Local

BGSU increases room and board rate

Starting in the fall semester of 2023, BGSU is increasing housing and meal plan costs in addition to some undergraduate programs. According to statistics in the Sentinel Tribune, all meal plan prices are being increased by 4.6% and the resident hall average room rate will increase by 2.3%. A $219 course material fee will also be added to the undergraduate nursing program. These changes were voted on and approved by trustees last week.

New BG parks plan

The City of Bowling Green’s parks will be getting some updates soon after the city’s planning commission approved the parks and recreation master plan updates. These plans will now go to City Council. Some of these plans include a more inclusive playground at Carter Park, building pickle ball courts at Carter Park, new roofs, patio and pavement at City Park, and many more maintenance points. Director of the Parks and Recreation Department Kristin Otley, said, “This is something people have been asking for for years,” according to the BG Independent News.

Games happening over spring break

Although many students travel over spring break, there will be a plethora of events to attend for anyone that stays in Bowling Green this year. Men’s golf, women’s basketball and women’s tennis will all be competing this week, as well as a swim meet. There will also be yoga classes and strength training courses available. All of these events are listed on the BGSU events calendar. 

COVID-19 update

According to the Wood County Health Department, case numbers have been trending downward. Although the vaccine clinic was cancelled this weekend, there are still a variety of available resources to locals and ways to get in touch with healthcare providers. There will be a replacement vaccine clinic on Thursday at the Bowling Green High School and there is an interactive site on the Wood County Health Department website in order to get self-help resources and answer any questions.

State

Temporary abortion ban

Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison Hatheway has temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a new abortion-related law. SB 157 would have barred any physicians that were working with medical schools to also aid in abortion clinics. Hatheway said that these clinics and their patients “will suffer irreparable constitutional, business and other harms if an injunction is not issued,” according to the Ohio Capitol Journal. A new court hearing will be held on March 16 to decide the nest steps of this case.

COVID-19 timeline

According to a timeline from Cleveland.com, Ohio is on a hot streak for having less than 2,500 new COVID cases per day. States around the country are removing or shifting their mask mandates while Ohio has lifted the mask mandate and removed the necessity to check temperatures upon arrival to certain places. These new rules exclude nurses working with immunocompromised patients and anyone in the sheriff’s department.

Collin’s Law update

Ohio has been working over the past year to eradicate hazing at universities after the death of BGSU student Stone Foltz and the passing of Collin’s Law. This law was named after OU student, Collin Wiant, died in a hazing incident and expands on the definition of hazing as well as increasing criminal penalties. In an NBC4 article, mother of deceased student, Shari Foltz said, “To push that and get it to go through meant everything to us, because now it’s a felony.”

Ohio Airmen ready to deploy

The Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing and their families were thanked by Military leaders as they prepared to deploy overseas in Support of Air Force Central Command. These airmen will be deployed in the Middle East for six months in primarily supporting roles as personnel professionals, communication specialists, and engineers. According to an article in the Dayton Daily News, these airmen will have a wide variety of duties from managing paperwork to defending their base if need be.

National 

Gas prices rise

Oil prices have reached their highest since 2008 due to delays in the return of Iranian crude oil to global markets and as the US and European allies consider banning imports of Russian oil. According to statistics in a Reuters article, US oil companies Brent and WTI are on track to reach their highest daily percentage gains since May 2020 with oil currently between $126 and $130 per barrel. Analysts at Bank of America found that if Russia’s oil exports are cut off, oil prices will nearly double and there will be over 5 million barrel in shortfall.

Congress and COVID-19 funds

Nearly a year after the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan was put into place, the federal government has used up nearly all of the money dedicated to the Covid-19 response. Covid-19 Deputy Director, Natalie Quillian, said, “From the Covid side, the bank account is empty. We’re in conversations with lawmakers about how to secure the funding, but its urgently needed,” according to the Associated Press. This money is needed in order to buy antibody treatments and preventative pills for the immunocompromised, and to fund community testing sites.

Florida fires

Panama City, Florida is evacuating residencies and nursing homes due to the local wildfires while still recovering from a hurricane three years ago. At least 1,100 residents have had to flee their homes due to the 9,000-acre Bertha Swamp Road fire and the 841-acre Adkins Avenue fire. According to an AP news article, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said of the Bertha Swamp Road fire: “it’s moving very quickly.” In a news conference. A third fire developed this weekend and is already causing residents to evacuate.

Ukrainians are promised safety in US

Last Thursday the Department of Homeland Security announced that Ukraine has been designated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) meaning than an approximated 30,000 Ukrainians currently living or studying in the US can legally stay for 18 months. According to an NPR article, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said, “In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States.” TPS will only be granted to Ukrainians who were already in the US on March 1.