ReportWire

Tag: CTV

  • Cincinnati auto shops team up to support breast cancer patients

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    CINCINNATI — As colder weather rolls in, many drivers are scheduling seasonal tune-ups from tire replacements to brake checks. But this October, a local initiative is turning a routine car repair into a way to make a difference.

    What You Need To Know

    • The annual “Give The Girls a Brake” campaign brings auto repair shops across the Cincinnati area to raise money for women battling breast cancer

    • Throughout October, participating shops provide free brake pads with qualifying services and donate 10% of brake repair costs to the Karen Wellington Foundation

    • Amy Bishop was diagnosed with breast cancer last October after a routine mammogram

    The “Give the Girls a Brake” campaign brings together auto repair shops across the Cincinnati area to raise money for women battling breast cancer. Throughout the month, participating shops provide free brake pads with qualifying services and donate 10% of brake repair costs to the Karen Wellington Foundation.

    For breast cancer survivor Amy Bishop, that mission hits close to home.

    “I am a fitness instructor. I’m healthy, young, active, and had no previous issues with anything,” Bishop said. “This just came right out of the blue.”

    Bishop was diagnosed with breast cancer last October after a routine mammogram revealed the disease in its early stages. Following surgery and radiation, she is now cancer-free.

    “This happened to me a year ago, and I can’t believe it’s already been a year,” she said. “You can move through it too. You just have to grab somebody’s hand.”

    Those helping hands now include local auto shop owners like Dale Donovan, who has participated in the campaign since it began.

    “What we do is we offer brake jobs and give you the brake pads, then we donate 10% of that brake job to the Karen Wellington Foundation,” said Donovan, owner of Donovan’s Auto & Tire Center.

    Over the last four years, the campaign has raised more than $125,000 for the Karen Wellington Foundation.  “Maybe it’s a balloon ride, maybe it’s just a spa,” Donovan said. “What we’re trying to do is put fun back in their lives because their lives consist of going to the doctor every single day.”

    Bishop, a longtime customer of Ulmer’s Auto Care Center, said she’s grateful to see businesses driving awareness in such a meaningful way.

    “It just gives you another avenue to say, ‘All right, somebody else has been in my shoes,’” Bishop said. “You just feel a lot less alone.”

    Organizers expect to present a donation check to the Karen Wellington Foundation in early November.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Home births are becoming more common

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    COLUMBUS — More parents are choosing to welcome their babies into the world outside of a hospital setting, opting instead for the comfort of being at home.

    What You Need To Know

    • Home births are becoming more common 

    • Marina Zahran is a wellness expert specializing in home births 

    • She said giving birth is supposed to be in a calm, comfortable environment 

    Holistic birth specialist Marina Zahran said she did a four-year program studying at the California College of Ayurveda medicine. She said she’s hearing from families that have their first birth in hospitals because they’re told that’s the safest place to have a baby.

    But she said women are supposed to feel like they’re in a safe, calm environment during that experience.

    “Home birth, you’re watching the birth happen, a lot of the times you’re not having people yell in your face, ‘push,’ you’re experiencing the physiology of birth move through you, and you get to just be a part of it instead of feeling like you’re not doing things right, your body’s not doing things right, and that’s why home births have really positive maternal outcomes for not just the baby but also the mom,” Zahran said.

    Zahran said, to have a home birth, working with a doula or midwife is best.

    “Home birth isn’t for everybody. A lot of times, there isn’t as much pain medication as there is at a hospital, so if you know you want an epidural, a home birth isn’t for you and that’s why hospitals are there,” Zahran said.

    She said that she was meeting more and more families that has their first baby in the hospital and just wanted to go the natural route and do it at home.

    She said this fascinated her, and she wanted to learn more about it and be able to help other women. She took her training program three times in one year to make sure she was knowledgeable about it.

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • City of Akron releases Innerbelt Master Plan

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    AKRON, Ohio — A small stretch of road known as the “Innerbelt” was meant to connect to major highways in Akron in the 1960s, but the construction project has since been abandoned.

    Now, the city is hoping to transform what’s become a point of division to a symbol of unity.

    What You Need To Know

    • Several courts have taken action to block part of the Trump administration’s ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs over the last few months

    • The DEI ban put a pause on a re-development project in Akron, which had been awarded $10 million dollars under the Reconnecting Communities Pilot program

    • The city said it is hoping to overcome that roadblock by honoring the past and building a more connected future



    The city released a “Phase One Report” last year, detailing more than two years of engagement data, case studies and recommendations for carrying out its Reconnecting Our Community initiative. The development program was formally launched in 2022 and aims to rebuild the Innerbelt space through community-based collaboration. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said they’re now launching a master plan, implementing input from members of the community. 

    “I’m a little nervous because its like $200 million of work back there, and that’s a lot of years of work, but I am confident we can do it,” Malik said.

    The city said the plan covers the entire Innerbelt area, including Wooster Avenue and Howard Street – two historic Black commercial, cultural corridors – along with nearby neighborhoods.

    Roberta Rogers was born and raised on Poplar Street in the Akron Innerbelt area.

    She said her family and many others were displaced from the area during the Innerbelt’s initial construction.

    Urban Planner Siqi Zhu said the master plan includes enhancing Vernon Odom Blvd. to be a more walkable, active commercial destination. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “It was a beautiful home and beautiful community,” Rogers said. “We had neighbors and friends that we cared a lot about, and there were stores and post offices and businesses in the area too, that are all gone.”

    Now, Rogers said, she’s hoping to see the city revive the communities’ legacy.

    “Fortunately, however, this group is trying to rebuild the area and give us back community once again, which will be wonderful,” she said.

    The mayor invited other local leaders and the Innerbelt design team to discuss their strategies for supporting Akron residents. 

    Urban planner Siqi Zhu said the Sasaki design team has divided the restoration plans into the five stages, which include, making neighborhood-based investments, strengthing east-west corridors, and connecting open spaces and activating Innerbelt-adjacent assets.

    The design team is now handing off these plans to the city, Zhu said, also setting a timeline for reaching short-term and long-term goals.

    “This is the moment when we take these ideas, and again … start to turn them into reality in the next one year, five years, 15 years and 30 years,” he said.

    (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “The last idea is to focus on the actual highway infrastructure and how we can incrementally undue, untangle that infrastructure, which requires a lot of thoughtful studies and steps, for the reason that this is still an active highway,” he said.

