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Tag: Cincinnati

  • Weekend Pass: Events around the state Jan. 3-4

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    There’s always plenty to do in Ohio over the weekend, and Spectrum News 1 gathered some highlights around each major metropolitan area across the state.

    Here’s some of this weekend’s events:

    Cleveland

    Cleveland Home Show

    • When and where: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 3 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 4 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, located at  300 Lakeside Ave.
    • Cost: Free admission with online registration or $10 at the door
    • Info: This is the place to go for everything home improvement. Whether it’s discounts, advice from experts and more, there’s plenty to see

    50 First Jokes

    • When and where: 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, located at 2035 E 4th St. in Cleveland
    • Cost: $12
    • Info: Local comedians will gather at this event to tell their first jokes of the new year

    Columbus

    Healthy New Albany Farmers Market

    • When and where: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany, located at 150 W. Main St.
    • Info: This event occurs on the first Saturday of the month during the fall and winter and includes an assortment of local vendors

    Holiday Blooms at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

    • When and where: This exhibition lasts until Jan. 4, so this is your last weekend to check it out at the conservatory and botanical gardens, located at 1777 E. Broad Street Columbus
    • Cost: Included with admission
    • Info: The theme of this exhibition is Hues of the Holidays. The website calls it an “enchanting botanical experience is where color takes center stage.”

    Cincinnati

    Disney & Pixar’s “Toy Story” in concert

    • When and where: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3 and 2 p.m. Jan. 4 at the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra music hall, located at 1241 Elm St. in Cincinnati
    • Cost: Prices vary, see website for details
    • Info: This concert, conducted by Damon Gupton, will be a live performance that accompanies the playing of the film

    Festival of Ferns

    • When and where: This seasonal event lasts through Jan. 4 Cincinnati Parks’ Krohn Conservatory, located at 1501 Eden Park Drive
    • Cost: $10 for adults, $7 for kids age 5-17, free for kids 5 and younger
    • Info: This event includes a “botanical model of Cincinnati,” trains, landmarks and more. This is your last weekend to check out the event as it ends Jan. 4

    Dayton

    Pyramid Hill Lights

    • When and where: 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 3 and 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 4
    • Cost: $25 for a carload of non-members, $15 for a carload of members
    • Info: There’s plenty of holiday lights for the family to drive through

    Deck the Diamond

    • When and where: Runs from 6 to 9 p.m. on select nights (including this Friday and Saturday) until Jan. 3 at Day Air Ballpark, located at 220 N Patterson Blvd. in Dayton
    • Cost: $14 for Friday through Sunday tickets, free for kids 2 and younger
    • Info: This event features light displays and shows, decorations and more “to create unforgettable memories for you and your loved ones!”

    Toledo

    Archery and Fireside S’mores

    • When and where: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at t Pearson Metropark, Sledding Hill, located at 761 S Lallendorf Road
    • Cost: $10
    • Info: If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to practice your archery and enjoy some s’mores at the same time, this event is surely for you

    Toledo Paint and Sip Party – Snow Globe

    • When and where: 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3 at Wine & Canvas Toledo Studio, located at 5248 Monroe St. in Toledo
    • Cost: $40
    • Info: At this event, you’ll have the chance to have some drinks and create your own canvas, with guidance from a local artist

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Artisan Fest 513 brings handcrafted goods and holiday shoppers together

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    CINCINNATI — With Christmas just days away, shoppers looking for last-minute gifts had a chance this weekend to support local entrepreneurs at Artisan Fest 513 in downtown Cincinnati.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shoppers looking for last-minute gifts had a chance this weekend to support local entrepreneurs at Artisan Fest 513 in downtown Cincinnati

    • The market featured a wide range of handcrafted goods, including candles, knitwear and wellness products

    • Vee’s Herbal Exchange is a wellness brand specializing in handcrafted herbal goods such as soaps and body butters

    Nearly a dozen vendors set up shop in Washington Park as part of the Artisan Market’s recurring pop-up series, which aims to give small businesses face-to-face access to customers while encouraging residents to shop locally.

    The market featured a wide range of handcrafted goods, including candles, knitwear and wellness products, offering shoppers items not typically found in big-box stores.

    Among the vendors was Cori Venning, founder and CEO of Vee’s Herbal Exchange, a wellness brand specializing in handcrafted herbal goods such as soaps and body butters. Some of the products are even safe for consumption.

    Venning launched the business earlier this year and does not yet operate a brick-and-mortar storefront. She said events like Artisan Fest 513 play a critical role in building brand awareness and connecting with potential customers.

    “Being able to meet people face to face and tell the story behind my products really helps customers connect with what I’m doing,” Venning said. 

    The event is part of the Artisan Market’s broader #BuyLocal513 campaign, which organizers say has generated more than $1 million in local economic impact to date.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Shop with a Cop is back

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    CINCINNATI — For kids, it means gifts under the tree, and for officers, it’s a chance to connect in a different way. 

    Shop with a Cop is back, pairing law enforcement with children for a day of shopping and support.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Shop with a Cop is back

    • The event pairs law enforcement with kids for a day of shopping and support

    • For more than 10 years, it has been a staple in the greater Cincinnati area

    “We identify kids, we work with the school and our SRO officer, for kids really in need, and it’s great for our officers to get to see these kids, to be able to spend this kind of money,” Reading Police Chief Police Bryan Edens said.

    For more than 10 years, Shop with a Cop has been a staple in the greater Cincinnati area, and Edens said seeing the kids get a $500 spending limit is amazing, but he is most impressed by their selflessness

    “When you see the smile on their faces and to watch some of these kids, because of where they come from, they worry about family members before buying for themselves, which is huge to see, 7–8-year-olds thinking of grandpa and grandma and siblings before themselves,” Edens said.

    Eric Bartlett, a school resource officer at Reading Schools, is pleased to see the difference an event like this can make. 

    “It means a lot to our students, means a lot to our officers who organize it with the school,” he said. “The school helps us pick out the children who are in need. We have 12 children I believe this year. We’re hoping it does help their families.”

    Edens said this event amazes him time and time again.

    “Watching the kids, knowing they don’t have a real limit on them, these are kids who have never had that experience,” he said.

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    Travis Hicks

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  • Predator Poachers use decoys, confront suspect in Ohio before police arrest

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    A Cincinnati-area man was arrested and is facing multiple child sexual abuse material charges after being confronted by a national predator-catching organization that claims to have helped secure arrests across all 50 states.

    31-year-old Benjamin Naylor, of Deer Park, allegedly possessed and distributed child sexual abuse material on his phone, according to Hamilton County court documents.

    The arrest came after Alex Rosen’s organization, Predator Poachers, confronted Naylor outside his workplace following online interactions with someone who Naylor allegedly believed was a 13-year-old boy.

    “Any site you can think of … we’re on,” Rosen said. “There’s no place, even when it’s quote, unquote, encrypted, that a pedophile can hide from us.”

    Online messages

    Rosen said the group first encountered Naylor on Reddit.

    Naylor allegedly messaged their 13-year-old boy decoy on Reddit before moving the conversation to a messaging platform.

    “He wasn’t necessarily illegal with us. He wasn’t like, ‘Let’s meet up and have sex.’ But he was like, ‘Age is just a number.’ Very perverted,” Rosen said. “At some point, he blocked us because there’s a hole in the story that we’re not actually a 13-year-old.”

