Socials Congress

Congress Member

Jon Husted

Republican

Senator
State: OH

Ohio

via: cleveland.com

As Election Day nears, Jon Husted changes tone on data centers

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As Election Day nears, Jon Husted changes tone on data centers

As lieutenant governor in 2024, Jon Husted stood with Google executives and U.S. Congress members from Ohio to champion the company’s latest $2.3 billion investment in data centers in the state.

“Data centers are essential to our digital lives and Google’s additional multibillion-dollar investment further establishes central Ohio as an important tech hub in America,” Husted said in a statement.

What Ohioans didn’t realize at the time? The state had granted Google — as well as Amazon and Meta — 100% sales tax exemptions for up to 40 years on any facility built in Ohio. For Google, that breaks down to about $30 million in tax breaks per job.

Now, Ohioans are angry about data centers and the energy costs they’re driving up. And Husted is running for reelection in the U.S. Senate. So his message has changed.

Husted has introduced legislation that would require data centers and other massive electricity users to cover the cost of the power infrastructure they need.

— Laura

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Top Stories

Data center bill: Sen. Jon Husted introduced the “Ratepayer Protection Act,” requiring data centers and large electricity users to cover the full cost of power infrastructure upgrades they need. Sabrina Eaton reports the bill comes amid Husted’s heated Senate campaign against Sherrod Brown, where data center electricity costs have become a central issue. Read more

Tax asks: Several Northeast Ohio school districts are heading back to voters this fall with reworked funding requests after recent ballot defeats, with some asking for less money and others switching from property taxes to earned income taxes. Molly Walsh reports that while levies passed in Solon, Lorain and Lakewood in May, they failed in more than a dozen other districts. Read more

Missing kids: An Ohio Senate bill would create a statewide task force to address the disproportionate treatment of missing Black, Indigenous and women and girls of color, inspired in part by the 2025 abduction and murder of 13-year-old Kei’Mani Latigue. Karan Singh reports that a 2022 analysis found Black children accounted for more than 61% of Ohioans who disappeared and remained missing, despite making up about 16% of the state’s youth population. Read more

Today in Ohio: Ohio lawmakers left for summer vacation without passing any bills to reign in data centers. So Ohio communities are taking the issue up themselves. We’re talking about grassroots efforts to ban the massive energy-sucking buildings on local ballots on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour podcast. Read more

Statehouse and Politics

Premiums increase: Ohio ACA marketplace premiums more than doubled in 27 counties after enhanced federal subsidies expired, causing the state to lose more than 161,000 enrollees — the largest percentage decline in the nation. Mary Frances McGowan reports that average monthly premiums rose from $126 to $233, pushing many remaining enrollees toward lower-cost bronze plans.

Forest fracking: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will auction 41 parcels covering 2,800 acres in Wayne National Forest on Sept. 15 for oil and gas development, following a court-ordered environmental review. Anna Staver reports that environmental groups oppose the move, arguing modern drilling methods would disturb far more land than the 1,200 conventional wells already operating in the forest.

Immigration suit: A federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit seeking to block three immigration agencies from making warrantless arrests in Ohio, ruling plaintiffs failed to prove imminent risk of future harm. Laura Hancock reports that while the judge acknowledged federal agents had unlawfully arrested non-citizens without warrants, immigrant advocacy groups called the ruling deeply disappointing but vowed to continue their legal fight.

VP baby: Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance welcomed their fourth child, a baby boy named Alec Neel Vance, with the couple announcing that both mother and baby are happy and healthy. Sabrina Eaton reports that Usha Vance is the first second lady to give birth while her husband holds office in more than 150 years.

Northeast Ohio News

Super Bowl: The Browns’ new covered stadium will finally give Northeast Ohio something it has never had — an NFL venue capable of hosting the Super Bowl. But Susan Glaser reports that league officials, tourism leaders and even Browns ownership agree that without significantly more hotels and other visitor infrastructure, Cleveland is unlikely to land the NFL’s biggest event anytime soon.

Jail project: Despite an ongoing investigation into whether Cuyahoga County followed state law when it began planning its new jail, county officials agreed Monday to retroactively approve that early work so contractors can be paid and the nearly $1 billion project can move forward, Kaitlin Durbin reports.

Plane crash: A preliminary NTSB report reveals the final moments before a Piper PA-24-250 Comanche crashed near Geauga County Airport, killing three people after the pilot reported he could see through light precipitation before disappearing from radar. Molly Walsh reports that a witness saw the plane enter a steep nose-down descent into a field about one mile east of the airport.

Cool September? Northeast Ohio could get an early taste of sweater weather this year — if The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s forecast pans out. The publication’s fall forecast calls for a cooler-than-normal September across the Lower Lakes region, which includes Northeast Ohio, Ryan Cohick reports.

Children services: Lorain County Children Services is asking voters to approve a .45-mill levy this fall, citing a 185% rise in child placement costs since 2021 despite cutting spending by 17% between 2023 and 2025. Executive Director Kristen Fox Berki says the levy, which would cost homeowners about $16 per $100,000 of home value, is the agency’s first request for additional funding since 2014.

Jail bills: Cuyahoga County officials voted to retroactively approve early jail construction work after contractor Gilbane Building Co. threatened legal action over $7.44 million in unpaid invoices. Kaitlin Durbin reports the move follows an ongoing legal dispute over whether the county properly obtained required approvals before beginning work on the nearly $1 billion project.

