Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending November 21, 2025
Monday, November 17, 2025
Governor Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine visited a pair of Ohio schools where young students are making great strides when it comes to reading.
The stops are part of the Governor’s Literacy Leaders Tour – his initiative to celebrate schools that stand out for the ways they are using the Science of Reading to improve student engagement and literacy outcomes.
“We see time and again that as teachers and students become more comfortable using the Science of Reading in the classroom, it results in a very positive learning experience,” said Governor DeWine. “Kids are excited to read and achieve their goals, and their schools are seeing amazing results. The schools we visited today are additional examples of how we’re setting up students for success in school and throughout life.”
The Governor and First Lady’s first stop was to Cherry Hill Primary School in Washington Court House.
Cherry Hill Primary offers preschool classes directly in their school building through a partnership between Washington Court House City Schools and Fayette County Early Learning Center.
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The Governor and First Lady’s second visit was to Willowville Elementary School in Union Township, near Batavia.
Part of West Clermont Local School District, Willowville Elementary was an early adopter of the Science of Reading. With several years using this method under their belt, the school has seen dramatic progress – particularly among their older elementary students.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2025
The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge recognized students for their hard work throughout the challenge during the Ohio University vs. the University of Massachusetts football game.
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Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) officially designated Scioto Brush Creek as Ohio’s newest state scenic river. Scioto Brush Creek is the second scenic river designated in the southern Ohio region following last year’s designation of Raccoon Creek.
“The designation of the Scioto Brush Creek as a State Scenic River is yet another example of Ohio's dedication to protecting our most precious resources,” said Governor DeWine. “We take preservation seriously so that future generations can enjoy the beautiful parks, rivers, and lakes that are abundant right here in Ohio."
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 Governor and First Lady DeWine attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Greene County Gene Fischer Justice Center. The state was proud to support this project through the Jail Safety and Security Grant Program. This new jail is much safer, more secure, and better equipped to support rehabilitation.
Thursday, November 20, 2025
 Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Brian Baldridge announced the highest acreage of farmland enrollment in H2Ohio to date. Now, 2.5 million acres of farmland statewide are enrolled in H2Ohio. In northwest Ohio alone, H2Ohio practices are now being implemented on 2 million acres, which is more than 50% of the cropland in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
“It’s clear that Ohio’s farmers, particularly those in northwest Ohio, understand the importance of H2Ohio,” said Governor DeWine. “We will continue to do all we can to improve water quality in Lake Erie and across the state.”
Friday, November 21, 2025
Washington Post columnist George Will published an opinion piece covering Governor DeWine's political career.
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 Governor DeWine, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) Director John Logue announced a new partnership to replace lead and galvanized service lines at licensed childcare facilities served by Columbus Water & Power.
As part of Governor DeWine's H2Ohio initiative, Ohio EPA awarded $500,000 to the City of Columbus to prioritize the removal of lead service lines at daycares as part of the community's overall work to remove lead pipes citywide.
H2Ohio, developed in 2019 to improve water quality across the state, has funded similar projects in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo with the goal of fully eliminating any risk of lead exposure at childcare facilities that look after children under the age of six, which is the age group most vulnerable to the impacts of lead.
"Water treatment technology does a great job of minimizing the risk of lead entering drinking water, but the only way to truly ensure zero risk is to remove the lead at its source," said Governor DeWine. "As communities across the state work to rid Ohio of lead pipes, it is important that we prioritize projects that will have the most impact on the most vulnerable."
Governor DeWine joined Vice President J.D. Vance, Senator Bernie Moreno, Senator Jon Husted, Rep. Mike Rulli, Youngstown State University (YSU) President Bill Johnson, Village of East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, and Norfolk Southern Railway Company President and CEO Mark George to announce updated plans for a new first responder training facility in East Palestine.
First announced by Governor DeWine in the weeks following the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment and explosion in East Palestine, Norfolk Southern agreed to build a training center to help Ohio expand access to firefighter training, particularly in regard to hazardous material fires. Following Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to East Palestine in January 2025, and with the backing of Gov. DeWine, Sen. Moreno, Sen. Husted, and Rep. Rulli, plans for the training facility were reimagined and enhanced to include higher education opportunities and ensure long-term viability of the facility.
"Developing this plan was truly a collaborative effort involving those from the White House to the Statehouse to the community of East Palestine," said Governor DeWine. "Incorporating higher education and workforce development into this new training facility will deepen its impact, preparing today's first responders as well as the next generation of brave men and women who dedicate themselves to protecting the public and saving lives."
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
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