Local

As this lockdown drags on, excitement is at a premium. Foghat’s “Slow Ride,” once just a guilty pleasure, has now become a breakfast tradition. Which is another way of saying that a new album to review felt something like Christmas in April. All the more interesting because the Devil Doves are a band I have been writing about for a long time.

Commit to the Bit is something of a sonic departure from the percussive acoustic guitar attack of previous Devil Doves releases. Compared to albums like The Devil Doves and Also Playing, the tracks have a fuller sound with more sonic depth. This is in large part due to the emergence of keyboardist Jeff Straw, whose fingerprints are all over the album. While in the past he at times seemed to be adding Nicky Hopkins-esque gloss to already completed songs, he is now frequently the driving force behind arrangements.

In conjunction with percussionist Kyle Davis’ cajon work and the odd electric guitar, the result is a highly accessible sound that anyone should be able to get into quickly (if not instantly)

Ohio State University is trying to build a new fracked gas plant, right on campus in Columbus. Ohioans have overwhelmingly expressed a shared desire for a future powered by renewable energy that will create 21st century jobs, reduce the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and pollutants into our water. And Mayor Ginther recently announced a plan to transition the City of Columbus to 100% renewable energy by 2022. OSU’s new plant would be at odds with Columbus' plans, and the community's wishes.

Make your voice heard by sending a comment to the Ohio Power Siting Board, letting them know why you want them to reject this proposal.

April 15, 1970 was a nationwide anti-draft action day. Here in Dayton, there was a sit-in at the local draft board of about 35 people. At Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, there was an anti-draft peace rally. At the end of the rally a student speech pronounced that “it was not enough to protest the war, but people had to take action!” At that point, they marched over and occupied the Navy ROTC building. Later the black students who were organizing for a black studies program and an increase in black enrollment joined the occupation. Over 300 students were arrested, making national news and rocking Ohio.

With the announcement of the invasion of Cambodia, protests occurred across the country with major protests at Ohio State and Ohio University. The week before the Kent State killings, over 1,000 students were arrested at Ohio State University protesting the war and black students there were also demanding a black studies program.

After watching Mayor Ginther’s online interview with Channel 4’s Colleen Marshall on Wednesday, I have to ask, why has it taken our Mayor nearly 19 years to recognize and address the obvious inequalities that exist in the African-American communities of Columbus?

Never before has this question had more weight or relevance than during the pandemic.

Mayor Ginther said Wednesday he would focus on those who were most in need. Homeless, those in need of food, and affordable housing. Working with the Community Shelter Board, Urban league, YMCA.

Nearly 30 percent of Columbus is African American, and the issue of racial disparity is confronting us once again in terms of blacks being greater infected by the virus due to economic and social disparities.

Unfortunately, the virus further exposed the inequality where it matters the most – our overall health. Yet Ginther has been an elected official since 2001. Columbus School Board from 2001-2007, Columbus City Council from 2007-2015, Council President from 2011-2015, and Mayor of Columbus from 2016 to today.

Live online digital film festival - through April 19. 
Now celebrating its 68th year, the festival introduces Central Ohio to the best independent filmmakers from around the world, this year you can attend from the comfort of your home. Unlike physical film festivals where you need to rush to get a good seat, CIF+AF Digital Film Festival is delivered entirely online. Your seat can't get much better than this. Select a few films, an entire film block, or an ALL ACCESS PASS!

It’s up to you! With over 100 filmmakers, the films you want to watch are just a click away: Our selected filmmakers will be screening their films over a 5-day period. If you have a genre that you would love to see, we've got you covered.

Follow your selected film blocks for exclusive screenings completely online: Choose the topics you'd like to follow and we'll keep you up to date with its content, viewing times and pricing.

Alek Nielsen has quietly been advocating for tenants’ rights around Central Ohio for two years – and he’s never witnessed such energy and enthusiasm for a local tenant union than now.

“Five different people from five different properties have reached out to us,” says the 28-year-old Nielsen, co-chair for the Columbus Tenants’ Union (CTU) – the only official tenant union in Central Ohio. “Two of these properties are run by big time slumlords we’ve wanted to organize against for some time.”

The Freep also heard from several groups of tenants, almost all 20-somethings, who live in half-doubles or smaller buildings. Whether some can pay rent or some cannot, they’ve banded together to tell their landlord they will need some sort of compromise.

Nielsen admits though, “it’s one thing to really want to form a tenant union, compared to forming one.”

In our last episode, mail had finally arrived at my building in downtown Manhattan after many days without, all because of the devastating impact of COVID-19 at my local post office.

With unemployment in Ohio on the rise, more people are turning to gig work such as on-demand lawn care.

According to the Department of Labor, 272,129 people in Ohio filed for unemployment in Week Ending March 28, up 39% from the week prior. Meanwhile, on-demand lawn care gig platform, Lawn Love has reported a huge increase in applications. With 200% more Columbus residents applying to work with them in March compared to February.

The folks at City Barbeque have always prioritized helping their communities—both financially and with food—and this current public health crisis is no different. Everyone on the team wants to support those serving so selflessly right now, and has identified a way to thank the doctors, nurses, medical personnel, and hospital staff at Ohio State University Hospital for the incredible sacrifices they’re making. The fast-casual has launched a partnership with its guests to provide meals at no cost to the heroes on the front lines of this crisis.

For every $5 raised, City Barbeque will provide a slow-smoked sandwich and two homemade sides (valued at $12) to a health care worker fighting to save lives at Ohio State University Hospital. Guests are invited to help support and thank the medical professionals in their communities, and 100% of funds raised will be used to feed medical personnel.