LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: loveland ohio

  • Law removing harmful language on mental health, disabilities praised by advocates

    Law removing harmful language on mental health, disabilities praised by advocates

    BY: SUSAN TEBBEN – Ohio Capital Journal

    A law recently signed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine finally removes derogatory language about people with disabilities from state law, a move years in the making.

    Advocates praised the passage and signing of the Mental Health and Disability Terminology Act, introduced with bipartisan sponsors as House Bill 281.

    The bill was years in the making, and removes words like “idiot,” “lunatics,” and “derangement” that were still a part of Ohio Revised Code.

    “The words are very stigmatizing, they’re very traumatizing and antiquated,” said Katherine Yoder, executive director of Ohio’s Adult Advocacy Centers. “It’s one of those things that as society … and as people’s humanity evolves, language is the most obvious thing that changes.”

    As the work began in 2021 to get the bill into the Ohio House, legislators reacted with surprise, mainly because they thought the changes had already been made.

    State agencies were renamed in 2009 to remove the word “mental retardation” from county and state agencies, but the language remained in revised code.

    Yoder said it’s common for people to think these language changes have been made to eliminate words so commonly known as pejorative, but those not working directly with people with disabilities may overlook changes that haven’t been made.

    So, when the attempt to remove the language was put together in 2021, Yoder was relieved to find the legislative push led by organizations doing the work. It’s one thing to be supportive of the moves and take charge without knowing the world in which people with disabilities live, Yoder said.

    “It’s another thing to kind of step back and allow that community or that cultural group to make the necessary changes and advocate for themselves,” Yoder said.

    Part of the measure’s journey through the Ohio House and Senate was educating legislators in committee meetings. HB 281 passed quickly through the House with state Reps. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Tom Young, R-Washington Twp. at the helm.

    “It’s something that obviously you have to seek out and you have to learn,” Yoder said.

    The legislation was bolstered by a host of organizations, such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities, the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, Disability Rights Ohio, and the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition.

    “Emphasizing a person’s humanity and individuality rather than defining them solely by a specific characteristic fosters understanding and inclusion, and the use of people-first language in statute will promote more equitable access to the benefits of our laws and civil society,” said Erich Bittner, director of government relations for the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, during a November meeting of the Senate Health Committee.

    For the Adult Advocacy Centers, language is particularly important because of the work they do helping crime victims who have developmental disabilities. Language is a “foundational piece” to avoid marginalizing individuals, and when Ohio Revised Code can be cited with antiquated language still included, equity is hard to achieve, according to Yoder.

    In criminal justice, Yoder said there’s a gap in training for those investigating crimes where the victim has disabilities. From talking to victims to creating accessibility at courthouse for those attending court cases, the many layers of changes needed to help start with allowing the voices of the victims to be heard.

    “The justice system was never set up with people with disabilities in mind,” Yoder said.

    With the language changes approved, advocates are hoping to move forward with more changes, like increased representation in criminal justice with forensic interviewers, more specifically trained to help those with disabilities through criminal cases.

    “The goal or the focus (of forensic interviewing) is not helping people with developmental disabilities find their voice,” Yoder said. “They already have their voice. It’s about allowing their voice to be heard.”

    As the year goes along, advocates also hope to receive some of the remaining American Rescue Plan funds to help build facilities for advocacy work, and to tackle crimes like benefits trafficking – the victimization of people with disabilities for their government assistance checks.

  • Bengals Look To Make First Back-To-Back Division Crowns ‘Real’ Against Ravens

    Bengals Look To Make First Back-To-Back Division Crowns ‘Real’ Against Ravens

    Photo by Bengals.com

    by Geoff Hobson Senior Writer at Bengals.com

    When is a division title not a division title?

    The NFL powers-that-be threw that riddle at the Bengals Friday when the owners voted to potentially send the AFC North champion and 11-4 Bengals on the road to Baltimore for next week’s Wild Card playoff game if they lose Sunday’s season finale at Paycor Stadium (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Local 12) against the 10-6 Ravens and then lose a coin flip for home field.

    Despite a better winning percentage no matter the outcome, the only way the Bengals can secure a Paycor playoff game next week is with a win over a Baltimore team that doesn’t have quarterback Lamar Jackson (knee) for the fifth straight game and maybe not backup Tyler Huntley (throwing shoulder), limited all week and called questionable by head coach John Harbaugh.

    Read on at Bengals.com…

    The Bills at Bengals Game Has Been Canceled

    The League announced the Bills at Bengals game will not be resumed and has been canceled.

    Refunds

    Ticketholders for the game can go to bengals.com/refund for more information.

    Playoff Implications

    The Bengals will compete for the second or third seed this Sunday, January 8 at 1 p.m. against the Baltimore Ravens.

    Division Implications

    This game ruling declares the Bengals as the AFC North Champions.

  • Download the LIFE Food Pantry shopping list of current needs

    Download the LIFE Food Pantry shopping list of current needs

    Loveland, Ohio – The LIFE Food Pantry is a faith and community-supported organization that provides food, financial assistance, and programs to those experiencing hardship.

    BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE! The holidays have passed but the needs have not–our shelves empty as quickly as we can fill them. If you can help, please choose items from the list below and drop them off at the pantry at your convenience! There is a drop-box outside of the Pantry. Thank you for your support–we truly could NOT do this without you!

    Here are the current needs of the Pantry:

    You can download this list to your phone or print it to take with you while shopping.

    LIFE-Food-Pantry-Shopping-List

    LIFE-Food-Pantry-Shopping-ListDownload and Print

  • Teachers’ pension system touts clean audit. Retirees unimpressed

    Teachers’ pension system touts clean audit. Retirees unimpressed

    BY: MARTY SCHLADEN – Ohio Capital Journal

    The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio has been flagging the results of a special audit conducted in response to complaints from some teachers and retirees. But for its part, the group representing the state’s retired teachers isn’t backing down from its critiques of the system.

    The examination, conducted by state Auditor Keith Faber, was prompted by retirees who have received few cost-of-living adjustments in recent years while retirement system employees have gotten big salaries and bonuses. And, in the most recent fiscal year, they did so as their investments lost billions.

    In a Dec. 29 statement, the retirement system noted that the probe found no evidence of illegal conduct.

    “The special audit found no evidence of fraud, illegal acts or data manipulation related to the funds held in trust by STRS Ohio for its members,” the statement said. 

    It added, “The special audit’s findings include, ‘STRS’ organizational structure, control environment and operations are suitably designed and well monitored, both internally and by independent experts. These experts help assure that STRS follows applicable asset and liability measurement, reporting, investing and cash management laws, professional standards, and best practices. Our conclusions are consistent with the findings of these independent firms.’” 

    The same statement quoted STRS Executive Director Bill Neville as saying, “It is noteworthy that the special audit’s findings refute much of the inaccurate information circulated about STRS Ohio over the past two years, and the report provides extensive detail and analysis in support of its conclusions.”

    However, at least some of the complaints retirees have been raising don’t involve claims of criminality.

    At least 200 of the retirement system’s 500 employees make more than $100,000 a year. And, with bonuses, in the 2021-2022 fiscal year 33 of the system’s employees made more than $300,000. Nine made more than $500,000. 

    Meanwhile, the average public teacher salary in 2022 is $67,000 a year, according to the Ohio Department of Education.

    The retirement system manages about $90 million in teachers’ assets. The system makes traditional investments, while also putting money into high-fee “alternative” investments such as private equity and hedge funds. 

    In making such investments, the system is effectively trying to beat the stock market. STRS spokesman Nick Treneff has said alternative investments also allow for a more diversified portfolio, which can help to manage risk.

    But over at least the medium term, the stock market has proven to be the better investment.

    Over the past decade, it has provided a 14.8% return on investments, while the system’s alternative investments have provided 11.84% once fees are subtracted, Treneff said in July.

    Retirement system salaries and bonuses have grown large as retiree benefits have stagnated. 

    The latter group got a 3% cost-of-living bump in their benefits last year — their first since 2017. Treneff has explained that the freeze was due to new rules set down by the legislature in 2012. State and local governments were still reeling from the Great Recession and there were nationwide concerns about unfunded pension liabilities.

    In addition, the General Assembly hasn’t increased its contribution rate to the pension fund in 38 years.

    But what really has retirees incensed is the way the STRS board handled staff bonuses last year. In August, it awarded $10 million in bonuses even though it estimated that it would lose $3 billion in an environment that was brutal for investors. 

    Then in October, the actual numbers for alternative investments came in. System losses were 77% higher than original estimates — $5.3 billion. 

    For perspective, the losses follow $22.3 billion in gains a year earlier, according to the system’s financial statements. 

