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Drone sightings lead to airspace shutdown at Ohio Air Force base, arrests near Boston airport

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Drone sightings lead to airspace shutdown at Ohio Air Force base, arrests near Boston airport


BOSTON (AP) — More suspected drone sightings in the eastern U.S. led to a temporary airspace shutdown at an Air Force base in Ohio and arrests near Boston’s Logan International Airport, as elected officials increased their push for action to identify and stop the mysterious unmanned flights.

Drones flying around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close the airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson.

READ MORE: Schumer calls on U.S. agencies to use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones

It is the first time drones have been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings have been reported since early Saturday, Purtiman said Monday. He would not say how many drones were flying in the area, adding that they ranged in size and that they did not impact any base facilities.

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In Boston, city police arrested two men accused of operating a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport on Saturday night. Authorities said an officer using drone monitoring technology detected the aircraft and the location of the operators. A third man who fled police remains at large. Authorities said the two men face trespassing charges, and could face more charges and fines.

Boston police urged drone operators to adhere to federal safety guidelines.

“Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to airplanes and helicopters. Near-collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk,” police said in social media posts.

National security officials have said the drones recently spotted in the eastern part of the country don’t appear to be signs of foreign interference or a public safety threat. But because they can’t say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones — or how they can be stopped — leaders of both political parties are demanding better technology and powers to deal with the drones.

“There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday,” as drone sightings were being reported in his state. “‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.”

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Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer on Sunday called for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy better drone-tracking technology to New York and New Jersey to identify the drones and their operators. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said federal officials had agreed to send a drone detection system to the state.

“New Yorkers have tremendous questions about it,” Schumer, the Senate majority leader, told reporters of the drone sightings. “We are going to get the answers for them.”

READ MORE: What we know about the mysterious drones flying over New Jersey

The federal government did little to answer those questions in its own media briefings over the weekend. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.”

Some of the drones reported above parts of New York and New Jersey have turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter.”

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New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy posted on X Sunday night that he had been out looking for drones with state police in West Trenton, New Jersey. “The public deserves clear answers — we will keep pushing the federal government for more information and resources,” he said, adding that the FBI had briefed him about the sightings in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

Federal aviation authorities have required certain drones to broadcast their remote identification since last year, including the location of their operators. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is behind the drones plaguing locations over New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability.

Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over parts of New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

“It didn’t concern me at first,” said Trisha Bushey, of Clinton Township, New Jersey, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of the Picatinny Arsenal. “I just didn’t think anything of it until it started becoming like every night, the same time, same places.”

Bushey said she thought it was military drills at first, but then officials said the military wasn’t involved.

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“And then once they came out and said that they’re not and they don’t know what they are and they’re not foreign, but they’re not ours and they don’t pose a threat, that’s when it becomes concerning,” she told The Associated Press.

Drones are now being reported all along the northeastern U.S.

Some U.S. political leaders, including Trump, have called for much stronger action against the drones, including shooting them down.

Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, Mayorkas said Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said.

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut. Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, and Joseph B. Frederick in New York City contributed to this report.

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Prevent Blindness Ohio warns of firework dangers ahead of July 4 celebrations

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Prevent Blindness Ohio warns of firework dangers ahead of July 4 celebrations


COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s almost America’s 250th birthday, and many Ohioans may already be planning their celebrations.

Many of those celebrations may include the use of fireworks. Prevent Blindness Ohio is warning about the potential dangers associated with the colorful explosives in light of its sixth annual Fireworks Safety Week, which runs from June 28 through July 4.

In a press release, the organization cites the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in noting that there were 15 fireworks-related deaths and 13,000 injuries reported in 2025.

Most of the injuries were to hands and fingers, followed by the head, face and ears, with burns being the most common of all the injuries.

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“The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that in the most severe eye injury cases, firework accidents can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment — all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss,” the release reads. “Fireworks-related eye injuries can combine blunt force trauma, heat burns and chemical exposure.”

The organization said it supports a ban on fireworks for all except licensed operators during public displays.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary. We urge all Americans to celebrate safely by avoiding consumer fireworks,” said Amy Pulles, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio. “Accidents happen even during firework displays conducted by licensed professionals, so please use caution when attending those as well.”

