Ohio News

How Amazon’s explosive U.S. growth is producing thousands of jobs in Ohio

by Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer

Amazon is growing at breakneck speed across the nation and in Ohio, where it has created 6,000 jobs in the past seven years and has commitments to add 5,500 more employees. Last week, the online giant said it would open a package-sorting “air gateway” at Wilmington Air Park, an airport 40 minutes southeast of Dayton that was decimated in the past decade when cargo carrier DHL announced...

Endangered Missing Adult Alert canceled for Knox County woman

by Breaking News Staff

UPDATE Nov. 18 @ 12:23 a.m.: The Endangered Missing Adult Alert for Mt. Vernon woman Betty Shaw has been canceled. FIRST REPORT Nov. 17 @ 10:47 p.m.: An Endangered Missing Adult Alert has been issued for a Mt. Vernon woman last seen leaving her residence on Crooked Street wearing a red coat. Betty Shaw, 80, left her residence on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 9 a.m. and failed to return, according...

Pike County murders: Court docs reveal custody battle at heart of killings

by Breaking News Staff , Will Garbe, Josh Sweigart

Sophia Wagner was just 2 when prosecutors say her father was part of the group who killed her mother and seven more family members. Little Sophia was not at any of the crime scenes when the execution-style murders happened. Comparing her father’s indictment and custody documents he filed a week after the killings provide new insight into the charges against Edward “Jake” Wagner...

Ohio State awards bonus and pay hike to president

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake will get a 2.5 percent pay bump and a $212,242 bonus after trustees gave him his annual review on Friday. His base pay will increase to just over $870,000 a year. His benefits package also includes housing, retirement and deferred compensation, a $50,000 expense budget and $100,000 fringe benefit fund, and eligibility for annual bonuses of up to 25...

Dayton police officer arrested in burglary case, sat on by alleged victim

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

Dayton police officer Torrence E. Laprath was wearing a gray three-piece suit when he was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of burglary after being sat on by a man at a Dayton residence. Laprath, 33, was arrested at 3:25 a.m. Sunday by fellow Dayton officers at a home on Strathaven Drive in northeast Dayton. Laprath was booked into the Montgomery County Jail just after 4 a.m. “Officer...

Alleged victims in OSU doctor sex abuse scandal speak to trustees for the first time

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

For decades, Dr. Richard Strauss preyed upon young men at Ohio State University — watching them shower and groping them during medical exams – but administrators failed to put a stop to sexual abuse, seven men told OSU trustees on Friday. Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005 in California, was a faculty member, student health center physician and athletics doctor from 1979-98 at OSU. The...

Ohio congresswoman may challenge Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Rep. Marcia Fudge, a Cleveland Democrat who led the Congressional Black Caucus from 2012 to 2014, is considering challenging Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House. Fudge, whose spokeswoman said she was unavailable for comment Thursday, told Cleveland.com late Wednesday she was considering a run for the top leadership position, and a spokeswoman Thursday confirmed that she was considering running....

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown talks about potential presidential run on WHIO Radio

by Staff reports

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown says his message of fighting for workers resonated in his recent election victory and he told WHIO Radio that’s the message he’d push if he decides to run for president in 2020. Right now he says he’s having family discussions about a potential run, but no decision has been made. “I don’t know what we’re going to do,” he told Miami...

‘Heartbeat’ abortion bill passes Ohio House

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

After more than an hour of heated debate, a controversial abortion ban that Gov. John Kasich vetoed two years ago passed the Ohio House on Thursday 60-35 and now heads to the Senate where its fate is unclear. The ‘heartbeat bill’ would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. “This bill basically says if there is...

How big was the Pike County murders investigation?

by Will Garbe, Josh Sweigart , Staff Writers

More than four dozen law enforcement agencies helped investigators nab the family suspected of murdering eight of their friends in Pike County. Arrested Tuesday were George “Billy” Wagner III, 47; his wife, Angela Wagner, 48; and their sons, George Wagner IV and Edward “Jake” Wagner, 27 and 26. Rita Newcomb, 65, of South Webster and Fredericka Wagner, 76, grandmothers...

At long last, murder charges bring relief, healing to Pike County

by Josh Sweigart , Will Garbe, Staff Writer

As legal proceedings begin for the six people arrested in connection to the slaying of eight people in Pike County in 2016, a wave of relief spread over this rural community traumatized by 2½ years of not knowing if the case would ever be solved. The first suspect to appear in court was George “Billy” Wagner III, who said he wouldn’t fight extradition during his appearance...

