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November 10 - 17, 2023 - Dayton Weekly News
Vol. 29, Issue 49
November 10 - 17, 2023 Ohioans went to the polls Tuesday to vote on two statewide issues and several local issues. For more on each race:
Ohio Issue 1 on Amendment for Abortion Rights Passes
Ohio voters have approved a measure to establish the right to abortion in the state constitution, making the state the latest to protect access to the procedure since the fall of Roe v. Wade. Issue 1 has passed, constitutionally enshrining the right of Ohioans to make decisions about abortion, contraception, fertility treatment, miscarriage care and preg-
the state’s urban areas, with three providing only medication abortions. Of clinics that do provide abortion procedures, three provide the procedure up until the legal limit, with others offering it until 15 to 19 weeks gestation.
nancy. By the time the AP called the race at 9 p.m., 57.8% of voters approved the ballot initiative with 36% of precincts reporting. The amendment will take effect in 30 days, per Ohio law. Upon its enactment, it would prohibit limits on abortion before fetal viability. Any prohibitions on abortion after fetal viability – generally accepted as between 22-24 weeks gestation but would be determined by an individual’s doctor – would not apply should the pregnant person’s health or life be at risk. Supporters of the amendment claimed that establishing a constitutional right to the procedure is crucial to counter-
act the increasing slate of restrictions on the procedure the legislature has enacted into law. A specific concern raised among supporters was the possible re-implementation of the state’s six-week abortion ban, which is currently held up in court. What is the current status of abortion in Ohio?
With the state’s sixweek ban on hold, abortion is currently legal through 21 weeks gestation, or 21 weeks after the first day of a pregnant person’s last menstrual cycle. Medication abortion is available through 10 weeks gestation. Ohio has nine abortion clinics spread across
Voters in Ohio have approved an initiative to become the 24th state in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana, the Associated Press has projected. Issue 2 passed on Tuesday’s ballot to allow adultuse sale, purchase and possession of cannabis for Ohioans who are 21 and
Danielle Darkenwald tiple languages, including Arabic, Spanish, and Swahili. “This has also really helped me to learn a deeper appreciation for cultures outside of the United States and to become better at eventually becoming an advocate for people for whom English isn’t their first language and require legal assistance,” Darkenwald said. Two years after changing her major, Darkenwald remains dedicatedly on track to go to law school.
She is currently preparing for her graduate studies and will be taking the LSATs later this month. “I do feel I’ve been well prepared for the LSATs,” Darkenwald said, laughing that she “wish(es) I had gotten prepared a little earlier, maybe a year ago to be even more ready for them!” Having crammed for the LSATs for the past four months, Darkenwald admits that the extra studying “has been kind of challenging” in conjunction with her regular schoolwork at Central State, social life, and various leadership positions on campus. “I’ve always been a leader, someone who has always done what’s right, with a passion for always sticking up for people,” Darkenwald said. At Central State, Darkenwald is an Honors ColContinued on Page 3
November 7, 2023 — The Omega Community Development Corporation (CDC) hosted its first Hope Zone Honors at The Hope Lives Here Gala, on November 6 to an audience of 450. The event, with a fundraising goal of $1.6 million to
Hope Zone Honorees support efforts to increase self-sufficiency and stability for thousands of families, took place at Sinclair Community College. The HOPE LIVES HERE Gala celebrated Omega CDC’s most recent success in expanding services across 17 neighborhoods in north-
Central State University Student Finds Support and Resources Through Her HBCU
Wilberforce, OH Cleveland native and senior Honors college student Danielle Darkenwald, majoring in History, originally came to Central State University to study in the ever-growing criminal justice program. “I decided to make the change to majoring in history in my sophomore year,” Darkenwald said, “because as much as I knew I wanted to eventually go into law, I learned that you don’t necessarily have to have a pre-law focus in undergrad to go to law school. I decided to change to history, because I really enjoy learning about Black history and Africana Studies.” Darkenwald’s passion for a law career was first sparked in high school when, during her senior year, she took part in an internship through the Cleveland Municipal Court’s Language Interpretation Department. “I was able to see how language interpreters there were able to create a bridge of comprehension between the client and the courtroom,” Darkenwald said. “I really enjoyed sitting in the courtroom, watching all of this, and learning languages that I had never even heard of. That’s really what inspired me to pursue law: being that bridge of comprehension and that interpretation of law.” In addition to kicking off her interest in the legal profession, Darkenwald’s internship was one of the factors that led her to learning mul-