    However, the retired teachers union argued, if staffers are going to do well in times of plenty, they shouldn’t do so well when times are bad. Also, the group argued, the system’s board should have delayed awarding bonuses until after the actual loss figures came in instead of using a big underestimate.

    In light of those occurrences, the Ohio Retired Teachers Association wasn’t mollified by a clean audit

    “As expected, the State Auditor confirmed that a broken system yields broken results,” ORTA’s Executive Director Robin Rayfield said in a statement. “Although finding no direct evidence of criminal activity, the Auditor confirmed that the board allowed the staff to use an accounting gimmick to pay themselves $10 million in bonuses despite losing $5.3 billion last year. For years, the board’s bad policies have yielded bad results for teachers, who are working longer and paying more for less, while enriching STRS staff. The only way to change bad policies is to change the STRS board, which teachers will do in this Spring’s election.”

  • D.C. nears Jan. 6 anniversary with warnings about extremism, awards for courage

    D.C. nears Jan. 6 anniversary with warnings about extremism, awards for courage

    BY: ARIANA FIGUEROA Ohio Capital Journal – JANUARY 5, 2023 2:58 PM

    WASHINGTON – On the eve of the second anniversary of the U.S. Capitol insurrection, congressional Democrats and dozens of veterans on Thursday in a press conference called on incoming House Republican leaders to condemn political violence and hold their members who supported the attack accountable for their actions.

    Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is scheduled on Friday to host a ceremony where he will speak about the Jan. 6 attack, and award medals to a dozen people who “demonstrated courage and selflessness during a moment of peril for our nation,” according to a White House official.

    They will include:

    • Election workers Shaye Moss and Ruby Freeman of Fulton County, Georgia, who were targeted by Trump administration officials and falsely accused of voter fraud.
    • Rusty Bowers, the former speaker of the Arizona House who resisted pressures to overturn 2020 election results.
    • Jocelyn Benson, the Michigan secretary of state who faced armed protesters outside her home when she resisted pressure over election results.
    • Al Schmidt, a former GOP commissioner in Philadelphia and member of the Philadelphia County Board of Elections who during the 2020 election faced threats for defending the integrity of the election.

    At the veterans’ press event near the Capitol Reflecting Pool, House members Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey talked about how their values to uphold democracy started with their military service when they took an oath to protect the Constitution.

    They voiced their concerns about how many veterans were part of the Jan. 6 mob.

    “When you raise your right hand, and you take that oath to give everything to your country, that is a lifetime commitment,” Crow said. “A lifetime commitment and uniform, but continuing to fight for and preserve our democracy, and never has that been more important than the era that we live in right now.”

    Extremism worries

     U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Penn., with military veterans at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. Houlahan spoke at a press conference about the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol calling on the House Republican majority to denounce political violence. Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom.

    House Democrats have held hearings and issued reports that have shown the growing worries about extremism among veterans and have recommended the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs protect veterans from those groups. Separately, an analysis by NPR found that 1 in 5 of the defendants charged for their involvement in the riot were veterans.

    “While the individuals who descended upon and disrespected these storied halls represent a very small fringe faction of the population, it is no secret that they were inspired by some of the most senior officials in our government who failed to accept the results of the 2020 election,” said Houlahan.

    She, Crow and Sherrill were in the House chamber during the insurrection, when hundreds of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent members of Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.

    President Donald Trump was impeached for a second time for his role in the insurrection, and a special committee investigating the attack unanimously voted to refer him and others to the Justice Department for potential criminal charges, including inciting or aiding an insurrection.

    The special House panel investigating Jan. 6 found that Trump was directly involved in efforts to pressure state officials in Georgia, Arizona and elsewhere to overturn the 2020 election results in their states.

    White House awards

    Michael Fanone, who served as a Metropolitan Police Department Officer and defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, suffering injuries, spoke at a press conference on the second anniversary of the attack on the Capitol, calling on the House Republican majority to denounce political violence. Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom.
     Michael Fanone, who served as a Metropolitan Police Department Officer and defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, suffering injuries, spoke at a press conference on the second anniversary of the attack on the Capitol, calling on the House Republican majority to denounce political violence. Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom.

    This will be the first time Biden will give out the Presidential Citizens Medal, which is awarded to individuals who have done an extraordinary act of service for the United States or fellow Americans.

    Among the recipients will be Eugene Goodman, the U.S. Capitol Police officer who is credited with diverting rioters from the Senate floor, allowing senators and staff to evacuate.

    The president will also posthumously award a medal to the late Brian Sicknick, a  Capitol Police officer who was injured while responding to the Jan. 6 attack and later died.

