Monday, January 5, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1947, Gov. Mike DeWine was born in Springfield. He has served as Ohio's governor since 2019.

Registration is open for a popular summer car festival in Toledo. See the details in Around Ohio.

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Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Ohioans React to Venezuela Military Operation

Some Ohio Democrats questioned the legality of the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, while Vice President JD Vance stressed enforcing U.S. narcoterrorism indictments.

Demonstrators gathered across Ohio on Saturday to protest U.S. involvement in Venezuela, including in Cincinnati, where the local Party for Socialism and Liberation organized a rally.

Meanwhile, many Venezuelan immigrants celebrated the news nationwide, including in Cleveland, where Marie Navarro, owner of Venezuelan restaurant Tumbao58, said, "I was celebrating today because I was happy this dream came true for everyone in my country."

U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, criticized the Trump administration for what he called a "likely unlawful" operation. Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, who was born in Colombia, praised Trump, citing benefits for the U.S. and Latin America.

Lawmakers Target Alleged Child Care Fraud

State Rep. Josh Williams called on the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to investigate publicly funded child care facilities after viral videos alleging fraud at Somali-owned day care centers in Minnesota and Ohio.

Williams, joined by 42 other lawmakers, signed a letter asking the state to conduct more unannounced inspections and suspend payments to day care centers where fraud is suspected.

Gov. Mike DeWine said that people are "rightfully concerned" about the alleged fraud in Minnesota, but he said Ohio's policy of paying providers based on attendance, rather than enrollment, helps reduce the potential for fraud.

Ohio received more than $800 million in federal funds for child care services in 2024, and the state set aside $1.1 billion for the industry.

BGSU Snaps 7-Year OSU Drought

The Bowling Green men's hockey team beat Ohio State for the first time since the 2018-19 season, winning 5-3 on Saturday after a 2-2 overtime tie Friday that ended with an Ohio State shootout win.

Before a sold-out Slater Family Ice Arena in Bowling Green on Saturday, Bowling Green forward Tyler Hotson scored twice, and the Falcons scored three third-period goals to beat the Buckeyes. Ohio State and Bowling Green combined for a staggering 26 penalties.

At the Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Friday, Ohio State led 2-0 after two periods before the Falcons scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the third.

After a scoreless overtime that Ohio State opened on the power play, Buckeyes forward James Hong scored the lone goal in the shootout in the sixth round.

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➤ Statewide: Ohio recorded about 5,000 more vehicle crashes in 2025 than in 2024, with totals rising to 255,122 from 250,370, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol crash database. (More)

➤ Worthington: U.S. Department of Agriculture sharpshooters will target deer after dark in 27 Worthington areas to curb overpopulation that officials say has contributed to about 150 car crashes. (More)

➤ Maria Stein: Demolition of St. John the Baptist Church began on Friday after strong winds caused irreparable damage to the building, which had been damaged by a fire earlier this year. (See Photos)

➤ Smithfield: Three people died on Saturday in a house fire that drew responses from multiple departments, as investigators work to determine the cause. (More)

➤ Toledo: Jeep Fest 2026, celebrating its 10th year and Jeep's 85th anniversary, has opened registration ahead of the Aug. 7-9 event with organizers expecting to draw record crowds. (Details)

➤ Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett broke the NFL single-season record for sacks in a walk-off 20-18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. (See Sack)

➤ Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin won the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award after leading the Buckeyes to a 12-0 regular season as a redshirt freshman. (More)

➤ Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard won the Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding offensive player in FCS football. (More)

➤ Ohio State's No. 2 women's hockey team swept No. 4 Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions 5-1 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday. (More)

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➤ Average statewide gas prices fell 18 cents over the past week to $2.60 a gallon, with the highest prices in Lawrence County and the lowest in Springfield. (See Prices)

➤ Highland Heights announced new restrictions for juveniles at Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park, after overcrowding and altercations involving hundreds of teenagers last weekend. (More)

➤ Tea Zone Bakery and Cafe in Columbus, known for cakes, croffles, and chicken teriyaki, closed permanently on Dec. 31, thanking customers for years of support and loyalty. (More)

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➤ The Cleveland Museum of Natural History earned two honors: a Prix Versailles award ranking among the world's most beautiful museums and USA Today's top five Best New Museums. (More)

➤ A Deerfield Township mansion in Warren County, built in 2022 and listed at $2.72 million, offers 5,910 square feet, five bedrooms, a saltwater pool, an indoor batting cage, and a basketball court. (See Home)

➤ The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is reminding Ohioans that they can drop off Christmas trees at select ODNR locations statewide so the trees can be repurposed as wildlife habitats. (Details)

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➤ Make 2026 the year you start learning about the Bible (for free). Malachi Daily is a free email newsletter that helps you memorize 1 Bible verse every other week and learn its context via emails. In addition to memorizing Bible verses, you'll learn how each passage fits into the cohesive story of the Bible. Click here to get started today.