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Chronic Absenteeism, Depression, Anxiety Plague Ohio Kids Children's advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the well-being of Ohio's kids. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released today highlights some troubling trends in how Ohio children are faring in their lives, including a 45% increase in chronic absenteeism between 2019 and 2021. And nationally, more than one-in-nine children experienced anxiety, depression or both. ...(Read More)

CHIPS Act Expected to Boost Ohio Technology, Manufacturing President Joe Biden will sign the CHIPS and Science Act Tuesday, a landmark measure lawmakers say could create thousands of jobs here in the Buckeye State. Supporters of the $280 billion package say it will encourage domestic semiconductor manufacturing and strengthen supply chains. And it could mean an even bigger investment from Intel, which is already spending $20 billion on a new computer-chip facility near Columbus. ...(Read More)

Senate Inflation Bill Features Strong Investments in Climate-Friendly Farming While it's named the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation in the Senate actually goes a long way toward making agriculture more climate-resilient. The measure provides roughly $370 billion for energy security and climate-change programs over the next 10 years. Amalie Lipstreu, policy director for the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, said one key piece is a $3.25 billion investment in the Conservation Stewardship Program, which provides technical and financial support to farmers to implement and maintain applications to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and improve soil health. ...(Read More)

CHIP to Mark Silver Anniversary; Reflecting on 25 Years of Success As a program that's improved health insurance access for kids celebrates its silver anniversary, there are calls to ensure it remains strong for the future. Friday is the 25th anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program, created by Congress to cover millions of kids who might not otherwise have health-care coverage. Instead of creating a standalone program, said Loren Anthes, a public-policy fellow with the Center for Community Solutions, Ohio leverages CHIP dollars to extend Medicaid eligibility. ...(Read More)

CHIP conmemora su Aniversario de Plata reflexionando sobre los 25 años de éxito A medida que un programa mejora el acceso al seguro médico para niños celebrando su Aniversario de Plata, hay llamados para garantizar que este programa siga siendo sólido en el futuro. Este viernes, 5 de Agosto, es el 25.º aniversario del Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños (CHIP), creado por el Congreso para cubrir a millones de niños y niñas que de otro modo no tendrían cobertura médica. Loren Anthes del Centro de Soluciones Comunitarias explica que en lugar de crear un programa independiente, Ohio aprovecha los dólares de CHIP para ampliar la elegibilidad para Medicaid. ...(Read More)

Report Confirms Rents are Skyrocketing in Ohio A new study shows there is no place in Ohio - or the United States, for that matter - where a person who's working at minimum wage full-time can afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. The 2022 Out of Reach report reveals a significant gap between renters' income and their housing cost. Amy Reigel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said rents have risen at a rate of about 12% in the last year, and 20% over the last two years. ...(Read More)

Inaction on Climate Change Called an 'Unprecedented Failure' Calling it a "clear and present danger," President Joe Biden announced new measures last week to make communities more resilient against climate change. Environmental groups want the administration to declare a National Climate Emergency. Tracy Sabetta, Ohio state field coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force, said the emergency declaration would allow Biden to use executive powers to combat climate change. ...(Read More)

Ohio Unemployment Reform Bill Would Make Benefits More Inclusive There is a new effort to reform Ohio's unemployment compensation system to become more inclusive of low-paid workers. Currently, a person paid minimum wage can work 31 hours a week and never qualify for benefits, because the earnings threshold for unemployment compensation is $298 a week over at least 20 weeks of work. Michael Shields, researcher for Policy Matters Ohio, explains the cap is shutting out roughly 750,000 workers who are less likely to have the savings needed to weather a period of unemployment. ...(Read More)

Experts say Healthy Listening Habits Can Prevent Hearing Loss Hearing loss is on the rise, and as people return to loud places such as the gym after pandemic-induced hiatuses, medical professionals are advising them to protect their hearing. Claire Johnson, manager of clinical services for UnitedHealthcare and an audiologist, said people have a tendency to turn up their headphones to drown out a noisy place like the gym. She suggested noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones can help. ...(Read More)

Ohio Film Industry Leaders Call for More Investment By Andrew Kuder / Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann Reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration According to data from the Ohio Film Office, film productions in Ohio have received more than $164 million in tax credits since 2010. Now, some film-industry leaders are calling for even more investment in the sector. "We've had relative success for the limited resources that we have," said Bill Garvey, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. "...(Read More)

