Ohio
Ohio governor signs bill restricting transgender students’ access to school restrooms
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Wednesday signed a bill into law that restricts transgender students from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.
Senate Bill (SB) 104 requires public school buildings and facilities to “designate each [communal] student restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room” to be for “the exclusive use by students of the male biological sex only or by students of the female biological sex only.” Biological sex is defined in the bill to exclude an individual’s expression of gender identity other than what is on their official birth record. The bill also prevents schools from establishing gender-neutral restrooms.
The bathroom policy, known as the Protect All Students Act, was originally introduced as House Bill (HB) 183 before it was added to SB 104. HB 183 was sponsored by State Representatives Adam Bird and Beth Lear. Representative Bird explained that the “bottom line of this legislation is to protect students” and that he doesn’t “see that as a controversial issue.”
The ACLU of Ohio, however, “strongly urge[d] Governor DeWine to veto this bill and protect the rights of privacy of LGTBQ+ Ohioans statewide.” ACLU of Ohio Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick commented that “SB 104 will create unsafe environments for trans and gender non-conforming individuals of all ages.”
Other states have moved to pass similar legislation. In October, for instance, the Odessa City Council in Texas approved a restriction for restroom use to biological sex. On Thursday, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson also restricted the use of gendered restrooms in the House to biological sex. The decision was based on HB Resolution 1579, which prohibits members and other employees of the House from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.”
In January 2023, the ACLU filed a motion as an intervener in a federal lawsuit concerning an Ohio school district’s allowance of transgender students to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit heard oral arguments in late October, and the lawsuit is still ongoing.
The Senate passed SB 104 in mid-November by a 24-7 vote, sending the bill to the governor for approval. With his signature, the bill will now become law in 90 days.
And because of those very distinct emotional states, you’d never know that the Mariners’
Bruce Thornton was already grateful the Houston Rockets traded up with the New York Knicks to take him, but the former Ohio State star also quickly realized there was another incentive to landing in Texas.
After being projected by many mock drafts in the late 40s or early 50s entering the week, the Buckeyes’ all-time leading scorer sounds more than ready for his opportunity in Houston. He met with the media following the selection.
Were you anxious going into the night not knowing where you would land?
Bruce: For me, I’m not picky at all. Whoever wanted me and gave me, a kid from Fairburn, Georgia, an opportunity, I would be very blessed and very grateful. I’m so thankful for the Houston Rockets just taking a chance on me. And I’m going to do everything I can in my power to be the best player I can be for the Houston Rockets.
Did you know that you weren’t going to the Knicks at all?
Bruce: I knew at the last minute. Somebody said I got the wrong hat. I’m like, “What do you mean?” Then I heard the Houston Rockets. I’m like, “No state tax, so that’s even better.”
How does being a four-time team captain prepare you for the expectations of leadership as an NBA point guard?
Bruce: First, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, because without him, I wouldn’t be here right now. But for my experiences at Ohio State, being a four-year guy, it definitely helped me. The experience of just going through college, going through life and the stuff that you just go through, it definitely helped me prepare to talk to grown men at this level. But I feel like the experience I have at Ohio State is going to prepare me to be the best player I can be as a Houston Rocket.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in order to get to this point in your life right now?
Bruce: I feel like for me, from a basketball standpoint, I didn’t make it to March Madness my first three years of college. A lot of people chose to leave and make better situations to get to March Madness, but I just wanted to do it at Ohio State. So I did everything I could. My coaching staff helped me. I did a lot of praying, using my faith to the best of my ability, and I got through it my senior year. One of the best feelings, I ever decided to stay at Ohio State for all four years.
Throughout your basketball journey, is there someone that you’ve considered a mentor or looked up to that shaped the player you are today?
Bruce: First, my mother. She sacrificed so much. She also played at the University of Georgia, so she taught me a lot of things like handling the cookie jar, make sure you hold your follow through, boxing out, stuff I didn’t want to hear at all. But she definitely helped me.
And my friends from back home. It was all of our dream to be in the NBA. And for them to have my support, and having a great support cast throughout this journey was a big thing. The village I had behind me throughout this journey really helped me get to the point I am right now.
When Rockets fans start watching you professionally, is there a part of your game that you think will surprise them the most?
Bruce: I think I’m a winner. I want to win everything I possibly can. I’m trying to impact winning. For me, I feel like everybody eats when everybody wins. So I do everything I can. Whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to make sure I do it at a high level and with a great attitude.
When people look back at your career 10 or 15 years from now, what do you hope they remember most about you?
Bruce: I just hope I’m just a kid that gave everything I got each and every night. When I put that jersey on, I’m just going to perform at the best I can each and every night. I’m never going to quit. I’m never going to stop giving up. So I hope everybody can take that one thing from me, that when you have the opportunity, take full advantage of it.
What do you think you will bring to the Houston Rockets in terms of your attitude, work ethic and willingness to get one percent better each and every day?
