Glass City Jungle

The fact that the US House of Representatives added an amendment to H R 5136 that repealed the policy of “don’t ask don’t tell” when it comes to gays in the military has been the focus of some media attention nationally, (Washington Post as example) or the (New York Times) and here in Ohio, [...]

Some of you will groan at the title, but this Columbus Dispatch article (link) touches on the upcoming election battle that will take place this fall on the topic of animal rights, including egg production in Ohio.
The $600-million-a-year Ohio-produced egg market is likely to be a focal point in Round Two [...]

The releases shared on this post are ones received today on the topic of Memorial Day. They are included in the order received via e-mail and if any additional releases come in, this post will be updated.
Maryellen O’Shaughnessy Statement On Memorial Day
COLUMBUS – Today, Secretary of State candidate Maryellen O’Shaughnessy issued the following statement:
“As [...]

I’m not sure what it says about us as a community, but I wondered which parade would be better attended, the recent one held for American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox which was held on a regular work day or the one held Saturday for Memorial Day to honor those who died in service to our [...]

I read about the fight breaking out while FOX Toledo reporter Sharia Davis was covering the murder of 16 year old Deshaun Lee on Facebook earlier today. The video to the story is now up on the FOX Toledo website, (link).
While the FOX story does not reference the time, WTOL is reporting [...]

I realize there is a real market in this area and our nation to objectify women for the entertainment of male clientèle. It’s legal and apparently many places do very well in providing wait staff, that as part of the requirement have to have certain physical endowments in addition to serving skills. Hearing [...]

This week’s “This Strikes Us” (link) in the Sojourner’s Truth is a highly recommended read. It’s about the education of our children here in Toledo and elsewhere. Some selected parts of the article I wanted to highlight:
Our public schools have our children from kindergarten to the 12th grade – if they are lucky [...]

Despite it being reported earlier by Billboard Magazine and some local media sources, Toledo Free Press editor in chief Michael Miller spoke to Crystal Bowersox earlier today and she says that’s not true, (link).
*This update provided for all of those “Crystal addicts” out there.

The Ohio Poll was released today, (link) which was sponsored by the University of Cincinnati. They polled 668 likely voters in the State of Ohio between May 11 and May 20 to come up with their polling results, though when you look at the data there were smaller numbers who responded in some cases. [...]

I wasn’t going to get into the whole recently reported Blade story of Brian Wilson of WSPD, not really living in NWO anymore, but broadcasting from Virginia. Partly because the rumors about this have been out there for a few weeks, shortly after the moving trucks supposedly were seen at Wilson’s Wood County home. [...]

This in via e-mail from NRLC, the complete text of H.R. 5175 can be found here with a summary here the bill is also referenced as DISCLOSE (Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act):
NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE URGES U.S. HOUSE TO REJECT “DISCLOSE ACT” AS “A CORRUPTION OF [...]

This in via e-mail from the O’Shaughnessy for Secretary of State campaign:
Maryellen O’Shaughnessy Praises Passage Of H.J.R. 15
COLUMBUS – Today, Secretary of State candidate Maryellen O’Shaughnessy issued the following statement praising the passage of H.J.R. 15:
“I congratulate House Democrats and Representative Letson for their leadership in making passage of this resolution possible. With the [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland, it’s also being reported by the Dispatch as involving two inmates, not one, (link):
Governor Suspends Residence Inmate Work Program
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today suspended the Pickaway Correctional Institution’s Inmate Work Program at the Governor’s Residence.
The governor decided to suspend [...]

Neither Representative Garrison or Letson is from our area, but this legislation impacts us all since it references changes to the Apportionment process. Link to HJR 15 (here):
Reapportionment Plan by Reps. Garrison and Letson Approved by Ohio House
Legislation Removes Partisanship, Makes Map Drawing Open to Public
COLUMBUS – The Ohio House this afternoon [...]

This in via e-mail from Representative Barbara Sears, the link to the bill referenced is (here) but it does not appear the amendment referenced has been added as of this posting to be able to compare it to HB 79. Updated on 5/28 11:50 a.m. with a release from Representative Matt Szollosi, the amended [...]

