55.2 F
Toledo
Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Subscribe

Home Blog

How to vote in 2024

0
Lucas Zielinksi, with Turning Point USA, hands Amelia Mathkour, a music, business and tech major at Owens Community College, a pamphlet about voting registration. Zielinksi said he was on campus for the day to help students register to vote. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

Toledo – With Election Day a month away, preparations are in full swing at the Lucas County Board of Elections office.

“We’re up and running and getting everything ready,” said Timothy Monaco, deputy director of the elections office. “It’s a wonderful time. It’s important to exercise your right to vote.”

Logistics that the staff and officers have been handling for weeks on behalf of Lucas County’s 303 voting precincts include preparing ballots, training precinct election officials, and getting early voting dates and times posted on their website.

Monaco said the most commonly asked question from voters during the past couple of weeks has been when absentee ballots will arrive in the mail. 

Here’s the answer: Ohio voters can look for the absentee ballots starting Oct. 8, which is one day after registration ends for the Nov. 5 election.

The Lucas County Board of Elections staff doesn’t give predictions on voter turnout, Monaco said. But, according to state election records, 67 percent of registered Lucas County voters participated in the 2020 presidential election, and 66 percent did so in the 2016 presidential election. This participation includes absentee voting, early in-person voting and traditional Election Day voting.

Those choices are meant to help all eligible voters participate, whether they prefer going in person to a local polling site or to cast a ballot before they travel out of town.

“It’s important to make your plan as to who you are going to vote for,” Monaco said. “Make sure you make a plan and know what is on your ballot.”

While the presidential campaign is the key race of the Nov. 5 election, there are also races in Lucas County for local judges and city officials. For those who want to see the list ahead of time, ballot proofs are available for review on the election board’s website.

“Ballots will be three pages for everyone and four pages for some,” Monaco said.

While some people remember how they wish to vote when going to the polls, others find it helpful to bring paper notes or refer to a list on their phone, Monaco said. “Some folks really come prepared,” he said.

“It’s also important to be respectful at the location,” he added, referring to an Ohio law that prohibits photos of marked ballots. “We do ask that you limit cell phone use at the ballot.”

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

  • Military and overseas civilian voting: Started Sept. 20.
  • Voter registration deadline: 9 p.m. Oct. 7.
  • Early in-person voting season: Oct. 8.-Nov. 3.
  • Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Nov. 4.
  • Election Day: Nov. 5.

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

Voting is not my main concern, but it is pretty important because it is the future of America and I would like to have a say in what is gonna be my future. I usually try to vote on voting day, if I can’t I’ll do the absentee ballot.

Oliver Odendahl | EMT Major | Tontogany Resident

I am not a registered voter. If I was to lie to you I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t have enough time … it’s not really a main priority, even though it should be. I do plan on voting at some point, maybe when I’m in my adult phase. Even though I’m not a registered voter I do think voting is important because it basically determines the society and the rules and regulations we live by.

James Johnson | Broadcast Media Technology Major | Toledo Resident

I’d say voting is very important. There’s certain aspects of it that do feel sort of depressing, when you think about it, because a lot of people would say people voting normally wouldn’t matter because of a small majority in the Electoral College – their votes matter 100 times more than your own. That’s what it feels like at least from what I know. It does feel a little degrading knowing that’s going to happen.

Nivant Dawson | Business Major | Toledo Resident

I think voting is important, but I’m not exactly sure why it’s important. I mean, there’s a lot of things that come from it. You’re voting for someone that you’re putting your trust and you’re faith into to guide us all in the right direction, but we just all don’t know what that direction is yet. So, we’re just kind of free-balling it, in a way. So, I don’t know … I’ve never voted before but this will be interesting. I really don’t know what all is involved. I just have a lot to learn about voting – like what I should be looking for in the leader I’m going to be voting for. So, yeah, it’s coming up soon. There’s a lot to learn.

Sydney Stanley | Chemistry Major | Millbury Resident

Voting is very important, especially in this day and age, when everything’s going on.

David Chase III | Literature Major | Toledo Resident
Registration details

Ohio voters must be registered by 9 p.m. Oct. 7 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Residents can register to vote, look up voter registration, change their address, find an early voting location, look up Election Day polling location or track an absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Photo ID requirement

Bring your photo ID when voting. The options are:

- Current Ohio driver’s license or State of Ohio ID card.

- Interim ID form issued by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.

A registered voter who has changed his or her name since the photo ID was issued will need to show proof of legal name change and sign a form. A photo ID card can show a former address if a current address is on file with the voting records. If you forget a photo ID, you can request a provisional ballot. 