World Cup: Cleveland is included in the only official bid submitted to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup, with the U.S. application pairing Cleveland with Columbus and potentially splitting games between the new 67,500-seat Brook Park stadium and the Columbus Crew’s venue. Rich Exner reports that Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has long cited the tournament as the type of world-class event he hopes to attract to the new stadium, which has been engineered to meet FIFA field width requirements.

Officer returns: One year after he was wounded while responding to an ambush that killed a fellow officer, Lorain Police Officer Brent Payne has returned to duty. The Lorain Police Department called Payne’s return a significant milestone for an officer who has spent the past year recovering from injuries sustained in the July 23, 2025, shooting.

Cutting busing: Elyria City Schools will no longer provide busing for students living within two miles of their school, up from the previous 1.25-mile threshold, as the district continues recovering from financial struggles. The change is tied to an ongoing $9 million reduction plan, with school leaders also preparing a third attempt at an operating levy for the November ballot.

School cuts: Twinsburg City Schools officials say aggressive cost-cutting reduced the district’s deficit spending by about $2 million after voters rejected a new operating levy in May. Destiniee Jaram reports that district officials have approved spending reductions, including eliminating the curriculum supervisor position, while continuing to evaluate staffing and other expenses.

Shaker sewers: Shaker Heights City Council will receive an update on the final phase of the Lynnfield/Lomond Sewer Overflow Control Project, focusing on risks to nine mature trees whose root zones overlap the proposed sewer line. Kaylee Remington reports the presentation will cover an arborist’s assessment of the trees and EPA guidelines limiting sewer placement near water mains.

Tax hike: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is drafting legislation to raise the county’s already highest-in-Ohio sales tax by 0.15% to fund repairs at Progressive Field and Rocket Arena without putting the measure to a public vote. Leila Atassi writes that Ronayne’s plan breaks his 2022 campaign pledge against extending the sales tax without voter approval and argues he should make the case directly to residents at the ballot box.

Health Care and Business

Larder Supply: James Beard Award finalists Jeremy Umansky and Allie La Valle Umansky are opening Larder Supply, a chef-led culinary retail shop at 1430 W. 29th St. in Cleveland’s Hingetown neighborhood, directly across from their Larder Delicatessen & Bakery. Paris Wolfe reports that the 500-square-foot shop opens today and will carry knives, cookware, cookbooks and kitchen tools, with cooking classes and knife-sharpening services also planned.

UH Select: University Hospitals has expanded its concierge primary care program with the opening of a new UH Select practice in Westlake, the fifth location for the membership-based service in Northeast Ohio, Kaylee Remington reports.

Sundae Day: Malley’s Chocolates will serve $3 hot fudge sundaes at its Lakewood, Mentor and North Olmsted ice cream parlors on July 25 in celebration of National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, Peter Chakerian reports.

Crime and Courts

Hit and run: A Cuyahoga County assistant prosecutor pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after fleeing the scene of a January accident in which he struck another driver twice before driving away. Lucas Daprile reports that Liam Blake, 31, was sentenced to three days in jail and 45 days of probation and has since returned to work after a five-month unpaid suspension.

Officer death: Willoughby Hills Police Officer Ryan Shannon died following an off-duty accident, with departments across Lake County mourning the loss of a officer who served the region for more than 17 years. Molly Walsh reports that Shannon was sworn in as a Perry Village police officer in May 2009.

Firefighter killed: A North Randall firefighter was killed and a woman seriously injured after an intoxicated driver struck them while they helped change a tire on Fairmount Boulevard in Pepper Pike early Saturday morning. Lizzie Kaboski reports that Cameron Duvall, 29, died from his injuries and the driver was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle while under the influence.

Girls’ deaths: The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has ruled that two young girls found buried in suitcases in Cleveland’s South Collinwood neighborhood died of homicide by unspecified means with malnutrition. Olivia Mitchell reports that their mother, Aliyah Henderson, 28, faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder, and has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation.

Homicide suspect: Police arrested a 65-year-old man Friday in connection with the suspected homicide of his 57-year-old wife inside their Westlake home, Lizzie Kaboski reports.

Suspect arrested: A 16-year-old wanted in connection with the murder of a man in Canton last week was arrested Monday by federal officers after a standoff at a home on Cleveland’s East Side, Cliff Pinckard reports.

Arts and Entertainment

Broadway deal: Playhouse Square is offering tickets to six shows in its 2026-27 KeyBank Broadway Series for $150, or $25 per performance, through Friday. Joey Morona reports that the package includes Tony-winning productions such as “Mamma Mia!,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” and includes a swap-a-show option.

‘Tommy’: Several Northeast Ohio performers have been cast in the national touring production of The Who’s “Tommy,” which opens at Playhouse Square this fall, Joey Morona reports.

‘Avengers’ trailer: Marvel has released the first trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday,” directed by Cleveland natives Joe and Anthony Russo, uniting characters from the MCU, X-Men and Deadpool franchises for the first time. Joey Morona reports the film features Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

Cleveland Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra moved its July 18 Blossom Music Festival concert indoors to Severance’s Mandel Concert Hall due to air-quality alerts and thunderstorms, delivering a program of Brahms and Shostakovich. Peter Feher has a review of the performance.

Jon Husted

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As Election Day nears, Jon Husted changes tone on data centers