October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Ohio has a program that could help people with disabilities save their hard-earned cash without risking their benefits. The Ohio Treasurer's Office offers the STABLE Account and allows people with disabilities to save and invest money without losing their eligibility for programs like Medicaid or supplemental security income. It is not like a checking or savings account, but more like a 401K or college savings account and allows people who qualify to grow their money and to save for long-term disability expenses. It only takes a few minutes to sign up for, and it could be a game changer for people involved.

October 1, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague: COLUMBUS – October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a perfect time to highlight the themes of independence and inclusion in the workplace. Through its STABLE Account program, the Ohio Treasurer’s office is proud to help thousands of individuals thrive in the workforce while being able to save and invest their earnings. A STABLE account is a specialized savings and investment account for people living with disabilities that allows them to save and invest money without losing eligibility for certain means-tested benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). STABLE accountholders can save up to $18,000 annually without losing federal assistance, and they can save an additional $14,580 each year if they’re employed. Earnings on STABLE accounts grow tax-free if they are spent on qualified expenses, which include housing, transportation, living expenses, healthcare, assistive technology, and more.

If you would like to help change a child's story, you may consider becoming a child advocate. CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties is looking for volunteers to help children who had to be removed from their families because of the situation they are living in. Advocates would help the children in court proceedings get a better life and outcome than they are leaving.

The West Ohio Community Action Partnership has provided information on some of the assistance programs being offered.

The program is a weekly dance residency that "Lyn's Dance Academy" has been holding for the past 13 years at Marimor School for both elementary and high school students. Around 40 students took part in the final performance to show off what they'd learned. No matter the student's level of ability, the goal is to help introduce the basics of dance.

Leigh Taylor, who is the instructor and coordinator at Project SEARCH, stopped by the Lima Kiwanis Club to shed light on her program and its importance. She also shared how she and others at Project SEARCH work towards their goal of providing students with disabilities with the skills and experience necessary to transition them into the workforce through an individualized education plan.

We now continue to spotlight the finalists for the Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Gala. Tonight, we take a look at the Athena Leadership Award, sponsored by Lima Chevrolet Cadillac.

The House passed four bills on Saturday: three that dealt with foreign aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine, and one that dealt with the social media platform. Congressman Jim Jordan voted against the aid for Ukraine, saying he wants to know the endgame of the conflict. He thinks we should be working on our Mexican border first.

April 17, 2024, Press Release from the Alzheimer's Association: TOLEDO, OH—April 17, 2024—National Institutes of Health (NIH) as it observes April as National Stress Awareness Month. Sources of stress can be as diverse as the people who undergo it, but one group that experiences stress day after day, occasionally for as long as 20 years, are the caregivers for people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Rhodes State College will be purchasing new equipment for their new semiconductor certificate program coming to campus. The State of Ohio awarded Rhodes State a $113,000 grant to invest in the new technology. The technology consists of various vacuum and gas equipment that will allow students to learn and train in realistic semiconductor manufacturing environments.