July 27, 2023 

Ohio law allowing longer prison stays for bad behavior behind bars upheld by state’s high court

AP News, July 26, 2023

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A law allowing prison officials to extend certain incarcerated people’s time behind bars does not violate the state constitution, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in a 5-2 decision Wednesday.

The 2019 law, challenged by two imprisoned men in January, lets Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Correction argue that the parole board should keep some felony offenders in prison past the minimums of their sentence ranges due to bad behavior or because there are signs they have not been rehabilitated.

The measure was named for Reagan Tokes, a college student abducted, raped and murdered by a man on parole in 2017.

Christopher Hacker, who is serving time for aggravated burglary, and Danan Simmons Jr., previously sentenced on weapon and drug charges, argued that the law violates the constitutionally outlined separation of powers between the judicial branch, which issues sentences, and the executive branch, which includes the prisons department.

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Ohioans overwhelmingly support gun safety measures, but lawmakers not likely to act

Cincinnati.com, July 27, 2023

Ohioans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support gun safety regulations, including some shot down by Ohio lawmakers, a new statewide survey finds.

Roughly nine out of 10 Ohioans support mandatory background checks for gun buyers and training to get a concealed weapons permit, according to a USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University survey taken earlier this month.

About three out of four Ohioans support a law requiring guns to be safely stored, along with a red-flag law allowing family or police to seek removal of firearms from individuals considered harmful to themselves or others.

And slightly more than half of Ohioans favor a ban on high-capacity magazines or assault-style weapons, according to the survey, which was conducted July 9-12 of 500 likely Ohio voters, 57% of whom say they or someone in their house owns a gun.

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Who's landed the $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge project? Governors will reveal Thursday

Cincinnati.com, July 27, 2023

Ohio and Kentucky officials have spent about five months reviewing proposals for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project design and construction. Now, they're ready to announce which contracting team will land the $3.6 billion project.

Governors Andy Beshear and Mike Dewine, along with state transportation officials, will reveal the contracting team at a news conference at 3 p.m. Thursday in Covington at Drees Pavilion in Devou Park.

The Brent Spence Bridge is one of the most important in the country, carrying $2 billion worth of freight between Florida and Canada each day. But it's needed repairs since the 1990s when the Federal Highway Administration declared the bridge functionally obsolete because it has no emergency lane and its narrow lanes carry more cars than it's designed for. 

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American teens are driving less

The Hill, July 26, 2023

American teens seem to be waiting longer than ever to drive. 

The share of teenagers with driver’s licenses in the 16-19 age group declined from 64 percent in 1995 to just under 40 percent in 2021, according to the Federal Highway Administration. 

The reasons are as complicated as teens. Car costs have surged. Inflation has pushed up the prices of insurance and gas. Ride-hailing and home delivery apps make cars feel less essential. America’s urban centers are growing more crowded and less car-friendly. Teens are socializing more online and less in person. Many young people would rather bike or walk than pollute their planet. 

More than anything, perhaps, the decline in teen drivers reflects the impact of “graduated” licensing. Starting around 1996, states enacted new rules tailored to ease novice drivers onto the road. Teen drivers must now spend months gaining skills in low-risk settings before they gain full driving privileges. 

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‘Partially automated’ trucks to be tested on I-70 in Ohio and Indiana

Dayton Daily News, July 26, 2023

Ohio and Indiana have agreed to test partially automated trucks on a 166-mile stretch of Interstate 70, testing that could begin as early as October.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and DriveOhio — an Ohio government organization focused on refining “smart mobility technology” — are rolling out a four-year, $8 million plan to bring the partially automated semi-trucks to roads in both states.

That will include testing on I-70 in the Dayton and Springfield regions.

These are not self-driving vehicles, a DriveOhio director said.

“A professional driver will be always at the wheel in each vehicle, so the term ‘self-driving’ is not accurate,” said Breanna Badanes, managing director of communication and policy for DriveOhio. “These vehicles cannot drive themselves.”

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