Popular in News

Dayton woman shot to death 9 years after boyfriend’s unsolved murder

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

A 37-year-old Dayton woman was shot and killed by gunshots fired outside her home on Millicent Avenue nearly nine years after her boyfriend was shot and killed in what remains a cold case. Dayton police have said they have no reason to believe the homicides are related. La’Peetra Dawson’s autopsy was completed Wednesday. Her death was ruled a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the torso...

Sens. Brown, Portman back Matt McFarland for Dayton federal judge seat

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown both endorsed the nomination of Ohio appeals court Judge Matt McFarland as a federal district judge in Dayton. President Donald Trump tapped McFarland, a graduate of the law school at Capital University and a judge on the Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals, to fill a vacancy in the federal bench left by the retirement of Judge Thomas Rose. He will need Senate...

Pike County murders: Arrests ‘put a Band-Aid on an open wound’

by Will Garbe, Josh Sweigart , Staff Writers

For more than 2½ years, uncertainty and fear hung over this rural community. Eight people had been gunned down in their homes and it wasn’t clear if detectives even had suspects. Were the killers still in their community? Would it ever be solved? Now state and local law enforcement officials claim they have the murderers in custody; a family of four was arrested Tuesday and charged with...

Ohio’s Pappy Van Winkle bourbon lottery to expand this year with more bottles, online entries

by Mark Fisher

Ohio will expand its holiday bourbon lottery this year to give more of the Buckeye state’s bourbon enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase some of the most sought-after spirits on the market, including, yes, the Pappy Van Winkle 23-year that to some aficionados is the Holy Grail of bourbon. Ohio Division of Liquor Control Superintendent Jim Canepa announced today, Nov. 14, that the 2018...

Report: U.S. military at risk of losing war to Russia, China

by Max Filby, Staff Writer

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base may be the difference between victory and defeat if war eventually breaks out between the United States and Russia or China, a defense expert said about a new report out Wednesday. The U.S. is at risk of losing a war to either country, states a report released Wednesday by a bipartisan commission that Congress created to evaluate the Trump administration’s defense...

Pike County murders: Victims’ pastor hopes arrests can bring closure, justice

by Breaking News Staff , John Bedell

The pastor for the victims in the 2016 Pike County killings hopes the arrest of six suspects will lead to closure for the Manley and Rhoden families, as well as the community. Phil Fulton, pastor at Union Hill Church in Adams County, said he was “ecstatic” when he found out about the arrests. “It was the greatest news we had in two and a half years,” he said. On...

Homemade silencer last piece of evidence in Pike County murder case

by Will Garbe, Josh Sweigart , Staff Writers

After tens of thousands of hours of investigative work over 2½ years, the final clue in the investigation of the murder of eight people in Pike County came a week ago, according to law enforcement officials. That’s when authorities confirmed the existence of a homemade silencer they say was built by the suspects. “This particular evidence, along with all the other pieces of this...

Ohio Libertarians say they may sue to keep ballot access

by Associated Press, Staff Writer

The Libertarian Party of Ohio says it may sue the state to force continued recognition of the minor political party. Secretary of State Jon Husted says the Libertarians and Ohio Green Party lost ballot access because their respective candidates did not get 3 percent of the vote needed to remain a recognized party. Cleveland.com reports the Libertarian Party of Ohio regained state recognition...

Pike County murders: 1 of 6 suspects makes first court appearance

by Breaking News Staff , Will Garbe, Kara Driscoll, Josh Sweigart

George “Billy” Wagner III waived extradition on the murder charges filed against him during his initial appearance in a Fayette County, Kentucky, courtroom, according to CNN affiliate LEX18. Extradition is when one law enforcement agency captures a suspect who is wanted in another jurisdiction and returns the suspect to the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the crime...

Pike County murders: Tight-knit community expresses relief over arrests

by Breaking News Staff

A husband, wife and their two sons are behind bars Tuesday night, indicted in a mass murder, along with two grandmothers accused of helping them cover up the crimes. At a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Ohio Attorney General and Gov.-elect Mike DeWine announced the arrests and indictments of parents Billy and Angela Wagner and their sons George and Jake. An entire family, suspected of killing their...

