Kelly Escobar, Columbus homemaker, was in the throes of United States’ Independence Day on July 4, 2019, yet feeling helpless because of the news that U.S. detention camps were turning people away who  were trying to donate necessities to children separated and jailed by Trump’s Zero Tolerance immigration policy. 

She was baffled by the cruelty of our government as it justified family separation and locking kids up on concrete floors without beds or proper blankets, other than an aluminum “space blanket” to keep them warm. 

That was the day Ms. Escobar also found out about makeshift camps full of people on the Mexican side of the border and reports that the growing number there were stuck in limbo for months awaiting their chance to make application for asylum. 

She saw this as an opportunity to help...not stateside, but on the Mexican side.

She emptied her bank account, packed her bags and possessions in her car and drove to a camp in Matamoros, Mexico, located just south of the Brownsville, Texas border. 

President Donald Trump will hold his first 2020 presidential campaign rally in Ohio on January 9 at a “Keep America Great” event in Toledo. On December 16, 2019, Trump filed to be on the ballot in Ohio, unopposed by any other Republican candidates.

Pundits mid-year were skeptical that Ohio would be a battleground state in 2020, but a CNN article recently proclaimed that: “To win reelection, Trump needs Ohio.”

Ohio voted for Trump in 2016, winning by eight points. Believing his populist rhetoric slamming “the swamp” in D.C. and declarations that he’d fight for the working guy, scores of voters rejected Hilary Clinton and so-called “liberalism.” In 2016, Trump won 80 out of 88 Ohio counties, including nine that voted for Obama in 2012.

Now these voters have the opportunity to re-elect their leader – but will they buy the hype again?

Some voters reported that they liked Trump in 2016 because “Finally, somebody thinks like me,” according to the Washington Post.

Guess who dropped in to Sgt. Peppercorn's Annual Beatles Marathon at the Bluestone the Saturday before Christmas?

A) Brian Epstein
B) Jeffrey Epstein
C) Herman of the Hermits
D) Paul McCartney!

Yes, via a 40-second video in which our beloved Macca wished Joe Peppercorn and his Lonely Hearts Band of talented locals the best of luck in their nowhere-else-in-the-world event of performing every officially released Beatles song in chronological order.

Talk about thrilling!

I believe he said something about 'stamina,' haha, and then very nicely suggested the first song to be Love Me Do, thereby establishing the word “love” as the first word the Beatles ever officially sang.

I'm down wit' dat, yo!

And so was our fearless, peerless leader, Joe Peppercorn, who delivers more love and emotion than any musician in this town when he performs. And all night long, baby, he goes all day and much of the night long. He ain't no 60-minute love man, he's Mr. 13-Hours of Heavenly Beatles Love Power.

OK, that's me being silly. But honestly, who plays every goldurn Beatles tune and then some – who?

Back in October at the historic federal opioid lawsuit in Cleveland, Cardinal Health and other opioid distributors were several hours away from opening statements. But then a settlement was reached by two Ohio counties, Summit and Cuyahoga.

Outside the courtroom waited several parents who’s pain pill addicted children had moved on to heroin and overdosed. The settlement was another bitter blow as they seek closure. Because it meant Dublin’s Cardinal Health and others made no admission of wrongdoing.

The Summit and Cuyahoga County’s case was a bellweather trial which will lay the groundwork for hundreds of other cases across the country.

The two counties settled for $260 million. The Free Press did the math: The CEOs of the companies that settled had a combined annual salary of $66 million in 2018. Thus the total settlement amount is equal to four years of these CEO’s annual earnings.

4th and State just opened in downtown Columbus – literally on the northwest corner of 4th and State in December 2019. What an exciting opportunity for folks working in the area to have easily accessible, fully-vegan breakfast and lunch equivalent alternative that has a fabulous affordable menu and vibe.

4th and State  offers breakfast: decadent French toast, pancakes, “vrunch” wrap and even vegan bac’un and “eggs” (for those who haven’t tried the humane, mung-bean-derived JUST egg here’s your chance). Lunch options include: salads, unique and delicious sandwiches (blueberry and mozz cheeze and the roasted red bell pepper and avocado are absolutely delightful!), smoothie and veggie bowls, and great sides such as sweet potato home fries, Mediterranean pasta salad (yes, vegan feta exists) and scrambled eggs!

If you are in the mood for donuts and coffee (with actual vegan CREAMER- not just plant-milk), it can be had here. They have really developed a fantastic menu that must be tried as nothing has disappointed. They even accommodated a side of vegan sour cream and blueberry compote for the “blueberry blintz” (my family tradition) pancakes I asked for.