    Millions of dollars in federal funds remain frozen for Innerbelt project after being halted during President Donald Trump’s DEI crackdown.

    Zhu said they’re working with the city to overcome this hurdle.

    “And that’s one of the big reasons why we broke up the master plan into these smaller, incremental steps,” he said. “That starts with, one to five years and then building on that. The one to five year projects are intentionally developed in such a way that they are within the sort of resource envelope of what the city has.”

    Still, repairing the Innerbelt means recognizing the lasting impact of its past, Zhu said, and looking beyond the geographical scar left behind.

    “It’s not just about putting back physically with the way it was, but rather looking at economy, housing, open space, culture, history, try to repair all of these different aspects, and not just the physical sort of highway and roads,” he said.

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • Columbus pays $1M settlement after police give child to wrong parent

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The City of Columbus has agreed to pay $1 million to a father and son after a mistake made by two rookie Columbus police officers led to the child being given to the wrong parent, who then disappeared with the boy for seven months.

    What You Need To Know

    • Columbus pays $1 million settlement to father and son

    • Columbus police officers mistakenly gave a child to the non-custodial parent who took them on the run
    • The Child returned to the father seven months later

    • The police officers received corrective counseling and new training

    Columbus City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the funds. The city attorney said Lonnie Henry had custody of his son KG, when two first-year Columbus police officers mistakenly turned the boy over to his mother, who did not have custody but was fighting to get it. She was known to have a violent past. The mistake happened when the officers misinterpreted court papers the mother had, improeprly believing the papers showed her custody rights.

    After receiving the boy, she went on the run with him for seven months, beginning at the end of 2023, before the boy was eventually reunited with his father—the child’s rightful custodial parent—in 2024. 

    Henry’s legal team claims in documents that the boy was physically abused during the months he spent with his mother. Several councilmembers shared their frustration and anger that this mix up happened. The Columbus Public Safety Director called the incident a horrible mistake and said the two officers have since received corrective counseling and new training. However, members of the council say that’s not enough. 

    “The fact that the folks who are literally in charge of enforcing the law misinterpreted the law so badly that a child has gone missing for seven months. I am furious because I literally sat in my bed and I cried the other day. I don’t know where to place this frustration, and I want it to be on record that it is totally unacceptable. And saying that we had a conversation with someone or we trained them is simply, in my opinion, not enough,” said Nick Bankston, Columbus City Council.

    “This was a horrible unintentional mistake by two of our officers. As a parent, I cannot imagine the anguish felt by the custodial parent,” said Kate McSweeney-Pishotti, Columbus Public Safety Director.

    Henry’s attorney, Bart Keyes, with law firm Cooper Elliott, said they do not want to make KG re-live the trauma he experienced during those seven months. Keyes said the money helps but does not erase what KG endured and hopes this incident will help prevent others in the future.

    “We do know that there were reports that some violence occured when they were on the run,” Keyes said. “They stayed in a car ovrenight on more than one occassion. It was not an ideal or safe situation for him. We’re grateful he wasn’t hurt worse than he was, as soon as he came back home to his father, dad got him back in school. This really needs to be a teaching example for Columbus Police. We can only hope that the officers learn their lesson but also that the Division of Police is using this example not just to coach those two officers but to train every officer on the force so that something like this doesn’t happen again.

    The boy’s mother, Shadasia Gillyard, was arrested on multiple charges.

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    Emani Payne

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  • Beyond the Pink: High school senior raising breast cancer research awareness

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    OHIO — For many, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to wear pink and raise money toward breast cancer research.

    But for others, it provides a chance to take it a step further.

    What You Need To Know

    • Addison Frazier’s mom died from metastatic breast cancer when she was 6-years-old

    • Frazier is a scholar athlete, cheering football, basketball and competition and interns at  Pink Ribbon Good

    • Frazier said she’s raised $8,000 toward research to end the deadly disease

    Addison Frazier’s mom died from metastatic breast cancer when she was just 6-years-old.

    “She had fought since she found out she was pregnant with me, so breast cancer awareness not only means raising awareness for the people but also raising awareness for the families who are also in the fight,” said Frazier, a senior at Olentangy High School.

    Frazier is a cheerleader who is working to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. 

    “When I was little, I was just kind of thrown into therapies, and there wasn’t really a support group for the children affected. So that’s what I’m trying to create. It will be called ‘Linked by Hope,’” Frazier said.

    (Photo Courtesy Addison Frazier)

    Frazier is a scholar athlete, cheering football, basketball and competition. On top of that, every week she drives to Dayton to intern at an organization that’s closer to her heart, Pink Ribbon Good.

    “It’s a wonderful nonprofit organization that provides services for people going through breast and gynecological cancer,” Frazier said.

    Rachel Parrill, director of grants and foundations at Pink Ribbon Good, said Frazier brings something special to the group.

    “To have Addi, who has lived through this unfortunately, really wanting now to help others in that same situation means so much. The perspective she brings is invaluable,” said Parrill.

    All month long, players, fans and officials wear pink to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But Frazier wants people to know there’s more that needs to be done than just wearing the color. 

    “Something that’s often missed with pink games, is sometimes people just wear pink and nothing else is done with it, but something special we’re doing here at Olentangy is we are working with a breast and gynecological cancer organization, to raise money and to continue to support the fight, not just by wearing pink, we’re actually doing something for the cause,” Frazier said.

    Frazier said she’s raised $8,000 toward research to end the deadly disease, hoping that little by little, she can help others so they won’t have to grow up without a mom like she did. 

    “Something that I’ve done that’s a little bit different is I don’t just email, I go into the place and I actually talk with the people and continue to show them my story, so they get more of an idea of why I need to raise this money,” Frazier said.

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • Plumber shares tips to prepare for colder weather

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    OHIO — As temperatures start to dip, it’s not just cars or wardrobes that need some cold weather prep; plumbing does too.

    What You Need To Know

    • Colder months are approaching 

    • Prepare your home’s plumbing for winter now by leaving the water dripping 

    • Open cabinets to allow heat to get inside so your pipes don’t freeze 

    Frozen or burst pipes can lead to costly damage, but there are simple steps you can take now to avoid a headache later.

    Simple things like insulating pipes, disconnecting outdoor hoses and keeping a slow drip on cold nights can make a big difference.

    Monica Stewart is a plumbing instructor at the Ohio Construction Academy. She said the biggest thing is getting ahead of the cold weather and making sure you’re prepared.

