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A shocking development in the largest corruption case in Ohio history.

Governor Mike DeWine annual speech focused on kids health and safety.

And it gets praise, but also pushback.

And looking back at the spectacle that had us all looking up, that's this weekend.

The state of Ohio.

Welcome to the state of Ohio.

I'm Karen Kasler.

This week, there was a long predicted celestial event, a recently planned political event, and an unexpected, tragic event.

We start with that one.

The death of a key figure in the House.

Bill six nuclear power plant bailout scandal.

Sam Randazzo, a lawyer and utilities expert who had been the chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, was found dead this week in a warehouse he owned in Columbus.

The Franklin County Coroner's office calls it a suspected suicide.

Randazzo had been the Puco chair when the billion dollar nuclear bailout law, House Bill six, passed.

He'd been accused of accepting a $4.3 million bribe from First Energy, a subsidiary of that utility owned Ohio's two nuclear plants.

In February, he and former First Energy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling were accused of state charges in that case.

Attorney General Dave Yost brought those charges and says the case continues.

Yeah, I was shocked, like everybody else, and said, nobody don't want to see anybody go like that.

What does it do to the state's investigation?

I'm sorry.

How does it affect the state's investigation?

I don't think it affects our case.

Randazzo's attorney has come out and said basically.

Like he thinks he knows the prosecutor.

and called.

The conduct of your office and state prosecutors egregious.

You have any response to, Prosecutors?

Both federal and state prosecutors are doing their jobs.

tragic outcome.

but nobody bears responsibility for his actions except him.

What happens to his assets?

Are they.

Automatically unfrozen?

And you do know the orderly.

The freeze order is part of the, case.

And, civil.

Our civil.

Rico case.

and I think that, those claims survive his passing.

the order remains in place.

this is passing.

Potentially affects how you could potentially go after other defendants.

Or are you worried this close to that is our case?

Move forward.

We're not dismissing any charges.

We're not, dismissing.

Any, defendants, but any future potential defendants.

You worry that could close off some angles to go after people who still might not have been charged.

You know.

Randazzo was also facing federal corruption charges in the same court where Republican former House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Gorgeous were convicted last year.

He had pleaded not guilty to all charges in March 2021.

Another person accused in the House Bill six case, lobbyist Neil Clark, was found dead near his home in Florida eight months after his arrest.

His death was ruled a suicide.

Now to the planned political event, the annual state of the state speech, the latest one on the calendar in more than 40 years.

It was the fourth one for governor Mike DeWine, with the addresses in 2020 and 2021 canceled for Covid and an hour and three minutes, it was the longest state of the state speech DeWine has delivered.

And as many might expect from DeWine, children were the focus.

All our dreams, all our goals really are our vision for the future ultimately depends on them.

The single, the single most important thing we can do for Ohio's future is to ensure that all Ohio children, all Ohio children, no matter where they live, no matter who their parents are, have the opportunity to live up to their full, God given potential and they have the chance to pursue their dreams and their passions in life.

The most important thing.

We can do.

Kids have only one chance to grow up, so we must have a great sense of urgency, as every moment we waste is a moment that they lose.

DeWine called for some legislation he said would save lives, one a law that would allow drivers to be pulled over for not wearing seatbelts.

We also know that a primary seatbelt law would protect people traveling on our Ohio highways.

Here are the statistics.

And they're not good.

Ohio is 10th from the bottom, 10th, and the bottom of all states in seatbelt use, while the national average for seatbelt use is 91%.

Ohio's number is only 81%.

91.

81 and sadly, our youngest drivers are youngest drivers have the lowest rate of all.

That's why I'll be coming to you with a proposal to save young people's lives and adults through a primary seatbelt law.

We know it works.

It's a vote that will save lives.

And though lawmakers overrode his veto, that would take away the community's power to ban flavored tobacco and vaping products.

A lawsuit on that was filed by several Ohio cities this week.

DeWine also asked for a statewide ban on them.

The Biden administration has the authority to stop the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, cigarets and flavored vaping products, but they have not done so.

I urge them to do that, but I think we've all learned that we can't depend on Washington.

We have an obligation to protect Ohio children, and we have the ability to do that.

Now, I understand the desire for uniformity statewide.

I understand that I get it.

And so I'm asking you to pass a uniform state law banning flavored vaping and flavored cigarets.

And DeWine also once again called for changes to Ohio's newly approved recreational marijuana law.

And he again asked lawmakers to approve a ban on the sale of Delta eight, which is also called intoxicating hemp.

It's disguised as candies, gummies, even breakfast cereals.

It can cause hallucinations, vomiting, tremors, anxiety, dizziness, confusion and even loss of consciousness.

Just in the cases that were reported to the Ohio Poison Control Center, there were 100 Delta eight poisonings last year.

And of those, 40 were involving children age five or younger.

That's just what was reported.

Further, a recent national survey of 12th graders found that over 11% had used Delta eight in the past year because of a loophole in the law.

Delta eight can be sold as hemp without the warning labels and age restrictions associated with marijuana.

We know the companies that produce and sell these products intentionally market these harmful products to our children.

Members of the General Assembly.

Today I'm asking you asking you to pass legislation to ban the sale of these dangerous products to our children.

Then there's marijuana.

We must respect the will of Ohio voters.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

However, I doubt if very many people who voted yes on issue two, one of their kids breathing in marijuana smoke while walking in a public park.

Or on us, or.

On our sidewalk to ball practice or smelling the stench of it.

Walking from the parking lot to a Guardians game or reg game.

That's not what people voted for.

But make no mistake about it.

That is what the current law allows and will continue to allow until we do something about it.

We owe it to our families to change that.

And you have the power to do that.

I ask you to exercise that power.

DeWine said schools should come up with policies to keep cell phones out of classrooms.

He also laid out plans for increased literacy, including teaching more teachers the Science of Reading program included in the current state budget.

And he also announced a proposal to deal with what people of both parties have called a child care crisis in Ohio.

Very pleased to announce the creation of Ohio's new Child Care Choice Voucher program for Ohio families that make up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four.

This new program will provide financial support for 8000 more Ohio children.

Now that we'll also be allocating federal funding, reallocating that federal funding to dedicate $85 million to create child care access grants to improve and expand existing child care facilities.

And to help the many parents caring for the children with special needs who can't find child care providers.

We've created Ohio Promise for every childhood professionals.

Early childhood professionals learn how to care for and teach children with disabilities.

And the results have been good.

And less than a year, over 2700 professionals have been trained, and we have seen a 20% increase in the number of children with disability age who are now being served.

By doing all of these things.

We're helping more families.

Businesses will find more workers in Ohio's economy will thrive.

DeWine also asked for more School-Based health clinics and the creation of a statewide plan to ensure that every Ohio child who needs glasses will get them.

Their models work, and we must take these models statewide.

Today, I'm announcing the creation of the Children's Vision Strike Force.

This will not be a study committee.

We know the problem and we know the solution.

Whether this group will work with vision care professionals in every corner of Ohio to scale the proven models, to scale these proven models statewide and to provide schools with the technical assistance they need to implement these very important programs.

Ohio, sadly, has never had a statewide plan to ensure that every Ohio child who needs glasses will get glasses.

Now we do.

DeWine speech got some positive reviews, but he also received pushback from legislators in his own party.

Both Speaker Jason Stevens and Senate President Matt Huffman said they like the emphasis on reading and on more child care, but were cautious about the spending involved.

But they both put the brakes on the call for a law allowing drivers to be pulled over for not wearing seatbelts.

I was glad to hear about the distracted driving.

Has a supporter of the distracted driving Bill an insurance agent in real life?

So we understand that.

We also understand the seatbelt laws.

The issue becomes what is how much personal responsibility is required by individuals.

So that will probably be how those would be received.

you know, I don't to speak for all the, all the General Assembly, but that's just my take on.

On those three issues.

It's passed because, my lack of enthusiasm doesn't stop legislation.

one of my concerns about that bill is or that concept is, there's some of it is personal freedom.

some of it also is, the folks who tend to get those tickets, those folks who are stopped the most are people who are least able to pay the bill.

usually people, or stopping at a stop sign in an urban area and, I guess need to hear from, a lot of testimony from those folks as to the effect that that would have.

