Jessie Balmert/USA TODAY

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

Polluting Democracy

Ohio Gov. DeWine campaign got secret $2.5 million boost from power company, new records show

A dark money group funded by FirstEnergy spent $2.5 million to support the GOP hopeful as the utility pushed bailout of struggling nuclear plants.