As new documents have become available related to FirstEnergy's bribery scandal, we're learning about payments the company made that benefited the current holders of the highest political offices in the state.

On the May 1 episode of Ohio Has Issues, Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Haney dig into the details of FirstEnergy payments to dark money organizations supporting Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted and Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman.

To explain what we've learned thanks to a shareholder lawsuit against FirstEnergy, Stephanie and Mike talk with Cleveland.com political reporter Jake Zuckerman. University of Cincinnati political reporter David Niven shares his perspective on why these campaign contributions are concerning, and how it seems unlikely to him that our state's leaders didn't know they were being made for their benefits. Plus, they talk with government watchdog Common Cause Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer about what she'd like to see when it comes to campaign finance transparency in the state.

We also get the latest update on what's happening in the Ohio General Assembly related to two anti-LGBTQ+ bills and the long overdue closure of Ohio's marital rape prosecution exemption.

Watch Ohio Has Issues here:
https://youtube.com/live/L7xAX1G0NH4

"Ohio Has Issues" is recorded in Cleveland, out of WKYC Studios. New episodes typically stream live every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM on the WKYC YouTube page and the WKYC+ streaming app. "Ohio Has Issues" is also available wherever you listen to podcasts, with episodes dropping after the livestreamed recording sessions end.

Stephanie is the digital anchor and legal analyst at WKYC. She is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and California.

Mike is an anchor, commentator and editorialist at WKYC. Mike co-hosts "Front Row Friday" with Laura Caso, which airs every Friday at 7 PM on 3News and on WKYC+.

Voters are wondering whether President Joe Biden will be on the Ohio ballot in November, thanks to a law passed in 2009.

This week on Ohio Has Issues with Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Haney, we look at why it's become a question whether the sitting President of the United States will appear on the general election ballot. Cleveland.com political reporter Jeremy Pelzer is back on the show to break down what legislators are saying, as they could fix the issue with legislation if they wanted to.

Read Jeremy Pelzer's reporting here:
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/04/ohio-lawmakers-say-they-need-to-permanently-change-the-state-law-threatening-joe-bidens-ballot-access.html

Then, we talk with Republican strategist and Ohio elections expert Terry Casey to understand why this has become a problem, in the first place.

Plus, 3News investigative reporter Lynna Lai and Cleveland.com's Jake Zuckerman give us an overview of how groups supporting Governor Mike DeWine and current Lt. Governor Jon Husted ended up with big checks from FirstEnergy, around the time the corporation was paying $60 million in bribes in order to get House Bill 6 passed, and bail out its failing nuclear powerplants.

Read Jake Zuckerman's reporting here:
https://www.cleveland.com/open/2024/04/firstenergy-paid-25-million-secret-payment-to-nonprofit-backing-dewine-in-2018-new-records-show.html

We also roundup what Ohio's candidates for US Senate are saying on key issues, while we look at what's happening with House Bill 68, as Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost seeks to lift most of a temporary block on the law that would ban gender-affirming care for Transgender youth.

Watch Ohio Has Issues here:
https://youtu.be/2HsySxu9oF4

"Ohio Has Issues" is recorded in Cleveland, out of WKYC Studios. New episodes typically stream live every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM on the WKYC YouTube page and the WKYC+ streaming app. "Ohio Has Issues" is also available wherever you listen to podcasts, with episodes dropping after the livestreamed recording sessions end.

Stephanie is the digital anchor and legal analyst at WKYC. She is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and California.

Mike is an anchor, commentator and editorialist at WKYC. Mike co-hosts "Front Row Friday" with Laura Caso, which airs every Friday at 7 PM on 3News and on WKYC+.

A senator, 2 growers and a dispensary owner talk with Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Haney about when you'll be able to buy recreational marijuana in Ohio, on Ohio Has Issues.

Mike and Stephanie dig into Issue 2, the citizen-initiated statute that legalized adult use recreational marijuana in Ohio, and took effect on Dec. 7, 2023. Since then, Ohioans have wondered when they’ll be able to buy it in our state, and tonight, we have answers. Those answers from Ohio’s Division of Cannabis Control, with insight from Ohio Capital Journal reporter Nick Evans, and Ohio state Senator Kent Smith.

Leading medical marijuana industry experts also share what’s happening behind the scenes to get recreational marijuana to Ohioans. Mike talks with Buckeye Relief owner and Ohio Cannabis Coalition president Andy Rayburn, and Stephanie chats with Ascension BioMedical owner and CEO Fadi Boumitri.

Plus, we give you the latest update on whether President Joe Biden will be on the Ohio ballot in November, what we’ve learned about money that FirstEnergy sent to a group backing current Lt. Governor Jon Husted for governor in 2017, and why a court has temporarily blocked Ohio’s ban on Transgender care for minors.

Watch Ohio Has Issues here:
https://youtu.be/HrDhbtxQ1pg

"Ohio Has Issues" is recorded in Cleveland, out of WKYC Studios. New episodes typically stream live every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM on the WKYC YouTube page and the WKYC+ streaming app. "Ohio Has Issues" is also available wherever you listen to podcasts, with episodes dropping after the livestreamed recording sessions end.

Stephanie is the digital anchor and legal analyst at WKYC. She is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and California.

Mike is an anchor, commentator and editorialist at WKYC. Mike co-hosts "Front Row Friday" with Laura Caso, which airs every Friday at 7 PM on 3News and on WKYC+.