On Thursday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, unveiled a new report exposing previously unreported mismanagement, reckless judgment, and taxpayer waste in the Obamacare CO-OP program — a $2.4 billion loan program that launched 23 health insurance start-ups, more than half of which have failed. 

The Southwest Region is made up of 17 counties, and Hillsboro CSD Board of Education was one of 25 Public School Boards to receive the highest level of gold. This is the fifth year in a row the Hillsboro CSD Board of Education has reached this highest level of achievement.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted released the following statement regarding a lawsuit filed Tuesday about what 17-year-olds are permitted to vote on in a primary election.

Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) joined 12 other Senate Republicans Wednesday to send a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Administration Andy Slavitt calling for the Obama Administration to halt its plans to implement policy changes that reduce funding for the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, which would jeopardize the health benefits that millions of seniors rely on today.

In Highland County, the unemployment rate was 7.9 percent. Adams County’s rate of 10.3 percent was among the five Ohio counties in double digits. Brown County’s rate was 7.3 percent and Clinton’s was 7.2 percent.

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has released the following statement regarding the March 15th Republican Presidential Primary ballot to clarify how delegates appear on the ballot and how they will be awarded according to Republican Party rules. 

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson about what steps are being taken to secure porous borders, protect migrant children from human trafficking rings and improve the screening process for visa applicants.

On Monday, the Senate voted 86-3 in favor of a procedural motion to advance the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (S. 524) – legislation authored by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera reports that on March 6, deputies received information of a person gathering items to manufacture methamphetamine. While following up on the information, deputies located the suspect vehicle.

Sheriff Donnie Barrera reports for the week of Feb. 29 to March 6, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office received 259 911 calls, answered 188 requests for service, dispatched 96 fire and EMS runs, took 27 offense reports and investigated five traffic crashes.

Following a week of debate, the Senate is expected to vote on the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act (S. 524) this week.

The Highlands Nature Sanctuary and Fort Hill are looking for volunteers from the local community to host the Interpretive Museums located at both sites. A special Volunteer Training Day will be held on Sunday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch provided.

On Friday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to International Trade Commission (ITC) Chairman Meredith Broadbent urging the agency to enforce existing trade law and ensure a level playing field in order to protect the Ohio and domestic wax candle industry from unfair competition.

On Friday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to International Trade Commission (ITC) Chairman Meredith Broadbent urging the agency to enforce existing trade law and ensure a level playing field in order to protect the Ohio and domestic wax candle industry from unfair competition.

On Friday, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent a letter to International Trade Commission (ITC) Chairman Meredith Broadbent urging the agency to enforce existing trade law and ensure a level playing field in order to protect the Ohio and domestic wax candle industry from unfair competition.