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Ohio Senate bill passed with provisions for fertility fraud
Ohioans may soon get protections from fertility fraud after an extensive criminal justice reform bill was passed by the Senate last Wednesday. A 27-2 bipartisan vote sent the bill to the House where lawmakers will further scrutinize it before being sent to Gov. Mike DeWine for final approval. The bill was first introduced in February […]
Ohio universities offer sustainable ways to combat student food and housing insecurity
The idea of college students with limited money surviving on Ramen noodles and domestic lager has become a common joke, but universities in Ohio take student food and housing insecurity seriously and many have built up programs to address the issues. The University of Akron, Kent State University, and Ohio State University offer unique programs […]
Columbus engages Central Ohio residents in the zoning code update with new exhibit
The city of Columbus has announced plans to go back to the drawing board with new updates to the city’s zoning map after 70 years. City partners and officials attribute the long wait to bureaucracy and systemic racism and hope to involve the community in the process. In a presentation on Nov.10, the City of […]
Ohio voters pass Issue 1 and Issue 2 by large margins
Ohio voters passed statewide Issue 1 on cash bail and Issue 2 on non-citizen voting by sweeping margins Tuesday, with each receiving more than 77% of the vote. Both become effective immediately upon election certification. Issue 1 allowed voters to determine if judges should be required to consider public safety when setting bail amounts. It […]
Voter advocacy groups highlight safety of elections ahead of Ohio midterms
Amid concerns about election security and the need for people to verify their ballots, Common Cause Ohio enlisted other organizations, All Voting is Local Ohio and Secure Democracy Foundation, to outline what happens before, on, and after Election Day.
Ohioans step up to be poll workers with strong recruitment numbers ahead of the election
With older poll workers phasing out, many younger Ohioans have stepped up to fill the void, some saying they want the experience to debunk election fraud myths. As of Oct. 24, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reported that 39,196 Ohioans have signed up to be poll workers in the General Election on Nov. 8. […]
Faith-based organization mobilizes voters to vote for the common good, not a political party
Vote Common Good holds events and training to guide voters on intersections between religion and politics ahead of the upcoming election. The nonprofit’s programming asks voters to align with candidates who support the “common good” beyond a particular political party. They also strive to raise awareness about Christian Nationalism. Doug Pagitt, executive director of Vote […]
Educators, government officials press for eliminating Ohio’s ‘Third Grade Reading Guarantee’
The Ohio Education Association is urging the Ohio Senate to take up House Bill 497 this fall. If passed, the bill will eliminate the mandatory retention of third graders who do not score proficiently on Ohio standardized literacy tests. Experts cited data and disparities as why the bill should be passed.
History and media panel weighed in on current First Amendment controversies
In a forum held by the Columbus Metropolitan Club on Wednesday, Mike Thompson moderated a panel discussion with professionals in the media and academic fields about ways that the first amendment is being challenged now and where that leaves the state of journalism in the future. Panelists also contemplated the impact social media platforms have for the spread of misinformation.
Demonstrators demand security for reproductive rights in Ohio ahead of election
A mix of local activists, medical experts, abortion clinic escorts, and candidates expressed the need for protection of reproductive rights in Ohio law. Protesters were also countered with advocates from anti-abortion group Created Equal as they marched downtown.
Advocates at forum concerned over misinformation and the integrity of courts
“There are different ways we can respond to judicial decisions. If you have a legitimate principle disagreement with a decision, that is one thing. If you have a personal attack on the integrity of the judge who decides the decision or the court itself, that is an entirely different entity,” panelist Kathleen M. Trafford said.
Ohio State protesters call for change after Columbus police killing of Donovan Lewis
It was the third police officer-involved shooting in two weeks for Columbus, yet for some it was just a regular Friday. During one of many protests scheduled for the weekend, dozens of Ohio State University students gathered at the Ohio Union. The demonstration came after officers fatally shot unarmed Donovan Lewis after entering his home […]