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Tag: Ohio

  • Ohio State opens new University Hospital, moves several patients

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University announced the opening of the new Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center on Feb. 22.

    What You Need To Know

    • Over 400 patients have already been moved into over 800 private rooms at the 520 W. 10th Ave. location in Columbus

    • The hospital will offer care across a range of specialities, including surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, critical care and adult organ transplant

    • It the 10th largest building in Columbus

    Over 400 patients have already been moved into over 800 private rooms at the 520 W. 10th Ave. location in Columbus.

    The hospital will offer care across a range of specialities, including surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, critical care and adult organ transplant.

    “Thousands of people have been working diligently for years to turn our vision for a transformational hospital that improves lives across Ohio, the nation and the world into a reality,” said Ohio State president Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. “Today is about so much more than opening a building. It’s about honoring our land-grant mission by delivering life-changing patient care, advancing innovative research and providing high-quality education for generations to come.”

    The hospital is the largest facility constructed by Ohio State and the largest single-facility project opening in the U.S. in 2026. It is 1.9 million square feet and 26 stories, making it the 10th largest building in Columbus.

    “Medicine today and in the future is about teamwork and collaboration, and our hospital design reinforces our efforts to coalesce as a team around patients and their loved ones, prioritizing their needs and optimizing their health care journey,” said John J. Warner, MD, CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and executive vice president at Ohio State. “University Hospital is a place where innovation and transformation will enable caregivers, researchers and educators to drive high-impact discoveries that translate to improvements in patient care, while also providing outstanding clinical education to the next generation of health care professionals.”

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    Ryan Johnston

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  • U.S. pays tribute to Gaudreau brothers at the Winter Olympics

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    MILAN — Johnny Gaudreau was working hard to make the U.S. team heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics. He and brother Matthew Gaudreau watched the event growing up, always with eyes on playing in it.

    “It was their dream,” Jane Gaudreau said of her sons.

    What You Need To Know

    • The U.S. men’s hockey team will play for gold against Canada, and it has honored Johnny Gaudreau’s memory along the way

    • Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau died on Aug. 29, 2024, when an SUV hit them as they rode bikes in New Jersey

    • Team officials say Johnny Gaudreau would have been on this roster
    • A blue No. 13 jersey hangs in the locker room near Matthew Gaudreau’s No. 21. Teammates say it keeps them close

    Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau died on Aug. 29, 2024, when they were struck by an SUV while riding bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on the eve of their sister’s wedding. Their deaths shocked the hockey community, and they have been honored since with retired numbers, a memorial 5K and more.

    An elite player a decade into his NHL career and the all-time U.S. leading scorer in international play, Johnny Gaudreau was on track to be in Milan for the tournament that wraps up Sunday when the Americans play rival Canada for the gold medal. His father, Guy Gaudreau, said USA Hockey was gracious enough to tell the family their oldest son was on the projected roster.

    “He wanted to be on this team,” Guy Gaudreau said during the third period of the U.S. semifinal win on Friday night. “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”

    The U.S. is honoring the Gaudreau brothers with a tribute to them in their locker room at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. A blue No. 13 jersey hangs there as a reminder of the player known as “Johnny Hockey,” who was beloved by so many on the national team and beyond.

    “It means everything — we all know he should be here with us,” said Dylan Larkin, who played with Johnny Gaudreau at multiple world championships. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”

    Jane and Guy Gaudreau, along with Johnny’s widow, Meredith Gaudreau, and their two oldest children arrived in Milan on Friday. The Gaudreau parents had been planning a trip to Las Vegas and initially hesitated after USA Hockey invited them to attend.

    “Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,’” Jane Gaudreau said. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”

    The Gaudreau family connections to players on the roster run deep, from Boston College to the NHL. In addition to the world championships, Johnny Gaudreau played with Noah Hanifin on the Calgary Flames and Zach Werenski on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    “Johnny was close to a lot of guys in that room,” Hanifin said. “We know he’d be here with us, so we’ve been thinking about him and carrying him with us.”


    Werenski said after he and his teammates advanced to the final that Meredith Gaudreau reached out to his wife a few days earlier to let them know they were coming.

    “It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski said. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold-medal game, so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”

    Not that it would have been much of a debate, but coach Mike Sullivan confirmed what management told the Gaudreaus: Johnny Gaudreau would have been on the team if he were still alive, based on his body of work and how well he has played in a U.S. uniform.

    “He was one of America’s very best,” Sullivan said. “He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.”

    Players still talk about Johnny Gaudreau, and “all the stories are funny,” according to Charlie McAvoy, who played alongside him at worlds.

    “Just an amazing person, just an infectious personality,” McAvoy said. “The detail, really, with our staff and our equipment staff especially to make sure that he’s always with us, little reminders of him in the room, and they just go a long way. You always see them. They’re just gentle. They’re right there. But we know that he’s always with us.”

    Along with Johnny Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey is that number on the wall alongside Matthew Gaudreau’s No. 21. It’s similar to what USA Hockey did a year ago at the 4 Nations Face-Off, when Guy Gaudreau took part in practice as a guest coach.

