Ohio News

Pike County murders: Would investigation be priority for next Ohio Attorney General?

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine hopes the Pike County murders — the largest investigation in state history — will be closed by the time he leaves office in January. DeWine last year said he hoped to solve the April 22, 2016 shootings before leaving the attorney general’s office. “It’s a hypothetical, I certainly would hope we would have the case solved by then, but...

Pike County murders: 3 big questions, 2 years later

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

Two years after eight people were murdered in their homes in Pike County, Ohio, the shooting deaths remain unsolved. Hannah Rhoden, 19, Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; his ex-wife, Dana Rhoden, 37; their sons, Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16, and Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Frankie’s fiancee, Hannah Gilley, 20; and relatives Kenneth Rhoden, 44, and Gary Rhoden, 38 died in the shootings...

How a Wright-Patt office is working to arm fighter jets with lasers

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

The Air Force has targeted arming an F-15 fighter jet with a laser by 2021, one of what could become a wider use of directed-energy weapons to protect aerial refueling tankers to military bases, a leading researcher says. Facing increased competition from Russia and China, the Air Force launched an office at Wright-Patterson to explore experimental technologies and bring them to the battlefield faster...

Dayton airport police sergeant indicted for old child sex crime

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

A Dayton Airport Police sergeant has been indicted for one count of gross sexual imposition against a child younger than 13, according to Friday’s Montgomery County Common Pleas Court indictment list. Sgt. Christopher Mohn, 43, was indicted for the third-degree felony but no arrest warrant was issued. Mohn was issued a summons to appear at a May 3 arraignment in Montgomery County Common Pleas...

Feds: Indiana man uses 37 fake $20 bills at Dayton Dragons game

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

Kenneth J. Stopkotte may have bought himself some peanuts and Cracker Jack during Wednesday’s Dayton Dragons game but a federal agent alleged he used fake $20 bills to do it. Stopkotte, 52, an Indiana man on federal probation for stealing $180,000 of donations to Tennessee churches, recently got out of prison after serving more than three years. A new criminal complaint was filed in Dayton&rsquo...

Pharmacists joining forces to fight opioid epidemic

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

Pharmacists are the latest group banding together in Ohio to fight the opioid epidemic. The Ohio Pharmacists Association announced at its annual conference in Columbus, Friday, the creation of a task force to promote safe medication practices that prevent powerful narcotics from getting into the wrong hands and spurring addiction. Related; Ohio gets $26M federal grant to target opioid crisis The OPA...

Manufacturing helps boost Ohio jobs again

by Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer

Ohio’s unemployment rate fell slightly last month, to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in February — and once again, manufacturing helped provide the boost. The state’s non-agricultural wage and salary employment increased 10,800 in March, from a revised 5,568,400 in February to 5,579,200, the state said in a monthly jobs report. RELATED: Trade concerns top Chinese ambassador&rsquo...

Local Republican congressman says Trump’s Syria strike ‘unconstitutional’

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy, said President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a retaliatory strike against Syria for using chemical weapons against its own people was “unconstitutional.” “There is no authority to do that,” Davidson said during a meeting with the Dayton Development Coalition. He said while it’s appropriate for Trump to launch a pre-emptive strike...

Air Force urged to pick Wright-Patterson for hundreds more jobs

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

Wright-Patterson could add 400 jobs if Air Force leaders are persuaded by Ohio’s congressional delegation to locate a F-35 stealth fighter office to the Miami Valley base. The Defense Department and the Air Force have not said how many bases are in contention for the F-35 Product Hybrid Support Integrator Organization. But Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Phil Parker said Wright-Patterson...

Who was the highest paid public worker in Ohio in 2017? It’s not Urban Meyer

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

The highest paid public employee in Ohio last year wasn’t Urban Meyer, who made $5.28 million. Instead, Ohio State University men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann claimed the spot with compensation package totaling $5.66 million. Holtmann, who led the Buckeyes to a second round appearance in the NCAA 2018 March Madness tournament, received $4.7 million in bonus pay last year. University...

6 men charged in Ohio prison drug smuggling attempt

by Breaking News Staff

Six men, including three from Dayton, have been charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs into an Ohio prison, according to the Department of Justice. Alton Herron, 46, Rodney Herron, 27, and Daviontae Norvell, 26, all from Dayton are among the six men indicted on drug-related charges, a Department of Justice spokesperson said in a media release Thursday. Joseph Brodbeck, 59, of...

