Ohio

Cincinnati’s Daniel Carter Beard Bridge fire recalls other fires, disasters on Ohio bridges

Published

1 year ago

November 1, 2024

Cincinnati’s Daniel Carter Beard Bridge fire recalls other fires, disasters on Ohio bridges

A massive fire engulfing the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge and Interstate 471 over the Ohio River might have Cincinnati residents recalling another major blaze that cut a major route between Ohio and Kentucky.

In 2020, the Brent Spence Bridge that carries interstates 71 and 75 across the Ohio River was closed for weeks following a crash that sparked a huge fire.

Here’s a look back at that disaster and other bridge fires and collapses around Ohio.

Fiery crash closes Brent Spence Bridge, I-71/75, over Ohio River for six weeks in 2020

Brent Spence Bridge on I-75 closed after fire, crash

A boat sprays water on a semi on fire on the Brent Spence Bridge early Wednesday. The fire followed a crash involving 2 semis. One truck was carrying potassium hydroxide. The bridge will be closed until it can be inspected.

Emily Rowekamp, Provided

On Nov. 11, 2020, a truck carrying potassium hydroxide crashed into a jackknifed truck on the Brent Spence Bridge, causing a major fire that ended up closing the Ohio River span for six weeks.

According to 911 calls, the Old Dominion semi driver who crashed into a jackknifed truck didn’t have time to grab Hazmat paperwork before fleeing the truck, the Enquirer reported previously.

“It started on fire, and I just jumped out,” he said, telling a dispatcher that he couldn’t grab the paperwork in time.

Neither he nor the driver of the jackknifed rig were injured.

Repairs to the bridge included new steel support beams and new sections of concrete on the upper and lower decks. The U.S. Department of Transportation made $12 million in federal funds available for emergency repairs.

The bridge, which carries more than 160,000 vehicles a day and is one of the busiest trucking routes in the United States, reopened on Dec. 22, 2020.

Tanker catches fire on state Route 8 in Macedonia Saturday

The crash closed the highway both ways.

Tanker crash kills driver, sparks fire on Route 8 ramp to I-271 in January 2024

On Jan. 27, the driver of a diesel tanker was killed after driving off a bridge at the Interstate 271 entrance ramp from state Route 8 north of Akron.

The truck, carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel, exploded, causing a huge fire that closed the bridge for a few days, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. It reopened after inspections showed the damage didn’t affect the bridge’s structural integrity.

Miamitown Bridge collapses during flooding in Cincinnati on May 26, 1989

A temporary bridge over the Great Miami River collapsed during widespread flooding on May 16, 1989, according to media reports, sending four cars into the water. At least two people drowned, WCPO reported.

In November 1990, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a report blaming the Hamilton County Engineer’s Office for three factors that contributed to the bridge collapse, according to WCPO. Those included:

Selection of a design by National Engineering, the company that built the bridge, that did not consider lateral loads
Failure to submit the bridge design plans to the Ohio Department of Transportation for review as required by state law
Failure to promptly close the bridge when it became subject to significant debris loading

Silver Bridge span from Gallipolis collapses into Ohio River on Dec. 15, 1967

The Silver Bridge spanned the Ohio River from Gallipolis to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Opening to traffic in 1928, it was the first bridge in the nation to use an innovative eyebar-link suspension system rather than a traditional wire-cable suspension, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

However, one of those eyebars had a small, unseen defect. The faulty eyebar eventually cracked and began to corrode, out of sight of the public or bridge inspectors. At about 5 p.m. on December 15—during rush hour—the eyebar failed, setting off a series of other failures that caused the bridge to collapse. Thirty-one vehicles plunged into the Ohio River, killing 46 people.

This story was updated to add a video.

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Ohio

Giaunna Renee Lee Jackson, Youngstown, Ohio

Published

8 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Giaunna Renee Lee Jackson, Youngstown, Ohio

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Giaunna Renee Lee Jackson, affectionately known as “Gigi” departed this life suddenly on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Youngstown, Ohio at the tender age of 22.

Born January 15, 2004, to Thomas Hall, Sr. and the late Fannie M. Jackson, Giaunna was a smart, determined and resilient soul whose sassy charm and confident spirit made her believe she could conquer anything she set out to do.

Whether it was playing the trumpet, making the softball, basketball and volleyball team, finding a job or being on the honor roll at school she set, and most times conquered her goals. She was a hard worker and held several jobs with her most recent employment at Walmart and McDonald’s.