How to vote absentee

An absentee ballot in Ohio needs to be requested, signed, dated and submitted for each election. Military personnel and civilian overseas voters can file one application for all elections happening in a given year.

The application asks for the number on your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID card, last four digits of your social security number, or a photocopy of other eligible ID such as a U.S. passport or military ID.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Nov. 5.

Additional instructions are on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

In-person early voting

Ohio’s in-person early voting season begins Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 3. 

The Lucas County Early Vote Center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite 121 Entrance C (at the rear of the Lucas County Board of Elections building) in west Toledo.

Voting times and dates can be found at LucasCountyOhioVotes.gov.

Election Day voting

Polling sites are open in Ohio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can look up your polling location at VoteOhio.Gov.

What’s on the ballot?

A “ballot proof” is available for review on the Lucas County Board of Elections page. It lists candidates and ballot issues by precinct, so voters know what to expect.

For example: Six president/vice president candidate teams have declared in Ohio, with an additional write-in option available. Other candidate races include U.S. Senator, Lucas County Sheriff and openings on Toledo City Council.

Ohio Issue 1 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that has gained a lot of attention. This issue, if approved, would designate a redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

There are other issues locally, such as a proposed bond issue for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and a tax renewal request from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Are ballot “selfies” allowed?

Ohio does not permit photos to be taken of a marked ballot. It’s actually a fifth-degree felony should that take place, according to Ohio law.

The “I Voted” Sticker

A traditionally popular way to showcase voter participation is through an “I voted” sticker, picked up on Election Day at the polling site.

Ohio’s current “I Voted” sticker design was adopted in 2019 through a student art contest. A red squiggle depicts a map of Ohio, nestled in a blue circle outline, with the phrase “Ohio Voted.”

Voters are invited to download the image to share on social media at the Ohio Secretary of State website. That website also has also a “future voter” coloring page for children available for download.

Is campaigning allowed at election sites?

Ohio does not allow election campaigning, also known as electioneering, within 100 feet of a voting site. This means no campaigning messages on attire such as shirts or hats, Monaco said.

Two small United States flags are placed at each voting site to designate the “neutral” zone where this applies. 

Where is the Board of Elections office?

If you need to visit the Lucas County Board of Elections regarding a voting matter, that office moved about two years ago from its former location at One Government Center to 3737 W. Sylvania Road in West Toledo.

When are election numbers official?

Ballots cast on Election Day will be delivered in person to the Lucas County Board of Elections for the counting procedures.

There will be numbers reported after that count is complete. 

The Ohio Secretary of State does not consider voter counts to be official until two or three weeks later, after provisional ballots are accounted for and to give time for absentee ballots to arrive that met the postmark deadline.

International exchange program funding restored … for now

0
Tracee Ellis, center, is a regional director and local coordinator in Toledo for American Cultural Exchange Service (ACES). She and Audrey Johnson, left, another local coordinator for ACES, are pictured with exchange students from Sierra Leone, South Africa and the Philippines. (Courtesy Photo)

Host families sought for international students

TOLEDO — Payments recently began flowing again for local high school exchange students who were caught up in the flurry of federal funding freezes earlier this year, but supporters have expressed concern about the long-term survival of these study abroad and cultural exchange programs in light of federal budget cuts. 

Mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the U.S. Department of State oversees these programs as a means of cultivating mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries to promote friendly, peaceful relations. This mission is carried out by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which awards grants and cooperative agreements to non-profit organizations to support academic, cultural, and professional exchange programs. 

American Cultural Exchange Service (ACES) and AFS Intercultural Programs are two nonprofit partners that contract with the State Department to facilitate exchange programs in the Toledo area. While some international students pay their own way, others participate in scholarship programs geared toward cultivating relationships with people from different parts of the world. 

Exchange students visit the area through AFS Intercultural Programs are pictured in 2023. (Courtesy Photo)

Tracee Ellis, regional director and local coordinator for ACES, said the organization is 100 percent funded by the government because they are facilitating State Department programs.

Disruptions to that funding began when some recipients of those grants, including ACES, were informed Feb. 13 of a 15-day temporary pause on all disbursements, effective Feb. 12. This impacted all international exchange programs for secondary and post-secondary students, including American high school students studying abroad. 

That pause was supposed to expire Feb. 27, but the funding was not ultimately restored until the end of March, according to Ellis.

The freeze impacted salaries and operations, as well as stipends for the students. Some planned activities had to be cancelled, including a trip to Chicago and a weeklong civic education workshop that about 400 international students were to attend in Washington.

Ellis said the freeze was declared illegal in the courts because it impacted funding that Congress had already allocated through 2026. Ellis said ACES is receiving federal funds again and the students received all back payments for stipends they did not receive during the freeze. 

