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  • The Baltimore collapse focuses attention on vital bridges

    The Baltimore collapse focuses attention on vital bridges

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    After a yearlong closure, a bridge over the Puyallup River reopened in 2019 with a sturdy new span and a brand new name. It even won a national award.

    What You Need To Know

    • Thousands of old bridges across the U.S. are awaiting replacement or repairs after inspectors found them in poor condition

    • About 167 million vehicles travel daily over about 42,000 bridges that are categorized as poor

    • An Associated Press analysis determined that four-fifths of those have problems with the substructures that hold them up or the superstructures that support their load

    • And more than 15,800 of those bridges also were in poor shape a decade ago

    But today, the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge is closed again after federal officials raised concerns about a vintage section of the nearly century-old bridge that carried about 15,000 vehicles a day. It has no timetable to reopen because the city of Tacoma, Washington, first must raise millions of dollars to clean and inspect it.

    “It’s frustrating — and hard to comprehend how we got here,” said Ed Wallace, whose Harley-Davidson motorcycle store has lost customers since the nearby bridge was shuttered.

    Bridges fulfill a vital function that often goes overlooked until lives are lost or disrupted by a closure or collapse, like that of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday. That bridge crumpled when struck by a cargo ship, not because of poor maintenance. But thousands of others stand in worse shape.

    About 42,400 U.S. bridges are in poor condition, yet they carry about 167 million vehicles each day, according to the federal government. Four-fifths of them have problems with the legs holding them up or the arms supporting their load. And more than 15,800 of those bridges also were in poor shape a decade ago, according to an Associated Press analysis.

    One of those persistently poor bridges — carrying about 96,000 westbound vehicles daily on Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River in Rhode Island — was suddenly shut to traffic late last year, resulting in long delays as drivers diverted to new routes. In March, the governor announced that the bridge must be demolished and replaced. That could cost up to $300 million and take at least two years to complete.

    These closures illustrate a nationwide issue.

    “We have not maintained our infrastructure at the rate that we should for many, many years, and now we’re trying to play catch-up,” said Marsia Geldert-Murphey, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

    When an old bridge gets closed because of safety concerns, it disrupts daily commutes, business supply chains and emergency response times by police, firefighters and medical personnel. Yet many bridges still await replacement or repairs because the costs can reach millions or even billions of dollars.

    A Funding Infusion

    A massive infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 directed $40 billion to bridges over five years — the largest dedicated bridge investment since construction of the interstate highway system, which began nearly 70 years ago.

    Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that law already is funding more than 7,800 bridge projects. One of the most notable is a $3.6 billion project in Cincinnati to build a long-awaited new bridge carrying traffic on Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River at the Kentucky border.

    But funding from the infrastructure law will make only a dent in an estimated $319 billion of needed bridge repairs nationwide, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

    “The bottom line is that America’s bridges need a lot of work,” Buttigieg told the AP after visiting the closed Rhode Island bridge. He added: “The sooner we can address those significant bridges, the less likely they will be abruptly taken out of service, or worse, experience the risk of a collapse.”

    Inspectors rate bridges using a 0-9 scale, with 7 or above considered “good.” A “poor” rating reflects a 4 or below. A mid-range rating is considered “fair.” The nation’s poor bridges are on average 70 years old.

    Even before the federal funding infusion, the number of bridges in poor condition declined 22% over the past decade as structures were repaired, replaced or permanently closed, according to the AP’s analysis. But in recent years, more bridges also slipped from good to fair condition.

    Collapsing Bridges

    Though potholes on bridges can jar cars, many of the most concerning problems are below the surface. Chipping concrete and rusting steel can weaken the piers and beams that keep a bridge upright. When the condition of substructures or superstructures deteriorates too much, a bridge typically is closed out of public safety concerns.

    Though rare, bad bridges can eventually collapse.

    Design flaws contributed to the evening rush hour collapse of an Interstate 35 bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 2007. The collapse killed 13 people and injured 145 others. It also was costly financially. A state analysis estimated Minnesota’s economy lost $60 million in 2007-2008 due to increased travel time and operating costs for commuters and businesses.

    In January 2022, a bridge carrying a bus and several cars collapsed over Fern Hollow Creek in Pittsburgh, causing injuries but no deaths. Federal investigators determined the steel legs had corroded to the point of having visible holes, yet inspectors failed to calculate the severity of the problem and the city failed to follow repeated recommendations.

    “This bridge didn’t collapse just by an act of God. It collapsed because of a lack of maintenance and repair,” National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham said.

    Financial Challenges

    Iowa has the most poor bridges, followed by Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri. The twin Burlington Street bridges in Iowa City, Iowa, exemplify the financial challenges facing old bridges. The state owns the southbound span carrying vehicles over the Iowa River while the city owns the northbound span of what’s also known as state Highway 1.

    The city’s part, constructed in 1915, was rated in poor condition in the 2023 and 2013 National Bridge Inventory. Inspection reports show numerous cracks and structural deficiencies in the concrete bridge. The state’s side, built in 1968, is in much better condition.

    Although the federal infrastructure law provided a grant to analyze the bridges, the split ownership has made it difficult to fund the more than $30 million estimated cost of a replacement.

    “It’s not something we can just fund in a year and say: ‘Here we go, let’s do it quick,’” said city engineer Jason Havel. “It takes years of planning, years of working through dedicated funding.”

    Economic Effects

    In Rhode Island, problems had been mounting for the I-195 Washington Bridge connecting Providence to East Providence. It closed after an engineer in December noticed the failure of multiple steel tie rods in concrete beams at two piers. A subsequent examination found widespread structural problems.

    Joseph McHugh, an engineer with 40 years of experience in bridge and road construction, reviewed a draft engineering report compiled after the bridge’s closure along with inspection reports from July 2022 and July 2023.

    “This failure didn’t occur overnight,” McHugh told the AP. “To me, it should have been caught by an inspection, not by a contractor or whomever was looking at what was going on.”

    The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations that false payment claims for the bridge’s construction, inspection or repair were submitted to the federal government.

    Marco Pacheco, who owns a liquor store in East Providence, said he believes “mismanagement,” “negligence” and “incompetence” caused the closure. His business revenue is down 20% since the bridge closed. But he’s even more concerned about the long-term consequences.

    “That traffic doesn’t instantly come back. Folks have reshaped their patterns, their thought processes and so on,” Pacheco said.

    Business owners in Washington share similar concerns about the indefinite closure of the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge, in an industrial area near the Port of Tacoma. Several years ago, the city spent $42 million to replace a span leading up to the river. But the bridge was abruptly closed again last October after the Federal Highway Administration raised concerns that debris had prevented the inspection of potentially corroded steel connection points.

    To clean and inspect the bridge, the city first must encapsulate it to protect debris from falling into the river. But the city lacks the more than $6 million needed for the project. It also has no means of paying for a potential $280 million replacement.

    A nearby Interstate 5 bridge provides a good alternative but that means many motorists zoom right past an exit ramp without thinking about the Harley-Davidson store or other nearby businesses. At least one shop already has closed.

    Wallace, the Harley-Davidson store owner, wishes the city could reopen the bridge, at least temporarily.

    “Is there a peril that exists?” Wallace asks rhetorically. “Yeah, absolutely, a very serious one for me as a business owner.”

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    Associated Press

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  • The Baltimore collapse focuses attention on vital bridges

    The Baltimore collapse focuses attention on vital bridges

    [ad_1]

    After a yearlong closure, a bridge over the Puyallup River reopened in 2019 with a sturdy new span and a brand new name. It even won a national award.