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Ex-Kettering sub teacher sentenced for sex crimes: ‘I cannot express how sorry I am’

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

Madeline Marx, the former Kettering Fairmont substitute teacher who pleaded guilty to sex charges involving students, was sentenced to five years of community control sanctions for each of two convictions of sexual battery, but will avoid prison. Marx was also labeled as a Tier III sex offender, requiring her to register her address every 90 days for the rest of her life. Marx was ordered to...

40-plus cats euthanized after infection sweeps Tenn. animal shelter

by Breaking News Staff

An animal shelter in Tennessee is defending its decision to euthanize more than 40 cats after an infection swept through the facility. According to WATE-TV, animal lovers became outraged after learning the Pets without Parents shelter, which was reported to be a “no-kill” facility, put down dozens of cats. After weeks of attempting to nurse close to 50 cats that became...

Local defense contractor lands $67 million contract

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

The Missile Defense Agency has awarded a Dayton-based defense contractor a five-year, $67.9 million contract for engineering, management and other services at locations across the country, according to the Department of Defense. MacAulay Brown, Inc., will conduct the work to support the development and deployment of a ballistic missile defense system, according to the Defense Department. The work...

AF Thunderbirds return to practice, but more shows could be canceled

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

The Air Force Thunderbirds return to training over the Nevada desert Wednesday, but have not announced a date the demonstration team will return to the air show circuit, the team’s leader said. The team had suspended flights and canceled public performances since a tragic April 4 crash killed Maj. Stephen “Cajun” Del Bagno during practice over the Nevada Test and Training Range....

Police: State representative candidate assaulted over campaign ad dispute

by Breaking News Staff

A St. Henry man has been arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting a state representative candidate in Celina Tuesday, according to police. Travis Faber, a Republican candidate running for Ohio’s 84th statehouse seat, caught a man in a red pickup truck stealing a campaign sign from private property on the corner of Westbank Road and U.S. 127 in Celina Tuesday, Police Chief Tom Wale...

Brown: VA nominee must convince veterans to earn vote for confirmation

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the nominee to become the next leader of the VA, told him he opposes privatizing the federal agency, but he will have to convince veterans to earn the senator’s vote for confirmation. “He said a lot of the right things but to get my vote, to convince me … he needs to earn the trust and support of veterans. We know that simply...

Major reforms could come to payday lending industry in Ohio

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

A week after Republican Cliff Rosenberger’s abrupt resignation, state lawmakers moved to push through the strongest reforms on payday lending that Ohio has seen in a decade. House Bill 123 calls for closing loopholes, limiting monthly payments to no more than 5 percent of the borrower’s monthly income, limiting fees to $20 or no more than 5 percent of the principal, requiring clear disclosures...

WPAFB airman sentenced for selling night vision goggles on eBay

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

The senior airman who stole night vision goggles and other equipment from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and sold them on eBay was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Zachary Sizemore was sentenced to three months in a Community Correctional Facility or Halfway House and is ordered to self surrender to the U.S. Marshals by noon July 20. RELATED: Prosecutor...

Kucinich discloses $20,000 speaking fee from pro-Syrian group

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Democrat Dennis Kucinich is under attack for his association with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and now disclosure of a $20,000 payment he received from a pro-Assad group. Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland accused Kucinich of deliberately trying to hide the $20,000 payment by listing the income on his ethics statement without disclosing that it came from the Association for Investment in Popular...

Major Wright-Patt gate will temporarily close today

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

A major gateway will close at Wright-Patterson today for maintenance, impacting the travel of thousands of commuters. Gate 19B off National Road will be closed from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., according to base spokesman Daryl Mayer. More than 5,700 inbound drivers travel through the entrance and nearly 6,300 drive off base through the gate every work day. Crews will work on “routine maintenance&rdquo...

Ohio air quality gets mixed grades in ‘State of the Air 2018’ report

by Breaking News Staff

Cincinnati and Cleveland ranked among the 25 most polluted areas in the nation for year-round particle pollution, while counties in the Miami Valley earned grades from C to F for air quality affected by ozone in the American Lung Association's "State of the Air 2018" report. The report, released Wednesday, shows mixed results for Ohio. Several areas in the state suffered more unhealthy days...

A fair with a flavor: 17 countries part of Wright-Patt festival

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

A party in Dayton had an international flavor Tuesday. People from 17 countries and more than 120 volunteers came together to celebrate the Wright-Patterson International Spouses Group’s International Fair at the Holiday Inn in Fairborn. The cultures spanned Japan to the Spain, and Bali to the Philippines, among other places around the globe. “We do it as thank you to the community for...

