Proof-of-citizenship will not be required for Ohio BMV voter registration, for now | Reporters Roundtable

A federal judge has blocked an Ohio law requiring people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the state plans to appeal. The requirement, which took effect in 2025, applies to in-person registration at the BMV but not online registration. It remains on hold as the appeal moves forward, with another ruling possible before Ohio’s voter registration deadline Oct. 5. Cleveland Public Library and its staff union have finalized a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. The contract, approved by union members Wednesday and the library’s board Thursday, provides an average 15% wage increase, including a 5% retroactive increase, as well as paid parental leave. Union officials said the agreement represents significant gains, but trust between workers and library leadership remains an issue. Cuyahoga County departments have been asked to cut expenses to help close two budget gaps totaling $37.2 million. Most departments must propose 3.3% reductions, while about 14 offices funded by the Health and Human Services levy face 8% cuts to address an $18 million shortfall. The reductions come as the county’s general fund faces a separate $19.2 million deficit despite revenues coming in above projections. Departments must submit proposed cuts by mid-September. Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags at public buildings to be lowered to half-staff in honor of country music singer Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday. Ohio has the highest participation rate in Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth to age 5. The state has allocated $8 million to the program, which has distributed nearly 28 million books to Ohio children since its expansion under DeWine. We’ll discuss these stories and more news of the week on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable" hosted by Mike McIntyre. Guests:- Stephanie Czekalinski, Executive Editor, Crain's Cleveland- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau