Local

Today at 6pm, an infectious disease expert and an advocate for Ohio immigrant families will address the COVID-19 crisis before the Morrow County Health District during their monthly board meeting. Members of the public and media are invited to attend the meeting via Zoom. See this Facebook Event for information.

The Morrow County Jail, which houses county inmates as well as civil Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees from around Ohio, has become the first 100% COVID-positive ICE facility in the nation. Sadly one man, Oscar Lopez Acosta, has already died after contracting the virus there. 

Last week, an additional eleven men were released from ICE custody in Morrow due to an ACLU of Ohio lawsuit.

Gov. Dewine, Lt. Gov. Husted, and Dr. Acton,

First off I want to thank you for your diligent work to keep myself and the rest of the state of Ohio safe during these unprecedented and strange times. When historians look back on this period in American history, all three of you—and the many people on the ground working for your administration—will be fondly remembered for your compassionate, logical, and careful work. I am particularly impressed by Dr. Acton’s ability to not only speak truth to power, but to explain complex, scientific ideas and data to a general audience. As someone who has spent a lot of time in higher education, both at the undergrad and grad levels, I am infinitely impressed by this trait. Your press conferences have brought confidence, truthfulness, and science to the forefront of the conversation on how Ohio can overcome this frightening enemy.

The post office has been a cornerstone of our democracy for over two centuries. It's literally written into the Constitution that government must operate it. But right now it's in danger of total collapse. Trump just said people should pay more for sending packages -- and if that doesn't happen, he won't save the postal service.  If the post office fails, it will hurt millions of Americans who depend on it. And it will undermine the November election by making vote by mail that much more difficult.

Free Them All: 1000 Conversations for Decarceration
Friday, May 8, 2020, 4:00 -7:00 PM
Will you take on action right now and sign up for our upcoming phonebanks to #FreeThemAll? We have had 320 conversations and recruited those people into taking 437 actions. We need you to reach 680 more people and ask them to take an action to #FreeThemAll. Decarcerate Recruitment Phone Bank Sign Up here. 

Tough times call for tough headlines. We at the Free Press can oblige and rightfully so. 

Kroger is the nation’s largest supermarket chain, and arguably Central Ohio’s most popular grocery store. 

Yet earlier this week, Cincinnati-based Kroger announced it is ending their $2 more-an-hour “Hero Pay” after May 16th, even as it continues to run expensive commercials thanking its store employees. 

Also this week their corporate office released a proxy statement for their June 2020 (virtual of course) shareholders meeting, as reported by the national political news site Popular Information, which is authored by journalist Judd Legum. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires companies to provide a proxy statement to shareholders.

Proxy statements reveal CEO compensation, and the Popular Information article states: 

Thursday, May 7, 2020, 4:00 PM
Election Day 2020 is fast approaching, yet it’s increasingly difficult for voters to exercise their democratic rights and make sure their voices are heard. A surge in civic action to protect these rights is building momentum and political leader, bestselling author, and founder of Fair Fight Stacey Abrams is leading the charge in this fight for our democracy.  Join Stacey Abrams and Mother Jones senior reporter Ari Berman for a special live podcast episode of the Mother Jones Podcast, as they discuss voting rights, this crucial moment for mobilization, and the current state of democracy in America.  Register for the event here. 

Ohio’s first Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee died earlier this week from COVID-19 after being detained at the Morrow County Correctional Facility.

Last week the Free Press reported how the jail – an ICE contracted county jail where many of their Columbus detainees are sent – is besieged by the virus, yet by all accounts the jail was woefully unprepared and its officers acted far too late to mitigate the spread.

Oscar Lopez Acosta, an early 40-something from suburban Dayton, was provisionally released from the jail on April 24th for being high-risk due to his diabetes, but was soon diagnosed with COVID-19, this according to immigration activist Anna Babel, who picked up Acosta after his release and returned him to his family.

After a week in a Dayton-area hospital Acosta was released but died on May 10th, Mother’s Day. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office in Dayton confirmed with the Free Press that Acosta died from COVID-19.

Portia's Diner, offering an all-vegan menu -- is now OPEN for carry out, curbside and free delivery within 5 miles.

Changed hours -- Mon/Tues - CLOSED. NOW OPEN Wed -10a-3p / Thur, Fri, Sat--8a-9p (with PIZZA 4p-9p!), and Sun--10a-3p.

In order to protect our staff and customers, they are implementing the following sanitation orders per the CDC:
• Using hand sanitizer before and after every transaction
• Sanitizing cash register, stylus, counter, door handles and doors –both inside and out—and merchandiser coolers, if touched, after each customer
• Providing hand sanitizer for customers
• Adhering to, and providing, the 6 ft distance guidelines for check out and pick up
• Providing curb-side delivery and free delivery (within 5 miles) to our customers
*Per the Governor’s orders they must request that customers that have any illness related symptoms to stay home at this time. Please do not come in if you have a fever, runny nose, cough, chills or body aches or sore throat. Thanks so much!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 9:30 PM
During the livestream, we'll come together to hold a nationwide virtual candlelight vigil and not only honor fallen nurses, but also call attention to the lives that are at stake if our elected leaders continue to leave nurses without the proper PPE we need. Facebook Live.  RSVP now and we'll send you an email reminder at the start time of the event with the link to join live or watch the recording.