CINCINNATI — The race for Ohio's 1st Congressional District is coming down to the wire as Nov. 8's election day looms closer.

Ohio's 1st Congressional District is made up of the eastern majority of Hamilton County as well as Warren County.

Republican incumbent Steve Chabot is going head-to-head with Democratic candidate Greg Landsman.

RELATED | Your Ohio Midterm Election Guide

The issues listed below are the topics prioritized by Chabot and Landsman on their respective campaign websites.

Here's a breakdown of each candidate, as well as the issues they've campaigned on:

Backgrounds

Steve Chabot

Steve Chabot is serving Ohio's 1st Congressional District in his 12th term. From Cincinnati, he previously served as a city councilman and Hamilton County commissioner for nearly five years before being elected to Congress in 1994.

Chabot serves on the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the U.S. House.

Greg Landsman

Greg Landsman is a former public school teacher in his fifth year as a Cincinnati councilman. Landsman was born in Greater Cincinnati, and after earning a Master's Degree he went on to work for former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. As a councilman, Landsman established City Hall's first-ever Office of Ethics and Good Government and the Balanced Development Scorecard.

Issues

Steve Chabot

Revitalizing the Economy: Chabot wants federal agencies to look for alternatives to ease the burden on small businesses so they can grow and create jobs

Health Care: Chabot supports the repeal of Obamacare and replacing it with market-based reforms that will give families more options at a lower cost. The legislation he supports to replace Obamacare is also guaranteed to cover those with pre-existing conditions.

Energy: He believes America needs to increase domestic oil production, and Chabot is a strong proponent of the Keystone XL pipeline. He has also introduced legislation to stop price-gouging and anti-competitive behavior by OPEC nations by subjecting them to antitrust laws and prohibiting them from withholding supply with the intent of creating a shortage or raising prices.

Government Spending: Chabot is a supporter of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Protecting Social Security: Chabot is a longtime supporter of the Social Security Preservation Act, which says that money paid into Social Security can only be used for Social Security and no other government programs.

Veterans: He vows to be a strong supporter of legislation and funding efforts to ensure veterans have access to medical care, education and financial services.

School Security: Chabot help pass legislation that reauthorized the COPS Secure Our Schools grant program for 10 years. The legislation more than doubles the funding available for important security measures, including metal detectors, improvements in identifying and treating mental health issues, the installation of improved communications systems and security training for school employees and students.

Cybersecurity: As part of the House Small Business Committee, Chabot has focused on steps small businesses can take to prevent and combat cyberattacks. Alongside Ranking Member Nydia Velasquez, Chabot introduced bipartisan legislation to help give small businesses the tools and resources they need to defend themselves against cyberattacks, both foreign and domestic.

Greg Landsman

Lowering Costs for Families: Landsman has called for the suspension of the state and federal gas taxes, as well as for lowering the costs of prescription drugs. He also promises to hold big corporations accountable for price gouging.

Jobs & the Economy: He supports the bipartisan COMPETES Act that works to bring the supply chain back home. Landsman also supports strengthening worker protections, including making it harder for employers to bust unions before they have a chance to organize and update labor laws. He also supports raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour and to expand high-quality and affordable childcare.

Reproductive Health & Rights: Landsman believes that it's not the place of the government to dictate the decisions that Americans make about their own bodies. He opposes any effort to undermine privacy between women and their doctors, and he supports the codification of Roe v. Wade. Landsman also wants to address the racial discrepancies in maternal mortality.

Education: Landsman promises to fight for more equitable access to education. He also plans to vote to lessen the burden of college on students and their parents.

Infrastructure: Landsman supports the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and plans continued investment in projects to improve crumbling roads and bridges as well as expanding digital infrastructure to ensure broadband internet for everyone.

Public Safety: Landsman supports improving public safety by building trust between communities and public safety officers and police.

Gun Safety: Landsman has been named a Gun Sense candidate by Moms Demand Action, and he supports requiring universal background checks on all gun sales. He also supports banning the sale of assault weapons.

Voting Rights: Landsman supports the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He also supports expanding voter registration and access, strengthening ethics requirements, outlawing voter purges, increasing election security and establishing independent redistricting nationwide.

Health Care: He promises to push for lower healthcare premiums and work to eliminate surprise billing. Landsman also supports bipartisan legislation that holds Big Pharma accountable and allowing Medicaid to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.

Veterans: Landsman promises to fight to make sure veterans suffering from toxic exposure in Iraq and Afghanistan get the support and medical attention they deserve. He also said it's "inexcusable" that any veteran lacks access to health care for physical and mental health.

Environment: Landsman is endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters. He promises to fight to protect access to clean air and water, and he'll hold polluters accountable for damages that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.

Equality: If elected to Congress, Landsman will support the Equality Act to ensure that no one can be discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender. He also wants to codify marriage equality into federal law.

Foreign Policy: As a member of Congress, Landsman will advocate for Israel's right to self-determination and work to build bridges between the U.S., Israel and other regions to achieve sustainable peace in the region. He also supports the Abraham Accords effort started by former President Trump and continued by President Biden. Lastly, Landsman supports delivering military and humanitarian aid to those in Ukraine.

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INDIANA — ABC News projects Todd Young has won reelection.

