Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending January 16, 2026
Friday, January 9, 2026
 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined Ohio Senate Majority Caucus Director of Communications John Fortney on the President's Podcast to speak about current issues including property tax reform, child care, politics in Ohio, and the governor’s years in public service.
Governor DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine attended Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers final Ohio show. They are a bluegrass music group that started in Ohio. During their 20 years on the road, they won multiple International Bluegrass Music Association awards and became regular guests on the Grand Ole Opry.
In honor of the incredible impact they have made on bluegrass music and the way they have represented Ohio all over the world - Governor DeWine declared January 9, 2026 Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers Day throughout the state of Ohio.
|
Monday, January 12, 2026
 Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn announced details on 39 transportation projects that will improve safety on roadways in 27 counties across the state.
The safety projects are funded with $97.2 million from ODOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program, the largest safety program in the country based on per capita spending. This record investment has led to four consecutive years of reduced fatalities and serious injuries.
“We want Ohioans to get from place to place safely,” said Governor DeWine. “We put a lot of effort into road design and physical road safety in order to make our roads as safe as possible.”
Governor DeWine sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, encouraging her to select Ohio for the U.S. Coast Guard's next training site.
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel helped cut the ribbon on the new University Hospital on Ohio State’s campus. Ohio’s hospitals play a vital role in keeping Ohioans safe and healthy.
|
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
 Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Tressel announced the launch of a new seatbelt campaign reminding Ohioans about the importance of buckling up.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seatbelts have saved more than 375,000 lives since 1975. Lt. Governor Tressel illustrates this statistic at The Ohio State University in Columbus, explaining that the number of people saved by seatbelts could fill up Ohio Stadium four times. The campaign uses photos of fathers, mothers, children, and friends in each seat of the stadium to demonstrate that each life matters.
“Wearing a seatbelt every time you get in the car isn't just about protecting yourself; it's about protecting your loved ones,” said Governor DeWine. “Too many families in Ohio have been forever changed by crashes involving those not wearing seatbelts. This campaign reminds Ohioans that buckling up improves your chances of making it back to your loved ones at the end of the day.”
"Every seat in Ohio Stadium represents a life that matters — someone's parent, child, teammate, or friend," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "Wearing a seatbelt every time you get in the car is one of the most important things you can do. It can make the difference between getting home safely and a loss that changes a family forever."
A violent crime reduction operation in Cincinnati led by the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office led to multiple arrests and the confiscation of several illegally possessed firearms on January 12, 2026.
The multi-agency operation was part of Governor DeWine's Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which partners state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies on strategic and data-driven operations to identify and arrest repeat offenders responsible for the majority of violent crime in their communities.
For more information on violent crime reduction operations happening across the state, visit https://publicsafety.ohio.gov/vci
Thursday, January 15, 2026
 Lt. Governor Tressel announced the launch of WorkOhio – a new initiative to connect Ohioans with in-demand jobs through personalized support from teams of regional job experts.
The Lt. Governor made the announcement during a meeting of the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board in Columbus.
“There has never been a better time to find a job in Ohio. Companies are growing in every region of our state and creating jobs in the industries that will shape our future,” Lt. Governor Tressel said. “Starting a job search might seem overwhelming. But with WorkOhio, we will make it easier for Ohioans to discover all the opportunities available in their area by connecting them with a team of people ready to help them reach their full potential.”
Under the leadership of Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Tressel, and with the support of the Ohio General Assembly, a wide variety of resources have been created to help Ohioans get great jobs, especially in high-demand fields. WorkOhio serves as a “front door” to these resources, allowing Ohioans to navigate the job tools that fit them best, all in one convenient online location.
Learn more at WorkOhio.gov.
Friday, January 16, 2026
Lt. Governor Tressel spoke at the Ohio Fair Managers Association Breakfast. Managers and board members from Ohio's 94 county and independent fairs were present. Lt. Governor Tressel thanked them all for work they do putting on Ohio's fairs each year.
|
Governor DeWine offered his support to a joint effort by the White House Domestic Energy Council and regional governors to petition PJM, the regional electricity transmission organization that serves Ohio, to better address supply and demand issues caused by the expanding data center sector. DeWine signed the “Statement of Principles Regarding PJM” along with a bipartisan group of governors, as well as United States Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and United States Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, who are Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Council.
“Both across the nation and here in Ohio, energy demand is going up as economic development projects are increasing. As Governor, I support a proactive approach to increase energy supply and to protect consumers from rising costs,” said Governor DeWine. “The principles proposed today will encourage new energy supply to be built in Ohio and the region and ensure data centers pay their own way as they expand.”
-30-
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
|
