We've got a lot going on across the state this week. Our first story takes us southwest of Dayton to Germantown, Ohio.
Authorities there removed four bears from a property in the continued attempt to crack down on new state requirements surrounding the ownership of exotic animals. Three black bears and a brown bear have been taken to a state holding facility in Reynoldsburg, while officials try and find them a new home. A hundred animals have been housed in the facility since the state enacted stricter regulations on owning wild animals.
The law bans private owners from acquiring, selling and breeding restricted species in Ohio. That includes lions, tigers, bears, alligators, certain monkeys, pythons longer than 12 feet, certain vipers and all venomous snakes.
Five lions were taken from another property just two days before state authorities removed the bears.
Here's a crazy health stat for you... One out of every six kids in Ohio has a condition called asthma. Asthma is a lung disorder which causes your airways to become inflamed, making it really hard to breathe. Many kids and adults manage asthma every day by using an inhaler that delivers medication to the body or by taking a pill.
Now the state wants to help kids by providing schools and camps with extra asthma inhalers to be used in case of emergencies. Under the bill, which is on its way to the governor's desk for his signature, a licensed school nurse or athletic trainer can access and administer the medication.
The bill encourages schools to maintain at least two inhalers at all times.
Our last story takes us to Akron. Hundreds of people from 22 neighborhoods sat down for a meal over the weekend.... on the highway! The 500-person picnic brought together Akronites to chat about ideas for the city and its future.
Community members brought their ideas for more greenspaces, bike paths and community gardens to the table... literally. Those in attendance were encouraged to write their ideas on the table's paper runner.
The event was designed to bring people together around the dinner table versus a community meeting to encourage more dialogue.
Instructional Links
Website Article: ASPCA, Exotic Animals as Pets
https://www.aspca.org/adopt/adoption-tips/exotic-animals-pets
Website Article: Asthma Kids, What is Asthma
http://www.asthmakids.ca/about/what.php
Website: 500 Plates, About