Thursday, May 28, 2026

Cincinnati, US

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Politics

Cracked piggy bank sitting beside scattered coins with a blurred Cincinnati riverfront in the background, representing Cincinnati's FY 2027 budget pressures and financial strain.

News Politics

Cincinnati’s Budget Gamble: No Layoffs Today, But at What Cost Tomorrow?

Cincinnati's FY 2027 budget claims to be "structurally balanced," but the math is a mirage. A $29.5 million deficit closed through hiring freezes, delayed firefighter recruits, and ambulance fee hikes is not fiscal discipline—it is postponement. The city has run deficits for more years than it hasn't. The Cincinnati 2027 budget is a key example…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 23, 20260Comments

Afroman in court during his 2026 Afroman free speech verdict trial in Adams County, Ohio

News Opinion Politics

Afroman Free Speech Verdict: Appalachian Authority Skepticism

How Appalachian Ohio’s Skepticism of Authority Shaped the Afroman Free Speech Verdict In 2022, Adams County sheriff’s deputies arrived with a search warrant at the southern Ohio home of Joseph Foreman, better known as Afroman. He is the musician whose 2001 hit Because I Got High still echoes from car stereos and dorm…

ByJonathan SmithMay 21, 20260Comments

Voters walk into a polling location during the 2026 Kentucky primary election as local and federal races draw attention across the Commonwealth.

News Politics

Kentucky Primary Election 2026 Reveals Growing Divides Across the Commonwealth

Kentucky Primary Election Puts Local Concerns Front and Center Today’s ballot includes city council races, county offices, judicial seats, state legislative contests, and several closely watched federal primaries. Turnout is expected to remain relatively low, likely somewhere in the low-to-mid 20% range statewide for the Kentucky primary election. That matters because low-turnout primaries usually reward…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 19, 20260Comments

Residents walk into Fort Thomas City Building ahead of the 2026 Fort Thomas City Council primary election in Northern Kentucky.

News Politics

Fort Thomas City Council Race Draws Record 15 Candidates Ahead of Tuesday Vote

The unusually large field reflects growing tension inside Fort Thomas. Development, residential zoning preservation, infrastructure demands, and the future direction of one of Northern Kentucky’s most sought-after river cities. For many voters, this election is less about party labels and more about what kind of growth Fort Thomas wants over the next decade. The decisions…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 19, 20260Comments

Thomas Massie standing in front of a montage featuring the U.S. Capitol, American flags, and the Cincinnati skyline during the Kentucky GOP primary fight.

Opinion Politics

Massie Primary Becomes a Test of Grassroots Politics & Outside Spending

The Thomas Massie primary has become one of the strangest and most expensive Republican congressional fights in the country. More than $25 million has already poured into Kentucky’s 4th District race. The Thomas Massie primary, according to ad tracking data cited by Axios, makes it the most expensive House primary in U.S. history. Much of…

ByChristina HolbrookMay 13, 20260Comments

Students walking into school as Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program faces a major legal challenge over school choice and education funding.

Education News Politics

Why Ohio’s EdChoice Lawsuit Could Change Education Across the State

The Ohio 10th District Court of Appeals is hearing arguments today in a major legal challenge that could reshape education options for tens of thousands of Ohio families. More than 300 public school districts, including several in Greater Cincinnati, are trying to dismantle the EdChoice voucher program, which currently serves roughly 150,000 to 166,000 students…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 12, 20260Comments

Illustration of the U.S. Capitol between Republican and Democratic party symbols during the 2026 midterms debate over House control and redistricting.

News Politics

GOP’s Structural Edge: Why 2026 Midterms Are Shaping Up as a Tougher Fight for Democrats

Republicans are entering the 2026 midterm cycle with a rare set of built-in advantages A massive fundraising lead, court-backed redistricting gains, and a favorable Senate map — even as national polls show Democrats with a typical midterm edge on the generic ballot. The conversation started with a viral X post highlighting Inside Elections’ current House…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 12, 20260Comments

Resident Holds Wesley Baymiller TIF Meeting Notice Outside Cincinnati Home

Community News Politics

Cincinnati Affordable Housing Debate Grows in OTR

Cincinnati officials scheduled a virtual community engagement meeting. This one is for May 20 to discuss the proposed use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds for the Wesley Baymiller affordable housing redevelopment project near 70 E. McMicken Ave. The proposal includes up to $1.85 million in direct financial assistance tied to the Downtown/OTR East TIF…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 10, 20260Comments

Vivek Ramaswamy celebrating his landslide victory in the 2026 Ohio Primary for governor in Cincinnati

News Politics

Cincinnati Native Vivek Ramaswamy Wins Ohio GOP Nomination, Faces Acton

Cincinnati’s Own Vivek Ramaswamy Delivers Landslide Victory, Poised to Become Ohio’s Next Governor Local Roots, Bold Vision: Ramaswamy Sets Up Strong Contrast with Dr. Amy Acton in November General Election Vivek Ramaswamy, the Cincinnati native and St. Xavier High School graduate, delivered a landslide victory in the May 5, 2026, Republican primary. With more than…

ByAdam KoehlerMay 6, 20260Comments

A person’s hand holding a round "Ohio Voted" sticker featuring the red outline of the state of Ohio, with a blurred polling location, voting signs, and a silver SUV in the background.

Politics

Ohio primary election 2026 draws statewide races as polls close tonight

The Ohio mail-in deadline is shaping voter decisions across the state as Election Day reaches its final hours. Voters who requested absentee ballots must ensure delivery by the strict 7:30 p.m. cutoff. State officials say ballots arriving after that time will not count, even if postmarked earlier. The rule reflects changes to Ohio election law…