Warren County set to give tax breaks on 1,200 acres on I-75 corridor

by Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer

Warren County commissioners laid the groundwork on Tuesday to forgive taxes for the commercial or industrial developers of some of the last large parcels of undeveloped land along the Interstate 75 corridor between Dayton and Cincinnati. Commissioners Dave Young expressed reluctance about setting up the community investment area enabling tax breaks to be offered on development of more than 1,200 acres...

Pike County murders: DeWine lays out charges in 2016 Rhoden family killings

by Breaking News Staff

Six members of the Wagner family were arrested Tuesday in the killing of eight members of the Rhoden family in Pike County in 2016, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced at a news conference. 6 members of the Wagner family were arrested today George “Billy” Wagner III, 47; Edward “Jake” Wagner, 26; Angela Wagner, 48; and George Wagner IV, 27, are charged...

Pike County murders: Death penalty possible for 4 of 6 arrested in Rhoden slayings

by Breaking News Staff , Will Garbe, Josh Sweigart

Four people arrested Tuesday on aggravated murder charges for the 2016 slayings of eight members of the Rhoden family in Pike County include a man who shared a 2-year-old daughter with one of the victims. A dispute over custody played a role in the homicides, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said, and two other family members are accused of trying to “cover up” the crimes....

Against odds, local Congressman Jim Jordan seeking GOP leadership post

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

After years of bucking Republican Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan on everything from health care to approving spending bills to keep the federal government open, local Congressman Jim Jordan has launched a bid to become leader of the House Republicans. On Wednesday, in a private meeting of House Republicans, Jordan will face Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the current House majority leader...

West Carrollton expected to approve deal to bring volleyball complex and bar/restaurant to city

by Nick Blizzard, Staff Writer

An agreement that would allow a $4.5 million complex local officials say will add jobs and attract hundreds to West Carrollton nightly is expected to be approved tonight. A deal to sell seven acres to Spike-It LLC, a Cincinnati firm wanting to build an 82,000-square-foot, indoor/outdoor volleyball facility with 17 sand courts, a restaurant/bar and 350 parking spaces, is set to be voted on by West...

Ohio vets of Afghanistan war could miss out on bonus if fund runs dry

by Laura A. Bischoff , Max Filby, Columbus Bureau

A decade ago, Ohio voters approved a bond issue to fund bonuses for veterans but with just $2.68 million left in the program, the money could run out before the war in Afghanistan ends — raising the prospect that some veterans could miss out. The bonus payouts are scheduled to end three years after the president has declared an end to hostilities in that country, the Ohio constitution says....

Tax abatement requested for some of last undeveloped land in I-75 corridor

by Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer

Warren County has been asked to create a zone around 1,300 acres east of Interstate 75 where property taxes could be forgiven on future commercial or industrial development. The land, some of the last large, undeveloped parcels along the I-75 corridor between Cincinnati and Dayton, is located near the Miami Valley Gaming & Racing racino and Park North Commerce Park, where Amazon and other businesses...

History in the making: Bearded Ohioan got elected to a statewide seat

by Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer

Dave Yost’s election to Attorney General could mark the first time in more than a century that an Ohio politician was elected to statewide executive office while sporting a beard. Yost’s closely cropped stubble is a five o’clock shadow compared to the full beard worn by what may be his most recent bearded predecessor: Gov. John M. Pattison, who was elected in 1905. Pattison&rsquo...

Opinion: Ohio isn’t now becoming red — it always was

by Thomas Suddes

Donald Trump energizes Ohio’s Republican grassroots. And for at least two generations Ohioans have known the name Mike DeWine and, roughly, what DeWine stands for. Those two facts – in a state that prefers any changes to be gradual – are why voters made DeWine Ohio’s next governor. As barstool analysts are first to say, elections have consequences. A winning candidate for governor...

Woman killed, 3 injured in crash after car hits tree, catches fire

by Breaking News Staff

A woman was killed in a single-car crash after striking a tree Saturday morning on U.S. 50 near milepost 18, according to a release. Debbie Damron, 55, or Hillsboro, was driving a 2009 Pontiac Vibe eastbound on U.S. 50 when the car drove off the left side of the roadway, struck a tree, then caught fire. Damron was pronounce dead at the scene, and three occupants from the car were transported with...

Montgomery County sheriff elected to statehouse: What does that mean for the department?

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer’s election to the Ohio House of Representatives in District 40 will cause multiple changes in the department that serves many roles beyond daily law enforcement once he resigns on Dec. 31.. The department, whose responsibilities include operating the county jail, registering sex offenders and participating in crime task forces, will name a new leader and...

