Ohio Statehouse

This story was updated at 1 p.m., Friday April 20, 2021 The "Back the Blue" event that was expected to attract hundreds of people to downtown Columbus has been called off by the controversial gun rights group that was sponsoring it.

Kent State University and the University of Akron are among schools calling off J&J shot clinics; House Republicans have proposed a 2% personal income tax cut in their version of the state budget, and other stories.

The State Highway Patrol says a man broke into the Ohio Statehouse early Monday morning, used a fire extinguisher to spray chemicals on the historic building’s Rotunda floor, and then called 911 seeking medical help.

The Ohio Highway Patrol says it's prepared to make sure the protest is done safely.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan announced Thursday that the city is withdrawing a proposal to lease 475 acres near LaDue Reservoir for oil and natural gas drilling; Gov. Mike DeWine says Ohio can expect to see more doses of the coronavirus vaccine from both Pfizer and Moderna in coming weeks; Dr. Amy Acton, the former state health director who became the face of Ohio’s early pandemic response, is stepping down from her position at the Columbus Foundation to “carefully explore” running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate; and more stories.

The running estimated cost so far is about $850,000 for the week leading up to Joe Biden's inauguration.

On this inauguration day, security remains high at the Ohio Statehouse after preparations for a weekend armed march that never fully materialized.

Concerns over security throughout the country are expected to last for months, according to an anti-hate group.

The Ohio National Guard and state highway patrol were on hand for the protest at the statehouse. It was at times loud but peaceful.

Gov. Mike DeWine says the Statehouse and other state buildings in downtown Columbus will be closed through Inauguration Day; Ohio has surpassed 800,000 COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic with more than 7,600 reported on Thursday; Gov. Mike DeWine says the state is rolling out an online tool allowing residents to look up locations where the coronavirus vaccine is available; and more stories.