    Michael Fanone, a Metropolitan Police Department Officer who responded to the Jan. 6 attack and was injured, will also receive a medal. Fanone later resigned, and has continued to put pressure on congressional Republicans to acknowledge their role in spreading the false narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

    He most recently sent a letter signed by more than 1,000 veterans to top Republican leaders on Wednesday, calling on them to denounce political violence and the Jan. 6 attack.

    Fanone, who was at the press event, said he wants MAGA Republicans to know “that myself and thousands, tens of thousands of veterans and members of the law enforcement community are paying very close attention to the things that they’ve said.”

    He singled out Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Kevin McCarthy of California, who is struggling to garner enough votes to secure the position of speaker of the House.

    “This type of chaos will happen every single day in the House as some of the most extreme politicians our country has ever seen hold our democracy hostage,” Fanone said about the speaker race that has continued for three days.

    Without a speaker, no members of Congress can be sworn in and the chamber cannot conduct government business such as committee meetings or constituent services.

    (McCarthy elected House speaker in rowdy post-midnight vote.)

    The veterans’ press conference was hosted by Courage for America, an initiative organized by progressives to speak out against extremism and counter the GOP House, and Common Defense, a grassroots organization that works to promote progressive ideas in the veteran community.

    A ‘new sense of hope’

    Sherrill, who served in the Navy for nine years, said she remembers being crouched in the House gallery, a cell phone in one hand, calling her loved ones, and a gas mask in the other.

    “I had this great sense of sorrow that it had come to this,” she said about veterans who attacked the Capitol. “The other side of my brain had really a sense of rage. How dare they?”

    “And yet as I sit here today … I think about how far we’ve come with the January 6 hearings,” she said, adding that many people who ran as election deniers lost their campaigns.

    “I feel a new sense of hope,” Sherrill said. “Our democracy is stronger and more resilient than ever, and so it’s with almost a sense of joy, that I start this new term in Congress, because I know the American people have our back.”

  • Loveland Elementary’s Lyla leads in saying “Get Well” to Damar Hamlin

    Loveland Elementary’s Lyla leads in saying “Get Well” to Damar Hamlin

    Loveland, Ohio – Last Thursday the Loveland School District held a Town Hall. This is from the Twitter feed of @LovelandTigers.

    “Thank you to everyone who signed our “Love from Loveland to Buffalo” banner at last night’s Town Hall. And thank you to Lyla at LES for leading this effort to show support for Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills with get-well cards and notes from classmates!“

  • [Tonight] “Preview Night” for Loveland High School’s Show Choirs

    [Tonight] “Preview Night” for Loveland High School’s Show Choirs

  • [Watch Now] Loveland City School District Town Hall Meeting

    [Watch Now] Loveland City School District Town Hall Meeting

    Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland City School District held a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, January 5 in the Media Center at Loveland Intermediate School. The purpose of the Town Hall was for district leaders to hear from the community about issues facing the District, including the financial future of Loveland City Schools.

  • Jill Hayes: Episode 1: The Truth About NIL

    Jill Hayes: Episode 1: The Truth About NIL

    Jillian Hayes – Loveland Magazine file photo by David Miller ©2019

    Former Loveland High School Women’s basketball star and current University of Cincinnati star Jillian Hayes and Aubrie Rasheed an Oregon State soccer player join together in their latest podcast, The Truth About NIL. The NCAA NIL rule allows college athletes to get paid.

    HALF AN ATHLETE W/ JIL AND AUBS

    Episode 1: The Truth About NIL

    Join us on our 1st episode “The Truth About NIL,” where we talk about the gender gap in the world of NIL.

  • Congress Approves Boost To Special Ed, Disability Programs

    Congress Approves Boost To Special Ed, Disability Programs

    Michelle Diament for Disability Scoop reports that a newly approved $1.7 trillion federal spending bill will bring more funding for special education while expanding access to ABLE accounts and addressing the use of electric shock on people with disabilities.

    The legislation, which funds the government through September, was signed by President Joe Biden just before the start of the new year.

    It includes over $15 billion for special education, a $904 million jump over last year, and it extends Money Follows the Person, a Medicaid program that helps people with disabilities move from institutions to community-based living, through September 2027.

    In addition, the measure increases the eligibility age for ABLE accounts, a special savings vehicle that allows people with disabilities a way to save money without jeopardizing their government benefits.

    Read on at Disability Scoop…