Local

State Representative Bernadine Kennedy Kent’s House Bill 137 that passed through the House unanimously and the amended version passed through the Senate 78 to two, now heads to the desk of Governor John Kasich for his signature.  Ohio’s children will now have an added layer of protection, and Ohio will now join the rest of the nation’s states in making peace officers mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JNYNdCD1J8

Friday, December 14, 2018, 6:00 – 11:00 PM. 
Join the COWC Board, volunteers, and supporters for our second annual holiday happy hour at Hey Hey Bar & Grill, and let's celebrate the work we've accomplished and the relationships we've made in 2018. All are welcome.  Location:  Hey Hey Bar and Grill, 361 Whittier St., Columbus 43206.  Facebook.  

From the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence:  Governor Kasich needs your support to veto HB 228 – the Stand Your Ground Gun Legislation:  Although he is saying he doesn't like the bill as passed - (see the Cinci Enquirer) - we need to let him know that we are counting on him to veto it. He needs to veto it this week.  At the end of a session there are many bills that will need his approval or veto.

Toledo, OH: At a meeting held on Monday, December 10, to certify the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) to the special election ballot in February, the Lucas County Board of Elections instead received a written protest which will be the subject of a contested hearing on December 20.  A Columbus law firm filed the challenge on behalf of  Josh Abernathy of 247 Plymouth Street, Toledo, to keep the LEBOR off the ballot. The Columbus firm, McTigue and Colombo LLC has represented corporate, labor and governmental clients in other cities, including Columbus and Bowling Green, in attempts to keep citizen initiatives off ballots.
 

The basis for the protest is that the Board of Elections and Ohio Supreme Court already decided this matter and the BOE cannot vote on it a second time. However both the BOE and the Ohio Supreme Court decided that another Toledo citizen initiative, “Keep the Jail Downtown”, could not go on the ballot, but Toledo City Council ordered that measure to be placed on the ballot for the February special election, and faced no ballot protest.
 

Wednesday, December 12, 11am 
Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St., downtown Columbus
Come fight for our rights in front of the statehouse with us!
Co-sponsored by 
International Socialist Organization - Columbus
Democratic Socialists of America - Columbus
Socialist Alternative- Columbus

Tues, Dec 11, 6-8pm
The Hills Market Downtown, 95 N. Grant
Benefiting the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. This group blesses abortion clinics and elevates the moral power of religious communities to ensure reproductive freedom through education, advocacy, and counseling. Donate $5 at the door to get a complimentary drink ticket for wine, draft beer, cocktails (Pro-Choice Punch or a Morning After Margarita!), or non-alcoholic beverages. CASH & CARD are accepted at this event. As always, feel free to donate more:)

Mon Dec 10, 7-9pm
First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St.
2018 theme: Help stop human rights violations against women worldwide! Recognizing Columbus’ Human Rights champions. Light refreshments will be provided. Amnesty International’s revitalized Columbus chapter (Group #87) will provide letters and cards to be signed to help stop human rights violations against women worldwide. Free and open to the public.

Sun, Dec 9, 4:30-7pm
St. Philip Episcopal Church, 166 Woodland Ave.
“Loving Our Neighbor: Addressing Poverty With Our Heads, Hearts, and Hands” will spotlight the perspectives of various faith traditions on the topic of caring for our neighbors. Bring a dish to share and join in a community potluck. RSVP-office@iaco.org by Dec 7. iaco.org.

What did you miss this year that was really important? We depend on Project Censored to fill us in. The Free Press would like to cover everything – but just can’t do it in our monthly paper or even on our two websites: columbusfreepress.com and freepress.org. However, Project Censored did honor Free Press Publisher/Editor Bob Fitrakis and Senior Editor/Columnist Harvey Wasserman for the 3rd most censored story in 2005 on the theft of the 2004 election and also for “Search Engine Algorithms and Electronic Voting Machines Could Swing 2016 Election as the 4th "Most Censored Story of 2016."

Project Censored reviewed over 300 Validated Independent News stories (VINs) representing the collective efforts of 351 college students and 15 professors from 13 college and university campuses that participated in the Project’s Campus Affiliates Program during the past year. Some topics are positive, some are understandably negative, and a few are substantially horrifying. The top ten are:

#1 Global Decline in Rule of Law as Basic Human Rights Diminish