Tuesday, June 30, 2026

New Walking Research Emerges, AI Faces Copyright Claims, Lincoln Pool Back Open

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Ayla Brown has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ Americans chase 10,000 steps a day, but a major new study says how you walk matters far more. (Hear Details)

➤ A coalition that owns nearly 400 local newspapers has accused OpenAI and Microsoft of copying their reporting to train AI systems. (Hear Episode)

➤ President Trump declared the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool "in full use" and blamed radical left vandals for the pool's recent problems. (Listen Now)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

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Earlier Learner's Permits, Gas Prices Split, and James Harden Working on Deal

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1921, President Warren G. Harding nominated Cincinnati-born former President William Howard Taft as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

A baby boom is happening in an Ohio maternity ward among the nurses. Find out more in Et Cetera.

Americans have been chasing the coveted 10,000 steps a day for years. We all know walking keeps the heart strong, the mind clear, and the body moving well into old age. But a major new study says the number of steps isn't what matters most. Researchers who tracked tens of thousands of adults found that how you walk does far more for your heart than how many steps you rack up. Tune in to today's Flyover Podcast as Ayla breaks down what the research found, plus five simple ways to get more out of the walking you're already doing. So are you walking the right way? Tune in here to find out!

Later today, watch for a special message from our partner, EnergyX, about an early-stage investment opportunity in a lithium company backed by major industry leaders.

Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is helping you plan your ideal retirement with a free guide that aligns your goals, timeline, and investment strategy for lasting financial confidence.

Ohio Senate Backs Earlier Learner's Permits

The Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 419, which would let teenagers get a learner's permit at 15 instead of 15 1/2.

The bill would also double the time a teen holds that permit before seeking a probationary license, from six months to a full year. Teens would still need to be 16 and log 50 hours of supervised driving.

Sponsor Sen. Theresa Gavarone said the longer window lets new drivers practice through fog, snow, rain, and the start of school-bus season before driving alone.

Driving instructors say more time behind the wheel builds confidence. Supporters also point to safety data: in 2024, 135 Ohio drivers ages 15 to 20 were involved in fatal crashes.

The measure now heads to the Ohio House, which would have to pass it before it could reach Gov. Mike DeWine's desk.

Judge Dismisses SEC Case against Jones

A federal judge has dismissed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's roughly $20 million securities-fraud lawsuit against former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones.

The SEC sued Jones in 2024 in federal court in northern Ohio, alleging he misled investors by claiming FirstEnergy acted "ethically" and "transparently" after the House Bill 6 bribery scandal surfaced.

Jones had argued the agency failed to show he knew his statements were false or set out to defraud shareholders.

FirstEnergy admitted bribing former House Speaker Larry Householder to help pass HB6's roughly $1 billion nuclear-plant bailout, and it paid a $100 million SEC penalty. Householder is serving a 20-year sentence.

The ruling clears one of the few cases targeting Jones personally, though he still faces state criminal charges and was reindicted on public-corruption counts in June.

Schools Face Shortages as Funding Shifts

Ohio's new two-year state budget steps away from the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan and trims the "guarantee" payments that shield districts when enrollment falls or property values rise.

Districts and the Ohio Federation of Teachers say the tighter state support comes as schools still struggle to fill jobs, with special education among the hardest to staff.

An analysis by Policy Matters Ohio, a left-leaning research group, found 349 of Ohio's roughly 611 districts would receive less state money over two years, and systems from Columbus to Reynoldsburg have warned of new levies or cuts.

State officials counter that Ohio spent more on K-12 in fiscal 2025 than ever before, arguing the guarantee was reduced because enrollment has dropped and property values have climbed. Whether that amounts to adequate funding, as one statehouse report framed it, depends on who you ask.