And, of course, way back when we were all taking driver's ed, we all knew we had to put on our seatbelt and, we started, some people did it, some people didn't.

But of course, the promise was when the, the bill was passed that required it.

Or you could be ticketed as a secondary law.

The promise was, well, this will never become a primary offense.

Well, nobody ever says that at the time.

but so I have some trepidation about it, but we'll let it run its course, in the Senate and see what people have to say.

They also agreed that DeWine suggested a statewide ban on flavored tobacco and vaping products was unlikely, since the legislature had overturned DeWine's veto of their ban on communities outlawing those products.

But Hoffman and Stevens did differ on DeWine's proposal to require schools to implement policies on the use of cell phones, and the suggestion that they should be removed from classrooms.

I thought the idea of eliminating use of smartphones during the school day is a great idea.

it's, and the governor's, you know, talked about in some cases encouraging it and all of that.

I suppose at some point there's an academic basis for the use of a smartphone, but, almost, I can't think of one.

All of us, I think, learn to read here, without the use of smartphones when we were, in third grade.

So, I, I think that that is something to happen, important to happen beyond the bad content on the internet.

As the governor said, their school districts have already been proactive on that.

They have the ability to do that.

currently, I would think that, you know, the school districts, the teachers, the principals, you know, they have the ability to do that.

And if they think that's the best policy, I think that's their decision to make.

On the marijuana and Delta eight issues, both Republican leaders said discussions were continuing, with Hoffman noting that lawmakers will be working to at least the end of June, which is when marijuana sales under the regulatory system established by issue one could likely begin.

and finally, I appreciate the governor's comments regarding, Delta eight banning the sale and also getting the legislation on marijuana passed.

I know those are not exactly the same two things, but I put them in the same category.

I'm hopeful that there will be some discussions and we can get the marijuana, bill passed in the next, in the next few months, you know, we'll be here, at least through the end of June.

And, so, but I think, you know, as always, the governor's very thoughtful, and, and as some have reminded me, but of course, we have to be able to pay for the things that we were thinking about when we're being thoughtful.

Well, I will remind everyone I was not here during House Bill six.

I was not appointed until October of 2019.

I never knew Mister Randazzo.

And, you know, I'm just really, I feel, you know, sad for the for the family and all the things of that.

That's a it's a very difficult, situation, you know, that's what I'll say about.

The whole that I, that.

you know, the devil's in the details of those types of things.

I think, again, there's a certain personal responsibility that, individuals have.

You know, we have, you know, we just passed the, you know, legalizing recreational marijuana.

I think that's not the same, but it's sort of in the same vein of if you are over 21 years old and you have the ability, the free will to buy a product that's, however you want to do it, I think that's that's okay.

So really the details on that, I think it's important.

And we back to the Delta eight.

This is about the children, you know protecting kids from being able to buy it or the other convenience store.

which right now the convenience store, the flavored tobacco is a lot harder to buy than the Delta H. Stephens and Huffman did not team up for a Republican response to the speech as in previous years.

They are both running unopposed for the House, and they are likely to face one another next year, as both are expected to run for speaker.

Democratic leaders did note some issues where they align with DeWine in the speech, such as the need for more publicly funded childcare, an updated marijuana law, and the importance of keeping college graduates in Ohio.

But they also called for increased childcare eligibility, more affordable housing, more accountability for charter schools and the state's expanding voucher program, a fairer tax policy and a crackdown on corruption, all of which they say is unlikely, in part because of that proxy war for speaker of the House.

The obsession with promoting right wing culture wars has mired legislative debates that would take away rights rather than expand them.

Contentious debates over the rights of trans youth and parents, policy debates that would marginalize, rather than welcome and and include the diverse people of the state of Ohio.

So much time wasted serving as a distraction rather than address the real problems facing everyday Ohioans.

The reality is that rigged one party rule and Republican infighting seem to have no end in sight here in Ohio's General Assembly, and fact in the sea of controversy that the legislature has become.

People are taking a backseat to politics.

Extremism, not common sense, is the currency to get anything done around here.

It seems.

And by choosing politics over people, the past year has seen a rise in the attacks on our fundamental freedoms to decide our own futures.