    This would have been Johnny Gaudreau’s first chance to play at the Olympics after the NHL did not participate in 2018 and 2022. But it almost certainly won’t be the last time his jersey hangs in the U.S. locker room at the game, a tradition that could continue for years to come.

    “I hope so,” Larkin said. “I sure hope so.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Cavaliers beat Hornets 118-113 for 7th straight victory

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory and 12th win in 13 games.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 for their seventh straight victory Friday night

    • Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter

    • The Cavs will be at Oklahoma City on Sunday

    Jared Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

    Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel finished with 33 points on seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second most in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record with 206 set in the 2022-23 season.

    LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each had 18 points and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.

    Miller’s and-one layup off a no-look feed from Ball cut Cleveland’s lead to four with a minute remaining, but Mitchell made a short jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.

    The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked like they were preparing to break the game open, but Knueppel began to heat up, finishing with four 3s and 16 points in the first half to cut Cleveland’s lead in to six. Charlotte took the lead late in the third quarter behind three more Knueppel 3s.

    But Mitchell began to take over with his physical play. He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

    Charlotte played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate and Grant Williams, who sat out with knee injury management forcing them to play younger, less experienced players in the frontcourt.

    The Cavaliers outscored the Hornets 50-28 in the paint.

    The Hornets have now lost three of their last four games after winning nine straight games just before the All-Star break.

    Up next

    Cavaliers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

    Hornets: At Washington on Sunday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • NFL player meets students at his alma mater who designed his cleats

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    HAMILTON, Ohio — Every year during the NFL season, players have a chance to wear and design cleats to benefit an organization that is important to them.

    For one Atlanta Falcon from southwest Ohio, he took it a step further and allowed students from his alma mater to design his cleats.

    What You Need To Know

    • Malik Verdon graduated from Hamilton High School in 2021 and is now a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons

    • Verdon allowed students from Hamilton to design his cleats for My Cause My Cleats 

    • The cleats were designed for the cause Just A Pair of Shoes- an Ohio nonprofit that gives shoes to underprivileged youth 

    Malik Verdon is in the Big Leagues.

    “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was about 5, so it’s definitely a dream come true,” Verdon said of being in the NFL.

    But he’s never forgotten his roots.

    “It’s a long journey,” he said. “You can’t forget where you come from.”

    The Atlanta Falcon graduated from Hamilton High School in 2021 before playing at Iowa State. Now, the linebacker is back in his hometown, meeting with the students who helped design his cleats for My Cause My Cleats this season.

    The cleats help tell Verdon’s story, from Hamilton to Iowa State and now to the Atlanta Falcons. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “It’s a dream come true,” Verdon said. “I mean, not just for me but for them as well. Being able to show someone that we’re all from there, like just because we’re from Hamilton or Cincinnati, Ohio, it’s not something that can be take for granted.”

    Students like Hunter Burford, who dreams of going to the NFL one day.

    Burford poses with Verdon. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “It’s really awesome that he actually noticed mine,” Burfurd, an eighth grade student in the Hamilton School District, said. “That’s really cool that he got to wear it.”

    While allowing the students to design the cleats, the cause was important to Verdon too. Just a Pair of Shoes is an Ohio non-profit that gives shoes to underprivileged kids.

    Verdon picked several designs from nearly 10 students. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “To be able to partner with an NFL player and, you know, really bring the community together,” Matt Cline, the founder of Just a Pair of Shoes, said. “It’s just a win for everybody. So and it’s very inspiring to see these kids.”

    And at the end of the meet-up, these students got to take a pair home themselves.

    Verdon said he’s already looking forward to working with the students next year on a new pair of cleats. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    Verdon said he’s already looking forward to next season, where he hopes to allow more students to design his cleats as a small way of saying thank you to Big Blue Nation.

    “It’s amazing,” Verdon said. “You know, I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it wasn’t for here. So being able to come back and and get the love that I get and be able to return is it’s huge to me.”

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    Katie Kapusta

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  • Cleveland Browns announce new coordinators

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    BEREA, Ohio — Late last month, the Cleveland Browns announced they hired Todd Monken as the new head coach, replacing Kevin Stefanski, who was fired on Jan. 5, the day after Cleveland finished a 5-12 season.

    But a football team is a lot more than just the head coach. Now, the team has announced its three coordinators for 2026.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Browns have named three individuals as coordinators for 2026

    • They are Travis Switzer, Mike Rutenberg and Byron Storer

    • The team hired Todd Monken as the new head coach last month

    “You’re always looking for coaches that never forget that we have a job for our players,” Monken said. “That’s first and foremost, and our job is to maximize our players’ measurable skill set. I always say to aspire to be the best coach they’ve ever had.”

    For the position of offensive coordinator, they are bringing in Travis Switzer, who spent nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Monken had spent his previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator with Baltimore.

    “He was our run game coordinator, and that’s where it all starts with your ability to run the football,” Monken said in the release. “So, he’s ready for this challenge. He’s intentional, he’s intelligent and he can teach.”

    For the position of defensive coordinator, they’re adding Mike Rutenberg, a coach with 14 years of experience in the league.

