Ohio
Cleveland City Council passes resolution to stop DEI ban on Ohio college campuses
CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council members passed a new resolution Monday to urge state leaders to defeat S. B. 1, which could ban diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Ohio’s public universities.
Councilman Richard Starr hopes their advocacy efforts to state leaders will prevent it from passing in the House of Representatives.
“I believe that there should not be any threats of funding or organizations and schools and attacking on schools just because they support DEI efforts,” Starr said.
But State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), who reintroduced S.B.1, formerly S.B. 83, believes it will pass despite Cleveland City Council’s efforts.
Ohio students protest reintroduction of higher education overhaul bill that would ban ‘liberal bias,’ DEI
“I personally don’t understand why city council would even take the time to look at this. I rather doubt that council members have read the entire bill. The bill has lots of great stuff in it to enhance higher education,” said State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland).
Still, students like Nica Delgado said Cleveland City Council’s efforts are a step in the right direction.
“It makes me want to move to Cleveland. It makes me so, so happy to see that the city of Cleveland wants to stand up for the students of Ohio,” said Kent State University senior Nica Delgado, who is also the vice president of Ohio Student Association.
Delgado said she’s one step closer to becoming an anthropologist. But if S.B. 1 is passed, she fears her dream of earning her master’s degree from Kent will be crushed.
“There’s a lot of scholarships that I won’t be able to get, which is, the main way I’ve been able to fund my undergraduate college experience. If I lose my funding, I literally can’t go to college,” said Delgado.
Last month, Cirino and other Ohio Republican Senators passed the controversial bill that critics said would ban diversity initiatives, curb union rights and police how “controversial topics” are taught on college campuses.
Ohio Senate bans diversity initiatives, polices topics taught in name of free speech on college campuses
Now, Cirino said that hearings for S.B. 1 will begin on Tuesday in the House of Representatives.
“The Cleveland City Council, chiming in on a higher education bill that we’ve been talking about in the Senate and the House for over 2 years. I highly doubt that that is going to influence, the final decision on the bill,” said Cirino.
“We have come too far in this country and in this state for us to go back to doing things the old way, it’s not the answer,” said Starr.
We have been informed of a protest that will take place at Ohio State University against S. B. 1, which is scheduled to happen between 1 and 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — First News is working to learn more information after officers served a search warrant Friday afternoon for a building at the corner of Market Street and Pasadena Avenue
When we showed up to the scene, we found Animal Charity of Ohio had humane agents there.
We could also hear what sounded like roosters crowing, and eventually we saw humane agents bringing out several chickens and roosters in cages from the property. Authorities said they removed approximately 30 pairs of roosters and hens.
That brought us to a residence on Glenwood Avenue near the corner of Stadium Street.
So far, we aren’t hearing anything, but a number of officers and humane agents seemed to be knocking on the front door, and seemingly no one answered.
They then all moved behind the house, and one was an officer carrying a sledgehammer and a crowbar. So far we haven’t heard or seen any action.
First News will update this story as we learn more.
Nick Rich contributed to this report.
ROSSFORD, Ohio — Smoke from Canadian wildfires forced the cancellation of three community events Thursday, including a multi-day festival, a weekly farmers market and a summer concert series finale.
Organizers of the Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest, the Perrysburg Farmers Market and the Whitehouse Summer Concert Series each cited hazardous air quality conditions as the reason for their decisions.
Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest canceled
Rossford city officials and the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau Board jointly decided Thursday to cancel the Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest, which was scheduled to run July 17-19.
The Visitors Bureau’s director Beth Genson said in a statement: “The decision to cancel the 2026 Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest was made jointly by City officials and the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau Board after careful consideration of the hazardous air quality conditions caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors, performers and staff was our highest priority. We recognize how disappointing this is for our community and visitors, but we believe cancelling the event was the responsible decision under these circumstances.”
Perrysburg farmers market, Whitehouse concert also called off
The Perrysburg Chamber of Commerce canceled Thursday’s farmers market in historic downtown Perrysburg. The chamber’s director of tourism Sally Moore said: “The health and safety of our vendors, customers, volunteers, and staff is our top priority. Based on the current hazardous air quality conditions and the guidance we received, we believe cancellation is the safest course of action.”
In Whitehouse, the final performance of the summer concert series at Whitehouse Village Park was also canceled Thursday out of concern for the safety of concertgoers. A spokesman for the series said organizers are hoping to reschedule the final performance in August or September.
Health experts advise staying indoors
Dr. David Geisinger, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, said residents should limit time outdoors while smoke remains in the area.
“We all need to be extra careful, but the children especially, younger kids, anybody with asthma, chronic lung disease, COPD, bronchitis, they would need to be especially careful,” Geisinger said.
Geisinger added that with current air quality index levels, indoor activities are the safer option.
“With this level of air quality index and the smoke, it’s better to do activities that are inside,” he said.
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires was expected to continue affecting air quality into Friday.
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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – A Warren man indicted in June on charges he had inappropriate conduct with a teenager pleaded guilty Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Daniel Procopio, 29, pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of attempted illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance.
Howland police arrested Procopio following a report filed by the parent of a teenager who reported Procopio had inappropriate contact with the teen. The investigation by Howland police showed Procopio in February 2026 had asked a 16-year-old female to send nude photos of herself to him, according to Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman.
The crimes are alleged to have taken place in February and March.
Procopio will be sentenced at a later date.
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