Cleveland, OH
Abrupt funding freeze leaves Ohio manufacturing programs with uncertain future
CLEVELAND — On Friday, Ohio’s Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, known as MAGNET, learned that its public funding had been frozen, effective immediately.
“I was initially shocked. Immediately after it, it was action mode: how do we get to all the people that understand how important it is and what’s at stake?” said Ethan Karp, President and CEO of MAGNET.
“We help small and medium manufacturers, as a nonprofit, grow,” Karp explained.
The Cleveland-based nonprofit has assisted local manufacturers for over 40 years. This includes helping them implement new technology to stay competitive, providing workforce training to help fill positions in manufacturing, and helping companies create prototypes.
“That’s a start-up who has an idea on the back of their napkin that makes changing air filters easier,” Karp said. “This space we would actually prototype for those companies.”
They get state and federal funding through Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, or MEP program, which funds six similar organizations throughout the state that aim to assist local manufacturers.
The funding freeze was announced in a letter from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the federal agency that funds Ohio’s Department of Development. The Ohio Department of Development is the department that runs the MEP program.
In the letter, the NIST cites an ongoing audit as the reason for the freeze.
“Preliminary findings in connection with an active financial assistance audit being performed by the DOC Office of Inspector General (OIG) which identifies various instances of material noncompliance by the Recipient and/or its Subrecipients, several of which were confirmed by the Recipient or the applicable Subrecipient.” – Letter from NIST to Ohio’s Department of Development announces funding freeze
The audit of Ohio’s MEP program started over a year ago, and the results aren’t set to be published until Spring 2026.
The letter specifically cites three MEP programs for misreporting income. MAGNET is not one of the programs mentioned specifically in the letter.
One program that is mentioned is the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT). In the letter announcing the freeze, CIFT states:
“CIFT did not report 2.3 million in unreported program income on the earlier five-year award. CIFT has acknowledged at least 1.8 million is unreported program income.”
CIFT President and CEO Rebecca Singer denies any wrongdoing and says the discrepancy is because of unclear guidelines about what a program should report as income.
“CIFT has fully cooperated with the audit and the statements are misleading and inaccurate,” Singer said in a statement. “Any issues that occurred were administrative in nature and we are prepared to address them once a drafted report is provided. There is consistency in the findings among the organizations further demonstrating lack of clarity and understanding on administrative reporting. Several OIG audits of other state programs have noted under-reporting of program income but they have been given the opportunity to counter findings.”
Singer said that the typical process of an audit has not been followed, and CIFT did not see a draft of the audit and respond, which she said is the standard process for a financial audit.
According to Singer, because of the freeze CIFT lost $1.6 million in public funding and, as a result, they are suspending operations on Monday, Dec. 15. Singer said 13 employees will be affected as well as 22 businesses that rely on CIFT’s mini food processing kitchen, which allows them to make their products to sell at retail outlets.
With the freeze of federal funds, the state of Ohio has also frozen its portion of funding to the MEP program.
In a statement, Mason Waldvogel, the Deputy Chief of Media Relations for Ohio’s Department of Development, explains that the state funding is tied to federal funding.
“The majority of state funding provided to Ohio MEP partner organizations consists of matching dollars, which cannot be spent without corresponding federal funds. Therefore, the Department of Development has suspended the program at the state level.”
The freeze affects roughly $14 million in funds to Ohio manufacturing nonprofits over the next year, with MAGNET receiving $5.9 million of those funds.
Karp said MAGNET has been complying with the audit and is frustrated the freeze was started before there had been communication with the MEP programs about the findings.
“If there is an issue, then you need to tell somebody there is an issue and give somebody a chance to fix it. In this case, there’s nothing for us to fix because we don’t know what, or if, there are findings and a report. That lack of transparency, that lack of process makes no sense,” Karp said.
Karp said the funding cut-off will change how MAGNET functions, prompting decisions to be made about potential lay-offs of their staff of roughly 75 people.
“We’re going to have to structurally make huge changes at MAGNET to continue at a much smaller scale,” Karp said.
According to Karp, approximately 35% of their budget comes from state and federal funding. The rest is from a private industry that pays for MAGNET’s services. However, Karp said they can only provide many of those services because of their public funding.
“Helping people understand that the investment that the state and federal governments have been making for 40 years, this is a 40-year partnership — shouldn’t be turned off at a moment’s notice, depriving all these people and companies of necessary support.”
This funding freeze could impact the manufacturing sector in Ohio.
