Laurie Bertke
@lauriebertke.bsky.social
Freelance journalist in Toledo, Ohio
Crocheter of weird emotional support things
Crocheter of weird emotional support things
The MultiFaith Council of NW Ohio has been quietly going about the work of promoting peaceful dialogue and seeking common spiritual ground in our community for nearly 25 years. I enjoyed chatting with members of this fascinating, welcoming group of people last month. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Multifaith Council seeks common spiritual ground - Toledo Free Press
The Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio (MFC) is committed to cultivating friendships and finding common ground in shared values.
toledofreepress.com
September 11, 2025 at 10:20 AM
The MultiFaith Council of NW Ohio has been quietly going about the work of promoting peaceful dialogue and seeking common spiritual ground in our community for nearly 25 years. I enjoyed chatting with members of this fascinating, welcoming group of people last month. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
AOL still is offering dial up service?? Who knew. Not for much longer though.
We were a Netscape Navigator home. 😆 but I definitely used AIM.
End is near for the landline-based service that got America online in the ’90s - wapo.st/4mahyXZ
We were a Netscape Navigator home. 😆 but I definitely used AIM.
End is near for the landline-based service that got America online in the ’90s - wapo.st/4mahyXZ
End is near for the landline-based service that got America online in the ’90s
The landline-based service once played a dominant role in culture, exposing tens of millions to the internet and inspiring a movie starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
wapo.st
August 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
AOL still is offering dial up service?? Who knew. Not for much longer though.
We were a Netscape Navigator home. 😆 but I definitely used AIM.
End is near for the landline-based service that got America online in the ’90s - wapo.st/4mahyXZ
We were a Netscape Navigator home. 😆 but I definitely used AIM.
End is near for the landline-based service that got America online in the ’90s - wapo.st/4mahyXZ
Nobody likes to pay taxes but they cover so many essential services. In the name of saving homeowners $$ lawmakers are toying with making some pretty big changes to the property tax system in Ohio.
If you cut property taxes, how or where do you make up the difference on that funding?
If you cut property taxes, how or where do you make up the difference on that funding?
Officials voice concerns on proposed property tax changes - Toledo Free Press
School and county officials are sounding the alarm that some reforms under consideration in Ohio could have a devastating impact on services.
toledofreepress.com
August 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Nobody likes to pay taxes but they cover so many essential services. In the name of saving homeowners $$ lawmakers are toying with making some pretty big changes to the property tax system in Ohio.
If you cut property taxes, how or where do you make up the difference on that funding?
If you cut property taxes, how or where do you make up the difference on that funding?
"Success sequence" or "stress sequence?" Ohio bills would require high schools to teach students to graduate, get a job and marry before having kids to avoid poverty. Similar bills being introduced and passed in other states. What groups are behind this sudden push? @toledofreepress.bsky.social
GOP bills call for districts to teach students the "success sequence" - Toledo Free Press
Some Ohio legislators are pushing a pair of bills to mandate school districts teach a formula known as the “success sequence."
toledofreepress.com
July 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
"Success sequence" or "stress sequence?" Ohio bills would require high schools to teach students to graduate, get a job and marry before having kids to avoid poverty. Similar bills being introduced and passed in other states. What groups are behind this sudden push? @toledofreepress.bsky.social
🤮 seeing these all over our yard.
“It’s an agricultural pest, so when we have a lot of them and it feeds on certain crops, it can stress those plants."
Spotted lanternflies are being found all across Toledo
If you look closely, you’ll notice some specks on trees aren’t really specks they’re lanternflies, and there are hundreds of them.
www.13abc.com
July 8, 2025 at 12:46 AM
🤮 seeing these all over our yard.
National Museum of the Great Lakes expansion is set to open this Saturday! The major addition includes a historic pilothouse experience. The museum has seen dramatic visitor growth since relocating to #Toledo in 2014. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
National Great Lakes Museum ready to display new pilothouse - Toledo Free Press
The National Museum of the Great Lakes expansion is expected to boost attendance, expand educational reach and increase accessibility.
toledofreepress.com
June 25, 2025 at 11:47 AM
National Museum of the Great Lakes expansion is set to open this Saturday! The major addition includes a historic pilothouse experience. The museum has seen dramatic visitor growth since relocating to #Toledo in 2014. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Some amazing future conservationists out at #MageeMarsh during the #BWIAB last weekend! #wildlife #birding
youtu.be/IPpdGBDwH9k?...
youtu.be/IPpdGBDwH9k?...