    Despite the blocked communication, Rosen said Naylor’s online activity provided clear indicators of criminal behavior.

    WATCH: How an online watchdog group tracked down the Cincinnati man

    How this man’s national predator-catching group helps police make arrests

    “Looking at his online posts, he was giving many indications he was into child pornography, and just with the terminology he used, where he was lurking online,” Rosen said. “Even if he didn’t message our decoy at all, I still would have gone to confront him, because I knew, based on the signals he was giving online, that he was going to be trading child pornography.”

    The confrontation

    After learning of Naylor’s location, Rosen said he and his team arrived outside Naylor’s workplace on Dec. 3.

    “I go to his building, and I say I have a secret Santa for him,” Rosen said. “And he goes from thinking he’s getting a present to 40 minutes later, being in handcuffs surrounded by five cops.”

    Rosen said his interrogation technique can be described as “grooming the groomers,” using psychological manipulation to encourage confessions.

    “You basically got to be a salesman when you talk to these people,” Rosen said. “In that time where they’re stunned, you have to sell to them that walking in and just ignoring us is not the best option.”

    Rosen said the approach involves making suspects believe they’re victims rather than perpetrators and offering subtle reassurances.

    “Getting him at his job, he’s kind of between a rock and a hard place, because he really has nowhere to go,” Rosen said. “As a courtesy, I’m like, ‘Hey, Ben, I’m not here to tell your job about it, man. I just want to get you outside,’ and when someone passes, you kind of lower your voice, because they think in their mind, ‘Okay, well, he’s being quiet when someone walks past.’”

    During the 40-minute confrontation, which was streamed live on the Predator Poacher’s Kick account, Naylor admitted to trading child pornography involving “babies and toddlers.”

    “When they do admit to things, we do call the cops on them,” Rosen said.

    A multi-jurisdictional task force that includes Cincinnati police and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office called the Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations Unit (RECI which investigated Naylor, court records show.

    A RECI detective alleged in criminal complaints that Naylor was found with a pornographic image of a young boy on his cell phone. Documents say Naylor possessed two images of child sexual abuse material, as well as possessed and distributed two videos of child sexual abuse material on his personal cell phone.

    Naylor worked as a scheduler at Christ Hospital and did not have direct contact with patients. A spokesperson with the Christ Hospital Network told us he was terminated immediately upon learning of his arrest.

    “We fully cooperated with law enforcement,” the spokesperson said.

    Growing national movement

    Rosen, 25, started Predator Poachers in Houston when he was 19 years old. The organization has grown from a group of high school friends to employing over 20 people nationwide.

    “Over the course of the past six years, we’ve had arrests in all 50 states, convictions in 43 of those states,” Rosen said. “We have over 260 convictions of pedophiles nationwide.”

    The group operates by creating decoy accounts to interact with suspected predators online, then confronting them in person before turning evidence over to law enforcement, according to Rosen.

    Rosen said his organization is “an internet watchdog group of concerned citizens” rather than vigilantes.

    “We simply report and document crimes,” Rosen said. “We collect evidence lawfully, we interview them lawfully, and we turn it all over, and we wait for the conviction.”

    Rosen said Naylor was one of nine people his group confronted during a week-long trip that included stops in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

    “When I tell you that Benjamin Naylor, the guy that we caught, was not even the sickest person we caught that day,” Rosen said.

    The day before confronting Naylor, Rosen said the group caught multiple other people throughout the area.

    “We’re very busy, unfortunately, and this is our life,” Rosen said.

    The organization takes multiple trips across the country each month, typically confronting around 20 people per trip, Rosen said.

    “We basically have a map of people across the country,” Rosen said.

    Law enforcement’s response

    In February, the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office warned against the independent efforts. Officials said the confrontations can jeopardize law enforcement investigations, put community members at risk and create a situation where the alleged predator could potentially do something deadly when confronted.

    Rosen said most law enforcement agencies are supportive of his group’s work, though he acknowledges some criticism about potentially compromising investigations.

    “I can guarantee you that no department in the area had Benjamin Naylor on their radar,” Rosen said. “And that’s not to say they’re not doing anything. It’s just that there’s so many pedophiles that you can’t just leave it up to one entity to do it all.”

    He said that private citizens can conduct voluntary interviews that law enforcement cannot initiate without probable cause.

    “Benjamin Naylor did not get sexual with our decoy account, so that is no probable cause for the cops to arrest him,” Rosen said. “As private citizens, (Predator Poachers) can bypass that and have a voluntary interview with him, and then when he starts confessing to those crimes, that’s when now the cops can get involved.”

    What’s next

    Naylor was arraigned Tuesday morning. Duing that hearing, prosecutors sought and received a “no bond” order on two of his charges.

    He is scheduled to return to court Friday morning for a second bond hearing.

    Rosen said his organization has no plans to slow down, with a Christmas trip planned that will target more suspects.

    “Many people take Christmas off. I don’t take Christmas off,” Rosen said.

    Scripps News Group reached out to the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for this story, but did not hear back.

    This article was written by Valerie Lyons for the Scripps News Group in Cincinnati.

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  • High school football playoffs replays on Spectrum News 1

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    OHIO — More Ohio high school football playoff games took place Friday night with several closely contested matches, including three state semifinal matchups.

    Fans can watch the OHSAA playoffs replays on Spectrum News 1 and on the Spectrum News mobile app. Fourteen total games are available to watch.

    Olentangy Orange vs. St. Edward – Northern Ohio Division I, Region 1
    Airing on Spectrum News 1 in Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus

    The undefeated Orange took on the Eagles in the the Division 1 state semifinals. It should be a high scoring matchup, with both teams averaging around 36 points per game. They battled it out at Arlin Field in Mansfield.

    St. Xavier vs. Middletown – Central Ohio Division I, Region 2
    Airing on Spectrum News 1 in Cincinnati & Dayton

    Another state semifinals battle between the Bombers and Middies took place at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. Its the Bombers first appearance in the state semifinals since 2020. Middletown will be riding high coming into this matchup after capturing their first regional title.

    Big Walnut vs. Anderson – Southern Ohio Division II, Region 7
    Airing on channel 314

    This state semifinal game was grudge match carrying over from last year. The Raptors came into this matchup undefeated on the season, while Big Walnut had only lost one game. Both teams set out to show who really is the better football organization in this matchup at Historic Crew Stadium.

    Other matchups

    Here is a list of games that will be available for fans to watch on the Spectrum News mobile app:

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    Ryan Johnston

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  • Overnight ramp closures set for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project work

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    CINCINNATI — Preparations continue for Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project work and crews are set to start surveying before they break ground. 

    The surveys on I-71/I-75 downtown will happen overnight, meaning there will be separate overnight ramp closures next week — so long as weather conditions permit.

    On Tuesday, Dec, 2, at 10 p.m., the ramps from U.S. 50 EB to I-71 NB and I-75 SB/2nd St. will close. They will reopen by 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

    On Wednesday the ramp from 8th St. to I-75 SB will close at 10 p.m. and reopen at 5 a.m. on Thursday.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • The Big Game: Everything You Need to Know

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    Arguably the biggest rivalry in college football comes to a head once again this Saturday in Ann Arbor, when The Ohio State University Buckeyes take on the University of Michigan Wolverines at The Big House before an audience of more than 110,000 in person and millions on TV.

