Friday, May 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1906, Wilbur and Orville Wright were granted U.S. patent No. 821,393 for their “Flying Machine.”

⛵️ Many Ohioans are expected to hit the water this weekend as summer unofficially begins across the Buckeye State. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is offering safety tips for National Safe Boating Week, which you can find in Top Stories.

The Democratic National Committee just released its long-buried 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election. What went wrong? Who was to blame for their losses? While the report assigns blame across the board, they left some of the biggest questions still unanswered. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown shares the 5 biggest revelations from the report, what it quietly leaves out, and how both sides are reacting. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, RAD Intel, is drawing attention for its explosive growth and AI-powered marketing platform, already being used by Fortune 1000 brands to predict campaign performance before ad dollars are spent.

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.

Wendy's Names Bob Wright as CEO

Dublin-based Wendy's named Bob Wright as its new chief executive on Wednesday, bringing back a 33-year restaurant veteran who served three separate stints with the company.

Wright officially took the helm Thursday, replacing interim CEO Ken Cook, who had stepped in after former CEO Kirk Tanner departed last July to lead The Hershey Co. Wright is the fourth person to hold the title since January 2024.

The appointment comes as Wendy's battles five straight quarters of same-store sales declines, with shares down nearly 35% over the past year. Wright most recently led a successful recovery at Potbelly before that sandwich chain was taken private.

Ohio Justices Weigh $900M in Benefits

The Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in a class-action lawsuit challenging Gov. Mike DeWine's decision to withdraw Ohio from a federal pandemic unemployment program 10 weeks early, a move that left roughly $900 million in benefits unpaid.

DeWine ended the state's participation in May 2021, cutting off the $300-per-week federal supplement for laid-off workers.

Attorneys for the state countered that a 2022 court order had already rendered the dispute moot and that DeWine retained the discretion to exit a program he had joined voluntarily.

Two lower courts had previously sided with the workers.

State Officials Offer Boat Safety Tips

With Memorial Day weekend approaching, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is closing out National Safe Boating Week with a reminder to wear a life jacket.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard's 2024 recreational boating statistics, drowning accounted for 76% of fatalities, and the overwhelming majority of those victims were not wearing a life jacket.

"A life jacket, a plan, and a little awareness go a long way," Glen Cobb, chief of ODNR's Division of Parks and Watercraft, said.

The department is encouraging boaters to inspect their life jackets before the first launch of the season, file a float plan with someone on shore, and use the engine cut-off switches that Ohio law requires. Staying sober on the water and checking the forecast before departure are also part of the agency's safety checklist.

Help Us Test Flyover Updates

Several days ago, we announced something new coming to The Flyover: Flyover Updates, a quick afternoon message with the top breaking stories of the day, delivered straight to your phone while the news is still happening.

The response so far has been encouraging.

Before we officially launch in June, we’re inviting The Ohio Flyover readers to help test the experience and give us feedback.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A simple afternoon text message
• The biggest developing stories you haven’t seen yet
• No apps, clutter, or endless notifications
• The same straightforward Flyover reporting you already trust

A lot happens between this morning’s edition and tomorrow’s. Flyover Updates is designed to help you stay informed without spending all day chasing headlines.

If you’d like to be part of our early test group, sign up here.

We’d love to have you help shape what Flyover Updates becomes before the full launch.

Thank you for reading The Ohio Flyover and being part of what we’re building.

Flying together with our sponsor

This AI Company Has F1000 Traction and 5400% Growth

Most AI companies are still asking investors to bet on what might happen someday.

RAD Intel is already operating with real traction.

The company’s AI-driven platform helps brands predict marketing performance before campaigns launch, allowing decisions to happen while budgets are still flexible and outcomes can still be influenced. As marketing costs continue rising, that kind of decision advantage is becoming more valuable to brands and agencies trying to improve efficiency before money is committed.

That traction is already showing up in the business. RAD Intel doubled sales in 2025, secured recurring 7-figure enterprise contracts, and reported 3.5x ROI across campaigns with Fortune 1000 brands and agencies. Over the past five years, the company has delivered 5,400%+ valuation growth, raised $85M+ from 24,000+ investors, been selected by the Adobe Design Fund, and has backing from multiple institutional funds.*

Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI. Shares are currently available at $0.95, with the offering 95% allocated.

