Mike DeWine

On Cincinnati Edition, we discuss the "Science of Reading" and a bill that would overhaul higher education.

In January, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law passed by the previous General Assembly that eliminates most August elections. But that was then.

Ohio's teachers unions are pushing back against Gov. Mike DeWine's attempt to make phonics-based "Science of Reading" methods the only way to teach reading in Ohio's schools — but DeWine and state education officials are holding their ground.

Still, Gov. Mike DeWine admitted in signing the two-year transportation budget he had some concerns about one item.

The proposed changes came on the same day three children and three adults were killed in a shooting at a private religious school in Nashville.

DeWine voted against a repeal of federal speed limits when he was in Congress in 1995. He continues to oppose speed limit boosts, pointing to data that shows even a small increase in speed limits can cause more fatal crashes.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently said it is time for Ohio to take elected officials out of the process of drawing state legislative and congressional district lines. But voting rights activists see DeWine as part of the problem, not the solution.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 288 in January and it goes into effect in April.

The governor's proposal would pay for training and new books while banning the whole language approach to teaching literacy.

Senate Bill 1 could relax some homeschooling requirements, plus Ohio could expand its voucher program.