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Tag: Ohio

  • How to reuse your pumpkins after Halloween

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    Halloween was a few days ago, but don’t throw out those pumpkins. There are lots ways to reuse your pumpkins or jack-o’-lanterns now that the trick-or-treating is done. 

    What You Need To Know

    • There are several ways to recycle your pumpkins

    • Leftover pumpkins can make tasty dishes

    • Pumpkin scraps are also an excellent fertilizer for your garden.

    Turn pumpkins into food

    If you didn’t carve the pumpkins yet, consider using it for food. You can scoop out the guts of the pumpkin and turn it into a puree.

    To make a puree, you need to cut up the pumpkin and roast the halves. After they’ve roasted, scoop out the flesh and blend it to turn into a puree.

    The puree could then be used to make pies, soups and sauces.

    (Pexels)

    You can also the roast the pumpkin seeds too after taking out the guts and rinsing them. One cup of pumpkin seeds is equivalent to approximately 12 grams of protein. 

    Pumpkin for animals

    Leftover pumpkins can also become bird feeders.

    You just have to cut off the top third of the pumpkin, empty the cavity, fill it with bird seeds and hang it in the yard for the birds.

    Check with your local zoo. Some will take donated pumpkin scraps and use them as feed for animals. Polar bears enjoy them as a snack.

    Composting pumpkins

    Pumpkins are also good for composting. You can use the pumpkin scraps to help fertilize your garden.

    You can even make it a game for kids to smash leftover pumpkins and use it as compost.

    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 Keith Bryant

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  • Shooting at teen birthday party in Ohio rental home leaves 9 injured

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    Gunfire erupted early Sunday at a large rental home where teenagers had gathered for a birthday party that was promoted on social media, injuring nine people. The scene in northeastern Ohio was chaotic as some people fled and first responders performed life-saving measures, police said.

    The shooting happened at around 12:15 a.m. in Bath Township, about 15 miles northwest of Akron.

    At a Sunday morning news conference, Police Chief Vito Sinopoli said the seriousness of the victims’ injuries was not clear. It was also not immediately clear if all nine people were shot — one person’s leg injury may have been caused by a fall, he said.

    Sinopoli said the large home had been rented out on Airbnb, which is not allowed under local zoning ordinances, and most of the people at the party were under 18. He said the victims may include a mix of juveniles and adults. Their ages range from 15 to 20, CBS affiliate WOIO reported. 

    Social media posts about the party drew a big crowd, Sinopoli said. It was not immediately known what sparked the shooting and how many people fired guns, he said. No arrests were announced.

    “The Bath Township community experienced a tragic and senseless act of violence early this morning,” Sinopoli said.

    Akron police and firefighters responded to the shooting, and Mayor Shammas Malik said the city will provide any assistance to the investigation that’s underway.

    “Those who perpetrate violence anywhere in our community must be held accountable for their actions. This kind of deadly behavior cannot be normalized,” Malik said in a statement posted to social media. “In addition, the reports of so many young people at a rented house party are very concerning. As we learn more about the situation that occurred last night, it appears to be part of a broader issue – helping make sure youth across our community are safe.”

    Airbnb said in a statement Sunday that it prohibits “unauthorized and disruptive gatherings,” and it has suspended the property listing and removed the account of the person who rented the home. It said it has seen a 50% decrease in the rate of reported parties since 2020, when it put into effect a global party ban policy.

    “We are heartbroken by this senseless act of gun violence, and our thoughts are with the injured victims and all those affected by it,” the company said, adding that it was cooperating with the police investigation.

    Sinopoli said another shooting at an Airbnb rental home in town in 2017 wounded a person, who suffered a leg injury.

    “It’s pretty much an indicator that no community is immune from violence, and this happened to be in Bath Township again, unfortunately,” he said.

    Sinopoli said he talked with the property owner about the shooting and discussed the town’s prohibition against short-term home rentals. He said home rentals are not a crime, only a zoning violation.

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  • Nine juveniles injured in Sunday morning shooting in Bath Township

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    BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio —  Police in Bath Township are probing an early Sunday shooting at an Airbnb rental on Top O Hill Drive, where a social media party led to nine juvenile victims.

    What You Need To Know

    • Nine juvenile victims were attacked at a social media party early Sunday morning 

    • All victims were taken to local hospitals 

    • Authorities have yet to determine any suspects in the shooting

    Around midnight on November 2, police arrived at the house after hearing about gunfire. Initial findings suggest many youths gathered at the house after seeing a party advertised online. Multiple rounds were fired by an unknown person or people, hitting victims, then fleeing, according to police.

    The following agencies responded: Akron PD, Summit County Sheriff, Copley PD, Fairlawn PD, Richfield Village PD, Richfield FD, Copley FD, Fairlawn FD, Bath FD, Cuyahoga Falls FD, Granger Township FD, Sharon Center FD, Akron FD, Norton FD and the Ohio BCI.

    Emergency responders immediately helped the victims, then took them to hospitals. At this moment, the victims’ conditions are unknown.

    The Ohio BCI is assisting Bath Township Police investigators, who are currently processing the crime scene.

    Authorities in Bath Township are still investigating the shooting and seeking the perpetrators.

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    Ryan Johnston

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  • Growing Food Insecurity Prompts Communities to Step Up

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    BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — As federal SNAP benefits remain on hold, food pantries across Ohio are struggling to meet rising demand, prompting residents and volunteers in Logan County to hold a community food drive to help families who have lost access to food assistance.

    What You Need To Know

    • With SNAP benefits on hold, food pantries across Ohio are struggling to meet growing needs
    • Community members are stepping up to collect food and support families facing food insecurity
    • Local pantries said meal-ready items are in short supply as more families seek help

    Dustin Ragland, who organized the Logan County Food Drive, said the effort aimed to fill the gap left by shrinking benefits and limited resources.

    Ragland once relied on SNAP himself 20 years ago as a single father and said he understands how quickly families can fall into food insecurity.

    “We all need help,” Ragland said. “I think it’s the job of the community to come together and fill that gap, no matter what the circumstances are.”

    He said the event was designed to ensure families don’t go hungry when government systems fail to provide adequate support.

    “Our leaders may not be able to work together, but our community still can,” he said.

    The donations collected during the drive will be divided equally among the food pantries that participated, helping distribute resources across Logan County.

    Bobbi Allen, pastor of Buckeye Gospel Barn, said her pantry serves more than 400 families each month. She said calls for help began increasing as soon as SNAP benefits were paused.

    “It’s going to be hard,” Allen said. “Because already, before I even arrived here, I’ve got people calling, saying, ‘Hey, can we come over and get some food?’”

    Allen said even simple, kid-friendly foods such as canned spaghetti are getting harder to keep on the shelves. She said pantries especially need items that can serve as complete meals and don’t require extra ingredients.

