Local
BGSU COVID-19 lawsuit updates
BGSU has requested the dismissal of the lawsuit challenging its vaccine mandate. According to the BG Independent News, the motion states the mandate does not interfere with any fundamental rights and counters the plaintiff’s contention by showing that although the mandate is no longer legally required, the vaccine is FDA approved and anyone who receives an exemption is therefore subject to the same protocols as vaccinated individuals.
No BG police station relocation
The Bowling Green Police Department has no intentions of moving its headquarters as a combined effort with the BGSU campus police, Mayor Mike Aspacher said. According to the Sentinel-Tribune, after learning more about regional collaborative efforts, city officials met with State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari and decided not to combine the police departments, instead, they are planning on moving the fire station to a new location.
BGSU Annual Black Issues Conference
Writer, Speaker and Internet Yeller Ijeoma Oluo is the keynote speaker for this year’s Annual Black Issues Conference held at BGSU. Ijeoma’s work has appeared in the New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post and she has been named to the 2021 TIME 100 Next List. This event, being sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and The Black Student Union, is taking place in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 17.
New BGSU class with podcast
According to the Sentinel-Tribune, BGSU is offering a new class taught by Professor Timothy Messer-Kruse, Ph.D., on Critical Race Theory. The class will have an accompanying podcast with each week’s guest speaker that will be recorded and posted. The purpose of creating a podcast is for individuals who are not in the class to experience a condensed version of the readings and teachings each week and to educate and welcome in anyone that wants to learn more about the topic.
State
Ohio leads nation in COVID-19 deaths
Although cases have started to trend downward over the last week, Ohio has led the nation in COVID-19 deaths, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. Ohio is the eighth least vaccinated state in the country with about 61% of Ohioans having at least one dose, compared to the national rate of 76%. Currently there are 4,750 people hospitalized and more than 13,000 contracting this virus per day in Ohio. 230 people are being admitted with COVID-19 to hospitals each day.
The year of the tiger
The Cincinnati Bengals beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24 and are headed to Super Bowl LVI. Halfway through the fourth quarter, rookie Evan McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal putting the Bengals up 24-21. But this wasn’t enough as quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a game-tying field goal as the clock ran out, sending them into overtime. After an incredible comeback and a first down from running back Joe Mixon, McPherson won the game by kicking a field goal.
Marijuanna legalization
According to the Ohio Capital Journal, enough signatures have been collected by The Coalition to Legalize Marijuana Like Alcohol in Ohio to put the issue of legalizing marijuana in front of legislators. This group is pushing for adults, 21 and older, to be allowed to possess 71 grams or six plants per person, or 12 per household. The legislature has four months to decide if this amount of marijuana will be legalized. If it fails to pass, the group then has the option to gather 133,000 more signatures to put the issue on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Redrawing legislative maps
While the state legislature has 30 days to revise the invalid congressional maps, the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision is being awaited on the second round of legislative maps, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. “Undue partisanship,” was the reason for considering the congressional maps invalid in the Jan. 13 decision, where the state Supreme Court thought the maps defective in considering all districts and systemically flawed. The legislature is currently coming up with a new plan.
National
Biden commits to Black woman on Supreme Court
President Biden said he would appoint a black woman to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. While an ABC/Ipsos poll indicated 76% of Americans wanted Biden to consider “all nominees,” The Hill said the timing could complicate the President’s Build Back Better spending bill. However, a CNN analysis said the process could help the Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. Politico identified Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lyndsey Graham as Republicans to watch.
Plea deal rejected in Arbery case
Travis McMichael, one of the three men involved in the federal hate crime murder of Ahmaud Arbery, had his plea deal rejected by a district judge, according to CNN. Arbery’s parents said they were opposed to the proposed plea deals with father Gregory McMichael and son Travis. After the rejection, both McMichaels had their hearings postponed. William “Roddie” Bryan, the third convicted murderer, was previously sentenced to life in prison. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was fatally shot outside his Georgia home last February.
Northeast recovers from ‘bomb cyclone’
As northwest Ohio area prepares for a major winter storm, the east coast continues to recover from a “bomb cyclone” storm that dumped record snow and frigid temperatures. According to USA Today, at least three New Yorkers died and 100,000 people were without power at the height of the storm. Cold temperatures reached into Florida, prompting a “falling iguana” warning. “They don’t freeze, they don’t die, but they do kind of go into a state of hibernation, it’s crazy,” Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean said.
Omicron surge near end, COVID here to stay
According to an ABC News report, experts believe that as the COVID-19 Omicron variant surge begins to abate, the country may be nearing the end of the pandemic. However, the virus is here to stay. “We really need to be shifting our thinking to how do we live with this virus rather than can we make it completely go away,” Dr. Timothy Brewer, a UCLA professor of epidemiology, told ABC News. “So I think we need to sort of move into the mode of minimizing the impact of the virus as much as possible.”