    What You Need To Know

    • Thousands of old bridges across the U.S. are awaiting replacement or repairs after inspectors found them in poor condition

    • About 167 million vehicles travel daily over about 42,000 bridges that are categorized as poor

    • An Associated Press analysis determined that four-fifths of those have problems with the substructures that hold them up or the superstructures that support their load

    • And more than 15,800 of those bridges also were in poor shape a decade ago

    But today, the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge is closed again after federal officials raised concerns about a vintage section of the nearly century-old bridge that carried about 15,000 vehicles a day. It has no timetable to reopen because the city of Tacoma, Washington, first must raise millions of dollars to clean and inspect it.

    “It’s frustrating — and hard to comprehend how we got here,” said Ed Wallace, whose Harley-Davidson motorcycle store has lost customers since the nearby bridge was shuttered.

    Bridges fulfill a vital function that often goes overlooked until lives are lost or disrupted by a closure or collapse, like that of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday. That bridge crumpled when struck by a cargo ship, not because of poor maintenance. But thousands of others stand in worse shape.

    About 42,400 U.S. bridges are in poor condition, yet they carry about 167 million vehicles each day, according to the federal government. Four-fifths of them have problems with the legs holding them up or the arms supporting their load. And more than 15,800 of those bridges also were in poor shape a decade ago, according to an Associated Press analysis.

    One of those persistently poor bridges — carrying about 96,000 westbound vehicles daily on Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River in Rhode Island — was suddenly shut to traffic late last year, resulting in long delays as drivers diverted to new routes. In March, the governor announced that the bridge must be demolished and replaced. That could cost up to $300 million and take at least two years to complete.

    These closures illustrate a nationwide issue.

    “We have not maintained our infrastructure at the rate that we should for many, many years, and now we’re trying to play catch-up,” said Marsia Geldert-Murphey, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

    When an old bridge gets closed because of safety concerns, it disrupts daily commutes, business supply chains and emergency response times by police, firefighters and medical personnel. Yet many bridges still await replacement or repairs because the costs can reach millions or even billions of dollars.

    A Funding Infusion

    A massive infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 directed $40 billion to bridges over five years — the largest dedicated bridge investment since construction of the interstate highway system, which began nearly 70 years ago.

    Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that law already is funding more than 7,800 bridge projects. One of the most notable is a $3.6 billion project in Cincinnati to build a long-awaited new bridge carrying traffic on Interstates 71 and 75 over the Ohio River at the Kentucky border.

    But funding from the infrastructure law will make only a dent in an estimated $319 billion of needed bridge repairs nationwide, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

    “The bottom line is that America’s bridges need a lot of work,” Buttigieg told the AP after visiting the closed Rhode Island bridge. He added: “The sooner we can address those significant bridges, the less likely they will be abruptly taken out of service, or worse, experience the risk of a collapse.”

    Inspectors rate bridges using a 0-9 scale, with 7 or above considered “good.” A “poor” rating reflects a 4 or below. A mid-range rating is considered “fair.” The nation’s poor bridges are on average 70 years old.

    Even before the federal funding infusion, the number of bridges in poor condition declined 22% over the past decade as structures were repaired, replaced or permanently closed, according to the AP’s analysis. But in recent years, more bridges also slipped from good to fair condition.

    Collapsing Bridges

    Though potholes on bridges can jar cars, many of the most concerning problems are below the surface. Chipping concrete and rusting steel can weaken the piers and beams that keep a bridge upright. When the condition of substructures or superstructures deteriorates too much, a bridge typically is closed out of public safety concerns.

    Though rare, bad bridges can eventually collapse.

    Design flaws contributed to the evening rush hour collapse of an Interstate 35 bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 2007. The collapse killed 13 people and injured 145 others. It also was costly financially. A state analysis estimated Minnesota’s economy lost $60 million in 2007-2008 due to increased travel time and operating costs for commuters and businesses.

    In January 2022, a bridge carrying a bus and several cars collapsed over Fern Hollow Creek in Pittsburgh, causing injuries but no deaths. Federal investigators determined the steel legs had corroded to the point of having visible holes, yet inspectors failed to calculate the severity of the problem and the city failed to follow repeated recommendations.

    “This bridge didn’t collapse just by an act of God. It collapsed because of a lack of maintenance and repair,” National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham said.

    Financial Challenges

    Iowa has the most poor bridges, followed by Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri. The twin Burlington Street bridges in Iowa City, Iowa, exemplify the financial challenges facing old bridges. The state owns the southbound span carrying vehicles over the Iowa River while the city owns the northbound span of what’s also known as state Highway 1.

    The city’s part, constructed in 1915, was rated in poor condition in the 2023 and 2013 National Bridge Inventory. Inspection reports show numerous cracks and structural deficiencies in the concrete bridge. The state’s side, built in 1968, is in much better condition.

    Although the federal infrastructure law provided a grant to analyze the bridges, the split ownership has made it difficult to fund the more than $30 million estimated cost of a replacement.

    “It’s not something we can just fund in a year and say: ‘Here we go, let’s do it quick,’” said city engineer Jason Havel. “It takes years of planning, years of working through dedicated funding.”

    Economic Effects

    In Rhode Island, problems had been mounting for the I-195 Washington Bridge connecting Providence to East Providence. It closed after an engineer in December noticed the failure of multiple steel tie rods in concrete beams at two piers. A subsequent examination found widespread structural problems.

    Joseph McHugh, an engineer with 40 years of experience in bridge and road construction, reviewed a draft engineering report compiled after the bridge’s closure along with inspection reports from July 2022 and July 2023.

    “This failure didn’t occur overnight,” McHugh told the AP. “To me, it should have been caught by an inspection, not by a contractor or whomever was looking at what was going on.”

    The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations that false payment claims for the bridge’s construction, inspection or repair were submitted to the federal government.

    Marco Pacheco, who owns a liquor store in East Providence, said he believes “mismanagement,” “negligence” and “incompetence” caused the closure. His business revenue is down 20% since the bridge closed. But he’s even more concerned about the long-term consequences.

    “That traffic doesn’t instantly come back. Folks have reshaped their patterns, their thought processes and so on,” Pacheco said.

    Business owners in Washington share similar concerns about the indefinite closure of the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge, in an industrial area near the Port of Tacoma. Several years ago, the city spent $42 million to replace a span leading up to the river. But the bridge was abruptly closed again last October after the Federal Highway Administration raised concerns that debris had prevented the inspection of potentially corroded steel connection points.

    To clean and inspect the bridge, the city first must encapsulate it to protect debris from falling into the river. But the city lacks the more than $6 million needed for the project. It also has no means of paying for a potential $280 million replacement.

    A nearby Interstate 5 bridge provides a good alternative but that means many motorists zoom right past an exit ramp without thinking about the Harley-Davidson store or other nearby businesses. At least one shop already has closed.

    Wallace, the Harley-Davidson store owner, wishes the city could reopen the bridge, at least temporarily.

    “Is there a peril that exists?” Wallace asks rhetorically. “Yeah, absolutely, a very serious one for me as a business owner.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Eclipse watch party to support historic archaeological park

    Eclipse watch party to support historic archaeological park

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    DAYTON, Ohio — On April 8, several major cities in Ohio are in the path of totality during the solar eclipse. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the Buckeye State, and costs are going up.