Ohio Sen. Portman might oppose bill to keep Trump from firing Mueller

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, suggested he would oppose a bill that would prevent President Donald Trump from firing former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who as a special counsel for the Justice Department is investigating possible links in the 2016 presidential campaign between Russia and Trump campaign officials. RELATED: Defending Trump in Russia probe? It’s hardly a dream job In an interview...

IRS extends filing deadline to midnight Wednesday because of online troubles

by Max Filby, Breaking News Staff , Staff Writer

The Internal Revenue Service is reporting trouble with its electronic filing system with just hours left before a midnight deadline for tax returns to be filed. The IRS is struggling to take returns from third party services and computer programs such as TurboTax, Intuit and H&R Block, reports The Washington Post. Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter told lawmakers today that the agency&rsquo...

FBI public corruption squad digging into Ohio cases for a decade

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger’s resignation in the wake of FBI questions over his activities is only the latest high-profile inquiry by a public corruption investigation team that has honed in on everything from bribery among top state officials to dirty cops. Under then-FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, the bureau in 2008 established public corruption as a top priority and established...

Two ‘Memphis Belles’ and a Mustang will be in Dayton

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

Dayton will have two Memphis Belle’s in its midst soon, one real and the other a Hollywood star. A B-17 that flew in the 1990 movie Memphis Belle will fly at the Vectren Dayton Air Show next June, just weeks after the real Memphis Belle bomber, which gained fame in World War II, will debut at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The movie version is part of the collection at the National...

Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Warren County Rep. Peter Beck

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request for a new trial for former Mason mayor and state Rep. Peter Beck, who served 16 months in prison after being convicted in 2015 on charges of defrauding investors in a computer software company. The justices action Monday would appear to bring the case to a conclusion for Beck, a Republican who resigned his seat in 2014 after being indicted on 16 felony charges...

Feds: Dayton man admits to 10 armed robberies, plan to kill drug dealer

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

A Dayton man told investigators he committed 10 area armed robberies — including one at an Old North Dayton restaurant during which he got shot — and that he planned to kill a drug dealer, according to federal court documents. Jeremaine (also known as Jermaine) M. Green, 35, is accused of violations of the Hobbs Act — interference with commerce by threats or violence — in a...

Debates set for Monday in local state House race

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

If you can measure the popularity of a job by the number of people seeking it, the race for the Ohio House 42 district in southern Montgomery County is the region’s winner. Five people — three Republicans and two Democrats — are on the May 8 ballot for a seat in a district that has long been a Republican stronghold. About 62 percent of the district is Republican, according to the...

Beaten and burned; 5 local toddler homicides

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

Levi Tyrell “Little Bill” Barrett was beaten to death. So too was Takota Hasty, who was not breathing when he arrived at Dayton Children’s Hospital. The doctor who treated Rylee Sellers before her death testified her injuries were consistent with someone falling out of a second- or third-story window. Stanley Thomas III had burns on his arm and 20 separate blunt force injuries to...

New Dayton VA director wants to be transparent for veterans

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

The new Dayton VA Medical Center director wants to create a “high level of trust” with veterans and increase employee engagement as she takes over leadership of the area hospital. Jill Dietrich, 37, is the first woman leader of the 150-year-old institution and is one of the youngest in charge of a VA center nationally. The Indiana native will have oversight of the sprawling hospital campus...

Mulch-filled semi overturns in Warren County

by Breaking News Staff , Ed Richter

A semitrailer carrying mulch overturned, spilling its contents all over the road in Mason Monday evening. The accident occurred at Tylersville and Mason-Montgomery Roads around 6:30 p.m. Police had to direct traffic through the parking lot of the Mason United Methodist Church at Mason-Montgomery Road. No one was injured.

Wright State to offer 4-year degree at area community college

by Max Filby, Staff Writer

Wright State University will begin offering a bachelor’s degree program at a Dayton-area community college. Edison State Community College students will soon be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership without leaving the school’s main campus in Piqua. The degree offering was made possible by a newly signed articulation agreement between the two colleges. RELATED...

Richard Allen charter schools losing sponsor, say they’ll remain open

by Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer

The Ohio Department of Education is terminating its sponsorship of the four Richard Allen charter schools in southwest Ohio, but school leaders say they will remain open next school year. Michelle Thomas, superintendent of Richard Allen Schools, said Friday the group has “already secured another sponsor,” but will not announce who that is until the school’s board signs final documents...

