Ohio News & Current Events | Public News Service

In 2017, mental-health and substance-use disorder emergency department visits in the United States cost more than $5.6 billion, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

988 mental-health crisis hotline reaching more Ohio communities

More households, workplaces and schools are struggling with mental-health crises, and a new report by the advocacy group Inseparable highlights how …

Otherworld in Columbus features 54 projectors and 190,000 LEDs. (Nicholas J. Klein/Adobe Stock)

A trip to Ohio transports visitors to another world

By Linda Lee Baird for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Chrystal Blair for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Co…

Rather than seeking help, men are more likely to externalize emotions, which leads to aggressive, impulsive, coercive and/or noncompliant behavior, according to a study by the American Psychological Association. (Adobe Stock)

OH advocates seek to change attitudes about men's mental health

June is Men's Mental Health Month and advocates in Ohio and elsewhere are working to eliminate the shame or judgment guys often face when they struggl…

In the past year, close to 30% of Ohio families with children age 0-5 have undergone job adjustments due to childcare issues. (dglimages/Adobe Stock)

OH lawmakers propose $10 million child care program for working families

Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester and Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Chillicothe, recently announced a significant legislative initiative to address …

In 2023, the riskiest scams for people over the age of 65 involved investment, romance, and home improvement, according to the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio. (Adobe Stock)<br />

More older Ohioans are falling prey to financial fraud

More people over the age of 64 are being targeted by scams through social media and are more likely to lose money. According to AARP, around half of …

Ohio resident Jeremy Madden, his wife and their adopted daughter. (Jeremy Madden)

Workplace adoption benefits help families, communities

More employers are offering benefits to adoptive parents, according to a new survey by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The amount of paid …

The United States sends nearly 80 billion pounds of food to municipal solid waste landfills annually. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Ohio State tackles household food waste

Ohio State University is spearheading a $2.5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded initiative to reduce food loss and waste in the United …

Ohio currently has more than 1,800 foster children who live in group settings because there are not enough foster families willing take on kids significant behavioral challenges and complex needs. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio program prepares foster parents to care for kids with complex needs

An Ohio program that provides help for foster parents of children with complex behavioral issues is expanding. It offers 24/7 on-call crisis …

Studies have found that approximately 26% of all female undergraduate students and nearly 7% of all male undergraduate students have experienced sexual assault, according to the American Association of University Women. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio advocates: New rules strengthen protections for sexual-assault victims

Ohio advocates said the Biden administration's new Title IX regulations better protect victims of sexual assault, even as a group of states …

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated a total of $16 billion to address legacy pollution, including $11.3 billion in Abandoned Mind Land funding over 15 years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio to clean up legacy pollution with $46 million in federal funding

Ohio will receive $46 million to clean up legacy pollution in regions decimated by decades of coal mining. The money is part of $725 million in the …

Chronic absence from school may be driving learning loss. Some 30% of students, about 14.7 million, were chronically absent in 2021-2022, nearly double pre-pandemic rates, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Report: Ohio make has made some progress on child well-being

Math and reading proficiency among Ohio kids has worsened over the past five years, according to new data. The latest Kids Count Data Book from the …

Ohio artist Kenia Lamarr created a mural for the rusty-patched bumblebee, the first native bee on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered species list. (Kenia Lamarr)

Pollinator festival, mural highlight rusty-patched bumblebee in Ohio

An upcoming festival in Columbus, Ohio, aims to raise awareness about the plight of pollinators and ongoing conservation efforts. According to the U.…

According to a MarketWatch report, during the pandemic, unused credit lines posed a major risk to banks. To manage this risk, many banks reduced people's credit limits if they thought a cardholder's ability to repay might be at risk. (eliosdnepr/Adobe Stock)

Credit limit cuts signal financial woes for some Ohioans

In an analysis of 100 cities across the United States, Cincinnati ranks 22nd for decreasing credit limits - not for the city itself, but for its …

Feeding America estimates that 22 million children nationwide experience hunger each summer, because they miss out on nutrition programs through their schools. (Adobe Stock)

New Ohio EBT/SUN Bucks program to feed more kids this summer

Eligible Ohio families will receive $120 this summer to buy groceries for their children through a new summer EBT/SUN Bucks program. Brigette Hires…

Ohio House Bill 285, the Nurse Workforce and Safe Patient Care Act, was introduced in Sept. 2023. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