    “The main thing that people don’t do is disconnect their water hose from the water spigot. It’ll be okay during the winter, but when spring comes and you get ready to turn on your water, you’ll have a busted water line,” said Monica Stewart, plumbing instructor at Ohio Construction Academy.

    Stewart also said if you have water on the outside walls of your home, to open the cabinets to allow heat to get inside so the pipes don’t freeze. She said, slowly running the water prevents the pipes from freezing too, and wrapping or insulating your water heaters.

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • World War II Ohio veteran celebrates 100th birthday

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    TOLEDO — More than 16 million people from the U.S. fought in World War II, and 80 years after the war ended a World War II navy veteran who turned 100 years old in the Buckeye State is celebrating his birthday.

    What You Need To Know

    • More than 16 million people from the U.S. fought in World War II

    • Victor Gressler turned 100 years old on October 19th in Maumee, Ohio

    • During Gressler’s service during WWII he went to Hawaii, Guam and New Guinea

    On Sunday, World War II veteran Victor Gressler turned 100 years old in Maumee, about 10 miles outside of Toledo. Gressler’s birthday is October 19th.

    “This is 70 years ago. I joined the navy when I was 17-years-old,” said Victor Gressler, the 100-year-old WWII veteran.

    Gressler joined the U.S. Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the time he served, he was almost killed twice. During his service, he went to Hawaii, Guam and New Guinea.

    A couple of weeks before the torpedo dropped, Gressler was sick with yellow fever and in the sick bay. He was sent home to recover before the torpedo dropped, and it killed everyone in the sick bay. The second time Gressler was almost killed, he was doing some work where the ammunition was stored, and it blew up. Decades later, he is celebrating a milestone birthday.

    “I’ve always considered him a, you know, like a World War II Navy veteran hero because he went and fought for his country and quit high school to go fight for his country,” said Barbara Kurtz, Gressler‘s stepdaughter. “So, I think he’s fabulous, and he deserves to have a party for his birthday.”

    Kurtz helped celebrate the vet, but Gressler is not only a vet; he’s a musician too.

    He’s been singing and playing the guitar for more than 80 years, and he still plays. The songs are all in his head, and he plays music from country legends like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Jim Reeves.

    “We saw that sign on the window. It said, ‘Come on in and show your talent,’” said Gressler. “So, I said, ‘Whoa, what the heck? I think I’ll try it.’”

    That was 85 years ago, and Gressler won a guitar that day. A year ago, he joined the Elizabeth Scott Community, a senior living community. Now his audience is the residents within the community he calls home. When asked about how he made it to this birthday, he says do what makes you happy.

    “I like my music and I like my friend, you know, mostly with my music because I like to sing,” said Gressler.

    In his free time, Gressler played guitar and mandolin with The Maumee Valley Boys. His band performed at local dances and gatherings.

    He came back to Ohio after the war, married his high school sweetheart and worked for a trucking company for more than 30 years. Since being at the senior living community, Gressler continues to play the guitar and sing. He also enjoys bingo, cards and dice.

    Kurtz said they will keep having birthday parties every year that Gressler is here.

    According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there are approximately 45,000 World War II veterans still alive today.

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    Rose Todd

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  • Dayton activists honor 30th anniversary of Million Man March

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Dayton activists gathered to build a resilient future by honoring the 30th Anniversary of the Million Man March. 

    The crowd marched in Washington D.C., to demand congress act in the interest of African Americans, while also combatting negative stereotypes surrounding black men. 

    “We look back at the time when this march was originated October the 16th, 1995 Minister Louis Farrakhan, he was preaching to black man to come together,” Reverend David Fox said.

    Fox, who was at the Million Man March in 1995, remembers it as a higlight of his life. 

    “I was there, it was a great time, it reminded me of the 60s when black men were embracing one another,” Reverend David Fox said.

    Many community members said this event was to redefine the image of the black man in America and ignite a renewed commitment to their family, faith, and community.

    “The purpose of it is to bring the community closer together,” Million Man March Participant Morris Brown said.

    Black leaders were pleased to see young back men at the gathering and are hopeful they can build an unbreakable bond.

    “Now were trying to embrace each other again, rather than turning on each other, we want to turn towards each other,”  Reverend David Fox said.

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    Travis Hicks

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  • More students getting involved with clubs like Turning Point USA

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Political commentator Charlie Kirk would have turned 32-years-old on Tuesday. 

    Nearly five weeks after he was shot and killed at a rally in Utah, many young people are continuing to keep his memory alive through his organization.

    What You Need To Know

    • Oct. 14 is Charlie Kirk’s birthday

    • Many young people are continuing to keep his memory alive through his organization

    • Kirk founded Turning Point USA

    Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012. It’s an organization with a mission to promote conservative ideas among young people.

    Several colleges and high schools around Ohio have chapters, including in central Ohio, where students testified before a school board earlier this year.

    That group at Hilliard Davidson High School said its mission is to “educate students on essential American values, such as freedom, limited government and a free market.”

    Back in January, a Turning Point USA staffer joined students to push the district to recognize them claiming they were being oppressed and not being allowed to host events.

    The club is currently listed on the district’s website.

    A political science professor said clubs like this one can promote discussion of important issues.

    “I think we need a healthier balance of discourse at all educational institutions, and one of the problems that we have seen is that discourse has been dominated by a very loud aggressive faction of the left, and there are certainly people that do not want chapters of Turning Point USA because it’s a very different ideological voice, and there are reasons that one might not like that but its not healthy to have discourse dominated by one ideological faction,” said Justin Buchler, associate professor of political science at Case Western Reserve University.

    Buchler said creating these clubs is a way for students to express their freedom of speech.

    He said in the past, the more liberal groups were more organized on school campuses.

    Buchler said since Kirk’s murder, people are getting a clearer idea that there may be more ideological diversity among students and younger people.

    There is at least one candlelight vigil scheduled for Oct. 14 for Kirk’s birthday. It’s taking place in the Sunbury Square at 6 p.m. They’re billing it as an evening of unity and a way to come together and reflect on Kirk’s words of faith.