Ohio Issue 2 to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Passes
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older. The measure, effective 30 days after the election, permits adults to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, up to 15 grams of marijuana concentrate and grow up to six plants at home. “Marijuana is no longer a controversial issue,” said Tom Haren, spokesperson for proIssue 2 group Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. “Ohioans demonstrated this by passing State Issue 2 in a landslide. Ohioans are being extremely clear on the future they want for our state: adult-use marijuana legal and regulated.” Those in Ohio who purchase cannabis will pay a 10% excise tax, Continued on Page 4
Omega CDC Celebrates the Journey on Hope Road at the Hope Live Here Gala
Calling All Doll Lovers Young and Old!
If you have a favorite little girl who has a favorite little doll, you are invited to bring them both and enjoy an afternoon of food and fun at our Annual Doll High Tea on Sunday, December 10th from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Dayton Woman’s Club, 225 North Ludlow Stree, Dayton, OH 45402. Enjoy our historic mansion decorated for the holiday season and take photos by our Victorian Christmas tree. The menu will feature traditional scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam, finger sandwiches, tasty pastries, fruit, tea, and punch. All the girls will receive popular Doll Parade. clotted cream and straw- fruit, tea, and punch. a teacup, a ticket for door The menu will feature berry jam, finger sandprizes, and a spot in the traditional scones with wiches, tasty pastries,
west Dayton. This success comes because of being awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant for the Hope Zone Promise Neighborhood. And, while the Promise Neighborhood dollars, the first awarded in the State of Ohio, will enable Omega CDC to scale their cradle-to-career work to reach more children and families, the restrictions of the grant leave gaps in funding to ensure support for every Hope Zone child’s cradle-to-career Journey. The Hope Lives Here Gala began with an impactful video about the work of Omega CDC followed by the welcome and occasion from Vanessa Ward, President of Omega CDC. Mistress of Ceremonies, Sade Dike, author, entrepreneur, and motivator delivered the spoken word “Present”. Dr. Alonzo Patterson, Darius Beckham, Gala Honorary Co-chairs thanked the many sponContinued on Page 8
Local Artists Selected for 8-4 Memorial in Oregon District What’s Inside
The 8-4 Memorial Committee is pleased to announce the selection of the team that will create a memorial in the Oregon District in honor of the tragic events that occurred on August 4, 2019. The team selected includes the following artists: • Terry Welker, FAIA:
architect/sculptor, team leader • Sierra Leone: poet, educator, community builder • Jes McMillan: artist, community builder, The Mosaic Institute • James Pate: artist, designer, community builder “The Seed of Life team of artists is honored and
excited to begin working with the entire Dayton community on this significant 8-4 Memorial project. Our unique, collaborative, visionary process allows us to create a shared, memorable place of healing. Here, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, and everyone has the opportunity to literally use their own hands to
help make it happen,” said Terry Welker. Five semi-finalists were selected through the Request for Qualifications process that was managed by The Contemporary Dayton. Each artist/artist team selected developed and presented full proposals. The winning team was selected based on feedback from the community,
the art jurors, and the 8-4 Memorial Committee. Funding for the 8-4 Memorial is possible thanks to the support from the CareSource Foundation, City of Dayton, Conor Group Kids & Community Partners, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Kettering Health Network, Montgomery County, Premier Continued on Page 2
Arts & Enter. 3 Editorial 4 Education 5 Religion 6 General 7 Health 8