Odds and ends from the world of politics in Trumbull and Mahoning counties:
Senate Minority Leader Democrat Capri Cafaro plans to introduce a bill this week (Democrat state Rep. Nickie J. Antonio of Lakewood will do the same in the Ohio House) intended to reduce the state's unintended pregnancy rate and make Ohio a healthier place for women, children and families.
The Ohio Prevention First Act would, among other things, create a statewide teen pregnancy prevention task force; provide for reproductive health education in schools; and require pharmacies to dispense any prescribed drug, device or over-the-counter medication in stock, without delay with respect to all customers.
Cafaro, of Hubbard, on Friday said the education component is permissive, not mandatory for school districts and what's taught would be age appropriate.
In addition, the bill would make sure that victims of sexual assault would have access to emergency contraception, as well as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted disease in all hospital emergency rooms.
Lastly, if a person has a prescription at a pharmacy and the pharmacy has the medication to fill that prescription, the prescription cannot be refused and health insurance companies would be prevented from limiting or excluding coverage for prescription contraception approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
Jim Shaw, 23, of Canfield, vice chairman of the Mahoning County Young Republicans (MCYR), has been named political director of the Ohio Young Republican Federation.
Shaw says in a press release, ''I plan to use this position to help Mahoning County and other 'blue' areas of Ohio as they seek to position themselves for the 2012 elections.''
My first thought is, why would Shaw, a Republican - a party typically identified by the color ''red'' - use the position to help Democrats - identified by the color ''blue.''
My second thought is, maybe the writer of the press release meant Shaw would use the position to try to garner and bolster support for Republican candidates in areas that have traditionally leaned toward Democrats, like Mahoning County and other parts of northeast Ohio, including Trumbull County.
Turns out, that's what the writer meant, said MCYR chairman Donovan O'Neil, who admitted the statement sounded a little off when read back to him.
Shaw already is working in the position.
Staying with the MCYR, the group, which only reorganized 14 months ago, was given the Nicholas Longworth Award for budgeting and fundraising at the Ohio Young Republican convention in Cleveland recently.
The group beat 36 other clubs to win the award.
Shaw said that if the group can raise funds in Mahoning County, it can be done anywhere in Ohio.