“We’re saying we want to restore manufacturing? Well this is not how you restore manufacturing. This is not how you bring jobs back from overseas; we are actually going to be cutting Ohio jobs as a result of this decision,” said Jack Schron, President of Jergens Incorporated, a Cleveland-based manufacturer.
Schron sits on MAGENT’s board and has used its resources to test out Jergens products.
Micheal Canty, president and CEO of Alloy Precision Technologies, said the freeze will impact small and medium-size companies the most.
“I think it will be devastating to manufacturing,” Canty said. “If MAGNET and all the MEP’s are gone, then a lot of those projects to develop and promote smart manufacturing and manufacturing in general go away.”
Karp said the irony is that MAGNET’s goals align with the current administration’s efforts to make U. S manufacturing more competitive.
“I desperately want tariffs to help companies. Every single day I am out there talking about how we need to compete against international sources and how our companies need to be the most technologically advanced in the world. It is the same thing the Trump administration says, and we are totally aligned. So it is ironic that this is happening to us now,” Karp said.
Cleveland, OH
Ohio high school boys basketball scores: Friday, Jan. 9, 2026
CLEVELAND, Ohio — OHSAA boys basketball scores from Friday in Ohio, as provided by The Associated Press.
Akr. Firestone 76, Akr. North 44
Alliance 72, Minerva 51
Alliance Marlington 61, Salem 45
Arcadia 70, Bloomdale Elmwood 48
Arlington 60, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale 25
Ashland 77, Millersburg W. Holmes 62
Ashland Crestview 60, Collins Western Reserve 53
Avon 76, Amherst Steele 65
Beaver Eastern 48, Latham Western 35
Beaver Local 63, Cadiz Harrison Cent. 58
Bellville Clear Fork 45, Galion 36
Berea-Midpark 79, Olmsted Falls 75
Bloomingdale, W.Va. 48, Belpre Christian 32
Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 63, Macedonia Nordonia 51
Bridgeport 75, Steubenville Cath. Cent. 39
Brookville 55, Eaton 38
Brunswick 77, Mentor 56
Caledonia River Valley 63, Ontario 57
Cambridge 46, Belmont Union Local 43
Can. Glenoak 64, Green 63
Canal Fulton Northwest 52, Can. South 38
Canfield 48, Fitch 44
Canfield S. Range 58, Struthers 43
Carey 59, New Washington Buckeye Cent. 25
Castalia Margaretta 67, Willard 55
Centerville 56, Springboro 43
Chillicothe Zane Trace 59, Williamsport Westfall 45
Cin. Aiken 97, Cin. Taft 71
Cin. McNicholas 74, Day. Carroll 37
Cin. Moeller 56, Cin. La Salle 55
Cin. Princeton 49, Hamilton 45
Cin. Sycamore 53, Middletown 48, OT
Cin. Turpin 57, Cin. Anderson 45
Cle. E. Tech 98, Bard Cleveland 65
Cle. Rhodes 71, Cle. Lincoln W. 21
Cols. Africentric 49, Cols. Eastmoor 35
Cols. Bishop Watterson 53, Cols. DeSales 44
Cols. Centennial 78, Columbus International 50
Cols. Mifflin 74, East 62
Cols. Upper Arlington 57, Dublin Coffman 49, OT
Cols. Walnut Ridge 95, Cols. Marion-Franklin 29
Convoy Crestview 45, Bluffton 42
Coshocton 85, Crooksville 53
Crestline 67, Mansfield St. Peter’s 63
Creston Norwayne 73, Rittman 27
Cuyahoga Falls 67, Barberton 57
Day. Christian 46, Carlisle 40
Day. Northridge 86, Milton-Union 26
Defiance 40, St Marys 35
Delphos St John’s 76, New Knoxville 56
Doylestown Chippewa 65, West Salem Northwestern 42
Dresden Tri-Valley 46, McConnelsville Morgan 42
E. Palestine 75, Salineville Southern 40
Fairport Harbor Harding 96, Warren Lordstown 22
Fairview 83, Beachwood 24
Fayetteville-Perry 63, Peebles 60
Findlay Liberty-Benton 52, Ada 21
Frankfort Adena 61, Chillicothe Huntington 49
Fredericktown 62, Centerburg 9
Gibsonburg 67, Elmore Woodmore 36
Glouster Trimble 65, Stewart Federal Hocking 60
Hamilton Ross 57, Bellbrook 52
Hartville Lake Center Christian 49, Louisville Aquinas 35
Haviland Wayne Trace 50, Defiance Ayersville 47
Holland Springfield 76, Fremont Ross 59
Huber Hts. Wayne 49, Clayton Northmont 40
Hunting Valley University 74, Gates Mills Gilmour 64
Huron 53, Vermilion 50
Ironton St. Joseph 64, Portsmouth Clay 39
Jackson 56, Hillsboro 39