    In Dayton, hotel prices are up more than $100 for the night of April 8, and the cost for flights keeps on climbing. When it comes to watching the eclipse, it comes down to personal preference.

    Many will be viewing it from large free watch parties, others from their backyards, and some will use it as a way to give back to a favorite charity or their community.

    What You Need To Know

    • As hundreds of thousands of people plan to visit Ohio for the eclipse, prices are going up for hotels, plane tickets, and many people are making plans. Some choose to spend money traveling and others might use the eclipse as a way to give back

    • A small high-end event will be held at Sunwatch Indian Village in Dayton to help preserve the historical site

    • Ticket costs are $500

    At Sunwatch Indian Village in Dayton, it’s not just going to be a party, but it’s a major fundraiser to help preserve ancient history.

    “Sunwatch is an 800-year-old Native American site located along the banks of the Great Miami,” said Taylor Hoffman with the Dayton Society of Natural History as she gave a tour.

    Hoffman’s first job was at Sunwatch as the site manager.  

    “So what we’ve done is we’ve reconstructed part of the village on the exact footprint where we found the things that we found, the archaeological footprint,” Hoffman said as the tour continued.

    Over the years, the Solstice House was reconstructed along with the Stockade.

    The markers on the ground are where historical house patterns once were.

    “Sunwatch is laid out really cool in a very intentional way. It’s laid out in concentric rings,” Hoffman said.

     From ceremonial buildings to a burial ring, Sunwatch has been a hot spot for learning since the late 80s and a staple for Dayton-area field trips.

    On April 8, it will look a bit different.

    “We have a very small, high-end event for up to 150 people and what we’re going to do is we are going to watch the sun, we’re going to learn about Sunwatch, and our astronomer is going to tell us all about what a solar eclipse is when it happens at 3:10 p.m. So we’re very excited,” Hoffman said.

    From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., people can explore, walk the grounds and celebrate the season.

    “We’ll have educational tours, you’ll get to go inside the houses and we’ll have staff on hand to talk to you about all the different stops on the tour. We also might have our archaeological dig pit educational activities going that day too,” said Hoffman.

    The event will be the largest fundraiser to date for the site.

    “The price is $500 a ticket which does seem steep, but it is a fundraiser for us and it will come directly to Sunwatch and come right back here to help us maintain these buildings, build new buildings, do more research, and kind of protect the site and raise awareness for it as well,” Hoffman said.

    The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806 and the next won’t pass through until 2099, so people are ready to celebrate in a big way.

    On the menu are bison burgers, bison chili, mimosas with Sunny D, moon pies and Sun Chips.

    While the event will certainly make a difference for Sunwatch and its centuries of history, for Hoffman it’s a day that comes full circle.

    “Sunwatch has always had a place in my heart since I was little because growing up here we always come for a field trip. So I’ve always been interested in history and my background is actually history and anthropology, so I think it’s really cool that I get to see a once in a lifetime event at a once in a lifetime place like Sunwatch,” Hoffman said.

    It’s a once in a lifetime event with several precious minutes to spend however you choose.  

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    Alese Underwood

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  • Nationwide Children’s facility expansion includes therapy dog program

    Nationwide Children’s facility expansion includes therapy dog program

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nationwide Children’s Hospital has a new corner for patients and families coming for their appointments featuring Butterfly PAWS, an expanded facility and therapy dog program.

    The hospital opened its “Canine Corner” on the first floor earlier this month.

    What You Need To Know

    • The hospital currently has 10 facility and therapy dogs on its campus, but with the expansion of the Butterfly PAWS program, it will ultimately have 10 facility dogs and 70 therapy dogs 

    • Facility dogs are trained to the highest level, from birth to two years old before supporting any patient care

    • Therapy dogs are trained pets the have met criteria based on credentialing from Canine Good Citizen, Alliance of Therapy Dogs or Therapy Dog International

    • The hospital partners with Canine Companions, who placed facility dogs Hudd II, Beck and Boltz

    The hospital currently has 10 facility and therapy dogs on its campus, but with the expansion of the Butterfly PAWS program, it will ultimately have 10 facility dogs and 70 therapy dogs with a larger team of community and staff volunteers with the certified dogs.

    Facility dogs are trained to the highest level, from birth to two years old before supporting any patient care. These dogs are trained to use treatments used by clinical staff to help patients reach their highest level of function and well-being. 

    Nationwide Children’s current facility dogs are called MDs and include black labrador retriever Hud II, golden retriever Beck and yellow labrador retriever Boltz.

    Therapy dogs are trained pets that have met criteria based on credentialing from Canine Good Citizen, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, or Therapy Dog International to serve patients, staff and families through social and comfort interactions.

    “Research shows that spending just five minutes with a dog can lower cortisol and stress. Especially in a hospital setting, we know that affects everyone. We are thrilled to be impacting the culture of our hospital and supporting emotional well-being for our patients, families and staff,” said Melissa McMillen, CTRS, program manager of the Butterfly PAWS program and Hud II’s handler. “Since we started working with our first dog in 2006, our facility dogs and their clinical therapist-handlers have helped countless patients and their families, from providing motivation in physical therapy and aiding in the development of fine motor skills, to improving assertive communication and self-esteem. We look forward to all the milestones still to come.”

    The hospital partners with Canine Companions, who placed Hudd II, Beck and Boltz. Canine Companions have placed more than 7,800 service dogs since 1975.

    “Our dogs can often provide more support and opportunities for therapists to reach our patients in ways we can’t during a typical therapy session,” said Rochelle Krouse, CTRS, recreational therapist at Nationwide Children’s and Beck’s handler. “We are eager to collaborate with our community to increase access to this important kind of care and continue to foster the bond between people and dogs.”

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Ohio State advances to the women’s ice hockey championship game

    Ohio State advances to the women’s ice hockey championship game

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    DURHAM, N.H. — Sloane Matthews scored a go-ahead goal with 6:48 left to play and top seed Ohio State advanced to the title game of the women’s ice hockey championship for the third straight season after defeating No. 4 seed Clarkson 4-1 on Friday in the Frozen Four.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sloane Matthews scored a go-ahead goal with 6:48 left to play and top seed Ohio State advanced to the title game of the women’s ice hockey championship for the third straight season

    • This was after defeating No. 4 seed Clarkson 4-1 on Friday in the Frozen Four

    • Ohio State (34-4-0), which is in the Frozen Four for the fourth straight season, seeks its second national championship in program history on Sunday — after winning in 2022

    Matthews, Joy Dunne and Hadley Hartmetz all scored in the third period for Ohio State. Matthews slid in a loose puck in front of the net to break a 1-all tie. Dunne, the Julie Chu rookie of the year recipient, scored her 23rd goal of the season and Hartmetz followed with an empty-netter.

    Ohio State (34-4-0), which is in the Frozen Four for the fourth straight season, seeks its second national championship in program history on Sunday — after winning in 2022.

    Clarkson (33-5-2), which scored on a power play in the fourth overtime to beat Minnesota 3-2 in a regional final, was looking to advance to its first national title game since winning it in 2018.

    Clarkson opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game when Anne Cherkowski took a pass from captain Brooke McQuigge and spun in front of the net for a shot past Raygan Kirk.

    Makenna Webster tied it at 1-all with 6:07 left to play in the first when she drove to the net all alone, following a turnover, and put it past Michelle Pasiechnyk.