    “He’d been in a similar system, but not the exact system because Jim (Schwartz) was unique,” Monken said in the release. “And they can say attacking style, but then there’s attacking style, which is what they’ve done here up front. And I think that background of being a four-down attacking style, but not exact, (and) to add some things that they had done before that I thought would mesh really well with the current staff, was a big part of that. And I thought his energy, his ability to teach, his juice, I mean, it popped. It was what I was looking for.”

    Finally, for special teams coordinator, the Browns will have Byron Storer. He’d been with the Green Bay Packers for four seasons and has 12 years coaching experience in the NFL.

    “First off, his journey – going to Cal, playing special teams little bit in the NFL, into coaching, out of coaching and into the business world, then back into coaching. Being with one of the best special teams to ever do it in Rich Bisaccia. Matt LaFleur just absolutely standing on the table for him was huge,” Monken said in the release. “Unbelievable presentation when we interviewed him, he was more than ready. It was obvious when I got done interviewing him that we had to have him here.”

    Earlier this month, Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned from the position after three seasons.

    Schwartz has led one of the league’s top defenses over the past three seasons but was upset about being passed over for the head coach job, after many thought he was the favorite to replace Kevin Stefanski.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Trump announces $10 million for economic recovery in East Palestine

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    EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — President Donald Trump, in a Thursday evening social media post, said his administration is providing $10 million, through the Economic Development Administration, toward economic recovery in East Palestine, Ohio.

    What You Need To Know

    • President Donald Trump made a social media post in which he said his administration is providing $10 million for economic recovery in East Palestine Ohio

    • He said the money is being provided through the Economic Development Administration

    • Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted shared the post on X, thanking the president

    The town was thrust into the national spotlight on Feb. 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern train derailed in the area.

    Fearing the chemicals inside these containers would explode, officials performed a “controlled burn,” sending a massive plume of smoke into the sky.

    In the aftermath, the town has received multiple presidential visits, including Trump and Former President Joe Biden.

    “We want to see East Palestine grow, flourish, and be able to take advantage of our now BOOMING Economy,” Trump’s post reads. “It was horrible what was allowed to happen there, and we are with you for the LONG HAUL. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”


    Republican Ohio Sen. Jon Husted shared the post on X, thanking the president.

    “Thank you, Mr. President, for not forgetting East Palestine,” he said. “I look forward to working with you to make sure this community is stronger than ever.”

    Spectrum News 1 has reached out to the Economic Development Administration for more information.

    You can view a timeline of the East Palestine train derailment and subsequent developments below:

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    Spectrum News Staff, Cody Thompson

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  • Rural Ohio fire departments to receive $593,000

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    OHIO — Fire departments in rural areas will receive a total of $593,000 for 95 projects, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry announced Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The VFA grants are for fire departments that have at least 80% volunteer firefighters and serve areas with a population of less than 10,000 people

    • Fire departments may use the funds to purchase all-terrain vehicles, wildfire water tanks and pump units, wildfire and structure fire safety equipment, radios, tools and more

    • The funding is through the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program

    The funding is through the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program, ODNR said. 

    “In addition to wildland fire training, this funding helps departments serving Ohio’s wildfire protection area enhance their equipment and operational readiness,” said Dan Balser, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Investing in local departments strengthens emergency response at the community level.”

    The VFA grants are for fire departments that have at least 80% volunteer firefighters and serve areas with a population of less than 10,000 people within the ODNR Forestry wildfire protection area.

    Fire departments may use the funds to purchase all-terrain vehicles, wildfire water tanks and pump units, wildfire and structure fire safety equipment, radios, tools and more, according to ODNR. The grants can fund up to 50% of the total project cost, but they are to not exceed $10,000 per grant.

    “Many rural fire departments in Ohio have tight budgets, and most of their limited resources must be focused on keeping essential emergency services running,” ODNR wrote in a release. “ODNR Forestry’s VFA grant program helps supplement fire department budgets and facilitates important purchases, such as firefighter personal protective equipment and basic fire suppression equipment.”

    A list of the fire departments receiving the grants is below:

    [ad_2] Lydia Taylor
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  • City of Cleveland, DOJ file joint motion to terminate consent decree

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    CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland’s Consent Decree may finally come to an end 10 years after it was implemented in order to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) and ensure constitutional policing.

    The City of Cleveland and United States Department of Justice (DOJ) have jointly filed a motion to terminate the decree after what the city said in a press release has been 10 “years of sustained progress and commitment to constitutional policing in the Division of Police.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice are looking to terminate the Consent Decree that’s been in place since 2015

    • Both the city and DOJ said the department has made significant improvements in the intervening years

    • The city will provide updates as the process moves forward

    “Cleveland’s Consent Decree began during a painful time in our city’s history. Our community’s courage and persistence shaped this reform process, and its engagement made progress possible,” Mayor Justin Bibb said in the release. “Today, reforms in Cleveland are self-sustaining, compliance has become culture, accountability is locally embedded, and local oversight remains.”

    In a separate press release from the DOJ, it said the police department has resolved the issues it found back in 2014.

