Five things to know for Thursday, Nov. 6

Parents plan to address Parma Schools meeting

Parents, community members, and Moms for Liberty – Cuyahoga County representatives plan to address tonight’s Parma City School Board about allegations of sexual misconduct by a district teacher toward a student, and the district’s handling of them. The school hasn’t said much, with a rep previously telling Ohio.News that it wouldn’t comment aside from a letter it sent to parents.

At issue is a teacher at Parma’s Greenbriar Middle School who has been placed on leave amid an outside investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct. The teacher has been on leave since March as the school district continues to review the matter, and parents say the district failed to properly report the incident as mandated by law.

“Mandatory reporting exists to protect children, not institutions,” the group said in a statement. “When a child reports inappropriate conduct, the first response should be safety—not suspension. Parma City Schools must answer for these failures and immediately review their policies, reporting procedures, and administrative decision-making.”

Bid to remove judge is legislative overreach, group says

The advancement of House Concurrent Resolution 26, a measure that seeks to remove Cincinnati Municipal Court Judge Ted N. Berry from the bench, is overreach, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus said.

They pointed out that Berry is the son of Cincinnati’s first Black mayor. However, the issue is that the Hamilton County judge, who was set to retire in early 2026, is accused of making social media comments that critics say celebrated the assassination of conservative luminary Charlie Kirk.

“This resolution represents a serious overreach of legislative authority and a troubling misuse of taxpayer resources,” the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus said in a statement. “The Ohio Constitution establishes a clear process for judicial discipline through the Supreme Court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel, not through political theater in the General Assembly. To disregard this process is to erode the very separation of powers that upholds our democracy.

Bill would require a photo ID for a marriage license

The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 386, which requires applicants to present current and valid photo identification when applying for a marriage license. Under current law, applicants are only required to prove their age, not their identity.

Acceptable identification includes a U.S. passport, driver’s license, state-issued identification card, government-issued photo ID, or a school-issued photo ID. The measure, championed by state Reps. Mike Odioso, R-Green Twp., and Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison, heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Measure would help state meet ‘reliable, affordable power’ demands

While delays in approving natural gas projects undermine Ohio’s “economic and technological growth,” Senate Bill 103 would “help keep Ohio competitive and spur economic development by attracting new technology and industrial investment,” Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, said in prepared testimony to the Ohio House Energy Committee.

By adopting the measure’s policies, Lawson said lawmakers will ensure the state’s energy infrastructure continues to meet demands for “reliable, affordable power.” While “regular energy users should not have to pay costs for massive new energy-intensive projects,” Lawson noted that the measure takes “great strides to meet rising demand without sacrificing consumer protections.”

PUCO accepts AES settlement agreement

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio accepted a settlement agreement in a distribution rate case for AES Ohio, which serves roughly 520,000 customers. As part of the deal, AES Ohio can file rates that will result in a total increase in base distribution rates of $168 million annually, less than the $235 million AES Ohio requested in its application.

The settlement keeps the $9.75 customer charge, removes reconnection fees, and offers more than $1 million in shareholder-funded assistance with bill payments annually. On Aug. 13, an unchallenged settlement agreement was filed by AES Ohio, PUCO staff, and others.