Ohio Nurses Association declares 'Code Red' hospital staffing crisis

By Mara O'Malley / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. The Ohio Nurses Association …

The National Association of Broadcasters said more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (bennian_1/Adobe Stock)

Ohio senators back AM radio in new cars, critics warn of costs

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, and it's stirring a debate in …

Ohio's Area Agency on Aging District 5 helps older adults by providing clients with transportation, helping them get caregivers and encouraging them to get out of the house more often. (Nattakorn/Adobe Stock)

Experts say Ohio’s older adults need mental health support

By Mara O'Malley for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. …

The United Nations estimates global shipping is responsible for about 3% of emissions worldwide. (Francis/Adobe Stock)

Cleveland port’s ‘electrification hub’ anchors progress toward net-zero emissions

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Sixty-three percent of rural youth, 30 million people, are infrequent or uncommitted voters, according to Rural Democracy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Push to mobilize young voters in rural Ohio

Ahead of November's general election, advocates in Ohio are working to boost youth voter participation. Gen Z voters are focused on climate change …

Solar energy helps provide more than 263,000 jobs across the U.S., according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (chungking/Adobe Stock)

Report: Ohio ranks 17th in U.S. for solar power installations

Ohio homes and businesses have installed enough solar energy to power nearly 300,000 homes each year. A new report released by the Solar Energy …

Michigan, Nevada and Washington prohibit most employers from refusing to hire someone based solely upon a positive drug test. (Sherry Young/Adobe Stock)

Workplace policies begin to evolve after Ohio legalizes cannabis use

By Mara O'Malley for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Research shows rural victims of intimate partner violence tend to face more barriers accessing services like shelters, advocacy, legal services and law enforcement. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New Ohio law closes spousal rape loophole

Advocates say victims of rape by a spouse can now seek justice - under a new law closing a loophole that did not punish rape and sexual battery cases…

Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana in November 2023. (Konstiantyn Zapylaie/Adobe Stock)

Ohio gears up for legal marijuana sales for adult use

This week, Ohio approved adult-use marijuana sales as part of a 2023 ballot measure, with sales anticipated to start mid-June. Ohioans age 21 and …

A previous Bloomberg grant laid the groundwork for significant initiatives, such as the city's solar array and passage of the Issue 7 transportation levy. (jonbilous/Adobe Stock)

Empowering Cincinnati: Bloomberg grant fuels climate and equity initiatives

Cincinnati is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' $200 million Sustainable Cities initiative and will hire three new staff members to merge climate solu…

A 2023 survey by AARP found 92% of Ohio business owners support legislation creating a public-private retirement savings option for workers. (Adobe Stock/AI-generated)

Ohio lawmakers ponder committee to address ‘looming retirement crisis’

Ohio lawmakers are exploring ways to address the state's looming retirement crisis. According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, if the personal …

A recent study from Ohio State University finds older adults who said they were prepared to handle extreme weather emergencies had at least a three-day supply of necessities to sustain life during emergencies, including food, water, clothing, flashlights and medicine. (Adobe Stock)

Older adults in Ohio are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather

Twenty percent of older adults in central Ohio either were not prepared or did not know if they were prepared for extreme weather, according to a …

Currently, 34 states, territories and districts have minimum wages above the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: $15 minimum wage would benefit 1 million Ohioans

Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour for most Ohio workers and create a refundable Ohio Earned…

Children need regular well-child and dental visits to track their development and find health problems early, when they're usually easier to treat, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio among top states for number of kids kicked off Medicaid, CHIP

More than 120,000 Ohio kids have been disenrolled from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP, and most were removed for …

A recent survey commissioned by EdWeek Research Center found on average, teachers said they thought they realistically deserved a 31% raise. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Ohio teacher salaries haven’t kept pace with inflation

Lagging salaries have meant teachers in Ohio and across the nation are experiencing a 5% drop in purchasing power, according to a new report by the …

Skimming devices placed in grocery and convenience stores can be used to steal EBT card funds from low-income people. (Adobe Stock)

EBT 'skimming' on the rise, more Ohioans turn to food banks

The federal SNAP program allows nearly 1.3 million Ohio families to put food on the table -- but increasingly, when many recipients attempt to use …

Ohio students participate in a die-in at Case Western University on April 19 in protest over what they say is an ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio student protestors say their movement is gaining momentum

After hundreds of Ohio students gathered at Kent State University over the weekend to protest the conflict in Gaza, on the 54th anniversary of …

