The state's Republican elections chief has suspended two Democratic election officials in southwest Ohio after they voted to extend early voting hours beyond the uniform, statewide hours that he recently set. Secretary of State Jon Husted has instructed the two members of the Montgomery County Board of Elections to appear at his office Monday for a hearing about why they shouldn't be removed from the board. Husted says Thomas Ritchie Sr. and Dennis Lieberman failed to act consistently with his directive, leaving him no choice but to suspend them. Husted has ordered all 88 county election boards to have the same hours on weekdays and to close on weekends. The board split over expanding the hours. Husted broke the tie today not to allow it.
Mike Foley joined WCBE in February 2000, coming from WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Foley has worked in various roles, from producing news and feature stories to engineering Live From Studio A sessions. A series of music features Foley started in 2018 called Music Journeys has grown into a podcast and radio show. He also assists in developing other programs in WCBE's Podcast Experience. Foley hosts The Morning Mix, a weekday music show featuring emerging and established musicians, our Columbus-area and Ohio-based talent, and additional artists that inspire him.