    Spectrum News 1 breaks down everything you need to know ahead of the game.

    Ohio State head coach Ryan Day watches during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    GAME TIME: 12 p.m.

    LOCATION: The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan

    FORECAST: Ohio State takes on Michigan in chilly temperatures

    Rivalry Week Headlines

    Ohio State and Michigan brace for The Game with playoff implications and historic stakes

    While last year’s 13-10 loss galvanized the Buckeyes and propelled them toward their first national championship in 10 years, the pain of that defeat has not been forgotten.

    75th anniversary: The Snow Bowl goes down in football history

    A blizzard that swept over Ohio in 1950 created a historical matchup between Ohio and Michigan that will never be duplicated.

    Julian Sayin’s defining moment: Can Ohio State’s QB end the losing streak against Michigan?

    Julian Sayin has done everything that has been asked of him in his first season as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. Yet what remains is a signature drive or performance.

    A rivalry that seems as old as time heats up once again on Saturday. But what makes the Ohio State and Michigan matchups mean so much to students, alumni and fans?

     

    Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins plays against Michigan during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Annual Adopt-A-Family Program aids hundreds of local families, seniors

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    CINCINNATI, Ohio —  An annual holiday program that pairs local families and seniors with community sponsors is once again helping hundreds across Greater Cincinnati as the Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family initiative ramps up for the season.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati’s Adopt-A-Family Program matches families and seniors referred for assistance with corporate or individual sponsors

    • The program received referrals for 400 families this year

    • De-Bra Kuempel is sponsoring 30 years for their second year with the program

    De-Bra Kuempel, the region’s largest technical, electrical and plumbing contractor, is sponsoring 30 seniors this year. The Cincinnati-based company, which employs between 1,200 and 1,300 workers and operates roughly 800 service trucks daily, is expanding its involvement after first participating in 2024.

    “When the ten people who originally started this last year came back and told everybody how the program worked and the smiles they saw on people’s faces, that is what became contagious,” said Kris Thorne, president and CEO of De-Bra Kuempel.

    The Adopt-A-Family Program matches families and seniors referred for assistance with corporate or individual sponsors. Last year, the Salvation Army distributed more than 18,000 toys and gifts. Thorne said many recipients request basic household needs, such as paper products and essential supplies.

    Major Martha Bone of the Salvation Army of Greater Cincinnati said the organization has secured sponsors for 315 of the 400 families seeking help this year, leaving the remainder on a waiting list.

    “We’ve lost some grants this year for some specific programs that we have concerns about,” Bone said. “But I’m believing, just like at Christmas, people will be flooding our doors to give back. I believe that the need will be taken care of.”

    Thorne said the Adopt-A-Family tradition is becoming a staple for the company. He encourages others to take part.

    “When you see the faces of the people you’re making an impact on, I can almost guarantee you’ll double the participation afterward,” he said.

    Applications for this year’s program have closed, but the Salvation Army is still accepting donations and volunteers.

    More information is available on its website.

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    Javari Burnett

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  • Cincinnati AD apologizes for fans’ derogatory chants aimed at Mormons during BYU’s win over Bearcats

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    CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham issued an apology to BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday for derogatory chants by fans at Nippert Stadium during the Bearcats’ game against the Cougars.

    “The use of offensive or religiously derogatory language by a group of fans during Saturday’s game was unacceptable and does not reflect our values,” Cunningham wrote in a post on X. “We remain committed to creating an environment at Nippert Stadium where every visiting team and its supporters are treated with dignity and respect.”

    BYU is the flagship school for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

    Videos shared on social media showed fans repeatedly chanting “(expletive) the Mormons” as No. 11 BYU was on its way to a 26-14 win. The game was played a day after the church community delivered a truckload of 27,000 pounds of food to the UC campus pantry, which provides students, staff and faculty assistance for food insecurity.

    Cincinnati was the second school this season to apologize for fan behavior during a game against BYU. In September, Colorado coach Deion Sanders issued the apology shortly before the Big 12 Conference reprimanded the Buffaloes and issued a $50,000 fine for similar chants.

    The Big 12 did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment on possible disciplinary action against Cincinnati.

    BYU closes the regular season at home against UCF on Saturday and Cincinnati visits TCU.

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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  • Title game trip on the line between St. X and Middletown

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    CINCINNATI — The “Road to Canton” has one more stop, one more chance for 28 vehicles to perform maintenance checks to see if they can go the distance for a state championship.

    What You Need To Know

    • St. Xavier takes on Middletown in a Division I state semifinal

    • The game will air on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App

    • An additional 13 games will be streamed at spectrumnews1.com 

    The Ohio High School Athletic Association state semifinals will be played on Friday night, with 14 winners advancing to a state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

    Four programs still have the directions plugged into their GPS from last year, as Avon (Division II), Watterson (III), Indian Valley (IV) and Coldwater (VI) still have title defense hopes alive.

    Six more are excitedly asking for directions, as Olentangy Orange, Middletown (both Division I), Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (III), Indian Hill (IV), Indian Lake (V), and Colonel Crawford (VI) are coming of their first-ever regional championships. 

    Then there are schools that used paper maps the last time they were around this deep into the season. McDonald (1994) and Walsh Jesuit (1999) are both more than 25 years removed from last state semifinal appearances.

    So, start your engines. Spectrum News 1 has you covered with both Division I semifinals live Friday night, as part of the OHSAA Game of the Week. All 14 semifinals are available free to Spectrum customers, with direct links below. 

    WATCH LIVE (Friday 7 p.m.) Division I – St. Xavier (10-2) vs. Middletown (11-2) at Dayton Welcome Stadium

    You can make a case that winning Region 4 can be so demanding that there isn’t enough gas in the tank for the state semifinals. 

    From 2021 to 2023, Moeller survived a challenging bracket only to be knocked off by talented Springfield teams in the state semifinals. However, the Crusaders got past Centerville out of Region 2 last year. 

    That’s the task facing St. Xavier, which came from behind to beat Greater Catholic League South rivals Moeller and Elder the past two weeks. Those wins erased the only two losses on the year, falling in back-to-back weeks in the regular season.

    It’s the Bombers’ first regional championship since 2020, the second straight time (2016) that X won Region 4 and went on to win the state title. 

    Advancing from Region 2 is Middletown, the first time the Middies ever lifted a regional championship trophy in football, thanks to a defense that’s only allowed 14 total points in three playoff victories (all to Wayne in the final). 

    It’s a trend that has transcended the entire season, as Middletown is permitting just a tick over eight points a game and has held nine opponents to single digits. 

    While these programs have never met in the postseason, the Middies hold a slim, 5-4 series advantage. St. Xavier won the most recent meeting in 2012, while Middletown’s last win over the Bombers was in 1998.

    It will be the second trip to Dayton Welcome Stadium in three weeks for St. Xavier, which won its playoff encounter with Moeller there.

