Local

Matt Monta has long been one of Columbus’ best musicians and writers. On April 27, 2018 he will be releasing “Restless Disposition,” his long-awaited follow up to his excellent 2015 album “Where you Find Love.” The Free Press’ Ed Forman sat down with Matt to discuss the new disc, life as a full time musician, and political influence on music. 

FP: It’s been about 2 ½ years since your last album, “Where You Find Love.” What have you been up to in the meantime?

April 24-27
Facebook event

UPDATE 4: success! the call in campaign has worked. Supporters have heard from the prisoners. BUT, the hunger strike continues, because the prisoners refuse to subject to the whims of a dishonest and disrespectful staff. There will be new demands and a new call to action tonight. Thank you to everyone who called today!

Monday, April 23, 2pm
1500 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215-1010
The Ohio DNR proposed a bobcat trapping season. Let your voice be heard! Ohio's bobcats are a resource for EVERYONE and should be managed as such. We can't put their population at risk just because a few trappers want their fur.

ATTEND: 
April 23rd @ 2:00 pm
State Fish & Wildlife Hearing 
Public comments are allowed but limited to three minutes; you do not need to register in advance. 

May 17 @ 6:30 pm – Wildlife Council VOTE

Sunday, April 22, 12noon-7pm
Genoa Park, next to COSI on West Broad by the river
A day-long celebration featuring great local bands, family-friendly activities, eco-friendly artisans, an electric vehicle ride & drive, and Columbus' best food trucks. Booths from community groups like WGRN 94.1 - the Green Renaissance Radio Network, the Columbus Community Bill of Rights, and the Green Party.

Washington, D.C. – On April 18, a U.S. Court of Appeals protected access to health care and education at Planned Parenthood for tens of thousands of Ohioans.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Husted, Counties Sued to Prevent Planned Destruction of Election Records

Columbus, OH, April 20, 2018 – Ohio voters are suing Secretary of State Jon Husted and the Boards of Election of Franklin and Cuyahoga in order to protect key election materials from next month’s primary election that they say the counties plan to destroy.

At issue are the “digital ballot images” created by the digital scanners that tabulate votes on paper ballots. Digital scanners are in use in 15 counties, including Cuyahoga and Franklin. These records are essential for verifying the accuracy of the election results, according to the suit.

“We’ve had indications that most of the counties that use this technology are following the law and preserving the digital ballot images,” said attorney Robert J. Fitrakis of Columbus, who filed the suit yesterday in the Ohio Supreme court. “As a precaution, we’re seeking a court order that these crucial records be protected in every county where they exist.”

Wellness and Safety Fair
Saturday, April 21, 10am-2pm
Woodward Park Community Center, 5147 Karl Road
It will be a fun filled day where people of all ages can have a good time learning about wellness, health, and safety. Workshops and tabling by: United Healthcare, Lowes, Woodward Park Community Center, IBT, Faith Thomas Foundation, VSP, The Center for Health Families, Franklin County Children Services, Hands On, Shawnee State, Action for Children, Cancer Support, Doterra-oils, OSU, Columbus Public Library, Be the Match, CPR, Fire & Safety, Sheriffs Department, CPR and Blood Pressure Information.

Tom Neilson Concert
Saturday, April 21, 7:30-10:30pm
Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland  Park
A concert by Tom Neilson, folksinger and storyteller extraordinaire. He'll be performing at Columbus Mennonite Church on April 21 at 7:30. Steve and I will open for him. Suggested donation $15. Tom's songs are powerful social and political commentaries which resonate with the work of Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs. 

Just hours before attending a preview screening of I Feel Pretty, I happened to be riding a stationary bike at my gym when the nearest TV showed Amy Schumer plugging the flick on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

DeGeneres praised the comedy, as you might expect, but she had especially kind words for the Schumer character’s final speech. She hinted that the consciousness-raising moment is the best part of the film.

Judging from the early reviews, many agree that I Feel Pretty has an important message, but they also seem to feel it undermines that message in a way that’s clumsy at best, unconscionable at worst. So when I say I actually enjoyed the flick, maybe I need to stress that I did not fall off that stationary bike and hit my head before seeing it.

Written and directed by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein—and engagingly performed by Schumer and the rest of the cast—the comedy takes on society’s obsession with physical perfection and the damaging effects it has on the self-esteem of women and girls.

Our opponents are relentlessly attacking women’s health from every angle. Even when it’s not in the headlines, it’s happening practically every day.Tell the Trump administration: Hands off women’s health care!


Here’s why every abortion-rights activist should care about the latest attack on women’s health:
 

 Operation Warm Continues Supporting Low-Income Kids with Help from Community

Chadds Ford, PA – Since 1998, Operation Warm, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing brand new winter coats to children in need, has gifted more than 2.5 million coats. Due to the expansion of giving efforts across the U.S., Operation Warm has launched its first ever ‘Volunteer Brigade,’ a highly trained force to give more coats to kids in need.

This past year, Operation Warm was able to give coats to 325,000 children with the help of community organizations, foundations, and business partners. This was an especially impressive feat, given that the organization has under 25 full time staff members. According to school administrators, Operation Warm coats provided not just warmth, but confidence and hope as well.