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As COVID-19 cases surge, ACLU urges release of misdemeanor offenders from jail
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio is urging state criminal justice officials to eliminate money bonds and release eligible people from Ohio’s jails amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases. In a letter sent to over 450 legal personnel on Tuesday, the ACLU outlined recommendations to mitigate the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic […]
‘Crime rings’ targeting federal unemployment, hurting jobless workers in need
“Sophisticated crime rings” are filing fraudulent claims targeting Ohio’s coronavirus pandemic relief programs and pocketing millions of dollars in benefits, according to the state’s unemployment offices. The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (DJFS) placed temporary holds on 270,000 suspected fraudulent unemployment claims filed under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program in July. The […]
Voting rights groups recommends health safety measures for election
The Ohio Voting Rights Coalition urged state leaders on Monday to adopt its recommendations for safe in-person voting procedures leading up to the November election amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the group outlined six key measures endorsed by over 250 public health officials, voting rights and allied […]
Ohio’s universities require pledges of personal responsibility to slow virus spread
As the school year swiftly approaches, Ohio’s universities are making a last-ditch effort to curb the spread of coronavirus by requiring students, and in some cases faculty, to sign personal pledges. The Ohio State University, Ohio University, Miami University, the University of Cincinnati and Kent State University are requiring students sign “pledges” — as dubbed by […]
Bar exam postponed amid pandemic, prolonging uncertainty for aspiring lawyers
The Ohio Supreme Court announced last week that the Ohio Bar Examination — the compulsory test to be licensed to practice law — will be postponed until early October and will be conducted online. The exam, which was taken by nearly 900 aspiring lawyers last summer, was originally scheduled for July 28-29, but was postponed to Sept. […]
Ohio unemployment dipped in June; remains three times higher than last summer
Ohio’s unemployment rate dipped significantly last month — hitting its lowest percentage since the coronavirus pandemic stunted the state’s labor force in March — but unemployment numbers remain nearly three times that of last summer. According to a monthly report by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Ohio’s unemployment rate was 10.9% in June […]
Unionized fast-food, janitorial, nursing home workers picket for Black Lives Matter in Toledo, Cleveland
Unionized fast-food, nursing home and janitorial workers in Toledo and Cleveland picketed Monday in solidarity with the Strike for Black Lives, a national day of action confronting systemic racism. SEIU District 1199 — a union that represents workers in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio — was one of more than 50 major national labor organizations that […]
Ohio prison workers union says safety concerns are being dismissed
Union workers with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction say they are not given proper personal protective equipment and that state officials have disregarded their concerns. SEIU District 1199 — a union representing health care workers and staff members with ODRC — said in a press release that the state only supplies cloth facial coverings or […]
I was exposed to COVID-19 and couldn’t get tested for 16 days
Saturday morning was filled with sorrowful tears as I sat in my stuffy, three-bedroom apartment pleading with a doctor to refer me for a test. After the video call — which lasted all of 10 minutes — two weeks of anger, frustration and confusion rushed over me. On July 1, I was notified by a friend, and […]
Lawsuit names Columbus Police Department officials, officers
Thirteen named plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday, alleging Columbus police used excessive force, “malicious prosecution” and “gross negligence” during recent months’ protests against police brutality. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and names the City of Columbus, Columbus Police Chief Tom Quinlan, […]
Columbus City Schools lapses contract with Columbus Police Department
After weeks of community upheaval and concessions by city education officials, the Columbus Police Department announced Monday that its contract with Columbus City Schools lapsed. The district’s three-year contract with Columbus police placed “resource officers” in 20 high schools and employed two sergeants. That contract expired June 30, and no new contract is in place, […]
More than 500,000 Ohioans couldn’t pay rent last month, census survey estimates
A survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that more than 500,000 Ohioans were unable to pay rent last month because of financial insecurity amid the coronavirus pandemic. The bureau’s Household Pulse Survey studies COVID-19’s impact on social and economic factors like employment, finances, food insecurity, housing, health and schooling. The latest poll indicated […]