    WATCH LIVE (Friday 7 p.m.) Division I – Olentangy Orange (13-0) vs. St. Edward (11-2) at Mansfield Arlin Field

    Viewers in Northeast and Central Ohio will see the other Division I state semifinal

    Last year at this time, St. Edward watched a 22-game playoff winning streak end at Mansfield’s Arlin Field, losing to eventual state champion Olentangy Liberty, 21-7.

    Fast forward, and it’s a different Olentangy school (undefeated Orange) standing in the way of the Eagles reaching the 2025 state title game. 

    One big difference from 12 months ago is the health of star players Brendan White (running back, Kent State commit) and Zach Hackleman (wide receiver, Toledo commit) who were not available because of injuries in that loss to the Patriots. 

    Both have entries in the St. Edward career record books, and are a big reason the Eagles are contending for their fourth state championship in the past five years. 

    Olentangy Orange knows Olentangy Liberty all too well, itself. The Patriots were the only team this year (in both matchups) to finish within two touchdowns of the Pioneers.

    Orange has scored between 35 and 45 points in nine of its 13 games this year, while allowing 14 or fewer points in 11 contests. On average, the Pioneers are winning games by 26 points an outing. 

    Not too shabby for a program on the rise that’s only been in existence since the school opened in 2008. This is the first regional title in football, and the basketball team won its first regional back in March on the way to a state championship in Division I. 

    This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

    WATCH LIVE (Friday 7 p.m.) Division II – Big Walnut (12-1) vs. Anderson (13-0) at Historic Crew Stadium (Spectrum cable channel 314 only)

    There will also be bonus coverage on Spectrum cable channel 314 (note: channel not available on the Spectrum App) of a Division II state semifinal at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. 

    For the second straight year, Big Walnut and Anderson will play in this venue, with a trip to the state championship game on the line. The Raptors were 28-24 winners a year ago, before falling to Avon in the title contest.

    Ironically, the Golden Eagles beat Massillon in the Region 7 final for a second straight season last week. Big Walnut’s only loss was in week one to Division III powerhouse Watterson. 

    Its defense has five shutouts this year and nine games with opponents in single digits. Anderson will put that to the test with an offense averaging over 45 points a game. 

    The Raptors are led by junior quarterback Owen Scalf, who has thrown for 4,288 yards and 37 touchdowns this season, while scooting for an additional 634 yards rushing (and 7 more scores).

    Spectrum News 1 will also broadcast 11 games on www.SpectrumNews1.com, including the following matchups:

    Division II – Walsh Jesuit (11-1) vs. Avon (12-1) at InfoCision Stadium

    Defending Division II state champion Avon will meet Walsh Jesuit at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium, the first ever meeting between the programs.

    The Warriors won their first regional title since 1999, which is also the last year they won a state football title. Walsh got revenge on Hoban (which handed it its only regular season loss in week six) by beating the Knights 35-7 in the Region 5 final.

    The Eagles’ only loss was to Spruce Creek, Florida, in week two, by just three points (25-22). Avon’s offense has hit 40 or more points eight times this year. 

    Division III – Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (12-0) vs. Toledo Central Catholic (10-4) at Fostoria

    In Division III, the Royals meet royalty. The Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Royals are undefeated and in the state semifinals for the first time. 

    Toledo Central Catholic has claimed five state football championships, including back-to-back Division III crowns in 2022-23.

    CVCA has only had one game (28-21 win over Lake Catholic) decided by fewer than 28 points, while allowing more than 20 just once. 

    The Fighting Irish, playing in the challenging Detroit Catholic League, started the year 0-3, including an opening loss to Walsh Jesuit (17-14). The other three defeats are at the hands of Michigan schools. 

    Division III – Watterson (12-0) vs. Tippecanoe (13-0) at Mason

    Defending Division III state champion Watterson (who split title game meetings with Toledo Central Catholic in 2023 & 2024) has scored 37 or more points in all but one game. Just as impressive, no one has topped 15 among opponents, and nine of the 12 were limited to a touchdown or less. 

    Another undefeated team stands in the way of a return trip to Canton. Tippecanoe is no slouch on offense, either, averaging over 41 points per contest. 

    Division IV – Glenville (10-3) vs. Indian Valley (12-0) at Minerva

    Division IV is loaded with three undefeated teams, including defending state champion Indian Valley, plus a Glenville team that plays a challenging schedule and won the previous two Division IV state titles (2022-23).

    The two meet in one of the semifinals at Minerva High School. 

    The Tarblooders split their first four games, a murderer’s row of Massillon, Olentangy Liberty (both wins), Avon and St. Edward (both losses). The only other Glenville defeat was by three points to Hoban. 

    The Braves have won 28 straight games, going back to the beginning of the 2024 season. Senior running back, Mr. Football candidate Grady Kinsey, has run for nearly 7,800 yards in his storied career, as well as an OHSAA record 119 rushing touchdowns.

    Division IV – Indian Hill (13-0) vs. Shelby (13-0) at Sidney

    The second matchup of undefeated teams features Indian Hill and Shelby, who square off in Sidney. 

    The Braves are coming off their first-ever regional championship under the direction of head coach John Rodenberg, who took Moeller to back-to-back state titles in 2012-13. Indian Hill’s defense shut out five opponents this year, all in a six-game span in the regular season. 

    The Whippets claimed their second-ever regional championship, winning the first back in 2017. Quarterback Brayden DeVito, another Mr. Football candidate, powers an offense that failed to hit the 40-point mark only twice this season. 

    Devito is committed to playing at Air Force, just like Indian Valley’s Grady Kinsey. 

    Division V – Cardinal Mooney (10-2) vs. Wheelersburg (13-0) at Westerville Central

    Youngstown’s Cardinal Mooney can match tradition with anyone in the state. The Cardinals have won eight state titles, tied with Coldwater and Newark Catholic. Only Marion Local (15), St. Ignatius (11) and Moeller (9) have more. 

    However, it’s been 14 years since the last one, and 12 years since the previous regional title. 

    Cardinal Mooney played only one other Division V program before the playoffs began, with the others in Division III or IV in the regular season. 

    Wheelersburg has been a machine coming out of Region 19. It’s the Pirates’ first state semifinal appearance since 2018, having won their second state title the year before. 

    Only three of 13 opponents have reached double-digits on the Wheelersburg defense. 

    Division V – Indian Lake (11-2) vs. Liberty Center (13-0) at Lima Spartan Stadium

    Indian Lake’s best season in school history was 2016, when the Lakers completed a 10-0 season before falling to Ottawa-Glandorf in a regional semifinal. 

    Now there’s company, as the 2025 squad clinched the school’s first football regional title, following an 8-2 regular season. It’s a team comfortable with close games, winning four of them by a field goal. 

    Liberty Center captured its fourth straight regional crown, and reached the championship game the last two years, before losing to Ironton (2024) and Perry (2023). The Tigers have a 57-3 record since 2022, with the three losses in the state semifinal or state championship game. 

    LC has not been seriously threatened yet this year, with its closest game a 19-point decision over Archbold in week nine. 

    Division VI – Kirtland (13-0) vs. Colonel Crawford (13-1) at Byers Field

    Kirtland earned its ninth straight regional championship last week, and 14th in the last 15 years. Even more remarkable, the Hornets are a perfect 14-0 in the state semifinals all-time. The last loss that wasn’t in a state championship game was to Cuyahoga Heights in a 2016 regional final. 

