There is nothing more important than the health and well-being of my constituents.

So, I am coordinating with leaders at all levels of government to ensure all Ohioans can exercise their constitutional right to vote while preserving their health and safety. You can find the latest directives from Governor DeWine below and you can find all rapid updates on my campaign Facebook page.

Here’s what we know:

The state of Ohio is currently under a ‘Stay-at Home’ order beginning at 11:59 p.m. Monday through Thursday, April 30.

People may only leave their homes to seek medical care, for health and safety, for necessary supplies and services, for outdoor activity, for approved types of work, to take care of others, or for weddings and funerals.

All “essential” businesses and operations are encouraged to remain open and comply with social distancing requirements.

Those requirements are staying at least 6 feet from other people, frequently using hand sanitizer or washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, having hand sanitizer products readily available for employees and customers, offering different hours for vulnerable people, and having information about hours of operation and how to reach the business when it is not open posted where people can see them, according to the order.

Essential businesses include health care and public health operations, human services operations, essential governmental functions and essential infrastructure.

The order defines essential businesses that may operate during this time as:

• • Grocery stores
  • Stores that sell medicine
  • Media organizations, such as newspapers, radio and TV news
  • Organizations that offer charitable and social services
  • Religious groups
  • Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation
  • Hardware and supply stores
  • Building and construction trades
  • Companies that sell business supplies needed for working from home
  • Financial institutions
  • Laundry services
  • Restaurants that offer takeout, as long as consumption is completed off the restaurant’s premises
  • Transportation providers
  • Home-based care and services
  • Residential facilities and shelters
  • Professional services, such as legal services, accounting services, insurance services and real estate services
  • Manufacturing, distribution and supply chain for critical products and industries
  • Critical labor union functions
  • Hotels and motels
  • Funeral services
  • Food, beverage, and licensed marijuana production and agriculture
  • Post offices and other businesses that provide shipping and delivery services
  • Educational institutions

Election

• Primary Election has extended through April 28th.
  
• All votes already submitted will count.
• You can request absentee ballots here: vote.franklincountyohio.gov
• Once approved as an absentee voter, you will receive their blank ballot in the mail.
• After filling out your ballot, you can mail or drop it off at the Franklin County Board of Elections, 1700 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH 43229 by April 28.
• You can find contact and mailing information for the 88 county boards of elections offices here.

Education

• K-12 schools will be closed for at least 3 weeks (until April 6th)
• Student meals are being decided by each district while schools are closed. Find more information at your school districts website:
  • Bexley
  • Canal Winchester
  • Columbus
  • Gahanna-Jefferson
  • Grandview Heights
  • Groveport Madison
  • Hamilton
  • Hilliard
  • Licking Heights
  • New Albany-Plain
  • Olentangy
  • Pickerington
  • Reynoldsburg
  • South-Western
  • Upper Arlington
  • Westerville
  • Whitehall
  • Worthington

Jobs and Family Services

• Enhance unemployment aid for Ohioans
• Grant the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services with the authority to accept and grant requests for unemployment compensation suspending the normal 1-week waiting period.
• Give relief to applicants who are not offered paid leave through their job, as well as those who have been quarantined by a medical professional, their employer, or whose employers must temporarily close.
• Employers will be able to defer their premium payments for health insurance for up to two months
• Health insurance companies must allow employers to continue covering employees even if the employee would have become ineligible because of working fewer hours
• Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This landmark law:
  • authorizes economic impact payments,
  • assists student borrowers,
  • invests in our healthcare professionals and first responders, helps keep them safe,
  • institutes strong accountability measures on corporations receiving taxpayer dollars,
  • and provides $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses, independent contractors, and the self-employed, as well as first-time funding for nonprofits.

Find out if you qualify for a relief check below.

Closings

• Hair salons, day spas, nail salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, body piercing locations, tanning facilities, and massage therapy locations.
• Bureau of Motor Vehicles
• Health clubs, fitness centers, workout facilities, gyms, and yoga studios
• Public Recreational Centers
• Movie Theaters and all performance theaters
• Indoor water parks
• Indoor trampoline parks
• Bowling alleys
• Indoor Sports facilities
• Nursing Homes, Senior Citizen and Senior Daycare Centers

“Beatty won this debate.”

On Sunday, Feb. 2, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and challenger Morgan Harper met in the first candidate forum for Ohio’s Third Congressional District. The debate, which took place at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 59 E. Mound St., was a contentious one, with candidates facing off on policy, experience and the Democratic Party.

The afternoon started off with both candidates agreeing on the primary issues facing Ohio’s Third District, which covers most of the City of Columbus and some surrounding areas within Franklin County. Three issues were the main focus: healthcare, affordable housing and economic opportunity. How and what type of leadership it takes to get there, however, were different for each candidate.

Harper’s view, and overall message, was that to improve these issues for the district, it would take leadership that did not accept and allow corporate money to govern politics.

Beatty’s message touched on rejecting divisiveness, bipartisanship and coming together to achieve these goals. Read more.