Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2016, Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination at the party’s national convention in Cleveland.

Ohio has a new nature preserve. Learn all about it in Et Cetera.

For years, the diet soda felt like the smart choice. Skip the sugar, save the calories, and protect your health. But a first-of-its-kind study that followed nearly 13,000 adults over eight years found that the low- and no-calorie sweeteners hiding in everyday products may be quietly speeding up how fast the brain ages. In today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla shares which sweeteners proved harmful, which one came out clean, and the everyday drinks and snacks they turn up in. So which of the sweeteners sitting in your own kitchen made the list? Tune in here to learn more!

Today's sponsor, PuriProduce, offers a simple, chemical-free way to help clean your fruits and vegetables, giving you added peace of mind with every meal.

Car insurance rates have climbed for many drivers over the past few years. Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Insurify, about a simple way to compare quotes and see if you could save.

FDA: Lettuce Recall Stands Despite Error

The FDA said Monday that a Taylor Farms lettuce sample which tested positive for cyclospora over the weekend was actually a false positive, but the company's recall stays in effect.

The agency's Sunday statement reversed a Saturday finding tying a specific Taylor Farms de Mexico shipment to the parasite. As of July 19, the FDA said, no product samples have tested positive for cyclospora.

The FDA said that "DOES NOT change the basis for [the] ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.”

Taylor Farms said the FDA "made a mistake" and has apologized, but the company is keeping its voluntary recall in place regardless.

Ohio had reported 1,316 cyclosporiasis cases as of Thursday, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

Scioto River Search Turns Deadly

Five people are dead after a swimming accident on the Scioto River in Delaware County Sunday night, Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer said.

A motorist called 911 after a distraught child on Riverside Drive near the Columbus Zoo said his family was in the river. One person struggled in the water, and others who tried to help became distressed too, Balzer said.

First responders pulled two adult women from the river on Sunday and rushed them to hospitals, where they died, and two children from the scene were taken into county care.

Rescue crews used a helicopter, thermal drones and several boats to search the river for two hours before calling off the overnight search due to darkness and murky water.

The bodies of three men were recovered Monday afternoon.

Cincinnati Moves to Review Flood Response

Mayor Aftab Pureval said Monday that Cincinnati will review its stormwater infrastructure and response after Friday's flash flooding killed one man and damaged dozens of homes and businesses.

The city will study the Duck Creek floodgate, which may have malfunctioned, with the Army Corps of Engineers and its stormwater team. Pureval said the review will weigh what worked and what needs to change.

Cleanup stretched into a third day Monday, with Metropolitan Sewer District fielding more than 900 damage reports across Oakley, Hyde Park and Fairfax. Director Diana Christy said no system could handle the storm's 4-plus inches of rain in under an hour.

In Columbia-Tusculum, homeowner Jimmy Comodeca said his house has flooded repeatedly since 2017, most recently last month, and that MSD's online claim form failed the night of the storm.

Flying together with our sponsor

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a healthy choice, but recent headlines about parasites and contaminants have many families taking a closer look at how they clean their produce.

PuriProduce uses a simple water-based cleaning process designed to help lift surface residues from fruits and vegetables without harsh chemicals. Give yourself extra peace of mind before every meal and help your family enjoy cleaner, fresher produce with every bite.

LEARN MORE

➤ Statewide: Elon Musk donated $5 million in May to Victors, Not Victims, the leading super PAC backing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's bid for Ohio governor, marking his first contribution to the campaign. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, introduced a bill Monday requiring data centers and other massive power users to cover the grid upgrades they need instead of passing the cost to households. (More)

➤ Dayton: The Greater Dayton RTA is asking riders to weigh in on proposed service changes, with two public hearings scheduled next month to gather feedback before the transit agency finalizes any route or schedule adjustments. (Details)