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➤ Statewide: A bill making it a fourth-degree misdemeanor to refuse to give your name, address, or birthdate during a traffic stop is on Gov. Mike DeWine's desk. (More)

➤ Pike County: Ohio's Fourth District Court of Appeals ordered new sentencing hearings for Jake and Angela Wagner, who pleaded guilty in the 2016 Rhoden family murders. (See Details)

➤ Cincinnati: Ramp closures tied to the $4.05 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project have begun downtown, some permanent and others lasting through 2028. The project will add a companion bridge over the Ohio River and finish around 2031. (See Details)

➤ Cleveland-Akron: Gas prices split across the region's metros, per GasBuddy: Akron's average rose about 2 cents to $3.75 a gallon, while Cleveland's fell nearly 13 cents to $3.87. (More)

➤ North Olmsted: The Cleveland suburb bought a $152,000 grinder to feed its free resident mulch program and speed up curbside brush chipping. (More)

➤ Licking County: The Licking County Humane Society needs foster homes after taking in 42 dogs from a large-scale rescue. (More)

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➤ Cavaliers guard James Harden declined his $42.3 million player option and is working with Cleveland on a new multiyear deal at a lower annual salary. The restructured deal frees up cap space for the Cavs to add pieces around Harden and Donovan Mitchell. (More)

➤ Four-time U.S. women's hockey Olympian Kendall Coyne Schofield will serve as the honorary starter for the Honda Indy 200, the IndyCar Series race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington on July 5. (More)

➤ Seven Ohio State players were named to Athlon Sports' preseason All-American teams, led by first-team wide receiver selection Jeremiah Smith. The publication also picked the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: World Cup | MLB | Wimbledon

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➤ An Ohio state board has approved a natural gas-powered electric generation plant in Licking County to serve a data center, saying taxpayers and ratepayers won’t pay for power at the center. (More)

➤ Heinen's, a grocer, will close its downtown Cleveland store at East Ninth and Euclid on July 31, ending an 11-year run in the historic Cleveland Trust rotunda. (See Details)

➤ The Bread Box, a Hilliard sourdough pickup business, found a new home after Coffee Connections, the coffee shop that hosted it, was forced to close over floor damage in its century-old building. (More)

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➤ Miami Valley Hospital’s labor and delivery unit in Dayton set a record with 17 of its nurses pregnant at the same time, ranging from 12 to 35 weeks along. The old mark was 11, back in 2019. (See Video)

➤ Six Wood County murals have been painted as part of Murals Across Ohio, an initiative that is part of the celebrations of America's 250th Anniversary. (See Photo)

➤ Denzel Ward, the Browns cornerback and former Buckeye, spent about two hours Sunday signing autographs for fans at the new Dick's Sporting Goods in Niles' Eastwood Mall, part of the store's grand-opening weekend. (See Video)

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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:

➤ Americans chase 10,000 steps a day, but a major new study says how you walk matters far more. (Hear Details)

➤ A coalition that owns nearly 400 local newspapers has accused OpenAI and Microsoft of copying their reporting to train AI systems. (Hear Episode)

➤ President Trump declared the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool "in full use" and blamed radical left vandals for the pool's recent problems. (Listen Now)

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Yesterday's Results:

How many Ohio state parks have you visited?

1-10: 42%
11-25: 20%
26-50: 13%
50-71: 10%
None: 15%

President William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to take part in what baseball tradition?

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TV Arrest Lawsuit, Head of the Hooch, and Gas Prices Drop

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1866, Memphis-born tenor Harry Tally was born. A pioneering artist, Tally is credited with recording one of the first songs ever to mention going to the movies, 1909's Let's Go Into A Picture Show.

If you're loading up the car for the holiday weekend, there's a little relief at the pump: AAA says Tennessee's average is down to $3.38 a gallon, the lowest it's been in about a month. See details below.

Later today, watch for a special message from our partner, EnergyX, about an early-stage investment opportunity in a lithium company backed by major industry leaders.

Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is helping you plan your ideal retirement with a free guide that aligns your goals, timeline, and investment strategy for lasting financial confidence.

Woman Sues over Made-for-TV Arrest

A Knox County woman is suing Sheriff Tom Spangler, alleging deputies executed a two-year-old misdemeanor warrant against her just to generate dramatic content for On Patrol: Live while she was recovering from shoulder replacement surgery.

The lawsuit claims seven to nine deputies and a camera crew arrived at her home, then handcuffed her hands behind her back despite her repeated requests for a front-cuff accommodation due to her surgery.

She was held in a transport van for more than four hours, and the charge was later dismissed and expunged. A deputy was caught on camera saying the deputies would "see what else we can get."

The suit was filed just over a week after the sheriff's office announced it was ending its participation in the show, which the sheriff's office had called "a tremendous opportunity."

Titans Legend CJ2K Reveals ALS Diagnosis

Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson revealed Monday that he was diagnosed with ALS last year, the same disease that forced Lou Gehrig from baseball.

