House Republicans Probe Ohio Medicaid Fraud

House Republicans have launched a federal oversight task force, with its first inquiry focused on alleged Medicaid fraud in Ohio.

U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, was chosen to lead the Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuses.

Gill and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., sent a letter to Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Scott Partika seeking documents tied to alleged fraud in the state’s Medicaid waiver program for home health services.

The Daily Wire previously reported that 288 home health care companies shared the same Columbus address and appeared to have vacant offices, despite billing the federal government for $250 million in Medicaid spending from 2018 to 2024.

Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native, said on Wednesday that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will impose a six-month nationwide freeze on new hospice and home health agencies as part of an effort to curb fraud.

Ohio Blocks High-Risk SNAP Transactions

SNAP recipients in Ohio must now unlock their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards before making online or out-of-state purchases, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).

By default, Ohio Direction Cards will now block “high-risk transactions,” requiring recipients to unlock their cards for 30, 60, or 90 minutes before completing those purchases. State officials said the change is intended to protect food assistance funds from online and out-of-state criminals.

Over the past six months, officials said, 56,000 suspicious out-of-state transactions amounted to more than $6.3 million, affecting 12,900 Ohio EBT accounts.

The ODJFS released an instructional video explaining how recipients can unlock their Ohio Direction Cards, which you can watch here.

Springboro Grad Shines in MLB Debut

Springboro High School graduate A.J. Ewing delivered a standout major league debut, recording his first big league hit, drawing three walks, driving in two runs, and scoring twice.

Ewing, a 2023 Springboro graduate, batted eighth and played center field for the New York Mets on Tuesday. He walked in his first MLB plate appearance, and the moment was played over the speakers at his alma mater after Springboro’s walk-off win over Troy.

After drawing his second walk, Ewing stole his first major league base. He collected his first hit, an RBI triple, in the seventh inning. You can watch his father’s reaction to his first hit here.

Ewing was rated as the Mets’ No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

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➤ Statewide: A state appeals court heard arguments on Tuesday challenging Ohio’s EdChoice universal voucher program, which supporters say expands families’ educational options. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: Planned refinery maintenance and unexpected outages reportedly caused empty gas pumps at some United Dairy Farmers locations—not a regional gasoline shortage—officials said. (More)

➤ Cleveland: City schools and the teachers union reached a deal to ease pending layoffs by offering jobs to 60 educators after the district announced plans to cut 410 positions. (More)

➤ Wayne County: A sheriff and a deputy were stabbed on Tuesday in West Salem, and a suspect was taken into custody. Both law enforcement officers have been released and are recovering. (More)

➤ Columbus: Ten teenagers were indicted on 281 combined felony charges after authorities linked them to a vehicle theft and robbery ring involving 34 stolen vehicles, 42 firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. (More)

➤ Lima: The Ohio Department of Transportation’s District 1 hosted its annual truck and loader “roadeo” on Tuesday, with employees competing in skill-based challenges using heavy equipment and commercial vehicles. (More)

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➤ The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain, on Nov. 8, as part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET. (More)

➤ Longtime Cleveland Guardians public address announcer Bob Tayek, who took on the role in 1999, died at age 75. He stepped away from the team in April because of health issues. (More)

➤ Ohio State unveiled its first major change to its home and away football uniforms since 2006, bringing back the traditional gray sleeve stripes first introduced under coach Woody Hayes. (See Uniforms)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission has backed online prediction market Kalshi in its legal fight against Ohio, arguing the federal regulator—not states—has authority over sports prediction markets and related event contracts. (More)

➤ Ohio ranks 44th nationally in credit card debt, with average household credit card debt below $6,300—well under the national average of more than $11,000 per family. (More)

➤ Ultium Cells will bring a small number of workers back this month at its idled Warren battery plant as GM and LG Energy Solution await stronger EV demand before resuming production. (More)

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➤ The Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale and Auction at The Ohio State University begins today and runs through Saturday, offering gardeners more than 18,000 plants, including perennials, annuals, vegetables, and native species. (Details)

➤ Licking County deputies captured a loose zebra Tuesday after responding to reports of the striped escapee wandering near Montgomery Road, returning “Zack” to his owner after the unusual chase. (See Zebra)

➤ Sonic Temple organizers partnered with Columbus State Community College to offer off-site parking and shuttle service after advance parking sold out. The festival runs this weekend at Historic Crew Stadium. (Details)

➤ State lawmakers introduced legislation to make celestine—a natural sulfate mineral that can appear sky blue, white, or pale yellow—Ohio’s official mineral. (See Celestine)

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