Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending January 9, 2026
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
 Governor DeWine announced that state-supported violent crime reduction operations resulted in more than 500 felony arrests in 2025.
As part of Governor DeWine's Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, the state provided manpower and other resources to support 130 coordinated violent crime reduction operations in 23 communities this year. In total, the operations led to 521 felony arrests and the confiscation of 175 illegally possessed firearms.
The goal of the initiative is to bolster the work of local law enforcement by focusing on repeat violent offenders who are committing the most crime in their communities. By leveraging real-time crime data and intelligence collected by all partnering agencies, units can better deploy resources to areas that need them most.
“The progress Ohio has seen this year is a direct reflection of the dedication of our law enforcement professionals and the effective use of state resources,” said Governor DeWine. “By strategically focusing on high-crime areas and repeat violent offenders, we are systematically ending the cycles of violence that threaten our communities.”
Communities that received support in 2025 included Akron, Bethel Township, Buckeye Lake, Bucyrus, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Georgetown, German Township, Lancaster, Lima, Marion, Middletown, Piqua, Springfield, Toledo, Warren, Wilmington, Youngstown, Zanesville, and Oregon.
Governor Mike DeWine issued the following statement confirming anti-fraud measures currently in place to prevent fraud in Ohio's publicly-funded childcare system:
"People are rightfully concerned about what is happening with state-funded childcare facilities in Minnesota. These are the essential facts about what we do in Ohio:
"There are almost 5,200 state-funded childcare facilities in Ohio. With that number of facilities, there is certainly the potential for fraud. To counter that threat, Ohio does the following things, and has done them since the inception of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY):
- "Ohio pays facilities based on attendance -- not on enrollment -- paying only for the days a child is in care. Paying based on attendance only uses taxpayer dollars when a child is actually physically at the childcare facility. The Biden Administration required all states to pay by enrollment by August 2026. Ohio has not switched to paying by enrollment. The Trump Administration is currently reviewing those requirements.
- "Since the creation of our Department of Children and Youth, they have verified attendance by requiring a personal identification number (PIN) with a photo confirmation or a location-specific QR code;
- "The Department has a comprehensive review process of childcare programs that receive state dollars that includes a review of family eligibility, unannounced health and safety inspections, and financial management reviews.
- "The Department uses monthly cross-department data analytics to identify fraud, waste, and misuse of funds. They complete risk-based, data-driven, and referral-initiated monitoring reviews on monthly data and case-specific concerns.
- "The Department encourages the public to send in tips on potential fraud. DCY has increased public transparency through a “Report Fraud” tool on the website to complement the dedicated program integrity mailbox and toll-free number. In calendar year 2025, DCY has received 124 referrals from the public. Because of these referrals, over half of them (61) have resulted in programs being required to pay back overpayments to the State. They have also resulted in DCY closing 12 programs. Further, they found that 30 of the programs identified through the tips are operating in accordance with state and federal laws, while 21 are still in the final stages of review.
"For example, DCY received a social media tip regarding a childcare facility in Columbus on State Route 161. This address has caused concern on social media because the Google Maps image of the address shows a tobacco shop and not a childcare facility. After investigating the tip, DCY determined that the Google Maps image was from 2022. The facility did not open as a daycare until earlier this year. DCY inspected the facility in October of this year (the facility has not yet received public funds).
- "In addition to enforcing policies driven by data to verify attendance, ensure proper payments and to review and act on allegations of the misuse of taxpayer dollars, DCY has a process in place to clarify and enforce policies. For example, in June 2025, DCY began a PIN-sharing enforcement process. More than 65,000 families were reminded that PINs must never be shared with providers. As a result, more than 7,500 families reset their PINs.
"In November 2025, DCY implemented payment category reforms. The Department updated part-time hours from seven hours per week to 10 hours per week and full-time hours from 25 hours per week to 33 hours per week to ensure the full needs of the family were met by one provider whenever possible. This helps to ensure that providers do not move children to get a full-time payment for one child and a part-time payment for another child for the same classroom “slot.”
"Further, in this past month, DCY closed a dual-provider loophole. The Department clarified that children may attend two providers only when care needs cannot be met by one. As a result, DCY reviewed 1,200 cases and ended more than 900 authorizations.
