Five things to know for Monday, Jan. 26
In January 2026, Gov. Mike DeWine joined state officials from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association to encourage Ohioans to prepare for severe weather.
Buckeye Institute files brief in New England case
The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in a case in New England. The Columbus-based think tank wants the court to overturn a lower court’s ruling and dismiss a U.S. Department of Commerce rule forcing commercial fishermen to house, feed, and pay the salaries of their government-mandated monitors.
“In 1767, in his first letter from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, John Dickinson warned of the dangers of the British Parliament forcing the American colonists to quarter British soldiers,” David C. Tryon, director of litigation at The Buckeye Institute, said in a release. “What the British sought to do to American colonists, the National Marine Fisheries Service now seeks to do to Atlantic herring fishermen.”
Property taxes out? How about income taxes? While Ohioans generally seem down on property taxes and some would like to eliminate them altogether, school districts are turning to income taxes as another source of revenue. According to WOSU, the school board for New Philadelphia City Schools in Tuscarawas County recently voted to put a 1.5% income tax on the May ballot.
Ohio unemployment rate remains unchanged. Ohio’s December Unemployment Rate was 4.5%, Unchanged from November. Ohio’s unemployment rate remained at 4.5% in December, the same as the November rate. According to state numbers, Ohio’s nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased by 3,500 over the month, remaining in the 5.7 million range in both November and December.
Coshocton schools place superintendent on paid leave. The board of Coshocton City Schools has placed Superintendent Mark Kowalski on paid administrative leave for 10 days, WCMH-TV reported. In a letter titled “Leadership Update” and sent to families, the board, which did not name a reason for the suspension, named Matt Nicholas to serve as interim superintendent while Kowalski is on leave.
Clorox acquires Akron-based company. The Clorox Company has acquired the Akron company that created Purell hand sanitizer, WOSU reported. The $2.25 billion cash deal for GOJO Industries included $330 million in tax benefits, resulting in a net purchase price of $1.92 billion, according to the report, which cited a news release.