The monthly stipends offset some personal expenses, such as clothes or extracurricular activities. Ellis notes many students come from warm climates and need help purchasing coats and other clothing, even items such as socks.

“I had a student come here with an overnight bag for nine months — not because they’re packing light; because that’s all they had,” Ellis said. 

Changed lives and new perspectives

According to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs website, its youth programs empower the next generation and establish long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries. Exchange programs focus primarily on secondary schools and promote mutual understanding, leadership development, educational transformation and democratic ideals.

Linda Sherry, who serves in a volunteer capacity as team chair for Northwest Ohio for AFS-USA, described the international scholarship students as the future leaders of their countries. 

“The kids who are chosen to be sponsored students are usually pretty amazing,” she said. “They are the ones who go home with a positive attitude about America, and they go back and they influence politics in their own country.”

One young man who visited Northwest Ohio from Tunisia recently notified Sherry he was accepted into Harvard. Another sponsored student returned home to graduate in the top of his class and become a doctor in India, where he is now training to become a cardiac surgeon and opening a hospital for the underserved in his hometown. Sherry also hosted a student from Germany who went on to graduate law school and become legal counsel for a member of the Bundestag, the legislative body in Germany. 

Hosting international students

Since 2001, Sherry’s family has hosted students from Argentina, Germany, China, Thailand and Italy. She remembers them all by name and has even visited some in their home countries.

“I feel like I have contacts all over the world, and that’s a benefit of hosting students,” said Sherry. “Also, my own kids have become global citizens. They’ve ended up traveling because they understand the world on a more personal basis.”

Ellis hosted her first student, a young man from Mali, in 2014. He went on to attend a university in Paris, where he now works for Ernst and Young. 

Ellis and Sherry both emphasize the constant need for host families. If they don’t get placed with a host family by the deadline, some exchange students have to be deferred for a year. 

“This is the time of year when we’re looking for host families, and the main qualification for a host family is just the ability to love another kid — to bring them into their home and open up their hearts and open up their homes,” said Sherry. 

Sometimes people who have preconceived notions about international students go out on a limb to host a student and it changes their entire perspective, according to Ellis.

”When that happens, that’s worth everything. That’s part of the whole mission right there — that they have opened their minds to other people and they consider other things. That’s a beautiful thing that happens, and that’s what’s so impactful about this program.”

This year, Ellis is hosting Cynthia Nkwah, 16, an exchange student from Hildegard Althaus Bilingual College in the South Region of Cameroon, who came to Toledo in September. She was one of nine students from her country chosen from an initial applicant pool of 50 for the Department of State’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program. 

Cynthia Nkwah, of Cameroon, and Hafsa Amour, of Tanzania, are international exchange students attending Start High School this year. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)

The initiative provides merit-based scholarships for high school students from nearly 40 countries with significant Muslim populations. 

Nkwah said she never traveled before this year. While attending the 11th grade at Start High School, she has experienced many firsts, including her first movie. 

Ellis said the stove, microwave, refrigerator and freezer were all new for her exchange student. 

“They buy everything fresh. They grow it. They get it from the ocean. They’re not going to fast food restaurants and sit-down restaurants,” said Ellis. “She doesn’t have running water. They collect their water through springs and rainwater, and they boil it so they can use it.”

Nkwah recalled her confusion on her first day of classes at Start High School when she realized the students needed to move from class to class. She explained that at home, the teachers move between classrooms rather than the students. After someone explained a late pass to Nkwah, a friend helped her navigate around the school. She said it was also a shock to hear how casually students spoke to their teachers. 

Nkwah is enthusiastic about her time in the U.S. and is looking forward to visiting Cedar Point with her choir class before she returns home in June. She will also attend a closing ceremony in Washington with other international students before she leaves the U.S.

After high school, Nkwah said she would like to attend medical school and would be interested in returning to the U.S. to attend a university. 

Concerns about future funding

This year, ACES has 35 students from 32 countries studying in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Ellis estimated about 3,500 international high school students come to the U.S. annually under State Department programs, with help from about 17 placement organizations. 

Ellis worries about what the future holds for these programs. “We are placing students to come to this area for the next school year. So we’ve been funded through 2026. Beyond that, we don’t know,” she said. “The Administration, or President Trump, is threatening to pull more funding from the State Department.”

The Trump administration’s 2026 budget request, released May 2, calls for $690 million in cuts to educational and cultural exchanges.

AFS-USA, which was not directly impacted by the funding pause in February, said in a statement that it is monitoring the situation closely and continuing its programs as planned.

“We’re actively placing students for the upcoming school year, and there have been no changes communicated from the U.S. Department of State that impact our operations or program expectations per the announced reorganization,” the organization stated.

