Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Tipping Wars, a 46-Year Mystery, and a Church Debate

Americans clash over gratuities, the Supreme Court weighs in on a historic case, and a centuries-old question resurfaces.

 

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Reflecting Pool Deal, Mystery Geep, and Most Welcoming Towns

A Brookfield company owned by a Trumbull County businessman won a $1.7 million no-bid contract to install a new water-cleaning system in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
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Top Stories

Article Icon 1Ohio Firm Lands Reflecting Pool Deal

A Brookfield company owned by a Trumbull County businessman won a $1.7 million no-bid contract to install a new water-cleaning system in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The pool was repainted "American flag blue" and refilled this month ahead of the nation's 250th birthday, only to quickly turn green with algae. Crews have since used hydrogen peroxide to clear it.

Greenwater Services is owned through a trust led by John Cafaro, a Trump donor with two prior federal guilty pleas, including one for conspiring to bribe an Ohio congressman. He told a local newspaper he urged the Park Service to open the job to bidding, and that his ozone system did its job by clearing algae from the pool's old pipes.

Interior officials said they chose the firm for its expertise and deadline, were unaware of the owner's politics, and cited an urgency exemption to skip competitive bidding.

Article Icon 1Drone Bill Lands on DeWine's Desk

A bill creating Ohio's first statewide rules for police drones now sits on Gov. Mike DeWine's desk, awaiting his signature or veto.

The measure would generally require officers to get a warrant before flying a drone over a home or other private space. It carves out exceptions for emergencies, disaster response, and traffic-crash investigations.

The legislation also bars public agencies from buying or operating drones made by foreign adversaries, a provision aimed at the Chinese manufacturers that dominate the market.

It passed both chambers with bipartisan support, but the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is urging a veto, warning that a broad exception for observing what is visible to the naked eye could open the door to wider surveillance. The governor has not signaled which way he is leaning.

Article Icon 1 Rare 'Geep' Born on Ohio Farm

An Olmsted Falls farm has welcomed a goat-and-sheep hybrid so unusual that no one even keeps statistics on how often one is born.

The owners, a husband and wife who run a small rescue farm, were surprised their sheep had given birth at all, then realized the Memorial Day kid looked far more like a goat than a lamb.

Nobody is certain yet. Sheep and goats carry different chromosome counts, 54 and 60, so the only way to know is a chromosome test running $700 to $1,000, and the family is raising money to pay for it. Most such pairings never produce a living animal at all.

For now, the mystery rides on Clara's mother, a sheep, and the prime suspect next door, a 2-year-old goat. Her owners say that geep or not, she is healthy, curious, and already a local celebrity. See a photo of Clara here.

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The Flyover

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Around Ohio

➤ Steubenville: Officials are urging residents to watch for taste and odor changes in their tap water after an algae bloom in the Ohio River prompted hydrant flushing and extra monitoring. They report no health risks. (More)

Belmont County: The state is launching a $27 million overhaul of Interstate 70 near Morristown, with bridge work, lane shifts, and nighttime construction expected to reshape the corridor this summer. (See Details)

Statewide: A bill that critics call a "drag ban" and supporters call an indecent-exposure update has stalled in the Ohio Senate, with no hearings since April as the session winds down. (More)

Boardman: Residents on the township's east side say they have battled rat infestations for over a year, trapping rodents some likened to the size of kittens, and are pleading with the township for action. (More)

Pickerington: A central Ohio woman says a restaurant turned her away over her service dog, a dispute now drawing attention to what businesses may legally ask under federal disability rules. (More)


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Ohio Sports

Canton's own could go first in the NBA Draft on Tuesday, with Kansas guard Darryn Peterson projected to top the board, the first Ohioan taken No. 1 since LeBron James in 2003. (More)

Ohio State's biggest rival took a hit, as Michigan coach Dusty May, fresh off a national title, left for the Dallas Mavericks, leaving the Wolverines to replace him and three projected lottery picks. (More)

The Horseshoe is back near the top: a popular new football video game ranked Ohio Stadium the second-toughest place to play in the country, trailing only LSU and sitting 10 spots ahead of Michigan. (See List)

Eight Ohio high schools are moving up to Division I football for the coming season, reshaping the playoff picture in the state's largest classification. (See List)

➤ Yesterday’s results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | WNBA | Men’s Tennis