Jackson Center 50, Anna 36
Jefferson Area 61, Ashtabula Edgewood 57
Jeromesville Hillsdale 60, Dalton 46
Kalida 39, Ft. Jennings 35
Kidron Cent. Christian 68, Lucas 26
Lakeside Danbury 74, Fremont St. Joseph 57
Lancaster Fairfield Union 55, Baltimore Liberty Union 47
Lewis Center Olentangy Orange 66, Hilliard Bradley 47
Lewistown Indian Lake 59, Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan 45
Liberty Twp. Lakota E. 40, Cin. Oak Hills 34
Lima Cent. Cath. 63, Columbus Grove 56
Lima Shawnee 73, Lima Bath 60
Lorain Clearview 46, Oberlin Firelands 45
Lucasville Valley 67, Waverly 55
Mansfield 62, Dover 55
Mansfield Temple Christian 37, Christian Community School 31
Maria Stein Marion Local 59, Rockford Parkway 34
Marion Pleasant 44, Sparta Highland 39
Martins Ferry 82, Bellaire 50
Mason 65, Cin. Colerain 42
Massillon Tuslaw 69, Navarre Fairless 46
Massillon Washington 77, Can. Cent. Cath. 59
McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley 53, Waynesfield-Goshen 45
Medina Buckeye 53, Parma Hts. Valley Forge 33
Medina Highland 59, Aurora 52
Milford Center Fairbanks 67, N. Lewisburg Triad 34
Monroe 61, Franklin 33
Monroeville 77, Ashland Mapleton 30
Morgan 74, Cle. Max Hayes 21
Morral Ridgedale 72, Mt. Victory Ridgemont 49
Mt Gilead 69, Cardington-Lincoln 13
N. Baltimore 62, Marion Elgin 40
N. Can. Hoover 63, Massillon Perry 37
N. Robinson Col. Crawford 67, Attica Seneca E. 34
N. Royalton 72, Wadsworth 44
New Albany 58, Pickerington North 48
New Bremen 52, Ft. Recovery 38
New Concord John Glenn 70, Philo 46
New Franklin Manchester 85, Wooster Triway 57
New London 56, Greenwich S. Cent. 52
New Philadelphia 52, Lexington 37
Newark 70, Ashville Teays Valley 26
Newton Local 58, Ansonia 39
Ohio Deaf 60, Ky. School for the Deaf, Ky. 29
Old Fort 50, Kansas Lakota 27
Oregon Clay 63, Napoleon 29
Orwell Grand Valley 71, Southington Chalker 44
Ottoville 59, Delphos Jefferson 47
Painesville Harvey 66, Perry 55
Paulding 71, Antwerp 49
Plymouth 63, Norwalk St Paul 52
Poland Seminary 64, Niles McKinley 54
Port Clinton 60, Milan Edison 42
Portsmouth Notre Dame 45, Franklin Furnace Green 44
Powell Olentangy Liberty 69, Hilliard Davidson 48
Racine Southern 70, Reedsville Eastern 63
Rootstown 67, Wickliffe 53
S. Webster 41, Portsmouth W. 36
Sandusky St. Mary 48, Northwood 28
Sheffield Brookside 59, LaGrange Keystone 56
Shekinah Christian 63, Northside Christian 23
Shelby 54, Marion Harding High School 45
Sherwood Fairview 58, Hicksville 21
Sidney Lehman 55, Troy Christian 54, OT
Smithville 90, Apple Creek Waynedale 68
St Clairsville 68, Barnesville 38
St. Xavier (OH) 54, Cin. Elder 30
Steubenville 74, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 63
Stow-Munroe Falls 49, Twinsburg 42
Sugarcreek Garaway 44, Newcomerstown 42
Sullivan Black River 60, Columbia Station Columbia 46
Sycamore Mohawk 59, Bucyrus Wynford 58
Tiffin Calvert 61, New Riegel 50
Tipp City Tippecanoe 68, Greenville 51
Tol. St. Francis 59, Detroit UD Jesuit, Mich. 45
Tol. Start 87, Tol. Waite 36
Troy 54, Sidney 48, OT
Uhrichsville Claymont 65, Strasburg 48
Upper Sandusky 70, Bucyrus 28
Urbana 57, New Carlisle Tecumseh 44
Van Wert 40, Celina 32
Van Wert Lincolnview 75, Spencerville 73
Versailles 67, Minster 43
W. Chester Lakota W. 58, Fairfield 41
W. Lafayette Ridgewood 62, Bowerston Conotton Valley 52
W. Liberty-Salem 60, W. Jefferson 40
Wapakoneta 47, Ottawa-Glandorf 45
Warren Howland 51, Warren Harding 50
Waterford 52, Belpre 46
Wellsville 64, Hanoverton United 53
West 66, Cols. Independence 50
Westerville Cent. 61, Grove City Cent. Crossing 54
Westlake 68, N. Olmsted 38
Wheelersburg 60, Minford 43
Willow Wood Symmes Valley 62, Oak Hill 37
Woodsfield Monroe Cent. 69, Hannibal River 42
Yellow Springs 49, Bellefontaine Calvary Christian 37
Youngs. Mooney 53, Warren JFK 42
Zanesville Maysville 72, Byesville Meadowbrook 33
Zanesville W. Muskingum 59, New Lexington 26
Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley 56, Tuscarawas Cent. Cath. 26
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS=
Galion Northmor vs. Loudonville, ppd.