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    Associated Press

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  • Cleveland Heights Lutheran East advances to state championship

    Cleveland Heights Lutheran East advances to state championship

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    DAYTON, Ohio — Ronald Taylor scored a game-high 21 points and Jesse McCulloch added 16 as Cleveland Heights Lutheran East beat Camden Preble Shawnee 63-44 in the OHSAA Division III boys’ basketball state semifinal at UD Arena on Friday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Falcons will have a chance to defend its state championship from a year ago

    • Cleveland Heights Lutheran East’s Jesse McCulloch had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double

    • Cleveland Heights Lutheran East will play Canal Winchester Harvest Prep in the Division III final on Sunday at 2 p.m.

    • Click here to replay the game

    Cleveland Heights Lutheran East (22-5) began the game 17-0 and led by as many as 20 in the second half. The Falcons will have a chance to defend its state championship from a year ago on Sunday.

    “I think our guys played hard,” Cleveland Heights Lutheran East head coach Sam Liggins said. “That’s a product of how much work we put in, a product of the culture we built and these kids. They buy into what we are and who we are, and I’m just proud of those guys.”

    The Arrows pulled within 10 points in the third quarter but Cleveland Heights Lutheran East carried a 7-0 run across the third and fourth quarters to extend their lead.

    Cleveland Heights Lutheran East’s Jesse McCulloch, who was a 2024 Ohio Mr. Basketball finalist and is committed to Michigan State, had a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double. Anthony Bruce contributed 10 points.

    “The late nights, it really helped us prepare for these moments,” McCulloch said. “It really feels good knowing that the preparation worked out.”

    Camden Preble Shawnee High School boys basketball head coach Jake Turner talks to the Arrows’ starting five before the OHSAA Boys State Tournament semifinal at UD Arena on UD Arena in Dayton on Friday, March 22, 2024. (Spectrum News 1/Jacob Benge)

    Camden Preble Shawnee (24-4) shot 42% from the field and 31% from distance. The Arrows bounced back after shooting 0-of-7 in the first quarter of their first appearance in the state semifinals in program history.

    Mason Shrout, who was a 2024 Ohio Mr. Basketball finalist and is committed to Purdue-Fort Wayne, led the Arrows with 18 points including 14 in the second half. Brody Morton totaled 16.

    “The first quarter is going to be something we look back at and you know kind of the difference in the game,” Camden Preble Shawnee head coach Jake Turner said. “I think some of it was adjusting to physicality and their speed. We haven’t seen a team like that in a long time.”

    Cleveland Heights Lutheran East will play Canal Winchester Harvest Prep in the Division III final on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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    Jacob Benge

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  • Central Ohio’s deadly tornadoes: One week later

    Central Ohio’s deadly tornadoes: One week later

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    OHIO — It has been one week since storms and a slew of tornadoes ripped through communities in central Ohio resulting in three deaths, at least 25 injuries and significant property damage.

    According to a press release from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA), various local and state agencies continue to assist the Indian Lake area, which was hardest hit by the storms. The Logan County EMA is sharing information on debris drop-off on their Facebook page, and law enforcement is on 24-hour patrol in residential and business areas.

    It is recommended that the public not burn debris. Fire and EMS departments are continuing to answer service calls, according to the release. Multi-Agency Resource Centers have been established at 337 East Main Street in Russells Point and at 165 E. Lake Street in Lakeview “where information on county, local government, and community resources can be obtained.”

    “Surprised that that was only three”

    One of the hardest hit regions was the Indian Lake area of Logan County, northwest of Columbus. The villages of Lakeview and Russells Point were devastated by the storm.

    At a press conference the day after the storms, Sheriff Randy Dodds confirmed the three people had been killed in Logan County.

    “Which, when you see this damage, you’ll be surprised that that was only three,” he said.

    Damage in Lakeview. (Spectrum News 1 file)

    Amber Fagan, the president and chief executive of the Indian Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, said Lakeview had been “completely demolished.” She said places were burning and power lines went through people’s windows.

    One Lakeview resident, Sandy Smith, had been heading to take shelter when her roof came down. Her husband saw their garage blow away.

    Read more about the damage around Indian Lake and other areas in central Ohio

    Tornado victim: “I’m lucky to be alive’

    After the storms, survivors in the Indian Lake area recounted living through the experience and the damage it caused.

    One resident, Blaine Schmidt, took shelter in a bathtub with his roomate. They used the shower curtain as protection from the flying glass. Sandy Smith rescued her cat from upstairs, who was trapped by a bookshelf. On her way back down, the roof collapsed.

    Read survivor accounts from the night the storms hit

    Photo taken near Wapakoneta, Ohio during Thursday night’s storms. (Photo courtesy of Jonny Glessner)

    National Weather Service: 9 tornadoes struck Ohio during severe weather outbreak

    The National Weather Service has confirmed nine tornadoes touched down last Thursday. Sotrm teams were deployed across the region on Friday to examine the damage and determine the intensity of the tornadoes.

    Of the confirmed tornadoes, the strongest was an EF3 that touched down in Auglaize County near Fryburg and continued through to northern Logan County, wreaking destruction on communities near Indian Lake.

    Read more about the NWS survey team’s findings

    Images show widespread extent of damage

    Photos from the storms and the aftermath shows the destruction the severe weather caused across the state. In some images, you can see entire buildings destroyed, downed utility lines and flipped vehicles.

    In aerial shots, you can see debris scattered across yards and entire neighborhoods, alongside severely damaged roofs.

    Damage at Indian Lake in Logan County after Thursday night’s storms. (Photo courtesy of Above Ariel LLC)

    See photos of the damage across central Ohio

    “We really don’t know what to expect”

    Indian Lake is an area known for tourism in the summers, and this storm has some residents concerned about the economic effects this damage may have on their summer season.

    Betty Tierney, who owns Gene’s Marine Bait and Tackle Shop, is worried about the long term impacts.

    “People aren’t going to be able to come,” she said. “There’s not going to be, a lot of the Airbnb’s are probably gone, a lot of the weekend places that the people own may be gone.”

    Read more about Indian Lake’s post-storm economic concerns

    A boat sits upside down on a tree on Orchard Island in Russells Point, Ohio, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Thursday night’s storms left trails of destruction across parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)

    “Back to some kind of normalcy”

    Just this week, as the community continues to recover, some normalcy returned at least for Indian Lake students as they returned to classes Wednesday morning.

    “Experiencing trauma is difficult, and just giving kids back the chance to get back to some kind of normalcy,” said Indian Lake High School Principal, Kyle Wagner.

    The school district reopened nearly six days after the EF3 tornado ripped through the community.

    Read more about the community’s return to school

    Severe weather outbreak unusually early for the region

    According to the experts, our warm winter may have been a key ingredient to this severe weather event.

    It’s a bit early, but not unprecedented, for such a tornado outbreak usually associated with May or April, but that’s also because of the hottest winter in both U.S. and global records, meteorologists said.

    “In order to get severe storms this far north this time time of year, it’s got to be warm,” said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini.

    Read more about the dangerous weather cocktail that led to the tornado outbreak

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Cleanup continues in Ohio following tornados, severe weather that killed 3

    Cleanup continues in Ohio following tornados, severe weather that killed 3

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    LAKEVIEW, Ohio (AP) — The three people killed when several tornados roared through Ohio last week all died from storm-related injuries, authorities announced Monday.

    Darla Williams, 70, and Marilyn Snapp, 81, both lived in the Geiger Mobile Home Park in Lakeview, while Neal Longfellow, 69, lived in nearby Orchard Island. The two communities were among the hardest hit by severe weather that spread destruction across parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas and injured dozens Thursday night.

    At least nine tornadoes and numerous severe thunderstorms struck central Ohio. The most devastating tornado was an EF-3 that began in southern Auglaize County near Fryburg and continued through the Lakeview area in northern Logan County, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Columbus. Forecasters say EF-3 tornados can pack winds between 136 and 165 mph (219-266 kph).

    EF-2 tornados, which forecasters say can have winds up to 111 to 135 mph (179- 218 kph), were confirmed in central Union County and in Darke and Miami counties along with Crawford/Richland counties.

    Crews were still working Monday to clear away downed trees and other debris, including materials from damaged or destroyed homes. Some areas were still without electrical service, though many customers have been restored.

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    Associated Press

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  • NWS: At least seven tornadoes touched down Thursday

    NWS: At least seven tornadoes touched down Thursday

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    OHIO – At least seven tornadoes have been confirmed in Thursday’s severe weather that killed three people and injured at least 25 across Ohio.

    The National Weather Service deployed storm survey teams Friday to examine storm damage in numerous areas to determine if damage was caused by a tornado, as well as the size and strength of any tornadoes that touched down.

    The number is expected to increase over the next few days as surveys and analysis continue.

    The strongest of the tornadoes is an EF3 that touched down near Orchard Island in Logan County. Orchard Island is adjacent to Russells Point which saw extensive damage Thursday. A more detailed report is expected in the next few days. EF3 tornadoes have winds of 136-165 mph.

    In Mercer County, the National Weather Service said it was an EF1 tornado that caused damage in the western part of the county. More information about that tornado is expected later Friday, including details about the size and path of the twister. EF1 tornadoes have winds of 86-110 mph, according to the Enhanced Fujita scale which is used to determine a tornado’s intensity. Officials said three people suffered non life-threatening injuries. Damage was reported in the town of Celina and in an area near Skeels Road at the Indiana state border.

    Another EF1 torando toucheddown in Mercer and Auglaize counties. The tornado is believed to have started near Celina and ended north of Moulton. This is in addition to the EF1 tornado that occured in western Mercer County.

    It was an EF2 tornado, with winds of 120 mph, that caused damage in parts of Crawford and Plymouth Counties. The National Weather Service said the tornado touched down northeast of New Washington and lifted after ten miles on the ground in Plymouth Township. Meteorologists estimate that tornado was 250 yards wide.

    Officials said the tornado that struck north of Johnstown in Licking County was an EF1 based on their initial storm survey. More details about this tornado are expected in the coming days.

    Five homes were damaged and several farm buildings were destroyed by an EF1 tornado southwestern Hancock County. Meteorologists said the twister, with estimated 100 mph winds, touched down in Orange Township and stayed on the ground for more than three miles. It tracked to the east, eventually lifting in Van Buren Township. It’s estimated the tornado was 100 yards wide.

    The National Weather Service said an EF2 tornado struck in Darke and Miami Counties. They believe the tornado likely started in Indiana before crossing the stateline into Ohio. Additional information about the tornado’s strength and path will be released in the next few days.

    Check back for updates as more survey information is released over the coming days.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Damage reported following severe weather

    Damage reported following severe weather

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    OHIO — At least three people have been injured and damage has been reported across the state following several rounds of severe weather Thursday evening.

    Law enforcement in Logan County report extensive damage across the county. One official said a mobile home park in Russells Park was the one of the hardest hit by a possible tornado or damaging winds. Heavy damage was reported in neighboring Lakeview. First responders are having difficulties responding to the impacted areas. An emergency shelter has been opened at the First Church of God in Bellefontaine. More information is expected to be released Friday morning.

    Three people suffered non life-threatening injuries as storms moved through Celina in Mercer County. Damage has been reported in several parts of the county, including an area near Skeels Road at the Indiana state border. Officials said they are responding to reports of damage but will have a better idea of the extent at daybreak.

    Officials with Richland County Emergency Management said several homes were damaged in the northwestern corner of the county. Damage was reported near the village of Plymouth where officials are asking people to avoid the area near 598 and West Road.

    Customers across several counties are reporting power outages. Early Friday morning, more than 36,000 customers were without power statewide.

    The National Weather Service said storm survey crews will be out across the state Friday to investigate areas impacted by the severe weather to determine if the damage was caused by a tornado. Meteorologists will examine the damage to determine the strength, path and other details of any tornadoes that touched down.

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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  • Purcell Marian’s Dee Alexander repeats as Ohio Ms. Basketball

    Purcell Marian’s Dee Alexander repeats as Ohio Ms. Basketball

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    CINCINNATI — The OHSAA announced the Ohio Ms. Basketball player of the year Wednesday, bringing an already familiar face back into the spotlight.

    Purcell Marian’s Dee Alexander is once again Ohio Ms. Basketball, this time taking the title as a junior. 

    Alexander won the award for the first time as a sophomore last year.

    “People think that girls’ basketball is different than boys, but I feel like it’s the same,” Alexander said last year following the award. “Girls can be just as tough as boys and sometimes even tougher so it’s not really a difference to me.”

    Cincinnati Purcell Marian junior Dee Alexander was announced as the 2024 Ohio Ms. Basketball Wednesday by a statewide media panel. She won the award last year as a sophomore.

    This is the 37th year for the award, having been given by the Associated Press for the first time in 1988. The award has been voted on by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association since 2017.

    Runner-up was Loudonville senior Corri Vermilya, followed by Pickerington Central senior Berry Wallace and Shaker Heights Laurel sophomore Saniyah Hall. 

    Other finalists were Whitehouse Anthony Wayne junior Elise Bender, Bloom-Carroll senior Emily Bratton, Springboro junior Bryn Martin and Berlin Hiland senior Ashley Mullet.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Foreigners trapped in violence-torn Haiti wait desperately for a way out

    Foreigners trapped in violence-torn Haiti wait desperately for a way out

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    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Dozens of foreigners, including many from the United States and Canada, are stranded in Haiti, desperately trying to leave the violence-torn country where anti-government gangs are battling police and have already shut down both of the country’s international airports.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dozens of foreigners, including many from the United States and Canada, are stranded in Haiti, desperately trying to leave the violence-torn country where anti-government gangs are battling police and have already shut down both of the country’s international airports

    • They were in Haiti for reasons ranging from adoptions to missionary and humanitarian work

    They were in Haiti for reasons ranging from adoptions to missionary and humanitarian work. Now, they are locked down in hotels and homes, unable to leave by air, sea or land as Haiti remains paralyzed by the mayhem and the gangs’ demands that Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign.

    “We are seriously trapped,” said Richard Phillips, a 65-year-old from the Canadian capital, Ottawa, who has traveled to Haiti more than three dozen times to work on projects for the United Nations, USAID and now, a Haitian nonprofit called Papyrus.

    After arriving in Haiti in late February, Phillips flew to the southern coastal city of Les Cayes to teach farmers and others how to operate and repair tractors, cultivators, planters and other machinery in an area known for its corn, rice, peas and beans.

    Once his work was done, Phillips flew to the capital, Port-au-Prince, only to find that his flight had been canceled. He stayed at a nearby hotel, but the gunfire was relentless, so moved on to a safer area.

    “We are actually quite concerned about where this is going,” he told The Associated Press by phone. “If the police force collapses, there’s going to be anarchy in the streets, and we might be here a month or more.”

    Scores of people have been killed in the gang attacks that began Feb. 29, and more than 15,000 people have been left homeless by the violence.