Ellis said she plans to continue advocating in Washington for exchange programs that change lives for both the international students and Americans who host and go to school with them. 

“This is a national diplomatic initiative, and it’s one of the most important ones that the U.S. State Department has,” said Ellis.

The learning benefits extend far beyond the experience of the international students, she added. “This is a global learning experience for American students to understand what their role is as global citizens and how we’re interconnected.”

Exchange students visit the area through AFS Intercultural Programs are pictured in 2016. (Courtesy Photo)

Wrestling fan opines on Linda McMahon’s new duty

0
Editorial Independence: Op-eds represent the personal opinions of the writers and are independent from our newsroom’s reporting. We welcome diverse viewpoints.

The side-show has returned, and it’s deadlier than the first go-round. Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are no better than what you would get from a two-bit show in some podunk town. Instead of the bearded lady and wolf boy, we have Pete Hegseth acting like Billy Badass and RFK Jr. thinking he knows what’s best for your children.

Then there’s my personal favorite, Linda McMahon as head of the Department of Education. Yes, she’s back for Round Two. In Trump’s first reign, she was administrator of the Small Business Administration (say that five times fast). And what did she accomplish?

I guess that answer will have to wait for the history books to decide. Apparently, her big success was resigning “in March 2019 to assume new responsibilities” within Trump’s failed re-election campaign in that maligned year of our Lord, 2020. 

It doesn’t take a political science strategist to figure out that her tenure then, and her reassignment now, is nothing more than another money grab. Her estranged husband, Vince McMahon – the former CCO of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) – was practically bosom buddies with Trump, donating upwards of $5 million to his “charities” between 2007 and 2009, and gracing his campaigns with a couple cool million. 

Mrs. McMahon didn’t hesitate to buy her way into the inner circle, “donating” upwards of $10 million to gain a spot on Trump’s roster. And what did that get her? A chance to make an ass of herself in front of the cameras.

Hey, Linda, I don’t think artificial intelligence has a steak seasoning preference. We know the Don prefers ketchup on his well-done travesty, and Vince will pay top dollar to keep his preference hush hush.

Brass tacks won’t allow us to sideswipe how Linda McMahon has scurried her way into a high-profile and more dangerous position than before. She’s carried the banner for dismantling the Department of Education in favor of sending “education back to the states and empower all parents to choose education for their children,” as stated in her speech on March 3 – posted on the Department’s website. 

The argument that the GOP has made in favor of taking chisel to the government’s rusty infrastructure is to put the power back in the hands of the people. That sounds spectacular, doesn’t it? Until you realize that the Department of Education, for instance, gives low-income students a chance at higher education in the form of government-assisted financial aid. 

I was one of those students. Without Pell Grants, for example, I wouldn’t have made it out of my hometown of Lima, Ohio. Yes, was this 2007, when they told every outgoing high-school graduate, “Go to college or suffer the fate of your parents.”

This was the last gasp of the No Child Left Behind idea that each student could do that. Let’s be honest: Did George W. Bush have any clue how a child learned?

At least in 2007, we had a clue. Now? It’s being dissolved under the red herrings of DEI, “trans-genderism” and “Pro-Hamas sentiment.” Make no mistake, these are the crutches which the hard-right lean on. God forbid you say anything which rests within gray areas. 

Until you reach the money status of a Linda McMahon – a DEI hire herself – then you’ll never know her vapid perspective. That is the act of Trump’s minions, especially this time around. He rewards his minions, at least for a little while.

It’s a strange kind of love. And we’ll wait for the rage. 

Don Lee: Birds prep for airshow

0
Cartoon by Don Lee.

Biggest Week in Birding, wildlife refuge affected by funding shortfall

0
Birding enthusiasts take in the sign of two great horned owlets perched in a distant nest at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.

OAK HARBOR — Soon the visitor floodgates will open at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR), but traffic was light on the trails around the visitor center on a weekday afternoon in late April.

While it was a bit too early for the big show of migrant songbirds that will peak in early to mid-May, birding enthusiasts were still trickling in, toting binoculars and heavy telephoto lenses. Most of the people the Toledo Free Press spoke with that day had a laser focus on spotting one species: Owls. 

Point Place residents Ken and Bonnie Dickson stop to take photos and look at great horned owlets at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)
Ken and Bonnie Dickson stroll down a trail at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. The Toledo Point Place couple said they usually come to hike at the preserve four days a week. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)

Ken and Bonnie Dickson were among the visitors ambling down a certain trail and halting at just the right spot to peer into the woods. They were rewarded with a glimpse of two white, fluffy Great Horned Owl chicks hunkered down in a nest at the top of a broken tree trunk in the distance. Ken Dickson snapped some photographs while his wife took a closer look through her binoculars. 

