Local
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.
Did you miss the Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon ?
If so, here's a run-down of what happened and how you can be involved next time!
COLUMBUS, OHIO (May 11, 2020) - On May 1, 2020, the Columbus City Council chose to flatly deny a citizen group’s request to place the Columbus Community Bill of Rights (CCBOR) charter amendment on the November 2020 ballot. After the coronavirus shutdown froze signature gathering in mid-March, the group had secured almost 9,000 signatures, and so the group asked City Council to vote to place it on the ballot. The current deadline to turn in 9,870 valid signatures is June 18.
In response to COVID-19, the community group made the difficult, yet necessary decision to cease signature gathering on March 12.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckAyA5W-w0MzMDadH412BZKiNvwwkYQKsyuzEj0bPGsZ_-RQ/viewform
The ideological and cultural split between rural and urban Ohio – and the entire United States for that matter – has seemingly never been greater in our lifetime.
You can thank Trump for stoking rural America’s anger – arguably this disturbing resentment was set ablaze back in 2008 when the first African American became President.
Sneering at Columbus, a left-leaning sanctuary city, is one thing.
But letting any undocumented immigrant imprisoned in a rural Ohio prison to be treated as if their life didn’t matter and left to die from the coronavirus is akin to murder.
There are four U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracted detention facilities in Ohio. And when ICE makes an arrest in Columbus, their detainee is likely to be transferred to its contracted jail in Mount Gilead, the Morrow County Correctional Facility, which is roughly an hour north of Columbus.
There are an estimated 80 inmates in total detained there as of early May, and about 60 are believed to be ICE detainees. On May 6th, the Morrow County Health District stated 50 of the 80 inmates have become infected with the coronavirus.
Infant mortality, while being a tragedy on its own, is a bellwether statistic that indicates deep structural issues – structural issues that won’t go away with all the training and education in the world.
On February 13 at West High School, the Mayor Ginther in his ‘State of the City’ address rolled out what he dubbed his “Equity Agenda.”
“Racism is real,” Ginther said, looking solemn. “Discrimination is real. And they impact the lives of many of our neighbors every day.”
The leading edge of Ginther’s “Equity Agenda” is the push to lower infant mortality in Columbus, or the rate at which infants die before their first birthday. While tragic in its own rite, this issue is also often used as a measuring stick for societies – disparity in healthcare access, housing, nutrition, and many other aspects of life are reflected in infant mortality rates.
Thursday, May 7, 2020, 7:00 PM
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio denounced Gov. Mike DeWine’s cuts to Medicaid as Ohio continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Gov. DeWine announced that more than $200 million in state budget cuts will come from Medicaid funding for the remainder of the 2020 fiscal year, while leaving the $2.7 billion rainy day fund untouched.
Statement from Iris E. Harvey, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio:
“Slashing Medicaid funding at any point in time is irresponsible and dangerous. Doing so now, while many Ohioans are reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and in need of preventive health care, is heartless. This move will disproportionately impact communities that are already medically underserved, who already stand at a greater risk of harm from COVID-19, and who depend on Medicaid to access health care. We call on Gov. DeWine and the legislature to reconsider this path.”
As a provider of health care services, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio sees over sixty thousand patients annually across its Ohio health centers, nearly 4 in 10 of whom use Medicaid.