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Ohio Business

The Columbus Partnership, the region's coalition of top CEOs, said leader Jason Hall will resign June 30, leaving the civic group searching for its third chief executive in two years. (More)

Youngstown's transit authority broke ground on a $5 million "bus barn" that will store and charge up to 20 electric buses, replacing its oldest garage and anchoring development along the Mahoning Avenue corridor. (More)

A new analysis projects Ohio will lose roughly 51,000 jobs and $5.3 billion in economic output by 2029 as federal Medicaid, food-aid, and insurance-subsidy cuts phase in, even with new rural-health money flowing to the state. (See Analysis)

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Markets are volatile. Inflation remains a concern. And every week seems to bring a new economic headline. When times are uncertain, getting good information matters. That's why we've partnered with the Freedom Summit, a free online event on June 25 featuring economists, investors, and business leaders discussing what's next for the economy, inflation, and financial markets. Register free today and save your spot.

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Et Cetera

Ohio's booth at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, open Wednesday through July 10 for the nation's 250th birthday, leans on state parks, childhood programs, and a "Heart of It All" theme. (See Details)

The Air Force Research Laboratory has switched on a $20 million supercomputer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that runs 8.7 quadrillion calculations per second. (See Details)

A new ranking of the most welcoming towns in Ohio's countryside runs from river settlements older than the state to Amish-country crossroads and a village where a waterfall tumbles through downtown. (See Towns)

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The Flyover Podcast

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

Everyone's suddenly fighting about tipping, and the rest of the world thinks Americans are the confused ones. (Listen now)

Nearly 50 years after little Etan Patz vanished on his way to the school bus, the Supreme Court just had the final say. (Listen here)

A new book traces a question the Catholic Church keeps reopening but never answers: Were women once ordained as deacons? (Listen here)

The Poll

Which Ohio MLB team are you rooting for this summer?

  1. Reds
  2. Guardians
  3. Both
  4. Neither
  5. Don't follow

Yesterday's Results:

How far will the U.S. advance in the World Cup?

  1. No opinion: 31%
  2. Quarterfinals: 19%
  3. Semifinals: 15%
  4. Runner-up: 12%
  5. Round of 32: 8%
  6. Round of 16: 8%
  7. Champions: 7%
Ohio Trivia

What aircraft is Ohio’s official state airplane?

Show me the answer

The Ohio Flyover

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Fair Ticket Prices, Necktie Training, and Drone Camp

Families heading to the Georgia National Fair in Perry this fall will pay more under admission changes announced by the expo.                
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Top Stories

Article Icon 1Delta Lands Spirit's Airport Gates

Delta Air Lines won the bidding to take over two gates and ticketing space left behind by Spirit Airlines at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The Atlanta-based carrier offered $12 million for gates C4 and C6, plus support areas. Spirit reached out to 10 parties seeking bids.

Hartsfield-Jackson serves as Delta's largest hub, with nearly 1,000 peak-day departures.

Spirit shut down in early May following its bankruptcy. Delta's gate deal is expected to close following a review by the bankruptcy judge in Spirit's case.

Article Icon 1Fair Ends Free Entry for Most Children

Families heading to the Georgia National Fair in Perry this fall will pay more under admission changes announced by the expo.

Children ages 3 to 10 will now need a ticket, costing $5 at the gate and $4 in advance, after previously entering for free. Children 2 and younger remain free.

Adult admission paid in cash at the gate will cost $20, while adult admission using a debit/credit card will remain $15. Discount days will remain $10.

Online purchases will also now carry a processing fee.

Article Icon 1State Cruises Into Road Trip Top 10

Georgia landed eighth on WalletHub's ranking of the best states for a summer road trip, earning praise for its budget-friendly appeal.

Researchers compared all 50 states across 32 metrics, weighing fun, scenery, and affordability.

Georgia ranked near the top for cheap camping, low three-star hotel rates, and gas prices. The state ranked in the middle for attractions and scenic byways.

Minnesota took first place nationally, while Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware ranked at the bottom.