    Allen said she’s already noticed a sense of panic among SNAP recipients as parents worry about how they’ll feed their children in the coming days, with many running low on groceries and unsure how they’ll make it through next week.

    Despite the growing strain, Allen said the community’s response gives her hope.

    “Just reach out to each other, be kind to each other and help each other,” she said. “Because if we all start binding together, we can do it.”

    Ragland said he plans to continue organizing community efforts through the holidays.

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    Saima Khan

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  • Flacco hopes to shake off loss and injury as Bengals host Bears

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    CINCINNATI — First came a disappointing loss for Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, the 40-year-old quarterback is dealing with a shoulder injury.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals are both looking to rebound from recent losses as they face off on Sunday

    • Cincinnati quarterback Joe Flacco has a shoulder injury, but coach Zac Taylor says the 40-year-old Flacco is able to succeed with minimal preparation

    • Cincinnati needs a win to stay in the AFC North race

    On Sunday, the Bengals will host a Chicago Bears team that also felt it should have won last weekend.

    The Bears (4-3) had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 30-16 loss at the Baltimore Ravens, who were missing quarterback Lamar Jackson for a third straight game.

    The Bengals (3-5) blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 39-38 to the previously winless New York Jets.

    Cincinnati needs a win to stay in the AFC North race and has concerns about the health of Flacco, who injured the AC joint in his throwing shoulder during the second half against the Jets. The 18-year veteran did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday.

    Even if Flacco gets limited practice snaps, coach Zac Taylor is confident in his quarterback, as long as he’s healthy enough to play. The 40-year-old Flacco made his first Bengals start at Green Bay five days after being traded from Cleveland and then led Cincinnati to victory in his second game on a Thursday night against Pittsburgh after another short week.

    The Bengals are counting on Flacco to keep them afloat while star quarterback Joe Burrow recovers from toe surgery, and Taylor expects Flacco to do everything he can to play.

    “I think if anybody in this league can get by on minimal reps right now, it’s him,” Taylor said.

    “I’ve seen him show up three days with no knowledge of our offense whatsoever, Ja’Marr (Chase) got minimal work that week and the next week we got no physical reps whatsoever. I think that proof is out there that we could do it if we needed to,” the coach continued.

    In his three starts with the Bengals, Flacco has a 100.1 passer rating, a 64.3% completion rate, and has thrown for seven touchdowns with no interceptions.

    For Chicago, Caleb Williams will make his 25th NFL start on Sunday. The second-year QB has completed 18 passes of 25-plus yards this season, second-most in the league. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus each had seven receptions last week.

    Williams and the Bears are looking for better production in the red zone. Chicago has had 19 trips inside opponents’ 20 over the past five games and has seven touchdowns and nine field goals. The Bengals’ defense has allowed a TD 70.3% of the time in the red zone, the third-highest rate.

    “It just comes down to execution. As a run game, as a pass game, it comes down to details,” Williams said. “Run game: stand on landmarks, hitting the holes, finding those — even if it’s not a gaping hole, getting those dirty four yards, three yards, because that goes a long way. Then pass game, it’s just being on the same page.”

    Chase’s streak

    Chase has three straight games with at least 10 catches, a first in franchise history.

    The fifth-year All-Pro leads the league with 70 receptions, including 38 in the past three games. If he gets double-digit receptions against the Bears, he would join Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson as the only players to do it in four straight games.

    “When you watch the tape, especially over the last few weeks, they’re feeding some targets to him. There’s times I look on the tape, I’m like, ‘There’s two dudes draped all over him and they’re still throwing the ball to him’, so they have a lot of confidence in what he can do,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said.

    Turnover battle

    Turnovers have been a key to the Bears’ four victories. Chicago has an NFL-best 16 takeaways and defensive back Kevin Byard III is tied for the league lead with four interceptions.

    The Bears have three or more takeaways in each of their wins but have totaled just one in their three losses.

    The Bengals haven’t committed a turnover in their past three games.

    “I think that shows as a defense right now when we get takeaways, we win the ballgame,” Byard said. We have to play cleaner football. But we know the recipe for, at least on the back end, we take the ball away. So just doing everything we can to try to get the ball. That’s always on our mind, so that’s been a discussion.”

    Being run over

    The Bengals have allowed four 100-yard games to running backs, their most in the first eight weeks of a season since five opposing backs did it in 2007.

    Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren had 127 yards on Oct. 16 and the Jets’ Breece Hall ran for 133 last Sunday. The Bengals are last in the league in run defense, allowing 151.9 yards per game.

    Chicago’s D’Andre Swift has 464 rushing yards and has scored a touchdown from scrimmage in four straight games.

    “Honestly, it’s a collective effort. You can’t point one thing out. Everyone is on the field and has to do his job,” Bengals safety Geno Stone said. “The only thing I can say for the back end is (that), I think whenever we have the opportunity to have an open-field tackle, we just have to get them down. That’s really all it is — no matter if the run breaks — we just have to get them down and we can’t let them score.”

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • NTSB investigating ‘loss of separation’ between two aircrafts near CLE

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    CLEVELAND, Ohio — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is sending a team to investigate what they said was a “loss of separation event” that occurred between an inbound Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 and a Eurocopter helicopter near the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Oct. 29.

    According to Skybrary.aero, a loss of seperation “between aircraft occurs whenever specified separation minima are breached.”

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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    Ruby Jackson

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  • Officer in stable condition after injury during ‘gunfight’

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    LIMA, Ohio — A Lima police officer is in stable condition after being shot in a “gunfight” that took place during a traffic stop late Friday night, according to a press release from the city.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Lima police officer is in stable condition after being injured in a “gunfight” Friday night

    • The gunfight occurred during a traffic stop

    • The city confirmed a suspect is also in stable condition

    It said an officer conducted a traffic stop around St. John’s Avenue and Second Street at around 10:44 p.m. Friday.

    “During the encounter, shots were fired from the stopped vehicle, and a gunfight ensued,” the release reads.

    The city said an officer and “multiple occupants of the vehicle” suffered injuries from gunshots, and all are receiving medical treatment.

    They said no fatalities have been reported as of now.

    “The incident remains under active investigation,” the release reads. “Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses and after notification of the individuals’ families. The City of Lima and the Lima Police Department ask for patience and respect for the privacy of those involved as this situation continues to unfold.”

    A spokesperson for the city later confirmed to Spectrum News 1 that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is taking over the investigation.

    “The officer and the suspect are stable and receiving medical treatment,” the spokesperson said.

    They said a person identified as a suspect was injured severely and is receiving ongoing medical treatment while another passenger had minor injuries and was released from the hospital after treatment.

