(BPT) No one has escaped the effects of the pandemic, but working parents are struggling. Staring down a lack of childcare, new work-from-home situations, and insufficient support from employers or public resources, these individuals are nearing the end of their rope emotionally, and for many, financially. The start of the school year further complicates matters as parents grapple with difficult decisions and limited options due to school policies or their own financial and employment constraints. While parents navigate this fraught period for their families and bank accounts, the country must understand three things: Where parents stand now, what they need from their employers in the future, and what can be done in the meantime to find relative peace and security. Read More of "Creating working environments for families to thrive"

The Department of Justice recently announced it has awarded more than $87 million to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident, and conduct research on school safety. Read More of "Department of Justice invests more than $87 million in grants to address school violence"

With two weeks until Election Day, Ohioans are showing up to vote early in record numbers – with triple the number of Ohioans voting at early voting centers across Ohio compared to the same point four years ago. 193,021 Ohioans voted early in-person in the first week compared to 64,312 at the same time in 2016. Read More of "Early in-person voting in 2020 triples compared to 2016, absentee requests still breaking records"

The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) is awarding a $15,000 grant to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and giving a $25,000 sponsorship to the Community Arts Project through its new up to $500,000 Racial Justice Initiative. Read More of "Ohio State Bar Foundation announces recipients of phase I of its $500,000 Racial Justice Initiative grant"

A woman convicted of felony murder for killing a 5-year-old girl while trying to discipline her was not entitled to have a jury consider a lesser charge of reckless homicide, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled recently. Read More of "Court need not instruct jury to consider lesser charge in child murder case"

(StatePoint) Your neighbor is selling fashion masks. Your uncle – expert at everything – wears a sophisticated respirator with a valve. Your dental hygienist wears a medical mask. Your kid is running off to sports practice in a team-supplied neck gaiter. Is there a difference between these face coverings? Read More of "COVID-19 and face coverings: The different types and why it matters"

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced the protection activities undertaken by the FBI to counter the threat posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) at certain National Special Security Events (NSSEs), Special Events Assessment Rating (SEAR) events, and select mass gatherings throughout the country over the past fiscal year. DOJ and the FBI are publicizing protection activities in an effort to deter careless and criminal UAS operators in light of an anticipated increase in enforcement activity in response to the misuse of UAS. Read More of "DOJ forecasts an increase in counter unmanned aerial systems (c-uas) protection activities and criminal enforcement actions"

Walmart has partnered with the Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office to distribute necessary PPE to Ohio’s county boards of elections as they prepare to administer the upcoming election. 800,000 masks, 27,000 gowns, and 29,000 face shields were donated/purchased by Governor DeWine to help keep voters and poll workers safe. Read More of "Ohio Secretary of State partners with Walmart to distribute PPE to Ohio’s boards of elections"

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently announced an enrollment milestone reached in the genetic study of opioid use disorder undertaken by his Scientific Committee on Opioid Prevention and Education (SCOPE). SCOPE began work on the unprecedented study last year, aiming to identify the genetic factors that make some individuals more susceptible than others to developing an opioid addiction. Read More of "AG Yost announces new milestone in opioid genetic study"

The Ohio Supreme Court recently issued a fully stayed six-month suspension to Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael R. Goulding for interfering in a case assigned to another judge in order to do a favor for a friend. Read More of "Judge sanctioned for interfering in another judge’s case"

A Washington Courthouse man pleaded guilty to felony workers’ compensation fraud Oct. 5 for working while receiving more than $141,500 in benefits from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Read More of "Ohio man owes $141,000 after second fraud conviction"

Broadway performances are shut down for the rest of the year, but the associate and supervising director of the hit musical “Hamilton” isn’t throwing away his shot to inspire students at The University of Toledo. Read More of "Ohio native to share journey from political science major to Broadway’s ‘Hamilton’"

Unlikely to secure a hearing before conclusion of the current legislative session, a bill championed by a northeast Ohio senator seeks to fill gaps in curricula that give short shrift or no attention at all to the Holocaust and, more generally, genocide. Read More of "Bill would establish Holocaust, genocide commission to educate, memorialize"

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and his counterparts in 27 other states have secured a judgment against Tennessee-based Community Health Systems Inc. for a data breach that exposed the names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, phone numbers and addresses of 6.1 million patients. Read More of "Ohio Attorney General Yost secures judgment in multistate hospital data breach"

It probably feels like the 2020 elections have been going on for years, and in a sense they have. Ever since Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, the political world has been girding for this moment. Read More of "The basics of the election"

The United States has seized 92 domain names that were unlawfully used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to engage in a global disinformation campaign, announced the Department of Justice. Read More of "United States seizes domain names used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps"

A new ABA Legal Fact Check released today examines statements made last month by U.S. Attorney William Barr asserting that on all matters of federal prosecution, he has the authority to make decisions, even if they would reverse actions by career prosecutors. “Under the law, all prosecutorial power is invested in the attorney general,” Barr said in remarks on Sept. 16. Read More of "With 50th posting, ABA Legal Fact Check explores the power of the U.S. attorney general"

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently announced he’s joined a coalition of attorneys general urging Hollywood’s creative guilds to protect young viewers from tobacco imagery in streamed movies and programs. Read More of "AG Yost joins coalition urging Hollywood to protect young people from tobacco imagery"

(BPT) Hundreds of millions of people have sheltered in place as governments issue executive orders to help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). As a result, many homes are becoming a fortress against the virus, a makeshift school, an office outpost and a daycare facility. As homeowners continue to spend more time at home with the appliances and lights on, they are looking for ways to optimize the efficiency of their homes. Read More of "How a smart home can help you save money"

Seventeen individuals were charged recently in an unsealed, 26-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury in Cleveland for their alleged roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the distribution of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine in the Mansfield area. Fifteen were arrested during an early morning takedown operation. Read More of "Seventeen indicted for drug tracking conspiracy in Mansfield area; fifteen arrested in takedown operation"