    The 2025 team hasn’t allowed more than seven points in a game since September 12th. Senior quarterback Jake LaVerde—son of head coach Tiger LaVerde—leads the offense. 

    Colonel Crawford is another first-time regional champion. The Eagles have five wins this season over teams with eight or more victories. The only loss was a 24-14 decision to Carey, which made the Region 22 final.

    Division VI – Coldwater (10-4) vs. Hopewell-Loudon (12-1) at Wapakoneta

    The Region 22 title was won by Hopewell-Loudon, which is a regional champion for the first time since 2021. The Chieftains reached back-to-back state championship games in 2007-08 but are still seeking the school’s first state title. 

    Hopewell-Loudon’s only loss this season was a week seven game against Margaretta (29-26). 

    On the other sideline is a Coldwater program coming off its eighth state championship, winning Division VI over Kirtland last year. 

    The Cavaliers got off to a slow start in 2025, splitting its first four games. Coldwater comes in winners of five of its last six, with the only loss to Marion Local by one point (7-6). 

    Division VII – St. Henry (12-1) vs. Columbus Grove (10-3) at Troy

    Marion Local’s 76-game winning streak (and four consecutive state championships) ended at the hands of fellow Midwestern Athletic Conference member St. Henry.

    The Redskins atoned for their only defeat of the year, a 21-14 decision to the Flyers in week three, with a 24-7 triumph in the Region 28 final.

    The same program that sent Jim Lachey, Bobby & Tommy Hoying, and Todd Boeckman on to play at Ohio State has won six state championships of its own, with the most recent in 2006, which also happens to be the last regional title. 

    Columbus Grove, meanwhile, won its fourth straight regional last week. However, the Bulldogs have not been able to advance past the state semifinals since winning it all in 2003. 

    The 2025 team has won ten straight games after beginning the campaign 0-3. 

    This is the second all-time meeting, with Redskins taking a 1995 regional semifinal played in Celina with a 21-0 score. 

    Division VII – Hillsdale (12-1) vs. McDonald (13-0) at New Philadelphia

    While all of Division VII breathed a sigh of relief when St. Henry knocked off Marion Local, no one exhaled louder than Hillsdale. 

    Coming off the school’s first-ever regional title and championship game appearance a year ago, the Falcons were overwhelmed 74-0 by the Flyers in last year’s championship.

    However, Hillsdale responded with a strong season in 2025, experiencing just one blemish, a 24-17 decision to Norwayne in the regular season finale. 

    McDonald hasn’t played in a state semifinal in 31 years, beating Beallsville before losing to St. Henry in the state championship game in 1994. 

    The Blue Devils completed their first undefeated regular season since 2018 and are making their fourth state semifinal appearance all-time. 

    Let Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App chauffeur you next week for the state championships, Dec. 4 to Dec. 6 in Canton:

    Thursday, Dec. 4: Division II Championship at 7 p.m.

    Friday, Dec. 5: Division IV Championship at 10:30 a.m.

    Friday, Dec. 5: Division III Championship at 3 p.m.

    Friday, Dec. 5: Division I Championship at 7:30 p.m.

    Saturday, Dec. 6: Division VII Championship at 10:30 a.m.

    Saturday, Dec. 6: Division VI Championship at 3 p.m.

    Saturday, Dec. 6: Division V Championship at 10:30 a.m.

    Coverage begins 15 minutes prior with OHSAA Championship Gameday, which returns following each game for interviews and analysis. 

    Previous games from the season are also available on demand through our website.

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    Rob Kunz

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  • Cincinnati airport expects more than 200,000 Thanksgiving travelers

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    HEBRON, Ky. — The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport urged travelers to pack their patience ahead of one of the year’s busiest travel periods. 

    What You Need To Know

    • More than 200,000 travelers are expected to pass through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for Thanksgiving

    • Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 30 are expected to be the busiest days

    • All passengers are advised to arrive in the TSA line at least two hours before a flight within the U.S. and three hours before an international flight

    • AAA said more than 1 million Kentuckians are expected to travel 50 miles or more between Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Monday, Dec. 1


    More than 206,000 passengers are expected to travel through CVG between Sunday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 30, according to an airport release, with Wednesday, Nov. 26 and Nov. 30 expected to be the busiest days. 

    The airport recommended the following tips for travelers to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible:

    • All passengers are advised to arrive in the TSA line at least two hours before a flight within the U.S. and three hours before an international flight.
    • Check TSA’s website for is allowed through security.
    • The security checkpoint now offers CLEAR eGates, speeding up the security screening process through biometric software matching the traveler’s facial image to their identity document and boarding pass.
    • Expected TSA wait times, parking availability and food options can be found by visiting the airport’s website.
    • Passengers needing special assistance, such as wheelchair assistance, should contact their airline in advance.
    • The airport offers parking reservations in CVG Terminal Garage, CVG ValuPark and CVG Economy Lot. Spots can be reserved online.
    • Those who are picking up someone at the airport should wait in the Cell Phone Lot. Drivers will not be able to wait at curbside; it’s reserved only for active loading and unloading.

    CVG said it’s offering more than 950 flights during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period to more than 50 nonstop destinations. Among the most popular spots include Orlando, New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas.

    The busiest time for departures is expected to be between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., with arrivals remaining steady from mid-morning through 11 p.m. 

    According to an AAA release, more than 1 million Kentuckians are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home between Tuesday, Nov. 25 and Monday, Dec. 1, an increase of about 1.6% from last year. 

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    Connor N. Smith

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  • Region 4 final takes on distinct NFL flavor

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    CINCINNATI — Anytime a trophy gets handed out, it’s a big deal, and Friday night 28 of them will be distributed to regional champions in the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs. 

    What You Need To Know

    • GCL-South rivals St. Xavier and Elder meet in the Region 4 final in a game moved to Paycor Stadium

    • The game will air on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App

    • An additional 21 games will be streamed at spectrumnews1.com 

    Experience at this level is always a key factor, and 17 regional champs from a year ago are still alive trying to repeat that goal. 

    In the 28 regions, there are 21 top seeds still playing, and 10 of those brackets feature a championship game with the one seed battling the two seed. That includes two meetings of undefeated teams, with London playing Tippecanoe in Division III, Region 12, and Wheelersburg taking on Nelsonville in Division V, Region 19. 

    There are still a handful of Cinderellas hoping it doesn’t turn midnight just yet, as well. Danville is the 11-seed in Division VII, Region 21. In Division VI, Region 22, Carey is still alive as the nine-seed. Eighth-seeded North Union is playing for the Region 20 (Division V) championship, and Garaway is the seven-seed in Division VI, Region 21.

    In all, there are 10 schools seeded fifth or lower, who will playing their fourth postseason contest after needing first round wins to advance. 

    Whether you are pulling for an underdog or a favorite, Spectrum News 1 has you covered with four live games Friday night, going to the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton markets, as part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Game of the Week, and bonus coverage of a fifth.  

    According to the website Pro Football Reference, St. Xavier (14) and Elder (12) have combined to send 26 players on to play in the National Football League.

    So, when those schools meet in a regional final for the first time since 2001, it’s so big it must be played in a NFL Stadium. 

