Partnership secures nearly $1 million for new domestic violence prevention model

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A collaboration among several Franklin County agencies received a $900,000 award for a new safety model to combat domestic violence and protect victims.

The 2020 Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office for Violence Against Women, will establish the Blueprint for Safety model through September 2023, Franklin County and Columbus officials announced Tuesday morning.

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Franklin County elections board, Republican Party push for more GOP poll workers

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The Franklin County Board of Elections and local Republican Party are pushing for more GOP poll workers needed for the November election.

The Board of Elections, requiring 5,600 poll workers, has filled 4,833 positions, with 1,044 Republicans occupying those roles as of Thursday. There are 2,297 and1,492 Democratic and unaffiliated poll workers, respectively.

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Elected officials pepper-sprayed at Downtown protest slam report on Columbus police actions

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Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce led another in a series of virtual town hall discussions Wednesday on issues affecting the local community, and guests Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and City Council President Shannon Hardin were asked to describe 2020 in one word.

Beatty, whose 3rd Congressional District encompasses a large sector of Columbus, described 2020 as "explosive."

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Do forehead thermometers really work as COVID-19 precaution?

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Before greeting his co-workers and beginning a workday at Ohio State Cancer University's James Cancer Hospital, Abood Sohub is met with a thermometer "gun" just inches from his head, a procedure now commonplace in a world wrestling with the effects of COVID-19.

Across area hospitals, grocery stores, dental offices and local gyms, these devices, known as non-contact infrared thermometers, are used as an initial defense against potential COVID-19 carriers who have a fever. The thermometer gun measures a person’s surface temperature without making contact with their skin.

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Franklin County commissioners approve early voter outreach despite dispute

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After two years of contention, the Franklin County commissioners signed off Tuesday on a plan to support early voter outreach efforts for the general election.

The $420,000 allocation was approved by two of the three members of the Board of Commissioners, John O’Grady and Marilyn Brown. Commissioner Kevin Boyce voted against the resolution, expressing concerns over outreach to minority publications and senior residents.

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Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano looks at racial inequalities in housing appraisal process

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The Franklin County Auditor’s Office has partnered with the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity to help eliminate inequalities in the housing appraisal process.

On Monday, Auditor Michael Stinziano and researchers from the Columbus-based Kirwan Institute held the Making of Metropolitan Inequality conference, the first of a two-part series aimed at discussing the policies that created redlined communities and suggestions on what’s next.

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Franklin County, Columbus team up to help nonprofits through COVID-19 pandemic

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Franklin County commissioners have approved a $5.4 million grant to help nonprofit organizations suffering from revenue losses and unanticipated expenses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Resiliency Grants, funded by federal CARES Act dollars, will serve as a lifeline for nonprofit groups throughout the county, said Jodi Andes, county board spokeswoman.

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Central Ohio fans, businesses happy for return of Big Ten football

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Central Ohio businesses, restaurants, bars and sports fans have suffered a long and difficult year in the midst of the pandemic. Fortunately, the return of Big Ten football this fall offers new opportunities and a more hopeful future.

Varsity Club general manager Tony Mollica, who describes his business as a football restaurant, said that the good news will have a big impact on restaurant owners, customer and sports fans alike.

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Nationwide Children’s, Columbus city and schools team up on reproductive education

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Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been awarded a $2.5 million federal grant to support and expand its health care services in Columbus City Schools, aiming to limit adolescents’ reproductive-health challenges.

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said the grant, awarded by the Office of Population Affairs in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will reduce health-care disparities and improve services for residents across Franklin County.

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Inspired by Denmark schools, Evansville Day School develops outdoor classrooms

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In the months leading up to the school year, Leah Whitaker searched for ways Evansville Day School students could learn in-person while safely maintaining the school's "learn through play" educational plan.

The risks of the novel coronavirus forced Whitaker and other EDS administrators to seek other instructional options for the school's reopening.

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Despite COVID-19 risks, USI, UE students returning to campus are hopeful about the year

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Six months ago, Madelyn Morris had envisioned what her first steps on a college campus would be like. The Mooresville, Indiana, student was focusing on successfully finishing her final semester, sending out graduation party invites and getting ready for the University of Southern Indiana's student orientation, scheduled for March 20.

But everything changed with COVID-19.

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'We're at a loss right now:' EVSC parents express concerns with Virtual Academy onboarding

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With many Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. students still without computer devices and login information for the EVSC Virtual Academy, some parents are considering other options.

Jill Young's 7-year-old daughter, Lola Hill, is set to start first grade at the Virtual Academy. But with EVSC schools reopening on Wednesday, Young and other parents still haven't received information about the online learning program.

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On a first day unlike any other, Evansville's children pour back into EVSC classrooms

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The first day of school always feels like a leap of faith, even in the best of circumstances.

In neighborhoods across the country, hundreds of children pour into buildings short on funding and long on need, looking to come out the other side better educated and ready to move on to bigger things.

So it's understandable that Wednesday morning felt like a hail mary.

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EVSC Virtual Academy enrollment up at least 1,600%, staff added to help with shift

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As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the days leading up to the first day of school for the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp., so do the number of families shifting to online learning.

EVSC spokesman Jason Woebkenberg said Tuesday more than 1,700 students are enrolled in the EVSC Virtual Academy, a program that normally has between 75-100 students each year. That's an increase of at least 1,600% or as much as 2,167%.

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Read Evansville to distribute over 700 COVID-19 books schools, families

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Read Evansville is distributing books to ensure students are aware of the effects of COVID-19 as they prepare to return to school.

The 22-page story, "My Hero is You," follows the main character, Sara, as she travels across the world, teaching others the importance of washing their hands, social distancing and staying inside their homes.

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Despite school reopening changes, Warrick families look to return to 'normalcy'

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Amid a whirlwind of changes with the reopening of Warrick County School Corp. schools on Wednesday, Jamie Nunn said she's looking forward to a return to normalcy

As Nunn dropped off her daughter Alex Nunn, 10, at Newburgh Elementary School, she felt a sense of relief knowing the fifth-grade student will be learning in-person this school year.

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