LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Prior to President Trump's address to Congress tonight, the Allen County Democrats held a protest in response to some of his…

January 21, 2025, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – During today’s annual meeting of the Governor’s Human Trafficking Task Force, the Ohio Department of Public Safety announced the launch of a new human trafficking dashboard that combines data from several state agencies into a centralized location to increase accessibility for the public, policy makers, and researchers. The announcement comes during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

January 14, 2025, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — On National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today is reflecting on the progress made by his office in 2024 to fight the scourge throughout the state. “Awareness is critical in educating the public that human trafficking happens anywhere and everywhere,” Yost said. “We’ve been focusing on demand reduction because without a buyer there is no human trafficking.” Each year on Jan. 11, Yost’s office joins in solidary with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and many others to mark National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The observance is also known as Wear Blue Day, a chance for advocates in the fight against human trafficking to outwardly express that support by photographing themselves and others wearing blue and sharing those photos on social media (with the hashtag #WearBlueDay).

LIMA, OH(WLIO) - Crossroads Crisis Center took a night to honor victims and those who stand up for them.

Many people and community groups walked the streets of Lima to raise awareness for an important cause. October is "Domestic Violence Awareness Month," and on Tuesday, Crossroads Crisis Center kicked off their month-long campaign to raise awareness their "We Walk for Victims" to honor all survivors and victims of domestic violence. Before the walk inside the Lima Public Library, Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith signed a proclamation recognizing the city's support for domestic violence awareness along with Crossroads dedicating two books to the library. Tuesday night's walk is the first of many events planned by Crossroads to honor victims and survivors all month long.

Mercy Health St. Rita's is making information about what resources are available to assist in the fight against human trafficking. They are inviting local agencies, organizations, and community members to an educational symposium titled "Liberty Unchained: Breaking Bonds, Restoring Hope." It's an effort to get everyone on the same page for what to look for, the signs of, and how to handle instances of human trafficking.

September 30, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio’s first statewide human trafficking hotline is now operational, Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. The non-emergency hotline number – 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448) – funnels incoming tips about suspected sex and labor trafficking directly to law enforcement, connecting the caller with people experienced in investigating such allegations.  

Kids are giving back and learning more about the importance of Juneteenth. To help commemorate the holiday, a group of teens and volunteers worked in the flower beds at Albert Peterson's home. But before they got their hands dirty, they learned more about the history of the holiday, which is also known as Freedom Day, because it marks the final group of slaves in Texas to learn that the emancipation proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln, ending slavery.