Ohio
Ohio judge approves $600 million settlement for residents near fiery East Palestine train derailment
A federal judge approved Norfolk Southern’s $600 million class-action settlement offer, more than a year after the devastating East Palestine, Ohio derailment.
Judge Benita Pearson approved the class-action settlements and a 27% fee for attorneys, overruling all objections.
The $600 million, to be paid by Norfolk Southern, will compensate households and businesses within a 20-mile radius of the accident that submitted claims.
The lawsuit had roughly 55,000 claims filed, with just 370 households and 47 businesses opting out.
POLITICIANS REACT TO BIDEN VISITING EAST PALESTINE AFTER 1 YEAR: ‘TOO LITTLE TOO LATE’
A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains Monday, Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The only objections were from residents concerned that the settlement was rushed before individuals knew the extent of the potential health effects following the catastrophic Feb. 2023 train derailment.
“These attorneys were bullying people and telling them they were never going to get any money if they didn’t take this. People felt backed into a corner,” resident Jami Wallace said.
In August, a group of residents and attorneys unsuccessfully petitioned Judge Pearson for more time to evaluate the settlement, arguing that the long-term effects of the disaster remain to be seen.
An “East Palestine (EP) Strong” sign outside a business in East Palestine, Ohio, US, on Sunday, May 28, 2023. In the Ohio town where a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in February, recovery efforts are undercut by lingering uncertainty. (Nate Smallwood/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
As part of the settlement, any aid residents received from the railroad will be deducted from their final payments. Wallace and others who had to relocate for an extended period while the railroad paid for hotels or rental homes likely will not get anything.
The settlement allowed that anyone who lived within 2 miles of the derailment could get up to $70,000 per household for property damages, along with $25,000 per person for any health problems.
WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGES MISTAKES IN INITIAL EAST PALESTINE DISASTER RESPONSE
The payments drop to as little as a few hundreds of dollars for those who live within 2 miles of the derailment location.
“This outcome would not have been possible without the resilience and support of the East Palestine community and the broader class of impacted residents and business owners,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys said in a statement. “We look forward to beginning the distribution of funds in the coming weeks to help this community rebuild and move forward.”
In this photo taken with a drone, portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the previous night in East Palestine, Ohio, remain on fire at mid-day, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
When the train derailed late on Feb. 3, 2023, tank cars full of hazardous chemicals ruptured and spilled their contents that caught fire just outside the small town on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.
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Officials decided three days later to blow open five tank cars of vinyl chloride and burn the toxic plastic ingredient inside because they feared they would explode.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WKBN) – Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 3rd Round, Pick 87 of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Kacmarek is the second OSU tight end taken so far in the 2026 NFL Draft. Buckeye teammate Max Klare was taken in the 2nd Round by the Los Angeles Rams.
The Buckeye played in all 14 games this past season and scored two touchdowns. Last season, he caught 15 passes for 168 receiving yards
Kacmarek started his college career at Ohio University before he transferred to Ohio State in 2024.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called to assist in a shooting investigation in Brecksville on Friday morning.
Law enforcement is on the scene near Snowville Road and Breckville Road, where a shooting sent two people to Metro Health this morning.
Their conditions are unknown, police said.
Brecksville Police told 19 News there is no ongoing threat, and the incident is still under investigation.
Steve Irwin, with the Ohio BCI, told 19 News that its crime scene unit was requested this morning to assist the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and Brecksville Police Department with an investigation.
19 News is working to learn more.
Brecksville Police said it will share more details as they become available.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
The 2026 NFL Draft began on April 23 with a flurry of Ohio State players going off the board.
Four Buckeyes were among the top-11 picks in the draft, beginning with wide receiver Carnell Tate who was taken by the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall.
Linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles soon followed as they went No. 5 and No. 7 to the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, respectively. Safety Caleb Downs was the Dallas Cowboys’ selection at No. 11.
Even with the early wave of players who went, Ohio State still has its share of prospects left, with the second and third rounds of the draft set for April 24.
Here are the best remaining ones:
Kayden McDonald, defensive tackle
It figures McDonald will be among the earlier selections in the second round after he had generated some first-round buzz in recent months and was invited to the draft in Pittsburgh.
But Florida’s Caleb Banks and Clemson’s Peter Woods were the only defensive tackles to be picked in the opening round.
McDonald emerged as a run-stuffing nose tackle for the Buckeyes in his first year as a starter and was named a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten’s defensive lineman of the year.
He followed Downs, Reese and Tate in leaving school a year early to turn pro.
Max Klare, tight end
Klare was one of the Buckeyes’ top pass-catching weapons after he transferred from Purdue.
He had 43 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns in 2025, nearly matching his production from the previous year when he led the Boilermakers in receiving as their top target.
Klare considered his move to Ohio State as an opportunity to develop into a more well-rounded tight end, pointing to blocking as an area of growth.
If he goes in the second or third round, he’d be the Buckeyes’ first tight end to be drafted on Day 2 since Jeremy Ruckert in 2022.
Davison Igbinosun, cornerback
Igbinosun spent three years with the Buckeyes after he transferred from Mississippi in 2023.
His physicality as a 6-foot-2, 189-pound cornerback challenged receivers, but also left him prone to pass interference.
He was the most heavily penalized cornerback in the nation in 2024 before cutting down on penalties last season.
Coach Ryan Day praised Igbinosun for his toughness last year, pointing to his influence on the culture of their secondary.
“A gritty, competitive dude who just brings it every day,” Day said. “He’s had a major impact on our program.”
Will Kacmarek, tight end
Kacmarek was another multi-year player out of the transfer portal for the Buckeyes after leaving Ohio for Ohio State in 2024.
He provided them with a dependable run-blocking tight end who also caught 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns during his two years.
Even if he isn’t a frequent receiving target, he’ll provide a physical presence with his 6-foot-5, 261-pound frame.
Ohio State’s remaining draft-eligible players
- RB CJ Donaldson Jr.
- TE Will Kacmarek
- TE Max Klare
- OL Ethan Onianwa
- DL Caden Curry
- DL Tywone Malone Jr.
- CB Davison Igbinosun
- S Lorenzo Styles Jr.
- LS John Ferlmann
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
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