COVID-19
Can more conservation, less wildlife trade help prevent the next pandemic?
WASHINGTON — As the United States reels from COVID-19, scientists and environmentalists say beefing up conservation efforts could help protect humanity from future pandemics. Lawmakers and policy experts alike have been focused on the immediate health and economic concerns from the pandemic. But many environmental advocates say the global crisis has also laid bare the […]
Jewish leader: response to Brenner part of ‘protocol’ on handling Ohio pols’ Nazi comparisons
When the anti-Semitic comments amplified by state Sen. Andrew Brenner were uncovered Wednesday morning, Howie Beigelman, the son of a Holocaust survivor, knew what to do. He picked up the phone and called Brenner directly to talk about them. This is the third such call the executive director of Ohio Jewish Communities has had to […]
Nearly 80% of inmates have COVID-19 at two Ohio prisons
Nearly 80% of the inmates in two Ohio prisons — some 3,500 people — have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the virus that causes the disease was detected in the prison system March 29. State records show both prisons house populations well beyond their design capacity, enabling the new coronavirus to spread among thousands of […]
How the rich reacted to the bubonic plague has eerie similarities to today’s pandemic
The coronavirus can infect anyone, but recent reporting has shown your socioeconomic status can play a big role, with a combination of job security, access to health care and mobility widening the gap in infection and mortality rates between rich and poor. The wealthy work remotely and flee to resorts or pastoral second homes, while […]
GOP lawmaker says he won’t let Jewish health director turn Ohio into Nazi Germany
Note: State Sen. Andrew Brenner apologized for the comments on Thursday afternoon. Updates are being posted to a new story available here. The original reporting from throughout Wednesday is below. A Republican state senator took to Facebook on Holocaust Remembrance Day to pledge he would not allow the Jewish Ohio Department of Health director to […]
Lawmakers advance small business relief bill without extra cash for states
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday cleared an “interim” COVID-19 relief package that includes billions of dollars for small businesses, hospitals and testing, but no additional funds for state and local governments. The nearly $500 billion package passed by unanimous consent Tuesday afternoon. The U.S. House is expected to reconvene on Thursday to vote […]
Dem lawmaker introduces tax amnesty bill for businesses, taxpayers
The impact of coronavirus-related economic losses will not fully be realized until much later, according to state officials, but one lawmaker said he’s trying to hold off some of the losses in the form of delinquent taxes. State Rep. Thomas West, D-Canton, is leading an effort to get a temporary tax amnesty program through the […]
Lotto and toll drop-offs show people are staying home
Are you feeling lucky? Even if so, you might have a tougher time finding a lottery ticket these days with some retailers closed during the pandemic-caused shutdown. This is leading to smaller lottery payouts — just one example of the way COVID-19 has affected the government’s coffers in recent months. The Ohio Capital Journal looked […]
How much coronavirus testing is enough? States could learn from retailers as they ramp up
As states develop plans to restart their economies, the big fear is that coronavirus cases will surge again. To keep the pandemic under control, strategic testing systems will be needed, and they will need to be scaled up fast. But how many people should be tested? Who should be tested? And what should that testing […]
Thousands of lives are on the line. Ohio House task force should act like it.
I started tracking the number of U.S. COVID-19 deaths in my day planner once a week on Monday, March 30. It was 2,400 people. By April 6 it had reached 9,600 people. On April 13, it stood at 22,109 people. As of this writing, on April 21, it’s 42,458 people. That’s three weeks and tens […]
Recovery task force speakers downplay COVID-19, present conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories, general downplaying of the seriousness of COVID-19, and allegations the governor shuttered the state economy with bad intent. The Republican chairman of the Economic Recovery Task Force allowed all of this during Monday’s meeting. But there was one thing State Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, R-Mason, would not stand for — any effort to push […]
Health order abortion challenge goes back to district court
As an extension of the temporary restraining order on prohibiting abortions gets ready to expire, abortion clinics and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office are back in court awaiting a new ruling. Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and several other medical clinics across Ohio are in the midst of a court battle after the AG’s office […]