JOSH SWEIGART Editor of investigations and solutions journalism
Good morning
Welcome to the Weekly Roundup, where we bring you the top stories from todayâs Dayton Daily News and major stories from the past week you may have missed.
This week that includes a preview of the historic inauguration of Middletownâs JD Vance as vice president, the tragic story of a local familyâs struggle with insurance after the death of their baby and our investigation into county officials handed government jobs after being voted out of office.
JD Vanceâs ârags to richesâ story was written here
On Monday, former U.S. Sen. JD Vance will make history as the first Ohioan to become vice president. We will have full coverage of the inauguration of Vance and President-elect Donald Trump. Here are a few things to know.
- He took the indirect route to the White House, McCrabb writes. Most prominent politicians are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Vanceâs spoon was plastic.
⢠Looking back, forward: Ohio used to be known as the birthplace of president, but has never had a VP. This story by Avery Kreemer looks at the historical context, Vanceâs short political career, and what his job as vice president is likely to entail.
⢠Inauguration day: Despite joking about skipping the inauguration to watch the OSU championship game, Vance will be there. So will the Middletown High School marching band, which is playing in the inauguration parade. The event was moved indoors because of weather concerns; here are the details.
⢠Vanceâs replacement: On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will replace Vance in the Senate. Here is the story from Avery and I about Hustedâs connections to the Dayton area and reactions to the appointment.
County officials handed taxpayer-funded jobs after losing election
After a longtime Montgomery County commissioner and short-time county recorder lost their elections in November, both quickly landed government jobs elsewhere. Our reporters investigated how this happened.
⢠Our investigation: The Dayton Daily News requested records showing when and where the jobs were posted, records submitted by anyone applying for the jobs and records that showed the jobsâ descriptions and salaries. Go here for the full story.
⢠Lieberman: After losing reelection in November, former longtime county commissioner Debbie Lieberman was hired by Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley on Dec. 3 for a job that was created Dec. 1, according to records obtained by the Dayton Daily News.
⢠Benson-Taylor: Dayton Public Schools said they have no responsive records related to Stacey Benson-Taylor applying for a job there â or the job being publicly posted â before she was hired in December after being voted out of office as Montgomery County recorder.
⢠Explanation: Foley did not respond to questions about why he created Liebermanâs position days before hiring her. Dayton Public Schools leaders contend they did not create the position for Benson-Taylor.
⢠Reaction: âThese are current officeholders and two people who formerly led offices. They should know how to post a job, know how to arrange interviews. Be fair to the citizens and stick with the established process,â said Montgomery County GOP Chairman state Rep. Phil Plummer.
Their baby died. Then they got the $58K hospital bill
The Dayton Daily News found people in the region struggling with trying to get insurers to follow through on medical claims. Health care providers also told the Dayton Daily News they face challenges securing contracts with insurers to make sure their services are covered. Go here for the full story form reporter Samantha Wildow.
⢠One familyâs story: One local familyâs experience typifies the problem. Their 13-month-old daughter died Nov. 7 after spending four days at the ICU. The hospital sent them a bill for $58,000. A fight with their insurance company followed.
⢠Zoom out: The complexity and uncertainty of health insurance, including the difficulty of navigating the system and fighting for claims to be covered, is an experience known to many Americans. Nearly one in five, or 18%, of insured adults experienced a claims denial within the past year, according to KFF, a health policy and research organization.
⢠Providerâs perspective: The owner of a senior enrichment center in Englewood also shared her experience with trying to get contracts with insurance companies to pay for covered services.
⢠Resources: If a patient or family gets a medical claim denied by their health insurance, there are steps they can take to challenge that decision. This includes filing a compliant with a state office that can help with appeals. More info on thatâs in Samanthaâs story as well.
Veronica Court and Austin Rivera, a couple living in Oakwood, lost their 13-month-old daughter, Violeta, in November due to a rare genetic disorder, after which they spent weeks trying to get coverage for a $58,000 hospital bill. The complexity and uncertainty of health insurance, including the difficulty of navigating the system and fighting for claims to be covered, is an experience known to many Americans.
Dayton officials are considering changing the municipal zoning code to try to rein in group homes in a city that has more foster group residences than anywhere else in the state.
Jonathan "Eric" Link of Centerville was indicted for two counts of murder in the cold case homicide in Kettering of his girlfriend Shannon Noel Anderson, a 29-year-old mother of two, in 2001.
The Ohio Department of Medicaid is again pursuing work requirements for members who accessed Medicaid through the expansion of the program under the Affordable Care Act. The proposal would require enrollees by employed, in schooling or training, have an intensive health need or be 55 or older in order to keep their coverage.
