Portage County

Write for CELDF

Feb 4, 2019

News Release: Ohio Community Members File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

News Release: Ohio Community Members File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

Communities from across Ohio file a federal lawsuit against local Boards of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State for multiple rights violations – including the right to vote.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

May 1, 2017

Press Release: Ohio Communities Assert Right to Propose Laws Protecting Themselves from Fracking

Press Release: Ohio Communities Assert Right to Propose Laws Protecting Themselves from Fracking

Ohio counties exercise their right to protect themselves from fracking activities using community rights. Residents begin gathering signatures for county charter initiatives, aiming for the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Apr 4, 2017

Communities take action when their government fails them: Community Rights in PA/OH

Communities take action when their government fails them: Community Rights in PA/OH

Environmental activists, leaders, and residents are touring Pennsylvania and Ohio, sharing what they are doing in the face of the corporate state attempting to force fossil fuel harms in their communities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 14, 2017

Akron Beacon Journal: LTE – Right to Local Control

Akron Beacon Journal: LTE – Right to Local Control

The Ohio legislature adopted HB 463, further stripping communities of local control. Portage County residents speak out, vowing they will press forward with a county-wide rights-based charter.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 21, 2016

Truthout: Democracy Deferred: Ohio Removes Anti-Fracking Measures From County Ballots

Truthout: Democracy Deferred: Ohio Removes Anti-Fracking Measures From County Ballots

In Ohio and elsewhere, when democracy threatens the oil and gas industry, those occupying our legal and governing structures take liberty in interpreting the law on industry’s behalf. The result: democratic suppression and an open door to frack.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 16, 2016

Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio Supreme Court derails efforts to put anti-fracking measures on ballots

Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio Supreme Court derails efforts to put anti-fracking measures on ballots

Athens, Meigs, and Portage County, OH, residents decry the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision blocking their county charter initiatives from the ballot. Residents face fracking harms and government officials intent on blocking them from protecting themselves.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 15, 2016

Energy Wire: Ohio Supreme Court keeps anti-fracking measures off ballot

Energy Wire: Ohio Supreme Court keeps anti-fracking measures off ballot

While the Ohio Supreme Court blocks the right to initiative in three counties, one judge dissents, calling the court’s action “a usurpation of power from the people that we should not indulge.” Residents declare their commitment to protect their communities’ land, air, and water from fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 15, 2016

The Athens News: Supreme Court flushes county charters yet again

The Athens News: Supreme Court flushes county charters yet again

Residents in three Ohio counties find no justice in the courts as the state and oil/gas industry succeed in blocking their County Charter initiatives from the ballot this fall.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 14, 2016

Columbus Free Press: Ohio residents stand with Standing Rock, protest Nexus pipeline

Columbus Free Press: Ohio residents stand with Standing Rock, protest Nexus pipeline

OHCRN members from across Ohio staged street theater and spoke out in support of the Standing Rock Sioux in front of the state house. Residents are fighting fracking, pipelines, and other infrastructure, to protect air, land, and water, as the corporate state tries to block them.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 13, 2016

The Athens Messenger: Supreme Court says no to Athens County charter proposal

The Athens Messenger: Supreme Court says no to Athens County charter proposal

The Ohio Supreme Court refuses to place Athens, Meigs, and Portage Counties’ rights-based Charters on the November ballot. County residents are working to protect their communities from fracking and its infrastructure through their right to local community self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 13, 2016

Press Release: Right to Initiative Rendered Dead by Ohio Supreme Court

Press Release: Right to Initiative Rendered Dead by Ohio Supreme Court

The Ohio Supreme Court finds on behalf of the oil and gas industry and the colluding state government. The people’s duly qualified rights-based county charter measures are again blocked from the ballot. One Justice dissents, defending the right to local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Sep 1, 2016

The Athens News: Ohio Supreme Court receives arguments over charter proposal

The Athens News: Ohio Supreme Court receives arguments over charter proposal

Three Ohio counties submit their case to the Ohio Supreme Court: the right to local community self-government is protected in federal and state constitutions, and their rights-based Charter initiatives should be placed on the November ballot for a vote by the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 1, 2016

The Athens Messenger: Charter supporters ask Ohio Supreme Court to change its prior ruling