The couple from Point Place in Toledo visit the refuge four days a week to picnic and hike the trails. “It’s peaceful out here,” said Bonnie Dickson. “We look at the owls.”

Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie between Toledo and Port Clinton, ONWR was established in 1961 and spans 8,488 acres that provide diverse habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, migrant songbirds and other animals and plants. 

ONWR is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which includes more than 540 wildlife refuges and more than 3,000 small waterfowl breeding and nesting areas. Overseen by the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the system is the only network of federal land dedicated specifically to wildlife conservation.

Thousands of visitors travel to ONWR annually to see American bald eagles thriving in the wild. (Courtesy Photo/Tony Everhardt)
A Blackburnian warbler sings in Oak Harbor, which has been dubbed the “Warbler Capital of the World” because thousands of migrating songbirds are expected to pass through the area in early to mid May. (Courtesy Photo/Katie Myer)

The American bald eagle is one of the system’s most celebrated success stories, and thousands of visitors travel to see these birds thriving in the wild at ONWR each year. 

ONWR is also situated in what has been dubbed the “Warbler Capital of the World” because it provides habitat for thousands of tiny migratory songbirds that stop briefly on their way north to rest, feed and put on fat reserves before continuing their journey north across Lake Erie. 

Next week, the boardwalks and trails will be jam packed when birders from around the world descend on Northwest Ohio for The Biggest Week in American Birding, a festival that runs May 9-18. Organized and hosted by Black Swamp Bird Observatory, the celebration coincides with the peak of songbird migration. The period between mid-April to the end of May annually brings an estimated 80,000 visitors and in excess of $40 million in tourism dollars to the region. 

“The habitat that Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge manages for birds is crucial to potentially global populations of some species,” said Kimberly Kaufman, executive director of BSBO in Oak Harbor. “It’s that important because we are a migration bottleneck for migratory songbirds.”  

An urgent appeal for support 

While preparing to welcome the surge of visitors that this annual songbird celebration brings, the refuge is grappling with a funding shortfall that threatens daily operations. 

In an April 11 letter sent to supporters, Aimee Arent, executive director of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (FONWR), cited “unprecedented funding challenges” and announced an urgent appeal with a goal of raising $30,000 by the end of May. 

“Since February, federal budget constraints have severely limited purchasing by federal employees, leaving essential refuge operations at risk,” wrote Arent.

FONWR is a separate nonprofit that supports the ONWR complex with volunteers, fundraising and advocacy. OWNR anchors a complex that includes satellite properties, as well as another 2,675 acres at Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge and the 82-acre West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The letter from Arent stated that FONWR has stepped in to fund critical needs not covered in the refuge budget, from basic supplies like soap and toilet paper for the visitor center to tractor tires and batteries needed for maintaining the seven-mile Wildlife Drive and hiking trails. 

In a written response to questions from the Toledo Free Press, Arent said that Friends groups traditionally fundraise for enhancements to the wildlife refuges they support, such as new trails, habitat restoration, acquisition projects or educational programs — not core daily operations.

“When I referred to ‘unprecedented funding challenges,’ I was referencing the federal budget constraints that took effect in February, which have severely limited the ability of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff to make even basic purchases necessary for refuge operations,” Arent wrote.

“For context, federal employees are restricted from purchasing routine supplies — things as simple as soap, toilet paper, trail maintenance materials and vehicle parts needed to keep the refuge managed for wildlife and open for public use.” 

Arent said in the past, operational funding would have covered essentials, such as office supplies, maintenance materials and equipment parts. These items keep the Wildlife Drive, hiking trails and visitor center functioning for the public. “Now, without intervention from Friends groups, even basic upkeep and visitor services could be interrupted.”

In March, the refuge cut its visitor center hours from five days to four days a week. For the busy migration season, the visitor center will be open every day in May from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the exception of Memorial Day. Arent said it is uncertain what the hours will be beyond May.

In March, ONWR cut its visitor center hours from five days to four days a week due to cuts in funding. The center will be open daily in May for the busy spring migration season. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)

The latest appeal from FONWR comes on the heels of a fundraiser that brought in approximately $50,000 last December for planned conservation efforts for 2025. Without the additional donations, Arent wrote that the refuge may face difficulties maintaining public areas, gaps in invasive species management and interruptions to public programs. 

The additional expenses were not anticipated when FONWR set its annual budget, hence the new appeal “to ensure the refuge remains open and protected during this difficult period,” wrote Arent.

