If this idea sounds familiar, there’s a reason. A variant of this legislation has been a regular proposal since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ohio’s governor will be wielding his line-item veto against that provision, he said.
DeWine vows veto on ‘medical free speech’ bill
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
What happened: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has pledged to veto a last-minute addition to Ohio law that, if enacted, opponents say would kneecap the state’s ability to regulate doctors and other health professionals.
The provision that dismayed DeWine intends to preserve “medical free speech” and was added into House Bill 315 in the waning hours of the legislature’s final session. The governor’s office received the bill Monday and has 10 business days to veto.
The objection: The provision states that Ohio’s regulatory agencies or regulatory boards “shall neither infringe on medical free speech nor pursue, or threaten to pursue, an administrative or disciplinary action” against any medical professional for “publicly or privately expressing a medical opinion that does not align with the opinions of the board or agency.”
DeWine said the law would render toothless state action against doctors who, for example, obviously over-prescribed opiates — an action the state has regularly addressed to curb the opioid epidemic.
BONUS: The health legislation that didn’t make it out of committee.
Confirmed: One of Amazon’s newest data centers will be about an hour from Dayton
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
What happened: On Christmas Eve, responding to inquiries from this newspaper, an Amazon executive has confirmed Amazon Web Services’ plans for a data center in Fayette County, about an hour’s drive from Montgomery County. Construction will start in the new year.
What they said: “Fayette County is the first site outside of Central Ohio where AWS plans to establish new data centers, investing an estimated $5 billion by 2030,” Roger Wehner, vice president of economic development at AWS (Amazon Web Services), said in an email to a Dayton Daily News reporter. “As AWS continues to invest in Ohio, we are grateful to the local leadership in Fayette County who support our ability to grow and innovate on behalf of our customers.”
A change in plans for Grocery Outlet (and Centerville)
Credit: Terry Chea
Credit: Terry Chea
What won’t happen: A company that offers discounted, closeout and overstocked products from private-label and name-brand suppliers won’t be moving into one of two (previously) planned Dayton-area locations.
Grocery Outlet Bargain Market had planned to renovate a 25,000-square-foot space at 894 S. Main St. in Centerville, according to a permit approved by the city in September. The storefront sits in the Centerville Square shopping center between Bangs Salon & Spa and El Toro Mexican Bar & Grill.
What the company said: A Dec. 18 email to Centerville’s planning department indicates a change in plans.
“Grocery Outlet isn’t moving forward with the project as they’re undergoing a new strategic realignment,” said Cindy Callaghan, associate development manager for Greenberg Farrow, an Atlanta architecture and development services firm.
Don’t forget Space Force. Ohio lawmakers didn’t
The U.S. Space Force, the youngest and smallest of the American military branches, is growing but still quiet, relatively speaking. The Ohio General Assembly wanted to make sure the service is remembered.
What happened: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently signed into law Ohio Senate Bill No. 154, ensuring that the Space Force is understood to be included whenever the the U.S. armed forces are enshrined in Ohio law.
What they said: “This is more than just an administrative change. The update is necessary to minimize disruptions in benefits and services for eligible service members,” Dayton Development Coalition President and Chief Executive Jeff Hoagland said in testimony for the bill. “Updating the Ohio code is a way of putting out a ‘welcome’ sign to the Space Force, its personnel, and missions.”
Kettering should take ‘underperforming’ Fraze in new direction, study says
Credit: Tom Gilliam
Credit: Tom Gilliam
The Fraze Pavilion opened in September 1991 with a sold-out performance by Marvin Hamlisch. Bands performing there provided the soundtrack for summer evenings in central Kettering ever since. Sheryl Crow, ZZ Top, blues guitarist Buddy Guy and many others have walked the stage there.
Yes, but: The pavilion also has served as a focal point for community events, festivals, craft fairs and more, and a new consultant’s study is recommending the city explore that aspect of the venue.
A competitive environment: Rose Music Center in Huber Heights (only about 20 miles away from the Fraze), as well as Riverbend and PNC Pavilion in Cincinnati, are also booking nationally known acts, the study notes.
Contact me: Thanks for reading this newsletter in 2024. Tell me about your business (or job) in 2025. You can reach me at tom.gnau@coxinc.com. I’m also on X, LinkedIn, and please check out our Dayton Business page.
Quick hits
December was a busy restaurant month: But aren’t they all?
Mini ‘heat wave:’ For now, at least.
Santa and columnist Rick McCrabb go way back: Here’s their latest.
Burn survivor: Celebrates first post-accident Christmas.
Are you participating in ‘Dry January?’ Tell us about it.
About the Author