    Earlier this week, Haiti’s government extended a state of emergency and nightly curfew to try and quell the violence, but the attacks continue.

    Gangs have burned police stations, released more than 4,000 inmates from Haiti’s two biggest prisons and attacked Port-au-Prince’s main airport, which remains closed. As a result, the prime minister has been unable to return home after a trip to Kenya to push for the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from the East African country.

    Phillips said he has exhausted all options to leave Haiti by air, noting that a helicopter operator couldn’t get insured for such a flight and a private plane pilot said that approach would be too risky. As for trying to trek to the neighboring Dominican Republic: “It’s possible we could walk miles and miles to get to a border, but I’m sure that’s dangerous as well.”

    Despite being stuck, Phillips said he remains calm.

    “I’ve been shot at many times in Haiti and have bullet holes in my truck,” he said. “Personally, I’m kind of used to it. But I’m sure other people, it’s quite traumatic for them.”

    Yvonne Trimble, who has lived in Haiti for more than 40 years, is among the U.S. expats who can’t leave.

    She and her husband are in the northern coastal city of Cap-Haitien, waiting for a private evacuation flight for missionaries that had already been canceled once.

    “We’re completely locked down,” she said by phone. “This is the worst I’ve seen it. It’s total anarchy.”

    Trimble noted how a mob surrounded the airport in Cap-Haitien recently and began throwing rocks and bottles following a rumor that the prime minister was going to land.

    She and her husband are scheduled to fly out next week courtesy of Florida-based Missionary Flights International.

    The company’s vice president of administration, Roger Sands, said Missionary Flights International has received up to 40 calls from people hoping to leave or remain on standby.

    “We’re getting phone calls constantly,” he said. “The big concern is that every time people see an airplane, they think the prime minister is coming back to the country, and there’s a large segment of the society that doesn’t want that to happen. So we don’t want to be the first ones in.”

    It’s not clear when Haiti’s two international airports will reopen.

    “This is difficult for us,” Sands said. “We hate seeing our planes on the ground when there’s need.”

    A missionary couple who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of their safety said they have been living in Haiti for several years but won’t leave because they’re in the middle of adopting a 6-year-old boy.

    “There is no choice to be made. We’re here as family,” the woman said.

    Meanwhile, her husband was supposed to fly to the U.S. last week for medical care since he has Type 1 diabetes and has developed a neuropathy that causes severe pain in his legs and back, and muscle-wasting in his legs, making it difficult to move.

    For now, the four appointments he made are on hold.

    “It’s a little frustrating,” he said.

    Also unable to leave are Matt Prichard, a 35-year-old from Lebanon, Ohio, and his family. Prichard, COO of a missionary, has two children — an infant and toddler — with his Haitian wife, as well as an 18-year-old son.

    The rest of his family hasn’t been able to get documents to enter the U.S. yet, so they will all stay in southern Haiti for now.

    “We unfortunately seem to be stuck,” he said.

    Prichard noted that his son is stressed out by the situation, telling him he should leave because “this isn’t a good place for you. Just get out of here.”

    But Prichard said, “As a father, you can’t leave your kids or your family.”

    He said the local grocery store has nearly run out of basic goods and gas has been hard to find.

    “The expat community here is really our solace,” he said. “It’s that connection, those relationships, that really are getting us through.”

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    Associated Press

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  • ACT scores on the decline

    ACT scores on the decline

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    CLEVELAND — ACT scores in Ohio have been on the decline. In 2014, the average composite score was 22, but in 2023 it was 19.2. Now, some universities aren’t even looking at ACT scores anymore for their applicants.

    Adam Smith, the vice president of enrollment for Ohio Wesleyan University, said that OWU doesn’t require applicants to submit their test scores.

    What You Need To Know

    • ACT scores across the state are on the decline

    • Some universities are “test optional,” meaning they don’t require an ACT or SAT scores for admission 

    • Some people believe that taking the exam can give students an advantage

    “We do the holistic approach where we do take the time, we’ll read the application, we’ll read the essays, the letters of recommendation,” he said.

    Smith said that the school stopped requiring an ACT or SAT scores back in 2014.

    “We really just wanted to take into consideration the student as a whole and we wanted to take their work outside of the classroom,” he said.

    Cathy Graham, who works for College Now of Greater Cleveland, explained that she believes every student should take the ACT.

    “These tests create opportunities and I don’t think students are aware of it,” she said.

    College Now helps prepare students for the ACT and SAT. The group that administers the exam said that ACT scores across the country have reached the lowest levels in over 30 years. Graham expressed that she thinks part of the reason is because students don’t care as much about their scores anymore.

    “Because of COVID so many schools have moved to test-optional, the stakes of taking this test have decreased for students so a lot of them are like ‘eh I’ll just try it and if I do okay I do okay and if I don’t it won’t matter,’” she said.

    Graham said that the test is not the end all be all, but that it does give students an advantage.

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    Katie Priefer

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  • Building Community Through Literacy: ThickerPlots Book Club Hosts First In-Person Event 

    Building Community Through Literacy: ThickerPlots Book Club Hosts First In-Person Event 

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    Photo by Mya Grant/The Atlanta Voice

    What started as a social media page to express her love for books has turned into a literacy hub for people of diverse backgrounds to share theirs. ThickerPlots book club organized their very first event, a book exchange highlighting literacy awareness, community and the love of a good book. 

    Nahtyka Jolly, originally from Columbus, Georgia, was raised around books. Some of her earliest memories of Christmas and birthday gifts were always books. Along with her mother, Nina Jolly, and older sister Kurstyn Jolly, they spent many weekends and time after school in the library. Reading was such a big pillar in their household that they’d organize family book clubs to talk about the books they liked and didn’t like. 

    Jolly’s mother stressed the importance of literacy in their family and instilled in her daughters at a young age that knowledge and education can carry you far in life. 

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    Mya Grant

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  • Pastor challenges three-term incumbent in 47th district

    Pastor challenges three-term incumbent in 47th district

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    BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — Ohio’s March primary election is two weeks away, and candidates vying for the 47th Statehouse district seat are in their last stretch ahead of Election Day.

    The region encompasses portions of central and northwestern Butler County. Republican incumbent State Representative Sara Carruthers has held the seat for the last three years and is being challenged by Diane Mullins.

    On the Democratic-side, Vanessa Cummings is running as the sole candidate from her party for District 47.

    What You Need To Know

    • State Rep. Sara Carruthers, R-Hamilton, is the incumbent in the 47th district, and has held the seat for the last three years. Her Republican opponent Diane Mullins is a pastor

    • Election Day is March 19
    • Both candidates are door-knocking, phone-banking, meeting constituents and education people in their district about their values

    Carruthers is running for re-election and has held the district seat for three years. She grew up in Hamilton and said the area is very close to her heart. Carruthers focuses on Second Amendment rights and tax cuts, which include property tax cuts. She also puts a focus on health and transportation. She said her experience understanding legislation first-hand helps her bring a fair agenda to the district. 

    “I have brought over $7 million back to this district,” said Carruthers. “I have brought taxpayer dollars back that benefit the district.” 

    Carruthers calls herself a devout conservative and sits on various committees at the Ohio Statehouse. These committees include The Behavioral Health, Finance, Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and the Transportation Committee. She said legislation should be bipartisan and enjoys working across the aisle to bring forth a fair agenda. 

    “I think bipartisan work is the foundation of the country,” Carruthers said. “I don’t have a problem with working bipartisan. I’m a Reagan Republican. That seems to have fallen by the wayside. I find that most of the Democrats I know are going at things from a different direction.” 