Johnson shared the news in an interview with Good Morning America host Michael Strahan through an eye-controlled speech-generating device, as the disease has progressed rapidly.

Johnson, who became the sixth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season in 2009, said he first noticed weakness in his right hand before receiving the devastating diagnosis. He was 39 years old and described himself as being "in the prime of his life" when everything changed.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said Johnson's "leadership on the field, in addition to his impact in the locker room and Nashville community have written him permanently into the story of this franchise," pledging the organization's full support.

Tennessee Gets Charters of Freedom Display

Mountain City will become home to Tennessee's first permanent display of the Charters of Freedom as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

The display includes life-size replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil Rights Amendments.

The installation at 353 N. Shady St. will be the 79th Charters of Freedom display in the country, brought to Johnson County by Foundation Forward, Inc., a nonprofit that places founding document replicas in communities without easy access to Washington, D.C.

Alongside the display, a Field of Honor with engravable pavers will be installed in front of the permanent exhibit, allowing residents to honor veterans, first responders, and local organizations with tax-deductible donations.

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Source: HealthView Services, as of 11/07/2025.

➤ Nashville: A man is facing aggravated assault charges after allegedly swerving into a group of cyclists and scooter riders on Saturday. A witness chased the car and caught the license plate. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: The mayor announced plans to use eminent domain to block a proposed AI data center near the zoo as the Metro Council also works on broader data center restrictions. (More)

➤ Campbell County: Heavy rain triggered a rockslide Sunday that temporarily closed State Route 90. The roadway has since reopened. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: The Head of the Hooch regatta is expected to stay on the Tennessee River long-term despite major riverfront construction. A one-year move to Coolidge Park is planned for 2027 while work is underway. (More)

➤ Shelby County: Three men are facing felony charges after deputies caught them cutting through a barbed-wire fence at a penal farm at 2 a.m. to smuggle in contraband. (More)

➤ Blount County: A 69-year-old woman was injured Friday after her motorcycle crashed; a witness told someone at the scene that the driver had struck a bear, which then fled. (More)

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➤ The Memphis Grizzlies traded point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trailblazers, ending his seven-season tenure with the franchise. In return, Memphis received forwards Jeremi Grant and Kris Murray. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators signed center Jack Drury to a five-year, $22.5 million contract after acquiring him from the Avalanche. Drury won 58.1% of his faceoffs last season, fifth-best in the NHL among qualified players. (More)

➤ Lady Vols legend Candace Parker was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend in Knoxville, where she led Tennessee to two national championships. Parker also won three WNBA titles and two MVP awards during her professional career. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea said his 2026 football team is the deepest of his tenure, even after losing quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers from last year's 10-3 season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: World Cup | MLB | Wimbledon

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➤ The former IKEA Memphis store in Cordova, a 271,000-square-foot building on 29 acres appraised at $45.9 million, is now listed for sale, nearly two months after the location permanently closed in May. (More)

➤ L.L. Bean will open its first Tennessee store at CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin on July 17, kicking off with a ribbon-cutting and $50 gift cards for the first 100 shoppers. (More)

➤ Western Plaza Shopping Center in Knoxville sold for $65 million to an Illinois real estate investment group, one of the area's biggest real estate deals in recent years. (More)

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Source: HealthView Services, as of 11/07/2025.

➤ Researchers snorkeled the French Broad River at Seven Islands State Park last week to check on 200 endangered wavy-rayed lampmussels reintroduced last year. (See Video)

➤ Brooks Shaw's Old Country Store in Jackson landed the No. 4 Best Buffet in America ranking from USA TODAY 10Best for the fourth straight year, cementing the 60-year-old institution as a national destination. (More)

➤ Tennessee gas prices dropped 12 cents last week to $3.38 per gallon, which is still 60 cents higher than a year ago, but good timing for the 1.47 million Tennesseans expected to hit the road for July 4th. (More)

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➤ Americans chase 10,000 steps a day, but a major new study says how you walk matters far more. (Hear Details)

➤ A coalition that owns nearly 400 local newspapers has accused OpenAI and Microsoft of copying their reporting to train AI systems. (Hear Episode)

➤ President Trump declared the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool "in full use" and blamed radical left vandals for the pool's recent problems. (Listen Now)