Morgan Trau
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morgantrau.bsky.social
Morgan Trau
@morgantrau.bsky.social
2.9K followers 110 following 160 posts
Ohio Statehouse reporter for News 5 Cleveland, WCPO 9 News, Scripps News with words in the Ohio Capital Journal.
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morgantrau.bsky.social
MARIJUANA/HEMP QUESTIONS?

I am continuing my series of answering viewer/reader questions. Focus today is on delta 8/hemp.

Put questions (or a vid of you asking!) here, dm, or email morgan.trau@wews.com.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs executive order temporarily banning 'intoxicating' hemp, delta 8 products
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed an executive order temporarily banning "intoxicating" hemp, low-level THC products such as delta 8.
www.news5cleveland.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates will soon start collecting signatures for their equal rights proposals as the U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review their same-sex marriage decision.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio advocates fight back as U.S. Supreme Court asked to review same-sex marriage decision
Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates will soon start collecting signatures for their equal rights proposals as the U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review their same-sex marriage decision.
www.news5cleveland.com
August 11, 2025 at 9:52 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates have been approved to start collecting signatures to put marriage equality and equal rights protections on the ballot.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio marriage equality, LGBTQ+ equal rights amendment, 1 step closer to being put on ballot
Ohio LGBTQ+ advocates have been approved to start collecting signatures to put marriage equality and equal rights protections on the ballot.
www.news5cleveland.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohioans continue to raise concerns that they will lose health care access or food assistance now that GOP's spending bill has been signed.

For one woman, Medicaid is the reason she says she is alive.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
'I don't know what I would do': Ohioans worry about what comes next with Medicaid
Ohioans continue to raise concerns that they will lose their health care access or food assistance benefits now that Congress's massive spending bill is signed into law.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 30, 2025 at 11:17 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
Just spoke with Gov. Mike DeWine- he says his team is getting involved after KY police arrested Cincinnati journalists for covering an ICE protest.

He says he never wants to see press arrested.
@wcpo9news.bsky.social @news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.wcpo.com/news/local-n...
PD: 13 arrested, including reporter, after peaceful protest on Roebling Suspension Bridge turns violent
Supporters gathered for Ayman Soliman, who lost asylum status amid disputed Muslim Brotherhood ties; multiple protesters detained after a tense confrontation with Covington Police near Roebling Bridge
www.wcpo.com
July 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Lawmakers are trying to restore access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, after Ohio removed medical coverage for state employees.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio lawmakers push to restore state employee access to Ozempic, weight loss drugs
Lawmakers are trying to restore access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, after Ohio removed medical coverage for state employees.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Pornography will soon get harder to watch.
Ohioans will need to submit their photo ID to watch porn beginning this fall, with PornHub likely to consider pulling out of providing content to the state.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Porn will get harder to watch in Ohio soon
Ohioans will need to submit their photo ID to watch pornography beginning this fall, with explicit content giant PornHub likely to consider pulling out of providing content to the state.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 15, 2025 at 11:31 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio adults will soon have to go through more training to get their license.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Adults in Ohio will soon need more driving training to get a license
Drivers under 21 will be required to complete the same training as minors, which includes classroom instruction and monitored driving practice.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
FROM FRIDAY: Ohio House GOP plans to override Gov. DeWine’s vetoes on provisions they say provide tax relief but that school advocates say come at the expense of education.

It is expected to be a tight vote.
@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio GOP plans to override Gov. DeWine school vetoes in order to provide property tax relief
Ohio House Republicans plan to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s vetoes on provisions they say would provide property tax relief, but that public school advocates say come at the expense of education.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:54 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio educators are speaking out after Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law that would remove their voices from the retired teachers' pension fund, calling the move "undemocratic."

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio educators speak out against 'undemocratic' removals on retired teachers' pension fund board
Ohio educators are speaking out after Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law that would remove their voices from the retired teachers' pension fund, calling the move "undemocratic."
www.news5cleveland.com
July 8, 2025 at 10:23 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
I'm honored to receive Best Investigative Reporting & an award for Business Reporting from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for my '24 digital coverage of the H.B. 6 & STRS scandals.

@ohiocapitaljournal.com @news5cleveland.bsky.social
July 8, 2025 at 12:27 AM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Two members of the Ohio House Republicans are leading the charge to protect access to marijuana, fighting back against their own party members who aim to restrict the drug.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
2 Ohio Republicans taking on their own party to protect access to marijuana
Two members of the Ohio House Republicans are leading the charge to protect access to marijuana, fighting back against their own party members who aim to restrict the drug.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
BUDGET VETO LIST AND EXPLANATION: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is holding a press conference on his state budget signing and vetoes.

