Ohio
Ohio’s referendum, supposedly about abortion, would broadly obliterate parental rights
Once on the frontlines of defending freedom in communities across America, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. This has culminated in its latest efforts to gut parental rights using every tool at its disposal.
From challenging parental consent and notification laws in Alaska and Indiana and fighting curriculum transparency laws that give parents insight into what their children learn in the classroom, to encouraging teachers to conceal decisions from parents that children might make about their gender identity while at school, the ACLU is now on a clear anti-parent mission. And with a bevy of left-wing ideological allies supporting this anti-parent crusade, it has only become bolder in its tactics.
This week, the ACLU and its pro-abortion rights allies succeeded in landing a supposed abortion rights initiative on the Ohio ballot. This measure, if it were to pass, would strip parents like me of the fundamental freedom to guide our children through irreversible and life-altering medical decisions, including not only abortion but also cross-sex hormone therapy and sex change surgeries.
Together with groups like United for Reproductive Freedom, the ACLU has taken the red herring of abortion rights and turned it into a much broader attack on parental rights under the banner of “reproductive freedom.”
The proposed Ohio amendment, drafted by the ACLU, includes language forbidding any state law that “directly or indirectly” would “burden” or “interfere” with any “reproductive decisions.” Although this is being advertised as abortion-related, the amendment goes far beyond that. It does not mention “women,” nor does it include any age-related restrictions or a clear definition of “reproductive decisions.” This opens the door for children of all ages to make life-changing decisions, absent parental involvement, that permanently disfigure or destroy their reproductive systems or organs.
As The Washington Post recently described the amendment, its language “could be extrapolated to protect access to all sorts of medical interventions, including sex-change surgery or sterilization, and not just for adults. Age is never mentioned in the amendment, meaning that children could have unfettered access to surgical procedures, including abortion, without parental interference.”
I am increasingly alarmed by this brazen attack on parental rights. As a new mother and an Ohio resident, I fear the ACLU’s efforts to cloak its anti-parent agenda in a web of abortion rights messaging is deceiving families across my state.
We should never allow special interest groups to strip away our rights and enable minor children to make dangerous and life-changing medical decisions without parental input. When I moved from India to the U.S. at age five, I was blessed to live with 10 family members — my own parents included — who worked together to protect and raise me. I thrived because of my deeply connected family members and their involvement in my decisions, big and small.
No special interest group can care for children the way parents do. Neither I nor other parents in Ohio need the ACLU or other well-funded groups to take away our right and privilege to care for our children.
Equally alarming to me as an attorney is that the ACLU knew exactly what it was doing when it helped draft this radical anti-parent amendment in Ohio. ACLU lawyers specifically added language for reproductive decisions “including but not limited to” — language that deliberately opens the door for transgender surgeries and late-term abortions without parental consent. These activist attorneys willfully ignore the right to parental consent that we have as parents under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.
As the Supreme Court recognized in the 2000 case Troxel v. Granville, “the interest of parents in the care, custody and control of their children — is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court. It is cardinal with us that the custody, care and nurture of the child reside first in the parents.”
The ACLU’s attacks on parents and our right to decide what is best for our children should generate an opposition that transcends politics. In Ohio, where the ACLU is pursuing its latest anti-parent victory, every resident who believes that the family is the institution best equipped to nurture and protect children — to a far greater extent than government or schools — should stand up in November and fight to protect parents.
For these reasons and so many others, we simply cannot afford to let government and ideologically motivated groups replace the authority of current and future parents. If we falter in this fight, what comes next?
Mehek Cooke is a mother, attorney, 2020 State House candidate and business owner from Ohio. She has previously served as legal counsel for presidential campaigns, the Ohio Governor’s Office and the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
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The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 25, 2024, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.
05-35-45-60-63, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 3-9-2
Evening: 2-5-7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 6-3-7-8
Evening: 3-0-9-9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 5-8-3-9-5
Evening: 5-9-5-8-5
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
12-13-18-37-39
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Classic Lotto
Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
16-17-30-35-41-48, Kicker: 8-8-3-1-7-8
Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Lucky For Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.
07-10-14-33-36, Lucky Ball: 01
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.
The 2024 Ohio high school playoffs are on to the regional final as four teams remain in each division.
High School on SI has brackets for every division of Ohio high school football for you to keep track of all the playoff matchups.
>>Ohio high school football brackets
District brackets are below. All games are on November 29.
St. Edward vs. Olentangy Liberty
Archbishop Moeller vs. Centerville
Big Walnut vs. Anderson
Archbishop Hoban vs. Avon
Bishop Watterson vs. London
Ursuline vs. Central Catholic
Taft vs. Indian Valley
Perkins vs. Glenville
Liberty Center vs. South Range
Ironton vs. West Liberty-Salem
Kirtland vs. Northmor
Coldwater vs. Bluffton
Hillsdale vs. Danville
Marion Local vs. Coloumbus Grove
2024 OHIO FOOTBALL: FIND YOUR TEAM
Can’t make it to your favorite team’s game but still want to watch them live? You can watch dozens of Ohio high school football games live on the NFHS Network:
WATCH OHSAA GAMES LIVE ON NFHS NETWORK
To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app:
Download iPhone App | Download Android App
Taking a knee to the privates typically hurts more than not taking a knee to the artificial turf, but in Indiana, Las Vegas and some parts of Buckeye Nation, “kneelgate” blew up loud and long over the weekend, causing pain, disdain and a “What’s the big deal?’’ refrain.
To refresh: Ohio State led Indiana 31-15 Saturday when Buckeyes tailback TreVeyon Henderson broke off a 39-yard run with 1:11 left in the game. If Henderson had scored, instead of intentionally sliding to a stop at the 1-yard line, the points margin would have ballooned to 23 points “organically,” the issue of what to do next would be moot and controversy would have been avoided.
Instead, after Henderson gave himself up so that OSU could take more time off the clock by running a few more plays, coach Ryan Day approved back-to-back quarterback sneaks instead of having Will Howard take a knee in a standard expression of sportsmanship.
Howard was stopped for no gain on first-and-goal, but scored on second down with 35 seconds left.
Uh-oh. A lot of Indiana fans took umbrage with Day’s decision – IU coach Curt Cignetti shrugged it off as OSU’s coach doing what he thought the team needed at the moment – while Ohio State fans were mixed, with a majority supporting Day’s decision. Those with no skin in the game either scratched their head when OSU scored, given their view on traditional run-out-the-clock protocols, or reasoned, “Isn’t the point of playing the game to score points?”
Then there are the gamblers, who I contend are the biggest source of the kerfuffle, like rabble rousers fanning flames of discontent among a simmering crowd. The over/under was 52.5 points, so bettors who wagered the teams would combine to score under that total were at first happy/thrilled/ecstatic when Henderson slid down short of the goal line, then equally disappointed/angry/outraged when OSU opted to run a QB sneak that bumped the points total to 53.
“Ryan Day cost me a lot of money,” a friend muttered Sunday into my mostly unsympathetic ear.
I promise you similar harrumphing could be heard across the country. And the harangues had nothing to do with sportsmanship and everything to do with selfish gain or “unfair” loss. Forgive me if I don’t play my sad trombone for these poor unfortunates.
Likewise, I’m not playing “What a shame” on my air violin for Indiana fans miffed by Day’s decision. I understand the frustration, but the overreaction is ridiculous. Put it this way: A lot of those crying foul over OSU scoring seven more points, as if some violent crime had been committed, saw nothing wrong with Cignetti saying Ohio State and Michigan “suck” when he addressed fans at an IU basketball game in December. I can hear it now: “Aw shucks, coach was just trying to pump up the crowd and build a more intimidating culture.”
My take? I found Cignetti’s “insult” more funny than offensive, but if you’re going to call out an opponent for sucking, you better prepare to have the putdown put down your throat when that opponent gets a chance.
After Saturday’s game, Day said he wanted to put an “exclamation point on the win.” Left unsaid: “Our honor defend, we will fight to the end … .” Day sent a message not to mess with the Buckeyes. Was it a case of faux toughness on display? Perhaps, but when your team has been labeled as soft for four years, you tend to take it personally. Given a chance to do something about it, you act.
I value sportsmanship, and push come to shove would have preferred Howard take a knee, but I won’t get bent out of shape about it. For one thing, the Associated Press and College Football Playoff ranking systems factor scoring margin into their thinking. For another, this was a game between two top-five teams, not OSU vs. Olentangy Liberty. The quality of the opponent doesn’t completely release a coach from pouring on points, but it does factor into the circumstances.
Indiana wants to be taken seriously as a national contender? Great, then stop whining. Or stop Ohio State at the goal line.
Jameis Winston brings joy and fun to football
After 40 years of writing about sports, it is easier to become jaded by the coaches and athletes who play the games, which is why I am delighted by Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston.
Winston’s enthusiasm for football and excitement about his faith, mixed with a dynamic personality, makes him my newest favorite athlete.
The 30-year-old man-child is part preacher, part circus clown (not in a creepy way) and part cheerleader. He also is good enough to start, although admittedly that is a fairly low bar, considering who he plays for.
Winston has had his share of issues, both at Florida State, where in 2013 he won the Heisman Trophy, and at New Orleans, where last season he sabotaged his coach’s instructions during a game. But his joie de vivre is so intoxicating that it’s hard not to root for him.
Winston mic’d up during games is a must-listen, and his pregame and postgame interviews are as heartfelt as they are hilarious.
What resonates most about him, though, is his gratitude for being able to play a game that millions of fans would love to suit up and try. Winston’s attitude is refreshing, especially when compared to Deshaun Watson, whose dour disposition as a Browns quarterback leaves a lot to be desired.
Winston is not having a spectacular season filling in for the injured Watson – 62.2 completion percentage, 1,266 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions – but given a choice I’ll take him over Watson. Any guy willing to make snow angels on the field, like Winston did after Thursday’s 24-19 win against Pittsburgh, is OK by me.
Listening in
“I think 120 is a beautiful number, I think it’s very competitive. I think a cut is an integral part of our sport and I think it would be really cool to play Signature Events at 120 players over the 72. With eight tournaments, that’s 400 more playing opportunities.” – PGA Tour player Maverick McNealy after winning the RSM Classic Sunday, commenting on the recent decision by the tour to reduce field sizes.
Off-topic
I try to live by this travel rule: Don’t spend more time driving than hours awake at the travel destination. But sometimes it comes close. Like Thanksgiving week. My 15-hour drive to and from North Carolina, with stops, is only about two hours shorter than the time I’ll spend at the family farm near Chapel Hill. But seeing in-laws and my adult children – coming in from Oakland, Chicago and Brooklyn, New York – is well worth it.
roller@dispatch.com
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