Lock in $0.95/share now.

➤ Statewide: The CDC is tracking a multistate salmonella outbreak tied to backyard chicken and duck ownership, with more than 180 people sickened, including five Ohioans. (More)

➤ Wooster: The College of Wooster will receive a $1.35 million Choose Ohio First scholarship grant from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, with the funds earmarked for STEM students. (More)

➤ Grove City: A local family is challenging a Franklin County adoption that separated two foster brothers, while state lawmakers push legislation to better protect sibling bonds. (More)

➤ Cleveland: The City Council's safety committee advanced legislation that would make threatening a healthcare worker a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail. (More)

➤ Grafton: The Village Council voted to impose a five-year moratorium on data center development. "Grafton will protect its small-town identity while growing responsibly," the village's statement read. (More)

➤ Akron: Eight people have been indicted in a series of Medicaid fraud and nursing home theft cases totaling more than $542,000, including an Akron woman who allegedly billed Medicaid for $412,219 in home services she never provided, all while taking nine trips to Jamaica. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale is here with major discounts on TVs, kitchen gadgets, outdoor gear, home essentials, electronics, and more. Shoppers are finding limited-time deals across thousands of top brands before summer officially begins. These holiday savings won’t last long, so now’s the time to grab the best bargains before they’re gone. (SHOP NOW)

Enjoying The Ohio Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ The Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the New York Knicks 109-93 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday, dropping to 0-2 in the series. Game 3 is set for Saturday in Cleveland. (More)

➤ Bill Davidge, former Miami University hockey coach and Columbus Blue Jackets broadcaster known for his signature "You better believe it!" call, died Wednesday at 72. (More)

➤ Ohio State baseball was eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday, falling 3-0 to Michigan as Wolverines pitcher Shane Brinham delivered a complete-game shutout. (More)

➤ The Dayton Dragons shattered a 25-year-old franchise record Wednesday, plating 22 runs in a 22-8 rout of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. The Dragons also tied a club best with six home runs. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Struggling with stress, poor sleep, or low recovery? Magnesium Breakthrough by BIOptimizers combines all 7 essential forms of magnesium to support relaxation, deeper sleep, and calm energy. For Memorial Day, get 25% off sitewide through May 27 — plus free gifts on orders over $150. Shop the sale before it ends

➤ More than 100 Ohio farmers markets are now accepting SNAP and EBT cards at participating locations statewide as the season opens, allowing food assistance recipients to put their benefits toward fresh produce. (More)

➤ Meijer has donated $200,000 to the 2026 Harvest for Hunger Campaign, with the funds supporting four food banks that serve 21 counties across northeast Ohio. (More)

➤ The Pataskala Kroger reopened following a complete store remodel, welcoming shoppers back with fuel savings promotions and gift card giveaways. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Flying together with our sponsor

RAD Intel Shares Are Available at $0.95

RAD Intel shares are currently available at $0.95 through an SEC-qualified offering, but the current window is closing.

The round is now 95% allocated as investor demand continues rising. Support now includes operators from Google, Meta, and Amazon as the company expands its AI platform across Fortune 1000 brands, agencies, and enterprise workflows. Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI.

Learn more before the $0.95 pricing window closes soon.

This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The valuation is set by the Company and there is currently no public market for the Company's Common Stock. Nasdaq ticker “RADI” has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai.

➤ Ohio lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 163, a bipartisan measure that would require artificial intelligence-generated images to carry watermarks and would criminalize the use of deepfakes to exploit minors. (More)

➤ Tickets are available for the Vintage Ohio Wine Festival, which returns to Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland this August, showcasing Ohio wineries alongside food vendors, cooking demonstrations, and artisan booths. (Details)

➤ A proposed disc golf course along the Maumee River near the Fort Meigs Memorial Bridge would bring 18 holes to Maumee at a cost of less than $20,000, with a public hearing scheduled for June 8. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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