Young defeated Democratic challenger Thomas McDermott Jr., the longest-serving mayor in the history of Hammond, Ind., to serve his second term in the U.S. Senate. With 68% of precincts reporting, Young has 59% of the vote.

The Republican incumbent previously served as a representative for Indiana's 9th congressional district before he was elected to the Senate in 2018. He succeeded Dan Coats.

Young was considered a clear front-runner throughout the race, mostly ignoring McDermott's campaign. Like many of his incumbent colleagues, Young had a large fundraising advantage over McDermott. He spent most of his campaign talking about inflation and rising gas prices.

His campaign raised about $14.9 million in contributions through Oct. 19, according to Federal Election Commission filings, while McDermott’s campaign had collected $1.27 million.

He did not get an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. He voted to acquit Trump in his Senate impeachment trials, though he did vote to uphold President Joe Biden's election win.

Young is on the Senate committees on finance; foreign relations; commerce, science and transportation; and small business and entrepreneurship. He was in the Marine Corps before attending law school and starting his political career.

There are several additional elections for state legislators, mayors and council members in Indiana. Hoosiers in the Tri-State are also electing Indiana's representative for the 6th congressional district. Greg Pence, the older brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, has represented the district since 2018.

FIND THE LATEST MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS FROM OHIO, KENTUCKY AND INDIANA HERE.

Senator John Fetterman’s candid approach to his struggles with mental health is unusual on Capitol Hill, where issues with members’ health are frequently kept hidden from the public.

But Fetterman’s openness has led to praise from mental health advocates, fellow members of Congress, and President Joe Biden, who said in a tweet, "We’re grateful to you for leading by example." 

Such mental health struggles in politics are not new — but they’re not mentioned often.  

In 1972, U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton was forced to bow out as the vice presidential pick for Democratic nominee George McGovern after his mental health struggles became public.

And in 2007, then-Congressman Patrick Kennedy opened up on Larry King live about his struggles with mental health.   

After a late-night car crash on Capitol Hill, the Rhode Island Democrat pled guilty in 2006 to charges of driving under the influence of prescription drugs.  

Since departing Congress, he founded the Kennedy Forum, which he describes as a think tank focused on mental health and addiction policy. 

"I think Senator Fetterman, simply by checking himself in saying he needs help and going to get that help, is going to probably help more people in that single act than any other bill that he sponsors or acts that he passes in Congress this year for sure," Kennedy said last week. "When I did go to treatment, I went under the cover of darkness, I did not do what Senator Fetterman has done, and that is to be very public about going to treatment. When I did go publicly, it was because I was forced to go publicly, I had had a DWI."

Fetterman suffered a stroke during his Senate campaign last year. His office said he has experienced depression on and off throughout his life but it became more severe recently.   

Mental health experts say his transparency about his struggles is an important signal to those dealing with similar issues. They say depression following a stroke isn’t unusual. 

 "We know that up to a third of people who have a stroke will suffer depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in people who have had a stroke. So I think for him to be so public about it is so courageous and he's been courageous up until this point, and he continues to do so," said Dr. Daniel Bober, a psychiatrist. 

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati leaders announced the city's proposed budget for the next two years Friday morning, with a focus on public safety spending.

This comes after Cincinnati's police and fire chiefs told city council in the last few months that the department is facing staffing shortages. CPD Chief Theresa Theetgedescribed her department's situation as "dire."

The proposed budget totals $1.59 billion and includes funding for three new police recruit classes totaling 160 possible positions and four new fire recruit classes, totaling 200 possible positions.

Last year, each department only had two recruitment classes each.

"There has been years in which we're trying to catch up from lost recruitment classes in both police and fire. Couple that with a lack of interest in the industry all together, we are essentially like drinking from a fire hose," said Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long.

The proposed budget lays out three recruit classes — two that will graduate in 2024 and one that graduates in 2025. Each of those classes are intended to have roughly 50 recruits each. The budget allocated for each recruit class is roughly $2 million, with the full two-year total for all three classes running $6,259,940.

The fire department's budget is a little more complicated: It highlights the four budgeted recruit classes, two set to graduate in 2024 and two in 2025. Those are each going to run roughly $1.4 million. But the bigger financial impact comes from overtime hours. For each of those recruit classes, the city has also allocated each recruitment class $550,000 in just overtime hours.

In total, that would mean the fire department's recruitment classes are budgeted to cost around $3,857,460 in 2024 and $4,087,350 in 2025.

City leaders said the goal is to get back up to the full number of officers CPD and the fire department are budgeted to have and keep up with retirements and other forms of employee attrition.

"I think they're taking a half step when they need to take four or five," Fraternal Order of Police President Dan Hils said.

He said more police recruit classes are good but he thinks bigger pay increases are key to attracting more candidates. In the new budget proposal, the city is aiming to address that. The new budget proposes increasing operating funds for CPD by $2,428,410 "due to wage and benefits increases and increases in expert services." However, that increase, the budget says, is offset by the transfer of full-time officers to other bureaus.

The proposed budget also allocates $615,000 to expand the Alternate Response to Crisis unit (ARC), which was a pilot program this year.

"For 3,000 hours mental health professionals, not police, responded to calls," Long said.

This discussion comes as the city faces a deficit.

