Columbus Freepress Local News & Events
The 2025 Columbus City budget shift
Police Funding Up, Community Safety Measures Down:
This budget goes against public health best practices that tell us to invest in social determinant-focused programs like affordable housing, quality…
“We need to mobilize against it” - How a diverse coalition rapidly organized to protect free speech
A broad coalition of democratic organizations from across the state have mobilized to protect free speech rights from a secretive attempt by right-wing lawmakers to make public criticism of the state of Israel illegal in the state of…
Save Ohio Parks statement on Gov. Mike DeWine signing House Bill 308
Once again, the Ohio legislature has gifted the oil and gas industry with an amendment stuffed into an unrelated bill during its last committee hearing of the lame duck session with no public notice or chance to comment -- this time extending…
Ohioans mobilize to defend free speech
In an ongoing struggle for free speech, a dedicated coalition of Ohioans from across the state have worked diligently to defeat legislation that conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism and ties it to heightened criminal penalties.…