Giaunna’s educational journey began at Martin Luther King Elementary and included Campbell Memorial Middle School, Rayen Early College, and Campbell Memorial High School where she graduated in 2022. She continued her education at Youngstown State University where she majored in Criminal Justice.

Giaunna enjoyed going out to dinner, shopping, binging on Netflix & Hulu, creating her own personal quotes, coloring books and listening to chill music. However, what she loved most was cooking for her brothers and grandmother, late night conversations with her brother Gerald, car rides with her brother Joshua, face timing her dad for cooking recipes, hanging with her cousins and with her best friends, Emily, Aiyana and Amy. Over the last several months, Giaunna opened her heart to let God in as she began to join her grandmother on what she called “grandma’s Jesus’ line” and as she joined her “Aunt Katrett” for Thursday devotions.

Giaunna was preceded in death by her mother, Fannie M. Jackson; maternal grandfather Abraham Jackson, maternal aunt Debbie Jackson Woodside, paternal grandparents; Thomas & Creola Hall and paternal uncle Bruce Harris.

Giaunna’s life will be treasured and remembered by her father & stepmother; Thomas (Monica) Hall, Sr. of Campbell, Ohio, brothers; Gerald and Joshua Jackson both of Youngstown, Ohio, Thomas Hall ,Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia and step-brother Darnell Heard of Columbus, Ohio, sister Devan Hall of Greenville, North Carolina, grandmother Elder Bessie Jackson, Aunts; Patricia Jackson McLendon of Bellevue, Michigan, Brenda (Rev Arthur) Jackson-Mackey, Jr. of Roosevelt, New York and Janet Jackson of Youngstown, Ohio, uncle; Barry Harris of Wellsville, Ohio and a host of cousins, godparents and loving friends. Rest in peace, dearest Giaunna. You will forever live on in our hearts.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at New Beginnings Outreach Ministries, 2007 Shenley Ave. Youngstown, OH 4451. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at 11:00 am. Bishop Chris Crump, Eulogist. Internment: Tod Homestead Cemetery, 2200 Belmont Ave. Youngstown, Ohio.

Arrangements are being handled by the L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Giaunna Renee Lee “Gigi” Jackson, please visit our floral store.

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Ohio

Ohio prisons, including Butler County, making millions to house immigrants for federal officials

Published

20 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Ohio prisons, including Butler County, making millions to house immigrants for federal officials

Ohio prisons are making millions of dollars to house immigrants for federal authorities, including in Butler County, which has raked in more than $6 million.Records show six correctional facilities across Ohio are currently holding immigration detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Last year alone, those facilities brought in more than $13 million in federal payments. Butler County received a large share of that money, serving as a primary holding site for immigration arrests, including operations out of Columbus.Documents show ICE pays facilities a daily rate per detainee, along with transportation costs. Those rates can range from about $68 to $125 per person each day.In November, Butler County updated the agreement with ICE and is now paid $105 per detainee.Advocates say these agreements raise concerns about detaining people who are not facing criminal charges.But some Ohio sheriffs defend the practice, saying it helps support federal immigration enforcement and provides local resources.These agreements are expected to continue into this year, with Butler County remaining a key location for immigration detention in Ohio.

BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio —

Ohio prisons are making millions of dollars to house immigrants for federal authorities, including in Butler County, which has raked in more than $6 million.

Records show six correctional facilities across Ohio are currently holding immigration detainees for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Last year alone, those facilities brought in more than $13 million in federal payments. Butler County received a large share of that money, serving as a primary holding site for immigration arrests, including operations out of Columbus.

Documents show ICE pays facilities a daily rate per detainee, along with transportation costs. Those rates can range from about $68 to $125 per person each day.

In November, Butler County updated the agreement with ICE and is now paid $105 per detainee.

Advocates say these agreements raise concerns about detaining people who are not facing criminal charges.

But some Ohio sheriffs defend the practice, saying it helps support federal immigration enforcement and provides local resources.

These agreements are expected to continue into this year, with Butler County remaining a key location for immigration detention in Ohio.

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Ohio

Dumplings recalled in 38 states, including Ohio, for potentially containing glass

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Dumplings recalled in 38 states, including Ohio, for potentially containing glass

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Dumplings sold in 38 states were recalled after the FDA learned the product may contain glass.

The Food and Drug Administration issued two recalls for dumpling products manufactured by JFE Franchising Inc. after the organization learned that the product may contain glass.

The affected products were: