SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – Two men died in a Springfield Township crash Thursday afternoon, according to police.

On Dec 26 at 4:30 p.m., Springfield Police and Fire responded to the 9600 block of Daly Road for an auto crash, police say.

According to police, witnesses at the scene said they saw a head-on collision between a gray Toyota Sienna and a black Mercedes SUV.

Police say when they arrived on scene, the Toyota Sienna was on fire and both drivers had to be pulled from their vehicles.

The driver of the Mercedes SUV was identified as 55-year-old Jim Schneider from Cincinnati, who was pronounced dead at the scene according to a press release.

The driver of the Toyota Sienna was identified as 41-year-old Christopher Larkins from Springfield Township, the release says.

Police say Larkins was transported to UC Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

According to the Springfield Township Traffic Safety Investigators, it is believed that Larkins lost control of his vehicle going around a curve and drove left of center, hitting Schneider’s vehicle head-on.

Neither of the drivers is believed to have worn a seatbelt.

Officials believe speed was a factor and are working with the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office to determine impairment with a toxicology report.

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CHICAGO – An Illinois resident and cancer survivor was recognized as the Chicago Bears’ special guest during the Bear Down Flag Ceremony Thursday night.

Sally Wagner, of Round Lake, was invited by Advocate Health Care and the Bears to help unfurl the flag at Soldier Field during pregame introductions for the Bears vs. Seahawks game.

Wagner’s family joined her on the field before they returned to the stands to watch the game. The event marked the one-year anniversary of Wagner completing chemotherapy treatment.

In the spring of 2023, Wagner sought treatment for painful fibroids and opted for a routine hysterectomy, health officials said.

During the procedure, her gynecologist found suspicious tissue. A biopsy confirmed Wagner had non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Wagner said the diagnosis was a shock to her as she has no family history of the disease.

Besides feeling more fatigued than usual, Wagner said she didn’t experience typical symptoms of lymphoma, like swollen lymph nodes, fever or night sweats.

Her diagnosis required immediate treatment, and Wagner stayed at Advocate Condell for 92 hours of continuous chemotherapy every two weeks for six rounds, with additional rounds later in the year. 

“I got really close to the team while I was there. From the very first night of treatment, I felt at ease. Everyone was so positive and kind, and the care was excellent,” said Wagner. “I never looked forward to chemo, but I looked forward to seeing the team who cared for me.” 

The doctors and nurses said they admired Wagner’s strength, resilience and sense of humor throughout her chemotherapy treatment.

“I felt blessed to have met Sally and to be her nurse administering chemotherapy during her stay,” said Rodgers, a charge nurse in the Advocate Infusion Center. “Sally handled her diagnosis with such grace; she remained positive and focused on healing. Sally’s fun and upbeat personality won the hearts of everyone on our unit.”

Wagner said she stays connected with her care team, and now that cancer is behind her, she is embracing the present and looking forward to the future.

SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – Illinois’ Human Rights Act will soon protect people’s reproductive health decisions thanks to a new law taking effect Jan. 1, 2025.

“It amends the Human Rights Act to protect an individual’s reproductive health decisions from discrimination or retaliation in the context of employment, housing, public accommodations, education and financial credit,” said state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, the legislation’s Senate sponsor.

She said under the law, reproductive health decisions aren’t limited to pregnancy-related choices. Yes, someone’s past decision whether to get an abortion will be covered, but so will family planning choices like whether to take birth control, sterilization, whether to seek fertility treatments, or use holistic medicine or alternative medicine.

“It would be a violation, for example, for an employer to terminate an employee for seeking in vitro fertilization, a housing provider to refuse an apartment rental because a person had an abortion or a bank to deny a loan because it is going to be used for fertility treatments,” Fine said.

The law’s opponents fear it could limit people’s First Amendment rights. Though it has exemptions for religious organizations, it does not exempt groups like nonprofits that may have a faith-based mission but are not directly affiliated with a denomination.

“There is a right of association under the First Amendment and it allows the freedom to associate with other who have similar political, religious and cultural beliefs, and I fear that is exactly who this bill is targeting is organizations that aren’t affiliated with one religion but they are formed for a purpose and to associate with those who have a similar religious belief,” said state Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, citing a previous U.S. Supreme Court decision.

She said crisis pregnancy centers are an example of organizations that could be affected by the new law.

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