Cleveland, OH
ICE arrests more than 280 people in Ohio, including convicted criminals
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said ICE arrested more than 280 people during a recent immigration enforcement crackdown.
Operation Buckeye took place throughout the state from Dec. 18 to 21.
The DHS described those arrested as “illegal aliens” and said some are criminals convicted of aggravated assault against a police officer, robbery, criminal possession of a firearm, and drug trafficking.
“While Americans were attending Christmas parties and shopping for gifts for their loved ones, ICE law enforcement was hard at work arresting the worst of the worst,” the DHS stated.
The results of Operation Buckeye was announced on Thursday, the same day anti-ICE protests gathered around Northeast Ohio following the deadly shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
The DHS highlighted these suspects as “some of the worst arrested during Operation Buckeye:
“Emanuel Guijosa-Nonato, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico convicted of aggravated assault against a police officer, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence of liquor, and illegal re-entry,” the DHS described.
“Andres Blanco Hernandez, a criminal illegal alien arrested for assault and domestic violence,” the DHS said.
“Wilmar Edgardo Lozano-Alcantara, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador convicted of drug possession, robbery, and trespassing,“ the DHS listed.
“Erick Jose Ramos-Boscan, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela convicted of criminal possession of a firearm,“ according to the DHS.
“Edilmiro Pedraza Quinones, a criminal illegal alien convicted of drug possession, shoplifting and contempt of court,“ the DHS stated.
“Marco Antonio Clemente Picazo, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico convicted of driving under the influence of liquor and drug possession,“ the DHS shared.
“Melvin Alejandro Rodriguez Rodriguez, a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela previously arrested for assault,“ according to the DHS.
“Fernandez Flores, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras convicted of making a false police report and arrested for larceny and obstructing police,“ the DHS described.
“The American people can be so proud of their ICE law enforcement for their hard work arresting the worst of the worst even during the holiday season,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated. “Operation Buckeye resulted in the arrest of more than 280 illegal aliens, including criminals convicted of assaulting a police officer, criminal firearm possession, and drug trafficking. Thanks to our law enforcement, Ohio neighborhoods are safer with these criminals behind bars where they belong.”
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Cleveland, OH
USDLA to Host 39th Distance Learning Conference June 22-25 in Cleveland, OH
An event where leaders, educators, instructional designers and others mingle, discuss e-learning technology and learn from an audience broader than their own.
— Pat Cassella, CEO and Executive Director
WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The United States Distance Learning Association is proud to open registration for its 39th annual global distance learning conference. The event is being held in Cleveland, Ohio and the theme is “Universal Harmony: Exploring the Melodic Chords of Distance and Digital Learning.” The host location will be the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower from June 22 – 25th, 2026.
The USDLA National Conference has long been an event where leaders, educators, instructional designers and others mingle, discuss e-learning technology and learn from an audience broader than their own. Past attendees have enjoyed the in-person interactions, hands-on networking and personal relationships made with one another. All registrations include access to the the virtual conference, with sessions being held June 16th-17th, 2026.
