Groups that want to put a proposal before voters this fall to enshrine abortion into the Ohio constitution took their petition signature gathering efforts for a “trial run" this weekend, knowing they have a short timeline to make the ballot. And they say it was a...
In The Press
Women show their support during drive-through signature event in Chagrin Falls for abortion-rights amendment
They drove Saturday to Heritage Park, filtering in one car after another, to seek change in Ohio’s abortion law. Marla Zwinggi, who was hailed as a “Vaccine Queen” during the pandemic, organized a drive-through signature event for an abortion-rights constitutional...
Abortion-rights activists begin collecting signatures for Ohio ballot initiative
On Monday came the announcement that abortion-rights activists could begin collecting signatures for a ballot initiative that, if passed, would amend the Ohio Constitution to allow abortion until fetal viability in the state. "In Bainbridge in Geauga County, we will...
Commentary: Banning books is a futile practice serving no deed
Last March, I was invited by Christine Pearl ’11 to facilitate a book club session on my second favorite Toni Morrison novel, “Beloved.” The session was an extension of the efforts of the nonprofit organization Red Wine & Blue, whose mission is to empower and...
It’s Black History Month and NC Republicans Introduced a Bill to Limit Teaching of Black History
Renee Sekel, a Cary mom who works for the NC chapter of Red Wine & Blue, a group that seeks to mobilize suburban moms to get involved in politics, also opposes the bill. “I think most parents—and most kids—want our schools to teach accurate and complete history. ...
Stateside Podcast: The parents on the other side of the phone
On the night of the shooting at Michigan State University, students faced four hours of a shelter-in-place order. During that time many students were in communication with their parents; texting and calling them. On the other end of the phone, parents had to manage...
Reproductive rights advocates tell legislators to reject more abortion restrictions
Janice Robinson recalled a scary time when she was a pregnant 15-year-old in South Carolina, almost 50 years ago. Her mother took her to have an abortion. Her mother took her not to a medical doctor, but someone unlicensed and working in secret. Robinson said she...
After Oxford, gun violence advocates felt helpless. But there’s hope for change in Michigan now.
Kelly Dillaha, the mother of twins who attend MSU and were barricaded in their room just off campus during the mass shooting, said the school could not have done anything differently to prevent Monday’s violence. What would make a difference, she said, is gun reform....
‘We all ran for our lives’: MSU students describe mass shooting as a never-ending nightmare
Michigan State University students are angry. Yes, they are traumatized; yes, they are overwhelmed with grief and sadness. They know they will need mental health support in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. But, right now, in the wake of three students being...
MSU mom, anti-gun violence advocate calls for solutions after campus shooting
A Michigan State University mother and anti-gun violence advocate says Monday’s deadly shooting on campus reinforces her efforts to achieve sensible gun control. Kelly Dillaha’s phone was flooded Monday night with messages from concerned friends asking about her twin...
Recent Posts
Watch This: The Climate Crisis Is a Health Crisis
We’re not doomed yet, but we’ve wasted a lot of time. That’s one of the takeaways we learned from meteorologist and climate change communicator, Chris Edwards, when he joined us recently for our virtual event, Climate Change 101: What You Need to Know. Chris talked...
Okay, But Why Does Your Garden Matter?
Summers past were filled with the sounds of buzzing bees and fluttering monarch butterflies, but it feels like we just don’t hear them anymore. It’s not your imagination – these essential pollinators are disappearing. Climate change and pesticides are killing off the creatures responsible for one in three bites of food we take, but there is an important action we can take to reverse this trend. It starts in our own backyard! We’re answering the question, Okay, but why does your garden matter?
Okay, But Why Are So Many People Talking about Trans Kids?
Transgender people, and especially transgender kids, have been in the news a lot lately. And a lot of that is because politicians have been super focused on them. In 2024, over 700 anti-trans bills were proposed – everything from regulating bathrooms and sports to laws prohibiting gender-affirming healthcare. And so far this year, over 900 anti-trans bills are under consideration across the country. The majority apply to kids, particularly in school, like laws that keep trans kids from playing sports. So why is this such a hot topic these days?
Read This: The Climate Crisis Is a Health Crisis
Thank you to our guest author this week, Dr. Alice Chen! Learn more about Dr. Chen below and follow her on Bluesky here. When I was a kid, summers meant riding our bikes around the neighborhood, lazing around outside watching clouds and ladybugs, and generally...
Okay, But Why Is Minimum Wage So Low?
The federal minimum wage has been hotly debated since it began. Right now, in twenty states, even if someone is working full-time on minimum wage, they make just $20 over the poverty line. And in Georgia and Wyoming, the state minimum wage is actually less than that. It’s nearly impossible to make a living on that, let alone climb out of poverty and build any sort of wealth. It’s hard to imagine how this is a good thing, so why is our minimum wage so low?