Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending August 1, 2025
Monday, July 28, 2025
Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine welcomed Second Lady of the United States, Usha Vance, to the Ohio State Fair to celebrate her Second Lady Summer Reading Challenge.
At the event, Second Lady Vance and First Lady DeWine spoke about the importance of early literacy. Second Lady Vance created the Second Lady Summer Reading Challenge, available to every child in kindergarten through 8th grade to join. The challenge encourages children to continue learning throughout the summertime by reading 12 books of their choice.
“It was a pleasure discussing the Summer Reading Challenge with First Lady of Ohio Fran DeWine and sharing our love of reading with kids at the State Fair. I am grateful for her support of my Summer Reading Challenge and encourage everyone to pick up a new book today,” said Second Lady Usha Vance.
"Early literacy is so important to ensuring Ohio kids are ready to go when they reach kindergarten," said First Lady DeWine. "It was so special to be with Second Lady Usha Vance today at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair to read to kids and challenge them to explore nature and encourage a love of reading."
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Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced that Great Day Improvements will expand in Ohio to create 995 new jobs over the next five years.
A leading direct-to-consumer provider and manufacturer of premium home improvement products, Great Day Improvements will expand in both northeast and southwest Ohio, creating 583 jobs near Cincinnati in Sharonville and 412 jobs in Walton Hills, New Bedford, and Twinsburg near Cleveland.
“Great Day Improvements’ newest investments reinforce Ohio’s position as one of the nation’s leading building material and products manufacturers,” said Governor DeWine. “The company’s decision to expand in Ohio and bring nearly 1,000 new jobs reflects our statewide strength in manufacturing and a second-to-none workforce that supports multiple industries and applications. In Ohio, we just make things better.”
“Great Day Improvements’ continued growth in Ohio is a testament to the strength of our workforce and the spirit of our communities,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “We’re proud they’re choosing to grow in our state, creating hundreds of new opportunities for Ohioans to live their version of the American dream here at home."
Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced the approval of three projects that will create 1,241 new jobs and retain more than 700 jobs statewide.
During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners. The projects are expected to result in more than $65 million in new payroll and generate over $13 million in investments across Ohio.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn announced details of a new plan to address the shortage of safe, accessible commercial-truck parking in Ohio by adding at least 1,400 new truck parking spaces across the state.
Following an extensive review of ODOT property, Ohio has identified 33 sites in 17 counties where long-term truck parking lots will be created or expanded, more than doubling current truck parking capacity at ODOT-maintained sites.
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“As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, so do the number of trucks traveling on Ohio's network of interstates and state routes,” said Governor DeWine. “By expanding safe, accessible places for drivers to rest, we’re supporting the people who keep our economy moving and making it safer for everyone on our roads.”
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Lt. Governor Tressel met with the Governor's Evangelical Advisory Council to learn how they support the administration.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Governor DeWine, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced that the state will provide additional manpower to support the Cincinnati Police Department.
After listening to concerns from community members about recent instances of violence, local authorities have requested support from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) to aid with traffic enforcement and provide aviation support.
OSHP troopers will focus on traffic enforcement to free up local officers to respond to and investigate other crimes. OSHP's Aviation Unit will focus on supporting local violent crime reduction initiatives, criminal suspect searches, and vehicle pursuit mitigation.
“Ohio essentially has a package of law enforcement support services the state can provide in times when local authorities could use some additional help," said Governor DeWine. "We've done this in other cities, and it has made a big difference."
Governor DeWine attended the funeral of Lorain Police Officer Phillip Wagner who was killed in the line of duty. In honor of his life and service Governor DeWine ordered that the U.S. and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Lorain County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus until the day of his funeral.
Governor DeWine held a ceremonial bill signing for Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 65 while attending the Ohio State Fair.
Senate Bill 100, sponsored by State Senator Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview), to exclude nonprofit agricultural membership organizations from insurance regulations.
House Bill 65, sponsored by State Representatives Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Bob Peterson (R-Sabina), to make specified day and week designations relating to agriculture and to name this act the Agriculture Appreciation Act.
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Governor DeWine spoke at the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame & Cardinal Awards.
The Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame was established in 1966 and is Ohio’s highest honor for individuals – past or present – who have made significant contributions to preserving and protecting the state’s water, soil, woodlands, wildlife, and mineral resources. Counting today’s inductees, 183 Ohioans have been given this honor.
The Cardinal Award is presented to an individual or organization that demonstrates exceptional awareness and concern for the ideals reflected in the department’s mission statement: To ensure a balance between the wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all.
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Thursday, July 31, 2025
Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran recognized the three-year anniversary of Ohio Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence (OhioRISE), a specialized managed care behavioral health program.
Governor DeWine launched OhioRISE in July 2022 to address long-standing gaps in care for Ohio’s young people with the most complex needs. OhioRISE brings together state agencies and community support to create a statewide network of care management entities to help Ohio families manage and coordinate the care their child needs.
“OhioRISE is giving hope to children and families who have faced enormous challenges," said Governor DeWine. “This program is another example of our commitment to ensure all children have the resources they need to reach their full potential. Today we celebrate the progress OhioRISE has made in three years, and we look forward to even more growth in the years ahead.”
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Governor DeWine spoke at the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame Ceremony.
The Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame was established in 1976 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions toward making the Ohio State Fair one of America’s premier expositions. The Governor selects the inductees into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame each year.
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Governor DeWine called on the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) to remove prop bets from the list of legal bets that can be placed under Ohio's contractual rules for operators. The Governor’s request comes after Major League Baseball (MLB) announced it placed two Cleveland Guardians pitchers on leave related to a “sports betting investigation.” The Governor also previously expressed concerns about prop betting following threats to collegiate athletes at the University of Dayton.
Governor DeWine also announced that he will be asking the commissioners and players unions of the six major sports leagues in the United States–MLB, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer– to support this effort to ban prop betting to ensure the integrity of their leagues.
Governor DeWine noted a particular problem with micro prop bets–prop bets on highly specific events within games that are completely controlled by one player.
“The evidence that prop betting is harming athletics in Ohio is reaching critical mass. First, there were threats on Ohio athletes, and now two high-profile Ohio professional athletes have been suspended by Major League Baseball as part of a ‘sports betting investigation,’” said Governor DeWine. “The harm to athletes and the integrity of the game is clear, and the benefits are not worth the harm. The prop betting experiment in this country has failed badly. I call on the Casino Control Commission to correct this problem and remove all prop bets from the Ohio marketplace.”
Lt. Governor Tressel threw out the first pitch at the Akron RubberDucks game and spent time with the Akron business community while at the ballpark.
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Friday, August 1, 2025
Governor DeWine spoke at the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame ceremony.
The Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame honors four agriculturalists each year for their superior service, dedication, leadership, and plentiful contributions to agriculture.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
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