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The Flyover

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Around Georgia

Irwin County: A lightning strike sparked a weekend fire that damaged about 40% of Frank Primitive Baptist Church, with no injuries reported. Members worshipped outside on Sunday. (More)

Americus: Phoebe Sumter Medical Center hosted its 15th annual Ties That Bind leadership luncheon, pairing boys with male role models and teaching them how to tie a necktie. (More)

Crisp County: Overnight rainfall left parts of Hatley Road impassable, prompting Sheriff Billy Hancock to urge drivers to avoid flooded routes as storms swept the region. (More)

Augusta: Savannah Riverkeeper warned the public to avoid the Savannah River near a Riverview Park sandbar after testing found E. coli more than 10 times the safe limit. (More)

Colquitt County: United Way honored three local teachers with classroom-support grants, recognizing their leadership and mentorship. (More)


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Georgia Sports

➤ Georgia and FSU will play a neutral-site football game at Nashville's new Nissan Stadium in 2028 after the two schools scrapped their previously scheduled home-and-home series. (More)

➤ Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract extension. The team also acquired sharpshooting guard Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Hawks will select at both No. 8 and No. 23 in tonight's NBA Draft. (More)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts its next World Cup match at 6 p.m. Wednesday, when Morocco faces Haiti in a Group C finale. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: World Cup | MLB |College World Series | WNBA | Men’s Tennis

Flying together with our sponsor

Free Yourself From Shoulder Pain Without Surgery. Just 12 minutes a day can help restore movement, reduce stiffness, and bring your shoulder back to life. No pills. No downtime. Learn More

Georgia Business

Georgia's average gas price was $3.64 a gallon on Monday, down 11 cents over the past week and down 39 cents in the past month. (Fuel Price Map)

Alpharetta surfaced as a possible new regional headquarters for Morgan Stanley, which already employs more than 3,000 people in the area after its E*TRADE acquisition. (More)

➤ The Elbert County Sheriff’s Office warned businesses about a scam involving unsolicited faxes from Med Pulse, offering tips on how to spot scam invoices. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Markets are volatile. Inflation remains a concern. And every week seems to bring a new economic headline. When times are uncertain, getting good information matters. That's why we've partnered with the Freedom Summit, a free online event on June 25 featuring economists, investors, and business leaders discussing what's next for the economy, inflation, and financial markets. Register free today and save your spot.

Flying together with our sponsor

Why pay thousands for hearing aids?

Oricle Hearing Aids deliver crystal-clear sound, all-day comfort, and rechargeable convenience for under $100. No prescriptions, no appointments—just powerful, affordable hearing support you can trust. Join over 150,000 satisfied customers who’ve made the switch.

Hear better, live better—order Oricle today and save!

LEARN MORE

Et Cetera

Family and friends honored Grammy-winning singer Peabo Bryson, a longtime Atlanta metro resident who died this month at 75. (More)

A drone camp at Augusta Regional Airport drew a dozen junior and high school students who learned to fly and build drones designed to deliver medical supplies. (More)

Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany will open its gates to the public Friday for a free Independence Day celebration at Covella Pond, featuring live music and fireworks. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Don’t wait for a $10,000 veterinary bill. Vet costs are rising fast—a single emergency visit can now cost up to $10,000, turning an unexpected illness or injury into a major financial hit. Lemonade Pet Insurance makes it easy and affordable, with customizable coverage, fast digital claims, and plans starting at just $10/month. Protect your pet before the next vet bill hits—get a quote from Lemonade Pet Insurance today. FIND AFFORDABLE CARE

The Flyover Podcast

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

Everyone's suddenly fighting about tipping, and the rest of the world thinks Americans are the confused ones. (Listen now)

Nearly 50 years after little Etan Patz vanished on his way to the school bus, the Supreme Court just had the final say. (Listen here)

A new book traces a question the Catholic Church keeps reopening but never answers: Were women once ordained as deacons? (Listen here)

The Poll

Do you ever go to the Georgia National Fair?

  1. Every year
  2. Once in a while
  3. Never been

Yesterday's Results:

How do you like your boiled peanuts?

  1. Other: 31%
  2. Classic salted: 9%
  3. Cajun: 4%
  4. Dill pickle: 4%
  5. Old Bay: 4%
  6. Not a fan: 48%
Georgia Trivia

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas grew up speaking what creole language as his first language?

Show me the answer

The Georgia Flyover

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Tipping Wars, a 46-Year Mystery, and a Church Debate

Americans clash over gratuities, the Supreme Court weighs in on a historic case, and a centuries-old question resurfaces.   ͏ ‌   ͏ ...