‘It’s more than we’ve got now’: What law enforcement thinks about a local sheriff entering the statehouse

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

When he turns in his badge for a seat in Ohio’s House of Representatives, Phil Plummer can be a bullet in the legislative chamber for law enforcement, a local sheriff said. Preble County Sheriff Michael Simpson, the President of the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association, said a sitting sheriff hasn’t been elected to the statehouse in decades. “I think it’s a start. It&rsquo...

Ohio shifting red could impact federal resource allocation

by Holly Shively, Staff Writer

Ohioans overwhelmingly voted Republican in Tuesday’s midterm election and continue to shift the state away from being considered a moderate state. As a red state, Dayton-area residents and businesses can expect the policies of the last several years to continue, said Christopher Devine, a professor of political science at the University of Dayton. But on a national scale, veering from its moderate...

Why Wright-Patt could be even stronger after this week’s election

by Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer

Tuesday’s election may leave Ohio’s largest single-site employer in a stronger place, some observers say. Ohio Gov.-elect Mike DeWine has proposed creating a cabinet-level position to protect Ohio military installations, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base — an idea observers familiar with the Dayton region embraced Thursday. In the Dayton area, such a post would necessarily...

State troopers find $1.3M in marijuana in truck, arrest California woman driver

by Breaking News Staff

A California woman remains in the Cuyahoga County Jail jail on drug charges that could send her to prison for a maximum of 22 years after state troopers, during a traffic stop, seized an estimated 510 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1.3 million. Keryl Lopez, 48, of McKinleyville, Calif., was taken to the Strongsville City Jail on Nov. 5 after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers discovered the...

$3.4M in road work expected for Ohio 741 from near the Dayton Mall to Miamisburg

by Nick Blizzard, Staff Writer

Ohio 741 near the Dayton Mall in Miamisburg is expected to be the focus of a $3.4 million resurfacing and reconstruction project. The project would include a strip of the state route just north of the Ohio 725 intersection to the northern Miamisburg corporation line, according to city records. The intersection just north of the mall and east of the Interstate 75/725 interchange is among the busiest...

Beavercreek teen indicted for allegedly trying to join arm of ISIS

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

The 19-year-old Beavercreek man accused of trying to fly overseas to train with ISIS has been indicted on a terrorism charge, according to federal court documents. Naser Almadaoji was indicted in Dayton’s U.S. District Court on one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. That charge carries a maximum 20 years in prison. The indictment...

Would a new cabinet post protect WPAFB? Analyst says yes.

by Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer

Ohio Gov.-elect Mike DeWine has proposed creating a cabinet-level post to protect Ohio military installations. That’s a good idea, one national defense analyst familiar with the Dayton area said Thursday. In the Dayton area, such an office would necessarily work to protect Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the state’s largest single-site employer with about 27,000 civilian and military...

Man who had drugs mailed to Centerville residence sentenced

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

A Dayton man who received methamphetamine delivered via mail to a Centerville residence was sentenced this week in Dayton’s U.S. District Court to a decade in federal prison. Damaad Gardner, 28, will spend 10 years incarcerated after Judge Thomas Rose sentenced him to the agreed-upon term reached between prosecutors and the defense attorney. Gardner was indicted for meth trafficking, and two...

Ohio man indicted for killing father, staging home invasion as cover-up

by Breaking News Staff

A 20-year-old man accused of killing his father and staging a home invasion to cover up the incident was indicted on four counts by the Franklin County Grand jury. At approximately 7 a.m. June 22, police and medics were dispatched to the 7900 block of Schleppi Road on a report of shots fired. Investigators believe Jonah Bryce Lake killed his father, Dr. Kevin B. Lake, 51, then staged a home...

DeWine proposes cabinet post to focus on military issues, Wright-Patt

by Laura A. Bischoff , Thomas Gnau , Columbus Bureau

Mike DeWine said Wednesday that as governor he will appoint a cabinet-level official to concentrate on military installations across Ohio, specifically mentioning Wright-Patterson as a key reason for the new position. “As you know, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a very complex place,” he said at a Wednesday press conference after winning the race for governor against Democrat Richard...

Is Ohio a red state? Midterms may have changed state’s status as swing state

by Holly Shively, Staff Writer

Ohio’s reputation as a moderate, purple state may be over after this year’s midterm election. The GOP saw several victories Tuesday in Ohio, including Republican Mike DeWine defeating Democrat Rich Cordray for governor and Republicans winning attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state and auditor seats. Republicans also won all Dayton region congressional and Ohio House seats. And...