Ohio looks to pump $50M into expanding internet access to rural areas

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

Nearly a third of Ohioans in rural counties lack access to broadband internet, compared to just 2 percent of urban residents, something legislators want to remedy with a proposed $50 million grant program. Proponents of the bipartisan House Bill 378 said this digital gap has a negative affect on everything from health care to education to employment in rural communities, and closing it would level...

One person injured in possible explosion near Ohio University campus

by Breaking News Staff

One person was injured in a possible gas explosion in an apartment building near Ohio University’s campus Sunday evening, according to a release from the City of Athens. >> Ohio University to begin offering classes at Beavercreek location The city issued a release saying that the person was transported to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital and all other residents of the building are accounted...

GOP fight for governor turns personal, nasty

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

The fight to win over voters in the Ohio governor’s race is bitter, ugly and personal. And that’s just on the Republican side. The May 8 GOP primary for governor is shaping up as one of the nastiest intra-party battles in recent years. Across Ohio, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor is on a “made tough” tour, pushing her conservative credentials while Attorney General Mike DeWine is branding...

Wright State was warned a year ago that more cuts were needed

by Max Filby, Staff Writer

Wright State University’s interim president saw the school’s recently-announced $10-million problem coming last June. Last summer Curtis McCray, in the midst of serving a brief three-month stint as interim leader of the school, announced that Wright State’s financial problems were “a little deeper” than the $30.8 million trustees cut out of the school’s 2017 budget...

Big pig rescue: Ohio firefighters pull Winnie the Pig from cistern

by Breaking News Staff

Firefighters had to climb into a cistern to rescue Winnie the pig, after she somehow had fallen in. There were no injuries after firefighters retrieved the 180-pound pot-bellied pig on Saturday, our media partner WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported. Goshen Township Fire and EMS Station 18 posted photos of the big pig rescue on on social media.

U.S. attacks Syria: What will happen next?

by Chris Stewart , Jack Torry, Staff Writer

U.S., British and French airstrikes on Syrian chemical weapons facilities were returned by only heated Russian rhetoric on Saturday, easing fears of an immediately escalating conflict. The strikes were generally supported by allies and Ohio lawmakers. RELATED: Trump claims success in Syria, but chemical weapons remain The more than 100 cruise missiles fired at targets in Syria early Saturday meant...

Ohio lawmakers react to announcement on Syria attacks

Ohio’s delegation to the U.S. Congress began reacting Friday night on social media to President Trump’s announcement of coordinated airstrikes in Syria. The U.S.-led attack was in conjunction with French and British forces in response to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Trump announces strike on Syria with U.S.-led coalition after chemical weapons attack...

Ex-officer wants sex charges case heard by judge instead of jury

by Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer

The former Phillipsburg police officer accused by four women of sex crimes — including unwanted sex while two women were in custody — waived his right to a jury trial. Justin Sanderson, 32, is scheduled to go on trial April 23 in front of Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Dankof. Sanderson waived a jury trial on April 6, according to court documents. RELATED: Trial date...

Urbana lawmaker co-sponsors abortion bill in Ohio

by Keisha Rowe, Staff Writer

A state lawmaker from Champaign County has introduced a controversial abortion bill in the Ohio Statehouse which could have the potential to resonate nationally. House Bill 565, which was introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives in March and co-sponsored by Rep. Nino Vitale of Urbana, would outlaw abortion in the Buckeye State, even in circumstances such as rape, incest or if the pregnancy...

Fighter pilot shortage grows to one in four, GAO says

by Barrie Barber, Staff Writer

Three military services face a shortage of one in four fighter pilots, and a gap in aviators could persist in the Air Force at least through 2023, the Government Accountability Office says. The Air Force had the widest shortage among fighter pilots at 27 percent in fiscal year 2017. The service branch had fewer pilots than authorized in 11 of the past 12 years and the gap has grown substantially larger...

Local Congressman Jim Jordan considering run for House speaker

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, who earlier this week refused to entertain the notion of running for House Speaker upon the announcement that current Speaker Paul Ryan is retiring, now says he's open to the notion. Jordan, an Urbana Republican who leads an insurgent group of ultra-conservative Republicans, said his colleagues have urged him to run in the days since Ryan abruptly announced he was not running...

