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What’s Up Ohio – Ohio Capital Journal

• Ohio State University has received nearly 300 requests to remove Wexner name from buildings February 23, 2026
  Ohio State University has received nearly 300 requests, including from a state senator and a state nurses association, to remove billionaire donor Les Wexner’s name from buildings because of his association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, the university has yet to take any action.  Wexner’s name is on three buildings at Ohio […]
• Ohio Department of Children & Youth praised, criticized by child care fraud bill sponsors February 23, 2026
  The lawmaker sponsors of two different Ohio bills seeking to address claims of child care fraud paint drastically different pictures of the Ohio Department of Children & Youth’s cooperation in the process. The bills were responses stemming from Trump administration threats to freeze funding in states due to right-wing social media claims of fraud, specifically […]
• What comes next for the Ohio teachers’ pension fund after a judge removed its chair? February 23, 2026
  Educators, politicians and retired teachers’ pension fund staff are debating how to move forward after a judge removed the current board chair of Ohio’s State Teachers Retirement System for corruption. Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Karen Held Phipps decided that State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board chair Rudy Fichtenbaum should be immediately removed […]
• PFAS are turning up in the Great Lakes, putting fish and water supplies at risk February 23, 2026
  No matter where you live in the United States, you have likely seen headlines about PFAS being detected in everything from drinking water to fish to milk to human bodies. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals. They have been used for decades to make products waterproof and […]
• After deposition, U.S. House Democrats accuse Les Wexner of lying about Epstein ties February 20, 2026
  U.S. House Democrats accused Central Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking ring, following Wexner’s deposition Wednesday. Wexner has denied any wrongdoing. Read Wexner’s full statement here. Wexner, who lives in New Albany, Ohio, founded LBrands, which created Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works and Abercrombie & Fitch. Members of […]
• Ohio bill would prevent people from creating AI models that encourage users to engage in self-harm  February 20, 2026
  This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know needs support now, call, text or chat the 988 Lifeline.  At least four Ohio children have used artificial intelligence to write their suicide notes.  “That’s four too many,” Ohio state Rep. Christine Cockley, D-Columbus, said during a press conference Wednesday.  She introduced a bipartisan […]