• Last Saturday (June 17), the Lucas County Commissioners voted unanimously to declare a state of emergency due to the tornado damage done two days prior, which largely affected Point Place. The emergency resolution allowed them to allocate more funding and resources to aid recovery efforts.
• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council considered several proposals. They include expanding the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) boundaries to the 1200 block of Jackson Street where Quenched and Tempered Brewing is; placing a charter amendment on the ballot in November that would allow areas of the city which were formerly townships to receive more funding for infrastructure repairs; and allocating $750,000 from the city's newly-established "1% for the Environment" fund toward a $1.5 million project to light the Glass City Riverwall at night using solar panels as a power source.
• Also on Tuesday, Welcoming America re-certified both Toledo and Lucas County as Welcoming communities, a designation meant to reflect dedication to immigrant inclusion.
• In further Tuesday news, Governor DeWine visited Point Place to survey the damage left by a 130mph tornado the previous Thursday and talk to residents impacted by the disaster. He was joined by several local elected officials.
• Daniel Petro, a 49-year-old employee of auto parts supplier Electro Prime in North Toledo, died on Tuesday while while operating a mobile lift at work.
• On Wednesday, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Gary Cook denied a request from a local landlord seeking to prevent the City of Toledo from beginning implementation of its lead-safe ordinance. Despite the denial of an injunction preventing implementation, litigation over the law will proceed.
• On Thursday, the board of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library voted unanimously to purchase the former Food Town at 3025 West Alexis Rd. for $2.3 million. The building we be the new location for the Washington Branch Library, currently at 5560 Harvest Ln., which is being demolished to make way for a new middle school in the Washington Local Schools district.
• Also on Thursday, the University of Toledo Board of Trustees voted to increase tuition rates by 3% for undergraduate students and 2% for graduate students in the upcoming school year. The board also voted to cut several graduate assistant positions and stipends for graduate assistants in an effort to reduce expenses.
• In further Thursday news, U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur announced that the city had received $20 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the "Connecting Toledo Neighborhoods to Opportunity" project. The $53 million project will construct a new protected sidewalk on the Dorr Street bridge over I-75 and a 0.75-mile multi-use path along Dorr Street between Washington Street and Forest Avenue. Construction is estimated to take place over six years between 2026 and 2032.
• On Friday, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) announced that it will receive $9 million from the Federal Transit Administration's
"Low-No" grant to obtain eight electric buses and charging stations for said buses.
• The City of Toledo is seeking volunteers to gather heat data during a day (to be determined) in July. The data collected will be used to fund cooling efforts, such as planting more trees, in an effort to reduce violence during hotter months. To register as a volunteer or for more information, visit https://toledo.oh.gov/heat-watch.
• A conflict between Bon Secours Mercy Health and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield over reimbursement rates may result in 26,000 local Medicaid recipients no longer covered in visits to Mercy facilities, such as St. Vincent's Hospital in downtown Toledo. Mercy has already sent a termination letter to Anthem stating their intent to cease accepting Anthem insurance effective July 1.
• This Saturday (June 24) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., over 40,000 books for children of all ages will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis at the Glass City Metropark's Market Hall (1505 Front St.) in East Toledo. Parents may select up to 10 books for each child, while educators may select up to 40.
• Next Monday (June 26) at 5:30 p.m., the Coalition for Peaceful Toledo Neighborhoods will hold a town hall meeting on violent crime at the Ohio Theatre and Event Center (3112 Lagrange St.) in North Toledo.
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