Who was Kyle Plush? Community remembers teen crushed to death by van seat

by Breaking News Staff

Sixteen-year-old Kyle Plush is remembered by his former Mercy Montessori School classmates, teachers, and alumni as a creative, vibrant and kind child during a prayer service held Thursday night, according to our partners at WCPO. The teen died two days earlier in the parking lot of Seven Hills High School when his van seat fatally crushed him after being trapped in the third row seat bench. ...

Dayton man allegedly led Sidney police on high speed chase

by Breaking news staff

A Dayton man was arrested in Sidney on Friday afternoon for leading police on a high speed chase, according to a press release. Trevelle M. Scott Sr., 42, was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and taken to the Shelby County Jail. In addition, Scott had an outstanding warrant and he did not have a valid driver’s license, the release said. ...

Meet 7 of Dayton’s ‘Most Influential Women’

by Amelia Robinson

Influencing change most definitely has its rewards. The YWCA Dayton once again honored some of this community’s most influential women for making Dayton a better place. >> Meet Dayton’s ‘Top 10 African-American Men’ The 148-year-old organization that promotes the protection of women and girls from abuse and discrimination...

Good Food Group, LLC recalls chicken products sold at Costco

by Breaking News Staff

Good Food Group, LLC has issued a recall of Ready-To-Eat Chicken products sold at Costco stores nationwide. The recall includes approximately 130 pounds of fully cooked ready-to-eat curry chicken salad products due to misbranding and an undeclared allergen, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Monday. The products contain tree nuts, specifically...

JUST IN: ‘Too much competition’ forces Miamisburg restaurant to close

by Amelia Robinson

The owner of a Miamisburg restaurant said stiff competition is one of the reasons he decided to close his doors permanently. “It is too much competition. Since we opened, there are at least 30 restaurants in a short driving distance,” Dennis Williams of the Dark Horse Tavern, 209 Byers Road, told this news organization. “People want new and shiny, and our business...

Ohio members of Congress react to US-Syria action

by Jack Torry

Sen. Rob Portman, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Rep. Mike Turner backed President Donald Trump’s decision to attack chemical weapons facilities Friday in Syria, with Portman tweeting the West must hold Syrian President Bashar al-Assad “accountable” for using “barbarous” chemical weapons against the Syrian people. Portman, Turner, and Kasich joined most Ohio Republicans on...

Ohio House Speaker resigns immediately; won’t wait till May 1

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Republican Cliff Rosenberger’s resignation is effective immediately, not May 1 as he had announced earlier this week, Ohio House GOP spokesman Brad Miller said in a statement. Miller said that Speaker Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, number two legislative leader, “felt it was in the best interest of the institution that Cliff Rosenberger resign effective immediately.” It is...

Fairfield native becomes No. 2 at EPA

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

The U.S. Senate today confirmed the nomination of Fairfield native Andrew Wheeler, a former adviser to the late Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, as deputy administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Wheeler earned a degree from Case Western Reserve University, was sharply criticized by environmentalists such as the Sierra Club because he had been an energy lobbyist. Wheeler graduated...

WATCH: Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor talks about her plan to keep kids safe in schools and if teachers should be armed in this exclusive interview

by Michael D. Pitman

Miami University Regionals, the Journal-News and WLWT Channel 5 partnered to present a pair of interviews with the two Ohio gubernatorial candidates seeking the GOP nomination in the May 8 primary. Second up is Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor who was interviewed by WLWT anchor Sheree Paolello, Journal-News reporter Michael D. Pitman and Miami University professor John Forren. Both the Taylor and Ohio Attorney...

WATCH: Ohio AG Mike DeWine talks about about gun control, opioids in this exclusive interview

by Michael D. Pitman

Miami University Regionals, the Journal-News and WLWT Channel 5 partnered to present a pair of interviews with the two Ohio gubernatorial candidates seeking the GOP nomination in the May 8 primary. First up is Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine interviewed by WLWT anchor Sheree Paolello, Journal-News reporter Michael D. Pitman and Miami University professor John Forren. Both the DeWine and Lt. Gov...

Democratic governor candidates debate in Middletown

by Will Garbe, Michael Pitman, Staff Writer

Guns and marijuana were among the key issues Tuesday night as four of the Democrats running for governor faced off in their final debate before the May 8 primary. The debate was sponsored by the Butler County Journal-News and WLWT-TV. The debate is hosted by Miami University Regionals at its Middletown campus. The Democrats running for governor are former federal consumer protection chief and former...

