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Who torched the Hamilton home?
The couple who put their blood, sweat, and tears into building a home to care for their elderly parents and others. The millionaires next door who made it clear they were not welcome. And the dream that mysteriously went up in smoke. This article provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for…
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Water bill woes part 2: What can Philadelphia learn from Cleveland’s water department?
Exploring what can be done to help cities’ poorest residents who struggle with water debt This is part two of a three-part series looking at the state of water affordability in Cleveland, Philadelphia and beyond, authored by the Northeast Ohio Solutions Journalism Collaborative in partnership with Resolve Philly in Philadelphia. You can find Part 1…
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A tale of two cities’ water bills: how one place was able to reduce mounting utility costs for low-income households and how Ohio may follow suit
By Conor Morris If Kevina Chapolini-Renwrick couldn’t pay the $15,000 water bill, she’d lose her home. The South Philadelphia resident began to panic when she saw the city had tacked a notice on her door threatening her with legal action, back in the summer of 2021. Her husband had inherited the property from his parents…
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Sidebar: Why compare Cleveland and Philadelphia, and why does this matter?
By Conor Morris Across the U.S., the cost of water and sewer has only gotten more expensive over the last several decades, with the average water bill increasing by 30% between 2012 and 2019, according to a utility bill index conducted by Bluefield Research. As of 2019, low-income households spent an average of almost 10%…
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Dark money helped Ohio utilities subsidize coal plants, delaying climate action at ratepayers’ expense
The biggest corruption scandal in Ohio’s history happened right under people’s noses, and much of the law at its center remains on the books. This story originated from the Energy News Network and Eye on Ohio and is part of ‘Climate & Democracy,’ a series from the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. By Kathiann…
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Ohio regulatory judge steps back from FirstEnergy’s HB 6 cases after subpoenaed records reveal his role
Greg Price’s recusal comes shortly after newly released documents show he played a part in policy discussions on HB 6 and responses to the FirstEnergy scandal. This article is provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism in partnership with the nonprofit Energy News Network. Please join the free mailing lists…
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Ohioans struggle to get help with utility bills
Federal programs exist, but how easy are they to access? By Conor Morris Rashidah Abdulhaqq worries her electricity and heat will be shut off. These are vital services during normal times, but especially during the winter, and especially when she has a portable oxygen tank she carts around to keep herself alive. Flanked by several…
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Former Ohio regulator linked to $4 million payoff directed agency to limit response to FirstEnergy corruption
Former PUCO Chair Sam Randazzo shaped agency responses to HB 6 scandal: ‘Proactive’ show-cause action followed only after bad publicity. Randazzo and others closely tracked legislative actions as well. This article is provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism in partnership with the nonprofit Energy News Network. Please join the…
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Peer support: how ordinary Ohioans are helping others break mental health barriers
By Christopher Johnston Four years ago, Rondye Brown reached “the darkest place” in his life. Feeling trapped in an endless cycle of crime, prison and substance abuse, Brown decided on what he believed to be his best solution. “I asked God to remove his hand from me, because I didn’t want to be in a…
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Plaintiff, Defendant, and Judge: How some Ohio counties entrust the same officials to collect taxes and wipe tax liens
This project was funded by a grant from the Pulitzer Center and provided by Eye on Ohio, the nonprofit, nonpartisan Ohio Center for Journalism. Please join the free mailing lists for Eye on Ohio as this helps provide more public service reporting. By Lucia Walinchus and Emily Crebs Shortly after Athens County started a land…