Ohio

Cities across the state gear up to make the summer safe

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2024

Press Room

Cities across the state gear up to make the summer safe

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The summer heat can lead to an increase in violent incidents.

What You Need To Know

In May 2023, there were two incidents that took place in Columbus’ Short North that resulted in 10 people getting shot

The Short North Arts District worked with Columbus Police and City Council to hatch a safety plan for this summer

Cincinnati and Cleveland are creating similar plans

Last May, High street in Columbus experienced two different gun violence incidents on the same day.

11 guns were recovered from the scene and three police officers fired their weapons when responding. The Short North Alliance, along with Columbus Police and City Council, has organized a plan to try to make sure nothing like this happens again.

Those visiting the Short North this summer might notice an increase of officers patrolling the area on bicycles. These officers join the special unit that makes up the Short North Crime Interdiction Program.

Paid parking in the Short North has been extended until midnight. COTA has expanded their services until 11 p.m. and there are now 15 designated rideshare pickup zones that can be utilized from midnight to 4 a.m.

The Short North Alliance received a public safety grant of about $500,000. With these funds, they have extended and expanded their Short North Alliance Outreach Team.

“We’ve added hours of service available through the Short North ambassador team,” said Betsy Pandora, who serves as the executive director of the Short North Alliance. “Those are community members here that help provide safety services to our business owners and to patrons. Whether that’s escorting people to their vehicles when they’re leaving for the evening and more.”

Along with the ambassador program, patrons will notice cameras placed throughout the area.

“We’ve also seen a number of cameras be utilized as a way that we’re supporting safety in the community,” said Pandora. “Some of those are temporary cameras that are moved in fixed places. Some of them are permanently installed throughout the neighborhood that are all real time cameras that can be monitored as an added advantage to helping to support safety.”

Columbus isn’t the only city in Ohio that is gearing up for a safe and fun summer. Cleveland has called for “all hands on deck” to release a summer safety plan in the coming weeks after 10 incidents and three homicides last weekend. This will include things like street lights, trash collection, towing abandoned cars and more.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, is creating a plan to specifically address teen violence. Due to a shortage of about 200 officers, the city’s curfew team is asking parents to pay extra close attention to their children’s behavior this summer and enforce curfews of their own.

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Ohio

After her son died in car wreck, Ohio mom fought for public records

Published

5 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

After her son died in car wreck, Ohio mom fought for public records

A mom searching for answers about her son’s death in a car wreck won a victory on Dec. 19 when the Ohio Supreme Court ordered the Richland County Sheriff to release records to her.

The court ruled in a unanimous decision that Andrea Mauk is entitled to three sets of records withheld by the sheriff, with only Social Security numbers being redacted. Mauk will be awarded $2,000 in damages but will not receive attorney fees.

On June 23, 2023, 18-year-old Damon Mauk lost control of his 1998 Ford Mustang and slammed it into a tree. His mother wanted to piece together what happened, collect his belongings and grieve the loss of her child. She didn’t think she’d have to fight for public records and take her case to the Ohio Supreme Court.

Following the crash, Richland County Sheriff’s deputies, a township fire department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded.

During the investigation, a trooper told a deputy to leave Damon’s iPhone and wallet in the car, according to Mauk’s court filings. Instead, the deputy took the belongings to the hospital and handed them off to someone who said he was Damon’s dad.

Mauk didn’t understand. Damon’s father was largely absent from his life. How could he have been there to pick up the wallet and phone?

A few weeks after the fatal crash, Mauk asked for records, including: the sheriff’s report and inventory of items taken from the car, body camera footage from deputies who gave away the belongings, the report, photos and videos created by the patrol and more.

Mauk, of the Mansfield area, received some but not all of the requested records. Mauk hired attorney Brian Bardwell to pursue records she believes exist but weren’t provided or were improperly redacted.

The sheriff’s office claimed that some of the requested records were exempt from disclosure because they are confidential law enforcement records or personal notes. The court privately reviewed the records withheld from Mauk and determined that they should be released.

The decision in favor of releasing records runs contrary to recent rulings from the high court.

In 2024, the court held that the cost of sending troopers to protect Gov. Mike DeWine at a Super Bowl game weren’t subject to disclosure and that the Ohio Department of Health should redact from a database the names and addresses of Ohioans who had died, even though that death certificate information can be released on an individual case basis.

In 2025 the court ruled that police officers’ names may be kept confidential if they’re attacked on the job, giving them privacy rights afforded to crime victims.

State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@usatodayco.com and @lbischoff on X.

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Ohio

No. 21 Ohio State women beat Norfolk State 79-45

Published

17 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

No. 21 Ohio State women beat Norfolk State 79-45

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kylee Kitts scored 13 points, Jaloni Cambridge added 11 and No. 21 Ohio State rolled past Norfolk State 79-45 on Thursday night for its eighth straight win.

Dasha Biriuk added 10 points for Ohio State, which is 10-1 overall and 7-0 at home.

Kitts was 6 of 12 from the field, and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with two steals and two blocks. Cambridge was 4-of-8 shooting and had eight rebounds and two steals.

Cambridge scored seven points in the first quarter as the Buckeyes jumped out to a 20-10 lead and built a 43-21 halftime advantage. Kitts and Cambridge each scored nine first-half points.

Ohio State outrebounded Norfolk State 55-32 and scored 21 points off 17 turnovers.

Jasha Clinton scored 18 points to lead Norfolk State (5-9). Ciara Bailey had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Up next

Norfolk State plays at Elon on Sunday.

Ohio State hosts Western Michigan on Mondahy.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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Ohio

Menards to pay 10 states, including Ohio, $4.25 million in rebate settlement

Published

1 day ago

December 18, 2025

Press Room

Menards to pay 10 states, including Ohio, .25 million in rebate settlement

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio is part of a multistate lawsuit settlement against home improvement store Menards.

According to the state Attorney General’s Office, Ohio and nine other states reached the settlement with Menards, a Wisconsin-based home-improvement retail store, over allegations of deceptive rebate advertising.

The 10-state led investigation revealed that Menards would give shoppers the impression that they were getting an immediate discount while shopping through its advertising, when in fact, savings actually came in the form of a rebate or in-store credit.

The investigation raised concerns with Menards’ marketing strategy and sales practices, alleging the following of the company:

Advertised 11% off or 11% off everything that suggested an instant price cut, even though customers received only a rebate on future purchases.
Listed prices already at an 11% discount, reinforcing the idea that shoppers were getting an in-store discount.
Failed to clearly explain the important limits of the rebate program, burying key details in the fine print.
Tell customers that Rebates International was a separate company handling rebates, even though it is operated by Menards itself.

The settlement, announced Thursday, included an agreement by Menards that it would, in part, discontinue ads suggesting immediate discounts, clearly explaining the rules, limits, and conditions of its rebate program, and offer customers an easier path towards claiming rebates, both in person and online, among other changes.

In addition, Menards will pay participating states $4.25 million in fees, of which $365,173.05 will go toward the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Enforcement Fund.

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