A bombshell in Ohio, as the FBI arrested Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four colleagues on bribery charges connected with a $1 billion bailout for the state's nuclear industry.
"Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four colleagues were arrested by federal officials Tuesday as part of a bribery investigation involving the state’s $1 billion nuclear plant bailout and Householder’s maneuverings to secure support to lead the legislative chamber," report Marc Kovac, Randy Ludlow, and Rick Rouan.
The bailout was approved in the summer of 2019, but the legal controversy lingered until January 2020, when an effort to subject the bailout to a voter referendum failed in the Ohio Supreme Court. Now the controversy really gets ugly.
Householder, "is charged in the alleged racketeering conspiracy involving the funneling of energy company funds through Generation Now, a dark money group formed by a longtime associate, with some proceeds used to back the campaigns of legislative candidates supportive of Householder’s run for Speaker."
Four others arrested as part of the investigation: Matt Borges, the former chairman of the Ohio Republican Party and a lobbyist, Jeffrey Longstreth, a longtime campaign and political strategist for Householder, and Neil Clark, a lobbyist who owns Grant Street Consultants.
The FBI has been busy with corruption investigations in the past several months—all on schemes related to development. Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was arrested in June, along with several city councilmembers in the city of Toledo, Ohio.
Read the full story: Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case
Google Inks Nuclear Power Deal
Tech giants are seeking out renewable energy to fuel power-hungry data centers and AI applications.
Small-Scale Nuclear Power Dealt Major Setback
The company that made history in January when its 'small modular nuclear reactor' became the first in the nation to receive certification from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has canceled it due to financial reasons.
Georgia Makes Clean Energy History in U.S.
The first newly constructed nuclear power plant to generate electricity in the U.S. in over 30 years began operation in Waynesboro, Georgia on July 31.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
California city breaks ground on transit connector
The project includes three mobility hubs and a pedestrian bridge.
After public outcry, Massachusetts city releases housing development tracker
Cambridge’s tracker currently shows 250 housing projects in various stages of development.
40 years after approval, Chicago breaks ground on new park
The park honors Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the city’s first permanent non-native settler.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority