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Running out Steen clock
THE BLADE EDITORIAL BOARD A magistrate’s recommendation concluding that Gov. Mike DeWine usurped his authority by firing Wade Steen from...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Feb 8, 20242 min read


Magistrate recommends returning removed member to teachers' pension board
Gov. Mike DeWine did not have the authority to replace his investment expert on the board of trustees of the State Teachers Retirement...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Feb 7, 20241 min read


Ousted Ohio teachers’ pension fund board member reinstated after wrongful removal lawsuit
A progressive member who was removed from overseeing Ohio’s teacher retirement system has been reinstated to the board after taking his...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Feb 6, 20241 min read


Ohio Federation of Teachers endorses Michelle Flanigan for STRS Ohio Board
The Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT) has endorsed Michelle Flanigan for a contributing (active) seat on the STRS Ohio Retirement Board....

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Jan 27, 20241 min read


STRS Ohio pension is broken. Magistrate has had too long to rule on case that would fix it.
Dr. Robin Rayfield, Guest Columnist Columbus Dispatch Jan. 19, 2024 The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio continues to make state...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Jan 19, 20242 min read


A ‘Shadow’ Lending Market in the U.S., Funded by Insurance Premiums
Apollo was the first to use annuities to build a major financing business. Others followed, driving the growth of the private lending...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Jan 18, 20246 min read


Key board election could spur significant reform at Ohio State Teachers
Reinstating COLA, gutting investment staff and moving to index funds on the agenda Ohio State Teachers' Retirement System, Columbus,...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Jan 13, 20241 min read


Facebook Public Pension Groups Replace Unions, Protecting Worker Retirement Savings
Facebook groups organized by public pension participants are increasingly doing the work unions should, exposing looting and...
Edward Siedle
Jan 9, 20241 min read


On St. Paul's Grand Avenue, businesses flee buildings owned by Ohio-based pension fund
Pottery Barn and Salut are the latest to depart Grand Avenue, where the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio owns considerable...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Jan 8, 20243 min read


Ohio teachers pension board facing pivotal board election while director is investigated
Ohio's second largest public pension system put its director on leave, is fielding hundreds of public records requests from a mysterious...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Jan 4, 20244 min read


Looting the pension funds
All across America, Wall Street is grabbing money meant for public workers. "One of the most garish early experiments in “alternative...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Dec 27, 20232 min read


Ohio Teachers Pension Fees Are More Than Double What The Pension Reported
In 2021, when STRS Ohio was touting investment fees of only $279 million, we estimated fees of nearly $1 billion. A new analysis based...
Edward Siedle
Dec 24, 20231 min read


Blade Editorial: Keep public comment
Anyone who has ever seen Ohio teachers address the STRS board would understand the hell to pay for restricting that forum. The State...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Dec 23, 20232 min read


"The public needs to be heard." - Pat Davidson
Thank you to Board members Julie Sellers, Rudy Fichtenbaum, and Pat Davidson for pushing back against placing additional restrictions on...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Dec 22, 20231 min read


What Would Have Happened If STRS Used Index Investing?
At the last STRS Board meeting, a Board Member asked, “What would have happened to STRS’s return if it had used index investing?” In that...

Rudy Fichtenbaum
Dec 19, 20234 min read


"STRS Ohio has invested its teacher pension funds in real estate from Boston to Seattle"
The impact of STRS Ohio's commercial retail estate investments on St. Paul's Grand Avenue Grand Avenue’s Pottery Barn to close in early...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Dec 10, 20238 min read


Corruption 101: The biggest red flag to look for
By David Pepper Dec. 6, 2023 "So whenever you see politicians hard at work to eliminate or gut or take over entities that provide...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Dec 8, 20232 min read


'A lot of unhappiness': State Teachers Retirement System board hears concerns about bonuses, future
By Debbie Rogers, The Blade Dec. 6, 2023 BOWLING GREEN — The future of the State Teachers Retirement System, its present management, and...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Dec 7, 20234 min read


SEC Intervention At Ohio Teachers State Pension Is Long Overdue
Mismanagement of investments, skyrocketing undisclosed fees paid to Wall Street, growing secrecy, and, most recently, suspension of the...
Edward Siedle
Dec 2, 20231 min read


Blade Editorial: Pension chief suspended
THE BLADE EDITORIAL BOARD NOV 21, 2023 9:00 PM The State Teacher Retirement System of Ohio Board of Trustees has suspended Director Bill...

STRS Ohio Watchdogs
Nov 22, 20232 min read
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