Karen Kasler
Bureau ChiefContact Karen at 614-578-6375 or at kkasler@statehousenews.org.
Karen Kasler grew up in Lancaster, attended Otterbein College in Westerville, and found her professional break at WCBE-FM in Columbus. Karen was selected as a Fellow in the Kiplinger Master's Degree Program for Mid-Career Journalists at Ohio State University in 1994. She worked at WTVN-AM and WBNS-TV, both in Columbus, then for eight years was the afternoon drive anchor and assignment editor for WTAM-AM, Cleveland.
Since returning to Columbus in 2004, Karen has covered major elections and the controversies surrounding them. She served as moderator for the Ohio Debate Commission's Republican US Senate debate in 2022, its Supreme Court debate in 2020 and its gubernatorial debate in 2018. In addition to other election-related debates, she's led forums on statewide issues including redistricting, tax policy, drug sentencing, marijuana legalization and the collective bargaining law known as Senate Bill 5.
She's produced features for NPR and "Marketplace", and has been interviewed by NPR, the BBC, CBS, NBC, Radio New Zealand and stations around the country. She's a regular panelist on ideastream's "The Sound of Ideas" and a frequent guest on WOSU-TV’s “Columbus on the Record”, WOSU-FM's "All Sides with Anna Staver" and WVXU's "Cincinnati Edition".
Karen has been honored by the Cleveland Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Association of Capitol Editors and Reporters, and holds a National Headliner Award. She's won several awards from the Ohio AP, and is a four-time winner of the AP's Best Broadcast Writing award. She's a three-time Emmy nominee for "The State of Ohio". She's a past president of the Ohio Associated Press and has served on the Board of Directors for the Central Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Karen is also a former adjunct professor at Capital University in Columbus.
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The bill's sponsor said exempting capital gains from taxes would help economic development across Ohio, but an analysis shows one group will benefit much more than others. -
A jury in Akron said it's unable to come to a decision on corruption charges against the former FirstEnergy executives. -
A video posted by the leading Republican candidate for governor has raised fears that he’d want to shut down some Ohio universities that are struggling with financial issues and lower enrollment. -
An elected official who’s often mentioned his military service during his campaigns has been activated to serve with the Ohio Army National Guard. -
A proposed amendment to stop future construction of huge data centers in Ohio got the green light to go forward from Attorney General Dave Yost. -
In a few months, Ohio will be home to one of a few public monuments dedicated to the work women did to secure the right to vote, and the continuous efforts for equality. -
Two Republican lawmakers have sponsored a pair of bills to give the Ohio Inspector General more authority and tools. -
The Ohio Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of a 2024 state law banning gender-affirming medications and non-surgical treatments that are standard care for gender dysphoria. -
A group of rural Ohioans concerned about huge data centers popping up around the state want voters to decide whether they should be banned. -
A jury in Akron will decide whether two former FirstEnergy executives are guilty of bribing the late former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