    The DOJ said an investigation, which began in 2013, found “structural and systemic deficiencies and practices” such as ineffective policies, inadequate training and more. It said these deficiencies “contributed to the use of unreasonable force by CDP officers, in violation of the Constitution and Federal law.”

    The city and the DOJ entered the decree in 2015 “with the goal of creating and implementing policies and practices to repair community trust and protect the constitutional rights of the people of Cleveland.”

    In their Thursday release, the DOJ said the police department has implemented relevant policies and training and highlighted assessments showing the department now polices constitutionally.

    “We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in the release. “We believe the City and CDP have demonstrated their commitment to constitutional policing, and it is time for Cleveland to fully utilize CDP’s resources to protect Clevelanders from crime.”

    U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio said assessments by the monitoring team have shown “tremendous strides” made by police in the intervening years, and he said that’s improved the community’s trust.

    “The Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished,” he said in the release. “As a valuable law enforcement partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with CDP to reduce gun violence and drug trafficking, and to keep dangerous gang activity off the streets. We appreciate the dedication of these men and women in uniform and the hard work they do each day in their mission keep the people of Cleveland safe.”

    During those monitoring team assessments, the city said it had received 144 upgrades. A post on their website notes that 75 had to do with use of force, 24 with crisis intervention, eight with search and seizure, nine with recruitment and hiring, three with staffing, six with equipment and resources and 19 with training.

    “The progress achieved over more than a decade was not accidental —it was the result of sustained work, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to constitutional policing and strengthening community trust,” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said in the release. “I extend my appreciation to the U.S. Department of Justice, Mayor Bibb, the Monitoring Team and the Police Accountability Team for their guidance and oversight throughout this process. I also share this achievement with the members of our Division of Police, whose resilience, professionalism, and dedication to serving our city made this progress possible.”

    The city said officials will provide updates as this process moves forward to the court and U.S. District Court Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr.

    “In seeking to transfer oversight functions from federal to local control, this joint motion reflects years of sustained, measurable progress, and an unwavering commitment to constitutional policing and increasing public trust in the City of Cleveland,” said Dr. Leigh Anderson, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Police Accountability Team. “Through comprehensive policy reform, strengthened accountability systems, enhanced training, improved data collection, and meaningful engagement, durable structures have been reformed to live successfully beyond federal oversight. Through progress evidenced by assessments completed by the Independent Federal Monitoring Team in such areas as Use of Force, Crisis Intervention, Search and Seizure and Training, we are confident that the systems in place are institutionalized and designed to ensure enduring accountability and continuous improvement in the area of public safety reform.”

    You can read the full amended consent decree below:

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  • Billionaire Les Wexner to be deposed in congressional probe of Epstein files

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    By JULIE CARR SMYTH

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Les Wexner’s long-time friendship with Jeffrey Epstein will be the subject of a closed-door congressional deposition in Ohio on Wednesday, where the billionaire retail magnate is expected to face questions about new revelations contained in the latest release of Justice Department documents related to the late sexual predator.

    Wexner, 88, the retired founder of L Brands, has said he plans to cooperate with a subpoena from Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

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    Associated Press

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  • Several Ohio museums ranked among best in the country

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    OHIO — Museum-lovers in Ohio have no shortage of options when it comes to galleries full of historic, interesting or unique items and interactive exhibits.

    What You Need To Know

    • Ohio is home to a great many museums

    • Several of these were included on the USA Today’s 10 Best lists in a variety of categories

    • Some even took the number one spot

    Whether you’re a kid learning more about science in a fun and creative environment or an adult gaining a better understanding of art and history, there’s plenty to check out in any of Ohio’s major cities.

    USA Today recently put out their list of best museums in the country, separated into various categories. The museums were nominated by a panel and then voted on by readers, according to the website.

    Ohio institutions made the cut on several of these lists.

    Best pop culture museums

    • The American Sign Museum came in at No. 2 on this ranking. The museum is located at 1330 Monmouth Ave. in Cincinnati

    Best free museums

    Best maritime museums

    Best children’s museums

    Best history museums

    Best science museums

    Best planetariums

    • The COSI Planetarium snagged the eighth spot on this list. 

    To see the other museums not in Ohio, you can click here to see the full lists.

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    Cody Thompson

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  • Legislation could ban NIL for high school student-athletes

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    CINCINNATI — Recent legislation has been introduced to ban Name, Image and Likeness deals for high school and middle school students in Ohio. This comes just months after the OHSAA passed the bylaws to allow students to benefit from NIL. For one of the athletes who is making millions of dollars thanks to the new rules, he says his family relies on it.

    What You Need To Know

    • House Bill 661 would ban NIL for high school and middle school athletes in Ohio

    • Kam Mercer is one of 30 high school athletes in Ohio who has an NIL deal 

    • Mercer said he transferred back to Ohio once NIL was voted in by member schools of the OHSAA because his family relies on the money he makes 

    Kam Mercer is just 16 years old but stands tall at 6-foot-5-inches, and counting.

    “I get some growing pains here and there,” the sophomore said. 

    Kam Mercer practices at Princeton High School after transferring to the school in December. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    The fifth-ranked player in the country in his class calls southern Ohio home. But he left his family and friends his freshman year to play at Huntington Prep in West Virginia and started his sophomore season at Overtime League in Atlanta, both prep schools where he could benefit financially from his game.

    “More of like a family decision as far as, like, I had to help my family out financially,” Mercer said.

    But then, everything changed.

    “Ohio passed NIL, and it gave me the opportunity to come back home,” he said.

    Just a few weeks later, Mercer transferred back to Princeton and began raking in NIL deals, like with Panini trading cards.

    Mercer says he’s happy to be back home. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    “It’s a multi-million dollar deal,” he confirmed.

    It’s life-changing money that is making a big difference for his family.

    “It is a decent amount of pressure,” he said. “But I know that if I wasn’t built for, I wouldn’t be here. So I’m just happy to be here with my family.”

    But now, that could all change. Earlier this month, two Ohio State Representatives announced legislation to ban NIL deals for high school and middle school students.

    “High school sports are an extension of the classroom,” State Rep. Adam Bird, R-District 63, said. “They teach character, discipline, leadership, work ethic and fitness. This bill is about protecting kids, keeping the focus on learning and development and ensuring students across Ohio compete on a level playing field.”

    “The OHSAA is aware of the introduction of House Bill 661 and looks forward to continuing to provide information on the process taken to develop the proposal and safeguards that went to our membership for a vote last fall,” OHSAA spokesperson Tim Stried said. “It is important to note that NIL at the high school level in Ohio is very different than what we see at the college level, and that Ohio is one of 45 states that allows some version of NIL for high school student-athletes.”

    Mercer listens to head coach Bryan Wyant in a huddle at practice. (Spectrum News 1/Katie Kapusta)

    Mercer understands the controversy of NIL for student-athletes like him.

    “It does make you more mature than you are,” Mercer said. “At the end of day, I know I’m a 16-year-old kid, and I don’t try to act any more mature than I am. But just being in a situation I am now, I have to grow up a little bit more.”

    But he’s hopeful the new bill doesn’t go into effect, because that could mean leaving his family once again.

    “If it does, I don’t know what I’ll do,” he said. “I know I’ll be fine, but I’m just I’m not too worried about it, but, like, who knows what could happen?”

    The next hearing for House Bill 661 to ban NIL for high school and middle school athletes is set for Tuesday.

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    Katie Kapusta

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  • Rev Jesse Jackson Sr. dead at 84, Jackson a renowned civil rights leader who marched with MLK…By Clevelandurbannews.com, Ohio’s Black digital news leader

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    Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com

    CHICAGO, Illinois-The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., the civil rights leader who marched alongside the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr., has died.  He was 84 and died peacefully and surrounded by family, his family said in a statement.

    Jackson was hospitalized for observation in November and diagnosed with supranuclear palsy. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017.

    Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson began his activism in the 1960s and founded the organizations that later merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. Expanding his work into international affairs in the 1980s, he became a vocal critic of the Reagan administration and launched a presidential campaign in 1984. Initially viewed as a fringe candidate, he finished third for the Democratic nomination behind former vice president Walter Mondale and Senator Gary Hart. He continued his activism and mounted a second presidential bid in 1988, finishing as the runner‑up to Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.

    Jackson did not seek the presidency again, but in 1990 he was elected as the District of Columbia’s shadow senator, serving one term during the Bush and Clinton administrations. Although initially critical of President Bill Clinton, he later became a supporter. Jackson hosted Both Sides with Jesse Jackson on CNN from 1992 to 2000. A critic of police brutality, the Republican Party, and conservative policies, he was widely regarded as one of the most influential African‑American activists of his era. He cried in 2008 when Barack Obama was elected the first Black president of the United States.

    Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com, the most-read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio and the Midwest. Tel. 216-659-0473. Email-editor@clevelandurbannews.com.

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    editor@clevelandurbannews.com (Kathy)

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  • ODA issues statewide quarantine for invasive spotted lanternfly

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    OHIO — The Ohio Department of Agriculture issued a statewide quarantine for the invasive spotted lanternfly on Tuesday. 

    Previously, just 18 Ohio counties were under the quarantine. Now, all 88 counties are included. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Spotted lanternflies feed on the sap of more than 70 plant species, which can cause plants to die

    • ODA said the spotted lanternfly is especially a concern for Ohio’s grape and wine industry

    • Under the statewide quarantine, trees and nursery stock can’t be moved out of Ohio without a compliance agreement, permit or inspection certificate

    Spotted lanternflies, native to Asia, tend to be beautiful, colorful creatures, but they’re toxic for the environment. They feed on the sap of more than 70 plant species, which can cause plants to die. Additionally, they excrete a substance called honeydue that promotes mold growth, according the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    ODA said the spotted lanternfly is especially a concern for Ohio’s grape and wine industry. The industry contributes $6 billion in economic activity each year, and the spotted lanternfly could threaten it. The insect was first found in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in 2014, and ODA said it’s likely it came over through imported goods. 

    Under the statewide quarantine, trees and nursery stock can’t be moved out of Ohio without a compliance agreement, permit or inspection certificate, according to ODA. Additionally, producers who ship those products to non-regulated areas must have stock inspected, as well as have a certificate showing their product is free of spotted lanternflies. 

    ODA is no longer asking Ohioans to report sightings of the inspect. Instead, it asks Ohioans to read the recommendation guide for treatment methods if spotted lanternflies are on your property. 

    “The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that is known to cause harm to Ohio’s agricultural industry,” ODA Director Brian Baldridge said. “ODA is committed to protecting and preserving our plant life, and plant health experts are working with nurseries and wineries to reduce the negative impact of SLF.” 

    More information on the spotted lanternfly can be found here.

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    Lydia Taylor

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  • Ohio nonprofit for migrant women named one of 10 Elevate Prize winners

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    FREMONT, Ohio — For Mónica Ramírez, being named one of this year’s 10 Elevate Prize winners means so much more than the monetary and structural support that comes with it.

    It means the work she does with her Fremont, Ohio-based nonprofit Justice for Migrant Women, which advocates for the rights and needs of migrant women and other marginalized communities, is still valued despite the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

    What You Need To Know

    • Like all Elevate Prize winners announced Tuesday, Justice for Migrant Women will receive $300,000 in unrestricted funding

    • Ramirez, its founder and president, will receive support and training on organizational growth and increasing the group’s visibility

    • Ramirez says she looks forward to telling the stories of the people she supports through Justice for Migrant Women

    “As immigrant and migrant community members are being threatened and attacked around our country, it’s really important to have shows of support like the Elevate Prize is providing because we’ve seen a retraction — a big retraction — in support,” said Ramirez, who burst into tears when she learned she had won. “The award means we are able to do the work that we know is so urgently needed.”

    Like all Elevate Prize winners announced Tuesday, Justice for Migrant Women will receive $300,000 in unrestricted funding and Ramirez, its founder and president, will receive support and training on organizational growth and increasing the group’s visibility.

    Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram told The Associated Press that a group’s public profile has become more important these days. Not only does it help with fundraising and informing the public, but visibility “is also a form of protection,” she said.

    “It’s more important than ever to double down on leaders like Monica,” said Jayaram, adding that one of last year’s Elevate Prize winners, Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, had been barred from the United States by the State Department last year for what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called “organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize and suppress American viewpoints they oppose.” A federal judge in December blocked the Trump administration from detaining Ahmed, a British citizen who lives in Washington.

    To help Elevate Prize winners get more attention for their work, Jayaram said the foundation is launching “Good Is Trending,” an initiative that will include taking over NASDAQ’s Times Square billboards on Tuesday to shine a spotlight on the winners.

    That bigger spotlight is something prize winner Mara Fleishman, CEO of Chef Ann Foundation, which brings made-from-scratch meals to schools, hopes will bring her nonprofit to the next level. The Boulder, Colorado-based organization has already attracted support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Waverley Street Foundation for its work, which supports elementary and secondary schools in developing menus that are less dependent on processed foods and utilize more fresh local produce.

    “We’ve worked with over 17,000 schools and reached more than five million kids,” Fleishman said. “But how do we take the work we’ve done and turn it into something digestible for legislators and advocates to understand what is possible?”

    Fleishman said her foundation needs to find ways to get the public to become a “force multiplier” for its message and carry it into school board meetings and statehouses around the country.

    A lot of that work can be done through storytelling, Jayaram said. And the Elevate Prize selection panel took the potential stories the nominees could tell into account when choosing the winners.

    “People pay more attention to people than they do to issues,” Jayaram said. “So when you can ground an issue in the story of a person, of a community, of a neighborhood, suddenly the whole world can start to engage and relate to that because it’s not that different from a community and a neighborhood and a family somewhere else.”

    The Elevate Prize Foundation has believed in the power of storytelling for years. Last year, it even launched its own production house Elevate Studios to tell the stories of its prize winners more effectively, on platforms ranging from YouTube videos to feature-length documentaries released in theaters.

    Ramirez says she looks forward to telling the stories of the people she supports through Justice for Migrant Women.

    “I really think that the Elevate Prize is going to help us give a microphone to the people that we serve,” she said. “That’s my hope.”

    The 2026 class of Elevate Prize winners are: Shabana Basij-Rasikh, president and co-founder of SOLA (School of Leadership, Afghanistan) for Afghan girls; Hillary Blout, founder and executive director of For the People, which helps people get released from prison; Manu Chopra, CEO of Karya, which brings AI advancements to low-income communities; Mara Fleishman, CEO of Chef Ann Foundation, which brings made-from-scratch meals to schools; Aisha Nyandoro, CEO of Springboard to Opportunities, which supports residents living in federally subsidized affordable housing; Tom Osborn, founder and CEO of Shamiri Institute, which brings mental health care to underserved regions, starting with Africa; Ai-jen Poo, executive director of Caring Across Generations, which centers care as a national priority; Mónica Ramírez, founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, which supports migrant and rural women’s rights; Krutika Ravishankar, co-founder and executive director of Farmers for Forests, which protects and restores forests across India; Utkarsh Saxena, executive director of Adalat AI, which develops AI tools for the court system.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Mae C. Jemison: The first African American woman in space

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    Becoming an astronaut is challenging, yet one woman defied the odds to become the first African American woman in space.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jemison wanted to study science from an early age

    • She first studied medicine before starting a career at NASA

    • She went to space in Sept. 1992

    • After NASA, she accomplished many more things


    Early life accomplishments

    Born in the 1950s, Mae C. Jemison refused to let anything stop her from becoming one of the most accomplished African American women in history.

    She was born in Decatur, Ala. but grew up in Chicago, and from a very early age, she knew she wanted to study science.

    She worked hard and graduated from high school at just 16, then headed across the country to attend Stanford University.

    As one of the few African Americans in her class, she faced discrimination from both students and teachers, yet she earned two degrees in four years—chemical engineering and African American studies.

    Jemison didn’t begin her career in space; she first attended Cornell Medical School, where she earned her medical degree and practiced general medicine.

    Her talents also didn’t stop in science. Jemison is fluent in Japanese, Russian and Swahili. She used this and her medical studies to her advantage and joined the Peace Corps in 1983 to help people in Africa for two years.

    Jemison with the rest of the Endeavour Crew in 1992. (AP Photo/Chris O’ Meara)

    On to space

    After serving in the Peace Corps, Jemison opened a private medical practice, but before long she set her sights on a long-held dream: going to space.

    Jemison applied for the astronaut program at NASA in 1985. Unfortunately, NASA stopped accepting applications after the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.

    In 1987, Jemison reapplied and was chosen as one of 15 out of 2,000 applicants. Nichelle Nichols—Uhura from the original Star Trek—recruited her, and as a longtime fan, Jemison later guest-starred in an episode of the series.

    In Sept. 1992, she joined six other astronauts on the Endeavor for eight days, making her the first African American woman in space. On her mission, she made 127 orbits around the Earth.

    Mae C. Jemison on board the Endeavour in 1992. (Photo by NASA)

    After NASA

    Jemison left NASA the year after she went to space and accomplished many more things.

    She started her own consulting company, became a professor at Cornell, launched the Jemison Institute for Advancing Technology in Developing Countries, created an international space camp for teens and much more.

    She currently leads 100 Year Starship through DARPA, United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which works to ensure humans will travel to another star in the next 100 years.

    With all her accomplishments, it’s no surprise Jemison was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the National Medical Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Science Hall of Fame.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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  • Inaugural uniforms revealed for Columbus Aviators

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — While football may seem far away, the UFL is gearing up for its season with Columbus’ inaugural team unveiling its new uniforms.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Columbus Aviators are preparing for the 2026 UFL season with uniforms that reflect “the Aviators’ spirit to ‘challenge, innovate and conquer the unimaginable’”

    • The uniforms are navy to reflect Ohio’s air and space trailblazers with white accents

    • The uniforms will debut with the team March 29 as the Aviators take on the Orlando Storm at 8 p.m.

    The Columbus Aviators are preparing for the 2026 season with uniforms that reflect “the Aviators’ spirit to ‘challenge, innovate and conquer the unimaginable.’”

    These uniforms are navy to reflect Ohio’s air and space trailblazers with white accents. The team’s helmets are blue to reflect open skies, and side pant striping symbolizes the constant forward motion. 

    (UFL)

    NOBULL, a footwear and apparel company, is the Exclusive Training Footwear Partner of the UFL and will be the official jersey patch partner for all eight teams. New Era, an international sports and lifestyle brand, will be the official jersey and headwear partner. Adidas, a multinational athletic apparel and footwear manufacturer, will serve as the footwear partner, providing game-day shoes and gloves.

    The uniforms will debut with the team March 29 as the Aviators take on the Orlando Storm at 8 p.m. Columbus’ home opener is set for April 3 at 11 a.m. at Crew Stadium against the DC Defenders. 

    (UFL)

    The UFL’s season kicks off March 27. The league consists of eight teams, including the Birmingham Stallions, Columbus Aviators, Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Houston Gamblers, Louisville Kings, Orlando Storm and St. Louis Battlehawks.

    For more information or to purchase tickets to a UFL game, click here.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Summit Metro Parks unveils restored 1928 Model AA truck

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    SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — Summit Metro Parks is embracing history this year as its 1928 Model AA truck hits the road again. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The park’s truck faced a variety of mechanical problems, leading to it being undrivable and in need of professional work

    • Summit Metro Parks said its Model AA was purchased in 2001 by Friends of the Metro Parks and gifted

    • Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland stepped up to help repair the truck

    The park’s truck faced a variety of mechanical problems, leading to it be undrivable and in need of professional work. Through a grant from the Summit Metro Parks Foundation and working with Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum volunteers, the piece of history is ready to hit the road once more.

    Summit Metro Parks said its Model AA was gifted in 2001 and purchased by Friends of the Metro Parks. It has been featured in parades and on display at events such as the annual Touch-a-Truck. 

    “The truck symbolizes the more than 100-year history of the park district and is used in community parades and historical events county-wide,” the park said in a news release. “Even with good upkeep, the vintage vehicle needed some more involved repairs. However, finding a 100-year-old mechanic who had a shop full of specific parts was a no-go.”

    Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland stepped in, starting the work almost immediately while other shops had quoted a three-year wait. Summit Metro Parks said it offered to donate its time and labor, so long as the parts were prepaid.

    “After a full inspection, the incredibly knowledgeable museum volunteers got to work,” Summit Metro Parks said in a release. “There was a lot to be done, and they collaborated with other vintage car experts on the finer details.”

    Work completed included: 

    • Building a replacement engine
    • Rebuilding the transmission
    • Rebuilding carburetor
    • Replaced radiator
    • Swapped out the generator for alternator
    • Steering box, steering column and steering wheel were all replaced and rebuilt
    • Braking system was fixed
    • New muffler installed
    • The seat bottom received padding and replacement springs
    • Various parts were cleaned and repainted
    • Tires and inner tubes were replaced
    • New lights with an original-looking LED bulb assembles
    • The horn was rebuilt and installed

    “The 1928 Model AA is now back in action,” Summit Metro Parks said in a release. “Watch for it in local parades or at car shows and community events.”

    The truck will also be on display at the park’s annual Touch-a-Truck in August.

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    Madison MacArthur

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  • Reds sign Nathaniel Lowe to a minor league deal

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    GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds signed veteran first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp in spring training, the team announced Saturday.

    The 30-year-old Lowe split time between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox last season. He struggled with the Nationals but played well for the Red Sox down the stretch, batting .280 with two homers and 16 RBIs over 100 at-bats.

    According to MLB.com, if Lowe makes the club out of camp, he would earn $1.75 million this season with a chance to reach $2 million with performance bonuses.

    Lowe won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023 and hit a career-high 27 homers in 2022.

    He has a .264 average and 107 homers over a seven-year career with the Rangers, Nationals, Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Thomas, Lewis help No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 in Nashville

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Malik Thomas and Sam Lewis each scored 13 points and No. 15 Virginia beat Ohio State 70-66 on Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena in the Nashville Hoops Showdown.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    • Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9).

    • He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    The Cavaliers (22-3) extended their winning streak to six.

    Bruce Thornton scored 28 points for Ohio State (16-9). He also had an assist, the 500th of his career.

    Amare Bynum had 15 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes in their latest nonconference game in nearly 40 years.

    It was tied at 37 at the half, with Virginia erasing an early Ohio State lead

    Ohio State opened up a six-point lead with under 10 minutes remaining, but the Cavaliers had a 6-0 run to tie it.

    With just over a minute remaining, Lewis forced a turnover and then went the length of the floor for a layup to give Virginia a 65-61 lead. He then hit a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left to put the game out of reach.

    Prior to the game, Ohio State said John Mobley Jr. will be sidelined indefinitely due to a hand injury sustained Wednesday night against Southern California. Mobley started the Buckeyes’ first 24 games, averaging 15.1 points.

    The Cavaliers are 10-2 away from home, including 3-1 in neutral-site games.

    Up next

    Ohio State: Hosts Wisconsin on Tuesday night.

    Virginia: At Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Brother’s Keeper working to help young men feel connected

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    Editor’s Note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

    UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio — There is a loneliness epidemic, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and one group that’s been particularly affected is young men.

    What You Need To Know

    • The suicide rate is four times higher for men than for women

    • Students at John Carroll University meet monthly to build more intimate relationships and ward off loneliness

    • Young men are less likely to open up to family members because they don’t want to be a burden

    Between 2010 and 2023, the suicide rate for males ages 15–24 rose by 26% according to the American Institute for Boys and Men.

    One man is trying to change that.

    “From a very young age, boys are taught that certain feelings, they can’t express,” said Matt Wooters, therapist and a professor at John Carroll University.

    He said that’s enforced on social media and with their peers.

    “There’s nothing to be ashamed of, to feel any spectrum of emotion,” Wooters said.

    He started a group called Brother’s Keeper. It’s a safe space where young college men can share about more than just football scores. They meet monthly.

    “There’s a lot of talk about toxic masculinity in the modern discourse. And it’s interesting that there’s also a lot of talk about male loneliness and isolation,” Wooters said. “I think those two things are connected.”

    Men are more likely than women to feel socially isolated and not meaningfully part of any community, according to the AIBM, and their suicide rate is four times higher than women.

    “I think it really stems back to the phones and social media, even when we seem like we’re super connected with others, there’s a sense of loneliness, and that connection that it’s not really genuine,” said junior Casey LaForce.

    LaForce attends the monthly meetings. He plays lacrosse and considers himself close to his teammates, but he said the talks just aren’t the same.

    “You just see each other and you ask ‘Oh, how’s your day going? Oh, it’s good.’ And it doesn’t go much deeper than that,” he said.

    He said that the conversations in the group are much deeper.

    Wooters said he intentionally chooses athletes.

    “Even the most connected, successful, popular students on campus, especially male students, don’t have spaces to be authentic,” Wooters said.

    He said men don’t share with family because they don’t want to be a burden.

    “One single adult in their life that isn’t a family member, that they can call when they’re not doing well or when they’re doing well, changes everything,” Wooters said.

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    Kimberly Perez

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