"Our expenses frankly are growing more quickly than our revenues," said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. "We are living in a very difficult and frankly uncertain time. The ground is moving under our feet and so what this budget tries to do is act responsibly in anticipation of that dire fiscal situation that we're walking into next year."

City leaders said with fewer people commuting into the city to work after the COVID-19 pandemic, the city is collecting less income tax. They plan to use American Rescue Plan Act dollars to make up for it in Fiscal Year 2024, which starts in July.

By Fiscal Year 2025, though, the city could be facing a nearly $9.5 million operating budget deficit. Plus, city leaders say there's about $400 million in deferred maintenance.

"Which is why this council and I have been so aggressive at looking for new streams of revenue to make us. less reliant on our earnings tax revenue," Pureval said.

The city increased the property tax rate for 2024, plus Pureval said the possible sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern could be a potential revenue stream.

There will be a public comment meeting about the proposed budget at City Hall on June 5 and 5:30 pm.

The National Butterfly Center sits along a natural border, the meandering Rio Grande. And for the center's executive director, Marianna Treviño Wright, that's what draws thousands of nature lovers every year to rural Mission, Texas. 

"The Butterfly Center is a place where people come to unwind, to enjoy wild free-flying butterflies, to bird watch, some of them just sit in the blind by the stream, because the sound of the water as you can hear is very relaxing," Treviño Wright said.

But amid the tranquility, Treviño Wright now lives unsettled, after getting a multitude of death threats based on lies and a smear campaign against the center.

"They know that they're full of it," Treviño Wright said. "They know everything that they're saying is false."

A Rumble user named Christie Hutcherson posted, "Why are you more concerned about butterflies than the children being trafficked right behind this center?"

"None of that is remotely true," Treviño Wright said. "We're open seven days a week to visitors, most of whom have very long camera lenses to families. We have the sleepover under the stars for Girl Scouts here where we camp out. We do camping one to one for families. We go on night hikes for owls and and black lightning to sea creatures that glow in the dark. None of that is remotely true. It is 100% a lie."

The allegations hurled at the center started in 2019 when it stopped the Trump administration's border wall building efforts on its land in court. It aroused the ire of immigration hardliners.

In January the region hosted a conservative conference and fundraiser called "We Stand America," drawing far right personalities, activists and a congressional candidate from Virginia named Kimberly Lowe.

Lowe, with her children in the car and a companion named Michelle, showed up to the center on a quiet Friday and live streamed.

Treviño Wright's son was covering for an employee who was out sick. 

"He doesn't normally work here," Treviño Wright said. "I was in the conference room on a call when he interrupted me. He came in with a note and he said, 'Mom, there are two women here, and one of them said she's running for Congress, and the other one says she's secret service.' So, of course, that gets my attention." 

Lowe is a Republican seeking to be the nominee for the 9th House district in Virginia. Her social media shows images of her attending the Jan. 6 rally which then turned into an attempt to over turn the 2020 election. In an interview with Newsy, she says she did not enter the Capitol. Her Facebook shows various videos and photos of her journeying across the southwest border looking for evidence of undocumented immigration and child trafficking. None of which she shows in her live streams.

Lowe sent Newsy screenshots of messages directing her to the center, but she did not identify who the reporter was. Treviño Wright says she grew suspicious of Lowe's intentions after her son told her about social media history.

When Lowe and her companion were told to leave, things started to go awry. 

"Then they start with, 'So you're okay with the illegals and the babies being raped' and all this stuff," Treviño Wright said. "I told my son... just go ahead and call the police."

Wright says she blocked Lowe's phone camera and knocked it down, then the two then struggled.

"Kimberly tackles me, and then my arm on the ground, and my son busts out of the building and I'm on the ground, and he's kind of over me and between me and Michelle in just a flash."

Then Lowe and her companion high tailed it in her car.

Treviño Wright says the recording of Lowe's livestream, which Lowe has since deleted off her own Facebook page, shows the moment Lowe nearly ran over Wright's son.

A spokesman for the Mission Police Department says a misdemeanor assault charge has been referred to the city attorney against Lowe. He added that the department has never been called to investigate child trafficking anywhere near the center. The U.S. Border Patrol does not provide migrant apprehension data by station or zone.

"I never imagined that I would work at a place or be in charge of a place engaged in the horrible things they are lying about us doing," Treviño Wright said.

She says a Hidalgo County Republican advised her about the threats coming her way, so she shut the center down during the conference and now, indefinitely.

She says the threats began in earnest when a doctored image of a dock spread virally online in 2019, after the center sued the federal government and then later when the center filed suit against

"We Build The Wall" — a private border wall building effort spearheaded by former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.

"They chose to string us up and swat at us to use us as the straw man for these outrageous and malicious lies designed to inflame their donor base and motivate them to give more money," Treviño Wright said.

The fundraising effort later lead to federal fraud charges for Bannon, for which former President Trump pardoned him. But he did not pardon his partner Brian Kolfage, who repeated false claims about Treviño Wright and the center through various online publications. Kolfage did not respond to Newsy for comment.

Disinformation expert and journalist Brooke Binkowski says the purpose of the smear campaign is clear   

"They're trying to incite stochastic violence and terrorism against vulnerable groups for a specific political goal," Binkowski said. "What they're trying to do, again, they're trying to get a bunch of like racist vigilante groups down there to act on what they think are scenes of people being trafficked."

