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Biden to finally visit East Palestine, Ohio this week — more than a year after toxic spill

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Biden to finally visit East Palestine, Ohio this week — more than a year after toxic spill


President Joe Biden will visit East Palestine, Ohio this Friday, finally making good on his promise to tour the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment that unleashed a brew of toxic chemicals into the environment more than a year ago.

News of the Democrat’s visit came after he endured fierce criticism from Republicans for failing to visit the beleaguered community since the Feb. 3, 2023 environmental disaster.

“The President will travel to East Palestine, Ohio to discuss how the Administration is continuing to work with state and local officials to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and support the community as it moves forward,” the White House said in an advisory.

Dozens of cars on a Norfolk Southern freight train transporting toxic chemicals derailed last year, causing authorities to made the controversial decision to conduct a control burn, which set off a plume of black clouds over the community.

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The carcinogen is believed to have released highly toxic dioxins after being burned as well over 100,000 gallons of vinyl chloride were leaked in the aftermath of the derailment.

The synthetic polymer of plastic can take a toll on one’s nervous system and cause long-term health ailments such as liver damage or cancer.

White House officials have defended President Biden’s record amid criticism of the delayed visit. REUTERS

At least four other toxic chemicals, including butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and isobutylene also leaked during the derailment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Republican East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, invited Biden to visit the town, which is roughly an hour’s drive west of Pittsburgh.

A White House official confirmed last month that Biden intended to travel to East Palestine this February, but didn’t publicly set a date in stone.

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Shortly after the derailment, former President Donald Trump stopped by the town of just under 5,000 people, ordered McDonald’s for first responders and community members, and disbursed “Trump water.”

Democrats such as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg have tried to flip the blame on Trump, pointing to rail deregulations during his White House tenure.

Drone footage captured the controversial controlled burn. AP

“Well, I haven’t had the occasion to go to East Palestine,” Biden told reporters in September when asked. “There’s a lot going on here, and I just haven’t been able to break.”

I was thinking whether I’d go to East Palestine this week, but I was reminded I’ve got to go literally around the world,” Biden added, referring to his Group of 20 trip to New Dehli India that featured a stop in Vietnam.

Toxic chemicals seen in East Palestine. Getty Images
Norfolk Southern freight train cars were seen after the derailment. AP

Residents in East Palestine have reported an array of health scares and concerns for the long-term outlook following the exposure to the hazardous chemicals.

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“The President will discuss his commitment to ensuring the people of East Palestine are not defined by this single event, and that his administration is delivering on the needs of families, businesses, and affected residents,” the White House added.

EPA contractors collect samples from the derailment site in March 2023. Getty Images

In the time since the spill, multiple lawmakers have crafted legislation to tighten rail safety standards, including via the bipartisan Railway Safety Act.

However, such legislation has remained in limbo.



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Ohio bill targeting abortion pill could impact other prescriptions

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Ohio bill targeting abortion pill could impact other prescriptions



A Republican-backed bill aimed at reducing access to abortion pills could make it harder to buy other prescription drugs, too

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A Republican-backed bill aimed at reducing access to abortion pills in Ohio could make it harder to buy other prescription drugs, too.

House Bill 324, which passed the Ohio House 59-28 on Nov. 19, would require an in-person visit and follow-up appointment for prescribed drugs with “severe adverse effects” in more than 5% of cases. Doctors couldn’t prescribe these medications via a virtual appointment using telehealth.

“Many Ohioans are receiving medications from providers they may never meet face-to-face,” said Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, who called the proposed law “life-saving.”

If the bill becomes law, the Ohio Department of Health would be required to create a list of dangerous drugs with a certain percentage of “severe adverse effects.” Severe adverse effects are defined as death, infection or hemorrhaging requiring hospitalization, organ failure or sepsis.

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The bill is aimed at mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions. The Center for Christian Virtue, Ohio Right to Life and Catholic Conference of Ohio support the change, which they say will protect women and children from risky medications.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio called the bill a medically unnecessary barrier to a safe and effective medication. Ohioans voted in 2023 to protect access to abortion and other reproductive decisions in the state constitution.

“House Bill 324 is in direct conflict with the Ohio Constitution because it seeks to use junk science to override widely accepted, evidence-based standards of care,” said Jaime Miracle, deputy director of Abortion Forward, which helped pass the 2023 measure.

