Latest news with #SignalOhio
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ohioans Face New Driver's License Hurdle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ohioans under the age of 21 will no longer be able to avoid driving lessons or take a shortened course to get their license, after Governor Mike DeWine signed the state's budget bill on Tuesday. Previously, individuals aged between 18 and 20 could opt out of completing a full driver's education course to obtain their license, as the law required only those aged 16 and 17 to do so. Newsweek reached out to DeWine's office via email for comment. Why It Matters The new rule has been brought in after the Ohio Traffic Safety Office found that last year, 58 percent of fatal crashes caused by teen drivers involved either 18-year-olds or 19-year-olds. Research led by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) also found that individuals under the age of 18 who completed a full driver's education course were less likely to be involved in a crash than 18-year-olds who were exempt from the requirement. Their study showed that drivers who obtained their license at age 18 had the highest crash rates in the first year of licensure compared to all qualified drivers under the age of 25. File photo of a student learning how to drive from an instructor. File photo of a student learning how to drive from an instructor. Samuel Hoffman/The Journal Gazette via AP What To Know The previous law in Ohio mandated that those under 18 must complete 24 hours of classroom or online lessons, eight hours of driving lessons with a qualified instructor, 50 hours of driving with a parent or guardian, including 10 hours at night, and hold their temporary license for at least six months. Those aged 18 and above did not have to meet the same requirements; instead, they could obtain their license by simply passing a road test. If they didn't pass the test, they would then have to complete a four-hour course alongside participating in some training with an instructor. The result of the law meant that many young Americans were waiting until they turned 18 to obtain their license, as the high costs of courses and lessons, which are also in short supply in some parts of the state, were a significant factor, according to the local news outlet Signal Ohio. Alongside mandating that 18- to 20-year-olds participate in the driving course requirements, DeWine had also called for an increase in the state's minimum wage to help teens afford the costs of driving schools, according to Signal Ohio. DeWine also proposed allocating millions to public schools to help them launch driver's education programs, but his suggestion did not make it into the final state budget. Instead, a provision was included in the final draft that requires districts to allow school students to miss up to eight hours of school, outside of core classes, if necessary, and if they are enrolled in a private driving course. What People Are Saying Governor Mike DeWine, on X, formerly Twitter: "Last night, I signed Ohio's new operating budget, which continues to focus on the things that matter most: children and families, jobs and our workforce, and strengthening our communities so that all Ohioans can thrive." DeWine said after signing the budget bill: "This budget builds upon my commitment to make Ohio the best place for everyone to live their version of the American Dream. It prioritizes our children, empowers our workforce, and strengthens our communities. We are investing in the people of Ohio, not just today, but for generations to come." What Happens Next Those aged 18 to 20 seeking to obtain their license will now be required to complete the full driving education requirements, which include a combination of lessons, driving with an instructor, and driving with a parent or guardian.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio universities are closing their LGBTQ+ centers to comply with a state DEI ban
Multiple universities in Ohio have announced that they will be closing their LGBTQ+ student centers to comply with a state ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Senate Bill 1, which is set to go into effect on June 27, doesn't just impose a sweeping DEI ban on state universities, but also restricts their ability to "endorse or oppose, as an institution, any controversial belief or policy, except on matters that directly impact the institution's funding or mission of discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge." Related: What is DEI, what does it mean, and why are companies really getting rid of it? As a result, several colleges have shuttered their LGBTQ+ centers and related services. Ohio State University has so far closed two DEI offices, cut 16 staff positions, and took down its website offering support to LGBTQ+ students. The link is now deactivated, though the Internet Archive shows the page was active as recently as May 25, as reported by Signal Ohio. The University of Toledo has also discontinued nine undergraduate majors in response to the bill, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Meanwhile, Kent State University announced that it would be shutting down "several identity-based centers," such as its LGBTQ+ Center, Women's Center, and Student Multicultural Center. KSU is also ending its LGBTQ+ Living-Learning Community, which allowed queer students to live together, while stating "all other university academically based Living-Learning Communities will continue within our residence hall system." "We understand these centers and the Living-Learning Community have been powerful sources of connection, support and growth, and we acknowledge the emotional and personal impact this change may have on many members of our community," wrote Eboni Pringle, KSU's senior vice president for student life. Related: Iowa State students hold 'funeral' for LGBTQ+ center shut down by anti-DEI bill The ACLU of Ohio has maintained that the law violates students' and universities' freedom of speech, with Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick saying in a statement that "as students nationwide witness the ongoing assaults against their First Amendment rights, it is disheartening to see Ohio's own legislators follow suit in this dangerous pattern of stifling political discourse." "By dismantling DEI structures, Senate Bill 1 sends a clear, harmful message to students that their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are not welcome in Ohio," Rosnick said. "Further, the exceedingly vague and contradictory language regarding the banning of so-called 'controversial beliefs or policies' creates a slippery slope for faculty and administration. This could lead to faculty avoiding any such topics in classrooms for fear of retaliation." "Institutions of higher education must remain places where academic freedom and diversity can foster – not be censored," she said.
