Ohio Political News
Ohio Political News Springfield Discussion
TOR Editor Jeff Skinner sits down with Ohio Political News to discuss Springfield, TPS and what comes next in Clark County
Springfield
Springfield Commissioners Make Panic Move Among Potential Decrease in Replacement Labor Pipeline
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD - Facing a stagnating revenue base and a looming contraction of its low-cost labor pool, the Springfield City Commission is moving aggressively to expand a corporate tax subsidy program, a move that critics warn could starve the city’s already strained emergency services. During a contentious
Local
Springfield City Commission Passes Moratorium on Data Centers
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield City Commission voted unanimously 5-0 on Tuesday night to halt all development of high-density computing infrastructure, enacting an immediate six-month temporary moratorium to study the regional strains caused by mega-data centers. The sweeping freeze blocks the establishment, processing, review, and
Local
Transparent FBI Denies Urgent Need to Inform Springfield On Bomb Threats?
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD - In a surprising turn of events, The FBI has denied a request to expedite the release of investigative records concerning the past bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio, putting citizens in the city in the dark regarding the inner workings of what transpired and what investigative measures
Springfield
Flock Cameras and Mass Immigration Form Springfield Recipe for Public Frustration
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD — Following the abolition of Temporary Protection Status for many in the Haitian community of Springfield Ohio, local commissioners may be shifting their priorities on technocratic surveillance systems in the city. A sweeping debate over the city’s network of automated license plate readers (ALPR) exposed deep
Springfield
Supreme Court Upholds Termination of Haitian TPS, Clearing Path for Deportations
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD - The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the Trump administrations' efforts to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians can proceed, rejecting lower court injunctions and limiting judicial challenges to the program’s termination. In a 6-3 decision written by Justice
Springfield
Springfield Revenue Flatlines Despite Haitian Influx Promises, Data Center Subsidies Strain Emergency Services
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Despite years of promises that a massive influx of Haitian immigrants would revitalize the local economy, Springfield city officials on Tuesday confronted a sobering financial reality: income tax revenue, the backbone of the general fund, has flattened and is now projected to decline, forcing
Local
Springfield Spends Big On Drone Tech, Citizens Argue Solution in Search of Problem
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD — Despite ongoing fiscal woes, chronic fire division understaffing and resident alarms over misplaced priorities, the Springfield City Commission on Tuesday approved a nearly $240,000 contract with Motorola Solutions to launch a Drone as First Responder pilot program critics fear will expand government surveillance while delivering
Springfield
Springfield Commissioners Hear Update on Million Dollar Utility Payment Portal
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield commissioners heard a presentation by Finance Director Katie Eviston, Utility Income Tax Administrator Brandy Bubp, and Senior Billing Specialist Kevin Walters on the new utility billing software by SpryPoint, which will cost just over $1 million. The move comes amid public concerns over technology
Local
Springfield Commission On Hotseat with Fire Department
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Commission heard a pointed public comment period that highlighted resident frustrations over local governance, resource sales and city salaries which spearheaded the ongoing controversy surrounding the organized fire department ‘brownouts’ throughout the city and whether the commission is practicing sound financial management. During the informal public
Op-ed
Op-ED: Springfield Water 'Very Much For Sale'
This article was originally published on The Heartland Beat In what has become a trope of late, city government officials have been rushing to avoid responsibility for selling out their constituents to data center development by shifting responsibilities to other parties. Whether through pushing decisions to ‘committee’ discussions or attempting
Local
Springfield Hears Update on Wexner-Style 'Public-Private Partnership' Through Via Transportation
BY JEFF SKINNER SPRINGFIELD - City officials heard an update Tuesday, April 7, on the Field Trips on-demand micro transit service operated by VIA Transportation, which replaced the traditional fixed-route Springfield City Area Transit system last July, citing improved coverage, ridership and efficiency. However, skepticism remains surrounding the WEF