Refuge staff were unavailable for comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said national officials were not granting interviews at this time but sent a written statement to Toledo Free Press on April 23. 

“As part of the broader efforts led by the Department of the Interior under President Trump’s leadership, we are implementing necessary reforms to ensure fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency, and government accountability,” the statement read. “While we do not comment on personnel matters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remains committed to fulfilling our mission of conserving fish, wildlife, and natural resources for the American people.”

Invaluable resource for the region

While the BSBO does not receive any federal funding, Kaufman said her organization has partnered with ONWR on nearly every level of their mission for decades. Their office is located at the neighboring Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, and she said the two preserves are marketed as the “epicenter” of the Biggest Week in American Birding.

She said it is disturbing to see the cuts impacting the important work that ONWR does.

Sylvania resident Ellen Bellemore takes photos of purple martins in a colony near the visitor center at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)

“What that refuge supports is almost hard to quantify in terms of research, education, tourism, habitat for wildlife, access for the public,” Kaufman said. “We should feel such a sense of pride that we have this national wildlife refuge in our region, and we should be fighting back and pushing our legislators to continue to support it.”

Kaufman asserted the refuge has already been “woefully understaffed” for years. 

According to a 2024 annual report by FONWR, the refuge received approximately $957,436 in Congressional budget allocations in fiscal year 2024. This represents a 4.5 percent decrease in the budget compared to fiscal year 2023. 

The report cites an operating budget in 2024 of $228,795 for the refuge, representing a decrease of about 30 percent since 2019. This budget covers maintenance, supplies, fixed expenses, fuel and miscellaneous expenses, such as training and travel.

Salaries are the largest expenditure, utilizing 76 percent of the appropriated funding for the refuge. In 2024, this was based on five full-time employees. Since 2020, the refuge has seen a decrease of three full-time employees. 

While Kaufman was not aware of any staff being fired this year, she heard that at least two employees took an early buyout that was offered in February. 

Since government funding does not cover all that is necessary to manage the refuge, FONWR fills in the gaps with financial and volunteer support. Last year, the group’s support through all revenue streams totaled $646,441.  

According to Arent, the National Wildlife Refuge System has seen a 30 percent reduction in its workforce over the past 30 years. The effects of that staffing shortage are felt across the 11,245 acres of wetlands, grasslands and forests the ONWR Complex manages. 

“None of this happens without the habitat,” Arent wrote in her email. “Adequate staffing levels are essential to maintaining the delicate balance of these ecosystems and the conservation successes we’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

Protecting crucial habitat 

ONWR welcomes more than 400,000 visitors annually and provides habitat for more than 300 species of birds. Its wetlands also play a key role in protecting Lake Erie by filtering pollutants, supporting the fishing industry, and helping defend shorelines against erosion and flooding, Arent noted. 

Kaufman said these habitats along the lakeshore are crucial for the survival of migratory birds, which have seen declining populations for years. “You could be talking about impacting the entire population of a few species if it’s not continuing to be managed properly,” said Kaufman.

Despite the challenges facing the refuge, Arent said staff, volunteers and the FONWR are working hard to be ready to welcome visitors for the Biggest Week in American Birding.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure the refuge remains safe, accessible, and welcoming for all,” she wrote. “This is a truly special time when people from around the globe come together to celebrate the beauty of nature — and it’s a powerful reminder of why protecting our public lands is so important.”

Kaufman invited residents of the region who have never visited to come out during spring migration to discover “this incredible resource that’s right in your own backyard.”

Findlay’s Jim and Anne Albert hike one of the boardwalk trails at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. (TFP Photo/Laurie Bertke)
Birds migrate at sunrise at Crane Creek Estuary of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. (Courtesy Photo/Sharon Cummings)

Cannabis reform in modern America

0

Prohibition to progress: The absurdity of U.S. cannabis policy

In one part of the country, cannabis entrepreneurs are cutting ribbons on new dispensaries, generating millions in tax revenue and employing thousands. In others, people are handcuffed and booked for carrying a few grams of the same plant.

In Washington, Congress debates cannabis reform endlessly. Meanwhile, Wall Street is already cashing in. The federal government profits off cannabis through unfair tax laws but refuses to legalize it.

This is the absurdity of America’s cannabis policy in 2025, where legal cannabis businesses fuel booming economies, yet people are still arrested every day for simple possession.

It’s time to move beyond this contradiction and establish a rational, national approach to cannabis regulation.

The economic boom: Cannabis is fueling growth

Cannabis is no longer an underground market—it’s a major economic force (See graphic 1):

States that have legalized cannabis are thriving. Colorado, Illinois and California have all surpassed $1 billion in cannabis tax revenue and are funding schools, drug treatment programs and law enforcement.