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • New exhibit highlights Cincinnati’s role in U.S. brewing history

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    CINCINNATI, Ohio — Cincinnati’s brewing roots are back on tap with a new pop-up exhibit that explores how immigrant labor and innovation helped turn the city into a 19th-century beer powerhouse.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Brewery District CURC launched a pop-up exhibit which taps into Cincinnati’s brewing roots 

    • It’s part of the nonprofit’s larger vision to establish the first-ever American Museum of Brewing 

    • Attendees were encouraged to fill out a short survey to help guide the museum’s planning process

    The exhibit, titled “Tapping into Tradition: How Immigrant Labor & Innovation Created a Brewing Boomtown,” was launched by the Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation (CURC). It’s part of the group’s larger vision to establish the first-ever American Museum of Brewing.

    “Cincinnati has a really robust brewing history, going back to the early 19th century,” said Aaron Deininger, executive director of the Brewery District CURC. “This exhibit focuses on the labor movement and immigration in the 19th century, and how those forces really developed the type of beer that was produced here.”

    The pop-up is an extension of the CURC’s year-round Heritage Brewing Trail, which offers guided tours of historic brewery sites and underground lagering cellars throughout the city. Deininger said Cincinnati may have the largest known collection of 19th-century underground lager cellars in the United States.

    Board member and longtime brewery district tour guide Lisa French said the goal is not only to celebrate Cincinnati’s past but to involve the city’s more than 70 active breweries in shaping its future.

    “We’re going to hopefully have a small batch system for them to do specialty brewing, where they can either teach people or explain how it goes,” French said. “That will give them visibility to their breweries and help keep that industry going.”

    The nonprofit expected the exhibit to draw more than 500 visitors. While admission was free, attendees were encouraged to fill out a short survey to help guide the museum’s planning process.

    “We’re in the process of raising funds for a feasibility study to look at the development of the museum,” Deininger said. “Where is the best place to put it, whether it’s this neighborhood or specific places within it.”

    From lager cellars to future-forward brewing education, organizers said the pop-up is just the first pour of what they hope becomes a permanent part of Cincinnati’s cultural identity.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Disney on Ice brings the magic to Cincinnati

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    CINCINNATI — This weekend you can step into the world of Mickey Mouse, sing along with Elsa in the magical world of Frozen, set sail with Moana, and so much more as Disney on Ice wows fans of all ages.

    Spectrum News got a look behind the scenes at “Mickey’s Search Party” at the Heritage Bank Center.

    From the colorful, intricate costumes to the real-life looking props, this Disney on Ice magical show is one you don’t want to miss.

    The show also features themes and storylines from the movie, “Coco,” and cast members say it creates a special feeling during Hispanic Heritage Month. 

    You can also expect to see plenty of world-class skating and high-flying acrobatics that just make you say, “Wow!”

    “So, I’m actually Hispanic American, so it’s really important for me to be and feel represented, especially as a kid. It was really nice to see myself on the TV, and I felt a little bit more connected to the community that way as well. So to be a part of it is great,” said cast member Sabrina Marshall.

    Throughout “Mickey’s Search Party,” you’ll get to see some favorite classic characters, like Belle, Ariel, Captain Hook, Buzz Lightyear, Woody and many others.

    Tickets are still on sale.

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    Alese Underwood

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  • ‘Living with a purpose’: Ohioan starts nonprofit to help prevent youth violence

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — To help combat a rise in youth violence, one former gang member is using his experience to help steer some of the community’s most vulnerable toward a safer path.

    What You Need To Know

    • The nonprofit Ours Brothers Keepers provides support and resources to at-risk youth in Columbus to help prevent violence

    • The organization was founded by a former member of the Short North Posse gang after his release from prison as a way to give back and steer some of the community’s most vulnerable down a safer path

    • The nonprofit provides participants between the ages of 7 and 24 a variety of services like food, shelter, mentoring and an opportunity to learn life skills

    “This is a dream come true,” said Wesley Moore. “It’s like getting the lottery.”

    Wesley said he founded the nonprofit Ours Brothers Keepers to provide support and resources he never had while growing up.

    “I know how it feels to be at risk,” he said. “I know how it feels to not have a home, not have a kitchen table. So this is something that I try to provide for every youth who is going through the same similar story.”

    Wesley said that he and his brother Markey were raised surrounded by drugs and violence in Columbus.

    “You didn’t think nothing over it,” he said. “You didn’t think nothing was wrong with it. You know, most people, when we came out the house hungry and stuff, it was, ‘Here get some drugs.’”

    As he got older, Wesley joined the local gang.

    “So you start growing up, you see people,” he said. “That’s what you think; that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

    At age 18, a federal grand jury indicted Wesley and more than 40 other original members of the Short North Posse.

    He served 15 years in prison.

    “I pointed the fingers at everybody, like man, I can’t believe they got me put in jail,” Wesley said. “And so, like, after five years, I was like, I realized I put myself in here. I start realizing I made the choice. I made the decision.”

    He said he used the time while incarcerated to educate himself and said the experience gave him the vision for the nonprofit.

    “I don’t run from my past,” Wesley said. “It’s what God put me through. Had me walk this way to understand who I am today. So I’m thankful for it.”

    He said he drove trucks for 10 years after his release to earn the money to buy the East Columbus properties where his vision would turn into reality.

    “A lot of these kids are so in survival mode to where we break them in to show love or support,” Wesley said.

    Ours Brothers Keepers officially became a nonprofit organization five years ago to provide services missing in the community. He said they have received some financial support from the Columbus Mayor’s Office and the Franklin County Office on Aging, but most of what they provide is paid from their own pockets, earned through a construction company the brothers also operate.  

    “We don’t know nothing too much about grants and stuff,” Wesley said.

    Instead, he said they stretch a shoestring budget to provide for those between the ages of seven and 24 who show up daily, referred to the program through court systems, parents, social media and word of mouth.

    “My grandmother used to make a big, giant pot of spaghetti and feed 100 people, so I know we can make whatever little bit of money we had to make sure 65 youth stay safe and violence free,” he said.

    Besides mentoring kids and teens, the nonprofit provides several support services, such as food, clothes, skills training, temporary and transitional housing, and a community engagement center with a computer lab.

    At 15-years-old, David Price Jr. is one teen helping build some of the transitional housing through his participation in the program.

    “Teach us how to, like, save our money, teach us how to trade, put up drywall and keeping us safe,” he said.

    They are also learning how to earn an income. The kids are paid $15 an hour for their work helping bring Markey’s plans to life.

    “I always said, once I get older, I want to own homes and get in construction, so I’d never be homeless,” Markey said.