    “A true leader has the confidence to standalone and has the courage to make tough decisions,” said Carruthers’ primary opponent, Diane Mullins.

    Mullins who is a pastor in southern Ohio. She believes in strong parental rights in K-12 education and believes parents need to be aware of reading materials in schools involving sex education. Mullins also said people should use bathrooms that match their gender assigned at birth.

    “I want my children and my grandchildren to grow up in this in a free America and be able to go as far as they can go, be successful, and as successful as they can be,” Mullins said. “I believe in the Second Amendment rights to bear arms, and I want to protect parental rights for school choice.” 

    Carruthers and Mullins share similar conservative values, and they hope the district is a success.  

    “I’m just proud of where I live, and I love to see my district grow,” Carruthers said. 

    “I’m a patriot, and I believe in freedom,” Mullins said. 

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    Samana Sheikh

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  • Burn ban takes effect across Ohio through May

    Burn ban takes effect across Ohio through May

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    OHIO — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal is helping to educate Ohioans on the state’s outdoor burning regulations and precautions they should take. 

    What You Need To Know

    • According to Ohio law, burning is prohibited in incorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout March, April and May

    • The reason for the restriction is because of dry vegetation and windy conditions which can spread fire quickly 

    • ODNR added that burning food waste, dead animals and materials containing rubber, asphalt, grease and petroleum can’t be burned

    Enacted approximately 70 years ago, the law was drafted prohibiting burning in incorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March through April in order to safeguard property, the environment and lives. The ban, according to ODNR, is a necessary measure to prevent outdoor fires from being uncontrollable.

    The specific timeframe is chosen because of conditions making these periods susceptible to wildfires, such as dry vegetation and windy conditions. The ban does not supercede more stringent local ordinances where open burning may be further restricted or prohibited entirely.

    “Safety is a responsibility we all share,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “That’s why it is critical that Ohioans understand and appreciate the significant risks associated with fires, especially during more vulnerable times of the year, and that they adhere to these important restrictions. Together, we can protect our communities and environment.”

    Some materials are always banned from being burned including food waste, dead animals and materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt or petroleum.

    “Most people don’t know that Ohio has a spring fire season,” said Greg Guess, fire program administrator and assistant chief for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “As we enter the spring season, we ask that Ohioans increase their awareness of the risks of outdoor burning and make themselves aware of seasonal regulations. This way, we can help to keep Ohio safe from wildland fires in 2024.”

    ODNR offered these safety tips for burning outdoors:

    • Learn the local and state burning regulations
    • Check the weather currently and for the future
    • Have tools and water on hand
    • Never leave a debris burn unattended
    • Consider other alternatives to debris burning, such as composting
    • For additional safety considerations, contact the local fire department
    • Visit the Ohio Division of Forestry’s website and Firewise.org for more information and tips

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Wheelchair bodybuilding: inspiring competitors and fans at The Arnold

    Wheelchair bodybuilding: inspiring competitors and fans at The Arnold

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Athletes from all over the world are competing at the 35th annual Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus this weekend. Among them, elite athletes who use a wheelchair.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wheelchair Bodybuilding has been a competitive event at The Arnold Sports Festival since 2016

    • The event is open to men and women, professionals and amateurs, founded by wheelchair athlete Nick Scott

    • Pro bodybuilder Harold Kelley has won his division every year except 2022 since the contest began

    The wheelchair bodybuilding competition features amateurs and professionals, men and women, in an event that premiered at the festival in 2016.

    “Being that The Arnold opened the door to wheelchair competitors, that put us on the world map,” said Harold Kelley, a Texan who is the defending champion.  

    He had already been competing as a bodybuilder when a car accident took the use of his legs. Since 2016, he has won every Arnold contest except for 2022. He regained the title in 2023 and is defending it this year. 

    “I surpassed where I was before my car accident, so when you see your calling, whatever it may be, you have to accept it,” Kelley said. “Once I accepted it, the doors just opened up.”

    Sharla Peterson won the amateur women’s division Thursday night. She had competed in the bikini competitions until she broke her back and was paralyzed during a workout.

    “I was afraid to go back to the gym because I thought people were going to look at me as a wheelchair wimp you know, like ‘what is she doing in here?’” Peterson said. “That took a lot of courage, and when I went back… they loaded plates for me and then as they saw me getting leaner and they saw me getting trimmed, they were just so excited I was going to compete… and so it became a really inspirational thing for myself and for other people.”

    She gets inspired meeting other competitors here.

    “When you’re in a wheelchair and finding somebody else in a wheelchair who has the same passion as you, there’s just a huge connection,” she said.

    “You meet so many people around the world that come to the Arnold Classic,” Kelley said. “Because this is a world event, and if you are enthused about fitness, you’re going to be here.”

    Nick Scott is the one who brought them together.  The director of the event and founder of wheelchairbodybuilding.com is also a powerlifting and bodybuilding champion and a motivational speaker. 

    He too turned to wheelchair bodybuilding after an accident left him paralyzed in 1998. Since then, he’s worked hard for his sport to grow at the Arnold and around the world. 

    He lobbied for 10 years to get wheelchair bodybuilding added to the program in Columbus. He is grateful for the support of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilder and actor who is the sports festival’s namesake. 

    ‘“Arnold’s always been a supporter of wheelchai, of people with all sorts of disabilities,” Scott said. “And on top of that, he’s going to present on Saturday night to the winner of the wheelchair division… At the sports festival, here at the Arnold, we’re like family.”

    Scott has a mission beyond staging a competition and awarding medals to the competitors.

    “It shows that if I can make this dream happen, anything can happen for anybody else,” Scott said. “It’s really about giving hope. Hope is the one thing stronger than fear.”

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    Steve Oldfield

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  • Where will you be for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

    Where will you be for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

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    NEW YORK — Where will you be watching the April 8 total solar eclipse? There are just a few weeks left to pick your spot to see the skies darken along a strip of North America, whether by land, sea or air.

    What You Need To Know

    • There are just a few weeks left to pick your spot to see the total solar eclipse on April 8 in North America

    • The eclipse first hits Mexico’s Pacific coast, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada

    • Most of the rest of the continent will see a partial eclipse

    • For those who live inside the 115-mile-wide path of total darkness, it may be a matter of just stepping outside. For the millions outside the path, it means hitting the road with a game plan to experience the full spectacle

    For those who live inside the 115-mile-wide path of total darkness, it may be a matter of just stepping outside and donning special eclipse glasses to watch the spectacle unfold. For the millions outside the path, or those who just want to improve their chances of clear skies, it could mean hitting the road with a game plan.

    The eclipse reaches Mexico’s Pacific coast in the morning, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada by late afternoon. Most of the rest of the continent will see a partial eclipse.

    Where to watch the total solar eclipse

    The weather will be key, and spring weather along the path can be dicey. Mexico and Texas offer the best odds of sunny skies, said retired Canadian meteorologist Jay Anderson.

    “There’s no guarantee of sunshine anywhere — just better chances,” he said.

    Anderson studies satellite data for the previous 20 years to calculate how often a location has cloudy weather on any eclipse day. Besides Mexico and Texas, he said there are other promising spots on the path of totality, particularly along the Great Lakes.

    The advice: If you’re flexible, start paying attention to local weather about 10 days out, and make your plans on the three-day forecast. Die-hard eclipse chasers often line up more than one location and make last-minute decisions based on the best forecast, he said.

