THE GOSSIP: Preacher Lawson, Ohio Supreme Court and fake news

GROUPS QUESTION OHIO SUPREME COURT JUSTICE’S OBJECTIVITY - The objectivity of an Ohio Supreme Court justice is being called into question. A recent complaint was filed by several organizations asked the Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy. The request alleged that Kennedy violated Ohio's Code of Judicial Conduct when she spoke at a fundraiser for Greater Toledo Right to Life, just days after the court decided to hear a case that could determine the fate of Toledo's last clinic where abortions are performed. Sandy Theis, executive director of Progress Ohio, contended that it's a serious matter, since reproductive rights in Ohio have been under attack for decades.

DID ‘FAKE NEWS’ INFLUENCE ELECTION? RESEARCHERS SAY PROBABLY NOT - Despite claims by some politicians, fake news, social media and search algorithms don't sway public opinion, according to a study by a group of international researchers. William Dutton, the report's lead author, says if search engines did help create so-called filter bubbles - where users only get links to information with which they agree - the impacts on the democratic process could be huge. But he says surveys in seven nations including the U.S. found it's not as big a problem as recent media coverage suggests.

REPORT: OHIO HUNTERS HAVE CHECKED NEARLY 21,000 WILD TURKEYS - Ohio hunters checked 20,819 wild turkeys to-date during the combined 2017 spring wild turkey hunting season and statewide youth wild turkey hunting season, April 22-May 21. The northeast zone, which includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties, remains open through May 28.

Hunters checked 18,899 birds during the first four weeks of the 2017 wild turkey season compared to 16,229 birds in 2016. Young hunters checked 1,920 birds during the 2017 statewide youth season compared to 1,564 in 2016.

Ohio’s 2017 spring wild turkey season was open from Monday, April 24 to Sunday, May 21 in the south zone and is open from Monday, May 1 to Sunday, May 28 in the northeast zone. The Statewide youth season was April 22-23.

TOURS HIGHLIGHT PAST, FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE FARMING IN OHIO - Summer is just about here, and Ohioans have an opportunity to learn about the past and future of farming in the state. The Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association's annual Sustainable Farm Tour and Workshop Series begins June 6. Jess Lamar Reece Holler, OEFFA's director of its Growing Right Oral History Project, says the series showcases the work of growers and producers who use sustainable methods. "Ecological farming is really about place," she points out.

ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION FEATURED AT JUNE 29 FIELD DAY - For the first time, the Organic Food and Farming Education and Research (OFFER) program will include organic dairy production in its annual field day.

The June 29 field day from 2 to 6 p.m. will include new findings and discuss important issues related to certified organic research and production for vegetables, crops and dairy.

“This year will include a major focus on dairy, a first for the OFFER program, in support of the rapidly expanding organic dairy industry,” said Douglas Doohan, director of the OFFER program.

“The addition of dairy to our annual field day is in response to requests we have received from organic dairy farmers for research based information, especially in the areas of mastitis care and prevention, and feed rations,” said Kathy Bielek, program assistant for the OFFER program. “Our goals are to provide networking opportunities for researchers and dairy farmers, and to respond to the desire for information in the organic dairy community.”

For more information, contact OFFER’s Kathy Bielek at 330-202-3528 or bielek.4@osu.edu.