Equal Pay Day: Ohio’s gender pay gap one of the worst in the nation

by Katie Wedell, Staff Writer

The gender pay gap in Ohio is the 14th worst in the nation, according to a new report by the National Partnership for Women and Families. Today, April 10, is Equal Pay Day, when activists draw attention to the differences in how much men and women are paid in some American jobs. The analysis used U.S. Census Bureau data to show that gender-based wage gaps affect women in every corner of the U.S. and...

Sherrod Brown says campaign set fundraising record in first quarter

by Jessica Wehrman, Washington Bureau

Sen. Sherrod Brown has raised nearly $19.7 million for his re-election to date, and with eight months until Election Day has more than $11.8 million in the bank, according to his latest campaign finance report. Brown, a Democrat seeking his third term in the U.S. Senate, raised $3.3 million in the first quarter of this year alone. The $11.8 million he has to spend is nearly twice as much as his campaign...

Payday lending bill comes to life as House speaker faces probe

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

After sitting dormant for more than a year, action is expected on legislation that aims to crack down on payday lending practices — just as Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger confirmed he hired a criminal defense attorney because the Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking questions about his activities. House Bill 123, sponsored by state Rep. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield, is expected to...

Tax scams increase across region, state

by Rachel Murray, Staff Writer

As we inch closer to the April 17 tax filing deadline, there’s a renewed warning about tax scams in the Miami Valley and across the state. There were 340 reports of tax scams in March, more than double what was reported in January and 21 percent higher than in February, according to the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The scams come in many forms, including emails asking for your personal...

Ohio’s plan to add work requirements for Medicaid gets push back

by Kaitlin Schroeder, Staff Writer

Dozens of medical and social service lobbying groups are pushing back against Ohio Medicaid’s request to create work requirements for able-bodied adults covered through Medicaid expansion. The Trump administration opened the door for states to add the first-ever work requirements associated with the state-federal health insurance program for the poor. In response, the Republican-dominated legislature...

Ohio Sen. Portman travels to Ukraine, meets with troops

by Jack Torry, Washington Bureau

Concluding a trip that included a visit with Ukrainian troops near a combat zone with Russian separatists, Sen. Rob Portman said today he was “encouraged” by Ukraine’s efforts to improve its military efficiency and predicted that with continued U.S. help Ukraine eventually would re-unite its entire country. In a telephone interview from Ukraine’s capital of Kiev, Portman, R-Ohio...

Latest twist: Candidate says she will take polygraph test Thursday

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

Republican Ohio House candidate Jocelyn Smith says she will take a polygraph test on Thursday in her effort to prove she is telling the truth about her allegations that her opponent, state Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, choked, kissed and fondled her in 2015. Smith of Fairborn had earlier challenged Perales to take a polygraph test and offered to pay for it. She also is demanding that he resign...

Candidate now accusing local lawmaker of ‘fondling’ her

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

The Republican candidate accusing State Rep. Rick Perales of misconduct sent a letter to Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger on Friday criticizing him for not contacting her and adding “fondling” to her list of allegations against Perales. Rosenberger responded to Jocelyn Smith in a letter Tuesday, saying she should contact law enforcement about any allegations involving physical abuse...

JUST IN: Ohio State Fair makes first concert announcement

by Sarah Franks

Nothing says summer is getting closer than an Ohio State Fair concert announcement. The Ohio State Fair has announced its line-up for this summer featuring seven paid concerts and free events as a part of its concert series. The just-announced acts include Reba McEntire, comedian Jeff Dunham and The Commodores. Four more concerts at the fairground’s Celeste Center have yet to be announced...

Deadline to register to vote in upcoming primary election is April 9

by Anthony Shoemaker, Staff Writer

If you plan to vote in the May 8 election, you have about a week to register if you haven’t already. The deadline to register is Monday, April 9. Voters on May 8 will decide on Republican and Democratic primaries for Ohio governor. Republicans will also vote on primaries for U.S. Senate and state treasurer. Also on the ballot is state Issue 1 which would change the way Ohio draws congressional...

The new Lefty’s Eats & Espresso in Fairborn is a must-try -- here’s why

by Alex Perry

Last week, Lefty’s Eatery & Espresso opened in downtown Fairborn. On a rainy Thursday, a cozy, local cafe was an ideal spot for lunch. As I approached the corner shop, Lefty’s logo was instantly recognizable on large windows, and a noticeable line had formed at the register. I asked for a menu favorite, or what seemed to be a popular order, before I made my decision: carnitas grilled...