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    Cody Thompson

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  • Day of the Dead sawdust carpets, altars celebrate life through tradition

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    CLEVELAND — A decades-long tradition from Guanajuato, Mexico is now returning to the Pivot Center for Art, Dance & Expression to celebrate Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

    What You Need To Know

    • Day of the Dead is rooted in Mexican and Latin American history but is now celebrated by millions of people across the globe during the first two days of November

    • Ways of celebrating the holiday can vary, but all traditions center around the believed unification of the living world and spirits in the afterlife

    • A local artist is partnering with the Mexican Committee of Cleveland and other groups to share the art and history of making Day of the Dead sawdust carpets and altars

    El Tapete de la Muerte/ Carpet of Death

    Artistic Director Hector Castellanos Lara is leading workshops to assemble a grand “tapete de muerte,” or, “carpet of death,” made of sawdust, sand and other natural materials. He said sawdust rugs are a Holy Week tradition in several Latin American countries but was transformed into a Day of the Dead tradition by a group University of Guanajuato students in 2008. 

    The tradition grew in popularity and was adopted by the Pivot Art Center in 2022, and has returned each year since, Castellanos Lara said.

    “We start making classes [on] how to apply the sawdust and the colored sand to tiles that are made of foam board,” he said. “And, parents and grandparents and children, they come and they’re making their own.”

    He said each student makes decorates an individual tiles that are placed around a central image, altogether forming a larger art. He said, the carpets will remain on display until the center’s Day of the Dead celebration on Sunday.

    “La Catrina” is a skeletal figure that’s become a national symbol for Day of the Dead in Mexico. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “The ceremony will end with the Catrina [who] will walk over the tapete de la muerte and everything will be moved around. All this, all those colors… those will be all over,” Catellanos Lara said.

    Ofrendas/ Altars 

    The Pivot Arts Center is also inviting members of the community to participate in a more common Day of the Dead tradition: building altars. These displays also known as “ofrendas,” hold offerings meant to invite the spirits of loved ones.

    Frances Araujo is one of several families invited by the Comité Mexicano de Cleveland to construct one of these altars. 

    Day of the Dead ofrendas often showcase a mix of indigenous and Spanish histories, commonly featuring items like a “copal” – used in ceremonies as incense – and religious crosses.

    Day of the Dead ofrendas often showcase a mix of indigenous and Spanish histories, commonly featuring items like a “copal” – used in ceremonies as incense – and religious crosses. (Spectrum News 1/Tanya Velazquez)

    “Despite the pain that the death of a loved one can cause us, we also take it with joy and remember it with with affection,” she said.

    Day of the Dead altars typically showcase which often include, photos of deceased loved ones, bread of the dead, flowers and other symbolic objects, Araujo said.

    “We put candles, which is for them to walk toward the light,” she said. “We put the water to them, so they aren’t thirsty on the way. … Also the food that they liked or their favorite.”

    The holiday’s history

    Ancestral elements also hold an important space on the altar, said Lucia Gutierrez, who is an indigenous, Purépecha medicine woman and biochemical engineer.

    Gutierrez grew up in Michoacán, Mexico, where she said the holiday spans longer than two days and is known by a different name.

    “So we actually don’t call it Noche de Muertos.’ We call it ‘Noche de las Ánimas,’ which can be translated to ‘Return of the Souls.’ But it’s actually like weeks for that celebration,” Gutierrez said.

    A growing number of people celebrate Day of the Dead each year, she said, but it’s important to recognize its indigenous roots.

    Lucia Gutierrez shared her homeland’s traditions with other community members at the Young Latino Network’s

    Lucia Gutierrez shared her homeland’s traditions with other community members at the Young Latino Network’s

    “For a lot of indigenous people … in order to preserve traditions, we have to mix our tradition with religion, or different things that now we are used to,” she said. “Before that, there were elements that were part of our daily life, like the use of ‘copal’, or the use of salt, or the use of fire.”

    While Día de los Muertos traditions can vary, Castellanos Lara said, all represent the celebration of life.

    “It’s important because that’s the only way we can transmit those to our children,” Castellanos Lara said. “And the new generation that will continue these beautiful events and traditions annually.”

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • High school athletes could engage in NIL deals 

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — It could be a game changer for high school athletics in our state. 

    A judge’s ruling has prompted the OHSAA to schedule a vote that could allow student-athletes to make money off their name, image, and likeness. 

    What You Need To Know

    • A judge’s ruling has prompted the OHSAA to schedule a vote that could allow student-athletes to make money off their name, image, and likeness

    • This already exists in other states

    • Ohio high school athletes can now sign endorsement deals and earn money through social media

    It’s an opportunity that that most high school athletes in other states already have.

    Ohio high school athletes can now sign endorsement deals and earn money through social media.

    It became legal when a judge issued a temporary restraining order in October in response to a lawsuit by a star football player who’s committed to Ohio State.

    And regardless of how schools vote in a few weeks, many believe NIL is here to stay.

    For Tony Cornett, NIL is about more than just making money.

    “You’re basically getting paid to represent yourself, on how you carry yourself as a person rather than just basketball itself,” said Cornett, a junior at Westerville North High School.

    The junior guard on the Westerville North basketball team started gaining recognition when he helped lead the Warriors to a state title last season.

    Now he’s is hoping to take advantage of this new opportunity being given to Ohio high school athletes.

    “I’m very close with my family, mom, dad, grandmas, grandpas, uncles, aunts, I feel like my parents would be extremely proud of me if I ended up getting a deal,” Cornett said.

    Westerville North Athletic Director, Wes Elfrritz, said the Ohio High School Athletic Association is doing the right thing by scheduling a vote that could bring Ohio in line with 44 other states. 

    “The OHSAA has gotten ahead of this vote, and they’ve kind of put some parameters in place so if its passed we’re looking at making sure our student athletes keep their potential deals separate from their school, so we don’t have any conflicts of interest,” said Elifritz.

    For example, if a student athlete is promoting a business, Elifritz said they wouldn’t be allowed to do so while they’re representing their school during a practice or a game. 

    “And also, if they’re at the business, or promoting in a commercial, they cannot be displaying or verbalizing the school that they’re a part of so the goal is to kind of keep those two things separate,” Elifritz said.

    Some high school athletes get thrown into the spotlight quickly. Favour Akih is a senior running back at Delaware Hayes high school. He never touched a football until his freshman season.

    Three years later, he’s become a top-10 recruit in Ohio and has committed to play for the Buckeyes. 

    But he’s excited that he won’t have to wait for college to profit from his talent.

    “It would be a major opportunity because I know a lot of single parent households families that are really talented football players that could capitalize on this opportunity here,” said Akih.

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    Cassidy Wilson

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  • Wedding couples celebrate the spooky season at Akron Civic Theatre

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    AKRON — Dressing up for Halloween is an annual tradition for Brian Rubenstein, but this year, he isn’t just wearing his costume for trick-or-treaters.