Meanwhile, the federal government continues to block the industry from fully participating in the economy, denying businesses access to banking, capital and fair tax treatment, all while collecting more taxes from cannabis businesses than any other industry because of 280E.

There’s a deep and troubling hypocrisy at the heart of federal cannabis policy: While the government classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug—on par with heroin—it is simultaneously profiting off its legal sale through a punitive tax code.

Under Section 280E of the federal tax code, cannabis businesses are prohibited from deducting ordinary business expenses, like rent, payroll and marketing. This results in effective tax rates of 40 to 80 percent, compared to the standard corporate rate of 21 percent.

A 2019 ITEP report estimated 280E adds an effective 6.25 percent federal tax burden to cannabis sales. Based on the size of the U.S. cannabis market—projected at over $45 billion annually—this translates to an estimated $5.5 billion in federal tax revenue from businesses that can’t even open a bank account.

Let’s be clear: these aren’t criminal cartels. These are licensed, tax-paying businesses that comply with state regulations. And yet, they’re being taxed like criminals while the federal government reaps the benefits.

Uncle Sam is America’s most profitable, protected and hypocritical drug dealer.

They want the money, not the policy: The Ohio case study

Even in states that have legalized cannabis, political hypocrisy continues to rear its head.

In Ohio, voters passed adult-use cannabis in November 2023 by a wide margin. However, Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration is actively pushing to double the marijuana sales tax from 10 to 20 percent, despite the fact that voters approved this figure. The proposal, included in the governor’s budget, would dramatically increase the financial burden on Ohio’s cannabis consumers and businesses to fund law enforcement priorities, without expanding access or reducing regulatory friction.

At the same time, Ohio regulators continue to delay the rollout of cannabis pre-rolls, one of the most in-demand and profitable product categories in every adult-use market. These delays are not based on public health concerns or product safety—they are political decisions that undermine the market voters approved.

Ohio isn’t alone. Across the country, lawmakers and regulators are working to increase taxes, restrict access and delay implementation, while still collecting cannabis tax revenue.

This isn’t regulation. It’s exploitation.

If the federal government uses 280E to tax cannabis like contraband, and states overtax and underdeliver on access, then what exactly is being legalized?

Profits for the government. Headaches for businesses. Confusion for consumers.

Big Alcohol and Big Tobacco have already bet on cannabis

The same industries that fought cannabis legalization for decades are now some of its biggest investors:

  • Constellation Brands (Corona, Modelo) invested $4 billion in Canopy Growth
  • Altria (Philip Morris USA) invested $1.8 billion in Cronos Group
  • British American Tobacco owns a major stake in Organigram
  • Anheuser-Busch InBev partnered with Tilray to develop cannabis-infused beverages

The private sector sees the writing on the wall. So do the states. But Congress continues to ignore it.

The next generation of consumers has already chosen cannabis over alcohol and tobacco. Consider that Gen Z drinks 20 percent less than Millennials and prefers cannabis for socializing; tobacco use has plummeted, while cannabis use has increased; and cannabis is seen as a healthier, more conscious alternative to alcohol.

While younger generations normalize cannabis, the federal government still treats it like contraband.

Despite cannabis legalization spreading across the country, over 200,000 people were arrested for marijuana offenses in 2023. An astounding 92 percent of those arrests were for simple possession, with communities of color continuing to be disproportionately impacted. And people still lose jobs, housing and opportunity over a substance now legal in nearly half the country.

You cannot regulate, tax and profit off cannabis while continuing to criminalize it. That is not justice. That is hypocrisy.

The majority of the United States has embraced cannabis reform (See graphic 2):

Graphic 2

The states have spoken. The voters have spoken. The markets have spoken.

Why hasn’t Congress?

It’s time for Congress and state legislators to stop posturing and start governing. A modern cannabis policy must include:

  • Federal rescheduling of cannabis
  • Potency-based regulation (not the outdated “hemp vs. marijuana” THC threshold)
  • Repeal of Section 280E to allow standard business deductions
  • Passage of the SAFE Banking Act to allow access to financial services
  • Harmonization of federal and state law
  • Expungement of nonviolent cannabis convictions

Congress has stalled long enough. Every day of inaction keeps businesses shut out of financial systems, people behind bars for outdated charges, and a thriving market stuck in legal limbo.

Cannabis legalization is no longer a question of if—it’s a test of whether lawmakers have the courage to catch up with reality.

The time for debate is over. The time for action is now. Let’s move cannabis from contradiction to clarity and from prohibition to progress.


Ohio Senate Bill 86 advances

0
(Courtesy Photo/Ohio State House)
This story was originally published by Signal Statewide. Sign up for free newsletters at SignalOhio.org/StateSignals. Statewide is a media partner of the Toledo Free Press.