➤ Columbus: The Ohio National Guard will host a public muster at the Statehouse Saturday, letting visitors meet soldiers and airmen and view military vehicles and historical displays honoring the Guard's 238th birthday and the nation's 250th. (Details)

➤ Middletown: The Middletown Historic Commission voted unanimously to allow demolition of the century-old Manchester Inn and its adjacent Ford building, clearing the way for a proposed housing complex after years of failed efforts to save the structures. (See Photo)

➤ Elyria: The school board's $9 million budget reduction plan will end busing for students living within 2 miles of their school, part of cuts the district blamed on two failed levies and shrinking state funding. (More)

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

➤ Chase Burns signed a seven-year, $105 million extension with the Cincinnati Reds through the 2033 season, the 23-year-old right-hander's reward for an All-Star campaign that has him among the club's best strikeout pitchers ever at his age. (More)

➤ The Buckeyes are installing a new center-court video board with triple the square footage of the old one, more than 7,200 square feet of arena-wide LED displays, and an upgraded sound system at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, part of a $5.2 million offseason project. (More)

➤ Former Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was arrested Saturday on a Michigan child-support warrant following an autograph signing at Belden Village Mall in Canton. (More)

➤ The Cincinnati Bengals will debut a "White Bengal Stripe" night for its Dec. 31 game against the Ravens, asking fans to wear white or black based on their seating section to recreate the popular White Bengal jersey look throughout Paycor Stadium. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Protect your home from unexpected repair bills with ServicePlus Home Warranty. During the Summer Sale, save 40% off any annual home warranty plan and receive 2 months of coverage free. Enjoy comprehensive protection for covered systems and appliances, plus access to qualified local technicians. (LEARN MORE)

➤ At least three Ohioans are suing Taco Bell and its lettuce supplier, Taylor Farms, after contracting cyclospora, a parasite that causes diarrhea. (More)

➤ The Bureau of Land Management advanced a lease sale scheduled for Sept. 15 covering 41 parcels and 2,840 acres of the Wayne National Forest, a step toward the first fracking in Ohio's only national forest. (More)

➤ U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Helmick granted a preliminary injunction July 13 letting 10 businesses keep selling hemp products while their lawsuit against Ohio's new hemp ban proceeds. (Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Want exposure to Anthropic before its anticipated IPO? A new video reveals a publicly traded company with an early investment in Anthropic that may offer indirect exposure to its future growth. Learn why some investors are watching this opportunity closely—and discover the stock ticker free in the presentation. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Protect you and your family. Give your fruits and vegetables a deeper clean with PuriProduce. Using a simple water-and-salt cleaning cycle, this compact, hands-free device helps clean produce in just minutes, no scrubbing required. Perfect for busy kitchens, it makes meal prep quicker, easier, and more convenient.

LEARN MORE

➤ Plum Run Prairie has been designated as Ohio's newest nature preserve, with its 30 acres playing host to many rare state-listed plants and animals in southwestern Ohio. (See Photo)

➤ Middletown native Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, welcomed their fourth child, Alec Neel Vance, on Sunday, the first baby born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years. (See Photo)

➤ A midcentury modern home in Kent designed by architect Gerald Rembowski has drawn multiple offers and viral attention on Zillow Gone Wild after being listed for $350,000, with fans of the style calling it "near perfect." (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Make outdoor cleaning faster and easier with the Jetterix Pressure Washer Nozzle. It attaches directly to a standard garden hose and delivers a powerful spray for tackling dirt and grime on driveways, patios, siding, fences, windows, and vehicles—without the bulk or expense of a traditional pressure washer. (LEARN MORE)

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:

➤ New research found the low-calorie sweeteners hiding in everyday drinks may be quietly eroding your memory. (Hear Details)

➤ Health officials are working to trace the source of a deadly Legionnaires' outbreak on New York's Upper East Side. (Hear Episode)

➤ One of the most notorious figures in Mexico's drug trade was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to forfeit billions. (Listen Now)