Rotunda Rumblings
Puff piece: State regulators made another package of proposed recreational marijuana rules public this week, and many of the proposals would make dispensaries more customer friendly. The rules would allow drive-through windows, self-serving kiosks for ordering product, internet order-ahead and curbside pickup in a case-by-case basis, Laura Hancock reports. The state is trying to create an adult-use marijuana program to become operational by the end of the year and for it to run alongside the medical cannabis program.
Staying put: A federal judge has denied ex-Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo’s request to move his trial from Cincinnati to Columbus. As Andrew Tobias writes, the development ensures that U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black – who sentenced ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder to the maximum 20 years in prison and demanded he be immediately remanded to prison – will continue to oversee Randazzo’s trial. Black rejected Randazzo’s arguments that the Columbus trial would be more convenient and less burdensome for Randazzo to the extent that it would justify moving cities.
Read more Ohio politics stories
Team spirit: Cleveland sports fans and their elected representatives, including then Ohio Sen. Dennis Kucinich, were outraged when Art Modell relocated the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, so Kucinich passed a state law aimed at preventing similar debacles, Sabrina Eaton writes. He hopes Cleveland will use it to thwart a current relocation plan (just down the road to Brook Park) floated as an alternative to stadium renovations by current Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.
Campaign cash: William Curlis, a Columbus resident who has worked as a treasurer of more than 100 GOP candidates’ campaigns since the 1980s, was charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Southern Ohio with wire fraud in connection with nearly $1 million in missing cash. A plea deal also was filed Thursday, although it’s not yet public. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison, Hancock reports.
Picture day: Cliff Rosenberger, the former Ohio House Speaker, will be returning to the Ohio Statehouse for the first time since he resigned six years ago, according to Laura Bischoff of the Columbus Dispatch. Rosenberger is visiting next week for the unveiling of his official portrait, a custom for all former House speakers. Rosenberger quit as an FBI investigation into his travel went public, but he never has been charged with a crime.
Ask again later: Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo of suburban Columbus is one of the few Democrats currently being talked about as a possible candidate for governor in 2026. Asked about it this week, Russo didn’t rule out a run for governor but said it’s still too early to make such a decision. “I think there’s a long time between now and 2026. And we’ve got quite a bit to do for 2024 first,” she told reporters. “So let’s get through 2024, and then I think after that there will be time for more thought and discussion on 2026.”
Buckeye Brain Tease
Question: Where was the last operating one-room public school in Ohio, and when did it close?
Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next week’s newsletter. Also, you’ll feel much prouder for winning if you don’t have to Google the answer!
Thanks to everyone who responded to last week’s question:
A now defunct Ohio baseball team played on the site of what’s been claimed to be the first baseball concession stand in the United States. What is the team and what is the stadium?
Last week’s answer: The Columbus Solons, also known as the Columbus Buckeyes, existed from 1889 to 1891, playing at Recreation Park in German Village on a site that’s across the street from the modern-day Schiller Park. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Harry Stevens initially used peanuts to drum up interest in a ballpark endeavor to sell scorecards and advertising, and ended up focusing on the peanuts, later adding ice cream, soda and beer.
Unfortunately, we stumped our readers for a second straight week! Nobody provided the correct answer.
On The Move
The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have endorsed U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown for reelection.
Kendall White has been named deputy director of Ohioans to Stop Executions, an anti-death penalty group. White, a graduate of Ohio University and Ohio Dominican University, most recently worked as a management analyst for the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services.
Birthdays
Friday, 4/5: No birthdays
Saturday, 4/6: Erin Glossop, director of government affairs at Government Advantage Group; Scott Ryan, Ohio Department of Development chief of community engagement and former state lawmaker; Alaina Shearer, 2020 and 2022 Democratic congressional candidate
Sunday, 4/7: Ex-state Rep. Brian Hill; State Rep. Beth Lear; State Rep. Michael Loychik
Straight from the Source
“In recognition of your outstanding achievements in Ohio, I am honored to give you my total and complete endorsement in your upcoming election for RNC National Committeewoman.”
Ex-President Donald Trump, in a letter to Jane Timken that the former Ohio Republican Party chairman posted on social media on Thursday. Timken, who just was elected to a position on the ORP state central committee, is running to replace longtime Ohio RNC Committeewoman Jo Ann Davidson, who is not running for reelection. The Ohio Republican Party will vote on replacing Davidson and whether to reelect longtime RNC Committeeman Jim Dicke at a meeting later this month.
Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.