    What You Need To Know

    • More than two-thirds of Americans are celebrating Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation

    • This holiday, several northeast Ohio couples are showing how walking down the aisle is nothing to be scared of

    • Akron Civic Theatre is partnering with Summit County to provide people with an opportunity to get married at the nearly 100-year-old venue

    Rubenstein and Ian McCormick were one of many couples walking down the aisle at the Akron Civic Theatre this holiday weekend. 

    “It is my favorite holiday,” Rubenstein said. “I like the, you know, pretty much the whole month of October. A spooky, scary thing. but it’s also tied to, you know, a deep changing of the seasons, the changing of the year.”

    And they aren’t the only ones keeping the spooky spirit alive on their special day.

    Nico Stinziano and Jessica Wheeler are also celebrating their next big milestone, while representing a classic, dark romance: Morticia and Gomez Addams. 

    The two are high school sweethearts, now tying the knot after getting engaged on the same date two years ago.

    “We just kind of went up to the courts, and they actually told us that was the only day available, which was perfect because that’s the day we wanted. So it kind of just works in our favor,” Stinziano said.

    And next Halloween, Rubenstein said he and McCormick are planning to host a larger wedding party for all their friends and family.

    “More to be able to save up money and have the actual celebration and stuff that we want,” Rubenstein said. “But we did want to get the actual, legal part done with first, and that just removes one obstacle that we don’t have to deal with on that day.”

    Still, Rubenstein and McCormick said they’re celebrating more than just their marriage and Halloween.

    “I remember a time when I didn’t think this was something we’d ever be able to do, and it it’s like a dream come true, a miracle to be able to do this here,” McCormick said. “We made it. We hit the finish line. It’s on paper now.”

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    Tanya Velazquez

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  • Black Vultures Attack and Kill Cattle. Climate Change Is One Reason They’re Spreading North

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    EMINENCE, Ky. (AP) — Allan Bryant scans the sky as he watches over a minutes-old calf huddled under a tree line with its mother. After a few failed tries, the calf stands on wobbly legs for the first time, looking to nurse.

    Above, a pair of birds circle in the distance. Bryant, hoping they’re not black vultures, is relieved to see they’re only turkey vultures — red-headed and not aggressive.

    “Honestly, the black vulture is one of the ugliest things I’ve ever seen,” he said. “They’re easy to hate.”

    Black vultures, scavengers that sometimes attack and kill sick or newborn animals, didn’t used to be a problem here. But now Bryant frequently sees the birds following a birth. He hasn’t lost a calf in several years, but they’ve killed his animals before. So now he takes measures to stop them.

    In some of his fields, he erects a scarecrow of sorts — a dead black vulture — aimed at scaring off the birds. It’s a requirement of his depredation permit through the Kentucky Farm Bureau, which allows him to shoot a few birds a year. The dead bird keeps the live birds away for about a week, but they eventually come back, he said.

    It’s a problem that may grow worse for cattle farmers as the scavenging birds’ range expands northward, in part due to climate change. Lobbying groups have been pushing for legislation that would allow landowners to kill more of these birds, which are protected but not endangered. But experts say more research is needed to better understand how the birds impact livestock and how their removal could affect ecosystems.


    Warmer winters and changing habitats expanding birds’ range

    Black vultures used to mainly live in the southeastern U.S. and farther south in Latin and South America, but over the past century they’ve started to rapidly stretch northward and also west into the desert Southwest, said Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at Cornell Lab of Ornithology who studies bird migration.

    Warmer winters on average, fueled by climate change, are making it easier for the birds to stay in places that used to be too cold for them. What’s more, the human footprint in suburban and rural areas is enriching their habitat: development means cars, and cars mean roadkill. Cattle farms can also offer a buffet of vulnerable animals for vultures that learn the seasonal calving schedule.

    “If there’s one thing we’ve learned from a lot of different studies of birds, it’s that they are very good at taking advantage of food resources and remembering where those things are,” Farnsworth said.

    Although black vultures are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, they aren’t really a migratory species, he said. Instead, they breed, and some disperse to new areas and settle there.


    How farmers have been dealing with it

    After losing a calf to a black vulture a decade ago, Tom Karr, who raises cattle near Pomeroy, Ohio, tried to move his fall calving season later in the year in hopes the vultures would be gone by then. But that didn’t help — the birds stay all year, he said.

    Until newborn calves are a few days old, “we try to keep them up closer to the barns,” said Joanie Grimes, the owner of a 350-head calf-cow operation in Hillsboro, Ohio. She said they’ve been dealing with the birds for 15 years, but keeping them out of remote fields has helped improve matters.

    Annette Ericksen has noticed the black vultures for several years on her property, Twin Maples Farm in Milton, West Virginia, but they haven’t yet lost any animals to them. When they expect calves and lambs, they move the livestock into a barn, and they also use dogs — Great Pyrenees — trained to patrol the fields and the barnyard for raptors that might hurt the animals.

    The size of their operation makes it easier to account for every animal, but “any loss would be severely detrimental to our small business,” she wrote in an email.

    Local cattlemen’s associations and state farm bureaus often work together to help producers get depredation permits, which allow them to shoot a few birds each year, as long as they keep track of it on paper.

    “The difficulty with that is, if the birds show up, by the time you can get your permit, get all that taken care of, the damage is done,” said Brian Shuter, executive vice president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association. Farmers said calves can be worth hundreds of dollars or upward of $1,000 or $2,000, depending on the breed.


    A new bill would let farmers shoot the protected birds with less paperwork

    In March, lawmakers in Congress introduced a bill that would let farmers capture or kill any black vulture “in order to prevent death, injury, or destruction to livestock.” Many farmers and others in the cattle industry have supported the move, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in July commended the House Natural Resources Committee for advancing the bill.

    Farnsworth, of the Cornell lab, said it’s not necessarily a good thing to make it easier to kill black vultures, which he said fill “a super important role” in cleaning up “dead stuff.”

    Simply killing the birds, Farnsworth said, may make room for more bothersome predators or scavengers. He said though black vultures can leave behind gory damage, current research doesn’t show that they account for an outsize proportion of livestock deaths.

    But many farmers are unwilling to do nothing.

    “They just basically eat them alive,” Karr said. “It is so disgusting.”

    The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

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    Associated Press

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  • Joe Flacco hopes to shake off disappointing loss and injured shoulder

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    CINCINNATI — First came a disappointing loss for Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals. Now the 40-year-old quarterback is dealing with a shoulder injury.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals are both looking to rebound from recent losses as they face off on Sunday

    • The Bears had a four-game winning streak snapped by the Baltimore Ravens

    • The Bengals blew a 15-point lead against the New York Jets. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Flacco has a shoulder injury, but coach Zac Taylor says the 40-year-old Flacco is able to succeed with minimal preparation
    • Meanwhile, the Bears are looking for better production in the red zone

    On Sunday, the Bengals will host a Chicago Bears team that also felt it should have won last weekend.