- "The Department has previously identified additional safeguards that are scheduled to be implemented in January 2026 that include random monthly case reviews and targeted reviews for high-risk practices."
Friday, January 2, 2026
 Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine's first stop of the year was meeting with the members of the Ohio National Guard who are providing support in Washington D.C.
 While visiting with the Ohio National Guard, Governor DeWine presented eight members with a special challenge coin for going above and beyond.
Monday, January 5, 2026
 Governor DeWine reaffirmed that Ohio has strong safeguards in place to prevent fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in the state's publicly funded childcare system and emphasized the importance of the public in reporting suspected fraud.
“Ohio takes allegations of fraud in our child care system seriously,” said Governor DeWine. “We have built multiple layers of accountability into our system, and we actively encourage Ohioans to report concerns so we can investigate and take action.”
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has taken numerous steps to combat fraud in 2025, and will implement additional safeguards in 2026. Those steps were detailed in a statement Governor DeWine released last Wednesday.
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
 Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a manufacturing facility in the Dayton, Ohio area spanning more than 700,000 square feet. The facility, which is ready for immediate use, will initially support Joby’s plans to double production to four aircraft per month in 2027, while also providing space for significant future growth. The factory complements Joby’s existing production facilities in California and Ohio, with operations in the new facility expected to begin this year.
“From the Wright Brothers to Joby Aviation, Ohio has always been where the future of flight takes shape,” said Governor DeWine. "Joby's expanded manufacturing presence in Vandalia and the Miami Valley brings together our state's rich aviation heritage with our world-class advanced manufacturing workforce to build the aircraft that will redefine how people and goods move through our cities.”
Governor DeWine issued the following statement endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor and Rob McColley for Lieutenant Governor:
"With the election year upon us, I am joining Republicans across Ohio in supporting our dynamic ticket for Governor, led by Vivek Ramaswamy.
"Ohio is winning new business projects from the coasts, and Vivek will keep the momentum going. Vivek Ramaswamy knows that Ohio is the best state to build a business, raise a family, and pursue your vision of the American dream.
"The first important decision any Governor makes is who will be his or her choice for Lieutenant Governor. Vivek Ramaswamy has made a great pick in Senate President Rob McColley to be his running mate. Senate President McColley is a strong leader who is well respected by the members of the General Assembly. He knows Ohio and brings geographical balance to the ticket."
Governor and First Lady DeWine and Lt. Governor Tressel attended America’s 250th birthday celebration. Throughout 2026, Ohio will host numerous events, including Ohio Goes to the Movies and Ohio’s Homecoming & Picnics.
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As part of a violent crime reduction initiative in Cincinnati on January 6, 2026, local and state law enforcement made five felony arrests and confiscated two illegally possessed firearms.
The multi-agency operation was part of Governor DeWine's Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which partners state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies on strategic and data-driven operations to identify and arrest repeat offenders responsible for the majority of violent crime in their communities.
Last night's initiative in Cincinnati was the first violent crime reduction operation of 2026. Similar state-supported initiatives in 2025 led to 521 felony arrests and the confiscation of 175 illegal firearms in 23 Ohio communities.
“As we begin the new year, our message remains the same,” said Governor DeWine. “If you are an individual committing violent crime in our neighborhoods, you will be held accountable.”
Friday, January 9, 2026
 Governor and First Lady DeWine thanked Ohio's law enforcement officers who serve and protect our communities every day.
 Governor DeWine, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles Jones, and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced that traffic fatalities have decreased in Ohio for the fourth consecutive year.
According to preliminary data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), the number of traffic fatalities in 2025 dropped approximately 3% in Ohio as compared to 2024, a difference of 32 lives. This decrease continues the downward trend in traffic fatalities that began in 2022, representing 231 lives saved across four years.
"The fact that more people have made it home to their families the past four years is certainly worth celebrating, but make no mistake -- the number of people killed on Ohio's roads remains far too high," said Governor DeWine. "Everyone has a role in making our roads safer, and we all have more work to do."
Governor DeWine attended the Ohio Auctioneers Association's annual conference in Lewis Center. Ohio is home to nearly 2,500 licensed auctioneers, ranking near the top for the number of licensed professionals.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
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