“It is very clear that it doesn’t matter what the people of Ohio stand and fight for,” said Rep. Desiree Tims, D-Dayton, before voting against the bill. “There are just so many lawmakers who are obsessed with a woman and her vagina.”

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However, the bill could also make it more difficult to access prescription medications that the Ohio Department of Health deems too dangerous, from antidepressants to Amoxicillin, said Rep. Rachel Baker, D-Cincinnati. “It really could spill over to anything.”

The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants initially opposed the bill because of restrictions placed on pharmacists, but changes to the bill now put the onus on doctors to check if a drug is on the state health department’s list.

The Ohio Senate must review the bill before it heads to Gov. Mike DeWine.

State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.

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Unsolved Ohio: Man arrested five years after wife found stabbed to death

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Unsolved Ohio: Man arrested five years after wife found stabbed to death


COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Homicide detectives have made an arrest in connection with the 2020 fatal stabbing of a woman found in a truck on the Southeast Side.

According to court documents, Dominique Edwards was arrested Wednesday and charged in the murder his wife, Infhon’e Edwards, who was found in a pickup truck parked at the Columbus Park Apartments complex in the Milbrook area on Dec. 14, 2020.

A years long investigation placed Infhon’e Edwards and her husband, Dominique Edwards, at the apartment complex the morning of Dec. 11 based on phone records. Video surveillance from the complex showed Infhon’e Edwards pull into a parking space at about 5 a.m. and after about an hour, an unidentified man exited the driver’s side door and walked away from the scene.

Infhon’e’s mother, Rosemarie Dickerson, previously told NBC4 that she recognized the man by his physical appearance, but police had not named any suspect publicly.

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“I [recognize] his body build,” Dickerson said. “You couldn’t see his face when he got out, he had a white towel over his face.”

Edwards was stabbed three times on the left side of her chest and twice in her face. Her remains were then placed in the trunk of her Chevrolet Avalanche. 

Her body was discovered on Dec. 14, two days after her husband, Dominique, called police to report her missing. For a previous report on this story view the video player above.

Dickerson told NBC4 that Dominique Edwards called her to say that Infhon’e Edwards had not come home the night of Dec. 10 and asked if she had stayed with a friend.

“When I kept calling her phone and there was no answer, it was like it was off,” Dickerson said. “I [told her husband] ‘report her missing’ then I went onto Facebook, and I just asked everybody ‘has anybody seen Infhon’e, we can’t find her.’”

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Police noted that interviews with friends and family revealed that the victim “always wore rings on her fingers,” and she was reportedly wearing the jewelry on the night of Dec. 10. But when her body was discovered, she had no jewelry on.

It was eventually discovered that a ring Infhon’e Edwards was wearing on Dec. 10 was later “disposed of” by Dominique Edwards after her death.

An arrest warrant was issued for Dominique Edwards on Nov. 13 and he was arrested Wednesday. A Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued him a $1 million bond on Thursday and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Nov. 26.



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Ohio State Marching Band performs “Keys to the ‘Shoe” at Rutgers halftime

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Ohio State Marching Band performs “Keys to the ‘Shoe” at Rutgers halftime


The Ohio State University Marching Band closed out its final Ohio Stadium halftime show of the 2025 regular season with “Keys to the ‘Shoe,” bringing classical piano favorites to the field.

The halftime show was directed by Dr. Christopher Hoch, Associate Director Phillip A. Day and Assistant Director Josh Reynolds.

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The Ohio State marching band’s last show honored veterans during halftime of the UCLA game.

Here’s what songs The Ohio State University Marching Band played

  • Rachmaninoff Prelude No. 2
  • Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2
  • Rondo alla Turca
  • Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2
  • Moonlight Sonata
  • “Baba Yaga / Great Gate of Kiev” from Pictures at an Exhibition

Watch the Ohio State Marching Band perform at halftime during Rutgers game

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Ohio State Marching Band: Keys to the ‘Shoe halftime show during Rutgers game

Ohio State Marching Band: Keys to the ‘Shoe halftime show during Rutgers game

Who created the Ohio State Marching Band formation?

  • Drill design: Uiliami Fihaki
  • Arranger: Michael Klesch
  • Percussion: Mark Reynolds

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