Otterbein University is preparing for thousands of people to flock to its campus Tuesday to watch the fourth Democratic presidential debate. The party sees this as an opportunity to try to win over a block of voters who usually favor Republicans. 

Otterbein University has about 3,000 enrolled students. And its population could almost double as thousands pour in for the national presidential debate.

Several locations around the country were vying to host the event. But University President John Comerford says Otterbein was able to pull ahead for a number of reasons.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s package of proposals to reduce gun violence through mental health and gun policy changes is getting mixed reviews. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) says the so-called STRONG Ohio plan is weak, especially since it doesn’t include required background checks, which DeWine said early on he wanted and which Democrats have been pushing for.

“It makes it much harder for people in our caucus to get behind something that we don’t quite see as legitimate and strong and what people have requested from us,” Sykes said. 

In just less than a year, airline travelers will have to show a federally compliant driver’s license to get on a plane, or will have to bring a passport – even to fly within the United States.

Since the new license was rolled out in July 2018, only 27% of Ohioans have obtained it. Among them is Gov. Mike DeWine, who’s urging others to do the same – even if they don’t plan to take a trip.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s gun plan calls for using the so-called “pink slip” process to separate people thought to be dangerous from their guns. But Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) is questioning that approach.

Householder said many Republicans in the House don’t think reducing gun access is necessarily going to deal with the gun violence problem.

Judges in Akron want to clear up questions about how the judicial system works for people in the community.

Akron Municipal Court has launched a new program called Have Gavel, Will Travel, to connect judges with schools, churches, scout troops and other community organizations.

Akron Municipal Judge Jon Oldham said one obstacle is convincing people the court isn’t just there to lock them up.

Opponents of the nuclear power plant bailout are waiting for a ruling after asking a federal judge to give them more time to circulate petitions to put the law onto next year’s ballot. The group said a state elections law creates unfair hurdles that the other side doesn’t have to face.

If you are a lawyer, a lobbyist, a teacher or someone who uses feminine hygiene products, you could be getting closer to a tax break. 

Earlier this year, Ohio lawmakers passed a change preventing lawyers and lobbyists from taking advantage of a tax break that exempts the first $250,000 earned from income tax. The House has now reversed that, unanimously passing a bill that restores that break for those professions. Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) says it was a matter of necessity.