WEEK IN REVIEW
Friday, April 7, 2023

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review

For the week ending April 7, 2023

On?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."

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.

Governor DeWine and the First Lady with students from the Helen E. Arnold Community Learning Center

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.?

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.?

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.

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.?

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.?

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.

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.?

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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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957