Treviño Wright says she now openly carries a pistol for protection.

"It has been distressing beyond words," Treviño Wright said. "It has definitely damaged my psyche. It has hurt my relationships. I've lost friends and even relations with family members because they believe this stuff."

She'd prefer that the only rabbit holes people see at the center are literal ones and not conspiracy theories.

Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here. 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — (KTNV) Former Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach John Gruden filed a lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming there was a "malicious" and "orchestrated campaign" against him.

Gruden resigned in October amid controversy sparked by emails containing derogatory comments.

In a complaint filed in court, attorneys representing Gruden claim Goodell and the league "sought to destroy" his "career and reputation."

They also say Gruden was subject to a "Soviet-style character assassination."

News first broke in October of a 2011 email that shows Gruden using racially insensitive remarks against NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith.

Other emails reportedly show Gruden using derogatory and homophobic names for Goodell and players who protested during the playing of the national anthem.

Gruden was is in the fourth year of a 10-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Raiders in 2018.

Gruden is seeking "the recovery of money in excess of $15,000.00."

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that a spokesperson for the NFL called the allegations in the lawsuit "meritless," and vowed to "vigorously defend against these claims.”

This story was originally reported on KTNV.com.

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Late last week, civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against a Tennessee law that restricts transgender students’ playing organized sports.

Transgender rights advocates argue that these laws are discriminatory and rob children of the benefits of social connections, persistence and physical and mental well-being. Through a national education campaign launched this week, transgender and non-binary student-athletes are speaking out.

From an early age, 17-year-old Sivan loved playing sports.

“I played basketball and football during recess and Little League Baseball and soccer,” said Sivan

But in 7^th grade, the Massachusetts teen felt it was time to transition.

“I said, ‘Hey, mom. Hey, dad, I know you know me as a female, but that's actually not right. I'm a boy.’”

He was nervous that he’d be made fun of; that people wouldn't accept him and what this could mean for his athletics.

“I definitely worried about it,” the teen said. “I knew I wanted to make the switch from the girls' team to the boys' team because that was where I belonged.”

Already, 10 states have passed laws limiting trans youth from school sports. Another 21 states have considered similar bills this year.

“What these bills do is they basically allow people's gender to be questioned, and that's happened to me and that's violating and embarrassing,” said Rebekah.

The 14-year-old New Jersey 9th-grader and transgender youth activist has been playing field hockey since fourth grade. She’s now on her school’s freshman team.

“When it comes down to it, she's just a player on the field like any other girl out there,” said her mother, Jamie.

Along with other transgender and non-binary student-athletes and their parents, Rebekah and Sivan are trying to educate others about the issue.

“We want to let our kids live their lives and figure it out on their own. And when they do, they're all stronger for it,” said Alisa, Sivan’s mother. “My kid who's trans, your kid is not trans, they're all going to figure it out and live a better life and build a better world because of it.”

The ‘Play it Out’ campaign launched this week promotes the idea that all children, including transgender and non-binary kids, should have equal access to organized sports and athletics.

“These lawmakers are only thinking about the threat that trans kids are,” said Rebekah. “But we're not. We're just happy, smiling young people trying to be ourselves and play sports and have fun while doing it.”

“Rebekah's awesome. And she works really hard, and she's a fantastic defensive player, but she's not the star of the team. She's not out there crushing people. She is working so hard to keep up and to contribute positively,” said Rebekah's mother.

Through the ‘Play it Out’ campaign, these young activists are fighting for a chance to step out on the field and be their authentic selves.

Sivan advice to young transgender athletes is to persevere.

“Don't give up because there's these adults saying that you can’t and trying to make these rules that you can’t. And if you love it, don't give up on it.”

CINCINNATI — The Scripps Howard Foundation's "If You Give a Child a Book" campaign is back, and campaign organizers want to make sure that no child in the Tri-State goes without a book.

In the past four years, the foundation has donated more than 352,000 books to children in the Tri-State, and each book can make a major difference in a child's life.

"The chance that they'll graduate from college is much higher," Liz Carter, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation, said. "They deserve our help."

This year, the need for more books is crucial as more students learn remotely during the pandemic.

"It's going to be really important this year that students have books right now because of remote learning," Amy Randolph, Oyler School's principal, said. "We have a time where it's drop everything and read."

The schools benefiting from this year's campaign are Lincoln Heights Elementary School, Oyler School, Lincoln Elementary School and Carlisle Elementary School.

If you would like to learn more about the campaign or make a donation, you can click the link here.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – A man in Massachusetts is taking extreme measures to ensure his Trump campaign sign isn’t tampered with.

John Oliveria of New Bedford says his sign started disappearing from his yard and after going through six, the Navy veteran was fed up.

Oliveria, a member of the New Bedford School Committee, has now put electric wire around the sign in his front yard and he tells WJAR it has certainly sent a message to thieves.

After two weeks with the fence, the Republican says the sign has stood its ground.

Oliveria says Americans have to be able to respect each other, despite political differences. Otherwise, he argues nothing will get accomplished.

Oliveria believes the sign supporting President Donald Trump’s reelection bid was specifically singled out, because he also has another sign encouraging people to vote, but that one was never touched.

For those wondering if putting electric fencing in residential areas is legal in the state, WJAR reports that it depends on the laws and regulations in each community. If someone were injured because of it, there could be legal trouble.

