Catching Our Eye News Roundup, May 7, 2026 • Ohio Capital Journal

Every morning within the Ohio Capital Journal’s free publication, The Eye-Openerwe spherical up the information and commentary from throughout Ohio and across the nation and world that’s catching our consideration. We name this characteristic Catching Our Eye, republished right here.

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Catching Our Eye

• Absentee ballots. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Jo Ingles reviews, “Voting rights advocates report problems with new Ohio law on absentee ballots.”

This is the primary Ohio election during which mail-in absentee ballots should be returned by 7:30 pm on Election Day. Voting rights advocates say they’re listening to from voters who’re involved about their mail-in ballots arriving in time.

Cincinnati-area voter Terry Susskind stated she requested a mail-in poll and acquired it on April 14. She known as the board of elections on April 29 to examine on it.

“The ballot had not yet arrived. They were very helpful,” she stated. “They said they would send me another ballot which did arrive within two days which we filled out and dropped off.”

• Sports betting on credit score. Cleveland.com’s Jeremy Pelzer reviews, “Ohio moves to ban use of credit cards for sports betting.”

Ohioans could quickly now not be capable to use bank cards to put sports activities bets, beneath a draft rule change put ahead by Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration this week.

The rule change, which might take impact in as little as a couple of months, is without doubt one of the reforms sought by sports-betting critics, who say utilizing bank cards to put bets amplifies the chance of playing habit and monetary wreck.

• Richland County voters ban photo voltaic and wind power. Signal Ohio’s Jake Zuckerman reviews, “MAGA-friendly Richland county voters preserve ban on wind and solar.”

In a Republican-dominated district, voters narrowly upheld a ban on utility scale renewables in a lot of the county in a 53% to 47% vote. A referendum backer known as the consequence disappointing, but ‘telling.’

• FBI goes after journalists. MSNOW reviews, “FBI investigating leaks to journalist who wrote explosive article on Kash Patel: Sources.”

The FBI has launched a prison leak investigation specializing in an Atlantic journal journalist who wrote a deeply unflattering account final month of Director Kash Patel’s work habits, two individuals conversant in the matter informed MS NOW.

The sources stated the so-called insider menace investigation is extremely uncommon as a result of it didn’t stem from a disclosure of labeled data and since it’s targeted on leaks to a reporter. The brokers concerned are a part of an insider threats unit primarily based in Huntsville, Alabama, the sources added.

Typically, leak investigations look into authorities officers who could have disclosed state secrets and techniques or labeled paperwork. Journalists who obtain and publish such data have usually solely been concerned as potential witnesses.