The Conference and Events committee is well established and known each year for providing the best experience possible for personalized networking and cutting-edge session tracks. Past attendee feedback plays an instrumental role in planning the details for subsequent events. Universal Harmony: Exploring the Melodic Chords of Distance and Digital Learning focuses on tracks that are in high demand as educators continue to navigate both remote and in-person learning strategies. These tracks include:
– The Digital AI Groove: Exploring Innovative Techniques and Technologies Education
– Backstage Pass to Policy: Navigating Governance and Regulation in Distance Education
– The Headliners: Distance and Digital Leadership on the Higher Education Mainstage
– Open Mic, Open Minds: Ensuring Quality, Flexibility, and Access in Online Learning
– The ID Set List: Curating Best Practices in Instructional Design
– Amplify Every Voice: Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusivity in Online Education
– The K-12 Playground: Curating Best Practices in the K-12 Space
ALL concurrent sessions are end-user led, and share best practices within the world of distance and digital learning. These presentations will be focused “power sessions” that eliminate fluff and get right into the important details on the topic. Offering more than 30 sessions, topics for 2026 include Reframing Bloom’s for the Age of AI, ADA Compliance for Instructional Designers, Leveraging AI to Design Online Course Modules, AI Roleplay in the Classroom, Composing AI Policy for Responsible, Effective Digital Learning, Digital Harmony and more.
There are also several free pre and post-conference workshops with daily complimentary breakfast and lunch, making this a very cost effective event.
***Conference Registration Rates***
Member Early Bird $495 (Valid until 1/31/2026)
Member Standard $550 (Valid 2/1/2026 through 6/21/2026)
Member On-site $595 (after 6/21/2026)
Non-Member Early Bird $595 (Valid until 1/31/2026)
Non-Member Standard $650 (Valid 2/1/2026 through 6/21/2026)
Non-Member On-site $695 (after 6/21/2026)
All USDLA members providing their membership username (email) at time of registration will receive the USDLA Member rate.
Please send any questions to membership@usdla.org
***For-Profit and Not-For-Profit Discount Special (Bundle Savings)***
Purchase 2 registrations, get the 3rd for free ($495 savings)
Purchase 3 registrations, get the 4th and 5th for free ($990 savings)
**Single Day and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame event Rates**
One-Day Pass – $299 (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday)
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Event – $199 (includes private tour and cocktail hour)
**Presenter Rates**
On-Site Presenter fee $300 (includes full on-site conference pass)
Virtual Presenter fee $100 (if presenting remotely)
Contact Harriet Watkins for presenter registration code at harriet.watkins@iconnect-na.com
Full details can be found at the national conference registration website.
Keynote: Dr. Michael Torrence, President, Motlow State Community College
Dr. Michael Torrence is a nationally recognized strategist, visionary, writer, and thought leader
in higher education who has redefined institutional excellence through innovation, inclusion, and transformative leadership. Since becoming the seventh President of Motlow State Community College in May 2018, he has transformed the institution into an award-winning, cutting-edge model of academic and workforce innovation.
Featured Presenter: Robbie Melton, Associate Vice President – SMART Global Technology Innovation Strategist
Presenting on “The Tools Shaping the World of Artificial Intelligence”, Dr. Melton has published and presented globally on the impact and value of mobile devices for education and the workforce. Her study of the pedagogy and best teaching practices with mobile devices, quality standards for the utilization of mobile apps, and her creation of the Mobile App Education and Workforce Resource Center has resulted in numerous awards.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Event
Join us for an exclusive, private evening of exploring, heavy apps (enough for dinner) and cool beverages. We will kick everything off at 6:30 with shuttles taking attendees to the event from the hotel. Attendees will be given VIP passes (lanyards) with information on what is on each level of the hall. The R&R HOF staff will be our guides for the evening.
Sponsorship Opportunities
If you are tired of large shows with limited attendee engagement, our national conference is an intimate environment where partners are part of the production from the very start, demonstrating their gear as part of the conference production.
The dramatic growth of the distance learning industry makes our market attractive to a variety of technology, content, and service providers. Conference partners proudly support the distance education community and make lifelong contacts in the process.
Full details can be found on the sponsorship opportunities page.
Distance Learning Awards
As the premier organization promoting the use and practice of distance learning, USDLA recognizes “the best of the best” each year with its series of individual and organizational awards. Open to member and non-members alike, nominations are submitted in January, judged by committees of peers, and then awarded as a highlight of USDLA’s National Conference.
A unique aspect of the competition is that the various categories are open on an equal basis to all forms of distance learning platforms, addressing the gamut of distance learning audiences, and from anywhere in the world. That range is illustrated by past awards years where top honors went to a major US university for its innovative design of an online computer science course, “Quantitative Methods for Information Systems” and to a videoconferencing provider in Ghana for expanding the horizons of that country’s K-12 students.
Learn more at the distance learning awards page.
Pat Cassella
United States Distance Learning Association
+1 203-980-6928
email us here
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