    The young adults are also paid for their work helping seniors in the community with their lawn care. The maintenance is free for the seniors and a way to provide the kids a sense of purpose.

    The young adults are also paid for their work helping seniors in the community with their lawn care. (Spectrum News 1/Jenna Jordan)

    “Put the guns down, pick up a check,” Wesley said. “Now the kids are like, ‘I don’t want no guns, I’m trying to get some money.’”

    Wesley said participants may not have weapons, which is one way the nonprofit is having a positive impact on community violence.

    “The violence will really go down and stay down, because the kids know they got an opportunity to make some money to be able to feed their family,” Wesley said. “A lot of that $300 go a long way at their house.”

    He said some of the most violent youth in the city are involved with Ours Brothers Keepers, including members of the Kia Boys, teaching them to own up to their bad choices and take responsibility.

    “I can honestly say, they ain’t stolen a car in two years,” Wesley said. “And the cars that were stolen that they did, I made sure they paid back the victims.”

    Wesley said his goal is to provide 100 kids, like Semaj Burgess, a place to go and something to do year-round.

    “Taught me just how to be a better person, how to better myself,” Burgess said while pushing a lawnmower.

    This is the 14-year-old’s second year in the program, and he is proud of his growth, learning the importance of brotherhood and community.

    “During school, like, I’m not gonna lie, I was getting into a lot of trouble,” Burgess said. “Just not knowing how to communicate with people. Or how to like treat people.”

    He said his parents’ love that he is getting something out of the experience and being productive.

    “They’re telling me how much I been changing since I been coming here, at least,” Burgess said. “Hearing that coming from my parents, it just means something more.”

    He now has a new focus on the future and the path to get there.

    “I have a purpose in life that’s way bigger than just fighting,” he said.

    Wesley hopes to continue living his dream by having a positive impact and making the community safer for everyone.

    “And I think that’s very important cause that’s our motto: living with a purpose,” he said.

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    Jenna Jordan

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  • Government shutdown slows immigration cases, years-long delays expected

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    CINCINNATI — As the federal government shutdown drags on, its effects are rippling through Ohio’s only immigration court, creating deep uncertainty for attorneys, clients and families already facing long legal battles.

    What You Need To Know

    • Immigration courts are still open during the shutdown, but many federal court workers are working without pay and some furloughed

    • Attorneys say the furloughs from the shutdown are causing delays that is pushing trials back years 

    • In the Department of Justice’s contingency plan, it states there’s already a backlog of about four million cases nationwide and it’s expected to get worse the longer the shutdown goes on

    Immigration courts remain technically open, but staffing shortages — fueled by widespread furloughs of federal employees — are slowing casework. Attorneys say the backlog, already nearing four million cases nationwide, is now growing faster and will likely push some hearings back by several years.

    Rob Ratliff, an immigration lawyer based in Ohio, said the shutdown is putting serious strain on an already overburdened system. Among his clients is Ayman Soliman, a faith leader who spent 72 days in ICE custody before his release sparked community-wide celebration. Soliman is now pursuing permanent residency — but Ratliff says that process will likely take more time. 

    “He will be able to continue to pursue his adjustment of status and ultimately become a green card holder and then a citizen,” Ratliff said, “It’s going to be very difficult. It’s difficult for attorneys to stay on top of what’s going on. The system is stressed, and this shutdown is pushing it to the edge,” he said.

    Soliman, reflecting on his time in detention, called his release “a dream.” But his fight isn’t over.

    “The people that are considered essential employees continue to work in the courts,” Ratliff added. “But they have a heavier burden because of the people that have been furloughed.”

    The Department of Justice, which oversees immigration courts, did not provide a formal response to a request for comment. A press secretary simply replied as a part of an automatic response, “I have been furloughed.”

    According to the DOJ’s published shutdown contingency plan, criminal cases remain a top priority. Immigration court workers are still reporting to work — without pay — but many administrative staff members have been furloughed.

    The plan acknowledges the backlog, which is already nearing 4 million cases. Ratliff estimates that non-detained immigrants with upcoming hearings could see their court dates pushed back by two to three years.

    “If hearings scheduled for the next few weeks get canceled, people can anticipate having a trial date two to three years from now,” he said.

    That could mean extended uncertainty for immigrants who have already waited months, even years, for their cases to be heard.

    As of now, there is no clear timeline for when the shutdown will end or when full staffing will return to immigration courts. And even when it does, attorneys expect delays will continue — especially in appeals.

    For Soliman and others like him, the path to permanent residency remains a long road ahead.                    

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    Sheena Elzie

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  • Mental health crisis, addiction center filling gaps in care

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    LANCASTER, Ohio — A facility open in the heart of Lancaster was built for two issues, but has one mission: to help save lives. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Data from the Ohio Department of Health shows that in 2023 there were nearly 4,500 unintentional overdose deaths in the state

    • The overdoses were from a range of drugs, including cocaine, heroin and opioids

    • A dashboard from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health also shows there are hundreds of facilities in the state to help people with mental health crises or addiction, but they’re usually treated separately, despite often going hand-in-hand
    • In Fairfield County, the community there is looking to solve this issue 

    It’s called The Stabilization, Treatment and Recovery Center, or STARLight Center, a 20-bed facility designed to treat both mental health crises and drug addiction, issues that are usually treated separately, despite often going hand-in-hand. 

    “It’s life changing, to have this facility open in Lancaster, Ohio,” said Lancaster’s mayor, Don McDaniel. “There are some other mental health facilities locally, but they’re more of halfway type houses or recovery centers, and they’re not doing what this facility is doing.”

    Marcy Fields (left), Jillian Cleary (center) and Mayor Don McDaniel (right). (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    McDaniel said some communities in the state don’t have the resources to provide immediate crisis-level care, leaving those seeking treatment often forced to travel to other areas, sometimes across state lines. There are stories of Ohioans traveling to facilities in Texas for care. Bringing back local treatment and intervention is critically important, he said. 

    “Sometimes it was as far away as several counties away that there was an available bed,” Mayor McDaniel said. “That means that that person in crisis was uprooted from the community, taken away from their friends and family, and given a bed several counties away or maybe a couple hundred miles away, depending on the circumstances and just not really conducive to recovering from crisis.”

    Without facilities like STARlight, McDaniel said, the consequences can be severe. 

    People cycle in and out of jail or emergency rooms. Some end up homeless. Others face an increased risk of death from suicide, illness or overdose. 