Long Lines, Empty Shelves: Ohio's Hunger Response Network is Hurting New faces, longer lines and empty shelves: Ohio's hunger-fighting network is sounding the alarm as it faces unprecedented challenges. At the Southeast Ohio Foodbank in Logan, Director Rose Frech said with inventory at about 15% of capacity, they're struggling with severe food shortages. That's forced them to make difficult decisions, she said, such as canceling direct mobile food distributions. ...(Read More)

Abortion Access: Ohio's 6-Week Ban Could Be Just the Start By Trista Bowser / Broadcast version by Mary Schuermann reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, an Ohio law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy was allowed to take effect. A federal judge dissolved an injunction of the state's "heartbeat" bill, on hold since 2019, after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) filed a motion for emergency relief on June 24, the day of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. ...(Read More)

Ohioans Mark 4 Years Since Last Execution with 'Day of Hope' Ohio's last execution was four years ago today, and advocates for ending the death penalty are hopeful it remains the last. At noon, people at rallies for a "Day of Hope" in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland will call for an end to capital punishment. Kwame Ajamu of Cleveland is among the 11 people in Ohio exonerated from death row. ...(Read More)

Tours Put Sustainable Farming Methods on Display Some farmers in the region are taking time, even during the busy growing season, to give people a firsthand look at what sustainable agriculture is all about. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's Farm Tour and Workshop series showcases regenerative grazing, organic grain transitioning, winter high-tunnel produce growing, and many other techniques. August Taylor, communications and outreach associate for the Association, said they are also highlighting the work of farmers of color. ...(Read More)

Domestic Violence, Addiction and Mental Health: Unraveling a Complex Web New work is being done in Ohio to help free people who are caught in the complex web of domestic violence, addiction and mental health. Cheryl Stahl, who is heading the Ohio Domestic Violence Network's new Substance Use Mental Health Project, said most survivors who seek services are facing multiple traumas and concerns. "You're working with women who - say, from childhood - have had sexual-abuse experiences and then date people who are abusive," she said "Those people perhaps are using drugs. "...(Read More)

Coalition Calls for Free School Meals to Avoid Child Hunger Cliff Much like textbooks and transportation, a healthy lunch is a vital part of a child's school day and can help achieve educational success. Since March 2020, U.S. Department of Agriculture waivers have allowed schools to serve meals at no cost to all children, regardless of income. ...(Read More)

Voters Encouraged to Partake in Ohio's Rare Second Primary A rare August election is just a couple of weeks away, and Ohio voters are encouraged to cast their ballot early. They'll select candidates for the Ohio House and Senate that they want to move on to November's general election. Because of ongoing litigation over redistricting, those state legislative races were not included in the May primary. ...(Read More)

CROWN Act Aims to End Discriminatory Policing of Hairstyles Some Ohio lawmakers are following in the footsteps of federal legislators with a bill to ban the policing of hairstyles based on racial stereotypes. Eboney Thornton, communications coordinator at the Center for Community Solutions, said some businesses or schools have policies discouraging ethnic hair types, and even prohibit styles like braids, Bantu knots, cornrows and locs and dreadlocks. "People of color, particularly Black women and Hispanic, end up having to do something to their hair that's unnatural for them," Thornton explained. "...(Read More)

Ohio's June Heat Could Mean a Busy Season for Cooling Assistance Community Action Agencies in Ohio are gearing up for what could be a busy season for cooling assistance. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program helps low-income Ohioans struggling to stay cool by providing money to be used toward an electric bill or central air conditioning repairs. Jennifer Wood, director of community engagement for IMPACT Community Action, noted with Ohio already seeing several days temperatures near 100 degrees, the need is great and growing. ...(Read More)

Tour Aims to Amplify Voice of Ohio’s Largest Voting Bloc With several months remaining before the 2022 Midterm Election, older Ohioans have an opportunity to have their voice be heard on the issues that matter the most to them. The AARP Ohio Deciding Voices Listening Tour will be held in five cities, starting tomorrow in Cincinnati. AARP Ohio Manager of Advocacy and Outreach Kalitha Williams said candidates need to understand the challenges older Ohioans face. ...(Read More)