Click the link for a list of the major items:
@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Here's what DeWine vetoed from the budget
At 11:15 p.m. Monday, DeWine announced he approved the $60-billion Republican spending bill. At 2:15 a.m., he sent out his 67 line-item vetoes.
news5cleveland.com
July 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the state's massive operating budget, which includes funding for new Cleveland Browns stadium & provides tax cuts for wealthy. Vetoes coming within few hours, spox said.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs budget, giving $600M to Cleveland Browns and tax cut to wealthy
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the state's massive operating budget, which includes funding for a new Cleveland Browns domed stadium.
www.news5cleveland.com
July 1, 2025 at 5:55 AM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to issue vetoes on the state's operating budget on Monday night. The most likely to be axed: provisions dealing with children, health care and home rule.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
What Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine may veto in the state budget
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will be issuing his vetoes on the state's operating budget Monday night. The most likely axed provisions will deal with children, health care and home rule.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 30, 2025 at 9:05 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio public schools are asking Gov. Mike DeWine to veto provisions in the GOP-passed state budget that they say would "destroy" them. Amid cuts to funding, levies are being restricted from the ballot.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio schools sound alarm with the governor over what they're calling a destructive budget
Ohio public schools are asking Gov. Mike DeWine to veto provisions in the GOP-passed state budget that they say would "destroy" them.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 27, 2025 at 9:13 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
SCOOPish: Ohio educators will have less voice on retired teachers' pension fund board under proposed final budget.

Amid alleged corruption scheme, they reduced the # of electeds & added more appointments.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio lawmakers set to remove majority of educators from retired teachers' pension fund board
Ohio active and retired educators will have less of a voice on the state's retired teachers' pension fund board under the proposed final budget.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 25, 2025 at 4:52 AM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio House Dems have elected Dani Isaacsohn, a Cincinnati lawyer, as their next minority leader.

State Reps. Phil Robinson, Beryl Brown Piccolantonio & Desiree Tims are set to join him in leadership.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio House Democrats elect Cincinnati Rep. Dani Isaacsohn as next leader
Ohio House Democrats have elected Dani Isaacsohn, a Cincinnati lawyer, as their next minority leader.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Gov. Mike DeWine is concerned about "vulnerable" Ohioans and retaliation from Iran following the Trump administration's strikes on its nuclear facilities.

My back and forth:
@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine concerned about 'retaliation' following U.S. strike on Iran
Gov DeWine concerned about 'retaliation' following US strike on Iran, says Department of Public Safety is looking into possible vulnerabilities
www.news5cleveland.com
June 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Recent gun violence is prompting calls for firearm regulations.

But with GOP-controlled Ohio, some advocates say they may need to take laws into their own hands — through a constitutional amendment.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
'People eventually do rise up': Lack of gun reform in Ohio could prompt ballot measure
Some advocates say citizens may need to take the laws into their own hands, through a constitutional amendment, to prevent gun violence.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 20, 2025 at 10:53 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: More than 200 parents and families rallied at the Ohio Statehouse, urging lawmakers to fund affordable child care in the state budget.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio families urge GOP to fund affordable child care in budget
More than 200 parents and families rallied at the Ohio Statehouse, urging lawmakers to fund affordable child care in the state budget.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 19, 2025 at 10:29 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio House & Senate Republicans had finally agreed on a bill changing the state's recreational marijuana policy — but hours before the vote was supposed to take place, it was pulled.

What happened:
@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Ohio GOP infighting stalls marijuana legislation
Ohio House and Senate Republicans had finally agreed on a bill changing the state's recreational marijuana policy, but hours before the vote, it was pulled from the schedule.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 18, 2025 at 11:34 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NOW: Pro-abortion rights advocates have started protesting a major anti-abortion rally at the Statehouse.

This comes after my report on a new bill to ban abortion, IVF and some contraception.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
June 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
NEW: Ohio leaders have begun to negotiate on the state's budget, with significant differences at the forefront of the process.

The Senate has non-negotiables. The House responds that nothing is set in stone.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
'Neither side will compromise': Ohio House, Senate begin budget reconciliation
Ohio House and Senate leaders have begun to negotiate on the state's massive operating budget, with significant differences at the forefront of their process.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 17, 2025 at 10:43 PM
morgantrau.bsky.social
SCOOP: Ohio GOP lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that would completely ban & criminalize abortion, IVF & some forms of contraception. Abortions would get homicide charges.

We have the bill language.

@news5cleveland.bsky.social @ohiocapitaljournal.com
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...
Republican lawmakers in Ohio to propose total abortion and IVF ban
Ohio Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would completely ban and criminalize abortion, IVF and some forms of contraception.
www.news5cleveland.com
June 16, 2025 at 9:06 PM