Friday, January 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1883, the Pendleton Civil Service Act—sponsored by Sen. George H. Pendleton, of Ohio—was signed into law, establishing a merit-based federal employment system for most positions, regardless of political party.

🚀 Milestone Alert: The Ohio Flyover has grown to more than 65,000 daily readers as we approach our first anniversary in March! Whether you took off with us on day one or joined along the way, thank you for flying!

Today's sponsor is Femicore, a women's health solution featuring a short, doctor-backed bladder restoration technique that supports bladder control and confidence without traditional exercises.

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.

ICE Deputy Director Launches Bid for Congress

Madison Sheahan, deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a former rower at The Ohio State University, is leaving the agency to run in Ohio's 9th Congressional District.

The seat is held by Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, who took office in 1983 and is the longest-serving woman in Congress.

In a statement, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised Sheahan's work with ICE and her devotion to Ohio and the nation. Sheahan previously worked for Noem in the South Dakota governor's office before serving as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Sheahan's campaign website says more than 2.5 million illegal immigrants left the country during her tenure as ICE deputy director.

Ohio U, Kent State Named in Point-Shaving Scheme

College basketball players allegedly rigged games involving Ohio University, Kent State University, and other schools in a point-shaving scandal, according to a federal indictment.

Twenty men were charged in connection with the scheme, which involved 39 players on 17 NCAA Division I teams. Prosecutors say 29 games were manipulated, including Kent State's Feb. 27, 2024, game against Buffalo, and Ohio University's March 5, 2024, game against the Bulls.

Three men allegedly placed bets totaling $424,000 that Kent State would cover the 8.5-point first-half spread. Shawn Fulcher, who played for Buffalo, allegedly agreed to ensure that result.

The group again allegedly placed bets that Ohio University would cover its 5.5-point first-half spread against Buffalo days later. OU led by seven at halftime.

Laurinaitis Headlines CFB Hall of Fame Class

Former Ohio State linebacker and current Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis was selected for the College Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class.

Laurinaitis will be the 29th former Buckeye inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was a three-time first-team All-America selection, went 4-0 against Michigan, and is the only two-time winner of the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award.

Former Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter, a Westerville South High School alum, was also selected for the Hall of Fame's 2026 class. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting in 1994 after rushing for more than 1,500 yards.

The complete list of inductees, including players and coaches, is on the National Football Foundation's website.

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Millions of women experience bladder leaks, urgency, or discomfort. Recent scientific research is uncovering a new piece of the puzzle: the urinary microbiome.

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➤ Statewide: Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to strengthen data collection and enforcement against childcare fraud that expands the attorney general's authority, protects federal funds, and preserves eligibility for families and providers. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: The city council passed a resolution urging federal law enforcement officers to follow city policy, including requirements for body cameras, officer identification, and masks. (More)

➤ Athens: City Councilman Paul Isherwood's opposition to requiring the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings went viral after he said the pledge's reference to God stemmed from "anti-immigrant sentiment." (Watch Video)

➤ Columbus: A federal judge ordered The Ohio State University to expunge a former student's expulsion tied to pro-Palestine videos, including one in which he withdrew his condemnation of a shooting at the Israeli Embassy. (More)

➤ Erie County: The sheriff's office issued a rare Level 3 snow emergency on Thursday morning, closing all roads to non-emergency travel. (More)

➤ Cleveland: The Lakefront Airport Preservation Partnership met with city officials to urge Mayor Justin Bibb to work with the Federal Aviation Administration to explore alternative uses for the Burke Lakefront Airport rather than close it. (More)

➤ Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, a University of Dayton graduate, urged the Big East Conference to consider Dayton for membership in a letter. Nine of the conference's 11 members are Catholic, like Dayton. (More)

➤ Former Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins, who made 3 of 4 kicks from beyond 50 yards in 2025, committed to Ohio State from the transfer portal. The Buckeyes have not made a 50-yard-plus field goal since 2019. (More)

➤ Toledo native John Harbaugh reportedly accepted the New York Giants' head coaching job on a five-year deal that would make him one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches. (More)

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➤ Officials at Columbus' COSI science museum, ranked among the nation's best, announced plans to lay off 15% of its workforce, citing attendance declines and funding challenges. (More)

➤ Sumaria Systems said it will lay off 57 employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base after losing a recompete bid for an F-16 advanced avionics contract. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Clinic will begin offering Saturday appointments this weekend for select elective surgeries, including plastic surgery, urology, and orthopedics. (More)

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Researchers are discovering that bladder health isn't just about muscles—it's also about bacteria.

Studies show the urinary microbiome plays an important role in comfort and urgency. When that balance is off, leaks and irritation may follow.

FemiCore is designed to support this balance with carefully selected probiotics and botanicals that promote urinary health.

Learn about the science behind it and how women are using it as part of their daily routine.

➤ Federal health officials have initiated a recall of Super Greens diet supplement powder after a Salmonella outbreak sickened at least 45 people in 21 states, including Ohio. (Details)

➤ The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will host 11 Natural Resources Officer open houses at state parks in February and March, sharing information about joining the agency's law enforcement division. (More)

➤ Federal agencies released about 670 tagged Fatmucket mussels into the Cuyahoga River this fall to track their growth and help restore water quality and ecosystem health. (More)

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