Morgan Trau, Ohio Capital Journal

A federal grand jury has indicted Charles E. Jones, 69, of Akron and Michael Dowling, 60, of Massillon, on one count each of participating in a racketeering (RICO) conspiracy.

According to the Southern District of Ohio, the two are accused of using “bribery, money laundering and obstruction to increase the company’s stock price and enrich themselves.”

From 2015 until 2020, when he was fired, Jones worked as a senior executive within the company, including president and CEO. During that time, authorities say Jones earned around $65 million, with about $60 million coming from performance-based compensation connected partly to FirstEnergy stock prices. ...

Ohio House Republican leadership is doubling down on their threat to cut public school spending, with House Speaker Matt Huffman calling the continuation of the current Fair School Funding Plan a “fantasy” and eyeing $650 million in cuts.

Ohio’s history with school funding isn’t the brightest. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that the way the state funds schools is unconstitutional, relying too much on property taxes.

Throughout the next three decades, lawmakers went back and forth on policy in an attempt to fix the unconstitutionality. The Ohio Education Association, as well as lawmakers on each side of the aisle, have deemed that it has been unconstitutional since then. However, some Republicans argue that because they are no longer using the struck-down policy, and since nothing else has been deemed “unconstitutional” in court, by definition, it can’t be considered unconstitutional. ...

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed nearly 30 bills Wednesday, including legislation that would require schools to notify parents if the child identifies as LGBTQ+ as well as allow parents to opt out of so-called “sexuality” content. The GOP denies it is homophobic, saying it’s just a way for parents to stay informed.

State Reps. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, and Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton, introduced House Bill 8, which requires schools and teachers to notify parents about any changes to their child’s mental, physical, or emotional being — including if they identify as LGBTQ+.

“If you’re a parent, you want to be informed of what’s going on in your child’s life,” DeWine said. “The parents are the best teachers, they’re the first teachers, they’re the best teachers.” ...

Ohio Republican leaders are looking at cutting spending for public education, calling the current formula — a policy that was created after the state had unconstitutional funding for three decades — “unsustainable.”

House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, a champion of sending taxpayer dollars to private schools through the EdChoice voucher system, questions how well public schools are spending their money.

Two Northeast Ohio superintendents beg him to reconsider but also question how accountable the voucher system is. ...

Now-indicted FirstEnergy executives allegedly worked with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his team to pass legislation that was the result of the largest corruption scheme in state history, according to newly released text messages. DeWine denies knowing House Bill 6 was a bribe.

The governor has tried to distance himself as much as he can from the scandal, one where FirstEnergy spent $61 million dollars in exchange for legislation giving a $1 billion bailout for their failing energy company.

This landed former House Speaker Larry Householder in federal prison for 20 years, and he is now facing state charges, as well. ...