Plummer, Butler, Antani, Perales, Smith among winners in local Ohio House races

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

Republicans won all contested Dayton region Ohio House seats in Tuesday election. In the Dayton region Republican Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer won the House 40th District and newcomer Jena Powell won the 80th, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. State Reps. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, Jim Butler, R-Oakwood, Paul Zeltwanger, R-Mason and State...

Democrats win 3 county races; Republican rallies to beat incumbent clerk

by Chris Stewart, Staff Writer

Three Democrats won Montgomery County races Tuesday, including Carolyn Rice for county commissioner over Republican Doug Barry. But Republican Mike Foley came from behind to defeat sitting Common Pleas Clerk of Courts Russ Joseph, according to unofficial, final results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Here are results from the races: Rice won with 53 percent of the vote over...

Parker, Montgomery, Wallace win Montgomery County judge races, add more diversity to bench

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

Montgomery County voters have elected the common pleas court general division’s first black male judge, its first female juvenile court judge and added a fourth woman to the common pleas bench. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, unofficial final results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections show Gerald Parker defeated appointed incumbent Judge Erik Blaine with 52.67 percent of...

Voting continues after Jefferson Twp. polling station power outage

by Kaitlin Schroeder, Staff Writer

The power went out at a polling station in Jefferson Twp. but voting is continuing with the help of a backup generator. The 7828 Dayton-Liberty Road fire station has a back up generator and Dayton Power & Light also brought a generator while it fixes the problem, according to Jan Kelly, director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. RELATED: TOP 10 THINGS TO WATCH FOR IN TODAY’S ELECTION...

No one shot, injured during dispute in Eaton

by Breaking News Staff

No one was shot during a domestic violence incident that occurred Friday night in the 400 block of E. Main Street, according to Officer Sean Mackuy. According to Officer Mackuy, a firearm was discharged multiple times but no one was injured. A male and female have been jailed on related charges to the incident. Detectives are investigating a shooting Friday night on Main Street. The incident...

California wildfires: Area volunteers to assist with recovery

by Breaking news staff

A team of five Red Cross volunteers from the Dayton-Cincinnati region has left for California to assist with the wildfires recovery, officials said Tuesday. Five volunteers may seem like a small group, given the magnitude of the wildfires, but it’s significant in Red Cross terms, said Marita Salkowski, regional communications and marketing director for the American Red Cross...

Police: Man pleasured himself in Walmart while watching female employees

by Breaking News Staff

A 21-year-old man was arrested after police said he appeared to be pleasuring himself while watching female employees at the Bellefontaine Walmart Tuesday night, according to a police report. Nicky Wright was arrested after officers responded to the store around 7 p.m. He’s booked into the Logan County Jail on charges of voyeurism and public indecency, records show. A caller told police Wright...

Vacant house fire ruled arson in Dayton

by Breaking news staff

The vacant house fire in the 700 block of Osmond Avenue was the result of arson, said District Chief Paul Raisch. When firefighters arrived at the scene they saw heavy flames shooting from the back and sides of the home, said District Chief Paul Raisch, noting that the roof and siding were heavily damaged. The house appeared to have new windows and siding, so it may have been under renovation, Raisch...

Missing endangered alert canceled after 90-year-old Dayton man is found

by Breaking News Staff

An Endangered Missing Adult Alert for a 90-year-old Dayton man is canceled. A 90-year-old Dayton man who suffers from dementia is missing. Richard Hal Bridgman is the subject of a statewide Endangered Missing Adult Alert. Bridgman stands 5 feet, 6 inches, weighs 150 pounds and has white hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing glasses, a tan jacket and pants, brown loafers and a blue hat. He drove...

Salvation Army collecting applications for Christmas food assistance

by Breaking news staff

The Salvation Army of Dayton on Tuesday continued collecting applications for its annual Christmas food assistance program for needy Dayton area families. The organization started collecting applications Monday, and will continue until Friday. The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 1000 N. Keowee St. in Dayton. Hundreds of people signed up...

DeWine beats Cordray for governor, leads big night for Ohio Republicans

by Laura A. Bischoff , Max Filby, Columbus Bureau

Republican Mike DeWine won Ohio’s governor race Tuesday in a big night for the GOP, which swept the down ticket executive offices – attorney general, auditor, secretary of state and treasurer – for the third consecutive statewide election cycle. Around midnight, DeWine and his running mate, Jon Husted, and their families took the stage at the Ohio Republican Party event...