    Originally scheduled to be held at Mason High School, the initial allotment of 7,000 tickets sold out in roughly an hour on Monday. A deal was struck with Hamilton County Commissioners, and the game site shifted to Paycor Stadium, home of the Bengals. 

    Just as exciting as the match-up itself is how the teams got here, pulling out wins for the ages in the regional semifinals. 

    The Bombers (9-2) ended a seven-game losing streak at the hands of another Greater Catholic League South Division rival Moeller, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute to play, for a 17-13 decision.

    The Pit has hosted Elder football since 1947 but never witnessed anything like what unfolded the week before when the Panthers defied odds to rally for a 32-30 win over Princeton. 

    Elder (12-0) trailed 23-0 early in the third quarter, before responding with 23 unanswered points of its own. Then—all in the game’s final 75 seconds—Princeton blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown, the Panthers answered with a 75-yard touchdown on their first play from scrimmage after that, missed the two-point conversation that would have tied it, recovered the onside kick and booted the game winning field goal with 12 seconds left. 

    It means we get the 110th all-time meeting between these long-time rivals, with Elder leading the series 56-47-6, dating back to the first one in 1923. This will be the eighth postseason battle, with St. Xavier holding a 4-3 advantage there.

    While the teams have split over the past two regular seasons, with the Panthers a 23-13 winner on Sept. 26 this year, the Bombers were victorious in the last playoff matchup, 42-7 in a 2021 regional quarterfinal. 

    Friday’s winner will break through a Region 4 stranglehold from Moeller, which had taken the crown in each of the past four years. St. Xavier won it in 2020 on the way to the state title, while Elder won Region 4 in 2019 while reaching the state championship game. 

    Most Spectrum customers will get the Massillon vs. Big Walnut game statewide on channel 314. For those who don’t have that channel, the game is still available as a stream (link above). 

    This Region 7 matchup has become a common occurrence, as they are meeting in the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. Massillon won regional semifinal games in 2021 and 2022, while Big Walnut returned the favor in last year’s regional final, upsetting the then-defending state champions, 14-7. 

    The Tigers (9-3) have won six straight after a 3-3 start to the year, including comfortable playoff wins over Hoover (62-7) and DeSales (48-14). 

    The Eagles (11-1) only loss was in the season opener to a Watterson program that has currently won 27 straight games, including last year’s Division III championship. 

    Additionally, Spectrum News 1 will broadcast 17 games on www.SpectrumNews1.com, including the following matchups:

    Previous games from the season are also available on demand through our web site.

    The playoffs continue next Friday, Nov. 28, with live broadcasts on Spectrum News 1 and all 14 state semifinal games available through the Spectrum News 1 website. 

    The excitement runs all the way through Dec. 4-6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, site of the OHSAA football championships, live on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App. 

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    Rob Kunz

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  • Bengals’ offense in flux due to injuries, suspension

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    CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals have a lot of moving pieces on offense going into this weekend’s matchup with the rolling New England Patriots.

    What You Need To Know

    • Joe Flacco has been limited in practice as he continues to manage a shoulder injury

    • Joe Burrow, out since September with a toe injury, participated in his first 11-on-11 drills since the injury on Wednesday

    • Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended for one game

    Joe Flacco has been limited in practice as he continues to manage a shoulder injury. Fellow quarterback Joe Burrow, out since September with a toe injury, participated in his first 11-on-11 drills since the injury on Wednesday.

    Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended for one game. Offensive guard Jalen Rivers missed practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury, and tight end Mike Gesicki could return from injured reserve this week.

    It’s a lot to sort through for a 3-7 team hoping to stop a three-game slide, especially with Drake Maye and the 9-2 Patriots coming to town.

    The 40-year-old Flacco injured his shoulder on Oct. 26 in a loss against the New York Jets. He has been managing the injury over the last month while playing through it.

    “I feel good, I really do,” Flacco said Wednesday. “I’m starting to feel pretty good with what’s just gone on the last couple of weeks, the rest of the body is holding up well, so I can’t complain.”

    Flacco had a great opening drive on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his passing appeared to look different following a massive hit that he took early in the game. Flacco went on to have his worst game during his short stint with the Bengals in a 34-12 loss on a windy day.

    “It was a difficult day in general,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. “The rush in that building is different than the rush on the road. He took that hit. The weather was not easy to throw in. I think if there’s anyone in the world suited for throwing in that weather it’s Joe Flacco. I would lean on whatever his own self-assessment was of his performance when it comes to that.”

    This week, the Bengals’ coaches are figuring out how they will fill Chase’s role against the Patriots. After spitting on Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey, Chase was suspended by the NFL for Week 12.

    Tee Higgins and Andrei Iosivas are good to go, and the Bengals are evaluating several options to be their third receiver this week, including Mitchell Tinsley, Charlie Jones and Jermaine Burton.

    “Guys taking advantage of opportunity, that’s exactly what it is,” coach Zac Taylor said. “That’s how some guys have gotten their chances. That’s how Mitch Tinsley has gotten himself on the roster. He has taken advantage of moments where he’s at. We’ll continue to evaluate those guys. We have a good plan in place and will utilize everyone we can.”

    Gesicki, a proven pass catcher who has been out since Week 6 with a pectoral injury, also could return on Sunday.

    That would provide another boost to the Bengals’ passing game.

    “It helps given that situation (with Chase) to lose a guy like Ja’Marr and add Mike helps ease the pain a little bit,” Taylor said. “Happy to have him.”

    Since Chase is suspended this week, he isn’t allowed to have contact with the Bengals’ coaches. Taylor has continued to support Chase and said he’s on the same page with the All-Pro receiver about this situation.

    “As a team we have a to move forward and still support Ja’Marr,” Taylor said. “I’ve supported Ja’Marr. We have to focus on New England now and we look forward to getting him in there next week.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Group home opens to help fill mental health housing gap

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    CINCINNATI —   In Ohio, thousands of people living with mental illness are struggling to find stable housing, according to data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The group reports that one in five Ohioans experiencing homelessness also lives with a serious mental illness.

    For Jeno Shanklin, the crisis is personal — and the solution; he hopes starts with the home he recently bought. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports one in five Ohioans who are homeless also has a serious mental illness 

    • Jeno Shanklin, who grew up in and out of shelters, set out to change that by buying a home to open up as a group home to help men with mental illness 

    • He hopes the house will be one of many group homes that he wants to open on top of a day center to help families affected by mental illness 

    Walking through the doorway of a Cincinnati house, Shanklin pauses at the decoration on the wall and the furniture arranged just as it was years ago.

    “That’s actually an old picture my mom had,” he said. “These couches are actually my grandfather’s.”

    The memories still bring him to tears. Shanklin says he spent part of his childhood living in and out of shelters before his mother moved in with a man who he says struggled with mental illness, a situation that often turned volatile.

    “It was tough being in a house with someone who one second can be laughing and smiling, another second being physically aggressive, verbally abusive to whoever crossed their path,” he said. “I had to grow up really fast being the oldest of four.”

    Shanklin later moved in with his grandfather, and he credits his faith with helping him understand the long-term impact of a stable home.

    “A lot of people overlook adults,” he said. “They think they’re grown; they can handle it. But there are a lot of adults out there that, if they just had some type of stable environment, it would help them.”