Bruce: I think it starts on defense. Me just getting to the ball, being disruptive and making big-time shots. We got great players like Sengun and KD at a very high level. So me just filling in my role at a high level, doing the things they need me to do and just impacting winning as much as I possibly can, and being a great teammate in the locker room.
What is the biggest adjustment you expect to have to make in the NBA?
Bruce: The biggest adjustment is probably playing over 100 games in a year. There’s a deep playoff team this year. So [it’s up to] me just adjusting my body, having the time management skills to play over 100 games and try to win a championship.
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UC Bearcats coach Jordan Bischel, Nathan Taylor, Derrick Pitts/NCAA
UC Bearcats coach Jordan Bischel, Nathan Taylor, Derrick Pitts/NCAA baseball tournament in Starkville
Another non-conference weekend has been announced for the University of Cincinnati baseball team, as it will participate in the 2027 Nashville College Baseball Series at First Horizon Park March 5-7, 2027.
The rest of the field includes Ohio State, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
The UC Bearcats and Ohio State Buckeyes have met 99 times previously, with the last meeting coming in head coach Jordan Bischel’s first season in 2024. The Bearcats and Commodores have met 13 times, with the last meeting taking place in 2004. Next year’s game will also mark the 53rd all-time meeting between Cincinnati and Virginia Tech. The two teams met annually from 1979 to 1991 as Metro Conference foes.
Earlier in the week, it was announced that UC would face Georgia Tech, Illinois, and Tennessee at the 2027 Live Like Lou Jax College Baseball Classic in Jacksonville, Florida.
More on College Baseball Series, First Horizon Park
.The College Baseball Series is a premier collection of early-season Division I college baseball tournaments.
First Horizon Park opened in 2015 and is the home to the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The stadium is located in the Germantown neighborhood just north of downtown Nashville. Elements that make First Horizon Park one of the best venues in Minor League Baseball include a spacious 360-degree walkable concourse for an enhanced viewing experience; unique group outing spaces; an expansive suite level; LED ribbon boards; a nine-hole miniature golf course; and of course, the iconic guitar scoreboard.
UC Bearcats outfielder Derrick Pitts Invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp
UC outfielder Derrick Pitts has been invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp. Pitts is one of just four Big 12 players to receive an invite and one of 53 players total invited to camp.
Should Pitts make the team, he would be the first Cincinnati player ever to represent the program on the squad.
The St. Louis native appeared in 58 games in 2026 and hit .329 with six home runs, 42 RBI, 12 doubles, and 49 runs scored while swiping 17 bases.
Pitts appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 Plays twice this season and his infectious energy captured the attention of ESPN’s broadcast crew during UC’s NCAA Tournament games in Starkville.
Shortly after the end of the season, Pitts announced his intentions to return to UC for his junior season in 2027, along with All-Americans Quinton Coats and Enzo Infelise.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team schedule
The summer schedule will kick off with three days of exhibition doubleheaders for a combined six games between June 27-29 in Burlington and Cary, North Carolina, and Danville, Virginia. Following the three days of exhibition games, the annual Stars vs. Stripes series will begin June 30 at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The next three games will be held at the National Training Complex in Cary from July 1-3, and the series will return to Segra Stadium July 4 for the finale.
The Collegiate National Team, which will be named on July 5 following the conclusion of Training Camp, will then compete in the inaugural World Collegiate Baseball Championship at Taichung City Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung City, Taiwan, from July 11-15.
Rack up more honors for UC Bearcats Quinton Coats, Enzo Infelise
The postseason accolades keep coming for UC as Quinton Coats and Enzo Infelise both earned more All-America accolades on Thursday, June 25.
Coats was named a Third Team All-American by D1Baseball and Infelise was placed on Baseball America’s Freshman All-America squad.
It’s yet another All-America honor for Coats, who has now received the accolade from six outlets: ABCA/Rawlings, Baseball America, College Baseball Foundation, D1Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game.
In addition, Coats was also named the NCBWA District 5 Player of the Year and earned All-Region honors from ABCA/Rawlings as well. The Olathe, Kansas native turned in one of the best offensive seasons ever by a Bearcat, setting single-season school records in home runs (28) and total bases (183) while tying the single-season RBI record (79). Coats hit .339 and slugged .738 and ended his season ranking among the Top 10 nationally in home runs, total bases, and RBI.
For Infelise, it’s his third Freshman All-America honor after also earning recognition from the NCBWA and Perfect Game. He led the Bearcats with a .374 batting average, hitting 10 home runs while adding 48 RBI, 10 doubles, and 38 runs scored. Infelise collected 85 hits in his first college season, the most among all freshmen in the country as of the end of UC’s season. That figure also ranks tied for seventh in a season in school history and is the most hits by a Bearcat since Lance Durham’s record-setting 99-hit season in 2009.
Infelise was named the Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors last month.
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