    The Bears (4-3) had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 30-16 loss at the Baltimore Ravens, who were missing quarterback Lamar Jackson for a third straight game.

    The Bengals (3-5) blew a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost 39-38 to the previously winless New York Jets.

    Cincinnati needs a win to stay in the AFC North race and has concerns about the health of Flacco, who injured the AC joint in his throwing shoulder during the second half against the Jets. The 18-year veteran did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday.

    Even if Flacco gets limited practice snaps, coach Zac Taylor is confident in his quarterback, as long as he’s healthy enough to play. The 40-year old Flacco made his first Bengals start at Green Bay five days after being traded from Cleveland and then led Cincinnati to victory in his second game on a Thursday night against Pittsburgh after another short week.

    The Bengals are counting on Flacco to keep them afloat while star quarterback Joe Burrow recovers from toe surgery, and Taylor expects Flacco to do everything he can to play.

    “I think if anybody in this league can get by on minimal reps right now, it’s him,” Taylor said.

    “I’ve seen him show up three days with no knowledge of our offense whatsoever, Ja’Marr (Chase) got minimal work that week and the next week we got no physical reps whatsoever. I think that proof is out there that we could do it if we needed to,” the coach continued.

    In his three starts with the Bengals, Flacco has a 100.1 passer rating, a 64.3% completion rate, and has thrown for seven touchdowns with no interceptions.

    For Chicago, Caleb Williams will make his 25th NFL start on Sunday. The second-year QB has completed 18 passes of 25-plus yards this season, second-most in the league. Wide receivers Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus each had seven receptions last week.

    Williams and the Bears are looking for better production in the red zone. Chicago has had 19 trips inside opponents’ 20 over the past five games and has seven touchdowns and nine field goals. The Bengals’ defense has allowed a TD 70.3% of the time in the red zone, the third-highest rate.

    “It just comes down to execution. As a run game, as a pass game, it comes down to details,” Williams said. “Run game: stand on landmarks, hitting the holes, finding those — even if it’s not a gaping hole, getting those dirty four yards, three yards, because that goes a long way. Then pass game, it’s just being on the same page.”

    Chase’s streak

    Chase has three straight games with at least 10 catches, a first in franchise history.

    The fifth-year All-Pro leads the league with 70 receptions, including 38 in the past three games. If he gets double-digit receptions against the Bears, he would join Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson as the only players to do it in four straight games.

    “When you watch the tape, especially over the last few weeks, they’re feeding some targets to him. There’s times I look on the tape, I’m like, ‘There’s two dudes draped all over him and they’re still throwing the ball to him’, so they have a lot of confidence in what he can do,” Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said.

    Turnover battle

    Turnovers have been a key to the Bears’ four victories. Chicago has an NFL-best 16 takeaways and defensive back Kevin Byard III is tied for the league lead with four interceptions.

    The Bears have three or more takeaways in each of their wins but have totaled just one in their three losses.

    The Bengals haven’t committed a turnover in their past three games.

    “I think that shows as a defense right now when we get takeaways, we win the ballgame,” Byard said. We have to play cleaner football. But, we know the recipe for, at least on the back end, we take the ball away. So just doing everything we can to try to get the ball. That’s always on our mind, so that’s been a discussion.”

    Being run over

    The Bengals have allowed four 100-yard games to running backs, their most in the first eight weeks of a season since five opposing backs did it in 2007.

    Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren had 127 yards on Oct. 16 and the Jets’ Breece Hall ran for 133 last Sunday. The Bengals are last in the league in run defense, allowing 151.9 yards per game.

    Chicago’s D’Andre Swift has 464 rushing yards and has scored a touchdown from scrimmage in four straight games.

    “Honestly, it’s a collective effort. You can’t point one thing out. Everyone is on the field and has to do his job,” Bengals safety Geno Stone said. “The only thing I can say for the back end is (that), I think whenever we have the opportunity to have an open-field tackle, we just have to get them down. That’s really all it is — no matter if the run breaks — we just have to get them down and we can’t let them score.”

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Browns’ QB question: Stay the course with Gabriel or give Sanders a shot?

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    BEREA, Ohio — In another disappointing Browns season marked by the ongoing struggles to find a reliable quarterback, Cleveland faces a question: Stay with Dillon Gabriel or give Shedeur Sanders a shot?

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Browns are grappling with quarterback issues in another tough season

    • With a 2-6 record at the bye week, the team must decide whether to stick with Dillon Gabriel or give Shedeur Sanders a chance

    • Coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff are evaluating the offense, which has struggled beyond just the quarterback position

    With the Browns at 2-6 entering their bye week, it is more a matter of when Sanders — their highly publicized, fifth-round draft pick — will take his first NFL snaps and get his first start. Presumably, it will happen sometime between now and the Jan. 4 season finale at Cincinnati.

    As Kevin Stefanski, his coaching staff and the front office assess the first half of the Browns’ season, much of their time will be spent trying to fix a punchless offense whose problems go beyond who is under center.

    “I think it’s by position we have to be better and we have to put our players in better spots, if you will, and that includes every position. So, we’ll look at all of it this week and make a decision coming out of the bye,” Stefanski said on Monday.

    When it comes to Sanders, Stefanski has said, “Honestly, my focus is where we are right now. That’s not my focus.”

    Sanders has mainly practiced with the scout team, moving from third-string to backup after Joe Flacco was traded to Cincinnati.

    Another variable could be Deshaun Watson, who was thought to be out for the season after a second Achilles tendon injury in January. Watson has recently posted videos on social media showing him working out on the indoor field at the Browns’ facility.

    Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t the only one wondering why the Browns were quick to move on from Flacco.

    The veteran was benched after starting Cleveland’s first four games. Flacco had an NFL-low 60.3 passer rating, the league’s second-worst completion rate (58.1%), and six interceptions when the Browns gave Gabriel a shot.

    Gabriel’s numbers haven’t been much better. He has the third-lowest passer rating (75.8) and the fourth-worst completion rate in October (59.4%). He has thrown for four touchdowns and has a pair of interceptions.

    A different story has unfolded for Flacco since his move to Cincinnati on Oct. 7. In his first three starts with the Bengals, he has a 100.1 passer rating, a 64.3% completion rate, and has thrown for seven touchdowns with no interceptions.

    The difference? Flacco now has two game-breaking receivers: Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase leads the league with 70 receptions and has at least 10 catches in all three games Flacco has started.

    As for Cleveland’s receivers? Jerry Jeudy has a league-high eight dropped passes. Overall, the Browns are tied for second with 14 drops.

    Those struggles were clear in last Sunday’s 32-13 loss to New England. Cleveland’s wide receivers had only two of the team’s 21 receptions. Jeudy had none on his two targets. Tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku combined for 10 catches, including both touchdowns. Three running backs accounted for the other nine.

    The result is a nonexistent downfield passing attack. Gabriel is 1 for 8 on passes at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage.

    Rookie Quinshon Judkins has given the running game a spark with eight carries of at least 12 yards. However, because of Cleveland’s persistent passing struggles, teams have focused on stopping the second-round pick, who missed training camp and the first regular-season game due to an off-the-field matter.

    No matter who has been under center, the Browns often fall behind the chains. Their 35.5% successful play rate — gaining at least 4 yards on first down, half the needed yards on second, and converting on third or fourth — is the worst in the league.

    Cleveland’s 8.39 average yards to go on second down is the league’s second-highest. On 70.3% of those plays, they faced at least 7 yards — nearly 10% above league average.

    As a result, the Browns have gone three-and-out on 25.6% of possessions, the league’s fourth-highest rate. Under Gabriel, that figure jumps to a league-leading 29.5%.

    Stefanski — a two-time Coach of the Year — faces ongoing questions about turning play-calling duties over to first-year offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. So far, he has opted to stay the course.

    The question for the Browns is whether switching to Sanders or Watson would actually spark improvement, or if the team must make more wholesale adjustments to its offense.

    Sanders has the athleticism and was among the most accurate quarterbacks in the nation last year at Colorado with a 74% completion rate. The Browns must evaluate whether he is up to speed with play-calling and making changes on the fly.

    “He’s working hard and really learning by the day, by the week. He’s doing a nice job of getting the most out of each and every day and feeling more comfortable with the system,” quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave said last week.

    If Watson returns, he’d bring a veteran presence to the huddle, but he is 9-10 as Cleveland’s starter. He is also reviled by fans after the Browns sent three first-round picks to Houston for him in 2022 and then signed him to a massive contract that will go down as one of the worst in NFL history.

    Whoever the Browns decide to go with, the offense will look different when they take the field on Nov. 9 against the New York Jets. Jeudy and many of the veteran starters on the offensive line could be on other rosters by Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • As we “fall back” this weekend, the time change debate continues

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    It’s that time of the year again, when we “fall back” one hour, ending daylight saving time and returning to standard time and thus igniting the semi-annual debate.

    Do we proceed with the current standards and switch the clocks biannually in 48 of the 50 states? Or do we establish one standard and end this shifting of time? 

    19 states say yes, end the shifting and establish permanent daylight saving time. Federal law says no, and thus the debate continues. 

    Why we change the clocks

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. The thought was that by advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and even cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established the time frame for daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007, but this practice, according to millions of Americans, is outdated. 

    Not every state changes the clocks

    The law passed by Congress in 1966 allows states to opt out of observing daylight saving and stay in standard time year-round but not the other way around. Two states, Arizona and Hawaii, along with multiple U.S. territories have done so and thus stay in standard time the full year. 

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    President Trump’s feelings on time change

    Even President Trump sees it from both sides of the debate.

    “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation,” he wrote on his social media back on Dec. 13, 2024. 

    However, his Truth Social post in April boasted something completely different.

    A hearing convened in April by the Senate Commerce Committee was debating this issue. Trump’s endorsement might help settle the debate for lawmakers. 

    Sunshine Protection Act and its opponents

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, three and a half years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    Not everyone agrees with eliminating standard time.

    Earlier this week, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was on hand to thwart a bipartisan effort on the chamber floor to pass a bill establishing permanent daylight saving time. 

    “If permanent Daylight Savings Time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans,” said Cotton in his objection to a request by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to advance the bill by unanimous consent.

    Adding, “For many Arkansans, permanent daylight savings time would mean the sun wouldn’t rise until after 8:00 or even 8:30 a.m. during the dead of winter,” Emphasizing, “The darkness of permanent savings time would be especially harmful for school children and working Americans.”

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for the Senate to pass the bill this week, citing states’ rights as a major reason for his support for the so-called “Sunshine Protection Act.” 

    “It allows the people of each state to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families,” said Scott. “The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It’s confusing, unnecessary and completely outdated.”

    Cotton strengthened his argument by bringing up the “abject failure” of the last time Congress enacted permanent daylight saving time in 1974, pledging to always oppose legislation that would do just that.

     

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    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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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

    Source link

  • As we “fall back” this weekend, the time change debate continues

    [ad_1]

    It’s that time of the year again, when we “fall back” one hour, ending daylight saving time and returning to standard time and thus igniting the semi-annual debate.

    Do we proceed with the current standards and switch the clocks biannually in 48 of the 50 states? Or do we establish one standard and end this shifting of time? 

    19 states say yes, end the shifting and establish permanent daylight saving time. Federal law says no, and thus the debate continues. 

    Why we change the clocks

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. The thought was that by advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and even cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established the time frame for daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007, but this practice, according to millions of Americans, is outdated. 

    Not every state changes the clocks

    The law passed by Congress in 1966 allows states to opt out of observing daylight saving and stay in standard time year-round but not the other way around. Two states, Arizona and Hawaii, along with multiple U.S. territories have done so and thus stay in standard time the full year. 

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    President Trump’s feelings on time change

    Even President Trump sees it from both sides of the debate.

    “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation,” he wrote on his social media back on Dec. 13, 2024. 

    However, his Truth Social post in April boasted something completely different.

    A hearing convened in April by the Senate Commerce Committee was debating this issue. Trump’s endorsement might help settle the debate for lawmakers. 

    Sunshine Protection Act and its opponents

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, three and a half years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    Not everyone agrees with eliminating standard time.

    Earlier this week, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was on hand to thwart a bipartisan effort on the chamber floor to pass a bill establishing permanent daylight saving time. 

    “If permanent Daylight Savings Time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans,” said Cotton in his objection to a request by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to advance the bill by unanimous consent.

    Adding, “For many Arkansans, permanent daylight savings time would mean the sun wouldn’t rise until after 8:00 or even 8:30 a.m. during the dead of winter,” Emphasizing, “The darkness of permanent savings time would be especially harmful for school children and working Americans.”

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for the Senate to pass the bill this week, citing states’ rights as a major reason for his support for the so-called “Sunshine Protection Act.” 

    “It allows the people of each state to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families,” said Scott. “The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It’s confusing, unnecessary and completely outdated.”

    Cotton strengthened his argument by bringing up the “abject failure” of the last time Congress enacted permanent daylight saving time in 1974, pledging to always oppose legislation that would do just that.

     

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    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.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

    Source link

  • As we “fall back” this weekend, the time change debate continues

    [ad_1]

    It’s that time of the year again, when we “fall back” one hour, ending daylight saving time and returning to standard time and thus igniting the semi-annual debate.

    Do we proceed with the current standards and switch the clocks biannually in 48 of the 50 states? Or do we establish one standard and end this shifting of time? 

    19 states say yes, end the shifting and establish permanent daylight saving time. Federal law says no, and thus the debate continues. 

    Why we change the clocks

    The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. The thought was that by advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.

    Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and even cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.

    This established the time frame for daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.

    In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

    Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

    This current time shift began in 2007, but this practice, according to millions of Americans, is outdated. 

    Not every state changes the clocks

    The law passed by Congress in 1966 allows states to opt out of observing daylight saving and stay in standard time year-round but not the other way around. Two states, Arizona and Hawaii, along with multiple U.S. territories have done so and thus stay in standard time the full year. 

    Hawaii doesn’t take part because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. 

    Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. 

    They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.

    President Trump’s feelings on time change

    Even President Trump sees it from both sides of the debate.

    “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation,” he wrote on his social media back on Dec. 13, 2024. 

    However, his Truth Social post in April boasted something completely different.

    A hearing convened in April by the Senate Commerce Committee was debating this issue. Trump’s endorsement might help settle the debate for lawmakers. 

    Sunshine Protection Act and its opponents

    On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. 

    While the Senate passed the bill, three and a half years later it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Trump.

    Not everyone agrees with eliminating standard time.

    Earlier this week, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was on hand to thwart a bipartisan effort on the chamber floor to pass a bill establishing permanent daylight saving time. 

    “If permanent Daylight Savings Time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans,” said Cotton in his objection to a request by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to advance the bill by unanimous consent.

    Adding, “For many Arkansans, permanent daylight savings time would mean the sun wouldn’t rise until after 8:00 or even 8:30 a.m. during the dead of winter,” Emphasizing, “The darkness of permanent savings time would be especially harmful for school children and working Americans.”

    Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) called for the Senate to pass the bill this week, citing states’ rights as a major reason for his support for the so-called “Sunshine Protection Act.” 

    “It allows the people of each state to choose what best fits their needs and the needs of their families,” said Scott. “The American people are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year. It’s confusing, unnecessary and completely outdated.”

    Cotton strengthened his argument by bringing up the “abject failure” of the last time Congress enacted permanent daylight saving time in 1974, pledging to always oppose legislation that would do just that.

     

    Vote in Live Poll: Cancel daylight saving time or stay on it permanently?

    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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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

    Source link

  • Local bakery spreads nourishment and kindness through government shutdown

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    OHIO — As anxiety and stress continue to build for federal workers as they go without paychecks and as food banks brace for growing lines, many local community members are sharing acts of kindness and generosity.

    What You Need To Know

    • Community kindness continues to spread as the government shutdown lingers

    • The Neighborhood Nest is a gluten-free bakery near Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Fairborn, Ohio

    • During the shutdown, the bakery has been offering special store credit to furloughed workers and federal workers struggling without paychecks and giving them access to a new store pantry

    Even on a rainy day, sweet smells and thoughtful gestures rise to the occasion inside The Neighborhood Nest.

    Amber Tipton owns the gluten-free bakery, and they’ve been in business for more than a decade in Fairborn, Ohio, near Dayton.

    The bakery is also just a short drive from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

    Bakers can accommodate up to 19 different allergies.

    If you need something dairy, egg, nut, and soy free, they’ve got you covered.

    “We try really hard to just give people back the things that had to be eliminated out of their diet when they had to go gluten free,” Tipton said.

    As the government shutdown continues, they’re still giving back.

    “We have noticed kind of a drop off in actual shopping but what we have been able to do is offer furloughed families a store credit every week,” Tipton said.

    A single person can receive $40 in store credit and a family can receive $60, plus access to the newly created store pantry stocked by customer donations, gift cards and Venmo.

    “Nobody is the wiser. They think they’re just shopping. That’s a bigger deal to me, that people maintain dignity,” Tipton said.

    “So many families are simply concerned about how they’ll put food on the table for their kids,” said Kara Pappas.

    Pappas is the Chief Advancement Officer for the Military Family Advisory Network.

    For communities like Dayton, where so many rely on the base for employment, the shutdown is causing tension.

    Civilians find themselves furloughed or continue working without a paycheck.

    “This is impacting the medical workers on bases, this is impacting child development centers, daycare for military families, it’s impacting school activities, all of these different components that make up the fabric of a military family’s daily life,” Pappas said.

    Tipton said the work isn’t over, and if SNAP benefits get put on hold, they’ll be adding SNAP allergy families to their roster.

    “There is so little at a food pantry, or at a food bank, that people with allergies can actually eat and not be ill,” she said.

    That’s not the only reason helping families hits close to home.

    “The looks that people give you when you’re using those or WIC certificates or your EBT card, they act like you’re lazy,” she said.

    Tipton remembers when her husband was in college and they had small kids.

    He worked part time and she worked two full time jobs just to get by.

    “I just want to give back and to give people what we needed when we were struggling but with dignity,” she said.

    For more information on the Neighborhood Nest, click here.

    If you’re a military family needing help through the Military Family Advisory Network including an emergency food box, click here.

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    Alese Underwood

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  • Layoffs are piling up, raising worker anxiety. Here are some companies that have cut jobs recently

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    NEW YORK (AP) — It’s a tough time for the job market.

    Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. That’s caused many to limit new work to only a few specific roles, if not pause openings entirely. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors.

    Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs spanning from President Donald Trump’s barrage of new tariffs and shifts in consumer spending. Others cite corporate restructuring more broadly — or, as seen with big names like Amazon, are redirecting money to artificial intelligence.

    Federal employees have encountered additional doses of uncertainty, impacting worker sentiment around the job market overall. Shortly after Trump returned to office at the start of the year, federal jobs were cut by the thousands. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown nears its fourth week.

    “A lot of people are looking around, scanning the job environment, scanning the opportunities that are available to them — whether it’s in the public or private sector,” said Jason Schloetzer, professor business administration at Georgetown University’s McDonough School. “And I think there’s a question mark around the long-term stability everywhere.”

    Government hiring data is on hold during the shutdown, but earlier this month a survey by payroll company ADP showed that the private sector lost 32,000 jobs in September.

    Here are some companies that have moved to cut jobs recently.

    General Motors

    General Motors moved to lay off about 1,700 workers across manufacturing sites in Michigan and Ohio on Wednesday, as the auto giant adjusts to slowing demand for electric vehicles.

    Hundreds of additional employees are reportedly slated for “temporary layoffs.” And GM has recently moved to downsize other parts of its workforce, too — including 200 layoffs mostly impacting engineers in Detroit, and other 300 job cuts at a Georgia IT Innovation Center, which it is also shuttering.

    Paramount

    In long-awaited cuts just months after completing its $8 billion merger with Skydance, Paramount is going to lay off about 2,000 employees — about 10% of its workforce.

