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Rotunda Rumblings Meet the map: The Ohio Redistricting Commission is poised to pass a new congressional redistricting plan on Friday that helps Republicans’ chances of flipping two Democratic-held U.S. House seats next year. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, Democratic leaders indicated they would rather provide the bipartisan support needed to pass it than allow GOP lawmakers to unilaterally pass a more lopsidedly advantageous map next month. The plan quickly drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum. SNAP stopgap: Ohio is stepping in to help families who could lose food aid as the federal shutdown drags into a second month. Gov. Mike DeWine announced a plan to send $23 million to food banks and boost assistance for low-income families while federal SNAP benefits are on hold. Anna Staver reports this comes as private organizations like Giant Eagle and county governments pledge their own stopgap aid. Signal shift: Cleveland State University announced a new panel that will identify student opportunities to participate in WCSB, which is now being run as a jazz station by Ideastream Public Media. Both CSU and Ideastream continue to face backlash for the school transferring the student station to Ideastream, Laura Hancock reports. Read more Ohio politics stories Ohio House makes a start on property tax reform, but it’s not enough - not by a long shot: editorial Embracing the ‘comforting warmth’ at the root of All Hallows’ Eve: Kenneth W. Chalker Lawmakers better start drafting their own property-tax ballot issue if they want to avoid becoming the prey: Gene Krebs Immigration debate: Vice President JD Vance defended his administration’s push to reduce immigration levels while fielding pointed questions about his own family’s immigrant heritage during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday night, Sabrina Eaton writes. In a lengthy exchange with a student who identified as an immigrant, the Cincinnati Republican argued the country needs to dramatically lower the number of people entering legally and illegally to allow society to “cohere” and build “common identity.” He also told the student he hopes his Hindu-raised wife, Usha, converts to Christianity, saying: “I do wish that, because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way.” Incumbency advantage: Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has outraised his opponent in his reelection campaign, Laverne Gore, roughly 96-to-1, Sean McDonnell reports. Bibb’s significant monetary advantage is part of a broader trend across Cleveland politics this year, where incumbents and well-connected candidates are reporting financial war chests that eclipse that of their rivals. Here comes the sun: Microsoft founder Bill Gates and other owners of 6,000 acres in Madison County are fighting to preserve a 2024 Ohio Power Siting Board approval what could be one of the country’s largest agrivoltaic solar farms, which would be 35 miles west of Columbus. Before the Ohio Supreme Court this week, farmers, landowners and county officials argued the project didn’t provide the state necessary documents and data, the Dispatch’s Dean Narciso reports. In a SNAP: Columbus has joined Baltimore, Alburquerque, N.M. Providence, R.I. and some nonprofits to sue the federal government to use funds to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds in November, the Dispatch’s Jordan Laird reports. Earlier this week, the council sent $25,000 to the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, to help with the expected surge in need. Buckeye Brain Tease Question: Ohio artist Philip K. Clover patented the “coffin torpedo” in 1878. It was a small shotgun secured inside the coffin lid to protect the recently deceased from having their bodies stolen and sold to medical colleges. Where is Philip buried? Email your response to capitolletter@cleveland.com. The first correct respondent will be mentioned in next week’s newsletter. Thanks to everyone who answered our last trivia question: Who is the oldest lawmaker serving in Ohio’s General Assembly? Answer: Rep. Daniel Troy, of Willowick, is 77. Republican Rep. Ron Ferguson was the first to email with the correct response. Birthdays Friday, Oct. 31: Jill Del Greco Donahue, assistant director of media relations, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office Saturday, Nov. 1: State Sen. Willis Blackshear Jr.; TJ Kirila, legislative aide to state Sen. Mark Romanchuk Sunday, Nov. 2: State Sen. Al Landis; Ex-President Warren Harding (1865-1923) Straight from the Source “Imagine donating your body to science and ending up in Matt Huffman’s basement.” This social media post came from Plunderbund on X, formerly Twitter. It was in response to our Halloween costume portion of Thursday’s newsletter where Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman said he owned a real skeleton that was left behind by the dentist who used to own his home.
