Cincinnati Edition

Dr. Zaria Davis realized women weren't getting the same level of support when they were released from prison. That is why she launched Filling the Gap, a college readiness and leadership development program for individuals returning from incarceration. Now Davis is one of 29 black entrepreneurs receiving a grant from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati to strengthen anti-poverty initiatives in the region.

Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education meets Monday night to consider several proposals for fall classes. Board members are considering what safety precautions the school district will need to take with the threat of the novel coronavirus.

The city of Cincinnati adopted its budget following days of contentious public hearings and shouts to defund the police department. The already cash-strapped city, brought to the financial brink by the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately approved little in the way of changing the funding of the police department.

President Trump is back on the campaign trail, but in Tulsa on Saturday, he was not met with the overflow crowd he expected. The Oklahoma arena was roughly one-third full of supporters.

Cases of coronavirus are rising in Southwest Ohio and Governor Mike DeWine is calling it a "worrisome" trend. During his press conference last Thursday, the governor encouraged residents in the Hamilton County zip codes of 45231, 45240 and 45238 to be tested for COVID-19.

In recent years, Cincinnati has celebrated its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community through parades, official resolutions, flags and legislation.

During a public hearing at City Hall Monday night, many speakers asked Cincinnati City Council to take money away from the Cincinnati Police Department and shift it to other social service programs. Many want the police budget reduced by 50%.

Rep. Warren Davidson, (R) Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, has introduced a bill to give states greater discretion in how they spend funds allocated through the CARES Act. Instead of passing a second relief package, Davidson suggests that his bill gives states the power to use the money they already have more effectively.

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is making plans to reopen several of its library branches after closing to the public in March under of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first floor of the Downtown Main Library reopened June 15. On Monday, June 22 five neighborhood branches reopened to the public and in the next weeks more branch openings are scheduled.

Businesses in Over-the-Rhine are weathering the economic shutdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, and now, the anti-racism protests. Alexus Hight, the owner of the upscale children's clothing boutique, Hutch Baby , worked to reopen her doors after she saw people breaking windows on Vine Street. On Elm Street, Black OWned and BlaCk Coffee Lounge owner Means Cameron saw an outpouring of support for his businesses after vandals broke his windows.

Last week, in a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal law prohibits any employment discrimination against people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).

Cincinnati City Council's budget hearing Thursday night ended abuptly when the crowd's booing at one of the speakers led Chairman David Mann to walk out. Outside the Convention Center, where the hearing was held, a protest filled the street with calls to defund the police.

The State of Ohio borrowed more than $3 billion from the federal government to prop up its cash-strapped unemployment benefits. This news comes a week after it is learned that nearly 24,000 Ohioans were asked to pay back the unemployment benefits they received.

Summer officially begins on Saturday, and arrives as many of us are still mostly quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the city of Cincinnati's first budget hearing Tuesday night, many members of the public spoke out against increasing the budget for the Cincinnati Police Department, calling instead to defund the police. Around 200 people turned out in person and on Zoom.