Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, a skirmish erupted at “Fort Fizzle” in Holmes County between Union forces and local residents after federal officials tried to enforce the Conscription Act, which authorized drafting men into military service.

🥊 An Ohio teenager is at the center of a foiled plot to attack the UFC card on the White House lawn. We've got the details in Top Stories.

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Ohio Teen Charged in White House Plot

A 19-year-old from Knox County is among several people arrested in an alleged plot to attack Sunday's UFC card on the White House South Lawn, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.

Tycen Proper faces federal charges, including attempted murder of a federal official and conspiracy. Investigators said the plan involved explosive-laden drones and shooters positioned to fire on the crowd as it fled the event, which President Trump hosted on his 80th birthday.

The case began June 10 when Proper's mother called the Knox County Sheriff's Office, worried about her son's recent gun purchases and online contacts. Deputies who visited the family home recovered thousands of rounds of ammunition and two rifles, which relatives voluntarily surrendered.

The FBI said arrests spanned Ohio, Missouri, and California, with the investigation ongoing. Proper is held without bond and faces a detention hearing today.

Ohio Braces for More Severe Storms

Another round of severe weather is set to hit Ohio tonight into tomorrow, just days after a weekend storm spawned tornadoes across the eastern part of the state.

Survey crews have confirmed an EF-1 tornado tore through Salem in Columbiana County during Sunday's storms, with a second twister near East Palestine still awaiting a rating. The system pushed Ohio's 2026 tornado count to 12.

The storms left a trail of destruction across Northeast Ohio, toppling the beloved Erieview Ferris wheel in Geneva-on-the-Lake, a 1956 landmark families had ridden for generations. Crews are still hauling away downed trees and snapped power lines.

At the height of the outages, more than 100,000 customers lost electricity, with Cuyahoga County hit hardest. Restoration has stretched into the week as residents pick up the pieces.

DeWine Calls to End Death Penalty

Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that Ohio should abolish the death penalty, reversing a position he helped write into law as a state senator 45 years ago.

The Republican governor, in his final months in office, said data convinced him that capital punishment no longer deters violent crime. He pointed to charts showing shrinking numbers of death sentences and the decades inmates now wait, with many dying of natural causes first.

DeWine has not allowed an execution since taking office in 2019, citing trouble obtaining lethal-injection drugs. He said the choice now belongs to lawmakers, or to voters if the legislature won't act.

More than 100 people remain on Ohio's death row. Top Republicans have resisted repeal before, leaving the proposal an uphill climb.

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➤ Statewide: A bill that cleared the Ohio Senate without opposition would let teens get a learner's permit at 15 rather than 15 1/2, while doubling required practice time from six months to a year. It now heads to the House. (See Details)

➤ Athens: Ohio University trustees approved a 3% tuition increase for incoming in-state freshmen and 5% for non-residents, alongside higher room and board. Officials also reported applications near record levels, topping 26,000. (See Details)

➤ Cleveland: A $5 ticket bought at a Giant Eagle just turned into an $18 million payday. The first jackpot winner of the new Millionaire for Life game came forward to claim the lump sum. (See Details)

Akron: All three Firestone Country Club courses landed in the top five of Golfweek's ranking of Ohio's best public-access courses, a familiar perch the storied Akron club has held for years. Non-members can still book a round. (See Rankings)

➤ Hubbard Township: A 56-year-old man faces charges after police say he flashed a firearm and argued with a player at a youth baseball tournament, sending parents and kids scrambling. He has pleaded not guilty. (More)

➤ Mansfield: The prison made famous by The Shawshank Redemption is rewarding road-trippers this summer, with tour discounts that grow the farther visitors travel to reach it. The savings run through Labor Day. (See Deal)

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➤ The Cleveland Browns are pushing Brook Park to create a public authority that would own the team's planned $2.6 billion domed stadium and lease it back to the franchise. The structure could knock an estimated $100 million off construction costs through tax exemptions. (More)

➤ The Cincinnati-Miami Victory Bell game will be played at FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium on September 19, the first football game in the soccer venue's history. It's the last scheduled meeting between the two rivals after both schools canceled future games in the series. (More)

➤ A bill targeting NIL in Ohio high school sports stalled a few votes short and will be reintroduced in January, its sponsor said yesterday. The OHSAA began allowing student-athlete deals last November. (See Details)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | WNBA

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➤ THC drinks flow again after a federal judge temporarily blocked Senate Bill 56, Ohio's new hemp law, finding it likely unconstitutional because it required products to be sourced, made, and distributed entirely in-state. For now, only the 10 companies that sued, including Cleveland's Saucy Brew Works, can sell while the 14-day order remains in place. (More)

➤ Wings go to-go in Columbus, where Buffalo Wild Wings is launching its delivery-and-carryout concept, Buffalo Wild Wings Go, with its first area location opening this weekend. (See Details)

➤ Women professionals gather in Woodmere this Thursday for the EmpowHER networking event, a 5-7 p.m. session focused on mentorship and career growth. Tickets start at $5, and advance registration is required. (See Details)

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➤ Hubbard cut the ribbon on a new all-inclusive playground built largely by volunteers, with wheelchair-accessible surfacing and a self-propelled merry-go-round that a child can spin without help. (See Photos)

➤ Strawberries take center stage in Kirtland this weekend, where the Kiwanis Strawberry Festival runs June 18-20 with rides, a parade, and a strawberry-eating contest. (See Details)

➤ Carrying the colors, Anthony Wayne High School goalie Yasmine Metawa, a sophomore, was chosen as a World Cup flag bearer at Boston Stadium through a national program. (More)

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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:

➤ Days before leaving office, the U.S. intelligence director released evidence of American-funded biolabs in over 30 countries. (Hear Details)➤ SpaceX has leapfrogged major Wall Street giants to rank among the world's most valuable companies. (Hear Episode)➤ An Arizona woman was clocked at 108 mph racing home to catch the latest episode of Love Island. (Listen Now)