WILMINGTON, Del. — President-elect Joe Biden released initial details of a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan that aims to stem the surging pandemic, speed up vaccinations and provide further financial help to Americans, as well as local governments and businesses dealing with almost a year of economic declines.

"After nearly a year of the public health crisis, our nation remains in this dark winter of the pandemic and facing a deep economic crisis," reads a statement from Biden's transition team.

More than 385,000 people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19 since the virus was first identified in the country in early 2020. More than 23.2 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19.

The plan, which the Biden team calls the "American Rescue Plan," includes $1,400 checks for individuals, which would be in addition to the $600 stimulus checks approved at the end of 2020.

The "American Rescue Plan is ambitious, but achievable, and will rescue the American economy and start beating the virus," Biden's team said in a statement.

The plan calls for providing paid sick leave to contain the spread of the coronavirus as well as providing direct housing and nutrition assistance. Biden is also asking for Congress to approve $400/week unemployment insurance supplement payments.

In addition, the plan would include money for a large vaccination campaign and expansion of current local efforts. The Biden team calls it a "whole-of-government" response plan, and he will ask Congress to approve $160 billion to execute a national vaccination program, expand testing and address public health job staffing and training.

Biden's team says the American Rescue Plan is for the immediate crisis, and he plans on introducing a recovery plan that they say will create millions of jobs and address climate change.

"Next month, in my first appearance before a Joint Session of Congress, I will lay out the second step, my Build Back Better Recovery Plan. It will make historic investments in infrastructure and manufacturing, innovation, research and development, and clean energy. Investments in the caregiving economy and in skills and training needed by our workers to compete and win the global economy of the future," Biden said.

Labor Department statistics show there are still almost 10 million jobs that are no longer in the U.S. economy that were lost during the pandemic and have not been added back. Millions more have been out of work or are underemployed.

CINCINNATI — Hopeful candidates were dotting their i's and crossing their t's Wednesday in a final push to appear on the ballot as Mayor John Cranley's potential successor before Thursday's deadline to qualify for the race.

As of Wednesday afternoon, six candidates appeared to have the necessary 500 valid signatures from registered city voters to make it on the ballot for the nonpartisan May 4 primary. The top two vote-getters in that contest will go on to the general election in November:

• Gavi Begtrup (Mount Lookout)
• David Mann (Clifton)
• Herman J. Napoli (West Price Hill)
• Raffel Prophett (Avondale)
• Aftab Pureval (Clifton)
• Cecil Thomas (Avondale)

Cranley, who cannot run for the office again due to term limits, was first elected mayor in 2013 and then re-elected in 2017.

The makeup of the group so far is somewhat unusual, said political scientist and University of Cincinnati professor David Niven.

"This race includes not only heavy hitters, but heavy hitters that are aligned with each other," Niven told WCPO, specifically referring to Mann, Pureval and Thomas, all of whom are well-known Democrats in Hamilton County politics currently or recently serving terms in different city-, county- or state-level offices.

This means their respective support bases typically overlap.

"This is going to be a very difficult challenge, when candidates are coming from the same wing of the party," Niven said. "It's hard to go into groups and say 'Endorse me; back me,' because those groups are going to think, 'We have other friends in this race.' It's very difficult."

Another prominent Democrat who had hinted at a run -- City Councilman Chris Seelbach -- said Wednesday he would not pursue the ticket.

Niven said he believes the strong showing by established Democrats is a direct result of Democratic city councilman and previous front-runner for mayor P.G. Sittenfeld's indictment late last year on federal public corruption charges. His case is still unfolding in U.S. District Court and, consequently, he is temporarily suspended from Council. Sittenfeld's attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the case; that decision is still pending.

"The race was almost over before it started and then had to restart in the last few weeks," Niven said.

The challenge now is earning voters' attention.

"This is just a tough race, and to get people to pay attention... It's not that people will reject these candidates; it's that they won't hear enough about them to give them great thought," Niven said.

At least one other Democrat with name-recognition, Kelli Prather, told WCPO Wednesday afternoon that she planned to file her signatures with the board of elections Thursday. Prather previously ran an unsuccessful bid for the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners in 2020 and for U.S. Senate in 2016.

City Councilman Wendell Young indicated in December that he was considering a mayoral run and even picked up paperwork to gather signatures. WCPO reached out to Young Wednesday afternoon but did not immediately hear back.

Prospective candidates have until 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, to submit their signed petitions.

NEW YORK — A new public service ad campaign aims to convince millions of Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, telling them “It’s Up to You.”

The national campaign announced Thursday by the Ad Council and its partners is focused on those who may be hesitant to get the shots. In a recent AP/NORC survey, about 1 in 3 Americans said they definitely or probably would not get the coronavirus vaccine if they were eligible.

The messaging was shaped by months of research and consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is meant to acknowledge that many people have questions and concerns about the vaccines, and directs them to a new website, getvaccineanswers.org, to learn more.

The group's president says the goal is to move people from being hesitant to being confident. The campaign was funded by $52 million in donations.

It includes an array of English and Spanish ads for TV, billboards, social media and publications. The spots are expected to run throughout the year and will feature a mix of celebrities, scientists and members of the faith community.

