View From The Pugh

Arkansas reports a record number of new COVID-19 cases, as the Omicron variant spreads; more than 60 rallies take place across California on Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary of U.S. Capitol insurrection. --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also l...

Ending the filibuster is again a topic among U.S. senators; Trump cancels his January 6 anniversary event and Biden expresses frustration over COVID testing. --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also leave a voice mail for our show here . Check out previou...

Eric Tegethoff It is time for a new calendar and, for many people, it also means resolutions to change their lifestyles. It can be a big task for people who have committed to new year's resolutions to stick to them. Darren Bushee, mental-health clinician and field care coordinator for Optum Idaho , has some tips. He said changing your lifestyle is difficult, and it is best to consider your mindset...

Joe Castle and Chris Pugh take a look at Kurt Caz's trip to Medellín, Colombia, and the weird things he did during the trip. --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also leave a voice mail for our show here . Check out previous shows and enter to win contests...

One year since the attack on the U.S. Capitol and a political expert feels the lingering effects are not fully realized; plus filibuster changes are under debate to protect voting rights. --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also leave a voice mail for our...

First Senate votes of 2022 are rescheduled by bad weather; President Biden meets with ranchers about the meatpacking industry; Devin Nunes exits Congress, and FDA backs Pfizer boosters for 12-to-15-year-olds. --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also leave...

Stargazing in Dark Sky Parks popular across U.S.; historic Black-owned filling station on Route 66 raises funds to become a cultural center; and what will stop the Covid-double death rate in rural Ame

An annual pay raise has kicked-in for Ohio's minimum-wage workers, who will now earn $9.30 per hour, about $2 more than the federal minimum wage . The $0.50 hourly increase is the largest since 2006 , when a ballot initiative indexed the minimum wage to inflation. Hannah Halbert, executive director of Policy Matters Ohio, noted had Congress done the same when it set the federal minimum wage in 196...

Ohio News Connection New data reveals a promising trend in the well-being of Ohio's kids. In 2020, 16.8% of Ohio children lived in poverty , nearly 423,000 children, the lowest percentage reported since 2000. Emily Campbell, associate director of the Center for Community Solutions, noted the data is a one-year estimate from the Census Bureau's 2020 American Community Survey, which carries some unc...

Ohio News Connection Efforts to rectify the lingering environmental legacy of coal mining in Ohio are getting a big financial boost. The new federal infrastructure law includes $11.3 billion to fund abandoned mine cleanup in 25 states. In Ohio, there are more than 3,400 abandoned mines, according to the Department of Natural Resources , posing health and safety risks to people and the environment....

Ohio News Connection A new report provides insight on measures of health in Ohio needing improvement in the new year and beyond. The "America's Health Rankings 2021" report from UnitedHealthcare puts Ohio at 38th among states for health outcomes, with notable challenges including a high prevalence of cigarette smoking, insufficient sleep and the number of people with multiple chronic conditions. T...

Chris Pugh and Paul Yanchek talk about Alexa telling a 10-year-old girl to touch a live plug with a penny . a homeowner who said God told him to burn his house down and move to Kentucky and the Iowa man who has eaten Wheaties daily since 1942 , --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener...

Craig Shoup, Joe Castle and I get together to end 2021 with a podcast full of special guests and talk about football, Christmas and speeding on the highway.  --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also leave a voice mail for our show here . Check out pr...

Craig Shoup, Joe Castle and I take a closer look at what Gordon Ramsay is serving up at Christmas . We also discuss next week's celebrity contest.  --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener support program . You can also leave a voice mail for our show here . Check out previous sho...

Ohio News Connection Whether it's COVID-19, the seasonal flu or a cold, health-care professionals say reducing your risk of illness starts with prevention. All three respiratory diseases are caused by viruses and share similar symptoms including a cough, sore throat and runny nose. Elena Roach, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner for The Healthcare Connection, a Cincinnati-area federally qual...

Ohio News Connection It's beginning to feel a lot like winter in the Buckeye State, and the Winter Crisis Program offers the gift of warmth to Ohioans burdened by their home heating bills. The program is part of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and offers one-time assistance to households that have been disconnected, are threatened with disconnection, are establishing a new utility servi...

Rural areas are promised more equity from the U.S. Agriculture Secretary while the AgrAbility program offers new help for farmers with disabilities; and Pennsylvanians for abandoned mine reclamation say infrastructure monies are long overdue. --- Thanks for listening to the podcast. Help us out by sharing the episode, subscribing to the podcast , supporting our sponsors and joining our listener su...

(Illinois News Connection) - As the court system works to catch up from pandemic disruptions, many courts continue to use remote technology or are testing new ways to incorporate it. But groups that advocate for criminal-justice reform and juvenile justice are voicing concerns. They say these steps raise questions about litigants' rights, their access to representation and other resources. Especia...

Jonah Chester Ohio News Connection The new year is just around the corner, and one Ohio faith leader is asking folks to find comfort in community during uncertain times. With the Omicron coronavirus variant surging, some folks may begin to feel isolated from their friends and loved ones. Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, executive director of the Ohio Council of Churches , said relying on people in our comm...

(Ohio News Coverage) - While Ohioans still have plenty of time to shop for holiday gifts, the deadline to shop for health insurance on the federal insurance marketplace is here. People in need of coverage starting Jan. 1 need to select a plan and enroll by midnight tonight. Liz Thuranira, grassroots organizer and southwest story collector for UHCAN (Universal Health Care Action Network) Ohio , wor...

(Ohio News Connection) - Ohio's rural educators said the funding for broadband in the bipartisan infrastructure package signed into law last month is critical for their communities. While many acknowledged the problem has existed for decades, the pandemic put a spotlight on the increased need for high-speed internet for virtual work and learning. Lauren Metcalf, president of the Vinton Local Teach...

(Tennessee News Connection) - The tornadoes that ripped through multiple states, killing more than 100 people, were created by a very specific set of climate conditions, according to two Tennessee climatologists. Kelsey Ellis, an associate professor of geography at the University of Tennessee, explained that December tornadoes are not unusual in the Southeast, and said these types of storms occur...

(Florida News Connection) - As more than 200 organizations call on the Biden administration to extend the pause on student-loan repayments, some borrowers are finding success through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The Biden administration's approach to student-loan relief so far has been on improving or expanding a handful of programs that already were on the books, even as advocates...

(Iowa News Service) -- A healthier and more nurturing work environment appears to be a stronger consideration these days by people reevaluating their career choices. An upcoming event in Iowa aims to reinforce the need for companies to consider "wellness perks" for their workforce. In a new national survey, a majority of businesses and employees say job sites prioritizing workers' health are likel...

(Greater Dakota News Service) -- If you've been to the supermarket lately, chances are you have noticed meat prices are higher. Family-farm advocates say profits are not making their way to smaller cattle producers, and they urged federal lawmakers to not let up on market concentration reform. Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have been calling attention to the issue, concerned that...