Sen. Brown wins, holds off challenge from Renacci

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Sen. Sherrod Brown won re-election Tuesday over Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth, giving the Ohio Democrat a third six-year term in the U.S. Senate and his fifth statewide victory since 1982. CNN called the race about a half hour after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m. Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth worked to the end of the race, pointing to an internal poll showing 17 percent of voters...

Ohio voters overwhelmingly reject Issue 1, which would decriminalize low-level drug offenders

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

Ohio voters defeated State Issue 1 Tuesday 63 percent to 37 percent, according to final, unofficial results. The proposed constitutional amendment would have changed Ohio law to keep low-level drug offenders out of prison with the goal of promoting treatment of drug addiction instead of incarceration. But opponents raised concerns about the impact removing the threat of punishment would have...

Supreme Court won’t decide if Ohio’s death penalty is constitutional

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Rejecting a chance to decide whether Ohio’s death penalty law violates the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for a state court to hold a sentencing hearing for a man convicted of murder and rape in 1993 in Marion County. The justices, without comment, chose not to review an Ohio Supreme Court decision last April that the state’s death penalty is constitutional...

Reds minor league player killed, 2 teammates injured in Dominican Republic crash

by Breaking News Staff

A 19-year-old Cincinnati Reds minor league pitcher was killed and two of his teammates were injured Saturday in a crash in the Dominican Republic. Jairo Capellan was killed in the morning crash. Pitcher Raul Hernandez, 19, is in “critical but stable” condition and outfielder Emilio Garcia, 19, is “receiving treatment but is alert and conscious,” according to an update...

Pair suing Ohio haunted house for alleged assault, simulated rape

The Associated Press

An Ohio pair's lawsuit alleges they were grabbed, shoved and injured and one was subjected to a simulated rape at a haunted-house attraction where actors were suspended after complaints about such behavior. Akron Fright Fest was billed as a hands-on experience with "risque scenes" and actors getting physical. Owner Jeremy Caudill has said he was appalled at the alleged behavior that drew...

Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources invests nearly $7M to trails

by Breaking News Staff

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has approved nearly $7 million in grants for trails. The Clean Ohio Trails Fund grants are to improve outdoor recreational opportunities, and 19 of those grants are for community projects that will acquire land for new trails and to build and improve trail infrastructure, according to a release. The investments will be used in 14 counties to help facilitate...

Former soccer coach who fled trial found guilty of sex crimes involving girl, 14

by Breaking News Team, Mark Gokavi

A former Germantown soccer coach was not in the courtroom when he was convicted Friday morning of sexual battery and other crimes involving a 14-year-old girl he coached. Justin K. Smith, 41, was on trial this week in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on eight counts involving sex crimes against a teen. After testifying Wednesday, Smith disabled his electronic monitoring ankle bracelet and...

Local congressional candidate’s campaign manager resigns days before vote

by AP AP

The campaign manager for a Democratic candidate seeking a congressional seat in Warren and Hamilton counties has resigned days after Republicans officials accused one of the candidate’s workers of stealing voter data from his opponent. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Aftab Pureval says Sarah Topy resigned Tuesday based on “new information.” Pureval, a Beavercreek native, is trying...

Ohio must allow ‘purged’ voters to vote, court rules

by Associated Press, Staff Writer

A federal appeals court has ordered Ohio to allow voters who had been purged from the election books for not voting over a six-year period to participate in this year’s election. A divided 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Thursday granted an emergency motion sought by voting-rights groups. The ruling overturned in part an Oct. 10 ruling by a federal judge that said voters hadn&rsquo...

You can still vote early today until 2 p.m.

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Election Day is tomorrow, but you can still vote early today. Your county board of elections office is open for voters today until 2 p.m. Absentee voting is running higher than in the 2014 midterm elections but voter turnout was just below 41 percent that year and Democrat Ed FitzGerald, who proved to be a flawed candidate, lost in a landslide to Republican incumbent Gov. John Kasich. This year&rsquo...

Ohio governor candidates: Where they stand on jobs & the skills gap

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

Ohio has a four-way race for governor this year and voters will decide on Nov. 6 who will lead the state for the next four years. The candidates are Democrat Rich Cordray, former director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Republican Mike DeWine, who is Ohio attorney general; Green Party candidate and Columbus attorney, Constance Gadell-Newton and Libertarian Travis M. Irvine, a filmmaker...