    Paramount initiated roughly 1,000 of those layoffs on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The rest of the cuts will be made at a later date.

    Amazon

    Amazon will cut about 14,000 corporate jobs as the online retail giant ramps up spending on artificial intelligence.

    Amazon said Tuesday that it will cut about 14,000 corporate jobs, close to 4% of its workforce, as the online retail giant ramps up spending on AI while trimming costs elsewhere. A letter to employees said most workers would be given 90 days to look for a new position internally.

    CEO Andy Jassy previously said he anticipated generative AI would reduce Amazon’s corporate workforce in the coming years. And he has worked to aggressively cut costs overall since 2021.

    UPS

    United Parcel Service has disclosed about 48,000 job cuts this year as part of turnaround efforts, which arrive amid wider shifts in the company’s shipping outputs.

    In a Tuesday regulatory filing, UPS said it’s cut about 34,000 operational positions — and the company announced another 14,000 role reductions, mostly within management. Combined, that’s much higher than the roughly 20,000 cuts UPS forecast earlier this year.

    Target

    Last week, Target that it would eliminate about 1,800 corporate positions, or about 8% of its corporate workforce globally.

    Target said the cuts were part of wider streamlining efforts — with Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke noting that “too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions.” The retailer is also looking to rebuild its customer base. Target reported flat or declining comparable sales in nine of the past eleven quarters.

    Nestlé

    In mid-October, Nestlé said it would be cutting 16,000 jobs globally — as part of wider cost cutting aimed at reviving its financial performance.

    The Swiss food giant said the layoffs would take place over the next two years. The cuts arrive as Nestlé and others face headwinds like rising commodity costs and U.S. imposed tariffs. The company announced price hikes over the summer to offset higher coffee and cocoa costs.

    Lufthansa Group

    In September, Lufthansa Group said it would shed 4,000 jobs by 2030 — pointing to the adoption of artificial intelligence, digitalization and consolidating work among member airlines.

    Most of the lost jobs would be in Germany, and the focus would be on administrative rather than operational roles, the company said. The layoff plans arrived even as the company reported strong demand for air travel and predicted stronger profits in years ahead.

    Novo Nordisk

    Also in September, Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk said it would cut 9,000 jobs, about 11% of its workforce.

    Novo Nordisk — which makes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy — said the layoffs were part of wider restructuring as the company works to sell more obesity and diabetes medications amid rising competition.

    ConocoPhillips

    Oil giant ConocoPhillips has said it plans to lay off up to a quarter of its workforce, as part of broader efforts from the company to cut costs.

    A spokesperson for ConocoPhillips confirmed the layoffs on Sept. 3, noting that 20% to 25% of the company’s employees and contractors would be impacted worldwide. At the time, ConocoPhillips had a total headcount of about 13,000 — or between 2,600 and 3,250 workers. Most reductions were expected to take place before the end of 2025.

    Intel

    Intel has moved to shed thousands of jobs — with the struggling chipmaker working to revive its business as it lags behind rivals like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

    In a July memo to employees, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel expected to end the year with 75,000 “core” workers, excluding subsidiaries, through layoffs and attrition. That’s down from 99,500 core employees reported the end of last year. The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction.

    Microsoft

    In May, Microsoft began began laying off about 6,000 workers across its workforce. And just months later, the tech giant said it would be cutting 9,000 positions — marking its biggest round of layoffs seen in more than two years.

    The latest job cuts hit Microsoft’s Xbox video game business and other divisions. The company has cited “organizational changes,” with many executives characterizing the layoffs as part of a push to trim management layers. But the labor reductions also arrive as the company spends heavily on AI.

    Procter & Gamble

    In June, Procter & Gamble said it would cut up to 7,000 jobs over the next two years, 6% of the company’s global workforce.

    The maker of Tide detergent and Pampers diapers said the cuts were part of a wider restructuring — also arriving amid tariff pressures. In July, P&G said it would hike prices on about a quarter of its products due to the newly-imposed import taxes, although it’s since said it expects to take less of a hit than previously anticipated for the 2026 fiscal year.

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  • Ohio Panel Unveils Proposed US House Map That Could Help Republicans Win More Seats

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    Ohio’s Republican-led redistricting commission unveiled a proposed U.S. House map Thursday that could give Republicans a chance at winning two more seats in next year’s midterm elections, bolstering President Donald Trump’s efforts to hold on to a slim congressional majority.

    Ohio’s redistricting plan comes amid a nationwide battle for partisan advantage ahead of next year’s congressional elections. Trump kick-started the fray this summer by urging Republican-led states to reshape their U.S. House districts in an attempt to win more seats. Republican lawmakers in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina already have done so.

    Democrats in California have countered with their own redistricting plan being decided by voters in a Tuesday election. And other states, including Republican-led Indiana and Virginia‘s Democratic-led General Assembly, are convening in special sessions aimed at redistricting.

    Unlike those other states, which are voluntarily redrawing districts, Ohio is required by its state constitution to enact new congressional districts before the 2026 elections because the current map was adopted by Republican officials without bipartisan support. Republicans currently hold 10 of Ohio’s 15 congressional seats, but some Republicans view the mandatory redistricting as opportunity to expand upon that.

    The proposed map appears to increase Republican chances in the districts held by Democratic U.S. Reps. Greg Landsman in Cincinnati and Marcy Kaptur around Toledo, an area that gave Trump a majority in the 2024 presidential election. Kaptur won a 22nd term last fall by about 2,400 votes, or less than 1 percentage point. Landsman was reelected with more than 54% of the vote last year.

    Each seat could be pivotal, because Democrats need to gain just three seats nationally in next year’s elections to win control of the House from Republicans and impede Trump’s agenda. The president’s party historically has lost seats in midterm elections.

    The Ohio Redistricting Commission faces a Friday deadline to adopt a new map, which would require support from at least two Republicans and two Democrats on the seven-member panel.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Oct. 2025

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    Associated Press

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  • COTA to offer fare free rides for Election Day

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Election Day is next week and the Central Ohio Transit Authority is providing fare-free rides for voters to ensure Ohioans can cast their votes. 

    Through its “Rolls to the Polls” initiative, all transit fares are waived for customers on Tuesday, Nov. 4, on COTA’s fixed-route bus system, COTA Mainstream, Mainstream On-Demand and COTA//Plus.

    “Providing fare-free service on Election Day reflects COTA’s commitment to removing any barrier and ensuring that every Central Ohioan has an equal opportunity to make their voice heard,” said COTA President/CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler. “Waving transit fares on Election Day is a simple but powerful way to show that mobility and democracy go hand in hand.”

    Voters can confirm their polling location on the Franklin County Board of Elections website and plans their trip at COTA.com or the Transit app on their smartphone.

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    Madison MacArthur

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