Summer is upon us, and so too is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)—a budget that proposes sweeping cuts that is currently being debated in the Senate after surviving a narrow House vote. It signals potential deep cuts to healthcare, education, and programs that support low-income housing.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) could be “zeroed out,” or eliminated. This program is heavily utilized in Scioto County, especially homeowners on fixed incomes like many elderly.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) could also be impacted. “Enhanced verification requirements” will likely present new administrative hurdles for low-income families seeking healthcare for their children. During a public hearing for Scioto County’s CHIP program, Scott Hillis of the Ohio Regional Development Corporation, an organization that helps government entities administer CDBG and CHIP programs, said Scioto County has the highest number of CHIP applicants in the state of Ohio.

OBBBA also bans providing gender-affirming care for all ages through Medicaid and CHIP.

Medicaid faces a significant overhaul, too. Work or education requirements will be implemented for recipients without dependents between the ages of 19 to 64. OBBBA also proposes reducing Medicaid spending by $863 billion over the next decade. These changes could result in 8 million Americans losing healthcare.

Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis has recently been in Washington D.C lobbying for the continuance of many of these programs, but has also said he supports the administration’s attempts to be fiscally responsible.

On the Riverfront is in the field exploring how these changes may impact Scioto County. This is a sprawling story, as these potential changes affect residents county-wide.

Movement in the Hortons’ pending trial

Robert and Lioubov Horton, facing charges for allegedly engaging in a pattern of public corruption related to a potential kickback scheme for awarding contracts involving the Southern Ohio Port Authority (SOPA), have filed a motions to have a joint trial, and to change the venue where the case may be tried. A telephone conference will be held June 20, 2025.

Readers can access information about the case here.