Newsletter

A recent bill from the Ohio Legislature will help the lab do just that. Senate Bill 299, the Clean Lake 2020 Plan, was sponsored by state Sens. Randy Gardner and Sean O’Brien. It allocates up to $36 million in funding to water quality programs that help protect Lake Erie. Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab received $2.65 million of that funding, which will cover a new building and equipment for the Lake Erie laboratory, as well as monitoring equipment that will be placed in the Maumee River this spring. Clean Lake 2020’s goal is to offer potential solutions to the lake’s harmful algal blooms (HABs) and related issues. The blooms can produce toxins that lead to drinking water advisories, and an overgrowth of algae can lead to unsightly scums near the shore that can negatively affect tourism in the area. Follow this link to learn more. Sourced from: Morning Ag Clips

Zoom is Ohio State University Extension's digital tool that offers HD quality video-conferencing with screen-sharing capability for hosting small committee meetings or even educational webinars. Zoom also allows you to record meetings and webinars so even those unable to join live can engage with your content. This webinar will offer best practices for using Zoom to host small video meetings and large educational webinars while showcasing built-in engagement tools like polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms. The webinar will be held Monday, May 20, 10-11 a.m. Follow this link to register. Sourced from: The Ohio State University

Local governments stand on the front lines of some of the most significant challenges of our day. From homelessness, the opioid crisis, barriers to justice, and redevelopment challenges, local governments are best positioned to meaningfully address these issues, even amidst their own uncertainties including parochialism, limited resources, and a shifting workforce. To fully realize the power of local government to improve communities, certain connections must occur. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Cities Speak

Dog parks are one of the fastest-growing green spaces in American cities, according to the Trust for Public Land. The demand for sanctioned off-leash spaces is growing, as urban pet owners seek out legal romping grounds for their dogs to socialize, sniff, and even swim. Yes, pool time for Fido is a design element of many new puppy parks; the sleek new Lincoln Yards development in Chicago even has a splash pad that mimics the famous Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. When renderings of the new dog park were published, some noticed a conspicuous lack of people of color enjoying the luxury pet space. Although the 2017 American Housing Survey showed that families who identify as non-Hispanic white are more likely to have a pet, there is no distinction for type of animal, so dog ownership by race can’t be perfectly extrapolated from this data. And in Chicago, many South Side residents are dog owners who chafed at the lack of dog parks in the predominantly minority area of the city. Follow this link to read what dog parks reveal about racial inequality. Sourced from: Data-Smart City Solutions