Franklin County Public Health launches campaign to fight the stigma of addiction

October 27, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Health

To thwart public misconceptions about drug and alcohol addiction and recovery, Franklin County Public Health launched the "Recover For Life" campaign Wednesday.

This anti-stigma initiative is part of the federal Centers for Disease Control's Overdose to Action grant awarded to the county health department in September 2019. The three-year CDC grant provides over $3 million annually to fight the opioid crisis and confront the disease of addiction.

Some Columbus-area businesses are hampered by US coin shortage

October 27, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Politics/Government, Business

With a shortage of coins in circulation because of the coronavirus shutdowns, local businesses have sought new ways to create a flow of pocket change to keep operations afloat.

For nearly a month, Whitehall Turkey Hill store manager Dustin Anderson said the store was short-handed on coins, prompting employees to hang signs on doors and cash registers notifying customers.

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

October 12, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Politics/Government

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.

Annual count of Ohio domestic violence fatalities shows big jump

October 12, 2020 by Earl Hopkins

An annual review of lethal domestic violence across Ohio reflects a significant jump in deaths, reversing what had been two years of decline.

The report, released Tuesday by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network, counted 109 fatalities from July 1, 2019, through June 30. That's about 35% higher than the total the group reported last year.

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

October 12, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Politics/Government

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.

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

October 01, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community

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."

Do forehead thermometers really work as COVID-19 precaution?

September 29, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Health

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.

Franklin County commissioners approve early voter outreach despite dispute

September 25, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Politics/Government

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.

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

September 25, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Politics/Government

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.

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

September 23, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Politics/Government

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.

Companies sued over carbon-monoxide deaths of Delaware County family

September 18, 2020 by Earl Hopkins

The estate of a Delaware County family who died of carbon-monoxide poisoning last year is suing the manufacturer and dealer of a tankless water heater linked to their deaths.

Richard Gabriel Reitter III, 50; his wife, Jennifer, 49; and their children, Richard Gabriel IV, 15, and Grace, 13, were found dead in their Genoa Township home May 2, 2019.

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

September 18, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Sports

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.

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

September 13, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Health

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.

Inspired by Denmark schools, Evansville Day School develops outdoor classrooms

August 28, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Education

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.

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

August 22, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Education

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.

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

August 20, 2020 by Earl Hopkins in Community, Education

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.