    How to prepare like an eclipse chaser

    One veteran eclipse chaser recommends picking a location and making it a vacation so that the eclipse is “the cherry on top” and not the only highlight — just in case things don’t work out.

    Tom Schultz will be traveling from his retirement home in Costa Rica to watch the eclipse from his mother-in-law’s house in Rochester, New York, along with other relatives.

    “If we get rained out, we’ll get this great family reunion,” said Schultz.

    Veteran Anne Marie Adkins could drive across town in San Antonio to see the total eclipse, but opted to join an astronomer-led tour to Mazatlán, Mexico, betting on clear skies there. She’s been thwarted by clouds on other trips. For the 2017 U.S. eclipse, she went to Nebraska and had to scramble that day to find better skies.

    “It’s a gamble. You never know what you are going to get,” said Adkins.

    Post-eclipse traffic is a particular worry, especially in more rural areas like the Texas Hill Country. Patricia Moore, of the Bandera visitors center, said last year’s “ring of fire” eclipse provided a dress rehearsal for police and other first responders. Tiny Bandera — the “Cowboy Capital of the World” — expects crowds from nearby weekend music festivals.

    “After the eclipse will be a challenge,” she said.

    Where are the eclipse watch parties?

    With the eclipse falling on a Monday, cities and towns along the path have lined up a weekend full of activities and watch parties to attract visitors. There are a multitude of music festivals and gatherings planned at museums, parks, wineries and other businesses hoping to capitalize on the buzz.

    Niagara Falls has a slate of events for days and is expecting July Fourth-sized crowds for the eclipse, said Sara Harvey, spokeswoman for Destination Niagara USA.

    There are multiple vantage points to watch the show from Niagara Falls State Park, and the famous Maid of the Mist tourist boats may be running, weather permitting, she said. Even if it’s cloudy, visitors will get “a beautiful view of the falls,” Harvey said.

    In Waco, Texas, festivities will culminate on eclipse day with science-themed activities outside Baylor’s McLane Stadium, along what’s called Touchdown Alley.

    It may be too late to snag a cabin on a cruise ship positioned off the Mexico coast for the eclipse, but there are other watery options including a ride on the paddle-wheeler Victorian Princess on Lake Erie from Erie, Pennsylvania.

    If the sky beckons, Southwest and Delta have identified flights that will fly along or near the eclipse path. A special Delta flight from Austin to Detroit quickly sold out, prompting the airline to add another from Dallas.

    Looking for an different kind of place to watch the sun, moon and Earth align? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host NASA astronauts and other guests. Cedar Point amusement park on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, is opening for the day. And the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas is throwing a tailgate fundraising party and inviting visitors to watch the zoo’s residents react to the midday darkness.

    You can also spend the day visiting the planets. In northern Maine, a scale model of the solar system is displayed along nearly 100 miles of U.S. 1. Retired geology professor Kevin McCartney expects to unveil a new 23- foot-tall roadside sun at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on eclipse day. “You won’t be able to miss it,” he said.

    Anderson, the weather expert, said it’s well worth the travel to see the “special magical moment” of a total eclipse: “It’s the Taylor Swift of natural events.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Strauss sex abuse victims say they could be headed to trial against OSU

    Strauss sex abuse victims say they could be headed to trial against OSU

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University sexual abuse scandal involving a former physician has made its way to federal court.

    An attorney representing several people who say they are sex abuse victims of former Ohio State Doctor Richard Strauss said their case against the school will be headed to trial in 2025. The two sides met in court on Thursday for a status conference with the judge.

    What You Need To Know

    • An attorney representing several plaintiffs in the case say the lawsuit is on its way to trial in 2025

    • Previously, the United States Supreme Court declined to consider the appeal, because of Title IX claims and its legal impact on universities and students. 

    • The Federal Court met on February, 29, 2024 for a status conference 

    The lawsuit is a part of an ongoing investigation that has lasted a few years. Nearly 200 men are suing The Ohio State University for alleged sexual abuse that took place when Dr. Richard Strauss was a physician in the school. 

    The university has previously apologized to victims and reached settlements totaling $60 million with some victims. The university is arguing to have the remaining unsettled cases dismissed and has been fighting this for the past six years. The university’s main argument is that the time limit for the claims has passed.

    Meanwhile, The United States Supreme Court has already declined the case because of Title IX claims and its legal impact on universities and students. 

    On Thursday, a federal judge met with attorneys for both sides and is pushing for mediation to resolve the case. They spent nearly 30 minutes in discussion in a court meeting behind closed doors. According to a plaintiff’s attorney, the federal case is set to head to trial next year. 

    “The judge is hearing the issues about how we’re doing and how we’re working together to see if the case is moving towards a trial, because there’s a lot of information that needs to be exchanged back and forth before a trial happens. Depositions, subpoenas and so forth,” said Rocky Ratliff, an attorney representing 42 plaintiffs. 

    Ratliff said it will take time to sort through nearly 235 individual cases in the court. He also said it will be a long-road ahead. 

    “Well, really going to trial is sometimes an anxious moment,” said Ratliff. “However, for my 42 individuals, I don’t think it is an anxious moment. We know we have the truth on our side. We know what happened. We know we were victimized. We know we’re survivors of Dr. Richard Strauss at OSU. So we’re ready to take the stand and tell the world what happened. That’s never an anxious moment. These are the most highly trained athletes during their time. So, they’re not scared of the other side at all because we know ultimately we have the truth.” 

    He said each time they meet in court, they will continue to review depositions and subpoenas.

    Strauss worked for the university from the 1970s until 1998.

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    Samana Sheikh

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  • Matthew 25: Ministries responds to Ohio tornado damage

    Matthew 25: Ministries responds to Ohio tornado damage

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    OHIO — Wednesday morning brought an early wake-up call for Ohioans as tornado warnings rang out before dawn.

    The National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes touched down in Riverside, Springfield, London, Hilliard and Blacklick/Licking and Matthew 25: Ministries has deployed response teams in order to help clean up the damage.

    What You Need To Know

    • Damage from the tornadoes ranged from downed power lines and trees to rooftops and siding being torn off homes

    • Matthew 25, a humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization headquartered in Blue Ash, Ohio, deployed its teams Thursday morning

    • Supplies will be distributed across Montgomery, Clark, Madison and Franklin counties and other affected areas

    • The organization plans to conduct damage assessments and contact partners in the area to determine how they can serve the needs of the disaster area

    Damage from the tornadoes ranged from downed power lines and trees to rooftops and siding being torn off homes. The Madison County Airport and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base both reported damages from the tornadoes.

    The humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization, headquartered in Blue Ash, deployed its teams Thursday morning.

    The team is bringing personal care products, cleaning supplies, baby items and first aid kits to assist people affected by the storms. They are also bringing paper products, water, tools and tarps.

    Supplies will be distributed across Montgomery, Clark, Madison and Franklin counties and other affected areas. Matthew 25 plans to conduct damage assessments and contact partners in the area to determine how they can serve the needs of the disaster area.

    Matthew 25 responds to disasters across the country and world, last year the organization responded to disasters ranging from  the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hurricanes Idalia and Otis, wildfires in Hawaii, Syria and Turkey earthquakes, and additional storms, floods and tornadoes. So far this year teams have been deployed to  severe weather and tornadoes that swept through portions of the Southeast in early January as well as the Helena, AR water crisis. 

    The organization continues to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, shipping more than 33 million pounds of supplies in 2023 and helped more than 40 million people.

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    Madison MacArthur

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