Local
In the saturated superhero era, the DC Universe's much-anticipated introduction of a Latino superhero is finally presented in "Blue Beetle." The director, Angel Manuel Soto, competently interweaves a poignant family narrative with the challenges of newfound powers, creating a story that deeply resonates with audiences.
Fresh out of Gotham law school, Jaime Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) returns to Palmera City, a hometown that feels like a fusion of Miami and L.A. Instead of his anticipatory warm welcome, he discovers his family grappling with various hardships. Jaime, seeking employment with industrialist Jenny Kord (Bruna Marquezine), is entrusted with guarding a mysterious package. Unexpectedly, this binds him to a biotechnical Scarab. This alien tech empowers Jaime, unwillingly transforming him into the Blue Beetle (Imagine a suit, a blend of Iron Man's A.I. and Spider-Man's Iron Spider suit from the Avengers).
A small group of Ohio politicians is leading an anti-democratic effort that continues to take away voting rights of targeted segments of citizens in order to increase their own power and control of State government.
This is another effort from these anti-democratic politicians that follows their failed attempt to grab more power by deceiving voters about the real purpose of Issue 1 that was on the August 2023 ballot.
These politicians have now introduced Senate Bill 137 that is aimed at banning Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) in Ohio. SB 137 is sponsored by Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and would ban RCV and prevent any local-government entity from receiving state funds if it has enacted RCV. Currently, RCV has been implemented statewide and locally in over ten Blue states and has been banned statewide in five Red states.
With all of the issues facing Ohio citizens, how can banning a pro-democracy voting reform be a priority for the State Legislature?
On July 25th I screened for the endorsement of the Columbus Firefighters Union Local 67. For nearly one hour, I discussed how I would address the most important issues facing Columbus citizens and what I would do to support Columbus firefighters and emergency medical service professionals.
This past Friday I received a letter from Local 67 President Steven Stein stating in part that “On behalf of the Columbus Fire Fighters Union Local 67 Executive Board and membership, I am sorry to announce we have chosen not to endorse any candidate for City of Columbus Mayor. The Screening Committee has come to the decision that both candidates have been, and we hope continue to be, friends of Local 67.”
On Wednesday, August 16, reportedly at 8:56 am, a multiple alarm fire erupted in a large student rental house at 1996 Iuka Ave in the heart of fraternity row in the historic residentially zoned University District. Ten student renters were evacuated safely by the fire department as towering flames spread more than 10 feet above the third floor of the old house. They are without their overpriced housing just days before classes begin.
Not at all surprisingly, given the fact as I recently reported, the City of Columbus Zoning (Anti)-Enforcement Department, The Ohio State University, and the absentee property owners have colluded secretly and illegally not to enforce zoning laws and conduct regular inspections, two smoke detectors did not operate. The fire men on site informed me that the cause was electrical failure.
The American Public Health Association has highlighted that African Americans have historically been withheld from healthy living opportunities. We want to talk about changing that.
The SPAN Ohio Equity Committee is presenting a health equity workshop on August 22nd from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. We would love to have you join us! This health equity event is a special one, as Willa Evans, President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Cleveland Chapter, will be hosting the event. The event will feature Charleta B. Tavares, CEO of PrimaryOne Health in central Ohio, who will lead a discussion on:
August 20, 2023, 7:00 PM.
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh is founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University (http://palestinenature.org).
An AI police-beat reporter named the “Ohio Safety Oracle” is covering Columbus crime with a writing voice that sounds sad and shocked for local humanity. The Ohio Safety Oracle may also be sympathetic to law enforcement, which is understandable and commendable, but hopefully the “Oracle” isn’t a police-state apologist.
This AI reporter can be found on NewsBreak, a nationwide news aggregator with a website for every single zip code. It describes itself as the nation’s “leading local news app.” Here in Columbus, it re-publishes stories from the Dispatch to NBC4 and even the Free Press, offering this local news buffet in one tidy location.
NewsBreak also allows local contributors (sans pay probably) to add to its coverage. The Ohio Safety Oracle is on the masthead. The Free Press asked Newsbreak’s corporate office about the Oracle but have yet to hear back.
Thursday, August 17, 7pm, Tuttle Park [outside of the Tuttle Community Center], 240 W. Oakland Ave.
Join Central Ohio Revolutionary Socialists on Thursday, August 17 at 7pm to hear an invited speaker from the national organization, “Workers Voice,” as we consider how to build the movement on a national level.
We will also finish up our reading group over Huey Newton’s “Revolutionary Suicide” with summaries and discussion of chapters 5, 6, and the epilogue. We welcome those who have completed the reading or not.
This meeting will take place in person outside of the Tuttle Community Center and online at tinyurl.com/CORSmeeting.
Hosted by Central Ohio Revolutionary Socialists.
Hey World War II fans, Rahm Emanuel has got some great news for YOU! He’s turning Japan into a warmaking country, and bragging about it.
Fun fact: the U.S. tried that before and it kind of backfired.
Funner fact: this is at least Rahm Emanuel’s tenth opportunity to fail upward.
Rahm Emanuel is the formerly much despised mayor of Chicago who tried to cover up police murder.
Congressman Rahm Emanuel in January 2007, after antiwar voters handed his Democratic Party the U.S. Congress to end the war on Iraq, made clear to a friendly Washington Post/CIA reporter that he hoped to keep that war going for two more years in order to “oppose” it in another election.
Rahm Emanuel is on video telling a young Asian-American woman that he’d like to adopt her, that she’s probably quiet and does a lot of studying.
Rahm Emanuel twice volunteered for the Israeli military despite not even being Israeli.
From 1954 to 1956, nineteen Black mothers and thirty-seven children in Hillsboro, Ohio marched daily from their homes to the segregated Webster Elementary School to demand Black students be allowed to enroll. The school for Black children, Lincoln School, was in a poorly-resourced, deteriorating school building. The Hillsboro School Board refused to admit Black children to the white school, despite the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruling calling to integrate public schools “with all deliberate speed.”