    Shanklin recently purchased a home and is turning it into a group home for men living with mental illness — a place he calls the Safe Haven for Healing home in Cincinnati. He said the house will offer group classes, art and music therapy and other programs meant to support mental health and long-term independence.

    “I felt like I could be making a bigger impact on my community and my people,” he said. “So I did some research and found the model group home.”

    Shanklin hopes this first site will be one of many. He plans to open additional group homes and eventually a day center focused solely on mental health services.

    “Come as you are,” he said. “We will do our very, very best to see that when you walk back out these doors, you are better than when you came inside them.”

    As Ohio continues to grapple with gaps in mental health housing, Shanklin said he’s committed to helping one person at a time.

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    Sheena Elzie

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  • Loss to Steelers has Bengals reeling

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    CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals’ plan to have Joe Flacco keep them competitive until Joe Burrow can return from toe surgery has hit a major snag.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Bengals (3-7) lost four straight before beating the Steelers last month

    • Flacco, making his 200th career start, delivered his worst performance since he arrived in Cincinnati last month to take over for ineffective backup Jake Browning

    • The Steelers put the game away when cornerback James Pierre scored on a 32-yard fumble recovery

    Flacco was riding high after his first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, a 33-31 victory on Oct. 16. But the 40-year-old struggled in Sunday’s rematch, throwing a costly interception as the Bengals lost 34-12 to extend their skid to three games.

    “We have to find a way to scratch and claw, get a win and get that feeling back we had three weeks ago when we beat Pittsburgh,” coach Zac Taylor said. “That’s our only option right now.”

    The Bengals (3-7) lost four straight before beating the Steelers last month. They haven’t won since, and their chances of staying in contention in the weak AFC North are dwindling.

    “Our goal was to be 3-0 in the division coming out of this game,” Taylor said. “But that’s not how it played out.”

    Flacco, making his 200th career start, delivered his worst performance since he arrived in Cincinnati last month to take over for ineffective backup Jake Browning, who had initially stepped in after Burrow got hurt.

    Burrow started practicing this week, opening his 21-day window to return, but the two-time Pro Bowler was never expected to play Sunday.

    Flacco completed 23 of 40 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. The game-changing play was an errant throw over the middle that Kyle Dugger turned into a 73-yard pick-6.

    “We made mistakes and they capitalized,” Flacco said.

    Flacco had been pushing the ball to the Bengals’ star receivers, but they were quiet on Sunday. Tee Higgins caught three passes for 63 yards and the Bengals’ only touchdown, and Ja’Marr Chase was limited to just three catches for 30 yards.

    Chase was also involved in a heated fourth-quarter exchange with Steelers veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey, who was ejected after grabbing Chase’s facemask with his left hand and taking a swing with his right, accused Chase of spitting on him. Chase denied the accusation.

    “He didn’t like some of the words I told him,” Chase said. “We’ve been going back and forth the whole time, so I’m sure something got under his skin.”

    The Steelers put the game away when cornerback James Pierre scored on a 32-yard fumble recovery.

    “You have to give them credit,” Taylor said. “They won the turnover battle 2-0 and that’s the recipe for success. I don’t think the score is indicative of how the game played through three quarters, but they did the things you have to do to win and they had a chance to run away with it.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Dune of Dreams: Baseball league in Dubai begins with novel rules and camels

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    UD AL-BAYDA, United Arab Emirates — Emerging from the shimmering heat in the desert outskirts of Dubai is an unfamiliar sight in the Middle East, a baseball field.

    Now that it’s built, though, one question remains: Will the fans come?

    What You Need To Know

    • Baseball United has launched its inaugural season in Dubai, aiming to bring baseball to the Middle East

    • The league featuring four teams kicked off on Friday at the new Barry Larkin Field

    • The Mumbai Cobras faced the Karachi Monarchs, drawing on the sporting rivalry between India and Pakistan and the large number of expatriates in the Emirates
    • The league introduces novel rules to speed up games and attract fans. All games will be at the stadium in Dubai’s desert, with environmental concerns leading to an artificial field. Baseball United hopes to capture interest in a region dominated by soccer and cricket

    That’s the challenge for the inaugural season of Baseball United, a four-team, monthlong contest that began Friday at the new Barry Larkin Field.

    Its named for an investor who is a former Cincinnati Reds shortstop, has the exact dimensions of the field at Yankee Stadium in New York, and is artificially turfed for the broiling sun of the United Arab Emirates.

    The professional league seeks to draw on the sporting rivalry between India and Pakistan and their large number of expatriates in the Emirates. On Friday, the Mumbai Cobras played the Karachi Monarchs. Each team has Indian and Pakistani players seeking to break into the broadcast market saturated by soccer and cricket in this part of the world.

    And while having no big-name players from Major League Baseball, the league has created some of novel rules to speed up games and put more runs on the board — and potentially generate interest for U.S. fans as the regular season there has ended.

    “People here have got to learn the rules anyway so if we get to start at a blank canvas then why don’t we introduce some new rules that we believe are going to excite them from the onset,” Baseball United CEO and co-owner Kash Shaikh told The Associated Press.

    The dune of dreams

    The season ends in mid-December and all games will be played at Baseball United’s stadium in an area known as Ud al-Bayda, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The stadium sits alongside The Sevens Stadium, which hosts an annual rugby sevens tournament known for hard-partying fans drinking restricted alcohol and wearing costumes.

    The field seats some 3,000 fans and will host games mostly at night, though the weather is starting to cool in the Emirates as the season changes. But environmental concerns have been kept in mind — Baseball United went for an artificial field to avoid the challenge of using more than 45 million liters (12 million gallons) of water a year to maintain a natural grass field, said John P. Miedreich, a co-founder and executive vice president at the league.

    “We had to airlift clay in from the United States, airlift clay from Pakistan” for the pitcher’s mound, he added.

    Beside the Cobras and the Monarchs, the inaugural league also features the Arabia Wolves of Dubai and the Mideast Falcons from Abu Dhabi.

    The changes to the traditional game in Baseball United put a different spin on the game similar to how Twenty20 drastically sped up traditional cricket. The baseball league has introduced a golden “moneyball” which gives managers three chances in a game to use an at bat to double the runs scored off a home run. A similar “fireball” automatically ends an inning if a pitcher strikes out a batter.

    Teams can call in “designated runners” three times during a game. And if a game is tied after nine innings the teams face off in a home run derby to decide the winner.

    “It’s entertainment, and it’s exciting, and it’s helping get new fans and young fans more engaged in the game,” Shaikh said.

    America’s pastime has limited success

    Baseball in the Middle East has had mixed success, to put a positive spin on the ball.

    American supporters launched the professional Israel Baseball League in 2007, comprised almost entirely of foreign players. However, it folded after one season. Americans spread the game in prerevolution Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the decades, though it has been dwarfed by soccer. Saudi Arabia, through the Americans at its oil company Aramco, has sent teams to the Little League World Series.

    But soccer remains a favorite in the Mideast, which hosted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Then there’s cricket, the biggest sporting passion in India and Pakistan. The International Cricket Council, the world governing body, has its headquarters in Dubai near the city’s cricket stadium.

    Organizers know they have their work cut out for them. At one point during a news conference Thursday they went over baseball basics — home runs, organ music and where center field sits.

