Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1804, the Ohio General Assembly established Ohio University.

Today marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for Christians leading up to Easter. You can learn more about the season here.

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Hearing Clinic Closes Abruptly

Columbus Speech and Hearing halted all services on Friday, raising questions about the future of a nonprofit founded in 1923 as the League for the Hard of Hearing.

An auto-reply email from the nonprofit said CEO James O. Dye was no longer with the organization, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Previously, CSH had disclosed plans to end speech therapy services, citing ongoing financial pressures, while maintaining audiology, sign language instruction, and support services.

CSH serves more than 8,000 people in central Ohio, according to its website.

Professor Trains AI to Spot Space Debris

A Cedarville University professor is working with the U.S. Air Force Academy to improve how researchers identify space debris with the help of artificial intelligence technology.

George Landon, who leads the school's computer science and cyber operations program, said AI can aid in the classification of the tiniest debris seen from ground-based telescopes.

Last year, he presented research on the topic to audiences that included representatives from NASA, Amazon, and SpaceX.

Cautioning that AI's effectiveness in real-world settings is "never straightforward," he said his work is also shaping how he teaches about the technology's abilities and limitations.

High School Flag Football Officially Kicks Off

High school girls' flag football reached a milestone by becoming an officially sanctioned varsity sport starting this spring.

Last year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association approved the sanctioning of the sport and its championships starting this spring, citing the sport's rapid growth.

In 2021, fewer than 20 Ohio high schools fielded teams. Last year, about 80 teams played. The games are played in the spring sports season.

The Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are among the organizations promoting the sport, providing resources and instruction to help schools start programs.

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➤ Lorain County: About 120 union workers in the county's Department of Job and Family Services are preparing to strike after contract talks stalled. (More)

➤ Steubenville: City officials began discussing the city's lack of a designated shelter for residents during winter storms. (More)

➤ Youngstown: A water main break opened a sinkhole on Bennington Avenue, trapping one car and damaging a pickup truck. No injuries were reported. (See Photo)

➤ Toledo: The city launched its "pothole blitz," aiming to fill 7,500 potholes in five days. Residents can report potholes online or through an app. (Details)

➤ Maumee: The city council approved an updated tax‑increment financing plan to aid the redevelopment of the Shops at Fallen Timbers, where nearly half of the storefronts are vacant. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden chose locally-based Terrex Development & Construction as the construction manager for the zoo's planned habitat projects, including a new Mexican wolves habitat. (More)

➤ Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman was attacked by four men at a New York hotel and treated for minor injuries. No arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon. (More)

➤ The Cleveland Browns are expected to hire Atlanta Falcons defensive pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator. (More)

➤ Ohio State men's basketball coach Jake Diebler disputed a Fox commentator's comments about the school's name, image, and likeness opportunities, saying, "There's a lot of inaccurate information out there." (More)

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➤ SICCET USA plans to open a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Grove City to produce high-performance cables used in aircraft engines and power plants. (More)

➤ Farm-to-table restaurant Skillet in Columbus closed after 17 years in business. (More)

➤ Drive-thru coffee chain 7 Brew Coffee Co. opened a location in Howland Township in Trumbull County. (More)

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➤ Catholic leaders and students in Toledo are working to establish the National Shrine of St. Carlo Acutis, highlighting the church's first millennial saint as an example for teenagers. (More)

➤ Decorative clothing pins tailored to each of Ohio's 88 counties went on sale to help mark the nation's 250th anniversary, featuring county outlines alongside the America 250-Ohio logo. The pins are sold online or at the Ohio Statehouse Museum Shop. (Details)

➤ Ventura Foods peanut butter products were recalled in 40 states, including Ohio, under a Class II recall after "pieces of blue plastic" were found in a filter. (More)

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