Ten LGBTQ candidates are running at state, national level in Ohio

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Ten openly LGBTQ candidates are running for the Statehouse or federal office in Ohio this year, part of a wave that is taking hold across the country, according to Andrew Reynolds, a political science professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill who studies the issue. Twenty-one candidates nationally who identify as LGBTQ are running for Congress, while 203 candidates are running for...

Ohio haunted house apologizes for hosting ‘Swastika Saturday’ event

by Kara Driscoll

A haunted house in Pataskala, Ohio has apologized for hosting a “Swastika Saturday” event over the weekend. Haunted Hoochie hosted a Swastika-themed event on Saturday. The event received major backlash online after 11 people were killed in a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Federal prosecutors have filed hate crimes against suspect Robert Bowers, who made...

Governor race: Mike DeWine runs on his long experience and track record

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Mike DeWine is seemingly everywhere in Ohio. He stands before cameras at press conferences in the Attorney General’s office, he pops up at gruesome crime scenes wearing a BCI jacket, he welcomes supporters to his annual ice cream social at his sprawling farm in Greene County, and he shows up at high school track meets to watch his grandchildren. It’s an image carefully cultivated over...

Governor Race: What you need to know about Richard Cordray, where he stands on issues

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Some politicians try hard to be cool and hip, but none of them are named Richard Cordray. In his run for governor, the Grove City Democrat is fully embracing his nerd image and capitalizing on his five time Jeopardy! champion bragging rights. His campaign rolled out a website, RichKnowsOhio.com, which weaves together Jeopardy! clips from 1987 with modern-day Cordray answering Ohio trivia. He has a...

Episode 2: Let’s hear from the kids - The Path Forward: Dayton Schools podcast

by Josh Sweigart

As all the adults debate what needs to be done to improve Dayton Public Schools, what do the students think? DPS was criticized at its recent town hall meeting for not soliciting student input as it crafts its strategic plan. It came up again at a more-recent community event sponsored by the Dayton Daily News. Earlier this year, we profiled five students who represent the...

Gov. Kasich orders flags lowered for synagogue tragedy

by AP AP

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has ordered flags lowered to half-staff following a gunman’s attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people. The governor’s announcement came after Saturday’s shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood that also injured six people, including four police officers. Kasich says “Our hearts are heavy...

Bringing more jobs to the region: Here’s how the Ohio governor candidates plan to do it

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

The economy is booming for some people, but Ohio still has a serious skills gap, wages are stagnant for many workers and there are concerns the state isn’t poised to attract high-tech jobs now and into the future. Each of the candidates for governor is heavily focused on bringing good-paying jobs to Ohio and growing the jobs that are already here, though they differ on how to get there. This...

Outside groups spending millions supporting Sen. Brown this year

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

When Sherrod Brown ran for re-election in 2012, he had a constant refrain: outside groups were out to get him. This year, though,outside groups are either on his side or sitting out the race. Outside groups are organizations that don’t necessarily contribute directly to the campaigns, but instead spend money on TV ads and direct mail backing or opposing candidates. In the current funding cycle...

Red Square Foods, Inc. recalls frozen meat, poultry ravioli, blintzes products

by Breaking News Staff

Red Square Foods, Inc. has recalled various frozen meat and poultry ravioli, and blintzes products shipped to retail stores in Ohio. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall of an undetermined amount of the products from the Somerset, N.J. establishment Saturday. The recall was due to misbranding and undeclared allergens. The product...

What happens to fentanyl cases key dispute in Issue 1 debate

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

One of the most confusing aspects of State Issue 1 is how people caught with large amounts of fentanyl would be handled in the court system. Issue 1 is a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot that would convert some lower-level drug felonies — felony 4 and felony 5 charges —to misdemeanors. The issue also dictates that offenders serve no prison time for the first two offenses....

Cincinnati Zoo files lawsuit for return of silverback gorilla, Koko’s companion

by Breaking News Staff

The Cincinnati Zoo & Bontanical Garden is taking legal action against The Gorilla Foundation for the return of a silverback gorilla, Ndume, and the case has drawn support from PETA. The 37-year-old male was loaned in 1991 to the preserve in California’s Santa Cruz mountains to be a social companion for Koko, the gorilla famous for using sign language to communicate. Koko died in June, and zoo...

