Local

The Columbus Blues Alliance was recently awarded the prestigious “Keeping the Blues Alive” award by the Blues Foundation.

The Blues Foundation is the international organizing body of blues music worldwide and presents the Keeping the Blues Alive (KBA) Awards to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the Blues world.

The KBAs are awarded to non-performers based on merit by a select panel of Blues professionals who recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to Blues music.

The Columbus Blues Alliance was selected due to its longstanding and tireless efforts to infuse Columbus, OH with blues music, performances and culture.

Starbucks workers continue to win union organizing victories in stores across the country, as workers at the Worthington store overwhelmingly voted to join Starbucks Workers United. With a unanimous vote of 22-0, partners at Worthington became the 12th Starbucks location in Ohio to join Starbucks Workers United in one of the most rapidly growing organizing campaigns in modern history. 

"Starbucks is making it increasingly clear that they will sacrifice the health and safety of their retail workers for its bottomline,” said Raquel Spiezio (she/her), a shift supervisor who has worked at Starbucks for more than ten years. “It is time for Starbucks to be held accountable for the decisions that impact thousands. The deep-seated problems created by this company’s unsustainable standards can be solved. I am so proud of the unified front we have presented in this exciting venture. Our partners are the very best, and we would be nowhere without our shared strength and determination.”

On Tuesday night, a Free Press reporter was driving on 71 South and began descending the Greenlawn Avenue exit where the now shuttered Thurns’ butcher shop is directly to the right. As some know and often see, on the left side of the exit in a narrow area of gravel is a male houseless person and his dog. For several years now they have set up a make-shift artist camp here.

His paintings and sketches ask for kindness and a handout in a quirky loving way. As one recent sign stated, “Needing a Space Ship to leave Earth.”

The Free Press reporter rolled down his window and asked: “We’re you not able to get a bed tonight at a shelter?”

The artist quickly replies: “No! They don’t take pets.”

His plight in bone-chilling temperatures is just one of several stories to emerge this week showing how chaotic and challenging it is to protect the community’s houseless from severe cold. Some houseless refuse to leave their tent at night fearing their belongings will be taken. Houseless couples refuse to be separated, as warranted by some shelters. And there is one warming center which does allows pets, it is on the Eastside.

Law number one in the ‘law of holes’, is that “if you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” Law number two, “if you are not digging, you are still in a hole”. 

 These adages sum up Israel’s ongoing political, military and strategic crises, 100 days following the start of the war on Gaza. 

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was faced by the unprecedented challenge of having to react to a major attack launched by Palestinian Resistance in southern Israel on October 7. 

 This single event is already proving to be a game changer in the relationship between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Its impact will be felt for many years, if not generations, to come.

 Netanyahu was already in a hole long before the Al-Aqsa Flood operation took place, and he has no one else to blame but himself. 

Columbus Stand Up, Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change, National Council of Negro Women, Columbus Section are hosting a candidate forum featuring candidates for Franklin County Prosecutor. 

The forum will take place on January 18, at Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, located at 2283 Sunbury rd. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, and the event will commence at 7:00 pm. This non-partisan gathering will bring together all of the candidates running for the position of Franklin County Prosecutor to discuss their vision, priorities, and plans to address the challenges facing the community. 

During the forum, each candidate will have the chance to present their platform and answer questions from Rodney Dunigan, anchor for WSYX 6, the forum’s moderator. No direct questions from the audience will be permitted, but attendees can submit questions upon arrival and in advance via social media. 

Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 7:00 PM
Protecting the rights of solar owners is at the core of our mission at Solar United Neighbors. It has been shown that one of the most effective ways to demonstrate to decision makers that solar matters is giving them an opportunity to hear from constituents like you. Join us for this Lobbying 101 Training where you will learn how to hold an impactful and effective meeting with your elected officials and make your interests known.  

Register here. 

January 16 marks 32 years since the signing of the historic Chapultepec Peace Accords that ended El Salvador's 12-year civil war. Unfortunately, in order to further consolidate his contemporary dictatorship, the current regime of Nayib Bukele has torn down many of the pillars of the Peace Accords that allowed the Salvadoran people to build a post-war democracy

We hope you will join us on Zoom on Tuesday at 12 pm ET (9 am PT) to hear a quick update from organizers about current conditions in El Salvador, ask questions, and get all the information you need to call Congress - then make your calls and report back!

It would be the ultimate stoner irony and hypocrisy. But according to one police brutality activist, fully legal recreational marijuana could someday pay for Ohio’s “Cop City,” which may be built somewhere in Central Ohio.

“It’s very likely the AG [Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost] and Republicans will want to divert those funds for training. Representative Cindy Abrams, former law enforcement, introduced a bill to mandate funds be spent towards law enforcement officer training and equipment,” said Emily Cole, Executive Director of Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change (OFUPAC). This is the lobbyist arm of Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality, which was founded by Sabrina Jordan of Dayton who lost her son to police brutality in 2017. Jordan’s nonprofit represents 700 Ohio families who have also lost a loved one since the turn of the century to police violence.

It would be the ultimate stoner irony and hypocrisy. But according to one police brutality activist, fully legal recreational marijuana could someday pay for Ohio’s “Cop City,” which may be built somewhere in Central Ohio.

“It’s very likely the AG [Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost] and Republicans will want to divert those funds for training. Representative Cindy Abrams, former law enforcement, introduced a bill to mandate funds be spent towards law enforcement officer training and equipment,” said Emily Cole, Executive Director of Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change (OFUPAC). This is the lobbyist arm of Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality, which was founded by Sabrina Jordan of Dayton who lost her son to police brutality in 2017. Jordan’s nonprofit represents 700 Ohio families who have also lost a loved one since the turn of the century to police violence.

Monday, January 15, 11am-4pm, Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Ave.

The Ohio History Connection presents the annual MLK Open House. Celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King through visual and performing art performances. This is a unique opportunity to learn about the impact of Dr. King’s teachings and learn how his work changed the trajectory of the country.

Admission is free, but pre-registration is strongly recommended.

We will also be hosting a donation drive for Star House, a space for teens and young adults, to continue Dr. King’s legacy in acts of service to local communities. You may learn more about the mission of Star House on their website.

Most-needed items include the following:

• Winter coats

• Large insulated gloves and wool socks

• Winter hats

• Hand warmers

• New underwear for men and women (boxers/boxer briefs preferred for men)

• Sweatpants

• Leggings

• Solid color T-shirts

• Backpacks

• Blankets

• African American hair care products (oils and gels)

• Large new towels