Young birders take the lead in OYBC field trip
YouTube video by Toledo Free Press
youtu.be
May 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Some amazing future conservationists out at #MageeMarsh during the #BWIAB last weekend! #wildlife #birding
youtu.be/IPpdGBDwH9k?...
youtu.be/IPpdGBDwH9k?...
Young birders took the lead on a hike the Ohio Young Birders Club sponsored at Magee Marsh during the #BWIAB #conservation #birding toledofreepress.com/young-birder...
Young birders club leads field trip - Toledo Free Press
The Ohio Young Birders Club (OYBC) led a youth field trip May 17 at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area to educate and youth conservation leaders.
toledofreepress.com
May 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Young birders took the lead on a hike the Ohio Young Birders Club sponsored at Magee Marsh during the #BWIAB #conservation #birding toledofreepress.com/young-birder...
The U.S. Department of State has overseen cultural exchange programs as a means of cultivating mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries for decades. Supporters worry these diplomacy-building initiatives risk losing federal funding in 2026. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
International exchange program funding restored ... for now - Toledo Free Press
High school exchange program funding has resumed after federal freezes earlier this year, but there is still concern about the programs.
toledofreepress.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The U.S. Department of State has overseen cultural exchange programs as a means of cultivating mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries for decades. Supporters worry these diplomacy-building initiatives risk losing federal funding in 2026. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Ottawa NWR is 'epicenter' of the Biggest Week in American Birding. Federal cuts are putting essential operations there at risk. NOTE: New Trump admin budget proposal for 2026 calls for additional $342 million in cuts for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. #bwiab @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Biggest Week in Birding, wildlife refuge affected by funding shortfall - Toledo Free Press
While visitors flock to annual bird migration in May, the ONWR is grappling with a funding shortfall that threatens daily operations.
toledofreepress.com
May 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Ottawa NWR is 'epicenter' of the Biggest Week in American Birding. Federal cuts are putting essential operations there at risk. NOTE: New Trump admin budget proposal for 2026 calls for additional $342 million in cuts for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. #bwiab @toledofreepress.bsky.social
ONWR is 'epicenter' of the Biggest Week in American Birding. Federal cuts putting essential operations there at risk. NOTE: Trump admin budget proposal for 2026 calls for additional $342 million in cuts for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. @biggestweekbirding.bsky.social @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Biggest Week in Birding, wildlife refuge affected by funding shortfall - Toledo Free Press
While visitors flock to annual bird migration in May, the ONWR is grappling with a funding shortfall that threatens daily operations.
toledofreepress.com
May 3, 2025 at 11:44 AM
ONWR is 'epicenter' of the Biggest Week in American Birding. Federal cuts putting essential operations there at risk. NOTE: Trump admin budget proposal for 2026 calls for additional $342 million in cuts for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. @biggestweekbirding.bsky.social @toledofreepress.bsky.social
The Trump administration has released its proposed budget for 2026. WaPo breakdown reveals admin’s distorted priorities.
wapo.st/4iMk4RM
It’s worth a read to understand briefly all the things these agencies do that will start to impact people at the local level when they go away.
wapo.st/4iMk4RM
It’s worth a read to understand briefly all the things these agencies do that will start to impact people at the local level when they go away.
May 3, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The Trump administration has released its proposed budget for 2026. WaPo breakdown reveals admin’s distorted priorities.
wapo.st/4iMk4RM
It’s worth a read to understand briefly all the things these agencies do that will start to impact people at the local level when they go away.
wapo.st/4iMk4RM
It’s worth a read to understand briefly all the things these agencies do that will start to impact people at the local level when they go away.
Reposted by Laurie Bertke
The final honor guard for Pope Francis included migrants, prisoners, transgender people, the homeless and others selected by the Vicariate of Rome as a symbol of the late pope’s mission of inclusion and outreach.
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
April 26, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The final honor guard for Pope Francis included migrants, prisoners, transgender people, the homeless and others selected by the Vicariate of Rome as a symbol of the late pope’s mission of inclusion and outreach.
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
Read more from the funeral: wapo.st/3YdDGqM
None of this is normal. 😱
Wisconsin judge arrested by FBI, charged with obstructing immigrant arrest
Judge Hannah Dugan’s arrest is the first known instance of the Trump administration charging a local official with interfering with immigration enforcement.
wapo.st
April 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
None of this is normal. 😱
The beautiful sound of spring at Maumee Bay State Park.