    The STARlight Center brings resources right to the people of Fairfield County. 

    Fairfield County has been hit hard by drug addiction. Data from the Fairfield County ADAMH Board shows 49 people died of accidental overdoses in 2023. 

    “Now what we’re seeing is a real mix of substances,” said Marcy Fields, the executive director of the ADAMH Board. “I’m not sure people are seeking out, or getting heroin as much, but we know fentanyl is in many, many drugs. So even though people might be drifting toward methamphetamine and even cocaine is seeing a resurgence. But those drugs are mixed with fentanyl now, so the risk of overdose from an opioid is still really high, because people may not even know it’s in the drug they’re taking. So overdose is still a huge risk. We’re still doing a lot of work getting Narcan out to the community, because that saves people’s lives.”

    Fields said STARlight provides a critical option for people seeking help earlier, before they reach a hospital-level crisis. People of all genders can voluntarily seek help. 

    “So we’re trying to get help to people that aren’t to the point where they absolutely need a hospital setting and a hospital bed and locked into the facility,” Fields said. “We’re trying to get help to people that are…saying, ‘I’m not doing great; if I could go there voluntarily, I would, because I want to get better.’”

    The center is operated by OhioGuidestone, a nonprofit that runs the 24/7 facility. 

    Jillian Cleary, the regional director of operations at OhioGuidestone, said STARlight also works to remove financial and insurance barriers that often prevent people from accessing treatment. 

    “If someone shows up at the Starlight Center, we can provide them care,” Cleary said. “We don’t have to worry about any of that red tape that sometimes you deal with.”

    Since opening to the public in Oct. 2024, the STARlight Center has already served more than 100 people.

    Testimonials from clients highlight the impact:

    • “Words do not describe the amount of gratitude that I feel for all of the support that I have gotten from everyone here. Literally, every single person in their own way. Each and everyone deserves praise for what they do. Thank you for everything!”

    Cleary said one of the unique aspects of STARlight is its inclusive approval. No crisis is considered “too small.”

    “We don’t define your crisis; our clients define their crisis,” Cleary said. “It can be something as, you know, like losing a pet, losing a boyfriend, losing, you know, something like that all the way to somebody who’s struggling with really serious mental health issues such as psychosis.”

    The center also works with clients on long-term recovery by creating discharge and aftercare plans before they leave.

    “We really work closely with the clients who come in to develop a discharge plan and an aftercare plan,” Cleary said “We really want to make sure anybody who comes in, they know that we are glad that they’re there, they know that they’re safe, they know that they’re going to get good care and that they’re going to leave with plans for where to follow up.”

    The $4.5 million project was a community effort. In 2018, Fairfield County passed a property tax levy to help fund STARlight. State and federal grants cover about a third of the cost, with the rest coming from local property taxes. 

    STARlight is open 24/7, but because of the community, people 18 years and older can get the help they need, and there’s no cost barrier.  

    “It takes a village, it takes a city,” McDaniel said. “It takes a county to step forward and say, ‘We need this. We recognize a need, and we want to assist our friends, family and neighbors in overcoming, in this case, addiction, but also the mental health issues.’ And they’re often coupled together.”

    Fairfield County ADAMH Board. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    ADAMH is also developing additional resources, including Venture Place, a 24-unit apartment complex to provide permanent housing for unhoused people with behavioral health needs. 

    Across the street, the Center of Hope will offer recovery programming and support. 

    “So much we see out there are the people in the middle of their problems, and it’s discouraging, and it’s frustrating,” Fields said. “But we don’t see enough of these people that get into recovery and have a great, high-quality life because they’ve got into recovery. And they can in spite of really, maybe a mental health diagnosis or a substance use diagnosis, in spite of that, they can get into recovery and have really the life they always wanted.”

    For those outside Fairfield County, resources are available through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which maintains an online dashboard of crisis programs by county. 

    “Many of us have a lived experience ourselves, myself included,” Cleary said. “And we want you to know that you’re not alone. And so, you know, yes, centers like this need to exist more. It takes a lot of effort. It takes a lot of collaboration between agencies like ADAMH, the city, local law enforcement, the emergency department. And so we’ve really learned how much work it takes to get these things up and running. But I think it’s been a really good example of what a community that cares about their citizens can do when they put their efforts and their willpower and their passion together to make that work for the people who need it.”

    For more information on STARlight, click here.

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • New blood test helps detect cancer earlier

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    PATASKALA, Ohio — Most of us don’t think about cancer until it touches our family or until we start feeling symptoms. But for many types of cancer, by then it can already be too late.

    What You Need To Know

    • A blood test called Galleri caught Kevin McFarland’s esophageal cancer early, even though he had no symptoms or family history

    • The test can detect more than 50 cancers, sometimes before they show up on regular scans, but it costs about $1,000 and isn’t covered by insurance

    • Early detection saved McFarland’s life, allowing surgery before the cancer spread, and he now calls every day a second chance

    A new blood test is starting to change that, and it’s already making a difference for people like Kevin McFarland.

    After three decades of running into danger as a firefighter, McFarland is moving at a different pace these days: yardwork, walking his dog and enjoying retirement.

    But just a year ago, he didn’t know how much time he had left.

    McFarland said he felt strong, with no symptoms or family history of cancer. That’s why he was shocked when a routine blood test found something he never expected: esophageal cancer.

    The test is called Galleri. It looks for traces of more than 50 types of cancer, many of them with no standard screenings available. Insurance doesn’t cover it, and the price can reach about $1,000. But McFarland’s fire department pays for every crew member to get tested, and it caught his cancer early.

    “The test, 100%. The Galleri test caught my cancer and caught it early enough that surgery was all I needed. I did not need chemo or radiation… and luckily that’s what got it all,” McFarland said.

    Dr. Jeffrey Milks, a family physician who uses the test with patients, said that’s exactly the point: finding cancer sooner.

    “It’ll give you a positive result, sometimes long before the cancer would be evident,” Milks said.

    He said it can detect cancer too small to be picked up on normal scans, which can make all the difference for survival.

    “The idea is if we have a tumor that is smaller than a centimeter, the outcomes are much better,” Milks said.

    For McFarland, early detection saved his life. It also meant an 11-hour surgery that permanently changed his body.

    “They took the lower half of my esophagus out and moved my stomach up into my chest… it gives you reflux all the time,” he said.

    Those side effects forced him to retire five years earlier than planned. And while his cancer outcome is rare, he’s grateful it was caught in time.