Baby girl born in car to Cincinnati area couple

by Breaking News Staff

A Cincinnati area family gave new meaning to “baby on board.” The Stones were on their way to the hospital when their new daughter Ember Ray could not wait. They welcomed their third child into the world Friday morning in a parking lot off Cook Road in Milford, our news partner WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported. “We hit a curve, and it was like she was born,” Tiffany Stone...

DPS leaders look for alternate transportation plans after bus drivers file notice to strike

by Ben McLaughlin, Jeremy P. Kelley

Dayton Public Schools leaders said they will immediately begin work on alternate student transportation plans after the union representing bus drivers filed a notice of their intent to strike April 10. DPS and the 145-member bus drivers’ union, Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 627, have negotiated for nearly nine months without agreement on a new contract. A district news release...

Consultant says challenger Jocelyn Smith out to ‘ruin’ Rep. Perales

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

A consultant who advised Republican state House candidate Jocelyn Smith last year as she geared up her campaign against state Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, said that Smith told him she had a consensual sexting relationship with Perales that included no violence. “He never choked her, according to her,” said Michael Talev, a Cleveland consultant who worked for Smith for about six months...

Ohio Senate candidate didn’t report $50K in donations as a lobbyist

by Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci failed to disclose nearly $50,000 in political contributions while registered as a Washington lobbyist starting in the late 2000s, according to an Associated Press review of federal records. The AP review identified five reporting periods from 2008 to 2010 while the Ohio Republican was registered as a lobbyist when he either failed to file the required disclosure form or reported...

This Guy Fieri-approved restaurant in Columbus gets national props, thanks to their must-have dumplings

by Sarah Franks

It’s the warm dough wrapped minutes before the first bite. It’s the secret ingredients. It’s everything about Momo Ghar’s dumplings — and America’s foodies are taking notice. The small but mighty restaurant in Columbus serving authentic Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine has once again been recognized for their crave-able food. On Monday, Yelp...

This legendary food truck is returning with new owners after its shocking closing

by Sarah Franks

Praise to the burrito gods — the legendary Burrito Buggy food truck will officially be back in business in just a few weeks under new ownership. Panic among fans of the Athens-based truck spread when owners of the Buggy announced it would be put up for sale earlier this year. In an earlier Dayton.com story about the possible closing, owners Marla Rutter and her husband, Jimmy...

Cordray details opioids plan in Dayton campaign stop

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

Rich Cordray would declare the opioid crisis a state of emergency, expand funding for drug abuse treatment and prevention, and work to keep Republicans from rolling back Medicaid expansion if elected governor, the Democratic primary candidate announced this week. Cordray detailed his plan in a meeting Tuesday in Dayton with the group Families of Addicts and Mayor Nan Whaley. “I think there&rsquo...

Officials continue search for person who tied, burned dog to death

by Breaking news staff

Humane Society of Greater Dayton investigators are still searching for answers more than a week after a dog was tied up and burned to death in the 1000 block of Kammer Avenue. There’s been no leads in the case, and now a $1,500 reward is being offered for information leading the arrest of the person responsible for the crime, which was reported on March 19. Mark Kumpf, director of the...

Two arrested during drug raid in Dayton

by Breaking news staff

Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies and the RANGE Task Force conducted a drug raid in the 200 block of Huron Avenue in Dayton Friday morning. Law enforcement officials were at the scene for about an hour before taking two people into custody. They declined to give further details. But we will continue to follow the story and bring you the latest information when it becomes...

‘Don’t force me to release the rest of the text messages,’ local candidate tells lawmaker

by Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer

Ohio House candidate Jocelyn Smith Tuesday called for her Republican primary opponent, state Rep. Rick Perales, to step down from office and drop out of the race, and threatened to release sexual text messages she says she has between the two of them if he refuses. She also called for Perales, R-Beavercreek, to take a lie detector test, which he said earlier Tuesday that he would not do. Smith said...

Ohio lawmaker seeks change: In some cases ‘it’s legal to rape your spouse’

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

Eliminating Ohio’s spousal rape exemption is under consideration again, this time with bipartisan support as some lawmakers say the state still has an “appalling and disgusting” law on the books. “In Ohio, in some circumstances, it’s legal to rape your spouse,” said state Rep. Kristin Boggs. “It’s appalling and disgusting that there is any circumstance...

Lawmakers vote to cut state funding from cities using traffic cameras

by Laura Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Ohio lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday to put up more hurdles for cities that want to use automated cameras to enforce traffic laws House Bill 410 is the latest effort by state Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, to staunch use of the cameras that supporters say help make roads safer and opponents call modern-day speed traps designed to rake in revenue. RELATED: Where drivers speed and run red lights most...

