ohio’s strengthened distracted driving
laws.
Beginning on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, it became illegal in most
circumstances for anyone in Ohio to use or hold a cellphone or
electronic device while driving.
The new educational campaign encourages Ohio drivers to "Lock Your
Screen Before You Rock the Road" and includes a new website,
billboards, printable posters, fact sheets, presentation slides, tip
cards, and social media, radio, and television advertisements.
Additional materials relay the simple, but important message of
"Phones Down. It's the Law."
"Distracted driving crashes aren't accidents, they're the result of
drivers who make the choice to divert their attention away from the
road and risk their lives and the lives of everyone around them,"
said Governor DeWine. "Far too many people have been seriously
injured and killed in Ohio because of poor choices behind the wheel,
and we are certain that this new law will influence positive changes
in behavior and save lives as a result."
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Also on Monday, Governor DeWine announced that 89% of Ohio’s
population is now served by a law enforcement agency meeting or
seeking to meet standards developed by the Ohio Collaborative
Community-Police Advisory Board.
“Uniform standards for Ohio law enforcement increase the trust
between the public and local agencies,” said Governor DeWine. “Each
year, more and more agencies step up and become certified, which
benefits all Ohioans.”
Lastly on Monday, Governor DeWine provided updates regarding
remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train
derailment in East Palestine.
Work includes hazardous waste removal, analysis of results from the
chemical exposure survey conducted by the Ohio Department of Health
and federal partners, and the operation of the Health Assessment
Clinic.
Akron literacy stop
Governor DeWine and the First Lady with students from the Helen E.
Arnold Community Learning Center
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On Tuesday, Governor DeWine made literacy stops in Northeast Ohio to
observe classroom activities, discuss how the Science of Reading has
been implemented in its lessons, and to hear about the students'
experience with it.
LG Good Jobs Challenge PC
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Also on Tuesday, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted traveled to Cincinnati
to speak at the Good Jobs Challenge press conference and kickoff
celebration. This new, regional workforce development collaborative
will work to establish talent pipelines for the advanced
manufacturing industry in Greater Cincinnati and is a collaboration
between the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP),
Cincinnati Youth Collaborative (CYC), and Cincinnati Works.
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Ruple_headshot
Finally, on Tuesday, Governor DeWine announced the appointment of
Jeffrey W. Ruple to the Lake County Court of Common Pleas-General
Division.
Ruple will need to run for election in November 2024 to retain the
seat. Ruple is admitted to the practice of law in the state of Ohio
and the commonwealth of Kentucky. He is admitted to the Federal
District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio, the Southern
District of Ohio, Eastern District of Kentucky, and the Eastern
District of Michigan as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
6th Circuit. Ruple has also been granted pro hac vice admission to
courts in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and
Michigan. On Wednesday, Governor DeWine signed the following bill
into law:
House Bill 52, sponsored by state Representatives Sarah Fowler
Arthur and Marilyn John, restores law related to emergency medical
services training and continuing education programs, amends the
versions of sections 4765.10, 4765.11, and 4765.30 of the Revised
Code that are scheduled to take effect on December 29, 2023,
continues the changes on and after that date, and declares an
emergency.
hazardous waste removal
Also on Wednesday, Governor DeWine provided updates regarding
remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train
derailment in East Palestine.
According to the Ohio EPA, approximately 10.2 million gallons of
liquid wastewater have been hauled out of East Palestine in total.
There is currently a pile of approximately 18,900 tons of excavated
soil waiting for removal from East Palestine, versus 16,600 tons
that have been removed.
Other recent work includes private well testing, which is producing
results that continue to show no harmful levels of contamination.
Southwood Elementary
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On Thursday, Governor DeWine visited Southwood Elementary School,
part of the Columbus City School District, to observe the
implementation of the Science of Reading and discuss students'
experience with it.
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Also on Thursday, Lt. Governor Husted traveled to Rio Grande for a
tour and roundtable discussion at the Buckeye Hills Career Center to
learn about how Career Technical Education funding in the Executive
Version of the State Operating Budget would help expand their
programs to better meet regional workforce needs.
Jackson Chamber of Commerce
Lastly, on Thursday, Lt. Governor Husted met with the Jackson Area
Chamber of Commerce to discuss items in the Executive Version of the
State Operating Budget related to the Common Sense Initiative (CSI),
TechCred, the All Ohio Future Fund, and more.
On Friday, Governor DeWine signed Executive Order 2023-09D to launch
the Ohio Adoption Grant Program, which provides up to $20,000 to
parents adopting a child. Parents who have finalized an adoption
since Jan. 1, 2023, can begin applying for the grant today at
AdoptionGrant.Ohio.gov.
“Every child deserves a safe, permanent, loving home,” said Governor
DeWine. “Whether you’re adopting from the foster care system, or
through private adoption, the Ohio Adoption Grant will help offset
the cost of growing your family.”
Land & Water Conservation Fund
Also on Friday, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has
recommended that eight local communities receive a combined $3.4
million in funding to improve and increase outdoor recreation
opportunities. The money is provided through federal matching grants
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
“Making improvements at our parks, playgrounds, and trails is just
one way we can encourage people to get outdoors and enjoy nature,”
Governor DeWine said. “These grants will help Ohio communities give
their citizens more opportunities to experience and appreciate the
great outdoors.”
Lastly, on Friday, Governor DeWine provided updates regarding the
remediation work at the site of the Norfolk Southern train
derailment in East Palestine.
East Liverpool City Hospital, with support from the Ohio Department
of Health (ODH), will open a new, permanent health clinic in East
Palestine on Monday. Additionally, the Ohio Department of
Agriculture (ODA) and The Ohio State University (OSU) will next week
begin collecting plant tissue samples from East Palestine area
farms. ODA and OSU established a procedure to sample and analyze
plant tissue materials in Columbiana County to address concerns of
the local agricultural community following the Norfolk Southern
Railroad train derailment.
Other work at the site includes track and soil removal, hazardous
waste removal, and results from a necropsy performed on a deceased
chicken.
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