No matter how you feel about pit bulls, or vicious dogs in general, waiting until a dog has already attacked/bitten someone then hitting the owner with a larger fine really doesn’t accomplish anything…While most of us understand it’s typically the fault of the owner, laws increasing fines and penalties after the fact don’t do anything [...]

While Representative Tom Letson is not from our area, this release may be of interest to some of you since we have been following the proposed elimination of Ohio’s income tax, it was received via e-mail:
Chair says GOP Tax Plan Threatens Ohio’s Financial Stability, Ends Hearings
Libraries, Safety Services say elimination of state income [...]

Two articles of interest related to Schylar Meadows and her run for Ohio House District 48. Fletcher Word has an article in the Sojourner’s Truth, (link) and Martini Rox focuses on Meadows in her Toledo Free Press Star column, (link).
Meadows will face Democrat Michael Ashford and Republican Carolyn Eyre in the [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
One Year Later: State of Ohio and Huntington Bank
Partnership Generates $465 Million in Loans to More Than 2,000 Ohio Businesses
Columbus, Ohio – In its first year, more than 2,000 Ohio businesses have received $465 million in new loans through a public-private lending partnership between [...]

More on these stories later but earlier tonight at Toledo City Council the trash fee debate ended with the Mayor’s promise kept as to what the fees would be, $5.00 for those who qualify for a Homestead exemption, $8.50 for those who recycle and $15.00 a month for those who do not recycle. But…Karen [...]

This in via e-mail, additional story on this press release reported by Toledo Free Press (link)
SIMPSON FILES A PROTEST WITH BOE ON STAINBROOK RECRUITS
Jeff Simpson Charged that Jon Stainbrook has recruited People who don’t live in the Precincts in which they were Elected. Asks Board of Elections not to Certify those Elections.
Jeff Simpson, the [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Strickland, Brown, Local Leaders Announce New CODA Automotive Plant in Central Ohio to Create 1,000 Jobs
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, the Columbus Partnership, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Ohio State University, Franklin [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Strickland Asks Ohioans to Vote to Make Crystal Bowersox the Next American Idol
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today encouraged all Ohioans to vote for Ohio’s-own Crystal Bowersox as she takes the stage in tonight’s American Idol finals.
“The entire country has been [...]

This in via e-mail from the Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU):
OIU REMINDS OHIOANS OF UNDERAGE DRINKING LAWS
COLUMBUS– This is an exciting time for high school seniors, as well as friends and family, taking part in all of the festivities surrounding graduation. This time of celebration can easily turn to a time of tragedy because of [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Representative Barbara Sears, this grant is in addition to the previously reported release of funding from the Ohio Controlling Board by Fedor and Brown.
COLUMBUS—State Representative Barbara Sears (R-Sylvania) today announced the approval of a Thomas Edison Program grant to EISC, Inc. in [...]

I was semi-joking when I asked ala American Idol as to who would be the first TPS Superintendent candidate to be voted off, but two have taken themselves out of consideration. According to the Blade, (link) Keith Bell, the brother of Toledo Mayor Mike Bell has taken a job with the Columbus Public Schools [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Representative and Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi:
State Rep. Szollosi Announces $63K to Combat Lake Erie Bacteria Problem
Wolf Creek restoration to ease E. coli contamination, ensure safety for swimmers
COLUMBUS- Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo) today announced the state will spend more than $63,000 on a [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Announces Ohio Partnership to Develop North America’s First Fresh Water Offshore Wind Farm in Lake Erie
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced a partnership between GE and the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation to harness the wind power of Lake Erie [...]

As has been discussed here, and elsewhere on the net, the rules for social media have not yet been established when it comes to many areas of real life versus online life. In this Columbus Dispatch article by James Nash, (link) concern is being expressed that if someone is a Facebook friend with a [...]

As the press releases kept coming from the Ohio Department of Health stating that they had obtained more H1N1 vaccines, some of us wondered why the State of Ohio was continuing to stockpile the vaccine once it was clear the initial shortage no longer existed. Today the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that almost [...]