April 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The beautiful sound of spring at Maumee Bay State Park.
An eclectic group united their voices at the Monroe Street United Methodist Church on April 6 to commemorate the anniversary of Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, the famous anti-war speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Diverse coalition brings to life antiwar speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. - Toledo Free Press
Event united their voices April 6 at Monroe Street United Methodist Church to commemorate anniversary of a Martin Luther King Jr. speech.
toledofreepress.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
An eclectic group united their voices at the Monroe Street United Methodist Church on April 6 to commemorate the anniversary of Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, the famous anti-war speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. @toledofreepress.bsky.social
Reposted by Laurie Bertke
Where is our humanity?
April 6, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Where is our humanity?
Our latest story explores the implications of the new law requiring Ohio districts to adopt religious release time policies and ties that into the LifeWise organization’s push for similar state laws nationwide.
Special Report: LifeWise lobbies for nationwide legislation - Toledo Free Press
Changes to Ohio law mean all public school districts are now required to adopt policies governing religious release time (RTRI).
toledofreepress.com
March 4, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Our latest story explores the implications of the new law requiring Ohio districts to adopt religious release time policies and ties that into the LifeWise organization’s push for similar state laws nationwide.
New story posted today.
Part 3 of a limited series about Ohio-based LifeWise Academy releases tomorrow! Read the full story by Laurie Bertke on our website.
www.toledofreepress.com
(TFP Photo/Lori King)
www.toledofreepress.com
(TFP Photo/Lori King)
March 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
New story posted today.
Episode two includes a discussion of our TFP coverage of LifeWise Academy, with special guest Keith Comer of respectpublicschools.com
February 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Episode two includes a discussion of our TFP coverage of LifeWise Academy, with special guest Keith Comer of respectpublicschools.com
Reposted by Laurie Bertke
Episodes one and two of 'Behind the Byline with Jaden Jefferson,' my new podcast with the @toledofreepress.bsky.social, are out now! Listen on Spotify 🎧 or at ToledoFreePress.com 💻 (A new edition is up every Wednesday.)
February 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Episodes one and two of 'Behind the Byline with Jaden Jefferson,' my new podcast with the @toledofreepress.bsky.social, are out now! Listen on Spotify 🎧 or at ToledoFreePress.com 💻 (A new edition is up every Wednesday.)
Reposted by Laurie Bertke
"Today we were informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would be barred from accessing an event in the Oval Office."
www.ap.org/the-definiti...
www.ap.org/the-definiti...
AP statement on Oval Office access | The Associated Press
The Associated Press issued this statement on Tuesday from Executive Editor Julie Pace: As a global news organization, The Associated Press informs
www.ap.org
February 11, 2025 at 9:22 PM
"Today we were informed by the White House that if AP did not align its editorial standards with President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, AP would be barred from accessing an event in the Oval Office."
www.ap.org/the-definiti...
www.ap.org/the-definiti...
I was so excited this kind security guard was willing to flip the switch to make the night sky effect in The Cloister at @toledomuseum.bsky.social for me last weekend on the last day the gallery would be open until 2027. Listen to how the chatter quiets as everyone takes it in.
February 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I was so excited this kind security guard was willing to flip the switch to make the night sky effect in The Cloister at @toledomuseum.bsky.social for me last weekend on the last day the gallery would be open until 2027. Listen to how the chatter quiets as everyone takes it in.
Reposted by Laurie Bertke
❗New Post Alert ❗The Toledo Museum of Art closed its Cloister Gallery on Sunday for a two-year renovation and Toledo Free Press reporter Laurie Bertke was there to capture patron's memories. Lots of photos, too! toledofreepress.com/patrons-pay-...
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support!
Patrons pay tribute to Cloister Gallery - Toledo Free Press
Patrons flock to Toledo Museum of Art's Cloister Gallery to visit the iconic space before it closed on Feb. 2. It will reopen in 2027.
toledofreepress.com
February 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM
❗New Post Alert ❗The Toledo Museum of Art closed its Cloister Gallery on Sunday for a two-year renovation and Toledo Free Press reporter Laurie Bertke was there to capture patron's memories. Lots of photos, too! toledofreepress.com/patrons-pay-...
Thank you for your support!
Thank you for your support!