Wednesday, May 27, 2026

On this day in 2019, a Memorial Day tornado outbreak spawned 21 tornadoes across Ohio from the night of May 27 into the early hours of May 28. The storms included three EF3 tornadoes and a violent EF4 that tore through Montgomery County.

☀️ Are you ready for summer? TourismOhio has released its 2026 summer travel guide, and you can find the highlights in Top Stories. Spoiler: Lots of golf and ice cream are involved!

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our sponsor, RAD Intel, about a current investment opportunity at $0.95/share and the AI platform it’s building to help major brands improve ad performance.

Today’s sponsor, Zap Zone Defender, is helping homeowners reclaim their backyards with a powerful mosquito-zapping device designed to quietly eliminate up to 15,000 mosquitoes in a single night without chemicals or noise.

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.

DeWine Reflects on Tenure, Endorsement

Gov. Mike DeWine called legalizing sports betting his "biggest mistake" in office during last week's Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, where he reflected on his time leading the state.

DeWine said he didn't anticipate the "massive, massive amount of money" gambling companies would use to "flood” the airwaves. He added that more Ohioans are losing money on gambling and that athletes are facing online backlash.

The governor signed the sports betting legislation into law in December 2021, and Ohio launched legal wagering in January 2023, rapidly growing into one of the nation's largest markets.

DeWine also confirmed his endorsement of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and outlined his plans for after leaving office—including spending time with his 28 grandchildren.

Family Dollar Closes Ohio Stores

Over the past 10 months, Family Dollar has quietly closed 28 Ohio locations—the second-highest total of any state.

Dollar Tree sold Family Dollar to 1959 Holdings in July 2025 for $1 billion. Since the sale, at least 350 Family Dollar locations nationwide have shuttered, according to an analysis by Local Falcon.

Only Texas recorded more closures, with 35. In March, the chain's new ownership announced plans to invest in smaller storefronts geared toward urban areas.

Currently, about two-thirds of Family Dollar's locations across 213 Ohio municipalities serve towns with fewer than 50,000 residents.

TourismOhio Drops 2026 Summer Travel Guide

TourismOhio has released its 2026 summer travel guide, featuring more than 440 events, a golf trail, road trips, and ice cream destinations across the Buckeye State.

A notable new addition to this year's guide is the Ohio Golf Trail, highlighting more than 180 public golf courses statewide. The launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin.

The Ohio Sports Road Trip has also been updated for 2026, and the Ohio Ice Cream Trail returns to this year's edition, spotlighting locally owned shops around the state.

Additional highlights include the "100 Things To Do This Summer" list and a guide to the state's most charming summer towns. The free official travel guide is available to order online.

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➤ Statehouse: Ohio Democrats introduced legislation that would use taxpayer funds to pay for four years of tuition for in-state students at any public university in the state. (More)

➤ McArthur: The U.S. Forest Service is weighing the potential closure of a McArthur research station as part of a broader national reorganization announced in March. (More)

➤ Geauga County: First responders rescued a hunter stranded in a swampy section of the LaDue Public Hunting Area, deploying a drone team and utilizing multiple fire departments to pinpoint his location. (More)

➤ Cleveland: The Warren Road entrance ramp to Interstate 90 eastbound is closing this week for construction and won't reopen for 45 days. Drivers should use South Marginal Drive as a detour. (More)

➤ Dublin: The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village tees off next week, and fans are encouraged to review the event's prohibited items list before arriving. Outside food and beverages are among the restrictions. (See List)

➤ Columbus: The Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 358, which would add a blackout specialty license plate to the state's options for drivers—a black plate with white lettering. (More)

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➤ Miles McBride, a 2019 Archbishop Moeller High School graduate, helped the New York Knicks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, contributing to their Eastern Conference Finals sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers. (More)

➤ Cincinnati Bearcats baseball earned the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament's Starkville Regional and will open play against Louisiana on Friday. It’s the program's third tournament appearance since 2019. (More)

➤ Hunter Armstrong, an Olympic gold medalist and former Ohio State swimmer, won the 50-meter backstroke at the Enhanced Games while competing drug-free—beating rivals who used performance-enhancing substances. (More)

➤ Lorain County Leviathan FC, a USL League Two club in its inaugural season, fell 3-1 to FC Buffalo in its Memorial Day home opener at ForeFront Field. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | Soccer

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➤ JobsOhio announced a significant expansion of its AI Ready Ohio program, partnering with the Enterprise Technology Association to deliver artificial intelligence workforce training across the state. (More)

➤ State Senate legislation would limit noncompete agreements that bar physicians from practicing in certain areas after leaving a healthcare employer. (More)

➤ Minneapolis-based Graco Inc. agreed to acquire Valco Melton, a Greater Cincinnati adhesive manufacturer based in West Chester, for $447 million in cash. (More)

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➤ Fifteen Ohio kids are competing for the national title at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., which began Tuesday and concludes Thursday. (More)

➤ Winking Lizard Tavern took top honors as America's best sports bar in the USA Today Readers' Choice poll. Buffalo Wild Wings, founded in Columbus, came in at No. 8. (See Ranking)

➤ Ohio's largest painted American flag was unveiled on Memorial Day in Wilmington, stretching across the Buckley Brothers grain silo. (See Photos)

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