    “Once we go out and talk to my surgeon, I realized that esophageal cancer has a 5% survival rate… if they would have waited… I probably wouldn’t be standing here,” McFarland said.

    Now cancer-free, he calls every day a second chance.

    “I want to travel a little bit, as long as my health maintains. I want to enjoy my family, my kids… and if there’s something now that I want to go do, I’m just going to go do it,” he said.

    McFarland said he’s grateful for the time he has and the test that gave it to him.

    Dr. Milks says he most often recommends Galleri for people with a family history of cancer, for smokers and for essential caregivers or business owners. Anyone can request it, but the cost and lack of insurance coverage remain hurdles.

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    Aliah Keller

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  • Measles outbreak causes New Albany school to close

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    NEW ALBANY, Ohio — Cases of measles are on the rise and health officials are sounding the alarm.

    What You Need To Know

    • There was a measles case reported in New Albany

    • The New Albany learning center is closing on Monday, Oct. 6 
    • Ohio has seen an increase in measles cases, recording 34 this year compared to seven last year

    The highly contagious virus, once thought to be nearly eliminated in the U.S., is making a comeback.

    An early learning center in New Albany is closing down on Oct. 6 because of a measles outbreak.

    “It’s actually deeply concerning that in 2025 we’re still able to see outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. As a family that follows the guidance of our qualified pediatrician and vaccinate accordingly, it’s really frustrating to know that our schools remain vulnerable due to gaps in immunity,” said Molly Williams, a mother. “This week’s school closure is especially difficult for preschool parents, and it’s not just about an inconvenience; it’s about a child that contracted a disease that’s preventable.”

    Williams said she hopes this serves as a wake-up call that some diseases like measles have become rare, but are still around. She said everyone has a role in protecting our communities.

    Ohio has seen an increase in measles cases, recording 34 this year compared to seven last year.

    In 2022, Ohio had 90 cases of measles, when an outbreak in Central Ohio totaled 85 cases.

    This year’s spike was also related to an outbreak in Ashtabula County in March.

    Nine cases were linked to just one man, who was the state’s first reported case in 2025 and none of those infected were vaccinated.

    As for nationwide vaccinations, those experienced a sharp decrease from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 92% in 2023 and 2024.

    According to the CDC, when more than 95% of people in a community are vaccinated, most are protected through herd immunity. Ohio is sitting at 89%.

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • Stocking sturgeon: Officials reintroduce native fish to Lake Erie

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    CLEVELAND — Hundreds of people gathered at Rivergate Park to contribute to an ongoing effort to re-introduce sturgeon to Lake Erie and its surrounding rivers. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Officials said 2,000 baby sturgeon were released into the Cuyahoga River on Saturday, Oct. 4
    • The Ohio Department of Wildlife plans to hold annual releases on the Cuyahohga River for the next 25 years
    • The Maumee River has been stocked with sturgeon annually since 2018 

    “I’m here to see the sturgeons be released and be part of it,” said Tony Modic, one of those waiting in line to receive a fish.

    Modic wanted to be part of the first annual Sturgeon Fest, an event organized as part of the Ohio Department of Wildlife’s initiative to reintroduce the sturgeon into Lake Erie and its surrounding rivers.

    “Here at Rivergate Park, we are releasing 750 sturgeon,” said Eric Weimer, a Fisheries Biologist Supervisor for ODW. 

    He said the event is a culmination of years of research into whether the water could be inhabited by sturgeon again.   

    “We don’t want to keep stocking sturgeon in perpetuity,” Weimer said. 

    The department’s plan is to continue stocking the Cuyahoga with sturgeon for the next 25 years. They believe that after the time period, the sturgeon population will sustain itself. 

    “First and foremost, they are a native species, so they belong in our Great Lakes,” Weimer said, explaining that healthy fish populations and habitats are positive for the ecosystem. 

    “I’ve always taught my son about reintroduction of species to native habitats and we actually get to have a hand in it now, and we’re so excited about that,” said Lisa Barham who attended the event with her five-year-old son.

    Eager participants received a bucket with a single baby sturgeon in it. They walked down to the docks at Merwin’s Wharf and sent the fish off using special slides. 

    A total of 2,000 sturgeon were re-introduced to the Cuyahoga. ODW also released fish at two other locations off the Cuyahoga that Saturday. 

    The stocking of the Cuyahoga follows a similar project that started in the Maumee River, where ODW has been stocking sturgeon since 2018. 

    The new project at the Cuyahoga is part of their larger effort to bring the fish back to Lake Erie. 

    Weimar explained that the fish spend most of their time in the lake, but will typically travel upstream to mate. 

    Sturgeon can live up to one-hundred years and grow to be six feet long. 

    “It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s a sign that things are going in the right direction. People are starting to think long term and not short term,” Lisa Barham said. 

    Sturgeon are native to Lake Erie and the surrounding rivers, but by the late 1800s the population was greatly diminished due to overharvesting, pollution, and habitat alteration.

    “I would love to see the sturgeon population come back; you know, it would be fantastic to not have it on the endangered species list,” said Modic. 

    If sturgeon are caught in the Great Lakes, they must immediately be released. Down the line, he’d love to see it come back and know that he played a part in it. 

    “I’m glad they’re doing it, and I hope to go every year,” he said.

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    Corey O’Leary

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  • Local food bank prepares to serve additional military families

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Despite not knowing when the next paycheck is coming, millions of military service members are required to continue working through the government shutdown.

    Hundreds of thousands of civilian employees and contractors remain in essential roles at work, but even more are facing furloughs. One local food pantry near Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton is preparing to help more military families as the shutdown continues.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fairborn Fish Food Pantry serves 53,000 people a year, including many military families

    • As the government shutdown continues, the pantry and other food banks are preparing for an increase in people needing extra help

    • Fairborn Fish is planning a special donation drive event for military and veterans from noon to 4 p.m. on Nov. 15

    “This means the world to all of us out here. This is all we have. This right here is something to look forward to,” said Shannon George.

    For years, being able to line up outside of Fairborn Fish Food Pantry has meant the world to Shannon George.

    “This right here doesn’t turn you away when you’re hungry,” she said.

    It’s also been a place where volunteers like Dottie and Alan Meade have been giving back for a long time.

    The pantry serves about 53,000 people a year, including many young military families at Wright-Patt less than five minutes away.  

