Ohio Lawmaker Wants Later School Start Times

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An Ohio lawmaker is pushing a proposal requiring all public schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. 

Democratic State Senator Sandra Williams says her bill  follows California's passage earlier this month of similar legislation. Her legislative aide, Kierra Branch, says parents are concerned about safety since it's still dark when they go to school. She points to the September death of a Columbus girl who was struck by two vehicles while walking on a section of McNaughten Road lacking sidewalks. And Branch says there are other benefits.

Critics say a later start time would allow students to stay up later at night. The proposal has yet to be formally introduced.

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Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.