Catching Our Eye News Roundup, July 2, 2026

Every morning in the Ohio Capital Journal’s free newsletter, The Eye-Opener, we round up the news and commentary from across Ohio and around the country and world that is catching our attention. We call this feature Catching Our Eye, republished here.

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Catching Our Eye

• Holding up affordable housing. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Sarah Donaldson reports, “Trump holds up the housing bill most Ohio members of Congress backed.”

Congress has now officially sent President Donald Trump a major housing affordability bill, which just one member of Ohio’s delegation voted against.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act cleared both chambers of Congress last Monday and Tuesday by overwhelmingly bipartisan votes…

Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-8), a Republican, was the only Ohio official — Democrat or Republican — to vote “no.”

• The cost of Trumpism. Cleveland.com reports, “Trump policies have cost Ohio households thousands since January 2025, report finds.”

Ohio families have paid approximately $2,175 more for gas, utilities and groceries and thousands of dollars more in health insurance premiums for those on the ACA marketplace since January 2025 due to federal policies enacted during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a report released Wednesday by the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The analysis places Ohio 13th among all states for increases in total household costs, with the higher end of the range applying to families who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

• Moreno wants to end birthright citizenship. The Columbus Dispatch’s Haley BeMiller reports, “After SCOTUS ruling, Sen. Bernie Moreno pushes to end birthright citizenship.”

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno plans to introduce legislation to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents.

Moreno’s proposal follows a Supreme Court ruling that blocked a similar effort by President Donald Trump.

The Supreme Court affirmed that the 14th Amendment applies to all children born in the U.S., regardless of their parents’ immigration status.

• Humanities. The Ohio Newsroom’s Erin Gottsacker reports, “A year after federal cuts, Ohio humanities organizations are moving forward.”

Last year, the Trump administration cancelled millions of dollars in federal grants intended for arts and cultural institutions nationwide. The move left organizations like Ohio Humanities in a tough spot, without previously promised money to fund projects like documentary films and museum exhibits.

“It’s not just the loss of a single set of funds, it’s the rolling impact of that to us and to our community partners,” described Jason Crabill, executive director of the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in Lancaster, at the time. “It has a real detrimental effect on what we can do for the community.”

Now, over a year later, Ohio Humanities has announced an organizational shift. It’s moving forward as Ohio Humanities Alliance.

• Vinton County. WOUB’s David Forster reports, “Sixteen children were rescued from a “horrific scene” following the search of a Vinton County home.”

Four people were arrested and charged with multiple counts of felony child endangerment following the execution of a search warrant early Tuesday afternoon at a home in Vinton County.

“The scene is horrific and these are horrific allegations,” Sheriff Ryan Cain said at a news conference Tuesday evening.

Sixteen children ranging in age from one and a half to 18 years were rescued from the home and taken to hospitals for treatment. Several of the children were in serious condition, and two of them were care flighted to level one trauma centers, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said at the news conference.

• Kroger, Giant Eagle. WVXU’s Tana Weingartner reports, “Kroger to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65B.”

Cincinnati-based Kroger has entered a deal to buy supermarket chain Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion. The companies announced the agreement Wednesday, July 1…

Pittsburgh-based Giant Eagle, Inc. operates more than 200 supermarkets and standalone pharmacies across western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. Its annual sales are estimated at around $9 billion.