    “The most important part is the experience for fans to come out, eat a hot dog, see mascots running around, to see what baseball traditions that we all grew up with back home in the U.S. — and start to fall in love with the game because we know that once they start to learn those, they will become big fans,” Shaikh said.

    Opening Night with bullpen camels

    On Friday night, attracting fans to the stadium appeared to be a challenge as laborers on buses filled one section of seats after being given a free Karachi Monarchs shirt, snacks and water.

    Still, they cheered along with other more experienced, somewhat inebriated baseball fans and filmed selfies as cheerleaders performed between innings. Beers on tap cost over $13, expensive for a laborers’ salary, which can be just a few hundred dollars a month.

    The game’s first pitch saw Monarchs batter Pavin Parks hit a home run. “Fireballs” saw the top and the bottom of the seventh and the top of the eighth end with one strikeout, speeding along a game as the crowd thinned. Parks hit a ninth inning “moneyball” home run, the game’s first. The Monarchs won 6-4.

    In a nod to its desert environs, the starting pitchers for each team came into the game on camels.

    “Thirty years in the game and I’ve never seen a camel in the bullpen,” Monarchs pitching coach Frank Gonzales said. “I kind of like it though.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Cincinnati fentanyl dealer hit with 18-year prison sentence

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    CINCINNATI  — A Cincinnati drug dealer who dealt in fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana and who shot a rival dealer last year has been handed an 18-year prison sentence in U.S. District Court.

    What You Need To Know

    • A fentanyl dealer in Cincinnati, who also shot a rival dealer, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison

    • Robert Lee Howard, 34, pleaded guilty in July of this year

    • He was arrested when agents conducted a search warrant at his Price Hill home

    Robert Lee Howard, 34, was charged in in a criminal complaint back in June last year and pleaded guilty in July of this year, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

    That release notes that Howard had been captured on camera in February last year “shooting a rival fentanyl dealer repeatedly in the chest, after losing a bet over who sold more potent fentanyl.”

    They also said agents recorded Howard, back in June of 2024, when he said he was awaiting 23 pounds of meth in the mail in several packages. When they intercepted the packages, agents found “more than four kilograms of 96% pure crystal meth.”

    “That same month, Howard’s car was shot up while he was driving around Cincinnati,” the release reads. “The next day, he was recorded on calls offering to pay $10,000 total for ‘friends from Chicago’ to come to Cincinnati and solve his ‘problem’ by ‘putting [the rival fentanyl dealer] on a T-shirt.’”

    He was arrested when agents conducted a search warrant at his Price Hill home. During that search, agents found:

    • More than nine kilograms of fentanyl
    • Cocaine
    • Industrial size pill press
    • Supplies to create “fake ‘ecstasy’ pills with fentanyl”
    • Body armor
    • Ammo
    • AK-47 magazines
    • Multiple firearms

    The release states that four young children also lived at this residence.

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    Cody Thompson

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  • Cincinnati metro to offer free rides for Veterans Day

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    CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Metro plans to honor Veteran’s Day by offering fare-free rides on Metro fixed-route and Access paratransit services to veterans and active-duty or reserve military members.

    Metro said this includes the National Guard and Reserves. 

    “Veterans Day is a time to recognize the courage and commitment of the men and women who have served our country,” said Brandy Jones, Metro’s chief communications & marketing officer. “This small gesture is our way of saying thank you and helping make it easier for veterans and military members to take part in local events and connect with their communities.”

    Free rides will be offered on the holiday, Tuesday, Nov. 11.

    Military members must show proof of service when boarding, including:

    • U.S. Department of Defense-issued military ID card
    • Veterans Affairs ID card
    • State-issued driver’s license with veteran designation
    • Metro Veterans Program (MVP) Card

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • FC Cincinnati’s Evander named in 2025 MLS Best XI

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    CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati announced that midfielder Evander de Silva Ferreira has been recognized in the 2025 MLS Best XI, a list of top players for each position.

    What You Need To Know

    • FC Cincinnati’s midfielder Evander de Silva Ferreira has been recognized in the 2025 MLS Best XI

    • This list highlights top players for different positions
    • Evander is 27 years old and was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    “Evander’s selection to the Best XI, a collection of elite performers from the 2025 MLS Regular Season and one of the most prestigious annual honors a player can receive, marks FC Cincinnati’s sixth all-time Best XI honor and the fourth consecutive season at least one FC Cincinnati player was named to the Best XI,” a release from the team reads.


    The 27-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, joins midfielders Sebastian Berhalter from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Cristian Roldan of the Seattle Sounders FC on this list.

    The list also included the following players for other positions:

    Goalkeepers

    • Dayne St. Clair of Minnesota United FC

    Defenders

    • Tristan Blackmon of Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    • Alex Freeman of Orlando City SC
    • Jakob Glesnes of Philadelphia Union
    • Kai Wagner of Philadelphia Union

    Forwards

    • Denis Bouanga of LAFC
    • Anders Dreyer of San Diego FC
    • Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF

    “Evander’s Best XI selection is the latest club honor for FC Cincinnati following the 2025 MLS Regular Season after Nick Hagglund was named the 2025 MLS Comeback Player of the Year and Roman Celentano was awarded the 2025 MLS Save of the Year,” the release reads.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Christ Hospital, Miami University partner with NEOMED

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    OHIO — A new educational partnership is underway crossing over the Buckeye State from southwestern Ohio to northeastern Ohio. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Christ Hospital Health System, along with Miami University, is partnering with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) to help address a projected shortage of 1,200 primary care doctors over the next decade

    • Through the partnership, The Christ Hospital, will offer expanded clinical rotation opportunities in southwest Ohio for NEOMED students

    • NEOMED and Miami University will also launch an early assurance program for undergraduate students at Miami who are interested in attending NEOMED’s College of Medicine

    The Christ Hospital Health System, along with Miami University, is partnering with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) to help address Ohio’s projected shortage of 1,200 primary care doctors over the next decade, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    “NEOMED’s partnerships with The Christ Hospital and Miami University represent a pivotal development that will change the landscape of patient care in Ohio by giving our medical students more opportunities to connect with and serve communities across the state,” said NEOMED President Dr. John Langell.  

    Through the partnership, The Christ Hospital will offer expanded clinical rotation opportunities in southwest Ohio for NEOMED students beginning in July 2026.

    “We are excited to announce this partnership for medical students in southwest Ohio,” said Debbie Hayes, President & CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network. “One of the challenges facing healthcare is addressing the need for quality healthcare providers. By partnering with NEOMED and Miami University, two well-established organizations, these future physicians will have a place to learn and grow while we keep these talented providers here in the Greater Cincinnati region. This is an investment not just in our medical students but the health of our community for decades into the future.”

    NEOMED and Miami University will also launch an early assurance program for undergraduate students at Miami who are interested in attending NEOMED’s College of Medicine.

    “This exciting collaboration allows us to offer our students greater options in regards to advanced healthcare education, which will benefit overall health and wellness in the state of Ohio for years to come,” Miami President Gregory Crawford said. “Our students, faculty, and staff understand the crucial importance of developing future healthcare professionals, and this innovative partnership is an immensely positive step in that direction.” 

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    Madison MacArthur

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