By Andrew Tobias | Signal Statewide

The Ohio General Assembly reconvened on Wednesday after taking a couple weeks off for an Easter break. Senate Bill 86 is one noteworthy bill that advanced.

The Ohio Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 86, which restricts the sale of hemp-derived THC products known as Delta-8 (I think of them as “Diet Weed.”) These products emerged via a loophole in the 2018 federal farm bill, which was meant to legalize industrial hemp production.

The bill says “intoxicating hemp” products must be sold in state-licensed marijuana dispensaries, although the legislation makes an exception for “drinkable cannabinoid products,” AKA THC beverages. Businesses with retail liquor licenses (bars, grocery stores, carryout stores) would be allowed to sell them to people 21 and up. It also sets quality and testing standards the products must meet. 

The bill now heads to the House, which is considering its own proposal to regulate intoxicating hemp. The House version, unlike the Senate version, doesn’t contain language allowing THC beverages to be sold outside of dispensaries. (Legislative leaders said Wednesday that how the state deals with THC products could get pulled into the budget bill.)

Gov. Mike DeWine has been calling on the legislature to ban Delta-8 for over a year, calling the products a risk to children. But it looks more like lawmakers will regulate it in a manner similar to recreational marijuana or even alcohol. 

The bill’s supporters said Wednesday it will keep THC products out of the hands of kids but still keep the drinks easily available for adults 21 and up.

“I’ve never tried them, but everybody tells me they’re the hip new thing,” said State Sen. Bill Demora, a Columbus Democrat.

Signal Statewide is a nonprofit news organization covering government, education, health, economy and public safety.

Op-ed: Vote yes on Issue 8 for Toledo Metroparks

0
Adult coots gather on top of a muskrat cabin at Howard Marsh Metropark. (TFP Photo/Art Weber)

Issue 8 won’t raise our tax rate, but it will keep one of the most important institutions in Northwest Ohio, our metroparks system, operating for another 10 years. That’s why I am supporting the Toledo Metroparks’ request for a 1.4-mill, 10-year replacement levy on the May 6 ballot.

A great egret at Side Cut Metropark. (Courtesy Photo/Art Weber)

The 1.4-mill levy was first approved by voters in 2007 and renewed with overwhelming support in 2017. Throughout those 18 years, Metroparks has collected the tax based on 2007 property values. The replacement levy would be on today’s values, amounting to an increase of $1.60 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home.

One of the reasons I support Issue 8 is that Metroparks has lived within its means despite rising costs and skyrocketing demand from visitors over the last two decades. They have achieved this by bringing home federal grants that would have otherwise gone to other communities to fund their parks and trails.

Since the levy was renewed in 2017, the park system has delivered on its promise to place a clean, safe, natural metropark within five miles of every home in Lucas County. The community has responded, with park visitation increasing a whopping 62 percent in just the last seven years.

Metroparks Toledo is so highly regarded nationally that in 2020 it was named the No. 1 large park system in America by park and recreation trade associations.

We are fortunate to have 19 Metroparks open every day of the year – 7 a.m. until dark – without an admission free. Regional parks provide healthy places to gather and recreate. They beautify our community, enhance our property values and attract tourists who contribute millions of dollars to our local economy.

Quality of life attributes such as parks are not only nice to have, but a must-have today to attract and retain talented young people that local businesses need. That is why the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is among more than two dozen organizations that have endorsed Issue 8.

The first wave of chorus frogs has emerged and are singing for mates in our vernal pools. A wonderful place to hear them is along the Wabash-Cannonball Trail. (Courtesy Photo/Art Weber)

Even if you never step foot in one of the parks, they are working for you every day, helping to keep our air and water clean, retaining storm water and providing wildlife habitat.

Since Lucas became a county in 1835, we have lost nearly 90 percent of our original woodlands and wetlands. Metroparks preserves just 5.5 percent of the land in the county, protecting the best of what little remains of our natural history for this and future generations.

Think of a Metropark as a park within a preserve. Eighty percent of Metroparks land is maintained as natural areas. Within the 20 percent devoted to parkland, the Metroparks staff has done a masterful job of developing innovative programs and facilities that provide free or low-cost entertainment for families year-round.

More than 100,000 people a year participate in nature walks, summer camps, outdoor skills classes, such as tree climbing and kayaking and special events.

I hope you will join me in supporting Issue 8 because Metroparks support our community in so many ways, every day.

The Maumee River channel above Farnsworth Metropark at Weir Rapids in Waterville. (Courtesy Photo/Art Weber)

Don Lee: Togetherness

0