Report. Reflect. Respond.
Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Pennant. To listen to this newsletter, click the “Listen Online” link in the top right corner of this email.
On this day in 1953, Ohio was officially added to the union after it was discovered that the paperwork to ratify the state had been overlooked by Congress in 1803.
A new bill has been proposed that would prohibit public officials in Ohio from participating in prediction markets. Read why in the Top of the Fold.
Also, we’ve compiled a list of the three things you need to watch leading up to the election season. Find it in our Election Coverage Section.
Top of The Fold
Ohio Bill Would Ban Government Workers from Prediction Market Trading
A bill introduced by state Rep. Sean Brennan, D-Parma, would prohibit Ohio public officials and government employees from participating in prediction markets — platforms that allow trading on the outcomes of elections, policy decisions, and economic indicators — with violations carrying fines of up to $10,000 per offense.
Mahoning Valley Put a Moratorium on Data Center Development
The city of Niles has halted annexation talks tied to a proposed data center and imposed a permitting moratorium, while Weathersfield Township unanimously approved its own six-month moratorium, citing health and safety concerns.
Both moves come as the Ohio General Assembly prepares to hold its first Joint Data Center Committee hearings beginning May 27.
For more, click here.
Strongsville Police to Hold OVI Checkpoint Wednesday
The Strongsville Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on May 21 as part of a broader Northeast Ohio enforcement effort following last week's statewide OVI checkpoint campaign by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
See where the checkpoints will be set up here.
Page One
National
Nationwide - Nurse practitioners are one of the fastest-growing jobs in healthcare, with their numbers jumping 60% between 2019 and 2025, as they step in to help fill a shortage of primary-care doctors. While some doctors worry about patient safety, hospitals and clinics love hiring them because they can do many of the same things as doctors but cost less to employ. (More)
DC - The Senate Parliamentarian rejected a bill to spend $1 billion on White House security, partly because it was connected to a new ballroom that President Trump wants to build. Republicans say they'll rewrite the proposal and try again. (Bill)
Health - Millions of Americans taking drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are losing significant muscle mass along with fat, leaving some feeling weak, tired, and frail. Doctors say regular strength training can help slow this muscle loss, but many patients aren't being warned about the risk when they're prescribed the medication. (More)
Statewide
Green - A Green family is honoring the memory of their son, who was struck and killed by a car on April 17, by encouraging their community to perform small acts of kindness in his name. (More)
Stark County - Police extradited Robert Andre Ross, accused of murdering his wife earlier this month, from West Virginia. Ross now awaits a hearing before a Stark County judge. (Case)
Bellefontaine - Mary Rutan Hospital in Bellefontaine has sued nearly 3,000 patients over unpaid medical bills in the past two years, and when those patients don't show up to court, the hospital can take 25% of their paychecks.
Plain City - A local Girl Scouts troop is documenting and preserving nearly 7,000 Revolutionary War veterans' graves as part of the America 250-Ohio Revolutionary War Veterans Grave Project. (Graves)
Columbus - The Columbus Crew fired head coach Henrik Rydström and named Laurent Courtois interim head coach after the team won just three of 14 games under Rydström. (Crew)
Election Coverage
Ohio's Governor's Race Is One to Watch This Fall
By Edward W
The 2026 contest between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton will likely be one of the most expensive gubernatorial races in Ohio history. Ramaswamy holds a significant cash advantage, while Acton is building name recognition through earned media and social platforms. Both candidates are working to define each other before most voters pay attention.
Three things to watch:
The money gap and whether Acton can stay competitive without matching Ramaswamy dollar for dollar.
How each candidate handles the COVID debate — it will be a central attack line.
Turnout infrastructure, especially in northeast Ohio's working-class counties.
The Pennant will offer a weekly perspective on Ohio's key races leading up to November. When reading coverage elsewhere, watch for which candidate gets the last word, whose attacks are fact-checked and whose aren't, and whether stories focus on tactics over policy.
Editorial
Ohio's Senate Race is About to Get Very Expensive
By The Pennant Editorial Staff
The Money Race
Sherrod Brown has a significant fundraising lead. The former senator has raised more than $16.5 million, mostly from everyday Ohioans who gave an average of $35 each. Jon Husted has raised far less on his own, but a national Republican super PAC called the Senate Leadership Fund has pledged $79 million to help close that gap, making Ohio its single biggest target in the country this year.
Once that money starts flowing, television ads, digital ads, and mailers will flood the state from now until Election Day. Ohioans who remember 2024 know what's coming — by early October, changing the channel won’t matter, and ads will flood every inch of the market.
Who the Unions Are Backing
Unions matter in Ohio, and both candidates are working hard to win them over. Brown has endorsements from the United Auto Workers, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and the Ohio Nurses Association.
Husted has made inroads, picking up the Operating Engineers union in all 88 Ohio counties and the Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, groups that backed Brown in the past. The union battle alone suggests this race is tighter than most predicted.
What the Polls Say
The race is a toss-up. A Bowling Green State University poll from April showed Husted leading Brown 50% to 47%, within the margin of error.
The Back Page
The Pennant welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns from readers. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity, and AP style. The Pennant reserves the right to verify all information contained in submissions before publication.
Please send all submissions to [email protected]