State senator, advocates push for Ohio medical marijuana program

by Barrie Barber , Laura A. Bischoff , Staff Writer

A state senator who’s a long-time medical marijuana advocate says it’s time to push aside roadblocks and put the program in place because patients can’t wait any longer. State Sen. Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, had a press conference Tuesday with two advocates who said medical marijuana made a difference in the treatments of chronic health problems for themselves or a family member...

NEW DETAILS: Fuyao worker crushed between forklift and a ton of glass

by Breaking News Staff , Nick Blizzard , Kara Driscoll

A 57-year-old Fuyao Glass America Inc. worker died after being crushed between a forklift and more than a ton of glass, Moraine police records show. The accident that killed forklift operator Ricky Patterson early Tuesday morning was captured on the company’s cameras, the Moraine Police Division incident report states. The Dayton man was found early Tuesday morning “wedged...

WATCH: See construction work transform the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton

Staff Writer

The outline of Levitt Pavilion is beginning to reveal itself along South Main Street in Dayton. Construction workers have been building the foundation for the Pavilion and related structures over the past month. >> 5 places in and around Dayton make Ohio top attractions list As things begin to take shape physically, Wagner also mentioned the schedule for the new music venue. ...

Amber Alert: 2 women in Warren County Jail; 4-year-old Sandusky boy found safe

by Breaking News Staff

Jennifer Hemchak, 35, and Tamara Montalvo, 37, were arrested in connection to the abduction of a 4-year-old boy in Sandusky that prompted a statewide Amber Alert Friday night. The women are currently in custody in Warren County Jail. Hamchak is the non-custodial parent of the boy, who was found safe. A vigilant motorist helped authorities find a 4-year-old boy Friday night who was abducted Friday...

What is freezing rain and how is it different from snow and sleet?

During the winter months you may often hear about snow, sleet and freezing rain. Each has its own hazards, but freezing rain can create hidden dangers on the roads, more than the others. Unlike snow or sleet on pavement, freezing rain can appear wet, but is actually a sheet of ice and will leave no traction for drivers. Freezing rain forms in the clouds just like snow, but it’s what happens...

Man found in Columbus park with bound victim

by The Associated Press

Police say park rangers in Columbus found a homeless man with a victim who was tied up and sexually assaulted. Authorities say rangers encountered the man with the woman around 9 a.m. Saturday at Scioto Audubon Park near downtown Columbus. The victim told officers she was choked, ordered to undress and bound with surgical tubing. David Shearer, 60, has been charged with rape and kidnapping. He was...

FBI offers $15K reward for missing teen boy who saw father killed

by Will Garbe, Staff Writer

DAYTON — A boy who witnessed his Beavercreek father being shot to death in a Riverside parking lot is still missing months after he disappeared, and today officials offered a $15,000 reward for information about the teenager. Federal prosecutors and local law enforcement announced the reward to locate Jacob Lee Caldwell, who saw Robert Caldwell, his father, killed in August 2017. Jacob&rsquo...

UPDATE: Ex-wife, 5 others indicted in 2017 killing of Beavercreek man

by Breaking News Staff , Will Garbe

Six people have been indicted on charges connected to the August 2017 killing of Robert Caldwell, of Beavercreek, who was killed in Riverside in front of his three children. One of the man’s children, Jacob Lee Caldwell, is missing and the FBI today announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to his recovery. Those indicted in connection to Robert Caldwell’s death include Sterling...

ACLU warns Ohio schools: We’re watching how you handle student protests

by Will Garbe

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio issued an open letter to school administrators ahead of the student protests and walkouts expected across the nation Wednesday after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The ACLU’s message was clear: We’re watching how schools handle these protests. The full letter appears at the bottom of this story. “As students plan walkouts...

Salaries, government spending revealed through I-Team Payroll Project

by Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer

State and local governments make payroll with public money, which is why this news organization launched its annual I-Team Payroll Project this month to provide the public with details on how government employees are compensated. The Payroll Project includes a searchable online database of 388,643 salaries — and counting — from employees in state government, as well as area counties...

Political barriers still daunting for Ohio women

by Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

In Ohio’s 215 years of statehood, Republican Nancy P. Hollister is the first and only woman to serve as governor. Forgive yourself if her name doesn’t ring a bell: Hollister held the post for just 11 days, filling in when George Voinovich moved to the U.S. Senate and Bob Taft had yet to start his term in January 1999. Some are calling 2018 the year of the woman in politics because there...

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