Wednesday, July 1st, 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 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began in southern Pennsylvania, opening the three-day fight that became the turning point of the Civil War, with more than 20 Ohio regiments in the thick of it.

A recent Supreme Court ruling has put an Ohio voting law into question. Find out how in the Top of The Fold.

Also, be sure to read Part 1 of our 3-part America 250 series.

SPRINGFIELD — A U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians has raised questions about the future of the estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Haitians living in Springfield.

Gov. DeWine, who has credited Haitian workers with aiding the local economy, said the matter rests with the federal government.

COLUMBUS — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday that states may count mail-in ballots postmarked before Election Day even if they arrive after polls close.

The decision defied Ohio Republicans, who had repealed the state's grace period, expecting the court to require all ballots in by election night.

COLUMBUS — Ohio is teaming with Virginia on an initiative to design three-year, 90-credit bachelor's degrees, with 10 Ohio universities, including Ohio State, Cleveland State, and Ohio University, taking part in the effort known as "Scaling College in 3."

Backers say the shorter path could make college more affordable, though two higher education groups criticized such degrees as a stripped-down, speed-focused curriculum.

As America marks its 250th birthday this year, it's worth understanding the document that still runs the country: the Constitution. Most of us couldn't explain what it does, though. So let's walk through it like a history lesson.

After winning freedom from Britain in 1783, the new country had a problem. It needed a government, but nobody wanted a king. The first plan, the Articles of Confederation, was too weak; it couldn't even collect taxes or pay its debts. So in the summer of 1787, leaders met in Philadelphia and wrote a new plan instead. George Washington led the meeting while about 55 delegates argued through a hot Pennsylvania summer with the windows shut for secrecy, sweating in wool coats and powdered wigs.

What they built was bold. The Constitution splits the government into three parts: Congress, which writes the laws; the president, who carries them out; and the courts, which decide what the laws mean. Each part checks the others, so no one gets too powerful. This was rare for the time. Nearly every country was then ruled by kings, queens, and emperors who held power for life, while the Founders built a government with no throne and gave the power to the people.

They were shaped by many things, including the Bible. From scripture, they drew the belief that people are flawed and can't be trusted with too much power. As James Madison put it, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary." 

That belief is a big reason they split the government and made each branch watch the others. Some even point to a verse in Isaiah that calls God a judge, a lawgiver, and a king, the same three roles our government was divided into. If you visit the U.S. House of Representatives, you'll see 23 great lawgivers carved into the walls. The one in the center, the only face looking straight out while the others turn toward him, is Moses, honored for carrying the Ten Commandments down from the mountain.

The Constitution also set up a republic rather than a pure democracy.

Continue reading the article here.

Should Ohio lower the minimum age for a driver's permit from 15½ to 15?
- Yes - 63%
- No - 37%

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