State Treasurer candidates lay out plans to protect Ohio’s money

by Staff reports

Republican Robert Sprague and Democrat Rob Richardson are running for state treasurer this fall to replace Treasurer Josh Mandel who is term-limited. We asked both candidates what they would do if elected. Here’s a look at their experience and their answers to our questions: Experience: 9 years on the University of Cincinnati’s Board of Trustees. 10 years as a labor attorney practicing...

Overtime pay for mid-level workers becoming key issue in governor’s race

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

In May 2016, Vice President Joe Biden dropped into Columbus to tout a federal new rule: overtime pay would be required for salaried workers who make up to $47,476 a year. The change was expected to boost the paychecks of 4.2 million Americans who work as mid-level managers in places such as big box stores, restaurants and the like. In September 2016, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine joined a lawsuit...

Would next governor support state takeover of Dayton schools? Here’s what the candidates say

by Josh Sweigart

Rich Cordray, Democrat: End state takeovers of low-performing school districts, instead providing additional resources while maintaining local control. Mike DeWine, Republican: Consider revising takeover law to provide help to struggling schools while keeping the community involved in the process. Travis Irvine, Libertarian: End any effort to bring control of schools under the state. *** Dayton Public...

OSP: West Virginia women caught with 392 grams of heroin

by Breaking News Staff

Two women from West Virginia are facing felony drug charges following a traffic stop in Hancock County. Troopers stopped a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan around 2:45 a.m. Thursday for a marked lanes violation on U.S. 68. “Criminal indicators” were observed, and a Hancock County Sheriff’s Office drug-sniffing K-9 alerted to the minivan, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers...

Endangered missing adult alert canceled for Cleveland man with dementia

by Breaking News Staff

The Endangered Missing Adult Alert has been canceled for the 76-year-old Cleveland man. An Endangered Missing Adult Alert has been issued for a 76-year-old Cleveland man who suffers from dementia. Ulysses Williams left his home on foot at 10 p.m. Wednesday and has not returned. He stands 5 feet 7 inches, weighs 175 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone who spots him is urged to call 911...

State Issue 1 supporters have big money advantage against opponents

by Laura Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Campaign finance reports filed late today show backers of State Issue 1 are out-raising opponents by a 10 to 1 ratio. Ohioans are also deciding whether to amend the state constitution to reduce criminal penalties for drug use and possession charges. State Issue 1 calls for converting felony 4 and felony 5 drug charges into misdemeanor offenses that generally won’t carry prison time and plow...

Ohio lawmakers react to bomb packages sent to Clintons, Obamas, others

by Drew Simon, Staff Writer

Bombs and other suspicious packages targeting Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama and CNN were intercepted Wednesday in a rash of attacks. A similar device was found Monday at the New York compound of liberal billionaire George Soros, a major contributor to Democratic causes. There have been no reports of suspicious packages delivered to Ohio leaders or the statehouse. Here’s what...

Over 300 CVS Pharmacy’s using time delay safes in Ohio

by Breaking News Staff

CVS Pharmacy announced today that they have begun using time delay safes in all 329 stores in Ohio, according to a release. CVS started using the safes in Dayton last year, and since then, safe robberies have dropped 50 percent. Time delay safes help deter pharmacy robberies by delaying the time it takes for employees to open it, read the release. Narcotic medications, such as oxycodone, are now also...

Most Republican congressional seats in Ohio safe, but Dems see opportunities

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

For Democrats, the magic number is 23. That’s the number of U.S. House seats they need to win to regain the majority for the first time since 2010. “It won’t be easy,” concedes Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Ben Ray Lujan. “We’re going to have to fight for every inch. For his part Rep. Steve Stivers of Upper Arlington, who chairs the National...

Man throws firebomb into woman’s house

by Breaking News Staff

A firebomb attack on a woman’s home launched an arson investigation in Springdale in Hamilton County Sunday, according to our partners at WCPO. A neighbor reported an unknown man drove onto Grandin Avenue in a silver and blue Dodge Dakota truck, got out, ran up to the house and threw the fire bomb through a front window of the woman’s house. A small fire was started, but the homeowner&rsquo...

Possible entrapment crash reported in Butler County

by Breaking News Staff

A vehicle crash with possible entrapment was reported in Hanover Twp. Air Care is on their way to the scene on U.S. 27 and Stillwell Beckett Road, according to Butler County dispatch. The crash is believed to be one vehicle versus a deer. The incident was reported around 9:45 p.m. We are working to learn more.