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

• JobsOhio reform going nowhere fast. The Statehouse News Bureau’s Sarah Donaldson reports, “Why reform of JobsOhio won’t go anywhere this legislative session.”

Earlier this year, state lawmakers introduced bills establishing stricter government oversight into JobsOhio, the powerful and private arm that pursues economic projects on the state’s behalf. But any effort at reform is dead for now.

JobsOhio faced a wave of scrutiny in March for giving money to Krisanthe Vlachos, the military podcaster tied to the resignation of Ted Carter, the former Ohio State University president. On social media, a spokesperson wrote it fulfilled a $60,000 contract with Vlachos in 2025, who Carter has since admitted to an “inappropriate relationship” with.

• Ohio nurses. The Ohio Newsroom’s Kendall Crawford reports, “Ohio nurses are overwhelmed. Could a mandatory staffing ratio help?”

The Ohio Nursing Association (ONA), one of the state’s nursing unions, polled Ohio direct care nurses in 2024. More than half said they were considering changing jobs due to overwhelming patient loads.

Advocates across Ohio say it’s a sign that the state needs to revamp its staffing standards. “Right now across the state, nurses show up to provide care in situations that are less than ideal,” said Rick Lucas, executive director of the ONA. Nursing shortages have plagued hospitals for years.

• First responders. The Dayton Daily News reports, “Ohio bill would activate PTSD fund for first responders after years of delays.”

First responders in Ohio will soon have access to state funds meant to offset costs related to post-traumatic stress injuries, years after the idea was first codified into Ohio law.

In House Bill 479, which requires Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature to become law, the legislature creates a new commission within the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and tasks it with overseeing, creating the rules for, and administering the Ohio Post-Traumatic Stress Fund.