Statewide News

Groups that want Medicaid expansion are looking at their options right now. John Begala with the Center for Community Solutions wants Medicaid expansion as part of the state budget. But he says he’s willing to give lawmakers time to come up with Medicaid reforms that would allow low income Ohioans to purchase private health insurance with federal dollars. Still, Begala says he says his group is not willing to wait forever. He says if they don’t do it by the end of this year, his group is looking at another alternative: letting Ohio voters decide whether to expand Medicaid.

State transportation officials are reminding drivers to use extra caution in work zones along Ohio highways and are introducing a new piece of equipment designed to improve safety.

Ohio Department of Transportation officials are marking National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. They said Monday that the most recent figures show Ohio deaths in highway construction zones because of vehicle crashes doubled from eight in 2009 to 16 in 2011.

An estimated two thousand five hundred Ohioans stood out in the pouring rain at the state’s capitol today to do one thing – send a message to lawmakers to expand Medicaid in the state budget.

Democrats, Union leaders, Faith leaders of many different churches and leaders of business groups rally at the Ohio Statehouse….holding signs and chanting to lawmakers inside the building.