The Athens Messenger: Charter supporters ask Ohio Supreme Court to change its prior ruling

Athens, Meigs, and Portage County, OH, residents make their case for their constitutional right to vote on qualified County Charter initiatives this fall. The measures include bans on fracking activities. County Boards of Elections and Secretary of State Husted are blocking the measures.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 20, 2016

Desmog Blog: Ohio Residents Clash With State and County Government in Fight to Ban Fracking via the Ballot

Desmog Blog: Ohio Residents Clash With State and County Government in Fight to Ban Fracking via the Ballot

The right to local democratic self-governance becomes a political debate as Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, county boards of elections, and the oil and gas industry block citizen initiatives banning fracking. Ohio residents refuse to surrender their fight for their rights or their communities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 19, 2016

Press Release: Ohio Secretary of State Sides with Oil/Gas Industry Again Over Community Rights

Press Release: Ohio Secretary of State Sides with Oil/Gas Industry Again Over Community Rights

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted demonstrates his loyalty to the oil and gas industry by trying to block citizen initiatives. The initiatives propose county charters that ban fracking activities. Residents are fighting back, appealing Husted’s decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 18, 2016

Record Courier: LTE: Husted in conflict on county charter issue

Record Courier: LTE: Husted in conflict on county charter issue

A Portage County resident applauds the advancing a county charter proposal that would ban frack injection wells, and calls out Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted as he tries to quash the right to initiative for a second year. We the People, she promises, are going to continue fighting.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 7, 2016

The Athens Messenger: Husted opens charter dispute to outside parties

The Athens Messenger: Husted opens charter dispute to outside parties

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted – an oil and gas industry ally – will decide whether or not to place three rights-based county charter measures on the November ballot. Residents are prepared to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 18, 2016

Akron Beacon Journal: Letter to the Editor – Give power to local residents

Akron Beacon Journal: Letter to the Editor – Give power to local residents

Says Portage County, OH, resident: The people who live in a community should make the governing decisions impacting that community. Portage County residents are advancing a County Charter recognizing that right, and protecting against fracking activities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 15, 2016

OHCRN Statement: County Boards of Elections Attempt to Stifle Democracy: Meigs, Athens and Medina Counties

OHCRN Statement: County Boards of Elections Attempt to Stifle Democracy: Meigs, Athens and Medina Counties

Efforts in Ohio by local Boards of Elections to block rights-based County Charter initiatives banning fracking fail to disempower We the People.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Jul 10, 2016

The Record Courier: Charter forces push ballot bid

The Record Courier: Charter forces push ballot bid

Portage County, OH, residents have found no remedy in their local or state government as they are inundated with frack wastewater injection wells. They are advancing a Community Rights Charter initiative for the November ballot to ban the wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 7, 2016

The Record-Courier: KEC board backs county charter bid

The Record-Courier: KEC board backs county charter bid

The Kent Environmental Council endorses the Portage Community Rights Group’s rights-based county charter initiative. The county charter would ban frack wastewater injection wells as a violation of the right to clean water.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 5, 2016

Akron Beacon Journal: Portage County group seeking signatures on petition calling for community bill of rights vote

Akron Beacon Journal: Portage County group seeking signatures on petition calling for community bill of rights vote

Portage County, OH, residents gather signatures to place a Community Rights County Charter on the November ballot to ban fracking activities. Residents are advancing rights to protect themselves from the oil and gas industry.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 18, 2016

Akron Beacon Journal: Medina, Portage counties seek community bill of rights votes

Akron Beacon Journal: Medina, Portage counties seek community bill of rights votes

Medina and Portage Counties in Ohio begin gathering signatures to place Community Rights County Charters on the November ballot. Residents face fracking infrastructure projects, including pipelines and injection wells, and are advancing rights to protect themselves.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 14, 2016

Press Release: Ohio Residents Launch Community Rights Petition Campaigns throughout the State on Primary Day

Press Release: Ohio Residents Launch Community Rights Petition Campaigns throughout the State on Primary Day

Five Ohio counties and cities launch Community Bills of Rights campaigns to protect themselves from fracking activities. Residents are aiming for the November 2016 ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs