Good morning Columbus. What you need to know — area parents mobilizing on student safety, overdose, it’s East vs. North, no more Sundays without booze sales, Dick’s Sporting Goods

By
Scarlett Syse
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Greetings Columbus —

The images this morning of students going back to class at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are both terribly sad and oddly hopeful. That’s the nature of many tragedies — out of the searing heartbreak, anger and sadness rises glimmers of hope.

Douglas Stoneman high school

Certainly, the massacre in Parkland, Florida, has mobilized high school students in ways we have not seen in a long time.

But it is also organizing parents and others, who are seeking a voice in how to keep their kids safe.

In Bartholomew County, there are two recent examples.

One is a Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Safety New Parent Forum created by Jenni Muncie-Sujan. More than 250 people have joined the Facebook group, and they attended Monday’s school board meeting.

The discussion included an array of safety issues — metal detectors, drills, smoke cannons, video, emergency notification nobs.

The school district has spent at least $25 million on safety improvements, and here’s another big number: The district has 1,040 cameras that keep on eye inside and outside 21 buildings.

Click here to read more more about the discussion parents and school officials had and how that dialogue is continuing.

Another example of area parents coming together is the newly-formed Columbus chapter of Moms Demand Action.

The nationwide organization was created to call for action from legislators, state and federal, companies and educational institutions to establish common-sense gun reforms, much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to reduce drunk driving, according to its website.

And there’s a big development this morning on the gun sales front. This is from The Associated Press —

Dick’s Sporting Goods will immediately end sales of assault-style rifles and high capacity magazines at all of its stores and ban the sale of all guns to anyone under 21 years old.

The announcement Wednesday comes two weeks after the school massacre in Parkland, Florida.

“When we saw what the kids were going through and the grief of the parents and the kids who were killed in Parkland, we felt we needed to do something,” Chairman and CEO Edward Stack said on “”Good Morning America.”

Here’s what else you need to know —

Area man overdoses on over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication.
We have another example of just how wretched addiction is. Nationwide, officials are seeing more people using massive amount of Imodium to get high. It killed a Bartholomew County man. Story here.

Our Sundays without booze sales are over.
Today’s the day. The governor’s office sent this out Tuesday: Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and key lawmakers will gather in the governor’s office at 1:30 p.m. today for the ceremonial signing of SEA 1, which allows Sunday alcohol carryout sales in Indiana for the first time in our state’s history. Think there will be a toast?! Column about Sundays and booze here.

Could it get any better than this? It’ll be East vs. North in boys basketball.
The Bull Dogs thumped Shelbyville last night, and now we’ve got a rivalry matchup Friday night. Story here.

Stress management for inmates.
Area officials are examining a program to see if jail inmates would benefit from breathing, mediation and other yoga-like techniques to reduce anger and stress. Thursday’s Republic.

These CSA Lincoln students have their game face on, ready to crush ISTEP!

CSA Lincoln

Have a great day. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

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