For those who decide to use fireworks during their celebrations this year, the National Safety Council has the following safety tips:

  • “Never allow young children to handle fireworks

  • Older children should use them only under close adult supervision

  • Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol

  • Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear

  • Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands

  • Never light them indoors

  • Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material

  • Never point or throw fireworks at another person

  • Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting

  • Never ignite devices in a container

  • Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks

  • Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding

  • Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire

  • Never use illegal fireworks”

Unless prohibited by local laws, Ohioans can discharge legal fireworks from 4 to 11 p.m. on July 3, 4 and 5, as well as the weekends before and after.

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For more information on firework rules in Ohio, click here.

Interested in finding a Fourth of July fireworks show near you? Check out our list here.



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Property transfers in Marion County, sales range from $40K to $415K

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Property transfers in Marion County, sales range from K to 5K


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These real estate transactions were recorded in Marion County between June 12 and June 17.

City of Marion

336 Silver St., Marion; Jeffery A. Hallie to Cassidy Manley and Jamal Tyre Manley; $100,000.

597 E. George St., Marion; Robert E. Edens Jr. and Kristin Edens to Clifford D. Hall and Judith K. Hall; $100,000.

395 Park St., Marion; Robin Hirsch to Christian Jaimes Mejia; $165,500.

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1007 Fariwood Avenue, Marion; Sherry D. Smith, Jerry L. Winget and Vickie L. Pinyerd to Tami S. McCarty; $149,900.

302 Silver St., Marion; Heaven M. Daniel to US Bank National Association; $44,100.

358 Nye St., Marion; Trever Rinehart to Daniel Murfield and Athena Murfield; $199,000.

538 Cherry St., Marion; Marry On LLC to Tylere Shuster; $150,000.

618 Irey Avenue, Marion; Keith A. Radebaugh to Brittany Marie Crampton; $125,000.

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1138 Independence Avenue, Marion; Marion County General Surgery LLC to Independence Avenue Medical LLC; $215,000.

1950 Linda St., Marion; Ralph W. Smith Jr. and Betty J. Smith to Dawn Comer; $116,000.

555 Avondale Avenue, Marion; Angela R. Rivers to Prospect Endeavors LLC; $75,000.

523 Mary St., Marion; Frank Hoffman and Robin Hoffman to Crystal A. Bonsel and John H. Thacker; $175,000.

436 Thompson St., Marion; Shovel City Investment LLC to Duel Patrick Davidson; $47,500.

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661 Adams St., Marion; Hideaway Properties 4 LLC to Crystal Lynn Hall; $85,200.

288 Chicago Avenue, Marion; Jeffrey L. Young and Kimberly M. Young to OpenDoor Property Trust; $179,900.

691 Bennett St., Marion; Steven Higgins, Larry Higgins Jr. and Shawn Patrick Higgins to Kyle R. White; $200,000.

Richland Township

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5544 Tittlebaugh Road, Marion; John E. Morgan, Rebecca Sue Morgan, Bridget Corcoran and Patrick Corcoran to John E. Morgan and Rebecca Sue Morgan; $87,340.

Pleasant Township

2.345 acres on Gooding Road, Marion; 533 Farm Holdings LLC to Thomas Savage and Lissa Savage; $250,000.

4714 Larue Prospect Road S., Prospect; Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance to Allyson Fitch and Brandon Fitch; $260,000.

1552 Marion County Club Drive, Marion; WY Corp II to ABI Development LLC; $40,000.

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Prospect Township

8323 Hughes Road, Prospect; Cole A. Hess and Cheyenne Hess to Kamryn Miah Jean Sutherland and John Daniel Yersavich; $415,000.

608 Water St., Prospect; EyE Homes Inc. to Mary Elizabeth Machingo and Jeffrey Paul Machingo; $305,000.

Tully Township 

2946 Martel Road, Caledonia; Vincent L. Cleveland and Jo D. Cleveland to Carly Rene Bailey-Stultz and Dennis Stultz; $375,000.

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Ohio lawsuit alleges new NCAA rule unfairly denies high school Class of ’22 athletes a 5th season

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Ohio lawsuit alleges new NCAA rule unfairly denies high school Class of ’22 athletes a 5th season


Less than 24 hours after the NCAA Division I Cabinet approved a monumental change in eligibility rules, a group of 15 college basketball players filed a lawsuit in an Ohio state court claiming the new age-based model unfairly shuts them out of further competition.



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