As Ohioans, the draining of billions of dollars in school funding from public schools and gifting it to private and unaccountable private schools, and the shifting of taxes to our local homeowners and seniors to make up for state cuts to local communities and tax giveaways to the wealthiest few.

Democrats also chided DeWine for spending just over a minute on gun violence, talking up investments in law enforcement, crime prevention, technology and surge initiatives to bring state help to local officers in high crime areas.

Democrats called for gun safety laws, which are unlikely to move in a Republican dominated legislature that's been expanding gun rights.

The death of Sam Randazzo, which most people learned about the evening before the state of the state speech, cast a pall over the day.

And Democrats note that five years after House Bill six passed, there have been no changes to the laws that allowed the scandal surrounding it.

So, first, let me just say that, you know, I've been in this General Assembly.

Many of us actually have been in this General Assembly since the very beginning of this scandal.

And, what is I think, particularly tragic is that the lives and the livelihoods of individuals and families that have been destroyed because of this corruption, it's heartbreaking and it's sad.

There is no joy, or no victory, in any of that.

We have long said.

In fact, I've, I've written about this repeatedly, that the culture of corruption here has tentacles that are very long in the halls of the statehouse and state government.

and, you know, without a doubt, it took many people at the highest levels of government either blatantly ignoring warning signs or creating a pathway for that corruption to happen.

And so I think as this investigation continues, we will probably see more of that come out.

and sadly, there will likely be more lives and livelihoods that are destroyed because of it.

By the way, Democrats were decked out for the speech in shades of green in honor of former Representative and Hamilton County Auditor Brigid Kelly, who died of cancer March 26th.

And now to the predicted and spectacular celestial event, the solar eclipse, the first one with Ohio experiencing totality in more than 200 years, more than 120 miles of the state was in total darkness for around four minutes.

And it was eerie, stunning, magnificent and overwhelming.

Statehouse correspondent Sarah Donaldson looks back on this stellar day.

Across the state Monday.

Ohioans focus their eyes on the sky for at least part of the afternoon, as a total solar eclipse shrouded a good portion of the state and momentary darkness.

Totality lasted less than a minute in some places and as long as four in others, with temperatures dropping, birds quieting down, and people falling silent to witness the spectacle.

Many describe themselves as unprepared for what they experienced, but state and local agencies poured months into planning and getting ready for the big day passed last year, the state budget set aside $1 million for costs to reimburse local law enforcement and other emergency services, and statewide, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and departments of Transportation and Natural Resources boosted their staffing levels.

Working from a centralized emergency center, National and state parks and science centers and museums held daylong programing.

There were pre-games at county fairgrounds and parties above parking garages.

Hotels were sold out, traffic levels ebbed and flowed at their highest levels directly before and after the eclipse.

Although several interstates and highway saw snarls, Odot said it wasn't anything more than they prepared for many of Odie.

In hours, properties filled up and some had to close their gates in advance of totality and.

Vibrating.

Some low and no vision.

Ohioans used their ears to hear the eclipse pass rather than see it through light.

Sound devices that convert light intensity to melodies.

Only three existed in 2017.

This time, there were more than 700 available for those who missed Monday's event and were hoping for a second chance.

Bad news the state won't be in the path of totality again until the close of the century in 2099.

Sarah Donaldson, Statehouse News Bureau.

And that's it for this week for my colleagues at the Statehouse News Bureau of Ohio Public Radio and Television.

Thanks for watching.

Please check out our website at statenews.org or find us online by searching State of Ohio Show, and you can hear more from the Bureau on our new podcast, The Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

Look for it every Monday morning wherever you get your podcasts.

And please join us again next time for the State of Ohio.

Support for the Statehouse News Bureau comes from a medical mutual dedicated to the health and well-being of Ohioans, offering health insurance plans, as well as dental, vision, and wellness programs to help people achieve their goals and remain healthy.

More at Med mutual.com.

The law offices of Porter, Wright, Morris and Arthur LLP Porter Wright is dedicated to bringing inspired legal outcomes to the Ohio business community.

More at Porter.

Right.

Com Porter Wright inspired Every Day and Ohio Education Association, representing 120,000 educators who are united in their mission to create the excellent public schools.

Every child deserves more at OHEA.org.