The Ad Council is a nonprofit communications industry group that is behind campaigns like Smokey Bear, "only you can prevent wildfires," and health and safety messaging like "Friends don't let friends drive drunk."

CINCINNATI — The race to take over outgoing Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes' seat has begun.

Ohio State Rep. Brigid Kelly, D-Cincinnati, announced her bid for the county office Tuesday morning in a Facebook post.

Rhodes, who is wrapping up his eighth term in the office, announced last week he would not seek re-election.

Kelly has served in the Ohio House of Representatives since 2017 representing the 31st district, which includes more than 10 Cincinnati neighborhoods as well as Amberley Village, Norwood, Silverton, St. Bernard and Columbia Township. Prior to serving in public office, she worked for a local food workers union.

MISSOULA — MISSOULA, Mont. (KPAX) -- You might call it a "COVID crest". An explosion of interest in Montana's outdoors starting last year as alternatives to the lockdown life and continuing strong into 2021. Great for the state's $7 billion outdoor recreation business. Not so much for those coping with crowds on their favorite trail, or lake.

A new marketing campaign aims to educate and head off "bad behavior".

"We've heard stories about really poor behavior last year with some of these, what was potentially was thought of as, new visitors coming," said Jeremy Sage, Interim Director of the Institute for Tourism and Recreation at the University of Montana.

"They don't really have an understanding of the outdoor rec way of life, and the kind of 'treat nature well' mantra that we live by up here. And so trying to figure those out and how do we message them to all these visitors that are coming out?"

Pat Doyle, State Parks Comunication Manager at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, says Montana wasn't alone.

"And that wasn't just something that you saw in Montana. That was a nationwide thing where COVID and lockdowns in different states really forced people outside. And a lot of people are are new to camping, to hiking, outdoor recreation which is great. I mean that's one of the reasons why these places are preserved. We will find them and have meaningful experiences outside. But with that comes a level of responsibility to enjoy these lands safely and to recreate responsibly when you're visiting.

So tourism industry leaders are doing something about it, with everyone from the regional tourism offices, to Glacier National Park, FWP and others combining efforts to tell everyone to "Recreate Responsibly".

"You know everybody being in this, on the same page and all the DMOs across the state and Office of Tourism and our agency partners," explained Racene Friede, President and CEO of Glacier Country Tourism. "You know when you work together you are so much more effective."

Gina Kerzman, Public Affairs Officer at Glacier National Park was among those pushing for the joint approach.

“Several partners volunteered to join our efforts, including the state of Montana, as it became apparent that we were all dealing with similar issues. I’m thrilled at what resulted in an action-based, statewide initiative and the positive impact this campaign could have not only on Glacier National Park, but the entire region and state.”

The Montana Office of Tourism created the toolkit of resources available to businesses statewide, and a mini grant program for Destination Management Organizations to help integrate and produce online and print materials.

“We recognize that not all communities across Montana have access to the same resources,” said Jan Stoddard of the Montana Office of Tourism. “And yet we’re all dealing with the same issues. This grant program helps level the playing field so our smaller communities are not left behind in having the opportunity to share the Recreate Responsibly messaging.”

You've likely already heard the radio ads this summer, with the line: "Also, we must stick to public lands and never recreate on private lands. It's the little things like following campfire safety and leave no trace principles that make a big impact on keeping this extraordinary place, well, extraordinary."

And it's not just online and on air. Marketers are also using traditional media like billboards to get the message out to passing travelers.

"And we've got advertising, paid media, social media, signage, billboards, all directing back to a website that isn't just about telling them direct responsibly," Friede said. "There's actually resources there to help them understand how to do that."

Some of the tips are just common sense, at least to those of us that have recreated in Montana for years. But many of our visitors, and some new locals, don't know about the basics, like extinguishing campfires, and not feeding the bears. Or just respecting each other's space.

Friede says it's about respecting Montana and its communities, and sharing them.

"We don't want people to not come. We just want people when they do come to be like us and recreate responsibly. Practice good stewardship and you know, be a part of our communities."

"Not everyone understands how to recreate responsibly, and that's not anyone's fault," Doyle noted. "It's just, you know how we have been brought up as Montanans. And so we want to share that knowledge with people that may be visiting here or maybe just just moved to the state."

Sage believes it can make a difference, not just this season, but for years to come.

"We have these great spaces, but they're great because they're they're in outstanding shape and we want to keep it that way. So here is some of the suggestions of how to behave in these spaces and what to do, such that, yeah, their great now and will be great 20 years from now as well."

Sage says the UM Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research is also doing some extensive surveys this season to measure the experiences of first-time visitors to further refine what Montana can do to keep recreation running smoothly.

This story originally reported on KPAX.com.

Dontaye Carter pauses to think what he would want George Floyd to know.

He takes a long breath before growing emotional as he lists what he wishes he could apologize for: that Floyd's life wasn't valued, that an officer didn't think enough to "take that knee off your neck."

And then there is the deep pain as Carter speaks of Floyd's daughter, and his three-year-old daughter Kyleigh.

"He's not going to be here for his little girl," Carter says, with tears rolling down his face. "That's the part that hit me the hardest."

Carter was one of many activists protesting in the wake of Floyd's murder in Minneapolis at the hands of police. And now a year later, Floyd's death is a big part of the reason why many activists are running for local office across the country.

Carter decided to run for mayor in Sandy Springs, Georgia, after he said he grew emotionally exhausted from attending what felt like unending protests for Black people killed during police encounters and other racists attacks.

"Everything that you're fighting for you can change," he recalls telling himself.

Videos capturing the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man shot and killed while running in a Georgia neighborhood, and George Floyd gave him something to point out the inequalities Carter knew, but perhaps others hadn't seen.

For Carter, it's about more than just social justice movements. He believes his city's leadership, especially the executive office, should reflect the population. Sandy Springs is the second-largest city in the metro Atlanta area. The once predominantly White community, criticized by some for a history rooted in segregation, is now made up of more than 40% racial minorities.

For Carter and other activists-turned-political candidates, making the decision to run felt like an actionable step after a year of such frustration and anger. Their runs, channeling that pain into political power, mirror the path of activists who ran for office after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Or the throngs of women who ran for office after the election of President Donald Trump.

"I'll be honest, that was the first time I've ever felt like I had control over my life, like I made a decision that I control that decision from top to bottom, Carter said, describing the moment he filed paperwork to run for office.

He says it was a welcome feeling after the hopelessness of watching the more than nine-minute video that captured Floyd's death.

Twenty-three-year-old Chi Ossé says he cannot shake how he felt after watching the video.

"It filled me with anger, and it filled me with this passion to stand up and do something about it," Ossé said. "I wish no Black person was killed by law enforcement, but what (Floyd) started is something that's going to create some everlasting change for individuals that look like him, and look like me."

Ossé is running for a seat on the city council representing his district in Brooklyn, New York. If elected, he would become one of the youngest, and one of the first self-described queer city council members in New York City.

He created a name for himself while leading marches and protests following the deaths of Floyd and Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot and killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky.

Isolation due to COVID-19 quarantine, combined with the Floyd video helped elevate the young man's push for social justice and systemic reform.

"I think this one hit differently because of the quarantine and isolation that I was in.

You know I was unable to look away from these videos, and these images that many of us were seeing," Osse explains.

LaTonya Tate is not new to the fight to make the justice system more just. As a Black woman in the South and part of a family with a history of activism, it has been ever-present. And as a retired parole officer, she knows a good deal about the justice system and its failures.

In the video of Floyd's death, she saw those failures play out in agonizing detail.

"I wasn't taught that in our academy," Tate said. "If a threat is not there, and the person is in handcuffs, you have policies and procedures that you have to follow."

She believes she can lead desperately needed and uncomfortable conversations if she is elected to the city council in Birmingham, Alabama.

"We can no longer ignore what is going on. Now, we've got to have these hard conversations whether people want to have them or not," Tate said.

Tate took on criminal justice reform years before protests for Floyd took over streets across the country. After her own son was incarcerated, she experienced the justice system's complexities, and was inspired to create the Alabama Justice Initiative, a social justice group pushing to end mass incarceration.

As Tate campaigns for office, she walks through Birmingham's Kelly Ingram Park, a historic gathering point, whose walkways are lined with statues dedicated to civil rights icons, including Martin Luther King Jr. The park served as a place for demonstrations in the 1960s and again for George Floyd in 2020.

Those demonstrations in the 1960s, and others throughout the South, helped propel many prominent activists to move into politics, including Andrew Young, one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most trusted advisers who later became mayor of Atlanta. The late Rep. John Lewis, who survived a brutal beating by state troopers during a landmark 1965 march in Selma, Alabama, became a towering figure of the civil rights movement before being elected to Atlanta's City Council and later to Congress. Cori Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist in Ferguson, won a House seat in Missouri, becoming the state's first Black woman to represent the state in Congress.

The park, and the movement it pays tribute to, reminds Tate of the history of segregation and racism, including the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham as well as her own family's activism in the movement.

Tate is advocating for community policing. She believes in reallocating funds from police to invest in the community with mental health training, health care, education, youth programs and social services.

Francois Alexandre believes that a community policing role is crucial for accountability. It's what he'd like to change when it comes to law enforcement in his district in Miami if he wins a seat on the Miami City Commission.

For Alexandre, 35, Floyd's murder took him back to June 2013.

After the Miami Heat won the NBA championship, Alexandre found himself among a crowd gathered near his apartment. According to the police report, police received reports of the crowd overturning cars. Police formed a line in front of the crowd. Alexandre began filming on his cell phone and can be heard shouting at police as they stood in formation. As the tension escalated and police moved in, cell phone and surveillance video show an officer grab Alexandre in a chokehold.

"They just started pounding on me," Alexandre says.

Alexandre says he woke up in the hospital with a bruised face, a broken eye socket and an injured shoulder. In a court order, a federal judge indicated the officers' "use of force was excessive" in an order saying the case should go to trial for violating fourth amendment rights. The Miami Police Department said they would not comment on the case because of pending litigation.

Alexandre says he doesn't talk about that night often. He was 27 years old then and says he was worried about getting arrested and kicked out of school. Seven years later, the video of George Floyd reignited his desire to fight for social justice. He points out he got to come home, but Floyd didn't.

"George Floyd's life didn't have to be taken," he said. "Nor did I have to be beaten."

Charlotte, North Carolina City Council member Braxton Winston knows the path these activists are taking well. He was the subject of an iconic photo depicting the tension between police and protesters after an officer shot and killed Keith Scott, a Black Charlotte resident in 2016. The photo captures a shirtless Winston displaying a raised fist as he faced baton-holding police officers. Shortly after, he says he decided to run for office to "disrupt the status quo" and was elected in 2017.

"We've had a long history of electing Black, and brown, and women," Winston says. "It's not just good enough to get people elected, but it's learning how to use the tools of the system, to understand how to use the budget and budget processes, to learn how to understand the land use processes that control what gets developed and what doesn't. It's understanding how to ask the right questions."

Winston's gained victories to defund chemical agents for crowd control, which he says led to a broader conversation about the overall role of government in ensuring public safety. He says he has learned that support and political will are essential and in ways he is not set up to succeed.

"The most difficult thing is that this game is not set up for people like me to serve. It's set up so rich, wealthy older people can do it," Winston says. "When you pay somebody $20,000 a year to do a job that you can spend every hour of the day on, then you prohibit the working person."

The Black Voters Matter organization, which aims to increase power in the black community through voter outreach and advocacy, says efforts are underway to engage black voters and to build voting power.

In June, the organization plans to launch a bus campaign to engage Black voters while commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Freedom Rides movement, bus tours taken by civil rights activists in the '60s to fight segregation in the South.

While much has changed since the civil rights movement, there is still so much work to do, the activists say.

Carter hopes this can be a moment where the country looks deep into its soul and reckons with its past.

"We've got work to do," he says. "And we can't ignore the history of racism and the impact that it's had on this country. And I think it's not until we face these things until we face these demons that we're able to make this a more equitable society."

NORWOOD, Ohio — Off-year elections typically have low voter turnout, and primary elections -- like Tuesday's Ohio primary -- often can have even lower numbers. But a high-profile mayoral race and a controversial ballot measure in Cincinnati might combine to buck that trend.

For Cincinnati voter Carolyn Jones, ballot Issue 3 and the Cincinnati mayoral primary were enough to motivate her to the polls. Six candidates are vying for two spots on November's general mayoral ballot, and Issue 3 would amend the city's charter to require at least $50 million in locally sourced funding be allocated to affordable housing projects.

Both races come after a tumultuous year marked with scandal at City Hall.

"That was a very big one for me," Jones told WCPO. "The mayor, most definitely. I've seen all these guys in action. I like a little bit about each one of them, but you need to think about who will serve your interest."

ISSUE 3: Pros and cons of affordable housing charter amendment
MAYOR'S RACE: Meet the 6 candidates for Cincinnati's top job

It was the same for Nicole Baah, who said, "The mayoral race was really interesting...knowing the mayor has such a big impact on that and really trying to participate on that."

According to Hamilton County Board of Elections director Sherry Poland, early voting turnout was up, both in person and by mail, compared to the last Cincinnati mayoral primary race in 2017. As of Sunday night, 3,185 people voted in person across the county, and in the city of Cincinnati, 5,072 people had returned absentee ballots.

"I think we're going to be higher than the last one in 2017," Poland said. "The highest turnout ever in a Cincinnati primary election was 20%, and there's a chance we could hit that."

The record-holding year was the 2005 mayoral primary, when about 44,000 people voted. In 2017, about 24,000 voters cast ballots and in the cycle before that, 2013, half that many turned out.

On Monday, Poland said it was still too early to tell how turnout this year will compare to years past.

"It's really premature because a majority of the voters in Hamilton County do choose to vote on Election Day. So I think that's where we'll see our biggest numbers come," she said.

For Jones, even an off-year, local primary is worth the effort it takes to cast her ballot.

"The idea that if you want to be part of what's going on and part of our government, we have to start with the basics, and these are the basics," she said.

Day-of voting opens for Ohio's primary at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, and polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m.

CINCINNATI — Two anti-corruption proposals passed handily Tuesday on Cincinnati's primary ballot, each scoring approval by a margin of more than three-to-one.

Brought before voters after a string of corruption scandals at City Hall, both ballot measures -- Issues 1 and 2 -- were procedural and sought to change the ways City Council can deal with a member who has come under indictment, along with installing other ethics requirements of its members.

IN-DEPTH: What exactly are Issue 1 and Issue 2 about?

With all precincts reporting, the unofficial count showed 76.8% of voters approved Issue 1, while 23.3% opposed it. The measure will mean, once indicted, a member can no longer change their pre-designated replacement, should they be suspended. It also allows the city's attorney to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the case on the city's behalf.

Issue 2 took a slightly wider margin at the polls, with 77.4% for and 22.6% against. It also takes a slightly sharper tack by allowing members of City Council to suspend a member brought under indictment, which currently requires a lengthy court process.

The measure also requires council members to undergo ethics training and reiterates Issue 1's provision that a member under indictment cannot change their successor if they are suspended.

Between February 2020 and last month, four sitting members of City Council came under indictment in either county or federal court. Federal agents arrested former member Tamaya Dennard and now-suspended members Jeff Pastor and P.G. Sittenfeld over the course of last year, accusing them of soliciting or taking bribes in exchange for votes or favor on development deals.

A grand jury indicted Councilman Wendell Young last month on felony charges, accusing him of tampering with evidence related to the "Gang of Five" texting scandal of 2018.

Previous reporting by WCPO 9 News reporter Mariel Carbone contributed to this story.