    Meade was a government contracting officer for 30 years, and he loves volunteering.

    However, with the shutdown, there’s a lot to think about as he helps organize food donations.

    They’re concerned about their three daughters and their spouses.

    “Four of them are Air Force employees, and they’re furloughed right now,” said Alan Meade.

    The Meades also have small grandchildren, and that makes them extra nervous during these times.

    “The economy is not good right now, and it’s scary for our kids who are not working and for our community. We have a lot of people in Fairborn who live and work for the base and are now unemployed,” said Dottie Meade.

    “I feel like this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Fairborn Fish Food Pantry executive director Jane Doorley.

    Doorley said that about 15% of people in Fairborn don’t know where their next meal is coming from. 

    “I think that, with the shutdown, that’s going to increase,” she said.

    In November, the pantry is planning a special event for military and veterans.

    “We’ll give them like a gift card to the commissary or grocery store, we’ll give them a bucket of cleaning supplies, some food and everything. Just kind of do what we can to help them get through this,” she said.

    For the Meades, they’ve experienced furloughs before, but in the past employees were reimbursed.  

    “In this case, they’re not sure if it’s going to happen, and then there’s threats that they will actually lose their jobs, so that causes more consternation on their part,” said Alan Meade.

    “The fear of not knowing. Tomorrow, do I go to work? How long is this going to last? Every day you get up wondering, is it today they’re going to solve the problem,” said Dottie Meade.

    Fairborn Fish plans to host the donation drive for military members and veterans from noon to 4 p.m. on Nov. 15.

    The pantry also helps with a wide variety of necessities during the year, such as health screenings, child safety events, pet care and job fairs. 

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    Alese Underwood

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  • Park Theatre among 15 projects funded by Cincinnati’s revitalization grant

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    CINCINNATI, Ohio — From restoring historic buildings to creating safer, more welcoming spaces, Cincinnati is investing millions into revitalizing its neighborhood business districts.

    What You Need To Know

    • The City of Cincinnati recently awarded $1.8 million in grant funding through its Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program (NBDIP)

    • NEST received $275,000 to help stabilize the Park Theatre, a 112-year-old landmark on Hamilton Avenue in the city’s Northside neighborhood

    • NEST has plans to repair the building’s roof, preserve the building’s historic exterior, and conduct selective interior demolition to uncover original features

    The city recently awarded $1.8 million in grant funding through its Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program (NBDIP), a long-running initiative that supports community-led development projects. One recipient is NEST (Northsiders Engaged in Sustainable Transformation), a nonprofit focused on equitable development in the Northside neighborhood.

    NEST received $275,000 to help stabilize the Park Theatre, a 112-year-old landmark on Hamilton Avenue that’s served as a theater, bakery and even an appliance store.

    “This is a special building in our special neighborhood, and we really want to see it succeed,” said Rachel Hastings, executive director of NEST.

    The organization acquired the building in March through a combination of city funds and support from the HomeBase QuickStrike Fund. Now, with the NBDIP grant, they plan to repair the roof, preserve the building’s historic exterior, and conduct selective interior demolition to uncover original features.

    “There’s more historic character left in the building than what we can currently see,” Hastings said. “These funds will allow us to open up the walls and ceilings and see what’s still here.”

    The NBDIP has supported similar revitalization efforts for more than 30 years, but what makes it unique is its community-led scoring process. Projects are evaluated not only by city officials, but by representatives from other neighborhood business districts — ensuring the program reflects the priorities of Cincinnati residents.

    “It’s a very competitive process, and all of the applications are voted on by your peers,” Hastings added.

    Diana Vakharia, senior development officer with the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), said public-private collaboration is key, especially when it comes to maintaining aging infrastructure.

    “You have historic buildings and landmarks that the private market isn’t set up to maintain on its own,” Vakharia said. “In some cases, it takes public and private investment to make sure those structures are safe, stable and thriving.”

    The goal, Vakharia said, is to boost local economies while making neighborhoods more welcoming for residents, visitors and business owners alike.

    In Northside, that vision is already taking shape. Hastings and her team have held community input sessions to gather feedback on what the Park Theatre should become. Possibilities include a part-time music venue that complements existing cultural spaces in the neighborhood.

    “We want this to be something in partnership with other venues, supporting each other and not taking business away,” Hastings said.

    And for the first time, the NBDIP is piloting a new category of funding to help under-resourced neighborhoods plan future projects. It’s a move aimed at making revitalization efforts more equitable across the city.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Government shutdown could impact child care programs

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    CINCINNATI — As the government shutdown continues, area programs that support children and families are bracing for the impact. Many of them rely on some federal funding to stay open. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Cincinnati Urban Promise provides preschool, summer and after-school care for kids 

    • The executive director at the center says about 40% of funding for the programs is federal funding and he’s concerned they might not get it because of the government shutdown 

    • The executive director says there’s enough funds to cover costs through the year, but he’s asking for donations in case the shutdown lasts longer

    At Cincinnati Urban Promise on the city’s west side, leaders say they’re doing everything they can to stay focused on the kids, but with government funding at risk — they’re worried about possible cuts.

    The center is the backbone of child care in the community. It has a pre-school, summer, and after-school programs that serve kids who need them most, but many of those programs depend on one thing — government funding.

    “Probably around 40% of our funding is federal funding,” said Cincinnati Urban Promise Executive Director Abe Brandyberry.

    He’s concerned that the money could run out if the shutdown drags on. 

    “We would be able to make it through November just fine, December we might if, if the shutdown goes that long, we may have some serious issues,” said Brandyberry. 

    The government shutdown has has organizations like his in limbo while they wait. The last government shutdown back in 2018 lasted 35 days — the longest in U.S. history.

    If that happens again, Bradyberry says there could be cuts.

    “I’m just going to have to do some more fundraising and and everything to try to keep it. I mean, that is, cutting programing would be like an absolute last resort,” said Brandyberry.

    For now, he says operations will go on as normal — but the uncertainty is growing by the day and he says if funding stops the impact will happen right away.

    “I’m praying that we don’t get to that point. It’s really disappointing because we’re really growing and, and we’re serving a lot of kids, and as an organization doing really well and this would put a big hiccup in all of that,” said Brandyberry. 

    The executive director says there are about 120 kids who go here, 25 staff members and multiple programs that could be impacted.

    He’s asking for donations and trying to fundraise just in case they lose that federal funding.

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    Sheena Elzie

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