Small rooftop solar systems in Ohio cost on average around $13,000 before tax credits, according to the website EnergySage. (Adobe Stock)

EPA’s Solar for All Program aims to help Ohioans lower energy bills, create jobs

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $156 million to Midwestern states, including Ohio, to help residents lower their energy bills through …

The number of undergraduate degree earners fell for the second year in a row in the 2022-23 academic years, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: College affordability, debt keeping adults out of college

More than 70% of adults with student loans report having delayed at least one significant life event because of their debt situation, yet a new …

A flooded site at the Austin Master Services toxic-waste storage facility in Martin's Ferry, Ohio. (Jill Hunkler)

Court issues restraining order against fracking waste-storage facility

Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …

Hospitals provided 33% of abortions in 2020, according to data from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court to hear oral arguments on abortion access in emergency rooms

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments today in a case about whether patients have access to emergency room abortions in states banning …

Drone footage showed the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 6, 2023. (Wikimedia Commons)

East Palestine concerns linger over vinyl chloride exposure

Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, say they continue to live with health problems, including rashes, nosebleeds and respiratory issues following last …

From 2017 to 2019, Ohio ranked 46th among 50 states for pollution exposure, including exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle …

A report by McKinney Grey Analytics found 40% of Black and Latino people are invisible to voter outreach efforts, while only 18% of white people are missing or incorrectly listed. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 25 million Black, Latino voters missing from databases

Census data indicate among voting-age Americans, nearly 25 million Black and brown eligible voters are missing from commonly used registration …

In 2021, an estimated 38.4 million people in the United States were living with diabetes, a disproportionate share of them Black or Asian, according to Policy Matters Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Insulin price gouging continues despite attempts to rein in the industry

Nearly one million Ohioans have been diagnosed with diabetes, but the cost of insulin continues to be a barrier for people needing the medication…

Toxic stress increases the risks for obesity, diabetes, depression and other illnesses. (Adobe Stock)

Psychiatrist explains links between toxic stress, poor health

The alarming rise in rates of diabetes, obesity, depression, and other chronic health issues has put the spotlight on toxic stress. Lawson Wulsin…

$A new fracking well pad visible from the property of Ohio resident Randi Pokladnik. (Randi Pokladnik) <br />$

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

Ohio's Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments - and will answer questions in virtual sessions today and tomorrow, on a draft …

More than 80% of people with dementia in the United States live at home, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 60% of home-based patients are unable to routinely eat or prepare food on their own. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Meals on Wheels benefits people with dementia living at home

Meals on Wheels programs could be a powerful tool for addressing the needs of people living with dementia, according to a study from Ohio State …

One in four women and about one in 26 men have experienced rape or attempted rape, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Ohio expanding qualified Rape Crisis Centers

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Ohio is expanding its qualified rape crisis centers serving rural areas in the central and southeastern …

Ohio House Democratic Leader Allison Russo, left, and Ohio Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio, right. (Ohio Statehouse official photos)

Ohio minority leaders Antonio, Russo navigate GOP supermajority

By Megan Henry for the Ohio Capital Journal.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for Ohio Capital Journal-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

State and local officials expect millions of people to view the April 8 eclipse, which will cut across the United States in a swath from Mexico and South Texas through the upper Midwest and Canada. (Adobe Stock)

Millions expected to view total solar eclipse across Ohio, North America

Excitement is building for a rare celestial phenomenon that has not occurred in the United States since 2017. On April 8, a total solar eclipse will …

At least two-thirds of plastics plants examined in a new Environmental Integrity Project report, or 32 out of 50 built or expanded over the last decade, have received tax breaks or subsidies from state and local governments worth a total of nearly $9 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Fast-growing plastics industry major source of air pollution

The plastics industry is releasing illegal pollution but rarely faces discipline for environmental permit violations, according to a new report by …

Out-of-school suspensions contribute to Ohio's high chronic absenteeism rates, according to a new report from the Children's Defense Fund of Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Suspensions, expulsions on rise in Ohio schools, report finds

Ohio's Black students are more likely to face excessively harsh discipline practices such as expulsion and suspension, according to a recently …

The development of worker cooperatives by ReImagine Appalachia is intended to revive the economy across Ohio and nearby states. (Adobe Stock)

ReImagine Appalachia plans co-ops to kick-start new energy economy

Leaders in Ohio and the other Appalachian states have a plan to turn the regional economy around. Natural resources from the Appalachian region once …

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